As religion’s political influence grows, these faith voices are likely to draw attention in 2026 
(RNS) — Religion played a role in some of the biggest political stories of the past year. That’s likely to continue in 2026, as clergy and politicians say their public policy actions are shaped by faith. Read more

Leo XIV: The world is saved by welcoming all without fear
Pope Leo XIV called Catholics to a steadfast openness to other people, warning that peace will not be built through force or exclusion, as he celebrated his first liturgy of the new year on Thursday. Read more

An American mathematician wants to work with the Vatican on AI 
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Po-Shen Loh never expected the pope to be part of the debate over artificial intelligence. But when Pope Leo XIV began urging AI developers to prioritize moral discernment — and was seemingly mocked online by a Silicon Valley investor — the Carnegie Mellon mathematician took notice. Read more

Is John Irving’s ‘Queen Esther’ the next great Jewish American novel? 
(RNS) — ‘Queen Esther’ is a literary riffing on a biblical story. It also might be the most sympathetic treatment of Jewish themes by a non-Jewish novelist in decades. Read more

Baptist News Global’s most-read opinion pieces in 2025
Baptist News Global’s most-read opinion pieces in 2025 were connected in various ways to President Donald Trump and authoritarianism. Readers also showed interest in articles about Calvinist preacher John MacArthur and Christian nationalist Charlie Kirk, both of whom died in 2025, and in right-wing Baptist leaders Franklin Graham and Voddie Baucham. Read more

Pope Leo XIV’s prayer intentions for 2026
The pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network has released Pope Leo XIV’s list of prayer intentions for the year 2026. Every month, Pope Leo asks Catholics around the world to pray for a particular intention. Read more

The most frightening moment in ‘Nuremberg’
(RNS) — If you blinked, you missed it. There are many amazing moments in the new film “Nuremberg,” starring Russell Crowe as Hermann Göring, who served as second-in-command to Hitler, and Rami Malek as United States Army psychiatrist Douglas Kelley. But I am referring to a moment so quick and so incidental that it would go over the heads of most of the film’s viewers. Read more

Faith leaders who died in 2025: Pope Francis, theologians and activists
(RNS) — Figures from the realms of politics to sports, from presiding over the Vatican to Temple Square, are among those who died in 2025 and will be remembered for shaping the world of faith. Read more

Can evangelical faith in Israel survive MAGA and the Gaza war? Israel is betting millions on it
(RNS) — Conservatives have long seen supporting Israel as an act of faith. Now, critics such as Tucker Carlson say Christian Zionism is a heresy, while more progressive Christian voices denounce Israel’s treatment of Palestinians. Read mor

Why Do Some Americans Leave Their Religion While Others Stay?
Many U.S. adults (35%) have moved on from the religion of their youth. Yet most Americans have not, including a majority – 56% – who still identify with their childhood religion. Another 9% weren’t raised in a religion and still don’t have one today. Read more

Nativity scenes, art spotlight immigration
There’s no getting around it. Mary, Joseph and the newborn Jesus were vulnerable people at the mercy of the Bethlehem community. “Jesus made it very clear that the way we treat the vulnerable among us is a reflection of how we treat God’s own self,” said the Rev. Abby Holcombe, pastor of River Forest United Methodist Church and Urban Village Church in River Forest, Illinois, near Chicago. Read more

Southeast Florida church depicted in jigsaw puzzle designed by internationally renowned artist
[Episcopal News Service] The holiday season is a time for loved ones to do fun activities together, like completing a jigsaw puzzle. For jigsaw lovers who happen to be Episcopalian, an ideal puzzle may be a new 500-piece “Sunday in Palm Beach” puzzle. The image depicts the Gothic Revival exterior of the historic Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea in Palm Beach. Read more

AI is enlisted to rescue Jews’ cultural heritage and give new life to ancient languages 
(RNS) — Researchers are using a very modern tool to transcribe and read hundreds of thousands of medieval manuscripts from the lost age of Eastern European Jewry. Read more

How an LA interfaith coalition is using ‘freedom schools’ to defend against ICE 
LOS ANGELES (RNS) — One LA is convening faith-based ‘freedom schools’ that help residents learn what to do if confronted by immigration enforcement. The movement also led to a recent public hearing. Read more

Massive menorah installed in New York City ahead of Hanukkah
NEW YORK (RNS) — The Chabad-Lubavitch movement of New York installed a 36-foot menorah on Wednesday (Dec. 10) at Grand Army Plaza near Central Park. The menorah, which the Chabad chapter believes is the world’s largest, is among 15,000 public menorahs to be installed around the globe by the international Chabad movement to celebrate Hanukkah, this year from sundown Sunday to Dec. 22. Read more

‘Yes’ to God, but ‘no’ to church – what religious change looks like for many Latin Americans 
(The Conversation) — Protestant churches’ growth in Latin America gets lots of attention, but another important shift is happening, too: people leaving organized religion altogether. Read more