February 12, Pope Francis meets Russian Orthodox Church’s leader

Welcome to Thursday, February 12, 2026. It is the 43rd day of the year, with 322 days remaining.

Historical Highlights:

On this day in 2016, Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill had a groundbreaking meeting in Havana, marking a significant step towards unity between the Catholic and Russian Orthodox Churches.

Other notable events on this date:

In 1554, Lady Jane Grey and her husband were executed for treason in England.

In 1809, Abraham Lincoln, the 16th U.S. President, was born in a log cabin in Kentucky.

In 1909, the NAACP was established in New York City.

In 1912, Pu Yi, the last emperor of China, abdicated, ending the Qing Dynasty.

In 1914, construction began on the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.

In 1999, President Bill Clinton was acquitted in his impeachment trial by the Senate.

In 2002, Slobodan Milošević went on trial for war crimes in The Hague.

In 2019, drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán was convicted in New York.

Notable Birthdays:

• Film director Costa-Gavras turns 93 today.
• Author Judy Blume celebrates her 88th birthday.
• Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak is 84 years old.
• Country singer Moe Bandy is 82.
• Musician Michael McDonald turns 74.
• Actor-talk show host Arsenio Hall celebrates his 70th birthday.
• Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh is 61 today.
• Actor Josh Brolin turns 58.
• Filmmaker Darren Aronofsky is 57.
• Actor Christina Ricci celebrates her 46th birthday.
• Rapper Gucci Mane turns 46.
• Actor Jennifer Stone is 33.
• Pro wrestler Jaida Parker is 27.