May 2026

The Mustard Seed

We must never forget heroes of conscience

Glen Argan · May 22, 2026

In April 1975, Lionel Rosenblatt and Larry Craig Johnstone, both U.S. Foreign Service officers, flew from Washington, D.C. to Vietnam to organize the rescue of South Vietnamese citizens who had helped the foreign service during the Vietnam War.

Culture à la Carte

Let the Good News wash away the bad news

Sr. Helena Burns · May 22, 2026

Is the “bad news” cycle getting you down? If it is, you’re not alone. Remember the old expression regarding news media: “If it bleeds, it leads”? Professional fear-mongering has reached some sort of peak lately.

What is Anthropic?

A look at the company joining Pope Leo for AI encyclical release

Gina Christian · May 22, 2026

When he releases his highly anticipated first encyclical "Magnifica Humanitas" May 25, Pope Leo XIV will be present at the press conference -- something atypical for such announcements, which are usually handled by senior Vatican officials.

Remember Who is ultimately in charge

Quinton Amundson · May 22, 2026

God’s first instruction to mankind in Genesis 1:28 is beautiful in its simplicity: “Be fruitful and multiply.”

Bold faith fuels Halifax successes

Donors’ gifts touch all areas of the archdiocese

Luke Mandato · May 23, 2026

The Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth has released its 2025 Impact Report, highlighting the success of its new, streamlined Bold in Faith collection.

Hell is never just other people

Joe Woodard · May 23, 2026

We sometimes meet people who criticize the Catholic Church for persevering in the doctrine of Hell. They find incredible a God who would condemn anybody to eternal suffering.

13 things to know about Pope Leo's encyclical on AI

Maria Wiering · May 25, 2026

What does it mean to safeguard our humanity? That question is at the heart of Pope Leo XIV's much anticipated first encyclical, "Magnifica Humanitas".

'Magnifica Humanitas': Pope Leo's AI encyclical warns of temptation to build future excluding God

Courtney Mares · May 25, 2026

Pope Leo XIV published his landmark encyclical on artificial intelligence "Magnifica Humanitas" May 25, comparing the attempt to build an AI future that excludes God to the "Tower of Babel".

Analysis

'Magnifica Humanitas': Reading Pope Leo's vision between the lines

Michael R. Heinlein · May 25, 2026

Pope Leo XIV's widely anticipated first encyclical on artificial intelligence is here, and it offers a clear path forward to one of the most pressing challenges of our age.

Pope Leo urges humanity to build civilization of love in digital world

Carol Glatz · May 25, 2026

At a time when digital technologies are developing at a rapid and unpredictable pace, every single person must decide if she or he will be: a passive bystander; an unhelpful commentator; an avaricious architect of a new "Tower of Babel"; or a patient, hope-filled builder of a "civilization of love," Pope Leo XIV said in his first encyclical, "Magnifica Humanitas."

Holy Spirit opens doors of peace, truth and forgiveness, Pope Leo says

Josephine Peterson · May 25, 2026

Pope Leo XIV celebrated Pentecost by highlighting the role of the Holy Spirit in his repeated calls for peace in recent months, saying the spirit also guides the Church to truth amid a world marked by war, division and ideological fragmentation.

Babel, Nehemiah and algorithms: A guide to key terms in Pope Leo's new encyclical on AI

Gina Christian · May 25, 2026

What do the Tower of Babel, the biblical figure Nehemiah, algorithms and realpolitik have in common? They're all discussed in Pope Leo XIV's first encyclical, "Magnifica Humanitas".

In China, 'the Church and Jesus will prevail'

Quinton Amundson · May 25, 2026

Pope Leo XIV commemorated the World Day of Prayer for the Church in China on May 24 with a call to entrust Chinese Catholics to Mary’s care.

Pope Leo XIV tells Vatican press conference AI must be 'disarmed' for humanity's sake

Courtney Mares · May 26, 2026

Pope Leo XIV called for vigilance as he spoke at the Vatican press conference to present his first encyclical on artificial intelligence, saying his conversations with industry leaders had led him to the conviction that AI "needs to be disarmed."

Anthropic's Christopher Olah urges global moral oversight of AI at Vatican presentation

Paulina Guzik · May 26, 2026

The May 25 speech of Anthropic's co-founder Christopher Olah at the presentation of the first encyclical of the pontificate of Pope Leo XIV ended with a special request.

Pope Leo: AI, 'culture of power' make just war theory 'outdated,' demand new 'rigorous' constraints

Gina Christian · May 26, 2026

In his new encyclical on artificial intelligence, Pope Leo XIV took aim at the normalization of war, made more dangerous by a digital revolution that is "changing the nature of conflict" and blurring "the fine line between protection and aggression."

Catholic voice missing in Bill C-9 debate

Quinton Amundson · May 26, 2026

Catholic entities have not had a seat at the table for any of the first three Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights meetings devoted to studying Bill C-9, the Combatting Hate Act.

Editorial

Lead us not into temptation...

May 26, 2026

Glen Weyl, the Princeton-Harvard-Microsoft whiz kid economist, has declared Pope Leo XIV “perhaps the single most important person in the world on AI at this moment.”

Pope Leo calls for 'openness' to Church reform that respects tradition

Josephine Peterson · May 27, 2026

Amid renewed tensions between the Vatican and traditionalist Catholics over the teachings of the Second Vatican Council, Pope Leo XIV defended Church reform as a legitimate process that adapts to current needs while remaining rooted in authentic tradition.

World Cup in Vancouver catches Nightfever

Luke Mandato · May 27, 2026

As Vancouver prepares to host its first-ever FIFA World Cup match on June 13, the Archdiocese of Vancouver will open the doors of Holy Rosary Cathedral for a Nightfever event.