Assisi

Churches in the Philippines held traditional blessings for animals ahead of the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, with priests sprinkling holy water on dogs, cats and other pets brought by their owners. The sight of wagging tails filling church pews has drawn warm attention online, with many sharing images of the ceremony, a beloved annual tradition honoring the patron saint of animals.

Franciscan friars at the Basilica of Saint Francis in Assisi have begun using artificial intelligence, laser scanning and gigapixel photography to repair and preserve the 13th-century church. The technology allows restorers to detect cracks and deterioration in frescoes and stonework at a level of detail impossible with the naked eye, helping guide conservation of one of Italy's most visited religious sites.

Trinity Church in Menlo Park held a blessing of the animals service, welcoming pets and their owners into the church for a ceremonial blessing. The event, reported by local outlet InMenlo, put animals at the center of the congregation for the day. Such blessings are traditionally held around the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals.