Pope Leo XIV approved the new statutes of the Pontifical International Marian Academy, an organization founded 80 years ago to promote and coordinate Mariological and Marian studies worldwide.

According to the Vatican Press Office, the Holy Father approved the new statutes during an audience with Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, substitute for general affairs of the Secretariat of State.

The updating of the statutes is intended to adapt the academy’s organization to the development of its mission and to the current structure of the institutions of the Roman Curia.

The Pontifical International Marian Academy was founded in 1946 by the Order of Friars Minor together with the Franciscan Marian Commission, institutions entrusted to the direction of the priest who inspired them, Father Charles Balić, then-rector magnificus (highest official) of the Pontifical Antonianum University and holder of the chair of Mariology.

Since 1950, the Holy See has entrusted the Marian Academy with the organization of the International Mariological-Marian Congresses.

In 1959, Pope John XXIII, recognizing that the academy, through its activities, had contributed to the progress of Marian doctrine and piety, added the title of “Pontifical.”

Originally dependent on the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, it now falls under the Dicastery for Culture and Education, following the reform implemented by Pope Francis with the apostolic constitution Praedicate Evangelium.

The new statutes consist of a preamble and 22 articles. Article 4 specifies that the academy “has the task of promoting and supporting Mariological-Marian research at all levels and of coordinating its studies within the context of an ever-renewed evangelization, taking into account the language of different cultures and the Marian manifestations specific to each people,” with a view to fostering “sound popular piety and avoiding any form of maximalism or minimalism.”

The academy’s ordinary members cannot exceed 90 in number and may include nonbelievers and representatives of other religions and other Christian communities.

The academy is headed by the president, appointed by the pope, assisted by the council, which in turn is composed of the secretary, the treasurer — these two appointed by the minister general of the Order of Friars Minor — the director of the office of promotion and development, and seven members elected from among the ordinary members.

The appointment of ordinary members requires authorization from the Secretariat of State. Upon reaching the age of 75, they become emeritus members.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

Pope Leo XIV expressed sorrow and prayerful closeness for victims of recent violent attacks in Nigeria on Sunday, calling on authorities to ensure the protection of every citizen.

Speaking after the Angelus prayer in St. Peter’s Square on Feb. 8, the pope said: “It is with sorrow and concern that I learned of the recent attacks against various communities in Nigeria leading to a heavy loss of life. I express my prayerful closeness to all the victims of violence and terrorism.”

According to reports cited by the Vatican agency Fides, armed groups had carried out a series of attacks in recent days in several Nigerian states, including Kaduna and Niger. The assaults included killings, kidnappings, the burning of police stations, attacks on churches and diocesan structures, and the vandalism of a Catholic clinic, forcing many residents to flee. Among those kidnapped was Father Nathaniel Asuwaye, parish priest of Holy Trinity Parish in Karku. The Diocese of Kafanchan confirmed the abduction and entrusted the captives “to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary for their safe return.”

Earlier, in his reflection before the Angelus, Pope Leo XIV focused on the Gospel passage in which Jesus called his disciples “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world,” linking it to the theme of authentic Christian joy.

“Indeed, it is genuine joy that gives flavor to life and brings to light something that was not there before,” the pope said. “This joy springs from a way of life, a way of inhabiting the earth and of living together that must be desired and chosen. It is the life that shines in Jesus, the new flavor of his words and deeds.”

After encountering Christ, he explained, “those who would distance themselves from all this seem bland and dull,” referring to Jesus’ poverty of spirit, meekness and simplicity of heart, and hunger and thirst for justice that unlock mercy and peace as forces of transformation and reconciliation.

Acknowledging human frailty, Pope Leo XIV said: “Indeed, it is painful to lose flavor and give up joy; yet it is possible to have this wound in one’s heart.” Yet Jesus, he noted, warned believers not to surrender to discouragement, reminding them that God never discards anyone. “Every wound, even the deepest, will be healed by welcoming the word of the Beatitudes and setting us back on the path of the Gospel.”

The pope emphasized that concrete acts of charity and attention to others rekindled joy, while remaining rooted in the Eucharist. The “true flavor,” he said, was found “every Sunday in the Bread that is broken, which is a life given and a silent love.”

After the Angelus, Pope Leo XIV also recalled the beatification of Father Salvatore Valera Parra in Huércal-Overa, Spain, praising him as “a parish priest completely devoted to his people, humble and generous in pastoral charity.” His example, the pope said, could inspire today’s priests “to be faithful in living each day with simplicity and asceticism.”

Marking the memorial of St. Josephine Bakhita, the pope noted that the Church also celebrated the World Day of Prayer and Reflection Against Human Trafficking. “I thank the religious and all those who are committed to combating and eliminating current forms of slavery,” he said. “Together with them, I say: Peace begins with dignity!”

Pope Leo XIV also assured prayers for communities affected by floods and landslides in Portugal, Morocco, Spain — especially Grazalema in Andalusia — and southern Italy, particularly Niscemi in Sicily, encouraging them to remain united and supportive under the protection of the Virgin Mary.

Concluding his remarks, the pope urged continued prayer for peace: “History teaches us that strategies of economic and military power do not give humanity a future. The future lies in respect and fraternity among peoples.”

This story was first published in two parts by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

Pope Leo XIV will not travel to the United States in 2026, the director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, said Sunday, denying circulating reports that the pontiff might make an apostolic trip to his native country.

A U.S. visit had been anticipated by some American Catholics ahead of the country’s 250th anniversary of independence on July 4, 2026.

At the same time, papal travel elsewhere is taking shape. Local church authorities in Africa have said Leo will visit several countries on the continent — with Angola and Equatorial Guinea among the destinations publicly confirmed by local authorities, and Cameroon also widely anticipated as part of the itinerary — with timing broadly described as after Easter.

In South America, Peruvian bishops have said the pope will visit the country — where he previously served as a bishop — later this year, with local church leaders pointing to a timeframe in November or early December.

A visit to Spain is also expected this summer, with Spanish church authorities indicating stops including Madrid, Barcelona, and the Canary Islands.

Popes have visited the United States multiple times, beginning with Pope Paul VI’s October 1965 trip, which included a visit to the United Nations.

