Thursday, June 18, 2026

Pope Leo recognizes causes for Beatification and Venerable

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Pope authorizes beatification of 20 Spanish martyrs

Pope Leo XIV approves the beatification of 20 priests martyred in hatred of the faith during the Spanish Civil War and recognizes the heroic virtues of five Servants of God whose lives were marked by missionary zeal, charity, prayer, and faithful service to the Church.

By Edoardo Giribaldi

Pope Leo XIV has authorized the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints to promulgate decrees recognizing the martyrdom of 20 diocesan priests from the Spanish islands of Ibiza and Formentera, who were killed in hatred of the faith during the Spanish Civil War. Their recognition clears the way for their beatification.

The Pope gave his approval during an audience on 18 June with Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints.

The Holy Father also recognized the heroic virtues of five Servants of God, who are now declared Venerable: Mother Clara Andreu y Malferit, a 17th-century religious from Mallorca; Father Júlio Emílio Alberto De Lombaerde, a Belgian missionary and founder of several religious congregations; Sister Maria Petra Giordano, a Dominican nun from Italy; Mother Maria Teresa Tallon, founder of the Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate in the United States; and Mother Maria Agnese Tribbioli, founder of the Pious Workers of Saint Joseph.

Martyrs of Ibiza and Formentera

The 20 priests, led by Juan Torres Torres, were killed between August and September 1936 amid the anti-religious persecution that accompanied the Spanish Civil War. At the time, they represented nearly half of the local clergy on Ibiza, where increasing restrictions on religious worship had already forced the diocese to suspend public processions for security reasons.

The persecution intensified through acts of violence and desecration and sought to eradicate the Catholic identity of the islands. Juan Torres Torres, the youngest among the group, was remembered for his humility and generosity. The memory of the martyrs has remained alive within the local Church for decades.

Mother Clara Andreu y Malferit

Born in Mallorca in 1596, Mother Clara Andreu y Malferit entered the Monastery of Saint Bartholomew in Inca at a young age and spent her life in prayer and service. Known for profound mystical experiences, she responded with exemplary obedience and humility when Church authorities examined them. Her reputation for holiness endures, and the monastery remains a place of pilgrimage.

Sister Maria Petra Giordano

Born in Naples in 1912 and later raised in Rome, Sister Maria Petra Giordano discerned her vocation at the Basilica of Santa Maria sopra Minerva before entering the Dominican Monastery of Santa Maria del Sasso in Tuscany. Appointed novice mistress at a young age and later elected prioress, she dedicated her life to Gospel living and the formation of religious sisters. Having died in 2006, her cause benefits from numerous eyewitness testimonies.

Mother Maria Teresa Tallon

Born in New York State in 1867 to Irish immigrant parents, Mother Maria Teresa Tallon felt called to consecrate her life to God from an early age. After joining the Sisters of the Holy Cross, she served as a teacher and cared for the sick, even contracting diphtheria while assisting patients during an epidemic in San Francisco.

In 1908, while serving in Manhattan, she founded the Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate, envisioning a community of women dedicated to bringing Christ's presence into homes and neighborhoods. Her life remained centered on God and on the education and care of those most in need.

Father Júlio Emílio Alberto De Lombaerde

Born in Belgium in 1878, Father Júlio Emílio Alberto De Lombaerde, a member of the Missionaries of the Holy Family, devoted his life to missionary work and founded three religious congregations. After receiving missionary formation with the Missionaries of Our Lady of Africa, he was sent to Brazil in 1912, where he dedicated himself to pastoral ministry, education, and catechesis, particularly in remote regions of the Amazon.

He became a Brazilian citizen in 1941 and often expressed his deep affection for the country he had made his home. He died in a car accident on Christmas Eve, 1944. His life was marked by apostolic zeal, perseverance in prayer, and unwavering trust in God.

Mother Maria Agnese Tribbioli

Born in Florence in 1879, Mother Maria Agnese Tribbioli overcame a difficult childhood before embracing religious life. She later founded the Congregation of the Pious Workers of Saint Joseph in the Diocese of Imola.

During the Second World War, she promoted numerous charitable initiatives, including sheltering a group of Jews despite the dangers involved. For her courageous witness, she was later recognized as Righteous Among the Nations. Inspired by the simplicity and poverty of Saint Francis of Assisi, she dedicated her life to serving those in need and died in 1965 at the age of 85.

