privilège du blanc

The Latest

Queen Mathilde of Belgium is one of only a few women in the world who can wear white, rather than the customary black, when meeting the pope for an official private audience at the Vatican. She arrived at the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace with her husband, King Philippe of the Belgians, on Sept. 14, 2023, wearing a white mantilla veil and a white dress.

Why the Queen of Belgium can wear white when meeting the pope

Sep 14, 2023

By Courtney Mares

She has the “privilège du blanc,” a papal privilege currently granted only to Catholic royalty from Spain, Luxembourg, Belgium, Monaco,... Read more

Latest news

Pope Francis meets with the Dicastery for Culture and Education at the Vatican on Nov. 21, 2024.

Pope Francis: Desire and Christian hope can overcome ‘dangerous plague’ of nihilism

From left: John Hinshaw, Jonathan Darnel, Lauren Handy, Joan Bell, and Jean Marshall are among the pro-life activists who are still in prison or awaiting prison sentences on federal charges brought by President Joe Biden’s Department of Justice for protests at abortion clinics — but President-elect Donald Trump has signaled he will likely grant them presidential pardons.

Meet the pro-life prisoners whom Trump is expected to pardon

St. John’s Cathedral in the Netherlands is lit up for Red Wednesday on Nov. 23, 2022.

Churches around the world lit up red in honor of persecuted Christians

Despite an online petition posted to change.org in mid-October that garnered over 53,000 signatures in protest of the evergreen to be used for the Vatican Christmas tree being chopped down, the tree arrived as scheduled in St. Peter’s Square at 7 a.m. on Nov. 21, 2024.

Vatican Christmas tree wreathed in controversy over environmental objections

Father Max Josef Metzger, a Catholic priest executed by the Nazi regime in 1944 for his peace activism and ecumenical work, was beatified Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Freiburg, Germany.

Church beatifies German priest who was executed by Nazis in 1944

Cardinal Kevin Farrell celebrates Mass for the World Meeting of Families 2022 on June 25, 2022.

Pope Francis assigns U.S. cardinal to carry out ‘urgent’ overhaul of Vatican pension fund

“In Jesus there is no contradiction between truth and charity,” notes professor Marta Rodríguez Díaz, who teaches in the philosophy department of the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum.

Gender: The problem isn’t the term but the anthropology behind it, Catholic expert says

“We think of these stories of saints that have withstood all this persecution as belonging to the Middle Ages,” said Bill McGurn, godfather of Jimmy Lai. “It’s going on right now, and we can see it.”

Jimmy Lai’s godfather assesses trial: ‘He’s a real champion of freedom’

null

Wyoming governor pledges to appeal after judge blocks state pro-life laws

Alessandro Allori, “The Presentation of Mary,” 1598.

What do we know about the presentation of Mary?

Liturgical Calendar Show this year
Nov 21
Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Today's readings

TRENDING