Pope Leo to grieving father: 'Death never has the last word'
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Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass in St. Peter's Square on September 28, 2025. / Vatican Media screenshotCNA Newsroom, Oct 17, 2025 / 13:38 pm (CNA).Pope Leo XIV has responded to a letter from a grieving father with the encouragement that "death never has the last word."In the October issue of Piazza San Pietro magazine, the pontiff penned a letter to Francesco, a father of four, who wrote to the Holy Father about the death of his 12-year-old son, Domenico Maria, from a sudden illness 18 years ago.Despite the time that has passed, the father said he still felt like his son's premature death happened only yesterday. "Holiness, this letter of mine is intended only as a thought, as well as a remembrance for our son, so that God, in his infinite goodness and mercy as a Father, may welcome him into the kingdom of heaven…" Francesco wrote.In his response, Leo reminded the father that "the important thing is to always remain connected to the Lord, going through the greatest pain ...
Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass in St. Peter's Square on September 28, 2025. / Vatican Media screenshot
CNA Newsroom, Oct 17, 2025 / 13:38 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV has responded to a letter from a grieving father with the encouragement that "death never has the last word."
In the October issue of Piazza San Pietro magazine, the pontiff penned a letter to Francesco, a father of four, who wrote to the Holy Father about the death of his 12-year-old son, Domenico Maria, from a sudden illness 18 years ago.
Despite the time that has passed, the father said he still felt like his son's premature death happened only yesterday.
"Holiness, this letter of mine is intended only as a thought, as well as a remembrance for our son, so that God, in his infinite goodness and mercy as a Father, may welcome him into the kingdom of heaven…" Francesco wrote.
In his response, Leo reminded the father that "the important thing is to always remain connected to the Lord, going through the greatest pain with the help of His Grace, which always comes — be sure of that — even in the darkest moments."
The pope also recalled the light of the love of God, who walks with us throughout our life, starting at our Baptism.
"All this begins with our Baptism and will never end," he said. "Baptism introduces us into communion with Christ and gives us true life, committing us to renounce a culture of death that is very present in our society."
"But death never has the last word! The last word, which opens the doors to eternity and joy that lasts forever, is the resurrection, which knows no discouragement or pain that imprisons us in the extreme difficulty of not finding meaning in our existence," the pontiff added.
In his letter, Francesco described his son's love of soccer and the community of friends he found through playing the sport.
Pope Leo said "authentic prayer, like authentic sport, practiced together, creates bonds and unites forever, as it united Domenico Maria with all those on his 'team' of true friendship, with bonds that go far beyond death."
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Cardinal Robert McElroy of the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C. speaks at the University of Notre Dame Forum event on 'Healing Our National Dialogue and Political Life' on Oct. 17, 2025. / Credit: Courtesy of Michael Caterina / University of Notre DameWashington, D.C. Newsroom, Oct 17, 2025 / 18:29 pm (CNA).Cardinal Robert McElroy of the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., expressed concerns about increasing political polarization in the United States and urged Americans to remember "that which binds us together as a people."McElroy made the comments at the University of Notre Dame on Friday, Oct. 17. He spoke with University President Rev. Robert Dowd in a conversation titled "Healing Our National Dialogue and Political Life." The event was part of the university's 2025-26 Forum on the theme "Cultivating Hope." McElroy holds doctorates in sacred theology and political science."The conflict between the two parties has done, I think, terrible damage to us," McElroy said, and noted t...
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Pope Leo XIV greets Catholic pilgrims from Russia during an audience in the Vatican's Apostolic Palace on Oct. 17, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media.ACI Prensa Staff, Oct 17, 2025 / 12:42 pm (CNA).Pope Leo XIV on Friday asked a group of Catholic pilgrims from Russia, in Rome on a Jubilee pilgrimage, to be an example of love and brotherhood upon their return home.In his Oct. 17 address at the Vatican, the Holy Father emphasized that the presence of the Russian pilgrims "is part of the journey of so many generations" who have traveled to Rome. For the Holy Father, "this city can be a symbol of human existence, in which the 'ruins' of past experiences, anguish, uncertainty, and anxiety are intertwined with the faith that grows every day and becomes active in charity.""And with the hope that does not disappoint and encourages us, because even on the ruins, despite sin and enmity, the Lord can build a new world and renewed life," he added.Bishop Joseph Werth of the Diocese of ...
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null / Credit: NMKStudio@ShutterstockCNA Staff, Oct 17, 2025 / 13:19 pm (CNA).A federal judge in California will allow a class action lawsuit to proceed for potentially millions of parents and teachers regarding school district rules that hide child "gender transitions" from parents. U.S. District Judge Roger Benitez ruled Oct. 15 that the lawsuit Mirabelli v. Olson will proceed as a class action, becoming what the Thomas More Society said is potentially "one of the largest civil rights class actions" in California history. Peter Breen, the head of litigation at the Thomas More Society, a public interest law firm, said in the group's Oct. 16 press release that parents have a "fundamental right" to direct their children's education and moral upbringing, and that California school officials "cannot override that right by keeping parents in the dark about major issues and developments in their child's life." In his ruling, Benitez said the lawsuit satisfies the crit...
