A view of the baldacchino underneath the central dome of St. Peter’s Basilica. / Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNA

Vatican City, May 17, 2025 / 09:00 am (CNA).

The Mass for the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate will be celebrated on Sunday, May 18, at 10 a.m. Rome time in St. Peter’s Square, a liturgical event that will mark the official beginning of his ministry as successor of Peter and bishop of Rome.

The following is a review of the most important moments of this ceremony, rich in symbols and highlights, which will be marked by several significant changes compared with the Mass for the inauguration of Pope Francis’ pontificate in 2013. For example, it will not be the cardinals who will pledge obedience to the new pope after the presentation of the pallium and the fisherman’s ring but rather a group of “representatives of the people of God.”

Prayer at the tomb of St. Peter

From the Altar of Confession, located in the center of St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, where Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s baldachin stands, Pope Leo XIV will descend the stairs with the patriarchs of the Eastern Churches to the tomb of St. Peter. There he will pause in prayer for a few minutes.

The Holy Father will place incense in the thurible and incense the “Trophæum Apostolicum,” the venerated monument that marks the tomb of the Apostle Peter, the first pope and the rock upon which Christ built his Church. This ritual emphasizes the pontiff’s connection with the Apostle Peter and his martyrdom.

Solemn procession 

The deacons then take the pallium, the fisherman’s ring, and the Book of the Gospels and carry them together in procession. These symbols of the Petrine ministry precede the pope, carried with solemnity, as a visible expression of the service, spiritual authority, and proclamation of the Gospel that the successor of Peter is called to exercise in the universal Church.

The procession heads toward St. Peter’s Square from within the basilica. During this journey, the solemn hymn of “Lauds Regiae” is intoned, a particular form of the Litany of the Saints in which their intercession for the pope’s holiness is requested.

Sign of the cross in Latin

Pope Leo XIV then makes the sign of the cross in Latin: ”In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.” This is the traditional way in which the pope begins the Eucharistic celebration during the Mass for the inauguration of his pontificate. The pope then sprinkles the people with holy water.

Gospel will be read in Greek and Latin 

One of the most significant moments of the Mass for the inauguration of the pontificate is the proclamation of the Gospel in two languages: Greek and Latin. This expresses the unity of the Church and underscores that the successor of Peter is the pope of both Latin Catholics and Eastern Catholics.

Greek, the language of the Christian East and the New Testament, represents the ancient traditions of the Eastern Churches, while Latin, the language of the Roman rite, evokes the heritage of the Western Church.

By proclaiming the Gospel in both languages, it is evident that Christ’s message is intended for all peoples and that the ministry of the bishop of Rome encompasses the entire universal Church, in communion with its diverse liturgical and spiritual traditions. The Holy Father will then silently bless the Book of the Gospels.

Pallium and ring

During the days leading up to the Mass for the inauguration of his pontificate, Leo XIV has worn his episcopal ring as a cardinal. However, on Sunday he will not wear that ring but receive the fisherman’s ring in the rite of initiation of his Petrine ministry.

This ring, on which his name is engraved, symbolizes his mission as successor of the Apostle Peter. It was formerly used as a seal to authenticate papal documents.

During the same ceremony, the pontiff will also receive the pallium, the liturgical insignia of metropolitan archbishops and, in the case of the pope, a symbol of his universal pastoral authority.

The pallium is a narrow band of white wool draped over the shoulders, with two dangling black ends — one in front and one in back — evoking the shape of the letter Y. It is decorated with six black silk crosses and three pins representing the nails of Christ’s cross. Receiving the pallium recalls Peter’s commission to guide Christ’s flock and his uninterrupted succession to the See of Rome.

Fidelity and obedience

After the proclamation of the Gospel, the celebration of the Mass for the inauguration of the Petrine ministry includes a particularly significant gesture: the act of obedience and fidelity of the universal Church to the new pope.

In 2013, during the Mass for the inauguration of Francis’ pontificate, this gesture was limited to the College of Cardinals. A delegation of cardinals approached the Argentine pontiff to express their reverence, obedience, and ecclesial communion.

