Spencer Pratt appeared on the Gutfeld!
The post WATCH: Spencer Pratt Talks About His Viral Campaign for Mayor of Los Angeles on the Gutfeld! Show (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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The field of Democrats running for president in 2028 is going to be huge, but according to Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, she will not be one of them.
The post SHE’S OUT? Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer Claims She is NOT RUNNING for President in 2028 (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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The individual who carried out a loud, steam >affair with an Obama federal judge has been unmasked as a prominent Atlanta policeman, causing the scandal to take another turn for the worse.
The post Meet the Prominent Police Officer Who Carried Out a Steamy, Two-Year Sexual Affair with Married Obama Judge in Her Chambers appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
Read More![Pope Leo XIV meets with Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson #Catholic Pope Leo met with the mayor of Chicago, Brandon Johnson, at the Vatican on May 28.Johnson, who has served as mayor since 2023, met with the pontiff for the first time since his election. He also used the occasion to formally invite the pontiff to visit his native city, Chicago.In a press briefing to journalists after the audience, Johnson explained that the two discussed the policies of the United States government under President Donald Trump, including immigration and the Iran conflict.Johnson: Trumpʼs actions in Iran are tyrannicalThe Democratic mayor sharply criticized Trump in remarks to journalists, calling him a “tyrant” as well as a “disgrace” for involving the U.S. in the Israel-Iran conflict. He also said he discussed his concerns about the administration with Pope Leo and described his recent encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, as a “call to action” to work to avoid wars. “I think the popeʼs encyclical is a call to action for the entire planet,” Johnson told journalists at the briefing. “Illegal wars do not leave just a trail of tears and trauma, but it also harms and brutalize our humanity. The economic drive with which [Trump] is moving is selfish.”Leo XIV has regularly criticized the U.S.-Israel war in Iran as unjust. Johnson, reflecting on his discussions with the pope, stated that “his position around Trump was more about disagreement with his approach.”“In the midst of a brutal, horrific, and ignorant tyrant that is currently occupying the White House, it is imperative that we really walk in the true essence of our faith. The impact of his failures on our global economy is quite severe. It is a disgrace to the sensibility of our humanity,” Johnson said.
Mayor of Chicago Brandon Johnson holds a press briefing at The American University of Rome on May 28, 2026. | Credit: Ishmael Adibuah/EWTN News
The Chicago mayor also said the two spoke about the Trump administrationʼs immigration enforcement, specifically raids by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). “We did discuss ICE. The pope wanted to know how ICE impacted our city and whether there were still examples of ICE raids happening in our city. I talked about how our rapid response team came together to support families. And then I talked about my executive orders, for which he was very gracious and encouraging, especially those I signed to protect the people of Chicago.”Praise for Leoʼs apology for slaveryLeo XIV presented his first encyclical on May 25 at the Vatican, offering moral guidance amid widespread concern about the dangers posed by artificial intelligence.In the text, Leo issued an apology for the Churchʼs role in the trans-Atlantic slave trade. Johnson praised the pope for his courage and explained that he had discussed the legacy of slavery with him.“We talked about the conditions that the long legacy of slavery and disinvestment has had on Black Americans and Black people around the world,” Johnson said. “I engaged in a conversation with him around reparations and why it is important to work to repair the harm caused by the brutal legacy of slavery.”Yusef Jackson, the son of renowned civil rights activist Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., was also part of the mayorʼs delegation that visited the pope. He praised Leo for his apology on behalf of the Church for slavery.“The pope is a powerful man. The color of his title commands respect around the world. For him to use the color of that title, coming from Chicago, a very segregated and class-divided city, with the bona fides to be a freedom fighter, meant a lot to me. He is a pope that I agree with,” Jackson said.An invitation to come to ChicagoJohnson also presented the pope with an official letter inviting him to visit Chicago and offer Mass at Grant Park. He wrote the letter after being advised by the Catholic archbishop of Chicago, Cardinal Blase Cupich.Speaking about the possibility of a future visit by Leo, he described his feelings and those of the city as hopeful.
Official invitation by the mayor of Chicago, Brandon Johnson, to Pope Leo XIV, at the American University of Rome on May 28, 2026. | Credit: Ishmael Adibuah/EWTN News
“We are going to remain hopeful. We have an open invitation for the pope to come to the city of Chicago. Ultimately, it will be his decision whether his schedule allows him to come. Some of the greatest voices for justice come from the city of Chicago. And that beloved city, of course, birthed Pope Leo XIV.”Along with the official invitation letter, the pontiff was presented with a ceremonial key to the city of Chicago.Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly spelled the first name of Cardinal Blase Cupich. (Published May 29, 2026)](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/pope-leo-xiv-meets-with-chicago-mayor-brandon-johnson-catholic-pope-leo-met-with-the-mayor-of-chicago-brandon-johnson-at-the-vatican-on-may-28-johnson-who-has-served-as-mayor-since-2023-met-with-scaled.jpg)
The pontiff met with Johnson at the Vatican on May 28 and was formally invited to visit his native city next year.
A Reading from the First Letter of St. Peter
4:7-13
Beloved:
The end of all things is at hand.
Therefore be serious and sober-minded
so that you will be able to pray.
Above all, let your love for one another be intense,
because love covers a multitude of sins.
Be hospitable to one another without complaining.
As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another
as good stewards of God’s varied grace.
Whoever preaches, let it be with the words of God;
whoever serves, let it be with the strength that God supplies,
so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ,
to whom belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Beloved, do not be surprised that a trial by fire is occurring among you,
as if something strange were happening to you.
But rejoice to the extent that you share in the sufferings of Christ,
so that when his glory is revealed
you may also rejoice exultantly.
From the Gospel according to Mark
11:11-26
Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple area.
He looked around at everything and, since it was already late,
went out to Bethany with the Twelve.
The next day as they were leaving Bethany he was hungry.
Seeing from a distance a fig tree in leaf,
he went over to see if he could find anything on it.
When he reached it he found nothing but leaves;
it was not the time for figs.
And he said to it in reply, “May no one ever eat of your fruit again!”
And his disciples heard it.
They came to Jerusalem,
and on entering the temple area
he began to drive out those selling and buying there.
He overturned the tables of the money changers
and the seats of those who were selling doves.
He did not permit anyone to carry anything through the temple area.
Then he taught them saying, “Is it not written:
My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples?
But you have made it a den of thieves.”
The chief priests and the scribes came to hear of it
and were seeking a way to put him to death,
yet they feared him
because the whole crowd was astonished at his teaching.
When evening came, they went out of the city.
Early in the morning, as they were walking along,
they saw the fig tree withered to its roots.
Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look!
The fig tree that you cursed has withered.”
Jesus said to them in reply, “Have faith in God.
Amen, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain,
‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’
and does not doubt in his heart
but believes that what he says will happen,
it shall be done for him.
