One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church

04/11/2026

VATICAN CITY— NEW, from

—and translated from the Italian:

“U.S.

denies any conflict between the two compatriots: "They want the same thing: peace"

Tough times on the Vatican-Washington axis. The war is driving a wedge between the two most important Americans: Donald Trump and Robert Prevost (Pope Leo XIV). This is no small matter in a country where the Catholic electorate played a significant role in the pontiff’s victory. There are those who are rubbing their hands in glee because, under the current circumstances, they see an opportunity to “crown” Leo XIV as Trump’s sworn enemy, just as they have hoped since shortly after the election. Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke, however—a leading figure among conservative Catholics in America (and beyond)—demonstrates in this interview how one can be loyal to the Pope without being hostile to the Trump administration.

Your Eminence, will you be at St. Peter’s today for the vigil for peace?

“Certainly, I will join the Holy Father for this essential moment of prayer in a time of crisis such as the present. I am very happy to respond to the call to ask that peace be restored as soon as possible. We must follow what was revealed at Fatima in 1917 and recite the rosary to Our Lady, who is the Queen of Peace.”

Do you agree with those who say that Leo XIV is proving to be the anti-Trump?

“The narrative of an ongoing clash is exaggerated. The Pope has invited everyone to work for peace, as is right and proper. His compass is the teaching of the Church found in the Catechism and classically developed by St. Augustine.”

How do you judge Trump’s behavior?

"One may have different opinions on how to address the issue, but one certainly cannot think that the situation in Iran was good prior to the attacks by the U.S. and Israel. I believe that from his perspective, Trump also has peace as his goal, in the sense that he wants to restore internal peace in Iran and also in relation to other nations. This is because the regime poses a nuclear weapons threat to neighbors and beyond. And then, let me say one thing..."

Please...

"We must also pray for the freedom of the Iranian people, who have suffered for too many years at the hands of the Ayatollahs’ regime. We cannot forget the many civilians killed in recent years by the repression. It pains me to see a great nation, with a rich cultural heritage, destroyed by such a bloodthirsty regime."

You have historically enjoyed good relations with the Republican administration and are very popular among the MAGA base. Would you be willing to play a role in facilitating dialogue between the Holy See and the U.S.?

“I am willing to help in any way I can. However, I am not a diplomat and would not be the right person for the job. Furthermore, I believe that talking about tensions is an exaggeration. The U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, a devout Catholic, is already doing everything possible to facilitate dialogue between the two sides. The important thing is that the door remains open and that we always find a way to talk to see how the Church can help bring about reconciliation between nations.”

So it’s not true that Trump’s America and Leo’s Church are at odds?

"No. There is great respect for the Church in America, and Catholics have always contributed greatly to every aspect of the nation’s life. For a long time, there was an anti-Catholic prejudice suggesting that we wanted the Pope to govern the country. But Church doctrine has never taught that the Church must govern.

We Catholics follow the Lord’s teaching to render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and unto God what is God’s. The Church teaches moral principles, but then leaves it to those in government to make decisions.”

Source: https://www.ilgiornale.it/news/politica/papa-non-sar-mai-leroe-degli-anti-trump-2649882.html #

Il cardinale Usa smentisce il conflitto tra i due connazionali: "Vogliono la stessa cosa, la pace"

04/10/2026

The claim: Source calls Pentagon meeting with Vatican official ‘most unpleasant

This claim is 100% false.

The Vatican and US officials had rebuke the media reports

Facts:

Responding to journalists' questions, the Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, said the following:

As confirmed by His Excellency Christophe Pierre, former Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, the meeting he had with Mr. Elbridge Andrew Colby was part of the regular mission of the Papal Representative and gave the opportunity to exchange views on issues of mutual interest. The narrative offered by some media outlets about this meeting does not correspond to the truth at all.

Source: https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/comunicazioni/2026/04/10/comunicazione-ai-giornalisti.html

We translated the Italian to English.

Rispondendo alle domande dei giornalisti, il Direttore della Sala Stampa della Santa Sede, Matteo Bruni, ha affermato quanto segue: Come confermato da S.Em.za Christophe Pierre, già Nunzio Apostolico negli Stati Uniti, l’incontro da egli avuto con il Sig. Elbridge Andrew Colby è rientrato nella ...

03/21/2026

"For, since you are subject to the bishop as to Jesus Christ, you appear to me to live not after the manner of men, but according to Jesus Christ, who died for us, in order, by believing in His death, you may escape from death. It is therefore necessary that, as you indeed do, so without the bishop you should do nothing, but should also be subject to the presbytery, as to the apostle of Jesus Christ, who is our hope, in whom, if we live, we shall [at last] be found. It is fitting also that the deacons, as being [the ministers] of the mysteries of Jesus Christ, should in every respect be pleasing to all. For they are not ministers of meat and drink, but servants of the Church of God. They are bound, therefore, to avoid all grounds of accusation [against them], as they would do fire." - St. Ignatius of Antioch, The Epistle of Ignatius to the Trallians (Circa 110-115 AD).

