Latest news with #PopeLeoXIV
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
White Sox fan Pope Leo makes $16,500 trading card history at auction
Pope Leo XIV continues to make history. Not only is he the first American pope, he also just set an all-time trading card record. His 2025 Topps Now Superfractor 1/1, graded CGC 10, sold for $16,500 in Fanatics Collect's June Premier Auction, becoming the highest-selling pope card ever. In May, Topps produced the card showing Leo waving from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica after becoming the Catholic Church's new pope. Over 133,000 base copies sold in just four days. Advertisement Born Robert Prevost in Chicago, Pope Leo is the most famous White Sox fan in the world. He attended Game 1 of the 2005 World Series when the White Sox defeated the Houston Astros 5-3. The White Sox swept the Astros to win their first championship. Leo even wore a White Sox cap at the Vatican days a month after being elected pope. 'Controversy' emerged when it was initially reported that Leo was a Cubs fan. However, the pope's brother cleared up the confusion by revealing Leo was a lifelong White Sox fan. The White Sox can use all the help they can get. They set the modern loss record in 2024 with 121 defeats and find themselves in last place in the American League Central again. They haven't reached the playoffs since 2021. Advertisement Related Headlines
New York Times
4 hours ago
- Politics
- New York Times
Two Contrasting Cases Raise Questions of Pope Leo's Actions on Sex Abuse
The contrasts are glaring. In one case, Pope Leo XIV — then known as Bishop Robert Prevost — sided with victims of sexual abuse, locking horns with powerful Catholic figures in Peru. He sought justice for victims of a cultlike Catholic movement that recruited the children of elite families and used sexual and psychological abuse to subordinate members. In another case, Bishop Prevost was accused of failing to sufficiently investigate claims by three women that they had been abused by priests as children. The accused were two priests in Bishop Prevost's diocese in a small Peruvian city, including one who had worked closely with the bishop, according to two people who work for the church. As Leo assumes the papacy, becoming leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics, his handling of clergy sexual abuse will be closely scrutinized, and the two cases have left him open to starkly diverging judgments — praise for helping victims in one, claims that he let them down in the other. In the first, victims have hailed as heroic his work taking on the ultraconservative group, Sodalitium Christianae Vitae, which had grown more influential after Pope John Paul II gave it his pontifical stamp of approval. Breaking with other powerful Catholic figures in Peru, Bishop Prevost arranged talks between victims and church leaders and helped those who suffered abuse to get psychological help and monetary settlements. As he rose through the Vatican's ranks, Bishop Prevost kept raising the pressure on Sodalitium, which was ordered to disband only weeks before -he became the first American to lead the Catholic Church. Colombia Ecuador Chiclayo Brazil Peru Pacific Ocean Lima Bolivia 200 miles By The New York Times Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
New York Times
4 hours ago
- Politics
- New York Times
Takeaways From a Times Investigation of the Pope's Legacy on Sex Abuse
Sex abuse scandals have rocked the Catholic church for years, with priests around the world accused of victimizing children and others, and the institution criticized for a weak response. As Pope Leo XIV becomes leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics, his stance on abuse will play a central role in shaping the church's future as it tries to rebuild trust. To better understand the direction he might take, a team of New York Times reporters examined Leo's handling of two sex abuse cases in Peru, while he was bishop in the small city of Chiclayo, from 2015 to 2023. We found stark contrasts. In one case, Pope Leo — then called Bishop Robert Prevost — sided assertively with victims of sexual abuse. He clashed with powerful Catholic figures to seek justice for victims of Sodalitium Christianae Vitae, a cultlike Catholic movement that recruited children of elite families and used sexual and psychological abuse to control members. In the other case, the pope is accused by victims and advocates of failing to adequately investigate claims by three women that they had been abused by priests as children. The Times investigation found that while the pope was a bishop, at least two priests accused of abusing minors continued clergy work — sometimes with children — while under investigation. The reporting also found that a priest appointed by Bishop Prevost to counsel victims told them not to expect much accountability from the church because their abuse had not 'reached a situation of rape.' Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Pope Leo XIV Blesses Commanders Rival Ahead Of 2025 Season
