Pope Leo Appoints Sister Raffaella Petrini to Vatican Commission
Pope Leo XIV has appointed Sister Raffaella Petrini as a member of the Commission for Reserved Matters, which is responsible for awarding financial contracts in confidential areas of the Vatican. Pope Leo XIV has appointed Sister Raffaella Petrini as a member of the Commission for Reserved Matters, the Holy See Press Office announced in a […]
St. John Henry Newman Added to the General Roman Calendar
The English saint, proclaimed a doctor of the Church by Pope Leo XIV in November 2025, is honored every Oct. 9. St. John Henry Newman, proclaimed a doctor of the Church by Pope Leo XIV in November 2025, has been added to the General Roman Calendar, establishing his optional memorial on Oct. 9. Since Pope […]
Rome Events to Mark World Day Against Human Trafficking
From Feb. 4–8, the Catholic Church will mobilize with a series of activities in Rome in support of human dignity and peace. With the theme “Peace Begins with Dignity: A Global Call to End Human Trafficking,” the Catholic Church will mark this year’s 12th World Day of Prayer and Reflection Against Human Trafficking. In 2026, […]
St. Blaise and the Enduring Tradition of Throat Blessings
The beloved blessing of the throats on the feast of St. Blaise has outlasted empires, plagues and revolutions — proving that some traditions truly stand the test of time. The Feast of St. Blaise is one of the most widespread pieces of popular saintly devotion to survive in contemporary liturgy. From small suburban parishes to […]
Italian Cardinal Named Head of Vatican Bank Oversight
Cardinal Giuseppe Petrocchi, the retired archbishop of L’Aquila, succeeds Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, the retired archbishop of Vienna. Cardinal Giuseppe Petrocchi, the retired archbishop of L’Aquila, Italy, has been appointed president of the Cardinalitial Commission of the Institute for the Works of Religion (IOR), commonly known as the Vatican bank. Petrocchi succeeds Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, the […]
Abuse Survivor Tells Pope Leo XIV: ‘I Didn’t Hold Back’
“I told him about the abuse,” David Ryan said. “I did get a feeling of being listened to and being understood.” A victim of clerical sexual abuse from Ireland shared his story in a private meeting with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on Monday. David Ryan, who was sexually abused by a Catholic priest […]
Pope Leo XIV: Consecrated Life Must Be Leaven of Peace
The pontiff urged consecrated men and women to witness to God’s presence in a world where faith and daily life often drift apart. Pope Leo XIV on Monday urged consecrated men and women to serve as “leaven of peace” and a “sign of hope” as he celebrated Mass for the feast of the Presentation of […]
SSPX Plans Bishop Consecrations Without Rome’s Approval
The plan threatens to harden a decades-old split between the traditionalist group and the Vatican. The Priestly Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) announced Monday that it plans to consecrate new bishops on July 1 even without authorization from the Holy See, a move that would likely lead to automatic excommunication of all the bishops […]
Why is St. Blaises Throat Kept in a Church in Rome?
Every February 3rd, the Church celebrates the feast of St. Blaise, the patron saint of throat diseases. What very few know is that part of his own throat is kept as a relic in a church located on one of the most emblematic streets of Rome. At number 63 of the historic Via Giulia in […]
Catholic AI and Human Dignity
Happy Feast of the Presentation of the Lord! Strolling through Rome, its grandeur can overwhelm. But for those who slow down, symbols carved in stone—coats of arms—quietly reveal the Church’s faith, history, and identity. That visual language continues in the Papal Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, where a new mosaic of Pope Leo […]