Clemente Lisi
(ANALYSIS) The execution of 19-year-old wrestler Saleh Mohammadi by Iran’s tyrannical regime is not just another macabre hanging in the theocracy’s escalating use of capital punishment, but a revealing incident in how the state confronts ongoing dissent.
Church leaders across the United States are increasingly embracing technology as a vital part of ministry — even as concerns about authenticity, privacy and spiritual impact continue to shape how digital tools are used, according to a new report.
The island unfolds as a constellation of churches and cathedrals. Malta is often said to have more churches per square mile than any other country in the world. Whether or not that statistic is exact is debatable, but the impression is undeniable. While St. Paul’s arrival links Malta to the early church, Caravaggio’s genius shows just how powerful this belief has been over the centuries.
(ANALYSIS) The NCAA men’s basketball tournament once again features a strong group of religiously affiliated schools, particularly those with Catholic and Protestant traditions. These programs bring a mix of championship expectations and underdog potential into this season’s March Madness. The action all starts with a glut of first round games.
Young men in America are redefining adulthood, prioritizing personal responsibility and financial independence over traditional milestones like marriage and parenthood. Many face economic uncertainty, mental health struggles and doubts about college’s value — yet remain hopeful about meaningful work and family. Trade careers are gaining appeal as paths to stability and adulthood.
(ANALYSIS) It’s Oscars season and some of Hollywood’s most notable films about religion — from “Ben-Hur” to “A Man for All Seasons” — were made many decades ago. Why do explicitly faith-centered films appear less often in mainstream Hollywood today? How does spirituality continue to shape storytelling in different ways? We answer all these questions and more.
(ANALYSIS) The appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as Iran’s new supreme leader on Sunday marks a pivotal moment for the country’s political and religious future — and for the religious minorities who have long lived under the constraints of the Islamic Republic’s theocratic government. As the war rages on, it remains to be seen what his elevation means for Iran and the region.
(ESSAY) Lou Holtz’s story was about more than football. The sideline antics, his gravelly voice and the championships made him one of the most recognizable men in college football. To measure Holtz only by wins and trophies would miss the deeper truth about him. His life was built on something stronger — a Catholic faith that shaped nearly every decision he made.
This five-year housing target — one of the boldest by a British government in a generation — was enshrined in the Labour Party’s promises and embedded in policy through planning reforms and legislative frameworks looking at speeding up development and cutting through bureaucratic inertia. However, will there be room for houses of worship to be built?
The summit unfolded against a backdrop of escalating geopolitical tension, coinciding with U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Iran that resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the prospect of regime change in a country gripped by Shi’a rule for nearly 50 years. For many of the attendees who flew to Malta, regime change in Iran is the start of a new era.
(ANALYSIS) Before the start of the Winter Paralympics, a 70-member choir from Abbiategrasso performed in Milan, promoting inclusion of people with disabilities. Backed by the archdiocese’s outreach, the concert highlighted unity over segregation, echoing Paralympic values and urging communities to “change the game” so everyone can participate.
(ANALYSIS) Understanding this distinction can help get past oversimplified narratives. The Middle East’s conflicts are not simply ancient religious feuds. They are modern political struggles shaped by history, identity and political interests. Here’s what you need to know about Sunni and Shia Islam — and how it impacts Iran and the current situation there.
(ANALYSIS) Imagine a world where crimes are stopped before they even take place. Science fiction has imagined this world, most famously in the 2002 film “Minority Report,” where society can predict criminal acts and allow authorities to intervene in advance. Thanks to AI, this dystopian reality could be coming to your neighborhood in the not-so-distant future.
As the calendar prepares to flip to March, the race to secure a spot in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament has intensified. With Selection Sunday scheduled for March 15 looming, schools across the country are jockeying for position — some fighting to improve their seeding, while others want to remain on the bubble hoping to be selected.
Romantasy is the literary genre that has become all the rage around the world. Combining imaginative scope of fantasy with the emotional intensity of romance, these books use love as a central narrative driver. At the same time, the setting provides a chance for world-building and supernatural elements that heighten the stakes of romance.
The Pew study measured diversity by dividing the global population into seven categories — Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Jews, followers of other religions and people with no religious affiliation — and assessing how evenly those groups are distributed within each country.
Catholic pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai was sentenced on Monday to 20 years behind bars in one of the most prominent prosecutions under a China-imposed national security law that has reshaped Hong Kong’s political landscape.
Behind the medals and records, some Olympians say faith and spirituality play a meaningful role in how they train and compete. Faith can offer athletes a framework for resilience, especially in a world defined by so much pressure and scrutiny. This year’s Winter Games in Milan/Cortina will conclude on Feb. 22.
(ESSAY) In a world where reporters cover the Vatican more like a political state rather than a religious institution, John occupied a rare space, even rarer these days. The longtime Rome correspondent explained things — both fairly and with plenty of context — to a world largely unfamiliar with how the Vatican works.
Catholic affiliation is declining across much of Latin America, while the number of religiously unaffiliated adults is rising sharply, according to a new Pew Research Center survey. Despite these shifts, belief in God, prayer and the personal importance of religion remain widespread throughout the region.
El dominio histórico de la Iglesia católica en América Latina continúa debilitándose, incluso cuando la mayoría de las personas en la región sigue siendo profundamente religiosa, según nuevos datos de encuestas del Pew Research Center.
(ANALYSIS) Iran’s leaders warned the United States and Israel of retaliation as nationwide protests challenged the Islamic Republic’s theocracy. Facing mounting deaths and unrest, Iranian officials framed dissent as foreign-backed chaos, tightened repression and escalated external threats, revealing a regime prioritizing clerical survival over popular consent.
(REVIEW) “The Gridiron Gospel” is a wonderful addition to the study of religion and sport. It focuses on schools like Notre Dame, BYU and Liberty University. Historian Hunter M. Hampton convincingly shows that college football was not just shaped by faith, but actively helped form how millions of Americans understood Christianity throughout the twentieth century.
(ANALYSIS) Pope Leo XIV used an annual address to Vatican diplomats to warn that global politics had shifted toward militarism and force. Without naming any political leaders, he criticized war, erosion of international law and weakened human rights, positioning the Holy See as a moral counterweight to rising geopolitical tensions in many places around the world.
Did a touch of the divine play a key role in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ dramatic AFC North title clincher? Steelers fans — especially if you’re Catholic — certainly believe so. Father Maximilian Maxwell sprinkled holy water in one end zone — the same one where Baltimore Ravens kicker Tyler Loop missed as time ran out.
Pope Leo XIV urged respect for Venezuela’s sovereignty and human rights on Sunday, saying he had been following events of the last two days with deep concern after the U.S. ousted dictator Nicolas Maduro. The pope called for peace and justice, while Venezuelan bishops expressed solidarity with victims and prayed for national unity.
(ANALYSIS) The hit Netflix series “Stranger Things” has consistently woven religious symbolism into its supernatural horror storytelling. Nowhere is this more striking than in the way the villain Vecna functions as a dark, inverted reflection of Jesus — especially in the show’s fifth and final season.
(ANALYSIS) With 2025 now behind us, it was a year filled with significant developments in religion, faith and spirituality — and 2026 is likely to be just as eventful. Here are five key religion-related issues and trends to watch for over the next 12 months in the U.S. and throughout the world.
(ANALYSIS) For the first time since 2022, a giant Christmas tree glows over Bethlehem. Its red, green and yellow lights shimmer above Manger Square, casting warm light on the West Bank city. As thousands flood the area this time of year, the scene looks like a return to normality. The last time Bethlehem held a public Christmas celebration was before the 10/7 attacks.
(ANALYSIS) Cesar Chavez, revered labor leader and co-founder of the United Farm Workers, built a legacy of nonviolent activism rooted in the Catholic faith. New allegations of decades-old sexual abuse now challenge his image, raising questions about power, morality and how society should reassess historical figures and their complicated legacies.