The New Pope Delivers a Consistent Message on Gaza: Ceasefire! The New Pope Delivers a Consistent Message on Gaza: Ceasefire!
Pope Leo XIV has echoed his predecessor’s urgent call for an end to the assault that has killed more than 52,000 Palestinians.
May 13, 2025 / John Nichols
Pope Leo XIV: A Less Reformist Version of Francis? Pope Leo XIV: A Less Reformist Version of Francis?
All signs point to the newly elected pontiff’s continuing in much the same vein as his predecessor, but with a more moderate approach.
May 9, 2025 / Pablo Castaño Tierno
Pope Leo XIV Sent an Unmistakable Signal About His Commitment to Social Justice Pope Leo XIV Sent an Unmistakable Signal About His Commitment to Social Justice
The new pope has taken a name that recalls Pope Leo XIII, who wrote the outline for modern Catholic social justice teaching.
May 9, 2025 / John Nichols
All Options Are Open in the Papal Conclave All Options Are Open in the Papal Conclave
The next leader of the Catholic Church is unlikely to be either a progressive reformer or a hard-line conservative.
May 7, 2025 / Pablo Castaño Tierno
Pope Francis, the First Global South Pontiff Pope Francis, the First Global South Pontiff
His papacy set many new precedents for the church, and his successor will be chosen from a group that he himself quietly transformed.
Apr 22, 2025 / Dean Dettloff
Why Did a Progressive Pope Use a Gay Slur? Why Did a Progressive Pope Use a Gay Slur?
Given Francis’s apparent embrace of LGBTQ people, many found his use of the offensive term frociaggine confounding—blame fragile masculinity.
Jun 11, 2024 / Michael F. Pettinger
The Pope Wants Us to Talk About Sexuality and Climate Change The Pope Wants Us to Talk About Sexuality and Climate Change
In his new text and recently convened synod, he’s encouraging dialogue. It’s going to take a lot of work.
Oct 11, 2023 / Michael F. Pettinger
The Conviction of Justyna Wydrzyńska The Conviction of Justyna Wydrzyńska
The Polish activist became the first person in Europe to be convicted for helping another woman get an abortion—and galvanized a movement behind her.
Jun 23, 2023 / Feature / Rebecca Grant
The Pope Delivers a Clear Message in the Democratic Republic of Congo The Pope Delivers a Clear Message in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Francis’s visit sought to address violence and corruption in the Central African state. The violent and the corrupt lined up for an audience.
Feb 6, 2023 / Hugh Kinsella Cunningham and Nicolas Niarchos
The Vatican’s Disgraceful China Deal Ought to End The Vatican’s Disgraceful China Deal Ought to End
By renewing a secretive agreement with Beijing, the Vatican is dangerously close to being complicit in the Chinese government’s deepening rights abuses.
Sep 30, 2022 / Maya Wang