US-Iran Memorandum, Pope Leo in the Polls, Juneteenth, and More

US-Iran Memorandum, Pope Leo in the Polls, Juneteenth, and More

Thanks for listening! Let us know what you think. God bless! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2368316/fan_mail/new] Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for June 19, 2026.  Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com [https://www.osvnews.com/]. Read the stories in this epsiode: * Catholic leaders expressed cautious optimism about an end to the conflict in the Middle East after members of the Trump administration and Iranian officials signed a memorandum of understanding, a tentative framework to end the war in Iran.  [https://www.osvnews.com/catholic-leaders-hope-end-to-iran-war-is-near-after-trump-iran-reach-agreement/] * A majority of U.S. Catholics view Pope Leo XIV favorably, and just over half say President Donald Trump has been too critical of the pontiff, according to new data from the Pew Research Center. [https://www.osvnews.com/pew-most-us-catholics-view-pope-favorably-say-trump-has-been-too-critical-of-him/]  * Juneteenth and the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence provided the context for a June 15 online discussion on the importance of acknowledging the nation's racial history honestly so the work of justice and equality can continue. [https://www.osvnews.com/panel-nations-250th-anniversary-shines-light-on-work-that-remains-to-address-racism-in-us/] * Archbishop James F. Checchio of New Orleans said his archdiocese's June 13-14 consecration to the Sacred Heart, which followed a consecration of the U.S. by the nation's Catholic bishops, is a way of bringing healing and hope to the New Orleans faithful after long-running clerical abuse scandals and bankruptcy [https://www.osvnews.com/new-orleans-sacred-heart-consecration-a-path-to-healing-hope/].

Venerable Mother Tallon, Religious Freedom Week, Gretchen Crowe Named OSV Publisher, and More

Thanks for listening! Let us know what you think. God bless! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2368316/fan_mail/new] Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for June 18, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com [https://www.osvnews.com/]. Read the stories in this episode: 1. Pope Leo XIV declared Mother Mary Teresa Tallon venerable today, advancing the sainthood cause of the New York-born foundress of the Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate alongside 20 Spanish Civil War martyrs, in a meeting with the prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints. [https://www.osvnews.com/pope-leo-xiv-advances-sainthood-cause-of-mother-mary-teresa-tallon/] 2. Pope Leo XIV received the board of governors of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in a private Vatican audience today, urging the diverse academic community to be "artisans of true peace" and a beacon of hope in a world increasingly defined by division and pointed rhetoric. [https://www.osvnews.com/be-artisans-of-true-peace-pope-leo-xiv-tells-hebrew-university-of-jerusalem-board/] 3. Ahead of Religious Freedom Week, which runs June 22nd through 29th, a USCCB expert explained that protecting religious liberty is ultimately about safeguarding human dignity — the God-given right of every person to seek God freely and live out their faith in the public square. [https://www.osvnews.com/religious-freedom-rooted-in-human-dignity-says-expert-ahead-of-us-bishops-observance/] 4. Philadelphia theater professor Darrin Pufall Purdy's painstaking reconstruction of the habits of the Sisters of Charity of New York — interviewing sisters and combing through archives to recover a nearly undocumented piece of Catholic heritage — earned him the commission to costume a 2024 Broadway revival of "Doubt: A Parable." [https://www.osvnews.com/fashion-interest-in-nuns-habits-opens-door-to-broadway-for-theater-professor/] 5. OSV News Editor-in-Chief Gretchen R. Crowe has been named publisher of Our Sunday Visitor Inc., becoming the first woman to hold that role in the Catholic organization's 114-year history while continuing to lead OSV News, effective June 22nd. [https://www.osvnews.com/osv-news-gretchen-crowe-named-osv-publisher-will-continue-as-editor-in-chief/]

Canada Assisted Suicide at 10 Years, Anthropic Calls for AI Slowdown, San Diego's Million Meals, and More

Thanks for listening! Let us know what you think. God bless! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2368316/fan_mail/new] Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for June 17, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com [https://www.osvnews.com/]. Read the stories in this episode: * The Catholic faithful and all people of goodwill in Canada have been called "to voice renewed concern" about the country's Medical Assistance in Dying law, now in place for a decade. [https://www.osvnews.com/bishops-mark-sobering-anniversary-of-canada-euthanasia-law-call-faithful-to-action/] * A Catholic expert on artificial intelligence is commending recent calls by AI research firm Anthropic to rein in the technology amid a significant acceleration in its growth [https://www.osvnews.com/catholic-expert-commends-anthropic-for-global-call-to-slow-down-ai-check-values/].  * Reflecting on his weeklong trip to Spain, Pope Leo XIV said one of his clearest impressions came from the Canary Islands, where migration revealed both the challenges facing Europe and what he described as a Christian path toward a "civilization of love."  [https://www.osvnews.com/full-text-pope-leo-xivs-general-audience-given-june-17-2026/] * Catholics in the Diocese of Wilmington rose early June 12 for 6 a.m. Eucharistic Procession led by Bishop William E. Koenig on Ocean City, Maryland's boardwalk. [https://www.osvnews.com/national-eucharistic-pilgrimage-includes-boardwalk-evangelization-along-atlantic-shore/] * Deacon Jim Scull and a small team of deacons from the Diocese of San Diego launched the Million Meal Event five years ago. [https://www.osvnews.com/faith-in-action-over-5000-volunteers-in-san-diego-pack-2-million-meals-for-those-in-need/]

