Major stories that get to the pith of the situation.
By ITV staff The College of Cardinals of the Catholic Church, a body first created in its present form in 1150 by Pope Nicholas II to choose a new Pope, at this writing contains 252 members. 137 of them are eligible to vote in the next conclave, the gathering which elects the Pope. Now that the [...]
By Marcellus Roberts Pope Francis with World Youth Day pilgrims before a prayer vigil in Krakow, Poland, in 2016. (Photo - Grzegorz Galazka) Fearlessness and patience. They are two qualities that occupy opposite ends of the spectrum for those who define fearlessness as being rash or impulsive, while interpreting patience as a slow passivity. [...]
Pope Francis' last Urbi et Orbi message on Easter Sunday, April 20, was a message of life and of peace By Pope Francis Christ is risen, alleluia! Dear brothers and sisters, Happy Easter! The Resurrection of Christ, Rubens (1611-12), Antwerp, Belgium Francis on Easter Sunday Today at last, the singing of the [...]
The Pope published four of them, drawing the Church's — and the world's — attention to subjects closest to his heart By ITV staff St. Thomas Aquinas depicted writing his Summa Theologica: the intellect illuminated by the light of faith. Pope Francis published four encyclicals during his pontificate. The first, Lumen Fidei, was written [...]
One of Francis' Greatest Legacies: He Was Respected by Both Sides of Many Theological and Political Divides By Peter Anderson Patriarch Krill of Russia and Pope Francis embrace during their 2016 meeting in Havana. (Photo - L’Osservatore Romano) As the world knows, Pope Francis died on “Bright Monday,” April 21, the day after the [...]
Here is the English translation of Pope Francis' Testament, Miserando Atque Eligendo, which he wrote on June 29, 2022: In the Name of the Most Holy Trinity. Amen. Feeling that the end of my earthly life is approaching, and with a deep hope in Eternal Life, I wish to express my testamentary will only regarding the [...]
Pope Francis, Requiescat in Pace December 17, 1936 – April 21, 2025 He was in many ways a "Pope of the Heart" – but the heart has its own paradoxes By Christina Deardurff Pope Francis embraces Vinicio Riva, a disfigured man who attended the Pope’s general audience November 6, 2013 When the Cardinal Archbishop [...]
My visit to the Pope, lying in death at the Casa Santa Marta, was the closest I had ever come to this man of contradictions By Aurelio Porfiri It may seem strange to some, but yesterday, April 22, was the occasion in which I was closest to him. While for my “Vatican predecessors” I had more [...]
Among his last words were a simple “Thank you” to the nurse who stayed continually by his side By Salvatore Cernuzio (Vatican News) Pope Francis appears from the Loggia of Benedictions of St. Peters Basilica on Easter Sunday to participate in the Easter message and “Urbi et Orbi” blessing. Vatican City, 20 April 2025. In [...]
From the November election of Donald Trump to the February speech of JD Vance in Munich, the pace of history has accelerated. And now Pope Francis has fallen ill... By Christopher Hart-Moynihan Pope Francis, who found common cause with Joe Biden’s administration on issues like migration, now faces failing health [...]
