Photos: Pope Leo makes baseball fans proud with one-handed catch of doll thrown from crowd

Pope makes baseball fans proud by catching doll thrown from crowd - Catholic Herald: Pope Leo XIV has demonstrated his US roots as an ardent White Sox baseball fan after making a one-handed catch of a cloth doll thrown at him while on the move in the popemobile. The impressive demonstration of hand-to-eye coordination, which has caused a stir on social media, occurred as the Pope departed on the popemobile after the weekly general audience at St Peter’s Square in the Vatican on 28 May.

Bishop Martin and Personal Liturgical Preferences

Bishop Martin and personal liturgical preferences | Catholic CultureMIRUS: As I recently mentioned in an email to colleagues, I know that I have the liturgical sensibilities of a mouse. The Liturgy has never been, for me, something that I thought I was supposed to enjoy. When I consider the laws of the Church, I notice that one of those laws is to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days. Because I understand what the Mass is, I regard this as a very minimal requirement, and in fact it is extremely rare that I fail to turn up at Mass on all seven days of the week.

Leo XIV to Priests: Be ‘Credible Witnesses’ for a ‘Wounded Church, Sent to Wounded Humanity, Within Wounded Creation’

Pope at Mass: Life of priests must be transparent and credible - Vatican News: Pope Leo XIV ordained several men priests on Saturday during Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica, reflecting on their mission and identity. In his homily, the Pope highlighted the relationship between the people of God and their priestly identity, which he said will grow to make them fully a part of the people to whom they are sent. He urged the new priests to always keep in mind “that a priest’s identity is rooted in union with Christ, the eternal and high priest.”

Hail Mary, Conceived Without Sin

Hail Mary, Conceived Without Sin | Catholic Answers MagazineSTAPLES: Romans 3:23 says, “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” First John 1:8 adds, “If any man says he has no sin he is a liar and the truth is not in him.” These texts could not be clearer for millions of Protestants: “How could anyone believe Mary was free from all sin in light of these Scripture passages? What’s more, Mary herself said, ‘My soul rejoices in God my savior’ in Luke 1:47. She clearly understood herself to be a sinner if she admits to needing a savior.”

‘Milky Way Photographer of the Year’ brings together 25 of the most stunning night sky images captured around the world —and beyond

2025 Milky Way Photographer of the Year - Capture the Atlas: While we can only see a small part of the Milky Way with our own eyes, photography allows us to uncover its hidden beauty—showing details, colors, and patterns in the night sky that usually go unnoticed. But beyond the camera and technique, it’s the photographer’s creativity, patience, and sense of wonder that truly bring these images to life.

Heaven Spoke — and St. Joan of Arc Took Up Her Sword

Heaven%20Spoke%20%u2014%20and%20St.%20Joan%20of%20Arc%20Took%20Up%20Her%20Sword%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterGRONDELSKI: St. Jeanne d’Arc (Joan of Arc) is celebrated on the French liturgical calendar on May 30 as co-patroness of France. Seeking her intercession, there is currently an ongoing nine-year national novena in France, culminating in the 600th anniversary of her death in 2031. Born around 1412, Jeanne lived during the Hundred Years War (1337-1453) between England and France, a conflict between those nations would result in her being killed...

The Profound Bow in the Nicene Creed

The Profound Bow in the Nicene Creed| National Catholic RegisterBECKLO: In his May 14 address to participants in the Jubilee of Oriental Churches, Pope Leo XIV praised the spiritual and liturgical treasures of the Christian East: its emphasis on mystery, wonder and the “beauty of salvation”; on “the primacy of God” and mystagogy; and on “constant intercession, penance, fasting and weeping for one’s own sins and for those of all humanity (penthos).” These traditions, Leo concludes, are medicine for the Christian West. In short: “The Church needs you.”

Program-Based Ministry: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly, and the Answer

Program-based Ministry - The Good, The Bad, The Ugly, and The Answer - Catholic Missionary Disciples - College Station, TXLEJEUNE: First of all, if you are lonely, you need to know your own self-worth. You are loved. You are valuable. You are worthy. You are redeemed. You are not an orphan. You are a daughter or son of a Father who loves you infinitely. Don’t ever forget these truths. Sit with them in prayer. Meditate upon them. Let them inform your heart, once again (or for the first time) of who you truly are. Don’t believe the lies.

Who Am I?

Who am I? | Catholic CulturePOKORSKY: Before his ordination, a priest in the Midwest worked as an airline desk agent. On one occasion, a snowstorm paralyzed the airport. People lined up for reroutes, but it was impossible. He said an unnamed (widely recognized) celebrity lost his patience and demanded, “Do you know who I am? Do you!” The passenger in line behind him dropped his luggage and said, “Oh great. I’m in the middle of a snowstorm trying to get home for Christmas, and now the guy in front of me doesn’t know who he is!

The Deeper Meaning of Christ’s Ascension

The%20Deeper%20Meaning%20of%20Christ%u2019s%20Ascension%20-%20St.%20Paul%20CenterHARROLD: The Ascension of Jesus is one of the more confusing—and neglected—mysteries of our Catholic Christian faith. Most of us know that it commemorates Christ leaving earth and returning to heaven forty days after Easter. But beyond these basic facts, many of us aren’t entirely sure why the Ascension matters, or why the Church celebrates it as a solemnity every year. So what might be the deeper significance of this final act of Jesus’s earthly life?

At April Meeting With Future Pope Leo XIV, Charlotte’s Bishop Michael Martin Urged to Slow Down on Cathedral Project

%282%29%20At%20Prevost%20meeting%2C%20Charlotte%u2019s%20Martin%20urged%20to%20slow%20down%20on%20cathedral%20project: In a meeting last month with the future Pope Leo XIV, the Vatican urged Bishop Michael Martin to slow his pace on proposed major changes in the Diocese of Charlotte. Martin was advised especially to slow down on a plan to relocate the diocesan cathedral, after less than one year leading the North Carolina diocese. The Vatican’s intervention came at the same time that priests in the diocese were pushing back on the bishop’s plan...

German Cathedral Expresses ‘Sincere Regret’ That Bizarred Chicken Dance in Sanctuary ‘Offended Religious Feelings’

German%20cathedral%20offers%20%u2018sincere%20regret%u2019%20for%20chicken%20dance: The chapter of Paderborn Cathedral expressed “sincere regret” May 26 that the performance by the dance ensemble Bodytalk “offended religious feelings.” “Such an effect was never intended and does not correspond to our expectations of this place with its special religious, historical, and cultural significance,” it said. The chapter insisted it had been unaware of the “specific content” of the May 15 performance, which marked the opening of an exhibit entitled...

The Good News: A Reflection on the Ascension of the Lord

The Good News: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Ascension of the Lord - St. Paul CenterHAHN: In today’s First Reading from the Acts of the Apostles, St. Luke gives the surprising news that there is more of the story to be told. The story did not end with the empty tomb, or with Jesus’ appearances to the Apostles over the course of forty days. Jesus’ saving work will have a liturgical consummation. He is the great high priest, and He has still to ascend to the heavenly Jerusalem, there to celebrate the feast in the true Holy of Holies.

Jesus Leaves Us In Charge But Not Alone — 5 Ascension Takeaways

This%20Sunday%2C%20Jesus%20Leaves%20Us%20In%20Charge%20But%20Not%20Alone%3B%205%20Ascension%20Takeaways%20%u2013%20Benedictine%20College%20Media%20%26%20CultureHOOPES: On the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, the Reading and Gospel are both by St. Luke, and they explain each other. In the First Reading, from his Book of Acts, Luke says that he wrote his Gospel to cover “all that Jesus did and taught.” And in the Gospel reading, Luke gives a preview of his Book of Acts, which will tell the tale of how “repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in [Christ’s] name to all nations.”

Father Mike Schmitz: Why ‘popular priests’ must choose truth over comfort, love over applause, and authenticity over approval...

New Advent: Father Mike Schmitz: How to choose truth over comfort, love over applause, and authenticity over approval...LENCIONI: Fr. Mike Schmitz and I tackle the tension priests encounter between being popular and being authentic. The conversation dives into the spiritual and practical dangers of avoiding conflict, the need for truth-tellers in leadership, and the importance of genuine relationships built on love rather than admiration. Together, we challenge listeners to choose truth over comfort, love over applause, and authenticity over approval.

What to do if you find a baby bird out of its nest

What to do if you find a baby bird out of its nest | Popular Science: The arrival of spring brings many changes to our natural surroundings. Flowers bloom, barren trees fill with leaves, and occasionally, baby birds come tumbling out of those trees. If you’ve ever encountered one of these not-quite-flighted chicks and wondered how best to look after them, you’ve come to the right place.

The Charlotte situation is bonkers, but it also provides a good opportunity for ‘parrhesia’...

Oh, Charlotte | Charlotte was BothWELBORN: If you are plugged into Catholic World, you know about the tornado of controversy that has swept through and around the Diocese of Charlotte, North Carolina since last Friday. Pillar Catholic (not-firewalled) has a good summary, but in short: Bishop Martin – who is celebrating his 1-year anniversary as ordinary of Charlotte this very day – decided to go ahead and proceed with “completing” the implementation of Pope Francis’ Tradition Custodinoes, severely limiting the use of the Traditional Latin Mass in the diocese.

Catholic Bishops Sue State of Washington Over Threat to Seal of Confession

(2) Washington bishops sue over seal of confession: The bishops of Washington filed a lawsuit Thursday challenging a new state law that requires priests to violate the seal of confession if they suspect the abuse of minors. The May 29 lawsuit argues that the new law violates First Amendment religious freedom protections, as well as the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment and the Washington constitution.

What is ‘fear of the Lord’? Does God want you to be scared of him? No...

What%20We%20Mean%20by%20%u2018Fear%20of%20the%20Lord%u2019%20%7C%20Catholic%20Answers%20MagazineGRONDELSKI: Most Catholics, in preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation, memorized the “Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit.” I say “memorized” them because I suspect that very few could explain them, and even fewer may have subsequently thought about them as what they received when they were “sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit.” One of those gifts used to be called “the fear of the Lord.” In fact, if you look at the Catechism of the Catholic Church (1831), it’s still called “the fear of the Lord.”

Echoes of Bishop Holley: Charlotte Catholics Say Liturgical Debacle Reveals ‘Pattern of Divisive Leadership’ in Bishop Martin’s First Year

Sources: Charlotte bishop shelves Mass manifesto, for now: The Bishop of Charlotte, North Carolina is expected to release new policies governing the ordinary celebration of the Mass in his diocese, local sources say, but a recently leaked draft policy text has already been spiked internally in the diocese, after widespread pushback against the bishop’s plans. The leaked text follows widespread controversy last week over new restrictions on older liturgical forms in the Charlotte diocese.

