Catholic News
- Pope appoints Archbishop Caccia as new apostolic nuncio to United States (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV today accepted the resignation of Cardinal Christophe Pierre, 80, as apostolic nuncio to the United States of America and appointed Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, 68, as his replacement. - Vatican newspaper condemns airstrike on Iranian elementary school (CWN)
In a strongly worded op-ed, the Vatican newspaper condemned the airstrike on a girls’ elementary school in Iran on the opening day of the Iran war. - San Diego Chaldean bishop arrested at airport, jailed, charged with embezzlement (San Diego County Sheriff's Office)
The San Diego County District Attorney ‘s Office announced that Bishop Emmanuel Shaleta was arrested on March 5 at San Diego International Airport while attempting to leave the country. Bishop Shaleta, the Chaldean Catholic bishop of the Eparchy of Saint Peter the Apostle of San Diego since 2017, was jailed on eight counts of embezzlement, eight counts of money laundering, and one count of aggravated white collar crime enhancement. Bail was set at $125,000. The Pillar reported last month that the prelate was under Vatican investigation for alleged financial and sexual misconduct and that he had submitted his resignation. - Pope calls for transparent, respectful journalism (Corriere della Sera)
In a letter congratulating the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera on its 150th anniversary, Pope Leo XIV called for transparent and respectful journalism. “The technological revolution challenges you today to keep up with the times,” Pope Leo wrote in his letter, published March 5. “This is a test that concerns us all.” “But there is—in the age of artificial intelligence—an irreplaceable task that concerns communication and in particular the major newspapers,” he continued: “guaranteeing the transparency of sources, respecting the role of journalists and the dignity of readers, cultivating the human dimension of the story.” “Your responsibility is great, as long as your history is,” the Pope added. - Papal preacher, in first Lenten sermon, preaches on conversion, humility (CWN)
Father Roberto Pasolini, the Preacher of the Papal Household, devoted his first weekly Lenten sermon to “Conversion: Following the Lord Jesus on the Path of Humility” (full text). - Chaldean Catholic church buildings in Iraq damaged in attack (Vatican News)
A March 4 missile or drone attack near Erbil, Iraq, led to damage to residential buildings belonging to the Chaldean Catholic Church. Dilan Adamat, a local resident, told Vatican News that “we heard maybe between 10 and 20 explosions. It was a mixture of anti-air missiles from the American military base at Erbil airport and the drones or missiles that they were intercepting.” “Some of this debris fell in Ankawa, on some residential buildings managed by the Chaldean Church there,” Adama continued. “Some more debris fell close to it, on a convent where there are some nuns living. Thankfully, we didn’t have any casualties, but it was very shocking and left a big hole in the building next to the chapel.” - Irish bishops say people of the Middle East are 'experiencing an unjust war' (Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference)
Meeting in Maynooth, the Irish bishops said that “yet again, the people of the Middle East are experiencing an unjust war with the loss of innocent lives.” “In an era of change and readjustment of geopolitical balances and cultural paradigms, war is not the answer,” the bishops said in their March 3 statement. “No political leader has the authority to unleash war at will.” are experiencing an unjust war with the loss of innocent lives.” “At this moment of great tension and volatility for the people of the Middle East, and for the world, we ask for prayers for peace and healing; that the voices of hatred will be replaced by a politics dedicated to upholding the God-given dignity of every human person, the common good and solidarity with those in need,” the bishops concluded. - Italian bishops declare day of prayer, fasting for peace (Conferenza Episcopale Italiana)
The Italian bishops’ conference declared Friday, March 13, to be a day of prayer and fasting for peace in the “Middle East and in all corners of the earth devastated by division, destruction and death.” “The escalation of violence in the Middle East risks dragging humanity into a war of planetary proportions, a new useless massacre with incalculable consequences,” the Italian Episcopal Conference warned in its announcement. - Scottish bishops urge lawmakers to reject assisted-suicide bill (EWTN News)
Scotland’s bishops called upon members of the Scottish Parliament to reject assisted-suicide legislation. “The bill being proposed, if it becomes law, will lead to Scottish citizens, especially the elderly, sick, and disabled, living in deep and profound fear,” said Bishop John Keenan of Paisley, president of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland. “Under the proposal, people would not be precluded from applying for an assisted suicide if they have an intellectual disability or eating disorder or are being influenced to apply because of poverty or inadequate housing.” - Franciscan friar describes 'terrifying night' in Jerusalem (CWN)
A friar of the Franciscans’ Holy Land province described the night of March 5-6 in Jerusalem as a “terrifying night.” - USCCB issues memo to bishops after birthright citizenship brief stirs controversy (Pillar)
