Month: May 2025

VATICAN CITY (CNS) – While Pope Leo XIV has deleted the account he began as Father Robert F. Prevost on Twitter, now X, in 2011, the Vatican has launched new accounts for him on X and Instagram.

“The Holy Father Leo XIV has chosen to maintain an active social media presence through the official papal accounts on X and Instagram,” said the Dicastery for Communication.

The first post on the “Pope Leo XIV @Pontifex” account on X was released May 14 and was a quote from his inaugural greeting to the public May 8 when he was elected:

“Peace be with you all! This is the first greeting spoken by the Risen Christ, the Good Shepherd. I would like this greeting of peace to resound in your hearts, in your families, and among all people, wherever they may be, in every nation and throughout the world.”

His first papal Instagram post featured the same quotation — in seven languages — alongside a photo of him greeting the crowd May 8 from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.

The @Franciscus account on Instagram, which has been archived, had more than 10 million followers.

The new @pontifex Instagram account of Pope Leo XIV had more than 13 million followers by May 16.

The number of followers on the English language X account had reached 18.6 million by May 16.

The Dicastery for Communication, which runs the accounts for the pope, said May 13 that while the Instagram account was new, Pope Leo “inherited the @Pontifex accounts on X that were used by Pope Francis, and before that by Pope Benedict XVI.”

The nine X accounts – in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French, German, Polish, Arabic and Latin – have more than 52 million followers when combined.

The dicastery said the @Franciscus Instagram account would remain accessible online “as an ‘Ad Memoriam’ commemorative archive,” and the X tweets posted during the pontificate of Pope Francis will be available soon in an archive on the Vatican website.

Pope Benedict XVI launched the Twitter account in 2012, and the official Instagram account, @Franciscus, was added in 2016.

“Pope Francis’ presence on social media was significant. Around 50,000 posts were published across the @Pontifex and @Franciscus accounts, offering near-daily accompaniment throughout Pope Francis’ pontificate with short messages of an evangelical nature and exhortations in favor of peace, social justice and care for creation,” the dicastery said.

“The papal accounts stimulated widespread interaction, especially in difficult times,” the dicastery said. “In 2020, a year with exceptional data due to the pandemic, the late Pope’s messages were viewed 27 billion times.”

VATICAN CITY (CNS) – The Catholic Church wants to reach out and embrace all people who need and yearn for truth, justice and peace, Pope Leo XIV said in his first meeting with the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See.

“The church can never be exempted from speaking the truth about humanity and the world, resorting whenever necessary to blunt language that may initially create misunderstanding,” he said. “Yet truth can never be separated from charity, which always has at its root a concern for the life and well-being of every man and woman.”

Because truth is an encounter with the person of Christ who is “alive in the midst of the community of believers,” he said, “truth then, does not create division, but rather enables us to confront all the more resolutely the challenges of our time, such as migration, the ethical use of artificial intelligence and the protection of our beloved planet Earth.”

In his May 16 speech to diplomats in the Clementine Hall, Pope Leo said, “Religions and interreligious dialogue can make a fundamental contribution to fostering a climate of peace.”

Therefore, “full respect for religious freedom in every country” is necessary since “it is difficult, if not impossible, to bring about the purification of the heart necessary for building peaceful relationships” without religious experience, he said.

Every person is called to “begin to eliminate the root causes of all conflicts and every destructive urge for conquest,” he said. “It demands a genuine willingness to engage in dialogue, inspired by the desire to communicate rather than clash.”

So, “new life” must be given to multilateral diplomacy and international institutions tasked with remedying disputes within the international community, he said. There must also be a move to stop the production of “instruments of destruction and death.”

The pope highlighted the purpose of “papal diplomacy,” saying, “The Holy See is inspired by a pastoral outreach that leads it not to seek privileges but to strengthen its evangelical mission at the service of humanity.”

“Resisting all forms of indifference, it appeals to consciences, as witnessed by the constant efforts of my venerable predecessor, ever attentive to the cry of the poor, the needy and the marginalized, as well as to contemporary challenges, ranging from the protection of creation to artificial intelligence,” he said.

“The pillars of the church’s missionary activity and the aim of the Holy See’s diplomacy,” he said, are peace, justice and truth.