Therefore I tell you, all that you ask for in prayer,
believe that you will receive it and it shall be yours.
When you stand to pray,
forgive anyone against whom you have a grievance,
so that your heavenly Father may in turn
forgive you your transgressions.”
AUSTIN, TX — James Talarico drew attention in recent months with his candidacy for Texas senator, but he reportedly had a bit of trouble appealing to the average Texan. To help with that, the Democratic Party sent in Minnesota Governor Tim Walz to give him "not acting gay" lessons.
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Ten years ago, this world lost one of its greatest heroes: Harambe, the gorilla. Friend to many and beloved by all, the loss of Harambe left a gaping hole that changed the course of history.
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15th N.J. Army Tank Pull sets goal at $2M milestone for veterans #Catholic – 
Teams to pull 80,000-pound tank in test of strength and solidarity
The 15th Annual New Jersey Army Tank Pull Challenge will take place on Sunday, June 7, in Clifton, N.J. at 1100 Clifton Ave. between St. James Place and Olga B Terrace from
8 a.m. to 4 p.m. rain or shine. This landmark event is on track to surpass $2 million in total funds raised for veterans since its inception, having already generated $1.93 million over the past 14 years.
For the fifth consecutive year, Catholic Charities, Diocese of Paterson, will collaborate with the Knights of Columbus to organize this extraordinary demonstration of community strength and commitment to those who have served our country.
“The Tank Pull Challenge represents the ultimate test of physical endurance and teamwork,” said David Pearson of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Paterson. “More importantly, it symbolizes our collective determination to support veterans facing seemingly insurmountable challenges in civilian life.”
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The event challenges teams to pull an 80,000-pound tank mounted on a flatbed truck — an impressive feat that draws participants from diverse backgrounds including law enforcement, labor unions, veterans’ organizations, businesses, and community groups. This year’s event features over 50 teams, each pulling together to honor veterans’ service and sacrifice.
All proceeds directly benefit New Jersey veterans, with special attention to those wounded in combat. Catholic Charities supports hundreds of veterans in need throughout the state each day through various programs and services.
“When we see teams straining to move that massive tank, it’s a powerful metaphor for our veterans’ daily struggles,” noted John Hughes of the Knights of Columbus. “Just as our teams overcome the seemingly impossible task of moving the tank, we aim to help our veterans overcome obstacles in their lives.”
Among this year’s 53 participating teams are IBEW Local 743 Veterans Committee, Don Bosco Ironmen, Clifton PBA 36, PSEG Vets, NFL Alumni Infringers, and Women Veterans of New Jersey.
The event is made possible through the generous support of sponsors including Pallottines of the Immaculate Conception Province, Natoli Construction, Passaic County Central Labor Council, Fairleigh Dickinson University Veterans Office, Plumbers Local 24, Visions FCU, and Atlantic Health/True North.
The event is free for spectators and will feature family-friendly activities alongside the main Tank Pull competition.
For more information about sponsoring or supporting the15th Annual NJ Army Tank Pull Challenge, visit ccpaterson.org/TankPull or contact Hazel Yaptangco, Development Director, Catholic Charities Diocese of Paterson; hazel@ccpaterson.org
– Teams to pull 80,000-pound tank in test of strength and solidarity The 15th Annual New Jersey Army Tank Pull Challenge will take place on Sunday, June 7, in Clifton, N.J. at 1100 Clifton Ave. between St. James Place and Olga B Terrace from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. rain or shine. This landmark event is on track to surpass $2 million in total funds raised for veterans since its inception, having already generated $1.93 million over the past 14 years. For the fifth consecutive year, Catholic Charities, Diocese of Paterson, will collaborate with the Knights of Columbus to organize this
![Former Russian Orthodox ‘foreign minister’ freed after Czech drug probe #Catholic Czech police arrested Metropolitan Hilarion, a prominent clergyman of the Russian Orthodox Church, on suspicion of drug possession during a vehicle stop on May 24. Officers acted “on anonymous information” about the alleged “transportation of narcotics and psychotropic substances.”A few grams of an unidentified substance were found in the vehicle, though the discovery “does not answer the central question: how the items ended up in the vehicle,” Hilarion said, denying “any involvement in the illegal possession or transportation of prohibited substances.”He was released May 26 after protests from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which called the detention a “deliberate, orchestrated provocation” and summoned a Czech diplomat in Moscow. The Russian Orthodox Church likewise defended him, saying the incident “looks like a classic farce” since drug smuggling is often used by “unscrupulous police officers around the world.”No charges have been brought, and Hilarion is free without restrictions while the investigation continues, according to a statement on his Telegram account. His team also called the arrest “a provocation,” claiming he had received anonymous death threats demanding he leave the country.Who is Hilarion?Metropolitan Hilarion, whose secular name is Grigory Alfeyev, headed the Moscow Patriarchateʼs Department for External Church Relations from 2009 to 2022, a role often described as the Russian Orthodox Churchʼs “foreign minister.” He was widely regarded as a close ally of Patriarch Kirill and a possible successor.In June 2022, he was removed from the post and appointed to the Budapest diocese, a move widely interpreted as a demotion. During Pope Francis' apostolic trip to Budapest in April 2023, the two held a private meeting at the apostolic nunciature.In July 2024, Hilarion was accused of sexual harassment by George Suzuki, a former personal attendant. Hilarion denied the allegations. The Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church subsequently declared “the inconsistency of the nature of his relations with his immediate environment and his life with the image of a monk and clergyman” and removed him from the Budapest diocese on Dec. 27, 2024. He has since been serving at the Church of Sts. Peter and Paul in Karlovy Vary, a spa town in western Czech Republic.Rising tensions over the Russian Orthodox Church in Czech RepublicSergei Chapnin, a Russian church affairs scholar at Fordham University and former employee of the Moscow Patriarchate, offered two possible explanations for the incident. First, Hilarion may serve “as a high-level courier” who “moves sensitive documents and other items around Western Europe” since “Russian diplomats are closely monitored and constrained in their movements.” Second, Hilarion was operating “inside a very rough political and ecclesiastical game … over assets and influence” involving local Orthodox communities.The Church of Sts. Peter and Paul was recently registered under the Russian Orthodox Church in Hungary to prevent Czech authorities from freezing Russian assets. Patriarch Kirill, the churchʼs head, is personally listed on the Czech national sanctions list for his support of Russiaʼs invasion of Ukraine.Concerns about the churchʼs role in Czech Republic have been escalating. The Czech security agencyʼs annual report said the Russian Orthodox Churchʼs local representatives are loyal to the Moscow leadership and their “support for the Russian official line is evident.”A study titled “Security Risks of the Orthodox Church,” published by the Czech Academy of Sciences in 2025, called for systematic monitoring of the Russian Orthodox Church in the country. The authors recommended investigating “activities with regard to the danger of money laundering, purposeful export of funds and