WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump have invited Pope Leo XIV to the White House, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told The Daily Wire on Monday.
Leavitt took questions from the press at a 9:00 a.m. briefing, where she responded to The Daily Wire&#8217;s question about Vice President JD Vance&#8217;s meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Rome.
“My understanding was it was a good meeting, a productive meeting, and we&#8217;re grateful that the vice president did it and that he also went to the Pope&#8217;s first mass in Rome,&#8221; Leavitt shared.
&#8220;I also have an update on that,&#8221; the press secretary added, sharing: &#8220;The Vice President passed along a letter to the Pope from the President and from the First Lady, extending their warm wishes and inviting him to the White House as soon as he possibly can come.”
Pope Leo and Vance sat down together for a 45-minute one-on-one discussion, after which Rubio joined them. Second Lady Usha Vance and Rubio&#8217;s wife, Jeanette Dousdebes Rubio, joined the leaders afterward for an exchange of gifts. Vance gifted the Holy Father a Chicago Bears jersey with &#8220;Pope Leo XIV&#8221; on the back, a gesture towards the pope&#8217;s American heritage.
<div id="attachment_921995" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-invites-pope-leo-to-the-white-house-as-soon-as-he-possibly-can-come/pope-leo-xiv-meets-with-jd-vance-and-marco-rubio-the-day-after-inauguration-mass-2" rel="attachment wp-att-921995"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-921995" class="wp-image-921995 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-2215850546-864x576.jpg" alt="" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-2215850546-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-2215850546-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-2215850546-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/GettyImages-2215850546.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" /></a>Pope Leo XIV exchanges gifts with Vice President J.D. Vance and his wife, Usha (Photo by Simone Risoluti Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty Images)</div>
Vance also gave the pope &#8220;The City of God&#8221; and &#8220;On Christian Doctrine,&#8221; by St. Augustine. Vance chose St. Augustine as his patron saint when he converted to Catholicism, and Pope Leo is the first pope from the Order of St. Augustine.
&#8220;This morning in Vatican City, Vice President JD Vance met privately with His Holiness Pope Leo XIV,&#8221; the Vice President&#8217;s office said in a Monday statement about the visit. &#8220;The Pope also held expanded meetings with the Vice President, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and the U.S. delegation.&#8221;
&#8220;Following his meetings with the Pope, the Vice President met with Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations,&#8221; the statement added. &#8220;The Vice President and Archbishop Gallagher discussed religious freedom, the persecution of Christians around the world, and the shared commitment of President Trump and Pope Leo XIV to stop the killing in Ukraine and the Middle East.&#8221;
Vance met with Zelensky on Sunday in Rome, where the two leaders &#8220;discussed their shared goal of ending the bloodshed in Ukraine and provided updates on the current state of negotiations for a ceasefire and lasting peace,&#8221; according to a readout from the vice president&#8217;s office.
<div id="attachment_921975" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-invites-pope-leo-to-the-white-house-as-soon-as-he-possibly-can-come/unnamed-2-4" rel="attachment wp-att-921975"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-921975" class="wp-image-921975 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/unnamed-2-864x576.jpg" alt="Photo courtesy of the Office of the Vice President. " width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/unnamed-2-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/unnamed-2-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/unnamed-2-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/unnamed-2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/unnamed-2-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/unnamed-2-1800x1200.jpg 1800w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/05/unnamed-2-1200x800.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" /></a>Photo courtesy of the Office of the Vice President.</div>

Pope Leo XIV Meets With JD Vance And Marco Rubio, The Day After Inauguration Mass

Trump Invites Pope Leo To The White House ‘As Soon As He Possibly Can Come’

Donald Trump

Italy

J.D. Vance

Rome

An American tourist was impaled on a spiked fence at the Colosseum in Rome on Friday after climbing the structure in an attempt to snap a photo, per multiple news reports.
The 47-year-old American, currently living in Taiwan, climbed the fence to get the photo and lost his footing, causing him to become stuck on the pointed top. Italian outlets, including Informazione.it and Il Messagero, <a href="https://www.ilmessaggero.it/roma/centro_storico/turista_infilzato_cancello_colosseo_scavalca_cosa_e_successo-8813470.html">reported</a> that the man was screaming in agony for about twenty minutes before emergency personnel arrived to free him.
Per Il Messaggero, the unidentified man was administered a sedative so he could be removed from the spikes in a process that took an additional twenty minutes. Once freed, he was transported to a hospital where he received emergency surgery, including more than 80 stitches.
The outlet noted that the man was unable to speak for several hours after the accident, but was questioned by local police on Sunday. All that’s been reported so far is that the man was on vacation with family and friends. The police have not yet released specific details on how the accident occurred.
&#8220;It was terrible,&#8221; a witness told the outlet. &#8220;I saw that man impaled on a railing and he couldn&#8217;t free himself.&#8221;
There has also been talk of what punishments the man should face for breaking the rules. In 2023, a British tourist made headlines for carving his and his girlfriend’s names into the Colosseum walls. The crime meant he faced up to five years in prison and fines up to €15,000 ($16,850).
Then, a few weeks later, a Swiss girl attempted to do the same thing, per <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/teenage-girl-colosseum-carve-name-rome-b2376482.html">The Independent</a>. 
“It is the first time I have managed to film an act of vandalism at the Colosseum but in six years I have seen dozens, there are also those who rip off parts of the wall,” David Battaglino told Repubblica Roma at the time. “They even spat on me once for scolding a boy.”

