Local Church•Persecuted Christians•Priests•Religious Freedom

Colombian President Harasses Catholic Priest Live on Air for Speaking Out Against Communism

At the center of the storm is President Gustavo Petro, who, during a recent cabinet meeting, publicly rebuked a priest from the Parish of the Holy Family in Bogotá

Apr 21, 2026 17:57

ZENIT Staff

Cardinals and Bishops•Pope Leo XIV

The Vatican Outlines the Next Steps in Implementing the Synodal Path for the Entire Church

Central to the meeting was the preparation for a gathering scheduled from June 23 to 25, 2026. This event will serve as a preparatory stage for the Continental Evaluation Assemblies planned for early 2028

Apr 21, 2026 17:49

ZENIT Staff

Justice and Peace•Local Church

Israeli Army Replaces Crucifix Destroyed in Lebanon and Sentences Involved Soldiers to 30 Days in Prison

The military response was swift and unusually explicit. Following an internal investigation, the army israeli concluded that the conduct of those involved “completely deviated” from its ethical standards. The soldier who carried out the act, along with another who documented it, was removed from combat

Apr 21, 2026 08:42

ZENIT Staff

Local Church•Pope Leo XIV

Dates and Locations Announced for Mass Events with Pope Leo XIV in Spain

Pope Leo XIV will celebrate a great Prayer Vigil with young people and three great Masses during his Apostolic Journey to Spain. Registration forms are now open for participation in these first confirmed events on the Pope’s agenda. Registration can be done through the official website of the trip: conelpapa.es.

Apr 20, 2026 18:50

ZENIT Staff

Holy Land•Persecuted Christians

Israeli soldier vandalizes a crucifix in Lebanon: Israel responds, and so do the polls

The Israeli Defense Forces acknowledged that the soldier involved was operating in southern Lebanon and described the act as incompatible with military values. An investigation has been opened, with assurances that appropriate disciplinary measures will follow

Apr 20, 2026 18:45

ZENIT Staff

Religious Freedom

Thomas More Society Settlement Establishes Landmark Religious Liberty Protections for Coast Guard

Agreement rewrites religious accommodation rules service-wide, mandates command-level training and requires public reporting of outcomes

Apr 20, 2026 17:57

ZENIT Staff

Local Church

When the pastor’s voice is stolen: Digital fraud using AI targets the Church in Latin America

The warning, issued by the Honduran Episcopal Conference on 11 April, leaves no room for ambiguity. No Catholic bishop or priest in the country is engaged in selling medicines, furniture, or any commercial goods online

Apr 20, 2026 17:08

ZENIT Staff

Pro Life

French government deploys police against pro-life movements

At the heart of the current climate lies a deeper question: whether the constitutionalization of abortion has resolved the ethical debate or merely shifted it into new arenas

Apr 20, 2026 16:44

ZENIT Staff

Pope Leo XIV

European Parliament invites the Pope to address a plenary session in response to Trump’s attacks

The announcement, made public through social media, frames Leo XIV not only as the global pastor of the Catholic Church but as a figure of moral authority at a time described as marked by uncertainty and fragmentation

Apr 18, 2026 20:03

ZENIT Staff

Pope Leo XIV

The Pontifical Palace of Castel Gandolfo will cease to be a museum and once again become a papal residence

The decision would effectively reverse one of the more emblematic gestures of his predecessor, Pope Francis, who in 2016 opened the palace to the public for the first time in its history

Apr 18, 2026 19:49

ZENIT Staff

Pope Leo XIV•Protection of vulnerable people

A letter from the then-Father Robert Prevost acknowledging the measures taken by Benedict XVI to combat abuse has come to light

The rediscovery of this letter comes as commentators draw parallels between the pressures currently facing Leo XIV and the sustained criticism endured by Benedict XVI during his pontificate

Apr 17, 2026 20:40

ZENIT Staff

Religious Freedom

Human Rights Watch: church ban for minors in China violates human rights

A new release by the human rights NGO highlights the increased pressure by Chinese authorities on Catholics in the shadow of «sinicisation» and the agreement with the Holy See on episcopal appointments. A member of an underground community merged into an official diocese laments that, “We started praying like we were thieves.” A United Front document has emerged calling for telling on parents who “instill religious ideas to their children”.

Apr 17, 2026 20:17

ZENIT Staff