Read & Reflect
Articles, reflections, news, and homilies — thoughtful Catholic content for the faithful, published regularly.
Vatican News
Vatican News
Pope Leo XIV offers prayers, spiritual closeness to victims of devastating Nepal floods
Pope Leo XIV has offered prayers and condolences to the victims of major floods along the Nepal-China border that have claimed several hundred lives so far.The flooding disaster was driven by what the U.S. Geological Survey said was a glacial collapse near the Nepalese capital of Kathmandu, one that...
Vatican News
High-ranking Vatican official to meet with Putin’s adviser in Russia
The Vatican’s secretary for relations with states and international organizations, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, will travel to Russia this week to hold meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin adviser Yuri Ushakov and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov as well as visit the country’s...
Vatican News
Pope Leo appoints leader of Knights of Columbus to Vatican body
Pope Leo XIV has appointed Knights of Columbus Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly as a member of the Dicastery for the Laity, the Family, and Life. The Vatican announced Kelly’s appointment on Aug. 25.The dicastery was created by Pope Francis in 2016 to promote, as stated in its statutes, “the apostolate...
Vatican News
Vatican foreign minister meets with officials in Russia to discuss Ukraine conflict
Archbishop Paul Gallagher, the Vatican’s secretary for relations with states and international organizations, met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Russia on Aug. 25 to discuss Russia’s ongoing war with Ukraine.The Vatican Secretariat of State announced the meeting on its X account the...
Vatican News
Pope Leo: Vatican II reformed the liturgy to promote active participation
VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV has described the liturgical reforms following the Second Vatican Council as necessary to encourage active participation by the faithful.“Since the gestures and words of the sacred liturgy are critical to realizing this experience, the participation of the faithful cannot...
Vatican News
Pope Leo XIV’s summer catechesis: Understanding the sacred liturgy
With his Wednesday general audience at the Vatican on Aug. 26, Pope Leo XIV concluded his catechesis on the Church’s liturgy, focusing on the Second Vatican Council’s constitution on the liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium.From warning against virtual participation in Sunday Mass to calling for a redisc...
Vatican News
Vatican official in Russia: War in Ukraine must end, but not through military means
During his visit to Russia, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Vatican secretary for relations with states and international organizations, reaffirmed the Holy Seeʼs position that the conflict with Ukraine “cannot be resolved by military means.”The archbishop made the remarks during a press conf...
Vatican News
Pope Leo XIV makes ‘Best Dressed’ list: Here’s the meaning behind his papal garments
For the second time during Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate, the Holy Father has been included in a top fashion magazine’s list for “best dressed.” Vanity Fair released its annual Best Dressed list on Aug. 5 and included the pope in “the originals” category.In December 2025, the pope was named one of Vogu...
Vatican News
Pope Leo XIV tells soldiers: It is noble to defend the sovereignty of your homeland
Pope Leo XIV has emphasized the nobility of a soldier’s mission to defend one’s homeland and uphold the rule of law.The pontiff held a private audience on Aug. 24 at the Vatican with a delegation from the Military Ordinariate of Portugal, which celebrated 60 years since its establishment in 1966. Th...
Vatican News
‘You are home’: Pope Leo XIV meets with sick, disabled residents at Rimini
Pope Leo XIV met with sick and disabled residents of the city of Rimini, Italy on Aug. 22, urging them to “follow the Lord by taking an active part in the life of the Church.” The meeting came at the end of a whirlwind day of travel for the pope, who visited the tiny landlocked country of San Marino...
Vatican News
Pope Leo XIV remembers victims of Ebola and mining disaster in Central Africa
During his Aug. 23 Angelus address at the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV remembered the victims of an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and of a deadly mining landslide in the Central African Republic.“In my prayers, I often remember the Democratic Republic of the Congo, especially in light...
Vatican News
Pope Leo XIV visits San Marino, the oldest republic in the world and a ‘laboratory’ of good policies
Pope Leo XIV on Aug. 22 arrived in San Marino, launching a pastoral visit on the occasion of the country’s 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations with the Holy See. The Holy Father was also scheduled to visit the Italian city of Rimini, where the Meeting for Friendship Between Peoples takes place...