Colosseum

American Tourist Impaled On Colosseum’s Spiked Fence After Climbing Up To Snag A Photo

American Tourist Impaled On Colosseum's Spiked Fence After Climbing Up To Snag A Photo

Crime

Tourism

World

Mourners waiting in line to view the body of Pope Francis as he lies in state inside St. Peter&#8217;s Basilica are complaining about the number of people taking selfies.
The Bishop of Rome passed away on Monday morning, as the Vatican announced, following a prolonged period of poor health. Pope Francis was 88 years old at the time of his death.
Vatican officials released photos of Francis in his velvet-lined coffin on Tuesday. The Holy Father is laid out wearing a red robe with the papal mitre on his head and a rosary intertwined in his hands.
“What did surprise me is the fact that earlier we were told no photos in the Sistine Chapel and here people were getting their phone out and doing selfies with the coffin,” one mourner <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14642673/The-faithful-queueing-selfie-popes-corpse-Mourners-wait-eight-hours-pose-pontiff.html">told</a> the Daily Mail. “I did think that was a bit in poor taste and I’m surprised no one stopped them.”
“I was very moved coming so close to Pope Francis, but it was awful seeing so many people taking pictures,&#8221; another person told The Sun.
“I found the mobile phones very distasteful,” another mourner <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/04/24/world-news/disrespectful-mourners-taking-selfies-with-dead-pope-spark-outrage/">said</a>. “I was very surprised there were photos.”
While photos of the deceased pope are not technically prohibited, many of the thousands of mourners are saying the practice of taking selfies with cell phones or even using selfie sticks is in poor taste. Visitors to St. Peter’s Basilica said sometimes security intervened to stop the photo takers, but other times they did not.
The last time a pope died in office was Pope John Paul II in 2005, before selfies and cell phone cameras were commonplace. The pope who served before Francis, Pope Benedict, resigned voluntarily in 2013 due to stated reasons of advanced age and declining health. He died in 2022.
The Vatican stated that around 50,000 people have lined up to view the body of Pope Francis. They are standing in line for up to eight hours to get a chance to see the Holy Father before his burial this weekend.
Large crowds are expected on Saturday for Pope Francis’ funeral in St. Peter&#8217;s Square. Some famous attendees are expected to include President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and Prince William, heir to the British throne.
Per the late pope&#8217;s wishes, Francis will be buried at the Basilica of St Mary Major in Rome, which is a departure from <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/funeral-for-pope-francis-will-deviate-from-tradition">tradition</a>. Popes have typically been laid to rest in the crypt of St. Peter’s Basilica, but the late pope opted to be interred at St. Mary Major due to the “very strong” connection he had there.

