St. Maria Goretti Parish

Ahead of Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Monaco, the CEO of the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation reflects on its significance and shared values. She highlights the Foundation’s global mission to prevent drowning and promote human development through sport and education.

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Fr. Roberto Pasolini, Preacher of the Papal Household, delivers his Lenten meditation and reflects on the theme “The freedom of the children of God: Perfect joy and death as a sister,” recalling the final stages of the earthly journey of St. Francis of Assisi, who learned “to accept his own fragility” and smallness.

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VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The Palm Sunday procession at the foot of an 85-foot-tall Egyptian obelisk in St. Peter's Square recalls the martyrdom of many early Christians and the fast-thinking foresight of an Italian Renaissance sea captain.

Palm Sunday at the Vatican begins with a procession of young people carrying olive branches and large green palm fronds, followed by clergy holding tall, intricately woven palm leaves. The participants circle the base of the obelisk in the center of the square, while the pope blesses them with holy water.

Starting the ceremony in the center of the square recalls the martyrdom of the early Christians because the 2,000-year-old solid granite obelisk marks the center of a grand arena built in 37 AD by the Roman emperor Caligula. Later, emperors introduced the execution of Christians as a form of entertainment there and St. Peter was among those martyred in the arena. 

To mark the place where many early Christians shed their blood, in 1586 Pope Sixtus V ordered that the same obelisk Caligula brought to Rome from Egypt be erected in the square.

Because the obelisk weighs 327 tons, it took 900 men and 140 horses working 44 winches to move and hoist it into place. Given the difficult and delicate nature of the task, Pope Sixtus forbade onlookers from making any noise as the obelisk was being pulled upright; those who failed to comply would face the death penalty.

According to tradition, Captain Benedetto Bresca, an experienced northern Italian seafarer, was watching in the square that day, and he saw the hemp ropes supporting the obelisk giving way from the excessive strain. 

Defying the pope's orders for absolute silence, Bresca shouted out in his Ligurian dialect, "Aiga ae corde," that is, "water on the ropes" to make them shrink, become stronger and keep them from fraying and snapping. The workers did as they heard and the obelisk did not come crashing to the ground.

Though Bresca was arrested on the spot, Pope Sixtus immediately pardoned him and showed his gratitude by asking him what he would like to have as a reward.

According to legend, Bresca asked that he and his descendants be appointed the official supplier of the pope's palm fronds. His wish was granted and he was allowed to fly the papal naval flag on his boat as it entered the Tiber River when he shipped the palm leaves from the Ligurian coastal city of Sanremo to Rome.

The long tradition of delivering palm fronds from Sanremo to be woven in Rome by Camaldolese nuns ended in the 1970s.

With the help of a palm tree research group, a cooperative in Sanremo revived the tradition in 2003 by supplying "palmurelli," which are palm leaves braided and styled in intricate shapes and patterns, for the Palm Sunday procession.

Other groups in Italy help supply regular palm fronds and tens of thousands of small olive branches for the faithful gathered in the square.

The Most Revd Dame Sarah Mullally will be received by the Pope during her visit to Rome from 25 to 28 April. The announcement comes two days after her official installation as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury and Primate of the Anglican Communion.

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During the Chrism Mass in Timor-Leste's Dili Cathedral, Archbishop Virgílio do Carmo da Silva invites clergy and faithful to rediscover their vocation, unity, and mission rooted in Christ.

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After meeting with Pope Leo XIV, the Presidency of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious speaks to Vatican News about the situation of immigrants in the United States, synodality, and the involvement of women in the Church.

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VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The sanctity of life, from conception to its natural end, must be defended, especially now, in a world marked by "the madness of war," Pope Leo XIV said.

When greeting Polish-speaking visitors during his general audience in St. Peter's Square March 25, Pope Leo highlighted Poland's pro-life celebrations, saying initiatives such as their "Spiritual Adoption of a Conceived Child" were truly needed.

"In a time marked by the madness of war, it is important to defend life from conception to its natural end," he said.

Poland celebrates the Day of the Sanctity of Life every March 25, the feast of the Annunciation, which falls nine months before the Lord's birth Christmas Day and celebrates Jesus' incarnation in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary. 

Similar prayer initiatives exist around the world, including in the United States. The late Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, who is set to be beatified Sept. 24 in St. Louis, also inspired a spiritual adoption program, in which participants pledge to pray daily for nine months for an unborn child whose mother is considering abortion.

Sometimes "spiritual parents" are encouraged to name the unborn child and to pray for him or her daily, and, at the end of nine months, hold a baby shower to collect supplies and money to donate to local pregnancy centers.