St. John Paul II traveled to the U.S. on several occasions, first visiting in October 1979 with stops in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Des Moines, Chicago, and Washington, where he met then-President Jimmy Carter. Among his later visits, he returned in 1995 for the 50th anniversary of the United Nations and made his final U.S. trip to St. Louis, Missouri, in 1999.

Pope Benedict XVI also visited the United States, traveling in April 2008. During that trip, he marked his 81st birthday on April 16 at the White House with President George W. Bush, and he later visited New York, including a time of prayer at Ground Zero in remembrance of the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.

The most recent pope to visit the United States was Pope Francis, who traveled there from Sept. 22–27, 2015. During the visit, he went to Washington, D.C., where he canonized Junípero Serra and addressed the U.S. Congress. He then traveled to New York, speaking at the United Nations General Assembly, before concluding the trip in Philadelphia, where he presided over events marking the close of the Eighth World Meeting of Families.

Cuba’s bishops are scheduled to travel to Rome later this month to meet with Vatican dicasteries and present Pope Leo XIV with a report on the state of the dioceses on the island.

In a message that will be read at Masses this weekend, the bishops will announce that they have been “called to Rome during Feb. 16–20 to pray in the four major basilicas, to meet for the first time with the Holy Father Leo XIV, and to share with him and with the heads of the Holy See’s dicasteries the vicissitudes, sorrows, joys, and hopes of the Church in Cuba.”

The Cuban Conference of Catholic Bishops (COCC, by its Spanish acronym) states that the trip is part of the ad limina visit that bishops must make every five years to the See of St. Peter.

“Every five years, the diocesan bishop must have a personal meeting with the Holy Father, present him with a report on the state of his diocese, and make a pilgrimage to the tombs of the apostles Peter and Paul,” the announcement states, citing the Code of Canon Law.

The COCC reports that the meeting with Leo XIV will take place on the morning of Friday, Feb. 20. “We are filled with anticipation to listen to and converse with someone who, in a way, knows us, since he visited our country twice when he was the superior general of the Augustinian Fathers,” the announcement notes.

The trip comes as the Catholic Church is the sole distributor of humanitarian aid sent by the United States government to people affected by Hurricane Melissa — a distribution that is taking place without the intervention of the Cuban government.

This is in addition to the meetings that some bishops have held in recent days with the chargé d’affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Cuba, Mike Hammer.

On Sunday, Feb. 1, Pope Leo XIV expressed his concern over “reports of increased tensions between Cuba and the United States of America.”

The pontiff expressed his support for the bishops’ message of Jan. 31 and urged “all those responsible to promote a sincere and effective dialogue, to avoid violence and any action that could increase the sufferings of the dear Cuban people.”

Prayer for their ad limina visit

On the occasion of their trip to the Vatican, the bishops have asked the faithful to accompany them with their prayers and have published the following prayer on their website:

Lord Jesus, Good Shepherd,

who guide your Church along the paths of history,

we pray for our bishops,

who are making a pilgrimage to Rome

to participate in the Ad Limina Apostolorum visit:

May this visit be for them a time of grace and renewal in faith,

of strengthening in communion with the successor of the Apostle Peter, Pope Leo XIV.

Lord, assist our bishops with your grace,

make this visit for them

a moment of attentive listening and sincere conversion,

of profound encounter with you and with their brothers

with Pope Leo and all his closest collaborators,

so that upon their return, they may continue to inspire our life of faith

and accompany the daily lives of our communities and people.

May they, as they kneel before the tombs of the holy apostles,

carry in their hearts the joys and sorrows,

the hopes and wounds of this Church on pilgrimage in Cuba,

and of all the Cuban people,

especially the weakest and most weary,

those who live in despair and poverty,

violence or loneliness.

Holy Mary, Virgin of charity,

Mother of the Church and queen of the apostles,

receive our bishops under your mantle

and accompany them on this pilgrimage to Rome,

so that, strengthened by the faith of Peter,

they may return to our Church with renewed apostolic and missionary zeal.

Amen.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

As the Church marks the 12th World Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking, Pope Leo XIV renewed what he called the Church’s “urgent call” to end a crime that “gravely wounds human dignity” and undermines authentic peace.

The annual day of prayer is observed on Feb. 8, the feast of St. Josephine Bakhita, a former slave whose life has become a universal symbol of the Church’s commitment to combating human trafficking. Events in Rome this year span several days and culminate Sunday with the Angelus prayer in St. Peter’s Square.

In his message for the occasion, titled “Peace Begins with Dignity: A Global Call to End Human Trafficking,” the pope reflects on Christ’s greeting after the Resurrection: “Peace be with you.”

“These words are more than a salutation; they offer a path toward a renewed humanity,” the pope writes. “True peace begins with the recognition and protection of the God-given dignity of every person.”

He warns that contemporary conflicts often erode this vision of peace, noting that “in situations of conflict, the loss of human life is too often dismissed by warmongers as ‘collateral damage,’ sacrificed in the pursuit of political or economic interests.”

According to the pope, the same logic fuels human trafficking worldwide. “Geopolitical instability and armed conflicts create fertile ground for traffickers to exploit the most vulnerable, especially displaced persons, migrants, and refugees,” he writes, adding that “within this broken paradigm, women and children are the most impacted by this heinous trade.”

The pope also draws attention to newer forms of exploitation, including what he calls “cyber slavery,” in which victims are coerced into criminal activities such as online fraud or drug smuggling.

“In such cases, the victim is coerced into assuming the role of perpetrator, exacerbating their spiritual wounds,” he writes. “These forms of violence are not isolated incidents but symptoms of a culture that has forgotten how to love as Christ loves.”

Faced with these realities, Pope Leo XIV urges prayer and concrete awareness. “Prayer is the ‘small flame’ that we must guard amidst the storm, as it gives us the strength to resist indifference to injustice,” he writes, while awareness helps uncover “the hidden mechanisms of exploitation in our neighborhoods and in digital spaces.”

The pope also expresses gratitude to those working on the front lines to assist victims of trafficking, including international Catholic networks such as Talitha Kum, and acknowledges survivors who now advocate for others.

