Honored to have been able to meet Pope Leo XIV' today, during his audience with media representatives who were here to cover the conclave. That first happy expression came when I mentioned I worked for The Pontifical Mission Societies USA @TPMS_USA.

Ok. Disregard the quality of the video- there's a reason why I'm print and not video-. But Pope Leo XIV SUNG the Regina Coeli.

The city of Buenos Aires last night. "Pope Francis, the city prays for you."

Three of the youngest cardinals who will take part in the Conclave: Americo Manuel (51), from Portugal; Cardenal Mykola (45), Ukrainian Greek Catholic cardinal from Australia; and Cardinal Giorgio Marengo, (50), from Mongolia. They took a selfie yesterday in St Peter's Basilica.

Pope Leo XIV in his first homily, to the entire college of cardinals: "Even today, there are many settings in which the Christian faith is considered absurd, meant for the weak and unintelligent. Settings where other securities are preferred, like technology, money, success, power, or pleasure. These are contexts where it is not easy to preach the Gospel and bear witness to its truth, where believers are mocked, opposed, despised or at best tolerated and pitied. Yet, precisely for this reason, they are the places where our missionary outreach is desperately needed. A lack of faith is often tragically accompanied by the loss of meaning in life, the neglect of mercy, appalling violations of human dignity, the crisis of the family and so many other wounds that afflict our society. Today, too, there are many settings in which Jesus, although appreciated as a man, is reduced to a kind of charismatic leader or superman. This is true not only among non-believers but also among many baptized Christians, who thus end up living, at this level, in a state of practical atheism."

Another selfie from the cardinals, this time Japanese Isao Kikuchi. He posted it yesterday, saying that the cardinals were on their way to St. Mary Major.

Buenos Aires, Argentina, says farewell to Pope Francis. "Pray for me."

Pope Leo XIV went back "home" to the Santo Ufizzio, to say bye to the people who live in this building, where he had lived for the past two years.

I mean. The crowd. And it's day one. No pope has been elected on the first day of a conclave for centuries. #Conclave2025

Ukrainian Catholic Church says they have received information that the Russian army plans an air strike on the Cathedral of Saint Sophia in Kyiv. The head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, calls upon all Christians to pray for the protection of this holy site...

Pope Leo XIV, the Church's top missionary, received the Fisherman's ring from Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, pro prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization. During the conclave, C. Tagle had offered him a candy when he saw the Cardinal Prevost realized his destiny was sealed.

In Santiago, #Chile, yet another Catholic church is attack. This time, the parish of Vera Cruz, one of the oldest ones in the country construction completed in 1857. This is at least the fifth Catholic Church attacked/vandalized in the past few days. (A thread).

Many have asked me today what images or moments make the reel of Pope Francis’s pontificate. There are many: WYD Brazil, his trip to Lampedusa and that to Iraq. But this crossing St. Peter's Square alone, empty due to the pandemic, in the rain and silence, said a lot. No words needed.

Today, at the express request of Pope Francis, Rome's auxiliary bishop Daniele Libaroni ordained young Livinius, seriously ill with leukemia, into the priesthood, in the halls of the hospital where he's getting treatment.

The eve before the #conclave starts.

The pope, talking to Claudio Lavagna on the plane about the kiss-the-ring-gate. Insist he doesn't like it when the line of people who greet him is too long for hygienic reasons: "at the end, I have the hand showered."

Remember the Pope losing his temper with a woman on Dec 31? The following day, he publicly apologized for it during his Angelus address. And, it turns out, he met with her Jan 8, during a Wednesday audience. With the help of a translator, the two had a chat.

Pope Francis to educators: "Not to speak the truth about God out of respect for those who do not believe would be, in the field of education, like burning books out of respect for those who are not intellectuals, destroying works of art out of respect for those who do not see."

BREAKING from the Vatican's press office: On Friday 25 March, during the Celebration of Penance at which he will preside at 17.00 in Saint Peter's Basilica, Pope Francis will consecrate Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Yesterday, thousands of users of @Twitter in Spain called for Catholic priests to be burned alive, making it trending topic for hours. The social network, apparently, does not consider a call to set priests on fire to be in violation of its norms 🧐 cruxnow.com/church-in-europe…

Back in Rome after visiting the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan, Pope Francis went straight to Santa Maria Maggiore.

