A sub-category of News.
I begin with the following proposition. It is one which, among committed Christians certainly, may be taken as a given, as axiomatic. Not a statement of fact, mind you, as in the sum of two plus two will always be four. It is instead a statement of value, the certainty of which is hardly a…
Ludwig von Pastor’s massive History of the Popes from the Close of the Middle Ages is an interesting source to go to for reactions to the election of the head of the Roman Church. First impressions of the general bearing of a man who would bear the weight of the world on his shoulders were…
Yesterday, May 8, 2025, the feast of the Apparition of St. Michael in the month of Our Lady, we were given given a new Pope. We mustn’t speak negatively about him or his election. It is natural to be concerned that the hirelings and wolves inside the Church appear ecstatic at his election. We are…
I must admit that I didn’t really consider the possibility that a Pope from the United States might be elected. And if I had to bet on an American Pope, the name would certainly not have been that of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, of whom I knew little or nothing. But the Cardinals have chosen…
Yesterday, in the heart of the Catholic Church, a sacred drama reached its summit. The conclave has ended. White smoke has risen. A new pope has been chosen — a moment that reaches back through centuries, a moment when the Church stands poised, not merely looking to the future, but standing at the crossroads of…
There was much silliness leading up to this week’s conclave. For example… Did you see that Cardinal Chomali of Santiago washed his own white shirt in order to “arrive at the conclave spotless!” There is even a picture of his hands washing the shirt! Yeah, amazing! Did you hear that Cardinal Oscar Rodriquez Maradiaga left…
Habemus Papam! As I’m sure you’re all aware, we have a new pope: Leo XIV, formerly known as Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, O.S.A. Although somewhat of a dark horse candidate, before the conclave he was seen as a potential “compromise” choice. However, his election on only the 4th ballot makes it hard to see that…
We are still recovering from the announcement that revealed the name of the new Pope: the American Robert Francis Prevost, who has taken the name Leo XIV. From where I was positioned, although I could see the square and the balcony, I couldn’t hear the audio from the balcony very clearly. I only caught the…
Rome woke up under a leaden sky. As one might expect, many faithful pilgrims, and curious onlookers are still gathering in St. Peter’s Square, hoping to catch sight of the white smoke. This morning’s two ballots ended without a result. Yesterday, everyone was surprised by the delay in the smoke signal (black), which was perceived…
This morning before the first votes a big, dreary rain cloud was staring me in the face as I sat at the entrance to St. Peter’s Square. I was right next to the door of a bar inside which I can escape should it come pelting down. I can enter the bar whenever I would…