property, smuggling of goods and people, passing information to the enemy, for example the Russian side, [and] influencing the opinions of Czech society through social networks.”The study also noted that the Church of Sts. Peter and Paul in Karlovy Vary allegedly hosted meetings involving Russian military intelligence (GRU) officials.In a related case, a Prague court recently convicted former Orthodox abbess Taťána Hanhur for the unauthorized transfer of a monastery and property worth 73 million Czech crowns (approximately $3.2 million). The property had belonged to the autocephalous Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia.](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/former-russian-orthodox-foreign-minister-freed-after-czech-drug-probe-catholic-czech-police-arrested-metropolitan-hilarion-a-prominent-clergyman-of-the-russian-orthodox-church-on.jpg "Former Russian Orthodox ‘foreign minister’ freed after Czech drug probe #Catholic Czech police arrested Metropolitan Hilarion, a prominent clergyman of the Russian Orthodox Church, on suspicion of drug possession during a vehicle stop on May 24. Officers acted “on anonymous information” about the alleged “transportation of narcotics and psychotropic substances.”A few grams of an unidentified substance were found in the vehicle, though the discovery “does not answer the central question: how the items ended up in the vehicle,” Hilarion said, denying “any involvement in the illegal possession or transportation of prohibited substances.”He was released May 26 after protests from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which called the detention a “deliberate, orchestrated provocation” and summoned a Czech diplomat in Moscow. The Russian Orthodox Church likewise defended him, saying the incident “looks like a classic farce” since drug smuggling is often used by “unscrupulous police officers around the world.”No charges have been brought, and Hilarion is free without restrictions while the investigation continues, according to a statement on his Telegram account. His team also called the arrest “a provocation,” claiming he had received anonymous death threats demanding he leave the country.Who is Hilarion?Metropolitan Hilarion, whose secular name is Grigory Alfeyev, headed the Moscow Patriarchateʼs Department for External Church Relations from 2009 to 2022, a role often described as the Russian Orthodox Churchʼs “foreign minister.” He was widely regarded as a close ally of Patriarch Kirill and a possible successor.In June 2022, he was removed from the post and appointed to the Budapest diocese, a move widely interpreted as a demotion. During Pope Francis' apostolic trip to Budapest in April 2023, the two held a private meeting at the apostolic nunciature.In July 2024, Hilarion was accused of sexual harassment by George Suzuki, a former personal attendant. Hilarion denied the allegations. The Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church subsequently declared “the inconsistency of the nature of his relations with his immediate environment and his life with the image of a monk and clergyman” and removed him from the Budapest diocese on Dec. 27, 2024. He has since been serving at the Church of Sts. Peter and Paul in Karlovy Vary, a spa town in western Czech Republic.Rising tensions over the Russian Orthodox Church in Czech RepublicSergei Chapnin, a Russian church affairs scholar at Fordham University and former employee of the Moscow Patriarchate, offered two possible explanations for the incident. First, Hilarion may serve “as a high-level courier” who “moves sensitive documents and other items around Western Europe” since “Russian diplomats are closely monitored and constrained in their movements.” Second, Hilarion was operating “inside a very rough political and ecclesiastical game … over assets and influence” involving local Orthodox communities.The Church of Sts. Peter and Paul was recently registered under the Russian Orthodox Church in Hungary to prevent Czech authorities from freezing Russian assets. Patriarch Kirill, the churchʼs head, is personally listed on the Czech national sanctions list for his support of Russiaʼs invasion of Ukraine.Concerns about the churchʼs role in Czech Republic have been escalating. The Czech security agencyʼs annual report said the Russian Orthodox Churchʼs local representatives are loyal to the Moscow leadership and their “support for the Russian official line is evident.”A study titled “Security Risks of the Orthodox Church,” published by the Czech Academy of Sciences in 2025, called for systematic monitoring of the Russian Orthodox Church in the country. The authors recommended investigating “activities with regard to the danger of money laundering, purposeful export of funds and property, smuggling of goods and people, passing information to the enemy, for example the Russian side, [and] influencing the opinions of Czech society through social networks.”The study also noted that the Church of Sts. Peter and Paul in Karlovy Vary allegedly hosted meetings involving Russian military intelligence (GRU) officials.In a related case, a Prague court recently convicted former Orthodox abbess Taťána Hanhur for the unauthorized transfer of a monastery and property worth 73 million Czech crowns (approximately $3.2 million). The property had belonged to the autocephalous Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia.")
Metropolitan Hilarion, once tipped as successor to Patriarch Kirill, was released without charges after Czech police found an unidentified substance in his vehicle.
The pontiff said the Church must respond to religious indifference not by softening the Gospel’s demands but by offering credible witness to Christ.
The latest attack occurred on May 21 in the outstation of Kurmin Bongo, in the Dangana District of Kaduna State,.
13 things to know about Pope Leo’s encyclical on AI #Catholic – 
(OSV News) — What does it mean to safeguard our humanity? That question is at the heart of Pope Leo XIV’s much anticipated first encyclical, “Magnifica Humanitas: On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence,” released May 25. The following are some key things to know about this weighty papal letter.
1. Latin for “Magnificent Humanity,” the title is drawn from the opening words of the text as rendered in Latin, as is customary for papal encyclicals. Those words state, in its English translation, “Humanity, created by God in all its grandeur, is today facing a pivotal choice: either to construct a new Tower of Babel or to build the city in which God and humanity dwell together.” Throughout the encyclical, Pope Leo points to “the grandeur of humanity,” with men and women created by God for relationship with him and each other, cooperating in God’s creative work and guided by the Holy Spirit.
2. The document is about 42,000 words long, including footnotes, making it roughly the size of a novella. It spans five chapters sandwiched between a robust introduction and conclusion. The first chapter traces the development of Catholic social doctrine, or social teaching, especially since “Rerum Novarum,” Pope Leo XIII’s seminal 1891 encyclical on the dignity of labor. The second chapter dives into the substance of Catholic social teaching. The third chapter explores the challenges artificial intelligence presents to humanity; the fourth chapter hones in on safeguarding truth, work and freedom; and the fifth chapter focuses on the implications of AI in warfare.
3. From education and jobs to private tech companies and families, “Magnifica Humanitas” is wide-ranging. It touches on the prospect of massive unemployment, the future of education, the protection of human freedom, excessive screen time for young people and technology addiction, data ownership, cryptocurrencies, economic disparities, environmental impacts, transhumanism and posthumanism, and cyberattacks and other forms of warfare. Pope Leo addresses the idea of “moral AI,” and argues that the basis for “alignment of AI with human values” requires “openly discussing the ethical frameworks involved and subjecting them to shared standards of social justice” in a conversation inclusive to all communities.
4. The document includes references to an array of influential thinkers. Beyond Pope Leo’s papal predecessors, the letter points to or quotes Dorothy Day, Maria Montessori, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., J.R.R. Tolkien, Plato, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the American humanist thinker Hannah Arendt, among others. And, of course, Pope Leo weaves in St. Augustine, the patron of Pope Leo’s Augustinian religious order and Pope Leo’s ever-present guide, particularly through the African bishop’s important fifth-century book, “The City of God.”
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5. It uses biblical imagery, imploring people to examine what humanity is building in “the construction site of our time.” The Tower of Babel and the City of God are contrasted throughout the encyclical to illustrate the two possible directions that the era of AI could take: a path of arrogance, artificial sense of self-sufficiency and chaos, or a path towards communion, relationship and God. Pope Leo underlines the critical need for developing a process for discernment to guide the development of AI. “The task of building today must place our relationship with God at its center,” Pope Leo writes.
6. Despite its challenges, AI is not to be inherently feared. “Technology should not be considered, in itself, as a force antagonistic to humanity,” he writes. “Over the centuries, technological development has significantly improved the living conditions of humanity. At the same time, each phase of progress has also revealed the ambiguity of tools that can cause harm when not oriented toward the good.” He speaks directly to AI developers, telling them that “technological innovation can represent human participation in the divine act of creation,” and therefore they “bear a particular ethical and spiritual responsibility, for every design choice reflects a vision of humanity.”
7. Taking time for discernment is critical in our path forward. The encyclical invites people of goodwill into “a shared discernment process for identifying the spiritual and cultural roots of ongoing transformations” as they relate to AI. “We are living through a rapid phase of transition, a ‘change of era,’ in which … most people are watching and waiting, observing from afar and merely hoping for the best,” Pope Leo writes. “For this very reason, crucial questions impose themselves on our conscience and can no longer be avoided: Where are we going? Toward what goal do we wish to orient ourselves? What direction should we choose as people and as a human community?”
8. It explains the principles of Catholic social teaching and why they are important in building a future where humanity flourishes. Pope Leo explains central tenets of Catholic social teaching — the dignity of the person, the common good, the universal destination of goods, subsidiarity, solidarity and justice — as he makes the case for their use as guiding principles for AI. “The Social Doctrine of the Church is a legacy of wisdom, where we find principles for thought, criteria for discernment and judgment, and concrete guidelines for action,” Pope Leo writes. “Founded on Sacred Scripture and Tradition, and in engagement with the sciences, it helps us clearly interpret the challenges of the present and identify appropriate ways for living out a clear Christian witness, with joy and in service to the world. It is not an inert set of concepts, but a living corpus of truth that safeguards and interprets humanity’s vocation to a full and just life.” As AI has exponentially advanced and become part of daily life, people of goodwill must “face the challenges of our time with clarity of thought and responsibility,” he writes.
9. People cannot be reduced to machines, measured for their efficiency and valued for their “optimization.” Artificial intelligence “threatens to normalize an anti-human vision,” Pope Leo writes. “In that vision, the fullness of life is equated with having more, reducing weakness, eliminating uncertainty and exerting total control. When efficiency becomes the ultimate measure of value, human beings are tempted to see themselves as a project to be optimized rather than as persons called to relationship and communion.” Instead, “the quality of a civilization,” he writes, “is measured not by the power of its means, but by the care it is able to offer, by its ability to recognize the other as a face not merely as a function.”
10. Robust ethical consideration should be given to AI’s impact on war. Pope Leo is particularly concerned that AI, “detached from ethics and responsibility, will render decisions about life and death more rapid and impersonal, and will present the use of force as an immediate and viable option.” In calling for the principles of Catholic social teaching to serve as decision-making guidelines, he condemns “the spread of a culture of power characterized by polarization and violence.” Instead, he calls humanity to “the civilization of love,” which is “no naïve utopia, but a demanding project, which consists in translating charity into structures of justice, giving institutional form to fraternity, and regarding others — whether individuals or peoples — as allies necessary for building the common good.” He also gives criteria for using AI in war.
11. “Magnifica Humanitas” is actually all about relationship. Throughout the encyclical, Pope Leo points to humanity’s relationship to God and relationship to each other. In this area, he underscores action over passivity, and urges people to work toward “a willed and chosen solidarity.” He writes, “This is the guiding principle for technological processes: it is not enough for artificial intelligence to make us more efficient or connected; it must also serve to build a universal human family, with shared rights and duties, where digital proximity becomes a real opportunity for encounter and mutual care.”
12. Whatever the future holds, humanity’s meaning is rooted in Jesus Christ. The document’s conclusion includes a compelling reflection on the Incarnation through the “face of the Son of God, the grandeur of humanity that shines a light also on the era of AI.” “No computational system, however sophisticated, can create a heart that gives itself, or a conscience that discerns good from evil. Even when machines excel in efficiency, a human face that asks to be gazed upon remains the center of our history,” Pope Leo writes. “This human face is the fullness toward which history is moving.”
13. The encyclical calls for personal conversion. The pope proposes for the Christian “a sober yet demanding program of Christian life with which we can navigate this epochal change in the light of the Gospel” centered on “contemplating God’s plan,” receiving the Eucharist, “building a world centered on the common good,” and praying in union with Mary. He encourages people to cultivate community and in-person relationships, educate young people to love wisdom, spend time with the poor and lonely, be a voice for justice, defend objective truth, and treat the digital world as “a new continent to be evangelized.” His final reflection centers on the “Magnificat,” Mary’s famous canticle glorifying God, recounted in the first chapter of the Gospel of Luke. Pope Leo writes: “In the humble fidelity of daily life, even the era of AI can become a time in which the Holy Spirit brings about the civilization of love in our lives.”
Maria Wiering is managing editor of OSV News. Contributing to this story were OSV News’ Vatican Editor Courtney Mares and Digital Editor Megan Marley.
– (OSV News) — What does it mean to safeguard our humanity? That question is at the heart of Pope Leo XIV’s much anticipated first encyclical, “Magnifica Humanitas: On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence,” released May 25. The following are some key things to know about this weighty papal letter. 1. Latin for “Magnificent Humanity,” the title is drawn from the opening words of the text as rendered in Latin, as is customary for papal encyclicals. Those words state, in its English translation, “Humanity, created by God in all its grandeur, is today facing a pivotal
Trece cosas que hay que saber sobre la encíclica del Papa León sobre la IA #Catholic – 
(OSV News) — ¿Qué significa custodiar nuestra humanidad? Esa pregunta está en el centro de la tan esperada primera encíclica del Papa León XIV, “Magnifica Humanitas: Sobre la custodia de la persona humana en el tiempo de la inteligencia artificial”, publicada el 25 de mayo. A continuación, se presentan algunos aspectos clave sobre esta importante misiva papal.
