The UK has ranked seventh in the world for daily use of the YouVersion Bible App, as new figures suggest growing numbers of people are turning to Scripture for comfort and guidance.  According to YouVersion, daily engagement across its family of apps has increased by more than 13% compared with 2025, with around 18.5 million people worldwide now using its Bible apps each day.  The organisation said some of the most popular searches during 2026 included “anxiety”, “hope” and “healing”, while Psalm 91, which focuses on God’s protection and refuge, was the most searched-for term.  YouVersion founder and chief executive Bobby…

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On the anniversary of its pontifical approval by Saint John XXIII (October 14, 1960), Sobicain (International Catholic Bible Society) is officially launching two new editions of the Bible: one in Spanish (La Biblia. “Haya luz!”, featuring the text of the Biblia Latinoamérica) and one in English (The Bible. “Let there be light”, featuring the text of the Christian Community Bible). Developed in collaboration with the Atelier d’Arte of the Centro Aletti in Rome, these two new Bibles are distinguished by several specific features: 1) Four-color printing, while maintaining an affordable price point; 2) The inclusion of neo-Byzantine iconography, pairing each…

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Guided by a mission to bring God’s Word to every nation, SOBICAIN Director Fr. Jose Pottayil spoke at the Synod of Melkite Bishops of the Church of Antioch, led by His Beatitude Patriarch Youssef Absi. Fr. Pottayil shared greetings from Superior General Fr. Domenico Soliman and highlighted SOBICAIN’s work, particularly the Arabic Bible edition Examine the Scriptures. He expressed the organization’s readiness to collaborate with diaspora communities and local Churches throughout the Middle East “so that the Word may spread quickly” to all the faithful.Echoing Pope Leo XIV’s recent address to the bishops, SOBICAIN reaffirmed its solidarity with Middle Eastern…

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“The Bethany System” and the Fourth Gospel. This is the title of a seminar structured in seven meetings that will begin this coming October 13th. These are study and discussion sessions centered on the main hypotheses proposed by biblical scholar Silvio Barbaglia in the second volume of the work From the Real Jesus to the Textualized Jesus, scheduled for release in the coming months. Each meeting will be introduced by the author with a positio lasting about 30 minutes, followed by an hour of exchange and discussion with participants attending in person and connected online. The goal is not merely…

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The Institute for Research in Biblical Sciences (ISBI) of the Theological Faculty of Central Italy will be inaugurated on Friday, October 30, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., at the Faculty’s headquarters in Florence. The ISBI was established as a center for research, exchange, and collaboration in the field of biblical studies, aimed at promoting dialogue among scholars and institutions, as well as fostering scientific and educational initiatives at both national and international levels. To launch the Institute’s activities, Prof. Emanuel Tov (Hebrew University of Jerusalem) will deliver a Lectio magistralis on the current status of textual criticism of the Hebrew Bible,…

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The 13th St. Paul National Bible Quiz (SPNBQ) Grand Championship brought together young Bible enthusiasts from different parts of the Philippines in a celebration of Sacred Scripture, faith, and friendship. Held on September 12, 2026, at the Manila International Book Fair (MIBF) at the SMX Convention Center Manila in Pasay City, the national championship carried the inspiring theme, “Sowers of the Word, Channels of Peace.” The event was organized by the Society of St. Paul, Philippines-Australia Province, in cooperation with the Sociedad Biblica Catolica Internacional (SOBICAIN), as part of its continuing mission to promote the Word of God through modern…

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The 27th Pauline Ecumenical Colloquium, taking place in Rome from September 15 to 19, 2026, at the Abbey of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, is dedicated to chapters 12–15 of the Letter to the Romans. This event continues a tradition begun in 1968, which over the years has brought together exegetes and scholars from diverse Christian traditions and geographical backgrounds at the Abbey for a week of dialogue and study focused on the writings of the Apostle Paul. The program alternates between lectures, sessions in linguistic study groups, plenary discussions, and times of prayer. To learn more, click here.

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The Institute for Hebrew Language and Literature and the European Hebrew Journal are organizing the conference “New Discoveries and New Directions in Biblical, Hebrew, and Theological Studies”, to be held live online via Zoom from 6 to 8 November 2026. The conference will bring together more than 30 scholars from Israel, Europe, North America, Africa, and beyond. A particular focus will be placed on new archaeological, textual, linguistic, and manuscript evidence relevant to the historical and cultural background of the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible. Among the themes are recent excavations at Shiloh and Jerusalem, Hebrew inscriptions from the Iron Age, the…

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The Italian Biblical Association is organizing a study conference on the Old Testament entirely dedicated to the theme of power, featuring prominent biblical scholars such as Jean-Pierre Sonnet and Claudio Balzaretti, who will deliver the introductory lectures on the representations of power in poetic and narrative texts. Following them, Rocco Caruso and Cristiano D’Angelo will approach the topic from the perspective of the prophets and kings of Israel, before handing over to Giulia Francesca Grassi and Luciano Zappella, who will delve into the details of Semitic inscriptions and scenes of power usurpation. Finally, Vincenzo Anselmo and Laura Invernizzi will conclude…

