Welcome to Wisdom Wednesday, May 6, 2026. Some seldom spoken words lead our search for wisdom in the world of culture, politics and religion. For example, the USA TODAY Network spoke with Catholics nationwide about their views of Leo and found their responses “overwhelmingly upbeat.” Many American Catholics say Pope Leo XIV’s plainspoken faith, push for peace and willingness to challenge power “have renewed their hope in the church and its future.”
Pope Leo XIV
“An American pope, a presidential clash and what it means in the pews,” was the USA TODAY headline. “A year into his historic papacy, many American Catholics say Pope Leo XIV’s plainspoken faith, push for peace and willingness to challenge power have renewed their hope in the church and its future.”
“Leo XIV is the US church’s latest gift to Rome,” headlined a column by Michael Sean Winters, from the National Catholic Reporter. “The contribution of American Catholics to the development of the Holy See’s ideas are noteworthy: religious liberty and organized labor.”
Tensions continue between Pope Leo and the Trump administration. The National Catholic Register report the Holy See Press Office confirmed that the pontiff will meet with the U.S. secretary of state on May 7.
HOWEVER
Trump again assails Pope Leo, potentially complicating Rubio’s visit to the Vatican this week, according to the Associated Press. Leo responded to Trump’s latest criticism by calling out the U.S. president’s misrepresentation of his views. Speaking to reporters Tuesday, the pope said the Catholic Church “for years has spoken out against all nuclear weapons, so there is no doubt there.”
The Guardian reports the US secretary of state’s two-day visit is reportedly intended to thaw Washington’s frosty relations with Vatican and Italy.
Christopher Hale, a partisan opinion writer, publisher of “Letters from Leo,” says Trump Sends Marco Rubio — Not JD Vance — to Face Pope Leo XIV. “The choice is a remarkable snub of the highest-ranking Catholic in the federal government — and it forces Rubio to defend an Iran war that is now his alone.”
Catholic disillusionment with Trump did not start with his fight with Pope Leo. It has been growing since he took office, according to the columnist, Jesuit Thomas Reese, writing for Religion News Service.
Pope Leo’s Africa visit raises the question: Is the continent really the church’s future?
Jesuit Father Thomas Reese, in his Religion News Service opinion, says “I too mourn the decline of Western Catholicism, but as a social scientist, I am cautious about declaring that Africa is the future of the church. The African church may simply be repeating the same pattern that played out in the West.”
One day’s news: Pope Leo backs death penalty abolitionists; U.S. adopts firing squads. From National Catholic Reporter.
Texas executes man who didn’t kill anyone
Baptist News Global reports “Texas executed James Broadnax April 30 despite DNA evidence and another inmate’s confession showing he did not kill two men in 2008.”
Political violence in the name of God
The armed man who sought to break into the White House Correspondents’ dinner hails from a long line of religious extremists looking to commit political violence in the name of God. That’s according to columnist Mark Silk at Religion News Service.
At war with Iran
“The war with Iran is the crowning stupidity of our stupid age,” says an opinion writer for the Christian Century. “We live in a stupid age. I mean that in the sense of the word given by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, for whom ‘stupidity is perhaps less a psychological than a sociological problem.’”
Surge in Catholic converts
Across the country, Catholic parishes in metropolitan areas and in rural communities have reported surges this year in converts, with the numbers doubling in cities such as Los Angeles, Tallahassee, Florida, and Tulsa, Oklahoma. According to Hallow, a Catholic prayer app, the average American diocese received 38% more converts this year than in 2025. From National Catholic Reporter.
Youngest US bishop
Father Robert Boxie III has been named Auxiliary Bishop of Washington. Black Catholic Messenger reports on the youngest U.S. Catholic prelate, a 45-year-old former attorney who has served as the Catholic chaplain for Howard University since 2020. Pope Leo XIV also appointed Father Gary R. Studniewski, who is pastor of the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Washington, as Auxiliary. From NCR.
Zoom invitation: Black spirituality and community in a digital age.
Commonweal invites participants, Thursday, May 7, at 6 p.m. for a virtual panel on Black spirituality and community in a digital age. The evening will feature educator, historian, author, and Osun priestess Juju Bae and Buddhist minister, author, and activist Lama Rod Owens. This event is free and open to the public. RSVP is required.
This is holy ground
Catholics celebrate announcement of shrine to Venerable Augustus Tolton. Hundreds gathered at the former St. Boniface Church in Quincy, Ill., where Tolton once said a Mass as the nation’s first openly Black Catholic priest.
Notre Dame Stained-Glass Dispute
Controversy surrounding the decision to replace some of Notre Dame’s historic windows with a contemporary design has escalated to legal action from a heritage association and calls for peaceful protests. From National Catholic Register.
All work – paid or unpaid – is good for us
That’s what Catholic social teaching says, according to an article in America Magazine.
Dignity of work, and Black Catholic experience
Christian Bentley,writing in the Black Catholic Messenger, reflects on the papal witness to the dignity of work, and how it relates to the Black Catholic experience in the United States. It’s all about St. Joseph the Worker, ‘Rerum Novarum,’ and ‘Dilexi Te’
Sensationalism and the Shroud of Turin
Popular evangelical biblical scholar Jeremiah Johnston’s latest book, The Jesus Discoveries: 10 Historical Finds that Bring Us Face-to-Face with Jesus, has become an unexpected publishing phenomenon. From Baptist News Global.
Suits over hijab removal
Muslim women are suing jails and police over hijab removal at booking. And winning. Religion News Service quotes an expert witness: “It’s not like taking off someone’s hat. It’s like taking off their pants or removing their shirt.” one expert witness told RNS.
Bishop Barron to join Hegseth, ‘rededicating America to God’
A slate of political, military and religious leaders is scheduled to participate on the National Mall on May 17. where members of President Donald Trump’s Cabinet, musical guests and a list of mostly conservative Christian speakers plan to lead participants in “solemnly rededicating our country as One Nation under God.”
Megachurch pastor seeks Senate seat
Kansas last sent a Democrat to the Senate in 1932. A megachurch pastor aims to change that. Rev. Adam Hamilton is co-founder of the largest United Methodist church in the country. From Religion News Service.
Report: ‘Biden fomented ‘anti-Christian bias’
A new government report accusing President Joe Biden’s administration of fomenting “anti-Christian bias” is being met with mixed reactions from Christian leaders, with some conservatives celebrating the study and others arguing it appears narrowly focused on the concerns of evangelical Christians and obscures President Donald Trump’s own conflicts with faith groups. From Religion News Service
New books
In “Conversion Therapy Dropout,” a survivor exposes the discredited practice, report Religion News Service. In his debut book, “Conversion Therapy Dropout: A Queer Story of Faith & Belonging,” Timothy Schraeder Rodriguez gives an inside look at his attempt to “pray the gay away.”
“Girl in a Box: Seeking Enlightenment as a Tibetan Buddhist Nun” is a “love letter to the Tibetans.” Religion News Service describes the new memoir by a former Buddhist nun – now a Christian contemplative — who talks about the pursuit of enlightenment.
‘Best they ever Sawe’
A Kenyan Catholic shattered the marathon world record, as two runners break the two-hour barrier. Sabastian Sawe, 31, defended his London Marathon title in a historic race, reported by Black Catholic Messenger.
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