Pope Leo XIV's visit to an African church linked to slavery reflects on his own complex heritage Pope Leo XIV's visit to an African church linked to slavery reflects on his own complex heritage

The Vatican has said that some of the themes Leo will raise in Africa are the exploitation of natural and human resources, corruption and authoritarian regimes.
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Pope Leo named one of Time magazine's '100 Most Influential People of 2026' "Pope Francis always stressed that the church was not a building or a symbol but the actual teachings of Jesus," filmmaker Martin Scorsese said. "I believe that Pope Leo shares that view."

Time magazine has named Pope Leo XIV to its "100 Most Influential People of 2026" list.
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Beyond the clash: What Trump's attacks on Leo reveal about history of US-Vatican relations The Vatican's influence lies less in direct political power than in its ability to shape moral debate over time, one expert says.

The Vatican's influence lies less in direct political power than in its ability to shape moral debate over time, one expert says.
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April 19, 2026: Third Sunday of Easter Scripture for Life: The disciples' carrying the sorrows of the world was a type of penitential rite — begging to see God's mercy in the midst of tragedy. This begins the liturgy Luke's Emmaus story su...

The disciples' carrying the sorrows of the world was a type of penitential rite — begging to see God's mercy in the midst of tragedy. This begins the liturgy Luke's Emmaus story suggests for us.

Pope Leo upholds Vatican opposition to nuclear weapons despite Trump's 'weak' critique The pope's repeated calls for a world without nuclear arms challenges the president's accusation that he has been soft on the nuclear issue.

ANALYSIS: In his Sunday screed against Pope Leo XIV, President Donald Trump twice portrayed the head of the Catholic Church as soft on the issue of nuclear weapons.
www.ncronline.org/vatican/pope-leo-upholds...

What the happiness of dogs can teach us about human spirituality "Perhaps, dogs (and other nonhuman animals) are already ahead of us in terms of their relationships with other members of the divine community of creation and with God, too," writes Daniel P. Horan.

OPINION: "Perhaps, dogs (and other nonhuman animals) are already ahead of us in terms of their relationships with other members of the divine community of creation and with God, too," writes Daniel P. Horan.
www.ncronline.org/opinion/what-happiness-d...

Catholic leaders appeal to end Russia's religious persecution in Ukraine Several prominent American Catholics have launched a petition calling for the end of Russia's religious persecution in occupied areas of Ukraine.

Several prominent American Catholics have launched a petition calling for the end of Russia's religious persecution in occupied areas of Ukraine.
www.ncronline.org/news/catholic-leaders-ap...

Lawyer nun works to protect and uplift children's rights in Kenya Much of Sr. Hedwig Muse's work is focused on training leaders across the Catholic dioceses of Kenya to become children's champions, including in a legal system that often fails them.

Much of Sr. Hedwig Muse's work is focused on training leaders across the Catholic dioceses of Kenya to become children's champions, including in a legal system that often fails them.
www.globalsistersreport.org/columns/social-justice/l...

Phoenix Diocese brings Vatican model of synodality to local level "One of the most exciting things for me is to be basically on the cutting edge of what it means to be a church in the 21st century," said Fr. Charles Kieffer, vicar for synodality and planning.

In the desert city of Phoenix, a structural shift is underway inside the Catholic Church, one that reflects a broader global initiative while testing its durability at the diocesan level.
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Vance questions the pope on just war theory hours after Leo honored its founder The vice president responded to a post on the pope’s X account in which he wrote that God is "never on the side of those who once wielded the sword and today drop bombs.”

The vice president responded to a post on the pope’s X account in which he wrote that God is "never on the side of those who once wielded the sword and today drop bombs.”
www.ncronline.org/vance-questions-pope-jus...

Q&A with Sr. Edith Olaguer on living through six days of war in Dubai Her flight disrupted by Iran's bombing of Dubai, Sr. Edith Olaguer spent six days not knowing if she might be killed from the missiles that kept falling throughout the city or get home safely.

Her flight disrupted by Iran's bombing of Dubai, Sr. Edith Olaguer spent six days not knowing if she might be killed from the missiles that kept falling throughout the city or get home safely.
www.globalsistersreport.org/qas/qa-sr-edith-olaguer-...

US bishops can't be judged by political timing Catholic bishops' authority is moral and doctrinal, grounded in continuity of teaching. To judge that authority by political timing is to substitute immediacy for principle and alignment for independe...

Catholic bishops' authority is moral and doctrinal, grounded in continuity of teaching. To judge that authority by political timing is to substitute immediacy for principle and alignment for independence.
www.ncronline.org/opinion/guest-voices/us-...

As Trump blasts Leo, Catholic leaders call to new vision of faith in the public square Pope Leo XIV does not want church leaders and Catholics to be partisans; rather, he is inviting Catholics to apply teachings about peace and human dignity in novel and meaningful ways.

Pope Leo XIV does not want church leaders and Catholics to be partisans; rather, he is inviting Catholics to apply teachings about peace and human dignity in novel and meaningful ways.
www.ncronline.org/news/trump-blasts-leo-ca...

'Real hope for the future of Jesuit higher education' "Jesuit higher education has given me everything really in terms of a purpose in my life, my career and my vocation," said the new president of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities.

