“The first American pope” is not the first thing that occurred to mathematician Martin Nowak when the former Cardinal Robert Prevost appeared on the balcony overlooking St. Peter’s Square last month. Instead, he fixed on the Pope’s new name. “Leo” has three letters. And his regnal number — XIV, or 14 — comes after that. Put them together and what do you get?

A significant early challenge for Pope Leo XIV will be how he chooses to handle the restrictions that Pope Francis placed on the traditional Latin Mass (TLM). Since Pope Francis issued his apostolic letter Traditionis Custodes (Guardians of Tradition) in July 2021, the freedom to celebrate the pre-1970 Mass has been curtailed — severely in some cases — with the long-term aim of allowing only the new Mass.

The bishop of Charlotte has delayed his plan to restrict the traditional Latin Mass (TLM) in his diocese, pushing the date back by nearly three months after a week and a half of significant backlash in North Carolina and beyond. Bishop Michael Martin has determined that a plan to restrict the TLM from four parish churches to a single, designated chapel will now go into effect on Oct. 2...

Pope Leo XIV held the third general audience of his pontificate on Wednesday, telling the faithful that even when we feel useless and inadequate, “the Lord reminds us that our life is worthy.” “Even when it seems we are able to do little in life, it is always worthwhile. There is always the possibility to find meaning, because God loves our life,” Leo said in a sunny St. Peter’s Square on June 4, four days before the one-month mark of his pontificate.

Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes was permitted to ordain eight transitional deacons in Managua on June 7, in an apparent gesture of goodwill by the Nicaraguan regime following the election of Pope Leo XIV. The government had largely suspended ordinations in Nicaragua since the summer of 2024. While the Archdiocese of Managua used to ordain priests twice a year, this is the first group of ordinations in 2025, and it is solely composed of transitional deacons.

Yesterday was the Memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church, a relatively new feast for a very old theological reality. Until last Saturday, the Vatican News website was still featuring the work of Marko Rupnik, the notorious abuser of nearly thirty religious women, who still somehow functions as a priest, seemingly protected by someone high up in Rome...

It’s June, and you’re reading The Tuesday Pillar Post. Later, I’ll have some things to say about liturgy, the new breviary translation, and papal baseball cards. But first, a remarkable story: Pope Leo XIV was ordained an Augustinian priest in June 1982, seemingly beginning a path of God’s Providence that led to his now extraordinary ministry in the life of the Church...

He has only been in office for a month, but every word and action of Pope Leo XIV has been analyzed extensively by the media trying to determine the mentality of the new pontiff, elected on May 8, just a few weeks after Pope Francis died on April 21. Most of what Leo has done was already prepared for his predecessor, including the men he has appointed bishops...

Pope Leo XIV stated that “the gravest poverty is not to know God” and that having him accompany us on the journey of life puts material wealth into perspective, because “we discover the real treasure that we need.” “Wealth often disappoints and can lead to tragic situations of poverty — above all the poverty born of the failure to recognize our need for God

From Wendover Productions...