What a gift this pope could be—and is—to our Church. What a blessing to have a pope who has so much to bring to this time.

The general understanding among canon lawyers is that indulgences can still be earned during an “interregnum period” — meaning, during the period between the death or resignation of a pope and the election of his successor — because there does not need to be a reigning pope in order for the faithful to pray for the pope’s intentions.

Those wielding power in these days should not be able to use official days of mourning to try to shape a conclave, especially if it’s true that the conclave is to be exercised in freedom and open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

The rain is just what the rosebush needs.

The treatment of the undocumented — calling them vermin, terrorists, criminals — is hardening us.

Eighty thousand adolescents thought they were traveling to Rome for the much-anticipated canonization of Carlo Acutis. Instead, many were in the Eternal City for the Holy Father’s funeral.

Pope Francis was a helper and he encouraged helpers everywhere.

Throughout his pontificate, with the fire and occasional cantankerousness of some of the early fathers of the church, Pope Francis admonished us to quit worrying about the sins, real and imagined, of others, and to see in them the face of our Savior — and to serve him through serving them.

If the state wants to show that reducing caps for those who sue the state for abuse is not “just about the money,” then Gov. Moore and other state officials need to go on a listening tour and meet face to face with victim-survivors, particularly those who were abused in state-run institutions.

Once upon a time I was a second grader at St. Pius X School in Towson. One day, our teacher, Sister Suzanne, announced to my class that it was time to prepare for the May Procession.