In Rome, events marking the World Day include an online global pilgrimage of prayer, a youth formation day, and public awareness initiatives. The observances conclude Sunday, Feb. 8, with the Angelus prayer with Pope Leo XIV in St. Peter’s Square, followed by a Mass celebrated by Cardinal Vincent Nichols in collaboration with the Santa Marta Group.

Entrusting the initiative to the intercession of St. Josephine Bakhita, the pope calls Catholics to work for a peace that is more than the absence of war — a peace, he writes, that is “unarmed and disarming,” rooted in full respect for the dignity of every person.

This story was first published by ACI Stampa, the Italian-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

Pope Leo XIV and the founder of the Sant’Egidio Community, Andrea Riccardi, met at the Vatican this week and discussed the role Christians and the Church are called to play in promoting peace in the midst of various conflicts around the world.

According to a statement, the Feb. 5 meeting took place on the eve of the 58th anniversary of the ecclesial community, which was founded in Rome and has been committed for decades to peace, dialogue, and caring for the poorest.

In particular, the value of ecumenical and interreligious dialogue was emphasized as a fundamental resource, promoted by the so-called “spirit of Assisi”: the movement of interreligious dialogue and communal prayer for world peace initiated by Pope John Paul II on Oct. 27, 1986, in that Italian city to reject the use of violence in the name of religion and to foster encounter, reconciliation, and peaceful coexistence among peoples.

The Sant’Egidio Community is a lay Catholic movement founded in 1968 by Riccardi in Rome that focuses on prayer, solidarity with the poor (especially homeless people and the elderly), and peace, operating in more than 70 countries.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

Pope Leo XIV met with members of Courage International on Feb. 6 in what the ministry called a “historic” and “momentous” event that took place in Vatican City.

The Connecticut-based ministry, which for nearly half a century has ministered to Catholics dealing with same-sex attraction, said in a press statement that leaders associated with the group, including Bridgeport Bishop Frank Caggiano and group Executive Director Father Brian Gannon, met with the Holy Father in a private audience.

“The opportunity to share with the Holy Father the works of the apostolate, to provide pastoral accompaniment to persons who experience same-sex attraction but who strive to live chaste lives or to accompany family members who have a loved one who identifies as LGBTQ, was a momentous occasion,” the group said.

Officially founded in 1980, Courage International marked 45 years in 2025 of helping individuals struggling with sexuality to “live a chaste life” in line with Church teaching. Originally founded in Manhattan, the group’s headquarters is based in Bridgeport.

Pope Leo “is very, very supportive of everything that Courage is doing.”

Father Brian Gannon

Executive Director, Courage International

Gannon, who came into the leadership role at the organization in 2024, told EWTN News on Feb. 6 that the meeting — the group's first with a pope — was an “extraordinary gift” from the Holy Father.

“The pope was very gracious, a very good listener,” he said. “We talked about the importance of chastity, how it heals and strengthens and restores the person. The pope was obviously very encouraging.”

The Holy Father in turn “talked about freedom, about what real freedom is —not the unbridled freedom that the world offers, but rather mastering our passions and being in complete surrender to the will of God.”

Gannon said the meeting with Leo constitutes a “huge morale booster” for the group, which has chapters in over a dozen countries and numbers more than 200 chaplains, including through its family support ministry, EnCourage.

“All the members of Courage throughout the whole world will see that the pope extended an audience and listened and is very, very supportive of everything that Courage is doing,” Gannon said, calling the encounter “a huge blessing.”

The priest told EWTN News last year that the organization is a “needed ministry” that “helps people find peace.”

Group members “come together, read through the goals, discuss their experiences and challenges during the week, and pray,” he said. “Prayer is absolutely central to it.”

On Feb. 6, Gannon said, the pope spoke to the group about “the woundedness of people,” and how “Jesus Christ is always with you and you’re never alone.”

Gannon described the group’s mission as helping people to develop self-control in service to Christ. He offered the example of someone who falls into water and is ”thrashing about,” unable to swim.

“The person who learns how to swim is really free, not the person who’s thrashing about,” he said. “You put the passions to good use for the pursuit of God.”

As the Winter Olympic Games open in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, Pope Leo XIV has issued a wide-ranging letter on the value of sport, urging nations to embrace an “Olympic Truce” and warning against corruption, fanaticism, and a “dictatorship of performance” that can distort athletics’ deeper purpose.

The letter, titled “Life in Abundance,” was released by the Vatican on Feb. 6 on the occasion of the XXV Winter Olympic Games (Feb. 6–22) and the XIV Paralympic Games (March 6–15).

The pope describes sport as more than elite competition, calling it “a shared activity, open to all and salutary for both body and spirit, even becoming a universal expression of our humanity.”

A call for an Olympic Truce

Reflecting on sport’s role in peace-building, Leo recalls the ancient Greek tradition of the Olympic Truce — “an agreement to suspend hostilities before, during, and after the Olympic Games” — so that travel and competition could proceed safely.

By contrast, he warns that war “results from a radicalization of conflict and a refusal to cooperate with each other,” such that “the adversary is considered a mortal enemy, to be isolated and, if possible, eliminated.”

“In a world thirsting for peace,” he writes, “I wholeheartedly encourage all nations to rediscover and respect this instrument of hope that is the Olympic Truce, a symbol and promise of a reconciled world.”

The human person at the center

Turning to sport’s formative value, the pope anchors his reflection in Christ’s words: “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (Jn 10:10). From a Christian perspective, he writes, “the human person must always remain the focal point of sport in all its expressions, even those aiming for competitive and professional excellence.”

Leo traces the Church’s positive engagement with physical culture through St. Paul’s athletic imagery, medieval theology’s rejection of gnostic and Manichean denials of the body, and the contributions of thinkers such as Hugh of Saint Victor and St. Thomas Aquinas. He also points to major educators including St. Philip Neri and St. John Bosco and notes how the Church’s modern reflection on sport grows through the 20th century and after the Second Vatican Council.

“The Second Vatican Council,” he writes, “placed its positive assessment of sport in the broader context of culture,” encouraging leisure and exercise as part of balanced human development and stronger fraternal relations.

