Tim Stanley

3 days ago | telegraph.co.uk | Tim Stanley

5 days ago | telegraph.co.uk | Tim Stanley

Pope Leo XIV's first homily, delivered to his fellow cardinals in the Sistine Chapel, was a mission statement about missions. First, that the Roman Catholic Church must be humble and lead through example (not lording it over the laity). Second, it must profess that Jesus was divine - not just a nice chap, but the son of God. You could almost call it "back to basics", though there was nothing rudimentary about its intellectual depth.

6 days ago | telegraph.co.uk | Tim Stanley

The irony is that the Republican party has never been more Catholic: first lady Melania is one, as is JD Vance, the vice-president. Exerting great influence in the judiciary, helping to overturn the pro-abortion ruling Roe v Wade, conservative US Catholics tend to prefer to talk about doctrine rather than social action - they leave that up to the Kennedys - and are suspicious of popes who try to find "pastoral" answers to issues of sexuality. Vance has a convert's zeal. Then there's immigration.

6 days ago | telegraph.co.uk | Roland Oliphant |Venetia Rainey |Tim Stanley

Amid the election of the first ever American Pope, Robert Prevost, who will be known as Pope Leo XIV, Roland Oliphant looks at the rise of a new force in American politics: MAGA Catholics. Vice President JD Vance, First Lady Melania Trump, and of course Steve Bannon - Trump's first term chief of staff - are among the best known names in Washington.

1 week ago | telegraph.co.uk | Camilla Tominey |Kamal Ahmed |Tim Stanley

Catholics wait for the sign of white smoke, as cardinals gather behind the Vatican's closed doors to choose the next pope. Despite the unpredictability of the conclave, there are some candidates emerging as favourites with eleven main contenders and the chosen cardinal is widely expected to carry on Pope Francis's agenda of progressive politics when elected.