The regular reminder that there is a Catholic bishop in #Nicaragua serving a 26 year prison sentence for preaching the Gospel, which put him in direct opposition of the dictatorial regime of Ortega-Murillo.

Some personal news: after what seems like a lifetime, but was in reality 8 years, I'm leaving @Crux, #journalism, and #Rome. I have accepted a position in the Pontifical Missionary Societies USA, so there will be some great adventures ahead! cruxnow.com/editors-note/202…

An estimated 100,000 attended Pope Leo XIV' first audience. The photo, though impressive, does not do justice to the fact that all of Conciliazione was full of people.

Pope Leo: "The Lord does not want worship detached from life. He is not pleased with sacrifices and prayers, unless they lead to greater love for others and justice for our brothers and sisters."

BREAKING: Nancy Pelosi took Communion during a Mass presided over by Pope Francis on Wednesday. cruxnow.com/vatican/2022/06/…

Francis to the new Archbishops: "Go to the crossroads of the streets, and bring everyone, the blind, the sick, the righteous and sinners. All. In the Church there is room for everyone. So many times we become a church with open doors, but to condemn people. The Church is for all.

Italy granted #AlfieEvans citizenship in hopes that doing so would facilitate his “immediate” transfer to Rome, the Italian Foreign Ministry said. cruxnow.com/church-in-uk-and…

Vatican announces Charles de Foucauld will be canonised on 15 May 2022, with 6 other saints. This French man was Catholic priest and hermit who lived among the Tuareg in the Sahara in Algeria. He was assassinated in 1916. He is considered a martyr.

From the Vatican: This evening, at 20:00, at the Altar of Confession in St. Peter's Basilica, as announced, the rite of Closing the coffin of Pope Francis tool place. During the rite, presided over by Cardinal Camerlengo Kevin Farrell, the Master of Liturgical Celebrations gave reading of the deed, which was placed in the coffin at the end of the celebration. The celebration, which took place in accordance with the prescriptions of the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis, ended at 21:00. During the night, the Chapter of St. Peter will ensure a presence of prayer and vigil to the body of the Pope until the preparations for the Holy Mass tomorrow morning. Photos: Vatican Media

Waiting for Pope Francis to say Mass in Morocco.

#Nicaragua: At least 11 priests and deacons were kidnapped by Daniel Ortega's regime in the last 48 hours. The Catholic Church is currently experiencing the worst stage of the Ortega-Murillo repression since April 2018. Dozens of priests, including 3 bishops, are in exile.

"I need friends, that's why I live in Santa Marta, this hotel where I can meet so many people, talk to everyone. Friendships give me strength, I need friends, they are few but true. The other Popes were saints, I am not so much a saint and I like to live with other people"

Pope Francis in the cathedral of Our Lady of Salvation, in Baghdad, where 48 people were martyred Oct. 31, 2010

Two men. Engaging in dialogue. Before attending the funeral of the man who begged for honest dialogue to forge peace. I feel I'm repeating my previous tweet, but this is SO important.

Well, it's the first time, that I can recall, that a Pope has sung it from the balcony, which says a lot of his love for beauty, gives insights into what his Liturgical preferences will be. Which we kind of know from how he celebrated Mass in Peru: osvnews.com/in-boots-during-…

First words by Pope Leo XIV, earlier today, roughly translated: Peace be with you all! Beloved brothers and sisters, this is the first greeting of the Risen Christ, the good shepherd who gave his life for God's flock. I too would like this greeting of peace to enter your hearts, to reach your families, to all people, wherever they may be, to all peoples, to all the earth. Peace be with you! This is the peace of the Risen Christ, a disarming peace and a disarming, humble and persevering peace. It comes from God, God who loves us all unconditionally. We still keep in our ears that weak but always courageous voice of Pope Francis blessing Rome! The Pope blessing Rome gave his blessing to the world, to the whole world, that Easter morning. Let me follow up on that same blessing: God loves us, God loves you all, and evil will not prevail! We are all in God's hands. Therefore, without fear, united hand in hand with God and each other let us go forward. We are disciples of Christ. Christ goes before us. The world needs His light. Humanity needs Him as the bridge to be reached by God and His love. Help us too, then each other to build bridges, with dialogue, with encounter, uniting us all to be one people always at peace. Thank you to Pope Francis! I also want to thank all my brother cardinals who have chosen me to be Successor of Peter and to walk together with you, as a united Church always seeking peace, justice, always trying to work as men and women faithful to Jesus Christ, without fear, to proclaim the Gospel, to be missionaries. I am a son of St. Augustine, an Augustinian, who said, “with you I am a Christian and for you a bishop.” In this sense we can all walk together toward that homeland that God has prepared for us. To the Church of Rome a special greeting! We must seek together how to be a missionary Church, a Church that builds bridges, dialogue, always open to receive like this square with open arms. Everyone, everyone who needs our charity, our presence, dialogue and love. And if you will allow me a word, a greeting to everyone and especially to my dear diocese of Chiclayo, Peru, where a faithful people have accompanied their bishop, shared their faith and have given so much, so much to continue to be faithful Church of Jesus Christ. To all of you, brothers and sisters from Rome, from Italy, from all over the world, we want to be a synodal Church, a Church that walks, a Church that always seeks peace, that always seeks charity, that always seeks to be close especially to those who suffer. Today is the day of Supplication to Our Lady of Pompeii. Our Mother Mary always wants to walk with us, to be close, to help us with her intercession and love. So I would like to pray together with you. Let us pray together for this new mission, for the whole Church, for peace in the world, and let us ask Mary, our Mother, for this special grace. Hail Mary... #habemuspapa #prevost

