Pope Leo XIV will address the Spanish Parliament, known as the Cortes Generales, on June 8 during his upcoming visit to Spain. This event marks an important step in strengthening diplomatic relations between Spain and the Vatican.

Although previous popes such as Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI visited Spain in the past, this will be the first time a pope addresses a joint session of the Spanish Parliament. The session will include members of the Congress and Senate, and only the Pope and the President of the Congress, Francina Armengol, will speak during the meeting.

The Pope’s visit to Spain is scheduled from June 6 to June 12 and will include several religious and diplomatic activities. Church leaders in Spain have welcomed the visit and described it as a moment of joy and hope for the country and the Catholic community.

During the trip, the Pope will also take part in the inauguration of the tower dedicated to Jesus Christ at the famous Sagrada Família basilica, one of the most well-known churches in the world.

Another important part of the visit will be his trip to the Canary Islands, where he plans to meet people and understand the challenges faced by migrants arriving in the region.

The visit is expected to strengthen ties between the Vatican, the Spanish Church, and Spanish society.

A growing Christian community known as Tavnet is helping people who convert to Christianity from Muslim backgrounds find support and guidance in their faith journey.

The inspiration behind the network comes from a man named Hassan, a former Shia Muslim scholar. He began studying the Bible and Christian theology with the intention of finding mistakes in Christianity. However, his life changed after attending Holy Communion on Christmas morning in 2018. During the Eucharistic celebration, he said he experienced a deep realization about the truth of the Christian faith. That moment eventually led him to embrace Catholicism.

The community is named after Nicholas Tavlik, a Christian martyr who preached the Gospel in Jerusalem in the 14th century. Today, the Tavnet network connects around 300 believers across different parts of the world who have chosen to follow Christ.

Members of the network say that people who convert to Christianity often face serious challenges. These difficulties can include pressure from family members, social rejection, or even threats in some places. Tavnet aims to support such individuals spiritually and emotionally.

The group helps new believers understand the Catholic faith in ways that respect their cultural background. It also offers safe opportunities for prayer and receiving the sacraments. For those who are rejected by their families or communities, the network provides encouragement and spiritual support.

Members say their mission is guided by the love of Christ. Instead of seeing Muslims as enemies, they focus on dialogue, prayer, and friendship. They also see Mary, Mother of Jesus as a bridge between Muslims and Christians.

The memory of the Martyrs of Algeria continues to inspire Christians around the world as an example of faith, peace, and dialogue. While recalling their sacrifice, Pope Leo XIV said their lives offer an important lesson of peaceful coexistence for today’s world.

The martyrs include 19 Catholic men and women who were killed in Algeria between 1994 and 1996 during the country’s civil war. Among them were Pierre Claverie, the Bishop of Oran, and seven Cistercian monks from the monastery of Abbey of Our Lady of Atlas. These religious figures chose to remain with the local people even though they knew their lives were in danger.

Their witness was officially recognized in 2018 when Pope Francis beatified the group, honoring their sacrifice and faith. They are remembered for standing with the people of Algeria during a time of violence and uncertainty.

The Pope said the courage of the monks of Tibhirine and the other martyrs should not be forgotten. Even when faced with the threat of death, they continued to serve the local community and maintain friendship with their Muslim neighbors.

He noted that the martyrs became a bridge between Christians and Muslims. Their lives showed that religion should unite people rather than divide them. The Pope also reminded believers that peace cannot be achieved with weapons but through love, prayer, and forgiveness.

At a time when many parts of the world are facing conflicts, the Pope encouraged people to follow the example of the Algerian martyrs by promoting dialogue and reconciliation.

He invited the faithful to seek the intercession of these martyrs and to work for peace, especially during the season of Lent.

Pope Leo XIV has released a new book on the theme of peace titled Peace Be With You: My Words to the Church and the World. The book is the English translation of the Italian work E pace sia!, which was first published in 2025 by the publishing company HarperCollins.

The 256-page book reflects on the importance of peace in personal life, society, and the world. In the introduction, the Pope writes that conflicts often begin long before weapons are used on battlefields. According to him, division and partiality in human hearts can destroy the dignity of the weak and create the conditions for violence.

The Pope explains that peace begins to weaken when selfishness and greed become more important than the common good. He also quotes Saint Augustine, reminding readers that true understanding among people grows through friendship and respect for one another.

In the book, the Pope describes peace as both a gift from God and a responsibility for human beings. He explains that peace has two dimensions: a “vertical” relationship with God and a “horizontal” relationship with others. These two aspects, he says, cannot be separated.

The Pope also stresses the importance of teaching children the values of respect, dialogue, and compromise from a young age. When people learn to overcome pride, anger, and the desire to dominate others, they can build peace within their hearts.

The book encourages believers and all people of goodwill to work for peace in their daily lives so that a more peaceful world can be created.

A decision by the Archdiocese of Maceió in northeastern Brazil has sparked discussion in the Catholic Church about liturgical rules and Church authority.

The archdiocese announced that the celebration of the traditional Latin Mass, according to the Missal of St. Pius V, will be allowed only in one place — the São Vicente de Paulo Chapel — and only once a week. According to the note released by the archdiocese, any celebration of this form of Mass outside the approved chapel will be considered a “public act of schism.”

The document warns that Catholics who organize or participate in such unauthorized celebrations could face “latae sententiae” excommunication, meaning the penalty would take effect automatically by committing the offense.

The directive was authorized by Archbishop Carlos Alberto Breis Pereira and refers to specific norms in the Code of Canon Law, especially canons 751 and 1364 §1, which deal with schism and the penalties connected to it.

The archdiocese also stated that the limited permission to celebrate the traditional Latin Mass in the chapel was granted with the approval of the Holy See. Because of this, no other priest or group is allowed to celebrate the rite in other churches, private spaces, or organizations without official authorization.

The disciplinary note was signed by the archdiocese’s judicial vicar, José Everaldo Rodrigues Filho.

The announcement has created strong debate among Catholics and Church observers. Some see it as a necessary step to maintain unity and proper liturgical order, while others are questioning whether participation in an unauthorized Mass can be considered an act of schism leading to automatic excommunication.

The bishops in Germany have renewed their request to the Vatican to allow lay men and women to give homilies during Mass. The proposal was discussed and approved during the spring plenary assembly of the German Bishops’ Conference held in Würzburg.

The newly elected president of the conference, Heiner Wilmer, said he will personally present the proposal to the Holy See during his next visit to Rome. The request seeks permission for qualified lay people, officially appointed by a diocesan bishop, to preach during the Eucharistic celebration.

This request is not new. A similar proposal from Germany had already been presented to the Vatican in 2023 but was rejected. However, the German bishops have decided to reopen the discussion, saying the issue is connected to wider debates in the Church about synodality, authority, and participation of the faithful.

The idea comes from decisions made during the German “Synodal Way,” a reform process in the Church in Germany that called for greater involvement of lay people in Church life. Supporters believe that trained lay people could help in preaching and pastoral work.

However, current Church law clearly states that the homily during Mass is reserved only for priests or deacons. According to the Code of Canon Law, the homily is part of the liturgy and is closely linked to the sacrament of Holy Orders.

Because of this rule, any change would require direct approval from the Vatican. Church teaching documents have also stressed that the homily cannot be delegated to others, even if they are well educated or spiritually qualified.

The renewed proposal is expected to lead to further discussions between the German bishops and the Vatican in the coming months.

The General Secretariat of the Synod has released the first two Final Reports of the Study Groups formed after the First Session of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops. These study groups were created by Pope Francis to reflect on important issues facing the Church today.

The newly published reports come from Study Group No. 3 and Study Group No. 4. Study Group No. 3 focused on “The Mission in the Digital Environment,” exploring how the Church can effectively share the Gospel and engage with people in the rapidly growing digital world. The report highlights the importance of responsible communication, digital evangelization, and the need for the Church to be present where people interact online.

Study Group No. 4 worked on “The Revision of the Ratio Fundamentalis Institutionis Sacerdotalis in a Missionary Synodal Perspective.” This report studies ways to improve the formation and training of priests so that they can serve the Church in a more missionary and synodal way. It emphasizes listening, collaboration, and preparing priests to respond to modern pastoral challenges.

The publication of these reports was directed by Pope Leo XIV so that the entire People of God can share in the fruits of the reflections and discussions that took place during the Synod process. Each report is accompanied by a summary available in several languages to help readers understand the key points.

With the submission of these final reports, Study Groups No. 3 and No. 4 have completed their mission and are now officially concluded. The Synod Secretariat will continue releasing the reports of the remaining study groups in the coming weeks, with the next publication scheduled for March 10, 2026.

The executive committee of the Spanish Bishops’ Conference, (CEE, by its Spanish acronym) meeting in Madrid this week, issued an official statement regarding the leaks about its meeting with Pope Leo XIV that recently appeared in various media outlets. The newspaper El País published an article on Feb. 23 titled “The pope warned the bishops that his greatest concern in Spain is the far right that is trying to ‘instrumentalize the Church.’”

The article alluded to alleged comments made by the pope during the meeting with the nine members of the CEE’s executive committee on Nov. 17, 2025, at the Vatican, according to “two sources familiar with what transpired at the meeting.”

