A century later, Pope Leo XIV fulfills Gaudí’s dream
The Sagrada Familia Basilicaʼs spectacular central spire is crowned by a white cross that makes it the tallest church in the world. One of the historic milestones of Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Spain was the opportunity to realize Antoni Gaudí’s dream: the inauguration and blessing of the Tower of Jesus Christ, coinciding exactly with […]
‘I’m still on cloud nine,’ says pilot who shared cockpit with Pope Leo XIV
Ángeles Hernández had the experience of a lifetime as she served as the co-pilot on the flight taking Pope Leo XIV from Madrid to Barcelona.Since the time Ángeles Hernández discovered her calling to become a pilot after boarding a Boeing 747 as a child bound for a visit to England, she never imagined that, decades […]
Peruvian boy whose family struggles to make ends meet asks pope why bad things happen
Answering the question, Pope Leo XIV emphasized that “through the life of Jesus Christ, God shows us that, even amid suffering, he never abandons any of his children.”In Barcelona’s Raval — a lively neighborhood where more than half the population is of migrant origin — joy palpably filled the streets on Wednesday. Before celebrating Mass […]
Pope Leo XIV: Fragility in old age can teach our efficiency-obsessed world
The pontiff, who is traveling in Spain, sent a letter to be read at a Vatican symposium on the elderly. Pope Leo XIV has called for greater respect for the elderly, affirming that their fragility still has much to teach humanity today. In a letter sent via the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, […]
Pope Leo entrusts his pontificate to Our Lady of Montserrat: May she ‘guide us to Jesus’
After visiting a prison, Pope Leo headed to the Abbey of Montserrat northwest of Barcelona and nestled among towering rock formations that resemble sculpted figures of animals or objects. MONTSERRAT, Spain — The rugged silhouette of the Montserrat mountain range was one of the first symbols of Catalonia that Pope Leo XIV saw from above […]
Pope Leo XIV honors Our Lady of Almudena with Golden Rose, reflects on Spain’s Christian heritage
The origin of the gifting of a golden rose is unknown, but it is considered one of the oldest papal traditions dating back to 1096. For more than a thousand years, generations of Catholics in Madrid have turned to Our Lady of Almudena in times of celebration, hardship, and prayer. On June 8, that enduring devotion […]
Refusing to inherit hatred and war: Teenagers launch peace initiative at the Vatican
Forty teenagers from war-torn countries recently took part in the Project Oxygen Teen Peace Summit. Amid worsening armed conflicts in countries such as Ukraine, Nigeria, and those in the Middle East, a group of teenagers recently came to Rome to launch a new peace initiative, Project Oxygen. From May 31 to June 5, 40 teenagers […]
Itinerary confirmed for Pope Leo XIV’s trip to France: Paris, Lourdes, and Metz
“We are able to publicly confirm that Paris will welcome the Holy Father on Sept. 25 and 26 as part of his apostolic journey to France!” Paris Archbishop Laurent Ulrich announced.Paris Archbishop Laurent Ulrich has confirmed that Pope Leo XIV will visit the French capital on Sept. 25 and 26 as part of his apostolic […]
Pope Leo XIV addresses difficult questions about selfishness, suicide, and forgiveness
During a vigil held at Barcelonaʼs Olympic Stadium, the pontiff answered several direct, profound, and heart-wrenching questions from young people. In Barcelona on Tuesday evening, Pope Leo XIV addressed the concerns of three young people who shared their personal struggles in a powerful dialogue marked by sincerity, pain, and hope. During the vigil held at […]
Pope Leo XIV builds on teachings of prior pontiffs with apology for slavery, Church’s role
The Holy Father explained that, in antiquity and the Middle Ages, Catholic individuals and some ecclesiastical institutions participated in slavery as he apologized for the Catholic Church’s role. Pope Leo XIV built on teachings laid out by his predecessors when he apologized for the Catholic Church’s role in slavery in his May 15 encyclical Magnifica […]