In his weekly General Audience, Pope Leo XIV continued his series of catecheses on Gaudium et Spes, Vatican II's Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World. Reflecting on the constitution's own meditation on the source of human dignity, he said that "The Holy Spirit, who gives life in Christ, makes us free and constantly assures us of our dignity as children of God, delivering us from fear and guiding us towards the ultimate goal, that life in its fullness beyond death which Christ has promised us." ...read more

In this month of September, our Holy Father invites us to pray for the care of water. As we know, water is the most basic need in our lives. ...read more

Let us pray for a just and sustainable management of water, a vital resource, so that everyone may have equal access to it. ...read more

Murray Watson looks back on a giant of the ecumenical movement, Cardinal Augustin Bea, SJ, and his tireless efforts to deepen the Catholic Church's relationships with fellow Christians. ...read more

In his weekly General Audience, Pope Leo XIV began his series of catecheses on Gaudium et Spes, Vatican II's Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World. He said that the Council's description of the Church's "pastoral character as constitutive...is not a question of naïve optimism, but rather a renewed fidelity to the Mystery of Christ who, by becoming incarnate, chooses to share our life: He made Himself 'like His brethren in every respect' (Hebrews 2:17; cf. 4:15) and took upon Himself the consequences of sin, dying 'as a ransom for all' (1 Timothy 2:6)." ...read more

On August 29, Catholic and Orthodox Churches, as well as liturgical Protestant communities, commemorate the Beheading of St. John the Baptist. The Gospels of Mark (6:17-29) and Matthew (14:3-12) mention that the desert ascetic, baptist, and prophet was martyred on the orders of King Herod Antipas at the request of Herodias, his brother’s widow, and her daughter. ...read more