Tennis, teamwork, and the ‘flow experience’

Using tennis as an example, the pope describes “a prolonged rally” as one of the sport’s most enjoyable moments because “each player pushes the other to the limit of his or her skill level. The experience is exhilarating, and the two players challenge each other to improve.”

He also emphasizes how sport can draw people out of egocentricity, especially in team settings. Quoting Pope Francis, Leo recalls the call to athletes: “Be team players … it is an opportunity to encounter and be with others, to help one another, to compete in mutual esteem and to grow in brotherhood.”

When team sports are “not polluted by the worship of profit,” he writes, young people “put themselves on the line” — “a tremendous educational opportunity.”

Corruption, doping, and fanaticism

Leo warns that sporting values are threatened when “business becomes the primary or sole motivation,” because decisions then cease to be rooted in “human dignity” and the true good of athletes and communities.

“When the objective is to maximize profit,” he cautions, “what can be measured or quantified is overvalued to the detriment of the incalculable and important human dimensions: ‘It only counts if it can be counted.’”

He also warns about the “dictatorship of performance,” which “can lead to the use of performance-enhancing substances and other forms of dishonesty,” and he underscores that “rejecting doping and all forms of corruption … is not merely a disciplinary issue but one that touches the very heart of sport.”

The pope similarly cautions against fandom becoming fanaticism, noting it can become “a source of polarization that leads to verbal and physical violence,” turning stadiums into places of confrontation rather than encounter.

Victory, defeat, and a ‘quasi-religious’ temptation

Leo says sport educates in a unique way through the relationship between winning and losing: “Losing… does not entail personal failure but can become a lesson in truth and humility.”

At the same time, he warns that sport can take on a “quasi-religious dimension,” where “stadiums are perceived as secular cathedrals, matches as collective liturgies and athletes as saviors.” Such “sacralization,” he writes, can reveal a real hunger for meaning and communion, but it risks hollowing out both sport and spirituality.

He also cautions against narcissism and the “cult of image and performance,” which can “fragment” the person by “separating body from mind and spirit.”

Saints, politics, and technology

Calling for models of integrated holiness, Leo writes: “We need to rediscover those who have combined passion for sports, sensitivity to social issues and holiness,” pointing to St. Pier Giorgio Frassati as a young man who “perfectly combined faith, prayer, social commitment, and sport.”

He warns, too, against politicizing international competitions: “Major sporting events are meant to be places of encounter and mutual admiration, not stages for the affirmation of political or ideological interests.”

The pope also highlights contemporary challenges from transhumanism and artificial intelligence, cautioning that performance technologies can “transform the athlete into an optimized, controlled product, enhanced beyond natural limits.”

A pastoral approach to sport

Finally, Leo urges local Churches to treat sport as a space for “discernment and accompaniment,” calling for pastoral initiatives that offer “human and spiritual guidance” and help make sport “a welcoming space” for communion.

He concludes by returning to the theme of “life in abundance,” writing: “This is not an accumulation of successes or performances but a fullness of life that integrates our bodies, relationships, and interior lives.” Sport, he adds, can become “a school of life,” teaching that “abundance does not come from victory at any cost but from sharing, from respecting others, and from the joy of walking together.”

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

Pope Leo XIV on Thursday called on Christians to remove prejudices and “disarm” their hearts in order to strengthen bonds of unity in Christ and advance the cause of Christian communion.

The pope made the appeal while receiving priests and monks from the Oriental Orthodox Churches who are participating in a study visit to Rome organized by the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity.

Greeting representatives of the Armenian, Coptic, Ethiopian, Eritrean, Malankara, and Syriac Orthodox Churches in the Consistory Hall of the Apostolic Palace, Pope Leo said the historic and cultural differences among the churches form “a wonderful mosaic of our shared Christian heritage.”

At the same time, he emphasized the need for a concrete commitment to communion, saying: “We should continue to support each other, so that we may grow in our shared faith in Christ, who is the ultimate source of our peace.”

The pope recalled that the Church recently celebrated the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, whose theme was taken from St. Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians. Citing the apostle’s words, he noted the biblical foundation of Christian unity: “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling.”

Reflecting on the missionary activity of St. Paul, Pope Leo said the apostle became aware of the particularities of each Christian community, including “their ethnicity, customs, as well as the challenges and concerns.” At the same time, Paul recognized the risk that communities could become too inward-looking.

As a result, the pope said, St. Paul consistently reminded believers that they were part of “the one mystical body of Christ,” encouraging them “to support one another and maintain the unity of faith and teachings that reflect the transcendent nature and oneness of God.”

Pope Leo stressed that authentic ecumenical progress requires an inner conversion, invoking Patriarch Athenagoras of Constantinople, a pioneer of the ecumenical movement. Quoting his prayer, the pope said: “I am disarmed of the need to be right, to justify myself by judging others,” by waging “the hardest war, the war against myself.”

“When we remove the prejudices we carry within ourselves and disarm our hearts, we grow in charity, work more closely together, and strengthen our bonds of unity in Christ,” the pope said.

He added that in this way, Christian unity becomes “a leaven for peace on earth and reconciliation of all.”

Pope Leo also noted that the study visit had been mutually enriching, saying it had been “a blessing to all those who have met you here, enabling them to learn more about your churches.”

Renewing his gratitude for the visit, the pope assured the participants of his prayers and invoked the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary upon them and their communities.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

Pope Leo XIV on Thursday voiced deep concern at a “lack of progress in protecting children from danger” as he met with the organizing committee of the initiative “From Crisis to Care: Catholic Action for Children.”

Addressing participants gathered to advance proposals stemming from last year’s International Summit on Children’s Rights, convened by Pope Francis, Leo said: “It is indeed a tragedy that the children and youth of our world, the ones Jesus wanted to come to him, are so often deprived of care and access to the basic necessities of life.”

He added that children “frequently have few opportunities for achieving their God-given potential” and warned that the situation “has not improved during the past year.”

“One must question whether global commitments for sustainable development have been cast aside when we see in our global human family that so many children still live in extreme poverty, suffer abuse, and are forcibly displaced, not to mention that they lack proper education and are isolated or separated from their families,” the pope said.

