During a vigil for peace on Monday evening in the Basilica of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme in Rome, Cardinal Dominique Mathieu, archbishop of Tehran-Isfahan Mathieu, invoked God as “great and merciful,” affirming his designs of peace and rejection of war.

The cardinal called for an end to violence, describing war as a “spiral” and an “adventure without return,” and pleaded for the cessation of conflict in the Persian Gulf. He also urged divine action in the hearts of leaders, calling for an end to retaliation and vengeance, and emphasized dialogue, patience, and the hope for “days of peace” in the present time.

The vigil was presided over by Cardinal Baldassare Reina, vicar general for the Diocese of Rome, at the basilica, which houses ancient relics of the cross of Christ, on the first day of Holy Week. The gathering was part of a broader spiritual initiative promoted by the diocese, titled “Mission of Peace, Journey in the Spirit,” and was organized in this instance by Azione Cattolica of Rome and Italia Solidale.

The prayer vigil was presided over by Cardinal Baldassare Reina, vicar general for the Diocese of Rome, at the basilica, which houses ancient relics of the cross of Christ, on the first day of Holy Week. | Credit: Daniel Ibanez/EWTN News

Mathieu’s presence carried particular significance. Recently evacuated from Tehran following the outbreak of conflict, he arrived in Rome after witnessing the first days of tensions involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.

The Belgian cardinal leads a small Catholic community in Iran. The Latin-rite Church there has approximately 2,000 faithful — mostly non-Iranians — in a population of around 90 million, largely Shia Muslim. Mathieu is the only priest in his diocese, and his arrival in Rome followed an urgent evacuation from the Iranian capital amid escalating military tensions.

In a meditation following the reading of the Gospel of Christ’s crucifixion according to Luke, Reina greeted Mathieu, “who joins us silently in this moment of prayer, strengthening it and bringing with him the prayer of his people.”

Reina then offered a reflection on the passion of Christ, focusing on the peace the Lord brings. He emphasized that those who suffer because of war are truly brothers and sisters to all, and urged the faithful not to grow weary in praying for peace, addressing Christ as the prince of peace.

The vigil also included different readings, hymns, and moments of silence, maintaining a clear focus on peace rooted in faith.

Pope Leo XIV on Monday appointed Italian Archbishop Paolo Rudelli the new head of the general affairs section of the Secretariat of State — one of the most influential positions in the Roman Curia. The so-called “sostituto” (“substitute”) is commonly considered the third most powerful position in the Vatican, after the Holy Father and the secretary of state.

The pontiff also named Archbishop Petar Rajič the new prefect of the Papal Household, the body of the Roman Curia responsible for organizing the pope’s schedule, audiences, and ceremonies — a position considered one of the highest levels of trust.

Rajič, who is Canadian and Croatian, has been serving as apostolic nuncio to Italy and the Republic of San Marino. His appointment places him in a key role for managing the day-to-day public activities of the pope.

The new “sostituto,” 55-year-old Rudelli, has been apostolic nuncio to Colombia since 2023. He replaces Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, a Venezuelan who has been in the role since 2018 and who will replace Rajič as the pope’s envoy to Italy and San Marino.

In a farewell speech delivered on March 30 at the Apostolic Palace, Peña Parra recalled some of the most significant moments of his tenure in the Secretariat of State, including the Vatican trial over the department’s investment in a London property, which subjected Peña Parra and his colleagues “to unprecedented media and judicial scrutiny, requiring rigor, transparency, and a sense of responsibility on our part.”

The appointment to the No. 2 position in the Secretariat of State is the biggest change to Vatican leadership made by Pope Leo since his election on May 8, 2025.

The “sostituto” is responsible for key functions in the internal coordination of the Holy See, especially at the operational level in the day-to-day management of the Secretariat of State and in the direct oversight of the pope’s documents, speeches, and activities.

These duties are accompanied by the task of publishing and disseminating official communications regarding the activity of the pope and the Holy See as well as organizing apostolic journeys.

Archbishop Paolo Rudelli, head of the general affairs section at the Secretariat of State. | Credit: Screenshot of a video from the Bishops’ conference of Colombia Rudelli: From northern Italy to South America

The Italian archbishop, born in 1970 in the province of Bergamo in northern Italy, has extensive experience in the Holy See’s diplomatic service, which has brought him to posts in Europe, Africa, and South America.

He entered the Vatican’s diplomatic service in the early 2000s. Between 2001 and 2003 he worked at the apostolic nunciature in Ecuador and, later, from 2003 to 2006, at the pontifical representation in Poland.

From 2006 to 2014 he served as secretary and later counselor of the nunciature in the first section of the Secretariat of State, gaining direct experience at the heart of Vatican governance.

He was later named permanent observer of the Holy See to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg.

In 2019 he was ordained archbishop in St. Peter’s Basilica by Pope Francis, who in January 2020 sent him as apostolic nuncio to Zimbabwe. In 2023, he was transferred to Colombia.

Rajič: Posts in Muslim-majority countries

Rajič was born in Toronto on June 12, 1959, into a family of Bosnian-Croatian origin. He was ordained a priest on June 29, 1987, and was incardinated in the Diocese of Trebinje, connected to his parents’ roots, after having studied at the seminary in Sarajevo in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

He entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See in 1993 and served in various posts, including Iran and Lithuania. He also worked in the general affairs section of the Secretariat of State.

On Dec. 2, 2009, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Rajič apostolic nuncio to Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar as well as apostolic delegate to the Arabian Peninsula.

His episcopal consecration took place on Jan. 23, 2010, in Mostar, Bosnia-Herzegovina, a choice rich in symbolism in a city still marked by divisions between Muslim and Christian communities, coinciding with his mission to countries with Muslim majorities.

Two months later, his diplomatic mission was expanded to Yemen and the United Arab Emirates. On June 15, 2015, Pope Francis appointed the archbishop nuncio to Angola and São Tomé and Príncipe.

During his diplomatic service in Angola, Rajič played a significant role in achieving the framework agreement between the Holy See and the African country in 2019, particularly regarding broadcasts of the Catholic station Radio Ecclesia.

That same year he was transferred to the apostolic nunciature in Lithuania and, on Aug. 6, 2019, he was also entrusted with being the papal representative to Estonia and Latvia.

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

Pope Leo XIV on Palm Sunday sharply condemned war and the use of religion to justify violence, saying during Mass in St. Peter’s Square that God “does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war.”

At the start of Holy Week, the pope tied the Church’s contemplation of Christ’s Passion to the suffering of people caught in today’s conflicts, especially Christians in the Middle East.

In his Palm Sunday homily, Leo repeatedly presented Christ as the “King of Peace,” contrasting Jesus’ meekness with the violence surrounding him as he entered into his Passion.

“We turn our gaze to Jesus, who reveals himself as King of Peace, even as war looms abounds him,” the pope said. “He remains steadfast in meekness, while others are stirring up violence.”