Charlotte Bishop Leaves Leo XIV With Hurricane-Sized Mess After Leaked Crackdown Targets TLM and Vatican II Rubrics Alike

Charlotte%20Liturgy%20Controversy%20Heats%20Up%20After%20Bishop%u2019s%20Proposed%20Ban%20of%20Latin%2C%20Altar%20Rails%20Leaked%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterLIEDL: Controversy in a North Carolina diocese has broadened beyond traditional Latin Mass restrictions after it was revealed that the local bishop had also planned to ban the use of Latin, altar rails, and other traditional practices in all diocesan liturgies — a development with implications far beyond the Tar Heel State...

Pass It On: A Divine Rule of Life

Pass It On: A Divine Rule of Life - LifeCraftCUDDEBACK: My father loved to say, “Pass it on.” I have an image of him at his retirement saying it to an employee of his who, weeping, was thanking him for being a great employer. There is more here than some miscellaneous nice attitude. Thomas Aquinas suggests this is a key feature of God’s plan for human life and a powerful revelation of the nature of God himself.

How to Make Enchiladas the Way They Make Them in Michoacán

New Advent: How to Make Enchiladas the Way They Make Them in Michoacan: This is how we enjoy some enchiladas here in Michoacan, and at my ranch we love them...

The Surprising Truth About Zeal for Souls (And Why You Might Not Have It Yet)

The Surprising Truth About Zeal for Souls (And Why You Might Not Have It Yet)KALINA: “Do you have zeal for souls?” My mentor asked me that question point-blank, and I wasn’t quite sure what he meant. I was switching careers and moving across the country to begin serving as a campus missionary. Surely I had zeal for souls ... right? I knew that I had zeal for Jesus. I had recently fallen in love with reading the Bible, particularly the New Testament, and prayer wasn’t the drag it used to be. I was actually enjoying it for the first time in my life.

A Catholic Fix for American Higher Education?

A Catholic fix for American higher education?WEIGEL: Why are so many American colleges and universities in crisis? Drew Gilpin Faust, an accomplished Civil War historian, gave the answer, perhaps unwittingly, at her 2007 inauguration as the twenty-eighth president of Harvard University. Noting the Latin inscription Veritas [Truth] on Harvard’s shield, President Faust said that, at the university’s founding, that motto was “intended to invoke the absolutes of divine revelation, the unassailable verities” that shaped the mind...

The Diocese of Charlotte’s disastrous handling of Bishop Michael Martin’s TLM train wreck is leaving me slack-jawed

Diocese of Charlotte TLM Crisis: A PR Disaster UnveiledMANOS: I’ll admit it, as an attorney who’s been a Supreme Court clerk, an assistant attorney general, and beyond, I’m no stranger to watching PR disasters unfold. For me, it is the continuation of the forensic work I did as a chemical engineer, looking at fatal accidents and explosions. If you’ve watched gory police procedurals like Silent Witness or others, you know when the body is on the slab in the mortuary and they are figuring out how the murder was committed...

Belgium: Mass Attendance Rises Almost 4% in a Year

(2) Belgium: Mass attendance rises almost 4% in a year: Mass attendance in Belgium rose by almost 4% from 2023 to 2024, according to figures released Tuesday. New annual statistics, usually released in November but compiled earlier than scheduled this year, indicated that 173,335 people attended Mass on an average Sunday in 2024, 3.6% more than in 2023, when the average attendance was 167,360.

Pope Leo XIV’s Wednesday Audience: ‘Compassion Means Being Willing to Feel the Weight of Another’s Pain’

Pope Leo: Compassion is a matter of humanity, not a religious issue - Vatican News: Continuing his reflections on the parables in the Gospel during his Wednesday General Audience, Pope Leo XIV recalled the “learned and well-prepared man, a doctor of the Law” from Luke’s Gospel. The Pope says this young man is too focused on himself and ignores others. The doctor of the Law speaks to Jesus, inquiring how he can inherit eternal life. But Pope Leo exposed “the deeper need for attention” behind this question as the young man asks Jesus to explain...

A practical guide to obtaining an apostolic blessing parchment from Pope Leo XIV

A practical guide to obtaining an apostolic blessing from Pope Leo XIV | Catholic News Agency: Pope Leo XIV is now granting apostolic blessings to the faithful around the world, a spiritual gesture that can be officially requested through the Vatican’s Apostolic Almoner’s Office. These blessings, printed on parchment, are a well-established tradition in the Catholic Church and are available for significant moments in Christian life such as the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and marriage.

Tens of thousands flock to see St. Teresa of Ávila’s remains more than 440 years after her death

Tens of thousands flock to see a Spanish saint's remains more than 440 years after her death | AP News: They lined up to see her, silent and wonderstruck: Inside an open silver casket was Saint Teresa of Ávila, more than 440 years after her death. Catholic worshippers have been flocking to Alba de Tormes, a town ringed by rolling pastures in western Spain where the remains of the Spanish saint, mystic and 16th-century religious reformer were on display this month.

Pope Leo XIV Will Address Chicagoans via Video at June 14 White Sox Park Celebration

Pope Leo Will Address Chicagoans Via Video At Sox Park Celebration: Chicagoans attending next month’s celebration of Pope Leo XIV at Rate Field will get to hear from the pontiff of the hour himself. The Archdiocese of Chicago announced Tuesday that the newly installed Pope Leo will deliver a “special video message to the young people of the world,” to be broadcast first from the June 14 event at the home of the Chicago White Sox, 333 W. 35th St.

The Blessed Code, and the Carolina Liturgy Wars

(2) The blessed Code, and the Carolina liturgy warsJDFLYNN: First, you’re getting this newsletter a little late, because yesterday was Memorial Day. I’m sure you understand. I had bratwurst to eat, and Little League practice. Second, today’s the feast of St. Augustine of Canterbury — and you’re reading The Tuesday Pillar Post. I know what most of you are thinking — that I am about to tell you a great deal about ole Augustine, who went to the Kingdom of Kent, in modern-day England...

Duncan Stroik Hasn’t Just Designed Iconic Traditional Churches — He’s Helped Build a Movement

The%20Architect%20Who%20Fought%20Modernism%20%u2014%20and%20Inspired%20a%20Sacred%20Architecture%20Revival%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterLIEDL: One does not necessarily expect to hear the language of warfare coming from the mouth of Duncan Stroik while discussing sacred architecture. Bespectacled and bow-tied, the renowned church architect cuts the figure of the Yale-educated professor he is far more than any kind of combatant. And the 12th-floor office of his architecture firm in downtown South Bend, Indiana...

Humanities Syllabus for May: The Gift of Life

Humanities Syllabus for May: The Gift of LifeCONLEY: Life is essentially good, and it brings joy. Even if we haven’t always felt its goodness, we can—and even must—affirm it in faith. All that God has made is good and is meant to bring about communion and love, redounding to his glory. God loves life. He came into the world to bring us to an abundance of life and love. He even commands us to be fruitful, to share the gift of life with others in many different ways...

Can You Survive a Komodo Dragon Bite?

New Advent: Can You Survive a Komodo Dragon Bite?: Dig into what we know about Komodo dragons, and find out what you should do if you encounter these giant lizards in the wild...

Will There Be Marriage in Heaven?

Will There Be Marriage in Heaven? - St. Paul CenterHARROLD: There are several things we need to understand about this passage. First, the Sadducees were a first century Jewish sect who were famous for only accepting the first five books of the Old Testament, and for denying the reality of the resurrection. Second, the resurrection being discussed in this passage is the general resurrection which most Jews (and all Catholics) understood would take place at the end of the world, when those who have died will receive their bodies back.

Paglia Replaced as President of Pontifical Academy for Life

(2) Paglia replaced as president of Pontifical Academy for Life: The Vatican announced May 27 the appointment of Msgr. Renzo Pegoraro as the new president of the Pontifical Academy for Life, succeeding Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia. Pegoraro has served as the academy’s chancellor since 2011. While considered a respected bioethicist, Pegoraro has made some statements that raised concern among some Catholics, who say they suggest he believes the Church’s moral teaching on artificial contraception could be subject to change.

Diocese of Charlotte Will Restrict Traditional Latin Mass ‘to Promote the Concord and Unity of the Church’

Diocese of Charlotte Will Restrict Latin Mass in Line With Pope Francis' Directive| National Catholic Register: The Diocese of Charlotte, North Carolina will significantly restrict the practice of the Traditional Latin Mass, limiting it to a single chapel in what Bishop Michael Martin said is a bid to “promote the concord and unity of the Church." Bishop Martin issued a statement on Friday announcing the new policy, directing that the ancient liturgy would henceforth be celebrated in an as-yet-unnamed chapel in the town of Mooresville.

Antisemitism Has No Home in America

Antisemitism Has No Home in America | National ReviewLOPEZ: Jewish students were excluded from portions of the UCLA campus because they refused to denounce their faith.” That’s not my interpretation of what happened. It’s from the order of Judge Mark C. Scarsi, who added, “This fact is so unimaginable and so abhorrent to our constitutional guarantee of religious freedom.” It was unimaginable precisely because it happened at a public institution supposedly devoted to education and the pursuit of truth and freedom...

108 years ago today, Pope Benedict XV finished his ‘truly arduous task’ — the 1917 Code of Canon Law

(2) Pope Benedict XV finishes "A Truly Arduous Task"SEWELL: Pope Benedict XV, perhaps better known for going toe-to-toe with Woodrow Wilson and his calls for peace during World War I – and also for being probably the most diminutive pope ever – promulgated the Codex Iuris Canonici on this date in 1917, but the big day was many years in the making.

Historians Discover One of the Earliest Memorial Day Ceremonies Was Held in 1865 by People Freed From Slavery

Remembering One of the Earliest Memorial Day Ceremonies: Memorial Day was born out of necessity. After the American Civil War, a battered United States was faced with the task of burying and honoring the 600,000 to 800,000 Union and Confederate soldiers who had died in the single bloodiest military conflict in American history. The first national commemoration of Memorial Day was held in Arlington National Cemetery on May 30, 1868, where both Union and Confederate soldiers are buried.

Daughter hears her father’s voice for first time — 76 years after his plane was shot down during WWII

(2) Hearing a Father's Voice - by Carrie GressGRESS: Lieutenant James D. O’Neill was a fighter pilot during World War II. Stationed in the Asian theatre, James wrote copious letters to his young wife, roughly one thousand letters in the three years he was away. His baby daughter, Bernadine, received one letter from him for her first birthday. In it, he included this advice, forever etched in Bernadine’s mind: “[Y]ou must do your share — Eat all that Mommy gives you, help her to keep you clean and healthy — and above all be good, but very good.”

Pope Leo XIV Takes Possession of Rome’s Cathedral — the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran

Pope Leo XIV delivers first homily as bishop of Rome at the Basilica of St. John Lateran | Catholic News Agency: Pope Leo XIV delivered his first homily as bishop of Rome at the Basilica of St. John Lateran, where he took possession of his cathedra (throne) on Sunday. The pontiff said ecclesial communion is built “on our knees, through prayer and constant commitment to conversion” as he invoked the example of the first Christians, who faced the challenges of proclaiming the Gospel to a pagan world.