Pope Francis was supposed to rest during day one in #Indonesia. Instead, he welcomed at the Nunciature a group of orphaned children, refugees, homeless people, and elderly, all of whom are cared for by various Church institutions. 📷 Vatican

Pope Leo XIV today met with the college of cardinals. Half of the meeting was him delivering a speech. The other was them talking. From his remarks: I would like us to renew together today our complete commitment to the path that the universal Church has now followed for decades in the wake of the Second Vatican Council. Pope Francis masterfully and m concretely set it forth in the Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, from which I would like to highlight several fundamental points: the return to the primacy of Christ in proclamation (cf. No. 11); the missionary conversion of the entire Christian community (cf. No. 9); growth in collegiality and synodality (cf. No. 33); attention to the sensus fidei (cf. Nos. 119-120), especially in its most authentic and inclusive forms, such as popular piety (cf. No. 123); loving care for the least and the rejected (cf. No. 53); courageous and trusting dialogue with the contemporary world in its various components and realities (cf. No. 84; SECOND VATICAN COUNCIL, Pastoral Constitution Gaudium et Spes, 1-2). These are evangelical principles that have always inspired and guided the life and activity of God’s Family. In these values, the merciful face of the Father has been revealed and continues to be revealed in his incarnate Son, the ultimate hope of all who sincerely seek truth, justice, peace and fraternity (cf. BENEDICT XVI, Spe Salvi, 2; FRANCIS, Spes Non Confundit, 3). Sensing myself called to continue in this same path, I chose to take the name Leo XIV. There are different reasons for this, but mainly because Pope Leo XIII in his historic Encyclical Rerum Novarum addressed the social question in the context of the first great industrial revolution. In our own day, the Church offers to everyone the treasury of her social teaching in response to another industrial revolution and to developments in the field of artificial intelligence that pose new challenges for the defence of human dignity, justice and labour. Dear brothers, I would like to conclude the first part of our meeting by making my own – and proposing to you as well – the hope that Saint Paul VI expressed at the inauguration of his Petrine Ministry in 1963: “May it pass over the whole world like a great flame of faith and love kindled in all men and women of good will. May it shed light on paths of mutual cooperation and bless humanity abundantly, now and always, with the very strength of God, without whose help nothing is valid, nothing is holy” (Message Qui Fausto Die addressed to the entire human family, 22 June 1963).

Two Catholic churches were burned in Santiago, #Chile today, amidst protest. Archbishop Celestino Aos, of Santiago, released a statement lamenting the destruction of churches and public property, "but we regret above all the pain of so many Chilean people of peace and generosity"

We have a Pope!!!!

Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of the Vatican's spokesman, Greg Burke, and that of the deputy spokeswoman, Palona Garcia Ovejero. Two true professionals and even better people.

Announced today: Dutch Carmelite MartyrTitus Brandsma, who was murdered by the Nazis in Dachau on July 26, 1942, will be recognized as saint by Pope Francis in Rome on May 15. Killed for his acts of resistance. Fun fact: he will become the first recognized journalist saint.

The chaplain of the French fire department went into Note Dame to save the Blessed Sacrament and the Crown of Thorns relic.

Simply, thank you.

