Pope Leo XIV’s first World Peace Day message will expand on the prayer he expressed the night of his election when addressing the crowds gathered in St. Peter’s Square.

Even though what is happening in Gaza is shocking and prospects for peace in Ukraine seem more complicated than ever, Catholics must continue praying and hoping, said Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state.

School Sister of Notre Dame Patricia McCarron spent her first official day as superintendent of the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s Catholic schools celebrating with the teachers she oversees.

Three archdiocesan philanthropists, two of whom raised millions for the Partners in Excellence scholarship program and received awards for their charitable works, have died within days of each other.

A funeral service was held Aug. 23 for Daughter of Charity Sister Kathleen Shannon, a Baltimore native and math teacher. She died Aug. 20 at age 70 of lymphoma at Villa St. Michael in Emmitsburg.