Faith in Focus

How my Catholic faith informs my environmental advocacy

by Megan Quinn April 16, 2026

Credit: iStock/EmilyNorton

 The insulting shouts are met with cheers from within the town hall.

At the microphone, a man yells at the life-size cardboard cutout of Eli Crane, our U.S. Representative from District 2, who had not responded to the invitation to the town hall from his constituents in Flagstaff, Ariz.

“Eli Crane does not care about his constituents! He is a self-centered disgrace, who doesn’t even live in his district!”

The room sends forth an uproar of agreement. I squirm in my seat. As a Catholic who is active in environmental and creation care advocacy, I also don’t agree with many of Eli Crane’s policies, but this moment felt uncomfortably emblematic of the way I’ve noticed our country falling deeper into division and hatred.

We need a better way to talk about Pope Leo

Guest Voices

Opinion

We need a better way to talk about Pope Leo

Jim McDermott  ncr

 

Beyond the clash: What Trump's attacks on Leo reveal about history of US-Vatican relations

 

Beyond the clash: What Trump's attacks on Leo reveal about history of US-Vatican relations

News

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  Camillo Barone

Takeaways From the Trump vs. Pope Leo Debacle

EDITORIAL: If, God willing, this surreal episode is coming to a close, it’s a good time to reflect on some of the lessons we can learn from it.

President Donald Trump speaks to the press outside the Oval Office at the White House in Washington on April 13. (photo: Brendan Smialowski / AFP via Getty Images)

The Editors Editorial April 17, 2026  National Catholic Register

Could we be nearing a cessation of hostilities in one of the world’s most senseless conflicts? Let’s hope so.

We’re speaking of the fierce criticism President Donald Trump has leveled this past week against Pope Leo XIV, which has stunned and deeply offended many of the president’s Catholic supporters.

In a series of diatribes — coupled with a sacrilegious AI-generated image, which Trump posted on social media and later took down, depicting himself dressed like Jesus — the president repeatedly accused the American-born Pontiff of liberal politicking, chafing at his vocal opposition to the U.S.-led war with Iran and the Trump administration’s aggressive mass deportation of immigrants living in the country illegally.

s Pope Leo named one of Time magazine’s ‘100 Most Influential People of 2026’

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Pope Leo named one of Time magazine’s ‘100 Most Influential People of 2026’

by Gina Christian - OSV News April 17, 202

Pope Leo XIV smiles as he greets visitors and pilgrims from the popemobile while riding around St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican before his weekly general audience April 8, 2026. Credit: CNS photo/Lola Gomez

(OSV News) — Time magazine has named Pope Leo XIV to its “100 Most Influential People of 2026” list.

The accolade was announced April 15, with the first U.S.-born pope joining a diverse group of individuals — some famous, some lesser known — distinguished by their contributions as leaders, innovators, icons, artists and pioneers.

The list, well into its third decade, has “no single metric that defines influence,” stated Time editor in chief Sam Jacobs in his overview of the list.

Far from Rome, Pope Leo's missionary instincts take center stage

 

Far from Rome, Pope Leo's missionary instincts take center stage

Vatican

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  Justin McLellan

Pope Leo says he is 'not trying to debate' Trump, refocuses Africa trip on peace

Vatican News

Vatican

Pope Leo says he is 'not trying to debate' Trump, refocuses Africa trip on peace

Justin McLellan

 

WHEN GOD DOES NOT STAND ON THE SIDE OF ANY ARMY

 

WHEN GOD DOES NOT STAND ON THE SIDE OF ANY ARMY

Leo may help break a trend that has dominated American Catholicism — less religion as national glue, more faith as a critique of power. Leo’s message dismantles the moral grammar of war: he does not merely say that war is evil but calls into question the cognitive and spiritual premises that make it possible.  READ MORE...