Pope Leo XIV greets the mayor of Rome at the foot of the Capitoline Steps before taking possession of St. John Lateran as bishop of Rome, May 25, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

Rome, Italy, May 25, 2025 / 12:21 pm (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV addressed Rome’s mayor minutes before making his way to the Basilica of St. John Lateran to take possession of his chair as bishop of Rome.

Pope Leo XIV prays the Regina Caeli from the window of the Apostolic Palace for the first time on May 25, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, May 25, 2025 / 09:10 am (CNA).

In his first Regina Caeli from the window of the Apostolic Palace, Pope Leo XIV thanked the faithful for the affection they have shown him while also asking them — as his predecessor Francis often did — to pray for him. 

“Just a few days ago, I began my ministry among you, and above all, I wish to thank you for the affection you are showing me; at the same time, I ask you to sustain me with your prayer and closeness,” exclaimed the pontiff, who until this Sunday had prayed the Marian prayer from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica. 

Thousands had gathered in St. Peter’s Square, waving flags from various countries and holding signs that read “Long live Pope Leo XIV!” 

In his address, the pope acknowledged that “in everything the Lord calls us to — in life and in faith — we sometimes feel inadequate.” 

However, in light of this Sunday’s Gospel, he insisted that we must not focus on our own strength “but rather on the mercy of the Lord who has chosen us, confident that the Holy Spirit guides us and teaches us everything.”

He added: “It is beautiful that, when we consider our calling, the responsibilities and people entrusted to us, the commitments we take on, and our service in the Church, each one of us can confidently say: Although I am fragile, the Lord is not ashamed of my humanity; on the contrary, he comes to dwell within me.” 

God reveals himself especially in the small

Pope Leo XIV also reflected on the apostles’ fear on the eve of the Master’s death: “They were troubled and anxious, wondering how they could be successors and witnesses of the kingdom of God.” But when Jesus appeared to them, he promised the gift of the Holy Spirit with these marvelous words: “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him; we will come to him and make our home with him,” he noted. 

“In this way, Jesus frees the disciples from all anxiety and fear and can say to them: Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid,” he said. 

He went on to explain: “If we remain in his love, he himself dwells in us — our lives become a temple of God. His love enlightens us, it begins to shape how we think and make decisions, and it reaches others, illuminating every area of our lives.” 

He emphasized that God “reveals himself especially in the small, the poor, and those who suffer, asking us to be attentive and compassionate Christians.” 

He also urged the faithful to carry God’s love “everywhere,” entrusting this mission to the intercession of the Virgin Mary. “He accompanies me with his Spirit, enlightens me, and makes me an instrument of his love — for others, for society, and for the world. Dear friends, on the foundation of this promise, let us walk in the joy of faith, to be a holy temple of the Lord,” he said. 

As has become his custom, rather than recite the Regina Caeli — the prayer that replaces the Angelus during Eastertide — Pope Leo XIV chose to sing it. 

Father Streich’s ministry ‘enraged followers of communist ideology’

After praying the Regina Caeli, Pope Leo XIV remembered with emotion the Polish priest Stanisław Streich, who was beatified Saturday in Poznań, Poland, in a ceremony led by Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints. 

On Feb. 27, 1938, during a Sunday Mass for children, Streich was shot and killed by a communist activist during the consecration of the Eucharist. Witnesses say the assailant fired several times and then shouted from the pulpit: “Long live communism!” The Vatican recognized the act as martyrdom “in hatred of the faith” (“in odium fidei”), paving the way for his beatification. 

The pope emphasized that “his work on behalf of the poor and workers enraged followers of communist ideology.” Inspired by his witness, the pontiff called on priests in particular to give themselves generously for the Gospel and their brothers and sisters. 

Pope Leo XIV also noted the Day of Prayer for the Church in China, observed every May 24, which coincides with the liturgical memorial of Mary Help of Christians, especially venerated at the Shrine of Sheshan near Shanghai. 

Instituted by Benedict XVI, the day sees “prayers rise to God in churches and shrines across China and the world, as a sign of affection for Chinese Catholics and of their communion with the universal Church,” the pope said. He prayed that the Virgin Mary “may obtain for them and for us the grace to be strong and joyful witnesses of the Gospel, even in trials, always promoting peace and harmony.”