Pope Leo XIV at Sunday Regina Caeli: 'Let Us Walk in the Joy of the Faith'

Pope at Regina Caeli: 'Let us walk in the joy of the faith' - Vatican News: In his first Regina Coeli address from the window of the Apostolic Palace, Pope Leo XIV reminded the faithful that God takes us by the hand, and invited us to not allow ourselves to be troubled but to walk with joy in the faith.

Russia Rejects Pope Leo XIV’s Offer to Host Ukraine Peace Talks at Vatican

Russia rejects Vatican offer to host peace talks on Ukraine - OSV News: Russia has rejected the Vatican’s offer to host talks for ending the war in Ukraine, despite international support for the idea. Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin had offered to “eventually make the Vatican … available for a direct meeting” between Ukraine and Russia, as May 16 talks between those nations in Istanbul ended after just two hours, with little result except for a mutual prisoner exchange.

This Sunday, Jesus Says ‘Welcome Home’

This%20Sunday%2C%20Jesus%20Says%20%u2018Welcome%20Home%u2019%20%u2013%205%20Takeaways%20for%20the%206th%20Sunday%20of%20Easter%20%u2013%20Benedictine%20College%20Media%20%26%20CultureHOOPES: Jesus describes the home he will make with us on the Sixth Sunday of Easter Year C in words that should fill us with joy, peace and hope in a world where that seems impossible. Here are five takeaways from Sunday Readings columns at this site and the Extraordinary Story podcast. First: Jesus says that, after the Ascension, we will remain in his family, living together in his home. It is easy to misunderstand what “grace” means...

Kissing the Ring, The First 100 days, and Fake Fiction

(2) Kissing the ring, the first 100 days, and fake fictionCONDON: Happy Friday, friends. Quite a few people seem to be annoyed with JD this morning. Vance, that is, not Flynn. Though I concede m’colleague’s miserablist take Tuesday on the term “popemobile” has generated some considerable and not entirely unwarranted feedback. Anyway, JD the VP has come up for some discussion about his recent audience with Pope Leo following the Mass of inauguration on Sunday...

Old and New: The American Pope Takes on Artificial Intelligence

Old and New: The American Pope Takes on AISTAUDT: Pope Leo XIV surprised the cardinals with the choice of his papal name and then did the same when he announced his intention to focus on the AI Revolution. When he addressed the College of Cardinals the day after his election, he explained these choices. Coming from America, the land of Silicon Valley and the tech revolution that has flowed from it, it seems fitting that Leo has taken on a burning issue of our day...

AI is not a fringe issue to Pope Leo XIV — it even shaped his choice of a papal name

(2) Crossroads -- AI is not a fringe issue to Pope Leo XIVMATTINGLY: Super-intelligent computers that go bad isn’t a new concept, as fans of the “Terminator” franchise know all to well. However, when I think about digital evil, I remember the haunting voice of the HAL 9000 supercomputer in 1968 sci-fi classic “2001: A Space Odyssey.” Think about this: That was a voice that Sir Anthony Hopkins heard in his head as he prepared to play the brilliant serial killer Hannibal Lecter in “The Silence of the Lambs.”

Catholic University Layoffs Aim to Stabilize Budget Ahead of ‘Demographic Cliff’

%282%29%20Catholic%20University%20layoffs%20aim%20to%20stabilize%20budget%20ahead%20of%20%u2018demographic%20cliff%u2019: The Catholic University of America laid off 66 employees Monday, as the university aims to address a $30 million deficit announced to university stakeholders in December.

4 German Bishops Opt Out of National Synodal Body

4 German bishops opt out of national synodal body: Four German bishops have confirmed they will not take part in a proposed new national synodal body. Die Tagespost newspaper reported that in a May 19 letter to organizers of the interim synodal committee, the quartet of bishops signaled their intention not to take up their seats on the new synodal body, scheduled to be launched in 2026 and include all 27 German diocesan bishops. The four bishops’ absence will likely undermine efforts...

Departure of Archbishop Paglia Marks End of Turbulent Chapter at John Paul II Institute

Departure of Archbishop Paglia Marks End of Turbulent Chapter at John Paul II Institute| National Catholic RegisterPENTIN: What does the shakeup at the Pontifical John Paul II Theological Institute for Marriage and Family Sciences mean? Pope Leo XIV’s appointment this week of Cardinal Baldassare Reina, 54, the vicar general of Rome as grand chancellor of the institute is being welcomed as a partial restoration of the institute’s original order almost a decade after Pope Francis controversially upended the academic body.

Remembering Alasdair MacIntyre (1929-2025)

Remembering Alasdair MacIntyre (1929-2025) - Word on FireKACZOR: For more than seven decades, Alasdair MacIntyre was a prolific and provocative philosopher. The author of more than two hundred scholarly articles and more than twenty books, MacIntyre’s best known work, After Virtue, was described in 1981 by Newsweek as “a stunning new study of ethics by one of the foremost moral philosophers in the English-speaking world.” Conventional wisdom had offered the bare alternatives...

What Pope Leo XIV Sees in Van Gogh’s ‘Sower’ — and What You Might Have Missed

What%20Pope%20Leo%20XIV%20Sees%20in%20Van%20Gogh%20%u2014%20and%20What%20You%20Might%20Have%20Missed%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterGRONDELSKI: Pope Leo XIV’s first General Audience on Wednesday was a meditation on Matthew’s Parable of the Sower (13:1-23). It’s the first of five parables or analogies that Jesus makes about the nature of the Kingdom of Heaven. They will be read in succession over several Sundays in summer 2026, when the Church will use Matthew’s Gospel for the Sunday Lectionary.

If Leo XIV Were a New CEO, He’d Be Crushing It, Say Leadership Experts

If%20Leo%20XIV%20Were%20a%20New%20CEO%2C%20He%u2019d%20Be%20Crushing%20It%2C%20Say%20Leadership%20Experts%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterCALDWELL: It’s been less than two weeks since Pope Leo XIV was elected the 267th pope, and in that short time, he seems to have pulled off the incredible feat of winning over most Catholics at a time of deep division within the Church. The Catholic Church is a global “corporation” — not in the modern business sense, but in the original meaning of the word: a corpus, a body, the Body of Christ.

Pope Appoints Sister Tiziana Merletti as Secretary of Dicastery for Consecrated Life

Pope appoints Sr. Tiziana Merletti as Secretary of Dicastery for Consecrated Life - Vatican News: Pope Leo XIV has appointed Sister Tiziana Merletti, former Superior General of the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor, as Secretary of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. The Dicastery is responsible for orders and religious congregations, as well as secular institutes...

Pope Leo XIV Resumes US Bishop Appointments, Names Michael Pham to Succeed Cardinal McElroy in San Diego

Michael Pham - Wikipedia: Michael Phạm Minh Cường (known as Michael Phạm,[1] born January 27, 1967) is a Vietnamese-born priest of the Catholic Church who has been serving as an auxiliary bishop for the Diocese of San Diego in California since 2023.

Why Are So Many Young Adults Becoming Catholic?

Why Are So Many Young Adults Becoming Catholic? - Word on FireKACZOR: This Easter, the University of Notre Dame saw a record number of students enter the Catholic Church. This trend is happening not just at Notre Dame but around the country. Los Angeles welcomed more than 5,500 new Catholics. The New York Post ran an essay entitled “Young people are converting to Catholicism en masse ...” As reporter Matthew McDonald wrote in another article...

4 Steps You Can Take to Beat Bad Anti-Catholic Arguments

4 Steps to Beat Bad Anti-Catholic Arguments | Catholic Answers MagazineHESCHMEYER: If you want to save yourself a lot of time and frustration, start by trying to figure all this out: does the person you’re engaging with really care about the truth? Is he interested in trying to learn from the Church Fathers? Or is he just trying to score some points online? Here, the author lays his cards on the table, saying, “This is only important because Catholics lie and say ‘faith alone is a new idea.’” That “only” is a great clue.

How the Creed That Changed the World Can Change Your Soul

Understanding the Spiritual Relevance of the Nicene Creed | Knowing Is DoingTORRE: In his letter to the Romans, St. Paul reminds his faithful brethren that the Word of God is near you and on your lips and in your heart (that is the word of faith which we preach because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.[1] St. Paul’s direct communication to his fellow brethren reminds them of the importance of confessing their faith in Jesus as revealed through His Word...

The Council of Jerusalem: A Reflection on the Sixth Sunday of Easter

Council of Jerusalem: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Sixth Sunday of Easter - St. Paul CenterHAHN: The first Church council, the Council of Jerusalem we hear about in today’s First Reading, decided the shape of the Church as we know it. Some Jewish Christians had wanted Gentile converts to be circumcised and obey all the complex ritual and purity laws of the Jews. The council called this a heresy, again showing us that the Church in the divine plan is meant to be a worldwide family of God, no longer a covenant with just one nation.

What Kind of Pope Will Leo XIV Be? Look to Chiclayo and His Legacy of ‘Great Charity and Great Clarity’

%u2018Great%20charity%20and%20great%20clarity%u2019%20-%20How%20Pope%20Leo%20is%20remembered%20in%20ChiclayoBELTRAN: Pope Leo XIV on Monday received an audience of priests, religious and laypeople from Chiclayo, Perú, where he served as bishop from 2014 to 2013. During the audience, Pope Leo said that “Peru is present in my life and in my heart... I give my thanks to Peru for all this solidarity, and for so many signs of affection and friendship… Long live Chiclayo!”

At First Wednesday Audience, Pope Leo XIV Appeals for Peace in Gaza, Teaches in English on Van Gogh Painting and ‘Jesus Christ Our Hope’

Pope Leo XIV appeals for end to hostilities in Gaza in first general audience | Catholic News Agency: Pope Leo XIV in the first general audience of his pontificate on Wednesday appealed for an end to hostilities in Gaza and for the entrance of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. Speaking before tens of thousands of attendees on an overcast day in St. Peter’s Square, the new pope ended his remarks by calling the situation in the Gaza Strip “increasingly worrying and painful.”

8 Reasons Why I Like Pope Leo

Eight reasons why I like Leo | Catholic CultureWOLFGANG: The College of Cardinals shocked the world by elevating to the papacy an American. Cardinal Robert Prevost is now Pope Leo XIV. Here are my initial thoughts, slightly more than a week out. First, searching for clues about his future by scouring his past, in old comments or Twitter history, strikes me as a worthless endeavor. It proved largely misleading in the case of Pope Francis in 2013. Better just to focus on what he says and does as Pope, of which there is already much.

Don’t Say ‘Popemobile’ — and Don’t Be Miserable

%282%29%20Don%u2019t%20say%20%u2018popemobile.%u2019%20And%20don%u2019t%20be%20miserableJDFLYNN: Before his inaugural Mass on Sunday, Pope Leo XIV took his first ride through St. Peter’s Square in a modified pearl white electric Mercedes G580, with an open back and a single swivelling chair designed especially for Pope Francis but not used by Leo, who stood Sunday in the bed of the vehicle gripping a specially mounted handle above the cab...