Pope Francis

Mourners Complain After Some People Taking Selfies With Late Pope Francis

Catholic Church

Death

Religion

Critics of JD Vance falsely accused the vice president of committing a faux pas while visiting the Vatican, claiming that Vance&#8217;s team did not have permission to take photos in the Sistine Chapel.
But a source familiar with Vance&#8217;s travel team told The Daily Wire that the Vatican gave the vice president&#8217;s official photographer permission to take pictures in the Chapel, where visitors are typically forbidden to take photos of Michelangelo&#8217;s frescoes — including The Creation of Adam&#8221; — considered some of the most important pieces of Renaissance art.
<div id="attachment_911267" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/critics-falsely-accuse-vance-of-embarrassing-gaffe-in-the-sistine-chapel/v20250419eh-1461-1" rel="attachment wp-att-911267"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-911267" class="wp-image-911267 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/V20250419EH-1461-1-864x576.jpg" alt="Official White House photo by Emily Higgins. " width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/V20250419EH-1461-1-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/V20250419EH-1461-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/V20250419EH-1461-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/V20250419EH-1461-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/V20250419EH-1461-1-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/V20250419EH-1461-1-1800x1200.jpg 1800w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/V20250419EH-1461-1-1200x800.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" /></a>The Vance family tours the Pauline Chapel, or the &#8220;Cappella Paolina,&#8221; in Vatican City. (Official White House photo by Emily Higgins).</div>
Vigilant guards in the Sistine Chapel may take tourists&#8217; phones or cameras and delete photos if an unlucky photographer is caught snapping photos.
Critics of the vice president were quick to assume that his team did not have permission to take photos inside the Sistine Chapel.
&#8220;JD Vance Ripped for Embarrassing Gaffe During Vatican Visit,&#8221; The Daily Beast <a href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/jd-vance-ripped-for-embarrassing-gaffe-during-vatican-visit/">headlined</a> their story on the topic, calling the incident a &#8220;cardinal sin,&#8221; and adding the subhead: &#8220;A White House publicity stunt revealed the vice president’s glaring faux pas.&#8221;
Several tabloids chimed in on the topic as well. People Magazine <a href="https://people.com/jd-vance-sistine-chapel-picture-sparks-backlash-did-he-break-vatican-protocol-11719301">questioned</a>, &#8220;Photo of J.D. Vance Inside Sistine Chapel Sparks Backlash. Did He Break Vatican Protocol?&#8221; And the Daily Mail <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14635931/JD-Vance-fury-breaking-Vatican-protocol.html">posted</a>: &#8220;JD Vance sparks fury by breaking Vatican protocol.&#8221;
The offending photo depicts Vance gazing up at the renowned frescoes as he holds his young son.
Turning Point USA Founder Charlie Kirk <a href="https://x.com/charliekirk11/status/1914071098410586379">shared</a> the image on Easter Sunday, calling it &#8220;An epic shot of Vice President JD Vance and his son inside the Sistine Chapel.&#8221; The image quickly went viral, drawing the attention of those familiar with the Sistine Chapel&#8217;s rules for tourists.
<div id="attachment_911229" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/critics-falsely-accuse-vance-of-embarrassing-gaffe-in-the-sistine-chapel/unnamed-26" rel="attachment wp-att-911229"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-911229" class="wp-image-911229 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/unnamed-1-864x576.jpg" alt="Vice President Vance and his son tour the Sistine Chapel. Official White House photo by Emily Higgins. " width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/unnamed-1-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/unnamed-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/unnamed-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/unnamed-1.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" /></a>Vice President Vance and his son tour the Sistine Chapel. Official White House photo by Emily Higgins.</div>
Kirk&#8217;s spokesman, Andrew Kolvet, <a href="https://x.com/AndrewKsway/status/1914794708343410843">noted</a> that former First Lady Michelle Obama&#8217;s visit to the Vatican was also photographed, hitting back at commenters on &#8220;X&#8221; who claimed that the photos were not allowed.
&#8220;Not only did the Vatican explicitly grant permission for the VP’s team to photograph their visit, the Vatican itself released video of their tour,&#8221; Kolvet wrote. &#8220;They did the same for other official state visits including Michelle Obama&#8217;s visit in 2009.&#8221;
<div id="attachment_911239" style="width: 394px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/critics-falsely-accuse-vance-of-embarrassing-gaffe-in-the-sistine-chapel/us-first-lady-michelle-obama-visits-the-sistine-chapel-at-the-vatican" rel="attachment wp-att-911239"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-911239" class="wp-image-911239 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-955371908-384x576.jpg" alt="" width="384" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-955371908-384x576.jpg 384w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-955371908-200x300.jpg 200w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-955371908.jpg 683w" sizes="(max-width: 384px) 100vw, 384px" /></a>Michelle Obama in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican. (Photo by MAURIX/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)</div>
Bill and Hillary Clinton also visited the Sistine Chapel and were photographed admiring the frescoes, as did former Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
<div id="attachment_911265" style="width: 393px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/critics-falsely-accuse-vance-of-embarrassing-gaffe-in-the-sistine-chapel/president-and-hillary-clinton-in-the-sistine-chapel" rel="attachment wp-att-911265"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-911265" class="wp-image-911265 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-576837746-383x576.jpg" alt="" width="383" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-576837746-383x576.jpg 383w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-576837746-199x300.jpg 199w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-576837746.jpg 680w" sizes="(max-width: 383px) 100vw, 383px" /></a>President and Hillary Clinton in the Sistine Chapel (Photo by © Wally McNamee/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images)</div>
<div id="attachment_911273" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/critics-falsely-accuse-vance-of-embarrassing-gaffe-in-the-sistine-chapel/u-s-secretary-of-state-antony-blinken-visits-vatican" rel="attachment wp-att-911273"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-911273" class="wp-image-911273 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-1325911231-864x576.jpg" alt="" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-1325911231-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-1325911231-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-1325911231-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-1325911231.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" /></a>VATICAN CITY, VATICAN &#8211; JUNE 28: U.S. Secretary Of State Antony Blinken Visits the Sala Regia and the Sistine Chapel at the Apostolic Palace, on June 28, 2021 in Vatican City, Vatican. (Photo by Vatican Pool &#8211; Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)</div>
Vance&#8217;s visit to the Vatican came during his three-day Holy Week visit to Italy, during which he attended a Good Friday Service at St. Peter&#8217;s Basilica and Easter Sunday mass at the Papal Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls.
Vance met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni as well as Pope Francis and Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin.
The pope died the day after his meeting with the vice president.
&#8220;When I saw him, I didn&#8217;t know that he had less than 24 hours still on this earth,&#8221; Vance told reporters in Agra, India, on Wednesday morning. &#8220;I think it was a great blessing.&#8221;

Untitled design (3)