#Breaking Pope Francis at #Angelus expressed concern for #Nicaragua: "I cannot here but recall with concern the Bishop of Matagalpa, Bishop Rolando Álvarez, whom I love so much, sentenced to 26 years in prison, and also the people who have been deported to the United States...

Pope Francis visited emeritus Pope Benedict XVI to wish him both happy Easter and a happy birthday. ow.ly/Zp1Q30aSrQT

Here's the regular reminder that Bishop Rolando Alvarez of Matagalpa, #Nicaragua, has been missing since Feb. 9, when the government sentenced him to 26 years in prison for denouncing the abuses committed by the Ortega regime. No one has seen him since.

In a moment that was almost 60 years in the making, Pope Francis has set foot in #Japan. As a young man, he joined the Jesuits because he dreamed of being a missionary in these lands, following in the steps of St Francis Xavier.

Waiting for Pope Francis to say the first ever public Mass in United Arab Emirates #PopeFrancisInU pscp.tv/w/bykZzTQzMDQ2MzR8MX…

How can it be that people die of hunger in the 21st century? In parts of Ethiopia’s #Tigray region, people now eat only green leaves for days. At a health center last week, a mother and her newborn weighing just 1.7 pounds died from hunger. cruxnow.com/church-in-africa…

Pope Francis removed 57' year old Bishop Fernández Torres of Arecibo, Puerto Rico. As usual, the Vatican didn't disclose the reason. But a quick Google search defines him as a man who allowed conscientious objection to those refusing COVID vaccines and favored conversion therapy.

Pope Francis cried when praying for #Ukraine today: Immaculate Virgin, I would have liked today to bring you the thanksgiving of the Ukrainian people for the peace we have long been asking the Lord for. Instead, I have yet to present you with the supplication of the children...

Pope Francis has sent a short, hand-written note to @JamesMartinSJ thanking him for his “Outreach LGBTQ Catholic Ministry” webinar, held Saturday with 1,000 people taking part. cruxnow.com/church-in-the-am…

"What the pope said to us is very important," the husband told journalists to then quote Francis: "this is the sacrament the world needs, the sacrament of marriage. Hopefully, this will motivate couples around the world to get married." #ElVueloDeFrancisco cruxnow.com/pope-in-chile-an…

In his homily, Francis acknowledged that today’s rising numbers of immigrants and refugees often generate fear in host societies, saying those anxieties are “fully comprehensible.” “The sin is to allow these fears to determine our responses." cruxnow.com/vatican/2018/01/…

A more detailed showing of how Vatican employees are working on getting the Sistine Chapel, the venue for all conclaves since 1878, ready for May 7th. The 1st conclave held here was in 1492, but it looked quite different, as Michelangelo didn't finish the ceiling frescoes until 1512. Though since then most conclaves were held in the Sistine, some have taken place elsewhere in Rome, such as the Pauline Chapel, St. John Lateran Basilica, and Santa Maria Sopra Minerva. Additionally, a few conclaves have been held outside of Rome, including in Terracina, Cluny, Velletri, Verona, Ferrara, Pisa, Perugia, Anagni, Naples, Viterbo, Arezzo, Carpentras/Lyon, Avignon, Konstanz, and Venice.

Pope Leo: "The gravest form of poverty is not to know God." "The poor are not a distraction for the Church, but our beloved brothers and sisters, for by their lives, their words and their wisdom, they put us in contact with the truth of the Gospel. The celebration of the World Day of the Poor is meant to remind our communities that the poor are at the heart of all our pastoral activity. This is true not only of the Church’s charitable work, but also of the message that she celebrates and proclaims. God took on their poverty in order to enrich us through their voices, their stories and their faces. Every form of poverty, without exception, calls us to experience the Gospel concretely and to offer effective signs of hope."

Pope Francis has "accepted" de resignation of Cardinal Angelo Sodano, from his post as the dean of the college of cardinals. He has asked the cardinals to choose Sodano's successor. Sodano has long been accused of covering up abuse cases, including for Maciel and McCarrick.

Official portrait of saints-to-be Jacinta and Francisco Marto, the little shepherds of Fatima. Francis will canonize them this Saturday.

John Paul I was elected pope a day like today, 43 years ago. He died 33 days later. An argentine girl was reportedly miraculously cured through his intervention in Buenos Aires, Francis' former diocese, 10 years ago. If confirmed, he'll be recognized as blessed. Could be in Oct.

