A decision by the Archdiocese of Maceió in northeastern Brazil has sparked discussion in the Catholic Church about liturgical rules and Church authority.

The archdiocese announced that the celebration of the traditional Latin Mass, according to the Missal of St. Pius V, will be allowed only in one place — the São Vicente de Paulo Chapel — and only once a week. According to the note released by the archdiocese, any celebration of this form of Mass outside the approved chapel will be considered a “public act of schism.”

The document warns that Catholics who organize or participate in such unauthorized celebrations could face “latae sententiae” excommunication, meaning the penalty would take effect automatically by committing the offense.

The directive was authorized by Archbishop Carlos Alberto Breis Pereira and refers to specific norms in the Code of Canon Law, especially canons 751 and 1364 §1, which deal with schism and the penalties connected to it.

The archdiocese also stated that the limited permission to celebrate the traditional Latin Mass in the chapel was granted with the approval of the Holy See. Because of this, no other priest or group is allowed to celebrate the rite in other churches, private spaces, or organizations without official authorization.

The disciplinary note was signed by the archdiocese’s judicial vicar, José Everaldo Rodrigues Filho.

The announcement has created strong debate among Catholics and Church observers. Some see it as a necessary step to maintain unity and proper liturgical order, while others are questioning whether participation in an unauthorized Mass can be considered an act of schism leading to automatic excommunication.

The bishops in Germany have renewed their request to the Vatican to allow lay men and women to give homilies during Mass. The proposal was discussed and approved during the spring plenary assembly of the German Bishops’ Conference held in Würzburg.

The newly elected president of the conference, Heiner Wilmer, said he will personally present the proposal to the Holy See during his next visit to Rome. The request seeks permission for qualified lay people, officially appointed by a diocesan bishop, to preach during the Eucharistic celebration.

This request is not new. A similar proposal from Germany had already been presented to the Vatican in 2023 but was rejected. However, the German bishops have decided to reopen the discussion, saying the issue is connected to wider debates in the Church about synodality, authority, and participation of the faithful.

The idea comes from decisions made during the German “Synodal Way,” a reform process in the Church in Germany that called for greater involvement of lay people in Church life. Supporters believe that trained lay people could help in preaching and pastoral work.

However, current Church law clearly states that the homily during Mass is reserved only for priests or deacons. According to the Code of Canon Law, the homily is part of the liturgy and is closely linked to the sacrament of Holy Orders.

Because of this rule, any change would require direct approval from the Vatican. Church teaching documents have also stressed that the homily cannot be delegated to others, even if they are well educated or spiritually qualified.

The renewed proposal is expected to lead to further discussions between the German bishops and the Vatican in the coming months.

The General Secretariat of the Synod has released the first two Final Reports of the Study Groups formed after the First Session of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops. These study groups were created by Pope Francis to reflect on important issues facing the Church today.

The newly published reports come from Study Group No. 3 and Study Group No. 4. Study Group No. 3 focused on “The Mission in the Digital Environment,” exploring how the Church can effectively share the Gospel and engage with people in the rapidly growing digital world. The report highlights the importance of responsible communication, digital evangelization, and the need for the Church to be present where people interact online.

Study Group No. 4 worked on “The Revision of the Ratio Fundamentalis Institutionis Sacerdotalis in a Missionary Synodal Perspective.” This report studies ways to improve the formation and training of priests so that they can serve the Church in a more missionary and synodal way. It emphasizes listening, collaboration, and preparing priests to respond to modern pastoral challenges.

The publication of these reports was directed by Pope Leo XIV so that the entire People of God can share in the fruits of the reflections and discussions that took place during the Synod process. Each report is accompanied by a summary available in several languages to help readers understand the key points.

With the submission of these final reports, Study Groups No. 3 and No. 4 have completed their mission and are now officially concluded. The Synod Secretariat will continue releasing the reports of the remaining study groups in the coming weeks, with the next publication scheduled for March 10, 2026.

The executive committee of the Spanish Bishops’ Conference, (CEE, by its Spanish acronym) meeting in Madrid this week, issued an official statement regarding the leaks about its meeting with Pope Leo XIV that recently appeared in various media outlets. The newspaper El País published an article on Feb. 23 titled “The pope warned the bishops that his greatest concern in Spain is the far right that is trying to ‘instrumentalize the Church.’”

The article alluded to alleged comments made by the pope during the meeting with the nine members of the CEE’s executive committee on Nov. 17, 2025, at the Vatican, according to “two sources familiar with what transpired at the meeting.”

Numerous media outlets, based on the article published by El País, replicated the content with similar headlines, and some, such as Vida Nueva, added nuances to what the pope said, citing people who “were present at that meeting.” According to its website, Nueva Vida (New Life) “is a weekly religious news magazine that aims to be a committed voice within the Church.” 