Leo said Christ “did not arm himself, or defend himself, or fight any war” but instead “revealed the gentle face of God, who always rejects violence.”

“Rather than saving himself, he allowed himself to be nailed to the cross, embracing every cross borne in every time and place throughout human history,” the pope said.

The pope then issued one of the strongest lines of his homily, rejecting any attempt to invoke God in support of armed conflict.

“Brothers and sisters, this is our God: Jesus, King of Peace, who rejects war, whom no one can use to justify war,” Leo said. “He does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them, saying: ‘Even though you make many prayers, I will not listen: your hands are full of blood.’”

The Palm Sunday liturgy, which opened Holy Week, began with the traditional procession in St. Peter’s Square with cardinals, bishops, priests, religious, and thousands of faithful carrying palms and olive branches.

In his homily, Leo reflected on Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on a donkey rather than a war horse, saying the moment fulfilled the prophecy of a king who would “command peace to the nations.”

Recalling the Gospel account of Peter drawing a sword to defend Jesus, Leo cited Christ’s rebuke: “Put your sword back into its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.”

The pope said that in the crucified Christ “we can see a crucified humanity.”

“In his wounds, we see the hurts of so many women and men today,” he said. “Above all, we hear the painful groans of all those who are oppressed by violence and are victims of war.”

“Christ, King of Peace, cries out again from his cross: God is love! Have mercy! Lay down your weapons! Remember that you are brothers and sisters!”

Following the Mass, Leo returned to the theme of war during the Angelus, praying in particular for Christians in the Middle East who have been prevented in some places from fully taking part in Holy Week rites.

“At the beginning of Holy Week, our prayers are more than ever with the Christians of the Middle East, who are suffering the consequences of a brutal conflict and, in many cases, are unable to observe fully the liturgies of these holy days,” he said.

“Just as the Church contemplates the mystery of the Lord’s Passion, we cannot forget those who today are truly sharing in his suffering. Their ordeal challenges all our consciences.”

The pope added: “Let us raise our prayer to the Prince of Peace that he may sustain the peoples wounded by war and open concrete paths to reconciliation and peace.”

Leo also remembered “the maritime workers who have fallen victim to the conflict,” adding: “I pray for the deceased, the wounded and their families. Land, sky and sea were all created for life and peace!”

He further called attention to migrants who died in the Mediterranean, saying: “Let us also pray for all the migrants who have died at sea, especially those who lost their lives in recent days off the coast of Crete.”

Near the end of his homily, the pope entrusted his plea for peace to the intercession of Mary, quoting the Servant of God Bishop Tonino Bello and praying that “the tears of all the victims of violence and pain will soon be dried up.”

He concluded the Angelus by asking the Virgin Mary to accompany the faithful through the days ahead.

“May she guide us during these holy days, so that we may follow Jesus, our Savior, with faith and love,” he said.

This story was first published in two parts by ACI Prensa, EWTN News’ Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV will celebrate the liturgies of Holy Week and the Easter Triduum for the first time as pope this week.

Palm Sunday marks the start of the one of the busiest and fullest liturgical periods of the year for the Catholic Church and the Vatican, where Leo will celebrate five Masses and preside over several other liturgies and devotions between March 29 and April 6.

Here is the Vatican’s full schedule for Holy Week and Easter 2026:

Palm Sunday A solemn procession of cardinals and bishops carrying intricately woven palm fronds enters St. Peter’s Square during Palm Sunday celebrations in Vatican City, April 13, 2025. | Credit: Bénédicte Cedergren/EWTN News

On Sunday morning, March 29, the pope will celebrate Mass in St. Peter’s Square for Palm Sunday, also known as Passion Sunday or the Commemoration of the Lord’s entrance into Jerusalem.

The 10 a.m. Mass will begin with a grand procession of the pope with deacons, priests, bishops, cardinals, and laypeople carrying large palms.

The procession, which will wind around the square and its central obelisk, includes olive tree branches, palm fronds, and the large, weaved palms called “palmureli.” The Vatican expects to distribute 120,000 olive branches at the Mass.

Afterward, Leo will lead the Angelus prayer, as he does every Sunday.

Holy Thursday

Pope Leo will begin Holy Thursday, April 2, with the celebration of the chrism Mass at 9:30 a.m. in St. Peter’s Basilica.

Many of the cardinals, bishops, and priests living in Rome typically concelebrate this Mass, in which the pope, as bishop of Rome, blesses the oil of the sick, the oil of catechumens, and the chrism oil to be used in the diocese during the coming year.

At 5:30 p.m., Leo will celebrate the Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper at the Basilica of St. John Lateran.

Celebrating the Mass at the cathedral church of the Diocese of Rome restores a long-standing practice that Pope Francis set aside in favor of demonstrating closeness to prisoners by offering the Mass at some of the city’s prisons.

Good Friday

Continuing the liturgies of the Triduum, Leo is scheduled to preside over a service for the passion of the Lord on Good Friday at 5 p.m. in St. Peter’s Basilica.

During this liturgy, which is not a Mass, it is the custom for the papal preacher —  currently Father Roberto Pasolini, OFM Cap — to give a sermon on Christ’s crucifixion.

In the evening, the pope will lead the Stations of the Cross devotion at the Colosseum starting at 9:15 p.m.

Thousands of faithful holding candles surround the illuminated Colosseum in Rome during the traditional Stations of the Cross devotion on Good Friday, April 18, 2025. | Credit: Zofia Czubak/EWTN News Holy Saturday

Leo will celebrate the Easter Vigil Mass at 9 p.m. in St. Peter’s Basilica.

The Easter Vigil, which takes place on Holy Saturday night, “is the greatest and most noble of all solemnities,” according to the Roman Missal.

The liturgy begins in darkness with the blessing of the new fire and the preparation of the paschal candle. At the Vatican, cardinals, bishops, and priests process through the dark basilica carrying lit candles to signify the light of Christ coming to dispel the darkness.

The pope also typically baptizes new Catholics at this Mass.

Easter Sunday

The morning of Easter Sunday, Leo will preside over Mass in St. Peter’s Square at 10:15 a.m. on a flower-decked parvise.

After Mass, he will give the annual Easter “urbi et orbi blessing” from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.

“Urbi et orbi” means “to the city [of Rome] and to the world” and is a special apostolic blessing given by the pope every year on Easter Sunday, Christmas, and other special occasions.

For Easter Sunday, the square will be decorated with thousands of flowers from the Netherlands, a custom spanning 40 years.

This year, the arrangements will include 65,000 tulip, daffodil, hyacinth, and mini daffodil bulbs; 220 white and orange violets; 7,800 roses, delphiniums, anthuriums, chrysanthemums, gerberas, and matthiolas; 600 branches of plumosa; 80 azaleas; and 600 long branches of willow catkins, long branches of eucalyptus, and various types of foliage.

