Catholicism

The newly elected pope spent time at a parish in the Gate neighborhood before taking vows of the priesthood.

St. Louis has deep religious and cultural ties to the Catholic Church.

Pope Francis died at Casa Santa Marta in the Vatican. He was 88. St. Louis Catholics describe him a humble leader.

The pope was a strong advocate for the poor and the environment and a towering figure on the world stage, addressing not just Catholics but the men and women of our time.

Belleville Bishop Michael McGovern will be the sixth archbishop of Omaha, Nebraska. McGovern has been the leader of the Catholic Diocese of Belleville, which covers the southern third of Illinois, since 2020.

“I believe in Catholic education,” Bishop Michael McGovern said. “Of all the different ministries we have, I think education is something we’ve done very well, especially in the United States.”

The state is shaping up to be a big battleground over abortion rights in November. Research shows a majority of U.S. Catholics support abortion rights — even though church leadership does not.

The St. Louis International African Catholic Community organization brings Mass in Swahili and French to many African immigrants in the area, building local community and connections to parishioners' home countries.