Church in Mexico: Pray for peace as cartel reacts after military kills its leader

Council on AI ethics formed to balance innovation with human dignity The American Enterprise Institute launched a council on artificial intelligence (AI) ethics to help ensure technological innovation promotes human dignity. Church in Mexico: Pray for peace as cartel reacts after military kills its leader The Church in Mexico urged the faithful to pray for peace after the military killed a top cartel leader and the cartel blocked roads with burning vehicles to prevent law enforcement access to towns. Christians in Kuwait offer sustenance to Muslims as Lent and Ramadan overlap “We wanted to say that the Church is an open home,” Father Suleiman Haifawi said, “and that authentic faith bears fraternity, and that practical love matters more than words.” Indian archbishop demands ‘justice’ after court halts digging up of Christian graves India’s top court has ordered a halt to the forced exhumation of tribal Christians’ remains, but Church leaders say they want more than temporary relief.

Will AI marginalize the faithful? Catholics call for ethical oversight A Brussels dialogue warns that faith-based voices risk being shut out as AI governance is shaped by technical and commercial interests alone.

The Republican Party has a Nazi problem

One of the Bible’s greatest moral revolutions*
The New York Times: The Bible explicitly commands three loves. The first and second many modern Christians and Jews cite easily — love of God and love of one’s neighbor. The third, and most often overlooked, is love of the “sojourner.”

Hegseth frames Trump policies as ‘biblical’ in address to Christian broadcasters
Religion News Service: During an address at the National Religious Broadcasters convention, the defense secretary told attendees that President Donald Trump is fighting for their faith and returning America to its Christian foundations.

The ‘Hymietown’ affair degraded Black-Jewish relations. Jesse Jackson wasn’t the real culprit*
Forward: Conventional wisdom suggests Rev. Jesse Jackson’s infamous, unfortunate, off-the-record, 1984 “Hymietown” comment radically reshaped and further degraded Black-Jewish relations. It’s true. But not for the reasons that one might imagine. 

The Republican Party has a Nazi problem*
The Atlantic: How did the GOP become a haven for slogans and ideas straight out of the Third Reich?

Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia reaches its maximum height after more than a century
The Associated Press: Barcelona’s towering Sagrada Familia basilica reached its maximum height on Friday, though the magnum opus of Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí remains years away from completion.

Washington responds to the Vatican’s refusal to join Trump’s Peace Board

Washington responds to the Vatican’s refusal to join Trump’s Peace Board

ZENIT Staff

According to Leavitt, the Holy See expressed concern that involvement might appear to compete with established U.N. peacekeeping mechanisms.

At 76 Years Old, This Is Cardinal Dolan’s New “Job”: New York Police Chaplain

Rafael Manuel Tovar

Commissioner Tisch, who is Jewish, said she chose Cardinal Timothy Dolan and Reverend A.R. Bernard as co-chaplains because they are known for their honesty and integrity.

Outgoing Chilean president asks Pope to intervene in US blockade of Cuba

ZENIT Staff

By turning to Pope Leo XIV, Boric is betting that moral authority can help unlock political space. Whether Rome will step beyond general appeals into more active engagement remains uncertain

Uganda: Muslim man stabs his son to death for converting to Christianity

This is what Pope Leo XIV’s tour of Italy will look like: these are the seven different cities he will visit in four months

Valentina di Giorgio

Altogether, seven Italian destinations are scheduled before the end of August. The Vatican rarely publishes such a dense domestic agenda so far in advance. With the Holy Year 2025—during which millions of pilgrims came to Rome—now concluded, Leo XIV appears freer to move within and beyond the Eternal City

Canon Law in a Synodal Key: Vatican Launches Eastern Commission to Revisit the CCEO

ZENIT Staff

The composition of the Commission reflects both technical expertise and interdicasterial collaboration. Members have been selected primarily from among Eastern-rite consultors of the Dicastery for Legislative Texts and the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches

Report shows that 2 out of 3 babies killed by abortion in the US owe their deaths to the abortion pill

ZENIT Staff

If the data cited in the February 2026 report hold, the epicenter of the abortion debate has shifted decisively from operating rooms to online portals — and the next chapter will likely be written in statutes governing liability, medical standards, and the limits of remote medicine

Surprise in Belgium: Catholic Church reports increase in adult baptisms. Here are the figures

ZENIT Staff

The Belgian Church itself has framed the moment with cautious optimism. Headlines in both francophone and Flemish Catholic media have noted that religion may not be as moribund as often portrayed

Questions about liturgy: The Sanctuary in Lent

ZENIT Staff

Answered by Legionary of Christ Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy and sacramental theology at the Pontifical Regina Apostolorum university.