Pope Francis has decided to institute a Church-wide celebration of a World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. Starting this year, it will be held on the fourth Sunday of July, close to the liturgical memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, grandparents of Jesus.

Pope Francis begins the celebration of the first ever papal Mass in the Chaldean rite. Yet another "first" from Francis during this historic trip. Video: Vatican press pool #PopeInIraq

Francis said Christians should apologize anytime “there are people we could have defended and we didn’t” cruxnow.com/vatican/2016/06/… via @Crux

"Am I ready for an exchange? Anything, if this can bring the children home. There is total willingness on my part," said Cardinal Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, responding to a journalist who asked if he'd offer himself in exchange for the children kidnapped by Hamas.

Yet another Catholic priest has been murdered in Nigeria. Father David Tanko was killed by unknown men in Tukum, state of Taraba. He was there on a "peace mission." Tanko is the 11th priest assassinated in Africa this year.

Just in from the Vatican: Pope Leo is headed to Castel Gandolfo. On the afternoon of Sunday, July 6, the Holy Father Leo XIV will move to the Pontifical Villas of Castel Gandolfo for a period of rest. On Sunday, July 13, at 10 a.m., the Pope will celebrate Mass at the Pontifical Parish of St. Thomas of Villanova in Castel Gandolfo. At noon, he will recite the Angelus prayer in Piazza della Libertà, in front of the Apostolic Palace. On Sunday, July 20, at 930 a.m., the Pope will celebrate Holy Mass in the Cathedral of Albano. At noon he will recite the Angelus in Piazza della Libertà in Castel Gandolfo. In the afternoon, he will return to the Vatican.

Today, Pope Francis' fisherman ring and stamp were destroyed, in front of the college of cardinals, during the general congregations. As a reminder, the conclave to elect the 267 successor of Peter will begin tomorrow with Mass in St. Peter's Basilica. First fumata is expected at around 7PM Rome.

Asia Bibi, the illiterate Christian woman who had been sentenced to death in Pakistan and finally acquitted late last year, is finally actually free and on her way to Canada.

Pope Francis today, to Italy's pro life movement: "More than ever, there is a need for people of all ages to spend themselves concretely in the service of human life, especially when it is most fragile and vulnerable; because it is sacred, created by God for a great and beautiful destiny; and because a just society is not built by eliminating the unborn unwanted, the elderly no longer independent or the incurably ill." (The message was signed by Francis from his hospital bed, read by Cardinal Pietro Parolin)

Bishop Rolando Álvarez and 18 other religious political prisoners (a bishop, 15 priests, 2 seminarians) have been released from prison, exiled. They are currently in Rome. In the right picture, they're with Cardinal Parolin, the Vatican's Secretary of State.

Men fighting IS in Mosul set up a Christmas tree. "The decorations might seem like nothing to some, but they mean hope for Iraqi Christians"

The Swiss Guards, kneeling during the Consecration.

Today, as he walked into his titular Church in Rome, @CardinalDolan was asked about President's Trump picture of himself dressed as Pope: "I hope he didn't have anything to do with it." When asked if he was offended by it, he said: "As the Italians say, it was brutta figura."

Once again, the government of #Nicaragua tries to silence the Catholic Church, closing yet another diocesan radio, claiming it has been running illegally for almost two decades, despite evidence to the contrary. Being a #Catholic in Nicaragua today is basically a crime.

South Korean president Moon Jae-in gifted the pope one of the 136 crosses created with the wire used during the past 68 years to demark the border between the two Koreas. Before the visit, a South Korean spokesman spoke about the possibility of a visit by Francis to North Korea.

Moving footage from Vatican Media of the sealing of Pope Francis casket earlier tonight. The priests from the Chapter of St Peter's Basilica will stay with him overnight in prayer. Archbishop Ravelli, master of papal liturgical ceremonies, is seen placing a small bag with coins minted during Francis pontificate, upholding a long standing tradition.

Pope Francis today: "There are those who systematically work to drive away migrants, and this, when done knowingly and deliberately, is a grave sin." "What kills migrants is our indifference, our rejection" "Do you pray for those who come to our lands to save their lives?"

Pope Leo XIV today, during the Jubilee for Oriental Churches, delivered a strong support to persecuted Christians: "The Church will never tire of repeating: let weapons be silenced. I would like to thank God for all those who, in silence, prayer and self-sacrifice, are sowing seeds of peace. I thank God for those Christians – Eastern and Latin alike – who, above all in the Middle East, persevere and remain in their homelands, resisting the temptation to abandon them. Christians must be given the opportunity, and not just in words, to remain in their native lands with all the rights needed for a secure existence. Please, let us strive for this!"