Easter Monday

Pope Leo will mark Easter Monday, also called “Monday of the Angel,” by praying the Regina Caeli, a Marian prayer recited during the Easter season, at noon from a window of the Apostolic Palace.

Pope Leo XIV concluded his one-day trip to Monaco on March 28, wrapping up a whirlwind visit that included meeting with the countryʼs royalty and holding Mass in Louis II Stadium.

The Holy Father became the first pope to visit the European micro-state in nearly 500 years. He appealed to the wealthy nation to spread the Gospel and become vessels of Godʼs love and generosity.

Pope Leo XIV flies into Monaco aboard the papal helicopter, Saturday, March 28, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media Pope Leo XIV meets Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene in Monaco, Saturday, March 28, 2026 | Credit: Vatican Media Pope Leo XIV shakes the hand of Princess Gabriella, Countess of Carladès, in Monaco, Saturday, March 28, 2026 | Credit: Vatican Media Pope Leo XIV greets crowds in Monte Carlo in Monaco, Saturday, March 28, 2026 | Credit: Vatican Media Pope Leo XIV prays at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Monaco, Saturday, March 28, 2026 | Credit: Vatican Media Pope Leo XIV greets crowds in Monaco on Saturday, March 28, 2026 | Credit: Vatican Media Pope Leo XIV greets a baby on the streets of Monaco, Saturday, March 28, 2026 | Credit: Vatican Media Pope Leo XIV views dancers during public festivities in Monaco, Saturday, March 28, 2026 | Credit: Vatican Media Pope Leo XIV processes during Mass at Louis II Stadium in Monaco, Saturday, March 28, 2026 | Credit: Vatican Media Pope Leo XIV elevates the chalice during Mass at Louis II Stadium in Monaco, Saturday, March 28, 2026 | Credit: Vatican Media Pope Leo XIV waves from aboard his helicopter upon departure from Monaco Heliport in Monte Carlo, Monaco, on Saturday, March 28, 2026. | Credit: Valery HACHE / AFP via Getty Images)

Pope Leo XIV on March 28 condemned all military conflicts, which he argued are the result of the “idolatry of power and money” and which “bloody” Godʼs gift of grace to men.

Godʼs grace “illuminates our present, because the wars that bloody it are the result of the idolatry of power and money,” said Leo in the homily he delivered during the Mass at the Louis II Stadium in Monaco.

Four months after his first apostolic trip to Turkey and Lebanon, the pontiff ended his lightning visit to the Principality of Monaco with the Mass in the stadium dedicated to Prince Louis II, who reigned between 1922 and 1949.

The stadium has a capacity for more than 18,000 spectators, which makes it a prominent place for sporting and entertainment events, in addition to being an ideal place for the papal Mass.

Upon his arrival, Leo toured the venue in a golf cart, from which he greeted and blessed the cheering faithful who were waiting for him while waving flags of the Vatican City and of Monaco.

The logic of power versus innocence

In his homily, the pope highlighted the biblical account in which the members of the Sanhedrin decide to kill Jesus.

From this passage, he explained that the face of God is revealed alongside those who, moved by power interests, are willing to eliminate the innocent.

As he pointed out, Caiphas' verdict is born from a political calculation based on fear: “Forgetting Godʼs promise to his people, they want to kill the innocent, because behind their fear is the attachment to power.”

“Isnʼt that what happens today?” the pope asked. “Even today, how many calculations are made in the world to kill innocent people; how many false reasons are used to get them out of the way!”

Not getting used to war

The pontiff called for the purification of the “idolatry” that feeds wars and turns men into slaves of other men, while urging the faithful to not get used to violence.

“Every truncated life is a wound to the body of Christ. Letʼs not get used to the rumble of weapons or the images of war!” he exclaimed.

In this sense, he stressed that peace cannot be reduced to a balance of power: “It is not a mere balance of forces, but the work of purified hearts, of those who see in the other a brother to take care of, not an enemy to bring down.”

Mercy, response to evil

Faced with the persistence of evil, the pope recalled that Godʼs justice acts as a source of hope and renewal: “The Lord frees from pain by infusing hope, he converts the hardness of the heart by transforming power into service, precisely while manifesting the true name of his omnipotence: mercy.”

In this way, he assured that it is “mercy that saves the world” because it takes charge of all human existence, “in each of its weaknesses, from the moment it is conceived in the womb until it ages,” he added.

A message on the eve of Easter

The popeʼs visit to Monaco, just eight hours long, was made at the invitation of Albert II of Monaco.

It took place on the eve of Holy Week, a context to which the pope referred during his homily. “The Lord changes the history of the world by calling us from idolatry to true faith, from death to life,” he said.

In this context, he also evoked the prophet Jeremiah: “In the face of the numerous injustices that destroy the peoples and the war that plagues the nations, the voice of the prophet Jeremiah is constantly raised: I will change their mourning into joy, I will make them happy and I will console them with their affliction” (Jer 31,13).

The joy that is born of charity

Finally, the pontiff called the faithful to be witnesses of hope, making “many happy with their faith” and sharing a joy that is not acquired as a prize, but is born of charity.

“The source of this joy is the love of God: love for the nascent and fragile life, which must always be welcomed and cared for; love for young and old life, which must be encouraged in the trials of each stage; love for healthy and sick life, sometimes alone, always in need of being accompanied with care,” he concluded.

At the end of the celebration, the Archbishop of Monaco, Monsignor Dominique-Marie David, thanked Pope Leo XIV for his visit, emphasizing that God is “the source of all good” and that the pontiff, as the successor of Peter, has come to remind the local Church of this.

In this sense, he stressed that the pope has encouraged the faithful to face “fearlessly” the current challenges, aware that they have “a treasure capable of sustaining hope, ours and that of the world.”

On the eve of Holy Week, David said that the popeʼs visit has served to “confirm the faith of his brothers,” reinforcing the commitment of the Christian community.

Pope Leo XIV gave the Archdiocese of Monaco a contemporary sculpture by St. Francis of Assisi. The work represents the Italian saint, one of the most beloved figures of the Christian tradition and universally recognized as a messenger of peace, fraternity and reconciliation.

Francis in the sculpture appears dressed in the simple Franciscan habit, a symbol of evangelical poverty and inner freedom, girded by the characteristic cord with three knots.

In the sculpture the saint holds a white dove in his left hand, while the right hand opens in a gesture of welcome and donation.

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.

During his meeting with Catholics in Monaco, the second appointment of his whirlwind trip to the small country, Pope Leo XIV warned about the risks of reducing faith “to custom” and called on the faithful to be like Christ, defending the poor and marginalized against individualistic secularism.

The pontiff supported his reflections in the document Quo vadis, humanitas? of the International Theological Commission, published on March 4, 2026. The Latin phrase means “Where are you going, humanity?”

The pope met Catholics at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of Monaco, built between 1875 and 1903 in the neo-Romanesque style.

The temple houses the tomb of some sovereigns of the principality, including Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace Kelly, an iconic American actress who became royalty after marrying Rainier III in 1956.

