U.S. & World News

Pope Francis is sending thousands of dollars in relief aid to the Philippines after a devastating typhoon struck the Southeast Asian archipelago in December.

As the omicron variant of COVID-19 continues spreading rapidly in Italy, the Vatican press office said both Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, and Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, the substitute for general affairs in the secretariat, have tested positive for the coronavirus.

The president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops urged all people of goodwill to commemorate the life and legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. on the Jan. 17 holiday named for him by remembering "not only the justice he pursued, but how he pursued it."

A few weeks before Christmas, Jessica Moreno and her three kids were able to move from her parents' home in Wood Dale, Illinois, outside of Chicago, to their own apartment a few blocks away.

Pope Francis approved "Pilgrims of Hope" as the motto for the Holy Year 2025.

The 10th annual "9 Days for Life" novena, sponsored by the U.S. bishops' Committee on Pro-Life Activities, takes place this year from Jan. 19 to Jan. 27.

The Supreme Court in a 6-3 decision Jan. 13 blocked a rule by the Biden administration that would have required employees at large businesses to show proof of a COVID-19 vaccination or wear masks and get tested each week for the coronavirus.

Pope Francis' music library contains nearly 2,000 CDs and 19 vinyl records, according to the Vatican cardinal who is curating the collection.