1. Significa “Magnífica humanidad” en latín; el título proviene de las primeras palabras del texto tal y como están traducidas al latín, como habitualmente ocurre con las encíclicas papales. Esas palabras dicen, según su traducción al español: “La magnífica humanidad que Dios ha creado se encuentra hoy ante una elección decisiva: levantar una nueva torre de Babel o edificar la ciudad donde Dios y la humanidad habiten juntos”. A lo largo de la encíclica, el Papa León destaca “la grandeza de la persona humana”, con hombres y mujeres creados por Dios para la relación con él y para con los demás, cooperando con la labor creativa de Dios y guiados por el Espíritu Santo.
2. El documento –en su versión en español– cuenta con más de 44.000 palabras. Contiene cinco capítulos enmarcados entre una introducción y una conclusión sólidas. El primer capítulo traza la evolución de la doctrina social de la Iglesia, o enseñanza social, especialmente desde la “Rerum Novarum”, la influyente encíclica de 1891 del Papa León XIII sobre la dignidad del trabajo. El segundo capítulo ahonda en la substancia de la doctrina social católica. El tercer capítulo explora los desafíos que la inteligencia artificial presenta a la humanidad, el cuarto capítulo se centra en la defensa de la verdad, el trabajo, y la libertad; y el quinto capítulo se enfoca en lo que implica usar IA en situaciones bélicas.
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3. Desde la educación y los trabajos a las compañías tecnológicas privadas y las familias, los temas cubiertos por “Magnifica Humanitas” son muy amplios. La encíclica aborda temas como el prospecto del desempleo, el futuro de la educación, la protección de las libertades humanas, el tiempo excesivo frente a las pantallas, la adición a la tecnología, la propiedad de los datos, criptomonedas, disparidades económicas, el impacto medioambiental, transhumanismo y posthumanismo, además de ciberataques y otros tipos de conflictos bélicos. El Papa León habló de la idea de una “IA más moral” y argumenta que las bases de “la denominada ‘alineación’ de la IA con los valores humanos” requiere “la posibilidad de discutir el código ético que debe ser usado, sometiéndolo a criterios de justicia social compartida” en conversaciones que incluyan a todas las comunidades.
4. Este documento incluye referencias a una variedad de pensadores influyentes. Más allá de los predecesores del Papa León, la encíclica apunta, o cita a Dorothy Day, Maria Montessori, Martin Luther King Jr., J.R.R. Tolkien, Platón, la conferencia episcopal estadounidense, y la pensadora Hannah Arendt, entre otros. Y, por supuesto, el Papa León entreteje referencias a San Agustín, el santo patrón de la orden religiosa del pontífice agustino y un guía siempre presente, especialmente por medio del libro del obispo africano del siglo V, “La ciudad de Dios”. 5. 5. Recurre a imágenes bíblicas para instar a la gente a reflexionar sobre lo que la humanidad está construyendo en “la obra de nuestro tiempo”. La Torre de Babel y la Ciudad de Dios son contrastadas a lo largo de la encíclica para ilustrar las dos direcciones posibles que podría tomar la era de la IA: un camino de arrogancia, hacia un sentido artificial de autosuficiencia y caos, o un camino hacia la comunión, la relación y Dios. El Papa León subraya la necesidad crítica para desarrollar un proceso de discernimiento para guiar el desarrollo de la IA. “Hoy nuestra edificación debe tener como fundamento la relación con Dios”, escribió el Papa León.
6. A pesar de sus desafíos, la IA no debe ser temida. La tecnología “no debe considerarse, en sí misma, como una fuerza antagónica respecto a la persona”, escribió. “A lo largo de los siglos, el desarrollo tecnológico ha contribuido a una mejora significativa de las condiciones de vida de la humanidad; al mismo tiempo, cada etapa del progreso también ha puesto de manifiesto el lado ambiguo de instrumentos capaces de causar daño cuando no se orientan hacia el bien”. Se dirige directamente a quienes desarrollan sistemas de IA, diciéndoles que “la innovación tecnológica puede ser, en cierto modo, una forma humana de participación en el acto divino de la creación” y, por tanto, los desarrolladores llevan “un importante peso ético y espiritual, ya que cada elección de proyecto expresa una visión de la humanidad”.
7. Dedicar tiempo al discernimiento es fundamental en nuestro camino hacia el futuro. La encíclica invita a la gente de buena voluntad a iniciar “un discernimiento compartido capaz de profundizar en las raíces espirituales y culturales de las transformaciones que se están produciendo” con lo que respecta a la IA. “Estamos viviendo una rápida fase de transición, un ‘cambio de época’ en el que … la mayoría de las personas permanece a la espera, observa desde lejos y simplemente aguarda a que todo salga bien”, escribió el Papa León. “Precisamente por eso se imponen en nuestra conciencia preguntas decisivas, que ya no pueden eludirse: ¿Hacia dónde vamos? ¿Hacia qué meta deseamos orientarnos? ¿Qué dirección elegir como comunidad humana y como pueblos?”
8. Explica los principios de la doctrina social de la Iglesia y por qué son importantes para construir un futuro en el que la humanidad prospere. El Papa León explica los principios fundamentales de la doctrina social católica –la dignidad de la persona, el bien común, el destino universal de los bienes, la subsidiariedad, la solidaridad y la justicia– al tiempo que defiende su aplicación como principios rectores de la IA. “La Doctrina social de la Iglesia es un patrimonio de sabiduría, en el que encontramos principios para pensar, criterios para discernir y juzgar, y orientaciones concretas para actuar”, escribió. “Se fundamenta en la Sagrada Escritura y en la Tradición y, en diálogo con las ciencias, nos ayuda a leer con lucidez los desafíos del presente, identificando caminos adecuados para vivir un testimonio cristiano límpido, con alegría y al servicio del mundo. No es un conjunto estático de conceptos, sino un corpus vivo de verdades, que custodia e interpreta la vocación de la humanidad a una vida plena y justa”. Mientras la inteligencia artificial ha avanzado exponencialmente y se ha convertido en parte de la vida cotidiana, las personas de bien deben “asumir con lucidez y responsabilidad los retos de nuestro tiempo”, dijo.
9. Las personas no pueden ser reducidas a máquinas, medirse por su eficiencia ni valorarse por su “optimización”. La inteligencia artificial amenaza con hacer “parecer justa y normal una visión antihumana”, escribió el Papa León, “según la cual la plenitud de la vida consistiría en tener más, reducir la fragilidad, eliminar lo imprevisto y controlarlo todo. Cuando la eficiencia se vuelve medida de valor, el ser humano es tentado a considerarse como un proyecto que debe optimizarse más que como una criatura llamada a la relación y a la comunión”. Por el contrario, escribió “la calidad de una civilización se mide no por el poder de sus medios, sino por el cuidado que sabe ofrecer, por la capacidad de reconocer un rostro en el otro y no una función”.