Peace is “an active and demanding gift” that “engages and challenges each of us,” starting with working on oneself, he said.

“Peace is built in the heart and from the heart, by eliminating pride and vindictiveness and carefully choosing our words. For words too, not only weapons, can wound and even kill,” Pope Leo said.

“Working for peace requires acting justly,” he said, and the Vatican will not fail “to make its voice heard in the face of the many imbalances and injustices that lead, not least, to unworthy working conditions and increasingly fragmented and conflict-ridden societies.”

“It is the responsibility of government leaders to work to build harmonious and peaceful civil societies,” he said. “This can be achieved above all by investing in the family, founded upon the stable union between a man and a woman.”

Also, he said, “no one is exempted from striving to ensure respect for the dignity of every person, especially the most frail and vulnerable, from the unborn to the elderly, from the sick to the unemployed, citizens and immigrants alike.”

Pope Leo, the first pope from the United States, said he is “a citizen, the descendant of immigrants, who in turn chose to emigrate.” Anyone can end up being “healthy or sick, employed or unemployed, living in our native land or in a foreign country” in life, and yet their human dignity always remains unchanged.

The third “pillar” of the church’s mission, he said, is truth.

“Truly peaceful relationships cannot be built, also within the international community, apart from truth,” he said. Where “ambiguous and ambivalent” words and “the virtual world, with its altered perception of reality, takes over unchecked, it is difficult to build authentic relationships, since the objective and real premises of communication are lacking.”

The Catholic Church will always seek to speak the truth and dedicate itself to lovingly serving others and protecting the life and well-being of everyone, he said.

Currently, 184 countries have full diplomatic relations with the Holy See.

Pope Leo said it was “a gift” to see representatives from so many different nations attending the audience, demonstrating “a visible sign of your countries’ respect for the Apostolic See.”

“It allows me to renew the church’s aspiration — and my own — to reach out and embrace all individuals and peoples on the Earth, who need and yearn for truth, justice and peace!” he said.

“I intend to strengthen understanding and dialogue with you and with your countries, many of which I have already had the grace to visit, especially during my time as prior general of the Augustinians,” Pope Leo said.

He said he hoped there would be more occasions to get to know their countries and “to confirm in the faith our many brothers and sisters throughout the world and to build new bridges with all people of goodwill.”

The Jubilee Year dedicated to hope, he said, “is a time of conversion and renewal and, above all, an opportunity to leave conflicts behind and embark on a new path, confident that, by working together,” each person can help “build a world in which everyone can lead an authentically human life in truth, justice and peace.”

“It is my hope that this will be the case everywhere, starting with those places that suffer most grievously, like Ukraine and the Holy Land,” he said, thanking the diplomats for the work they do “to build bridges between your countries and the Holy See.”

SCRANTON – The faithful of the Diocese of Scranton are invited to attend the Diaconate Ordination Mass for seminarian Jan Carlo Perez on May 24, 2025.

The Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, will celebrate the 10:00 a.m. Mass at the Cathedral of Saint Peter, 315 Wyoming Avenue, Scranton.

The celebration will be broadcast live on CTV: Catholic Television of the Diocese of Scranton and livestream on the Diocese of Scranton website, YouTube channel, and all over Diocesan social media platforms.

“Ordination to the Diaconate is a very important event in the life of the Diocese,” Bishop Bambera said in announcing the Ordination Mass. “I sincerely hope that your schedule will permit you to attend this special celebration.”

Perez’s home parish is Saint Matthew Parish in East Stroudsburg. He has been studying at St. Mary’s Seminary & University in Baltimore.

As he prepares for his ordination to the diaconate, Perez has spent a lot of time praying and reflecting on the promises he will make during the Mass. Those promises include celibacy, obedience to the Diocesan Bishop, and increasing his prayer life by praying the Liturgy of the Hours.

“One of the promises is to continue configuring myself to Christ and that is really all I want,” Perez said. “I want to be more like Jesus. I want to be Jesus for other people.”

On May 24, Perez will be ordained as a transition deacon, which generally occurs after a seminarian has completed at least three years of study in theology and takes place usually one year prior to priestly ordination. A transitional deacon can be an ordinary minister of Baptism, and will be able to preside at weddings, assist the priest at Mass, proclaim the Gospel and preach, as well as preside at wakes and funeral services.

Perez is already looking forward to serving the People of God.

“There’s a need for Hispanic ministry. I think there’s a need for scripture study and I want to help people come to a deeper understanding of their faith, to trust in Jesus more, to trust in God more, and to live out this mystery that God has given to us,” Perez explained.

Perez said his vocation was “born” on the altar of Saint Matthew’s Parish because he often would attend Eucharistic Adoration after school on weekdays.

“It was only when I was 15 or 16 that I began to come to faith and know Jesus especially through the Scriptures and through His saints. It was through the example of certain saints, like Saint Padre Pio, that I really began to desire the priesthood,” he added.

Perez also points to an eight day silent retreat as being very important to his formation.

“I think I left those eight days a different person. God really revealed himself to be my father that loves me and cares for me,” Perez said about his experience. “The image of God that I had in my mind was a false image. He was a lot more harsh and judgmental, possibly because that is who I am, but that is not who He is. In those eight day, He showed me how wrong I was.”

SCRANTON – With deep joy and great anticipation, the Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, is inviting all faithful from the Diocese of Scranton to participate in a Diocesan Pilgrimage to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025, in celebration of the ongoing Jubilee Year of Hope.

The 2025 Jubilee Year is a sacred time of renewal, reconciliation, and grace for the entire Church – a time to rediscover the hope that only Christ can give in a world marked by anxiety, division, uncertainty, and fear.

This Pilgrimage will be a visible sign that hope is alive in our hearts, in our families and in the Church of Scranton.

The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception – affectionately known as “Mary’s House” to honor Our Blessed Mother – has been designated as a special place of pilgrimage during Jubilee Year 2025 by the Administrative Committee of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

The Pilgrimage will include a welcome by the Vice Rector of the National Shrine, the opportunity for tours, private prayer and Confessions, along with a Eucharistic Holy Hour with Rosary in the Upper Church and a Pontifical Mass celebrated by Bishop Bambera.

Bus transportation is being planned from various communities throughout the Diocese. The cost per participant is $80.

Registration is open now and will close on Aug. 18.

Parishes are being highly encouraged to work toward filling a bus of their own parishioners – but anyone can register for the pilgrimage by visiting dioceseofscranton.org.

Please save the date – and register early to save your spot – as the Diocese of Scranton “fans the flame of hope that has been given us” during this special Jubilee Year.

PECKVILLE – As the faithful of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish concluded noon Mass on Thursday, May 8, they knew that white smoke was pouring from the chimney atop the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel.

Just 24 hours later, they gathered once again overjoyed at the history-making selection of American Pope Leo XIV.

“I am shocked, but thrilled… I’m excited about the future of our church,” Father Andy Kurovsky, pastor, said. “Ever since I was a child, we were told there will never be an American pope, but nothing is impossible with God, and the Holy Spirit was at work!”

Before his parish’s Mass on Friday, parishioners also gathered for a special Holy Hour to pray for Pope Leo XIV.

“I think (his election) is going to bring about a renewed enthusiasm, especially among many of our young people,” Father Kurovsky added. “Last night, I was doing some confirmation interviews with our eighth graders, and I talked a little about the pope and I could see that they’re excited about the fact that he’s from the United States.”

Patti Dennis of Montdale said she yelled and cried when Cardinal Robert Prevost walked out onto the balcony overlooking St. Peter’s Square.

“It was overwhelming. It gave me such a lift. I’ve been in such a ‘high’ since it happened. It’s just an overwhelming feeling,” Dennis explained.

While certainly proud that the new pope is American, parishioners admit they are simply excited to once again have a spiritual father.

“We’re all very excited about Pope Leo being our new pope and we’re so happy to celebrate that,” sacristan Anthony Beard stated. “I’m sure that Pope Leo will do everything that he can to keep us moving forward.”

“I think he’ll carry on the work of Pope Francis, and I think the church will welcome it,” parishioner Ray Colleran said.

After recognizing Pope Leo XIV has a connection to Pennsylvania – being an alumnus of Villanova University – parishioners like Colleran were excited.

“My wife and I have a Villanova connection. Our daughter went to Villanova so we’re all happy with that,” he added.