However, at the Mass for the inauguration of Leo XIV’s pontificate, it will not be the cardinals who will pledge obedience to the new pope after the presentation of the pallium and the fisherman’s ring but rather a group of ”representatives of the people of God.”

Homily

The pope will then deliver his homily. This will be his first major liturgical address, which can be interpreted as a roadmap for the beginning of his Petrine ministry. The Mass for the inauguration of the pontificate officially marks the beginning of Leo XIV’s service as bishop of Rome and successor to St. Peter.

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

Brian Burch’s nomination as U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See was blocked by Senate Democrats on May 13, 2025. / Credit: Photo courtesy of CRC Advisors

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, May 17, 2025 / 08:30 am (CNA).

Senate Democrats this week blocked the confirmation of Brian Burch, President Donald Trump’s nominee for U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, stalling the confirmation process ahead of Pope Leo XIV’s installation Mass on Sunday. 

Making good on a pledge he first announced in February, on Tuesday Hawaii Sen. Brian Schatz placed a blanket hold on all State Department nominees. Schatz had previously announced he would place a blanket hold on that department’s nominees “until its illegal attempt to shutter the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) as an independent agency is reversed.”

The Senate must now vote on each of Trump’s ambassadorial nominees individually, including Burch, after Senate Democrats rejected an effort to expedite Burch’s confirmation by unanimous consent. 

According to Missouri Sen. Eric Schmitt, a Catholic, there is a backlog of over 50 nominees currently waiting for Senate approval. Since Burch’s confirmation was denied unanimous consent, the vote on his nomination will likely be delayed for several more weeks. 

“I never thought I’d see the day when Democrats would be willing to block the nominee for ambassador to the Holy See simply to score political points with their far-left radicals, but it seems they’re still searching for rock bottom,” Schmitt told CNA. 

In the Senate, approval of nominations only requires a simple majority of 51 and Burch's nomination was previously advanced by the Foreign Relations Committee, with the committee's 12 Republicans voting in favor and 10 Democrats opposed.

“The Democrats’ political games are shameful, and the Senate should immediately vote on Brian Burch’s nomination to ensure the U.S. has a diplomatic presence at the Vatican as the new Roman Curia is installed,” Schmitt said on social media. 

The office of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York, did not respond to CNA’s request for comment.

This story was updated on May 17, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. with clarification on the Senate proceedings from Missouri Sen. Eric Schmitt.

Brian Burch’s nomination as U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See was blocked by Senate Democrats on May 13, 2025. / Credit: Photo courtesy of CRC Advisors

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, May 17, 2025 / 08:30 am (CNA).

Senate Democrats this week blocked the confirmation of Brian Burch, President Donald Trump’s nominee for U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, stalling the confirmation process ahead of Pope Leo XIV’s installation Mass on Sunday. 

Making good on a pledge he first announced in February, on Tuesday Hawaii Sen. Brian Schatz placed a blanket hold on all State Department nominees. Schatz had previously announced he would place a blanket hold on that department’s nominees “until its illegal attempt to shutter the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) as an independent agency is reversed.”

The Senate must now vote on each of Trump’s ambassadorial nominees individually, including Burch, after Senate Democrats rejected an effort to expedite Burch’s confirmation by unanimous consent. 

According to Missouri Sen. Eric Schmitt, a Catholic, there is a backlog of over 50 nominees currently waiting for Senate approval. Since Burch’s confirmation was denied unanimous consent, the vote on his nomination will likely be delayed for several more weeks. 

“I never thought I’d see the day when Democrats would be willing to block the nominee for ambassador to the Holy See simply to score political points with their far-left radicals, but it seems they’re still searching for rock bottom,” Schmitt told CNA. 

In the Senate, approval of nominations only requires a simple majority of 51 and Burch's nomination was previously advanced by the Foreign Relations Committee, with the committee's 12 Republicans voting in favor and 10 Democrats opposed.

“The Democrats’ political games are shameful, and the Senate should immediately vote on Brian Burch’s nomination to ensure the U.S. has a diplomatic presence at the Vatican as the new Roman Curia is installed,” Schmitt said on social media. 

The office of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York, did not respond to CNA’s request for comment.

