This piece is almost prophetic in the sense that the tea leaves were being read before the pope delivered his Chrism Mass homily directed to priests; Fr. Roger Landry writes about the reform of the priesthood that will likely mark Pope Frances’s time as pope: One of the most urgent reforms facing him is the restoration of the moral credibility of the hierarchy, and especially of the priesthood. The scandals of clerical sex abuse and tales of Vatican corruption have... Read more
Troubled girls at a detention center for juvenile delinquents. In a world where men and women need healing and boys and girls and young men and women need to know there is hope for their lives and a reason for them to go on and seek any good. And so the bishop of Rome, as he likes to refer to himself, washes their feet. Fr. Dwight Longenecker blogs, wisely: by taking a radical step and washing the feet of poor... Read more
When we speak ill of others, we are imitating Judas. We commodify people like Judas did to the Son of God. I’ve been reflecting on Pope Francis’s short homily to the workers at his current home at Domus Sanctae Marthae in the Vatican. (Friends of mine who stayed there during the Ecclesia in America conference we participated in in December really want to know what room he is staying in.) A Dominican priest writes: “Judas’ sin is a lack of... Read more
I’m just catching up on reading and appreciated Kathleen Parker’s recent column on the media and the papal conclave. It is best summed up toward the end: “any evaluation of its present situation must also include recognition of the immense good that individual Catholics and the church do.” Thank you, sister. It’s funny to reflect on how many conversations were had in the time between the pope’s resignation and the election of a new pope — about doctrinal change, about... Read more
Rome — People have fairly widely noticed the new pope kissing babies, stopping for the disabled, and giving a thumbs-up. Did you notice, too, that he checked his watch as he was processing out of St. Peter’s for Mass on Tuesday? The message I took from it was: Respect people’s time. The solemnity, the pomp and circumstance, is important, but people have been lined up all morning — yes, to see the pope, and he did what he could, starting... Read more
One mom’s practical — and mystical — observation: From St. Peter, our first pope and disciple of Jesus, to Pope Francis, our 266th, somehow, through the grace of God and the Holy Spirit, a little preschooler from Wausau, Wisconsin is profoundly united in this historical, spiritual moment, with every single Catholic saint and sinner, who came before her and all Catholics yet to be born. Today, the eyes of the world are all on Rome. I will remind my children... Read more
I will be at the pope’s installation mass Tuesday. Please let me know if you would like me keep your intentions in my prayers. Read more
Rome — To be in St. Peter’s Square Wednesday night was to be at a family reunion. A disperse, divergent family, united by the Gospel, the Sacraments, the tradition, the history. When Pope Francis came out, there was great love. Even before he did … never before have I heard a crowd of tens of thousands so quiet. So hopeful. So at peace. Despite all the problems all around them, and even done by those claiming to be Catholic, there... Read more
I was on FoxNews.com’s live show with Lauren Green earlier today, marking International Women’s Day and the announcement of a papal conclave start date. We talked a bit about women and the Church and what women want. As I indicated in a recent piece, if we look around, there is evidence that women want to hear more about what the Church proposes about nothing less than life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Mary Hasson has offered and continues to... Read more
After his election, Pope Benedict XVI said: The Church today must revive within herself an awareness of the task to present the world again with the voice of the One Who said: ‘I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life.’ In undertaking his ministry, the new Pope knows that his task is to bring the light of Christ to shine before the men and women... Read more
Kathryn Lopez
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