FRIDAY, MAY 16 - POPE WATCH

POPE DEFENDS MARRIAGE, UNBORN LIFE Pope Leo XIV strongly defended Catholic teachings on sexuality, marriage, and the sanctity of life during his first formal address to the Vatican diplomatic corps. "No one is exempted from striving to ensure respect for the dignity of every person," he said, "especially the most frail and vulnerable, from the unborn to the elderly, from the sick to the unemployed, citizens and immigrants alike." He also underlined the importance of family, "founded on the stable union between a man and a woman...." READ

VATICAN DIPLOMATIC CORPS DIRECTED TO DEFEND RELIGIOUS FREEDOM Today's papal address applied the principles of peace, justice, and truth to a number of moral issues besides abortion and marriage, including religious freedom. Pope Leo called for "full respect for religious freedom in every country, since religious experience is an essential dimension of the human person." Without religious freedom, he added, "it is difficult, if not impossible, to bring about the purification of the heart necessary for building peaceful relationships." READ

VATICAN SIGNALS DESIRE FOR PEACE IN UKRAINE In a subtle yet meaningful gesture of solidarity, Pope Leo yesterday welcomed Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church at the Vatican. The encounter underscored the new pope's already frequent calls for peace and the Church's spiritual closeness to a nation suffering from war. READ

GET YOUR FRIENDS IN ON THE POPE WATCH With the first days of Pope Leo XIV's pontificate scheduled and his official installation and inaugural public Mass coming this Sunday, make sure all your friends get the most out of our on-the-ground reporting and analysis by forwarding this edition of the LOOP to them or inviting them to sign up at CatholicVote.org/GetLOOP. STAY IN THE LOOP

EXCLUSIVE: CHICAGO TAILOR RECALLS WORKING ON POPE'S VESTMENTS When Gerard Arens last measured the future Pope Leo XIV for vestments, he had no idea he was outfitting a man who would soon lead the global Church. In this exclusive interview with CatholicVote, the tailor shares his encounter with the man we now call Holy Father. READ

ONE MILLION HOLY HOURS FOR THE NEW POPE Two Catholic organizations this week announced an initiative for Catholics around the world to join in offering one million holy hours in Eucharistic Adoration for the new Pope. READ