Czech Cardinal Reflects on Martyrs Under Communism
The two priests were imprisoned and executed by the Czechoslovak communist regime because of its hatred of the Catholic faith, according to the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints. Cardinal Michael Czerny this week reflected on the martyrdom of Catholics who gave witness to Jesus Christ under communist rule in eastern and central Europe during […]
Marian Images throughout the Streets of Rome
Rome’s streets, squares, and narrow alleyways are home to more than 500 Marian street shrines, known as the Madonnelle. Painted, frescoed, or sculpted, these sacred images have long been woven into the city’s spiritual and cultural identity, serving as places of prayer, gratitude, and quiet encounter. Some passersby pause for a moment of reflection; others […]
Mary, Mother of the Church
With roots reaching back to the 13th century, the Pontifical Theological Faculty Marianum is one of world’s leading centers in Mariology — the theological study of Mary. Entrusted to the Order of the Servants of Mary, the faculty welcomes hundreds of students every year – including priests, religious, and lay scholars from all over the […]
Marian Devotion and the Last Four Popes
Devotion to the Virgin Mary has shaped the spiritual lives and pontificates of many popes, offering a deeply personal dimension to their ministry. For St. John Paul II, Benedict XVI, Pope Francis, and Pope Leo XIV, Mary has been not only a theological figure, but a true spiritual mother and guide. Mary and the Last […]
Honoring Our Lady of the Rosary
May is traditionally known as “Mary’s month,” a time when Catholics around the world turn their attention in a special way to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Amid the beauty of spring and the approach of summer, the Church reflects on her role as Mother of God and her place in the history of salvation. Pope […]
Pope Leo Encourages Young Man Fearful of Future
Replying to a letter from a young man about to start college, Pope Leo offers him reassurance, encouragement, and fatherly advice about life and his future hopes and dreams. Pope Leo XIV sent a moving letter filled with tenderness, understanding, and valuable guidance to an 18-year-old man who had expressed his fears regarding uncertainty of […]
Vatican Warns AI Deepfakes Threaten Human Encounter
A top Vatican official warned of the dangers of AI at a conference ahead of the pope’s upcoming encyclical. Cardinal Jose Tolentino de Mendonça, prefect of the Dicastery for Culture and Education, on Thursday criticized AI deepfakes as a threat to human encounter. Speaking at a conference on AI in Rome on May 21, Mendonça […]
Pope Leo XIV: Lay Movements Must Serve Communion
The pontiff said authority in the Church is a gift of the Holy Spirit that requires listening, free elections, and fidelity to the whole Church. VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV told leaders of international associations of the faithful, ecclesial movements, and new communities Thursday that governance in the Church must never become a vehicle […]
Pope Leo XIV: Nations Must Put Common Good First
Though diplomacy and dialogue are essential for positive international relations, they must be accompanied by “a deeper conversion of heart,” the pope said. Pope Leo XIV told a group of ambassadors on Thursday that nations should measure their success by how well they treat those on the margins, not by the level of power or […]
Synod Office Sets Path to 2028 Ecclesial Assembly
A new Vatican document outlines four stages for local Churches, bishops’ conferences, and continental bodies to assess how synodality is taking root after the 2021–2024 Synod on Synodality. VATICAN CITY — The General Secretariat of the Synod has published a new document to guide the “path of implementation of the Synod” through an ecclesial assembly […]