“There is a way to punish without ending another human life: life-long incarceration without the possibility of parole,” the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops wrote to Gov. Ron DeSantis, urging the state’s Catholic governor to stay the scheduled Oct. 14 execution of Samuel “Sammy” Smithers.

Sometimes, you even plant unintentionally, by the way you live your life. If you live like a follower of Jesus, that should show in what you do and say. By being kind and not adding to the divisiveness we experience today, you can be an example for others on how to treat our fellow humans.

Modern hermits seek solitude not to escape the world but to learn how to listen more closely to God, to their neighbors and to creation, Pope Leo XIV said as he met about 50 Italian hermits who came to the Vatican for the Jubilee of Consecrated Life.

A Bible translation approved for private use by the U.S. Catholic bishops’ conference has drawn some objections over the wording of certain verses addressing same-sex relations — but a Scripture scholar and consultant for the bishops told OSV News the text still makes clear the church’s biblical teaching on homosexuality.

Scenes of joy, relief and tearful welcomes flooded media across the world Oct. 13 as the remaining Israeli hostages were freed from Hamas captivity in the Gaza Strip as part of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement.