Monday’s News & Ideas - 2/9/2026

Pope, an avid athlete, extols physical and spiritual benefits of sport in Olympic message
The Associated Press: Pope Leo XIV, an avid tennis player and sports fan, marked the start of the Winter Games on Friday by extolling the positive values of sport and fair play while warning that the pursuit of profits and performance risked corrupting sport entirely.

Clergy look to Bible on immigration enforcement. Interpretations can differ.
The Christian Science Monitor: Thousands of America’s clergy have joined the hundreds in Minneapolis standing with immigrants and communities against federal immigration enforcement. The clerics’ faiths share an imperative to “welcome the stranger.” But how Christian denominations interpret and prioritize that mandate differs.

From churches to chatbots: How AI is fusing with religion
Reuters: From writing sermons to simulating conversations with Jesus, religious leaders and worshippers alike are experimenting with AI — though not without controversy.

Hong Kong Catholic activist Jimmy Lai sentenced to 20 years in prison
Religion Unplugged: Catholic pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai was sentenced on Monday to 20 years behind bars in one of the most prominent prosecutions under a China-imposed national security law that has reshaped Hong Kong’s political landscape.

At his installation, New York Archbishop Hicks commits to missionary church
Religion News Service: At his installation Mass in St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Hicks made two things crystal clear: that he seeks to lead a church that will, at its heart, be missionary, and that Latinos will not remain at the peripheries of his ministry.

The Spark

The pie and mash crisis: Can the original fast food be saved?
There used to be hundreds of pie and mash shops in London. Now there are barely more than 30, The Guardian says. Can social media attention and a push for protected status ensure their survival?

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