Rome Reports

Spain still reels from the worst wildfires in its history. Thousands remain displaced, countless jobs have been lost, and vast stretches of land have burned. The students of the Minor Seminary of St. Mary in Rozas de Puerto Real, part of the Diocese of Getafe, were also caught in the wildfire's path. The seminary building was, however, miraculously saved. ELIERT JEREZ Rozas de Puerto Real Seminary Rector I remember Sunday night when the mayor of my town, Javier, called me. He was on

Continuing the dialogue between the Holy See and the world of culture, Pope Leo XIV today received American rock singer Patricia Lee Smith. The artist had just concluded a tour of Italy, including a performance at the Circus Maximus on July 27.

Carolina Bellocq Following a vacation spent reading, praying, and exercising, Pope Leo XIV has returned to Rome and has already resumed official meetings. On Sunday, August 2nd, the pope will again pray the Angelus from his quarters overlooking St. Peter's Square. On Wednesday, August 5th, the weekly general audiences will resume. On Thursday, August 6th, Pope Leo will travel to Assisi for the closing mass of a youth gathering commemorating the 100th anniversary of St. Francis' passing

Daniel del Castillo González Slavery isn't a thing of the past. Today, it remains one of the world's most profitable criminal enterprises. On the International Day Against Human Trafficking, the worldwide network Talitha Kum, led by the International Union of Superiors General, released its annual report. It is estimated that about 50 million people live trapped in various forms of modern day slavery. Human trafficking generates an estimated $236 million in profits every year. Behind

Santi Taboada After days of intense firefighting that forced hundreds of thousands to evacuate, left towns deserted, and prompted dramatic rescues as firefighting planes flew overhead, Spain is now turning to reconstruction. Even so, several wildfire hot spots remain out of control, including the fire in Vall de Uixó. During these difficult days, many evacuees waited in community centers unsure whether they would be able to return home. The Catholic Church stepped in to support those affec

Carmen Álvarez Cuadrado Pope Leo XIV finished his summer vacation on Monday, July 27th. He returned to Castel Gandolfo two days later for a concert in the gardens. He was welcomed by Cardinal Fabio Baggio. CARD. FABIO BAGGIO Co-Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human DevelopmentIt is with deep joy and gratitude that I welcome you to Borgo Laudato Si', in the papal gardens of Castel Gandolfo, for this moment of prayer, fellowship and music. Andrea Bocelli sang, accompani

Daniel del Castillo González y Ana Torres Fonseca Following the recent desecration in Medjugorje, people all over the world have responded with prayer and fasting. Meanwhile all damage has been repaired. In Medjugorje, dozens of people joined in Eucharistic adoration and the Rosary. Others helped clean up and restore the damaged areas as quickly as possible. A Mass of Reparation was also celebrated at St. James Parish, which lies within the bounds of the Marian site. The pentitential

Santiago Taboada Castillo Every year, the Argentinian Military Ordinariate sends a priest to serve the people who reside on Argentina's Antarctic bases. The first Argentinian priest to spend the winter on the White Continent was 41 year old priest, Fr. Francisco Roverano. FR. FRANCISCO ROVERANO After several assignments, Bishop Santiago Olivera, the Military Bishop of Argentina, approached me with a proposal. He asked me to serve in Antarctica. Chaplains normally accompany the summer

Ana Torres Fonseca French-lawmakers have backed a bill legalizing assisted dying in the country. By doing so, the country enacts one of the most significant bio-ethical changes in decades. Under the law, assisted suicide is permitted. If a patient is unable to take the lethal substance themselves, a physician or nurse is authorized to administer it. The procedure can only move forward after review by a medical panel and confirmation that all legal eligibility requirements have been met.