This quote still rings true today. Unfortunately, there are many in Catholic social media circles who have spew Anti-Semitic hatred and many of this comes from Candace Owens and Carrie Prejean Boller.

The Bishops have spoken up against this. Recently Bishop Barron have open spoke against Carrie Prejean Boller and said the follow statement. "Over the past several weeks, Carrie Prejean Boller has complained that she was removed from the Presidential Commission on Religious Liberty because of her Catholic beliefs, and she has called out myself and other Catholic members of the commission for not defending her. This is absurd. Mrs. Prejean Boller was not dismissed for her religious convictions but rather for her behavior at a gathering of the Commission last month: browbeating witnesses, aggressively asserting her point of view, hijacking the meeting for her own political purposes. The Catholic position on matters of “Zionism,” to which I fully subscribe, is as follows: all forms of antisemitism are to be unequivocally condemned; the state of Israel has a right to exist; but the modern nation of Israel does not represent the fulfillment of Biblical prophecies and hence does not stand beyond criticism. If Mrs. Prejean Boller were dismissed for holding these beliefs, it is difficult to understand why I am still a member of the Commission. To paint herself as a victim of anti-Catholic prejudice or to claim that her religious liberty has been denied is simply preposterous. - Bishop Barron roasted Carrie Prejean Boller.

The US United States Conference of Catholic Bishops have put out this video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfAIVBdgo0U Anti-Semitism is condemned by the Catholic Church.

True, the Jewish authorities and those who followed their lead pressed for the death of Christ;(13) still, what happened in His passion cannot be charged against all the Jews, without distinction, then alive, nor against the Jews of today. Although the Church is the new people of God, the Jews should not be presented as rejected or accursed by God, as if this followed from the Holy Scriptures. All should see to it, then, that in catechetical work or in the preaching of the Word of God they do not teach anything that does not conform to the truth of the Gospel and the spirit of Christ.
Furthermore, in her rejection of every persecution against any man, the Church, mindful of the patrimony she shares with the Jews and moved not by political reasons but by the Gospel's spiritual love, decries hatred, persecutions, displays of anti-Semitism, directed against Jews at any time and by anyone.

For the complete document, see the official Vatican text: https://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_decl_19651028_nostra-aetate_en.html.

Archbishop Alexander K. Sample, Archbishop of Portland, Oregon, and chairman of the USCCB Committee for Religious Liberty, reflects on the meaning of the Eas...

02/19/2026

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwnGWVihNQ8

In this episode Trent reviews recent controversy about "Zionism" and whether Catholics can support this movement.To support this channel: https://www.patreon...

02/19/2026

Which ash did you get?

Every year, Catholics worldwide begin the 40 days of Lent with Ash Wednesday ashes. The ashes signify the need for repentance of sins and are a call to humility before God.

The viral infographic, “A Catholic Guide to Ashes" hilariously describes various ways in which Ash Wednesday ashes appear on foreheads after Catholics receive them.

Over the years, social media users have shared their comments about the Ash Wednesday infographics. Oftentimes, they tell ChurchPOP what they received at Mass that day.

Bill Donaghy, a senior lecturer and content specialist for the Theology of the Body Institute, designed the two Ash Wednesday infographics. He told ChurchPOP why he created it.
“I’m flattered once again that this thing still makes the rounds every Ash Wednesday!" Donaghy said.

“I first thought of the idea a few years ago,” he added. “I think it honestly came to me sitting in church, and the different concepts flowed rather freely.”

“The 'Catholic Guide to Ashes' is a tribute to this unseen joy that awaits us, even as we ‘celebrate’ a penitential season like Lent," he said.

"In the end, we believe ‘all shall be well.’ for there’s a God of joy and wild imagination Who can’t wait to welcome us home!”

What do your Ash Wednesday ashes look like this year?

https://www.churchpop.com/ash-wednesday-ashes-guide/

02/19/2026

Today is Ash Wednesday!

Ash Wednesday marks the first day of Lent, an important season in the Catholic Church of preparation for the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday. Ash Wednesday falls 46 days before Easter, which changes each year. Catholics are encouraged to attend Mass on this day to mark the beginning of the Lenten season, although it is not considered a Holy Day of Obligation.

The ashes used on Ash Wednesday are made by the burning of palms from the previous year's Palm Sunday. They are administered on the forehead in the sign of a cross, and receiving them with humility is a sign of penance.

