Why Tolkien’s ‘The Lord of the Rings’ is a Catholic journey May 28, 2026By Leonard J. DeLorenzo OSV News Filed Under: Books, Feature, News, World News Because J.R.R. Tolkien was a serious Catholic, one might assume that religion would be evident in his literary masterpiece. Yet, there is no religion in “The Lord of the Rings.” There is magic and even glimpses of the demonic, but the world Tolkien creates is a world wholly contained within itself. It is a large world, an old world, even a mythological world in its own way, but everything is within that world.
Monsignor Paul Cook remembered for devotion to parishioners and leadership in Archdiocese of Baltimore May 28, 2026By Susan Hines-Brigger Catholic Review Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Obituaries Monsignor Paul Cook, former longtime pastor of St. Joseph in Cockeysville, was remembered as being deeply attentive, compassionate and personally invested in the lives of the people he served during 37 years at the Baltimore County parish.
Pope Leo calls for ‘openness’ to Church reform that respects tradition May 27, 2026By Josephine Peterson Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News Amid renewed tensions between the Vatican and traditionalist Catholics over the teachings of the Second Vatican Council, Pope Leo XIV defended Church reform as a legitimate process that adapts to current needs while remaining rooted in authentic tradition.
National Eucharistic Pilgrimage highlights Georgia Martyrs ahead of Oct. 31 beatification May 27, 2026By Gretchen R. Crowe OSV News Filed Under: Eucharist, Feature, News, Saints, World News As the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage continued to make its way up the East Coast, it took a day to encounter Friar Pedro de Corpa and Companions, the five Franciscan friars — also known as the Georgia Martyrs — who will be beatified Oct. 31 in Savannah, Georgia.
Grads hear faith-filled words of encouragement, challenges to take into world beyond campus May 27, 2026By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: Colleges, Feature, News, World News From Pope Leo XIV and the highest ranking woman at the Vatican to an ambassador and governor, the 2026 graduates at U.S. Catholic colleges and universities heard faith-filled words of encouragement, challenge and inspiration to take with them into the world beyond campus.
Get ready for the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage’s stops in the Archdiocese of Baltimore May 27, 2026By Catholic Review Staff Catholic Review Filed Under: America's 250th anniversary, Eucharist, Feature, Local News, News Catholics from across Maryland will have an opportunity this June to take part in the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage as it passes through the Archdiocese of Baltimore on its way from Florida, up the East Coast to Maine and then to Philadelphia as part of celebrations surrounding America’s 250th anniversary.
Pope Leo XIV declares the digital age a mission field in ‘Magnifica Humanitas’ May 27, 2026By Ines San Martin OSV News Filed Under: AI, Feature, News, Vatican, World News On May 15, 2026 — the 135th anniversary of “Rerum Novarum” — Pope Leo XIV signed his first encyclical, “Magnifica Humanitas.” The date was deliberate.
Pope Leo calls for ‘educational alliance’ on AI: Here are takeaways for parents, teachers May 26, 2026By Paulina Guzik OSV News Filed Under: AI, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Amid the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence and digital media, Pope Leo XIV is calling on families, schools and policymakers to forge an “educational alliance for the digital age” to protect the dignity and intellectual development of young people.
‘Magnifica Humanitas’ condemns online sexual exploitation as ‘Take It Down Act’ enforcement begins May 26, 2026By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: AI, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical, “Magnifica Humanitas: On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence,” addressed sexual exploitation as one of the human dignity concerns posed by AI.
Encyclical: What Pope Leo thinks about ‘just war’ theory, historic Church apology for slavery May 26, 2026By Josephine Peterson OSV News Filed Under: AI, Feature, News, Vatican, World News In his first encyclical, Pope Leo XIV used a sweeping reflection on artificial intelligence to question whether the Catholic Church’s centuries-old just war framework remains valid in modern warfare and to ask pardon for the church’s role in slavery.
Pope Leo XIV likely to visit Argentina and Uruguay in 1 trip with Peru May 26, 2026By David Agren OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News Uruguay’s bishops have confirmed “there is a high probability” Pope Leo XIV will visit the country in late 2026 and “progress is being made with hope toward its realization.”
Radio Interview: From Russian prince to American frontier priest May 26, 2026By Catholic Review Staff Catholic Review Filed Under: America's 250th anniversary, CR Radio, Feature, Local News, News, Radio Interview In the early years of the Catholic Church in the United States, few figures were as unlikely – or as fascinating – as Prince Demetrius Augustin Gallitzin. Born into Russian nobility with Catherine the Great as his godmother, Gallitzin became a Catholic priest on the American frontier, earning the title “Apostle of the Alleghenies.”