Wednesday, June 17, 2026

Saint of the Day for Thursday

St. Gregory Barbarigo

St. Gregory Barbarigo was born in 1625, of a very old and distinguished Venetian family. A brilliant student, he embraced a diplomatic career and accompanied the Venetian Ambassador, Contarini, to the Congress of Munster in 1648. Then he became a priest and was soon thereafter consecrated as the first Bishop of Bergamo by Pope Alexander VII. Later on he was elevated to the rank of Cardinal and also given authority over the diocese of Padua. He guided his flock with pastoral wisdom and deep understanding. St. Gregory Barbarigo worked unceasingly in carrying out the reforms set forth by the Council of Trent. Through his efforts the seminaries of both Bergamo and Padua were substantially enlarged. At Padua he also added a library and a printing press. He died in 1697. His feast day is June 18th.

Wednesday Papal General Audience 06.17.2026

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Pope at Audience: 'I was comforted by the faith and joy of the Spanish people'

During his Wednesday General Audience, Pope Leo XIV reflects on his Apostolic Journey to Spain, which saw him visit Madrid, Barcelona, and the Canary Islands.

By Deborah Castellano Lubov

“The people of God gave me great comfort through their joyful expression of their faith and affection.”

Pope Leo XIV made this observation during his weekly General Audience in St. Peter’s Square, as he reflected on his Apostolic Journey to Spain, visiting Madrid, Barcelona, the Abbey of Montserrat, and the Canary Islands.

READ POPE LEO XIV'S FULL GENERAL AUDIENCE

The Holy Father recalled that after a long journey in four African countries, this time he found himself in a European country with an ancient and very rich Catholic tradition, which, despite significant social and cultural changes, welcomed him with enthusiasm and readiness to listen.

For this, Pope Leo said he thanks God and the entire Spanish people, the King and civil authorities, the Bishops and Church communities, also for the opportunity to confirm the faithful and, as Bishop of Rome, encourage them to overcome every form of division and conflict by always promoting communion, dialogue, and unity in diversity.

“This,” Pope Leo explained, “is the very service of the Successor of Peter, a service which finds a specific expression in Apostolic Journeys, each time adapted to the ecclesial and social situations of the countries visited.”

Warm welcome ‘not to be taken for granted’

During his trip to Spain, the Pope said he observed with joy how people of every age and situation were looking forward to the visit of the Pope and welcomed him with great warmth.

“This fact," Pope Leo underlined, "was not to be taken for granted, and is worthy of reflection.”

While he acknowledged that such participation naturally expresses, first of all, the faith of the Spanish people, he said at the same time, "it reveals a widespread need to find unity on a true and deep foundation, one that is neither ideological nor based on partial interests.”

That foundation, Pope Leo underscored, only Christ can ensure.

A heritage to safeguard with care

The Holy Father then retraced the experience, recalling the liturgical celebrations in Madrid and Barcelona, and praying the Holy Rosary at the Abbey of Montserrat.

"This encounter of ancient and modern, Catholic tradition and contemporary culture," he reflected, "enabled me to perceive first-hand the very character of Europe, its inestimable wealth, as a living reality, not a thing of the past.”

The Pope said this “a heritage” that must be safeguarded with care, so that it may be invested in today’s global world with its momentous challenges: peace, integral ecology, equitable and sustainable development, and respect for human dignity.

Church's recognition of challenges

The Pope framed these as challenges already clearly recognized by the Second Vatican Council and revisited by the subsequent Magisterium, including in his own Encyclical Magnifica humanitas, which aims to safeguard the human person in the age of artificial intelligence.

“I grasped, through the various meetings,” Pope Leo noted, “the need to hear, through the Pope’s voice, the Gospel of hope for today’s humanity, sorely tried by the negative consequences of a deceptive model of development.”

Edifying testimonies

The Holy Father also thanked God for moving encounters and edifying testimonies.

In particular, he recalled the faces of the little ones and the poor whom he met, as well as "the child who read his letter in the parish, victims of abuse who asked to be heard, inmates waiting for him in prison, young people full of anxiety and aspirations, and migrants in reception centers in the Canary Islands."

Turning to the final leg of the journey, the Pope recalled the reality of the local Church in the Canary Islands that welcomes a large number of forced migrants, coming mainly from Africa.

“We know that the phenomenon of migration is complex and requires organic and coordinated action plans. But this interpretation,” he said, “opens up a different, broader perspective.”

Yet, he noted, “it enables us to understand how we are called to reread the Gospel in today’s world, exchanging with each other the gifts of our respective cultures, and in particular the fruits produced in them by the fruitfulness of Christ’s message.”

Lift your gaze to the Lord

One of these fruits, he said, is precisely dialogue between people and between peoples and the encounter in a spirit of fraternity.

