Free Republic

Pope Leo needs to reaffirm that the Church is the true Israel of GodSince the New Covenant, theologies which justify taking lands without divine mandates, along with the accompanying ethnic cleansing and war crimes, are akin to Christian apostasy.The Ninth station in the Via Dolorosa is where Jesus falls for the third time. Jerusalem, Israel (Catholic 460) — [Editorial note: The following essay is the reprint of an introduction to a three-part essay explaining why the state of Israel, founded in 1948, has never had a divine mandate, or authentic theological claim, to the occupied Palestinian territories. The author rejects...

Young people from 146 countries celebrated with Pope Leo XIV at the concluding Mass of the World Youth Jubilee at Rome's University of Tor Vergata on Sunday.The Vatican put the number of youths attending the event at more than a million, based on official estimates. Leo arrived by pope mobile to cheers and applause.He urged the celebrants "to adventure with the Lord toward eternity" saying that the Lord was "gently knocked" at the window of their souls.

At a United Nations conference in New York this week, the Holy See reaffirmed its longstanding support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, calling it the “only viable and equitable path” to a just and lasting peace. Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, the Holy See’s Permanent Observer to the UN, stressed that peace must be rooted in “secure and internationally recognized borders,” according to Vatican News. He also condemned the terrorist attacks by Hamas, stating that “in the light of the profound anguish and terrible human suffering that has befallen the region,” the Holy See “unequivocally” denounces such violence. “Terrorism...

Pope Leo XIV and the Cruel Reality of the Vatican II RevolutionAs grateful as we may be to Leo XIV for this pious exhortation, we are left to wonder what the new pontiff intends to do to address one of the most wicked cruelties in the world today: the Vatican’s continued attacks on the unadulterated Catholic Faith and its persecution of those souls who want nothing more than to practice our religion as faithfully as possible.In his July 27th Angelus address, Pope Leo XIV spoke of our need to avoid cruelty to others if we want to be able call...

[Catholic Caucus] Exclusive from Rome: Pope Leo XIV issues exemption to San Angelo DioceseIn a quiet corner of San Angelo, the past is very much alive. At St. Margaret of Scotland Catholic Parish, the ancient rite of the Traditional Latin Mass (TLM) — also known as the Extraordinary Form — continues to thrive, even as worldwide limitations challenge its practice.“The Latin Mass is a ascent to Calvary where the Lord Jesus Christ reliving essentially the passion in every Latin Mass,” said Father Freddy Perez, Parochial Administrator, St. Margaret of Scotland Parish in San Angelo. In 2021, the Vatican issued a...

Pope Leo is meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday, the Vatican said, in the second in-person encounter between the two leaders since Leo was elected May 8 as head of the global Catholic Church. Zelenskyy is in Italy to attend a July 10-11 international aid conference on Ukraine. The Ukrainian president is expected to travel for the meeting to Castel Gandolfo, a small Italian hill town about an hour's drive from Rome, where Leo is taking two weeks of vacation.

[Catholic Caucus] Pope Leo XIV warns ‘world is burning’ from ‘global warming’ at first ‘Care of Creation’ MassPope Leo highlighted a supposed need of 'conversion' for those who do not yet prioritize 'the urgency of caring for our common home.'CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy (LifeSiteNews) — Pope Leo XIV celebrated the newly composed “Mass for the Care of Creation” today, marking the first use of the liturgical texts he approved a few weeks ago.With just a small congregation gathered in the gardens of Castel Gandolfo this morning, Pope Leo offered the votive Mass “for the care of creation.”Leo was joined by a...

American Pope Leo interrupts vacation at Castle Gandolfo for urgent political message that defies Trump's agenda Pope Leo urged the faithful around the world to combat climate change during his prayer for the Texas flood victims in another thinly-veiled jab at President Donald Trump. 'We live in a world that is burning, both because of global warming and armed conflicts,' the American-born pontiff said Wednesday as he led a small, outdoor mass in Castel Gandolfo - an Italian hill town about an hour's drive from Rome, where the Holy Father is currently on holiday. Leo, who offered up prayers for...

Vatican steps up battle against climate change, especially since it can dramatically harm the “most vulnerable” people.Vatican City • As record‑breaking heat scorches much of Europe — with triple‑digit temperatures, wildfires and deaths reported — the Vatican released a new liturgy Thursday for Mass reflecting concern for the environment, offering prayers, readings and hymns that highlight the church’s responsibility to protect the Earth.This new Mass “can be used to ask God for the ability to care for creation,” Cardinal Michael Czerny, who heads the Vatican’s Dicastery for Integral Human Development, said at a news conference.The new Mass, Pro Custodia Creationis...

Leo XIV: The Bishops’ Testing GroundBurke, along with Dolan, was one of the key popemakers of the last Conclave. The US Catholic traditionalist and the conservative wings joined forces and, in utmost secrecy, pulled the name Prevost out of the hat—a name which, as is now well known, immediately attracted convergence even from the more progressive cardinals.Christocentric homilies, the stole and mozzetta, full-signature documents, references to natural law, legal certainty, canon law training, a sober and methodical style, and attentiveness to the liturgy (although the master of ceremonies belongs to a liturgical school that is far from commendable): these are...

