Ten years ago, Pope Francis wrote the first environmental encyclical letter in the history of the Catholic Church. As he was writing it, so many of us who were, and still are, concerned about the sickening state of our wonderful earth home, waited with hopeful anticipation. And when it was finally completed and released to […]
The last three popes – Benedict XVI, Francis and Leo XIV – have on more than one occasion recommended reading “Lord of the World,” the dystopian science fiction novel written by Robert Hugh Benson in 1907. This apocalyptic novel depicts the consequences of a society that turned its back on God and presents a social […]
The bombings of Iran by Israel and the United States are clearly immoral when weighed against Catholic doctrine regarding war. According to the church’s second teaching on war known as the “just-war theory” – which stands in stark contrast to the Catholic Church’s oldest teaching on war which is “active nonviolence” or “prophetic pacifism”– one […]
WASHINGTON — In a sit-down interview with the New York Times’ Ross Douthat, Vice President J.D. Vance opened up about how his Catholic faith informs his political views and how he squares his religious beliefs with his hard-line views on immigration enforcement. Vance, an outspoken convert to the faith, appeared on Douthat’s “Interesting Times” podcast […]
VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV is expected to move into the official papal residence, an apartment on the top floor of the Apostolic Palace, departing from the living arrangements used by Pope Francis for 12 years. The papal apartment, which is a series of rooms wrapping around the Vatican’s Sixtus V Courtyard, was the […]
For the first time in the more than 2,000-year history of the Roman Catholic Church, a cardinal from the United States has been elected pope. Robert Prevost, born in Chicago, was introduced to the world as Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican in the early evening hours of Thursday, May 8, 2025. His immediate predecessor, […]
The official mourning period for Pope Francis – the nine days, or Novendiales, is finished. The black bunting, and memorials set up to honor the late Holy Father have come down. Now, the world awaits the start Wednesday of the Conclave to Elect a New Holy Father. In anticipation of the election of a new […]
In a world that so often turns its back on those most in need, Pope Francis instead consistently exemplified Jesus’ call to us to be his light in the darkness: “You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. … Just so, your light must shine before others, […]
“Euthanasia and assisted suicide are a defeat for all. We are called never to abandon those who are suffering, never giving up but caring and loving to restore hope.” – Pope Francis, 2019 On Easter Monday, April 21, Pope Francis ended his earthly journey and entered eternal life. The Holy Father gave us many examples […]
Bishop Michael W. Fisher welcomed everyone on Easter Sunday with a wide smile on his face. “My brothers and sisters, a joyful day. The Lord has risen, alleluia. We can sing out now our alleluias because truly the Lord has risen from the dead for our salvation and redemption,” he said at St. Joseph Cathedral’s […]