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(Photos ©Vatican Media) The pallium pilgrimage was a blessed and unique experience for pilgrims, to be sure, but one special moment for Northern Colorado's shepherds stood out among them all: meeting Pope Leo XIV! While in Rome for the pilgrimage and Pallium Mass, Denver Archbishop James Golka, Archbishop Emeritus Samuel J. Aquila, and Denver Auxiliary Bishop Jorge Rodríguez, together with John Magee, archdiocesan chancellor, and Deacon Doug Flinn, archdiocesan general counse

(Denver Catholic file photo) Editor's Note: On July 1, 2026, the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) proceeded with the unauthorized ordination of four bishops without a pontifical mandate. In response, the Holy See declared the ordinations a schismatic act and announced the canonical consequences for those involved. In light of these developments, Archbishop James R. Golka issued a letter to the faithful and the Archdiocese of Denver released a Frequently Asked Questions document

(Photo: Unsplash) Editor's Note: On July 1, 2026, the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) proceeded with the unauthorized ordination of four bishops without a pontifical mandate. In response, the Holy See declared the ordinations a schismatic act and announced the canonical consequences for those involved. In light of these developments, Archbishop James R. Golka has issued the following letter to the faithful of the Archdiocese of Denver, in addition to an archdiocesan FAQ on the m

The pontiffʼs letter stressed religious freedom, the right to life and the contributions of Catholics and immigrants to American history. Pope Leo XIV greets visitors from the popemobile while riding around St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican before his weekly general audience June 17, 2026. (Photo: CNS/Vatican Media) By Francis X. Rocca/EWTN News Pope Leo XIV celebrated the contributions of Catholics and immigrants to the United States in an open letter to Americans for the co

As pilgrims return from Rome after accompanying Archbishop James Golka as he received his pallium from Pope Leo XIV, they are filled with a spirit of faith, gratitude and mission. Pilgrims take one last group photo following a farewell dinner after a week of pilgrimage around Rome. (Photo provided) There’s plenty to do when returning from a trip. Where did I put my house keys? How do I even start doing all this laundry? Do I really have to unpack my suitcases? Post-pilgrimage

(Photos by André Escaleira, Jr./Denver Catholic) As I knelt surrounded by statues of saints at today’s Mass for the feast of the Holy Roman Martyrs, something resonated in a way it hadn’t before: it’s a blessing to remain “in the boat,” in the Church. Now, before you scoff too loudly or rage-quit this reflection, let me clarify: the Church is very human; she and her members have caused real harm. But she is also divine, instituted by Jesus and promised his presence always. It

The Holy Father conferred the pallium on 35 archbishops from around the world, including Northern Colorado’s shepherd, at St. Peter’s Basilica on the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul. (First photo by Lola Gomez/CNS; All other photos by André Escaleira, Jr./Denver Catholic) Kneeling in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, Denver Archbishop James Golka took up a new mantle as he received the pallium from Pope Leo XIV. Traditionally conferred on the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, th

(Photos by André Escaleira, Jr.) We started our day with some free time, which meant that I had the chance to see Pope Leo — an opportunity I couldn’t pass up! When Pope Leo appeared in the window, the energy was electric. The Vicar of Christ, the world’s spiritual father, an American, was right there! As he spoke, I couldn’t help but tear up: his message called us to love more devotedly, more freely, more generously, even as Mary did — she who loved Jesus, even knowing she w

(Photos by André Escaleira, Jr.) We’ve been in Rome three days now, and they’ve been filled with holy saints and sites, with lots to see, experience and learn. St. Paul Outside the Walls was beautiful. Our after-hours tour of the Vatican Museums — and the half hour we had alone in the Sistine Chapel — was moving. Borgo Laudato Si’, a Vatican project for integral ecology, was impressive. Castel Gandalfo, the pope’s summer residence, was beautiful, too. As wonderful as all thes

(Photos by André Escaleira, Jr.) Today we met St. Paul, face to face. Well, more or less. We visited the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, where St. Paul is buried. After Mass with Archbishop Emeritus Aquila and another pilgrimage group of FOCUS missionaries and parishioners from Denver, we had the chance to pray and visit with everyone’s favorite fiery evangelist — and my confirmation saint. It was powerful. When I chose St. Paul as my patron at 14, I thought I’d disce