This story was updated on May 17, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. with clarification on the Senate proceedings from Missouri Sen. Eric Schmitt.

Pope Leo XIV speaks to cardinals in Rome on May 10, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

ACI MENA, May 17, 2025 / 08:00 am (CNA).

Eastern Christian communities erupted in celebration at the election of the Catholic Church’s new pontiff on May 8, with joyful speeches and church bells ringing. However, many wondered about Pope Leo XIV’s connection to the East, given his North and South American roots and his affiliation with the Augustinian order — a community not widely known in the Arab world. 

Spiritual son of an Algerian saint

In his first address from St. Peter’s Basilica balcony on May 8, Pope Leo XIV introduced himself by saying: “I am a son of St. Augustine, an Augustinian.”

St. Augustine was born in Tagaste, Algeria (modern-day Souk Ahras). He taught in Carthage and later served as bishop of Hippo (now Annaba), where he lived, ministered, and was buried.

The Augustinian order, to which the new pontiff belongs, derives its spiritual foundation from St. Augustine, who became a doctor of the Church. The order’s guiding principles emphasize love for the Church, service, fraternity, and unity. The order seeks God through worship and ministry, aiming to transform the world from within and spread the Gospel. Key pillars of this spirituality include missionary work, prayer, development, and reflection on contemporary issues.

A likely influence

Before his election, Pope Leo XIV headed the Vatican’s Dicastery for Bishops, the office responsible for selecting bishops and apostolic administrators. The dicastery evaluates candidates’ qualifications and assesses their spiritual, theological, and administrative capacities. In this role, Pope Leo XIV is believed to have influenced — either directly or indirectly — the 2023 appointment of Bishop Hanna Jallouf as apostolic vicar of Aleppo.

Relic of St. Maron and prayers in Arabic

Several months ago, the newly-elected pope visited the Maronite College in Rome, where he discussed relations with Eastern churches and the concept of communion. At the conclusion of the meeting, college officials presented him with a relic of St. Maron and a statue carved from cedarwood.

Additionally, the Peruvian newspaper La República quoted an Augustinian priest stating that Pope Leo XIV kept a small slip of paper with prayers written in Arabic.

Champion of peace and the Syrian people

In his first address, the word “peace” appeared 10 times, with the pope opening his speech by saying: “Peace be upon you all.” This phrase underscores his vision for his pontificate, particularly regarding conflict zones in the Middle East and Ukraine. It also serves as a reminder of Christ’s Eastern roots.

Although many associate “Peace be upon you” with Islamic traditions, the greeting predates Christianity and was traditionally used to offer reassurance and goodwill.

In a similar vein, Pope Leo XIV re-shared an image on his X account of Syrian child Omran Daqneesh, who was rescued from rubble due to the conflict there. The image was accompanied by words from a Jesuit priest: “Are we shutting our doors to all Syrian refugees? Men, women, and the most vulnerable children? What an immoral nation we have become. Jesus weeps.”

Quoting a Syrian saint in his first Mass

During his first Mass held May 9 at the Sistine Chapel, Pope Leo XIV concluded his homily with a quote from St. Ignatius of Antioch’s “Epistle to the Romans”: “I will truly be a disciple of Jesus Christ when the world will no longer see my body.”

He explained that no leader in the Church can disregard this profound meaning. He also emphasized that the Church of Rome is called to lead the universal Church “with love,” as expressed by St. Ignatius in the introduction to his letter.

This story was first published by ACI MENA, CNA's Arabic-language news partner, and has been translated for and adapted by CNA.

Pope Leo XIV smiles as a jubilant crowd joins in prayer on Sunday, May 11, 2025. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

Vatican City, May 17, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).

The Mass for the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate will be celebrated on Sunday, May 18, at 10 a.m. Rome time in St. Peter’s Square. The liturgy will mark the official beginning of his ministry as successor of Peter and bishop of Rome. On May 25, he will take canonical possession of St. John Lateran Basilica, the cathedral of the bishop of Rome.

