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On International Conscientious Objectors Day this Sunday, Valerie Flessati, Vice President of Pax Christi will be giving a presentation about Bl Franz Jagerstatter, an Austrian farmer and conscientious objector during World War II who refused to fight for Nazi Germany because of his faith. Come and hear more about the life and witness of a different kind of hero. The talk will take place in the... Read More

Today, a coalition of British peace organisations is launching a new petition calling on the UK government to rule out military conscription, or any form of compulsory national service involving the armed forces. The petition, organised by a coalition of thirteen peace and faith organisations, comes amid growing debate about military recruitment and national service as the UK government ramps up m... Read More

Bishop John Arnold has been elected President of Caritas Europa and will serve a four-year term, starting from May 2027, whilst continuing in his role as Bishop of Salford. Elections for key positions in the organisation took place at its Regional Conference which was held in Zagreb, Croatia, from 4-7 May. Caritas Europa is a network of 49 organisations from 46 countries, and the Regional Secretar... Read More

Gospel of 15 May 2026 John 16:20-23a At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has b... Read More

A Jerusalem Voice for Justice: an ecumenical witness for equality and a just peace in Palestine/Israel In these turbulent times. May 14 commemorates the end of the British Mandate in 1948, a time when our people were driven out of their homes (the Nakba). Today, as they commemorate the 1967 occupation of Jerusalem, thousands of radical Israelis march through the city, sowing fear. Many of our chil... Read More

Pope Leo XIV has sent this Ascension Day Message to Thy Kingdom Come. 'Dear brothers and sisters, I am pleased to greet all of you taking part in this year's "Thy Kingdom Come" ecumenical prayer event, and to assure you of my spiritual closeness. Each year, during the Advent season, Christians address God with the words, "Come, Emmanuel." With great urgency we cry out for the fulfilment of Isaiah'... Read More

Bishop John Arnold, Bishop of Salford and Lead Bishop for Communications for the Bishops' Conference, has spoken ahead of the 60th World Day of Social Communication about the opportunities and pitfalls of AI, agreeing with Pope Leo that the value of artificial intelligence must never outweigh the importance of human personality and our capacity for decision-making. "We must value artificial intell... Read More

Ahead of the Buddhist feast of Vesakh, the Vatican's Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue has released its annual message to Buddhist communities worldwide, inviting Christians and Buddhists alike to walk together in cultivating what it describes as an "unarmed and disarming peace." The message, signed by Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad, Prefect of the Dicastery, and the Dicastery's Secretary, Mon... Read More

Papal biographer Christopher Lamb will be discussing Pope Leo with Julie Etchingham, journalist and newscaster from ITN News at Ten at St Mary Moorfields Church, 4/5 Eldon Street in the City of London, EC2M7LS on Monday 18 May from 6.30-7.30pm. Christopher Lamb is the Vatican correspondent for CNN. Previously he worked for The Tablet. He was also a contributor to the Vatican Insider page of La St... Read More

A student who died eight years ago has been put on the path to become the Catholic Church's first Gen Z saint, Paul Burnell writes for BBC North West today. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Salford announced overnight it had formally opened the "cause for the canonisation" of Pedro Ballester, 21, from Manchester, paving the way for a comprehensive examination of his life and writings to be presented ... Read More

Gospel of 14 May 2026 Matthew 28:16-20 At that time: The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshipped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son... Read More

Pope Leo dedicated his catechesis at the General Audience on 13 May, the feast of Our Lady of Fatima, to Our Lady, who he described as the perfect model, member and mother of the Church. As he arrived in St Peter's Square, passing through the crowds in the popemobile, Pope Leo stopped and knelt at the spot where, on this day in 1981, St John Paul II was the victim of an assassination attempt. "T... Read More

A man who encountered a "life altering and life affirming" experience while on holiday in Turkey is set to cycle 2,246 miles to Jerusalem. Andrew Foote had an "intimate and potent experience" when visiting the House of the Virgin Mary, near Ephesus, in Turkey, where she is said to have spent her final years. Such was the power of his experience, the 32-year-old will set off on his challenge - call... Read More

International Conscientious Objectors Day 2026 takes place on Friday 15th May. In addition to the National Ceremony in Tavistock Square, London from 1-2pm, there will be events in Leicester, Manchester, Oxford, Brighton, Wokingham and around the country. Why not join an event near you as we show solidarity with the courage of Conscientious Objectors past and present. You can find more details on t... Read More