The Pillar obtained a copy of a memo from the general counsel of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) to the nation’s bishops on the USCCB’s Supreme Court brief on birthright citizenship (CWN article). The brief did not assert that “that every democratic polity must adopt” a birthright citizenship policy, nor did it “urge the Court to decide the case on the basis of Catholic doctrine,” wrote Quinn, according to The Pillar. The brief, he added, intended to “show the harmony between our constitutional tradition and a moral vision of civic belonging.” In a departure from custom, the USCCB’s general counsel did not sign the brief in the case; instead, the brief was prepared by three attorneys from the multinational law firm WilmerHale. - For fifth time, Vatican overturns Buffalo bishop's closing of a church (Buffalo News )
For the fifth time, the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Clergy has overturned a decree issued by Bishop Michael Fisher of Buffalo, New York, that would have closed a church. “Everyone feels completely revitalized and overjoyed that this happened,” said Anthony Solina, who helped lead the effort to keep open the parish church in East Arcade, New York. - Vatican diplomat laments desecration of cemeteries (Holy See Mission)
Reacting to a UN report on the relation between religious freedom and honoring the deceased, a Vatican diplomat lamented the desecration of cemeteries. Such desecration “violates the right to freedom of religion or belief, as it destroys a sacred space where the faithful fulfil their religious duty and moral obligation to honor their deceased loved ones,” Archbishop Ettore Balestrero, apostolic nuncio and Permanent Observer to the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva, Switzerland, stated during a UN Human Rights Council meeting on March 3. “Above all, freedom of religion or belief must be protected, especially during the most vulnerable moments of life,” he continued. “The right of the dying to receive spiritual assistance, and of the bereaved to be supported by their faith community, are not merely private comforts; they are essential manifestations of respect for religious belief. Denying this access violates the God-given dignity of the human person in their greatest time of need.” - Archbishop opens late teenager's beatification cause (Chiesa di Milano)
Archbishop Mario Delpini today opened the beatification cause of Marco Gallo (video). Born in 1994, the devout teenager died in 2011 after being hit by a car. The Archdiocese of Milan said that Gallo has a reputation for holiness and that several hundred pilgrims, “especially young people,” make an annual visit to his tomb. - Conversions rise in Archdiocese of Atlanta: over 3,400 to enter Church at Easter (The Georgia Bulletin)
3,442 people are preparing to the Church in the Archdiocese of Atlanta this Easter, an increase of 472, or 16%, from the 2,970 converts who entered the Church there last year. 1,004 of the 3,442 converts are unbaptized catechumens; the rest are baptized Christians from other churches and ecclesial communities. - El Paso diocese files for bankruptcy (KFOX-TV)
The Diocese of El Paso, Texas, filed for bankruptcy amid a growing number of lawsuits alleging that its priests sexually abused minors between 1956 and 1982. “Suddenly the number of claims ballooned up to 18 claims, 12 separate lawsuits, and doing the math it just became obvious that there was no other option for us to pay the claimants,” Bishop Mark Seitz said on March 6. “Chapter 11 reorganization was the most prudent course of action because there are now financial claims pending against the diocese that exceed our means.” - Nigerian bishops meet with Pontiff (Vatican News)
Pope Leo XIV received a group on Nigerian bishops on March 6. The prelates were in Rome for their ad limina visit; Vatican News posted a short video of the bishops presenting the Pontiff with a chalice and a ciborium. Nigeria, a nation of 243 million (map), is the most populous in Africa and sixth most populous in the world. The nation is 47% Muslim, 46% Christian (11% Catholic), and 7% ethnic religionist. - Holy See: Women must be at the heart of the digital transformation of the Americas (Vatican News)
Addressing a session of the Organization of American States dedicated to “Women in the Digital Transformation of the Americas,” a Vatican diplomat spoke about “the essential role of women in shaping the digital future of the region,” according to Vatican News’s summary of his remarks. Msgr. Juan Antonio Cruz Serrano emphasized “the equal dignity of women, bestowed by God, and the important role they play in the building of society.” Citing Pope Leo, the diplomat added that “women who suffer situations of exclusion, mistreatment and violence are doubly poor, because they frequently have fewer possibilities to defend their rights.” - Italian journalist, in Vatican newspaper, rues demographic collapse (CWN)
In a front-page op-ed in the Vatican newspaper, an award-winning Italian journalist lamented the demographic collapse in her native Milan since her childhood and linked it to a despair over the once self-evident proposition that “it is good that humanity exists.” - Cardinal Zen urges SSPX to trust Pope Leo (CWN)
Cardinal Joseph Zen has issued an appeal to the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) to avoid a schism—while also voicing sympathy for the traditionalist group and criticizing the Vatican’s response to their pleas. - More...