Pope Leo XIV Closes St. Peter’s Holy Door
Pope Leo XIV on Tuesday closed the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica, bringing the ordinary holy year to an end — a time of grace that invited Catholics to conversion, reconciliation, and hope. The pontiff processed toward the Holy Door as the antiphon “O clavis David” was sung. Reaching the threshold, he knelt before […]
St. Carlo Acutis’ parents helped develop new Vatican City State app
The parents of St. Carlo Acutis contributed to the development of a new official news application connected to the institutional website of the Vatican City State, www.vaticanstate.va, an initiative presented as part of an ongoing digital renewal and as a tribute to the young saint, often held up as a model for evangelizing through new […]
Vatican says more than 33 million pilgrims took part in jubilee
More than 33.4 million pilgrims traveled to Rome to participate in the Jubilee of Hope, surpassing initial projections, the Vatican said Monday. Archbishop Rino Fisichella, pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, said 33,475,369 pilgrims ultimately took part in the jubilee — nearly 2 million more than the Vatican’s initial estimate of 31.7 million. He also […]
The Legacy of Pope Benedict XVI
Three years ago today, Pope Benedict XVI was laid to rest in the Vatican. Let us pray for his peaceful repose as we look back on his life. The Legacy of Pope Benedict XVI Pope Francis led us in prayer during the last days of Pope Emeritus Benedict. To understand his resignation, it requires a look […]
How to Bless Your Home on the Feast of Epiphany 2026
Have you ever walked past a door and seen what appears to be random letters and numbers written at the top? These letters and numbers actually have a great significance. Traditionally on the feast of Epiphany, Catholics bless their homes by writing the letters C, M, and B and the numbers of the year on […]
Pope Leo XIV Calls for Respect for Venezuelan Sovereignty
Pope Leo XIV expressed deep concern over the situation in Venezuela and called for the country’s national sovereignty to be fully respected, one day after a U.S. operation ended with the capture and arrest of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. “With a heart full of concern I follow the evolution of the […]
Pope: Christian Hope Doesn’t Depend on Human Calculations
Pope Leo XIV said Christian hope “is not based on optimistic forecasts or human calculations,” but on God’s decision to share humanity’s path so that no one is alone on life’s journey. Speaking Jan. 4 from the window of the Apostolic Palace to hundreds of faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square despite the rain, the […]
Vatican Newspaper Leads With U.S. Attack on Venezuela
The Vatican’s daily newspaper L’Osservatore Romano opened its Saturday edition with news of U.S. airstrikes against Venezuela, reporting attacks in the capital, Caracas, as well as on several military bases around the country. The main image on the paper’s front page showed a dense column of smoke rising over an urban area, reflecting what the […]
In the Footsteps of Pope Benedict XVI
When Pope Benedict XVI died in Rome, the people of the Eternal City said it was the second time he had made Rome weep. The first was nearly ten years earlier, on February 28, 2013, when a snow-white helicopter lifted off from Vatican territory carrying a pope who had made history. With that flight, Benedict […]
The Last Days of Pope Benedict XVI in Rome
When Pope Francis entered the Audience Hall in Rome for the weekly General Audience on December 28, 2022, just days after Christmas, he carried a message that resonated far beyond the faithful gathered before him. Speaking with visible concern, the Holy Father turned to the world with an urgent prayer request. Last Days of Pope […]