The Principality of Monaco is one of the last European countries to maintain Catholicism as a state religion, though its 1962 constitution guarantees freedom of worship and expression. In practice it means that Catholicism is taught in schools and that state ceremonies include a Mass.

In November of 2025 Prince Albert II vetoed a law passed by the National Council that sought to legalize abortion up to 12 weeks. He justified his decision by citing the Catholic identity of the principality and the need to maintain the current legal framework, which decriminalizes the termination of pregnancy only in exceptional cases

Based on the episode of the Gospel in which the Apostle John describes Jesus Christ as the righteous (cf. 1 Jn 2,1-2), the pope explained that the Church is called to be “lawyer”, that is, to defend man in his integrity and all human beings, promoting a comprehensive development that respects the dignity and ultimate goal of the person.

He asked the faithful to contemplate Christ as a “lawyer” and urged Christians to provide “passionate and generous” service in evangelization.

“Announce the gospel of life, hope and love; bring to all the light of the Gospel so that the life of every man and woman is defended and promoted from their conception to their natural end,” he said.

The pope arrived at the cathedral after his visit to the Princeʼs Palace, where the Monegasque sovereign family resides.

A living and prophetic faith

It is important, the pope pointed out, that the proclamation of the Gospel and the forms of faith “are preserved from the risk of being reduced to habit, even if it is good.”

“A living faith is always prophetic, capable of raising questions and offering provocations: Are we really defending the human being? Are we protecting the dignity of the person in the protection of life in all its phases? Is the current economic and social model really fair and inspired by solidarity?” he said.

Leo cited Pope Benedict XVIʼs encyclical Caritas in veritate published in 2009: “Is this model inhabited by the ethics of responsibility, which helps us to go beyond the ‘logic of the exchange of equivalent things and profit as an end in itself?’” he said.

Alert against secularism

The pontiff also warned about the “impulses of secularism,” which can reduce man to individualism and orient social life only towards the production of wealth.

The Holy Father asked for a new orientation based on the Gospel and to adopt the compassionate and merciful love of Christ.

Christ, he said, became a “lawyer” to defend the poor and sinners, freeing them from oppression and making them children of God and brothers among themselves.

“He does not come to condemn, but to offer mercy that purifies, heals, transforms and makes us part of the only family of God,” he stressed.

The Church, reflection of Godʼs love

The Pope praised the hospitality of Monaco, a small cosmopolitan state with cultural and socioeconomic diversity.

He recalled that in the Church there are no social classes: “Everyone is welcomed as people and children of God, and all are recipients of a gift of grace that drives communion, fraternity and reciprocal love.”

According to the pontiff, the first service that the Gospel must provide is “to enlighten the person and society, so that they discover their identity, the meaning of human life, the value of relationships and solidarity, as well as the ultimate end of existence and the destiny of history.”

Pope Leo XIV met with young people and catechumens of Monaco at the Church of Saint Devota, the third public engagement of his one-day trip to the micro-state on March 28.

After listening to the testimonies of several young people, Leo XIV spoke of the figure of Saint Devota, the patroness of Monaco, describing her as “a courageous young woman who knew how to bear witness to her faith in the face of the violence of her persecutors, even unto martyrdom.”

“Good is stronger than evil, even when, at times, it may seem — in the immediate moment — to be getting the worst of it,” the pope said. “Moreover, [Devota] reminds us that the witness of faith is a seed capable of reaching and bearing fruit in distant hearts and places, far beyond our own expectations and capabilities.”

“In this very church, quite recently,” the pope said, “the memory of the Holy Martyr Devota has been joined by that of Saint Carlo Acutis — another young person deeply in love with Jesus, faithful to his friendship with Christ until the very end, albeit in a completely different era and in completely different ways.” 

“These two saints encourage us and urge us to imitate them,” the Holy Father said.

In the modern world, “faith encounters challenges and obstacles,” the pope said, “yet nothing can dim its beauty or obscure its truth.”

Responding to the testimonies of the youth, the pope highlighted “a fundamental aspect of the Christian life: the vitality of one’s relationship with Christ and, within that relationship, the sense of unity that is forged both within ourselves and with others."

“The modern and post-modern eras have enriched us with many good things; yet, they also confront us with significant challenges — challenges we cannot ignore and which we must face with clarity and awareness,” he said.

“What gives solidity to life is love: first and foremost, the fundamental experience of God’s love, and then — as a reflection of that — the illuminating and sacred experience of mutual love.”

“And loving one another — while on the one hand requiring an openness to growth, and thus to change — on the other demands fidelity, constancy, and a readiness to make sacrifices in the daily rhythm of life,” the pope added.

“Only in this way does restlessness find peace, and the inner void become filled — not with material and fleeting things, nor with the virtual validation of thousands of ‘likes,’ nor with restrictive, artificial, or at times even violent forms of belonging.”

“We must clear these things away from the threshold of the heart, so that the healthy, oxygenating air of grace may once again return to refresh and revitalize its chambers, and so that the strong wind of the Holy Spirit may resume filling the sails of our existence, propelling it toward true happiness,” he said.

Earlier in the day the pope met with Monacoʼs royal family before meeting with Catholics at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.

Leo XIV is the first pope to visit the costal European nation-state in nearly 500 years.

The following is a homily given to the faithful by Pope Leo XIV at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Monte Carlo, Monaco, on Saturday, March 28, 2026.

Dear brothers and sisters:

Before God and in the presence of God we have a lawyer: Jesus Christ, the righteous (cf. 1 Jn 2,1-2). With these words, the apostle John helps us to grasp the mystery of salvation. In our fragility, carried with the weight of sin that marks our humanity, unable to embrace with our own forces the fullness of life and happiness, we have been reached by God himself through his Son Jesus Christ. He — says the Apostle — as a victim of atonement, carried upon himself the evil of man and the world, took it with us and for us, passed by him transforming it and freeing us forever.

Christ is the dynamic center, the heart of our faith, and it is from this centrality that I would like to address you, while I cordially greet His Highness Prince Albert, His Excellency Mons. Dominique-Marie David, the priests and the religious present, expressing to all of you the joy of being here and sharing your ecclesial path.

Contemplating Christ as a “lawyer”, in reference to the reading we have heard, I would like to offer you some reflections.

The first refers to the gift of communion. Jesus Christ, the righteous, interceding for humanity before the Father, reconciles us with Him and among us. He does not come to make a condemning judgment, but to offer to all his mercy that purifies, heals, transforms and makes us part of the only family of God. His compassionate and merciful tenter makes him a “lawyer” for the defense of the poor and sinners, certainly not to support evil, but to free them from oppression and slavery and make them children of God and brothers among themselves.

It is no coincidence that the gestures performed by Jesus are not limited to the physical or spiritual healing of the person, but also comprise an important social and political dimension; the healed person is reintegrated, with all his dignity, to the human and religious community from which, often precisely because of his condition of illness or sin, he had been excluded.

