Get all your news in one place.

100's of premium titles.
One app.

Get all your news in one place.

100's of premium titles. One news app.

The Conversation

Joëlle Rollo-Koster, Professor Emerita of Medieval History, University of Rhode Island

What 1,000 years of golden roses tell us about popes’ authority and influence, from Leo IX to Leo XIV

Leo XIV Gold Wikimedia Commons France Vatican

Pope John XXII presented the oldest surviving golden rose to a 14th-century count. The rose is now in the Musée de Cluny, a museum of medieval art in Paris. Miguel Hermoso Cuesta/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA

Almost every ceremonial object or ornament of the medieval papal monarchy has disappeared or lost its original purpose. Yet one survives: the golden rose.

On Sept. 26, 2026, during Pope Leo XIV’s visit to France, he traveled to Lourdes, home to one of the world’s most famous shrines to the Virgin Mary. After praying, Leo presented a golden rose to Our Lady of Lourdes – the fifth time he has dedicated a rose to a Marian shrine or image.

Sign up to read this article

Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.

Already a member? Sign in here

Top stories on inkl right now

India’s supreme court demands answers over changes to voter roll

India’s supreme court demands answers over changes to voter roll

Modi government, election body and its head issued notices after removal of millions from lists prompts mass protests

The Guardian - UK

Former ‘American Idol’ singer Caleb Flynn awaits sentencing for wife's murder

Former ‘American Idol’ singer Caleb Flynn awaits sentencing for wife's murder

A former Ohio music pastor who appeared briefly on “American Idol” is set to be sentenced after a jury convicted him last week of murdering his wife while he was having an affair

The Independent UK

Nike, NSAF Face Lawsuit After 16-Year-Old Athlete Allegedly Assaulted During Elite Track Programme

Nike, NSAF Face Lawsuit After 16-Year-Old Athlete Allegedly Assaulted During Elite Track Programme

Nike and the National Scholastic Athletics Foundation are facing a federal lawsuit alleging a teenage athlete was assaulted during an Oregon athletics programme and that staff mishandled her report.

International Business Times UK

Trump-mocked Texas Senate hopeful bites the hand that feeds him in leaked clip

Trump-mocked Texas Senate hopeful bites the hand that feeds him in leaked clip

Republican Ken Paxton did not explicitly refer to Trump’s team but ‘everybody knew what he was talking about’

The Independent UK

One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites

Already a member? Sign in here

Trump Childcare Subsidy: Red State Parent Declares 'We've Never Had This Problem Before' Amid Delays

Trump Childcare Subsidy: Red State Parent Declares 'We've Never Had This Problem Before' Amid Delays

A Nebraska family faced uncertainty over its childcare subsidy renewal after officials said stricter eligibility checks had slowed processing, nearly disrupting their daughter's transport and care arrangements.

International Business Times UK

No 10 insists RAF Fairford is safe after US withdraws its bombers from base

No 10 insists RAF Fairford is safe after US withdraws its bombers from base

A dozen B-1 bombers stationed at Gloucestershire base were redeployed to US on Sunday amid concerns over possible threat from Iran

The Guardian - UK

Related Stories

Top stories on inkl right now

India’s supreme court demands answers over changes to voter roll

India’s supreme court demands answers over changes to voter roll

Modi government, election body and its head issued notices after removal of millions from lists prompts mass protests

The Guardian - UK

Former ‘American Idol’ singer Caleb Flynn awaits sentencing for wife's murder

Former ‘American Idol’ singer Caleb Flynn awaits sentencing for wife's murder

A former Ohio music pastor who appeared briefly on “American Idol” is set to be sentenced after a jury convicted him last week of murdering his wife while he was having an affair

The Independent UK

Nike, NSAF Face Lawsuit After 16-Year-Old Athlete Allegedly Assaulted During Elite Track Programme

Nike, NSAF Face Lawsuit After 16-Year-Old Athlete Allegedly Assaulted During Elite Track Programme

Nike and the National Scholastic Athletics Foundation are facing a federal lawsuit alleging a teenage athlete was assaulted during an Oregon athletics programme and that staff mishandled her report.

International Business Times UK

Trump-mocked Texas Senate hopeful bites the hand that feeds him in leaked clip

Trump-mocked Texas Senate hopeful bites the hand that feeds him in leaked clip

Republican Ken Paxton did not explicitly refer to Trump’s team but ‘everybody knew what he was talking about’

The Independent UK

One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites

Already a member? Sign in here

Trump Childcare Subsidy: Red State Parent Declares 'We've Never Had This Problem Before' Amid Delays

Trump Childcare Subsidy: Red State Parent Declares 'We've Never Had This Problem Before' Amid Delays

A Nebraska family faced uncertainty over its childcare subsidy renewal after officials said stricter eligibility checks had slowed processing, nearly disrupting their daughter's transport and care arrangements.

International Business Times UK

No 10 insists RAF Fairford is safe after US withdraws its bombers from base

No 10 insists RAF Fairford is safe after US withdraws its bombers from base

A dozen B-1 bombers stationed at Gloucestershire base were redeployed to US on Sunday amid concerns over possible threat from Iran

The Guardian - UK

Our Picks

Taylor Swift Reveals Dakota Johnson's Hilarious 'Therapist' Routine in SNL Dating Joke

Taylor Swift jokes about Dakota Johnson's fictional 'therapist' routine during the actress's SNL monologue

International Business Times UK

'Coming to a Prison Near You': 50 Cent Trolls Diddy Over Reports He Watched His Netflix Doc in Jail

Curtis '50 Cent' Jackson has mocked Sean 'Diddy' Combs after former inmates said he allegedly watched Jackson's Netflix documentary on a modified prison tablet.

International Business Times UK

“How Do Men Lack Self-Awareness”: Former ‘Grease’ Star Sparks Outrage After Posting Creepy Story

Eddie Deezen, who was dropped by his manager for being a “creep,” was recently slammed for hitting on a girl who was far too young for him.

Trader Joe’s customer is shopping with service dog when an employee tells her to leave. So she makes them look up the law: ‘that’s not on me’

"It's not a reasonable accommodation to follow me around the store."

We Got This Covered

Sarah Jessica Parker explains why she 'never' wears her Sex and The City clothes

Sarah Jessica Parker has revealed she "never" wears any of the clothes she took home from the set of Sex and The City - insisting she keeps her Carrie Bradshaw costumes as an "archive" as the pieces aren't "applicable" to her real life.

Kylie Jenner Pregnancy Buzz Erupts Over Viral 'Baby Bump' Photo With Timothée Chalamet

An unverified photo allegedly showing Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet has revived pregnancy rumours, but neither star has confirmed the claims and the image's authenticity remains uncertain.

International Business Times UK

Fourteen days free

Download the app

One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.

Download on the AppStore

Get it on Google Play