CatholicPhilly presents a weekly roundup of international news from Vatican News, the official news portal of the Holy See. The following report on the week of Jan. 25, 2026 links to stories on VaticanNews.va.
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As the world observed International Holocaust Remembrance Day Jan. 27, this week Pope Leo XIV appealed to the world that the horror of genocide never again be inflicted on people. He also reiterated that the Catholic Church rejects all forms of antisemitism.
Meanwhile at the site of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp, speakers recalled the “guiding light” of the camp’s liberation, and warned against forgetting its lessons.
The Church in Africa
Pope Leo offered words of consolation for the people of Mozambique suffering through destructive recent flooding. In sections of Africa, one year’s worth of rain fell in just 10 days, all because of climate change, according to a new study.
Even amidst wars, tribalism and other conflicts on the continent, the pope praised the Catholic Church in Africa as a “living, strong, dynamic reality.”
Ukraine War Grinds On; Ceasefires Hold Amidst Suffering
With war continuing in Ukraine – Russian attacks on cities continued as peace talks stalled — and other regions, the pope renewed his appeals for an “unarmed peace,” as did the Holy See and numerous international diplomats.
In Syria, humanitarian concern remains even as one United Nations aid convoy arrived in the region where a ceasefire is holding.
While a ceasefire in Gaza brings a measure of hope, according to the U.N., children are still dying in the beleaguered Palestinian enclave.
Violence in United States Called ‘Unacceptable’
Following killings of civilians by federal agents in Minneapolis, the Catholic bishops of the United States urged respect for human life and prayers for peace in the face of escalating tensions.
The head of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Archbishop Paul Coakley, said the “current climate of fear and polarization, which thrives when human dignity is disregarded, does not meet the standard set by Christ in the Gospel.”
He called for Holy Hours for Peace across the country as a step toward healing and renewal in the country.
Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin called the situation of violence in the U.S. “unacceptable.”
The U.S. bishops also urged the Trump administration to extend protection for some 300,000 Haitians in the U.S., after the administration revoked their Temporary Protective Status. They face disorderly return to the violence, lawlessness and gang domination of Haiti.
Voters Seen as ‘a Moral Force’
The bishops of Thailand called on Catholics of that country to be “a moral force” and “social conscience” ahead of the general election.
Consecrated Religious’ Presence in Times of Trial
Vatican officials pointed to the example of consecrated women and men as a constant presence and Gospel witness in times of “fragility and trial” around the world.
Word of God Remains Our Guide
Pope Leo continued his weekly catechesis on the Second Vatican Council’s document on the Word of God, Dei Verbum, this week. Scripture, said the pope, is “a living and organic reality” that remains Christians’ guide through “our journey through the complexity of history and existence.”
Olympics: ‘Promoting Welcome, Solidarity, and Peace’
Elsewhere Pope Leo noted the coming Winter Olympic Games to take place next month in Italy. In a message, he prayed that “healthy competition” at the Olympics might “help build bridges between cultures and peoples, promoting welcome, solidarity, and peace.”
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