Pope Leo’s Diplomats: World’s Oldest Diplomatic Network
VATICAN CITY — The Holy See may be the world’s smallest sovereign state, but it maintains one of the world’s oldest and most extensive diplomatic networks. With diplomatic relations spanning more than 180 sovereign states, the European Union, and 184 apostolic nunciatures around the world, the Holy See works to strengthen relations between the Church […]
Pope Leo XIV dines with U.S. ambassador on Independence Day
The pope visited the private residence of U.S. Ambassador Brian Burch after returning from Lampedusa. VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV had dinner July 4 at the private residence of U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See Brian Burch, the U.S. Embassy to the Holy See said. The dinner took place at the ambassador’s residence on […]
How the Holy See Brings the Gospel to the United Nations
GENEVA — The Holy See may be the world’s smallest sovereign state, but its mission reaches far beyond the walls of the Vatican. Through its participation in international organizations such as the United Nations, the Holy See brings the Church’s voice to global discussions on peace, human rights, and social issues. At the center of […]
What Is a Consistory? Pope Leo explains
VATICAN CITY — Clad in scarlet red to symbolize the blood of the martyrs, the cardinals of the Catholic Church are among the pope’s closest collaborators. Known as the “Princes of the Church,” they advise the Holy Father on matters affecting the universal Church and, when a pope dies or resigns, gather in conclave to […]
Pope Leo XIV Makes Key Vatican Appointments
VATICAN CITY — This week, Pope Leo XIV continued shaping the leadership of the Roman Curia with several key appointments, concluded an extraordinary consistory with a renewed appeal for peace, and celebrated the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul by calling Christians to become builders of unity. Vaticano Updates Here are this week’s top Vatican […]
SSPX rejects Vatican’s excommunication, calls it ‘objectively’ unjust and invalid
In a letter addressed to Pope Leo XIV, released on July 3, Father Davide Pagliarani, superior general of the SSPX, justified the episcopal consecrations that prompted the Vatican’s decree. The Society of St. Pius X (SSPX), whose members are known as “Lefebvrians,” rejected the recent excommunications decreed by the Vatican after consecrating four bishops without […]
EWTN News explains: As a Catholic, can you attend an SSPX Mass?
The traditionalist group has been declared in schism with the Catholic Church after an illicit “ordination” of bishops. The Vatican this week issued a decree declaring that the bishops involved in the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X’s illicit consecrations have incurred automatic excommunication and that the group is in schism with the Church. The […]
Peter’s Pence collected more than $65.8 million for the pope’s mission in 2025
Almost $50 million was used to support the activities of the Holy See in the service of the Holy Fatherʼs apostolic mission. U.S Catholics contributed 26.1% of the total. Peter’s Pence, the Holy See’s fund that gathers donations for the pope’s charitable works and the needs of the universal Church, closed 2025 with an income […]
Inside the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy: Where the Vatican Trains Its Future Diplomats
ROME — Hidden behind the walls of a historic palace in Rome’s Piazza della Minerva is one of the Holy See’s oldest and least-known institutions. The Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy has spent more than three centuries preparing the Holy Father’s diplomatic representatives for service around the world. This year, the academy marks its 325th anniversary, continuing […]
Pope Leo XIV congratulates the U.S. on its 250th anniversary
The pontiffʼs letter stressed religious freedom, the right to life, and the contributions of Catholics and immigrants to American history. Pope Leo XIV celebrated the contributions of Catholics and immigrants to the United States in an open letter to Americans for the country’s 250th anniversary. The letter, dated June 25 and released by the U.S. […]