Read & Reflect
Articles, reflections, news, and homilies — thoughtful Catholic content for the faithful, published regularly.
Vatican News
Vatican News
Pope Leo XIV: Stop vicious cycle of violence in Sudan and Ukraine
During his Sunday Angelus address on Aug. 9, Pope Leo XIV appealed for peace amid a serious humanitarian situation in Sudan, where a prolonged military siege has left more than 500,000 people without access to basic supplies.“I continue to follow with concern the tragic situation in Sudan, especiall...
Vatican News
Pope Leo XIV calls young Franciscans to Gospel radicalism and peace
ASSISI, Italy — Eight centuries after St. Francis gathered thousands of friars near the Portiuncula, Pope Leo XIV met with 2,500 young adults in Assisi, Italy, on Thursday and urged them to embrace Gospel radicalism, work for peace, and remain faithful to the Church despite her wounds and internal c...
Vatican News
Pope Leo XIV to Assisi youth: ‘Europe and the whole world are looking to you to be new saints’
ASSISI, Italy — Pope Leo XIV called on young people gathered in Assisi to become “new saints,” reject the culture of power, and help build a world founded on fraternity rather than domination.The pope celebrated Mass on Thursday at the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels before the Portiuncula, the s...
Vatican News
New Vatican constitution corrects Francis-era anomaly, experts say
Pope Leo XIV has replaced the Vatican constitution promulgated by Pope Francis, eliminating a reference to the “munus petrinum,” or Petrine office, as the basis of the pope’s authority over Vatican City State.The new Fundamental Law of Vatican City State, promulgated by Pope Leo and already in effec...
Vatican News
Pope Leo XIV’s face featured on new set of Vatican coins
Pope Leo XIV’s image features for the first time in a new set of commemorative euro coins for Vatican City.As announced by the Vatican City State Governorate on July 30, these coins are part of a new Vatican euro collector coin set honoring the new pontificate. This also marks the first time since 2...
Vatican News
The Transfiguration of Jesus Christ: A gift to his closest followers
At the Transfiguration, Peter, James, and John witnessed a transformative moment that reflects the life of the Christian called to his or her own transfiguration. St. Matthew described in his Gospel: “And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his garments became white...
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Vatican releases schedule for Pope Leo’s September trip to France
The Vatican on Aug. 7 published the official schedule for Pope Leo XIV’s apostolic journey to France, where he will visit Paris, Lourdes, and Metz from Sept. 25–28.The Vatican also announced that, as he did during his recent journey to Spain, he will meet with victims of clerical sexual abuse during...
Vatican News
Poland prepares for possible papal visit
Polish government and Church officials have begun preparations for a possible visit by Pope Leo XIV, although no date has yet been announced.Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski met with Archbishop Tadeusz Wojda of Gdańsk, president of the Polish Bishops’ Conference, t...
Vatican News
Pope Leo XIV warns prayer is disappearing from Christian families
Pope Leo XIV lamented Wednesday that prayer is no longer being passed on in many Christian families and urged the faithful to rediscover it as a fundamental dimension of human life.“In our time, in contexts dominated by an efficiency-driven and consumerist mindset, prayer may seem pointless and triv...
Vatican News
Pope Leo XIV to visit Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru in November
Pope Leo XIV will make an apostolic trip to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru from Nov. 6–17, a nearly two-week tour that will be his first papal visit to Latin America.As reported by the Vatican on Aug. 5, the pontiff accepted the invitation of the heads of state and ecclesiastical authorities of the th...
Vatican News
Pope Leo XIV to Ecuadorian Catholics: Keep following Christ
Pope Leo XIV has encouraged young Ecuadorian Catholics to follow Christ with determination and to reflect his love and mercy to the world.The Vatican published a video message from Leo for Ecuador’s seventh National Youth Day on Aug. 2, the final day of the event that began on July 31 in Ibarra. In...
Vatican News
Pope Leo XIV to Peruvian youth: Do not be afraid to be God's instruments
In a video message on the occasion of Peru’s National Youth Congress, Pope Leo XIV encouraged young people to not be afraid to be God’s instruments in rekindling the hope of many suffering hearts.The message was shown as part of the July 30–Aug. 2 event, held in Chulucanas, a town in the Piura regio...