When he first appeared on the central loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica dressed as Pope, Leo XIV immediately declared himself “a son of St. Augustine.” It was a statement of identity, powerfull and immediate, which quickly showed itself indeed to be a fundamental characteristic for understanding this pontiff and his pontificate.

Deep down, Leo [...]

The great goal of Leo XIV’s pontificate is to restore unity in the Church. The task, however, is particularly arduous. In short, it is something easier said than done.

The pontiff’s comments to journalists en route with him to Rome from Africa illustrate the point.

Leo took a question regarding Cardinal Reinhard Marx’s [...]

The press conference on the plane returning from Africa provided the first sign of Leo XIV’s notable break with Pope Francis’s pontificate.

When asked specifically about the decision of Cardinal Reinhard Marx, Archbishop Emeritus of Munich, to formally bless same-sex couples, Leo XIV said the Holy See had already informed the German bishops [...]

The first anniversary of Pope Francis’s death will pass with his successor, Pope Leo XIV, in Africa.

Leo has been in Africa since April 13, on a journey taking him to Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea. On the eve of his departure, however, a letter Leo XIV sent to the cardinals in [...]

On March 28, two weeks after his appointment as Archbishop of Lodz, Cardinal Konrad Krajewski took possession of his see, fulfilling his promise to ensure that a bishop would lead the diocese by Easter.

A week after his appointment as Deputy Secretary of State, Archbishop Paolo Rudelli promptly arrived at the Vatican, where he [...]

Leo XIV personally carried the Cross through all the fourteen Stations of the Cross at the Colosseum on Good Friday.

It was a powerful gesture, not only in that it showed a pontiff hale and hoary—like John Paul II early in his pontificate, and also Paul VI, who established the tradition of the Way [...]

With a shrewd and thoughtful statement, Leo XIV simultaneously refocused and relativized the issue of the use of the ancient rite.

In a message to the French bishops gathered in Lourdes for their periodic plenary assembly, the Pope expressed his hope that the Holy Spirit would move the bishops to find “concrete solutions [...]

As we approach the first anniversary of his election, it appears Leo XIV is beginning to reveal the contours and the substance of his reign.

In just the last week, two events have demonstrated specific characteristics of Leo XIV’s pontificate: The ruling issued by the appellate tribunal of Vatican City, which could flip the [...]

Leo XIV’s move to the Papal Apartment coincided this week with a significant appointment.

Cardinal Konrad Krajewski was appointed Archbishop of Lodz. This move ends his more than thirty years of association with the Vatican. Above all, he is relinquishing the leadership of the Office of Apostolic Charities.

In his place, Leo XIV has [...]

Everyone is waiting for Leo XIV to reshape the Roman Curia. Five department heads are already over 75, and there will be six by the end of the year. Vatican watchers are also keeping eyes on Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, the sostituto –think “papal chief-of-staff” – who has had a controversial tenure in [...]