“I won’t hold it again him. I went to Penn State,” parishioner Janice Bauman joked.

Moving forward, many parishioners are hopeful that Pope Leo XIV will understand their needs, speak to their hearts and welcome them into the Church. In return, they promise to continue praying for him.

“I wish him the best,” parishioner Nadine Greco said. “I will pray every day for him.”

SCRANTON – The Cardinal-electors were most accommodating to a group from the Diocese of Scranton who just happened to be traveling in Rome and the Vatican when Pope Leo XIV was elected Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church on May 8.

Since the papal electors reached a two-thirds majority to elevate His Eminence, Robert Cardinal Prevost to the papacy- making him the first American pope – on that Thursday evening, members of the TravelWorld charter group can now exclaim: “We were in Rome when the Pope was elected!”

As the local vacationers were scheduled to return home on Friday, May 9, one more papal vote resulting in “black smoke” would probably have meant missing out on history.

TravelWorld tourists Patrick and Diane Augello Collins of Pittston, where they are members of Saint Joseph Marello Parish, will forever treasure their serendipitous good fortune.

“Being in Saint Peter’s Square during the conclave was the most beautiful, amazing experience which we will never forget,” Diane said, as the couple also had the opportunity to visit Pope Francis’ tomb in the nearby Basilica of Saint Mary Major.

“Feeling the faith and excitement of the people from all over the world was simply wonderful,” she added. “We are so blessed and grateful to be a part of this historical moment. We never thought that our dream trip to Rome would be part of a global event!”

SCRANTON – Celebrating Mother’s Day this year was unlike any other for Ashley Reedy.

For the very first time, she was able to celebrate it with her son Paxton.

“It is the first Mother’s Day that I’m able to share it with him, and that is something that I prayed for so long to be able to celebrate,” the Saint Eulalia Parish parishioner said.

With the assistance of Saint Joseph’s Center, Reedy and her husband were able to adopt Paxton last year.

“Even though he wasn’t born from me, I’ve just been waiting for him for so long,” Reedy said.

Reedy and many other mothers participated in the Diocese of Scranton’s annual Mother’s Day Mass at the Cathedral of Saint Peter in Scranton on May 11, 2025. The liturgy prayerfully recognizes all mothers – but places a special emphasis on foster and adoptive mothers.

“There are families out there that are willing to, and want to, adopt a child because they’ve been praying for it and waiting for it for so long,” Reedy added.

The Mass was celebrated by the Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, who also served as homilist.

Beckie Samuel, a parishioner of Saint Patrick Parish in West Scranton, also went through the adoption process in 2022. Her son is turning three in August.

“Mother’s Day is very, very special to me,” Samuel explained. “Before him, we had tried for 11 years and had three losses, so this holiday is very sacred to me because it is one I never thought I would be able to celebrate.”

Samuel praised the work of Saint Joseph’s Center in helping to shepherd the adoption process locally.

“They made it very easy. They communicated with us non-stop. If I had any questions, they were there to respond. They were amazing,” she said.

During the Mass, many adoptive mothers said they prayed for the Saint Joseph’s Center staff, as well as their child’s birth mother, who gave them such an important gift.

“It was so nice to be recognized but more importantly to recognize all the people who helped us come together as a family,” Heather Thomas of Saint Matthew Parish in East Stroudsburg said.

For many in attendance, the Mass was deeply personal. At the conclusion of the Mass, Bishop Bambera blessed all the mothers present.

“We’re celebrating adoption and the fact that (my son) came from mommy’s heart and not my belly,” Thomas added.

SCRANTON – Catholic school students from across the Diocese of Scranton were honored for their innovation and imagination April 24 as the inaugural ‘Living the STREAM’ competition concluded.

The Diocese of Scranton Catholic School fundraising competition began during Catholic Schools Week in January. It brought together students in grades 6 through 8 daring them to “dream big,” using their STREAM (Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Arts and Math) education to combat a “real-world challenge.”

The students could tackle any topic of interest to their team. They then created a video that was posted on a special website, and the public was able to support each team with donations. The final projects focused on varying issues that included everything from homelessness to food insecurity.

Between sponsorships and donations, more than $55,000 was raised.

