All articles tagged with #pope leo xiv
In the Piazza San Pietro's January edition, Pope Leo XIV responds to a Swiss catechist's struggle to involve families, stressing that hours spent on catechesis are never wasted and that the church should be measured by a sense of belonging and active participation, not attendance numbers, urging Christians to conversion together and witness to the Gospel.
The Vatican’s Fabric of Saint Peter has finished a 137 cm mosaic roundel of Pope Leo XIV, based on Master Rodolfo Papa’s painting, using glass enamels and gold. The piece will be installed beside Pope Francis’ portrait in the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls at about 13 meters high, with the preparatory painting preserved at the Fabrica di San Pietro in the Vatican.
Pope Leo XIV has proclaimed a yearlong Jubilee of St. Francis to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the saint’s death, running from Jan. 10, 2026 to Jan. 10, 2027, with plenary indulgences for Catholics who visit Franciscan sites and participate in the celebrations. The Pontiff also announced the first public display of St. Francis’ body at the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi from Feb. 22 to Mar. 26, as part of the jubilee events that emphasize peace, charity, and care for creation.
Pope Leo XIV proclaimed a Special Year of St. Francis to mark the 800th anniversary of the saint’s death, granting a plenary indulgence to the faithful who visit Franciscan conventual churches or join the jubilee in spirit under the usual conditions (confession, Communion, and prayers for the pope’s intentions); the elderly, sick, and homebound can participate spiritually. The Jubilee runs through January 2027 and seeks spiritual renewal amid a troubled world.
Pope Leo XIV baptized 20 infants, Vatican employees’ children, in the Sistine Chapel for the Baptism of the Lord, urging parents to view faith as essential for their children’s lives and highlighting the parental witness role; the rite uses water, a white garment, and a candle to signify baptism’s meaning, a Vatican tradition begun in 1981 by John Paul II.
Pope Leo XIV addressed the sexual abuse crisis in the Church, emphasizing the importance of listening to victims, fostering dialogue among cardinals, and continuing efforts for reform and support, including upcoming meetings and initiatives rooted in Vatican II principles.
Pope Leo XIV has issued indirect critiques of President Trump's foreign and immigration policies, condemning 'zeal for war,' urging peaceful solutions in Venezuela, warning against U.S.-Europe alliance tensions, and advocating for humane treatment of immigrants, reflecting ongoing tensions between the Vatican and the Trump administration.
The Vatican announced Pope Leo XIV's schedule for January and February, including liturgies for the Conversion of St Paul, the Presentation of the Lord, and Ash Wednesday, along with participation in Lenten Spiritual Exercises and celebrations of key religious feasts.
Pope Leo XIV is signaling a move towards traditional values and harmony within the Catholic Church, contrasting with the reformist and modernizing tendencies associated with Pope Francis, and emphasizing the Church's resistance to secular influences like AI and DEI.
Pope Leo XIV announced plans for an annual Consistory, with the next scheduled for June near the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, emphasizing continuity, synodality, and global Church unity, while also addressing issues like Venezuela and the role of laity and women in the Church.
Pope Leo XIV emphasized the importance of unity, discernment, and mission during a Vatican meeting with cardinals, highlighting themes of synodality and evangelization, and encouraging ongoing dialogue and collaboration within the Church to proclaim the Gospel and adapt to contemporary challenges.
Pope Leo XIV is holding his first Extraordinary Consistory on January 7-8, involving discussions on church governance, synodality, and liturgy, with meetings behind closed doors and a Mass at St. Peter's Basilica.
Pope Leo XIV closed the 2025 Holy Year by condemning consumerism and xenophobia, emphasizing themes of welcoming strangers and promoting peace, while also initiating discussions on church liturgy and overseeing major public works in Rome. The year saw a record number of pilgrims and a historic transition to an American pope, with preparations for the next Jubilee in 2033.
Pope Leo XIV marked the end of the Jubilee Year of Hope by closing the Holy Door during the Epiphany Mass at St Peter’s Basilica, reflecting on the themes of hope, divine manifestation, and the ongoing search for God in today's world, emphasizing that true hope and renewal come from humility and openness to God's presence.
Pope Leo XIV will close the Holy Door of St Peter’s Basilica on January 6, 2026, marking the end of the Holy Year 2024-2025. The ceremony involves the physical closing of the door leaves during a solemn Mass, followed by a private walling-up of the door with a brick wall and a capsule containing the Jubilee record, coins, and keys. This tradition signifies the conclusion of the Holy Year, while God's mercy remains open.