The Lebanese-born Maronite Catholic archbishop Christophe-Zakhia El-Kassis will become the Holy See’s new Permanent Observer to the United Nations in New York, succeeding Archbishop Gabriele Caccia.
Gerard O’Connell
Gerard O’Connell is America’s senior Vatican correspondent and author of The Election of Pope Francis: An Inside Story of the Conclave That Changed History. He has been covering the Vatican since 1985.
Posted inVatican Dispatch
Vatican denies reports that ex-Jesuit Marko Rupnik has been found not guilty of abusing nuns
The trial of the disgraced ex-Jesuit proceeded under almost total secrecy until recent media reports alleged the judges had reached a verdict in Father Marko Rupnik’s favor.
Posted inVatican Dispatch
Pope Leo is sending two special envoys to Ukraine
Pope Leo is sending a Vatican cardinal and archbishop to Ukraine on his behalf this week to advance peace efforts that began under Pope Francis.
Posted inVatican Dispatch
Vatican pushes back on U.S. ambassador’s understanding of Pope Leo’s role in politics
The Vatican today responded to a misrepresentation of the pope’s role by the U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, Brian Burch, by reaffirming that “the pope always speaks as a shepherd.”
Posted inVatican Dispatch
Pope Leo goes on vacation to Castel Gandolfo—after surprise July 4 visit with Trump’s ambassador to the Vatican
“I am very happy to be here among you and to spend the next few weeks with a little rest, a little prayer, a little reading and, hopefully, a little sport here in Castel Gandolfo!” Leo said.
Posted inFrom Our Archives
What Pope Leo heard about the death penalty in the U.S. from a leading abolition activist
An interview with Krisanne Vaillancourt Murphy, the executive director of Catholic Mobilizing Network
Posted inVatican Dispatch
Vatican declares excommunicated SSPX bishops, warns priests and lay faithful of schism
Today, the Vatican has taken a stricter, more inflexible position than those taken under Popes Benedict XVI and Francis.
Posted inVatican Dispatch
SSPX ordains four new bishops in defiance of Pope Leo and the Vatican
The SSPX ordained four new bishops without a papal mandate in Switzerland, triggering automatic excommunication for all six bishops involved.
Posted inVatican Dispatch
Pope Leo appoints Italian sister to top Vatican post
Pope Leo XIV has appointed Sister Alessandra Smerilli as prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, making her the first woman to head this major Vatican office.
Posted inVatican Dispatch
Pope Leo makes final appeal to SSPX before schismatic ordination of bishops: ‘Please turn back!’
Pope Leo made a last-minute appeal to the SSPX to “turn back” from illicitly ordaining bishops, saying, “to tear the seamless garment of Christ is a sin of extreme gravity.”