A Chicago microbrewery has released a beer named “Da Pope” in honor of Pope Leo XIV, the Vatican has launched a brand-new official mobile app, and the world’s oldest purpose-built Christian church has just opened its doors to the public.

In this week’s episode of Church Headlines, we cover stories from Rome, the Middle East, Europe, and the Americas — highlighting moments where faith, culture, technology, and global politics intersect in the life of the Catholic Church.

In today’s episode of Church Headlines, Br. Darius Lawrence walks you through:

- A Chicago microbrewery’s tribute beer honoring Pope Leo XIV

- The reopening of the world’s oldest purpose-built Christian church in Jordan

- The Vatican’s launch of its new official institutional mobile app

- Israel’s ban on Caritas International and other humanitarian organizations

- Early preparations for a possible papal visit to Spain in 2026

- A Catholic AI platform inspired by Our Lady of Guadalupe- Pope Leo XIV’s decision to hold annual consistories with

cardinals

- The Pope’s meeting with Venezuelan leader and Nobel laureate Maria Corina Machado

Welcome to @ChurchHeadlines where we bring you regular news recaps about what is happening in the Catholic Church throughout the world!

📰 Church News without the noise.

🕵‍♂ We read it all—so you don’t have to.

🇻🇦 2 Catholic seminarians in Rome reporting what matters.

Would you like to support us financially in our mission?

Link: https://secure.acceptiva.com/?cst=a75070

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For further reading about this week's stories, here are some online articles:

– Chicago brewery releases “Da Pope” beer for Pope Leo XIV: https://zenit.org/2025/11/30/a-beer-created-in-chicago-is-dedicated-to-leo-xiv/

– World’s oldest purpose-built Christian church opens in Jordan: https://zenit.org/2025/12/23/the-worlds-oldest-church-has-been-found-where-is-it-what-is-it-like-and-how-can-you-visit-it/

– Vatican launches official institutional mobile app: https://zenit.org/2026/01/04/vatican-city-launches-institutional-app/

– Caritas International banned in Gaza and West Bank: https://zenit.org/2026/01/03/the-jewish-state-of-israel-bans-caritas-the-charitable-arm-of-the-church-and-more-than-20-humanitarian-organizations-from-gaza/

– Possible papal visit to Spain in 2026: https://zenit.org/2026/01/04/pope-leo-xvi-to-visit-spain-heres-everything-we-know-so-far/

– Catholic AI platform Juanito.ai expands formation efforts: https://zenit.org/2025/12/10/juanito-ai-takes-a-bold-leap-from-guadalupan-ai-to-platform-for-catholic-formation/

– Pope Leo XIV announces annual consistories: https://zenit.org/2026/01/08/cardinals-will-return-to-rome-for-a-new-consistory-in-june-2026-requested-by-pope-leo-xiv/

– Pope meets Venezuelan leader Maria Corina Machado: https://zenit.org/2026/01/12/pope-leo-xiv-receives-nobel-prize-laureate-maria-corina-machado-this-is-what-the-venezuelan-leader-asked-him/

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⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 – Intro

00:17 – Chicago brewery releases “Da Pope” beer for Pope Leo XIV

00:53 – World’s oldest purpose-built Christian church opens in Jordan

01:28 – Vatican launches official institutional mobile app

02:16 – Caritas International banned in Gaza and West Bank

02:57 – Possible papal visit to Spain in 2026

03:25 – Catholic AI platform Juanito.ai expands formation efforts

04:01 – Pope Leo XIV announces annual consistories

04:44 – Pope meets Venezuelan leader Maria Corina Machado

05:16 – Outro

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Music track: Downtown by Moavii

Source: https://freetouse.com/music

Vlog Music for Video

Vogue magazine has just named Pope Leo XIV one of the best-dressed people of 2025 — placing the Holy Father alongside global celebrities and reigniting discussion about symbolism, tradition, and authority in papal attire. But that’s only one of the major stories making headlines this week in the Catholic Church.

From Rome to the Americas and beyond, this episode of Church Headlines covers key developments shaping the life of the Church today — from Vatican governance and global religious freedom to cultural moments that place the papacy firmly in the public spotlight.

In today’s episode of Church Headlines, Br. Darius Lawrence walks you through:

- Why Vogue magazine praised Pope Leo XIV’s papal wardrobe

- A major upcoming consistory involving the entire College of Cardinals

- Renewed scrutiny surrounding leadership in the Anglican Church over mishandled ab*se cases

- The opening of the new John Paul II House Museum in Rome

- Growing calls to advance the canonization cause of Benedict XVI

- A significant shift in U.S. military chaplaincy policy

- The Vatican’s appointment of a new Archbishop of New York

- Reports that Nicaragua is restricting the importation of Bibles and religious texts

Welcome to @ChurchHeadlines where we bring you regular news recaps about what is happening in the Catholic Church throughout the world!

📰 Church News without the noise.

🕵‍♂ We read it all—so you don’t have to.

🇻🇦 2 Catholic seminarians in Rome reporting what matters.

Would you like to support us financially in our mission?