Pope Leo XIV Blesses Commanders Rival Ahead Of 2025 Season originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Last year in the playoffs, the Detroit Lions needed all the help they could get against the upstart Washington Commanders, who buzz-sawed coach Dan Campbell's favored team in a 45-31 shellacking. Advertisement The Lions are coming back into 2025 with some extra juice, though, as they figure to once again join Washington as a Super Bowl contender. The Lions have The Vatican on their side. Pope Leo XIV - seriously - has blessed an NFL player ahead of the 2025 regular season. And really ... playfully ... Washington fans shouldn't be as upset about this as Chicago Bears fans surely are. The first-ever American pope just happens to be from Chicago ... and has long been well-known for his fandom of the Bears and the White Sox and all things Windy City. As it happens, Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta and his new bride, Callahan Dellinger LaPorta, scheduled a vacation in Rome ... Advertisement And yes, they got blessed by the Pope, as the young NFL tight end demonstrated for all to see as took to Instagram to show off the photo on Wednesday. "Thank you to a very busy man for blessing me and my bride. A special moment we'll never forget,'' he wrote. Bears fans can be mock-unhappy about this ... but Chicago has spent a great deal of time in the NFC North basement and doesn't figure to be a match for the powerful Lions anyway. And the Commanders? As they and the Lions prepare to give chase to upsetting defending champion Philadelphia toward a Super Bowl run, they'll take any "blessing'' they can get. Advertisement Perhaps Dan Quinn should book himself a quick trip to The Vatican? Related: Commanders Trade Terry McLaurin for T.J. Watt in Blockbuster Prediction Related: What is Commanders' Biggest 'Red Flag' In 2025? This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 26, 2025, where it first appeared.
CTV News
a day ago
- Politics
- CTV News
Pope Leo XIV appeals for unity within the Catholic Church in Holy Year messages to priests
Pope Leo XIV arrives to celebrate an ordination Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican as part of the Jubilee of Priests, Friday, June 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) ROME — Pope Leo XIV doubled down on Friday on his appeal for unity in the polarized Catholic Church, urging priests to act in communion with their superiors and be models of reconciliation in a world driven by conflicts and divisions. Leo appealed for unity in a triptych of messages to priests who are celebrating a special Holy Year week in Rome dedicated to clergy. He hosted a special meeting on Thursday afternoon, celebrated an ordination Mass on Friday morning and also delivered a written message to priests around the world. During the Mass in St. Peter's Basilica, Leo ordained 32 new priests and recalled his appeal for unity during his installation Mass right after his May 8 election. 'Today, I share this desire once more with all of you,' he said. He quoted St. Augustine – the inspiration of his Augustinian religious order – in repeating the words he said on the night of his election: 'For you I am a bishop, with you I am a Christian.' During the meetings that preceded the conclave that elected the first American pope in history, cardinals made clear their hope that the next pontiff would heal some of the divisions within the church that deepened during the late Pope Francis' radical 12-year pontificate. Francis' progressive social justice priorities, his informal style, liturgical looseness and disdain for the capitalist economic system often alienated conservatives, particularly in Leo's native United States, who begged for a new pope who could pacify divisions. Leo's consistent reference to unity in the church suggests he has heard those appeals and is working to respond. In a message to priests around the world Friday, Leo offered encouragement in his appeal for unity, not a browbeating as Francis often gave priests. 'In a world marked by growing tensions, even within families and ecclesial communities, priests are called to promote reconciliation and foster communion,' Leo said. He added that priests should not be afraid of their own weaknesses. 'The Lord does not look for perfect priests, but for humble hearts that are open to conversion and prepared to love others as he himself loved us,' he said. He gave a similar message Thursday to thousands of priests who gathered in a Vatican-area auditorium for a Jubilee rally that ended with Leo giving English-language shoutouts to priests from various parts of the world, including his native Chicago. In the encounter, Leo acknowledged the 'crisis' in priestly vocations, which have been falling consistently in traditionally Christian parts of the world for years even as the overall global Catholic population grows. According to Vatican statistics, there were 407,730 priests globally at the end of 2022, down 142 from the previous year. Europe saw the greatest decline, losing 2,745 priests — a figure that was only compensated for globally by the addition of 1,676 priests in Africa and 1,160 in Asia. 'Thank you for who you are, and remind everyone that it's beautiful to be a priest,' he said. 'We aren't perfect, but we are friends of Christ … and that's enough.' ___ Nicole Winfield, The Associated Press Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP's collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