Who’s Nearing Retirement in the Roman Curia?

Who%u2019s%20nearing%20retirement%20in%20the%20Roman%20curia%3FCOPPEN: The controversial Italian archbishop remains the president of the Pontifical Academy for Life. But he is unlikely to stay long in that post either, given that he’s 80 — generally considered the upper age limit for positions in the Roman curia. According to the 2022 apostolic constitution Praedicate Evangelium, the top two officials in Vatican dicasteries (prefects and secretaries) must submit their resignations to the pope when they turn 75, “the age provided for by the General Regulations of the Roman Curia.”

Why Everyone’s Talking About ‘Rerum Novarum’ Again

Why%20Everyone%u2019s%20Talking%20About%20%u2018Rerum%20Novarum%u2019%20Again%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterDEMARCO: Pope Leo XIII was the spiritual leader of the Catholic Church from 1878 until his death in 1903. His pontificate of 25 years is the fourth-longest reign of any pope, surpassed only by St. Peter the Apostle, Blessed Pius IX and St. John Paul II. His encyclical Rerum Novarum, which bears the English title, “On the Condition of Labor,” was the first time a pope had written a comprehensive encyclical concerning social justice...

Why So Many Are Glad to See Paglia Out at the John Paul II Institute

Paglia replaced at JPII institute - The Pillar: The Vatican announced Monday the appointment of Cardinal Baldo Reina as grand chancellor of the Pontifical John Paul II Theological Institute for Marriage and Family Sciences, replacing Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia. The announcement marks one of the most significant personnel changes in the opening weeks of Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate...

Trump Says Leo XIV Might Host Imminent Russia-Ukraine Ceasefire Talks

Trump says Vatican might host imminent Russia-Ukraine ceasefire talks | Catholic News AgencyMCKEOWN: President Donald Trump said Monday that following a two-hour phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russia and Ukraine will “immediately” begin ceasefire negotiations, with the Vatican possibly hosting the talks.

You probably know less about shoelaces than you realize. But fear not. Ian’s Shoelace Site has you covered...

Ian's Shoelace Site: Fun, fashion and science in the Internet's #1 website about shoelaces – and home of the Ian Knot, the world's fastest shoelace knot...

'This is the Hour For Love’: Full Homily From Sunday’s Inauguration Mass

Pope Leo XIV's Inauguration Mass Full Homily: 'This is the Hour For Love'| National Catholic RegisterCOATOFARMS: Dear Brother Cardinals, Brother Bishops and Priests, Distinguished Authorities and Members of the Diplomatic Corps, and those who traveled here for the Jubilee of Confraternities, Brothers and Sisters: I greet all of you with a heart full of gratitude at the beginning of the ministry that has been entrusted to me. St. Augustine wrote: “Lord, you have made us for yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in you”...

Everything You Need to Know About the Original Pope Leo — Pope St. Leo the Great

(2) The ORIGINAL Pope Leo - by Matthew SewellSEWELL: Our pope this week came to power at one of Catholicism’s first major turning points – the collapse of the Roman Empire and the simultaneous rise of the Church as the caretaker of civilization. Spiritual and corporeal danger alike were brewing beyond the walls of the Eternal City, but this GREAT pontiff was up to the task.

Pope Leo XIV Appoints Cardinal Reina to Replace Controversial Archbishop Paglia as John Paul II Institute Chancellor

Cardinal Reina to replace Archbishop Paglia as John Paul II Institute chancellor | News Headlines | Catholic Culture: Pope Leo XIV has named Cardinal Baldassare Reina, the vicar general of the Rome diocese, to serve as grand chancellor of the Pontifical “John Paul II” Theological Institute for Marriage and Family Sciences.

Leo XIV at Inauguration Mass: ‘We Want to Say to the World: Look to Christ! Come Closer to Jesus!’

Leo%20XIV%20at%20inauguration%20Mass%3A%20%u2018Look%20to%20Christ%21%u2019: Pope Leo XIV said that St. Peter was tasked with “loving more,” and “giving his life for his flock,” as he celebrated his inauguration Mass Sunday in St. Peter’s Square. The Petrine ministry is “always and only a question of loving as Jesus did,” the pontiff said. The first U.S.-born pope reflected at the May 18 Mass on the presence of Jesus among his apostles after the Resurrection — and briefly on the conclave which elected him.

How Leo XIV’s Rarely-Seen Thesis Sheds Light on His Vision for the Church

What%20Pope%20Leo%20XIV%u2019s%20Thesis%20Reveals%20About%20His%20Vision%20for%20the%20Church%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterTOWELL: Before he became Pope, Leo XIV was Augustinian Father Robert Prevost, a quiet friar studying the inner workings of religious life. He earned a licentiate in canon law from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome in 1984, followed by a doctorate in 1987. His dissertation may seem obscure at first glance...

On Pope Leo’s Desk: The Vatican-China deal

%282%29%20On%20Pope%20Leo%u2019s%20Desk%3A%20The%20Vatican-China%20deal%20-%20by%20Ed.%20CondonCONDON: Ever since the Vatican-China deal on the appointment of mainland bishops was first agreed in 2018, the deal itself and the resulting episcopal nominations have been shrouded in controversy and confusion. The exact text of the agreement itself is not public, and it is likely that Pope Leo XIV will, as pope, be getting his first real look at the text and what it is, exactly, the Vatican signed up for, and signed away, with the Chinese Communist Party nearly seven years ago.

Mass for Pope Leo XIV’s Inauguration Scheduled for Sunday Morning: Here Are Key Moments to Watch For

What%20to%20watch%20for%3A%20Key%20moments%20taking%20place%20in%20Pope%20Leo%20XIV%u2019s%20inaugural%20Mass%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20Agency: The Mass for the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate will be celebrated on Sunday, May 18, at 10 a.m. Rome time in St. Peter’s Square, a liturgical event that will mark the official beginning of his ministry as successor of Peter and bishop of Rome.

All Eyes on Sunday: Leo XIV’s First Words May Cast His Image on Church’s Future

All%20Eyes%20on%20Sunday%3A%20Leo%20XIV%u2019s%20First%20Words%20May%20Cast%20His%20Image%20on%20Church%u2019s%20Future%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterDESOUZA: Pope Leo XIV will solemnly inaugurate his pontificate on Sunday — the Fifth Sunday of Easter, otherwise the feast of the martyred Pope St. John I (523-526), and the birthday of Pope St. John Paul II. The entire Church and much of the world will eagerly await what he will say. Recent inaugural homilies have merited careful attention. Cardinal Robert Prevost became pope immediately upon accepting his election in the Sistine Chapel and has been exercising his office since.

‘Love Is the Master Key to Life’: How to Understand the Readings for This Sunday

This%20Sunday%2C%20Love%20Is%20the%20Master%20Key%20to%20Life%3A%20Fifth%20Sunday%20of%20Easter%20Takeaways%20%u2013%20Benedictine%20College%20Media%20%26%20CultureHOOPES: Jesus gives us a new commandment this Sunday, the Fifth Sunday of Easter Year C, but it is easy to get this new commandment wrong. “Love one another as I have loved you,” he says. We imagine this means “Have a big heart that embraces humanity.” What he really means is a whole new way of life. Here are six takeaways from Sunday Readings columns at this site and the Extraordinary Story podcast.

How Scientists Are Turning Birds Into Feathered Field Assistants

The Many Ways Scientists Are Turning Birds Into Feathered Field Assistants | Audubon: In the late 1990s, as an ecologist at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Martin Wikelski guesses he drove every mile of the Prairie State’s backroads in a two-toned Oldsmobile. But these were no joyrides; they were high-adrenaline all-nighters in the name of science.

How We Must Respond to the Growing Demand for the Church’s Social Doctrine (May 17, 2025)

Udienza%20ai%20Membri%20della%20Fondazione%20%u201CCentesimus%20Annus%20Pro%20Pontifice%u201DCOATOFARMS: Pope Leo XIII, who lived in an age of momentous and disruptive change, sought to promote peace by encouraging social dialogue between capital and labour, technology and human intelligence, and different political cultures and nations. Pope Francis spoke of a “polycrisis” in describing the dramatic nature of our own age, marked by wars, climate change, growing inequalities, forced and contested migration...

Why Have Modern Birds Never Gotten as Big as T. Rex?

Why Have Birds Never Gotten as Big as T. Rex?: Evolution has a fondness for big birds. During the past 66 million years, repeated on different continents and islands all over the world, avian dinosaurs have reached prodigious sizes and even become apex predators in their ancient habitats. Ten-foot-tall elephant birds strutted across Madagascar until a thousand years ago. The sharp-beaked “terror birds” of prehistoric South America were formidable carnivores for tens of millions of years...

12 Consoling Bible Verses During Times of Suffering

12 Consoling Bible Verses During Times of Suffering - St. Paul CenterHARROLD: As Christians, we know that suffering is part and parcel of this present life. But we also know that we are not alone in our suffering, for Jesus Christ has entered into it and redeemed it by the power of His Cross. We take heart, therefore, in the knowledge that “we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him” (Rom 8:17). And we turn to Sacred Scripture for encouragement and consolation on our pilgrim journey through this valley of tears.

Cardinal denies controversial conclave interview in Iraq imbroglio

(2) Cardinal denies controversial conclave interview in Iraq imbroglio: In a situation that’s gained widespread attention in Iraq, Chaldean Catholic leader Cardinal Louis Raphaël Sako has denied giving a controversial media interview in which the cardinal allegedly disclosed details of the papal conclave, including the claim that one cardinal accidentally submitted two ballots in a round of voting.

There's turbulence in the Archdiocese of Lima. How will our new Peruvian pope address it?

%282%29%20Peruvian%20Pope%20Leo%u2019s%20Lima%20litmus%20test%20-%20by%20Edgar%20Beltr%E1nBELTRAN: Pope Leo XIV appointed on Thursday Fr. Miguel Ángel Contreras Llajaruna, S.M., as auxiliary bishop of Callao, Perú. It was the first episcopal appointment of his pontificate. The appointment might not convey much about Pope Leo’s preferences; it might well have been in the works while Pope Francis was still alive — though Pope Leo himself was the apostolic administrator of the diocese in 2020 and 2021, and prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops under Francis, so he’s likely to have had a hand in the appointment, one way or another.

Kidnappers demand nearly $50,000 for Cameroon priest’s freedom

Kidnappers%20demand%20nearly%20%2450%2C000%20for%20Cameroon%20priest%u2019s%20freedom%20%7C%20Crux: Unidentified gunmen are demanding $42,750 in ransom payment as a condition for releasing Father Valentin Mbaïbarem from captivity. The parish priest of St. John the Baptist Madingring Parish of Garoua Archdiocese in Cameroon’s Far North region was kidnapped on May 7, along with five other people. He was taken on the road between Guidjiba and Tcholliré in Cameroon’s northern region.