Leo recalled Pope Francis’ teaching in Amoris Laetitia on the child’s “right to receive love from a mother and a father; both are necessary for a child’s integral and harmonious development” and urged continued defense of “the profound vision of life as a gift to be cherished and of the family as its responsible guardian.”

He thanked participants for advocating for children, telling them: “First, you are speaking on behalf of those who have no voice. This is a truly noble task.” Acknowledging discouragement that can come from “failed initiatives” or “seeming lack of interest,” he encouraged them: “Let the good you know you are doing carry you forward.”

The pope also emphasized the need to address children’s “transversal needs,” which “can easily go unnoticed when care is focused on just one area of need.” He noted the committee members’ varied charisms and specializations, while urging greater collaboration “so that children receive care that is well balanced, taking into consideration their physical, psychological, and spiritual welfare.”

Leo said several Vatican bodies and religious superiors’ unions are accompanying the effort, and he encouraged participants “to develop concrete steps and action plans to address the transversal needs of children.”

In closing, he recalled Pope Francis’ insistence on listening to children and cited a message presented to Francis at last year’s summit: “Together with you, we want to cleanse the world of bad things, color it with friendship and respect, and help you build a beautiful future for everyone!”

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

The Vatican will receive representatives of the Priestly Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) following the traditionalist group’s announcement that it plans to consecrate new bishops without permission from Rome — a move that could incur automatic excommunication of all bishops involved and deepen the group’s rupture with the Catholic Church.

The Vatican meeting will take place Feb. 12 at the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith and will be led by Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the dicastery. The SSPX delegation will be led by its superior general, Father Davide Pagliarani, 55.

Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said "the meeting will be an opportunity for an informal and personal dialogue, which may help identify effective instruments of dialogue that could lead to positive outcomes,” according to the official outlet Vatican News.

At present, only a meeting with the prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith is planned, and it is not known whether Pope Leo XIV will also receive the SSPX superior general.

In a Feb. 5 communiqué, the SSPX encouraged members and faithful to accompany the upcoming meeting with prayer.

French Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre founded the SSPX in 1970 in opposition to some teachings of the Second Vatican Council, including those on religious freedom and the Church’s relations with other faiths. The society celebrates exclusively the traditional Latin Mass, using the liturgical books in force prior to the postconciliar reforms.

In 1988, Lefebvre ordained four bishops in defiance of an explicit order from St. John Paul II, resulting in the excommunication of all those involved. Lefebvre died in 1991 without having reconciled with Rome. Twenty-one years later, Pope Benedict XVI lifted the excommunications of the surviving bishops.

Pope Francis later authorized SSPX priests to hear confessions and witness marriages in a further attempt to foster reconciliation with the group. The society remains in an irregular canonical situation.

The SSPX has announced that the planned consecrations will take place on July 1, the anniversary of the 1988 decree signed by John Paul II excommunicating Archbishop Lefebvre.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

A week of spiritual exercises for Pope Leo XIV and the Roman Curia at the start of Lent will take on a distinctly monastic character, with the retreat returning to the Apostolic Palace but relocating to the Renaissance-era Pauline Chapel, decorated with frescoes by Michelangelo.

In previous years, the retreat was held in the palace’s Redemptoris Mater Chapel, known for mosaics associated with Father Marko Rupnik, who has been accused of sexual and spiritual abuse.

The preacher for the exercises will be Archbishop Erik Varden of Trondheim, a Cistercian of the Strict Observance (Trappist). A Norwegian who was baptized as a Lutheran by nonpracticing parents, Varden studied at Cambridge and later converted to Catholicism, a change he has linked to the inspiration of music. He has served as bishop of the Diocese of Trondheim since 2020.

“It is a responsible task. I hope, in one way or another, to be of service,” Varden told EWTN News.

A prolific author of spiritual books, Varden will offer two meditations a day. The first is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 22, at 5 p.m. Thereafter, each morning begins at 9 a.m. with the Liturgy of the Hours, and another meditation follows at 5 p.m. The final session will be on Friday, Feb. 27, concluding with afternoon Eucharistic adoration.

The theme of the retreat is “Illuminated by a Hidden Glory, a Lenten Itinerary,” centered on the figure of St. Bernard — described as both idealist and realist — and will also include reflections on the angels of God.

Pål Johannes Nes contributed to this report.

This story was first published by ACI Stampa, the Italian-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

The Vatican has published the schedule of liturgies that Pope Leo XIV will celebrate in February, March, and the beginning of April, a period that includes the start of Lent and the preparation for Holy Week and Easter.

According to the calendar published by the Office of Liturgical Celebrations, the pontiff will begin his pastoral visits to various churches in Rome on Feb. 15, when he will celebrate Mass at Holy Mary Queen of Peace Parish, located near the beach in Ostia Lido.

With this initiative, Leo XIV begins a tour of five parishes in Rome — one for each pastoral sector — to strengthen his connection with the diocese of which he is bishop.

Ash Wednesday

On Feb. 18, Ash Wednesday, the pope will preside over a penitential procession from St. Anselm Church followed by Mass with the blessing and imposition of ashes in St. Sabina Basilica on Aventine Hill, one of the seven hills of Rome. This tradition dates back to Pope Gregory the Great, shortly after the construction of the basilica in 422, thus marking the beginning of the Lenten season.

On Sunday, Feb. 22, Pope Leo XIV will visit Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in the Roman neighborhood of Castro Pretorio, near the Termini train station, where he will celebrate morning Mass. In the afternoon, the spiritual exercises for the Holy Father and the Roman Curia will begin, continuing until Feb. 27.

These meditations will take place in the Apostolic Palace, as confirmed by the Vatican. Under Pope Francis’ pontificate, this practice changed and was moved to the House of the Divine Master, a secluded and quiet convent located in the town of Ariccia about 28 miles from Rome.

Previously, these reflections took place in the Redemptoris Mater Chapel, a space that allowed numerous prelates to attend and made it easy for the pope and his secretaries to follow the meditations from a side area next to the altar.

