Religion and belief As religious tensions rise, synagogues and other houses of worship in Maine look to beef up security cca It’s been seven years since Scott Nussinow became the chair of a new safety and security committee at Temple… March 20, 2026 • By SEAN SCOTT — The Maine Monitor
Arts Giant Baby Jesus statue visits Mexico City’s Tepito neighborhood with message of peace cca MEXICO CITY – His face and body resemble those of a newborn. Yet the Baby Jesus statue towers 16… March 15, 2026 • By MARÍA TERESA HERNÁNDEZ — The Associated Press
Crime Pope announces resignation of U.S. bishop accused of embezzling $270K from California parish cca EL CAJON, Calif. – The bishop of a small Chaldean Catholic community in the San Diego area has resigned… March 14, 2026 • By GREGORY BULL, CHRISTOPHER WEBER and DEEPA BHARATH — The Associated Press
Architecture The travertine quarries that built ancient Rome are carving rock for a new generation of temples cca TIVOLI, Italy – Long ago, when Romans wanted to build a new temple, they would head to the nearby… March 6, 2026 • By NICOLE WINFIELD and FRANCESCA PRIMAVILLA — The Associated Press
History Display of St. Francis of Assisi’s bones confirms enduring appeal of relics for Christians cca ASSISI, Italy – The bones of St. Francis of Assisi went on public display for the first time Feb.… February 27, 2026 • By NICOLE WINFIELD and GREGORIO BORGIA — The Associated Press
Religion and belief Kosovo’s Catholics and Muslims mark Ash Wednesday and Ramadan in one week cca PRISTINA, Kosovo – Kosovo’s religious diversity came to light this week as the Balkan nation’s Christian and Muslim communities… February 20, 2026 • By ZANA CIMILI — The Associated Press
Pope Pope laments ‘ashes of international law’ left by today’s conflicts in Ash Wednesday liturgy cca ROME – Pope Leo XIV opened the church’s penitential Lenten season by presiding over Ash Wednesday and lamenting the… February 20, 2026
Arts Emerging artists making rap, Afrobeats and R&B music push Christian genre boundaries cca A new wave of artists is transcending traditional notions of Christian music, drawing young global audiences to faith-based rap,… February 13, 2026 • By CHARLOTTE KRAMON — The Associated Press
Indigenous people From southern India to Canada’s far north: New archbishop serves Indigenous Catholics cca As a teenager in southern India, Susai Jesu led 4:30 a.m. prayer services in his small Catholic village before… February 7, 2026 • By PETER SMITH — The Associated Press
Music Priest by day, DJ by night: Padre Guilherme’s rave in Beirut draws cheers and controversy Portuguese Catholic priest and deejay Guilherme Peixoto, performs during a concert in Beirut, Lebanon, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, after a… January 17, 2026 • By MALAK HARB and HUSSEIN MALLA — The Associated Press
Pope Pope to visit Spain this year, with stops in Madrid, Barcelona and Canary Islands, cardinal says Pope Leo XIV meets faithfuls at the end of his weekly general audience in the Paul XI Hall at the… January 12, 2026 • By NICOLE WINFIELD — The Associated Press
conflicts and war The pope in a major foreign policy address blasts how countries are using force to assert dominion Pope Leo XIV holds his weekly general audience in the Paul XI Hall at the Vatican on Wednesday, Jan. 7,… January 12, 2026 • By NICOLE WINFIELD — The Associated Press
Haiti U.S. faith leaders supporting targeted immigrants brace for a tough year ahead Parishioners of Notre Dame d'Haiti process outside the Catholic church during a Lent that reenacted the biblical story of the… January 4, 2026 • By DAVID CRARY, GIOVANNA DELL’ORTO, LUIS ANDRES HENAO and TIFFANY STANLEY — The Associated Press
Entertainment (general) Faith-based entertainment sees a revival in Hollywood. Defining what it is can be a challenge This image shows a still from the series “Martin Scorsese Presents: The Saints.” (Fox Nation via AP)cca Hollywood, it seems,… December 21, 2025 • By KRYSTA FAURIA — The Associated Press
Mental health Faith leaders embrace sound baths to connect with spiritual seekers Renee Noa Harris leads a sound bath at Temple Emanuel on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (AP… December 14, 2025 • By DEEPA BHARATH — The Associated Press
Pope Pope in Lebanon asks for ‘divine gift of peace’ alongside country’s Christian and Muslim leaders Pope Leo XIV, center, attends an ecumenical and interreligious meeting at Martyrs’ Square in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, Monday, Dec. 1,… December 1, 2025 • By NICOLE WINFIELD, KAREEM CHEHAYEB and ABBY SEWELL — The Associated Press
History Israeli survivors of Kristallnacht mark 87th anniversary of Nazi riots amid rising antisemitism Holocaust survivors Walter Bingham, 101, center, George Shefi, 94, right, and Paul Alexander, 87, talk as they pose for a… November 16, 2025 • By MELANIE LIDMAN — The Associated Press
Election Mamdani’s historic win as New York City’s mayor sparks excitement and hope among many US Muslims Zohran Mamdani speaks after winning the mayoral election, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura) Many are… November 9, 2025 • By MARIAM FAM — The Associated Press
Architecture Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia becomes the world’s tallest church The Sagrada Familia basilica, which became the world’s tallest church after a section of its central tower was lifted into… November 2, 2025 • By JOSEPH WILSON — The Associated Press
Indigenous people Vatican will return dozens of artifacts to Indigenous groups in Canada as gesture of reconciliation Pope Francis dons a headdress during a visit with Indigenous peoples at Maskwaci, the former Ermineskin Residential School, on Monday,… October 26, 2025 • By NICOLE WINFIELD — The Associated Press
Briefs St. Mark’s to hold blessing of new window St. Mark’s Episcopal Church will hold a blessing for its new stained-glass window on Nov. 2. (Courtesy) St. Mark’s Episcopal… October 25, 2025
Pope Pope urges Italy to remain open to migrants during rite of passage visit to presidential palace Pope Leo XIV is welcomed by Italian President Sergio Mattarella as he arrives at the Quirinale Presidential Palace in Rome… October 19, 2025 • By NICOLE WINFIELD — The Associated Press
Pope Vatican names judges for trial of former Jesuit artist Rupnik accused of abuse by over 20 women A mosaic by ex-Jesuit artist Marko Rupnik is seen on the main facade of the Church of Our Lady of… October 19, 2025 • By NICOLE WINFIELD — The Associated Press
Pope El Paso bishop brings pope desperate letters from migrants in crosshairs of US crackdown Bishop of El Pass Mark Joseph Seitz talks about the situation at the U.S. border with Mexico at the Vatican… October 12, 2025 • Nicole Winfield — The Associated Press