Will the new Leo elevate Leo XIII’s Cardinal Newman to a Doctor of the Church?

Will%20the%20new%20Leo%20elevate%20Leo%20XIII%u2019s%20Cardinal%20Newman%20to%20a%20Doctor%20of%20the%20Church%3F%20-%20Catholic%20Herald: On 12 May 1879, Pope Leo XIII raised John Henry Newman to the Sacred College of Cardinals. The biglietto which he received from the Secretariat of State notifying him of the Holy Father’s decision caused Newman to make one of his most significant speeches in reply. It was the plan of the Duke of Norfolk, one of Newman’s advocates in England, to ask Pope Leo to acknowledge Newman’s loyalty to the Roman Church...

Evidence of Controversial Planet 9 Uncovered in Sky Surveys Taken 23 Years Apart, Say Astronomers

Evidence of controversial Planet 9 uncovered in sky surveys taken 23 years apart | Space: The best candidate yet for the elusive Planet Nine has been spotted in two deep infrared surveys taken 23 years apart. If this mystery object really is Planet Nine, it would have a mass greater than Neptune, and currently be about 700 times farther from the sun than Earth is.

Hopes for a New Pontificate

Hopes for a new pontificateWEIGEL: That is what my friend and many others hope for from Pope Leo — that and, I imagine, a more vigorous defense of the persecuted Nicaraguan Church and its people than was forthcoming from the Vatican over the past dozen years. Such a vocal, public defense of the persecuted may not produce immediate results, but it shines the light of international publicity on cruelties that tyrants would prefer to leave in the dark...

Is Pope Leo XIV Leaving Us Clues About Where He’s Headed?

Is%20Pope%20Leo%20XIV%20Leaving%20Us%20Clues%20About%20Where%20He%u2019s%20Headed%3F%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterDESOUZA: Pope Leo XIV’s first few days have been met with widespread enthusiasm and excitement, not least because the Holy Father himself is confident, at ease, and seems to enjoy being pope. He told the cardinals they had asked him “to carry that cross and to be blessed with that mission.” At least for now, the blessing is more apparent than the cross. After the initial impressions of the Holy Father’s first days — and the global reaction — there are now second impressions that suggest where Pope Leo might be headed.

Beyond Trends: Why Catholic Beauty is Captivating a New Generation

Beyond Trends: Why Catholic Beauty is Captivating a New Generation| National Catholic Register: There are images that do not fade. The chant of the traditional antiphon In Paradisum floated above St. Peter’s Square, as the Church entrusted the soul of Pope Francis to the heavenly Jerusalem, on April 26. The long cortege of crimson-clad cardinals followed in silence, the weight of centuries upon their shoulders; the solemn procession of the 133 cardinal-electors, filing slowly from the Pauline Chapel to the Sistine Chapel...

Why Pope Leo XIV Gives Me Real Hope

New Advent: Why Pope Leo XIV Gives Me Real HopeSTEFANICK: When Pope Leo XIV stepped onto that balcony and said, “Peace be with you,” the whole world watched in stunned silence. But what most people missed was what those words actually revealed. In this powerful episode of The Chris Stefanick Show, I sit down with my friend and Archbishop, Samuel Aquila, to unpack everything we’re seeing in these early days of Pope Leo’s pontificate — and why it gives me hope.

Pope Leo XIV to Diplomatic Corps: Peace and Justice Depends on the Family, ‘Founded Upon the Stable Union Between a Man and a Woman’

Pope Leo XIV to diplomats: Peace and justice in society can be achieved by investing in the family | Catholic News Agency: Pope Leo XIV on Friday said peaceful societies can be achieved if governments invested in families “founded upon the stable union between a man and a woman” in his first address to the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See. Welcoming more than 100 ambassadors to an audience held inside the Vatican’s Clementine Hall, the Holy Father stated that resolving global inequalities as well as deep divisions between “continents, countries, and individual societies” starts in the home.

Pope Leo XIV Expected to Move Into Traditional Papal Apartment Unused by Pope Francis

Pope Leo XIV expected to live in traditional papal apartment unused by Pope Francis | Catholic News AgencyBROCKHAUS: Pope Leo XIV is expected to move into the official papal residence, an apartment on the top floor of the Apostolic Palace, departing from the living arrangements used by Pope Francis for 12 years. The papal apartment, which is a series of rooms wrapping around the Vatican’s Sixtus V Courtyard, was the traditional home of pontiffs for over a century before Pope Francis eschewed those living quarters for a suite in the Vatican’s guesthouse, the Casa Santa Marta.

According to ScreenRant, Pope Leo XIV is a comics fan — especially ‘Peanuts’

It's Really True, the New Catholic Pope Is a Comics Lover Just Like the Rest of Us: Everyone loves the classic comic strip Peanuts, and that includes the world's newest Pope! It's only been a week since the world has been introduced to the newest leader of the Catholic Church and everyone is eager to know more about him. As it turns out, he's a fan of Charles Schulz's greatest creations, Charlie Brown and Snoopy.

Pope Leo XIV, Ocáriz Discuss Process of Revising Opus Dei’s Statutes

Pope%20Leo%20XIV%2C%20Oc%E1riz%20discuss%20process%20of%20revising%20Opus%20Dei%u2019s%20statutes%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20Agency: Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday briefly discussed the revision of Opus Dei’s statutes with the apostolate’s prelate, Monsignor Fernando Ocáriz, a revision that was postponed following the death of Pope Francis on April 21, two days before the convening of Opus Dei’s general congress, from which the revisions proposed for approval were to be issued.

Video: Pope Leo XIV Meets Tennis Star Jannik Sinner in Vatican

New Advent: Video: Pope Leo XIV Meets Tennis Star Jannik Sinner in Vatican: Pope Leo XIV receives professional tennis player Jannik Sinner in the Vatican and asks for some sporting tips...

How to Make Stability in Your Home

Making Stability in the Home - LifeCraftCUDDEBACK: Our lives today are marked by changeability. Where we live, where we work, and the cast of people with whom we share a life, even if we stay in the same place, change at an unprecedented rate. Other key things also change regularly, such as the basic tools of our work, leisure, and communication. We have gotten so used to variability that we assume it is normal, and so we can miss the great good of stability.

In a Routine Excavation, Archaeologists Accidentally Uncover Hidden Papal Structure Near Lateran Basilica

Ancient Papal Palace Discovered Beneath Rome During Jubilee Prep: Archaeologists in Rome unearthed the remains of an ancient palace that could have housed popes prior to the establishment of the Vatican. Last year, in preparation for the 2025 Jubilee, various areas in Rome underwent renovations, including the Piazza San Giovanni in Laterano. Work on the piazza revealed a complex architectural structure just beneath the surface that may have played a big role in papal history.

This amazing microscope spins around its tiny subjects — and the shots it gets are insane

New%20Advent%3A%20This%20amazing%20microscope%20spins%20around%20its%20tiny%20subjects%20%u2014%20and%20the%20shots%20it%20gets%20are%20insane: The Hirox microscope has a rotary head attachments that allows you to sweep around your tiny subject like a drone...

Can Leo XIV keep his American citizenship as pope? And does he still need to file with the IRS?

Can Pope Leo XIV keep his American citizenship as pope? | Catholic News AgencyMCKEOWN: Catholics around the world continue to celebrate the election last week of Pope Leo XIV, the first pope from the United States. In addition to being a natural-born American citizen, Leo is also a naturalized citizen of Peru, having ministered there for decades. His election as pope raises several interesting questions from a nationality law perspective. Chiefly: can a U.S. citizen become king of a foreign country and still remain an American citizen?

‘The Church Needs You’: Pope Leo XIV Meets With Eastern Catholics From 23 Churches Worldwide

Pope Leo XIV to Eastern Catholics: The Church needs you - Vatican News: Pope Leo XIV welcomed Eastern Catholics to the Vatican with the traditional Easter greeting, “Christ is risen! He is truly risen!” Addressing the faithful from the 23 sui iuris Churches in full communion with Rome, the Holy Father said, “You are precious in God’s eyes,” and expressed his happiness at being able to devote one of the first encounters of his pontificate to the Eastern faithful...

Longtime Chicago friends of Leo XIV snap the ultimate selfie — from a Pope who normally shuns selfies

Longtime%20friends%20of%20%27Father%20Bob%27%20%u2014%20now%20Pope%20Leo%20%u2014%20snap%20the%20ultimate%20selfie%20in%20Rome%20-%20Chicago%20Sun-Times: Three hours after Pope Leo XIV was elected the 267th pontiff of the Catholic Church, friend Lisa Solava emailed him from her home in southwest suburban New Lenox, where she and her husband, Rich, were panic packing for a flight to Rome the next morning. “We’re arriving Friday, but I guess we can’t have you out for pizza, huh?” she wrote. The new pope, her friend of more than 20 years whom she still thinks of as “Father Bob,” quickly responded: “No, but maybe you could come in.”

Italy's Olive Garden, and Bishop Fan's Heroics

Italy's Olive Garden, and Bishop Fan's heroicsJDFLYNN: On April 13, 1992 — 33 years ago last month — an old man died alone, suffering from pneumonia, in an undisclosed location in northern China, a prison with no name and no warden, a place which did not officially exist. The man was Peter Joseph Fan. When he died, his family and friends had not heard from him in years. Most assumed he was dead already, and those who believed he was still alive probably prayed that his death would come quickly.

Rerum Novarum reminds us that dignity inheres in every person. Catholics know this. Or at least we are supposed to...

Rerum Novarum and the Deep History of Catholic Social Teaching | Church Life Journal | University of Notre Dame: Peter Weiss wrote about failure. In his The Aesthetics of Resistance, he probed at the history of social change: why, despite the USSR, the German SPD, and the interwar French government, had fascism won out? And, once defeated in its state forms, why did Stalinism endure? Why did Western governments readily absorb their former enemies? Were he alive today, he might still be asking these questions. Why are American rates of unionization half of what they were in 1983? Why, in the face of inflation...

On Pope Leo’s Desk: Fixing Vatican Finances

On%20Pope%20Leo%u2019s%20Desk%3A%20Fixing%20Vatican%20finances%20-%20by%20Ed.%20CondonCONDON: When Pope Francis emerged on the loggia in 2013, it was widely understood that the “pope from the peripheries” had been elected with a mandate to reform the Roman curia, and especially to clean up corruption. Twelve years later, the morass of curial finances may not have been top of many people’s list of expectations for Pope Leo XIV as he introduced himself to the Church and the world, but it will be at the top of the pile on the new pope’s desk.

Pope Leo XIV publishes first post on papal social media accounts

Pope Leo XIV publishes first post on papal social media accounts - Vatican News: Pope Benedict XVI was the first Pope to open a social media account, sending the first papal tweet when he was 84-years-old, on what was then Twitter, on December 12, 2012.