Ash Wednesday is one of two yearly days of obligatory fasting and abstinence for Roman Catholics, along with Good Friday. According to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the norms of fasting are obligatory from age 18 until age 59. In addition, Fridays during Lent are obligatory days of abstinence.
Fasting means a person is permitted to eat one full meal. Two smaller meals may also be taken, but they are not to equal that of a full meal.

Fasting on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday means we can have only one full, meatless meal. Some food can be taken at the other regular meal times if necessary, but combined they should be less than a full meal. Liquids are allowed at any time, but no solid food should be consumed between meals. The norms concerning abstinence from meat are binding upon members of the Latin Catholic Church from age 14 onwards.

Beginning with Ash Wednesday and all through Lent, we are invited to live with a greater commitment to prayer, sacrifice and charity to prepare our souls for the holiest Feast of the year, Easter Sunday.

Wishing you all a very holy Lenten season!

02/19/2026

The White House released a Presidential message in observance of Ash Wednesday:

"Today, the First Lady and I join the millions of Christians in the United States and around the world in observing Ash Wednesday—a solemn day of prayer and repentance and the beginning of the Lenten season.

Every Ash Wednesday, Christians receive ashes in the shape of a cross on their foreheads as a visible reminder of our belonging to Jesus Christ and our enduring need for penance. For the next 40 days, in remembrance of Jesus’ 40 days of temptation in the desert, followers of Christ will pray, fast, and give alms to deepen their faith, reflect on His redeeming Passion and death, and prepare their hearts for the coming Easter miracle.

As the holy season of Lent begins, we are reminded that the practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving have been foundational to our strength from the earliest days of our national story. From the Colonists who turned to prayer and fasting in the heart of the Revolutionary War to the unmatched compassion and generosity of America’s churches, hospitals, and charitable institutions, these righteous acts of faith over the centuries have always stood at the center of our identity, our heritage, and our way of life.

This Ash Wednesday, as we remember the Passion and ultimate sacrifice of Christ on the cross, we send our best wishes for a meaningful Lenten season. Above all, as we prepare for the triumphant resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday—the greatest miracle in the history of mankind—we pause to remember those sacred words: 'This is the time of fulfillment. The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Gospel.'"

02/19/2026

Despite the masks we wear and the cleverly crafted ploys meant to distract us, the ashes remind us of who we are. This is good for us. It reshapes us, reduces the severity of our narcissism, brings us back to reality and makes us more humble and open to one another: none of us is God; we are all on a journey.

Lent, however, is also an invitation to rekindle our hope. Although we receive the ashes with our heads bowed in remembrance of who we are, the Lenten season does not end there. On the contrary, we are invited to lift our eyes to the One who rises from the depths of death and brings us from the ashes of sin and death to the glory of eternal life.

The ashes remind us of the hope to which we are called in Jesus, the Son of God, who has taken upon himself the dust of the earth and raised it to the heights of heaven. He descended into the abyss of dust, dying for us and reconciling us to the Father, as we heard from Saint Paul: “For our sake, he made him to be sin who knew no sin” (2 Cor 5:21).

This, brothers and sisters, is the hope that restores to life the “ashes” of our lives. Without such hope, we are doomed passively to endure the fragility of our human condition.

Pope Francis, Wednesday, March 5, 2025
https://ow.ly/4P6H50YhmSw

02/05/2026

CONFESSION ETIQUETTE 👇
(Do’s and Don’ts)

PRAY
→ Ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten your mind, soften your heart, and give you true sorrow for sin.

EXAMINE
→ Carefully and honestly examine your conscience in the light of God’s law and His love.

DO NOT FEAR
→ Remember that the priest stands in the place of Christ, whose desire is mercy, not condemnation.

BE HONEST
→ Confess all mortal sins fully, stating their number and kind with sincerity and trust.

DO NOT EXPLAIN AWAY
→ Name your sins clearly and simply, without excuses, justification, or self-defense.

LISTEN
→ Receive the priest’s counsel with humility, openness, and a willingness to be guided.

ACCEPT
→ Take your penance seriously, seeing it as part of your healing and restoration.

ACT
→ Make a firm and practical resolution to avoid sin and the near occasions of sin.

GIVE THANKS
→ Thank God for His mercy, forgiveness, and the grace of a new beginning.

🙏 Let me know in the comments if I missed any! 💬

02/05/2026

Don't believe the lies

02/03/2026

Joe debunks the claim Sunday worship is a Roman invention. Sunday is the day of the Resurrection of the Lord.

Joe looks at the position of Sabbitarians, and their claim that Emperor Constantine instituted worship on Sundays.Get the JOE NOTES, sources for this episode...