Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond of New Orleans offered prayers for victims of what he described as a “sign of utter disrespect for human life” perpetrated by a man who drove a Ford pickup truck through crowds celebrating the New Year in New Orleans’ French Quarter around 3:15 a.m. Jan. 1. At least 15 people were reportedly killed, with around 35 others injured.
Offering his condolences, Pope Francis praised former U.S. President Jimmy Carter’s Christian faith and his lifelong mission to advance peace.
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.
President Joe Biden has commuted the death sentences of 37 individuals on federal death row, a move that almost fulfills a longstanding request of the American bishops.
President-elect Donald Trump on Dec. 20 announced his intention to appoint Brian Burch, currently the president of CatholicVote, as the next U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See.
As many as 3,000 Catholic school children from poor families in the Philippines made their pop music debut in a new Christmas song by some members of the multi-platinum hip-hop/pop group Black Eyed Peas.
Pope Francis will meet with outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden at the Vatican Jan. 10 to discuss efforts to promote peace worldwide, the White House’s press secretary said.
The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, the nation’s patronal church, has been named a special place of pilgrimage for the Catholic Church’s Jubilee Year 2025, the theme for which is “Pilgrims of Hope.”
A historic year in American politics saw former President Donald Trump elected to a second term in the Oval Office four years after he lost his run for a consecutive term. Trump’s second election to the White House concluded a tumultuous campaign season that included two assassination attempts against him, his original Democratic rival President Joe Biden stepping down in favor of Vice President Kamala Harris as the party’s nominee, and his own continued claims, without evidence, that the 2020 election was stolen from him.
Police in Madison, Wisconsin, said they are investigating a mass shooting at that city’s Abundant Life Christian School Dec. 16 that left at least two killed and six injured, authorities said. The gunman is also dead, they said.
