Read & Reflect
Articles, reflections, news, and homilies — thoughtful Catholic content for the faithful, published regularly.
Vatican News
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...
Vatican News
Medjugorje youth festival participants receive message from Pope Leo XIV
Pope Leo XIV urged the thousands of young people gathered in Medjugorje, Bosnia and Herzegovina, for the Mladifest International Youth Festival to rediscover the beauty of encountering Christ and not to be deceived by promises of fleeting happiness.The event is proceeding normally, despite the grave...
Vatican News
Vatican increases net worth to $3 billion in 2025
The Vatican’s financial investments and assets rose to a net worth of approximately $3 billion (2.686 billion euros) in 2025.According to the annual report released on July 31 by the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See (APSA), the profit increased by $102 million (89 million euros)...
Vatican News
Pope Leo XIV appeals for peace and justice amid ‘alarming’ Ceuta crisis
Pope Leo XIV on Sunday expressed concern over the “alarming situation” in Ceuta and appealed for solutions capable of bringing peace, stability and justice to the Spanish enclave facing a major migration and humanitarian crisis.“I am following with concern the alarming situation in Ceuta, praying to...
Vatican News
Ukrainian ambassador says papal visit would give major boost to peace
A potential visit by Pope Leo XIV to Ukraine could make a significant contribution to international efforts to end the war and achieve a lasting peace, Ukraine’s ambassador to the Holy See said.“We are absolutely sure that his possible visit would be a great input into the process of reaching peace...
Vatican News
Pope confirms second Chinese bishop in a week under Vatican-Beijing agreement
Father Francis Xavier Duan Yongkun was ordained Wednesday as coadjutor bishop of Bameng in China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region after being appointed by Pope Leo XIV on June 15 under the provisional agreement between the Holy See and the People’s Republic of China.Duan’s episcopal ordination was...
Vatican News
Pope issues new constitution for Vatican City State
Pope Leo XIV has promulgated a new constitution for Vatican City State, formally enshrining the possibility for a non-cardinal to serve as president of its governing body. The new laws, making up the Fundamental Law of Vatican City State, were published on July 31. They replace the 2023 constitution...
Vatican News
Pope Leo XIV receives Patti Smith at Vatican
Pope Leo XIV received American singer, poet, and artist Patti Smith in a private audience at the Vatican on Friday, July 31.The meeting lasted about 40 minutes at the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace, according to Jesuit Father Antonio Spadaro, undersecretary of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Culture and Edu...
Vatican News
This is Pope Leo XIV’s prayer intention for the month of August
Pope Leo XIV’s prayer intention for the month of August is for evangelization in the city.“Roughly half of us live in cities. Jesus himself walked city streets, in Cana, in Jericho, in Jerusalem, and just as in those cities Christ is present in ours — teaching, praying, celebrating, but also sufferi...
Vatican News
Vatican increases net worth by $3 billion in 2025
The Vatican’s financial investments and assets rose to a net worth of approximately $3 billion (2.686 billion euros) in 2025.According to the annual report released on July 31 by the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See (APSA), the profit increased by $102 million (89 million euros)...
Vatican News
Catholic anti-trafficking network led by nuns assists 1.2 million worldwide
A Catholic anti-trafficking network, led by nuns, assisted 1.2 million people worldwide in 2025 through its outreach against human exploitation.The annual report for Talitha Kum, the international network of consecrated life against human trafficking, founded by the International Union of Superiors...
Vatican News
‘Canticle of Peace’: Leo XIV presents the beauty of music as a path to God
Pope Leo XIV stated Wednesday that “the beauty of music invites us to encounter the One who is beauty itself” during the “Canticle of Peace” prayer and fraternal gathering held at Castel Gandolfo’s Borgo Laudato Si’ gardens.Leo XIV also prayed for peace to reign “in all those places in the world tha...