The Moynihan Letters

    The left angel symbolizes God the Father. He blesses the cup, yet his hand is painted at a distance, as if passing the cup to the central angel. Viktor Lazarev suggests that the central angel represents Jesus Christ, who in turn blesses the cup as well and accepts it with a bow as if saying, [...]

    Above, left, the then-young Cardinal Joseph Malula (1917-1989), of Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo), who, as a young bishop, had participated in the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965). Malula's theological assistant ("peritus") during the Council was Archimandrite Boniface Luykx (1915-2004), right, who also served on the liturgical commission which, under the direction of [...]

    Letter #56, 2025, Thursday, July 31: A Perfect Essay     Sometimes one reads an essay that really hits the mark.     An essay that is a whistling arrow of truth that strikes the bulls-eye perfectly, vibrating in the very center of the target.     The words of such an essay are ordered, calm, clear; the ideas and concepts [...]

    St. John Henry Newman (1801-1890), depicted here in a tapestry which hung from the facade of St Peter's Basilica during his canonization in 2019, will become the newest "Doctor of the Church," Pope Leo has decided. It is a significant decision...     Letter #55, 2025, Thursday, July 31: Newman to be declared a "Doctor of the [...]

Photo Grzegorz Galazka | June 4, 2025     Letter #54, 2025, Tuesday, July 29: Who Leo is... and why he needs us     As I write these words, on the early evening in July 29, Pope Leo XIV has entered St. Peter's Square to greet some 200,000 young people who have come to Rome for [...]

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 [...]