Catholic News
- USCCB issues new abuse report: 902 allegations, 26 of them current, made in 2023-24 (CWN)
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Secretariat of Child and Youth Protection has released its 2024 annual report on the implementation of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, the document that has governed the bishops’ response to the abuse crisis since 2002. - Papal tribute to Hans Urs von Balthasar (Vatican Press Office)
In his June 9 homily at Mass for participants in the Jubilee of the Holy See (CWN coverage), Pope Leo XIV described Father Hans Urs von Balthasar (1905-1988) as a “great contemporary theologian.” Citing Balthasar’s The Moment of Christian Witness, the Pontiff preached: The fruitfulness of the Church is the same fruitfulness as Mary’s; it is realized in the lives of her members to the extent that they relive, “in miniature,” what the Mother lived, namely, they love according to the love of Jesus. All the fruitfulness of the Church and of the Holy See depends on the Cross of Christ. Otherwise, it is only appearance, if not worse. A great contemporary theologian wrote: “If the Church is the tree that grew from the tiny mustard seed of the cross, this tree is destined to produce mustard seeds in turn, and therefore fruits that repeat the shape of the cross, because it is precisely to the cross that they owe their existence.” Later in his homily, Pope Leo referred to the Marian and Peter principles of the Church, a concept developed by Balthasar and later cited by St. Paul VI, St. John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, and Pope Francis. - Cardinal Parolin says nuncios should be humble sowers of peace, zealous for the Gospel (Vatican News)
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State of His Holiness, discussed the work of pontifical representatives in an interview. Asked what qualities he considered essential in a nuncio, Cardinal Parolin listed three: humility, evangelical zeal, and being a “man of reconciliation.” “We must respond to the Holy Father’s call to be sowers of peace, recognizing that in diplomacy, the other is not primarily an adversary, but a fellow human being with whom we are called to engage,” Cardinal Parolin added. - 'Eternity is before us,' nun says in meditation for Jubilee of Holy See (CNA)
Sister Maria Gloria Riva of the Nuns of Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament delivered a meditation in the presence of the Pope and other participants in the June 9 Jubilee of the Holy See (Italian text). The five sections of her meditation, delivered in Paul VI Audience Hall, were entitled “The thread of hope,” “Do not lose your roots, do not distrust the future,” “To hope is to live for eternity,” “The Eucharist, Sacrament of our hope,” and “The sign of sure hope.” The Jubilee of the Holy See (videos) was among the events in the 2025 jubilee year, whose theme is “Pilgrims of Hope.” - The Spirit opens borders in our hearts, Pope Leo preaches on Pentecost Sunday (CWN)
Citing a Pentecost homily by Pope Benedict XVI, Pope Leo emphasized in his own Pentecost Sunday homily on June 8 that the Holy Spirit “opens borders, first of all, in our hearts.” - Vatican produces documentary on Cardinal Prevost in Peru (Vatican News)
The Vatican has produced León de Perú, a documentary on the future Pontiff’s ministry in Peru. The Vatican has released the trailer; the documentary itself will “air soon on the official channels of Vatican Media,” according to Vatican News. - Vatican publishes messages, testimonies from ecclesial movements (Jubilee 2025)
The Vatican published messages from ecclesial movement leaders and testimonies from members in the 57-page program for the Jubilee of Ecclesial Movements, Associations and New Communities. The messages, part of the program for the Pentecost vigil (video), came from leaders of the Association of Salesian Cooperators, Italian Catholic Action, the Neocatechumenal Way, the Fraternity of Communion and Liberation, the Shalom Catholic Community, the Community of Sant’Egidio, International Forum of Catholic Action, Gioventù Ardente Mariana (Ardent Marian Youth), the Focolare Movement, Nuovi Orizzonti (New Horizons), and Renewal in the Holy Spirit. - Franciscans celebrate Pentecost in Cenacle (Custody of the Holy Land)
The Franciscan friars of the Custody of the Holy Land celebrated Pentecost Mass in the Cenacle (Upper Room) on Mount Zion, the site of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit nearly 2,000 years ago. Father Francesco Patton, OFM, the Custos of the Holy Land, preached, “We are called to keep our heart obstinately free of feelings of anger, rancor, hatred and thirst for vendetta, so that at least one corner of our heart remains open to compassion, reconciliation and forgiveness, i.e., love that heals and brings back to life.” Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, OFM, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, preached his Pentecost homily at the nearby Abbey of the Dormition. - Nigerian bishop defends decision to build mosque for displaced Muslims (ACI Africa)
Bishop Stephen Dami Mamza of Yola, Nigeria, defended his decision to build a mosque several years ago for Muslims displaced by the Islamist Boko Haram insurgency. “I did it from the bottom of my heart, with pure intentions,” he said in a June 6 interview. “The people who benefited from the gesture, the displaced, the victims of insurgency, were happy.” He added: I was persecuted. Some Christians were upset that I had built a mosque, saying it was inappropriate. But what shocked me more was that some Muslims said a Christian should not build a mosque. That hurt more than the criticism from Christians. - Holy See workers must seek holiness, Pope says (Vatican News)
