Did Pope Leo find his voice in Africa? Or did the world finally hear him?
LUANDA, Angola — And in Africa, the lion roared. There is a case to be made that Pope Leo XIV, the careful, reserved, Midwestern Augustinian, found his voice on his epic trip through Africa, blasting the “handful of tyrants” and “chains of corruption” that have held parts of the continent...
Block party helps people discover ‘underappreciated treasure’ of the Maxo Vanka murals in Millvale church
While heads are often bowed in prayer inside churches, many were looking up in awe at a Millvale church on Sunday. For some, St. Nicholas Church was something like a man-made geode, its unassuming yellow brick walls containing a colorful treasure within. The treasure inside the 125-year-old Croatian church perched...
Diocese of Greensburg bishop joins clergy nationwide weighing in on Trump, Pope Leo XIV discourseVideo
Diocese of Greensburg Bishop Larry Kulick said Thursday that Pope Leo XIV is “speaking from his rightful position” in criticism of President Donald Trump and the Iran war. The polarizing debate between the president and the pope has pushed onlookers to opposing sides. But Kulick views Leo’s continued calls for...
What is the ‘just war theory’ that U.S. Speaker Mike Johnson invoked to defend Trump from Pope Leo?
Following recent social media disagreements between President Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV surrounding the Iran war, U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson on Wednesday used the “just war theory” to defend the president’s criticism of the pontiff. But what exactly is the “just war theory”? Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, insisted...
Insulting, blasphemous, disgrace: Western Pennsylvania Catholics weigh in on public discourse between Trump, Pope Leo XIV
West Deer resident Sam Mayhan has only ever voted for one person for president: Donald Trump. But the 28-year-old Catholic is now “pretty perturbed,” finding himself torn between his political allegiance and his faith following the president’s recent social media attacks on Pope Leo XIV. “I don’t think the pope...
The Trump and Leo chronicles: A president and a pope square off over Iran and its aftermath
Pope Leo XIV, a studious and soft-spoken cleric, and Donald Trump, an unapologetically bellicose and pugilistic politician, have long been on a rhetorical collision course. Now their disagreement over the war in Iran has escalated in spectacular fashion, and their comments show how differently each see the conflict and its...
Pope Leo says he does not fear Trump, citing Gospel as he pushes back in feud over Iran war
WASHINGTON — U.S.-born Pope Leo XIV pushed back Monday on President Donald Trump’s broadside against him over the U.S.-Israel war in Iran, telling reporters that the Vatican’s appeals for peace and reconciliation are rooted in the Gospel, and that he doesn’t fear the Trump administration. “To put my message on...
Pope Leo XIV blasts ‘delusion of omnipotence’ fueling the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran
ROME — In his strongest words yet, Pope Leo XIV on Saturday denounced the “delusion of omnipotence” that is fueling the U.S.-Israel war in Iran and demanded political leaders stop and negotiate peace. Leo presided over an evening prayer service in St. Peter’s Basilica on the same day the United...
From ‘BuddhaBot’ to $1.99 chats with AI Jesus, the faith-based tech boom is here
CAMARILLO, Calif. — For some evangelical Christians, faith is about having a personal relationship with Jesus. At $1.99 per minute, the tech company Just Like Me is taking that concept to a new level. Users of the platform can join video calls with an avatar of Jesus generated by artificial...
Pope amplifies criticism of Iran war and says ‘God does not bless any conflict’
ROME — Pope Leo XIV amplified his condemnation of the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran on Friday, saying that “God does not bless any conflict” and certainly doesn’t side with those who drop bombs. Leo spoke during a gathering of top bishops of the Chaldean Catholic Church in Iraq, an Eastern...
Greensburg diocese will participate in Pope Leo’s vigil for peace
The Diocese of Greensburg announced it will take part in an international prayer vigil Saturday. The event is part of a worldwide call for prayer in the Catholic Church and will coincide with a a vigil led by Pope Leo XIV in Rome. The local vigil will be at Blessed...
Good Friday is a unique and solemn day for Christians, with ancient prayers and fervent processions
MIAMI — Good Friday is a unique — and uniquely solemn — day in the Christian calendar. It commemorates the crucifixion and death of Jesus, ahead of what’s a central tenet of faith for believers — his resurrection two days later on Easter Sunday, according to the Gospels. This year,...