Watch how the seminarians in Pope Leo XIV’s former diocese reacted to his election

New%20Advent%3A%20Watch%20how%20the%20seminarians%20in%20Pope%20Leo%20XIV%u2019s%20former%20diocese%20reacted%20to%20his%20election: You can tell a lot about a man by what those under his authority think of him...

Vatican Recognizes Eucharistic Miracle in India, Says Archbishop; Official Declaration Slated for May 31

Vatican Recognizes Eucharistic Miracle in Vilakkannoor; Official Declaration Slated for May 31: After more than a decade of investigation, the Vatican has officially recognized the Eucharistic miracle that took place at Christ the King Church in Vilakkannoor, under the Archdiocese of Thalassery. The event, which reportedly revealed the face of Jesus on the consecrated Host during Mass, has now been affirmed as a legitimate Eucharistic miracle by the Holy See...

New Pope Leo XIV Shows God's Love for Catholic Church

New Pope Leo XIV Shows God's Love for Catholic Church: In the days leading up to the announcement of a new pope, among all the hypotheses, maneuvers, fears, and attempts at prediction, no one truly seemed to imagine who could come out of the College of Cardinals as the new head of the Roman Catholic Church. The Holy Spirit most of the time lets us wander in our thoughts and projects. But then he intervenes. And he does it with a strength that can nearly knock us over but then he grabs us by the hair to recover us before we fall completely.

New For All Ages: A Reflection on the Upcoming 5th Sunday of Easter

New For All Ages: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Fifth Sunday of Easter - St. Paul CenterHAHN: By God’s goodness and compassion, the doors of His kingdom have been opened to all who have faith, Jew or Gentile. That’s the good news Paul and Barnabas proclaim in today’s First Reading. With the coming of the Church—the new Jerusalem John sees in today’s Second Reading—God is “making all things new.” In His Church, the “old order” of death is passing away and God for all time is making His dwelling with the human race, so that all peoples “will be His people and God Himself will always be with them.” In this the promises made through His prophets are accomplished

Cardinals’ Voting Patterns Emerge as Leo XIV Is Welcomed as a Pope of Peace

Cardinals%u2019%20Voting%20Patterns%20Emerge%20as%20Leo%20XIV%20Is%20Welcomed%20as%20a%20Pope%20of%20Peace%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterPENTIN: “You must be very happy that an American was elected,” said a smiling Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state, as he walked with an associate along the Via della Conciliazione toward to the Vatican. Out for a stroll Sunday afternoon under warm spring sunshine, the Italian cardinal, who was an initial front-runner during the conclave, told the Register of his hope that the Church will be “at peace” as it was “at the time of the apostles, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.”

Watching the White Sox with Pope Leo XIV

New Advent: Watching the White Sox with Pope Leo XIV: Father Maxime Villeneuve, at St. Vincent de Paul Parish in San Diego, recounts his experience with the future Pope Leo XIII, and the providential connection between Leo XIII, Leo XIV, and the Augustinians...

Is that the Pope’s brother? Chicago student gets an in-flight surprise

Chicago%20student%20flies%20to%20Rome%20%u2014%20with%20Pope%20Leo%20XIV%27s%20brother: Clayton Powell knew the man next to him in Row 17 looked familiar. He just wasn’t sure enough to ask. But a few hours before the American Airlines flight from Chicago arrived at Rome’s Fiumicino airport Saturday morning, a flight attendant approached his neighbor in the middle seat: “The pilots would like to talk to you when we land.” The 27-year-old grad student’s suspicions were confirmed...

Nazi Stormtroopers Versus the Soldiers of Christ

Nazi Stormtroopers Versus the Soldiers of Christ ~ The Imaginative ConservativePEARCE: Caesar, like the poor, is always with us. So is Judas. And so are the disciples of Christ. The Tyrant, the Traitor, and the Martyr. These three types of men form the very threads from which the tapestry of history is woven. Caesar and his followers come in many philosophical shapes and many ideological guises, but they are always animated by the same spirit of secularism, the same spirit of worldliness...

They Look Like They’re on Skates — But It’s All Footwork. Watch and Be Amazed by This Ghostly Khakas Dance...

New%20Advent%3A%20They%20Look%20Like%20They%u2019re%20on%20Skates%20%u2014%20But%20It%u2019s%20All%20Footwork.%20Watch%20and%20Be%20Amazed%20by%20Lezginka%u2019s%20Ghostly%20Khakas%20Dance...: In this video, we'll be watching the national Caucasian dance ensemble, Lezginka, perform the traditional Khakas dance from the Dagestan Republic. Khakas is one of the most ancient and beautiful dances in the world, and is often compared to the ballet...

A Fascinating Behind-the-Scenes Account at How the Election of Leo XIV Unfolded Inside the Conclave

How a Quiet American Cardinal Became Pope - The New York Times: The cardinals electing a new pope to lead the Roman Catholic Church left the Sistine Chapel exhausted and hungry. A meditation to start the conclave had dragged on and pushed their first vote deep into Wednesday evening. It had resulted in an inconclusive tally, with three main contenders. Keeping their vow of secrecy, they returned to Casa Santa Marta, the guesthouse where they were sequestered without their phones, and started talking.

Why You Should Become Your Son's Drinking Coach

Why You Should Become Your Son's Drinking Coach | The Heights ForumVICENTE: It is a fact that in our society high school students live in a culture of drinking. Not all teenagers drink, and many of them handle this culture impressively well. But they are all exposed to it, so parents ought not to ignore it. Whether you have a teenage son already or your sons are younger, I want to offer some ideas as to how to deal with this reality. It is never too early for you and your spouse to start developing an approach to this topic.

Full Text: Audience With Representatives of the Media (May 12)

Audience of the Holy Father Leo XIV to representatives of the media (12 May 2025) | LEO XIVCOATOFARMS: I welcome you, representatives of the media from around the world. Thank you for the work you have done and continue to do in these days, which is truly a time of grace for the Church. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus proclaimed: “Blessed are the peacemakers” (Mt 5:9). This is a Beatitude that challenges all of us, but it is particularly relevant to you, calling each one of you to strive for a different kind of communication, one that does not seek consensus at all costs, does not use aggressive words...

How my 2012 interview of the future Leo XIV led to the first controversy of his new pontificate...

Pope%20Leo%20XIV%u2019s%20Countercultural%20Past%20and%20Clues%20for%20the%20Future%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterROCCA: Since the papal conclave elected Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost on May 8, many have been watching intently for clues as to how Pope Leo XIV will follow or depart from the path set by his late predecessor. Observers have noted his choice of a traditional papal name and his decision to wear the red cape called a mozzetta at his first appearance on the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica — both signs of contrast with the maverick Pope Francis.

Pope Leo XIV Holds First Meeting With News Media at Paul VI Hall, Says AI Has ‘Immense Potential’ But ‘Requires Discernment’

Pope Leo XIV thanks media, urges them to be peacemakers - OSV News: Pope Leo XIV asked journalists to be peacemakers by shunning prejudice and anger in their reporting, and he called for the release of journalists imprisoned for their work. “The suffering of these imprisoned journalists challenges the conscience of nations and the international community, calling on all of us to safeguard the precious gift of free speech and of the press,” the pope said May 12.

Full Text: First Regina Caeli, From the Loggia of the Blessings of St. Peter’s Basilica (May 11)

Regina Caeli, 11 May 2025 | LEO XIVCOATOFARMS: I consider it a gift from God that the first Sunday of my service as Bishop of Rome is Good Shepherd Sunday, the fourth Sunday of Easter. On this Sunday, we always hear proclaimed at Mass a passage from the tenth chapter from the Gospel of John, where Jesus reveals himself as the true Shepherd: who knows and loves his sheep and gives his life for them. This Sunday also marks the World Day of Prayer for Vocations...

‘I Wanted So Much to Come Here’: Pope Leo Pays Homage to Our Lady With Surprise Visit to Mother of Good Counsel Near Rome

'I wanted so much to come here': Pope Leo visits Marian shrine outside of Rome | Catholic News Agency: Pope Leo XIV on Saturday visited and prayed at a Marian shrine outside of Rome, greeting the community there and urging them to "be faithful to the Mother." The Holy Father visited the Shrine of the Mother of Good Counsel in Genazzano on Saturday afternoon. The sanctuary, located about an hour east of Rome, is run by the religious of the Order of St. Augustine and "houses an ancient image of the Virgin, dear to the Order and to the memory of Leo XIII," according to the Vatican.

Pope Leo Calls on Youth to ‘Accept the Invitation of the Church and Christ the Lord’ in First Regina Caeli

Pope%20Leo%20XIV%20urges%20youth%20to%20%u2018accept%20the%20invitation%20of%20the%20Church%20and%20Christ%20the%20Lord%u2019%20in%20first%20Regina%20Caeli%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20AgencyWIMMER: “To young people I say: Do not be afraid! Accept the invitation of the Church and Christ the Lord!” declared Pope Leo XIV to thunderous applause during his first Regina Caeli address, as an extraordinary crowd of jubilant pilgrims packed St. Peter’s Square on Sunday. The spontaneous call to young people from the first U.S.-born pope echoed the famous words of St. John Paul II in 1978.

Modern Efficiency Battles Traditional Aesthetics in Rome

Modern%20efficiency%20battles%20traditional%20aesthetics%20in%20Rome%20%u2013%20Catholic%20World%20ReportCHAPP: As I write these words, sitting at my desk in Rome, we are heading into the second day of the conclave. By the time this is posted, we might have a new pope. Therefore, instead of focusing on the usual topics related to the conclave, I am writing about something a little less weighty and somewhat significant, regardless of who is elected. If you have ever been to Saint Peter’s Basilica...

Artist Meticulously Recreates Italian Monuments With Thousands of LEGO Bricks

Artist Recreates Italian Monuments With Several Thousand LEGOs: Luca Petraglia often refers to his custom-designed LEGO models as “miniature emotions.” For years, the Italian artist has recreated some of his country’s most renowned architectural marvels, alongside what he calls “overlooked gems,” but it was only during his first few exhibitions that he registered their emotional valence.

4th Sunday of Easter: Why Jewish Leaders Wanted to Kill Jesus for What He Said About the Good Shepherd

This%20Sunday%2C%20Jesus%20Is%20More%20a%20Shepherd%20Than%20the%20Pope%3A%20Takeaways%20for%20Easter%20Sunday%204%20%u2013%20Benedictine%20College%20Media%20%26%20CultureHOOPES: This Sunday is Good Shepherd Sunday, the Fourth Sunday of Easter Year C, and it is tempting to make it all about the Pope, the lead shepherd selected by cardinal shepherds in Rome. But in this very short Gospel, Jesus does not point to Peter or Pope Francis or Pope Leo XIV. He makes a very different point. He looks at each of us individually and says: You belong with nobody else but me...

Did South Korea’s legendary female free divers evolve for a life underwater? Scientists find new evidence...