Meanwhile, other media outlets have published information that contradicts the initial reports. Citing “more than two members of the executive committee, and some other prelates familiar with what was said at the meeting,” Religión Confidencial stated that the issue was not raised at the pope’s initiative but rather at the suggestion of one of the Spanish prelates and that the pontiff merely explained a general framework of doctrine regarding the Church’s relationship with politics.

El Debate, more emphatically, headlined: “Clearly, the pope’s greatest concern in Spain is not the far right but evangelization,” citing “episcopal sources who are well aware of what happened at the Vatican on Nov. 17.”

In response to all these publications, the executive committee of the CEE issued a statement on Feb. 24, noting that “Pope Leo XIV received us with special affection, listened to the presentations of all the members of the committee, and encouraged us in the evangelizing mission to which the Church in Spain is committed.”

“The Holy Father also encouraged us to foster communion among all the members and institutions that make up the Church,” the bishops continued. Regarding the issue that sparked the cascade of diverse reports, the CEE explained that “in the dialogue, the Holy Father reflected, among other things, on the risks of subjecting faith to ideologies, without mentioning any specific group.” Finally, the prelates express their “respect for and support of the pope and welcome his call to evangelizing communion in the society in which we live, with all its challenges.”

Hundreds of pilgrims lined up before dawn on Sunday to be among the first to pray before the exposed relics of St. Francis in his basilica in Assisi, Italy.  The saint’s bones will lie in a glass box through March 22 — fully visible outside the stone tomb in a crypt where they usually rest — as hundreds of thousands of people venerate the holy remains.

A highly organized system with QR code reservations allowed approximately 750 people to enter the lower church of the basilica every 30 minutes through most of the day Feb. 22 to view the saint.

Filing past 13th- and 14th-century frescoes by Cimabue and Giotto, pilgrims on the chilly but sunny winter day approached the glass case, protected by a plexiglass barrier. Some were overwhelmed with emotion as they had the opportunity to stand a foot away from what still exists of St. Francis on earth 800 years after his death, according to Jacob Stein.

Stein, the creator of “Crux Stationalis” blog and part of the social media team of EWTN News, was among the first group to arrive at the church. Despite the crowds, he described the atmosphere in Assisi and in the presence of the relics as prayerful and unrushed. Inside the basilica, where cellphone use was forbidden, friars gently recalled the pilgrims to silent recollection when voices got above a whisper. People knelt before St. Francis and kissed the glass and left their written prayers in boxes shared by the Franciscans.

“My prayer afterwards was to the wounds of Christ, to honor them,” Stein said, referring to St. Francis’ stigmata. This moment helps you to understand that the devotion for St. Francis is because of “his conformity to Christ as a complete and utter example to follow.”

A group of bishops from the Texas-Mexico border region, informally known as the “Tex-Mex bishops” met in El Paso, Texas on Friday to discuss immigration and its effects on both the U.S. and Mexico, as well as recent drug cartel-related violence in Mexico.

The meeting of the Tex-Mex bishops is now “the longest-running international gathering of Catholic bishops anywhere in the world,” according to a press release from the Diocese of El Paso on behalf of the bishops. The group has met twice a year for more than 40 years.

At the press conference, San Antonio Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller, the group’s coordinator, said the bishops were concerned with the “plight of our brothers and sisters, migrants, which are on both sides of the border.”

The prelate said immigration enforcement has “changed drastically” in recent years. Because of these changes, García-Siller emphasized that the bishops “need to learn new ways to serve well” migrants and refugees in order to “bring solutions” and “some solace, some peace, some kind of understanding.”

“You need to know that God loves you, and that we love you, too,” he said before beginning to address his listeners in Spanish.

At their meeting, the bishops were guided by the November Special Message from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) on immigration, and the recently released statement of 20 U.S. Catholic bishops from border states and others, who recommended immigration enforcement reforms to the Trump administration.

Bishop Mark Seitz of El Paso said, however, that “bishops are not politicians. That is not our role…our role is to be pastors.” Echoing García-Siller, Seitz said that “Our role is to love the people that we serve. And…it doesn’t matter to us whether they’ve lived here a long time or they’re simply passing through. When we see that other person, we see a person created by God and given a special dignity, a value that is unparalleled and unrepeatable.”

Four years ago on February 24, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine-scaling up on an already intense conflict that had begun eight years prior.

In the last four years, the number of causalities and the destruction have risen. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees estimates that some 5.9 million people have emigrated from the country. Relief Web reports that more than 15,000 civilians have been killed. About one quarter of the pre-war population of 42 million people has been lost.

Speaking to Vatican News, Metropolitan Borys Gudziak, Archbishop of Philadelphia of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, shares how in the midst of this challenging time, the Ukrainian people have been able to foster identity and strengthen relationships, which he says are “the instruments to withstand this kind of assault.”

