Indeed, “in times of trouble” it’s only natural for Catholics to resort to petitioning their own Mother Mary. And five years ago — on May 1, 2020, during the first terrifying stages of the COVID-19 pandemic — the bishops of the United States did just that.

Although conventional wisdom says he is too young to become pope, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, began appearing on media lists of possible future popes soon after he was created a cardinal in September 2023.

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle is a popular speaker who is comfortable in several languages, has traveled extensively and is known for his focus on evangelization and care for the poor and for immigrants.

The face of the Catholic Church’s push to reestablish its relationship with the world of culture, a 59-year-old Portuguese poet and theologian, is among the youngest of the cardinals mentioned as a contender to become the successor of St. Peter.

The U.S. Supreme Court on April 30 heard oral argument in a case concerning the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City’s effort to establish the St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School, which would be the nation’s first publicly funded Catholic charter school if it survives the challenge.

As successors to the apostles, members of the College of Cardinals are called to follow the example of Christ who came to serve and not be served, the subdean of the college said.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., suggested April 29 the budget blueprint President Donald Trump calls “one big, beautiful bill” could be used as a vehicle to “redirect funds away from big abortion and to federally qualified health centers.”

The conclave to elect a new pope, scheduled to begin May 7, is governed by two texts: a rule book and a prayer book.

The College of Cardinals confirmed that 135 members are eligible to participate in the conclave, the Vatican announced, and they asked the faithful to accompany them in prayer as they prepare to elect the next pope.

Katie McMahon helps other women navigate questions like these as the co-founder of Shiloh IVF Ministry, a ministry that offers hope and healing those impacted by IVF. Her story is one of many: Estimates suggest more than 1 million frozen embryos exist in the United States alone.