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Catholic Church
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- 1Pope Leo urges Church in France to nurture seeds of faith▼Pope Leo calls on Church in France to nuture seeds of faith
Pope Leo has called on the Catholic Church in France to nurture the seeds of faith, encouraging renewed evangelisation in a country where religious practice has been steadily declining. The appeal was carried by Vatican News. Observers see the message as part of his early efforts to reinvigorate Catholic life in secularised European societies.
- 2Pope Leo confronts church scandals during visit to Lourdes●At sacred Lourdes, Pope Leo confronts a new reminder of the church’s sins
Pope Leo visited Lourdes, the famed French Catholic pilgrimage site, where he faced a fresh reminder of the church's history of abuse and wrongdoing. The Washington Post reports on how the pontiff's stop at one of Catholicism's most sacred shrines became an occasion to reckon with the institution's sins, drawing attention as the new pope navigates the church's ongoing credibility crisis.
- 3Illinois church of Blessed Sheen's baptism joins first parish named for him▼Blessed Sheen’s baptismal church in Illinois to be part of world’s first parish named for him
St. Peter's Church in El Paso, Illinois, where Fulton Sheen was baptized, is set to become part of the world's first parish named after the Blessed. The consolidation of parishes in the Peoria diocese will mark the first time a parish bears Sheen's name, honoring the beloved American bishop, broadcaster, and author.
- 4Pope Leo holds outdoor mass in Paris, visits Lourdes●Pope Leo celebrates 'monumental' outdoor mass in Paris, visits Lourdes
Pope Leo celebrated what he described as a monumental outdoor mass in Paris and then travelled to Lourdes, one of the Catholic Church's most visited pilgrimage sites. The trip drew broad attention as a significant moment for French Catholics and for the new pontiff's early travels, with crowds gathering in both cities.
- 5France's 'digital missionaries' fuel baptism boom●How France's 'digital missionaries' are fueling a baptism boom
France's Catholic Church is seeing a surge in adult baptisms, driven in part by young evangelists dubbed 'digital missionaries' who spread faith content online. Their social media outreach is credited with drawing new converts, particularly among young adults, in a country long considered one of Europe's most secular. Observers say the trend marks a notable reversal for the Church.
- 6Illinois parish where Blessed Fulton Sheen was baptized to bear his name●Blessed Sheen’s baptismal parish in Illinois to be first in world named for him
St. Mary's Parish in El Paso, Illinois, where Bishop Fulton Sheen was baptized, is set to become the first church in the world named for the now-beaten archbishop and pioneering televangelist. The renaming honors one of the most prominent American Catholic figures of the 20th century, and it is being reported by Catholic media as a notable milestone for the local parish and his legacy.