Pope Leo on Confirmation, Jerusalem's Peace March, and a Parish Memorial for Survivors

Vance Praises Leo on Encyclical, Leo Speaks on Gaza and Church Reform, and Georgia Martyrs Remembered

Thanks for listening! Let us know what you think. God bless! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2368316/fan_mail/new] Peter Jesserer Smith of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for May 27, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com [https://www.osvnews.com/]. Read the stories in this episode: * Vice President JD Vance said in a new interview with NBC News that while he has not yet fully read Pope Leo XIV's first encyclical, "Magnifica Humanitas" -- which addresses human dignity concerns posed by artificial intelligence -- what he has read of it "sounds very profound." [https://www.osvnews.com/vance-says-pope-leos-new-encyclical-sounds-very-profound-welcomes-just-war-rethink/] * Pope Leo XIV has renewed his call for humanitarian aid and human rights protections in Gaza. [https://www.osvnews.com/pope-leo-renews-calls-for-humanitarian-help-for-people-of-gaza-discusses-ai-and-warfare/] * Pope Leo XIV defended Church reform as a legitimate process that adapts to current needs while remaining rooted in authentic tradition. [https://www.osvnews.com/pope-leo-calls-for-openness-to-church-reform-that-respects-tradition/] * As the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage continued to make its way up the East Coast, it took a day to encounter Friar Pedro de Corpa and Companions, the five Franciscan friars -- also known as the Georgia Martyrs -- who will be beatified Oct. 31 in Savannah, Georgia.  [https://www.osvnews.com/national-eucharistic-pilgrimage-highlights-georgia-martyrs-ahead-of-oct-31-beatification/]

Bishops Welcome Pope Leo's First Encyclical, National Eucharistic Pilgrimage Launches, and Pope Leo's South American Homecoming

Thanks for listening! Let us know what you think. God bless! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2368316/fan_mail/new] Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for May 26, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com [https://www.osvnews.com/]. Read the stories in this episode: 1. Catholic bishops across the U.S. and Mexico are enthusiastically welcoming Pope Leo XIV's first encyclical, "Magnifica Humanitas," released Sunday, which applies centuries of Catholic social teaching to the age of artificial intelligence and insists that human dignity must always take precedence over technological progress. [https://www.osvnews.com/bishops-welcome-pope-leos-encyclical-as-crystal-clear-guidance-for-the-ai-era/] 2. AI experts and theologians say Pope Leo XIV's "Magnifica Humanitas" delivers an urgent moral challenge to the tech industry, warning against reducing human mystery to data, sounding the alarm on AI's environmental costs, and calling for education that champions genuine human creativity and critical thinking over algorithmic dependence. [https://www.osvnews.com/magnifica-humanitas-a-reminder-of-moral-responsibility-in-ai-oversight-expert-says/] 3. Nine perpetual pilgrims set out on Pentecost Sunday from the oldest site of continuous Catholic presence in the United States, launching the third National Eucharistic Pilgrimage on the six-week "St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Route" up the East Coast to Philadelphia over the Fourth of July weekend. [https://www.osvnews.com/new-us-eucharistic-pilgrimage-sets-out-on-pentecost-praying-for-a-fresh-outpouring-of-the-spirit/] 4. Seattle Auxiliary Bishop Frank Schuster celebrated the annual Maritime Day Mass at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, honoring the world's often-overlooked seafarers and highlighting Stella Maris, the Church's global maritime ministry formally established by Pope Leo XIV as an official canonical entity last November. [https://www.osvnews.com/bishop-stella-maris-attends-to-seafarers-spiritual-needs-reminds-them-church-is-with-them/] 5. Uruguay's bishops announced a "high probability" that Pope Leo XIV will visit their country in late 2026 as part of a South American tour that could also include Argentina and Peru — the nation where the pope served as a missionary and bishop and became a naturalized citizen. [https://www.osvnews.com/pope-leo-xiv-likely-to-visit-argentina-and-uruguay-in-one-trip-with-peru/]

