Rich Raho

Senate confirms CatholicVote’s Brian Burch as US Ambassador to Vatican ShareThe Senate Saturday afternoon voted 49-44 to confirm CatholicVote’s cofounder and former longtime president as the nation’s Ambassador to the Holy See. In a press release…

As Jubilee of Youth Vigil took place, Brian Burch was confirmed as US Ambassador to the Holy See in a 49-44 Senate vote; Burch is a Chicagoan like Leo. He is co-founder of Catholic Vote whose organization was a harsh critic of Francis’ pontificate since Day One. catholicvote.org/senate-confi...

Pope has returned to Vatican; before leaving he told youth: “Take this joy, this enthusiasm to the whole world. You are the salt of the earth, the light of the world: bring this greeting to all your friends, to all the young people who need a message of hope. Thank you all, and have a safe journey!"

Pope: “We are with the young people of Gaza, we are with the young people of Ukraine, with those of every land bloodied by war. Young people, you are the sign that a different world is possible: a world of fraternity and friendship, where conflicts are not resolved with weapons but with dialogue.”

‪“There is a burning question in our hearts, a need for truth that we cannot ignore, which leads us to ask ourselves: what is true happiness? What is the true meaning of life? What can free us from being trapped in meaninglessness, boredom and mediocrity?” - Pope Leo

Pope urges 1 million youth to “look upwards,” because “buying hoarding and consuming are not enough;” Leo adds: “We are not made for a life where everything is taken for granted and static, but for an existence that is constantly renewed through gift of self in love.” www.vatican.va/content/leo-...

At Leo’s side for the first 100 days, Pope’s secretary Fr. Edgar has been missing from the papal scene since Leo’s return from Castel Gandolfo; some observers suggest he is in Peru for a break but nothing is confirmed. At the same time, Papal MC Ravelli was conspicuously absent from tonight’s vigil.

‪“When a tool controls someone, that person becomes a tool: a commodity on the market and, in turn, a piece of merchandise. Only genuine relationships and stable connections can build good lives.” - Pope Leo

Pope Leo at Youth Jubilee: “Reflect on your way of living, and seek justice in order to build a more humane world. Serve the poor, and so bear witness to the good that we would always like to receive from our neighbors.” (Full Text) www.vatican.va/content/leo-...

Pope Leo arrives via helicopter at Tor Vergata this evening for vigil with youth. The Vatican has estimated about 800,000 people are in attendance.

In scene reminiscent of traditional World Youth Days, Leo leads the way to stage bearing Jubilee Cross.

Being dubbed “Catholic Woodstock,” Leo expected to chopper in to Tor Vergata at 8:30pm local/2:30pm ET. There he will lead a prayer vigil with 1 million youth, including q & a with 3 reps chosen beforehand.. 1 of the questions will come from a US pilgrim…stay tuned!

Bishop Brennan of Wheeling-Charleston in new Pastoral Letter: “Our Church looks at the person, not his or her legal status, and, following Christ’s teaching and example, reaches out to help the immigrant. A person is more important than legal status.”

Bishop Brennan of Wheeling-Charleston in new Pastoral Letter: “Our Church looks at the person, not his or her legal status, and, following Christ’s teaching and example, reaches out to help the immigrant. A person is more important than legal status.”

Meeting with friends of Egyptian pilgrim who died suddenly en route to Rome, Pope says, “our life is not superficial nor do we have control over our own lives nor do we know as Jesus himself says, neither the day nor the hour when for some reason our earthy life ends.” www.vatican.va/content/leo-...

This morning, a delegation from the Vatican Museums presented Pope Leo with a a painting of Saint Augustine, the work of an anonymous 18th-century Roman artist, restored by the Painting and Wooden Materials Restoration Laboratory.

Pope Leo XIV: 'We all find true joy and happiness in Jesus Christ' - Vatican News Pope Leo XIV welcomes artists ahead of their animating the Jubilee Youth Vigil at Tor Vergata on Saturday evening, and invites them to remind young ...

Pope to artists for Youth Vigil tonight: “I wanted to have this small, let’s say 'family-like,' meeting with you this morning, being aware of the beauty, the art, the music—all your talents—that you offer to the great crowd we have here in Rome these days." www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news...

The Holy Father learned with deep sorrow the news of the sudden passing of eighteen-year-old Pascale Rafic, who was traveling to Rome from Egypt to participate in the Jubilee of Youth.

“These also will answer: ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’”

Important to remember the historical significance here especially when assessing crowds, enthusiasm and the like. Most pilgrims are in Rome now because of the Jubilee, while, at the same time, there happens to be a new Pope.

Pope Francis was the first pontiff since 1700 to die during a Jubilee Year. In 1700, Pope Innocent XII proclaimed the Jubilee Year, but was too ill to open the Holy Door and eventually died. Pope Clement XI was elected and concluded the Jubilee.

Woman rebuts Peruvian diocese's assertion that future pope investigated sex abuse claims She and two sisters met with then-Bishop Robert Prevost of Chiclayo, Peru, in 2022 to report allegations.

A Peruvian woman says Pope Leo XIV, as a bishop in Peru, failed to investigate her abuse claims against two priests—a charge the Chiclayo Diocese disputes. She spoke publicly in Chicago for the first time since the pope's election. www.ncronline.org/news/woman-r...

San Diego and San Bernardino, both suffragan dioceses of LA, are led by bishops who have taken bold action regarding immigration. Pham of San Diego has accompanied migrants to court hearings, Rojas dispensed his diocese from Sunday Mass after ICE entered 2 church properties.

Today’s meeting comes as Gómez sets up fund to assist migrants afraid to leave their homes, while in Orange County priests have begun to celebrate home Masses due to fear of ICE raids.

Pope Leo has received LA’s Archbishop Gomez, along with Bishop Vann of Orange, California in private audience this morning.

Happy Feast of St. Ignatius Loyola, Founder of the Society of Jesus! May you find God in all things!

St John Henry Newman set to become newest Doctor of the Church - Vatican News Pope Leo paves the way for St John Henry Newman to be formally declared a “Doctor of the Church”.

Pope Leo paves the way for St John Henry Newman to be formally declared a “Doctor of the Church.” www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news...

Pope Leo: “We live in a society that is becoming ill due to a kind of ‘bulimia’ of social media connections: we are hyperconnected, bombarded by images…We are overwhelmed by countless messages that stir within us a storm of contradictory emotions.” www.vatican.va/content/leo-...

Every pontificate has a defining moment, and Leo’s “moonlight speech” tonight was one of them. Unscripted and energized by thousands of young people in the Square, Leo let his guard down, and the crowd roared and embraced him. It’s true, the papacy shapes the person, not the other way around.

In breakout moment, Leo goes off cuff to thousands: “Good evening! You are the salt of the Earth, the light of the world! The world needs hope, you are this sign of hope! Let’s walk together with our faith in Jesus Christ, and our cry must also be for peace in the world. We want peace in the world!”