Michele Murray will be the first lay person to serve as president of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities when she assumes leadership of the organization on June 2.
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Pope Leo says he has 'no fear' of Trump administration after attack from president The Independent News Source

Pope Leo XIV told reporters en route to Algeria that he has "no fear of the Trump administration," hours after President Donald Trump lodged a vicious attack on the pontiff via social media.
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Three cardinals stand with Pope Leo XIV in unprecedented interview Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich, Washington, D.C. Cardinal Robert McElroy and Newark, New Jersey, Cardinal Joseph Tobin forcefully echoed Pope Leo XIV's calls for peace and repeated his, and their own, ...

Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich, Washington, D.C. Cardinal Robert McElroy and Newark, New Jersey, Cardinal Joseph Tobin forcefully echoed Pope Leo XIV's calls for peace.
www.ncronline.org/opinion/three-cardinals-...

Trump attacks Pope Leo in incendiary social media post President Donald J. Trump published a lengthy attack on Pope Leo XIV on Sunday night, calling the first U.S.-born pope "terrible on Foreign Policy," among other accusations.

President Donald J. Trump published a lengthy attack on Pope Leo XIV on Sunday night, calling the first U.S.-born pope "terrible on Foreign Policy," among other accusations.
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April 12, 2026: Second Sunday of Easter Scripture for Life: Easter proclaims that we, the motley communities of our family, neighborhood, parish, church and world, can live in such a way that others see wonders and signs of what can be.

Easter proclaims that we, the motley communities of our family, neighborhood, parish, church and world, can live in such a way that others see wonders and signs of what can be.

Pope Leo issues fiery plea for peace at prayer vigil: 'Enough of war!' Pontiff tells world leaders: "Stop! It is time for peace! Sit at the table of dialogue and mediation, not at the table where rearmament is planned and deadly actions are decided!"

"Stop! It is time for peace! Sit at the table of dialogue and mediation, not at the table where rearmament is planned and deadly actions are decided!" —Pope Leo XIV
www.ncronline.org/vatican/pope-leo-issues-...

A country-by-country glance at Pope Leo's trip to Africa Pope Leo XIV’s four-nation, 11-day trip to Africa is so dizzying in its complexity it recalls some of the globetrotting odysseys of St. John Paul II in his early years. Themes Leo is expected to raise include Christian-Muslim coexistence, the over-explo...

Pope Leo XIV’s four-nation, 11-day trip to Africa is so dizzying in its complexity it recalls some of the globetrotting odysseys of St. John Paul II in his early years.
www.ncronline.org/vatican/country-country-...

Parishes and dioceses throughout the nation are taking up Pope Leo XIV's call to pray for peace, holding April 11 vigils coinciding with the pope's own at St. Peter's Basilica.
www.ncronline.org/news/dioceses-parishes-t...

Explainer: What is an apostolic nuncio? Reports say that Pentagon officials lectured Cardinal Christophe Pierre during a January meeting because of the pope's anti-war comments. Pierre was apostolic nuncio to the U.S.: What does that diplom...

Reports say that Pentagon officials lectured Cardinal Christophe Pierre during a January meeting because of the pope's anti-war comments. Pierre was apostolic nuncio to the U.S.: What does that diplomatic role entail?
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The Orsini Care Home, run by the Hospitaller Sisters of Mercy, has successfully treated more than 1,000 substance abuse patients in northeastern India.
www.globalsistersreport.org/nuns-help-combat-drug-cr...

The 'not yet' that accompanies our Easter "His kingdom has come, but it is not yet here in its fullness," writes NCR's Michael Sean Winters. "This is the essential tension of the Christian life."

"His kingdom has come, but it is not yet here in its fullness," writes NCR's Michael Sean Winters. "This is the essential tension of the Christian life."
www.ncronline.org/opinion/ncr-voices/not-y...

"[St.] Augustine was a bridge-builder and Leo sees himself also as a bridge-builder, so going back to Hippo is really him enacting what is important to him in a symbolic gesture."
www.ncronline.org/vatican/vatican-news/leo...

Will Meta and YouTube's youth harm verdict be 'tobacco industry moment' for Big Tech? It's the landmark court decision some are calling Big Tech's "tobacco industry moment": a verdict that — just like the misrepresentation that cigarettes are safe — indicates social media companies may...

Meta must pay $4.2 million, while YouTube must pay $1.8 million, for a combined total of $6 million. Both companies signaled their intent to appeal the verdict.
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Catholic Workers wear homemade ankle monitors in solidarity with migrants Catholics in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, wear faux ankle monitors to work, to Mass and even to the airport as an act of solidarity with their migrant sisters and brothers.

Catholics in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, wear faux ankle monitors to work, to Mass and even to the airport as an act of solidarity with their migrant sisters and brothers.
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April 5, 2026: The Resurrection of the Lord Scripture for Life: On this Easter morn, let us heed the command to start again, to reinterpret everything in our own lives and all of history in the light of Christ's definitive victory over evil.

On this Easter morn, let us heed the command to start again, to reinterpret everything in our own lives and all of history in the light of Christ's definitive victory over evil.

'Faith Into Action': Archbishop Hicks marks Holy Thursday serving families in need "We do not gather as 'them' and 'us,' " the prelate said. "It's simply us together, todos, todos, todos, everyone together."

"We do not gather as 'them' and 'us,' " the prelate said. "It's simply us together, todos, todos, todos, everyone together."

Nun becomes first woman to lead India's Catholic Health Association Sr. Helen Mary Anthony, a gynecologist and Sister of St. Anne Bangalore, will take over May 1 as the first woman director of the Catholic Health Association of India.

A Catholic sister will take up the leadership of India's largest network of Catholic medical professionals, becoming the first woman to lead the Catholic Health Association of India.