Daniel del Castillo González This is Medjugorje, one of the world's most important Catholic pilgrimage destinations, where vandals damaged two of its most important sites this morning. The statue of the Virgin Mary located on Apparition Hill, where six young people reported seeing the Virgin in 1981, was covered with black paint and defaced with the words “devil in a skirt.” The attack has deeply shook pilgrims and the Franciscan community that cares for the shrine, who issued the follo

Santiago Taboada Castillo Last Saturday, Maronite Patriarch Elia Hoayek, founder of the Congregation of the Maronite Sisters of the Holy Family, was beatified. During Sunday's Angelus in Castel Gandolfo, Pope Leo XIV highlighted his leadership and service to the Maronite Church. POPE LEO XIV A man of dialogue and hope, he was a remarkable ecclesial, social and political leader. So much so, he was nicknamed “The Father of Greater Lebanon.” May the prayers and intercession of this new Ble

Pope Leo XIV's issued message of encouragement to the Asian bishops as they bring their plenary conference to a close in Indonesia. POPE LEO XIVI send cordial greetings to all of you participating in the Plenary Assembly of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences in Jakarta. As you gather to discuss the important issues affecting the life and future of the Catholic Church in Asia, I assure you of my spiritual closeness, praying that the Holy Spirit will inspire and guide your time togeth

A burned crucifix, a priest’s cross, and a fragment of a rosary now remain in Rome as silent witnesses to one of the darkest chapters in Europe’s recent history.Discover the story behind these relics, and the faith of those who carried them, in the latest episode of Relic Hunter with our host, Kate Stevenson.

James O'Reilly On the same day that Pope Leo XIV was presenting 'Magnifica Humanitas' to the Church and the world from the Vatican, a scientific conference on human health and aging was taking place in another part of Rome. Titled the 'Vatican Longevity Summit', the purpose of the event is to bring to Rome, ...a global and cross-disciplinary dialogue on how science, medicine, ethics, and spirituality can collaborate to give dignity, value, and quality to life as it advances. In other

Fr. Mark Lewis, S.J., rector of the Pontifical Gregorian University, traces the Catholic roots of North America—from the disputed first Mass in Florida to the missionary orders, the Jesuit martyrs and the Church in the Thirteen Colonies. The conversation explores what Catholic life looked like before U.S. independence and whether the American experience changed the Church’s understanding of religious freedom.

Daniel del Castillo González During the France-Spain World Cup match, cameras caught a small crucifix hanging from the whistle referee Iván Barton uses on the field. Iván says the crucifix reflects his personal relationship with his faith which has accompanied his career. With the eyes of the world watching, the World Cup is stressful and a tremendous responsibility. But for this referee, the first part of game-day prep wasn't phyical exercise. IVÁN BARTONFIFA Referee I was in my

Ana Torres Fonseca One month after the devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela, particularly the coast of La Guaira, the humanitarian emergency is more urgent than ever. There are still hundreds, even thousands, of people missing under the rubble. Hundreds of families have lost their homes. In the face of this disaster, the Church continues to provide both material and spiritual aid. MONS. RAÚL BIORDArchbishop of Caracas We know that food and sustenance are important, and many

Kate Stevenson The Annual Federation of Asian Bishops Conference opened with a call for action, urging Church leaders to move beyond discussion and to begin implementing synodality across Asia. Every four years, more than 100 bishops from over 20 countries and regions in Asia meet to discuss the key issues affecting the Church in the continent. Father Nikasius Jatkimo, a member of the committee organizing the conference, says this year's gathering has focused on building bridges through

Carmen Álvarez Cuadrado The Vatican rejects claims that the trial of Slovenian theologian and artist, Fr. Marko Rupnik, had a favorable outcome for him. Rupnik faces allegations of sexual, psychological and spiritual abuse involving nearly 30 women. No update about the case has come out since the end of 2025. The only confirmed information was that the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith had formed the ecclesiastical tribunal. The identities of the judges remain confidential, but it

Pope Leo XIV is using the summer to pray, read and exercise, while also devoting time to music. On Saturday the 18th, he attended a concert presented by the Diocese of Albano, and on Wednesday July 29th, he will listen to none other than Andrea Bocelli perform the Canticle of Peace. The performance will take place at the Borgo Laudato Si in Castel Gandolfo, and Bocelli will not be alone: he will be accompanied by approximately 160 choir members, ages 5 to 18, who will participate in the globa