How%20South%20Korea%u2019s%20legendary%20Haenyeo%20free%20divers%20evolved%20for%20life%20underwater%20%7C%20CNN: An island 50 miles (80 kilometers) off the southern tip of the Korean Peninsula is home to a unique and celebrated community of women: the Haenyeo. These women dive year-round off Jeju Island, collecting sea urchin, abalone and other seafood from the ocean floor, descending as much as 60 feet (18 meters) beneath the surface multiple times over the course of four to five hours each day...

Jesus did not simply choose 12 individual men to be apostles. He formed a band of brothers...

Brotherhood, the Missing Icon - The Catholic ThingESOLEN: Why did Jesus choose only men as his apostles? Three replies are typically given. The first two are absurd, and the third is insufficient. As the Cardinals vote for the next successor to St. Peter, it’s a good time to look more deeply into this question. First, it is said he was bowing to the culture around him. The Jews would not have looked kindly on a man traveling with women among his intimate entourage...

Guess who’s coming to dinner? The future pope...

Guess%20who%u2019s%20coming%20to%20dinner%3F%20The%20future%20pope%21%20%7C%20CruxALLEN: Naturally enough, journalists covering the Vatican tend to seek out figures in the system from their own countries or language groups. French speakers seek out the French, Spanish speakers the Spaniards and Latin Americans, the Italians gravitate to their paesani, and, by the same logic, Americans are drawn to fellow Americans. Thus it was that when Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was appointed the new head of the powerful Dicastery for Bishops...

Vatican Confirms Motto and Coat of Arms of Pope Leo XIV

Pope Leo XIV's motto and coat of arms - Vatican News: Pope Leo XIV's coat of arms offers a clear reflection of his Augustinian roots and the values he seeks to promote during his pontificate, particularly unity and communion within the Church. The shield is divided diagonally into two sections. The upper half features a blue background with a white lily.

41 Catholic Memes Greet Pope Leo XIV

The%20Chicago%20Holy%20Father%3A%2041%20Memes%20Greet%20Pope%20Leo%20XIV%20%u2013%20Benedictine%20College%20Media%20%26%20Culture: There is no point in adding any memes besides those that are focused on the new Pope, Leo XIV. He is American. He is from Chicago. And so the online honors and humor have been nonstop.

Pope Leo XIV to Cardinals: In the Spirit of ‘Rerum Novarum,’ Church Must Respond to AI and the Digital Revolution

Pope Leo XIV to Cardinals: Church must respond to digital revolution - Vatican News: In his first formal address to the College of Cardinals following his election, Pope Leo XIV has revealed the inspiration behind the name he chose - one which, in his own words, echoes the Church’s enduring commitment to human dignity and social justice. “Pope Leo XIII, with the historic Encyclical Rerum novarum, addressed the social question in the context of the first great industrial revolution,” Pope Leo recalled...

First Address to the College of Cardinals (May 10, 2025)

Address of the Holy Father to the College of Cardinals (10 May 2025) | LEO XIVCOATOFARMS: Dear Brother Cardinals, I greet all of you with gratitude for this meeting and for the days that preceded it. Days that were sad because of the loss of the Holy Father Pope Francis and demanding due to the responsibilities we confronted together, yet at the same time, in accordance with the promise Jesus himself made to us, days rich in grace and consolation in the Spirit. You, dear Cardinals, are the closest collaborators of the Pope. This has proved a great comfort to me in accepting a yoke clearly far beyond my own limited powers...

I met Pope Leo XIV 15 years ago — here’s what I know about him

Here%u2019s%20What%20I%20Learned%20When%20I%20Met%20the%20Future%20Pope%20Leo%20XIV%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterTOWELL: As the white smoke cleared and the world heard the name Leo, my heart swelled — not only with hope, but with a quiet confirmation. I had sensed, even forecasted, this moment. I know Pope Leo XIV personally. More than that, I know his heart, his charism, and his deep-rooted Augustinian spirituality. His election is not simply a choice — it’s a providential answer to the Church’s current need.

Just as Simon Became Peter, Robert Has Become Leo XIV

Pope Leo XIV: Initial Impressions on a Papal First| National Catholic RegisterDESOUZA: For the third straight time, the cardinals chose a new pope on the conclave’s second day, and they delivered a significant first. Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost is now Pope Leo XIV, the first American and Peruvian national to occupy the See of Peter. There is no usual path to becoming an American pope, but there is one to becoming an American cardinal...

Take 5 minutes to listen to this short 2012 speech from the future Pope Leo XIV — it’s excellent...

New%20Advent%3A%20Take%205%20minutes%20to%20listen%20to%20this%20short%202012%20speech%20from%20the%20future%20Pope%20Leo%20XIV%20%u2014%20it%u2019s%20excellent...: Augustinian Father Robert Prevost reads from his 2012 address to the world Synod of Bishops on the new evangelization. The future Pope Leo XIV discusses the need for the church to adequately respond to the challenges posed by modern mass media.

Full Text: Homily at Mass With the Cardinal Electors in the Sistine Chapel

FULL%20TEXT%3A%20Pope%20Leo%20XIV%u2019s%20Homily%20at%20Mass%20With%20the%20Cardinal%20Electors%20in%20the%20Sistine%20Chapel%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterCOATOFARMS: I will begin with a word in English, and the rest is in Italian. But I want to repeat the words from the Responsorial Psalm: “I will sing a new song to the Lord, because he has done marvels.” And indeed, not just with me but with all of us. My brother Cardinals, as we celebrate this morning, I invite you to recognize the marvels that the Lord has done, the blessings that the Lord continues to pour out on all of us through the Ministry of Peter.

Is Leo XIV an American Pope? No. He’s a Pope From America. Here’s the Difference...

An American Pope? No. A Pope From America = A Big Difference! - Catholic Missionary Disciples - College Station, TXLEJEUNE: Synod on Synodality delegate Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost said this week that “clericalizing women” would not solve problems in the Catholic Church. When asked about calls for women’s governance in the Catholic Church at a synod press conference on Oct. 25, the American cardinal underlined that “the apostolic tradition is something that has been spelled out very clearly, especially if you want to talk about the question of women’s ordination to the priesthood.”

Illinois records show Pope Leo XIV voted in Republican primaries until 2016 election

Pope%20Leo%20XIV%20voted%20in%202024%20U.S.%20general%20election%20%u2014%20here%27s%20which%20primaries%20he%27s%20voted%20in%20-%20CBS%20News: The newly elected pontiff, Pope Leo XIV, has not only cast ballots in the papal conclave, but in U.S. elections as well. The Chicago-born pope — formerly Cardinal Robert F. Prevost — is registered to vote in the Chicago suburb of New Lenox, Ill., and has a mixed voting history of participating in primaries for both parties, according to voting records shared with CBS News and data from the Illinois State Board of Elections.

Pope Leo XIV notes even some baptized Christians are living ‘in a state of practical atheism’

Pope%20Leo%20XIV%20notes%20even%20some%20baptized%20Christians%20%u2018in%20state%20of%20practical%20atheism%u2019%20%7C%20Crux: In his first homily since his election on Thursday, Pope Leo XIV noted many people today view Jesus Christ as merely “a charismatic leader or superman.” “This is true not only among non-believers but also among many baptized Christians, who thus end up living, at this level, in a state of practical atheism,” he told in his Mass with the cardinals of the Church in the Sistine Chapel on Friday.

LIVE UPDATES: First key dates of Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate announced

First%20American%20pope%3A%20Vatican%20announces%20Pope%20Leo%20XIV%u2019s%20official%20schedule%2C%20May%2018%20inauguration%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20Agency: Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost has been elected as the 267th pope of the Catholic Church, taking the name Pope Leo XIV. Follow here for news and information about the 266th successor to St. Peter:

The Pope’s two brothers, Louis in Florida and John in Illinois, say Leo XIV always wanted to be a priest

Destined to be pope: Brother says Leo XIV always wanted to be a priest - ABC News: When Cardinal Robert Prevost was in the first grade, his neighbor told him he would be the first American pope, his brother told ABC News. On Thursday, that prophecy came true, when Prevost was elected to be the 267th pontiff, the first from the United States. Before he was Pope Leo XIV, the 69-year-old pontiff grew up the youngest of three brothers in the South Chicago suburb of Dolton.

My First Thoughts on Pope Leo XIV

New Advent: Jimmy Akin: My First Thoughts on Pope Leo XIVAKIN: It has been conventional wisdom for a long time that there wouldn’t be any American popes for the foreseeable future. Partly the reason is that, in the past, there weren’t that many American cardinals. Then, after World War II, America became a global superpower, and following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the thought went that the cardinals wouldn’t want the United States to be the dominant geopolitcal power in the world at the same time as having the papacy in the hands of an American...

In 439 posts, the Twitter/X feed of Leo XIV (@drprevost) gives a glimpse into the heart of our new Pope over the past 14 years

(12) Robert Prevost (@drprevost) / X: Joined August 2011...

The American Pope: Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost Takes the Name Leo XIV [The Pillar]

(2) The American Pope - The Pillar: Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost has been chosen as the 267th pope of the Catholic Church, taking the name Leo XIV, and proclaiming “Peace be with you all!” in his first greeting to the world. A native of Chicago, the 69-year-old is the first pope from the United States, though he spent much of his time as a missionary in Peru...

CBS News: A first American pope? Cardinal Robert Prevost's name comes up as a potential successor to Pope Francis

A first American pope? Cardinal Robert Prevost's name comes up as a potential successor to Pope Francis - CBS News: Vatican City — Of the 266 popes who have led the Catholic Church, not one of them has been from the United States. While the relative youth of the nation means fewer than 20 of those men served after the U.S. Declaration of Independence in 1776, one prominent U.S. bishop has a possible explanation for the lack of an American leader of the world's Catholics up until now.

AP News: What to know about Cardinal Robert Prevost

What to know about Cardinal Robert Prevost | AP News: Francis brought Prevost, 69, to the Vatican in 2023 to serve as the powerful head of the office that vets bishop nominations from around the world, one of the most important jobs in the Catholic Church. As a result, Prevost has a prominence going into the conclave that few other cardinals have.

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost - Conclavoscope

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost - Conclavoscope: American cardinal, Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, Augustinian, known for his missionary experience in Latin America and his balanced approach between tradition and openness.

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, O.S.A. - The College of Cardinals Report

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, O.S.A. - The College of Cardinals ReportPENTIN: Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, a former prefect of the influential Dicastery for Bishops, is a Chicago-born prelate with views close to Pope Francis who spent many years as a missionary in Peru before being elected head of the Augustinians for two consecutive terms. Born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois, Prevost entered the novitiate of the Order of Saint Augustine (OSA) in 1977 and made his solemn vows in 1981.