Critics Falsely Accuse Vance Of ‘Embarrassing Gaffe’ In The Sistine Chapel

JD Vance

The Vatican

Vice President JD Vance refused to politicize the death of Pope Francis as he spoke with reporters on Wednesday, arguing that the pope was a &#8220;great Christian pastor.&#8221;
The vice president said he was saddened by the pope&#8217;s death as he spoke with reporters in Agra, India, acknowledging that he was one of the last people to meet with the pontiff, but saying he had no idea that Pope Francis had less than 24 hours left on earth when the two met in Rome on Sunday.
In his last Easter address, Pope Francis <a href="https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/urbi/documents/20250420-urbi-et-orbi-pasqua.html">condemned</a> “how much contempt is stirred up at times towards the vulnerable, the marginalized and migrants&#8221; and warned against leaders who “yield to the logic of fear.&#8221; The late pontiff <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/deportation-schism-why-leftist-catholics-are-at-odds-with-churchs-long-standing-view-on-immigration">also pushed back against</a> President Donald Trump&#8217;s deportation plans ahead of the president&#8217;s inauguration.
&#8220;I appeal to all those in positions of political responsibility in our world not to yield to the logic of fear which only leads to isolation from others, but rather to use the resources available to help the needy, to fight hunger and to encourage initiatives that promote development,&#8221; the pope said in his final address. &#8220;These are the &#8216;weapons&#8217; of peace: weapons that build the future, instead of sowing seeds of death!&#8221;
&#8220;A lot of people, especially in the American press want to make the Holy Father, his entire legacy, and even his death, about American politics,&#8221; Vance told reporters on Wednesday. &#8220;I think he was obviously a much broader figure than the United States of America, he represents over a billion Catholics worldwide.&#8221;
<div id="attachment_911205" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/vance-refuses-to-politicize-pope-francis-death-not-going-to-soil-the-mans-legacy/u-s-vice-president-vance-visits-italy-and-india-4" rel="attachment wp-att-911205"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-911205" class="wp-image-911205 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2211102876-864x576.jpg" alt="" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2211102876-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2211102876-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2211102876-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2211102876.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" /></a>Vice President JD Vance and Pope Francis. (Photo by Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty Images)</div>
&#8220;Yes,&#8221; he added, &#8220;I&#8217;m aware that he had some disagreements with some of the policies of our administration. He also had a lot of agreements with the policies of our administration. I&#8217;m not going to soil the man&#8217;s legacy by talking about politics. I think he was a great Christian pastor, and that&#8217;s how I choose to remember the Holy Father.&#8221;
Asked if he would like to see the next pope continue in Pope Francis&#8217; tradition, he laughed and responded, &#8220;I won&#8217;t pretend to give guidance to the cardinals on who they should select as the next pope. We have plenty of issues to focus on in the United States. I&#8217;ll just say a prayer for wisdom, because I obviously want them to pick the right person. I want them to pick someone who will be good for the world&#8217;s Catholics, but I&#8217;ll let them make that decision.&#8221;
President Donald Trump announced on Monday in a Truth Social post that he will attend the funeral of Pope Francis,  &#8220;Melania and I will be going to the funeral of Pope Francis, in Rome. We look forward to being there!” The president will depart the United States for Rome on Friday afternoon.
His announcement came after he ordered federal and state flags to fly at half-staff in memory of Pope Francis.
“As a mark of respect for the memory of His Holiness Pope Francis, by the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset, on the day of interment,” Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114376655236734018">wrote in a separate post</a>.
He added: “I also direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same length of time at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations.”

U.S. Vice President Vance Visits Italy And India

Vance Refuses To Politicize Pope Francis’ Death: ‘Not Going To Soil The Man’s Legacy’

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he will attend the funeral of Pope Francis, which will likely take place in Rome this month.
&#8220;Melania and I will be going to the funeral of Pope Francis, in Rome,&#8221; the president shared in a Truth Social post on Monday afternoon. &#8220;We look forward to being there!&#8221;
It&#8217;s not immediately clear when the funeral will be: a pope is typically <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pope-francis-dies-at-the-age-of-88?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Hank+Berrien&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=Pope+Francis+Is+Dead+At+88">mourned for nine days</a> while the College of Cardinals comes together to pray. After the pope&#8217;s funeral takes place, the conclave of cardinals will elect a new pope.
His announcement came after he ordered federal and state flags to fly at half-staff in memory of Pope Francis.
<div id="attachment_910531" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/president-trump-to-attend-funeral-of-pope-francis-in-rome/trump-orders-flags-to-fly-at-half-staff-to-honor-pope-francis" rel="attachment wp-att-910531"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-910531" class="wp-image-910531 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2211326600-864x576.jpg" alt="" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2211326600-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2211326600-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2211326600-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2211326600.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" /></a>The U.S. flag flies at half staff near the Washington Monument on the National Mall in honor of Pope Francis on April 21, 2025 in Washington, DC.  (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)</div>
“As a mark of respect for the memory of His Holiness Pope Francis, by the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset, on the day of interment,” Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114376655236734018">wrote in a separate post</a>.
He added: “I also direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same length of time at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations.”
The president spoke of the pope at the White House Easter Egg roll, where he told attendees of Pope Francis: &#8220;He was a good man, worked hard. He loved the world.”
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, announced on Monday that the pope had died at 7:35 that morning, stating: &#8220;His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and most marginalized.”
The pope&#8217;s body will be transferred to St. Peter&#8217;s Basilica on Wednesday morning, the Vatican said Monday, so that &#8220;the faithful may pray before his mortal remains.&#8221;
&#8220;The translation of the Holy Father&#8217;s mortal remains to the Vatican Basilica, for the veneration of all the faithful, may take place on the morning of Wednesday, April 23, 2025, according to the arrangements that shall be determined and communicated tomorrow, following the first Congregation of the Cardinals,&#8221; <a href="https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2025-04/pope-francis-ascertainment-death-cardinal-kevin-farrell.html">said the director of the Holy See Press Office</a>, Matteo Bruni.

