The Moynihan Letters

    The "Aging Lion" of the Roman Catholic Church in Africa: Francis Cardinal Arinze, now 92, was just traveling internationally last week (though he has some pain in his left knee). He flew, alone, to Nigeria, where he gave a homily and talk at the world's largest Catholic seminary, the Bigart Memorial Seminary in Enugu in [...]

    The highest point in Lazio: The highest point in Lazio is the Shrine of Our Lady of Mentorella, about 35 miles due east of Rome.     Usually you cannot see the mountain from Rome, as it is too cloudy.     But today the air in Rome was so clear — perhaps as clear as I have ever [...]

    The execution of Fr. Miguel Pro, "The Edmund Campion of Mexico": On November 23, 1927, 97 years ago today, Fr. Miguel Pro was executed in Mexico City, Mexico, by firing squad     Last request: Fr. Pro's last request was to kneel and pray in the moments before his execution     Last walk: As Fr. Pro walked from [...]

    Just before dawn: A rainy November morning just before dawn in Rome, today, November 22, Feast of St. Cecilia, and 61 years since the assassination of U.S. President John Kennedy in 1963     The Vatican's Sala Regia, next to the Sistine Chapel (which is through the door just visible on the right), where tonight the two [...]

    Above, Blessed Carlo Acutis (May 3, 1991-October 12, 2006 -- he died of leukemia at the age of 15) will become St. Carlo Acutis on Sunday, April 27, 2025, in Rome. Pope Francis made the announcement this morning in Rome during his General Audience in St. Peter's Square.     Below, the Via della Conciliazione, leading up [...]

    Above, Pope Pius XII (Pope from 1939 to 1958) opens the Holy Door in St. Peter's Basilica to begin the Jubilee of the Holy Year of 1950. He saw the Holy Year as the real conclusion of the World War II conflict. He called the people of many nations to come to Rome and to [...]

    Above, Father Roberto Pasolini, 53, an Italian Franciscan Capuchin friar and a biblical scholar from northern Italy.     It was announced on Saturday, two days ago, that Fr. Pasolini has been named the new "Preacher of the Pontifical Household," arguably the most prominent preaching "pulpit" in the Church, next to that of the Pope himself.     Soon [...]

Cardinal Robert Sarah of Guinea | photo: Grzegorz Galazka     Above, Cardinal Robert Sarah. The much-loved African cardinal, born in Guinea in West Africa in 1945 and now 79, was for some years the head of the liturgy office in the Vatican. He is known for his deep mysticism and his compelling, Christo-centric vision [...]

      Miniature which depicts Leo I, contained in the Menologion of Basil II (c. 1000 AD, Vatican Library)     Letter #47, 2024, Sunday, November 10: Pope Leo the Great     Today, November 10, is the Feast Day of Pope St. Leo the Great, who lived in the mid-400s.     Tonight, after the Byzantine liturgy in Santa Maria in Trastevere, I will have dinner [...]