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New York’s Archbishop Prays for Nancy Guthrie and Family

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Why Pretzels Are Synonymous With Lent

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Meet the Priest Serving ‘Even Nonbelievers’ at the Milan Winter Olympics

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Opus Dei leader meets with Pontiff; revised statutes being studied (Opus Dei)

Pope Leo XIV received Msgr. Fernando Ocáriz Braña, moderator of the Prelature of Opus Dei, on February 16.

The prelature submitted revised statutes to the Holy See last year, following Pope Francis’s earlier transfer of the prelature to the purview of the Dicastery for the Clergy. Pope Leo “said that the process of updating Opus Dei’s Statutes continues in its study phase and that no publication date can yet be foreseen,” according to Opus Dei.

In addition, Msgr. Ocáriz discussed Opus Dei’s perspective on “some specific controversies in Argentina”—a likely reference to human-trafficking allegations.

Fresno bishop celebrates Mass in ICE detention center (KERO-TV )

Bishop Joseph Brennan of Fresno, California, celebrated Mass on February 16 in the state’s largest US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility. Seventy detainees attended the Mass.

“These are my people,” Bishop Brennan said. “I need to be there, they need that presence and I want to accompany them.”

“They’re hurting, they’re looking for someone to listen to them, they’re looking for someone to literally bare their soul to,” he added. The bishop added,

Some laity may have charism of authority, Cardinal Ouellet writes in reflection on Roman Curia (CWN)

In an article published by Vatican News, a former prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops offered a theological reflection on lay authority in the Roman Curia.

Vatican unveils initiatives to mark 400th anniversary of St. Peter's Basilica (Vatican News)

The archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica unveiled several initiatives to mark the 400th anniversary of the dedication of St. Peter’s Basilica.

Speaking at a February 16 press conference (video), Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, O.F.M. Conv., discussed an AI translation system, the opening of previously inaccessible areas of the basilica, and a music and lecture series. The anniversary year will culminate on November 18, when Pope Leo is scheduled to celebrate Mass for the anniversary of the basilica’s dedication.

Pope calls for global, preventive approach to health care; decries bombing of hospitals (Dicastery for Communication)

In an address to members of the Pontifical Academy for Life, Pope Leo XIV spoke about the importance of a global, preventive approach to health care.

The academy’s 2026 plenary assembly is devoted to “Healthcare for all: Sustainability and Equity.” In his address, the Pope emphasized “the connection between the health of all and that of each individual,” as well as “the theme of prevention, which also involves a broad perspective, for the situations in which communities find themselves are the result of social and environmental policies, and have an impact on the health and life of the person.”

“Sadly, today we are also faced with wars that impact civilian structures, including hospitals, which constitute the most grave attacks that human hands can make against life and public health,” he continued, adding:

We need to rediscover the fundamental attitude of care as support and closeness to others, not only because someone is in need or is sick, but because they experience vulnerability, the vulnerability that is common to all human beings.

Only in this way will we be able to develop more effective and sustainable healthcare systems, capable of satisfying every health need in a world of limited resources as well as restoring trust in medicine and healthcare professionals, notwithstanding any misinformation or skepticism regarding science.

Promote public order and act with integrity, Pope tells Italy's prefects (Dicastery for Communication)

In a February 16 audience, Pope Leo XIV encouraged Italy’s prefects to promote public order and act with integrity.

“By overseeing social harmony, the Prefect contributes to safeguarding the indispensable prerequisite of the freedom and rights of citizens,” Pope Leo said during the audience, which took place in Clementine Hall of the Apostolic Palace. Public order, he added, “does not concern only the necessary fight against crime or the prevention of harmful riots; it also requires a tenacious commitment against those forms of violence, falsehood and vulgarity that hurt the social body.”

The Pontiff also recalled the historic relations between the offices of prefect and bishop, including St. Ambrose’s service as a prefect before his episcopal consecration. Today, prefects serve as representatives of the national government in each Italian province.

Pope Leo: God's commandments are not oppression, but liberation (CWN)

Pope Leo XIV celebrated Sunday evening Mass at a Roman parish (video) and emphasized that God’s commandments are not a source of oppression, but rather a condition of liberation and flourishing.