Link: https://secure.acceptiva.com/?cst=a75070

-------------------------------

For further reading about this week's stories, here are some online articles:

– Vogue names Pope Leo XIV among best-dressed of 2025: https://zenit.org/2025/12/14/vogue-praises-the-popes-elegance-and-places-him-on-its-annual-list-of-best-dressed-people/

– Pope Leo XIV calls consistory of the College of Cardinals: https://zenit.org/2025/12/22/these-are-the-three-topics-the-pope-will-address-with-cardinals-in-his-first-consistory/

– Anglican Church leader faces scrutiny over mishandled ab*se cases: https://zenit.org/2025/12/16/first-woman-to-lead-anglican-church-could-resign-before-taking-office-over-mishandling-of-abuse-cases/

– Rome opens the John Paul II House Museum: https://zenit.org/2025/12/29/the-new-and-free-john-paul-ii-house-museum-opens-in-rome/

– Push grows for Benedict XVI’s canonization and Doctor of the Church: https://zenit.org/2025/12/07/who-is-behind-the-promotion-of-benedict-xvis-canonization-and-his-declaration-as-a-doctor-of-the-church/

– U.S. Army reforms chaplaincy and spiritual fitness policy: https://zenit.org/2025/12/21/restoring-the-chaplains-call-u-s-military-moves-to-reclaim-spiritual-leadership/

– Vatican appoints new Archbishop of New York: https://zenit.org/2025/12/18/five-years-in-el-salvador-and-disciple-of-cardinal-cupich-this-is-the-new-archbishop-of-new-york/

– Nicaragua reportedly blocks import of Bibles and religious texts: https://zenit.org/2025/12/17/nicaraguan-dictatorship-bans-bibles-from-entering-the-country/

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⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 – Intro

00:19 – Pope Leo on Vogue's Best-Dressed List

00:56 – Pope Leo Summons All Cardinals to Rome

01:32 – New Archbishop of Canterbury Under Pressure to Resign

02:17 – John Paul II House Museum Opens in Rome

03:01 – Push for Benedict XVI's Canonization

03:33 – US Military Chaplaincy Reforms

04:10 – Ronald Hicks is the New Archbishop of New York

04:41 – Nicaragua Bans Bibles

05:08 – Outro

-------------------------------------------------

Music track: Downtown by Moavii

Source: https://freetouse.com/music

Vlog Music for Video

The Vatican weighs the question of women deacons, a Cardinal is blocked from leaving Venezuela, and tensions flare again inside a Syro-Malabar cathedral. Here’s everything you need to know from this week in Catholic news.

In today’s episode of Church Headlines, Br. John Frain walks you through:

- A newly released Vatican report on the possibility of a female diaconate

- Pope Leo XIV’s decision to dissolve a controversial Vatican fundraising body

- Notre-Dame Cathedral surpassing the Louvre as France’s most visited site

- Signs of renewed interest in confession among practicing French Catholics

- Parishioners occupying a Syro-Malabar cathedral amid liturgical disputes

- Venezuela revoking a Cardinal’s passport

- The Vatican partnering with actor Chris Pratt for a major documentary project

Welcome to @ChurchHeadlines where we bring you regular news recaps about what is happening in the Catholic Church throughout the world!

📰 Church News without the noise.

🕵‍♂ We read it all—so you don’t have to.

🇻🇦 2 Catholic seminarians in Rome reporting what matters.

Would you like to support us financially in our mission?

Link: https://secure.acceptiva.com/?cst=a75070

-------------------------------

For further reading about this week's stories, here are some online articles:

– Vatican report on women and the diaconate: https://zenit.org/2025/12/04/vatican-publishes-conclusions-of-study-on-womenand-the-diaconate-heres-what-it-says/

– Pope Leo XIV dissolves Vatican fundraising commission: https://zenit.org/2025/12/05/second-setback-for-the-previous-pontificate-pope-leo-repeals-pope-francis-financial-measure/

– Notre-Dame surpasses the Louvre in visitors: https://zenit.org/2025/12/11/notre-dame-cathedral-in-paris-surpasses-the-louvre-museum-in-visitor-numbers-here-are-the-figures/

– Confession seeing renewed practice in France: https://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/poll-finds-signs-of-a-confession

– Syro-Malabar cathedral occupation in India: https://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/basilica-occupation-reignites-syro

– Venezuela blocks Cardinal from leaving the country: https://zenit.org/2025/12/11/this-is-how-the-venezuelan-dictatorship-revoked-the-cardinals-passport-and-prevented-him-from-leaving-the-country/

– Vatican hires Chris Pratt for St. Peter’s documentary: https://zenit.org/2025/12/07/why-did-the-vatican-hire-hollywood-superstar-chris-pratt-for-a-documentary-heres-everything-we-know/

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⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 – Intro

00:19 – Vatican report on women and the diaconate

00:59 – Pope Leo XIV dissolves Vatican fundraising commission

01:23 – Notre-Dame surpasses the Louvre in visitors

01:48 – Confession seeing renewed practice in France

02:21 – Syro-Malabar cathedral occupation in India

02:57 – Venezuela blocks Cardinal from leaving the country

03:16 – Vatican hires Chris Pratt for St. Peter’s documentary

03:43 – Outro

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Music track: Downtown by Moavii

Source: https://freetouse.com/music

Vlog Music for Video