While much was done during Pope Francis’ pontificate to tackle the global abuse crisis — a crisis moving at differing speeds in the church, depending on the country — one significant element is still pending and left for Pope Leo XIV to implement. That element is transparency.
Father Rupnik’s mosaics disappear from Vatican News
In a quiet but powerful move, Vatican News has begun removing artwork by Father Marko Rupnik — the once-renowned mosaicist now accused of abusing over two dozen women — from its website. His mosaics, long used to mark major feast days online, were recently replaced or left blank — a shift many survivors say is long overdue.
Angelicum rector: Pope’s election ‘greatest mercy God has ever shown on Catholic Church in America’
While no one from then-Father Prevost’s time at the Angelicum is still teaching there, Father White is proud that Leo XIV is the second contemporary pope to be an Angelicum graduate in recent decades.
As poor rejoice, cardinal says pope’s electors ‘weren’t dealing with world,’ but ‘with the kingdom of God’
The needy of the Eternal City were glad to have their cardinal back from conclave, Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, sharing news about the new pontiff — who was “chosen by the Holy Spirit,” the prelate said.
‘Doctrinal clarity, strong governance, thoughtful appointments’ among Weigel’s hopes for new papacy
OSV News asked George Weigel — the American biographer of the pope from Poland, St. John Paul II — about what the first few days of papacy tell us about Pope Leo XIV, how as an American missionary he can influence the world and about his own hopes for the papacy.
Advocates of abuse victims are rooting for a Filipino pope — and it’s not Cardinal Tagle
While Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle is topping the list of “papabili” in the world press, it’s another Filipino that would please advocates and victims of clerical sexual abuse. His name is Cardinal Pablo Virgilio Siongco David of Kalookan.
Challenges new pope will face — and qualities experts say he’ll need
The challenge of leading a Catholic flock of 1.4 billion, from that moment on, will be on his shoulders. From theologians to Vatican insiders, there’s agreement that the next pontiff must balance deep faith with sharp governance.
Gudziak: Pope Francis gave a gift to the world through surprise Trump-Zelenskyy encounter
In a powerful, unexpected moment at the Vatican, U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met inside St. Peter’s Basilica on April 26 — just ahead of Pope Francis’ funeral Mass.
Rome’s needy bid farewell to pope who lifted them up from misery
The poor, Cardinal Krajewski confirmed, will also be present on the footsteps of the Basilica of St. Mary Major where Francis will be buried April 26 following the funeral Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica.
Father Zollner: Listening to victims a trademark of Pope Francis’ pontificate
One of the world’s top experts on clerical sexual abuse, Jesuit Father Hans Zollner, said Pope Francis will be remembered as a pontiff who made listening to victims of abuse one of the trademarks of his pontificate — a habit that made him a model for other bishops and leaders in the church.
He gave a face to the faceless: Francis is remembered as the pope of the poor
In the last years of his papacy, the world saw the more serious, concerned and suffering face of Pope Francis. But with one group he was always beaming, always smiling and always cheerful: the poor.
Cardinals recall Pope Francis as pope with a sensitivity to normal life
Cardinals around the world are remembering Pope Francis not just as a pope, but as a pastor deeply connected to real life. Some also expressed their hopes for the next pope.