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Renewed military activity between Israel and Hezbollah is putting civilians at greater risk in southern Lebanon, where damaged roads, destroyed infrastructure and disrupted services are making it harder for residents and aid workers to move, the United Nations said.

They came to the Himalayas seeking spiritual renewal, drawn by Tibet’s sacred, snow-capped Mount Kailash. Instead, many pilgrims were caught in deadly floods that tore through the Nepal-Tibet region, wiping out entire villages. “I saw two buses carrying Indian pilgrims to Kailash Mansarovar,” said 27-year-old Laloma, a Nepali mother. She was rescued on Thursday from Nepal’s devastated area of Syabrubesi, along with her infant son and husband, after sheltering for a freezing night in a school.

True peace is rarely forged in isolation, nor is it created solely through grand political declarations. More often, it takes root in the quiet courage of human connection—in the willingness of diverse souls to share a table, cross an ocean, and find common ground across deep cultural divides. From August 21 to 25, the historic Stockholm Concert Hall and the open waters of the Baltic Sea served as the backdrop for the World Peace Award 2026.

Pope Leo XIV has expressed his deep sorrow over the loss of life and widespread devastation caused by flash floods in Nepal. In a telegram sent on Thursday and signed by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, the Pope commended the souls of those who died “to the clemency of the Almighty” and offered his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved.

The Catholic Church in Nepal is assessing relief needs after a glacial collapse triggered devastating floods along the Nepal-Tibet border, killing at least 165 people and leaving more than 1,000 missing. The floods swept through villages, market areas and transport routes Wednesday along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli rivers. Hundreds of tourists were among those unaccounted for, while the affected area includes a major pilgrimage route to Tibet.

Cardinal Charles Maung Bo of Yangon called on Christian leaders and lawmakers to oppose the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in warfare and support a binding international ban on fully autonomous lethal weapons. In a keynote address in Assisi on Aug. 24, Bo warned that delegating lethal force to machines would remove human conscience and moral responsibility from decisions over life and death.

Caritas Ubon Ratchathani Diocese and the Sisters of the Lovers of the Cross of Ubon are helping families in communities along the Thai-Cambodian border repair damaged homes and rebuild livelihoods after returning to areas affected by conflict. A delegation led by Boonnitthi Namboon visited communities in Nam Yuen district on Aug.

“Dear young people, in Confirmation you have received the most beautiful gift, the Holy Spirit: it is not a treasure to be kept hidden, but a light that you must make shine every day.” Pope Leo XIV offered this reminder to the confirmands from the Diocese of Chiavari, accompanied by their Bishop, during his remarks to Italian pilgrims at his Wednesday General Audience in St. Peter’s Basilica. The Pope also greeted young people, the sick, and newlyweds.

A humanitarian initiative in Indonesia is expanding its free cataract surgery program from Belitung Island to communities in East Nusa Tenggara, with organizers aiming to restore sight to hundreds of people. Gerakan MataHati Peduli Kesehatan Mata, or the MataHati Eye Health Care Movement, conducted a free cataract surgery mission on Belitung Island from Aug. 21 to 23. About 54 patients registered and underwent medical examinations and screening to determine their eligibility for surgery.

More than 500 Catholic educators, students, diocesan leaders, and civic officials gathered in northeastern Thailand on Aug. 22 to mark a decade of efforts to integrate moral formation into Catholic education.