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Pope Leo XIV Urges Prayers for Peace in Bloodied Nations and Wounded Families

Pope Leo XIV addresses pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican for recitation of the Angelus on Jan. 1, 2026.

Greeting pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the Jan. 1 Marian solemnity, the Pope said: ‘God, the good Creator, has always known Mary’s heart and our hearts. By becoming man, he makes his heart known to us.’

Leo XIV: ‘May the Lord Bless You and Keep You’ in the New Year

Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican on Jan. 1, 2026.

Leo celebrated his first liturgy of 2026 on Thursday, reminding the faithful: ‘For each of us, every day can be the beginning of a new life, thanks to God’s generous love, his mercy, and the response of our freedom.’

From Schubert to Staubach: The Hail Mary Through History

Upper left: Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach is shown wearing the team’s Bicentennial helmet during the 1976 season. Lower left: Wilhelm August Rieder, “Franz Schubert,” 1875, Vienna Museum, Austria. Right: Sandro Botticelli, “Madonna of the Magnificat,” 1481, Uffizi, Florence, Italy.

COMMENTARY: As the old year gives way to the new, it is timely to recall two important anniversaries of the venerable Marian prayer.

Te Deum Laudamus! Thanking God for 2025 … and 2026

Simone Risoluti
Pope Leo gives his homily at vespers for the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, and Te Deum of thanksgiving at year's end on Dec. 31, 2025, at St. Peter’s Basilica.

COMMENTARY: The Church pauses in prayerful awe, looking at the year that has passed in the light of Christ and entrusting the year to come to divine Providence.

The Top 25 Register Stories of 2025

NCRegister
A composite image shows 10 National Catholic Register print covers from 2025.

A look at the National Catholic Register’s most-read stories of 2025, based on online readership.

Bosnian Muslims Murdered His Family, but Later As a Priest He Forgave Them

Vatican Media
“When I began hearing the confessions of the faithful, I understood that there can be no inner peace without forgiveness," said Father Pero Miličević.

Thirty-two years after that day of terror, that boy, who instantly lost his innocence, speaks today with the serenity of a priest.

SEEK 2026 Set to Kick Off in 3 Cities

SEEK
Young people at the 2023 SEEK conference in St. Louis.

Bishop Earl Fernandes, who presided over a Mass at a SEEK conference in St. Louis three years ago, was so inspired by his experience there that he returned home with the desire to bring SEEK to the Diocese of Columbus.