Pope Leo XIV to spend July 4 with migrants on Italian island of Lampedusa
Only about 80 miles from Tunisia, Lampedusa is a main gateway for Africans escaping poverty and violence to enter the continent of Europe. Pope Leo XIV will follow in his predecessor Pope Francis’ footsteps with a visit to a major migrant landing point, the Italian island of Lampedusa, on July 4. Continuing his summer of […]
What is the SSPX? A look at the traditionalist Catholic group in schism with the Church
The Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) is a traditionalist group that is not in full communion with the Catholic Church and has a canonically irregular status. One day after the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) consecrated four bishops without the permission of Pope Leo XIV, the Vatican issued a decree declaring that the […]
2 SSPX bishops hold dubious distinction of being excommunicated twice
Society of St. Pius X bishops Galarreta and Fellay have been excommunicated twice: by Pope John Paul II in 1988 and again on July 2 for the canonical offense of schism. Two bishops of the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) — Spaniard Alfonso de Galarreta and Swiss Bernard Fellay — incurred automatic excommunication by […]
What are schism and excommunication in the Catholic Church?
Just what are schism and excommunication in the Catholic Church? Here’s an explanation. Recently a community of Poor Clare nuns in Spain announced their decision to leave the Catholic Church, thus committing the canonical crime of schism and incurring excommunication. Italian Archbishop Carlo María Viganò is also undergoing a Vatican extrajudicial process for schism. Just what are schism and […]
Vatican begins 5-year, 5-million-euro restoration of Renaissance frescoes in Hall of Raphael
The conservation work marks “a pivotal moment both in the history of restoration and in the history of Italian Renaissance art,” according to Vatican Museums Director Barbara Jatta. The Vatican Museums has launched an ambitious restoration to the frescoes of the Hall of Raphael in the Apostolic Palace, expected to take five years and to […]
Vatican formally notifies SSPX bishops of excommunication
Because the traditionalist group consecrated bishops without papal approval, the Vatican issued a decree on July 2 declaring those bishops and their consecrators automatically excommunicated. One day after the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) consecrated four bishops without the permission of Pope Leo XIV, the Vatican issued a decree declaring the excommunication of all bishops […]
Parolin: SSPX ordinations are ‘schismatic’
Cardinal Pietro Parolin said the episcopal ordinations carried out without papal mandate by the Society of St. Pius X “deeply wound” Church unity. ROME — Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, said Wednesday that the episcopal ordinations carried out earlier in the day without papal mandate by the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) […]
SSPX consecrates bishops in defiance of Rome’s schism warning
The unauthorized July 1 rite in Écône, Switzerland, came despite Pope Leo XIV’s appeal to “please turn back” and could trigger automatic excommunication for the six bishops involved. Pope Leo XIV is not even two years into his pontificate and he is already facing one of the most delicate episodes of his ministry: a new […]
Pope Leo XIV names nun, cardinal to succeed Cardinal Czerny at human development office
Sister Alessandra Smerilli, FMA, is the third woman in history to be nominated to lead a Vatican dicastery. Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday named Italian economist Sister Alessandra Smerilli, FMA, to succeed Cardinal Michael Czerny, SJ, as prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development. Czerny will turn 80 on July 18, while the […]
Blood of Christ, Victor Over Demons, Save Us
“You were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your fathers… with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.” (1 Peter 1:18-20) “Don’t hold yourselves cheap, seeing that the creator of all things and of you estimates your value so high, so dear, that he pours out for […]