Saints Joachim (sometimes spelled "Joaquin," pronounced "wal-keem") and Anne, are the parents of the Virgin Mary. There are no mentions of them in the Bible or Gospels, what we know comes from Catholic legend and the Gospel of James, which is an unsanctioned, apocryphal writing form the second century AD. We do know from scholarship that the Gospel of James was not written by James, the Brother of Jesus, despite its claim to be so authored. Even the early Church fathers expressed skepticism ...

Pope Leo encourages Portuguese young people to allow their restlessness to bring them closer to God and put before Him their biggest questions and deepest desires, in a video message to those participating in the Second “Rejoice - National Youth Day” meeting in the northern city of Lamego.

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In a message to young people of Chota and Cutervo, Pope Leo XIV urges them to embrace a “holy rebellion” and transform situations of suffering into places of hope through joyful service.

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The Israeli Defence Forces are preparing an extensive operation in the West Bank following a deadly incident near the Palestinian village of Tal.

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200,000 people have been displaced in France while around 70,000 in Spain, as firefighters struggle to contain fires spreading through the two countries. Western Europe has seen exceptionally high temperatures this summer, making it harder to contain fires.

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Churches across Italy take up a nationwide collection on Sunday, 26 July, to support victims of Venezuela's devastating earthquakes, as humanitarian needs continue to grow.

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Nothing is known of St. James the Greater's early life, though it has been established that he is the son of Zebedee and Salome and brother of John the disciple. The title "the Greater" was added to St. James' name to help distinguish him from the Apostle James "the Less," who is believed to have been shorter than James "the Greater." Saint James the Greater was one of Jesus' first disciples. James was fishing with his father and John the Apostle when Jesus came to the shores of the Sea of ...

Pope Leo XIV has appointed Archbishop Christophe-Zakhia El-Kassis as the Holy See's new Permanent Observer to the United Nations in New York, where he will represent the Holy See at the UN headquarters.

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Pope Leo invites Bishops gathered in Jakarta, Indonesia, for the 12th Plenary Assembly of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences to be an ever greater sign of God's presence in their various countries, as they discuss the important issues affecting the life and future of the Catholic Church in Asia.

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As the Church celebrates the Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Fr. Marion Nguyen, OSB, offers his thoughts on the day’s liturgical readings under the theme: “The Treasure Hidden Twice."

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