Elected on May 8, 2025, as the 267th successor of St. Peter, Pope Leo XIV's Inaugural Mass took place on Sunday, May 18. Below is the full text of the pope's homily, in which he speaks of love and unity as the central mission of...
On May 9, the day after he was elected to the Chair of Peter, Pope Leo XIV gave his first homily as pontiff. Below is the full text of the homily he delivered to the College of Cardinals, in the Sistine Chapel. Source: America Magazine. [dropcaps...
On May 8, 2025, the newly-elected Pope Leo XIV gave his first "Urbi et Orbi" ("to the city and to the world") Apostolic Blessing. The first public appearance and official blessing by a new successor of Peter is a truly incredible moment, and it was...
The papacy is an institution of that both Catholics and non-Catholics typically misunderstand. This papal primer provides an overview - What is the true job description of the Pope and what’s the origin and nature of his authority?...
The origins of the Papacy can be found in the dialogue between Jesus and Simon Peter in John 21, a gospel traditionally read during Eastertide. The question,"Peter, do you love me?" is followed by the command "Feed my sheep." The pope,...
This post on the Papacy and Peter's unique role seeks to answer commonly asked questions about what Catholics believe about the Pope and why the bishop of Rome is considered to be the successor of Peter, the universal shepherd. [dropcaps type='normal' font_size='100' color='' background_color='' border_color='']O[/dropcaps]n many...
Leo the Great on the famous passage from Matthew 16 in which Jesus gives Cephas the new name of Peter, meaning rock, along with the keys to the kingdom of heaven. It is read each year on the Feast of the Chair of...
No sooner does Jesus praise Peter's confession at Caesarea Philippi and dub him "the Rock" than he rebukes him as the devil or Satan. Peter had confessed Jesus to be the Messiah. But his idea of what it meant to be the Christ...
When we think about the Pope, we often think of the Vatican. But the roots of the Papacy are in the Old Testament as well as in the Gospel story of Jesus changing Simon's name to Peter and giving him the keys of the...
Who are the Cardinals of the Catholic Church? Where does the word and idea of Cardinal come from, and what role do they play as electors of the Pope in the papal conclave where the election takes place? [dropcaps type='normal' font_size='100' color='' background_color='' border_color='']T[/dropcaps]he Pope, like...