Religion

In a Japanese tradition, people bathe in icy water at a Tokyo shrine to purify their souls

Dozens of people soaked and splashed themselves in painfully icy cold water in a pool at a Tokyo shrine, adhering to Japanese tradition to purify the soul and pray for good health in the new year.

Middle East latest: Gaza ceasefire set to start 8:30 am Sunday after 15 months of war

Ceasefire between Israel and Hamas will go into effect Sunday morning, officials say

Blessings for dogs? Bring them to Mexico City’s cathedral and St. Anthony will do the rest

British PM Starmer visits Auschwitz, vows to fight antisemitism ahead of security talks in Poland

Syrian Christians want their identity and freedoms protected in any new constitution, envoy says

As Syria begins recovering from 50 years of autocratic rule by the Assad family, an international envoy says Christians and other religious groups expect their rights and freedoms to be preserved under a new constitutional settlement.

In Spanish village, horses leap through flames in centuries-old ritual

SAN BARTOLOME DE PINARES, Spain (AP) — On a chilly January night, hundreds of people gathered on the steep and narrow cobblestoned streets of San Bartolome de Pinares — population 500 — to watch a dramatic sight: horses galloping through towering flames.

In Guatemala and Minnesota, holy feast brings migrant families hope and pride amid crackdown fears

Hundreds of Guatemalan faithful found the sounds and colors of their tropical homeland during the biggest-yet celebration of the Black Christ of Esquipulas in the heartland farming town of Worthington, Minnesota.

Israel’s Cabinet approves a deal for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of dozens of hostages

Israel’s Cabinet has approved a deal for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of dozens of hostages that will pause the 15-month war with Hamas for six weeks.

French church calls for judicial investigation into Abbé Pierre following new sex abuse allegations

The French church has formally requested that prosecutors open an investigation into Abbé Pierre, a once-revered priest and humanitarian icon who died in 2007, following new revelations of sexual violence.

National Baptists’ new president, Boise Kimber, seeks to include women, young leaders

(RNS) — The Rev. Boise Kimber was officially installed as president of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc., during the midwinter board meeting of the predominantly Black denomination — which he hopes will become more inclusive of women and young leaders.

Pope Francis hurts his right arm after falling for the second time in just over a month

Pope Francis has fallen and hurt his right arm. It’s the second time in a month that Francis has injured himself after an apparent fall resulted in a bad bruise on his chin.

Netanyahu says deal to release hostages held in Gaza has been reached after last minute snags

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says a deal to return hostages held in the Gaza Strip has been reached.

Many colleges are settling antisemitism cases. Some Republicans blast ‘toothless’ agreements

Many colleges accused of tolerating antisemitism on their campuses have been settling with federal civil rights investigators in the weeks before the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, who urged a tougher response to campus protests against the war in Gaza.

Tens of millions of Hindu devotees make do with little at Maha Kumbh festival

PRAYAGRAJ, India (AP) — It’s late evening in the city of Prayagraj and the roadside vendors selling snacks are packing up their wares to shut for the night.

4 men charged in a Brooklyn synagogue tunnel scuffle are awaiting trial in April

Four members of the Hasidic Jewish community accused of damaging a historic Brooklyn synagogue during a melee over an illegal tunnel are set to stand trial later this year.

Benin’s mecca of spirits and gods draws tourists and followers with famed Voodoo festival

Benin’s Ouidah has celebrated its annual Voodoo Festival which has made the town a mecca for Voodoo worshippers as well as a tourist attraction.

Pope Francis is introspective and self-critical in his autobiography, at least about his youth

Pope Francis’ autobiography is being released Tuesday. In it, an introspective pope divulges some of the behind-the-scenes dynamics of the secret 2013 conclave that elected him pope and the resistance he has encountered ever since.

Millions of pilgrims and naked, ash-smeared ascetics take holy dips in India’s mega Hindu festival

Tens of thousands of naked Hindu ascetics and millions of pilgrims are taking dips in sacred rivers in the first of a series of major baths in the Maha Kumbh festival, the largest religious congregation on Earth.

Europe must combat antisemitism as thousands of Jews abandon the continent, top Jewish leader says

The leader of a prominent European Jewish organization says authorities across Europe need to immediately take action against a precipitous rise in antisemitism.

Bejeweled crown stolen from Virgin Mary statue at Philadelphia church

A man broke into a Philadelphia church and stole a 125-year-old bejeweled crown from atop a marble statue of the Virgin Mary. City police say the burglary at St.

What are the main obstacles to a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages?

Israel and Hamas have been holding indirect talks for more than a year aimed at ending the war in Gaza and returning scores of militant-held hostages in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

India kicks off a massive Hindu festival touted as the world’s largest religious gathering

Millions of Hindu devotees and mystics have gathered in the northern Indian city of Prayagraj for the Maha Kumbh festival, which is the largest religious congregation on earth.

Pope Francis baptizes 21 babies in an annual ceremony at the Sistine Chapel

Pope Francis has baptised 21 babies in the Sistine Chapel on Sunday under the ceiling frescoed by Michelangelo, in what has become an annual tradition that marks the end of the Christmas holiday period at the Vatican.

Biden honors Pope Francis with the Presidential Medal of Freedom

President Joe Biden has honored Pope Francis with the Presidential Medal of Freedom with distinction. It’s the highest civilian award given by the president.

Syrian intelligence agency says it thwarted a planned Islamic State attack on a Shiite shrine

Intelligence officials in Syria’s new de facto government say they have thwarted a plan by the Islamic State group to set off a bomb at a Shiite shrine in the Damascus suburb of Sayyida Zeinab.

Bill McCartney, who coached Colorado to its only football national championship in 1990, has died

Bill McCartney, who coached Colorado to its only football national championship in 1990, has died. He was 84.

Some states are making the Bible more central in schools. Advocates may use Trump’s influence

Conservative lawmakers across the U.S. are pushing to introduce more Christianity to public school classrooms, testing the separation of church and state.

LA wildfires destroy numerous houses of worship. Clergy and congregants vow to persevere

Among the thousands of buildings destroyed in the Los Angeles wildfires were a mosque, a synagogue, a Catholic parish and a half-dozen Protestant churches.

Anita Bryant, a popular singer who became known for opposition to gay rights, dead at age 84

Anita Bryant, a former Miss Oklahoma and popular singer who became known over the second half of her life for her outspoken opposition to gay rights, has died.

Some notable quotes from Jimmy Carter’s funeral

Jimmy Carter has been remembered at his funeral as a man of “character” and “something of a miracle” with “prophetic” vision.

Pope asks aide to deliver his annual foreign policy address, tells ambassadors he’s battling a cold

Pope Francis has told ambassadors accredited to the Holy See that he wasn’t up to delivering his annual foreign policy speech and asked an aide to deliver it instead.

Filipino Catholics pray for good health and peace in huge procession venerating Jesus statue

At least 1.8 million mostly barefoot Catholic worshippers are marching in an annual procession in the Philippines that venerates a centuries-old black statue of Jesus.

Jimmy Carter lauded for humility and service in Washington before being laid to rest in Georgia

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter was honored with the pageantry of a funeral in the nation’s capital before a second service in his tiny Georgia hometown that launched a Depression-era farm boy to the world stage.

Scarves over headscarves, Muslim women’s outdoors group tackles snow tubing in Minnesota

Three years ago, a Somali-American mom in Minneapolis founded a group for Muslim women who want to enjoy the great outdoors.