Marking the feast of the Annunciation, Pope Leo invited Catholics to follow the example of the Blessed Virgin Mary more closely and to "always be ready to do God's will."

"As we continue our Lenten journey, let us ask the Lord to grant us the grace to imitate Our Blessed Mother in her total 'yes' to the Lord, and so open our hearts to his will for our lives," he told English-speaking pilgrims and visitors.

In his main catechesis, the pope continued his series of reflections on the documents of the Second Vatican Council, specifically, the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, "Lumen Gentium."

Pope Leo explained that the hierarchical structure of the Church is not a "human construct" for fulfilling some kind of organizational function, but is "a divine institution whose purpose is to perpetuate the mission given by Christ to the apostles until the end of time."

The Catholic Church, he said, is "founded on the apostles, whom Christ appointed as the living pillars of his mystical body, and possesses a hierarchical structure that works in the service of the unity, mission and sanctification of all her members."

Since the apostles are called to faithfully preserve Christ's "salvific teaching, they hand on their ministry to men who, until Christ’s return, continue to sanctify, guide and instruct the Church 'through their successors in pastoral office,'" he said. 

While all the faithful make up "the one priesthood of Christ," he said, those ordained ministers who have received the Sacrament of Holy Orders, that is, bishops, priests and deacons, do have a unique ministry.

Endowed with "sacred power" for service in the Church, the bishops, "first and foremost, and through them the priests and deacons, have received tasks ('munera' in Latin), which lead them to the service of 'all those who belong to the People of God,'so that, 'working toward a common goal freely and in an orderly way, [they] may arrive at salvation,'" the pope said, citing the council document.

This apostolic mission is "collegial and communal," reflecting the Lord's desire for "shepherds of His people" who serve with love, he said. That is why St. Paul VI presented the hierarchy as being "born of the charity of Christ, to fulfil, spread and ensure the intact and fruitful transmission of the wealth of faith, examples, precepts and charisms bequeathed by Christ to His Church."

"Dear sisters and dear brothers, let us pray to the Lord that He may send to His Church ministers who are ardent with evangelical charity, dedicated to the good of all the baptized, and courageous missionaries in every part of the world," Pope Leo said.

WASHINGTON - Today, the inaugural meeting was held for the Evangelical-Catholic Dialogue on Immigration (ECDI), an ecumenical undertaking of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and National Association of Evangelicals (NAE). 

The ECDI is being co-chaired by Bishop Brendan J. Cahill, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Migration, and Reverend Walter Kim, president of the NAE. In addition to the co-chairs, the ECDI is comprised of five members from each tradition, as well as organizational observers. 

The initiative builds on a long history of collaboration between the USCCB and NAE, including a joint report released one year ago on the possible impacts of a policy of mass deportation on Christian families living in the United States. Since the release of that report, Catholic and evangelical leaders have grappled with many of the same pastoral challenges related to ongoing immigration enforcement efforts, such as an increase in fear and anxiety among members of their congregations. The USCCB and NAE have both addressed these issues separately.   

In describing the effort, Bishop Cahill stated: 

“I view the ECDI as a means of growing in Christian unity with our evangelical brothers and sisters, while also furthering our shared goal of bringing the message of the Gospel to bear on one of the most pressing issues of our time. Whatever theological differences exist between us, Catholics and evangelicals across our country are navigating many of the same complex realities—political and social—and the issue of immigration is an important example. Together, we place our hope in Jesus Christ, and we seek to live out his teaching in relation to this challenging topic. 

“Our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, has emphasized dialogue as the key to peace, understanding, and fraternity, especially between different faith traditions. In seeking to live that out through the ECDI, I am deeply grateful to my co-chair, Reverend Kim, for his leadership and willingness to collaborate in this way and for the commitment of all those participating.”

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VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Leo XIV advanced the sainthood cause of Father Edward Flanagan, the Irish-born founder of a pioneering home for at-risk boys in the United States, recognizing that he lived the Christian virtues heroically.

The Vatican announced March 23 that the pope authorized the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints to promulgate the decree, a key step on the path to sainthood.

Born in 1886 in Ballymoe, Ireland, Father Flanagan immigrated to the United States, first moving to New York. He contracted double pneumonia during his first year of seminary and due to "weak lungs," doctors told him he would have to leave for at least a year, according to the Father Flanagan League Society of Devotion website. 

He moved to Omaha to live with his brother, who was also a priest and his sister, who was his housekeeper. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Omaha. Initially working with men who were experiencing homelessness, Father Flanagan became convinced that the roots of homelessness often began in childhood and could be addressed early in life.

“There are no bad boys,” he said. “There is only bad environment, bad training, bad example, bad thinking.”