Finally, Pope Leo remembered “all peoples suffering because of war” and praised the “courage and perseverance” of those committed to “dialogue and the sincere search for peace.”

Laudato Si’ at 10 years 

Marking the 10th anniversary of Laudato Si’, the encyclical signed by Pope Francis on May 24, 2015, Pope Leo XIV recalled its global impact: “It has spread widely, inspiring countless initiatives and teaching us all to hear the dual cry of the earth and the poor.” 

He expressed gratitude to those who continue to carry its legacy forward, including the Laudato Si’ Movement. 

The nave of Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral on Nov. 29, 2024. / Credit: STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Paris, France, May 25, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).

Organized by the bishops of the Île-de-France region, the vigil has taken place annually since 2009.

null / Credit: AC Wimmer/EWTN News

ACI Prensa Staff, May 24, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).

Father Cristian Meriggi, an exorcist priest of the Archdiocese of Florence, Italy, shares the five spiritual weapons he uses and recommends to combat the devil.

Irish high cross at the Rock of Cashel in County Tipperary, Ireland. / Credit: Marie-Lise Van Wassenhove via Flickr (CC BY-NC 2.0)

CNA Staff, May 23, 2025 / 15:03 pm (CNA).

The Dublin-based Iona Institute for Religion and Society has released a comprehensive report that highlights significant shifts in religious attitudes and practices in Ireland.

Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco. / Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNA

Vatican City, May 23, 2025 / 12:55 pm (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV’s emphasis on faith in the risen Christ is fundamental for the Church, particularly in Europe, Italian Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco said.  

In an interview with ACI Stampa, CNA’s Italian-language news partner, the archbishop emeritus of Genoa and former president of the Italian Episcopal Conference said Pope Leo’s first public address after his May 8 election was an invitation for Catholics to deepen their faith in the centrality of Jesus Christ.

“The pope began [his pontificate] with ‘peace be with you’ and immediately continued ‘it is the peace of the risen Christ,’” Bagnasco told ACI Stampa’s Marco Mancini. “The two things must not be separated because the message of the Holy Father would be distorted.”  

“Peace comes from the risen Christ to the extent that we allow ourselves to be embraced by him,” he continued. “If we forget this centrality, we forget the foundation of all foundations, that is, Jesus.”

According to Bagnasco, the inclusion of Church Fathers’ writings in several of Leo XIV’s homilies and public addresses so far should not go unnoticed, including “one of the most significant expressions of St. Augustine: ‘We were made for you and our heart is restless until it rests in you.’”

Lamenting the rise of secularization eroding the faith of individuals and societies, the 82-year-old Italian cardinal said Europe is in great need of heeding Pope Leo’s message to rediscover its identity and faith in “the face of God who is Christ.”

“Unfortunately, it is a reality not of today but of decades, as we know,” Bagnasco told Mancini. “It seems that the European continent is forgetting its origins and this fact is not positive for Europe because it means forgetting its own face.”

“It is forgetting that the meeting between Jerusalem, Athens, and Rome took place here in Europe,” he said.

Though Bagnasco was unable to participate in the May 7–8 conclave that elected Leo XIV due to his age, he participated in the 12 general congregation meetings to discuss the state of the Church and discern the qualities the pope would need to lead Catholics worldwide. 

“What we always expect from the pope and what the entire Catholic world — but not only — expects is to be the point of reference, the confirmation of faith,” he said in the interview. “The mission that Christ gave to Peter is to announce on the rooftops a strong, clear, explicit faith and the evangelical charity that derives from it.”

On the continuity of the history of the Church and the popes, Bagnasco said Pope Leo XIV succeeds pontiffs who, with their own vision and qualities, have sought to lead the Church and confirm the faith of Catholics in a world troubled by various challenges.

“John Paul II with the disruptive force of his personality [led the Church] and before him Paul VI with the great event of the [Second Vatican] Council,” he told Mancini. “Benedict XVI was the great master in the face of modernity that is forgetting God and with God forgetting man.”

He continued: “And then Francis was attentive to the challenges of the time with the ongoing wars and other problems such as the relationship with nature and the people who move from one continent to another in search of a better life,” he said.

The flag of the European Union. / Credit: U. J. Alexander/Shutterstock

Vatican City, May 23, 2025 / 12:25 pm (CNA).