VATICAN-POPE-AUDIENCE-US-DIPLOMACY

President Trump To Attend Funeral Of Pope Francis In Rome

Catholic

Melania Trump

Pope Francis has died at 88, and speculation is already swirling around who will become the next pontiff to lead the Catholic Church.
Francis <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pope-francis-dies-at-the-age-of-88?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Hank+Berrien&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=Pope+Francis+Dies+At+The+Age+Of+88">died in the early hours</a> of April 21, the day after Easter. He had been hospitalized in Rome recently and was diagnosed with pneumonia in both lungs, but in recent days he had appeared in public. Francis was elected pope in March 2013 after Pope Benedict XVI made the unexpected decision to step down from the chair of Saint Peter, becoming the first pope to resign in nearly 600 years.
Francis&#8217; papacy often adopted a progressive tone, with the pope recently <a href="https://www.ncregister.com/cna/pope-francis-vance-clash-over-ordo-amoris" target="_blank" rel="noopener">making</a> headlines for criticizing Vice President JD Vance, a Catholic, and the Trump administration&#8217;s “program of mass deportations.”
However, Francis also upheld Catholic doctrine on <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/pope-doubles-down-on-abortion-in-new-years-day-message-calls-for-commitment-to-protect-life#:~:text=ROME%20(AP)%20—%20Pope%20Francis,from%20conception%20to%20natural%20death." target="_blank" rel="noopener">abortion</a>, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pope-says-blessings-for-individuals-in-same-sex-relationships-cannot-resemble-marriage" target="_blank" rel="noopener">gay marriage</a>, and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/vatican-clarifies-opposition-to-radical-gender-theory-says-it-threatens-a-persons-unique-dignity" target="_blank" rel="noopener">gender ideology</a>, although critics have complained that his wording in statements on these issues is sometimes confusing. Last year, Francis <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dntdUwbIaIA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">was</a> firm with an interviewer that women would not be ordained priests.
Several cardinals are considered potential successors to Francis — here are just a few.
Cardinal Raymond Burke, 76, is one of the few potential successors from the United States.
From Wisconsin, Burke has been outspoken in his criticism of the Church&#8217;s more liberal language under Francis, and he has strongly supported the Latin Mass, the older form of the Mass that is popular with many conservative Catholics. Burke has also said that Catholic politicians who support legal abortion, like former President Joe Biden, should not receive the Eucharist.
WATCH: MICHAEL KNOWLES EXPLAINS HOW THE NEXT POPE WILL BE CHOSEN
<iframe loading="lazy" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uwdJ2UEtFtk?si=pNa9iZBRxKHHUYZb" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> 
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, 70, has served as the Vatican&#8217;s Secretary of State for nearly all of Francis&#8217; papacy. The Italian cardinal has been in the Holy See&#8217;s diplomatic service since 1986, when he was in his early 30s.
Considered a political moderate, Parolin has played a role in many political issues, including moderating 2014 talks between Cuban and American officials, asking the United States to find an &#8220;adequate humanitarian solution&#8221; for Guantanamo Bay prisoners, and urging countries to implement the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.
Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, 65, of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, has made headlines for his conservative stances. His papacy would be considered a referendum on Francis&#8217; more progressive one.
However, Besungu also <a href="https://thecatholicherald.com/papabili-the-cardinals-who-have-seen-their-prospects-in-the-next-conclave-harmed-and-improved-by-recent-news-events/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">brought</a> critics and supporters of Francis together when he led African bishops in rejecting Francis&#8217; document explaining that people in same-sex relationships can be blessed, but did so with Francis&#8217; explicit blessing, which he got during an emergency trip to Rome.
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, 67, has been <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20151124125431/http://www.cruxnow.com/church/2015/01/15/manila-cardinal-luis-tagle-the-asian-pope-francis/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">called</a> the &#8220;Asian Pope Francis&#8221; and would likely continue Francis&#8217; more left-leaning stances.
He has defended the Church&#8217;s teachings on abortion and contraception, but he has also criticized the Church for using &#8220;harsh words&#8221; for LGBT people and divorced and remarried Catholics.
Cardinal Wim Eijk, 71, is also considered a conservative potential successor.
The former medical doctor from the Netherlands has been a sharp critic of Francis. He is one of the authors of a 2015 document opposing the pope&#8217;s approval of civil remarriages among people who have not received an annulment, <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/02/18/world-news/who-are-the-frontrunners-to-be-elected-next-pontiff-after-pope-francis/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">calling</a> them “a form of structured and institutionalized adultery.”
Eijk also <a href="https://www.ncregister.com/blog/cardinal-eijk-pope-francis-needed-to-give-clarity-on-intercommunion" target="_blank" rel="noopener">criticized</a> Francis for giving what he called a “completely incomprehensible” response to a German Bishops&#8217; Conference proposal on allowing Protestants to receive the Eucharist.
Cardinal Peter Erdö, 72, is a Hungarian cardinal who is a devout Marian as well as a former president of the Council of Bishops Conferences of Europe.
He has expressed conservative views, including staunchly opposing allowing divorced and remarried Catholics to receive communion. In 2015 during the European migrant crisis, he said the Church would not <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/2015/09/05/us-europe-migrants-hungary-divide-idUSKCN0R50F120150905/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">take</a> in refugees because it would be akin to human trafficking.

Pope Francis attends his weekly general audience

Who Could Become Pontiff After Pope Francis?