“This path is not easy," Pope Leo admitted, stressing that "it requires goodwill and God’s help," but "leads to the civilization of love.”

Finally, Pope Leo XIV recalled that the motto of the Journey was “Lift up your gaze!” (cf. Jn 4:35) and extended this invitation to all people to lift their gaze to the Lord.

Tuesday, June 16, 2026

Pope Leo XIV releases Message for 2026 Day for Life

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Pope prays for parents mourning loss of child in Day for Life Message

Pope Leo XIV offers prayers and encouragement to parents grieving the loss of a child in a Message for the 2026 Day for Life, highlighting the dignity of every human life from conception.

Vatican News

Pope Leo XIV has offered prayers and spiritual closeness to parents grieving the loss of a child, particularly an infant, in a message sent for the 2026 Day for Life to be celebrated by the Bishops’ Conferences of England and Wales, Scotland, and Ireland.

The Pope’s message was conveyed by Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, in a letter addressed to Archbishop John Sherrington ahead of the annual observance on 21 June.

“His Holiness was pleased to learn of the theme chosen for this year, focused on the wonder of the full humanity of the child in the womb, as well as of your efforts to support mothers and fathers who have suffered the loss of an infant,” Cardinal Parolin wrote on the Pope's behalf.

“From the very moment of conception every human being is endowed with an infinite dignity simply by virtue of existing, of having been willed, created and loved by God,” the message states, citing his recent encyclical Magnifica humanitas. This divine love, the Pope notes, gives meaning to every human life and opens the path toward “a new fullness in eternity.”

Comfort for grieving parents

In a particular way, Pope Leo assured parents mourning the death of a child of his prayers and closeness, and he expressed the hope that those carrying the burden of such grief may encounter support within the Christian community.

“It is likewise his hope that these parents find the support they need in the Church community and especially in a life nourished by prayer and by the Sacraments,” he writes.

Witnessing the gift of life

Concluding the message, Pope Leo thanked all those involved in promoting and defending the dignity of human life through the Day for Life initiative and imparted his Apostolic Blessing on all participants.

Celebrated annually by the Catholic Bishops’ Conferences of England and Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, Day for Life seeks to promote the dignity of every human person and to encourage support for those facing difficult circumstances at every stage of life.

Pope Leo XIV expresses hope that the Iran/USA agreement will lead to true, lasting peace; addressed other topics as well

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Pope: May US-Iran memorandum be "truly a solution to the war"

Pope Leo answers questions from journalists on topics including the US-Iran war and his recent visit to Spain.

Vatican News

Speaking to journalists outside the papal residence in Castel Gandolfo, Pope Leo reflected on recent Memorandum of Understanding between the US and Iran, his recent trip to Spain, the topic of ‘remigration’, and the SSPX’s impending episcopal consecrations.

Standing outside Villa Barberini, where he had, as usual, spent his Tuesday resting and working, the Pope stopped to speak with the journalists who had been waiting for hours behind barriers.

He began with those from the Spanish media, which had been prepared for the press conference on the return flight from Tenerife but had gone unanswered due to a technical failure that forced Leo to return on a different aircraft.

US-Iran war

Asked about the recent agreement between the United States and Iran, Pope Leo said “thank God, there is at least this Memorandum that they will officially sign on Friday.”

“There will still be several points to be established,” the Pope added, “but it is always better to do so through dialogue, through negotiation, rather than returning to war.”

The Holy Father expressed his hope that the Memorandum might be "truly a solution to the war, that the war is really over and that we can move forward for the good of all. Eliminate nuclear weapons, yes, seek the good of all peoples, seek how to solve the problems also at the economic and social level that have been created in this time.”

Trip to Spain

The Pope also addressed questions on his recent trip to Spain, stressing “the enthusiastic response of so many people in all the places.”

“Every moment,” Pope Leo said in Spanish, “was well prepared. We must also say that the bishops, with so many laypeople, so many volunteers, in all the places worked to prepare everything, and it was marvelous.” Based on what he observed, Leo XIV felt he could declare that the people were “very happy.”

A journalist noted that it is not an easy time for Spanish politics. “I do not want to interfere in Spanish politics, just as I do not in other countries”, Pope Leo said, before highlighting “the invitation to dialogue, the invitation to listen to each other, and not always to criticize and insult one's opposition without reaching agreements for the common good”.

Migration and ‘remigration’

On the same note, the Pope returned to the issue of migration, a topic he addressed repeatedly during the trip, especially in Gran Canaria and Tenerife, after the entry into force of the EU Migration and Asylum Pact.

