The Curia’s retreat week makes it seem like everything is dead. It is a week of silences and prayers, but the Sacred Palaces are bubbling and today we have many news items that are anything but calm. Let’s go with the day.
Three apostolic journeys confirmed.
Pope Leo XIV has a busy spring ahead. In three separate announcements, the director of the Holy See Press Office announced the Pontiff’s upcoming apostolic journeys, which will visit Europe and Africa in the coming months. Accepting the invitation of the Head of State and the Archbishop of the Principality of Monaco, the Holy Father will travel to the City-State on March 28, concentrated in a single day.
The Apostolic Journey to Africa, scheduled from April 13 to 23, is more detailed and far-reaching, and will take Pope Leo XIV to four countries: Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea. The main lines of the calendar are already defined: Algeria (April 13-15 with visits to Algiers and Annaba), Cameroon (April 15-18 with visits to Yaoundé, Bamenda, and Douala), Angola (April 18-21 with visits to Luanda, Muxima, and Saurimo), and Equatorial Guinea (April 21-23 with visits to Malabo, Mongomo, and Bata).
The travel season will continue in Western Europe. At the invitation of the Head of State and the ecclesiastical authorities of the country, Pope Leo XIV will travel to Spain from June 6 to 12, 2026, for another Apostolic Journey.
Auxiliary Bishops of Rome.
For our readers, it is not news, it is confirmation of what we have been announcing. The four new auxiliaries were appointed yesterday . In June 2025, he wanted to meet with the priests of the Diocese of Rome . He chose to celebrate the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica with his particular Church and preside over the pontifical mass at Saint John Lateran . Afterward, he addressed the motu proprio with which Pope Francis abolished the central sector of the diocese: essentially he eliminated it, establishing that everything would return to how it was before. During the pontificate of Francis , the relationship between the Church of Rome and its bishop had simply become unbearable . In any other diocese, such a dynamic would have generated a flood of letters to Rome, requests for intervention, demands for dismissal of the bishop. Here, for obvious reasons, it was impracticable: the bishop of Rome was the Pope. The choice of Leo XIV fell on four names appreciated by the clergy and, above all, rooted in the real life of the Roman Church, with a solid track record and deep knowledge of the diocesan system.
Msgr. Stefano Sparapani , currently pastor of Saint Basil and former episcopal vicar for the Northern Sector , has received the titular see of Bisenzio . Born in Rome in 1956, he studied philosophy at the Lateran University and specialized in moral theology at the Alphonsian Academy. He has been a priest since 1991 and has acquired extensive pastoral experience in the Roman suburbs.
Msgr. Alessandro Zenobbi , pastor of Saint Lucy and episcopal vicar for the Western Sector , has been assigned to the titular see of Biccari . Born in Rome in 1969, he was trained at the Pontifical Roman Major Seminary and has been a priest since 1996. He has carried out parish ministry for years between Saint Polycarp and the current community entrusted to him .
Andrea Carlevale , the new titular see of Atella , was born in Rome in 1971, also from the Major Roman Seminary. Ordained in 1998, he served as a parish vicar in various settings of the diocese, then as a seminary assistant and pastor, up to his current leadership of Saint John the Baptist de Rossi .
Marco Valenti , to whom the titular see of Arpi was assigned, brings a varied academic profile: philosophical studies at the Lateran University, theological studies at the Gregorian University, a licentiate in theology, and a licentiate in art history from La Sapienza University. Born in 1961 in Cantalupo in Sabina and a priest since 1986, he held numerous parish positions in Rome, up to his recent appointment as pastor of the Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ .
Following the appointment of the new Auxiliary Bishops of Rome , Pope Leo XIV today signed the decree assigning the territorial sectors of the Diocese of Rome , operationally defining the pastoral responsibilities of the newly appointed prelates and the Vicar General . The provision follows immediately after the appointments announced this morning and aims to ensure continuity in the pastoral governance of the Pope’s diocese. Not only that, Leo XIV has decided to establish a group . «I also announce that I have established a special working group , tasked with reviewing the same Apostolic Constitution In Ecclesiarum Communione , to verify its adequacy for current pastoral needs and to promote a more effective service to the ecclesial mission ».
The new nuncio in Italy.
The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has received a request for approval for the appointment of a new Apostolic Nuncio in the Republic of Italy and the Republic of San Marino. Tscherrig, the first non-Italian Apostolic Nuncio in the history of post-Concordat bilateral relations, has left a burdensome legacy: a modus operandi that has generated episcopal decisions that are questionable, if not frankly terrible.