This communion is the sign par excellence of the Church, called to be in the world a reflection of the love of God that shows no partiality (cf. Ach 10:34). In this sense, I would like to say that the Church, here in the Principality of Monaco, has a great wealth: to be a place, a reality in which everyone finds welcome and hospitality, in that social and cultural mixture that is a typical trait of you.

The Principality of Monaco, in fact, is a small state inhabited, however, in a varied way by Monegasques, French, Italians and people of many other nationalities. A small cosmopolitan state, in which the variety of origins is also associated with other socioeconomic differences. In the Church, such differences never become an occasion of division into social classes; on the contrary, all are welcomed as persons and children of God, and all are recipients of a gift of grace that drives communion, fraternity and reciprocal love.

This is the gift that comes from Christ, our advocate before the Father. Indeed, we have all been baptized in Him and, for this reason, says St. Paul, “there is no longer a Jew or a pagan, slave or free, man or woman, because all of you are only one in Christ Jesus” (Ga 3:28).

However, I think it is necessary to underline a second aspect: the proclamation of the Gospel in defense of man. Wishing that everyone will accept the good news of the Fatherʼs love, Jesus places himself as a “lawyer” mainly for defense of those who were considered abandoned by God and who are judged as forgotten and marginalized, becoming the voice and face of the merciful God who “grants the right to the oppressed” (Ps 103,6).

I then think of a Church called to become a "lawyer", that is, to defend man: man in his integrity, and all human beings. It is a path of critical and prophetic discernment aimed at promoting an "integral development" of humanity, which respects its authentic dignity and identity, as well as its ultimate purpose, which refers to a mystery of full communion with the God Trinity and among us" (INTERNATIONAL THEOLOGICAL COMMISSION, Quo vadis, humanitas?, 22).

This is the first service that the proclamation of the Gospel must provide: to enlighten the human person and society so that, in the light of Christ and his Word, they may discover their own identity, the meaning of human life, the value of relationships and social solidarity, the ultimate end of existence and the destiny of history.

In this regard, I wish to encourage you to provide a passionate and generous service in evangelization. Announce the Gospel of life, hope and love; bring to all the light of the Gospel so that the life of every man and every woman is defended and promoted from their conception to their natural end; offer new maps capable of curbing those impulses of secularism that run the risk of reducing man to individualism and basing social life on the production of wealth.

It is important that the proclamation of the Gospel and the forms of faith, so rooted in your identity and society, are preserved from the risk of being reduced to habit, even if it is good. A living faith is always prophetic, capable of raising questions and offering provocations: are we really defending the human being? Are we protecting the dignity of the person in the protection of life in all its phases? Is the current economic and social model really fair and inspired by solidarity? Is this model inhabited by the ethics of responsibility, which helps us to go beyond the “logic of the exchange of equivalent things and profit as an end in itself” (BENEDICT XVI, Letter enc. Caritas in veritate, 38), to build a fairer society?

Dear friends, keeping your eyes fixed on Jesus Christ, our advocate before the Father, generates a faith rooted in the personal relationship with Him, a faith that becomes a testimony, capable of transforming life and renewing society. This faith needs to be announced with new instruments and languages, also digital, and all must be introduced and trained in it with continuity and creativity. This applies in particular to those who are opening up to the encounter with God - the catechumens - and to those who start again, to whom I ask them to have special attention.

May your patron saint, the Virgin and martyr Devota, inspire you with her example, and may Mary Most Holy, Immaculate Virgin, intercede for you and always guide you along this path.

The popeʼs homily was 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 addressed Monaco at the outset of his brief one-day visit there on March 28, telling the tiny micro-state that the “gift of smallness” and a “living spiritual heritage” lets the country “serve the cause of law and justice.”

The Holy Father touched down in the city-state at 9 a.m. The brief journey to Monaco was undertaken by helicopter to ensure the pope would not have to set foot on French soil, thereby absolving him of the institutional obligation to pay a visit to the president of the French Republic.

The pope was welcomed by Prince Albert II and Princess Charlotte; the prince had extended the invitation for the pope to visit the country following a private audience held on Feb. 17th.

Upon the popeʼs arrival a cannon fired a twenty-one-gun salute, church bells pealed in celebration, and the Vatican flag was raised.

In an address from the Palace of Monaco, Leo XIV said the country should be particularly attentive to the need for justice “at a historical juncture when the ostentation of force and the logic of domination harm the world and jeopardize peace.”

"In the Bible, as you know, it is the small who make history!” the pope said.

The Holy Father told the country that “the Catholic faith — which yours is among the few nations in the world to hold as its state religion — places us before the sovereignty of Jesus, a sovereignty that calls upon Christians to become, within the world, a kingdom of brothers and sisters.”

Monaco is the last nation in Europe where Catholicism remains the official state religion. In November of 2025, Prince Albert declined to promulgate an abortion law that would have broadened the grounds for terminating a pregnancy within the principality.

After the meeting between Leo XIV and the prince, there was a meeting with both the prince and princess in the Salon de Famille, followed by an exchange of gifts, the signing of the Book of Honor, and a papal introduction to the royal family.

At the conclusion of the ceremonies, Leo XIV and the prince joined together in prayer.

 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.

Leo is the first pope to visit the tiny country in nearly half a millennium.

A memorial Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica was held on the 10th anniversary of the death of Mother Angelica, the foundress of EWTN, the world’s largest Catholic media network.

The principal celebrant at the Mass, Father Michael Baggot, LC, a bioethics professor, recalled in his homily in the basilica’s Chapel of the Choir that Mother Angelica “conveyed the faith with wit and wisdom.”

“Her message was both consoling and challenging,” he said.

Father Michael Baggot, LC, delivers the homily at the memorial Mass for Mother Angelica celebrated at St. Peter’s Basilica on March 27, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News

“Mother Angelica understood that the fruitfulness of the apostolate depends on union with the Lord. What she proclaimed on air, she first pondered in adoration,” Baggot continued. “Mother Angelica also knew from experience that God works through humble, unexpected instruments to spread his Gospel.”

During the homily, Baggot praised Mother Angelica’s determination and repeated one of her famous quotes about serving the Lord, even when it seems difficult and frightening.

“As Mother said, ‘You want to do something for the Lord … do it. Whatever you feel needs to be done, even though you’re shaking in your boots, you’re scared to death — take the first step forward. The grace comes with that one step and you get the grace as you step. Being afraid is not a problem; it’s doing nothing when you’re afraid.’”

Baggot said it is “fitting” to honor Mother Angelica just two days after the celebration of the Annunciation and in a chapel “dedicated to Our Lady.” He said the Blessed Mother was also “deeply troubled by the angel’s message” and both “afraid” and “scared,” but she trusted God.

“Before such a daunting mission, she abandoned herself to Divine Providence. She was sustained by a love greater than any fear,” he said.

