CNA’s top Catholic news stories of 2024

Eucharistic Adoration at Lucas Oil Stadium during the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, July 17-21, 2024. / Credit: Jonah McKeown/CNA

CNA Staff, Dec 31, 2024 / 09:00 am (CNA).

2024 was filled with memorable and impactful moments for Catholics around the world. 

The faithful witnessed the beauty of Jesus in the Eucharist crisscrossing the United States, bringing tens of thousands together at the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis. There was also the exciting news of the canonization dates of two beloved soon-to-be saints — Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati. And Catholics everywhere were reminded of the Church’s universality as Pope Francis embarked on his longest papal trip to date visiting Southeast Asia and Oceania.

Here are some of the top Catholic news stories from 2024.

National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis

The 2024 National Eucharistic Congress was a capstone event during the third year of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ initiative to renew faith in the Eucharistic Lord. The five-day congress was held in Indianapolis from July 17–21 in Lucas Oil Stadium drawing over 50,000 Catholics of every age and background. 

The gathering was the 10th National Eucharistic Congress in the U.S. but the first since the beginning of World War II. 

A plethora of Catholic figures gave powerful testimonies including Father Mike Schmitz, Bishop Andrew Cozzens, and Sister Josephine Garrett and attendees — as well as viewers from around the world — witnessed the powerful images from the congress.

Paris Summer Olympics

The 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, which took place from July 26 through Aug. 11, made headlines for several reasons. The opening ceremonies included a drag-queen-led parody of the Last Supper, sparking a wave of reactions from Catholic leaders around the world, including the Vatican, which called it an “offense done to many Christians.”

Despite the auspicious beginning to the games, Christian athletes didn’t hide their faith, with several making a point to thank God for their medal wins. Tennis player Novak Djokovic made the sign of the cross several times after his match, in which he won the gold medal, and a Brazilian skateboarder used sign language to quote Scripture before her bronze medal win.

Pope Francis’ longest papal trip

From Sept. 2–11, Pope Francis embarked on his longest papal trip to date visiting Catholics in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor, and Singapore. The pope’s tour of Southeast Asia and Oceania was his first international journey of the year following a period of slowed travel due to his age and health issues. 

Along the way, the Holy Father was greeted by the people of these countries who shared their joy at the Holy Father’s presence among them. 

One highlight of the trip was Pope Francis’ Mass in East Timor where 600,000 Catholics were in attendance.

Vatican announces news about Medjugorje 

The faithful received important news from the Vatican regarding Medjugorje, a popular pilgrimage site in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith granted a “nihil obstat” to the spiritual experience at Medjugorje. The authoritative judgment meant that pilgrims may continue to visit and pray at the site, as some 40 million people from around the world have done since the apparitions allegedly first began 43 years ago. 

While the Vatican’s report offered no definitive judgment on the supernatural authenticity of the alleged apparitions, it highlighted the abundant good fruits that have come from Medjugorje.

The Synod on Synodality 

The Synod on Synodality, initiated by Pope Francis in October 2021, was a multiyear process to enhance the communion, participation, and mission of the Church. The final session, which took place in October 2024, produced a final report. 

The 52-page document, approved by 355 synod members in attendance, outlines substantial proposals for Church renewal. The proposals include expanded women’s leadership roles, greater lay participation in decision-making, and significant structural reforms.

Announcement of the canonizations of Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati

On Nov. 20, the Vatican announced the highly anticipated canonization dates of Blessed Carlo Acutis and Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati. Acutis’ canonization will occur during the Church’s Jubilee of Teenagers taking place April 25–27, 2025, and Frassati’s canonization will take place during the Jubilee of Youth from July 28 to Aug. 3, 2025.

Both soon-to-be saints are beloved by many Catholics for their enthusiastic pursuit of holiness. The two canonizations are expected to bring many young people to the Eternal City in 2025 for the Catholic Church’s Jubilee of Hope.

Reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral

On April 15, 2019, the historic Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris suffered a devastating fire that left it severely damaged. But just a few weeks ago, on Dec. 7, the bells of Notre Dame rang again during the grand reopening of the Catholic landmark. On the following day, Dec. 8, the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, the first Mass was celebrated in which the altar of the restored cathedral was consecrated.

Some 170 bishops from the country and from around the world concelebrated with the archbishop of Paris, Laurent Ulrich, as well as one priest from each of the 106 parishes of the Archdiocese of Paris and one priest from each of the seven Eastern-rite Catholic churches in the archdiocese.

Creation of new cardinals 

Pope Francis created 21 new cardinals, including the archbishops of Tehran, Tokyo, and Toronto, at a consistory on Dec. 7. Out of the 21 cardinals who were created in Pope Francis’ 10th consistory at the Vatican, 10 new cardinals — almost half — were members of religious congregations or institutes. One cardinal that particularly stood out was Cardinal Mykola Bychok, CSSR, the bishop of the Eparchy of Sts. Peter and Paul in Melbourne for Ukrainian Catholics in Australia, New Zealand, and Oceania. At age 44, he became the world’s youngest cardinal.