Catholic News Service

Long before she burst into the public spotlight delivering her inauguration poem, Amanda Gorman got a standing ovation from fellow parishioners of St. Brigid Church in Los Angeles for reciting a poem she wrote about the parish.

Citing "too much antagonism and competition" as well as an obvious "risk of severe injustices" in the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, the Pontifical Academy for Life called for international cooperation in setting up vaccine production sites around the world.

"In Assisi, city of peace, we rejoice for the notable step toward world peace made today with the coming into force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons," Archbishop Domenico Sorrentino said in a statement.

Hank Aaron, who was baseball's home run king for 33 years, defied racism to make his mark in the game he loved. Aaron died Jan. 22 at age 86.

President Joe Biden will revoke the so-called "Mexico City policy," which blocks U.S. funding of foreign organizations that perform and promote abortion as a form of family planning.

The archbishop of San Salvador reversed course and said Jan. 20 he would allow investigators to view church archives related to a wartime massacre.

The over 30 faith leaders who joined the online service also prayed for President Joe Biden, members of Congress, the nation's front-line workers, victims of COVID-19 and immigrants. 

Former Vatican bank president Angelo Caloia and his lawyer were found guilty of money laundering and embezzling millions of euros from property sales.

A young priest ordained only six months ago was among the casualties of an explosion at a parish center in Madrid.

Bishops across the U.S. welcomed the inauguration of President Joe Biden as a celebration of democracy and liberty, and prayed for reconciliation in the face of deep political divides.

The 46th president of the United States along with fellow Catholics and other people of goodwill began the latest chapter in the nation's political history with a Mass ahead of the presidential inauguration.

In his inaugural address Jan. 20, President Joe Biden said he is committed with his "whole soul" to bringing this country together.

The U.S. Bishops' Conference president said he was praying God will help Biden "heal the wounds caused by the pandemic, [and] to ease our intense political and culture divisions." 

Pope Francis prayed that President Joe Biden would work to heal the divisions in U.S. society and promote human dignity and peace around the globe.

Marking the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons coming into force Jan. 22, Pope Francis encouraged nations to work toward a world free from all nuclear arms.

As the Vatican health service continued vaccinating Vatican residents and employees against COVID-19, it also began offering the vaccine to homeless people who live in Vatican-owned shelters.

Unity requires prayer, love and fighting the devil, who always sows division, Pope Francis said.

The head of the San Salvador Archdiocese refused to allow a judge access to church records on one of the largest modern-day massacres in Latin America, saying Jan. 17 that he's simply protecting victims.

Joe Scheidler, founder of the Pro-Life Action League in Chicago and one of the towering figures of the pro-life movement for decades, died of pneumonia Jan. 18 at his home in Chicago's Northwest Side.

The Vatican announced that it withdrew an arrest and extradition request for Cecilia Marogna, an Italian political analyst who allegedly was hired as a consultant by Cardinal Angelo Becciu and is now accused of embezzlement. Marogna faces "imminent" trial, the Vatican said.