Indianapolis philanthropy powerhouse with a centuries-long giving footprint
The Gates Foundation has expanded its AI initiative, uniting 60 partners including Google, Anthropic and OpenAI to develop language data for underserved communities. The effort aims to reach more than 3 billion people over five years, building language datasets across diverse dialects to ensure AI tools are equitable and locally relevant.
The Catholic Church’s canonization of Cabrini is used to illustrate migration as a shared global issue. The pope’s Sant’Angelo Lodigiano trip underscores a call for global citizenship and collective action on migration, climate, health crises, and economic instability.
A Portuguese exorcism retreat linked to Francisco Marques, a self-styled exorcist, has drawn attention from Catholic authorities. His ministry operates outside official church oversight, raising concerns about potential exploitation of vulnerable worshippers at Fatima, near the shrine. The Vatican and local bishops caution that exorcism remains tightly regulated within the church.
The Vatican Museums have launched a five-year, $5.5 million restoration project for the Raphael Loggia, a pinnacle of Renaissance figurative art. The effort, supported by the World Monuments Fund and funded by the Stephen A. Schwarzman Foundation, will use laser cleaning and new sun-filtering glass as part of a broader preservation plan.
The Vatican has appointed Italian economist Alessandra Smerilli as head of the office for migrants, environment and development, succeeding Cardinal Michael Czerny. Cardinal Fabio Baggio is named pro-prefect alongside her. The move follows Pope Francis’ push to elevate women in the Holy See’s leadership, while traditionalists push back on further reforms.
The Vatican has excommunicated four SSPX bishops and several priests for unauthorised ordinations, warning the faithful that adherence to the Society constitutes schism. The move escalates a long-running standoff with the traditionalist group and heightens tensions around Vatican II reforms and relations with Jews and other faiths.
SSPX plans to consecrate four bishops in Econe, Switzerland, defying a papal warning. The ceremony, timed to mark the 38th anniversary of a prior excommunication, has drawn international attention and raised questions about canon law, schism risks, and papal concessions made in the past.
Robotic elephants funded by animal welfare groups are being used in Indian temples, replacing live elephants in ceremonies. Authorities and devotees are divided; some see it as humane, others as ritual loss. The project aims to reduce animal suffering, while critics warn it may alter long-standing traditions.
The Gates Foundation has released a three-page summary of a WilmerHale review into its past engagements with Jeffrey Epstein. The review finds no evidence of payments to Epstein or illegal activity, but notes that Gates and foundation staff met Epstein about 30 times from 2011 to 2014, focusing on a donor-advised fund concept and a grant to the International Peace Institute. Gates expresses regret and the foundation says it will strengthen governance and vetting.
Muslim public officials face rising anti-Muslim rhetoric from some Republican figures after Abdul El-Sayed’s Michigan primary win. CAIR warns that such rhetoric targets Muslim officials nationwide, while other Republicans condemn the tone amid a charged political climate.
Poland has unveiled a 55.6-meter statue of Mary in Konotopie, crowning a 15-meter pedestal. The monument rivals the height of Rio’s Christ the Redeemer and is touted as Europe s largest of its kind. Catholic leaders note ongoing shifts in public religiosity while the project is funded by local millionaires and tied to a personal health episode of one patron.
The Universal Oneness Celebration at Madison Square Garden has drawn protests from groups warning the RSS, led by Mohan Bhagwat, promotes Hindu nationalism. Organisers say the event aims for unity, while critics accuse it of masking a history of minority discrimination in India. Local officials debate potential sanctions and the broader implications for diaspora politics.
Afghan education advocates have relocated a significant portion of their work to Rwanda, where a new campus will double SOLA’s enrollment. Meanwhile, thousands of Afghan girls continue to attend clandestine schools inside the country; many face arrest, yet view education as essential to a different future.
The Nepal region has suffered a catastrophic glacier-induced flood, with over 360 confirmed dead and more than 1,300 missing as rescue efforts continue. Helicopters are being used to reach cut-off areas, and aid groups are deploying shelters, food, and medical supplies while outlining ongoing recovery needs.
The Catholic Biblical Association has elected Levine, a Jewish scholar, as its first Jewish president. Critics allege antisemitism online, while supporters say the appointment reflects interfaith dialogue and scholarly merit. The backlash highlights rising antisemitism and calls for better understanding between faiths.
Wendell Berry has died at 92 in Port Royal, Kentucky. The Kentucky-born author and critic of industrial farming had published more than 40 books and influenced figures from Michael Pollan to Alice Waters. His work linked literature to land, community and a simpler life, while challenging modern prosperity and mechanization.
Namyalo announces a September 14 event at Kyambogo to honor fallen fighters and living participants of Uganda’s liberation struggle. The ceremony coincides with Museveni’s birthday and aims to revive spirits, involve religious leaders, and connect past sacrifices to the present political order.
Phil Knight and his wife have pledged a major donation to Providence Heart Institute, enabling the creation of Oregon’s first women’s hospital and expanding cardiovascular care, clinical research, and integrated patient services across the state’s eight Providence hospitals.
Multiple U.S. aid cuts are affecting health, nutrition, environment and disaster relief across all states. A new publicly accessible tracker shows the scale of disrupted grants, while philanthropy and private donors are stepping in to fill gaps, though with uneven impact.
Pope Leo XIV is in France for a four-day visit focused on defending life, amid French debates on abortion rights and end-of-life care. The pope plans Masses and meetings in Lourdes and Paris, while critics urge concrete actions beyond words.