Political violence rises when grievance and hopelessness converge; these forces are present and intensifying in the United States today. But Kat Armas says despair is not the only path.

Pope Leo XIV's interview with a Vatican journalist provides insight into how he sees his role as pope: a bridge-builder, engaging but uncontroversial, and acting as an astute administrator.

Four members of the Missionary Sisters of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus and their driver were killed Sept. 15 in a road crash in northern Tanzania, cutting short a journey that began with a joyful religious celebration.

Bishop Timothy Senior of Harrisburg said he was "deeply saddened" by a shooting in rural Pennsylvania that claimed the lives of three police officers and injured two others.

Kirk is not a modern day St. Paul, despite what Cardinal Dolan says. The only thing that such myth-making achieves is fomenting resentment, curtailing dialogue, and stifling action to otherwise prevent this tragedy from happening again, says John Grosso.

New York's iconic St. Patrick's Cathedral is unveiling a massive new mural that honors the city's immigrants.

Kirk is not a modern day St. Paul, despite what Cardinal Dolan says. The only thing that such myth-making achieves is fomenting resentment, curtailing dialogue, and stifling action to otherwise prevent this tragedy from happening again, says John Grosso.

The Lovers of the Holy Cross sisters — and all Christians — have a responsibility to become the extended hands, hearts, minds, mouth and feet of Jesus to continue His salvific mission.

Letters to the editor: NCR readers respond to articles about conservative communicators, Bishop Barron's characterization of Charlie Kirk and the opportunity to reform church teaching on sexuality.

For the Boy Scouts of America — recently renamed Scouting America — the past 12 years have been arduous. Opening its programs to gay people and later to girls sparked dismay in some quarters.

The clip, which has gone viral online, was a cloned version of Kirk's voice delivering what appeared to be an AI-generated response from a chatbot asked what Kirk would say in the wake of his own death.

A new study found that priests who approve of Pope Francis are more likely to adopt a pastoral approach to LGBTQ+ Catholics. Could the same dynamic take hold under Pope Leo?

As the National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton marked the 50th anniversary of the 1975 canonization of its namesake on Sept. 14, the Emmitsburg, Maryland, campus hosted what was dubbed "A Day of Joy" as part of a three-day celebration attracting over 3,000 visitors.

Kirk didn't deserve to be shot, but we shouldn't make him into a martyr or an example of Christian compassion and discourse, says Tulio Huggins. https://bit.ly/46dxGTj

British Catholics welcomed the presence of King Charles III and top royals at the Sept. 16 funeral Mass for the Duchess of Kent, a Catholic convert, the first such ceremony in the once-persecuted church's main cathedral.

Pope Leo XIV said a proposal to create an AI-version of him so people could have a virtual audience with the pope pretty much horrified him.

"I don't plan to get involved in partisan politics. That's not what the church is about," Leo said in the Crux interview.

After conservative backlash, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has pulled from the internet an essay by an African-American bishop on diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The "guardian angel of East St. Louis," Daughter of Charity Sr. Julia Huiskamp offers practical services as well as emotional support to the locals living in deep poverty.

Leo also "expressed concern about political violence and spoke of the need to refrain from rhetoric and exploitation that lead to polarization rather than dialogue," spokesman Matteo Bruni said in comments reported by Vatican News.

In an overly frenetic world, the Gospel teaches the importance of stopping, resting and trusting in the Lord, Pope Leo XIV said.

Executive Editor James Grimaldi reflects a journalist's work in 2025, in the aftermath of horrendous video of Charlie Kirk's murder, and a school shooting that hit close to home for National Catholic Reporter staff.

Wesley, who was named a Martin Luther King Jr. Scholar on his graduation from Boston University School of Theology, told his congregation: "How you die does not redeem how you lived. You do not become a hero in your death when you are a weapon of the enemy in your life."

As tens of thousands of Palestinians were fleeing their homes as Israel launched a major new ground offensive in Gaza City, Pope Leo XIV expressed his "profound closeness to the Palestinian people in Gaza."

Barron's support for Kirk is the latest in a series of moves, dating back years, that have aligned the former Los Angeles auxiliary bishop with various Republican and far-right figures, part of a perceived crusade against what he has referred to as "wokeism."

