Catholic News Service

 Father Paul Hartmann, a priest of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, has been appointed associate general secretary of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, effective in May.

Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles and Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr of Cincinnati are rooting for their home team in Super Bowl LVI.

Pope Francis was among those showing their support for retired Pope Benedict XVI, sending his predecessor "a beautiful letter," according to the former pope's secretary.

The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act has cleared all the hurdles and awaits a final vote in the Senate in the coming weeks.

People have a right to life, not to death, which must be welcomed but never provoked, Pope Francis said.

Male-female relationships based on "discrimination and submission" lead to the exploitation and humiliation of thousands of women and girls each year, Pope Francis said.

The former Anglican bishop of Chester, England, has joined the Catholic Church.

The major archbishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Church reiterated concerns of some of his Baltic neighbors, saying that Ukraine might be on the front lines of a Russian threat, but the threat extends beyond Ukraine.

Members of El Salvador's ruling party face criticism and ridicule after questioning the rector of Jesuit-run Central American University.

The Synodal Path of the Catholic Church in Germany wants laypeople to be able to participate in choosing bishops and wants the church to have women deacons.

The Catholic Church worldwide is showing good progress and "much joy" after the opening of the synodal process, but there also have been some "uncertainties" and challenges, said the ordinary council of the Synod of Bishops.

Formally installing catechists and lectors into their roles as lay leaders in the church is especially important as a recognition for women and men in places like the Amazon region.

Catholic leaders are encouraging people of faith to get involved in lobbying efforts against capital punishment and to discuss the issue in their parishes and with family members.

Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted of Phoenix said baptisms performed by a priest during years of ministry in the diocese are invalid, leading to the resignation of the clergyman Feb. 1.

People must "reject all forms of racism, bigotry and injustice" and recognize "we are each made by God and are deserving of respect and dignity because of just that," Washington Cardinal Wilton D. Gregory said.

 Paulist Father René Constanza, who has served as rector of the Cathedral of St. Andrew in Grand Rapids, Michigan, since 2018, is the new president of the Paulist Fathers.

Retired Bishop Remi De Roo, the last surviving Canadian, English-speaking bishop to take part in the Second Vatican Council more than 50 years ago, died Feb. 1. He was 97.

The opening of a new apostolic nunciature in the United Arab Emirates is a testament to fraternity and goodwill between Muslims and Christians, said Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra.

As many state legislatures consider restrictive abortion measures in current legislative sessions, the Catholic conferences in these states are paying close attention to these bills and urging Catholics to advocate for them.

Recent survey finds a majority favored a path to citizenship for those who are in the country without legal permission