Attendees at the memorial Mass for Mother Angelica at the Vatican on March 27, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News

In view of the testimony of the Virgin Mary — whom he defined as the “definitive bearer of the Eternal Word” — the priest highlighted that Mother Angelica’s life also reflected the paschal mystery, including her suffering following a stroke in 2001. “Mother knew from Mary that the ‘fiat’ given in youth must be renewed at the foot of the cross,” Baggot noted.

Baggot added that because Mother Angelica followed God’s calling, EWTN is accessible in hundreds of millions of homes in more than 160 countries and territories, and “its programs reach areas where conflict or persecution deprives citizens of other means of religious formation.”

He further commended the network for continuing to be a beacon of beauty and inspiration.

Although EWTN “has outgrown its first Alabama garage,” he said, “it has never outgrown — and could never outgrow — the reliance on Divine Providence that characterized Mother Angelica’s life.”

In addition to the Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, EWTN marked the anniversary with special programming throughout the day, including “Remembering Mother Angelica, 10 Years Later.”

The EWTN Global Catholic Network is broadcasting these events across its television and digital platforms — including its YouTube channel, the streaming platform EWTN+, and live and on-demand at www.ewtn.com — making the tribute to Mother Angelica’s life and legacy accessible to viewers worldwide.

Pope Leo XIV is set to meet with Sarah Mullally, the first female archbishop of Canterbury, as part of Mullally’s planned visit to Rome from April 25–28.

The announcement of the visit came from Lambeth Palace just two days after Mullally’s installation, which made her the first woman to hold the highest-ranking role in the Church of England.

It is also notable that the ascension of Mullally to that post continues to have significant repercussions within Anglicanism. Earlier this month, the Global Anglican Future Conference — which represents approximately 80% of Anglicans worldwide — announced that its member churches should “remove any reference to being in communion with the See of Canterbury.”

On the occasion of her March 25 installation as the highest spiritual authority in Anglicanism, Pope Leo sent a message to Mullally in which he underscored the responsibilities of the office, particularly during “a challenging moment in the history of the Anglican family.”

The pope also recalled the progress made in ecumenical dialogue between Catholics and Anglicans and emphasized the need to continue advancing toward Christian unity.

For her part, Mullally expressed her gratitude to Pope Leo XIV for his closeness and prayers, and acknowledged the value of ecumenical dialogue between churches as well as unity among Christians.

She also asked the pope for prayers for the Church of England and for the Anglican Communion as a whole, “so that we may be guided by the Holy Spirit in faithfulness, unity, and charity.”

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.

Asian Catholics paid tribute to Venerable Francis-Xavier Nguyễn Văn Thuận to mark the 50th anniversary of his spiritual writings compiled in the book “The Road of Hope: The Gospel from Prison.”

To honor the legacy of the late Vietnamese prelate, the Vatican held the “Cardinal Văn Thuận: Witness of Hope” conference at the Apostolic Palace of the Lateran in Rome on Wednesday. The event was attended by hundreds of people including members of Văn Thuận’s family.

While imprisoned by the communist government in Vietnam during the 1970s and 1980s, Văn Thuận, who was coadjutor archbishop of Sài Gòn at the time, wrote a series of spiritual reflections on scraps of paper that were clandestinely sent out to persecuted Christian communities.

“These 1,001 meditations [traveled] from family to family, from prison cells to prison cells, to reeducation camps to reeducation camps, and finally they crossed oceans with the ‘boat people’ and arrived in different countries in the world,” Văn Thuận’s sister Élisabeth Nguyễn Thị Thu Hồng said at the March 25 conference.

“In a spirit of faith, joy, and gratitude, we all witness the power of God’s presence in the story of this shepherd who, while separated from his flock, remained intimately united with all of them through the word of God,” she said.

Both Cardinal Lazzaro You Heung-sik and Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle spoke at the event and shared personal stories and impressions of the prelate decreed “venerable” by Pope Francis in 2017.

Describing Văn Thuận as a man of “great gentleness, serenity, and inner freedom,” You Heung-sik praised him for being “a true model of Christian and priestly life.”

“His life was marked by extremely harsh trials, but it was precisely in those trials that the greatness of his faith was revealed,” the Dicastery for the Clergy prefect said.

“He drew strength every day from Jesus in the Eucharist when, while in prison, he celebrated holy Mass in secrecy with three drops of wine and a drop of water in the palm of his hand,” he added.

Tagle, who recalled first meeting Văn Thuận at a 1995 Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conference meeting in Manila, said he was immediately struck by his kindness and warmth.

“There was not a trace of bitterness and hatred in him. I could not get my eyes off his radiant and smiling face,” the Filipino cardinal said. “Before going our separate ways, he said, from now on, call me ‘uncle.’”

When Văn Thuận died in Rome at the age of 74 due to stomach cancer, Tagle said he attended the funeral at St. Peter’s Basilica in the presence of St. John Paul II in September 2002.

“His suffering did not prevent him from making others happy,” he said with emotion. “Sadness was palpable in the air but also gratitude for the gift of this servant of God and the Church.”

Vietnamese communities abroad also paid tribute to Văn Thuận to commemorate the 50th anniversary of his prison meditations, including from Australia — the country his family fled to as refugees in the 1970s.

Father John Nguyen, OFM Cap, the first Australian-born priest of Vietnamese heritage in the country, told EWTN News Văn Thuận’s love for the priesthood and the Eucharist continues to be a source of inspiration for him.

“One of Cardinal Văn Thuận’s writings that stood out for me, since I came across it in late 2008 when I just entered postulancy with the Capuchin Franciscans, was ‘If you lack everything or have lost everything, but still have the Blessed Sacrament, you actually still have everything,’” he said.

“It is a constant reminder that if one day, despite losing everything around me, be it people, material things, or plans that have fallen through, as long as I have Jesus truly present in the Blessed Sacrament, I actually have everything since God is our everything,” he added.

Pope Leo XIV on Thursday said organ donation is a noble act that should be governed by fair and transparent criteria, avoiding “any form of commodification of the human body.”

He also encouraged the safeguarding of the well-being of patients in his comments to participants of an event organized by the Italian National Transplant Network at the Vatican on March 26.

The Holy Father thanked those who serve human life “in its moments of greatest fragility.”

The first donation by Blessed Carlo Gnocchi

In his speech, the pope recalled the first organ donation carried out in Italy, when Blessed Carlo Gnocchi asked for his corneas to be donated after his death.

The pontiff explained that the gesture “sparked widespread reflection within Italian society and helped to set in motion a process of legislative clarification.”

Soon afterward, he noted, Pope Pius XII offered early moral guidance on these questions, “recognizing the legitimacy of removal for therapeutic purposes, respecting the dignity of the human body and the rights of the people involved.”

Leo emphasized that since then, the Church’s reflection has accompanied the development of transplant medicine, “recognizing its value and at the same time setting out the necessary ethical criteria.”

