Tracey Mumford

What's your number?

For quite a while, the broader Christian population in the U.S.

had been declining.

But a survey from Pew showed last year that it stabilized.

As for why Catholicism in particular is calling to people, there are a lot of theories.

Some converts told the Times they were feeling disconnected or lonely, and they thought the church could help.

Others said they were drawn in by Catholic podcast stars on social media.

And then there's the fact that the new pope is American.

Still, what exactly is behind the surge has stumped even church leadership.

Cardinal Robert McElroy of Washington said, quote, Of course we think the Holy Spirit is, but we are kind of stymied.

Those are the headlines.

I'm Tracy Mumford.

We'll be back tomorrow.

From The New York Times, it's The Headlines.

I'm Tracey Mumford.

Today's Friday, March 6th.

Here's what we're covering.

We're going to start in Lebanon, which has rapidly become a second front in the war with Iran.

Israel's been targeting Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed militant group there, after it fired a volley of rockets earlier this week in solidarity with Iran.

Yesterday, a senior Israeli minister threatened widespread destruction in the southern suburbs of Beirut, in an area known as the Dahia, where Hezbollah holds a lot of sway.