10. Se debe considerar seriamente el impacto de la IA en situaciones de guerra. El Papa León se preocupa de manera particular que la inteligencia artificial “separada de la ética y de la responsabilidad, haga más rápida e impersonal la decisión sobre la vida y la muerte, y presente el uso de la fuerza como una opción inmediata y viable”. Al llamar a la humanidad a una “civilización del amor”, ésta “no es una utopía ingenua, sino un proyecto exigente. Consiste en traducir la caridad en estructuras de justicia, en dar cuerpo institucional a la fraternidad y en considerar al otro –ya sea persona o pueblo– como un aliado necesario para la construcción del bien común”. También da pautas para el uso de AI en conflictos bélicos.
11. “Magnifica Humanitas” trata fundamentalmente sobre las relaciones. A lo largo de su encíclica, el Papa León destaca la relación de la humanidad con Dios, la relación de las personas entre sí. En este aspecto, él enfatiza la acción sobre la pasividad e insta a las personas a trabajar para lograr “una solidaridad deseada y elegida”. Escribió que “es el criterio para orientar los procesos tecnológicos: no basta con que la IA nos haga más eficientes o conectados, debe servir para edificar esa familia humana universal, con derechos y deberes compartidos, donde la proximidad digital se convierta en una ocasión real de encuentro y de cuidado recíproco”.
12. Independientemente de lo que depare el futuro, el sentido de la humanidad está arraigado en Jesucristo. Las conclusiones del documento incluyen una reflexión cautivadora sobre la Encarnación por medio del “rostro del Hijo una magnífica humanidad que también ilumina la época de la IA”. “Ningún sistema de cálculo, por sofisticado que sea, genera un corazón que se entrega, ni una conciencia capaz de discernir el bien. Incluso cuando las máquinas sobresalen en eficiencia, el centro de la historia sigue siendo un rostro humano que exige ser contemplado”, escribió. “Este rostro humano es la plenitud hacia la que camina la historia”.
13. La encíclica nos llama a una conversión personal. El Papa propone para los cristianos un itinerario “sobrio y exigente con el cual vivir este cambio de época a la luz del Evangelio” centrados en “la contemplación del designio de Dios”, nutriéndose de la Palabra y de la Eucaristía, construyendo “el bien en el mundo” y orando junto con la Virgen María. Él motivó a la gente a cultivar comunidad y relaciones en persona, educar a los jóvenes para que amen la verdad, pasar tiempo con los pobres y solitarios, ser una voz a favor de la justicia, defender la verdad objetiva y tratar el mundo digital “como un nuevo continente por evangelizar”. En su reflexión final, se centró en el “Magníficat”, el cántico en el que la Virgen María glorifica a Dios, y que es mencionado en el primer capítulo del Evangelio de Lucas. El Papa León escribió: “En la fidelidad humilde de cada día, también el tiempo de la IA puede ser un paso en el que el Espíritu haga madurar la civilización del amor en nuestras vidas”.
Maria Wiering es editora de OSV News. Contribuyeron a este reportaje la editora del Vaticano de OSV News, Courtney Mares, y la editora digital, Megan Marley.
– (OSV News) — ¿Qué significa custodiar nuestra humanidad? Esa pregunta está en el centro de la tan esperada primera encíclica del Papa León XIV, “Magnifica Humanitas: Sobre la custodia de la persona humana en el tiempo de la inteligencia artificial”, publicada el 25 de mayo. A continuación, se presentan algunos aspectos clave sobre esta importante misiva papal. 1. Significa “Magnífica humanidad” en latín; el título proviene de las primeras palabras del texto tal y como están traducidas al latín, como habitualmente ocurre con las encíclicas papales. Esas palabras dicen, según su traducción al español: “La magnífica humanidad que Dios ha
In first encyclical, Pope Leo urges world to ‘disarm’ AI amid increased reliance #Catholic – 
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Presenting the first encyclical of his pontificate, Pope Leo XIV warned that artificial intelligence must be “disarmed,” urging governments, tech leaders and society to confront the rapidly growing technology before it weakens human relationships, critical thinking and peace itself.
With its authoritative teaching, the 82-page encyclical, “Magnifica Humanitas” (“Magnificent Humanity”), significantly boosts the Catholic Church’s position as an active voice in discussions over artificial intelligence, autonomous weapons, labor, human dignity and the concentration of technological power among a handful of corporations.
“Peace, not merely the absence of war, is justice at work,” Pope Leo said May 25 during a presentation unveiling the document in the Vatican’s Synod Hall to an audience filled with members of the Roman Curia, reporters and special guests. “But when technology weakens our critical sense, peace itself is at risk.”
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RELATED: Pope Leo’s AI encyclical warns of temptation to build future excluding God |
The pope said he wrote the encyclical after hearing from scientists, engineers, political leaders, parents and teachers about the promises and dangers posed by artificial intelligence. While some were enthusiastic about the technology, he said others expressed fears over future generations and increasingly autonomous weapons systems.
While he acknowledged the benefits of AI, Pope Leo was clear in saying more scrutiny needs to be applied to this developing technology.
“Artificial intelligence needs to be disarmed,” the pope said. “The word is strong, I know, but deliberately chosen because this moment needs words capable of attracting attention, awakening consciences and indicating paths forward for humanity.”
Pope Leo has frequently cautioned against the unchecked development of AI since the beginning of his pontificate, warning that the technology risks weakening human discernment, distorting reality and replacing authentic relationships with simulations of human interaction.
Anchoring his address on the church’s annual World Communications Day theme, the pope said artificial intelligence is increasingly simulating “human voices and faces,” while raising deeper questions surrounding consciousness, responsibility, friendship and truth.
“We do not possess technical answers, nor do we seek to displace those with expertise,” the pope said in his May 25 presentation. “But we bring a wisdom concerning the human that our present time desperately needs: every person is unique and irreplaceable.”
The Holy See’s engagement with major technology companies dates back nearly a decade through conversations known as the “Minerva Dialogues,” which brought together church leaders and executives from Silicon Valley firms, including Google and LinkedIn.
That’s one of the reasons why one of the most anticipated speakers at the presentation was Chris Olah, co-founder of the artificial intelligence research company Anthropic, who praised the pope’s willingness to engage the industry directly.
Olah acknowledged that computer scientists alone cannot determine the ethical boundaries of AI because developers themselves are influenced by “incentives” such as ambition, competition and financial pressure.
“We need informed critics who will tell the labs when we are failing,” Olah said. “We need moral voices that the incentives cannot bend.”
He said the church could help shape discussions surrounding the equitable distribution of AI’s economic benefits, the impact of the technology on children and employment, and broader questions about human flourishing.
Olah also described aspects of advanced AI systems as “mysterious, even unsettling,” saying researchers continue to discover behaviors within models they do not fully understand.
