The Moynihan Letters

    Pope Leo XIV left the Vatican for the first time today, to visit the Shrine of Mary, the Mother of Good Counsel, in Genazzano, Italy, on the southern edge of Rome. Here he is in prayer before the icon of the same name. As he returned to the Vatican, also visited the Basilica of St. [...]

    Pope Leo XIV, as he addressed his cardinals this morning, Saturday, May 10, in the Main Aula of the Synod Hall. Leo was chosen as Pope two days ago, on May 8, by the 133 assembled voting cardinals, becoming the Bishop of Rome and the Successor of St. Peter, and therefore the leader of the [...]

First Mass of Pope Leo XIV with Cardinals in Rome (@Vatican Media)     Pope Leo XIV, as he delivered his first homily as Pope yesterday, May 9, in the Sistine Chapel. He was chosen two days ago, on May 8, by the 133 assembled voting cardinals to be the Bishop of Rome and the [...]

    Top Italian Vaticanist Andrea Gagliarducci, who works for the Rome office of EWTN and has his own weekly blog called Monday Vatican. Today he published a thoughtful guide to the various candidates in the upcoming papal conclave, which begins today, May 7...     Letter #38, 2025, Wednesday, May 7: Gagliarducci gives the names of the present [...]

    Two images of top Italian Vaticanist Franca Giansoldati, with the late Pope Francis. Her writing, for Rome's daily Il Messaggero, is top-flight, and today she published a useful, even precious, guide to what will happen in the papal conclave, which begins today, May 7...     Letter #38, 2025, Wednesday, May 7: Giansoldati sets up the Conclave [...]

    Italian Cardinal Fernando Filoni. He is a possible "dark horse" candidate to be elected Pope as the papal conclave begins today, May 7...     Letter #37, 2025, Wednesday, May 7: Cardinal Fernando Filoni     This afternoon, Wednesday, May 7, the papal conclave begins.     I will be podcasting on YouTube Urbi et Orbi Communications channel, live at this [...]

    Hungarian Cardinal Peter Erdö, in his titular church in Rome on Sunday morning, May 4. His homily was brief, clear, and profound. The papal conclave begins tomorrow...     Letter #36, 2025, Tuesday, May 6: Peter Erdö     There is now less than one day — from this afternoon until tomorrow morning — before the beginning of the [...]

   Pope Paul VI during his journey to the Holy Land, 4-6 January, 1964     Ice-covered Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire, in February 2010, looking north toward the Sandwich mountain range     Letter #35, 2025, Tuesday, May 6: A father     There is now less than one day — from this morning until tomorrow morning — before the beginning [...]

(Photograph copyright by Marilis A. Pineiro. Please credit her for any republication)     Another lightning bolt on the cupola...     At 2:49 am on the morning of Monday, May 5, 2025, I was awakened suddenly from a sound sleep by a huge thunderclap. It seemed that the entire city of Rome must have been shaken. [...]