Europe
Lisbon, Portugal - Portugal's parliament approved a bill on Friday, October 17, 2025, banning face veils worn for "gender or religious motives" in most public spaces, specifically targeting burqas and niqabs commonly worn by some Muslim women. The bill, proposed by the far-right Chega party led
Europe
Vatican City - Pope Leo XIV has denounced the practice of usury as a "grave sin" that destroys lives, families, and societies, calling it a "corruption of the human heart" that exploits the vulnerable and undermines human dignity. Speaking to members of Italy's National
Europe
Karaman Province, Turkey - Archaeologists excavating the ancient Byzantine city of Eirenopolis in southern Turkey have discovered five exceptionally preserved communion bread loaves dating back approximately 1,300 years, one of which bears an image of Jesus Christ and a Greek inscription. The discovery took place at the Topraktepe archaeological
Europe
Warsaw, Poland - Polish President Karol Nawrocki has signed a new law eliminating personal income tax for parents raising at least two children, a reform aimed at supporting families, increasing household income, and boosting the nation's birth rate. The bill, which President Nawrocki presented in August 2025, removes
Europe
Occupied West Bank - Layan Nasir, a 25-year-old Anglican Palestinian, was taken into Israeli custody on Thursday, October 16, 2025, despite being previously told her seven-and-a-half-month sentence would not begin until November. Ms. Nasir, a member of the congregation at St Peter's Church in Birzeit in the occupied
Europe
Turkey - The Turkish government has expelled over 200 foreign Christian workers from the country since 2020, citing "national security" grounds, according to legal advocacy group ADF International. The expulsions have impacted approximately 350 people total, including families. Between December 2024 and January 2025 alone, 35 new exclusion
Europe
Valencia, Spain - Father Custodio Ballester, a Catholic priest serving in the Archdiocese of Valencia, has been convicted of making statements deemed "Islamophobic" and now faces potential imprisonment. The case stems from comments the priest made during homilies and in written communications critiquing Islam and its relationship with
Catholic News
During Romania’s recent match, fans held up a powerful banner that read: “DEFEND NIGERIAN CHRISTIANS.” Last year 3,100 Christian’s were killed for their faith in Nigeria, that’s more than anywhere else in the world combined according to Opendoors UK. A Christian in Nigeria shared “I have
Europe
A surprising reversal in American Christianity is unfolding as Gen Z men return to church in unprecedented numbers, defying decades of declining attendance and signaling what researchers are calling the beginning of a new spiritual awakening. Multiple data points from 2024-2025 reveal a faith resurgence that has pastors, researchers, and
Europe
On October 8, 2025, Father Giacomo Cardinali, vice-prefect of the Vatican Apostolic Library, casually disclosed to Italian newspaper La Repubblica that the Vatican has provided Muslim scholars with a dedicated prayer room complete with prayer rug. "Of course, some Muslim scholars have asked us for a room with a
Middle East
Wycliffe Bible Translators reported on October 3, 2025 that it had completed 118 new Bible translations and New Testaments during the past year, marking what the organization called "historic growth" in Scripture accessibility. The Christian Institute covered the announcement in their October 3, 2025 news briefing. The 118
Orthodox News
October 11-12, 2025, more than 30,000 Christians took to the streets in Belfast and Dublin for coordinated "March for Jesus" events. The Christian Institute reported the marches in their October 10, 2025 news briefing as "a celebration for Jesus in full public view." The marches