Numerous media outlets, based on the article published by El País, replicated the content with similar headlines, and some, such as Vida Nueva, added nuances to what the pope said, citing people who “were present at that meeting.” According to its website, Nueva Vida (New Life) “is a weekly religious news magazine that aims to be a committed voice within the Church.” 

Meanwhile, other media outlets have published information that contradicts the initial reports. Citing “more than two members of the executive committee, and some other prelates familiar with what was said at the meeting,” Religión Confidencial stated that the issue was not raised at the pope’s initiative but rather at the suggestion of one of the Spanish prelates and that the pontiff merely explained a general framework of doctrine regarding the Church’s relationship with politics.

El Debate, more emphatically, headlined: “Clearly, the pope’s greatest concern in Spain is not the far right but evangelization,” citing “episcopal sources who are well aware of what happened at the Vatican on Nov. 17.”

In response to all these publications, the executive committee of the CEE issued a statement on Feb. 24, noting that “Pope Leo XIV received us with special affection, listened to the presentations of all the members of the committee, and encouraged us in the evangelizing mission to which the Church in Spain is committed.”

“The Holy Father also encouraged us to foster communion among all the members and institutions that make up the Church,” the bishops continued. Regarding the issue that sparked the cascade of diverse reports, the CEE explained that “in the dialogue, the Holy Father reflected, among other things, on the risks of subjecting faith to ideologies, without mentioning any specific group.” Finally, the prelates express their “respect for and support of the pope and welcome his call to evangelizing communion in the society in which we live, with all its challenges.”

Hundreds of pilgrims lined up before dawn on Sunday to be among the first to pray before the exposed relics of St. Francis in his basilica in Assisi, Italy.  The saint’s bones will lie in a glass box through March 22 — fully visible outside the stone tomb in a crypt where they usually rest — as hundreds of thousands of people venerate the holy remains.

A highly organized system with QR code reservations allowed approximately 750 people to enter the lower church of the basilica every 30 minutes through most of the day Feb. 22 to view the saint.

Filing past 13th- and 14th-century frescoes by Cimabue and Giotto, pilgrims on the chilly but sunny winter day approached the glass case, protected by a plexiglass barrier. Some were overwhelmed with emotion as they had the opportunity to stand a foot away from what still exists of St. Francis on earth 800 years after his death, according to Jacob Stein.

Stein, the creator of “Crux Stationalis” blog and part of the social media team of EWTN News, was among the first group to arrive at the church. Despite the crowds, he described the atmosphere in Assisi and in the presence of the relics as prayerful and unrushed. Inside the basilica, where cellphone use was forbidden, friars gently recalled the pilgrims to silent recollection when voices got above a whisper. People knelt before St. Francis and kissed the glass and left their written prayers in boxes shared by the Franciscans.

“My prayer afterwards was to the wounds of Christ, to honor them,” Stein said, referring to St. Francis’ stigmata. This moment helps you to understand that the devotion for St. Francis is because of “his conformity to Christ as a complete and utter example to follow.”

A group of bishops from the Texas-Mexico border region, informally known as the “Tex-Mex bishops” met in El Paso, Texas on Friday to discuss immigration and its effects on both the U.S. and Mexico, as well as recent drug cartel-related violence in Mexico.

The meeting of the Tex-Mex bishops is now “the longest-running international gathering of Catholic bishops anywhere in the world,” according to a press release from the Diocese of El Paso on behalf of the bishops. The group has met twice a year for more than 40 years.

At the press conference, San Antonio Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller, the group’s coordinator, said the bishops were concerned with the “plight of our brothers and sisters, migrants, which are on both sides of the border.”

The prelate said immigration enforcement has “changed drastically” in recent years. Because of these changes, García-Siller emphasized that the bishops “need to learn new ways to serve well” migrants and refugees in order to “bring solutions” and “some solace, some peace, some kind of understanding.”

“You need to know that God loves you, and that we love you, too,” he said before beginning to address his listeners in Spanish.

At their meeting, the bishops were guided by the November Special Message from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) on immigration, and the recently released statement of 20 U.S. Catholic bishops from border states and others, who recommended immigration enforcement reforms to the Trump administration.

Bishop Mark Seitz of El Paso said, however, that “bishops are not politicians. That is not our role…our role is to be pastors.” Echoing García-Siller, Seitz said that “Our role is to love the people that we serve. And…it doesn’t matter to us whether they’ve lived here a long time or they’re simply passing through. When we see that other person, we see a person created by God and given a special dignity, a value that is unparalleled and unrepeatable.”