Calling for systemic change, the Vatican’s Pontifical Academy of Sciences says governments must protect scientific independence and make evidence-based decisions, not bow to ideological pressures or conspiracy-driven narratives.

Leaning behind the altar are twelve cross-shaped fruit-picking poles, fashioned from saguaro ribs. These tools reflect both the harvest and the cross — symbols of physical labour and spiritual connection deeply embedded in O’odham Catholic life.

Detention camps across India hold hundreds of Rohingya refugees. Some detainees have been confined for over a decade. One couple had to bury their child while handcuffed—emblematic of the cruelty inflicted on this population.

The Church should not be a subculture in conflict with society. Instead, it must infuse today’s world with the Gospel through inculturation. Opposition to modernity has only deepened secularisation and alienated key groups from faith, including the young and the working class.

The Eucharist is meant to unite, yet the Traditional Latin Mass continues to divide Catholics. Can the Church balance reverence for tradition with commitment to liturgical reform? Unity remains elusive as communities splinter along lines of language, nostalgia, and theological dissent.

Aquinas and Augustine once offered frameworks to distinguish justified conflict from sin. Today, those teachings face new scrutiny as leaders weigh morality against national security in acts like the U.S.-Israel strike on Iran.

Church history, Halík argues, should be seen not as decline but resurrection in motion. Christianity is still unfolding, and the “ever-greater Christ” continues to build an expansive church—not by numbers or land, but by stretching minds and hearts.

Historian Andrea Riccardi speculated that Pope Francis may have envisioned Cardinal Prevost as his successor. Though unconfirmed, the close collaboration between the two figures and Prevost’s swift rise through the Church hierarchy add weight to the theory.

A global study reveals that 67% of adults surveyed were raised Christian, yet only 41% still claim that identity. This widening gap signals that modern societies—particularly younger and more educated demographics—are redefining their spiritual paths outside of organised religion.

In a world driven by ratings and revenue, the pope remains a singular global figure—elected not by popular vote, but by cardinals—and speaks to conscience rather than consumerism. His presence challenges assumptions about leadership in the modern age.