In 1917, in the heart of Portugal, a small village was to become one of the most famous places of Marian devotion in the world: Fatima. It was there, in the countryside of the Cova da Iria, that the Virgin Mary appeared to three young shepherds, delivering a message of peace, prayer, penance and conversion. The story of these apparitions, now officially recognised by the Church, continues to fascinate, move and challenge millions of believers. Read more...

The month of May is traditionally dedicated to the Virgin Mary in the Catholic Church. It is a month of devotion, prayer and celebrations, when the faithful turn their gaze more especially to the Mother of Christ. Among the concrete expressions of this Marian piety are several important liturgical feasts, rooted in the tradition and theology of the Church. These feasts are not there simply to honour Mary, but to help Christians enter more fully into the mystery of salvation, through her who was its humble handmaid. Read more...

For several centuries, the month of May has been dedicated to the Virgin Mary in Catholic tradition. But why this particular month? Where does this Marian devotion so strongly linked to this time of year come from? Over the centuries, spiritual practices, cultural influences and the symbolism of nature have shaped this beautiful springtime tradition dedicated to the Mother of God. Read more...

Lord Jesus Christ,You the Good Shepherd,You who entrusted Peter with the mission of shepherding your flock,we give you thanks for the gift of our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV. Read more...

A thousand-year-old tradition with biblical and spiritual rootsThe change of name at the election of a pope is a tradition as ancient as it is rich in meaning. Although no canonical text requires it, over the centuries this custom has become an essential stage in the beginning of each pontificate. It dates back to the 7th century, when the first pontiff to change his name, John II, chose to abandon his birth name, Mercurius, which evoked a pagan god, and adopt a Christian name.Since then, each newly elected pope chooses a new name, marking a form of new birth in his mission. This gesture is not insignificant: it expresses an inner break, a personal commitment, and above all a spiritual desire to inscribe his pontificate in a certain filiation.Taking a new name means becoming another man for another service: no longer just the bishop elected from among others, but the successor of Peter, universal pastor of the Catholic Church. Read more...