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Bishops, Christian leaders call for peace, urge diplomacy as Middle East conflict escalates

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Final update: Sorrow, shock, prayer for Catholics in Middle East as US and Israel strike Iran; Khamenei now dead

Pope Leo warns of ‘irreparable abyss,’ if diplomacy doesn’t take over violence in Iran, Middle East

USCCB president echoes Pope Leo’s appeal for renewed dialogue amid rising tensions in the Middle East

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Bishops, Christian leaders call for peace, urge diplomacy as Middle East conflict escalates

In the face of the mystery of evil, Christians must be signs of hope, pope says

In first visit to Archbishop Carroll High School, cardinal urges students to ‘come closer to God’

USCCB president echoes Pope Leo’s appeal for renewed dialogue amid rising tensions in the Middle East

US bishops among supporters of lawsuit against Trump birthright citizenship executive order

Pope Leo XIV concludes retreat urging Church to live the Gospel worthily

Historian reflects on Michelangelo’s ‘Last Judgement’ with Sistine Chapel restoration underway

Full text of Pope Leo’s March 1 Angelus address

Update: Catholic clergy call for prayer, peace after US-Israel attacks on Iran, retaliatory strikes

Office of Missions-Rise Bowl

Order of Malta

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Pope Leo XIV begins his papacy

This series follows the election, installation, and early pontificate of Pope Leo XIV, offering continuing coverage of his vision, teachings, and leadership of the universal Church. From the Sistine Chapel to Saint Peter’s Square, and beyond, the Catholic Standard chronicles the first steps of this new chapter in the life of the Church.

Cardinal Robert W. McElroy, the Archbishop of Washington

Saluting the Class of 2025

Looking back at Cardinal Gregory’s service as archbishop of Washington

POntifical John Paul II Institute-Lecture

Voices

In times of conflict, pray this prayer to Saint Francis by Pope Leo

In the face of the mystery of evil, Christians must be signs of hope, pope says

Full text of Pope Leo’s March 1 Angelus address

New resources to encounter Christ this Lent 2026

Contributors

Msgr. John Enzler

Bishop Evelio Menjivar

Richard Szczepanowski

Mark Zimmermann

Galleries

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Photo Gallery: Youth Mass and March for Life

Photo Gallery: Annual Mass to honor the legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Photo Gallery: Annual Walk with Mary procession and Mass

Photo Gallery: Haitian Catholic pilgrimage to National Shrine for Jubilee Year of Hope

Photo Gallery: Commemorating Black Catholic History Month at Sacred Heart Parish

During a Nov. 15 commemoration of Black Catholic History Month at Sacred Heart Church in Bowie, Maryland, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington unveiled a new project that seeks to “honor those enslaved by the Catholic Church in Maryland.”

Photo Gallery: At White Mass, Cardinal McElroy encourages people to see as God sees, and recognize the gifts of all

Photo Gallery: Reinterment Ceremony at Brick Chapel in Historic St. Mary’s City

Photo gallery: 111 th World Day of Migrants and Refugees

Photo Gallery: Let the bells of Nagasaki echo to the world - 80th anniversary Nagasaki Peace Memorial Masses and interreligious dialogues to pray for world peace

Photo Gallery: First day of school at Sacred Heart Catholic School in Washington

Local

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In first visit to Archbishop Carroll High School, cardinal urges students to ‘come closer to God’

At Black History Month Mass, Bishop Campbell emphasizes that God is DEI

Our Lady of Lourdes Parish marks 100 years in the ‘heart of Bethesda’

Blessed Sacrament defeats St. Elizabeth’s for boys’ CYO basketball championship

US & World

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US bishops among supporters of lawsuit against Trump birthright citizenship executive order

Update: Catholic clergy call for prayer, peace after US-Israel attacks on Iran, retaliatory strikes

Students pledge to uphold Notre Dame’s pro-life ethos as march turns from protest to thanksgiving

Church leaders call for healing, reconciliation at Mass of solidarity with migrants in Minneapolis

Faith

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In times of conflict, pray this prayer to Saint Francis by Pope Leo

Pope Leo XIV concludes retreat urging Church to live the Gospel worthily

Why do the bones of St. Francis draw hundreds of thousands of pilgrims?

Our Lady of Guadalupe is the model of ‘perfect inculturation,’ Pope Leo says

Culture

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Historian reflects on Michelangelo’s ‘Last Judgement’ with Sistine Chapel restoration underway

Review: “David: King of Israel”

Team USA’s hockey gold honors Catholic hockey star tragically killed with brother in 2024

New Knights of Columbus video series explores ‘dignity of work,’ how it ‘builds virtue’

Junior Saints

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Junior Saints: How students are drawing closer to Jesus during Lent

Junior Saints for 2026 Catholic Schools Week: ‘What I like about my Catholic school’

Junior Saints Christmas 2025 artwork and writings

November Junior Saints: Like St. Thérèse, students show their own ‘Little Way’ of drawing closer to Jesus

Care for Creation

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Care for Creation

Caring for creation this Lent

Laudato Trees celebrates planting 1,000 trees in Archdiocese of Washington

Believers must care for the poor and creation, pope says

‘Creation is crying out,’ pope says in new message to COP30