Deacon Lee Ashby Benson III, who served St. Ignatius Parish in Hickory as an influential, joyful figure for nearly two decades, died Jan. 23.

Pope Leo XIV has added the feast day of St. John Henry Newman, who is “a radiant light for the Church on pilgrimage through history,” to the General Roman Calendar so that “his Optional Memorial be celebrated by all on 9 October.”

David Ryan, an Irish survivor whose tragic story of the abuse he and his brother suffered was the subject of a 2022 documentary, was overcome with emotion after meeting with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican. The pope was reportedly shocked and apologized to the Irish victim.

The traditionalist Society of St. Pius X said it would proceed with the consecration of new bishops this summer, a move without a papal mandate that could lead to an automatic excommunication.

While sometimes called “Sister Adele,” Brice — who was born Jan. 30, 1831, and whose last name is sometimes spelled “Brise” — remained a laywoman all her life, never taking public religious vows.