The leadership of the European bishops’ conference said Pope Leo XIV did not speak as much as he was “welcoming, available, and ready to listen” to their concerns during a meeting at the Vatican on Friday morning. 

The Russia-Ukraine war and the need to avoid rearmament in Europe was one of the central topics of the private meeting, according to Bishop Mariano Crociata, president of the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE), who spoke during a press conference after the audience, as was reported by SIR news agency. 

“The pope interacted with a certain immediacy, showing great concern that rearmament could have repercussions in terms of reducing social commitments for the weaker sections of society and shifting capital to arms,” the Italian bishop said.

COMECE Vice President Bishop Antoine Hérouard said their discussions emphasized ”the importance of working for a just peace, finding the right balance between peace and justice,” and the social and economic consequences if European countries give more funding to arms.

Other topics raised during what Crociata described as a “cordial and serene” meeting between the EU bishops and Pope Leo were the presence of populist movements in conflict with the values of the European Union and Europe’s demographic decline, which reinforces the continent’s need for migrants. 

The European bishops said they also raised concerns about the phenomenon of people asking to have their personal information removed from Church baptismal records. They stressed the need for European data protection legislation to respect religious freedom and the right and duty of parents to raise and educate their children. 

Cardinal William Goh, the archbishop of Singapore. / Credit: Wikimedia Commons/CC BY-SA 4.0

CNA Deutsch, May 23, 2025 / 11:55 am (CNA).

In an interview with the Daily Compass portal on Thursday, Cardinal William Goh, the archbishop of Singapore, said he hopes for greater doctrinal clarity from Pope Leo XIV. 

“If we are not clear about what the Church teaches, it is very difficult to work together in unity. Although both the so-called ‘left’ and ‘right’ of the Church are interested in promoting the mission of evangelization, there has been an internal division on certain issues such as marriage, LGBTQ+ rights, and transgender rights. These issues have divided the Church because, at a certain point, it became unclear what is right.”

The cardinal said that as an Augustinian, Pope Leo has “a solid foundation in the tradition and spirituality of St. Augustine.”

“At the same time,” Goh, who was made a cardinal by Pope Francis in 2022, said that Pope Leo “has worked in Peru and is familiar with situations of poverty and suffering. He also spent several years in Rome and is therefore familiar with the challenges facing the Curia. Having been prior general of his order, he has already demonstrated his leadership qualities. In his first public appearances, he was sober and cautious in what he said and did.”

He continued: “He seems to me to be a man who is aware that a pope’s statements are taken seriously, which is why he is cautious and prudent. This is to be welcomed because it means people won’t be confused. I believe he will be able to clarify doctrine and prevent the ‘left’ and the ‘right’ from fighting each other. He will not be ambiguous and will not leave the interpretation of his words open to individual interpretation.”

According to the website, Goh said about Pope Francis: “I believe that the least pleasant aspect of his pontificate was that his teachings appeared ambiguous in his attempt to reach everyone in terms of doctrine and morality.”  

Goh also addressed the issue of the traditional liturgy. 

“I personally believe there is no reason to discourage people who prefer the Tridentine Mass,” the cardinal said. “They are not doing anything wrong or sinful. Of course, the unity of the Church must be preserved, but we already have different rites, such as the Syro-Malabar rite. We can accept different forms of celebrating the Eucharist, so we should not suppress those who prefer the Tridentine rite.”

Ultimately, he said, “it is not the rite or the form of celebration that matters” but rather “whether one encounters God deeply.”

Goh said he does not celebrate in the traditional form, “but I’m not against those who celebrate it. In my country, there’s a small group of about 300 people, mostly young professionals. Sometimes I ask them, ‘Why do you prefer this celebration?’ They reply that they find it more thoughtful and contemplative and that it brings them closer to God. Why should I discourage them?”

He continued: “If they reject the teachings of the Second Vatican Council, that would of course be a completely different matter, and they should be disciplined. But they don’t, and therefore I don’t think we should discriminate against them. After all, this is the Mass that has been celebrated for hundreds of years, isn’t it?”

This story was first published by CNA Deutsch, CNA's German-langauage news partner, and has been translated and adapted by CNA.

Pope Leo XIV addresses members of the Pontifical Missions Societies on May 22, 2025, at the Vatican. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, May 22, 2025 / 14:48 pm (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV delivered an address to the Pontifical Mission Societies on Thursday thanking its members for living the Church’s call to evangelize to all nations with a spirit of communion and universality in union with the pope.