The Mass on May 18 will be celebrated as established in the “Order of Rites of the Beginning of the Petrine Ministry as Bishop of Rome,” a liturgical book approved by Benedict XVI in 2005 and reformed by him in 2013.

“The beginning of the Petrine ministry is what the celebration of the coronation of the pope used to be. Now, popes are no longer crowned with the three-tiered tiara, worn until Paul VI, but rather begin their ministry as the successor of Peter,” Father Juan José Silvestre explained to ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. Silvestre is a professor of liturgy in the University of Navarra’s theology department.

In addition, during this ceremony, Leo XIV will receive the pallium and the fisherman’s ring, two elements with profound theological and pastoral significance that mark the start of his pontificate.

The beginning of the pontificate also includes taking canonical possession of the other three papal basilicas, including St. John Lateran Basilica, the cathedral of Rome and thus of the pope.

The taking possession of St. John Lateran Basilica will take place on May 25 and has a distinctive character. “It defines the Holy Father as such, or rather, it is a reminder that he is the bishop of Rome,” Silvestre noted.

“Just as a bishop, once appointed, has a period of two months to take possession of his cathedral, his seat, so the pope, as bishop, will also be received by the cathedral chapter and once seated in his cathedra [bishop’s throne or chair] in St. John Lateran of the Diocese of Rome, he will receive the expression of obedience and respect from a representative group from the Diocese of Rome,” he noted.

Mass for the inauguration of the pontificate

According to the program, the solemn ceremony on May 18 will begin inside St. Peter’s Basilica, before the Altar of Confession. “Pope Leo XIV will go before the tomb of the Apostle Peter to pray there in silence, moments before the solemn Mass for the initiation of his Petrine ministry as bishop of Rome,” Silvestre explained.

The patriarchs of the Eastern Catholic Churches in communion with Rome will also participate in this moment of recollection and prayer. Afterward, the liturgical procession to St. Peter’s Square will begin, led by the pope from inside the basilica to the outdoor altar where Mass will be celebrated.

During the procession, the “Laudes Regiae” (“Royal Praises”), a solemn litany of the saints appropriate for this occasion, is intoned. “It is a particular form of the Litany of the Saints in which the intercession of the saints is sought, grouped in distinct groups, to pray for the holiness of the pope,” the liturgical expert said.

This ancient liturgical chant accompanied Roman imperial victories in the distant past. It was revived by Emperor Charlemagne on Christmas Day in the year 800 during his coronation as emperor and has since become a solemn hymn for monarchical rites.

Also sung for the kings of France and the sovereigns of England until the Reformation, the “Laudes Regiae” evoke a central theological truth: All earthly power comes from God and must be exercised with humility and responsibility.

The pallium and the fisherman’s ring

One of the central moments of the rite is the presentation of the signs of the Petrine ministry, “the two elements that mark the beginning of the pontificate. Previously, the tiara was placed on the pope, but now the important elements are the papal pallium and the fisherman’s ring,” Silvestre related.

Both elements have profound theological and pastoral significance. “The pallium, which is a kind of stole or scarf, is made of sheep’s wool and represents the pope as a shepherd who carries the flock, that is, the Church, on his shoulders,” the liturgy expert explained.

Regarding the fisherman’s ring, the priest said that “it’s a kind of gold ring on which a representation of St. Peter in his boat and the pope's name are engraved.” This ring also has a practical function because “it is used to seal documents.” 

Until this Sunday’s Mass, the pontiff has been wearing his usual episcopal ring. After the rite of presentation of both elements, the College of Cardinals’ act of fidelity to the new pope will take place.

“We will see a representation of the cardinals — on behalf of the entire college — approach the Holy Father to express their reverence, obedience, and ecclesial communion,” Silvestre said.

Proclamation of the Gospel in Greek and Latin

Another of the main features of this Mass marking the inauguration of the pontificate is the proclamation of the Gospel in Greek and Latin, because “the successor of Peter is the pope of the Eastern Catholics and the Latin Catholics.”

After the inaugural Mass at St. Peter’s, Leo XIV will take possession of the other three papal basilicas. On Tuesday, May 20, he will take possession of St. Paul Outside the Walls Basilica. On Sunday, May 25, his second Regina Caeli will be celebrated, and on that same day he will take possession of the basilicas of St. John Lateran and St. Mary Major.

