Catholic immigration advo-cates said they were “disturbed” by a Supreme Court order allow-ing the Trump administration to end legal protections from depor-tation for about 350,000 Vene-zuelan immigrants. The Vene-zuelans, a typically Catholic population, were permitted to remain in the United States without risk of deportation due to dangerous conditions in their homeland. The high court’s May 19 order paused a ruling by a federal judge in San Francisco that had blocked Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem from terminating the protections granted under a program known as Temporary Protected Status.
Anna Gallagher, executive director of the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, also known as CLINIC, said in a May 20 statement, “We have said it before: arbitrarily revoking the legal status of hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people who expected to be able to remain safely in the United States is cruel and unwarranted.”
Earlier in May, the Trump administration asked the Supreme Court to revoke TPS for the group of Venezuelan immigrants. Noem “vacated” a renewal of their TPS status in January, but those plans were blocked by a judge when those impacted by the decision argued proper procedures were not followed by the government.

YouTube has removed a channel that amassed nearly a million views by publishing sermons supposedly delivered by Pope Leo XIV—sermons he never gave. The channel, titled «Sermons of Pope Leo XIV,» had gained a following of almost 18,000 subscribers before it was taken offline on May 21. Each of its 26 videos featured AI-generated texts delivered in a synthetic voice crafted to sound like the newly elected pontiff. While some scripts loosely drew inspiration from actual addresses, none were authentic papal messages.
Jack Malon, a spokesperson for YouTube, confirmed the takedown in comments to Aleteia. “We terminated the channel in question for violating our policies on spam, deceptive practices, and scams,” he said, noting that additional channels operated by the same creator were also removed. YouTube declined to identify those additional channels but emphasized that attempts to bypass bans by creating new accounts would be met with further enforcement.
The now-defunct channel had clearly struck a chord with unsuspecting viewers. Despite a disclaimer embedded by YouTube warning that the content had been digitally manipulated or generated, many comments revealed that users took the messages at face value.
The phenomenon underscores the increasingly complex challenges faced by digital platforms in an age when artificial intelligence can convincingly replicate public figures, including religious leaders. In the post-truth era, the boundary between reality and simulation is becoming harder to police, especially when deepfakes tap into the emotional and spiritual needs of believers.

Pope Leo XIV met with the College of Cardinals on May 10 for his first official address since his election, outlining key priorities for his pontificate in the age of artificial intelligence while emphasizing continuity with his predecessors and commitment to the Church’s social teaching.
The U.S.-born pontiff, speaking in Italian, explained his choice of papal name, noting that Pope Leo XIII “addressed the social question in the context of the first great industrial revolution” with his encyclical Rerum Novarum. “In our own day, the Church offers to everyone the treasury of her social teaching in response to another industrial revolution and to developments in the field of artificial intelligence that pose new challenges for the defence of human dignity, justice, and labour,” Pope Leo said.
The 69-year-old pope began the meeting with a prayer, expressing his gratitude to the cardinals while acknowledging his own limitations in assuming the papacy. “You, dear cardinals, are the closest collaborators of the pope. This has proved a great comfort to me in accepting a yoke clearly far beyond my own limited powers, as it would be for any of us,” he said. The pope specifically thanked Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals, and Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, for their service during the sede vacante period.
In his address, Pope Leo emphasized his commitment to continuing the Church’s path following the Second Vatican Council, specifically highlighting Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium as providing “masterful and concrete” direction.
The pope identified several fundamental principles to guide his pontificate, “the return to the primacy of Christ in proclamation; the missionary conversion of the entire Christian community; growth in collegiality and synodality; attention to the sensus fidei, especially in its most authentic and inclusive forms, such as popular piety; loving care for the least and the rejected; courageous and trusting dialogue with the contemporary world.”
After his prepared remarks, the Holy Father engaged in a dialogue session with the cardinals, discussing “advice, suggestions, proposals, concrete things” raised during the pre-conclave meetings. Pope Leo concluded by quoting St. Paul VI’s hope expressed at the beginning of his pontificate in 1963, praying that the Church would “pass over the whole world like a great flame of faith and love kindled in all men and women of goodwill.”

The official coat of arms and motto of Pope Leo XIV were made public on May 10. Rooted in Augustinian spirituality, the symbols the pontiff chose represent a sign of continuity with his episcopal past, confirming elements already adopted during his consecration.
The papal coat of arms is presented with a shield divided diagonally: in the upper section, on a blue background, stands a white lily, a symbol of purity and spiritual dedication. In the lower section, on a light background, is depicted a heart pierced by an arrow, resting on a closed book. The latter element recalls the Order of St. Augustine and, in particular, evokes the intense conversion experience lived by the saint from Hippo.
The symbol is inspired by the Latin expression “Vulnerasti cor meum verbo tuo”  – “You pierced my heart with your Word” – uttered by St. Augustine to describe the transforming effect of the scriptures on his life.
Leo’s motto, visible under the shield, is “In Illo uno unum.” The phrase, taken from a sermon by St. Augustine on the Exposition of Psalm 127, means “Although we Christians are many, in the one Christ we are one.” This choice highlights the pontiff’s fidelity to the Augustinian heri-tage, but calls for spiritual unity of the church under one shepherd.
In his first speech as pope, Leo expressed his desire to lead God’s people by following the example of St. Augustine, whose thought and spirituality profoundly influenced his religious journey.

In his first address to international media on May 12, Pope Leo XIV thanked journalists for their service to the truth and for communicating peace in difficult times.
“We are living in times that are both difficult to navigate and to recount. They present a challenge for all of us, but it is one that we should not run away from,” Leo said in the Pope Paul VI Audience Hall on May 12. “On the contrary, they demand that each one of us, in our different roles and services, never give in to mediocrity.” The pontiff, elected May 8, also emphasized the important role of communications for promoting peace. ”In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus proclaimed: ‘Blessed are the peacemakers’ (Mt 5:9). This is a beatitude that challenges all of us, but it is particularly relevant to you, calling each one of you to strive for a different kind of communication, one that does not seek consensus at all costs, does not use aggressive words, does not follow the culture of competition, and never separates the search for truth from the love with which we must humbly seek it,” Leo said.
“Peace,” he continued, “begins with each one of us: in the way we look at others, listen to others, and speak about others. In this sense, the way we communicate is of fundamental importance: We must say ‘no’ to the war of words and images, we must reject the paradigm of war.”
According to the pope, one of the most important challenges for media today is promoting communication that moves away from the confusion of the “Tower of Babel” and the “loveless languages that are often ideological or partisan.”
“Your service, with the words you use and the style you adopt, is crucial,” he underlined. “As you know, communication is not only the transmission of information, but it is also the creation of a culture, of human and digital environments that become spaces for dialogue and discussion. In looking at how technology is developing, this mission becomes ever more necessary.”

In a jubilant atmosphere, more than 10,000 faithful gathered in front of the Basilica and Cathedral of Santa María de Chiclayo in Peru to celebrate a thanksgiving Mass for the election of Pope Leo XIV, who was bishop of the diocese for more than eight years.
The celebration vibrated with joy following the election of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost Martínez — both a U.S. and Peruvian citizen — as successor to Peter on May 8. Dozens of local priests joined Chiclayo Bishop Edinson Farfán at the celebration. The plaza in front of the cathedral was outfitted with an outdoor platform and altar for the occasion, surrounded by musical bands and giant banners with the image of the pontiff and phrases from his first papal greeting from St. Peter’s Square.
In his homily, Farfán spoke of the profound love the new pontiff has for Peru — a country he first visited in 1985 — and, in a special way, for the Diocese of Chiclayo, which he pastored from 2014 to 2023. The bishop of Chiclayo noted the deep spiritual connection then-Bishop Prevost had with the expressions of faith of the Peruvian people: from his devotion to the Señor Cautivo of Ayabaca and the Señor de los Milagros to his love for the Peruvian saints: Rose of Lima, Martin de Porres, Francis Solano, John Macias, and Toribio de Mogrovejo.
“His beloved Diocese of Chiclayo, as he called it in his first address, was for him a school of faith, of closeness, of humanity,” he affirmed, adding that this city in northern Peru “is a simple town that he loved deeply and that he continues to carry in his heart.” Farfán also announced that the diocese will extend an “invitation for him to visit us” and said that “without a doubt, Chiclayo will be in his heart.” The prelate further emphasized the pastoral profile of Pope Leo XIV, describing him as “a shepherd with the smell of sheep,” deeply human, sensitive to the suffering of the most vulnerable, and close to the needs of the people.

May 12, 2025 marks Vesak or Buddha Day, a major Bu-ddhist festival commemorating the birth, enlightenment, and death of Buddha. To comme-morate the festival, the Dica-stery for Interreligious Dialogue sent a message to all Buddhists around the world entitled, “Buddhists and Christians in Liberating Dialogue for Our Time.”
Signed by the Prefect of the Dicastery, Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad, and the Dicastery’s Secretary, Monsignor Indunil Janakaratne Kodi-thuwakku Kankanamalage, the message highlights the common ground between Catholicism and Buddhism.
The message begins by extending heartfelt greetings and wishes to everyone celebrating Vesak Day, before noting that “Our greetings this year are further enriched by the spirit of the Jubilee.” Re-flecting on the Second Vatican Council Declaration, Nostra Aetate, the Dicastery reaffirms that “‘the Catholic Church rejects nothing of what is true and holy’ in other religions.” This Declaration – which cele-brates 60 years in 2025 – encourages an ongoing commitment to dialogue.
The Dicastery’s message points out that Buddhism’s path to liberation “finds deep resonance in our shared pursuit of truth and fullness of life.” It explains that in the current situation in the world, “marked by division, conflict, and suffering, we recognize the urgent need for a liberating dialogue.” But it warns against keeping dialogue at a merely verbal level. The Vatican instead encourages Catholics and Buddhists to take words and make them into “concrete actions for peace, justice and dignity.”
In light of the injustice, conflict, and uncertainty rampant in the world today, the messages emphasizes that “we remain convinced of the profound capacity of religions to offer meaningful responses to ‘the unsolved riddles of human existence.’” It highlights how dialogue between the two religions can enable them to share their wisdom and address the current global challenges.
The message reiterates the idea found in Nostra Aetate – still relevant today – of working towards “unity and love among all peoples and nations” and “appreciating our differences.” To close, the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue expresses its hope that “through dialogue, our respective traditions may offer worthy responses to the challenges of our time.”

Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who had been a top contender to be pope, wrote a letter to his hometown newspaper praising the new pontiff, Pope Leo XII. ”I believe that Pope Leo XIV, in addition to the grace of the Lord, will find in his great experience as a religious and a pastor the resources to effectively carry out the ministry that the Lord has entrusted to him,” he wrote in a letter to the Il Giornale di Vicenza.
Parolin expressed deep gratitude for the warm welcome given to the new pontiff, recalling his emotion at the response inside the conclave after then Cardinal Robert Prevost accepted his election. ”I believe I am not revealing any secret,” Parolin wrote, “if I say that a very long and warm applause followed that ‘acceptance’ that made him the 267th Pope of the Catholic Church.” 
Parolin, who served as secretary of state for nearly 12 years under Pope Francis, said Pope Leo XIV was capable of facing with balance the challenges the church faces. ”What struck me most of all about him was the serenity that shone from his face in such intense and, in a certain sense, ‘dramatic’ moments, because they totally change a man’s life,” Parolin said. The cardinal said he collaborated with Prevost during his tenure as head of the Dicastery for Bishops.
Parolin also said he was confident in the new pope’s abilities, highlighting his gifts of listening, balance and deep knowledge of ecclesial situations. Parolin said Leo’s connection with the spirituality of St. Augustine is a strength for the new papal ministry. The letter concluded with an invitation to prayer and trust, stressing that the election of Leo was the fruit of a path guided by the Holy Spirit. “We are close to him with our affection, our obedience and our prayer,” he said.