Let Us Pray for Our Sovereign Pontiff Leo XIV — The Lord Preserve Him and Give Him Life, and Make Him Blessed Upon the Earth, and Deliver Him Not to the Will of His Enemies — Amen

Pope Leo XIIV - Wikipedia: Robert Francis Prevost OSA (born September 14, 1955) is an American Catholic prelate who has served as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America since 2023. He previously served as Bishop of Chiclayo in Peru from 2015 to 2023, and was prior general of the Order of Saint Augustine from 2001 to 2013. In 2015 Cardinal Prevost became a naturalized citizen of Peru as confirmed by Peru's National Civil Registry.[1] In 2025, he was elected Pope.

WHITE SMOKE — ANNOUNCEMENT EXPECTED WITHIN MINUTES

LIVE from the Vatican | Waiting for the Smoke | May 8th, 2025 - YouTube: Live from Rome

Photos: Second-Grader ‘Elected Pope’ at Catholic School in Atlanta

%u2018Habemus%20Papam%21%u2019%3A%20Second-Grader%20%u2018Elected%20Pope%u2019%20at%20Pinecrest%20Academy%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterMURPHY: As the world waits with bated breath for white smoke to appear from atop the Vatican, after watching the line of cardinals solemnly process in to the Sistine Chapel today, each taking an oath of secrecy as the conclave to elect a new pope began, a new pope is being celebrated far away from the Vatican in the great state of Georgia.

What Rights Does a Human Embryo Have?

xTRASANCOS: When President Trump signed an executive order on February 18, 2025 calling for a 90-day policy review and recommendations to lower the cost of IVF, he launched a discussion about the morality of assisted reproductive technology. The Catholic Church has declared this procedure illicit ever since 1897 when scientists first considered extending artificial insemination from livestock to humans...

First Day of Conclave Ends at 9 p.m. Rome Time With Black Smoke — Second Round Begins Thursday Morning

LIVE from the Vatican | Waiting for the smoke / First Fumata of the Conclave | May 7th, 2025 - YouTube: Join us live from St. Peter’s Square as the world awaits the first fumata (smoke signal) of the 2025 Conclave. Cardinals from around the world are gathered in the Sistine Chapel, united in prayer and discernment, to choose the next Successor of St. Peter. Stay with us for live coverage, expert commentary, and the latest updates as we watch for the smoke that will signal whether or not a new Pope has been elected.

The Pain of Being Raised Different

The Pain of Being Raised Different - LifeCraftCUDDEBACK: Educating or forming the young is arduous in any time or place. But given our social nature, human formation is especially difficult in a decadent society. Since education is preparation to be a good member of the community, what happens when society itself is inimical to the true goodness of its members? Today, this poses even more difficulty than meets the eye for parents and children alike.

‘Extra Omnes’: The Conclave Begins

The Conclave begins - Vatican News: The 133 cardinal-electors have entered the Sistine Chapel in solemn procession, beginning the conclave that will elect the next and 267th pope.

Cardinal Electors Take Their Places in the Sistine Chapel

LIVE UPDATES: Cardinals commence conclave to elect new pope | Catholic News Agency: The solemn silence of the Sistine Chapel now surrounds 133 cardinal electors as they begin the sacred process of selecting the 267th successor to St. Peter following the death of Pope Francis on April 21. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who presides over the conclave due to the ineligibility of Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re and Cardinal Leonardo Sandri because of age restrictions, led the procession from the Pauline Chapel.

Cardinals Gather for Pro Eligendo Mass: ‘United in Prayer Before the Conclave, We Ask the Holy Spirit for Guidance’

Cardinal Re: United in prayer before the Conclave, we ask the Holy Spirit for guidance - Vatican News: Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals, presides over the Mass for the Election of the Roman Pontiff, and calls for unity in faith and prayer as the Cardinals go into the Conclave to elect the new Pope. "May the Pope elected may be he whom the Church and humanity need at this difficult, complex, and troubled turning point in history."

On Eve of Conclave, Nuclear-Armed India and Pakistan Teeter on Brink of Full-Scale War

Live updates: India, Pakistan on brink of war, India attack in wake of Kashmir massacre | CNN: The name India chose for its military operation against Pakistan appears laden with religious symbolism. “Operation Sindoor” is a reference to the red vermilion, or powder, many Hindu women wear on their foreheads after marriage. April’s massacre on civilians in Indian-administered Kashmir left several women widowed.

Where Is the Pope in the Bible?

New Advent: Where Is the Pope in the Bible?HAHN: In this video, taken from the full course, Scott Hahn unpacks the Old Testament background of papal primacy and authority, looking especially to the Davidic kingdom as the interpretive key that unlocks Jesus’ words to Simon Peter, “I shall give to you the keys of the kingdom.” Drawing from Matthew 16, the prophecy of Isaiah 22, and the Davidic kingdom covenant...

100 Pop Songs Every Catholic Should Hear — ‘The Last Stand’ by Sabaton

100 Pop Songs Every Catholic Should Hear #4 "The Last Stand" by SabatonTIMCLARK: This day, May 6, 2025, is an historic one. It is historic because of what is not occurring today. For the first time since 1769 there is a papal interregnum on May 6th. That means that today in the San Damaso Courtyard of the Vatican, no young men will swear to “faithfully, loyally and honorably serve the Supreme Pontiff…so help me God and his Saints.”

A Discussion of the Papal Front-Runners with EWTN

New Advent: Bishop Barron Discusses Papal Front-Runners with EWTNBARRON: Friends, as conclave preparations continue, I sat down in St. Peter’s Square with Colm Flynn, a reporter for EWTN News, to discuss the men who may become our next pope. Please pray for those gathered in Rome, especially the cardinal electors, who will soon elect St. Peter’s newest successor.

The Next Pope Must Correct the Declining Course of Catholicism in Latin America

New Pope Must Correct the Declining Course of Catholicism in Latin America| National Catholic RegisterDESOUZA: A plurality of the Catholic Church is in Latin America, at roughly 40% of the global Catholic population. The election of the Argentinian Pope Francis in 2013 brought fresh hope for a new flourishing of the Church in his native continent. It has not turned out that way, and the dozen years of the pontificate have marked a falling backwards of the Church in Latin America. This papacy’s failure to improve the fortunes of the faith in Latin America has four main aspects: persecution, social doctrine, missionary withering and poor governance.

Pope Francis and the Jesuits

Pope Francis and the Jesuits| National Catholic RegisterDESMOND: The day after the 2013 conclave elected him the Vicar of Christ, Pope Francis called the Jesuit Curia in Rome and asked to speak with Father Adolfo Nicolás, then-superior general of the Society of Jesus. Reportedly, it took some time for the receptionist who answered the telephone to accept that the caller was actually Pope Francis, but once that hurdle was overcome, the two men spoke together and quickly agreed to meet in person.

Pope Francis’ Simple Tomb Marred by ‘Awful’ Letter Spacing, Say Designers

Pope%20Francis%u2019%20Simple%20Tomb%20Marred%20by%20%u2018Awful%u2019%20Letter%20Spacing%2C%20Designers%20Claim%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterCALDWELL: Pope Francis’ simple, unadorned tomb had received almost universal praise until a torrent of criticism was unleashed by graphic designers out of alignment over how the Pope’s name was engraved on the white marble headstone. The issue? The elegance of the austere tomb was, according to the designers, marred by the irregular spacing of the letters of the papal name.

What Really Happens at a Conclave?

What Really Happens at a Conclave?STEFANICK: This week on The Chris Stefanick Show, I sit down with Catholic journalist JD Flynn to unpack the beauty, mystery, and humanity of the papal conclave. We dive into: How the Holy Spirit works through human choices; what’s actually biblical about the process; the ancient traditions (and funny quirks) of the conclave; why this matters to every Catholic, right now...

White Smoke in the Kitchen — What to Cook if One of These 17 Cardinals Becomes Pope

White Smoke in the Kitchen - by Micah MurphyMICAHMURPHY: Now, for something a little more positive, cultured, and still a bit spicy: what should a large, Catholic homeschooling family cook to celebrate the election of any of the papabili? Below is a good starting list. Let’s just hope the cardinals aren’t voting with their stomachs. Starting with Ambongo (Congolese): Try moambe chicken with fufu. This is a peanutty chicken stew...

‘Some African Cardinals — They Make Me Shudder’: Cardinal Czerny Causes Furor With Derisive Comments Before Conclave

Cardinal Czerny Causes Furor With Comments on a Potential African Pope| National Catholic RegisterPENTIN: Pope Francis’ former point man on migrants has drawn criticism by saying in an article published Sunday that some African cardinals make him “shudder” and that he believes “conservatives” are calling for an African pope to further their agenda. Cardinal Michael Czerny, a Jesuit who served as prefect at the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development in the last years of Pope Francis’ pontificate...

The History Behind ‘Habemus Papam’ and the White Smoke That Announces a New Pope

The%20story%20behind%20%u2018habemus%20papam%u2019%20and%20the%20white%20smoke%20announcing%20a%20new%20pope%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20Agency: When a new pope is elected, there are two signs that mark that historic moment: the white smoke (“fumata bianca” in Italian) erupting from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel and the formula “habemus papam” pronounced by the cardinal protodeacon from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica overlooking the square of the same name.

Why Altar Rails Are Returning to Catholic Churches

Why Altar Rails Are Returning to Churches ~ The Imaginative ConservativeHORVAT: In churches across the country, pastors are installing altar rails. Some parishes are bringing the rails back to old churches after they were torn out decades ago. Other parishes are adding them to new churches that never had them. The altar rail is coming back by popular demand. It is changing the way people see the Holy Eucharist. Best of all, the move is highly popular and awaking enthusiasm among the faithful.

Conclave Advice, Giovanni in Oleo, and Wine Knights

(1) Conclave advice, Giovanni in Oleo, and Wine KnightsJDFLYNN: Everything is ready in the Sistine Chapel for the election of a pope. But before we get to that, there’s a local tradition in the Diocese of Rome that you should know about; a liturgical feast which comes this year just one day before the College of Cardinals will enter the Sistine Chapel and elect the Vicar of Christ on earth. The feast is officially called St. John at the Latin Gate...

The Fig-Leaf Vocabulary of Heresy

The Fig-Leaf Vocabulary of Heresy - The Catholic ThingPOKORSKY: In every generation, the world witnesses the Catholic ecclesiastical Super Bowl as the cardinals gather together in Rome to elect a new pope. The choice is always, at bottom, theological. Will they elect someone who believes God created man in His image and likeness? Or will the new pope believe, like most Catholics today (apparently), that man created God in man’s image and likeness? Alas, much of the Catholic world has replaced the language of the Catholic faith with fig-leaf terms that cover various kinds of heresy.

On Eve of Conclave, With Buzz for Tagle and Prevost Fading, Could This Cardinal Be the One to Watch?

Enter Cardinal Mamberti? - by Ed. Condon - The PillarCONDON: In the final 24 hours before the papal conclave begins, conversations around the prospective candidates have risen to fever pitch. After a week of gathering momentum, the swell of support behind Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost appears to have stalled, with Honduran Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga reportedly leaving Rome in frustration after failing to secure unanimous backing for him among Latin American cardinals...