Uganda: Muslim man stabs his son to death for converting to Christianity

ZENIT Staff

Juma, a father of four children aged 12, 10, 7, and 3, had converted to Christianity along with his wife, Nangobi Mariati, drawing ire from his family.

Armenia’s Prime Minister and the Catholicos Collide in a Struggle Over Power, Identity and the Rule of Law

ZENIT Staff

Church leaders have characterized the prosecutorial steps as unconstitutional interference. Observers within Armenia note growing pressure on religious freedom

Lefebvrians opt for schism leading to excommunication and reject Vatican offer

Jorge Enrique Mújica

Is unity primarily juridical, doctrinal, or pastoral—and can any of these be isolated from the others? By confirming the 1 July consecrations, the Society of St. Pius X signals that it sees no viable path to agreement under the current parameters. Whether this leads to a repetition of 1988 or to an unexpected last-minute intervention remains to be seen

Hallow surpasses WhatsApp and ChatGPT to become the most downloaded app in the Apple Store

ZENIT Staff

That phenomenon reflects a broader shift in how religious practice intersects with technology. For centuries, spiritual disciplines were mediated through parish life, printed missals, and devotional booklets. Today, the smartphone has become an extension of daily routine — and increasingly, of prayer life.

This Is the Official Portrait of Leo XIV Presented to the Pope by the Artist Himself

ZENIT Staff

The work has now found its permanent location in the «Hall of Congregations,» on the third floor of the Apostolic Palace.

Photo Gallery: 1,500 People Per Hour. This Was the First Day of the Historic Exhibition of the Mortal Remains of St. Francis of Assisi

ZENIT Staff

The figures are those of a great «Franciscan Jubilee»: all places for this first day were sold out, confirming expectations, with a total of approximately 18,000 people entering the Lower Church of the Basilica to pay homage to the Saint of Assisi.

Saint Francis of Assisi’s skeleton goes on public display for first time

Bay Area pastor, shot with a pepper round, files $5M claim against federal government
Religion News Service: Bautista is seeking $5 million in damages from the federal government and plans to sue the unnnamed agent individually.

Christian nationalist pastor Douglas Wilson preaches at the Pentagon
Religion Unplugged: Pastor Douglas Wilson — a self-identified Christian nationalist and paleo-Confederate — preached at the Pentagon on Feb. 17 at a monthly worship service organized by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.

Saint Francis of Assisi’s skeleton goes on public display for first time
The Guardian: Hundreds of thousands of visitors are expected for the month-long display of the 13th-century saint’s remains

How one displaced family in Gaza is observing Ramadan’s first day under a fragile ceasefire deal
The Associated Press: Ramadan arrived in Gaza under a fragile ceasefire deal, but many Palestinians there say the month’s typically festive spirit is eluding them as they grapple with the hardships of their daily lives and the grief and losses of the war.

Jerusalem Patriarch, churches say Christian Zionism threatens Christianity
Al Jazeera: Senior clergy say outside agendas are fracturing Christian unity in the Holy Land and undermining their authority.

Switch off smartphones to make 'space for silence' in Lent

Thousands convene in Assisi to pray before bones of St. Francis on first day of historic viewing

Nearly 400,000 people are expected to venerate the saint's relics while on public display through March 22.

Pope Leo XIV begins Lenten spiritual exercises led by Bishop Erik Varden Bishop Erik Varden, a Cistercian from Trondheim, Norway, is leading the Lenten spiritual exercises for the Roman Curia, which are taking place Feb. 22–27 at the Vatican. Pope says switch off smartphones to make 'space for silence' in Lent At the Angelus, Pope Leo XIV also urged an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine as the war approaches its fourth year, insisting peace “cannot be postponed.” Pope Leo XIV: Freedom is fulfilled by saying yes to God During a Lenten pastoral stop near Rome’s Termini station, the pope joked that he once considered joining the Salesians: “They came in second place, sorry!”

