Dicasteries•Local Church

Vatican approves new liturgical calendar for Arabia with its own calendar of saints

At the heart of the calendar are new patrons. Saints Peter and Paul, founders of the apostolic Church, now officially guide AVOSA as its pillars of faith, honored on June 29. Alongside them stands the Virgin Mary under the title of Our Lady of Arabia, declared patroness of the entire Arabian Peninsula

Aug 23, 2025 01:11

ZENIT Staff

Analysis Opinion

Can Transsexuals Be Baptized?

As the LGBTQ ideology comes increasingly to resemble a rival religious movement, we should recognize that it poses similar obstacles to discipleship. The movement possesses its own symbols, holy seasons, rites of initiation, social teachings, speech and purity codes, and inquisitorial methods. In “gender reassignment,” it promises a new identity, much as baptism does

Aug 23, 2025 01:05

ZENIT Staff

Analysis Opinion•Cardinals and Bishops•Young People

Young people looking for answers in a messy world are turning to the Catholic Church

A recent study by Harvard University confirmed the trend among the so-called Generation Z, which saw a 6% increase from 2022 to 2023 in those identifying as Catholic.

Aug 23, 2025 01:02

ZENIT Staff

Local Church

He resigns from the priesthood to run for office in Argentina. This is how the Church responds

Canon 287 explicitly prohibits clergy from active involvement in political parties, except in extraordinary cases authorized by ecclesiastical authority. The principle is clear: the priesthood and partisan politics are meant to remain separate spheres.

Aug 22, 2025 15:45

ZENIT Staff

Local Church

Majority of Austrians in favor of preserving Christian elements (holidays and crosses) in the country’s public life

“The data show a strong attachment to Christianity as part of Austria’s cultural heritage, regardless of personal religious practice,” explained pollster Johannes Klotz when presenting the results alongside Family Minister Claudia Plakolm.

Aug 22, 2025 15:43

ZENIT Staff

Jubilee 2025•Rome

PHOTO GALLERY: This is how the Lefebvrians’ pilgrimage to Rome went during the Holy Jubilee Year

Their Jubilee pilgrimage was itself a symbol of this ambiguity. Initially announced on the official Holy Year website, their participation was later removed from the calendar

Aug 22, 2025 15:41

ZENIT Staff

Holy Land•Justice and Peace

Dozens of Orthodox rabbis speak out against settler violence and Gaza’s humanitarian crisis

Eighty representatives of the Modern Orthodox movement, led by Rabbi Yosef Blau, have launched an appeal calling for «moral clarity» and «responsibility» based on the values of Jewish tradition. While condemning Hamas, they call for a «response» to the tragedy in Gaza and criticise the «disturbing proposals» of Smotrich and Ben Gvir. For the rabbis, they must “speak out when our government’s actions contradict the Torah’s moral imperatives”. The Latin Patriarchate warns of evacuation orders in neighbourhoods near Gaza Catholic parish.

Aug 21, 2025 16:52

ZENIT Staff

Pro Life•Young People

Analysis shows that almost a third of Generation Z does not exist due to abortion

The revelation that nearly one-third of an entire generation is missing from the country’s demographic story ensures that abortion will remain not just a policy dispute, but a defining question of America’s cultural identity

Aug 21, 2025 16:48

ZENIT Staff

Holy Land•Justice and Peace•Local Church

President of U.S. Bishops Conference Calls for Special Collection for Humanitarian Relief and Pastoral Support in Gaza

The Holy Father continues to call for a cease fire and for aid to enter the territory, noting with great sorrow that ‘Gaza is starving,’” and encouraged the bishops to consider the special collection in their dioceses at their earliest opportunity.

Aug 20, 2025 22:19

ZENIT Staff

Justice and Peace•Pope Leo XIV

Pope calls for day of fasting and prayer on August 22: this is what he said and this is why

The decision resonates with the Pope’s recent reflections in Castel Gandolfo, where he spoke candidly about the war in Ukraine. He expressed hope that an end to the crisis might be found, while cautioning that it will require both perseverance in diplomacy and constancy in prayer.

Aug 20, 2025 22:16

ZENIT Staff

General Audience•Pope Leo XIV

What should I do if I have been betrayed? The Pope’s beautiful catechesis based on Judas and a gesture by Jesus

Pope’s general audience, August 20, 2025, on how every betrayal can become an opportunity for salvation.

Aug 20, 2025 22:13

ZENIT Staff

Bioethics

China: Laboratory claims to be on the verge of launching robots with uteruses to give birth to babies

Dr. Zhang Qifeng, founder of Kaiwa Technology, has described the project as “mature” and commercially ready, with prototypes expected to sell for around US$14,000 in the coming year

Aug 20, 2025 22:06

ZENIT Staff