Catholicism

Vatican

WASHINGTON—Vice President JD Vance will spend Holy Week in Vatican City before heading to India, the vice president’s office shared with The Daily Wire.
Vance will attend Good Friday Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, his office shared with The Daily Wire. While in Rome, Vance is also slated to meet with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who visited the White House on Thursday.
“Vice President Vance looks forward to meeting with Prime Minister Meloni and Church officials while in Italy and is grateful for the opportunity to visit some of Rome’s amazing cultural and religious sites with his family during Holy Week,” the vice president’s press secretary, Taylor Van Kirk, told The Daily Wire.
Pope Francis, who was recently released from the hospital following a prolonged health scare, <a href="https://www.usccb.org/news/2025/despite-improved-health-pope-picks-cardinals-lead-holy-week-liturgies">announced</a> that he will not preside over the Vatican&#8217;s Holy Week masses. The Pope tapped Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, Prefect of the Dicastery for Eastern Churches, to lead Good Friday mass in his stead.
Vance, a Catholic convert, caught flack from Pope Francis earlier this year for the Trump administration&#8217;s stance on immigration. Vance <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hours-before-zelensky-meeting-vance-praises-trump-for-pursuing-a-path-of-peace">acknowledged</a> that scuffle at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in February, calling himself a “Baby Catholic” and noting that “sometimes, the bishops get mad at me.”
“If you ever hear me pontificating about the Catholic faith, please recognize it comes from a place of deep belief, but it also comes from a place of not always knowing everything all the time,” he said at the time.
Vance&#8217;s visit comes a week of Easter festivities at the White House, including prayer services and dinners with religious leaders. Trump released a &#8220;Presidential Message on Holy Week&#8221; on Palm Sunday, in which he reaffirmed his administration&#8217;s &#8220;promise to defend the Christian faith in our schools, military, workplaces, hospitals, and halls of government.&#8221;
&#8220;We will never waver in safeguarding the right to religious liberty, upholding the dignity of life, and protecting God in our public square,&#8221; Trump wrote.
Last year, President Joe Biden and his administration came under fire when Biden <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-declares-easter-sunday-transgender-day-of-visibility">declared</a> Easter Sunday &#8220;Transgender Day of Visibility.&#8221;
The U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Italy also noted in a release that Vance and his family will be traveling between April 18 and April 24, stating that Vance will “discuss shared economic and geopolitical priorities with leaders in each country.”
While in India, Vance will visit New Delhi, Jaipur, and Agra, hold meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and participate in “engagements at cultural sites.”

2024 Republican National Convention: Day 1

EXCLUSIVE: JD Vance And Family To Attend Good Friday Mass In Vatican City

Daily Wire Editor Emeritus Ben Shapiro discusses the fall of the Roman Empire and how it relates to the current threats faced by the U.S. in his latest episode of “Facts.” 
Inflation, Barbarian invasions, political upheaval, and environmental disaster hit Rome while a declining morality and civic virtue also swept through the populace eventually leading to the empire’s fall. Today, the U.S. and much of Western civilization stand “at a crossroads where similar challenges threaten our stability,” Shapiro said. 
“Why did Rome fall? At its height, the Roman Empire was an unparalleled superpower, encompassing vast territories across Europe, Asia, and Africa. It boasted advanced infrastructure, a complex political system, and an extremely powerful military,” the Daily Wire host said. “However, by the fifth century A.D., the empire was in severe decline.” 
“The Western Roman Empire, the territory comprising modern day Italy, Spain, France, Portugal and much of northern Africa fell because of a confluence of factors. Those factors break down into essentially four: economic, governmental, environmental, and social,” Shapiro added. 
On the economic front, Shapiro said that Roman emperors slowly reduced the silver content of coins, which led to “rampant inflation.” 
“This erosion of monetary value, debasing the currency, severely weakened the economy and eroded trust in the government&#8217;s financial management,” he added. “Without a free market, the heavy hand of the Roman military had to be applied more broadly in order to gain resources that also meant higher costs.”
While inflation grew, the government increased taxes on the rich and relied more heavily on slave labor. Around the end of the third century, Emperor Diocletian tried to control prices, which ultimately failed and led to a more centralized economy. 
The economic collapse was followed by the empire’s failure to protect its borders, leading to Barbarian raids and invasions that Shapiro said “were simply the culmination of three centuries of deterioration in the fiscal capacity of the state to defend itself.” 
Shapiro then described the governmental failure of the Roman Empire. A centralized and powerful government required a centralized and powerful military — control of which was vital for the emperor. 
“This meant that anyone who could gain credibility with the army could make a play for the throne. And that&#8217;s precisely what happened,” Shapiro said. “Repeated military coups — the third century A.D. saw 29 different emperors. Emperors were frequently overthrown or assassinated, leading to a rapid turnover of leadership. This political turmoil weakened the central authority and made it difficult to implement consistent policy.” 
Next, environmental issues, such as the Plague of Cyprian in the third century A.D. decimated the empire’s population, including the population of able-bodied young men. The empire also faced food shortages following soil depletion and deforestation, Shapiro said. 
Then, there was the moral collapse of the Roman Empire. Shapiro quotes historian Victor Davis Hanson, who said, “Clearly the pernicious effects of affluence and laxity warped Roman sensibility and created a culture of entitlement that was not justified by revenues or the creation of actual commensurate wealth, and the resulting debits, inflation, debased currency, and gradual state impoverishment gave the far more vulnerable Western empire far less margin of error when barbarians arrived or rival generals marched on Rome.” 
“The Roman Empire teaches us that no civilization, regardless of its power and influence, is immune to decline if it fails to uphold the principles of responsibility, civic virtue, cultural integrity, and freedom,” Shapiro concluded. “It&#8217;s incumbent upon us to learn from history, to strengthen our institutions, and to foster a society that values freedom, resilience, and relentless pursuit of truth.” 
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Facts Intro Still

Why Did Rome Fall?: Ben Shapiro Examines The End Of The World’s Most Famous Empire In Latest ‘Facts’ Episode 

