Montse Alvarado named Vatican Communications Prefect, Black Catholics React to Papal Slavery Apology, and Pope Leo's Prayer for Sports

Thanks for listening! Let us know what you think. God bless!Maggie Murray of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for June 2, 2026. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.Read the stories in this episode:Pope Leo XIV has named EWTN News president Montse Alvarado as prefect of the Vatican's Dicastery for Communication, making her the first laywoman and youngest person ever to lead a Roman Curia dicastery when she assumes the role on November 1st.Black Catholic leaders are welcoming Pope Leo XIV's apology for the Church's role in slavery — included in his first encyclical "Magnifica Humanitas" — while calling on the Church to move beyond acknowledgment toward concrete action and healing.With the FIFA World Cup kicking off June 11th in the United States, Mexico and Canada, Pope Leo XIV dedicated his June prayer intention to sport as an instrument of peace, fraternity and cross-cultural encounter rather than rivalry or division.When Pope Leo XIV visits Pavia, Italy on June 20th to venerate Saint Augustine's remains, he will make a meaningful detour to the birthplace of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini — a stop that reflects both popes' deep, shared compassion for migrants and refugees.The U.S. Catholic bishops have released a bilingual 15-page prayer service honoring America's immigrants, refugees and the enslaved as the nation marks its 250th anniversary, structured as a Liturgy of the Word and closing with a call to advocate for just and humane immigration reform.