Commentary
Pope Leo explains his ‘spirituality’
Pope Leo XIV has referenced a book that greatly influenced his spirituality after being asked by a journalist about the conclave and what it’s been like becoming the pope. “Besides St. Augustine,” Pope Leo said The Practice of the Presence of…
Why Leo XIV did not pray in the Blue Mosque
On the third day of his visit in Turkey, the Pope travelled to Istanbul’s Blue Mosque, an iconic imperial mosque in the heart of Istanbul and an emblem of the country’s Islamic identity. On entering the mosque, one of its imams invited the Pope…
Why 3 PM should stop us in our tracks
This “Hour of Mercy” is not merely a devotion; it is a daily invitation to prepare for the one appointment none of us can avoid, and it reminds us of the immense love of God for us that gave his Son in death to free us from death…
When is a deportation policy ‘intrinsically evil’ and when is it not?
Much of the current understanding of this most controversial aspect of the worldwide immigration crisis comes from Vatican II and commentary from popes, including St. John Paul II. But neither John Paul II nor the council elaborated on the…
Summing up Pope Leo’s first apostolic journey
It quickly became clear that Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Turkey was more than a diplomatic courtesy. The Church cannot speak credibly about peace in a fractured world while appearing to be divided Herself. Leo’s decision not to include any…
American religious affiliations – if the U.S. had just 100 people
Becka A. Alper and Aleksandra Sandstrom, Pew Research Center Tuesday, December 2, 2025 There were roughly 262 million adults in the United States, among whom are about 162 million Christians (and 76 million people who have no religion). Such…
Rome’s failure to correct Germany’s Bishops has emboldened their pro-LGBT agenda
The country’s bishops have issued a new document encouraging diversity of sexual identities in Catholic schools. The “orientation aid,” published on October 30, states that Catholic schools should consider “diversity of sexual identities is a…
The miracles of St. Sharbel
Among his stops in Lebanon, Leo XIV will visit the tomb of St. Sharbel, the 19th-century Maronite monk and hermit who is revered for his piety and a remarkable number of reported miracles attributed to his intercession. Even the photograph used…
British Catholicism’s Bright and Various Future
The theologian Jacob Phillips recently remarked, “I’ve spoken at various Catholic events which were full to the brim with recent converts in the 18-30 age range, mostly young men. Priest after priest has told me that it’s gone from adult…
How Angelo Roncalli (the future Pope St. John XXIII) helped shape Vatican-Turkey relations
Souhail Lawand, Catholic News Agency Thursday, November 27, 2025 Pope Leo XIV’s journey to Turkey and Lebanon carries significant historical and diplomatic symbolism. His decision to make the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk his first stop…