The Moynihan Letters

Pope Leo XIV at General Audience June 4, 2025 (@Vatican Media)     Letter #52, 2025, Thursday, June 5: The June 4 phone call between Pope Leo XIV and Russian President Vladimir Putin     Just as the dangers of expansion of the war in Ukraine seemed to reach a new pitch — with many observers warning [...]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmFWToNIZNM&t=137s    Above, a video in which Pope Leo XIV speaks his prayer intention for the month of June, 2025 (link)     Letter #52, 2025, Thursday, June 5: The Pope's June Prayer intention     Pope Leo XIV, 69, has released his monthly prayer intention for the month of June, 2025.     June is the month dedicated to the Most [...]

    The Holy See press office on May 16 (last Friday) released a 2nd photograph of Pope Leo XIV, available for free download at this link. (The 1st photo released, on May 10, is below.)     In the image, the pontiff appears smiling, dressed in the traditional white cassock and the gold pectoral cross he wore during his [...]

    "The Roman pontiff, as the successor of St. Peter, is the perpetual and visible principle and foundation of the unity both of the bishops and of the multitude of the faithful." (Lumen Gentium, Par. 23) (link)     An image of the "ring of the fisherman" that was used more than a century ago by Pope Leo [...]

    Pope Leo XIV today, May 16, met at 10 a.m. with the Vatican Diplomatic Corps in the Clementine Hall of the Apostolic Palace, and delivered his 1st address on world diplomatic affairs (Photo: Vatican News/ANSA, link)     Letter #49, 2025, Friday, May 16: Diplomats         Eight days ago, on Thursday, May 8, Pope Leo XIV, 69, was [...]

    Pope Leo XIV today, May 15, met with the head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk (Photo: Vatican News)     Letter #48, 2025, Thursday, May 15: Shevchuk         One week ago, on Thursday, May 8, Pope Leo XIV, 69, was elected the first Pope from the United States of America.     Leo has now completed [...]

    Pope Leo XIV today, May 14, met with participants in the "Jubilee of Eastern Churches" in the Paul VI Audience Hall. It was the 6th day of his pontificate, after his election on May 8, last Thursday. Also today, Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin discussed the possibility that Pope Leo might soon go [...]

         Letter #46, 2025, Tuesday, May 13: Augustinianum         Five days ago, on Thursday, May 8, the papal conclave ended with white smoke at 6:07 in the evening.     An hour later, Pope Leo XIV, 69, stepped onto the central loggia of St. Peter's Basilica — the first Pope from the United States of America.     Leo XIV [...]

    Pope Leo XIV today, Monday, May 12, spoke to some 2,000 journalists as he received the Vatican press corps in his first meeting with journalists since his election May 8, four days ago (Photo: @VaticanMedia)     "Let us disarm words and we will help to disarm the world." --Pope Leo XIV, speaking today to journalists (and [...]

    Pope Leo XIV at noon today, Sunday, May 11, appeared on the central loggia of St. Peter's Basilica to pray the noon Regina Caeli ("Queen of Heaven") prayer (Photo: Robert Moynihan)       This afternoon, May 11, after the Regina Caeli prayer, the seals were removed from the doors of the papal apartment in the Apostolic Palace, [...]