Aleteia — Catholic Spirituality, Lifestyle, World News, and Culture

In Angola, Pope Leo prays for Ukraine, Lebanon

Kathleen N. Hattrup — Sun, 19 Apr 2026 12:27:26 +0000

In the midst of stage three of his four-country, 10-day, five-language visit to Africa, Pope Leo mentioned some specific intentions after celebrating Mass in Kilamba, Angola, this morning. While we are in the midst of celebrating the joy of the Resurrection, the Pope said, “we do not wish to erase or stifle the cries of Read More…

In Angola, Pope Leo prays for Ukraine, Lebanon

What will we leave behind for those we love?

Cerith Gardiner — Sun, 19 Apr 2026 12:01:51 +0000

As Artemis II traced its path around the far side of the moon this month, traveling farther from Earth than any human mission before, it did what these moments tend to do rather well: It made everything feel both very large and rather small at the same time. Because the moon, for all its stillness, Read More…

What will we leave behind for those we love?

5 Great resources to help you understand the Mass

Theresa Civantos Barber — Sun, 19 Apr 2026 11:59:57 +0000

The Catholic Church was overjoyed to welcome record numbers of new converts this past Easter — and Aleteia wishes a warm and loving welcome to all our new brothers and sisters in Christ! If you’re one of these new converts — or if you’ve been Catholic for a while, but want to grow in your Read More…

5 Great resources to help you understand the Mass

This English martyr is the patron saint of booksellers

Philip Kosloski — Sun, 19 Apr 2026 11:54:22 +0000

In the Catholic Church, there are patron saints for nearly every profession. This is encouraging, as it can give us examples to follow, and saints to invoke for our particular vocation. For anyone who is a bookseller or publisher (especially if you are trying to self-publish your book), Blessed James Duckett is the saint for Read More…

This English martyr is the patron saint of booksellers

Belonging before believing: My wife, the Evangelist

Tom Hoopes — Sun, 19 Apr 2026 11:52:07 +0000

My son’s confirmation Mass and our Easter dinner table had one surprise guest: a non-Catholic delivery guy. Join our family rosary and you’ll hear specific prayers for another delivery guy’s progress through his vocational school. I want to brag on my wife about that — but the truth is, April’s kindness and awareness of the Read More…

Belonging before believing: My wife, the Evangelist

Do you hate art museums? Why (and how) to take a 2nd look

Fr. Michael Rennier — Sun, 19 Apr 2026 11:07:25 +0000

We tend to assume that, if you’re cultured and have good taste, you will, naturally, love going to museums. So in we go. On vacation, on our days off, on a day-trip, we wander through the exhibits, strolling from room to room looking at each picture for an average of 20 seconds before moving on. Read More…

Do you hate art museums? Why (and how) to take a 2nd look

Justin Bieber’s surprising declaration of faith at Coachella

Cerith Gardiner — Sun, 19 Apr 2026 09:50:32 +0000

There are certain places where you expect to find worship, and Coachella is not usually one of them. After all, who would have thought that, at such a long-awaited, carefully curated event, somewhere between the music, the fashion, and the endless swirl of images, there would be space for something as simple as Christian worship? Read More…

Justin Bieber’s surprising declaration of faith at Coachella

How the road to Emmaus mirrors what happens at Mass

Philip Kosloski — Sun, 19 Apr 2026 09:47:50 +0000

What can be surprising to some people is that the Gospels don’t end with Jesus’ death and resurrection. In fact, in each Gospel there are additional stories that tell what happens after Jesus’ resurrection. These stories relate how the risen Jesus encountered his disciples, showing to them the wounds in his hands and side, affirming Read More…

How the road to Emmaus mirrors what happens at Mass

Pope Leo: Speeches written weeks ago, not about Trump

Kathleen N. Hattrup — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 16:30:00 +0000

On his way to the third stage of his marathon journey to Africa, minutes after take-off, Pope Leo greeted the journalists on the flight with him between Cameroon and Angola this April 18. [At the end of the article, find the full text of his greetings, as released by the Vatican.] “There’s been a certain Read More…

Pope Leo: Speeches written weeks ago, not about Trump

How a visit to the Holy Land changed a “de facto Catholic”

Jenny Lark Snarski — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 12:52:37 +0000

Many who have been to the Holy Land share a similar take-away: For Hunter Bratton, visiting the Sea of Galilee “contextualized the Gospel stories that took place there.” Reading those passages later, “you have a much better mental image,” he told Aleteia. One of the most “impactful and meaningful” experiences of his pilgrimage was at Read More…