Catholic churches see a surge of new converts
People are joining the Catholic Church in surprising numbers. This Easter, the Archdiocese of Detroit will receive 1,428 new Catholics into the church, its highest number in 21 years. The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston will have its most in 15 years. In the Diocese of Des Moines, the count is jumping...
Catholic churches see a surge of new converts
People are joining the Catholic Church in surprising numbers. This Easter, the Archdiocese of Detroit will receive 1,428 new Catholics into the church, its highest number in 21 years. The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston will have its most in 15 years. In the Diocese of Des Moines, the count is jumping...
Jewish communities boost security and continue observances amid rise in hateful incidents
Law enforcement officials on Tuesday said they are taking steps to monitor and counter threats to Jewish and Muslim communities nationwide since the onset of war in the Middle East, multiple hate crimes and an attempted terror attack prompted increased security measures at places of worship and investigations into extremist...
Pete Hegseth’s Christian rhetoric draws renewed scrutiny after the U.S. goes to war with Iran
WASHINGTON — Since becoming defense secretary, Pete Hegseth has found no shortage of ways to bring his strand of conservative evangelicalism into the Pentagon. He hosts monthly Christian worship services for employees. His department’s promotional videos have displayed Bible verses alongside military footage. In speeches and interviews, he often argues...
After latest attack, some Jews wonder how much more security is possible
In the eight years since a gunman killed 11 people at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh — the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history — synagogues and other Jewish institutions across the country have gone to great lengths to fortify themselves. They have hired security guards, installed metal...
St. Agnes Church resumes fish fries after yearlong pause to renovate social hall
St. Agnes Church in North Huntingdon has its annual fish fries down to a science — at least that’s how volunteer Diane Pesarsick describes it. For four weeks leading up to Easter, more than 120 churchgoers get into a rhythm. Boxes of food — fish, french fries and ingredients for...
Hundreds attend Ash Wednesday services in Greensburg
Students from Aquinas Academy, an elementary school adjacent to Blessed Sacrament Cathedral in Greensburg, were among hundreds of people to visit the cathedral for Ash Wednesday services....
Member of Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission ousted in dispute over antisemitism
A member of the federal Religious Liberty Commission has been ousted after a hearing this week that featured tense exchanges on the definition of antisemitism. The ousted member, Carrie Prejean Boller, had defended prominent commentator Candace Owens, who routinely shares antisemitic conspiracy theories. Prejean Boller, a model turned conservative activist,...
Diocese of Pittsburgh to close 7 churches next month
The Diocese of Pittsburgh will close seven of eight churches in its Saint Joseph the Worker Parish next month. During Saturday evening and Sunday morning Masses, pastor Rev. Michael Stumpf read churchgoers a letter written by Bishop Mark Eckman, outlining the closure of the seven churches — Good Shepherd in...
Churches in Western Pa. excuse Mass attendance as snowstorm approaches
The Catholic dioceses in Pittsburgh and Greensburg granted dispensation from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass over the weekend because of the impending winter storm. Pittsburgh Bishop Mark Eckman and Greensburg Bishop Larry J. Kulick announced the exemption Friday, urging parishioners to prioritize safety when considering weekend travel. “No one...
Ancient meditation practices find new life in modern religious communities across America
On most Monday nights, the sanctuary of All Saints Episcopal Church — with its vaulted ceilings, stone arches and stained-glass windows — seamlessly transforms into a space of quiet contemplation. It’s in this Gothic Revival church in Pasadena, California, that Betty Cole, a longtime Zen practitioner and “card-carrying Episcopalian,” leads...
Diocese of Greensburg ‘on the cusp’ of revival going into 75th anniversary, bishop says
When the Rev. Alexander Pleban looks back on his nearly 60-year career as a priest, one feeling in particular stands out among the flood of emotions. “I feel very, very blessed that my priesthood was during the golden age of the diocese,” said Pleban, 95. He’s talking about the 1970s...
International priests fill vital roles in keeping Diocese of Greensburg operating
After more than a decade of educating aspiring Catholic priests in his native Philippines, the Rev. Jay Jacinto was ready for a change. Jacinto, 48, was ordained in 2005. He worked in the Philippines for 17 years before volunteering to serve abroad in 2022. A year later, the bishop of...