June 9 marked the Jubilee of the Holy See, and Pope Leo XIV led a procession of Vatican employees through the Holy Door of St. Peter’s basilica. In his homily at Mass, the Pope said that “the best way to serve the Holy See is to strive to be holy, each of us according to his or her state of life and the task entrusted.” Reflecting of the work of the Holy See, the Pontiff called attention to the “two poles” of the Church: Marian and Petrine. “It is the Marian one that ensures the fruitfulness and holiness of the Petrine one, through her motherhood, gift of Christ and the Spirit.” - Leo XIV reflects on faith of Nicaea, date of Easter (Vatican Press Office)
Pope Leo XIV address participants in a conference on the Council of Nicaea organized by the International Orthodox Theological Association and the Angelicum’s Institute for Ecumenical Studies. The Pontiff reflected on three themes of the conference: the faith of Nicaea, synodality, and the date of Easter. “The Council of Nicaea is not merely an event of the past but a compass that must continue to guide us towards the full visible unity of Christians,” he said in his June 7 address, adding: I am convinced that by returning to the Council of Nicaea and drawing together from this common source, we will be able to see in a different light the points that still separate us. Through theological dialogue and with the help of God, we will gain a better understanding of the mystery that unites us. By celebrating together this Nicene faith and by proclaiming it together, we will also advance towards the restoration of full communion among us. - Bishops express 'profound disappointment' over Texas Dream Act reversal (CNA)
A federal judge has overturned the Texas Dream Act, a 2001 law that allowed some illegal immigrants who are residents of the state to receive in-state tuition discounts. The court decision “propels our society further away from just and reasonable immigration reform that would foster human flourishing based in the tranquility of order and human dignity,” the state’s bishops said in a statement. “These eligible students were youth who were brought into the United States by their parents as young children and through no fault of their own.” - Papal nuncio in Ukraine reports on country's distress (Vatican News)
Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas, the apostolic nuncio serving in Ukraine, told Vatican News that he had enjoyed a “very consoling meeting” with Pope Leo to brief the Pontiff on the country’s situation. Archbishop Kulbokas stressed that his meeting with the Pontiff had been prayerful. “I want to emphasize this,” he said, “because prayer is our main weapon.” Regarding the continued fighting, the archbishop said: “If, in the 21st century, the international community is unable to defend either international humanitarian law or international law itself, this is a great tragedy.” - The Holy Spirit gives us one synodal evangelizing mission, Pope tells ecclesial movements (CWN)
Preaching during a Pentecost vigil to an estimated 70,000 pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Leo XIV told members of ecclesial movements that “at Pentecost, Mary, the Apostles, and the disciples with them received a Spirit of unity, which forever grounded in the one Lord Jesus Christ all their diversity.” - Rupnik art quietly removed from Vatican web site (Crux)
Artwork by the disgraced Father Marko Rupnik, which had appeared regularly on the web sites of the Vatican communications department, was quietly removed this past weekend. No explanation has been given. The persistent display of Rupnik’s work, despite his record of sexual and spiritual abuse, had prompted protests for several months. Last year the Vatican communications office had dismissed those protests. This year an online complaint by writer Amy Wellborn was quickly followed by the removal of the works. - Take action on VP's impeachment, Philippine prelate urges Senate (CBCP News)
In February, the Philippine House of Representatives impeached Vice President Sara Duterte on culpable violation of the Constitution and other charges. Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo, president of Caritas Philippines, said that the impeachment trial in the Senate “must no longer be delayed. We call on our leaders to act with the highest sense of urgency.” The Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines also urged the Senate to proceed with the trial. - South African bishops' official disputes President Trump's white genocide claim (Crux)
Mike Pothier, program manager of the Southern Africa Bishops’ Conference’s Catholic Parliamentary Liaison Office, disputed President Donald Trump’s recent claims about a white genocide in South Africa. The president made the claims made during a recent bilateral meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. “I was struck firstly by the rudeness and opportunism of Trump in surprising Ramaphosa with these videos and photos,” said Pothier. “It was soon clear that much of what Trump put forward as ‘facts’ concerning the murder of white farmers in South Africa was either completely false or highly exaggerated.” - Pontiff to visit Argentina, president's office says after Milei meets with Pope (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV received President Javier Milei of Argentina in a June 7 audience. - German bishop who refused involvement in Synodal Committee resigns at 70 (CWN)
Pope Leo has accepted the resignation of Bishop Gregor Maria Hanke, OSB, from the office of bishop of Eichstätt. The prelate is 70, five years younger than the customary retirement age for bishops. - Renewed papal prayer for peace in Regina Caeli address (Vatican Press Office)
Pope Leo XIV concluded his Pentecost Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square with a brief Regina Caeli address. After thanking those present at the Mass and noting the end of the school year in many places, the Pope said: Now, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, let us ask from the Holy Spirit the gift of peace. First of all, peace in our hearts, for only a peaceful heart can spread peace in the family, society and international relations. May the Spirit of the risen Christ open paths of reconciliation wherever there is war; may he enlighten those who govern and give them the courage to make gestures of de-escalation and dialogue. - More...