Cardinal Cupich’s ‘coaching tree’ keeps growing: Another former Chicago deputy, Archbishop-designate Ronald Hicks, heads to New York—making four major archbishops from his network in just 13 months. His influence on the U.S. hierarchy is profound and for some, troubling.
The sixth plenary assembly of Germany’s synodal way ended with a contentious vote on whether a new national synodal conference should regularly monitor how synodal reforms are implemented in dioceses. The proposal passed narrowly, despite strong objections from several bishops who warned that such monitoring could undermine episcopal authority and provoke Vatican concern. The debate exposed ongoing tensions within the synodal process, especially over accountability, autonomy of bishops, and the future role of the planned synodal conference, whose statutes still require approval by both the German bishops and the Vatican.
At the close of its sixth assembly in Stuttgart on Saturday, the German Synodal Assembly narrowly approved, by the required two-thirds majority, a resolution authorizing the creation of a national Synodal Conference planned for the autumn. The central dispute concerned whether the new body should "monitor" the implementation of synodal resolutions in the dioceses. Even Cardinal Reinhard Marx of Munich warned against creating a superior authority that would supervise bishops or interfere in diocesan governance. “I do not want that,” Marx said. Similarly, Bishop Peter Kohlgraf of Mainz said that a control body overseeing bishops would contradict Catholic principles. Bishop Josef Overbeck of Essen expressed confidence. The Vatican has been informed about the planned body and he expects approval in the coming weeks. Asked about a possible rejection from Rome, Bishop Georg Bätzing of Limburg said he had no indication that approval was in doubt and ruled out proceeding without Vatican consent …More
Press release of February 2, 2026 – SOURCE: SSPX News On this February 2, 2026, feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin, Fr Davide Pagliarani, Superior General of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X, in Flavigny-sur-Ozerain, France, publicly announced its decision to entrust the bishops of the Fraternity with the task of carrying out new episcopal consecrations, on the 1st of July. Last August, he requested the favour of an audience with the Holy Father, letting him know his desire to filially explain to him the present situation of the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X. In a second letter, he explicitly opened up about the particular need of the Fraternity to ensure the continuation of the ministry of its bishops, who have travelled the world for nearly forty years to respond to the numerous faithful attached to the Tradition of the Church and desiring that the sacraments of Orders and Confirmation be conferred, for the good of their souls. After having matured his …
A Restaurant on the Roof of St. Peter’s Basilica: There are rumors and reports suggesting that a restaurant is being planned on the rooftop of St. Peter’s Basilica. The Vatican has confirmed that the area is being expanded to accommodate more visitors, aiming to reduce crowding and create a more peaceful environment. The restaurant would be located near the apostles’ statues, offering a panoramic view of Rome. While the project is still in progress, it is expected to open for the 400th anniversary of the basilica’s consecration in November 2025. However, some critics argue that this is an unnecessary and inappropriate use of space, especially given the sacred nature of the site. Pope’s New Living Quarters: The Vatican is redeveloping the Apostolic Palace, and there are reports that Pope Francis will not live in the main floor but instead in the upper floor (called "soffittoni" in Vatican terms). This change is part of a larger renovation project, which includes creating new spaces …More
The Priestly Fraternity of St Pius X (FSSPX) has announced that on 1 July 2026, they will consecrate new bishops without the Vatican's approval. This follows their request to Pope Leo XIV in August, to which they did not receive a satisfactory response. Full Statement On 2 February 2026, the feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin, the Reverend Father Davide Pagliarani, Superior General of the Priestly Society of Saint Pius X, during the ceremony of the taking of the cassock which he presided over at the International Seminary of Saint-Curé-d’Ars in Flavigny-sur-Ozerain, France, publicly announced his decision to entrust the bishops of the Fraternity with the task of proceeding with new episcopal consecrations, on 1 July next. Last August, he sought the favour of an audience with the Holy Father, making known his desire to present to the Holy Father, in a filial manner, the current situation of the Priestly Society of Saint Pius X. In a second letter, he explicitly expressed …More
From Canada’s Conservative Party convention: a vote to keep a ban that stops parents from helping their children with gender distress—even when the child asks. There is no conservative party in Canada.
With move in date unclear, Pope Leo will live in attic of apostolic palace in rooms not used by Benedict or John Paul; there is a gym set up there, and one guest room, along with a chapel. The windows face the interior of the Vatican, not St. Peter’s Square.
In 2025, 82% of religious institutes in the USA had no members making perpetual professions. This is according to the January 2026 study, Women and Men Professing Perpetual Vows in Religious Life: The Profession Class of 2025. It was released by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) at Georgetown University. The study is based on responses from 520 out of 723 superiors — a response rate of 72% among US religious institutes. Around 10% of institutes reported one perpetual profession, 8% reported between two and nine. Vocations are highly concentrated in a relatively small number of institutes. In total, the responding institutes reported 179 men and women taking perpetual vows in 2025, of whom 105 were men and 74 were women. This reverses a historic pattern. For most of US Catholic history, women's religious life has been numerically dominant. According to the report, 92% of respondents said they had been Catholic since birth. Around 69% were born in the United States. …More
Cardinal Woelki declines to attend final Synodal Way assembly, saying, “For me, the Synodal Way is over,” and adding that he does not believe the assembly has the authority to evaluate individual bishops and dioceses.
Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki of Cologne has announced that he will not be attending the sixth assembly of the German Synod, due to begin in Stuttgart this week. In an interview with Domradio.de, Cardinal Woelki said that, for him, the Synodal Way has come to an end. Five meetings were scheduled, and he attended all of them. The meeting in Stuttgart is intended to evaluate the implementation in the dioceses, a task which Cardinal Woelki says exceeds the original remit. However, Cardinal Woelki claimed that all Synod participants want "what is best" for the Church. On the meaning of "synodality", the cardinal said that not everything in the Church can be open to free-ended debate. “To give a deliberately extreme example: we cannot vote on whether Jesus rose from the dead.” He added that he has the impression that, at a certain point, the German Synodal Way was mainly about pushing specific church-political positions. Launched in 2019, the German Synod is in favour of many things that God …More
Pope Leo to Roman Rota: “You are called to safeguard the truth with rigor but without rigidity, and to exercise charity without omission…At times, there is the risk that excessive identification with the often troubled circumstances of the faithful may lead to a dangerous relativization of the truth.”
Ignorance can cause enormous harm. Bill Gates, not a doctor, caused a spike in worldwide polio cases. Gates crippled and killed many people using his ignorance and stupidity. More polio cases now caused by vaccine than by wild virus More polio cases now caused by vaccine than by …
In St. Mary's Cathedral in Middlesbrough, in North Yorkshire, England, it is common to have rock concerts. Since rock has a Satanic origin, it seems quite inappropriate, and even blasphemous, to perform such music in a place that is consecrated to the worship of God. Nonetheless, these concerts have the full approval of the Bishop Terence Patrick Drainey. No matter how popular Bishop Drainey wants to be by promoting such concerts, we wonder what account he will make of them to God when he is asked what he did for the salvation of the souls of his flock. Above, first and second rows below, a November 2025 concert; third and fourth rows a October concert; fifth and sixth rows, a September circus performance in front of the altar.