The papal audience with the transplant network took place the same week the Vatican published a document addressing ethical issues connected with xenotransplantation, the use of animal organs in human patients.

A noble and meritorious act

The Holy Father then stated that organ donation is “an act that combines the generosity of giving with the moral responsibility that accompanies it.”

He also recalled that the Catechism of the Catholic Church affirms that “organ donation after death is a noble and meritorious act and is to be encouraged as an expression of generous solidarity.”

For this reason, he warned that “vigilance is always necessary to avoid any form of commodification of the human body and ensure that transplants are governed by fair and transparent criteria.”

Leo also stressed that transplantation medicine highlights how “the relationship of care, trust, and mutual responsibility constitutes an essential condition for a transplant to take place.”

He added that “the very possibility of saving lives through transplants depends, in fact, on the generosity of donors.”

Recalling the teaching of Pope Francis, he emphasized that donation “must remain a gratuitous act, capable of bearing witness to a culture of help, giving, hope, and life.”

Scientific progress and human dignity

At the end of his address, the pope encouraged the development of scientific research, which is “called upon to develop ever more effective solutions to meet the need for organs and the needs of patients, in a context where demand still far exceeds supply.”

He stressed that “it is essential that this commitment always goes hand in hand with responsible reflection, so that scientific progress remains oriented towards the integral good of the person and respect for their dignity.”

Leo thanked members of the Italian National Transplant Network for their “demanding and often unseen” work and urged them to continue “always keeping the well-being of the patient as your guiding principle.”

He also encouraged institutions and volunteers to continue their efforts in information and awareness so that “a culture of donation may grow that is ever more informed, free, and shared, capable of recognizing in this gesture a sign of solidarity, fraternity, and hope.”

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 final report of the Synod on Synodality study group dedicated to the poor and the earth raises the need to create an observatory on disability and to include theologians from poor regions in consultative and governing bodies.

The text — published March 24 — emphasizes that listening to “the cry of the poor and of the earth” is not a pastoral option but a constitutive act of faith in the mission of the Church. It identifies already existing tools such as parishes, base communities, movements, charitable organizations, and ecumenical and international networks.

However, it states that social ministry cannot be delegated only to these structures, since all Christians have the responsibility to listen and respond to the needs of the poor.

The report — which is not binding and will now be reviewed by Pope Leo XIV — is part of the work carried out by 10 study groups created by Pope Francis in 2024 during the Synod on Synodality. The groups are dissolved once their reports are published.

Within the group on the poor, another subgroup was established, mostly composed of people with disabilities.

This subgroup produced the proposal to create an international “Ecclesial Observatory on Disability” that would establish similar bodies at the diocesan, national, and regional levels.

The aim, the text states, is to use this model to “create structures and processes for listening to other marginalized groups,” including “the LGBTQIA+ community.”

“The Church has many means to listen to the cries of the poor and the earth. However, the Synod learned that women, Indigenous people, Dalits, young people, people with disability, victims of class or caste discrimination and racism, LGBTQIA+ people, those made poor, and other marginalized groups, are still asking to be heard,” it states.

“We need to deepen our listening and respond with transformative action. Synodality invites us to move from having means of listening to becoming a means of listening in the service of God’s mission,” the report says.

The document also highlights the importance of the language used for people in vulnerable situations and urges that it respect the “diversity of their experience” and reflect their dignity, for example through the use of “person first language.”

Groups for single or widowed people

Another recommendation in the report is for dioceses and bishops’ conferences to consider creating “groups for single parents, widows, and widowers” in order to offer support and learn about their needs, and that there be deeper exploration of “effective ways of listening to those affected by war, conflicts, and violence.”

It also calls for ensuring the presence of vulnerable groups, women, and those coming from territories affected by climate change and conflicts in Church bodies.

Greater role for the marginalized and the poor in theology

The report also raises the need to include theologians from “poor, marginalized, or excluded” contexts in the drafting of Church statements.

“The appointment of women, people with disabilities, and people of color should be a key priority,” it says.

It proposes creating global networks connecting theologians with organizations working on the ground, strengthening dialogue with other Christian denominations and religions, and promoting collaboration among Catholic media, universities, and young people in order to translate theological reflection into concrete action.

It suggests creating “global networks” that connect the poor “with organizations closest to the reality of the world of the poor.” According to the report, the goal is to promote a theology more connected to the reality of the poor and open to intercultural dialogue and other disciplines.

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 Institute for the Works of Religion (IOR), often referred to as the Vatican bank, has announced that Luxembourg banker François Pauly will succeed Jean-Baptiste Douville de Franssu as president of its Board of Superintendence.

According to a March 25 press release, Pauly “has been elected as the next president of the Board of Superintendence” and will formally take office following the board meeting scheduled for April 28, when the institute’s 2025 financial statements are approved.

De Franssu, who has led the IOR since July 9, 2014, will remain in office until that date, concluding a tenure marked by significant internal reform and efforts to rebuild the institution’s international credibility.

The need for reform stemmed from years of scrutiny over the Vatican bank’s management, transparency, and anti-money-laundering controls. In the past, the institute faced damaged credibility amid concerns about oversight and compliance, prompting a long push to strengthen governance, tighten internal procedures, and bring its operations into line with international financial standards.

The transition “follows a carefully managed succession process conducted over the past 12 months in close collaboration between the Board of Superintendence and the Commission of Cardinals, ensuring continuity in the governance of the Institute,” the IOR said.

Pauly, a Luxembourg national, has served on the board since 2024. His appointment was approved Jan. 28 by the Commission of Cardinals following a proposal by the board in December 2025, in accordance with the institute’s statutes.

He brings decades of experience in the financial sector, having begun his banking career in the late 1980s. He previously served as deputy chief executive officer of Dexia Crediop in Italy and later as CEO and chairman of Banque Internationale à Luxembourg from 2011 to 2016. He also served on the board of the Vatican Pension Fund from 2017 to 2021.

Currently, Pauly is chairman of La Luxembourgeoise Group and a member of the Commission for Economic Affairs of the Archdiocese of Luxembourg, while also serving on the boards of several financial firms across Europe.

In a statement, de Franssu reflected on his tenure, saying the institute had undergone “a profound structural transformation” that restored credibility and strengthened financial performance.

“This process has enabled the institute to achieve strong international credibility and to deliver solid financial results,” he said, noting that reforms improved governance, transparency, and compliance with international anti-money laundering standards.

Cardinal Giuseppe Petrocchi, president of the IOR’s Commission of Cardinals, expressed “deep gratitude” for de Franssu’s service and praised his “essential contribution” to the institute’s renewal.

He also welcomed Pauly’s appointment, highlighting his “extensive professional experience” as key to consolidating recent progress and strengthening the institute’s ties with the global financial sector.

“We hope that, under his leadership, the Board of Superintendence continues to effectively support the mission of the IOR in service of the universal Church,” Petrocchi said.