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Others speaking at the presentation highlighted themes throughout the encyclical, including economic inequality, labor exploitation and the concentration of technological power.
Anna Rowlands, professor of political theology and Catholic social doctrine at Durham University in England, was another speaker on the panel with the pope. She said the encyclical “brings the vision of the Gospel to bear on the cultures of AI.”
She said the document challenges the idea that artificial intelligence itself can “save” humanity while questioning whether too much influence over modern life is being placed in the hands of a small number of technology companies.
“In the interests of the common good, how can we resist such distorting concentrations of power in the hands of the few?” Rowlands asked.
Leocadie Lushombo, another panelist and professor of theological ethics at the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University, pointed to the encyclical’s criticism of extractive mining industries in the Global South that supply minerals used in AI infrastructure and data centers.
“Yes, AI can very easily be colonial,” Lushombo said. “It is more likely to do much to further violate the rights of the Global South.”
Cardinal Michael Czerny, prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, said the pace of this new technology is unparalleled, while the stakes are deeper, concerning “the very nature of human coexistence.”
He went on to say that the most original contribution the Christian faith brings to the discussion on AI is the “conviction that human beings always transcend the sum of their achievements, their data profiles and any possible technical simulation, because they are called to a fullness of life that finds its truth in relationship and its fulfillment in a constant and sincere gift of oneself.”
Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, said the document insists humanity must not lose sight of its own dignity despite technological advancement.
“For every human being possesses infinite dignity and never loses that sublime capacity for love which God bestowed upon humanity when He created us,” Cardinal Fernández said.
He also emphasized one of the encyclical’s central arguments: that artificial intelligence cannot replicate humanity’s capacity to suffer, grow and love.
Pope Leo’s encyclical states that humanity carries within itself “the lessons that are etched like scars, a memory of the journey taken between freedom and falls, dreams and disappointments,” he said.
– VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Presenting the first encyclical of his pontificate, Pope Leo XIV warned that artificial intelligence must be “disarmed,” urging governments, tech leaders and society to confront the rapidly growing technology before it weakens human relationships, critical thinking and peace itself. With its authoritative teaching, the 82-page encyclical, “Magnifica Humanitas” (“Magnificent Humanity”), significantly boosts the Catholic Church’s position as an active voice in discussions over artificial intelligence, autonomous weapons, labor, human dignity and the concentration of technological power among a handful of corporations. “Peace, not merely the absence of war, is justice at work,” Pope Leo said May
Obituary: Sister of Christian Charity Mary Lawrence Cassidy, 91 #Catholic – 
The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on May 22 at the Chapel of Mary Immaculate at Mallinckrodt Convent in Mendham, N.J., for Sister of Christian Charity Mary Lawrence Cassidy, who died at the convent on May 19. She was 91.
Helen Theresa Cassidy was born in 1934 in New York City as the only child of John L. and Mary E. (Gerety) Cassidy.
While attending grade school at St. Rita School in the Bronx, N.Y., Helen contracted polio. She was in critical condition, paralyzed from the neck down. The doctor told her she would never walk again. However, with the help and prayers of family, friends, and acquaintances, and through expert therapy from the Sister Kenny Foundation (now known as the Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute), Helen gradually regained her mobility, except for a slight limp.
In 1946, Helen graduated from St. Rita School. The Sisters of Christian Charity taught her at Cathedral High School (Immaculate Conception Extension) in the Bronx.
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After a short time with the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart in Illinois, Helen transitioned to employment as an assistant buyer in a department store, and subsequently as a bookkeeper for a bank, before pursuing her religious vocation further.
In 1954, after her work experience, Helen began her candidacy at the motherhouse in Mendham and was invested in 1955, receiving the religious name Sister Mary Lawrence. She made her first profession in 1957 and her final profession in 1963.
For more than 30 years, Sister Lawrence taught grade school in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey. In the Paterson Diocese, she was assigned to the former Holy Family School in Florham Park, the former St. Michael School in Netcong, the former St. Joseph School in Newton, and the former St. Cecilia School (now part of Divine Mercy Academy) in Rockaway.
During this time, Sister Cassidy earned an Associate in Religious Arts from Assumption College for Sisters (ACS), Mendham, now in Denville, N.J.
Later, Sister Cassidy served as assistant to the Sisters of Christian Charity’s provincial treasurer in Mendham and as a bookkeeper at Holy Spirit Hospital in Camp Hill, Penn. She also graduated from the School of Bookkeeping and Accounting at the Professional Career Development Institute.
Sister Cassidy served as treasurer for ACS and was on the office staff at Morris Catholic High School in Denville. She then moved to Holy Family Convent in Danville, Penn., where she assisted with driving until her retirement. In May 2018, she was among the sisters who moved to the new motherhouse in Mendham. There, she participated in the ministry of prayer and presence until her death.
Sister Cassidy is survived by the Sisters of Christian Charity and her close friends. She was predeceased by her parents.
Please make memorial donations in Sister Mary Lawrence Cassidy’s memory to the Sisters of Christian Charity, 350 Bernardsville Rd., Mendham, N.J.07945, or at sccus.org.
– The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on May 22 at the Chapel of Mary Immaculate at Mallinckrodt Convent in Mendham, N.J., for Sister of Christian Charity Mary Lawrence Cassidy, who died at the convent on May 19. She was 91. Helen Theresa Cassidy was born in 1934 in New York City as the only child of John L. and Mary E. (Gerety) Cassidy. While attending grade school at St. Rita School in the Bronx, N.Y., Helen contracted polio. She was in critical condition, paralyzed from the neck down. The doctor told her she would never walk again. However, with
Before Pope Leo’s visit to Barcelona, an architect and a priest discuss Antoni Gaudí’s holiness and skill, which enabled him to envision Sagrada Família Basilica and transcend deep divisions in Spain.
In ancient times, a total solar eclipse might have ended a war over territory between the Lydians, inhabitants of modern Turkey, and the Medes, who lived in what is now Iran. The two peoples had been fighting for over five years, but that ended on May 28, 585 B.C.E. Greek historian Herodotus wrote about theContinue reading “May 28, 585 B.C.E.: A war-ending eclipse”
The post May 28, 585 B.C.E.: A war-ending eclipse appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.
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Beyond The Beacon podcast 112 – More than a melody: The unstoppable spirit of Tony Melendez #Catholic – 
Tony Melendez, a renowned toe-picking Catholic guitarist born without arms, says let God use you, take you to places, and you be the instrument that God plays. Melendez’s life was forever changed in 1987 when he played his guitar for Pope John Paul II in Los Angeles, and the Pope approached him afterward from the stage to kiss him in appreciation. Melendez says his phone hasn’t stopped ringing since that moment, and he continues to perform 15-20 concerts a month.
