Catholics in Normandy commemorated the 100th anniversary of St. Thérèse of Lisieux's canonization with three days of solemn celebrations May 16-18. These included a live broadcast of Pope Leo XIV's May 18 inauguration Mass on giant screens in the Basilica of St. Thérèse in Lisieux.
Associated Church Press also honored a National Catholic Reporter staff writer. Plus, the Religion Communicators Council awards a Global Sisters Report correspondent with best in class reporting.
At the mission, "no one cares whether they are from the Turkana or Samburu community," says Sr. Felister Maria Kwamboka. "We remind them every day that all children belong to Jesus, and he sent angels to protect us."
Cardinal Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, is now known to be of African ancestry, part of a growing picture Americans are forming of the new supreme pontiff.
For most of the sisters, the serendipitous timing of this long-planned UISG assembly, held May 5-9, coinciding with a papal election was impossible to shake – that it was no accident but rather a sign of the Holy Spirit at work.
Augustinians around the world are remembering fellow Augustinian Fr. Robert Prevost, who was elected as pontiff on May 8 by 133 cardinals after four votes.
"He has shared meals with us, celebrated with us, accompanied us, encouraged us, and that is moving for us, because he has done so in his simplicity, with trust, with prayer," one sister said.
"We are deeply grateful for his humble acceptance of his election and his willingness to serve the church and the wider world at this critical moment," wrote the Leadership Conference of Women Religious.
The challenges for the Catholic Church in Chicago, where Robert Prevost grew up, are a microcosm of the gargantuan problems facing the worldwide Catholic Church that the new Pope Leo XIV must address.
