“Rick Thomas isn’t an easy man to get a handle on. Was he an old-fashioned pre-Vatican II Catholic or a radical, a barrio politician in a Roman collar or a supernaturalist fanatic, a slave-driver or a clown?”
Explainer
Posted inExplainer
From Pope Francis to Pope Leo: The future of synodality
Since the papal election, a key question has gone unanswered: What will synodality look like under Pope Leo?
Posted inExplainer
Analysis: Why is Pope Leo letting Cardinal Burke say the Latin Mass at the Vatican?
U.S Cardinal Raymond Burke will celebrate a traditional Latin Mass for pilgrims in St. Peter’s Basilica on Saturday, Oct. 25, with Pope Leo XIV’s permission. The pilgrim group, which makes annual trips to the Vatican, did not receive permission to celebrate the pre-Vatican II rite in St. Peter’s during its 2023 or 2024 pilgrimages. The […]
Posted inExplainer
How do popes celebrate their birthdays? Pizza, parties and puppies
Pope Leo turns 70 on Sunday. How will he celebrate his big day? And how has the church celebrated past popes on their natal feasts?
Posted inExplainer
The Vatican is out of cash. Will Pope Leo’s high approval rating help get donations?
Past papal elections and the subsequent honeymoon period of the new pope have, in general, brought increases in donations to Peter’s Pence, an annual Vatican donation drive.
Posted inArts & Culture, Explainer
Pope Leo just extended his vacation. What do popes do to relax?
Pope Leo XIV has extended his vacation at Castel Gandolfo by two days. How does he relax? And what have other popes done with their downtime?
Posted inExplainer, Faith
What’s in a name? Why the pope picked ‘Leo XIV’
Pope Leo XIV picked one of the most common names in history for a pope. But it is a name with great resonance in modern church history, and one whose selection suggests quite a bit about what the reign of the new pontiff might be like.
Posted inExplainer, Faith
Pope Leo XIV: What to expect in the coming days
When Pope Leo XIV will celebrate his inaugural Mass in St. Peter’s Square and what else to look for next week
Posted inExplainer, Faith
Who was Pope Leo XIII?
Cardinal Robert F. Prevost has selected the name Pope Leo XIV—so who was Pope Leo XIII?
Posted inExplainer, Faith
The history of the Sistine Chapel—where cardinals will choose the next pope
The papal conclave will take place as usual in the hallowed space of the Sistine Chapel. What is the history of this famous church and its artistic treasures?