Why Catholics Honor Mary as Mother of the Church
The Catholic Church celebrates the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church each year on the Monday after Pentecost. This year, it falls on May 25. In 2018, Pope Francis added the memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, to the Roman calendar. This memorial is celebrated each year […]
Pope Leo XIV Discusses EU Challenges With Bishops
While the bishops proposed many possible topics for the meeting, the pontiff emphasized dialogue and peace as priorities. The pope also said migrants must be respected and needed services not denied. Pope Leo XIV met on May 21 with the Commission of the Episcopal Conferences of the European Union (COMECE), with whom he discussed the […]
Magnifica Humanitas: Pope invokes justice to combat ‘anti
Published Monday, the pope’s new encyclical warns of a “culture of power” fueled by the digital revolution and artificial intelligence. In his encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, published Monday, Pope Leo XIV calls on society and AI developers to implement “shared standards of social justice” in order for artificial intelligence to respect human dignity and serve the […]
Pope Leo XIV Authorizes Beatification of 80 Martyrs
In addition, the pope will declare four other religious from various countries as venerable. On May 22, Pope Leo XIV approved the promulgation of six decrees from the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, following an audience granted to its prefect, Cardinal Marcello Semeraro. With the pontiffʼs authorization, 80 martyrs of the Spanish Civil War […]
Peace, Unity, and AI in Pope Leo XIV’s Thought
Ahead of the publication of Leoʼs first encyclical, what do his writings and speeches, both before and after his election, reveal about his thought? During his papacy and before, Pope Leo XIV has revealed his thought on a myriad of issues in his speeches, homilies, and writings, and several clear themes have emerged. He has […]
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 […]