On this latest episode of Beyond The Beacon, Melendez recounts this story and more with the Diocese of Paterson’s Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney and Communications Director/Beacon Editor Jai Agnish before taking the stage for a concert at Sacred Heart & Our Lady Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Parish in Dover, N.J.
Listen to the episode here, or on any major podcast platform, or watch it on Bishop Sweeney’s YouTube channel.
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– Tony Melendez, a renowned toe-picking Catholic guitarist born without arms, says let God use you, take you to places, and you be the instrument that God plays. Melendez’s life was forever changed in 1987 when he played his guitar for Pope John Paul II in Los Angeles, and the Pope approached him afterward from the stage to kiss him in appreciation. Melendez says his phone hasn’t stopped ringing since that moment, and he continues to perform 15-20 concerts a month. On this latest episode of Beyond The Beacon, Melendez recounts this story and more with the Diocese of Paterson’s Bishop
![Salesian sisters go viral after attending San Antonio Spurs playoff game – #Catholic – Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco have drawn national attention as “diehard” San Antonio Spurs fans after a group of sisters attended a recent NBA playoff game.The sisters went viral on social media following the Texas teamʼs May 24 home-court matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The superfans wore Spurs jerseys, cheered on the team, and prayed over Catholic Spurs player Luke Kornet before the game. The prayer was seemingly answered as the Spurs scored their biggest victory in the 2026 NBA Western Conference finals so far.TweetSalesian Sister Cherilly Galley said the response the order has received since the game has been “really beautiful.”There has been a “response of people who are interested in Catholicism and people who would like to get involved, cheer on the Spurs, and also see how they can support our sisters here in San Antonio, which is really a huge blessing and a wonderful surprise from the Lord,” Galley said in an interview May 27 with “EWTN News Nightly.”While many first noticed the group of sisters at the recent game, the fans have been attending Spurs games “for over 20 years,” said Sister Bernadette Mota, a Salesian sister who prayed with Kornet at the game. “We have some sisters who were really diehard Spurs fans throughout the years, and theyʼre the ones who made that initial connection with the Spurs,” she said. “They would write to Coach [Gregg] Popovich, and he would actually write back.”Popovich, president of the San Antonio Spurs and former coach, and his wife “came to visit the sisters a few times,” Mota said.The sisters “would watch the games” and over the years the connection has “just kept up,” Mota said. “But a few years back, it had kind of died down a little bit, and then COVID happened, and we kind of lost that connection.”“But just this past year, and more recently in these past weeks, it really has built up in a very strong way. And so weʼre back praying with the Spurs and being there to support the community and the San Antonio people who love the Spurs,” she said.Itʼs “wonderful” to “have a lot of family and friends come together and watch the games,” Galley said.The sisters host watch parties with “parents and students from our school at St. John Bosco here in San Antonio,” she said. It’s “a lot of fun and a wonderful way to share the joy of faith and family.”Keep God ‘first’Mota and Galley said their favorite Spurs players are Kornet and Victor Wembanyama — widely known as "Wemby.”“Wemby by far is the best player,” but the sisters “really like Luke [Kornet] because of the way he lives his Catholic faith on and off the court,” Mota said.While “sports and things like that are great,” players must remember that “God has to be first in your life,” Mota said.“Keep him first. Play strong, play your best, and work as a team because a team thatʼs united is very hard to pull down. So play together and have faith in God,” Mota said.“Trust one another as your team members — that is very valuable,” Galley added. Also, “have fun, enjoy it. Thatʼs always a wonderful thing: to have fun on the court.”](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/salesian-sisters-go-viral-after-attending-san-antonio-spurs-playoff-game-catholic-salesian-sisters-of-st-john-bosco-have-drawn-national-attention-as-diehard-san-antonio-spurs-f.jpg "Salesian sisters go viral after attending San Antonio Spurs playoff game – #Catholic – Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco have drawn national attention as “diehard” San Antonio Spurs fans after a group of sisters attended a recent NBA playoff game.The sisters went viral on social media following the Texas teamʼs May 24 home-court matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The superfans wore Spurs jerseys, cheered on the team, and prayed over Catholic Spurs player Luke Kornet before the game. The prayer was seemingly answered as the Spurs scored their biggest victory in the 2026 NBA Western Conference finals so far.TweetSalesian Sister Cherilly Galley said the response the order has received since the game has been “really beautiful.”There has been a “response of people who are interested in Catholicism and people who would like to get involved, cheer on the Spurs, and also see how they can support our sisters here in San Antonio, which is really a huge blessing and a wonderful surprise from the Lord,” Galley said in an interview May 27 with “EWTN News Nightly.”While many first noticed the group of sisters at the recent game, the fans have been attending Spurs games “for over 20 years,” said Sister Bernadette Mota, a Salesian sister who prayed with Kornet at the game. “We have some sisters who were really diehard Spurs fans throughout the years, and theyʼre the ones who made that initial connection with the Spurs,” she said. “They would write to Coach [Gregg] Popovich, and he would actually write back.”Popovich, president of the San Antonio Spurs and former coach, and his wife “came to visit the sisters a few times,” Mota said.The sisters “would watch the games” and over the years the connection has “just kept up,” Mota said. “But a few years back, it had kind of died down a little bit, and then COVID happened, and we kind of lost that connection.”“But just this past year, and more recently in these past weeks, it really has built up in a very strong way. And so weʼre back praying with the Spurs and being there to support the community and the San Antonio people who love the Spurs,” she said.Itʼs “wonderful” to “have a lot of family and friends come together and watch the games,” Galley said.The sisters host watch parties with “parents and students from our school at St. John Bosco here in San Antonio,” she said. It’s “a lot of fun and a wonderful way to share the joy of faith and family.”Keep God ‘first’Mota and Galley said their favorite Spurs players are Kornet and Victor Wembanyama — widely known as \"Wemby.”“Wemby by far is the best player,” but the sisters “really like Luke [Kornet] because of the way he lives his Catholic faith on and off the court,” Mota said.While “sports and things like that are great,” players must remember that “God has to be first in your life,” Mota said.“Keep him first. Play strong, play your best, and work as a team because a team thatʼs united is very hard to pull down. So play together and have faith in God,” Mota said.“Trust one another as your team members — that is very valuable,” Galley added. Also, “have fun, enjoy it. Thatʼs always a wonderful thing: to have fun on the court.”")
Salesian Sisters say their viral appearance at the San Antonio Spurs game has drawn an interest in Catholicism.
Katherine Rauscher, of Michigan Technological University, prepares her team’s prototype lunar robot for its turn during the finals for NASA’s 2026 Lunabotics Challenge competition on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, inside the Astronauts Memorial Foundation’s Center for Space Education at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida. Forty-seven teams from around the U.S. designed and built remote-controlled robots capable of traversing challenging lunar terrain while constructing regolith-based berm under conditions similar to those the agency will face as it returns to the lunar surface through Artemis.
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