Skip to content

National Catholic Register

Vatican Increases Net Worth by $3 Billion in 2025

“APSA’s purpose is not to generate an annual profit, but rather to preserve and strengthen the patrimony entrusted to it,” APSA President Archbishop Giordano Piccinotti said following the release of the report which shows a $3 billion rise in the Vatican's net worth.

The Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See (APSA) published its annual report on July 31.

Pope Leo XIV Receives Patti Smith at Vatican

Pope Leo XIV meets American singer, poet, and artist Patti Smith in a private audience on Friday, July 31, 2026.

The Chicago-born pontiff and the influential American singer, poet, and visual artist met privately for about 40 minutes at the Apostolic Palace.

St. John Paul II Retreat House to Open in Nation’s Capital

The St. John Paul II Retreat House in Washington, D.C.

As a young priest, then-Father Karol Wojtyła led wilderness excursions for youth to learn about the faith. He used the quiet setting for prayer and discussion, which the center hopes to reflect.

Israeli Strike Damages Christian-Run Hospital in Gaza, Catholic Aid Group Says

Oma Al-Qattaa
Displaced Palestinian women mourn loved ones killed in an Israeli airstrike, prior to being taken for burial from the Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, on June 18, 2026. A ceasefire has been in place in Gaza since October, but Israel reserves the right to strike targets it deems a threat. The territory remains gripped by daily violence as Israeli strikes continue, with both the military and Hamas accusing one another of violating the truce.

The Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA) reported emergency response crews were not able to immediately reach the struck building because responders feared a second strike.

Playbook for the Soul: Fernando Mendoza Leads Hallow’s New St. Paul Prayer Challenge

Kevin Mazur
Catholic football quarterback Fernando Mendoza accepts the ‘Best College Athlete, Men’s Sports’ award onstage during the 2026 ESPY Awards at David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center on July 15, 2026, in New York City.

Guided by Mendoza’s familiar voice, the series introduces listeners to the dramatic world of the early Church, exploring how St. Paul navigated monumental obstacles, intense suffering and spiritual warfare.

A Little Sister’s Great Mission: The Legacy of Mother Maria Stieren

A banner of the book cover of ‘God’s Mighty Little Missionary’ by Edward Pentin hangs in Puma, Tanzania, for the 50th-jubilee celebrations of the order Mother Maria Stieren founded.

Mother Maria’s flourishing congregation celebrates half a century of growth and witness in Tanzania, Brazil and Germany.