The monks of La Trappe Abbey in Normandy may leave their monastery in 2028, the abbey announced—a move that could bring to an end 900 years of Cistercian monastic presence in Soligny-la-Trappe, formerly known as “La Grande Trappe.”
Europe
Posted inNews
Pope Leo XIV to embark on 10-day Africa tour and trips to Spain and Monaco
The Vatican said peace and care for the poor will be central themes of the African journey, which will also bring him in the footsteps of St. Augustine.
Posted inNews
Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia reaches its maximum height after more than a century
Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia church has reached its maximum height with the placement of a cross on its central Tower of Jesus Christ.
Posted inNews
Pope’s grand tour of Italy over the next few months takes him to Lampedusa and beyond
Pope Leo XIV will visit ground zero of Europe’s migration drama, the Sicilian island of Lampedusa, in May and also minister to Italians poisoned by years of toxic dumping by the mafia.
Posted inNews
Olympic skater aims to honor Italy’s Catholic culture with ‘Conclave’ program
“The pope is dead.” These words will dramatically ring out across Olympic ice as Italian figure skater Daniel Grassl begins his long program to music from the movie “Conclave” in the men’s figure skating final event Feb. 13
Posted inDispatches
The church in Spain wins an immigration victory after ‘royal decree’ offers amnesty to 500,000
As hostility toward immigrants in Europe and the United States is on the rise, Spain stands out as one of the few states that remains welcoming to migrants.
Posted inDispatches
A former Irish president’s provocative argument: Is infant baptism a threat to human rights?
McAleese desribes baptism as a kind of recruitment tool that ignores how children, as they mature, should be able to freely decide their own religious identity, noting that canon law acknowledges no right to exit Catholicism.
Posted inNews
Paris archdiocese convenes council in response to historic rise in converts
Nationwide, the number of adult baptisms skyrocketed to 17,800 catechumens baptized during the Easter Vigil on April 19, 2025.
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Bishop who led controversial German Synodal Way will not seek reelection as conference president
The German Synodal Way’s push for revising established church teachings on homosexuality, women’s ordination and priestly celibacy prompted concerns by bishops around the world.
Posted inPolitics & Society, Short Take
The U.S. military must make clear to Trump: Invading Greenland would be a war crime.
Should U.S. military personnel obey an order from their commander in chief to invade Greenland?
The violations of international law such an invasion would cause make it clear what the answer should be: No.