Cardinal Dominique Joseph Mathieu, a Belgian Catholic Prelate who has served as Archbishop of Tehran–Isfahan Photo: El Periódico

Israel blocks entry of popemobile-turned-ambulance donated by Pope Francis to Gaza

The vehicle, transformed with medical equipment and child-friendly interiors, was a final gesture of solidarity from the late Pope Francis before his death in April 2025. He entrusted it to Caritas Jerusalem with a simple but powerful mission: to reach Gaza’s youngest and most vulnerable—those wounded not only in body, but in spirit.

Archdiocese of Washington to lay off employees to address financial crisis stemming (in part) from McCarrick case

What further complicates the picture is the enduring impact of the McCarrick scandal. Though exact figures are elusive, both Gregory and McElroy have acknowledged that donor confidence took a major hit after allegations emerged in 2018 that McCarrick had serially abused seminarians and managed a secret, unaccounted-for fund used for gifts to influential church officials.

Toronto Draws New Lines: Bubble Zones Ignite Tensions Over Freedoms and Safety

The bylaw was passed on May 22 by a vote of 16 to 9, following heated deliberation and a series of amendments. What began as a narrowly defined proposal has since broadened in scope. Under the revised ordinance, churches, synagogues, mosques, temples, and all educational institutions will automatically fall under the protective radius if they request it—effectively turning many parts of the city into quiet zones, where protest is no longer permitted.