Peruvian President Dina Boluarte announced on Sunday that she would soon present two proposals: to hold presidential elections this year, rather than in 2026 as planned, and “total” constitutional reform. Boluarte vowed to make the changes if the nation’s Congress failed to pass the measures. The latter, a core demand of far-left rioters whose violence has resulted in 58 deaths and counting, would essentially result in a complete overhaul of Peru’s constitution. Leftists have been rioting in the country for nearly two months, erecting roadblocks to cut food supplies and burning down historic buildings, following the impeachment and arrest of...

“Recognize that God is present,” he said in a recorded video to a crowd gathered at the home stadium of the White Sox.When Pope Leo XIV was selected in May as the next leader of the Catholic Church, his hometown, Chicago, erupted in shocked delight. There were joyful newspaper headlines (“DA POPE!”), impromptu gatherings at parishes across the city, and a “Pope-A-Roni” pie marketed by a local pizza joint. On Saturday afternoon, the city had a chance to formally celebrate together for the first time. The occasion was a festive program and Mass organized by the Archdiocese of Chicago and...

Through one Canadian ancestor, the pontiff can also be linked to Angelina Jolie and Hillary ClintonPope Leo XIV is reportedly related to a roster of famous names, including Justin Bieber and Madonna, according to a new report by the New York Times. The publication put together a deep dive into the Pope’s ancestry, in collaboration with genealogists at American Ancestors and the Cuban Genealogy Club of Miami. One of the findings is that the pontiff is linked to both Bieber and Madonna through a common ancestor born around six generations ago – and it also links him to the...

Continuing their commitment to obstructing much of what President Trump has attempted to do to strengthen relationships with global leaders, the Democrats have now insulted millions of faithful Catholics by blocking the confirmation of Brian Burch, the President’s choice to serve as the Ambassador to the Vatican. It was a strategic move on the part of the Democratic Senators to demand an unprecedented cloture vote on Burch, requiring three-fifths of the Senate to vote in favor of the nominee. The denial by the Senate prevented Burch from participating in Pope Leo XVI’s installation as pontiff on Sunday, May 18th, and...

VATICAN CITY (AP) – Pope Leo XIV criticized the surge of nationalist political movements in the world as he prayed Sunday for reconciliation and dialogue – a message in line with his pledges to make the Catholic Church a symbol of peace. The pope celebrated Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square in front of tens of thousands faithful, and asked the Holy Spirit to “break down barriers and tear down the walls of indifference and hatred.” “Where there is love, there is no room for prejudice, for ‘security’ zones separating us from our neighbors, for the exclusionary mindset that, tragically,...

[Catholic Caucus] Bishop Schneider asks Pope Leo XIV for full freedom for the Traditional Mass“The traditional liturgy is a work of the Holy Spirit. It can be persecuted, but not destroyed,” affirmed Monsignor Athanasius Schneider during an interview organized by the apostolate Know, Love, and Live Your Faith, in which he answered questions for over an hour about the state of the traditional liturgy, the doctrinal crisis in the Church, and the new pontificate of Leo XIV.The Traditional Mass, a “perennial” and persecuted liturgyMonsignor Schneider began by referring to the climate of “continued persecution” against the Traditional Mass in various...

[Catholic Caucus] Cardinal Eijk: Pope Leo will restore unity to the Church -- Something is happening with the Young People in Europe2021: The Bishop of Haarlem-Amsterdam, Bp. Hendriks, confirming 16 young faithful among them 9 converted young adults at the FSSP Personal Parish of St. Joseph in the St. Agnes Church in Amsterdam***“Pope Leo will restore unity to the Church." -- Cardinal Wim Eijk speaksOne month ago took place the Conclave that elected Robert Francis Prevost to the Throne of Peter: “There are many issues in the Church where there is disagreement, and internal discord is not good for us”Matteo...

[Catholic Caucus] One Month of Leo XIV by Caminante WandererArgentina, June 5, 2025Almost a month has passed since the beginning of thge pontificate of Leo XIV. In this blog we said that we would be waiting for the first one hundred days, and there is still more than half of it to go. However, that does not prevent us from gradually getting an idea of his character, based on his words and first decisions.I have the impression, reading what is published in X, that the progressives began a few days ago to lower the level of enthusiasm with which they...

[Catholic Caucus] Pope Leo XIV Faces an Early Challenge: How to Deal With Pope Francis’ Restrictions on the Latin MassA significant early challenge for Pope Leo XIV will be how he chooses to handle the restrictions that Pope Francis placed on the traditional Latin Mass (TLM). Since Pope Francis issued his apostolic letter Traditionis Custodes (Guardians of Tradition) in July 2021, the freedom to celebrate the pre-1970 Mass has been curtailed — severely in some cases — with the long-term aim of allowing only the new Mass. Cardinals, bishops, priests and many of the laity, including some who do not...

Pope Leo XIV urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to take a meaningful step in favor of peace during a phone call Wednesday that focused on the ongoing war in Ukraine and the worsening humanitarian situation. The conversation, described by the Vatican as “frank and focused on the urgency of dialogue,” saw the Pope appeal directly for a gesture from Moscow that could help reduce tensions and create the conditions for further diplomatic engagement. According to Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See Press Office, the Pontiff underlined the “importance of dialogue to create positive contacts between the parties and seek...