St. Hildegard of Bingen: A Medieval Woman Ahead of Her Time
Paul VI described her as “a light for her people and her time.” Benedict XVI, who had been familiar with her works since his youth, highlighted her remarkable ability to “read the signs of the times.” She is Saint Hildegard of Bingen—an extraordinary figure of the Middle Ages: mystic, Benedictine nun, philosopher, naturalist, musician, poet, […]
The Small Hand That Moved a Pope: St. Catherine of Siena
In Piazza Pia, just steps from St. Peter’s Square, a statue quietly points the way forward. It is St. Catherine of Siena—a woman of extraordinary spirituality, courage, and civic engagement, and one of the few women proclaimed a Doctor of the Church. Her presence there is no accident. It reflects a life spent guiding the […]
Cardinal Zen Slams Synodality at Vatican Consistory
Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun delivered a forceful critique of synodality at the extraordinary consistory of cardinals this week, decrying the process as an “ironclad manipulation” that was an “insult to the dignity of the bishops.” The bishop emeritus of Hong Kong also described the “continual reference to the Holy Spirit” during the 2021-2024 Synod on […]
Pope Leo XIV Baptizes 20 Infants in Sistine Chapel
Pope Leo XIV baptized 20 infants, the children of Vatican employees, during Mass in the Sistine Chapel on Sunday for the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. In his homily, the pope urged parents to see faith as essential for their children’s lives, comparing it to the basic care no newborn can do without. […]
Madrid, Barcelona Possible Stops for Pope Leo XIV in 2026
Spanish Cardinal José Cobo confirmed Jan. 9 in Rome that Madrid, Barcelona, and the Canary Islands are likely destinations in 2026 for an apostolic journey to Spain by Pope Leo XIV. After concluding a meeting with the substitute for general affairs of the Secretariat of State of the Holy See, Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, Cobo […]
How the Catholic Church Creates Dioceses and Archdioceses
Catholics in the U.S. were witness to a rare Church decision in 2023 when Pope Francis elevated the Diocese of Las Vegas to a metropolitan archdiocese. Las Vegas had previously been a suffragan diocese of San Francisco, having been created by Pope John Paul II in 1995. A suffragan diocese operates within an ecclesiastical province […]
Pope Leo XIV Meets Venezuelan Opposition Leader Machado
Pope Leo XIV met with Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado at the Vatican on Monday, in an audience that was not initially included in the official schedule for the day. The meeting was added to the pontiff’s agenda in the Holy See’s 12:00 p.m. news bulletin. The Vatican has not released any details about […]
Catholic World News Roundup: Holy Land, Gaza, Aleppo
Here is a roundup of Catholic world news from the past week that you might have missed: ‘Come back to the Holy Land’: Custos calls pilgrims to visit land of Jesus Speaking to a group of pilgrims from Rome at the Franciscan headquarters in the Old City of Jerusalem on Jan. 7, Franciscan Father Francesco […]
Pope Leo Condemns ‘Zeal for War’ in Diplomatic Speech
Pope Leo XIV condemned the weakening of international multilateralism and the increased use of force in a speech to diplomats at the Vatican on Friday. He also said states should respect fundamental human rights, such as religious freedom and freedom of speech, and comply with international humanitarian law in the lengthiest speech to date of […]
Pope Leo XIV Condemns Violence in Iran, Syria, Ukraine
Pope Leo XIV on Sunday lamented escalating violence in Iran and Syria and renewed his appeal for peace in Ukraine, while also offering a special blessing for children receiving baptism and praying for those born into “difficult circumstances.” Speaking after the Angelus on Jan. 11, the pope said: “My thoughts turn to the situation currently […]