Shameful: the Criminal District Courts of Managua, #Nicaragua admitted the indictment presented by the Public Prosecutor's Office against Bishop Rolando José Álvarez for the crimes of "conspiracy to undermine the national integrity and propagation of false news".

As a woman from #Ukraine and one from #Russia, hold the cross during the #WayofTheCross the meditation for the 13 station was discarded: "Faced with death, silence is more eloquent than words. Let us therefore stand in prayerful silence, let each one pray for peace in the world."

BREAKING: Pope backs parents in #CharlieGard case, asks for their wishes to care for their child to be respected. cruxnow.com/vatican/2017/07/…

Bye bye #Rome!

#Rome never gets old.

Despite the isolation, these five Spanish nuns who live in Rome leave their homes day an night to care for those who are bedridden, alone in their homes, too old or sick to go out. They too, deserve an applause, even if, knowing them, I can say they probably wouldn't want it.

Pope: when the priest says "raise our hearts to the Lord, he doesn't say raise our phones to take a picture." Mass is not a "show". Put down your phones, and raise up your hearts. It makes me so sad to see so many people, including bishops, taking out their phones during Mass

After the choir sung the litany of saints, Pope Francis reads the decree of canonisation, noting that he's making an "ex cathedra" pronouncement, meaning, with the full authority of office of the pope, infallible. #NewmanCanonization

Pope Francis' 90-minute meeting with Biden was the longest with a U.S. President thus far (30 minutes with Trump in 2017, 52 with Obama in 2014). This might also be the longest meeting the Argentine pontiff has had with any president/PM. 📷@CatholicNewsService

This afternoon, Pope Francis went to the Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital to visit the ward where the hospitalized children who arrived from #Ukraine in recent days are. About 50 children from Ukraine have been treaded since #RussiaInvadedUkraine for cancer, blast wounds, etc.

"One can pray like a cockatoo, blah, blah, blah. But this is not prayer," Francis said during his Wednesday audience. "Prayer is not an easy thing, and that's why we usually run from it. Or when we begin praying, we start thinking of other things we 'need' to do."

...and calls upon the aggressor to refrain from this most horrific act of vandalism. "May St. Sophia - Divine Wisdom, - bring to their senses those who have decided to commit this crime," - said His Beatitude Sviatoslav in a statement.

Pope Francis is in Ur, the birthplace of Abraham, father of believers. "The greatest blasphemy is to profane [God's] name by hating our brothers and sisters. Hostility, extremism and violence are not born of a religious heart: they are betrayals of religion."

#PopeFrancis in Prešov: "Crucifixes are all around us. What good is this unless we stop to look at the crucified Jesus and open our hearts to him. [..]Let us not reduce the cross ti an object of devotion, much less to a political symbol, to a sign of religious and social status."

"Pope Francis has been informed of the death of Diego #Maradona. He looks back affectionately on the opportunities on encounter they had in recent years and remembers him in prayer, as he has done in recent days upon learning of his health condition,” said a #Vatican spokesman.

“What is the most common cause of the bitter divisions among Catholics? It is not dogma, nor is it the sacraments and ministries. The divisions that polarize Catholics stem from political options that grow into ideologies taking priority over religious & ecclesial considerations"

How on earth is this happening? Why are we not outraged at the fact that women and girls are being raped Ethiopia’s Tigray, with sexual violence being a weapon of war? cruxnow.com/interviews/2021/…

Francis today, visiting the San Giovanni hospital in Rome. "Does he eat well?" the pope asked the mother

Pope Francis asks for prayers for #Nicaragua, saying he's following "with concern" what is happening, with bishops and priests being imprisoned. "Please, all, let's pray for Nicaragua," he said at the end of the #Angelus prayer. A dozen priests have been kidnapped in 10 days.

Being a #Catholic in #Nicaragua is a crime: Marian procession with image of Our Last of Fatima, programmed for Aug. 13 as part of the National Marian Congress, has been banned by the Ortega-Murillo regime. Arch. of Managua asks people to pilgrimage, peacefully, to the Cathedral.

French president Emmanuel Macron announced just now that the structure of Notre Dame has been saved, and that the Cathedral will be rebuilt.