Pope Appoints New York Archbishop, New York Assisted Suicide Law, and the Origins of “Silent Night”

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Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com. 

In this episode:

• In his message for World Peace Day, Pope Leo XIV warned that confrontational politics and increased military spending are fueling instability and urged people to protect and cultivate even the smallest signs of peace and hope.
• New York’s Catholic bishops said they are “extraordinarily troubled” by Gov. Kathy Hochul’s decision to sign legislation legalizing physician-assisted suicide, arguing it abandons vulnerable people and undermines suicide prevention efforts.
• Pope Leo XIV accepted Cardinal Timothy Dolan’s resignation as archbishop of New York and appointed Archbishop Ronald A. Hicks of Joliet, Illinois, as his successor.
• The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced proposed regulations that would prohibit hospitals from providing certain gender transition surgeries and hormonal treatments to minors as a condition of Medicare and Medicaid participation.
• As Christmas approaches, the story behind “Silent Night” highlights how the beloved carol was born in hardship in 1818 Austria, with its message of quiet hope emerging from war, poverty, and uncertainty.