The LOOP
The Monday Loop - March 16, 2026
TRUMP CALLS ON ALLIES TO HELP SECURE STRAIT OF HORMUZ
President Donald Trump urged allied nations to help keep oil safely flowing through the Strait of Hormuz amid the Iran war. He said the U.S. will coordinate with other countries "so that everything goes quickly, smoothly, and well. This should have always been a team effort, and now it will be."
TRUMP ECONOMIC ADVISOR: IRAN WAR COST TOPS $12B
The war in Iran has already cost at least $12 billion, according to National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett. Hassett said the total cost will continue to rise. He suggested the administration may not immediately need additional funding from Congress.
IN ANGELUS, POPE DISCUSSES FAITH, URGES CEASEFIRE
In his March 15 Angelus address, Pope Leo XIV urged the faithful to embrace the light of Christ and live their faith with “open eyes," reflecting on the Gospel account of Jesus healing the man born blind. He also appealed for an immediate ceasefire in the conflict in Iran, speaking on “behalf of the Christians of the Middle East, and of all women and men of good will.”
ENERGY CHIEF SAYS GAS PRICES WILL STAY HIGH FOR 'NEXT FEW WEEKS'
Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Americans will likely face higher gas prices for the “next few weeks” due to the Iran war but said he was hopeful that prices could drop below $3 a gallon by the summer. Wright also said he believes it’s “likely” the war could be over within a few weeks.
STATE DEPT OFFERS $10M REWARD FOR INFO ON IRAN LEADERS
"The State Department is offering a $10 million reward for information on Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei and several senior officials linked to the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)," FOX News reports.
INSPIRING: RECORD NUMBER TO ENTER CHURCH THIS EASTER IN NEWARK ARCHDIOCESE
A record number of catechumens are entering the Catholic Church this Easter in the Archdiocese of Newark, New Jersey. Archdiocesan data show that more than 1,700 people will be initiated into the Church, a 30% increase from the 2025 numbers.
REPORT: ISRAELI FIRE KILLS FAMILY IN WEST BANK
A Palestinian father, mother, and two of their young children were reportedly killed March 15 when Israeli forces opened fire on their vehicle after perceiving it as a threat in the village of Tammun in the occupied West Bank. According to Reuters, at least 36 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since the onset of the Iran war.
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THIS EASTER, TRANSFORM HOW YOU ACCOMPANY OTHERS ON THEIR JOURNEY TO CHRIST
During the St. Paul Center’s Easter Challenge, receive weekly reflections from Dr. Jeff Morrow, Fr. Boniface Hicks, and the Mercedarian Sisters on how Jesus’ patient presence on the road to Emmaus shapes the way we accompany others today.
POPE LEO APPOINTS BISHOP OF ILLINOIS DIOCESE
Pope Leo XIV has appointed Father Godfrey Mullen, a Benedictine monk of Indiana-based Saint Meinrad Archabbey, as bishop of Belleville, Illinois. Bishop-elect Mullen has served as a diocesan administrator since May 2025 and will be ordained May 1.
SCOTTISH BISHOPS OPPOSE ASSISTED SUICIDE BILL
As the Scottish Parliament nears its final vote on a bill that would legalize physician-assisted suicide, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Scotland denounced legislators’ decision to reject all amendments that would have allowed for institutional conscientious objections. The bishops warned that faith-based hospices and care homes could be forced to participate in assisted suicide or shut down if the legislation passes.
SPRING BREAK STAYCATION
Low-cost activities with kids that will build core memories — Want the memories of an exotic vacation without the price tag? Here are some ways to bring magic to your family's spring break, all without leaving your home town.
CATHOLIC 101
Catholics need to approach bodily penances with prudence, as the most fruitful mortifications are often the ordinary, hidden sacrifices that foster real growth in charity and humility.
SAINT OF THE DAY
Today the Church celebrates St. Julian of Antioch, a 4th-century Christian martyr from modern-day Turkey. Arrested during the persecution under Emperor Diocletian, St. Julian endured a year of torture and refused to renounce his faith. He was eventually executed after authorities cast him into the sea in a bag filled with sand, vipers, and scorpions.
DAILY PSALM
"I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me." (Psalm 30)
DAILY READINGS
Today's Mass readings.
PRAYER
The candles in the grotto at Notre Dame spell out "Lou" in honor of the late Lou Holtz.