The Holy Father once again called for “respect for the person”: “Many times we do not recognize the reasons why these people had to leave their countries. So many reasons: violence, war, conflicts. And so simply saying, ‘Let’s send them away, so we can wash our hands of the problem’ does not seem to me the most Christian response. We must truly respect people—look at the cases, and above all treat people as people with respect.”

Divisions in the Church

The Pope was also asked about the case of the Society of Saint Pius X, which has said that on July 1st it will carry out four episcopal consecrations without papal mandate, despite the Holy See’s warning about the risk of schism.

On this topic, the Pope spoke of the communication between the Society and the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith: “We are still considering making another appeal, to say ‘do not do this, let us try to live in communion in the Church.’ But it is their choice. We must realize what it means for them and for the Church. Certainly, division among Christians is always a painful point, but they refuse to accept certain fundamental elements of the Church, starting with various points of the Second Vatican Council. If they make that choice, I am sorry, but we must move forward.”

Holidays and future travels

The final question was more personal: when will the Pope begin his summer vacation and how will he spend it? “A little rest, a lot of reading, reflection, preparation for what comes next. There is always work as well…”.

Asked whether he would rest, the Pope replied: “Let’s hope so!” Asked next about the possibility of his making a trip to Mexico and Peru, the land where he was a missionary for over twenty years, Pope Leo smiled: “We’ll see.”

Pope Leo XIV continues Francis' legacy on speaking out about climate crisis

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Pope: The environmental crisis is a facet of the socio-economic crisis

In a video message for the Tenth Austrian World Summit, Pope Leo XIV highlights faith, hope and love as themes that can help reflect on the climate crisis, which goes beyond simple environmental matters, but touches on social, ethical and economic issues.

By Isabella H. de Carvalho

In order to effectively respond to the climate crisis, we must address social and ethical issues at the foundation of our society, such as the equal dignity of all human beings and the value of human rights, Pope Leo XIV said in a video message released on Tuesday, June 16.

“The environmental crisis ‘is not an isolated issue, but rather the ecological aspect of the contemporary socio-economic crisis’,” Pope Leo said, quoting his recently published encyclical, Magnifica humanitas, on safeguarding the human person in the time of artificial intelligence.

The Pope underlined how faith, hope and love are three themes that can help guide reflections on how we respond to the environmental crisis.

The Pope’s video message was addressed to the Tenth Austrian World Summit, an annual conference held in Vienna which aims to offer a platform for solutions and ideas to contrast the climate crisis.

It is taking place on June 16 and is organized by the Schwarznegger Climate Initiative, launched by actor and former Governor of California, Arnold Schwarznegger.

Climate crisis a manifestation of the socio-economic crisis

Pope Leo XIV recalled how in Magnifica humanitas he highlighted the importance of “the equal dignity of all human beings and the value of fundamental human rights, both of which can be adequately ensured through the proper implementation of the principles of the common good, the universal destination of goods, subsidiarity, solidarity and social justice.”

“These essential personal and social matters are intimately connected to the climate crisis, which, as I said, is one manifestation – and a critical one – of the wider socio-economic crisis,” the Pope noted.

“Indeed, unless they are addressed, no technical solutions for protecting the environment will have a chance of achieving their desired end.”

In this regard, he insisted on the need to pay particular attention to the poorest and those most vulnerable to environmental degradation when developing and reflecting on solutions.

Faith helps protect life and nature

Pope Leo XIV pointed out how this multifaceted approach that acknowledges the interconnectedness of various issues affecting our societies is rooted in a faith perspective.

“Those who believe that our world was created by God and is inherently good are compelled to assume an even greater responsibility to care for creation, since this is the requirement of their faith,” he explained.

“Living our vocation to be protectors of God’s handiwork is essential to a life of virtue,” he continued, citing Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical, Laudato Si’.

Pope Leo also noted how many different religions understand creation as a divine gift and insist on the sacredness of life, thus “religious faith reinforces the overall desire to protect life and care for nature.”

Hope is a powerful driving force

With regards to hope, Pope Leo recognized that due to challenges and tensions facing the world today, there is “a growing awareness that peace is threatened by a lack of respect for creation, the plundering of natural resources and a progressive decline in the quality of life due to climate change.”

He also noted how in negotiations on climate issues, there is often the “fear of changing course, fear of losing power and fear of uncertain outcomes.”

In this respect, he urged international cooperation, “cohesive and forward-looking multilateralism,” and encouraged overcoming these fears.

The Pope emphasized that religious leaders and communities can play an important role in this, as “the Bible is full of examples of how people’s fears can be overcome by hope.”

“Despite the naysayers or cynics, hope can be a powerful driving force,” the Pope reiterated.