The hope that change might come with the appointment of Rajič, not belonging to the Italian clergy, has crashed, however, against the wall of reality. His transfer to Via Po has brought no tangible sign of rebirth or change. On the contrary, his management has been characterized by an alarming passivity in the face of the most thorny issues. It cannot be expected that a Nuncio without deep knowledge of the Italian situation will act with familiarity. In recent years, the Nunciature has often limited itself to «summoning the chosen ones» or «communicating the appointments made.» Problematic figures have been elevated to the episcopate with strong criticism from their own priests .
«We need to get rid of Peña Parra as soon as possible».
This phrase is heard all too often in the Sacred Palaces. «Francis was aware of everything, but precisely for that reason he always kept him there; his technique was that: «I know, you know that I know. If you make a mistake, you fall». Peña Parra has become one of the most faithful allies of Pope Francis, acting with the typical attitude of someone who feels protected and supported by the powers that be at the moment. In many ways, the power of the Substitute far exceeds that of the Secretary of State , since everything passes through his hands. The Substitute wields enormous power, and it is precisely for this reason that, in recent years, Peña Parra , obsessed with scandals like that of Sloane Avenue and everything surrounding it, has had his offices cleaned almost weekly . Peña Parra, despite having dodged scandals and problems of all kinds, is known in religious circles for having woven problematic relationships and for an often arrogant attitude . «A coming and going of compatriots» with a system of «amoral familism».
Leo XIV now has a clear objective: to get rid of the Venezuelan Peña Parra . In recent months, three proposals have been presented to the archbishop, two of which he has completely rejected, although Peña Parra knows very well that it is not possible to reject more than three. The last proposal represents a compromise that Peña Parra has accepted, since it allows him to remain in Rome , avoiding being transferred to some remote corner of the world, as was initially hypothesized. This is because figures like him, often marginalized by their modus operandi , if left near the Vatican, tend to continue obstructing the Pontiff with the same dynamic they once criticized. Peña Parra , in fact, aspires to remain in Rome not only to safeguard the network of contacts and relationships built over time, but also to maintain control over the situation. His name came to the table of Italian Minister Tajani as a candidate to replace Petar Rajič . Now, the Holy See awaits approval before formalizing the appointment.
Earthquake in the Secretariat of State
With the election of Leo XIV , a true existential crisis broke out in the Vatican . At Piazza Pia , Andrea Tornielli was visibly agitated, with the only photo he had of Prevost on his cell phone , the one in which he appeared on horseback. The lack of direct contact with the new American cardinal fueled his nervousness. It was no coincidence that, a few days after the election, he sent his protégé, Salvatore Cernuzio , to Peru to gather information on the new Pope. All this was presented as an exclusive reconstruction of Prevost’s life, an operation presented as a homage to the Pontiff, but which was really nothing more than an attempt to fill a knowledge gap about a figure completely foreign to their plans and circles. «And now what do we do? He is not one of us «.
In the Secretariat of State , there were those who oscillated between relief at the failure to elect the candidate «of the newspapers and the Dicastery for Communication,» a figure who knew their mechanisms well, and panic at the election of a Pope completely foreign to their logic and impossible to control. Leo XIV must confront those who for years have pulled the strings. The mistake of Pope Francis was to follow the advice of the newspapers, which ignored the internal dynamics of the «machine» and focused the criticisms on the top. Pope Francis attempted the great reform clumsily and from above. Leo XIV, although some considered him inexperienced in curial dynamics, knows that the true operational arm is not the Secretary of State, but the Substitute .
And the unsettling Parolin?
His calm and serene style makes him an unsettling figure. His actions are often driven by personal interests: he has frequently invited priests and bishops to lunches and dinners, not so much to build relationships, but rather to warn them against other bishops he considers rivals or dangerous. Parolin operated in the shadows, doing what suited him, maintaining the appearance of a «kind priest.» This profile allowed him to survive even during a complex pontificate like that of Pope Francis. Now, like a good chameleon, he is ready to adapt despite the defeat in the Sistine Chapel.
Changes in Saint Peter’s Basilica.
