Europe

The Church in Europe outside Spain.

Masonic symbolism paired with a French school building, illustrating Freemasonry and Catholic education in France

French Freemasonry's grand master targets Catholic private schools ahead of the 2027 election

Jane Morales|September 10, 2026

The interior of an abandoned German church, with empty pews and peeling walls

More than 20,000 German churches could close within a decade, art historian says

Laura Claveria|September 10, 2026

Pope Leo XIV in white cassock greeting a crowd, with French flags visible among the people

France prepares for Pope Leo XIV's four-day visit amid 'great thirst for spirituality'

Laura Claveria|September 9, 2026

Water being poured over a child's head at a baptismal font during a baptism

European bishops say EU data law cannot force deletion of baptismal records

Luke Alonso|September 8, 2026

Pope Leo XIV in white cassock and zucchetto during an audience

Dutch auxiliary bishop asks Pope Leo XIV whether synodality has strengthened the faith

Almudena Buenadicha|September 7, 2026

Hands folded in prayer

Wilmer, head of the German bishops, calls for reconciliation at Dresden service

Almudena Rodrigo|September 7, 2026

Archbishop Georg Gänswein in episcopal dress during his service as nuncio

Gänswein, former secretary to Benedict XVI, could be named nuncio to France

Luke Alonso|September 7, 2026

A German church building beside a tax form, illustrating the debate over church funding in Germany

AfD challenges church funding in Germany after 44 percent win in Saxony-Anhalt

Xavier Ruiz Arregui|September 7, 2026

The Holy Tunic of Argenteuil on display in the Basilica of Saint-Denys in Argenteuil, France

Pope Leo XIV to see the Holy Tunic at vigil with 80,000 young people in France

Almudena Rodrigo|September 4, 2026

The Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary in Lourdes, France, with a large banner bearing the image of Pope Leo XIV ahead of his visit

Lourdes prepares for first papal visit in 18 years with hotels fully booked

Xavier Ruiz Arregui|September 4, 2026

A rainbow Pride flag raised among marchers at a Christopher Street Day event

German LGBT+ Catholic groups criticize Bishop Oster over sermon questioning Pride events

Luke Alonso|September 3, 2026

Pope Leo XIV in a white cassock

Pope Leo XIV accepts early resignation of Bishop Heinrich Timmerevers of Dresden-Meissen

Almudena Buenadicha|September 3, 2026

Migrants carrying their belongings

German bishops' liaison says AfD cannot call itself a Christian party

Laura Claveria|September 2, 2026

Cardinal Raymond Burke holding a rosary

Cardinal Burke to celebrate Mass and lead international rosary in central Amsterdam

Almudena Rodrigo|September 2, 2026

The Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in southern France, site of Pope Leo XIV's September visit

More than 100,000 pilgrims have registered for Pope Leo XIV's visit to Lourdes

Xavier Ruiz Arregui|August 25, 2026

A classroom setting illustrating the dispute over the Archdiocese of Hamburg's sexuality curriculum

Vatican tells Hamburg parents its teaching on sexuality is unchanged

Joseph Garcia|August 21, 2026

Tall statue of the Virgin Mary with arms open, standing on a pedestal above fields in Konotopie, Poland

Bishop Krzysztof Wetkowski Blesses Europe's Tallest Marian Statue in Polish Village

Xavier Ruiz Arregui|August 17, 2026