Despite the lack of heating, electricity, and the ongoing bombings, Metropolitan Gudziak explains how important global support is for the people in Ukraine. Whether it be the voice of the Pope or the collections gathered in countries around the world, the archbishop stresses that Ukrainians are still “standing, tired and exhausted, but faithful and full of faith that God’s truth will prevail.”

This year, Mozambique looks forward to celebrating the occasion of Mozambique Women Day on April 7. As part of celebrations, a group of women across Mozambique are raising their voices against what they see as empty symbolism amid the crisis of healthcare and daily survival. In an open letter to First Lady Gueta Selemane Chapo, the wife of President Daniel Francisco Chapo, the women expressed outrage over reports that colorful capulanas (traditional dresses) will be handed out nationwide to mark Mozambican Women’s Day.

According to the Vatican’s Fides news agency, the women claim to speak for Mozambican mothers, daughters, sisters, and grandmothers. “We do not want ‘capulanas‘; we demand respect and dignity for the rights of all,” they stated. “We value symbolic gestures, but not at this time when the Mozambicans are facing real and urgent suffering that needs attention.”

The women highlight the dire need and urgency in the public hospitals. Children are dying as a result of under-equipped facilities, pregnant women endure labor on bare beds without mattresses or vital medication, and families lack basic services. “There is nothing to celebrate,” they lamented. “We can’t celebrate the lack of decent hospitals and the waste of public resources, yet there is inequality and violence that still persist in our country,” they said, adding that they demand sensitivity and real solutions.

The group demands that the state money for capulanas be rerouted to real needs, buy medicine in the hospitals, provide proper beds, ensure that there is food access, and uphold the dignity of women, children, and families. “The initiative of the capulanas doesn’t solve real problems that we face,” the women noted, framing the distribution as a misuse of resources when life hangs in the balance.

he International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) annual Military Balance 2026 report shows that while the pace of increase in military spending for defence has moderated compared to previous years, Europe and parts of Asia recorded significant rises, reflecting ongoing security concerns and shifting regional priorities

The report reveals that global military expenditure continued its upward trajectory in 2025, reaching an estimated USD 2.63 trillion. This, it notes, represents a 2.5 % increase over the previous year, though the pace of growth remains slower than the sharp rises seen in the immediate aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The report also highlights a divergent picture across regions. Europe’s defence spending surged by around 12.6 %, significantly outpacing the global average, as governments responded to persistent security concerns and renewed commitments by NATO allies to bolster their militaries. Germany played a leading role in this increase, contributing substantially to Europe accounting for more than 21 % of global defence spending in 2025, up from 17 % in 2022.

In contrast, growth in the United States’ defence budget temporarily tapered in 2025, even as proposals under the current administration aim to push U.S. military spending beyond USD 1 trillion in 2026 with initiatives such as the proposed “Golden Dome” missile defence programme.

Russia’s defence spending continued to increase in absolute terms but at a much slower rate than in previous years, a marked change after substantial rises earlier in the conflict with Ukraine.

Across Asia, defence budgets also expanded, with China maintaining a dominant share – estimated at nearly 44 % of regional military expenditure in 2025 – and other states in the region raising their own defence expenditure amid security competition.

Spending in the Middle East and North Africa region also rose, reflecting ongoing regional tensions and state decisions to strengthen military readiness.

As the civil war continues to wreak death, destruction and displacement in Sudan, observers warn its neighbour, South Sudan, risks a return to all-out civil war as well.

Having obtained independence from Sudan in 2011, South Sudan is the world’s youngest nation. It struggled to find stability from the very start as its president and his deputy of opposing parties clashed for power, triggering a deadly war that caused tens of thousands to flee their homes.

The nation’s 2018 “Revitalized Peace Agreement” appears increasingly fragile, and a just-released UN inquiry finds that the country’s political and military leaders are driving the nation towards full-scale war and mass atrocity crimes. South Sudan is at a “dangerous point” and risks sliding back into full-scale civil war as violence intensifies and a fragile peace agreement comes under strain, the UN human rights chief warned Friday.

Addressing the UN Human Rights Council, Volker Turk expressed extreme concern for the human rights situation in South Sudan and described it as one of the world’s forgotten crises. He sounded the alarm following the release of an investigative report that accuses the country’s political and military leaders of systematically dismantling the 2018 “Revitalised Peace Agreement”, of undermining governance and exposing civilians to grave risks of renewed armed conflict, mass atrocity crimes and serious violations of international human rights law.

Turk said Government and opposition forces and allied militias have attacked residential areas across multiple states in recent months, forcing large-scale displacement, noting that in northern Jonglei alone, more than 280,000 people fled their homes.

January, he continued, saw a sharp deterioration with civilians bearing the brunt of a spike in indiscriminate attacks, including aerial bombardments, deliberate killings, abductions and conflict-related sexual violence. “Human rights monitoring provides a warning system. That system is flashing red for South Sudan,” Volker Turk said, calling for an immediate halt to hostilities and renewed commitment to the peace agreement.