How a visit to the Holy Land changed a “de facto Catholic”

Monks have a secret to peace: Now there’s an app for it

Theresa Civantos Barber — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 12:25:40 +0000

What is it about monks? Nuns, too. Men and women in religious life seem to exude a sense of peace that the rest of us can’t help wishing we had. You’ve probably heard of Monk Mindset, the all-in-one app that helps users find peace and productivity by following the “seven principles” that guide monks and Read More…

Monks have a secret to peace: Now there’s an app for it

Fr. Walter Ciszek’s cause for canonization has been suspended

Philip Kosloski — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 12:23:04 +0000

In the past few years Fr. Walter Ciszek has become well-known among Catholics in the United States and beyond. His book, He Leadeth Me, was featured on the prayer and meditation app Hallow and soon after became a bestseller on Amazon. He’s also well known for his book With God in Russia. For those who are not familiar with Ciszek, Theresa Civantos Read More…

Fr. Walter Ciszek’s cause for canonization has been suspended

Africa, education, living in bubbles, and hope: Pope addresses students

I.Media — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 11:43:46 +0000

Forming “consciences that are free” should help inspire “prophetic change in the face of the tragedies and forms of poverty of our time,” Pope Leo XIV noted during a meeting with students at the Catholic University of Central Africa in Yaoundé on Friday afternoon, April 17, 2026. The Pope addressed the young Cameroonians upon his Read More…

Africa, education, living in bubbles, and hope: Pope addresses students

A dying senator’s 4 regrets will make you rethink life

Theresa Civantos Barber — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 11:35:44 +0000

“Live as though you were dying” — it’s a common catchphrase. But what’s the reality behind it? Former senator Ben Sasse has found out since his diagnosis with terminal cancer at the end of 2025. Rather than keep the news private, Sasse felt “called” to share his experiences and reflections. “I did not decide to Read More…

A dying senator’s 4 regrets will make you rethink life

Pope has unscheduled meeting with Cameroon religious

I.Media — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 11:05:00 +0000

“The Pope has arrived, the Pope is leaving, but you have his words”: Pope Leo XIV called on the more than 4,000 Catholic religious in Cameroon to take action, meeting with representatives of their religious congregations late in the day on April 17, 2026. This meeting was added to his schedule at the last minute. Read More…

Pope has unscheduled meeting with Cameroon religious

Cameroon is teeming with youth: Pope urges them to bring life

I.Media — Sat, 18 Apr 2026 10:54:10 +0000

Pope Leo XIV celebrated Mass at the Japoma Stadium in Douala, the economic capital of Cameroon, on April 17, 2026. During his homily, he specifically addressed the younger generations, who make up the majority of the population. He urged them to take action in society by rejecting violence, corruption, abuse, and superstition, assuring them that Read More…

Cameroon is teeming with youth: Pope urges them to bring life

7 Recent popes and their public comments on war and peace

Philip Kosloski — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 11:21:14 +0000

It’s not new for popes to speak out against war, especially as it seems that somewhere in the world, there is always a conflict going on. It doesn’t matter who is waging war, all the recent popes have condemned violence and have done all they could to advocate for a peaceful resolution to the various Read More…

7 Recent popes and their public comments on war and peace

Prayers and war and who God listens to

Michael Wee — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 11:18:33 +0000

Prayer and its relation to war, mercy, justice, and who is the pray-er has been getting a lot of attention in the news in the last few weeks. One prayer that got a lot of coverage, voiced in late March after a reading from Psalms 18:37-42, was said to have been composed by a chaplain before Read More…

Prayers and war and who God listens to

3 Irish teens inspire with their unique Mass ritual

Cerith Gardiner — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 10:12:18 +0000

One thing about adolescents is their ability to make us see things afresh. And this is just the case with three Irish teenagers who may just have found the ultimate way to turn going to Mass into something of an adventure. As a recent video from RTE News explained, what began as a lighthearted alternative Read More…

3 Irish teens inspire with their unique Mass ritual

Here is a list of saints, blesseds, and venerables from Canada

Philip Kosloski — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 09:46:15 +0000

For many years Aleteia has featured various articles highlighting Catholics of the United States who have been canonized or are in the process of canonization. That list of articles can be found here. We are now embarking on a new initiative to highlight the many saints and holy men and women from Canada. We have Read More…

Here is a list of saints, blesseds, and venerables from Canada