The visit to St. Paul Outside the Walls Basilica on May 20 will focus on the veneration of the tomb of the apostle to the Gentiles: “We will see the pope pray at the tomb of St. Paul.”

Finally, the visit to St. Mary Major Basilica — where Pope Francis used to go and where he is buried — will include Marian devotion. “During his visit to St. Mary Major, Pope Leo XIV will venerate the most famous icon of the city of Rome, the ‘Salus Populi Romani’ [‘Protection of the Roman People’],” Silvestre added.

Universal and diplomatic dimension

In any case, Silvestre emphasized that the Mass for the inauguration of the pontificate will have a clearly universal character because it “emphasizes the Holy Father as the pastor of the universal Church.”

Therefore, in addition to thousands of faithful, heads of state, and diplomatic representatives from various countries will attend. “The Holy See has diplomatic relations with more than 180 countries,” the liturgical expert noted.

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

Pope Leo XIV smiles as a jubilant crowd joins in prayer on Sunday, May 11, 2025. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

Vatican City, May 17, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).

The Mass for the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate will be celebrated on Sunday, May 18, at 10 a.m. Rome time in St. Peter’s Square. The liturgy will mark the official beginning of his ministry as successor of Peter and bishop of Rome. On May 25, he will take canonical possession of St. John Lateran Basilica, the cathedral of the bishop of Rome.

The Mass on May 18 will be celebrated as established in the “Order of Rites of the Beginning of the Petrine Ministry as Bishop of Rome,” a liturgical book approved by Benedict XVI in 2005 and reformed by him in 2013.

“The beginning of the Petrine ministry is what the celebration of the coronation of the pope used to be. Now, popes are no longer crowned with the three-tiered tiara, worn until Paul VI, but rather begin their ministry as the successor of Peter,” Father Juan José Silvestre explained to ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. Silvestre is a professor of liturgy in the University of Navarra’s theology department.

In addition, during this ceremony, Leo XIV will receive the pallium and the fisherman’s ring, two elements with profound theological and pastoral significance that mark the start of his pontificate.

The beginning of the pontificate also includes taking canonical possession of the other three papal basilicas, including St. John Lateran Basilica, the cathedral of Rome and thus of the pope.

The taking possession of St. John Lateran Basilica will take place on May 25 and has a distinctive character. “It defines the Holy Father as such, or rather, it is a reminder that he is the bishop of Rome,” Silvestre noted.

“Just as a bishop, once appointed, has a period of two months to take possession of his cathedral, his seat, so the pope, as bishop, will also be received by the cathedral chapter and once seated in his cathedra [bishop’s throne or chair] in St. John Lateran of the Diocese of Rome, he will receive the expression of obedience and respect from a representative group from the Diocese of Rome,” he noted.

Mass for the inauguration of the pontificate

According to the program, the solemn ceremony on May 18 will begin inside St. Peter’s Basilica, before the Altar of Confession. “Pope Leo XIV will go before the tomb of the Apostle Peter to pray there in silence, moments before the solemn Mass for the initiation of his Petrine ministry as bishop of Rome,” Silvestre explained.

The patriarchs of the Eastern Catholic Churches in communion with Rome will also participate in this moment of recollection and prayer. Afterward, the liturgical procession to St. Peter’s Square will begin, led by the pope from inside the basilica to the outdoor altar where Mass will be celebrated.

During the procession, the “Laudes Regiae” (“Royal Praises”), a solemn litany of the saints appropriate for this occasion, is intoned. “It is a particular form of the Litany of the Saints in which the intercession of the saints is sought, grouped in distinct groups, to pray for the holiness of the pope,” the liturgical expert said.

This ancient liturgical chant accompanied Roman imperial victories in the distant past. It was revived by Emperor Charlemagne on Christmas Day in the year 800 during his coronation as emperor and has since become a solemn hymn for monarchical rites.

Also sung for the kings of France and the sovereigns of England until the Reformation, the “Laudes Regiae” evoke a central theological truth: All earthly power comes from God and must be exercised with humility and responsibility.