Mauro Gambetti is fully aware that his mandate has come to an end, and every day that passes could be decisive for a sudden appointment. «The tragedy is that wherever his name is mentioned, everyone knows who he is and what he has done». With Leo , even friendly journalists are abandoning Gambetti. In the end, these » new cardinals » that Francis has promoted do not understand that journalists only pay homage to you when it suits them, but then they attack you as soon as they get the chance. Gambetti is making himself seen at the curia’s exercises, upon returning to Saint Peter’s Basilica, a very close collaborator of Leo XIV went down to the Basilica. There he asked to be accompanied to the areas where the bar expansion works are being carried out. Once on the terrace, they showed him the current bar, but the collaborator insisted on seeing the specific area where the works were being done. Then they took him to the place, where he took some photographs to take to the Apartment. Once the inspection was finished, he returned to report directly to the person who had sent him.
Ten years of Amoris Laetitia.
The apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia of Pope Francis turns ten years old, and in these two decades, the family issue has worsened even further. Religious marriages are in constant decline, accentuating a downward trend that has been coming from afar, to the point that in Catholic Italy six out of ten (58.9% of marriages) were celebrated civilly. In addition to civil unions between same-sex couples, second marriages and subsequent ones are also on the rise. Amoris laetitia , along with «quick divorce,» has contributed to facilitating family breakdowns, considering that more than 60% of divorces involve couples with children.
The proclamation of Amoris Laetitia was the result of the synthesis of two synods on the family. Pope Francis, in chapter eight of the exhortation, focused on the « irregular situations » and the « wounded families », calling on pastors, bishops, and parish priests to « exercise careful discernment of situations ». In an ambiguous way, he opened the door to granting communion to divorced and civilly remarried persons. In fact, footnote 351 states: « It is possible that, in an objective situation of sin —which is not subjectively culpable or fully culpable—, one may live in God’s grace, love, and even grow in the life of grace and charity, receiving the Church’s help for this». In « certain cases, this can also be the help of the sacraments. Therefore, I remind priests that the confessional must not be a torture chamber, but a place of the Lord’s mercy».
Four cardinals, Raymond Burke, Carlo Caffarra, Walter Brandmüller, and Joachim Meisner, publicly expressed their disagreement with Amoris laetitia and the Dubia : five doctrinal questions, accompanied by a letter full of humility and fidelity to the Church, dated September 19, 2016: « […] we, the undersigned, but also numerous bishops and priests, have received numerous requests from the faithful of various social classes about the correct interpretation of chapter VIII of the Exhortation. Now, driven in conscience by our pastoral responsibility and desirous of implementing synodality more and more, to which Your Holiness urges us, with deep respect we allow ourselves to ask you, Holy Father, as the supreme Teacher of the faith called by the Risen One to confirm his brothers in the faith, to resolve the uncertainties and bring clarity, kindly responding to the Dubia» . The peculiarity that distinguishes this document is the explicit request for a «yes» or «no» ( Mt 5:37) to the questions posed, without theological arguments (interpretations) that could have diverted the substance of the responses.
The intellectual and secular world also took positions for and against, so much so that, among other initiatives, in July 2017, a group of clergy members, universities, and laity signed a Correctio filialis (the first correction was signed during the reign of Pope John XXII, in the 14th century). The twenty-five-page document, made public the following September, declared seven propositions of Pope Francis’s pontificate heretical, including the possibility of giving communion to divorced and civilly remarried persons. There has never been a direct response from the Pontiff to the Dubia . Therefore, confusion continues to reign, and every bishop and parish priest feels entitled to do as they please, often ignoring the Word of God and the eternal Magisterium of the Church on the absolutely crucial point of what the sacramental union of spouses really is.
Restore Rome.
The conference, « Operation: Restore Rome », will take place on the evening of Thursday, March 12 . It will be an opportunity to hear bold and insider perspectives on the threats to the Church and to obtain practical tools for living and defending the authentic Catholic tradition. It will begin with a talk by Father Altman titled «The CIA, Communism, and the Deep Church.» It will be followed by Mike McCormick, author and former White House stenographer, who will seek to answer the question: «Can we trust the Vatican?» The full recordings will be available in the days following the conference.
Power and powers.
«Power and powers: A contribution from theology.» It is the title of the conference that will be held at the ISSR headquarters in Rimini. In a time of deep crisis in power management models, this conference offers a theological contribution to reflection, with the aim of interpreting the signs of the times we live without falling into resignation and disillusionment, but promoting healthy imagination and encouraging perspectives to move forward without fear into our future.
The German synodal conference.