Pope Leo's New Encyclical on AI, and What It Means for the World

Thanks for listening! Let us know what you think. God bless! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2368316/fan_mail/new] Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for May 25, 2026 -- the day Pope Leo XIV released his first encyclical, "Magnifica Humanitas: On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence." OSV News Vatican editor Courtney Mares was on site for the press conference unveiling this historic document, which points to Catholic social teaching as the urgently needed framework for ensuring AI helps, rather than harms, humanity. Tune in and listen as we bring you the details and deep dives on the encyclical at osvnews.com [https://www.osvnews.com/]. Read the stories in this episode, plus more from our ongoing coverage of Pope Leo's new encyclical: * Pope Leo XIV published his landmark encyclical on artificial intelligence "Magnifica Humanitas" May 25, comparing the attempt to build an AI future that excludes God to the "Tower of Babel" and underlining the need to safeguard human dignity as it is "threatened by new forms of dehumanization."  [https://www.osvnews.com/magnifica-humanitas-pope-leos-ai-encyclical-warns-of-temptation-to-build-future-excluding-god/] * Pope Leo XIV called for vigilance as he spoke at the Vatican press conference May 25 to present his first encyclical on artificial intelligence, saying his conversations with industry leaders -- including "very troubling voices" who warned of autonomous weapons systems beyond effective human governance -- had led him to the conviction that AI must be disarmed. [https://www.osvnews.com/pope-leo-xiv-tells-vatican-press-conference-ai-must-be-disarmed-for-humanitys-sake/] * Anthropic co-founder Christopher Olah used the Vatican presentation of Pope Leo XIV's new encyclical, "Magnifica Humanitas" to call for stronger moral oversight of artificial intelligence.  [https://www.osvnews.com/anthropics-christopher-olah-urges-global-moral-oversight-of-ai-at-vatican-presentation/] * Cardinals and theologians at the press conference for the encyclical shared additional concerns over AI and its impact -- including threats to the Global South. [https://www.osvnews.com/magnifica-humanitas-a-call-for-moral-wisdom-in-the-age-of-ai-panelists-say/] * Pope Leo XIV's first encyclical on artificial intelligence is "a powerful reminder that no technology can replace a child of God, and all technology should be placed at the service of helping humanity thrive," said Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City. [https://www.osvnews.com/pope-leos-encyclical-on-ai-a-powerful-reminder-of-human-dignity-says-archbishop-coakley/]  * What do Babel, Nehemiah, transhumanism and technocratic paradigm have in common? They're all terms in Pope Leo's new encyclical. Check out our guide; we looked them up so you don't have to. [https://www.osvnews.com/babel-nehemiah-and-algorithms-a-guide-to-key-terms-in-pope-leos-new-encyclical-on-ai/] * A look at the AI company Anthropic, whose co-founder Christopher Olah  participated in the Holy See press conference introducing "Magnifica Humanitas" May 25. [https://www.osvnews.com/what-is-anthropic-a-look-at-the-company-joining-pope-leo-for-ai-encyclical-release/] * What's "emergent misalignment"? What happens when AI goes rogue. [https://www.osvnews.com/emergent-misalignment-when-ai-goes-rogue-is-a-key-challenge-says-catholic-expert/]

Maronite Sainthood Cause Advances, Somalia Humanitarian Crisis, e.l.f. Co-founder Becomes a Priest, and More

Thanks for listening! Let us know what you think. God bless! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2368316/fan_mail/new] Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for May 22, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com [https://www.osvnews.com/]. Read the stories in this episode: * Pope Leo XIV has cleared the way for the beatification of a Maronite patriarch who played a pivotal role in the creation of modern Lebanon. [https://www.osvnews.com/maronite-patriarch-who-championed-lebanese-independence-among-sainthood-causes-advanced-by-pope-leo/] * Somalia is nearing catastrophe again, as aid agencies warn that millions are facing severe hunger, displacement and collapsing access to basic services. [https://www.osvnews.com/somalia-is-nearing-the-brink-of-humanitarian-catastrophe-aid-and-church-organizations-warn/] * Swedish Cardinal Anders Arborelius received an honorary doctorate May 18 from the Pontifical University of John Paul II in Kraków for "an integrative approach combining theological reflection, spirituality and pastoral responsibility." [https://www.osvnews.com/swedens-cardinal-arborelius-says-ai-needs-moral-compass-as-faith-grows-in-secular-europe/] * As Pope Leo XIV releases his encyclical on artificial intelligence, Brian Patrick Green, an AI ethics scholar for a Vatican working group, says emergent misalignment -- a negative and dangerous side effect of AI in large language model training -- is a key issue that needs to be addressed. [https://www.osvnews.com/emergent-misalignment-when-ai-goes-rogue-is-a-key-challenge-says-catholic-expert/] * Ahead of his May 23 priestly ordination for the Diocese of Fresno, California, Deacon Scott-Vincent Borba -- co-founder of beauty giant e.l.f. Cosmetics, who left stardom for the seminary -- sat down with OSV News to share his thoughts on how he hopes to serve in his ministry. [https://www.osvnews.com/former-cosmetics-exec-to-be-ordained-priest-is-driven-by-restlessness-of-love-for-the-poor/]

Frontline Ukrainian Nun Meets Pope Leo, Ebola Outbreak in Central Africa, Seattle's Eucharistic Revival, and More

Thanks for listening! Let us know what you think. God bless! [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2368316/fan_mail/new] Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for May 21, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com [https://www.osvnews.com/]. Read the stories in this episode: * A Ukrainian nun serving in a city on the front lines met with Pope Leo XIV during a private audience with members of a papal society, handing him images of two Ukrainian soldiers in captivity and pleading with him to "end the war." [https://www.osvnews.com/ukrainian-nun-on-front-lines-meets-pope-leo-pleads-for-help-to-end-the-war/] * Uganda’s Catholic bishops are urging calm and prayer after the government postponed this year’s Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations because of a growing Ebola outbreak in Central Africa [https://www.osvnews.com/as-ebola-epidemic-spreads-uganda-postpones-martyrs-day-celebrations/].  * Pope Leo XIV will find a growing, revitalized Church when he begins a seven-day apostolic visit to Spain on June 6, according to Madrid Cardinal José Cobo. [https://www.osvnews.com/pope-will-find-a-living-growing-church-in-madrid-spanish-cardinal-says/]  * A Princeton professor and two Catholic archbishops are promoting Fidelity Month as a response to what they see as America's declining commitment to core values. [https://www.osvnews.com/fidelity-month-calls-americans-to-rediscover-nations-founding-values-during-americas-250th/] * The Ascend Eucharistic Revival May 16 was one of the largest gatherings of Catholics in the Pacific Northwest in over a century, according to event organizers [https://www.osvnews.com/ascend-eucharistic-revival-draws-3000-pacific-northwest-catholics-of-all-ages-ethnicities/].