The pallium and the fisherman’s ring

One of the central moments of the rite is the presentation of the signs of the Petrine ministry, “the two elements that mark the beginning of the pontificate. Previously, the tiara was placed on the pope, but now the important elements are the papal pallium and the fisherman’s ring,” Silvestre related.

Both elements have profound theological and pastoral significance. “The pallium, which is a kind of stole or scarf, is made of sheep’s wool and represents the pope as a shepherd who carries the flock, that is, the Church, on his shoulders,” the liturgy expert explained.

Regarding the fisherman’s ring, the priest said that “it’s a kind of gold ring on which a representation of St. Peter in his boat and the pope's name are engraved.” This ring also has a practical function because “it is used to seal documents.” 

Until this Sunday’s Mass, the pontiff has been wearing his usual episcopal ring. After the rite of presentation of both elements, the College of Cardinals’ act of fidelity to the new pope will take place.

“We will see a representation of the cardinals — on behalf of the entire college — approach the Holy Father to express their reverence, obedience, and ecclesial communion,” Silvestre said.

Proclamation of the Gospel in Greek and Latin

Another of the main features of this Mass marking the inauguration of the pontificate is the proclamation of the Gospel in Greek and Latin, because “the successor of Peter is the pope of the Eastern Catholics and the Latin Catholics.”

After the inaugural Mass at St. Peter’s, Leo XIV will take possession of the other three papal basilicas. On Tuesday, May 20, he will take possession of St. Paul Outside the Walls Basilica. On Sunday, May 25, his second Regina Caeli will be celebrated, and on that same day he will take possession of the basilicas of St. John Lateran and St. Mary Major.

The visit to St. Paul Outside the Walls Basilica on May 20 will focus on the veneration of the tomb of the apostle to the Gentiles: “We will see the pope pray at the tomb of St. Paul.”

Finally, the visit to St. Mary Major Basilica — where Pope Francis used to go and where he is buried — will include Marian devotion. “During his visit to St. Mary Major, Pope Leo XIV will venerate the most famous icon of the city of Rome, the ‘Salus Populi Romani’ [‘Protection of the Roman People’],” Silvestre added.

Universal and diplomatic dimension

In any case, Silvestre emphasized that the Mass for the inauguration of the pontificate will have a clearly universal character because it “emphasizes the Holy Father as the pastor of the universal Church.”

Therefore, in addition to thousands of faithful, heads of state, and diplomatic representatives from various countries will attend. “The Holy See has diplomatic relations with more than 180 countries,” the liturgical expert noted.

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

The 2010 Chevy Camaro SS and 1967 Chevy Camaro SS being raffled in the Diocese of Gallup’s annual V8’s for Vocations car raffle. / Credit: Photo courtesy of V8’s for Vocations

CNA Staff, May 17, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).

In 2015, Father Matthew Keller, a priest in the Diocese of Gallup, New Mexico, restored a 1972 Chevelle SS and raffled it off with all proceeds going to the education of the diocese’s seminarians. The American-made muscle car brought in over $120,000, and with that the V8’s for Vocations annual car raffle was set in motion.

This year the raffle takes place on June 21 and marks the 10-year anniversary of the raffle. To mark the milestone, not one but two cars will be raffled off — a 1967 Chevy Camaro SS and a 2010 Chevy Camaro SS, both in a special Bumblebee Transformers edition.

Keller said he has always been a “car guy.” While in high school, he attended a vocational school where he learned how to do body work on cars and by the age of 16 he had built his first car.

“I was always an enthusiast,” he told CNA in an interview. “Later on I thought, ‘Well, I wonder why God put me in that situation,’ right? Where I would learn this very particular skill and then never use it again as a priest?”

At the time of the first raffle in 2015, Keller was the director of vocations for the diocese, which began to welcome its first seminarians but had no way to pay for their education. The Diocese of Gallup is the poorest diocese in the United States. Currently, the diocese has 20 active priests, 18 missionary priests, seven priests from religious orders, 24 permanent deacons, and two seminarians who serve 74 churches across an area roughly the size of the state of Illinois.

