New pope calls for Christian witness in world that finds faith 'absurd'

Where Christians are "mocked, opposed, despised or at best tolerated and pitied" is where the Catholic Church's "missionary outreach is most desperately needed," Pope Leo XIV said in his first homily as leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics.

Pope Leo XIV: Peacemaker and openness in an historic name

Even before he stepped out on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica and spoke May 8, Pope Leo XIV’s choice of a name was a powerful statement.

Chicago native Cardinal Prevost elected pope, takes name Leo XIV

Cardinal Robert F. Prevost, the Chicago-born prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops under Pope Francis, was elected the 267th pope May 8 and took the name Pope Leo XIV.

A morning of black smoke from the Sistine Chapel chimney

The 133 cardinals who entered the conclave failed to reach a two-thirds supermajority of at least 89 votes to elect a new pope during their morning session May 8.

Papal ring, insignia destroyed at cardinals’ final meeting

On the eve of the conclave, the ring and lead seal of the late Pope Francis were destroyed in the presence of members of the College of Cardinals in the Vatican’s New Synod Hall.

Do not be afraid

Somewhere, I have a picture I took of St. John Paul II. It was from his visit to Chicago in 1979, and I was standing at the south end of Lincoln Park across from the cardinal’s residence when I took it. I was 11 years old, there with my mother and brother and my aunt who lived a few blocks away.

Conclave: First ballot fails to elect pope

As expected, the 133 cardinals who entered the Sistine Chapel May 7 failed to elect the next pope on their first ballot.

Synods and synodality: Pope Francis’ method and vision for the church

While Pope Francis often bucked formality and sidestepped some offices of the Roman Curia, one institution he believed in deeply was the Synod of Bishops and — even more — the notion of “synodality.”

Pope Francis’ witness on immigration inspired local ministries

Catholics in the Archdiocese of Chicago who minister to and advocate for immigrants were inspired by Pope Francis’ words and actions, from visiting Lampedusa, Italy, to mourn migrants lost at sea in the opening months of his pontificate, to celebrating Mass at the U.S.-Mexico border, and urging members of the U.S. Congress in 2015 to find an immigration policy that would be “always humane, just and fraternal.”

Ecumenical and interreligious impact of Pope Francis

I was awakened on the morning of April 21 by a text, stunned out of sleep as I read a note of condolences from a Muslim friend on the passing of Pope Francis. Even in death, Pope Francis was revealing his impact on interreligious relations.
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