On the day the competition ended, more than 100 students and parents gathered in the Diocesan Pastoral Center to celebrate the fundraiser. Awards for the top fundraising teams, along with awards for the best overall project, innovation, and faith in action also were distributed.

One team taking home an award was “Team HandiMaps” from Good Shepherd Academy in Kingston.

Mason Williams, Caden Moreck, Nick Pokrifka, Troy Miller, and Daniel Saporito – eighth grade students – focused on creating a website that features maps of regional destinations accessible to disabled people.

Miller said the HandiMaps project was more fun than a traditional school assignment because they could be as creative as they wanted and pick the topic.

“Making the website and generating it was really exciting and fun to do with my classmates,” Miller said.

While all the students in their group brainstormed ideas to tackle, Miller gave credit to Mason Williams for developing the overall ‘Team HandiMaps’ idea.

“At home one night, I was thinking, what can we do to help people near us,” Williams explained.

After deciding on wanting to help individuals who rely on wheelchairs, the group then needed to research what businesses and locations in their community were handicap accessible and create an overall website and several interactive maps.

“We wanted to make it the best we could to help,” he added. “It could get bigger and bigger. We can make it throughout bigger areas and help people know the places they can go.”

Another team that took home an overall award and future innovators award was ‘Team F.Red’ from Saint Mary of Mount Carmel School in Dunmore.

Five seventh graders – Tim Polishan, Patrick Burke, Jaxon Urban, Michael Lalli, and Quinn Kelly – created a food redistribution app to cut down on food waste.

“We just brainstormed a lot and thought out all of our ideas,” Polishan said.

“The first idea we had was about food and how much food was wasted so we wanted to build on that idea,” Burke added.

Kelly said being recognized as a top team meant a lot to their group.

“We put in a lot of work for this, it took a lot of time,” he explained.

The students are hopeful the app they created could help connect local stores with food pantries to help provide the needy fresh produce.

“That would be pretty cool if it was turned into a real thing,” Lalli said.

“I’m hoping it becomes a real thing that people can use,” Urban added.

HAZLETON – Alberta Perez choked back tears while recalling her initial reaction to the death of Pope Francis.

“It was heartbreaking,” she said. “He was humble. He really cared. He really loved everyone.”

Perez was one of many Hispanic Catholics attending the 12:10 p.m. Mass at Annunciation Parish in Hazleton on April 21, with specific plans to pray for the late Holy Father on the day of his death.

“Our church is sad today. It’s a day that we’re never going to forget,” she added.

Fellow parishioner Martha Rojas said many Hispanics loved Pope Francis because the late Holy Father simply loved all people as human beings.

“He didn’t see color. He didn’t see race,” Rojas stated. “He loved everyone. It didn’t matter if you were rich or poor.”

As the pope of the peripheries, Pope Francis brought the heart, mind, and soul of the Catholic Church in Latin America from what he called the “ends of the earth” to the center of Christendom.

The late pope’s theology, governance of the church and pastoral practices were steeped in his experience as a pastor during a military dictatorship and subsequent financial crisis in Argentina, and later as a servant of the poorest people of Buenos Aires who were living in “villas miserias,” or shantytowns.

“He was a simple man, and he tried to live out the faith authentically and be a witness to the world of Christ’s love for all of us,” parishioner Nichole Tranguch added. “We are just thankful for him and his service to the church.”

Pope Francis’ Latin roots were especially important for parishioner Maria Malaga, who also came to the Hazleton area from Latin America.

“We lost such a wonderful person who did so much for the world,” Malaga said.

Over the last two decades, the city of Hazleton has experienced a significant demographic transformation, with its Latino population now comprising two-thirds of city residents. Their arrival has brought new cultural vibrancy to Hazleton and many residents are devout Catholics.

Father Kevin Miller, Pastor, Annunciation Parish, said the passing of Pope Francis has deeply affected many parishioners at his parish, who viewed the Pope as a spiritual leader who championed inclusivity, compassion, and social justice.

“He was someone who spoke to the heart of those who were disaffected, those who were pushed to the margins,” Father Miller explained. “We look forward to honoring his memory and carrying forward many of the traditions that he started and upheld.”

Looking to the future, many parishioners plan to keep praying for the soul of Pope Francis.

“We will be saying thank you to God for having him for as long as we did,” Rojas said.