While discerning how to raise funds, Keller had the idea to use “one of the gifts God gave me” to help support the seminarians. He found volunteers and called up some of his friends — other “car guys” — to work on the restoration of a car that could be raffled off.

Over the years, classic cars and muscle cars from the ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s have been donated by generous individuals to V8’s for Vocations in order to be restored and raffled off, with all of the money from each $25 ticket going toward the funding of seminarian education in the diocese.

Keller said the funds raised are “what puts them [seminarians] through — start to finish.”

“It was crucial that we had to have something that brought in enough money to pay for the program because we just didn’t have it otherwise,” he added.

The program has also been a wonderful form of evangelization, Keller shared. When the program first started, work on the cars was done in the three-car garage behind the Sacred Heart Cathedral.

“I started to notice things, too, like there were men coming around that might not have been so often coming through the front doors of the church but would come in the back doors down to the garage. And so I think it started to take on a little bit of an evangelization aspect as well,” he said. “There were times when I had people ask me for confession from the garage.”

Keller added: “One of our main helpers in the program right now is a convert. I met him and he was interested in what we were doing. We worked around him for a few years and he was very active and helpful and everything, and he was just around all these Catholic men doing this good work and everything, and he decided to join the Church, and so this spring he was baptized.”

In 2021, V8’s for Vocations was blessed to receive a new, larger garage to work in thanks to financial help from local Catholic organizations Southwest Indian Foundation and the Catholic Peoples Foundation. The larger garage has enough space for multiple cars to be worked on at once and a lift was able to be installed.

On May 1, 2021, Bishop James Wall of the Diocese of Gallup blessed the garage and placed it under the patronage of St. Joseph the Worker.

You do not need to live in New Mexico to take part in the V8’s for Vocations raffle. Tickets for this year’s raffle are available here.

The 2010 Chevy Camaro SS and 1967 Chevy Camaro SS being raffled in the Diocese of Gallup’s annual V8’s for Vocations car raffle. / Credit: Photo courtesy of V8’s for Vocations

CNA Staff, May 17, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).

In 2015, Father Matthew Keller, a priest in the Diocese of Gallup, New Mexico, restored a 1972 Chevelle SS and raffled it off with all proceeds going to the education of the diocese’s seminarians. The American-made muscle car brought in over $120,000, and with that the V8’s for Vocations annual car raffle was set in motion.

This year the raffle takes place on June 21 and marks the 10-year anniversary of the raffle. To mark the milestone, not one but two cars will be raffled off — a 1967 Chevy Camaro SS and a 2010 Chevy Camaro SS, both in a special Bumblebee Transformers edition.

Keller said he has always been a “car guy.” While in high school, he attended a vocational school where he learned how to do body work on cars and by the age of 16 he had built his first car.

“I was always an enthusiast,” he told CNA in an interview. “Later on I thought, ‘Well, I wonder why God put me in that situation,’ right? Where I would learn this very particular skill and then never use it again as a priest?”

At the time of the first raffle in 2015, Keller was the director of vocations for the diocese, which began to welcome its first seminarians but had no way to pay for their education. The Diocese of Gallup is the poorest diocese in the United States. Currently, the diocese has 20 active priests, 18 missionary priests, seven priests from religious orders, 24 permanent deacons, and two seminarians who serve 74 churches across an area roughly the size of the state of Illinois.

While discerning how to raise funds, Keller had the idea to use “one of the gifts God gave me” to help support the seminarians. He found volunteers and called up some of his friends — other “car guys” — to work on the restoration of a car that could be raffled off.

Over the years, classic cars and muscle cars from the ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s have been donated by generous individuals to V8’s for Vocations in order to be restored and raffled off, with all of the money from each $25 ticket going toward the funding of seminarian education in the diocese.

Keller said the funds raised are “what puts them [seminarians] through — start to finish.”

“It was crucial that we had to have something that brought in enough money to pay for the program because we just didn’t have it otherwise,” he added.

The program has also been a wonderful form of evangelization, Keller shared. When the program first started, work on the cars was done in the three-car garage behind the Sacred Heart Cathedral.