Ben Shapiro

The Daily Wire

A <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/united-kingdom" target="_blank" rel="noopener">British museum</a> has decided that an infamous Roman emperor was transgender, and will refer to him using female pronouns in the name of sensitivity.
The North Hertfordshire Museum told the Telegraph that going forward, it will refer to Elagabalus, who ruled the Roman empire from 218-222 AD, as a woman, based on the work of contemporary historian Cassius Dio, who said that Elagabalus was “termed wife, mistress and queen.”
 “Call me not Lord, for I am a Lady.” Elagabalus supposedly <a href="http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/e/roman/texts/cassius_dio/80*.html">told</a> a male lover.
“We know that Elagabalus identified as a woman and was explicit about which pronouns to use, which shows that pronouns are not a new thing,” <a href="https://nypost.com/2023/11/21/news/uk-museum-says-roman-emperor-was-a-trans-woman/?utm_campaign=nypost&amp;utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_medium=social">said</a> Keith Hoskins, executive member for Enterprise and Arts at North Herts Council. “We try to be sensitive to identifying pronouns for people in the past, as we are for people in the present.”
However, later historians have debated how seriously some of these descriptions should be taken. Rome was an unapologetically patriarchal society and lacked the modern conceptions of “gender” as something independent of biological sex. While some “gender fluid” characters existed in myth, such as Hermaphroditus, from whom we get the term “hermaphrodite,” and the blind prophet Tiresius, who was transformed into a woman for seven years as a divine punishment, after which he was transformed back into a man, such ambiguity wasn’t transferred over to flesh and blood people.
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Allegations of sexual impropriety or effeminate behavior were stock insults in the Roman political lexicon. Surviving histories of the era are often fragmentary and biased, with some unpopular emperors being exclusively remembered by the descriptions of their enemies.
&#8220;There are many examples in Roman literature of times where effeminate language and words were used as a way of criticising or weakening a political figure,” Dr Shushma Malik, a classics professor at Cambridge University, told the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-67484645">BBC</a>. &#8220;References to Elagabalus wearing makeup, wigs and removing body hair may have been written in order to undermine the unpopular emperor.&#8221;
Elagabalus, who is widely considered to be one of the worst emperors Rome ever had, ascended to the throne at the age of 14 at the end of a bloody civil war, and was himself assassinated four years later to be replaced by his younger cousin, Alexander Severus. Aside from his reported sexual exploits (Dio tells us that he was “married” at various points to four women and one man and had many extramarital affairs), Elagabalus is also remembered for his promotion of the Syrian sun-god of the same name and his unpopular religious reforms, which were rescinded after his death.
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Cassius Dio lived through Elagabalus’ reign and was a close political ally of his replacement. While he is still respected as a valuable ancient source, Dio has often been regarded as less reliable than other Roman historians and his descriptions of the late Emperor were far from neutral.
“[Elagabulus] both married and was bestowed in marriage; for he appeared both as man and as woman, and in both relations conducted himself in the most licentious fashion,” Dio <a href="http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/e/roman/texts/cassius_dio/80*.html">wrote</a>.
In the same account, Dio repeatedly refers to Elagabalus as a pretender to the throne (“the False Antoninus”), and accuses him, among other things, of defiling a virgin priestess, dressing and acting like a female prostitute, planning to “cut off his [own] genitals” seeking out a primitive vaginoplasty, and says that “He ought to have been scourged in the Forum, thrown into prison, and then put to death.”
That being said, the <a href="https://www.thechronicle.com.au/news/kim-jonguns-vile-pleasure-squad-where-virgin-schoolgirls-are-selected-to-entertain-north-korean-rulers/news-story/62559264441661586a826f20865eca4e">well</a> documented <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2474533/The-terrible-truth-Gaddafis-harem.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sexual</a> behavior of some <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/ex-gambian-dictator-yahya-jammeh-handpicked-women-for-rape-2059736" target="_blank" rel="noopener">modern</a> dictators often mirrors ancient allegations of impropriety, which has led some historians to re-evaluate claims that had previously been dismissed as &#8220;fantastical.&#8221;
The claims made about Elagabalus in the historical record stand out as particularly extreme, even when compared to other Roman invective, which has led some historians to believe that he may have genuinely suffered from gender dysphoria, although others remain skeptical.

Woke Museum Claims Notorious Roman Emperor Was Transgender, Will Use Female Pronouns