Approximately 120 national directors connected to the Vatican’s four missionary bodies — the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, the Society of the Holy Childhood, the Society of St. Peter the Apostle, and the Missionary Union — and 20 members of the Dicastery for Evangelization met with the Holy Father on the first day of their general assembly taking place in Rome from May 22–28.

“As societies committed to sharing in the missionary mandate of the pope and the college of bishops, you are called to cultivate and further promote within your members the vision of the Church as the communion of believers, enlivened by the Holy Spirit, who enables us to enter into the perfect communion and harmony of the blessed Trinity,” the pontiff said to those present at the morning meeting.

“This dimension of our Christian life and mission is close to my heart and is reflected in the words of St. Augustine that I chose for my episcopal service and now for my papal ministry: ‘In Illo uno unum’ — Christ is our savior and in him we are one, a family of God, beyond the rich variety of our languages, cultures, and experiences,” he added.

Describing apsotolic zeal as “more urgent in our own day,” Pope Leo said the Gospel message of love, reconciliation, and grace through Jesus Christ is needed in a world “wounded” by war and injustice.

“In this sense, the Church herself, in all her members, is increasingly called to be ‘a missionary Church that opens its arms to the world, proclaims the word … and becomes a leaven of harmony for humanity,” he said, echoing words from his homily given during his May 18 inauguration Mass.

Asking his listeners to be inspired and renewed in their vocation to “be a leaven of missionary zeal within the people of God,” the Holy Father reiterated the message of his predecessor to be “missionaries of hope among all peoples,” especially in light of the 2025 Jubilee Year.

“In the words of Pope Francis, ‘The Lord has overcome the world and its constant conflict “by making peace through the blood of his cross,”’” Pope Leo said, citing Evangelii Gaudium. “Hence we see the importance of fostering a spirit of missionary discipleship in all the baptized and a sense of the urgency of bringing Christ to all people.”

According to Monsignor Roger Landry, head of the Pontifical Mission Societies USA, who was present at the meeting, the Holy Father warmly encouraged national directors to continue to promote World Mission Sunday, celebrated on the second-to-last Sunday of October, and ensure their outreach programs are driven by a “universality that flows from a sense of communion.”

“He doesn’t want us to exclude anybody,” Landry told CNA on Thursday. “Like Pope Francis before him, he was getting us to focus on the peripheries — those who are not yet close to us and those who are not united with us.”

After speaking about the beauty of having representatives from over 120 countries come together “as equals” before the Holy Father at the meeting, Landry said each person present received rosary beads from Pope Leo that were blessed by Pope Francis before he died.

“There was a sense of continuity as he was giving us Pope Francis’ rosary beads,” he said.

From the popemobile, Pope Leo XIV greets thousands of people lined up along Via della Conciliazione on the morning of his inaugural Mass, Sunday, May 18, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, May 22, 2025 / 14:18 pm (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV has appointed Sister Tiziana Merletti as secretary of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.

According to the Vatican Press Office, the 66-year-old consecrated religious previously served as superior general of the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor for nine years.

She will report directly to another nun, Sister Simona Brambilla, whom Pope Francis appointed in January as prefect of the Vatican department, responsible for all matters concerning the government, discipline, studies, assets, rights, and privileges of institutes of consecrated life.

Under the late Argentine pontiff, women’s leadership increased significantly. According to data maintained by the Vatican on its website, the female presence increased from almost 19.2% to 23.4% during Francis’ pontificate. With the 2022 apostolic constitution Praedicate Evangelium, Francis decreed that laypeople, in addition to women, could lead a dicastery and become prefects, a position previously reserved for cardinals and archbishops.

Doctorate in canon law, experience in Church government

Born Sept. 30, 1959, in Pineto in the Teramo province of Italy, Merletti made her first religious profession in 1986 at the Institute of the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor. She holds a degree in civil law from the then-Libera Università Abruzzese degli Studi “Gabriele d’Annunzio” in Teramo (1984) and obtained her doctorate in canon law in 1992 from the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome.

From 2004 to 2013, she served as superior general of her congregation. Currently, Merletti is a professor in the canon law department of the Pontifical Antonianum University in Rome and collaborates as a canon lawyer with the International Union of Superiors General, the organization representing women religious of apostolic life worldwide.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.