America’s senior Vatican correspondent chronicles the moments leading to the first American pope.
Pope Francis
Posted inNews
Pope Leo XIV closes 2025 Holy Year with critique of consumerism and xenophobia
Pope Leo XIV on Tuesday closed out the Vatican’s 2025 Holy Year by denouncing today’s consumerist and anti-foreigner sentiment, capping a Jubilee that saw some 33 million pilgrims flock to Rome and a historic transition from one American pontiff to another.
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Vatican claims a Holy Year success with 33 million pilgrims
Pope Leo XIV on Tuesday will officially close out the Holy Year and shut the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica, capping a rare Jubilee that was opened by one pope and closed by another.
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As a year of two popes ends, Catholics and the world watch as Leo takes charge
While the year was marked by profound change, the new pope emphasized his intention to lead the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics in a spirit of continuity with his predecessor.
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Faith leaders who died in 2025: Pope Francis, theologians and activists
Figures from the realms of politics to sports, from presiding over the Vatican to Temple Square, are among those who died in 2025 and will be remembered for shaping the world of faith.
Posted inVatican Dispatch
Pope Leo in Christmas address to Vatican officials asks: ‘Is it possible to be friends in the Roman Curia?’
Mindful that Pope Francis had often used the traditional pre-Christmas address to the Roman Curia to deliver some hard messages, Vatican officials had waited in expectation to see what Pope Leo would say.
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Church altar featuring homeless man goes on display near his grave at the Vatican
In 2018, German artist Michael Triegel asked a homeless man in Rome to pose for a drawing, thinking that he would make an ideal model for St. Peter if he ever needed to paint the first pope.
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Pope Leo formalizes law allowing a woman to run the Vatican City State, months after Francis appointed her
Pope Leo XIV fixed a technical glitch on Friday in a Vatican law that became problematic after Pope Francis named the first-ever woman to head the Vatican City State administration.
Posted inThe Weekly Dispatch
We know how to fight global poverty. But do we have the will to actually do it?
While affluent nations step back from humanitarian relief and economic development assistance, the world is on the verge of reversing progress against global poverty.
Posted inNews
Synod study groups on ‘controversial’ issues release interim reports
The study groups Pope Francis had established to provide an in-depth reflection on controversial, complex or “emerging” questions raised during the Synod on Synodality have published interim reports.