Swiss Guards, diplomats, cardinals of the Roman Curia, Eastern Catholic patriarchs in full liturgical vestments, and bishops representing nearly every country in the world: Everything about the protocol and ceremony in St. Peter’s Square on Wednesday, October 14, was ready for a papal Mass. Even the liturgical booklet listed the Santo Padre (“Holy Father”) as presider. But the Pope wasn’t there. Instead, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of the Philippines, the new dean of the College of Cardinals, presided on his behalf. The Mass concluded a weeklong Vatican gathering on the challenges facing families, held 10 years after Pope Francis published his apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia. “It’s wonderful that this Mass could take place today, just hours after the Pope’s cancer diagnosis was officially confirmed,” said an employee of the Roman Curia. “With representatives of bishops’ conferences from around the world here, the whole Church will be praying for the Pope’s health and showing him its Read More…

At the Vatican, Leo XIV’s absence makes him more present