Last week, the Universal Church gathered as white smoke rose from the Vatican. It’s hard to put into words the joy and unity of that moment—especially for us as Americans. For the first time in history, the Holy Father is one of our own:...
Vivat Papa Americanus! I was away from Rome on Easter break when I received the news of Pope Francis’ passing, and I was shocked since he had given his blessing to the whole world just the day before in celebration of the resurrection of Our L...
What is a papal inauguration, and how is it different from a coronation? The papal inauguration is the formal Mass that marks the beginning of a newly elected pope’s ministry. Unlike medieval times when a p...
In 1917, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared six times to three shepherd children—Lucia dos Santos and her cousins, Francisco and Jacinta Marto—in Fatima, Portugal, from May 13 to October 13. During these apparitions, Our Lady gave them mess...
