Read & Reflect
Articles, reflections, news, and homilies — thoughtful Catholic content for the faithful, published regularly.
World News
World News
The Friday Pillar Post - August 7, 2026
Written by Ed Condon and published August 7, 2026.ShareAre you a paying subscriber?Visit pillarcatholic.com/listen on your phoneCheck the top right corner of the webpage to ensure you are logged into your Substack account.Tap ‘set up podcast’ next to The Pillar TL;DRHaving issues? Email our producer...
World News
What might be Pope Leo's goal for China?
The Vatican has announced two Chinese episcopal appointments in recent weeks, signaling the continuing operation of its eight-year-old agreement with China’s government on the appointment of bishops.Xishiku Church, Beijing, China. Image via Shutterstock.The bishops, both appointed for dioceses in th...
World News
Archdiocese of Bombay: Anti-conversion law could target Christian ministry
The Archdiocese of Bombay has voiced “deep concern” over a new anti-conversion law that it says could penalize the work of the Church in the state of Maharashtra, and reflects an ongoing effort to intimidate religious minorities — including Christians — across much of India.The archdiocese said in a...
World News
Is Pope Leo maintaining a TLM ‘gray area’?
Last month’s illicit SSPX consecrations and subsequent excommunications raised expectations that Pope Leo might soon act to expand the celebration of the TLM in communities that are in union with Rome.But more than a month later, that expected papal action has not come.Credit: Thoom / Shutterstock.S...
World News
‘Reality grounded in faith’ - Daly on Spokane wildfires
Firefighters are racing to fight a trio of fires in Spokane County that are currently threatening thousands of homes.Three fires just north of downtown Spokane ignited on Saturday, and are continuing to burn a span of more than 10,000 acres, with no containment so far.Devastation from the Spokane fi...
World News
Australian bishop testifies for prosecution in former Broome bishop’s abuse trial
An Australian bishop has appeared in court as a witness for the prosecution in the trial of the former head of the neighboring diocese on charges of sexual abuse.Bishop Michael Morrissey of the Diocese of Geraldton appeared in court to give evidence in the trial of Bishop Christopher Saunders, the f...
World News
The Tuesday Pillar Post - August 4, 2026
Written by JD Flynn and published August 4, 2026.ShareAre you a paying subscriber?Visit pillarcatholic.com/listen on your phoneCheck the top right corner of the webpage to ensure you are logged into your Substack account.Tap ‘set up podcast’ next to The Pillar TL;DRHaving issues? Email our producer...
World News
Jack Figge: Thank you, the trenches, and see-you-later
Hey everybody,Apologies for burdening your inbox with a non- Pillar Post email, but lucky for you this is not a money pitch either.This is Jack, the former intern, freelancer, and, according to Ed, The Pillar’s “resident young and cool person” and , I write to share a simple message with The Pillar...
World News
Polish man arrested over Medjugorje vandalism
A Polish man has been identified as the main suspect of a vandalization and desecration of the Medjugorje shrine in Bosnia on July 28.Statute of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Medjugorje, vandalized July 28. Credit: Bosnian tourist board.Security camera footage showed a man dousing the altar of Saint Ja...
World News
‘God gave the growth’: Mar Srampickal on 10 years of Britain’s Syro-Malabar eparchy
Ten years ago this week, Pope Francis created a diocese for Syro-Malabar Catholics in Great Britain.Mar Joseph Srampickal, Bishop of the Syro-Malabar Eparchy of Great Britain. Credit: © Mazur/cbcew.org.uk.On July 28, 2016, the Argentine pope named Fr. Joseph Srampickal as the first bishop of the Syr...
World News
Leo XIV issues new Fundamental Law of Vatican City State
Pope Leo XIV issued a new Fundamental Law of Vatican City State Friday, replacing a previous version adopted in 2023.The dome of St. Peter’s Basilica. Credit: Livioandronico2013/wikimedia CC BY-SA 4.0.In a preamble to the new document, which was issued only in Italian July 31, Leo XIV explained that...
World News
‘Open arms and outstretched hand’ - Vatican clinic aims to uphold dignity
From the outside, the Madre di Misericordia clinic may not seem like much. In fact, it’s easy to miss the clinic entirely.Located just steps from the security lines where tourists and pilgrims wait to enter St. Peter’s Basilica, the entrance to the clinic is modest enough that a passerby could easil...