Pope Leo's Spanish Success, Concentration Camp Martyrs Beatified, and Homeboy's $100 Million Vision

Thanks for listening! Let us know what you think. God bless! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2368316/fan_mail/new] Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for June 16, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com [https://www.osvnews.com/]. Read the stories in this episode: 1. Organizers declared Pope Leo XIV's weeklong Spain visit an overwhelming success, drawing 2.5 million participants and generating an expected economic impact of over $174 million — capped by a dramatic final-day mechanical failure that prompted King Felipe VI to fly the pope back to Rome on his royal jet. [https://www.osvnews.com/papal-spain-trip-2-5-million-participants-revenue-over-174-million-spiritual-boost-priceless/] 2. Pope Leo XIV reflected Saturday on the June 6th beatification of nine Polish Salesian priests killed at Auschwitz and Dachau during World War II, honoring their enduring legacy as educators, mentors and witnesses of hope who were targeted by the Nazis precisely for forming young people in faith and freedom. [https://www.osvnews.com/pope-leo-praises-newly-beatified-salesian-martyrs-killed-for-their-fidelity-to-christ/] 3. A new Pew Research Center report released Sunday found that religious hostility spiked in more countries in 2023 and that governments have been steadily cracking down on religious belief and expression since 2007, with China, Iran and Russia among the highest restrictors and Nigeria and India recording the worst social hostilities. [https://www.osvnews.com/pew-more-governments-cracking-down-on-religion-with-spikes-in-religious-hostility-in-2023/] 4. Catholics in downtown Chicago expressed sorrow and shock this week after a burning cross was discovered at Grant Park on June 9th, prompting Cardinal Blase Cupich to condemn what he called "the sickness of spirit" behind such acts and to pledge renewed efforts to proclaim the Gospel dignity of every human person. 5. Homeboy Industries, the acclaimed Los Angeles gang-intervention program founded by Jesuit Father Greg Boyle, and Georgetown University's McCourt School of Public Policy have launched a $100 million fundraising campaign to expand the organization and build a new Father Gregory Boyle Center for Radical Kinship at the heart of a visionary reentry initiative called Hope Village. [https://www.osvnews.com/homeboy-industries-georgetown-public-policy-school-team-up-for-100-million-fund-drive/]

Iran Peace Deal, World Cup, Russian Attack on Ukraine Cathedral, and More

Thanks for listening! Let us know what you think. God bless! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2368316/fan_mail/new] Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for June 15, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com [https://www.osvnews.com/]. Read the stories in this episode: * After President Donald Trump, Pakistani mediators and Iranian officials said a framework has been reached for a deal to end the war in Iran, a Catholic expert in peacekeeping said that while there is cause for optimism, key obstacles remain [https://www.osvnews.com/trump-and-iran-reach-tentative-deal-to-end-war-but-obstacles-to-peace-remain/]. * A Catholic diocese and an Illinois pregnancy center have turned to a federal appeals court in challenging an Illinois nondiscrimination law that they said would force them to hire workers who do not share their pro-life mission. [https://www.osvnews.com/illinois-diocese-pregnancy-center-appeal-for-right-to-hire-in-line-with-pro-life-beliefs/] * Mexico opened its third turn as a World Cup host with a 2-0 victory over South Africa on June 11 at Mexico City's iconic stadium, but Catholic leaders urged fans not to lose sight of the country's deeper challenges [https://www.osvnews.com/world-cup-kicks-off-amid-passion-protests-in-mexico/]. * Catholic and Orthodox leaders are expressing shock and outrage after a Russian drone strike heavily damaged a historic monastery complex in Kyiv, with a cathedral set ablaze.  [https://www.osvnews.com/catholic-orthodox-leaders-condemn-russian-attack-on-kyiv-cathedral/] * A century after his birth, French geneticist Jérôme Lejeune is being remembered for both a landmark scientific discovery and a steadfast commitment to the dignity of human life.  [https://www.osvnews.com/jerome-lejeunes-legacy-endures-as-france-celebrates-100th-birthday-of-the-geneticist/]