Catholic News

Peace, Unity, and AI: Pope Leo XIV’s Vision for the Church
22
May
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Peace, Unity, and AI: Pope Leo XIV’s Vision for the Church

As the Vatican prepares to release the first encyclical of Pope Leo XIV, Catholics around the world are gaining deeper insight into the themes shaping his papacy. Through his homilies, writings, and public addresses, the Holy Father has consistently emphasized peace, unity, human dignity, and the responsible use of artificial intelligence. From the beginning of his pontificate, Pope Leo XIV has called for what he describes as a “disarmed and disarming peace,” encouraging nations and individuals alike to reject violence, division, and hatred. In several speeches, he has spoken strongly against war and injustice while urging the Church to become…
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Malta pro-life campaign challenges 6 parties on abortion, euthanasia
22
May
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Malta pro-life campaign challenges 6 parties on abortion, euthanasia

Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela called a surprise general election for May 30, announcing the vote nine months before his Labour Partyʼs five-year term was scheduled to end. Citing geopolitical turmoil, particularly the war in Iran and volatile oil prices affecting Maltaʼs energy costs, Abela framed the early election as necessary to provide “stability” at a critical moment. The timing is politically advantageous. Abelaʼs Labour government holds a comfortable parliamentary majority, and opinion polls hint the party is on track to win a record fourth consecutive term. Yet the election has forced an uncomfortable conversation about abortion, a topic observers…
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Pope Leo XIV Calls for Greater Focus on the Common Good
21
May
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Pope Leo XIV Calls for Greater Focus on the Common Good

Pope Leo XIV urged nations around the world to put the common good ahead of political ambition and self-interest, stressing that societies reveal true justice through the way they treat the poor and vulnerable. Speaking during an audience with newly appointed ambassadors to the Holy See, the pope said diplomacy alone is not enough to build lasting peace. He urged world leaders to embrace what he described as “a deeper conversion of heart” that prioritizes solidarity, compassion, and the wellbeing of all people. Pope Leo XIV Emphasizes Human Dignity During his address at the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace, Pope Leo XIV…
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Mexican Church Calls for Vigilance Against Human Trafficking During 2026 World Cup
21
May
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Mexican Church Calls for Vigilance Against Human Trafficking During 2026 World Cup

As preparations continue for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Catholic Church in Mexico is raising awareness about the dangers of human trafficking, sexual exploitation, and violence that can increase during major international events. The tournament, which will be jointly hosted by Mexico, the United States, and Canada, is expected to attract millions of visitors from around the world. In Mexico alone, cities such as Mexico City, Monterrey, and Guadalajara are preparing to welcome over five million international tourists. While the World Cup presents opportunities for cultural exchange and unity, Church leaders have warned that criminal networks may also take…
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God speaks to the faithful; take time to listen every day, pope says
15
Jan
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God speaks to the faithful; take time to listen every day, pope says

If Christians are to speak about God, then they must dedicate time each day and week to listening to God's word in prayer and the liturgy, Pope Leo XIV said. "We are called to live and cultivate friendship with the Lord" through prayer, he said Jan. 14 during his weekly general audience. "This is achieved first of all in liturgical and community prayer, in which we do not decide what to hear from the Word of God, but it is he himself who speaks to us through the Church," he said. "It is then achieved in personal prayer, which takes place in the interiority…
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Pope Leo to grieving father: ‘Death never has the last word’
17
Oct
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Pope Leo to grieving father: ‘Death never has the last word’

Pope Leo XIV has responded to a letter from a grieving father with the encouragement that “death never has the last word.” In the October issue of Piazza San Pietro magazine, the pontiff penned a letter to Francesco, a father of four, who wrote to the Holy Father about the death of his 12-year-old son, Domenico Maria, from a sudden illness 18 years ago. Despite the time that has passed, the father said he still felt like his son’s premature death happened only yesterday.  “Holiness, this letter of mine is intended only as a thought, as well as a remembrance for…
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Book to feature Pope Leo’s writings and meditations as Augustinian prior
16
Oct
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Book to feature Pope Leo’s writings and meditations as Augustinian prior

The Order of St. Augustine and the Vatican Publishing House announced the publication of a new book by Pope Leo XIV, Robert Francis Prevost O.S.A., titled “Free Under Grace: Writings and Meditations 2001-2013.” The book will be presented at the Frankfurt Book Fair in Germany, which opened Wednesday. The tome will include, for the first time, the writings of the current pontiff during his term as prior general of the Augustinian Order, offering readers a "closer look at his spirituality," according to a statement from the Vatican Publishing House. It will include reflections, meditations, homilies, and addresses, all imbued with…
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‘Run’ to seek Christ in everyday life, Pope Francis says in Easter Sunday homily
20
Apr
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‘Run’ to seek Christ in everyday life, Pope Francis says in Easter Sunday homily

Under clear spring skies and surrounded by thousands of faithful gathered in a St. Peter’s Square adorned with vibrant yellow daffodils, Pope Francis’s Easter Sunday homily called Christians to actively seek the risen Jesus in their daily lives, urging believers to “run” just as the disciples did after discovering the empty tomb. “We must look for him without ceasing,” emphasized the pope’s text, which was delivered by Cardinal Angelo Comastri on April 20. “Because if he has risen from the dead, then he is present everywhere, he dwells among us, he hides himself and reveals himself even today in the sisters…
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How the tradition of Dutch flowers at the pope’s Easter Mass was saved
20
Apr
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How the tradition of Dutch flowers at the pope’s Easter Mass was saved

In early 2022, some Dutch Catholics were dismayed to learn that a 37-year Easter tradition would not continue. The Netherlands, known for its fields of flowers, had for more than three decades donated the colorful tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths that decorate St. Peter’s Square for the pope’s Easter Sunday Mass at the Vatican. Pope Francis celebrates Easter Sunday Mass in 2017, flanked by tulips, hyacinths, and daffodils from the Netherlands. Credit: Lucia Ballester/CNA The custom was put on hold for two years because of coronavirus restrictions, and in 2022, the Dutch florist who had organized the initiative since 2015 said…
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How a stolen rosary led one young woman to the Catholic Church
20
Apr
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How a stolen rosary led one young woman to the Catholic Church

In 2017, while working at the World Food Program office in the Azarieh building in downtown Beirut, Iman Hijaze spotted her colleague’s rosary lying on the floor. Alex Imad, a former Shiite Muslim who had converted to Christianity, had accidentally dropped it. “When I touched it, I felt an electrical shock through my body,” Hijaze recalled.   Instead of returning the rosary to Imad, Hijaze slipped it into her pocket. Later, Imad checked the security camera footage and discovered what happened. When he confronted her, he hugged her gently and drew the sign of the cross on her back.  “I felt another…
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