Commentary
Pope Leo XIV and the death penalty
In his recent speech to diplomats and other comments, Pope Leo appealed to a certain prudential consideration concerning capital punishment without making the mistake of implying that the death penalty is inherently wrong. Unlike Pope Francis,…
Pope Leo to consistory Cardinals: ‘Pause and reflect’
In his homily yesterday to the Cardinals attending the ongoing Consistory, the Holy Father said in part, “As we know, the word Consistory (Consistorium, or “assembly”) can be understood through the root of the verb consistere, meaning “to stand…
Against the doctrine of double truth
The greatest danger to the new evangelization of the West, including of Germany, is the return of the doctrine of double truth, a belief that is of Gnostic origin and which Irenaeus of Lyon already refuted with Catholic hermeneutics. It is…
Deepfake pornography and my experience of digital violation
Samantha Smith, Catholic Herald Thursday, January 8, 2026 A Catholic writer describes how an artificial-intelligence program was used to doctor a photo of her. As she describes: “My clothes were digitally removed. My face was plastered into…
Catholic philosopher on U.S. capture of Maduro: A ‘just war’ in theory but not in practice
American philosopher Edward Feser contends that the military operation, though justified in theory, has yet to meet the ancient just war criteria dating back to Sts. Ambrose and Augustine. A just war requires not only a just cause but also a…
Why the promise of the Jubilee of 2000 remains unfulfilled
Fr. Raymond J. de Souza, National Catholic Register Wednesday, January 7, 2026 Twenty-five years ago, John Paul closed the Great Jubilee 2000 on the solemn feast of the Epiphany, Jan. 6, 2001. He sincerely felt that “human history and culture”…
U.S. action against Maduro reverberates from Beijing to Manila
China cites “international law” and “the UN Charter” to stand with Venezuela, while not respecting those principles in the South China Sea. And this raises concern about the effect the U.S. intervention in Venezuela may have on moves China may…
A letter to Cardinals offers a solution for TLM ahead of Pope Leo’s first Consistory
Could an ecclesiastical jurisdiction for the traditional Roman liturgy resolve the impasse created by Traditionis Custodes? One of France’s most senior traditionalist clergymen has sent members of the Sacred College a letter proposing a new path…
Assessing the fruits of the Jubilee of Hope
The Jubilee of Hope will conclude when Pope Leo closes the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica on Jan. 6. Now is an opportunity for us to begin to assess its notable successes and missed opportunities. The first great success is that it has given…
From Franz Schubert to Roger Staubach: ‘Hail Mary’ through history
As the old year gives way to the new, it is timely to recall two important anniversaries of the venerable Marian prayer, which has its genesis in the words addressed to the Virgin Mary by the Archangel Gabriel and became the Ave Maria a thousand…