In its annual report on pastoral workers killed, Fides, the news agency of the Pontifical Mission Societies, listed eight priests and five laymen. Six were killed in Africa, five in Central or South America, and two were killed in Europe.

Marking the feast of the Holy Family Dec. 29, Francis reflected on the day's Gospel reading from St. Luke in which the 12-year-old Jesus goes missing from his parents and is found in the temple of Jerusalem.

"His lifelong work on behalf of peace among nations will continue to serve as an inspiration for a world in need of peacemakers," Archbishop Timothy Broglio, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said in a statement. 

Thomas Higgins, a member of President Jimmy Carter's Cabinet, remembers a consequential president and a moral man.

NCR's 10 most-read news stories of 2024 include priests excommunicated for questioning the authority of Pope Francis, a damaged historic altar, and the U.S. bishops' conference slashing poverty, justice and peace staff.

The Life - GSR's panelists answer the following: Does your congregation have any special or unusual Advent or Christmas customs? Are there any that are characteristic of your country/culture?

The life of the church in 2024 was defined as much by what did not happen, as by what did. The most important thing that did happen was an event which was important at the tectonic level, deep underneath the surface.

At the beginning of Hanukkah, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops shared well wishes to the Jewish community. Catholics on social media responded with a less-than-Christian response.

Presidential elections, international environmental conferences, and weather-related disasters are just a few of the major environmental news stories that EarthBeat covered in 2024. Here is EarthBeat's year-end recap.

Scripture for Life: As members of the Divine One's family, we are called to learn the way of love.