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The Italian Biblical Association is pleased to announce its 2026 study conference, dedicated entirely to exploring the complex relationship between Jesus and Paul. This prestigious event will bring together leading Pauline scholars to share their latest research. Marc Rastoin will open the discussion by examining the “pre-Pauline fragments” embedded within the Pauline epistles, followed by Francesco Bianchini, who will offer a comparative analysis of the concept of law according to both Paul and Matthew. Additionally, Paolo Mascilongo will trace the distinct impact of Paul’s persona and teachings on the Gospel of Mark, while Massimo Bonelli will delve into the dynamic…

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On the 55th anniversary of Bible Month (2026), SAB-Paulinas (Pauline Biblical Animation Service) and Paulinas Corsi (Pauline Courses) are sponsoring the 7th Online Bible Week, from September 1 – 4, 2026, dedicated to the Book of Daniel: Prophecy and Hope in Times of Crisis. In a world marked by fear and uncertainty, the Book of Daniel invites us to live with wisdom and discernment, reminding us that true security lies not in human power, but in a Covenant with God. Therefore, it is essential to remain faithful and preserve prophetic boldness. In harmony with the theme of Bible Month 2026—the…

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For the 2026–2027 academic year, the Department of Biblical Theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University is offering new in-depth online courses; these are open to anyone who registers—upon payment of the fee—and will be accessible via the University’s dedicated YouTube channel. The first course focuses on themes of violence and peace in the Bible, while the second addresses the theme of friendship. Both topics are generating significant interest, suggesting that the virtual classes will be well-attended.

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From cover to cover, Godwhospeaks is celebrating the Bible. In 73 books – from Genesis to Revelation – is the greatest story ever told. Our passion is to bring them alive through the medium of art in this unique competition and exhibition. We invite artists, graphic designers and illustrators from across the UK to design the front covers of any of the 73 books of the Bible. We want to celebrate creativity and innovation and promote a greater visual awareness and understanding of the Bible today. We welcome multiple submissions (up to four), and all selected entries will create the final…

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As the solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul approaches, we would like to propose a daily journey in stages to rediscover the Apostle Paul: his origins, the experience of revelation, the encounter with Barnabas, the first missionary journey, the assembly in Jerusalem… Stages in which we encounter faces, places, crises… but above all the ever-living and unpredictable action of the Holy Spirit: he not only prepares the way for the proclamation of the Gospel to the people, but also the hearts of those who, like Paul, will dedicate themselves entirely to the service of the Risen Lord. The texts are…

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The indigenous communities of Malaysia are characterized by a strong oral tradition. Many elders, now in their sixties or seventies, never truly learned to read. And it is precisely these grandparents who became Catholic and passed the faith down to their grandchildren. For decades, these Catholic elders have faithfully participated in Sunday celebrations of the Word, listening to the Gospel every week. When the Word of God remains only in written form in the Bible, it does not truly reach them. Hence the decision of the local bishop, Msgr. Simon Poh: to launch the Audio-Bible project, collaborating with other Christian…

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IllumiNation is a major global coalition of Protestant and Evangelical missionary agencies that uses artificial intelligence to accelerate the translation of the Bible into every language in the world. The goal is clear and explicit: to enable everyone to have access to the Word of God in their own language, making the Word fully accessible. Founded in 2020, IllumiNation aims to achieve this goal by 2033, thereby opening up the great treasure of the Word to the more than 2,900 language groups that still have limited (or no) access to it. However, this raises another question: is AI enough to…

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The Diocese of Padua in Italy is hosting its 32nd annual Biblical Week from August 26 to 29, 2026. This year’s theme is “The Hardship of a Blessed Journey: The Book of Numbers. Set between Leviticus and Deuteronomy, the Book of Numbers chronicles Israel’s journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. It is a path defined by hardship—filled with the difficulties of the desert, the trials of travel, and the constant temptation to lose faith in God. Yet, it remains a blessed journey; through these lived experiences and the Lord’s teachings, a displaced crowd of fugitives is transformed into a…

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During the 35th Study Conference of the Spanish Biblical Association (ABE), taking place from June 15 to 17, 2026, in Valencia, participants will examine the theme “Canon and Interpretive Community: Identity, Authority, and Tradition.” In biblical and theological contexts, the concept of the canon refers to the official corpus of books recognized as Sacred Scripture. Because these texts are understood as divinely inspired, they hold normative authority over the faith and life of the Church. The formation of this canon was a gradual historical process, during which the interpretive community—namely, the early Church—discerned and recognized the inspiration of specific writings…

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