(Photos by André Escaleira, Jr.) Walking through Rome this afternoon was surreal. We’d only been here a few hours. It was a hot, sticky day, and the sun beat down from above with a vengeance. We took cover in an alley, where shade offered us its cool reprieve. We were on our way to Mass, following the tour guide. Suddenly, the alley opened up. As my eyes adjusted to the sun and the setting, they nearly couldn’t believe what was before them: the St. Peter Basilica. How did we

As the archdiocesan group headed to Rome for the Pallium Pilgrimage, the skies call to mind the “cloud of witnesses” that surrounds us each and every day, in Rome, Denver and worldwide. (Photo by André Escaleira, Jr.) It’s an interesting experience seeing things from 30,000 feet. Everything looks so small from that height: the great rivers and mountains of the West, the sprawling metropolises of the East, the “pond” that is the mighty Atlantic. As I spent most of the day on a

Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, founder of the Society of St. Pius X, in 1981. (Photo: Antonisse, Marcel / Anefo, via Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 3.0 nl) The Holy See has declared that, if the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) proceeds with the ordination of bishops in July without a papal mandate, those involved in these illicit ordinations are automatically (latae sententiae) excommunicated — that is, excommunicated by their own acts. One may, indeed one should, hope that it does not

The new Denver archbishop is heading to Rome this June to receive a special liturgical vestment from the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV. In this article, we explain the history, significance and symbolism of the pallium. Denver Archbishop James Golka will receive his pallium alongside new metropolitan archbishops from around the world during Mass with Pope Leo XIV on the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, June 29. Pope Leo will impose the pallium on Archbishop Golka during a speci

The archdiocesan group of pilgrims will accompany our new shepherd as he meets the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, and receives the pallium, a liturgical vestment worn by metropolitan archbishops. Archbishop James Golka greets the Carmelite Sisters of the Most Holy Trinity after Mass on Palm Sunday at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Denver. (Photo by Daniel Petty/Denver Catholic) Denver Catholic is hitting the road this month! As Archbishop James Golka heads

(Photo: Vatican Media) Imagine for a moment you were made a bishop by Pope Francis in 2015. Now imagine you were made a cardinal just two years ago in 2023. Now imagine your boss, Pope Francis, just recently passed, so you’re quickly ushered to the Vatican to help elect the next pope. You’re thinking there’s no possible way you’ll be elected. You haven’t been around all that long. You’re just a simple missionary priest at heart. You’re also an American, for crying out loud. N

President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, a Catholic, have taken issue with the pope’s Gospel teaching on peace. Vice President of the United States J. D. Vance speaking with attendees at the 2025 AmericaFest at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons) The U.S. bishops’ chair for doctrine issued a clarification on April 15 reaffirming that Catholic just war theory sets strict moral limits on the

Archbishop James R. Golka preaches during his March 25 Installation Mass. (Photo by Rachel Moore/Denver Catholic) In response to a Sunday evening social media post by President Donald J. Trump criticizing Pope Leo XIV, Denver Archbishop James R. Golka has joined his brother bishops in responding. His brief statement is printed in full below. "I join my brother bishops in stating clearly that the recent remarks directed at Pope Leo by President Trump are not acceptable. Such l

Denver Archbishop James Golka, along with dozens of other new archbishops from around the world, will gather in Rome to receive their pallium from Pope Leo XIV this June. (Photo by Grant Whitty/Denver Catholic) There’s a rare opportunity on the horizon for the faithful of Northern Colorado and beyond ...and it’s almost gone. This summer, pilgrims will travel to Rome alongside Archbishop Golka for a historic moment in the life of the Church: the reception of the pallium from t

John Allen with Pope Benedict XVI in 2005. (Photo: Thomas S. Major via Wikimedia Commons/CC BY-SA 3.0) Early Sunday morning, July 28, 2002, things were looking grim for the closing papal Mass of World Youth Day in Toronto. The previous four days had been a tremendous success, symbolized by hundreds of thousands of young people making the Way of the Cross up Toronto’s great north-south boulevard, University Avenue: an act of Christian witness the likes of which had never been