Read & Reflect

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...

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 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...

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...

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 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...

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...

The Right Tools Make All the Difference, Part 1

I am consistently engaged in a never-ending series of home upkeep projects, because I want to be a good steward of the gifts God has granted to my family. Even though I have to turn immediately to the next item on the list, completed projects are always satisfying. Still, along the path toward satis...

Beauty Will Save the World

“Beauty will save the world,” Fyodor Dostoevsky maintained. His faithful disciple, Nikolai Berdyaev, echoed the sentiment. In his book, The Meaning of the Creative Act, Berdyaev discusses the special role of beauty that is associated with fine art. “Art,” he declares, “is always a victory over the h...

Overcome the Age of the Embarrassed Catholic

A good number of modern Catholics often speak about their faith as if they were hostages reading from a prepared statement. Simply repeating Church teaching has never been enough of a witness to Christ to soften hearts or change the trajectories of lives. In fact, it can be argued that presenting a...

[Daily Rosary Meditations] Treasure In Heaven