Filipino cardinals said Pope Leo XIV will continue the legacy of Pope Francis, and that there would be “no turning back” from the late Pope’s focus programmes for the poor. “The programmes may evolve, and they may take different expressions. But there’s no turning back from that,” said Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelisation, in a post-conclave press conference on 9 May.
Cardinal Tagle said Leo, formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost, was himself “exposed to situations of poverty, climate change, indigenous peoples, and refugees” when he was a missionary and later a bishop in Peru. “I cannot imagine how, as Pope, he would lose that compassion. It might even deepen further,” said the 67-year-old Tagle.
The Bishop of Kalookan Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, 66, said a majority of the cardinals “would like to see a continuity of the spirit of the papacy of Pope Francis without being a clone, without being a photocopy”. David said he saw in Leo the characteristics of Francis, whom he described as “a pope of mercy and compassion” who sought to build a listening, welcoming Church. “I’m full of hope in my heart that this is going to be a really good papacy,” said David, who sat beside Tagle in the same press conference.
While the Filipino cardinals showed optimism about Leo, they also voiced disappointment about the disinformation that spread during the conclave. One rumour that circulated in Italian reportage suggested Tagle was a frequent gambler in Macau and was part of a billionaire network.
“I haven’t even been to Macau,” Tagle said, laughing before turning serious. “Of course, as a person, I am hurt when there are such comments,” he said. “That’s how I learned: don’t be afraid that God will be your judge. Because in the end, only he is the judge whom you can depend on.”
The cardinal said he follows the Bible instruction to pray for those who persecute them, and not to repay evil with evil. When asked if he plans to complain to Italian authorities, Tagle said he had made complaints in the past, but nothing happened.

At the very moment the white smoke appeared from the Sistine Chapel, some 900 sister leaders from around the world had just received communion. They had spent the last few days together at Ergife Palace Hotel, the site of the five-day general assembly for the International Union of Superiors General, or UISG. Throughout their plenary, the sisters had prayed for the cardinals in the papal conclave.
And on the evening of May 8, one sister decided to check her phone after the Eucharist. Soon, joyous commotion rippled through the hotel ballroom at the news of a new pope – communal elation erupted with dancing and singing, even before the assembled learned that Cardinal Robert Prevost had become pope. ”There was a rumble on the side – obviously someone had seen the white smoke,” recalled Sr. Josephine Kane, superior general of the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions New Zealand. “Then suddenly the whole group erupted into singing ‘Alleluia,’ the musicians were beating the drums and singing, and it was just fantastic.”
For most of the sisters, the serendipitous timing of this long-planned UISG assembly, held May 5-9, coinciding with a papal election was impossible to shake – that it was no accident but rather a sign of the Holy Spirit at work.
Many bolted for St. Peter’s Square at the news of white smoke, making their way into the crowds just in time to witness the pope’s first blessing. Others chose to stay at the Ergife, savouring the moment as a group and watching it unfold on television.
But whether they encountered Pope Leo XIV from afar on the square or via the big screen, all saw a fellow religious who understands community; a missionary who shares the values of Pope Francis; a friend to Catholic sisters; and the leader many said is the one the church needs now.
“He understands religious life, and he knows women religious,” said Sr. Pat Murray, executive secretary of UISG, highlighting that he comes from the Augustinian tradition, one shared with many sisters.
Leo’s brief time as a cardinal – Francis appointed him in 2023 – already demonstrates a promising record when it comes to relationships with women in the church. Murray, an Irish Loreto sister, noted that the then-Cardinal Prevost chose three women – one of whom is a Catholic sister – to be part of the commission that appoints new bishops.