Academia

General

History

LGBTQ

Woke Culture

Wokeness

VATICAN CITY — The 2023 session of the Synod on Synodality, a general assembly of Bishops, has come to a close, and with it highly anticipated <a href="https://x.com/breeadail/status/1718359539030827109?s=20">answers</a> to lingering questions as to whether the Catholic Church will ordain women and bless homosexual unions. 
In the 42-page <a href="https://www.scribd.com/document/680731750/Synod-on-Synodality-Summary-Report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">summary document</a>, presented to Pope Francis and published in Italian late Saturday evening, the participants — many of whom were personally chosen by the Roman Pontiff — reiterated the Catholic Church’s “closeness,” love, and compassion for individuals who endure “loneliness” as a result of abiding by Church teaching, to include sexual ethics. 
Found nowhere in the document, however, was the acronym “LGBTQ+,” let alone the proposal towards “<a href="https://www.katholisch.de/artikel/48175-baetzing-nach-weltsynode-kirche-wuenscht-ueberarbeitung-der-sexualmoral">blessings” of such individuals</a> or their unions — despite <a href="https://cruxnow.com/2023-consistory-and-synod-for-synodality/2023/10/pope-offers-cautious-yes-on-blessing-some-same-sex-unions-no-on-woman-priests">rumors</a> published by several <a href="https://twitter.com/dianemontagna/status/1702389741902242065">activists</a>. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Should the Synod approve the “blessing of homosexual couples [or] female diaconate,” ++Müller said “every ecclesiastical official would have lost his authority &amp; no Catholic would be obliged any longer to religiously obey a heretic or schismatic bishop.” My final English text 👇: <a href="https://t.co/GboCGU4Wl3">pic.twitter.com/GboCGU4Wl3</a>
&mdash; Diane Montagna (@dianemontagna) <a href="https://twitter.com/dianemontagna/status/1702389741902242065?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 14, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The document also focused on the vital role women play within the Church, but failed to obtain enough votes to support a proposal of ordination of women to the diaconate. The question was tabled, however, for “further discussion” during the <a href="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252560/pope-francis-announces-decision-to-extend-synod-on-synodality-to-2024#:~:text=16,%20the%20pope%20shared%20his,October%202023%20and%20October%202024.">second session of the Synod in 2024</a>, even though the Pope has <a href="https://www.romereports.com/en/2023/10/26/pope-francis-shuts-down-question-of-female-ordination/">reiterated</a> once again no such “reform” would or could be made under his pontificate. Such continued discussions suggest that future reform has not yet been fully rejected.
To note, the absence of the <a href="https://international.la-croix.com/news/vatican-diary/the-synod-and-the-germans/18474#:~:text=The%20Synod's%20general%20secretariat%20announced,source%20within%20the%20Roman%20Curia.">German-speaking working group</a> throughout this session seemed to suggest a possible Papal response to the results of a <a href="https://x.com/breeadail/status/1634290516211957760?s=20">March vote and schism</a> within the country. Thirty-eight of a total of 58 German Bishops voted to approve “blessing” irregular unions, including homosexual — seeming to directly oppose <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/world/pope-francis-warns-german-bishops-changing-teachings-not-lawful-causes-churches-rot-die">stern warnings</a> from Pope Francis the summer prior, in 2022. 
&#8220;Germany does not have the power to compel the bishops and the faithful to adopt new ways of governance and new approaches to doctrine and morals,&#8221; the statement read. &#8220;Prior to an agreed understanding at the level of the universal Church, it would not be permissible to initiate new official structures or doctrines in the dioceses, which would represent a wound to ecclesial communion and a threat to the unity of the Church.” 
Nevertheless, after the spring vote was conducted in Germany, reports of <a href="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/247603/german-catholics-defy-vatican-with-blessing-ceremonies-for-same-sex-couples">rebellion</a> against the Vatican’s directives quickly surfaced, with reports of priests conducting “blessing ceremonies” for same-sex couples, adding <a href="https://www.ncregister.com/interview/cardinal-mueller-on-synod-on-synodality-a-hostile-takeover-of-the-church-of-jesus-christ-we-must-resist">fuel</a> to ideological provocateurs.
Reactions to the details within the document were as swift as they were varied — from relief that the rumors were abated to <a href="https://x.com/joshjmcelwee/status/1718359065389076698?s=20">disappointment</a> in the lack of “progressive” results. Participants also expressed frustration and dismay over rising costs during a time of “<a href="https://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/pope-francis-raises-cardinals-rent">financial crisis</a>” in the Vatican.
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<div id="attachment_645875" style="width: 811px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-645875" class="size-large wp-image-645875" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/10/GettyImages-1764803430-801x576.jpg" alt="Pope Francis presides over the Holy Mass for the conclusion of the Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops. Vatican City (Vatican), October 29th, 2023 (Photo by Grzegorz Galazka/Archivio Grzegorz Galazka/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images)" width="801" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/10/GettyImages-1764803430-801x576.jpg 801w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/10/GettyImages-1764803430-300x216.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/10/GettyImages-1764803430-768x552.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/10/GettyImages-1764803430.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 801px) 100vw, 801px" />Pope Francis presides over the Holy Mass for the conclusion of the Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops. Vatican City (Vatican), October 29th, 2023 (Photo by Grzegorz Galazka/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images)</div>
<a href="https://www.elizabeth-lev.com/about" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Elizabeth Lev</a>, an author and Vatican historian based in Rome, commented: “My first thought regarding the document and its proceedings, is how odd it is that a Church document be discussed by what it doesn&#8217;t contain vs that which it does….suggest(ing) a partisan nature to the whole business.” 
Lev responded to The Daily Wire, through email. She continued by pointing out that the summary document seems to have methodically buried the essential role of the Church. “Where is the uniqueness of Christianity? That singular message of the Good News that transformed the world 2,000 years ago?” She asked. “There is much talk of adapting the message, finding more inclusive language, and making it understandable (or palatable) for the people of today, but over the centuries illiterate people were able to understand what God wants from us, the message was brought to the farthest reaches of the planet without a worldwide web and was so convincingly understood that people were ready and willing to die for it. The church used beauty, it used hope, it used a guiding light in darkness in its art and architecture to match its message. What makes Catholic Christianity special today?”
When asked by The Daily Wire if she, as a historian, recognized historical similarities to those controversies leading up to this Synod, Lev replied, “In so far as the history of the Church, there was a lot of controversy in how to address the contemporary problems in the age of Luther &#8211; should priests marry? Should the church relax marriage doctrine? etc. — so yes we have seen this before.”
Lev concluded, “The waters have been choppy before for the barque of Peter, but it always seems to right itself. As Cardinal Ercole Consalvi allegedly <a href="https://www.bromptonoratory.co.uk/provost-blog/2019/8/26/september-2019-letter-from-the-provost">noted</a> (responding to Napoleon Bonaparte’s threat that he had the power to destroy the Catholic Church), the Catholic clergy have been trying to destroy the church from within for 1,800 years but have never been able to succeed.”
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This article has been edited for clarity. And earlier version stated there were no German representatives at the general assembly. They were in attendance, however, there was no German working group.

Pope Francis presides over the Holy Mass for the conclusion of the Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops

As Catholic General Assembly Of Bishops Adjourns, Questions Over Female Priests And Marriage Remain

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