The Vatican has rejected a request from the German bishops for special permission to allow lay men and women to preach homilies during Mass.
Europe
Posted inDispatches
‘Troubles’ 2.0 in Belfast? How anti-migrant violence connects to a more complicated history
The June riots were explicitly directed toward migrants, such that some public figures suggest a more accurate term for what happened would be “pogrom.”
Posted inVatican Dispatch
Pope Leo ends visit to Spain with a call to repent
Pope Leo XIV concluded his weeklong visit to Spain with a mighty denunciation of those who traffic or exploit migrants, shouting, “Stop! Repent!”
Posted inIdeas
Ten Catholic reasons to watch the World Cup
For all its institutional messiness, it’s impossible to ignore the World Cup. Here are 10 reasons for “America” readers to watch.
Posted inVatican Dispatch
‘Human dignity has no passport’: Pope Leo visits Gran Canaria
“We cannot grow accustomed to counting the dead. Human dignity has no passport and does not lose its value when crossing a border,” Pope Leo declared in a major speech on migration.
Posted inNews
Northern Ireland: Bishop denounces rioters stoking ‘flames of racism’ in Belfast
The Bishop said the riots and continued attacks against migrants “will not resolve any underlying issues, and violence will have to give way to dialogue and engagement.”
Posted inVatican Dispatch
Pope Leo XIV honors Antoni Gaudí and blesses the Sagrada Familia’s final tower
This high moment of the pope’s visit took place in Barcelona, in the presence of the monarchs of this majority Catholic country.
Posted inDispatches
Gaudí’s masterworks beyond Barcelona and La Sagrada Familia
Gaudí is deeply connected with his Catalonia homeland, but his journey to holiness started in Astorga, 500 miles west of Barcelona.
Posted inVatican Dispatch
Pope Leo visits famed Spanish monastery, entrusting his ministry to the Virgin of Montserrat
On the fourth day of his visit to Spain, Pope Leo travelled to the Benedictine monastery of Santa Maria de Montserrat. It was the beginning of a very spiritual day for the missionary pope.
Posted inNews
Lego announces new set designed after Spain’s Sagrada Família basilica
The Sagrada Família set — containing 12,060 separate Lego elements — is the largest Lego building set ever released, by piece count, the company said.