The past year was a significant one in Church history, marked by the death of Pope Francis and the election of Pope Leo XIV. There were ongoing humanitarian crises around the world, canonizations, and clarification of a Marian issue. The new pope will clearly emphasize Catholic social teaching, which was largely framed by his namesake, Leo XIII, in the 19th century. Pope Leo XIV also faces a new technological revolution known as artificial intelligence, or AI, along with all of its theological implications. This is a look back at a unique Catholic year.
The Jubilee – Pilgrims of Hope
(January)
Traditionally, since 1475, the Catholic Church has celebrated a Jubilee Year every twenty-five years so that each person can experience one within their lifetime. The concept of Jubilee is derived from the Old Testament book of Leviticus. The four Papal Basilicas in Rome each have a Holy Door, sealed shut from the inside. The only time these doors are opened is during the Jubilee, allowing pilgrims to enter, pray, and obtain a plenary indulgence offered during this period.
Pope John Paul II announced the last Jubilee at the end of the Great Jubilee of 2000. There was, however, an Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy in 2015, declared by Pope Francis. This year’s celebration, Pilgrims of Hope, is meant to be a time of reconciliation and pilgrimage, offering hope to a world experiencing war, division, and crisis.
At his first Saturday Jubilee audience on January 11, 2025, Pope Francis emphasized the theological virtue of hope and new beginnings. He referenced the hope inspired by John the Baptist and encouraged unity among Christians, as well as respect for human life from conception until death.
Pope Francis’ Health
(February)
Pope Francis was hospitalized on February 14, 2025, with bronchitis. His condition was reported as fair, and he was said to be well oriented. According to the Vatican, he had been suffering from a respiratory infection for the week prior to his hospitalization. Unfortunately, a CAT scan of the chest subsequently revealed double pneumonia, complicating his treatment. He was prone to lung infections after developing pleurisy as a young man, which required the removal of one lung.
Pope Francis was ultimately released on March 23, 2024, after a hospital stay of over a month. He returned to the Vatican after stopping at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome to place flowers before the venerated image of the Blessed Virgin Mary known as Salus Populi Romani.
Saints and Humanitarian Issues
(March)
In a message to the entire Church—both clergy and laity—Pope Francis cited the examples of saints who preached the Gospel by word and example in seemingly impossible circumstances. In his remarks, the Pope said that “their example teaches us that our Christian mission is not based upon visible results but rather upon faithfulness to God.” He stated that we must all do the same, despite our fears and the obstacles we encounter.
On March 16, 2025, an attack in Salamanca, Mexico, killed eight young people and wounded five others outside the Church of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. They were shot while socializing after Mass by drug cartel members attempting to fill their ranks through intimidation. The Mexican government downplayed the violence, while the Mexican Bishops Conference condemned the attacks in very strong terms.
On March 31, 2025, Pope Francis declared a humanitarian catastrophe in Sudan and South Sudan due to the conflict between the Sudanese Army and the Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary group. The fighting displaced 12 million people and caused widespread famine and malnutrition. The conflict began in 2023 when a coup toppled the civilian government and set off a struggle between rival generals.
The Pope also called for international aid and intervention to settle the conflict.
The Death of Pope Francis
(April)
The most important Catholic news story of 2025 was the death of Pope Francis on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88. The cause of death was a stroke followed by heart failure. Pursuant to Vatican tradition, his apartment doors were sealed, and his papal ring was cut to symbolize the end of his papacy.
Pope Francis was a fierce advocate for the value and dignity of all human life, emphasizing the evil of marginalizing certain people in our “throwaway” culture. The marginalized included the unborn, the aged, and victims of war, famine, and injustice. Like his namesake, St. Francis of Assisi, he believed that all of nature should be treated reverently as the creation of God. His voice consistently called for social justice among all nations.
As a result of the Pope’s death, the canonization of Blessed Carlo Acutis, originally scheduled for April 27, 2025, had to be postponed.
Pope Leo XIV
(May)
A papal conclave was held on May 7 and 8 to elect a successor to Pope Francis. On the fourth ballot, the conclave elected Robert Francis Prevost, the prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. After his election, he chose the name Leo XIV in honor of Pope Leo XIII, who pioneered modern Catholic social teaching during the Second Industrial Revolution. Thus far, Pope Leo XIV has been very engaged with social issues, family values, and the subject of artificial intelligence (AI).
On the subject of AI, the Pope has expressed strong views and stressed the need for its moral and ethical development. He believes that children, in particular, need protection from its inherent dangers. Pope Leo’s episcopal motto is “In the One, We Are One.” He promotes synodality—the inclusion of the entire Church, clergy and laity—in fraternal collaboration. He stresses the unity of God’s people as both an ideal and a remedy for polarization within the Church. He is the first pope born in the United States.
World Without Division, Correcting the Past
(June)
At the June 8 Pentecost Mass in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Leo prayed that the Holy Spirit would “open borders, tear down walls, and dissolve hatred so that everyone can live as children of one human family.” He cautioned against “an exclusionary mindset” that is exacerbated by “political nationalisms.”
Also in June, the U.S. Catholic Bishops’ annual report indicated that reports of abuse allegations continue to decline, but it also warned against complacency among dioceses and lay people in upholding the bishops’ safe environment protocols. The report stressed that progress could be jeopardized by both the lack of diocesan review boards to oversee protocols and allegations, as well as a parenting trend of opting children out of safety training.