The German Episcopal Conference (DBK) has adopted the statutes of the “Synodal Conference,” which plans to give Church authority to Catholic laity. The DBK will now send the text to the Vatican for the creation of the Synodal Conference for its approval. The Holy See, under Pope Francis and Pope Leo XIV, has expressed concern about the advances of the German Synodal Way, but the Vatican has never formally demanded that the heterodox process be stopped, despite its radical proposals to change Church doctrine on sexual morality and Holy Orders. The Vatican has put itself in a difficult position: “Now, the solution to the German question is either to approve the statutes, which would make all previous Vatican criticisms seem insubstantial, or to reject the statutes, which would give the impression that the Vatican only takes action when bishops’ power is at stake, but not before, when central points of Catholic doctrine are called into question, for example, on women’s ordination, but also with regard to homosexual activity”.
Power of order and jurisdiction.
There is no legitimate, and therefore Catholic, episcopate outside hierarchical communion. The FSSPX’s claim not to be schismatic, since episcopal consecration only transmits the power of order and not that of jurisdiction, is simply a way of evading the problem. Because the right to elect and consecrate a bishop belongs to the Apostolic See, not just to confer the power of jurisdiction. To defend the principle that consecrating bishops against the Pope’s will would not be a schismatic act, the FSSPX is forced to invent a new definition of schism: «Now, in the Church, the reception of episcopal jurisdictional power depends by divine right on the Pope’s will, and schism is defined precisely as the act of one who arrogates jurisdiction autonomously and without regard to the Pope’s will». Schism has never been defined, as the FSSPX claims, as the autonomous arrogance of jurisdiction , but as the denial of legal submission to the Supreme Pontiff and of communion with the other bishops (cf. Can. 751). And this is precisely what the Fraternity claims for itself and the purpose for which it intends to consecrate new bishops. By boasting of walking alone on a narrow path, without falling, as it claims, either into the «conciliar church» or sedevacantism, the Fraternity has entered the dead end of schism, dragging thousands of faithful with it. And for this, it will have to answer.
The sins of the Bishop of Málaga.
Rarely are Spanish bishops news, and very rarely for good, today is no exception. A bishop appointed by Pope Leo XIV said that being homosexual “is not a sin,” supported blessings for same-sex “couples,” and called for expanded governance roles for women in the Church. In the local newspaper Málaga Hoy , Bishop Satué addressed issues related to homosexuality and blessings for same-sex persons. He also outlined his stance on the implementation of the Vatican declaration Fiducia supplicans , as well as on women’s participation in positions of responsibility in diocesan and Roman structures. “Being homosexual is not a sin. In fact, it is not.” “The blessing of persons who have a relationship project with same-sex persons is, in my opinion, a step forward,” and “we will have to find a way to better integrate this undeniable reality into our pastoral practice.” For Satué, priestly ordination «is a door that, to this day, remains closed» for women and «is not a possibility in the near future.» He insisted that a priority challenge is to ensure that women participate in everything possible. Satué publicly endorsed the pastoral approach of Fiducia supplicans: «The possibility of blessing couples in irregular situations and same-sex couples expresses God’s merciful embrace and the motherhood of the Church».
What times!
Tosatti offers us in his blog What times! We live in an era of confusion regarding the Truth and greater division in the Church. While in Germany a quasi-schism is celebrated, in the indifference of many (apparently less worrying…), which newspapers almost never talk about or only report with indifference. The schismatic situation in the German Church could represent the point of reference for the entire Church regarding its stance on homosexual couples, priestly celibacy, women’s priesthood, etc. The Germans are starting to find their church a bit expensive, so to avoid paying the tax, what do they do? They de-baptize (only in 2024, 300,000 German Catholics de-baptized themselves). The tax is applied from the moment one registers in the Civil Registry declaring their Catholic faith. If, to avoid paying the tax, one «unregisters,» they lose the right to receive the sacraments (confession, communion, marriage, funeral, etc.), perhaps with some subjective concessions… More is said about Lefebvrian ordinations but the cancer is much more serious and deep. We may be in the pontificate in which the church will divide into two, three, or who knows. The divisions are served, only lacking them to become concrete and more livable. Continuing with indifference waiting for everything to pass seems increasingly complicated. We hope, desire, that Leo XIV be the Pope of unity and not of division. With inherited political strategies, the church does not work; the only way is the Truth and for us it has a name: Jesus Christ.
«Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.»
Good reading.