In 1917, he founded Boys Town near Omaha, Nebraska, creating a community for orphaned and at-risk boys that broke with the traditional model of reform schools and orphanages. The village included its own student-run government and civic structures, along with nationally recognized music and sports programs.

Father Flanagan was also known for his forward-looking commitment to racial and religious inclusion. He welcomed Jewish and Black youths at a time of widespread segregation, drawing threats from the Ku Klux Klan, and insisted that boys of different faiths be free to pray according to their traditions.

During World War II, he opposed the internment of Japanese Americans and provided housing for nearly 200 displaced Japanese-Americans at Boys Town. 

Father Flanagan died in 1948 in Berlin. Today, Boys Town now welcomes girls, and it has expanded across the states, including in Florida, Iowa and New York.

His work gained national attention in the 1938 film “Boys Town,” with Spencer Tracy winning an Academy Award for his portrayal of the priest.

In the same Vatican announcement, Pope Leo XIV also recognized the heroic virtues of Father Henri Caffarel, founder of the Équipes Notre-Dame movement; Sister Barbara Stanislava Samulowska, a member of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul; Spanish Sister Maria of Bethlehem of the Heart of Jesus Romero Algarín, a member of the Congregation of the Handmaids of the Divine Heart; and Giuseppe Castagnetti, a 20th century Italian layman and father.

The pope also approved a decree recognizing "the offering of life" of Cardinal Ludovico Altieri, a 19th-century bishop of Albano, Italy. The "offering of life" (oblatio vitae) category indicates a candidate who heroically offered his life out of loving service to others. He died in 1867 after coming to the aid of his parishioners, administering the sacraments and running emergency care during a severe cholera epidemic in Albano. 

The Catholic Church recognizes several paths in sainthood causes. Most commonly, a candidate is declared “venerable” after the recognition that a Servant of God heroically lived a life of Christian virtues. A miracle attributed to the candidate's intercession is normally required for beatification, with a second miracle needed for canonization. 

Martyrs, those killed out of hatred for the faith, may be beatified without a miracle.

The third, less common way, is called an equivalent or equipollent canonization: when there is evidence of strong devotion among the faithful to a holy man or woman, the pope can waive a lengthy formal canonical investigation and can authorize their veneration as saints.

In 2017, Pope Francis introduced a new, fourth pathway to sainthood, known as the “offering of life,” recognizing those who freely gave their lives for others; it also requires a miracle for beatification.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Once a young teenager wearing a cap and gown for his eighth-grade graduation photo in Chicago, today the famous former-student posed for a reunion picture wearing his papal zucchetto and cassock at the Vatican.

Pope Leo XIV, who graduated from the lower school of St. Mary of the Assumption on the city's South Side in 1969, greeted and reminisced with 10 of his 82 former classmates after the general audience in St. Peter's Square March 18.

"Sorry! I'm nervous," laughed Sherry Stone (née Blue) after a small sign saying, "God bless you Pope Leo," slipped from her grasp when she reached out to shake the hand of her former classmate -- Robert F. Prevost.

The pope proudly held up their old graduation photo as they posed for another photo together, almost 60 years later.

"Here he is, our friend, the pope," Jerome Clemens told the Vatican newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano, pointing to the black-and-white image of the 13-year-old Prevost. Clemens then showed the back of the class photo with Prevost's old autograph and his new one that was signed, "Leo XIV." 

Among the small gifts they brought was the 2025 fall issue of "Air Chicago," a color magazine produced for passengers coming through Chicago's O'Hare and Midway airports, whose cover story was the election of a pope from Chicago.

The group came to Rome and the general audience to show their camaraderie and embrace once again their former classmate -- now the 266th successor of St. Peter, the newspaper reported.

John Riggio told the newspaper about the close-knit atmosphere at the school, saying it was more like a family.

In fact, the pope's mother, Mildred Agnes Prevost, worked there as a librarian and was also actively involved with the school and parish, Stone said. 

She told The Lansing Journal last May, right after her classmate's election by the College of Cardinals, that she had remembered him making a comment when they were young, "that he wanted to grow up to be pope."

"When he was in the conclave, I thought, 'Could it be him? Could Bob be the new pope? No, probably not,'" Stone had told the Journal. "When I saw that it was him, I was just amazed. I was crying tears of joy."

She had said he was kind, humble and well-liked by his classmates. "He was a super nice guy, but not nerdy."

Following his middle school graduation, Prevost went on to attend the Augustinians' St. Augustine Seminary High School near Saugatuck, Michigan, where he graduated in 1973, followed by enrolling in Villanova University, an Augustinian college located near Philadelphia, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics in 1977.