The Commission of Cardinals will now appoint a new member of the Board of Superintendence to replace de Franssu, subject to regulatory approval.

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 the desire to continue dialogue with the Church of England in a message to Sarah Mullally on the occasion of her installation as archbishop of Canterbury.

Mullally, formerly the bishop of London, was appointed archbishop of Canterbury in October 2025 with the approval of the King of England. She was installed March 25 in Canterbury Cathedral in east London. She the first woman to occupy the highest-ranking position in the Church of England.

In his message, dated March 20 from the Vatican, Leo expressed his spiritual closeness and sent Mullally “prayerful greetings” on the occasion of her installation.

The pope emphasized the responsibility of the office, noting that it is a mission “with responsibilities not only in the Diocese of Canterbury but throughout the Church of England as well as the Anglican Communion as a whole,” especially at “a challenging moment in the history of the Anglican family.”

“In asking the Lord to strengthen you with the gift of wisdom, I pray that you may be guided by the Holy Spirit in serving your communities and draw inspiration from the example of Mary, the mother of God,” he wrote.

A call to unity and dialogue

In his message, Pope Leo recalled the progress of ecumenical dialogue between Catholics and Anglicans since the historic meeting between St. Paul VI and Archbishop Michael Ramsey in 1966, which began “a new stage in the development of fraternal relations, based on Christian charity.”

He praised the fruits of the theological dialogue promoted by the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC), which has made it possible to “to witness together more effectively” in the face of current challenges.

He also acknowledged the difficulties along the ecumenical journey, quoting his and Mullally’s immediate predecessors, Pope Francis and Archbishop Justin Welby, who wrote in a 2016 Joint Declaration that “new circumstances have presented new disagreements among us.”

Leo insisted on the need to continue moving forward: “We need to continue to dialogue in truth and love, for it is only in truth and love that we come to know together the grace, mercy, and peace of God.”

Unity in service of proclaiming the Gospel

The pope emphasized that the unity of Christians is not an end in itself but is oriented toward the mission of evangelization: “The unity which Christians seek is never an end in itself but is directed towards the proclamation of Christ, in order that … ‘the world may believe.’”

In this context, he recalled the words of Pope Francis, who warned that “it would be a scandal if, due to our divisions, we did not fulfill our common vocation to make Christ known.”

A historic and controversial election

Mullally’s election has had significant repercussions within Anglicanism. The Global Anglican Future Conference announced after her appointment that it was breaking with Canterbury and the Church of England, and stated it would not participate in meetings convened by the new archbishop nor contribute financially to Anglican bodies.

The churches belonging to GAFCON represent about 80% of Anglicans worldwide, reflecting the magnitude of the division opened by this historic appointment.

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

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state, said on Thursday that the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran does not meet the Catholic Church’s criteria for a just war.

“No, it does not seem to meet the conditions,” he told reporters on the sidelines of an academic conference at the Vatican Apostolic Library.

When asked by EWTN News about the decision of the United States to attack Iran, Parolin referred to recent remarks by Cardinal Robert McElroy, archbishop of Washington, D.C.

In an interview with his archdiocesan newspaper, The Catholic Standard, McElroy said the intervention in Iran failed to meet several conditions required by the Church’s teaching on just war, including that the benefits of this war will not “outweigh the harm which will be done.”

“He explained this point very well,” Parolin said, referring to McElroy’s statement.

Parolin’s comments follow those of Pope Leo XIV in a statement given to journalists on Tuesday at Castel Gandolfo, the papal villa south of Rome, when he renewed his call for an unconditional ceasefire, saying that “death and pain caused by these wars is a scandal for the entire human family.”

Parolin was also asked about a letter he sent on behalf of the pope on Wednesday to the bishops of France, in which Leo encouraged them to be more inclusive of communities attached to the Traditional Latin Mass, which the pope said had become a divisive issue in the Church.

The debate over the Traditional Latin Mass has taken on fresh urgency in France in part because of the Society of St. Pius X, founded by French Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre and known for celebrating only the traditional liturgy. The SSPX said in February that it plans to consecrate bishops on July 1 without a pontifical mandate, a step canon law says carries automatic excommunication for both the consecrating bishop and the one ordained.

“The liturgy must not become a source of conflict and division among us,” Parolin said, without pointing to any specific solutions. “It will be necessary to find the formula that can meet legitimate needs. But I believe that, well, this can happen without turning the liturgy into a battlefield.”

Pope Leo XIV has called for renewed unity in the Church’s liturgical life, urging French bishops to seek “concrete solutions” to include Catholics attached to the Traditional Latin Mass while preserving communion.

In a message sent through Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, to the French bishops’ spring plenary assembly in Lourdes (March 24–26), the pope expressed concern over divisions surrounding the liturgy, describing them as “a painful wound” within the Church.

“It is troubling that a painful wound continues to open in the Church concerning the celebration of the Mass, the very sacrament of unity,” the message stated.

The pope emphasized the need for a renewed spirit of charity and understanding among Catholics of differing liturgical sensibilities.

“A new outlook of each toward the other, with greater understanding of their sensitivities, is certainly necessary,” he wrote, “an outlook that would allow brothers and sisters, enriched by their diversity, to welcome one another in charity and in the unity of the faith.”

Addressing the growth of communities attached to the “Vetus Ordo,” Leo XIV encouraged bishops to discern practical ways forward.

“May the Holy Spirit inspire you with concrete solutions that allow for the generous inclusion of those sincerely attached to the ‘Vetus Ordo,’ in respect for the directions desired by the Second Vatican Council in matters of liturgy,” the message said.

Benedict XVI in 2007 broadly liberalized celebration of the preconciliar liturgy in Summorum Pontificum, allowing wider use of the Traditional Latin Mass, but Pope Francis in 2021 sharply restricted that permission in Traditionis Custodes, returning tighter control to diocesan bishops.

The debate has taken on fresh urgency in France in part because of the Society of St. Pius X, founded by French Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre and known for celebrating only the traditional liturgy. The SSPX said in February that it plans to consecrate bishops on July 1 without a pontifical mandate, a step canon law says carries automatic excommunication for both the consecrating bishop and the one ordained.

Beyond liturgical concerns, the pope also addressed the ongoing abuse crisis, urging perseverance in prevention efforts and continued care for victims.

“It is appropriate to persevere over the long term in the prevention measures that have been undertaken,” he wrote, while also calling for the Church to show “attention to victims and the mercy of God toward all,” including offending priests, who should not be excluded from pastoral reflection.

After “years of painful crises,” the pope added, “the time has come to turn resolutely toward the future” and to offer “a message of encouragement and confidence” to priests in France.

The message also highlighted the importance of Catholic education amid increasing societal pressure on Catholic institutions.

“With respect for the convictions of each and with constant concern to welcome all,” the pope encouraged bishops “to defend with determination the Christian dimension of Catholic education which, without reference to Jesus Christ, would lose its reason for being.”

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.