The Vatican has not specified whether the spiritual exercises will take place in the Redemptoris Mater Chapel or in the Pauline Chapel, dedicated to Sts. Peter and Paul, which was conceived as a small palace chapel in contrast to the Sistine Chapel and has historically been linked to the reservation of the Blessed Sacrament and the pope’s private prayer.

The latter is not usually open to the public and, during the conclave, it was the starting point for the procession of the cardinal electors to the Sistine Chapel. It was also the place where Leo XIV stopped to pray just after being elected successor of Peter.

Pastoral visits to various churches in Rome

During the month of March, the pope will continue his pastoral visits to parishes in Rome, visiting Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ Parish on March 1, where he will celebrate Mass in the afternoon. The following week, on March 8, he will visit Holy Mary of the Presentation Parish to celebrate a 5 p.m. Mass. Finally, on March 15, Leo XIV will visit Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Ponte Mammolo, celebrating Mass there as well.

Holy Week

His schedule of commitments for Holy Week, one of the busiest periods for the pontiff, will begin with the celebration of Palm Sunday in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican in the morning, commemorating Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

On Holy Thursday, April 2, Leo XIV will celebrate the chrism Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica at 9:30 a.m. local time in the presence of all the priests of Rome.

In the afternoon, the pontiff will go to St. John Lateran Basilica, the cathedral of the bishop of Rome, to celebrate the Mass of the Lord’s Supper.

Leo XIV thus revives this historical tradition after Pope Francis had chosen for 12 years to celebrate the Mass of the Lord’s Supper in other places marked by suffering, such as prisons or immigrant centers.

The following day, Good Friday, the pontiff will preside over the service for the Lord’s Passion in St. Peter’s Basilica at 5 p.m. local time, and in the evening at 9:15 p.m., he will lead the traditional 14 Stations of the Cross at the Colosseum that commemorate Jesus’ passion, from his being condemned death to his burial, in one of the most widely followed ceremonies by the faithful in Rome.

This tradition also commemorates the persecution suffered by the early Christians under the Roman Empire and is usually led from a platform set up in the open air on Palatine Hill.

On Holy Saturday, April 4, the pope will celebrate the Easter Vigil, which will take place in the atrium of St. Peter’s Basilica with the brief ceremony of the lighting of the fire and blessing of the paschal candle. In previous years, Pope Francis usually baptized and gave first Communion to a group of adults, although whether Pope Leo will do the same has not yet been confirmed by the Vatican.

The pontiff’s Holy Week will conclude on Easter Sunday, April 5, with the celebration of Mass in St. Peter’s Square followed by the lengthy Easter discourse and the urbi et orbi (“to the city and the world”) blessing from the central balcony of the basilica, praying for peace in the world.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

Pope Leo XIV warned Wednesday of the grave danger of a “new global arms race” as the New START nuclear weapons treaty between the United States and Russia reached its expiration, urging world leaders not to allow the agreement to lapse without a credible and effective alternative.

Speaking at the conclusion of his general audience at the Vatican, the pope recalled that the treaty — signed in 2010 by then-U.S. President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev — represented a significant step in limiting the proliferation of nuclear weapons.

“Tomorrow the New START treaty reaches its expiration,” the pope said, noting that the agreement had helped contain strategic nuclear arsenals and strengthen international security. He called for “every constructive effort in favor of disarmament and mutual trust,” insisting that the current international climate demands urgent action to prevent escalation.

The pope stressed that the world must abandon “the logic of fear and distrust” and instead embrace “a shared ethic capable of guiding decisions toward the common good and making peace a heritage safeguarded by all.”

Without a replacement framework, he warned, the end of New START opens a period of growing uncertainty, raising alarms across the international community about the weakening of nuclear arms control mechanisms.

Prayers for Ukraine amid winter hardship

During the same audience, the pope also renewed his appeal for prayers for the people of Ukraine, who he said are being “harshly tested” by continued Russian bombardments, including attacks on energy infrastructure during the winter months.

Citing reports of severe cold and widespread shortages of electricity, heating, and water, he urged the faithful not to forget the suffering of civilians, particularly children, the elderly, and the most vulnerable. The pope expressed gratitude for solidarity initiatives organized by Catholic dioceses in Poland and other countries assisting the Ukrainian population.

Evangelization must speak to real lives

Earlier in his catechesis, Pope Leo XIV reflected on the Church’s mission of evangelization, cautioning against the use of language that is “incomprehensible, poorly communicative, or anachronistic,” which he said renders the proclamation of the Gospel ineffective.

When the Word of God becomes detached from the concrete lives, hopes, and sufferings of people, he explained, it loses its power to reach hearts. The pope encouraged the Church to adopt “creative methods” that allow the Gospel to take flesh in history.

Continuing his catechetical series on "Dei Verbum," the Second Vatican Council’s constitution on divine revelation, the pope described Sacred Scripture as a “privileged space of encounter” where God continues to speak to men and women of every age.

He warned against both fundamentalist readings that ignore the human authors of Scripture and purely technical interpretations that deny its divine origin, emphasizing that a correct understanding must hold both dimensions together.

“The Gospel cannot be reduced to a merely philanthropic or social message,” the pope said. “It is the joyful proclamation of the fullness of life and eternal life that God has given us in Jesus.”

This story was first published in two parts by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

Pope Leo XIV’s prayer intention for the month of February is for children with incurable diseases.

In a video to be released on Feb. 5, the Holy Father prayed that the faithful would realize that “the smiles, even in the midst of pain,” of children suffering from incurable diseases, “are a testimony of [God’s] kingdom.”

In the full video shared on the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network website, Pope Leo recites an original prayer written specifically for this month’s prayer intention.

Here is the pope’s full prayer:

Lord Jesus,

who welcomed the little ones in your arms and blessed them tenderly,

today we bring before you the children living with incurable illnesses.

Their fragile bodies are a sign of your presence,

and their smiles, even in the midst of pain, are a testimony of your kingdom.

We ask you, Lord, that they may never lack proper medical care,

human and compassionate attention,

and the support of a community that accompanies them with love.

Sustain their families in hope,

in the midst of weariness and uncertainty,

and make of them witnesses of a faith that grows stronger through trial.

Bless the hands of doctors, nurses, and caregivers,

so that their work may always be an expression of active compassion.

