U.S. & World News

Homelessness reaches new record high amid affordable housing crunch

The United States saw an increase of about 18% in homelessness this year, a new record high, according to a federal report.

Pope praises Jimmy Carter’s ‘deep Christian faith’

Offering his condolences, Pope Francis praised former U.S. President Jimmy Carter's Christian faith and his lifelong mission to advance peace.

Olivia Hussey, known for roles as Mary and Mother Teresa, dies at 73

Olivia Hussey, known for her iconic on-screen portrayals of Mary and Mother Teresa, died Dec. 27 at age 73 at her California home, according to a statement released by her family the following day.

FEMEN activist stages protest in Vatican Nativity scene

A member of the protest group FEMEN was arrested after she jumped the barricade around the Vatican Nativity scene, took off her shirt and tried to grab the statue of the baby Jesus.

Jimmy Carter, first president to host a pope at the White House, dies at 100

Former President Jimmy Carter died Dec. 29 at his home in Plains, Georgia, his presidential library announced. At 100, Carter, who had been in hospice care since February 2023, was the longest-living U.S. president.

10 Resolutions to kick-start your year

For most of us, New Year's Day means both celebrating what's ahead and learning from the year that's ending. For Catholics, it's seeing the past year not just through the rearview mirror, but refracted through the lens of faith. A new year offers us more than a fresh start. It can be an opportunity for conversion of heart -- to take what we have experienced and resolve to grow more deeply as people of faith.

Pope urges war-torn world to walk through door of peace on Christmas

As millions of pilgrims prepare to cross through the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica, Pope Francis called on individuals, nations and the global community to take a transformative step toward peace and reconciliation by walking through the "door of salvation" that is Jesus Christ.

Don’t lose hope, pope says as he opens Holy Door at Rome prison

Wearing red vestments for the feast of St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr, Pope Francis knocked on the door of the church in Rome's Rebibbia prison complex and walked over its threshold.

Biden commutes most federal death-row sentences to life in prison

Several days after speaking with Pope Francis, President Joe Biden announced Dec. 23 that he would commute most existing federal death sentences to life in prison. The move denies President-elect Donald Trump, who has sought to expand the use of capital punishment, the opportunity to carry out these executions after he returns to the White House in January.

We need hope in this wounded land, Latin patriarch of Jerusalem says ahead of Christmas

JERUSALEM (OSV News) -- Speaking just hours after his wartime Christmas visit to Gaza City Holy Family Parish, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, delivered a poignant Christmas message during a press conference at the Latin Patriarchate Dec. 23.

OSV’s 2024 Catholics of the Year

By the time December rolls around each year, it feels like the past 12 months have seen it all. In particular for 2024, they saw tens of thousands of people kneeling in Lucas Oil Stadium; the doors of Notre Dame Cathedral reopened; a history-making election; another Roman synod; and, always, too much war and strife.

Report: Most US executions in 2024 come down to 4 states

Just four states were responsible for three-quarters of the executions that took place in the U.S. in 2024, according to a new report by the Death Penalty Information Center.
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