From a call to bring the Bible to Chinese hearts to resisting communism’s rise A 50-year-old Italian priest arrived in Singapore in 1955 with a vision to counter communism through Catholic social teaching — and planted seeds still blooming today.

Bishops continue to urge Notre Dame to reverse 'scandalous' appointment

Bishops continue to urge Notre Dame to reverse 'scandalous' appointment of pro-abortion professor More than a dozen U.S. prelates, including the leader of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, have urged the school to change course. U.S. lawmakers, state attorneys general urge FDA to block mail-order abortion drugs A roundup of recent pro-life and abortion-related news. Retiring New York Cardinal Dolan says he’s a ‘spiritual granddad’ now New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who recently retired from his role as archbishop of New York, shared his reflections on the nation’s 250th anniversary, ICE, Catholic politicians, and human dignity. Bishops of Canada, U.S. and Latin America: ‘No migrant is a stranger to the Church’ The bishops issued a statement this week emphasizing the Catholic Church's unity and solidarity with the poor, vulnerable and migrants.

Argentine priest urges bold witness after Latin Mass outside San Francisco abortion facility “We have to live without fear,” said Argentine priest Father Javier Olivera Ravasi, who hopes to inspire others to act boldly and give witness to life and faith.

San Diego Japanese Christian Church 02.22.2026

 We call this SoNoGo - South Park-North Park-Golden Hill

San Diego Japanese Christian Church

OMS Holiness Church of North America

San Diego Japanese Christian Church (SDJCC) is here to share the good news that a dynamic relationship with Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord is the key to abundant living in today’s world. Our church was founded as an outreach to Japanese speaking farmers in San Diego County over 80 years ago. SDJCC now has English and Japanese speaking ministries. It’s easy to miss, tucked away at the elbow of 19th and E streets just above Interstate 5: the Japanese American Christian Church in Golden Hill. You’d most likely drive past this humble place of worship on the way up Broadway without noticing it, but if you happened to be on a stroll down E Street looking at the nice old houses, you’d stumble upon it after the bigger homes give way to a series of California bungalows. It’s there before E turns right into 19th. Across the street from the church, a chain-link fence lines the sidewalk above the 5 where the homeless set up camp on a regular basis before they are swept out and relocated only to return again when the police shift their attention elsewhere. Historically, the church itself is a product of a relocation of a different sort. As my City College colleague, historian Susan Hasegawa informed me, it was originally founded as the Japanese Holiness Church by Christian Nikkei (immigrants and their descendents) in 1930 and located on Newton Avenue. Sponsored by the Oriental Mission Society, the church focused its efforts on outreach to Issei (first generation immigrant) farmers.

Christ United Presbyterian San Diego 02.22.2026

 

We call this SoNoGo - South Park-North Park-Golden Hill

Christ United Presbyterian Church of San Diego

What Is The Presbyterian Church (USA)

Christ United Presbyterian Church is a congregation of the Presbyterian Church (USA). Rev. Dr. Kerry Allison is the pastor of this parish church in South Park. We were established in 1981 when an invitation was extended to two churches—Brooklyn Heights Presbyterian, established in 1921 and the Golden Hill Presbyterian, established in 1956—to merge and each church accepted. The late Reverend Doctor George Walker Smith founded Golden Hill Presbyterian Church in 1956 with support from the Presbyterian Women organization. The church, located at 22nd and Market in South Park, became a human rights leader in San Diego as the congregation grew. Reverend Smith was the first black school board member in San Diego. May he rest in peace and rise in glory. Christ United continues its ministry in power and presence to the present day. All are welcome to join us in worship and togetherness. 

Makers Church 02.22.2026

 

 We call this SoNoGo - South Park-North Park-Golden Hill

Makers Church

Southern Baptists Explained in 2 Minutes

Makers church was founded in 2010 as MOSAIC San Diego. In 2017 we became Makers Church. Two years later, in another act of faith, Makers Church and North Park Baptist, a dynamic community with almost 100 years of legacy and ministry, chose to merge into something beautiful and new.