Religion

Residents of Portadown, Northern Ireland, have blocked the contentious Drumcree parade from proceeding along its traditional route, despite court rulings on the matter. The Drumcree march has long been one of Northern Ireland's most polarising parades, pitting Orange Order marchers against residents of the nationalist Garvaghy Road area. The standoff is drawing attention amid ongoing tensions over parading and contested public space.

Pope Leo is making a visit to France, drawing attention from observers in France and abroad. Details of his itinerary and public remarks have not yet been widely reported, but the trip is being followed given his recent election as pope and the significance of a papal visit to a historically Catholic yet firmly secular republic.

President Emmanuel Macron was absent from the Pope's mass in Paris, but reacted on X by posting a video of the popemobile circling the Arc de Triomphe through a jubilant crowd. "Concord and Fraternity. France is proud to welcome Pope Leo XIV," the president wrote, saluting the pontiff's visit despite his own no-show at the service, a choice drawing comment and debate.

Pope Leo travelled to Lourdes, the French shrine that draws millions of pilgrims each year, in a visit shadowed by fresh reminders of the Catholic Church's abuse scandals. The Washington Post reports the trip placed the pontiff at one of Catholicism's most sacred sites just as the church's past sins resurfaced, prompting reflection on accountability and the institution's credibility among the faithful.

Services honoring Rev. Jesse Jackson, the longtime civil rights leader, have been expanded to include events in Chicago and South Carolina, according to ABC7 Chicago. The additions broaden public opportunities to pay tribute to the icon beyond the originally planned gatherings. Details about dates and venues were not provided in the initial report.

Pope Francis met with the bishops of France in the Sainte-Bernadette hemicycle of the Lourdes sanctuary. The gathering opened with a prayer and a hymn to the Holy Spirit before the Pope addressed the French episcopate. The meeting is being followed closely in France, where Lourdes remains the country's most important Catholic pilgrimage site.

A man has pleaded guilty to impersonating an FBI agent at a polling site in Falls Church, Virginia. The case has drawn attention because it involves election infrastructure during voting, raising concerns about voter intimidation and security at polling places. Details about the man's identity, motive, and sentencing have not been released.

Police in West Bend, Wisconsin have arrested a 50-year-old man accused of setting a crucifix on fire inside a local church. The incident, first reported by TMJ4 News, has drawn attention given the deliberate targeting of a religious symbol in a place of worship. Authorities have not detailed a possible motive, and charges against the suspect were not immediately disclosed.

More than 1,400 people gathered at a downtown church for a rally supporting Abdul's campaign for the US Senate, according to The Collegiate Live. The large turnout in a religious venue highlighted the campaign's grassroots energy, with the crowd filling the building for the political event.

The Anglican Church in Japan has elected a new Primate, the senior bishop who leads the Nippon Sei Ko Kai and represents the province within the worldwide Anglican Communion. Details of the new leader's identity and priorities have not yet been widely reported, but church outlets are noting the leadership transition.