Caritas Brings Christmas Hope to Gaza, New Catholic Bible Translation, and Catholic wins Heisman Trophy

Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com. 

In this episode:

• Amid a fragile ceasefire and ongoing hardship in Gaza, Caritas Jerusalem launched a “Christmas of Hope” campaign to offer humanitarian aid, spiritual support, and signs of hope to Christian communities across the Holy Land.
• U.S. bishops say the Catholic American Bible, set to replace the New American Bible Revised Edition in 2027, offers greater accuracy and deeper engagement with Scripture while remaining pastorally accessible.
• Catholic bishops in Illinois are supporting a lawsuit challenging a state law that requires pro-life pregnancy centers to refer women for abortions, arguing it violates religious conscience and free speech protections.
• Cardinal Christophe Pierre praised Haitian Catholics for their perseverance in faith and devotion to Mary during a pilgrimage in Washington, acknowledging ongoing violence, poverty, and instability affecting Haiti and its people.
• Indiana University quarterback Fernando Mendoza, a practicing Catholic, described winning the Heisman Trophy as an honor “bigger than me,” thanking God, his family, and his community in an emotional acceptance speech.