Pope Leo XIV

Leo XIV will visit the Vatican Apostolic Library and open an exhibition for the first time

On Monday, September 14, 2026, the Holy Father will visit the Vatican Apostolic Library and inaugurate the first chapter of the exhibition cycle “Catastrophe and Wonder”, titled “AQVA”. In this exhibition, the works of three contemporary creatives – artist JR, typographer Bill Moran, and chef Fulvio Pierangelini – will engage in dialogue with the collections and spaces of the Pope’s Library, offering a reflection on water as both a threat and a resource.

Jul 12, 2026 10:22

ZENIT Staff

Angelus•Pope Leo XIV

The Parable of the Sower, as Explained by Pope Leo XIV

Address on the Occasion of the Angelus Prayer on Sunday, July 12, 2026

Jul 12, 2026 10:16

ZENIT Staff

Local Church

Venezuela: The Church Steps In to Fill the Gap Left by the Socialist State in Providing Humanitarian Aid After the Earthquake. Here Are the Facts

According to the report, Caritas Venezuela has received approximately 14,700 tons of humanitarian assistance. Of that amount, 9,000 tons—61 percent of the total—have already reached affected communities, while another 5,700 tons remain available for the next stages of relie

Jul 12, 2026 10:07

ZENIT Staff

Analysis Opinion•Local Church

How many Catholics are there in Mexico? What the statistics show—and the challenge they present

Mexico continues to occupy a pivotal place within world Catholicism. Vatican statistical publications, including the 2026 Pontifical Yearbook and the 2024 Annuarium Statisticum Ecclesiae, project that the country now has approximately 101.3 million baptized Catholics, making it the second-largest Catholic nation in the world after Brazil

Jul 12, 2026 10:00

ZENIT Staff

Rome•Vatican City

Investigation into Russian espionage in Italy points to the Vatican as a target. Two people have been arrested

The judicial process now underway may eventually clarify what Russian intelligence hoped to achieve through the alleged Vatican assignment and whether any meaningful access was ever obtained. Until then, many crucial questions remain unanswered

Jul 12, 2026 09:54

ZENIT Staff

Local Church

These are the most-visited churches in Spain in 2026, according to new research

According to the study, between 17 and 20 million people travel to Spain every year for religious, spiritual or cultural reasons

Jul 12, 2026 09:48

ZENIT Staff

Woman

Why Are Feminists Angry at the UN Security Council?

Despite the fact that only a fraction of women identify themselves as feminists, it has become a common progressive tactic at the UN to equate women’s groups with feminist groups.

Jul 12, 2026 09:40

ZENIT Staff

Euthanasia

Euthanasia in France: For the third time, the Senate says “no.” Progressives and the French left will pass it in Parliament

Although the Senate has once again rejected the proposal, the legislative momentum now appears to favor its supporters. If the National Assembly grants final approval next week, France would join a growing number of countries that permit some form of medically assisted dying

Jul 10, 2026 13:06

ZENIT Staff

Local Church

Despite the continuing decline in the number of Catholics, the Church’s tax revenue in Germany is on the rise again: here are the numbers

The so-called «church tax miracle» may therefore prove to be less a sign of ecclesial renewal than a temporary consequence of economic and demographic factors

Jul 10, 2026 12:59

ZENIT Staff

Marriage and Family

“The most important thing is forgiveness”: Chair of Marriage Care reflects on the ingredients for a strong relationship

Addressing difficulties in a marriage is not easy, and Roger shares that couples experiencing challenges wait an average of seven years before seeking professional support.

Jul 10, 2026 12:42

ZENIT Staff

Local Church•Pope Leo XIV•Young People

The Pope to Young Iraqi Christians: Your Mission Is to Be Light in the Darkness

The «Ankawa Youth Meeting» is the largest Christian gathering in Iraq. It began in 2013, though it had to be suspended the following year due to the occupation of the Nineveh Plains — where Erbil is located — by ISIS and the ensuing conflict.

Jul 09, 2026 12:09

ZENIT Staff

Religious Freedom

Little Sisters of the Poor Return to Court in Long-Running Religious Freedom Battle Over Contraception Mandate

From the outset, the Little Sisters of the Poor maintained that complying with the mandate would violate their Catholic faith. The congregation, which has served impoverished elderly people for nearly two centuries, argued that it could not participate in providing coverage for contraceptives, including products it believes may have abortifacient effects.

Jul 09, 2026 09:28

ZENIT Staff