May your Spirit enlighten them in every difficult decision,

and grant them patience and tenderness to serve with dignity.

Lord, teach us to recognize your face in every suffering child.

May their vulnerability awaken our compassion,

and move us to care, accompany, and love

with concrete gestures of solidarity.

Make of us a Church that,

animated by the feelings of your heart

and moved by prayer and service,

knows how to uphold fragility,

and in the midst of suffering, becomes a source of comfort,

a seed of hope, and a proclamation of new life.

Amen.

“Pray with the Pope” is accessible on the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network website and its digital platforms.

Pope Leo XIV has appointed Sister Raffaella Petrini as a member of the Commission for Reserved Matters, the Holy See Press Office announced in a Feb. 3 statement.

She is the first woman to serve on the commission, created in 2020 by Pope Francis, which is responsible for awarding financial contracts in confidential areas of the Vatican.

Petrini, born in Rome on Jan. 15, 1969, is 57 years old and has an academic and management background. She is a member of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist and a noted economist.

The Commission for Reserved Matters plays a strategic role in the control and allocation of contracts that are particularly sensitive for the Vatican City State, and this appointment underscores the growing presence of women in positions of responsibility within the Holy See.

First woman to head the Vatican Governorate

Since March 1, 2025, Petrini has been president of the Governorate of the Vatican City State, the highest position in the civil administration of the small pontifical state, which has approximately 600 inhabitants and nearly 2,000 employees. With this appointment, she became the first woman to assume the administrative leadership of the Vatican.

The appointment was announced on Jan. 19, 2025, during an interview given by Pope Francis to television host Fabio Fazio on the RAI public television program “Che tempo che fa” (“What’s the weather like?”). Petrini succeeded Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga, who stepped down from the presidency upon reaching the age of 80.

As president of the governorate, Petrini is responsible for managing the Vatican’s public services, overseeing infrastructure, security, health care, and the Vatican Museums, in addition to chairing the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State.

Necessary changes in the law

Pope Francis amended the Fundamental Law of the Vatican City State and other regulations to grant Petrini the same powers as her predecessors, who until then had always been cardinals.

Among the changes introduced, it was established that the president of the governorate could confer specific powers and particular tasks to the secretaries general, a position she holds alongside Emilio Nappa and Giuseppe Puglisi-Alibrandi.

Profile and academic background

A graduate in political science from the Guido Carli International Private University of Social Studies, Petrini holds a doctorate in social sciences from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome and a master’s degree from the University of Hartford. She currently also works as a professor of Welfare Economics and Sociology of Economic Processes.

She has previously worked at the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples and was appointed secretary general of the governorate in November 2021. She is also a member of the Dicastery for Bishops and the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See, the body responsible for managing Vatican finances.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

With the theme “Peace Begins with Dignity: A Global Call to End Human Trafficking,” the Catholic Church will mark this year’s 12th World Day of Prayer and Reflection Against Human Trafficking.

In 2026, the observance coincides with the feast of St. Josephine Bakhita, a universal symbol of the fight against modern slavery.

Established by Pope Francis in 2015, the annual day is coordinated by the international Talitha Kum network, led by women religious and promoted by the International Union of Superiors General (UISG) and the Union of Superiors General (USG).

Numerous ecclesial and civil organizations are also involved, including Caritas Internationalis, the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS), the Pope John XXIII Community, the Sant’Egidio Community, the Focolare Movement, and other institutions worldwide.

According to United Nations data, some 27 million people worldwide are victims of human trafficking, primarily women, children, migrants, and displaced persons.

Human trafficking takes many forms — from sexual exploitation to forced labor, domestic servitude, and forced marriage — and is increasingly expanding into the digital environment.

Program of events in Rome

Between Feb. 4 and 8, Rome will host formation meetings, awareness-raising activities, and prayer events, culminating with the recitation of the Angelus in St. Peter’s Square with Pope Leo XIV.

On Wednesday, Feb. 4, an online formation workshop led by young people will highlight their role in mobilization against human trafficking. In addition, some international delegates of the 12th World Day of Prayer and Reflection Against Human Trafficking will take part in the general audience presided over by the pope in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall.

On Thursday, Feb. 5, the official welcome and opening of the observance will take place at the UISG headquarters, followed by the “Walk for Humanity” and a torchlight procession with an ecumenical prayer vigil at the Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere, presided over by Cardinal Fabio Baggio, undersecretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.

On Friday, Feb. 6, a virtual pilgrimage against human trafficking will connect participants online from all continents in a global journey of prayer, including a message from the Holy Father. A live broadcast will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (CET) in five languages on the website www.prayagainsttrafficking.net.

On Saturday, Feb. 7, coinciding with Youth Day, there will be a morning formation workshop led by Professor Silvia Scarpa followed by a public awareness activity in Piazza Pia, just steps from St. Peter’s Square.

Finally, on Sunday, Feb. 8, the concluding event will be held in St. Peter’s Square with the midday Angelus prayer with Pope Leo XIV. This will be followed by the celebration of Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica, presided over by Cardinal Vincent Nichols, who served as archbishop of Westminster and primate of England and Wales from 2009 to 2025, together with Father Mario Zanotti.

A global call to action

“Human trafficking remains a deep global wound that violates human dignity and disrupts the peace of our societies, especially in a world torn by conflicts, wars, and forced displacement,” said Sister Abby Avelino, coordinator of the world day and of the Talitha Kum network.

In a statement, she called for placing peace and human dignity at the heart of this year’s observance and appealed to all people of goodwill “to go beyond awareness and unite in concrete actions to put an end to this crime.”

“Our commitment is to walk closely with victims and survivors, listen to their voices, and advocate for systemic change that addresses the root causes of trafficking and builds a world based on peace, justice, and dignity for all,” she said.

Organizers also encouraged participation on social media by sharing posts on Feb. 8 using the official hashtag #PrayAgainstTrafficking.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

St. John Henry Newman, proclaimed a doctor of the Church by Pope Leo XIV in November 2025, has been added to the General Roman Calendar, establishing his optional memorial on Oct. 9.

