The Lead story in our May-June 2025 issues covers the final days, hours, and death of the late pontiff in Pope Francis: Requiescat in Pace, and the lead-up to the conclave that eventually elected Pope Leo XIV. We also feature Michael Hichborn detailing the relationship between the US bishops and the unmasked government agency USAID; a Special Section celebrating the 500th anniversary of sacred music composer Giovanni Palestrina’s birth; and Lucy Gordan’s fascinating look at the 1600-year-old Basilica of St. Mary Major, where Pope Francis was buried.
LEAD STORY: POPE FRANCIS, REQUIESCAT IN PACE
Pope Francis, a “Pope of the Heart” by Christina Deardurff
The Pope’s Easter Urbi et Orbi message: “We were not made for death, but for life” by Pope Francis
Pope Francis’ Final Hours by Salvatore Cernuzio (Vatican News)
Paying Homage at the Coffin of the Pope by Aurelio Porfiri
The Last Testament of Pope Francis by ITV staff
The Pope of the West and the East by Peter Anderson
The Encyclicals of Pope Francis by ITV staff
Fearlessness and Patience: Keys to Understanding Francis’ Message of Invitation by Marcellus Roberts
SPECIAL SECTION/ Understanding the Next Pope: A new website surveys the College of Cardinals in depth by ITV staff
NEWS
US/Catholic bishops: Charity on the government’s dime by Michael Hichborn
US/Is the Trump White House “Pro-Catholic”? by Robert Moynihan
OPINION/German bishops cheer as government leaders prepare for WWIII by Manfred K. Böhm
CULTURE
SPECIAL SECTION: Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina: The Genius of Liturgical Music turns 500
The Master of Masters in the Church’s Sacred Music Tradition by ITV staff
Rediscover a Foundation of Our Catholic Culture by Aurelio Porfiri
Giovanni Palestrina: A Life Dedicated to the Liturgy by Marco della Sciucca
Liturgy in Palestrina’s Time: A Delicate Balance Between Tradition and Reform by Gabriel Díaz-Patri
FOOTSTEPS ON THE WAY/Jubilee Diary: Armed forces and police form human, spiritual bonds by Anna Artymiak
SCRIPTURE/Treasure in the Heart by Anthony Esolen
SPIRITUALITY BEHIND BARS/Rising Again from Below by Marcellus Roberts
URBI ET ORBI: CATHOLICISM AND ORTHODOXY
Icon/St. Mark of Athens by Robert Wiesner
East-West Watch/A Great Orthodox Leader from a Small Country by Peter Anderson
News from the East/Parolin, Zelenskyy speak; Priest murdered in Katyn canonized; Ecumenical Patriarch attends Pope’s anniversary liturgy; Emmanuel of Chalcedon by Matthew Trojacek
FEATURES
Education/A Long-Awaited Reunion of Science and Faith: new CatholicTech by Dominic Andres
Of Shrines and Sacred Places/Rome’s St. Mary Major Basilica by Lucy Gordan
Lord of the World/“By a Dying Man’s Bedside…” by Monsignor Robert Hugh Benson
Vatican Watch/A day-by-day chronicle of Vatican events: February, March and April, 2025 by Matthew Trojacek
Food for Thought/ Confetti: Italy’s Special-Occasion Candy by Mother Martha
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