Three elderly women religious in Austria fled their nursing home and have returned to their longtime monastery, defying church superiors and highlighting the impact of Vatican regulations regarding aging members of dwindling religious congregations.

The Catholic right grants few, if any, nods to Catholic social teaching. Many righteous Catholics dismiss the preferential option for the poor (including immigrants) and the care of creation as "radical left politics."

Just a few hours after Israel launched a major new ground offensive in Gaza City, Pope Leo XIV called the pastor of the city's only Latin-rite parish to express his concern, his prayers and his closeness, the Vatican press office said.

Pope Leo XIV on Monday praised the willingness to forgive after the mother of slain American journalist James Foley told a Vatican vigil about her process of healing following meetings with an Islamic State group fighter convicted in his beheading.

"May we learn to listen to your wounds and walk together," Pope Leo XIV said in his homily Sept. 15, the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows.

Leo told the participants that the issues are of "urgent relevance" and "are very dear to me, just as they were to my venerable predecessors St. John Paul II, Benedict XVI and Francis."

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the spiritual leader of Eastern Orthodox Christians, is making his first visit in four years to the United States.

None of us individually is going to save the world. But each of us can do something. And here's something that's one of the world's largest sources of microplastic pollution and energy waste. I'm talking about clothes.

One marvelous aspect of visiting Benedictine monasteries is seeing how each crafts its own unique version of the Liturgy of the Hours. An added adventure for Sr. Julie Ferraro has been helping update those books.

Ahanihu's book explores the sustainability of religious congregations "that do not maintain a presence in the Global South" and what it means for the future of those communities in the U.S.

A workshop in San Antonio, hosted by the National Religious Vocation Conference, challenged members of religious life on how they assess candidates for their communities.

Pope Leo XIV on Sunday honored hundreds of Christians who have been killed for their faith in the 21st century, praising their courage and lamenting that their numbers were growing in many parts of the world.

A relic of Carlo Acutis, who was declared the Catholic Church's first millennial saint last week, was stolen from a parish in western Venezuela, the coordinator of a youth group devoted to the man known as "God's Influencer" confirmed Friday.

In situations where "hatred seemed to have permeated every aspect of life," modern Christian martyrs showed that love is stronger than death, Pope Leo XIV said at an ecumenical prayer service.

Amidst the chaos of an industry trying to regain its footing one fascinating trend that has emerged among popular shows is a focus on pastoral care. Jim McDermott examines the trend using "Ted Lasso," "Shrinking" and "The Pitt" as models.

"The Pitt," which just won an Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series, gives us the grace of acknowledging that our pandemic trauma isn't over, says Jose Solís.

"Adolescence," the British miniseries directed by Philip Barantini that premiered on Netflix this spring, won eight Emmy Awards last night. In their review, Emma Cieslik and Maxwell Kuzma said the show raises questions about the trajectory of harm set by the online "manosphere."

"Andor" won five Emmy Awards last night, including Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series. We called Andor's display of resistance in the face of the ever-growing power of a fascist empire a prophetic example — and a desperate warning cry.

Spread between iconic churches of the City of Lights, such as Notre Dame Cathedral, St. Eustache and St. Sulpice, over 800 religious men and women, and members of institutes of consecrated lay people, gathered in Paris Sept. 6-7, for a National Jubilee of Consecrated Life.

From Sept. 9-13, believers from the Chaldean, Assyrian, Syriac Catholic and Syriac Orthodox churches joined together in Erbil for the Festival of the Cross.

One man, with encouragement from the sisters, took a four-month marriage catechism course, converted to Catholicism and wed in June.

"I mourn the loss of some of the belongings that I held dear," writes Sr. Margaret Cessna about losing her music collection. "So I thank my friends, but grieve the loss and continue to search for memories."

The title of yesterday's feast, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, expresses the paradox of Christian faith. Christ's death revealed that evil is as dead as its works.

This week on "The Nonviolent Jesus Podcast," John Dear reflects on the life and lessons of Mahatma Gandhi, which he says are more relevant than ever.

A majority of American Catholics view Pope Leo XIV's papacy positively so far, though they admit they know little about him, a Pew Research Center survey released on Sept. 12 shows.