Pope Leo’s first encyclical June 2, 2026By Michael R. Heinlein OSV News Filed Under: AI, Commentary It can be easy for Catholics to lose sight of the forest for the trees. Sometimes we can lose sight of the bigger global picture, get distracted from what matters most for humanity, even give into the temptation to zero in too much on internal ecclesial life. In more recent years, the Church has also been burdened by internal debates and feuds which distract us from the mission Christ entrusted to us.
‘Magnifica Humanitas’: Reading Pope Leo’s vision between the lines May 25, 2026By Michael R. Heinlein OSV News Filed Under: AI, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Pope Leo XIV’s widely anticipated first encyclical on artificial intelligence is here, and it offers a clear path forward to one of the most pressing challenges of our age. But the 42,000-word “Magnifica Humanitas” also serves as a formal launching point for Pope Leo’s vision for contemporary application of Catholic social teaching.
Invitation to joy May 21, 2026By Michael R. Heinlein OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Eucharist “In the Eucharist, the mysteries of Christ’s life are all found, so to speak, concentrated in the memorial of his sacrifice and in his real presence,” Pope Leo said. “The rosary marks the rhythm of our life, continually bringing it back to Jesus and the Eucharist.”
5 role models we need to help us overcome today’s problems February 26, 2026By Michael R. Heinlein OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Lent, Saints The Lenten season provides us with no shortage of holy men and women to discover and model our lives after. The following five individuals, whose feasts typically appear on the liturgical calendar during Lent, can help us overcome some of the greatest obstacles that we face.
A quick guide to fasting in Lent February 18, 2026By Michael R. Heinlein OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Feature, Lent Lent begins Feb. 18 this year. During this holy and penitential season, fasting is required of adult Catholics between the ages of 18 and 59. The required days of fasting are Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
Leo’s Lenten lessons February 18, 2026By Michael R. Heinlein OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Lent Pope Leo XIV’s first Lenten message is a great gift for those looking for a roadmap to the season.
Who was Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman? February 15, 2026By Michael R. Heinlein OSV News Filed Under: Black Catholic Ministry, Commentary, Saints Servant of God Thea Bowman (1937–1990) was a trailblazer in almost every role: first African-American religious sister from Canton, Mississippi, first to head an office of intercultural awareness, and the first African American woman to address the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
How Archbishop Sheen embodied the 7 key virtues February 14, 2026By Michael R. Heinlein OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Evangelization, Saints With his beatification once again on track, Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen will be memorialized in the Church for reasons far beyond his contributions to the Church’s intellectual life or his evangelical zeal, incredible and legendary though they are.
With Sheen beatification moving forward, can Church learn from unfortunate episode? February 9, 2026By Michael R. Heinlein OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Saints No matter the obstacles, internally or externally, Sheen’s virtue developed and deepened. He grew holier throughout his life, no doubt strengthened by both his own sufferings in the Church and battling his own personal shortcomings, but also on account of habits and practices which nurtured and intensified his faith like the daily holy hour to which he committed as a young priest.
Who was Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen? February 9, 2026By Michael R. Heinlein OSV News Filed Under: News, Saints, World News Once dubbed “God’s microphone,” Archbishop Sheen announced God’s truth in a nonconfrontational, yet no less life-giving, manner to untold millions through radio, print and television.
As Cardinal Pierre turns 80, what comes next? January 30, 2026By Michael R. Heinlein OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Vatican A change is coming in 2026 for the pope’s top man in America. Cardinal Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States, turns 80 Jan. 30, and he is widely expected to have his retirement accepted by Pope Leo XIV in the coming weeks.
Pope Leo’s extraordinary consistory January 19, 2026By Michael R. Heinlein OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Vatican By all appearances, January’s consistory was a first step to returning to a more collegial sense of governance that has largely marked the exercise of papal ministry since the Second Vatican Council.
