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In a letter to Pope Leo XIV, World Council of Churches (WCC) moderator of the central committee Bishop Dr Heinrich Bedford-Strohm and WCC general secretary Rev Prof Dr Jerry Pillay extended heartfelt greetings and congratulations. "This moment marks not only a new chapter in the leadership of the Catholic Church but also a renewed opportunity for deepening the bonds of ecumenical friendship and... Read More

I can remember the first time I Read Laudato Si' in May 2015. I was so excited and I marked so many sections for useful quotes that the copy had highlights on nearly every page. I have referred to the document many times since. Laudato Si' named something for us that we have often felt but not had the approved Catholic language to express - a deep solidarity with all God's Creation. And I was hono... Read More

"We are called to bear witness to our joyful faith in Christ the Saviour..." Pope Leo XIV gave this heartfelt reminder during his first Mass as Pope today, with the Cardinal electors and other Cardinals, in the Sistine Chapel, where he had been elected yesterday, as the 267th Pope on the fourth ballot on Thursday afternoon. In his homily, the new Pope called for always better cultivating a persona... Read More

With great joy and deep faith HB Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem on behalf of the bishops, clergy, religious and faithful of the Holy Land, extends heartfelt congratulations to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV on his election as the successor of Saint Peter and Supreme Shepherd of the Universal Church. From the heart of the Holy Land, we offer our prayers, asking the Lord ... Read More

The Catholic Bishops of England and Wales have welcomed the announcement of the new Pope, Leo XIV. Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected by his fellow cardinals yesterday, Thursday 8 May, and told the crowds gathered in St Peter's Square that "evil will not prevail". Pope Leo XIV also said: "Peace be with you. A disarmed, disarming, humble peace. God loves us all, unconditionally." To read the state... Read More

Gospel of 9 May 2025 John 6:52-59 At that time: The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, 'How can this man give us his flesh to eat?' So Jesus said to them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh... Read More

Archbishop Eamon Martin, Primate of All Ireland, currently leading a pilgrimage from the Archdiocese of Armagh to Lourdes, has sent this statement: With great joy, I welcome our new PopeLeoXIV. At the end of February I and the other Irish archbishops - Dermot Farrell, Kieran O'Reilly, Francis Duffy - met with him, and he came across as a humble and respectful listener, wanting to learn as much a... Read More

Leaders around the world have been issuing messages congratulating our newly-elected Pope Leo XIV. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described the election as a "deeply profound moment of joy for Catholics in the United Kingdom and globally." He wrote: "Pope Leo is the first American Pope. This is a momentous moment. As Pope Francis' papacy showed, the Holy See has a special role to play in bringin... Read More

The director of CAFOD, Christine Allen, and national director of Aid to the Church in Need (UK) Dr Caroline Hull, were both in St Peter's Square when the election of the new Pope was announced today. Dr Hull was in Rome with more than 1,000 supporters of ACN from 23 different countries for the charity's jubilee pilgrimage. She said: "We welcome our newly elected spiritual leader, Pope Leo, and we ... Read More

"Peace be with all of you!" - the first words of Pope Leo XIV. The Conclave has elected Robert Francis Cardinal Prevost as the 267th Bishop of Rome. The new pope was announced to the waiting crowds by Cardinal Protodeacon Dominique Mamberti from the central loggia of Saint Peter's Basilica: 'Annuntio vobis gaudium: HABEMUS PAPAM Eminentissimum ac reverendissimum Dominum Robertum Franciscum Sanct... Read More

In his annual publication of prayer intentions for 2025, Pope Francis invited us to pray during the month of May "For working conditions." Due to his death, the format for the video accompanying this prayer intention has changed. It offers for our reflection a few words on this topic from the last three Popes - John Paul II, Benedict XVI and Francis. The Pope Video for May, produced with the sup... Read More

Grant Tungay SJ As the Church entered a period of sede vacante, or the vacant seat of Peter, we felt the weight of the moment. Sometimes we can take the Pope for granted. Pope Francis did so much for us, and he meant so much to us. The period "between popes" allows us to reflect on what we will miss the most. It also provides us with an opportunity to consider our next pope and what we would hope... Read More

The Care of Creation Office of the Bishops' Conference of Scotland have invited Bishop John Arnold, Lead Bishop on the Environment of the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, to share his thoughts on Celebrating the Jubilee Year and the 10th Anniversary of Laudato Si'. Pope Francis' hope was that this Jubilee Year would 'contribute greatly to restoring a climate of hope and trust as a prelude... Read More

Gospel of 8 May 2025 John 6:44-51 At that time: Jesus said to the crowd, 'No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the Prophets, "And they will all be taught by God." Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me - not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father. T... Read More