The death of a sitting or former pope marks the beginning of a mourning period that follows strict rules of protocol. Most of the activities during this period are ceremonial and highly symbolic. Here’s everything you need to know about what happens when the Pope dies. Immediately After Death The pope’s chief of staff, or … Read more
When white smoke rose above the Sistine Chapel in May 2025 and the name ‘Leo XIV’ was announced to the world, history was made. For the first time in two thousand years of Catholic history, an American had been elected to lead the Church. The man who stepped onto the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica … Read more
On 10 January 2026, Pope Leo XIV did something that surprised even the most seasoned Vatican watchers. Just four days after closing the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope, he announced a new extraordinary jubilee — the Year of St. Francis of Assisi — running from 10 January 2026 to 10 January 2027. It marks the … Read more
If it has been years — or even decades — since your last confession, you are not alone. Millions of Catholics drift away from the Sacrament of Reconciliation, often not because they have lost their faith, but because they are not sure what to say, or they feel too ashamed to go back. Here is … Read more
There’s something distinctive about how the Catholic church views Jesus. While protestant theology focuses solely on his divine nature, Catholicism also honors his human nature and relationships. It emphasizes the important roles that other people played in bringing Jesus to the world. People close to Jesus, including his mother Mary, his foster father Joseph, and … Read more
There isn’t an official ranking of saints in the Catechism nor is there a papal decree declaring some saints more important than others. That said, Catholics worldwide venerate one particular saint more than all the others — the Blessed Virgin Mary. Historically and culturally speaking, Mary is ‘the greatest saint’ in the Catholic Church. Not … Read more
Christians started going on pilgrimages not long after the death and resurrection of Jesus. The first recorded Christian pilgrimage was by Bishop Alexander, a Cappadocian bishop who travelled to Jerusalem in the year 212, less than 200 years after Jesus was crucified. But it was Empress Helena who popularized the practice with her 4th century … Read more
We all know that Jesus had 12 disciples or apostles, and many of us can name all or most of them. In this post, we talk a bit more about each disciple, what their name means and some of the notable things they did. What Are The Names Of The Twelve Disciples? To start, let’s … Read more
A rosary is a powerful sacramental that is important to the Catholic faith. So finding can be symbolic for some people, especially practicing Catholics. In this post, we discuss the spiritual meaning of finding a rosary and what to do if you find one. Why Are Rosaries Important? You may have noticed that Catholic faithful treat … Read more
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