“It is not merely desirable but also genuinely possible that the progress at COP30 can be followed up with a just transition toward societies where the common good takes precedence over profit, and economic models are rooted in solidarity and human dignity.”

However, he noted that this requires wealthier countries to support poorer countries financially, and also to help these states by creating “a new person-centered international financial framework.”

Building a civilization of love

Lastly, Pope Leo XIV focused on the theme of love and the importance of “cultivating a genuine culture of care for our environment, which includes what Pope Francis called ‘civic and political love’.”

“In order to make society more human, more worthy of the human person, love in social life – political, economic and cultural – must be given renewed value, becoming the constant and highest norm for all activity,” which will then help devise larger strategies to counter the climate crisis, Pope Leo said, citing Laudato Si again.

Pope Leo XIV concluded by expressing his hope that the participants in the conference may promote a culture of care and contribute to building a civilization of love.

Monday, June 15, 2026

Pope Leo XIV releases annual message for Grandparents & the Elderly Day

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Pope to grandparents and elderly: God's loving eyes are upon you at all times

The Vatican releases Pope Leo XIV's Message for the Sixth World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly, to be held on the fourth Sunday of July, on the theme “I will never forget you (Is 49:15)."

By Deborah Castellano Lubov

“Through the prophet Isaiah, the Lord promises that he will never forget any of us. He assures us that he has engraved our faces on the palms of His hands (cf. Is 49:16) and that His love is greater than a mother’s love for her child (cf. Is 49:15).”

This comforting reminder was offered at the beginning of Pope Leo XIV’s Message for the Sixth World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly, to be held on the fourth Sunday of July, on the theme “I will never forget you (Is 49:15),” which the Vatican released today.

READ POPE LEO XIV'S FULL MESSAGE FOR SIXTH WORLD DAY OF GRANDPARENTS AND THE ELDERLY

In the text, Pope Leo says that the prophet gives us a glimpse of an intimate and intense dialogue in which God addresses, in familiar terms, each person individually and the people as a whole, saying that even today, we can read these words as referring to each of us.

At any age, beloved sons and daughters of God

These words that fill us with comfort and hope, he said, are the answer to an agonizing feeling that troubles the heart: “The Lord has forsaken me; my Lord has forgotten me” (Is 49:14).

The Pope acknowledged that quite a few elderly people share the painful feeling of being forgotten, especially as they experience loneliness or sometimes being reduced to a bed number or illness.

Pope Leo said that the celebration of the World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly is an opportunity to rediscover that the Church is called to be a mother to all, and that at any age, “it is always possible to recognize ourselves as sons and daughters of God.”

Also an invitation to the young

The Holy Father also invited everyone, especially the young, "to revive the beautiful custom" of visiting their grandparents, elderly relatives, and even those who have no one to visit them.

“Bring them, through this message and your presence, the closeness and affection of the Pope,” he said, as he called on loved ones to offer their grandparents and their elderly loved ones a tender and affectionate encounter.

He reiterated that the Church understands the suffering of her elderly members. It is a joy, at any age, but especially when we are no longer young, to discover, as Blessed John Paul I said, that we are the recipients of God’s “undying love,” that He “always has His eyes open on us, even when it seems to be dark,” and “is our father; even more, He is our mother.”

Invitation to return to the arms of God

Even if it does not come naturally to think this way, Pope Leo pointed out that the truth remains that in old age, we do not cease to be sons and daughters.

The invitation to return to the arms of God, he said, remains worthwhile at any age.

For many, the discovery of God’s tenderness takes place over the course of their lives, sometimes even in its final stages.

Never too late to turn to Him

Pope Leo observed that more so than in the past, it is increasingly common to reach old age without having had a genuine experience of faith.

In spite of this, he said, God still draws close to us.

“It is never too late to begin turning to Him. It can be a great gift for everyone,” he said.

Born anew in old age

“I would like to say to you: do not be afraid of fragility!” he said, noting that in old age, one may be “fragile” but at the same time “called.”

He stressed that a man and a woman can, in fact, be born anew in old age.

The Holy Father noted that in this time, so harshly marked by the violence of war and social unrest, many wonder what the world in which their grandchildren will grow up will be like, and thus called on elderly people to join him in praying earnestly that peace may soon come to the world.

“He never forgets us”

Finally, the Holy Father thanked all elderly people for supporting him every day with their prayers, especially when they recite the Holy Rosary.

“I return this gratitude from the bottom of my heart,” he said, while noting he leaves them with this prayer: “May the Lord always renew us in faith, hope and love — He who never forgets us!”