A light in the night of humanityLighting a candle may seem trivial. A small fire in the silence of a church, a trembling flame in the half-light of an oratory, a night-light in front of a statue of Mary or Jesus. And yet this gesture carries immense spiritual weight. It is one of the most universal and timeless gestures of the Christian faith.From the earliest centuries, Christians have used light to signify God's presence. The candle, humble and fragile, has become the discreet symbol of a faith that watches, prays and hopes. Read more...

A light that speaks to the soulSince the origins of the Christian faith, candles have held an essential place in prayer, liturgy and gestures of the heart. To light a candle is to make a prayer visible, to offer silence, to invoke the light of Christ in the shadow of the world. Each flame evokes the presence of God, a discreet but living fire that enlightens without forcing, that warms without burning.In Catholic tradition, certain candles have become powerful symbols, each carrying its own meaning and a particular use. Here are the 5 most important Catholic candles to know. Read more...

A Latin motto at the heart of the pontificateAs soon as his election was announced, Pope Leo XIV unveiled a brief but profound motto: In Illo Uno Unum, which in Latin means "One in Him who is One". Just three words, but of immense theological and spiritual density. The phrase is directly inspired by Christ's prayer in the Gospel according to Saint John (17:21): "That they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I am in you, that they may all be one in us."In choosing this motto, Leo XIV was not proposing a political slogan or a simplified message, but an invitation to unity rooted in God, a unity that comes not from human efforts or a fragile consensus, but from a deep spiritual communion with Christ. Read more...

A spiritual and pastoral filiationIn his first speeches, Leo XIV never ceased to pay tribute to his predecessor, Pope Francis, whom he called "a father in the faith" and "a model of a universal pastor". Their relationship is not merely ceremonial: it reveals a genuine spiritual continuity, rooted in the same vision of the Church, turned towards the peripheries, mercy, simplicity of life and listening to the Spirit.Pope Francis has marked the contemporary history of the Church by his desire to desacralise the pontifical office, to open the Church to those wounded by life, and to place the poor back at the centre of the Gospel message. Leo XIV, while having his own style, takes up this breath: he does not seek to break with the past, but to deepen it, to extend it, to make it bear fruit. Read more...

A simple start to his pontificateOnce elected, Pope Leo XIV was surprised by the sobriety and depth of his first gestures. Far from staging a solemn ceremony or demonstrating his authority, he preferred discretion, silent prayer and a deeply fraternal attitude towards the crowd gathered in St Peter's Square. Before even speaking, he invited everyone to pray for him, bowing for a long time in silence.This inaugural gesture set the tone for a pontificate centred on evangelical humility and dependence on grace. By choosing to be called "the Bishop of Rome" rather than "the Holy Father", Leo XIV recalled the essence of his ministry: to serve, not dominate, and to walk with the people of God, not above them. Read more...