On Traditional Parenting
(July)
Cornell sociologists Christobal Young and Erin Cumberworth analyzed a controversial 2012 study that concluded children of gay parents do not fare as well as those of traditional parents, defined as a married mother and father.
Using a technique for expanded study known as multiverse analysis, the two sociologists examined the 2012 undertaking conducted by Mark Regnerus, a University of Texas sociologist and president of the Austin Institute for the Study of Family and Culture. In his controversial study, Regnerus found that children of same-sex parents were worse off socio-developmentally than those of intact biological families. He subsequently faced a firestorm of criticism and political intimidation in academic circles. This went unchallenged until now.
Both Cornell sociologists admitted to a certain bias going into their study, assuming that their sophisticated technique would debunk the 2012 findings once and for all. They were surprised by their own results and described Regnerus’s study as “robust.”
Regnerus, for his part, thanked Cornell for their work but acknowledged the political nature of the topic and the “junk science” being presented to the public in the name of tolerance.
Church Shooting in Minneapolis
(August)
On August 27, 2025, a gunman attacked the Church of the Annunciation in Windom, Minneapolis. Students and faculty of Annunciation Catholic School were attending a school Mass at the time. Two children were killed, and thirty people were injured. The perpetrator committed suicide at the scene. Investigators later stated that the attacker was obsessed with the idea of killing children.
In Vatican City on August 31, 2025, Pope Leo prayed for the victims and denounced a worldwide “pandemic of arms” that has taken the lives of so many children. The Pope asked for the intercession of Mother Mary, invoking the words of Isaiah: “They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks” (Isaiah 2:4).
Solidarity with Immigrants, Delayed Canonizations
(September)
The Catholic Church observed National Migration Week from September 22 through 28. Prior to this, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops stated its support for immigrants amid the current “fear and anxiety due to enforcement efforts.” The statement did not differentiate between legal and illegal immigrants but rejected the “indiscriminate mass deportation of people.” The bishops called for a comprehensive effort by both political parties to overhaul the immigration system and create a more just process.
Also in September, Blessed Carlo Acutis and Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati were canonized by Pope Leo on September 7, 2025.
Seven More Canonizations in Rome and Tragedy in Nigeria
(October)
Pope Leo canonized seven blessed men and women at a Mass in St. Peter’s Square on October 19, 2025. They were Choukrallah Maloyan, Peter To Rot, Vincenza Maria Poloni, Maria Del Monte, Carmelo Rendiles Martinez, Maria Troncatti, Jose Gregorio Hernandez Cisneros, and Bartolo Longo.
On October 31, 2025, President Trump declared Nigeria to be “a country of particular concern,” stating that Islamic radicals there are murdering Christians. The designation CPC (Country of Particular Concern) is used to identify countries where religious freedoms are violated.
The Nigerian government denied that Christians are being targeted and noted that Muslims have also been killed by terrorists. Pope Leo acknowledged in October comments that Muslims have been victims as well. However, the establishment of sharia law in northern Nigeria in 1999 increased discrimination against Christians. Roughly ten percent of the country is Catholic.
The rise of Boko Haram in 2009 marked the beginning of unprecedented murderous attacks, often directed at churches and priests. The International Society of Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law estimates Christian casualties at between 50,000 and 100,000 since 2009. Hundreds of schoolgirls have also been kidnapped. President Trump threatened to deploy the U.S. military if the government does not protect Christians.
Clarification of Marian Doctrine
(November)
In November, the Vatican stated that the Blessed Mother will not be referred to as “Co-Redemptrix” or “Mediatrix of All Graces,” except in very limited circumstances. This clarification was described as an effort toward theological precision in order to avoid confusion regarding Mary’s role in salvation history. Some popes, including John Paul II, have used these terms, but the issue has long been debated. Pope Francis expressed opposition to both titles. While the Church will always exalt Mary as the Mother of God, redemption is accomplished solely through Jesus Christ.
AI and Pope Leo XIV
(December)
On December 5, 2025, Pope Leo stated that artificial intelligence mimics human characteristics such as “critical thinking, discernment, learning, and interpersonal relationships.” He emphasized the need to monitor its development to ensure that it serves the common good rather than functioning solely as a financial tool of the rich and powerful. He clarified that “our dignity lies in our ability to reflect, choose freely, love unconditionally, and enter into relationships with others.” He warned that this technology could affect our openness to truth and beauty and stressed the need to protect what characterizes the human person while managing the consequences of AI.
Pope Leo also emphasized AI’s danger to children, “where their freedom and spirituality are at stake, as well as their intellectual and neurological development.” He noted that access to vast amounts of data does not guarantee correct interpretation. The Pope warned against a pessimistic sense of inevitability surrounding AI. While artificial intelligence may be inevitable, how it is utilized and regulated will require great discretion.
Conclusion
This Catholic year will undoubtedly be remembered for the death of Pope Francis and the succession of Pope Leo XIV. The humanitarian crises around the world have elicited strong reactions from Pope Leo, who will serve as the spiritual conscience of the world, as his predecessors have in modern times.
In addition to the need for a collective conscience among nations on matters of life and death, one cannot help but wonder whether this year is unique because humanity stands on the verge of an unprecedented technological revolution—namely, artificial intelligence. How we respond to the need for diligence in ensuring that this technology is used for good rather than evil may have dramatic consequences for the world. Pope Leo has strongly emphasized the importance of managing AI and its dangers. As with all worldly crises, all that our spiritual leader can do is awaken consciences.
What we must do is listen.