Since Pope Francis canonized Newman in 2019, the English saint — a convert and a pivotal figure in Catholic thought — has been honored each year on Oct. 9. With his inclusion in the universal calendar, however, his memorial is now proposed for celebration throughout the entire Church worldwide.

Until now, Newman’s liturgical celebration was largely limited to local contexts, such as dioceses where he was a patron or communities closely linked to his spirituality. With a recent decree issued by the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments in the name of the Holy Father, his memorial is now extended to the whole Church, and priests everywhere may celebrate it using the common liturgical texts.

In an explanatory note released Feb. 3, Cardinal Arthur Roche, prefect of the dicastery, said the decision aims to “present his figure as an extraordinary example of the constant search for the truth that enlightens and saves.”

A universal memorial with common liturgical texts

Roche’s message also outlined the liturgical texts and biblical readings proposed for Newman’s memorial, emphasizing how each reflects key aspects of his life and spirituality.

The Collect prayer, Roche noted, “reveals the essence of the saint’s spiritual journey: God guided him with his ‘kindly light’ until leading him to the peace of his Church.”

The first reading, taken from the Book of Sirach, presents a man filled with the spirit of understanding by the Lord’s will, reflecting the wisdom that characterized Newman. Psalm 39 (2, 4ab, 7-10) highlights his complete docility to God’s will, “even in adverse situations.”

The Gospel passage from Matthew (13:47-52) recalls that Newman “became a disciple in search of God’s truth,” enabling him, as a doctor of the Church, to “bring out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”

Finally, the Liturgy of the Hours proposes a passage from “Apologia pro Vita Sua” in which Newman recounts his conversion to Catholicism.

Roche concluded by emphasizing that Newman’s “contributions of great theological and ecclesiological significance” continue to inspire the spiritual and intellectual journey of the faithful and that his “constant effort to move beyond shadows and appearances toward the fullness of truth remains a luminous example for every disciple of the risen Lord.”

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

Pope Leo XIV on Monday urged consecrated men and women to serve as “leaven of peace” and a “sign of hope” as he celebrated Mass for the feast of the Presentation of the Lord in St. Peter’s Basilica and marked the 30th World Day for Consecrated Life.

The liturgy began with a candlelight procession, recalling Simeon’s words that Christ is “a light for revelation to the Gentiles,” as the pope processed from the basilica’s entrance toward the main altar in a dimly lit church “waiting” for the light of Christ.

In his homily, the pope reflected on the Gospel passage from Luke (2:22–40), where Simeon and Anna recognize and proclaim Jesus as the Messiah. He described the scene as “the meeting between two movements of love: that of God who comes to save man and that of man who awaits with vigilant faith his coming.”

Leo noted that Jesus presents himself as the son of a “poor” family — a detail he said shows God’s respect for human freedom and his solidarity with human need: Christ offers himself “in full respect for our freedom and in full sharing of our poverty,” the pope said, adding that there is “nothing coercive” in the Lord’s action “but only the disarming power of his unarmed gratuitousness.”

Turning to those living vowed religious life, the pope said the Church asks them “to be prophets: messengers who proclaim the presence of the Lord and prepare his way.” He urged them to “empty” themselves for the Lord, invoking the prophet Malachi’s imagery of being “crucibles for the refiner’s fire and vessels for the launderer’s lye.”

Leo framed the mission of religious communities as especially vital in societies where faith and daily life “seem increasingly to drift apart,” calling consecrated men and women to witness that God “is present in history as salvation for all peoples.” He also emphasized the dignity of the vulnerable — the young and old, the poor, the sick, and prisoners — saying they have “their sacred place” on God’s altar and in his heart, and that each person is “an inviolable sanctuary” of God’s presence.

The pope pointed to religious congregations that remain amid conflict rather than fleeing, saying their steadfast presence can speak “more eloquently than a thousand words” to the “inviolable sacredness of life,” even where weapons thunder and “arrogance, self-interest, and violence” seem to prevail. He echoed Jesus’ warning not to despise “one of these little ones,” noting that “their angels in heaven always see the face of the Father.”

Leo also lingered on Simeon’s prayer — “Now, Lord, you may let your servant go in peace” — saying it teaches that genuine care for earthly realities cannot be separated from loving hope in eternal goods. Simeon, he said, saw salvation in Jesus and became free in the face of both life and death.

So too, the pope said, should consecrated people live with feet “firmly planted on the ground” while constantly oriented toward eternal goods that illuminate everything else.

This story was first published by ACI Stampa, the Italian-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

Cardinal Giuseppe Petrocchi, the retired archbishop of L’Aquila, Italy, has been appointed president of the Cardinalitial Commission of the Institute for the Works of Religion (IOR), commonly known as the Vatican bank.

Petrocchi succeeds Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, the retired archbishop of Vienna, who has led the commission since 2014 and is stepping down after reaching the age limit.

In a statement, the commission thanked Schönborn “for his valuable leadership and for the commitment with which he supported and accompanied the institute during decisive phases of its reform process over the 12 years of his mandate,” adding that his service helped ensure guidance consistent with the institute’s mission.

Schönborn, for his part, expressed “profound gratitude” to Pope Francis for his “constant and enlightened support” during the IOR’s “long and demanding” reform process. He also thanked the bank’s director general, Gian Franco Mammì, and the institute’s leadership and staff as well as the supervisory board chaired by Jean-Baptiste de Franssu for guiding what he described as a far-reaching transformation that has earned broad recognition within the international financial community.

Petrocchi said he has witnessed “important developments” carried out by the institute in service of the Holy Father and the universal Church, and said the commission and the supervisory board will continue that work with an emphasis on continuous improvement, collaboration, and respect for Catholic ethics, transparency, and shared responsibility.

At the same meeting, the commission welcomed Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, who was recently appointed a member of the commission by Pope Leo XIV.

The Cardinalitial Commission oversees the IOR’s fidelity to its statutes. It is composed of five cardinals appointed by the pope, who designate one of their members as president. Members serve five-year terms and may be confirmed once.

In addition to Petrocchi and Fernández Artime, the commission includes Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, Cardinal Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle, and Cardinal Emil Paul Tscherrig.

This story was first published by ACI Stampa, the Italian-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.