“I started to notice things, too, like there were men coming around that might not have been so often coming through the front doors of the church but would come in the back doors down to the garage. And so I think it started to take on a little bit of an evangelization aspect as well,” he said. “There were times when I had people ask me for confession from the garage.”

Keller added: “One of our main helpers in the program right now is a convert. I met him and he was interested in what we were doing. We worked around him for a few years and he was very active and helpful and everything, and he was just around all these Catholic men doing this good work and everything, and he decided to join the Church, and so this spring he was baptized.”

In 2021, V8’s for Vocations was blessed to receive a new, larger garage to work in thanks to financial help from local Catholic organizations Southwest Indian Foundation and the Catholic Peoples Foundation. The larger garage has enough space for multiple cars to be worked on at once and a lift was able to be installed.

On May 1, 2021, Bishop James Wall of the Diocese of Gallup blessed the garage and placed it under the patronage of St. Joseph the Worker.

You do not need to live in New Mexico to take part in the V8’s for Vocations raffle. Tickets for this year’s raffle are available here.

If God provides, then why does Murphy’s Law seem to apply even to devout Christians?  Why do bad things happen to good people?  Why so much resistance, even from fellow Christians, when we try to do God’s will?  This article seeks to show how trials fit into Divine Providence and actually lead to joy, love […]

The post God’s Plan for Joy, Love, and Unity appeared first on Integrated Catholic Life™.

Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone at the San Francisco walk for life on Jan. 21, 2023. / Credit: Dennis Callahan

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, May 16, 2025 / 18:03 pm (CNA).

U.S. President Donald Trump has tapped San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone to serve on an advisory board for the country’s newly established Religious Liberty Commission, according to an announcement from the archdiocese.

Cordileone, who has served as archbishop since 2012, is the third member of the Catholic hierarchy to be given a role in the presidential commission’s work. Cardinal Timothy Dolan of the Archdiocese of New York and Bishop Robert Barron of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota, are members of the commission.

“Religious liberty is a critical issue in our time that needs to be defended and addressed,” Cordileone said in a statement. “I am happy to join my brother bishops in providing a Catholic voice on this important topic at a national level.”

Cordileone told CNA he does not know what the specific tasks on the advisory board will be but that one objective is to get the perspective of religious leaders. “It’s important to have a Catholic [voice]” on the advisory board to ensure the Church’s concerns are heard, he said.

The archbishop noted several state and federal attacks on religious liberty in recent years, such as the Affordable Care Act’s contraception mandate that was struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court. He expressed opposition to any possible insurance coverage mandates for in vitro fertilization (IVF), which the Church opposes.

He also raised concerns about a new Washington state law that tries to force priests to violate the seal of confession if they learn about child abuse during the sacrament of reconciliation. In 2019, he noted, lawmakers in California debated a similar bill, which “galvanized Catholics” to oppose its adoption. The U.S. Department of Justice is currently investigating the Washington state law.

Cordileone further emphasized the need to allow religious organizations to continue their services to the poor, the homeless, mothers, migrants, and others “without interference from the government.”

The archbishop said that religious organizations should be “able to serve the community in accordance with our moral values, which we get from our faith,” adding: “We don’t want our government defining for us what our religion is.”

The new commission

Trump established the commission through an executive order on May 1, which coincided with the country’s National Day of Prayer.

The commission is tasked with creating a report on the current threats to religious freedom in the United States and providing strategies to improve legal protections for those rights. The report will also outline the foundations of religious liberty and include guidance on how to increase awareness about the peaceful religious pluralism in the United States.

Some of the key religious liberty subjects the report is tasked with handling include parental rights in education, school choice, conscience protections, free speech for religious bodies, institutional autonomy, and attacks on houses of worship.

The president established the commission because of concerns that some federal and state policies have infringed on those rights.

Other members of the commission include Protestant leaders, such as Pastor Paula White, along with rabbis and imams. Ethics and Public Policy Center President Ryan Anderson, who is Catholic, is also on the commission. Psychologist and television personality Dr. Phil McGraw and renowned neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson are also members.

Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, an evangelical Christian, is the commission’s chairman.