From the Lefebvrians: a profession of faith that is both comprehensive and inconsistent
In the letter sent on 24 June to the cardinals and the Pope, the Fraternity emphasises orthodoxy, but only to a certain extent. The crux of the matter is its claim to proclaim Catholic doctrine whilst remaining outside Catholic unity; to recognise the Pope whilst at the same time consecrating bishops against his will; and to declare itself faithful to the Church whilst rejecting its sacraments.
Senators, Too, Are Tying Trump's Hands on Iran
A heated clash erupted in the U.S. Senate, where four senators defected to the opposition to vote on a resolution regarding the president’s war powers. This sends a strong message to Trump and his handling of the conflict in Iran.
New consistory: the topics change, but the synod tables remain the same
Four sessions over two days, culminating in the Mass of Saints Peter and Paul, feature on the agenda of the Sacred College, which will meet from 26 to 29 June. Alongside the mission and the ‘novelty’ of Magnifica humanitas, synodality continues to dominate the organisation of working groups, with the risk that dissenting voices may be silenced.
Eat, pray and score, but only if you’re Muslim, not Christian
German player Nmecha prays after scoring a goal and is inundated with criticism: ‘Obsessed with Christ, a bleak view of humanity’; for the talented Spaniard Yamal, on the other hand, raising his arms to the sky in praise of Allah was a gesture befitting a ‘true Muslim’. Meanwhile, submission to Islam brings us a halal-compliant stadium.
War is evil, but Catholic pacifism exacerbates it
The conflict in the Middle East has reignited the debate among Catholics over the “just war,” and—especially in Europe—a radical pacifism prevails within the Church, one that effectively denies the existence of original sin and exposes the weakest to the designs of whatever aggressors happen to be in power.
The death of Cardinal Ruini, a leading figure of the Wojtyła era
As President of the Italian Episcopal Conference (CEI), the Pope’s Vicar for the Diocese of Rome, and President of the Italian Church’s Cultural Project, Cardinal Camillo Ruini faithfully supported the pontificate of John Paul II, concluding it with the ‘religious choice’ and urging the Italian Church to play a more active role in society.
Gates and the Epstein Case: A Blackmail Scheme at the Highest Levels
Bill Gates' testimony before the U.S. House of Representatives offers a new perspective on the Epstein case. The financier, who died in prison in 2019, had set up a blackmail scheme and even had the world's most influential man in his grip.
The Pope at the Sagrada Familia: “Faith gives shape to the stones”
Exactly one hundred years after the death of Antoni Gaudí, the Mass celebrated by Leo XIV in the Expiatory Temple and the blessing of the Tower of Jesus Christ, making it the tallest church in the world. In this Biblia pauperum of our times, an “eloquent catechesis made of stone, color, and light.”
Anti-racism breeds barbarism: the Nowak case in the UK
The sickening video of police officers handcuffing an 18-year-old white man to the ground as he lay dying – having been stabbed for no reason by a Sikh man who falsely accused him of racism – has shocked the British public and raises disturbing questions about the decline of Western institutions.
Vatican Communications: Pope Leo begins the revolution
From 1 November, Maria Montserrat Alvarado, President of EWTN News, will succeed Paolo Ruffini as Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication. While Ruffini's term is coming to an end, this change marks a clear break with the past, given that Pope Francis had previously criticised EWTN for plotting against him.
Far from being unwell, Sinner is a victim of our society
Sinner can’t be unwell. He cannot give in. He cannot fail. This is the world we live in. Our society of constant action and performance breeds excessive fatigue and burnout. The relentless drive for higher performance can lead to a breakdown of the spirit.
Magnifica humanitas: the thousand interpretations and a language barrier
The conflicting assessments of Leo XIV’s encyclical can also be explained by the ‘Babel’ of ecclesiastical documents: too lengthy, too technical and therefore at risk of being contradicted and with meanings that are not always unambiguous. The issue is not new, but it accelerated under the pontificate of Francis.