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National Catholic Register

Singing With the Saints

L: St. Cecilia, the patron saint of music; at right, top to bottom: St. Francis of Assisi, St. Thomas Aquinas and St. John Henry Newman

COMMENTARY: St. Cecilia may be the patron of music, but three others are known more for their hymns than their writings.

Lessons From the Bronx Feasts: Faith Beneath the Sparkle

Will Lathrop
“Cookies on Arthur Avenue in the Bronx”

COMMENTARY: From candy pistachios to Kewpie dolls, the street festivals of my youth revealed how easily we chase glitter — and how God calls us deeper.

Pope Leo XIV Recognizes Martyrdom of 2 Priests Killed by Nazis

A cross stands in Montse Sole Historical Park in memorial of the victims of the massacres carried out there by Nazis in 1944.

With the Pope’s decree, both priests can now be beatified. Plus, four other Catholics advance on the path to sainthood.

10 Takeaways From Pope Leo XIV’s Address to Youth at NCYC

Tessa Gervasini/CNA
Pope Leo XIV speaks to teenagers during a digital encounter at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis during the 2025 National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) on Nov. 21, 2025.

Pope Leo encouraged involvement in the Church, especially among youth.

Nigeria ‘No Longer Safe for Children,’ Catholic Bishop Says After Abduction of 25 Girls

ACI Africa
Bishop Bulus Yohana Dauwa of Nigeria’s Diocese of Kontagora. In an interview with ACI Africa on Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025, Dauwa described the recent kidnapping of 25 schoolgirls is a tragic reminder that the country is no longer “safe for its children.”

It was only after the gunmen had fled that security personnel instructed teachers to conduct a roll call, during which the missing girls were discovered.

Teens Who Spoke With Pope Leo XIV Reflect On the Conversation

Katie McGrady
Teens Mia Smothers, Ezequiel Ponce, Micah Alcisto, Elise Wing, and Chris Pantelakis, and moderator Katie McGrady, right, take a “selfie” with Pope Leo XIV during a live digital encounter at Lucas Oil Stadium on Nov. 21, 2025.

The Holy Father discussed matters close to the teens’ hearts including recovering from mistakes, giving worries to Jesus, distractions, technology, and the future of the Church.