News

• 
  21 January 2026
  AFRICA/NIGERIA - Kidnapping of 177 Christians confirmed: "No Catholics among those kidnapped" Abuja (Agenzia Fides) – Nigerian authorities have confirmed the mass kidnapping of nearly 200 faithful from several churches on Sunday, January 18, in Kurmin Wali, in the Local Government Area of Kajuru in the State of ...
• 
  21 January 2026
  EUROPE/RUSSIA - Prayer for Christian unity at the Catholic Cathedral in Moscow Moscow (Agenzia Fides) – “Unity is not a utopia. Only facts make it possible to overcome divisions,” said Archbishop Paolo Pezzi of the Archdiocese of the Mother of God in Moscow on Tuesday, January 20, during the ...
• 
  20 January 2026
  AMERICA/COSTA RICA - Bishops in view of the elections: forming consciences, illuminating with the Gospel, and reawakening the civic commitment of the faithful San José (Agenzia Fides) – The mission of the Church is “to form consciences, illuminate with the Gospel, and reawaken the civic commitment of the faithful.” This is the message from the bishops of Costa Rica in v ...
• 
  20 January 2026
  The Churches in the Holy Land and “Christian Zionism” Jerusalem (Agenzia Fides) – A recent joint statement by the Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem addresses the themes of “unity” and “representation” among the Christian communities in the Holy Lan ...
• 
  20 January 2026
  AFRICA/NIGERIA - Authorities in Kaduna State deny the kidnapping of more than 100 faithful from several Christian churches Abuja (Agenzia Fides) – “The news is completely false; we have no evidence of any such attack,” said Sule Shuaibu, Commissioner for Internal Security in Kaduna State, refuting to the press the reports of the allege ...
• 
  20 January 2026
  ASIA/MYANMAR - A statue of Carlo Acutis in Myitkyina: an example of youthful holiness for young Burmese people amid the current crisis Myitkyina (Agenzia Fides) – The Diocese of Myitkyina, capital of Kachin State, a region ravaged by intense fighting in the ongoing civil war, has erected a statue of Carlo Acutis in the Cathedral of St. Columbanus. The ...
• 
  20 January 2026
  AFRICA/UGANDA - President Museveni claims responsibility for the arrest of the priest reported missing in early December Kampala (Agenzia Fides) – “We will only release Father Deusdedit Ssekabira if he confesses the truth,” said Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni on January 18 in his speech celebrating his victory in the January 15 pr ...
• 
  19 January 2026
  ASIA/PHILIPPINES - Cardinal Tagle: Apostolic succession is succession in mission Manila (Agenzia Fides) – Bishops are successors of the Apostles. And the apostolic succession they receive at the moment of their episcopal ordination is a succession in the mission that Jesus himself entrusted to his ...
• 
  19 January 2026
  ASIA/INDIA - Claretian priest: "In Manipur, ethnic groups remain divided in the search of a new path of coexistence and dialogue" Imphal (Agenzia Fides) - "As things stand, reconciliation in the state of Manipur is still premature. As far as I can see, there is still resentment in people's hearts, much suffering, and psychological trauma. It will ...
• 19 January 2026
  ASIA/INDONESIA - Resignation of Bishop of Bogor and appointment of Apostolic Administrator sede vacante et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral governance of the Diocese of Bogor presented by His Excellency Msgr. Paskalis Bruno Syukur, O.F.M. The Holy Father has app ...
• 
  19 January 2026
  AFRICA/ETHIOPIA - Spiritans committed to tackling youth unemployment and fostering economic self-reliance Chencha (Agenzia Fides) – Thirty young participants from the mountainous village of Chencha, including 19 women, reflecting the Catholic Church's commitment to gender-inclusive development, took part in the School-Cent ...
• 
  19 January 2026
  AFRICA/NIGERIA - Father Bobbo Paschal released after two months in the hands of his kidnappers Abuja (Agenzia Fides) - After two months in prison, Father Bobbo Paschal, parish priest of St. Stephen's Parish Church in the Kushe Gudgu Kagarko Local Government Area (LGA), of Kaduna State (northern Nigeria), is free a ...
• 
  18 January 2026
  EUROPE/SPAIN - Missionary Childhood Day: “Your life, a mission” Madrid (Agenzia Fides) – In 2025, over 700,000 children benefited from donations collected by the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) in Spain for 473 projects in 36 countries. On Sunday, January 18, the Spanish childre ...
• 
  17 January 2026
  ASIA/INDIA - Saint Lazarus Devasahayam: Patron Saint of the Catholic Laity Kottar (Agenzia Fides) – Saint Lazarus Devasahayam (1712–1752) rejected the caste system and upheld the dignity of every human being. This was emphasized by the Apostolic Nuncio to India and Nepal, Archbishop Leopold ...
• 
  17 January 2026
  AFRICA/UGANDA - Leading one's own killers to salvation: the Christian adventure of missionary Raffaele Di Bari Kampala (Agenzia Fides) – “Without a doubt, the martyr Father Raffaele has been and continues to be a gift to our diocesan Church. A man of great freedom and great love for every person. Despite the dangers and the g ...