The Church of St. Luke

The regime stated the decision was made in a “spirit of goodwill" and because of its good relations with the Holy See, but did not indicate if any of those to be released are political prisoners.

Having deported four bishops for their criticism of the regime, the Nicaraguan dictator seeks to punish them further by not allowing any ordinations in their dioceses.

WASHINGTON – Pope Leo XIV has appointed Reverend Godfrey Mullen, O.S.B., as Bishop of Belleville. Bishop-elect Mullen is a monk of Saint Meinrad Archabbey, and current administrator of the Diocese of Belleville. The appointment was publicized in Washington, D.C. on March 13, 2026, by Cardinal Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States.

The following biographical information for Bishop-elect Mullen was drawn from preliminary materials provided to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops:

Father Mullen was born January 22, 1966, in Salem, Illinois. He studied at St. Meinrad College in Indiana where he received a bachelor’s degree in history (1988), a master’s degree in theology (1991), and a master of divinity (1994); he received a Ph.D. in liturgical studies from The Catholic University of America (2003). Father Mullen made his solemn monastic profession with the Order of Saint Benedict on August 15, 1992, and he was ordained to the priesthood on June 5, 1994.

Bishop-elect Mullen’s pastoral assignments include: professor of liturgy at St. Meinrad College in Indiana; rector of St. Benedict Cathedral in Evansville, Indiana; rector of Saint Peter Cathedral in Belleville, Illinois; pastor of Blessed Sacrament parish, and of Queen of Peace parish in Belleville, Illinois. He has also served as vicar general of the Diocese of Belleville and has been apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Belleville since May 9, 2025. Bishop-elect Mullen has authored several articles and books about liturgy.

The Diocese of Belleville is comprised of 11,678 square miles in the State of Illinois.

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“Spiritual intelligence is being attuned to God,” the bishop of San Ignacio de Velasco in Bolivia, Robert Flock, explained.

In a statement, the Archdiocese of Tuxtla Gutiérrez stated that the priest’s body was found near Laguna Verde, an ecotourism center located about 12 miles from his parish.

As poor living conditions worsen in Cuba, accelerated by the U.S. oil embargo, Caribbean bishops appealed for assistance to reach those most in need without political manipulations or delays.

With the communist government of Cuba under extreme pressure from the economic crisis of its own making and a U.S.-imposed oil embargo, exiled Cuban opposition leaders outlined the way to democracy.

A Mexican priest is at the center of controversy for sending letters on behalf of two high-profile drug traffickers in U.S. custody.

In Mexico for a meeting with security officials regarding combatting drug trafficking, U.S. drug czar Sara Carter visited the shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

While migration into Mexico from the south and from Mexico to the U.S. has significantly decreased, it hasn’t completely stopped, and challenges still remain for Catholic migrant shelters there.