Catholic News
- Pope proclaims Year of Saint Francis, with special plenary indulgences (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV has proclaimed a Year of Saint Francis to mark the 800th anniversary of the death of the beloved saint. - Cardinal Parolin, in major lecture, decries violations of international law, collapse of multilateralism (CWN)
In a lecture delivered on January 17, the Secretary of State of His Holiness emphasized that peace and justice should “once again become the pillars of order among nations, and not merely remain simple aspirations or empty claims.” - 3 cardinals issue statement on US foreign policy (Archdiocese of Washington)
Cardinals Blase Cupich of Chicago, Robert McElroy of Washington, and Joseph Tobin of Newark today issued a joint statement, “Charting A Moral Vision of American Foreign Policy.” “In 2026, the United States has entered into the most profound and searing debate about the moral foundation for America’s actions in the world since the end of the Cold War,” said the prelates. “The events in Venezuela, Ukraine and Greenland have raised basic questions about the use of military force and the meaning of peace.” They continued: The sovereign rights of nations to self-determination appear all too fragile in a world of ever greater conflagrations. The balancing of national interest with the common good is being framed within starkly polarized terms. Our country’s moral role in confronting evil around the world, sustaining the right to life and human dignity, and supporting religious liberty are all under examination. And the building of just and sustainable peace, so crucial to humanity’s well-being now and in the future, is being reduced to partisan categories that encourage polarization and destructive policies. Citing the Pope’s recent address to the diplomatic corps, the prelates said that “the contribution of Pope Leo in outlining a truly moral foundation” has “provided us an enduring ethical compass for establishing the pathway for American foreign policy in the coming years.” They added: As pastors and citizens, we embrace this vision for the establishment of a genuinely moral foreign policy for our nation. We seek to build a truly just and lasting peace, that peace which Jesus proclaimed in the Gospel. We renounce war as an instrument for narrow national interests and proclaim that military action must be seen only as a last resort in extreme situations, not a normal instrument of national policy. We seek a foreign policy that respects and advances the right to human life, religious liberty, and the enhancement of human dignity throughout the world, especially through economic assistance. - Learn from St. John the Baptist, Pope tells pilgrims (CWN)
Reflecting on John 1:29-34, the Gospel reading at Mass today, Pope Leo XIV encouraged pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square to learn from St. John the Baptist. - Marking anniversary of Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy, Pope offers vision for Vatican diplomacy (CWN)
In a letter marking the 325th anniversary of the founding of the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy, Pope Leo XIV offered his vision of Vatican diplomacy, one in which priests of “deep spirituality” listen and build bridges. - Cardinal Parolin condemns Iranian repression, threat of force in Greenland (Vatican News)
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State of His Holiness, decried the Iranian government’s repression of its citizens, rued the possibility of war over Greenland, and expressed hope that the “great uncertainty” in Venezuela might develop into democracy and an improved economic situation. Fielding questions from journalists on January 17, Cardinal Pietro Parolin said that “solutions by force cannot be used” in Greenland and that threats to do so are “unacceptable.” - Nuncio says current Russian attacks on Ukraine bear some resemblance to Stalin's Holodomor (Vatican News)
The apostolic nuncio to Ukraine said in an interview that current Russian attacks on Ukraine bear “some resemblance” to the Holodomor perpetrated against Ukraine by Joseph Stalin’s Soviet regime in 1932-1933. Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas said: Food shortages are being caused by this energy crisis, apart from the difficulties faced by civilians due to the cold. This seems to have some resemblance to the Holodomor that Ukraine went through in the 1930s. We have our own generator at the Nunciature, which means we can have more light, water, and heating than the others. If the situation remains unchanged, it is possible that the entire Ukrainian capital would need to be evacuated, as the mayor of Kyiv said a few days ago. The nuncio also spoke about the Latin-rite hierarchy’s decision to dedicate the year to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Seeking Christ’s “merciful reception, forgiveness of sins, and protection from all evil, we prayed that God’s goodness would overcome sin and war and grant us peace,” said the nuncio. “We know that war is caused by the devil’s actions, and the devil is afraid every time we worship God.” - Mexican bishops announce national dialogue for peace (Jesuitas México)
The Mexican bishops’ conference announced that 1,370 people will gather in Guadalajara from January 30 and February 1 for a National Dialogue for Peace. The murder of two Jesuit priests in 2022 led to “the largest listening movement in Mexico’s recent history: more than a thousand forums throughout the national territory that documented more than 20,000 voices,” according to the Jesuits of Mexico. The listening sessions led to a national peace agenda and will culminate in the national dialogue. The dialogue’s executive director is Father Atilano González Candia, SJ. - USCCB's Roe anniversary statement calls for renewed prayer, sacrifice to end abortion (USCCB)
In a statement for the 53rd anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision, the chairman US bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities called for renewed prayer and sacrifice to end abortion. “Human life is still gravely threatened by legalized abortion as it continues to be aggressively promoted at the state and federal level,” said Bishop Daniel Thomas of Toledo, Ohio. “Many challenges remain, including pro-abortion ballot initiatives, the increased use and availability of abortion pills, and the need to protect the Hyde Amendment to keep taxpayer funded abortion out of national health care bills.” “We must continue to support pregnant and parenting mothers in need and offer spiritual and emotional help to all who have participated in abortion,” Bishop Thomas added. “Our united prayers, sacrifices, and efforts to protect human life and heal the wounds inflicted by abortion remain as important as ever.” - Charlotte bishop returns accused priest to active ministry (CWN)
A North Carolina bishop returned a priest accused of sexual abuse to active ministry effective January 13, over six years after the priest was placed on administrative leave by the previous bishop. - UNESCO recognizes intellectual significance of anti-Fascist priest's work (L'Osservatore Romano (Italian))
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has inscribed the Luigi Sturzo Archives in its Memory of the World Registry. The Servant of God Luigi Sturzo (1871-1959) was a priest and scholar who founded the Italian Popular Party, denounced Fascism, suffered exile under Benito Mussolini, and returned to Italy after World War II. In 1952, he was named an Italian senator for life; in 2002, his beatification cause was inaugurated. - Pope Leo is an 'extremely determined man,' ambassador says following papal audience with Prince Albert (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV received Prince Albert II of Monaco on January 17. - Vatican newspaper highlights plight of Gaza woman (L'Osservatore Romano (Italian))
L’Osservatore Romano devoted prominent front-page coverage in its January 17 edition to the plight of Inas, a young woman in Gaza. “Inas empties yet another basin of mud, sweeping the space in front of her tent,” Lucia D’Anna wrote in her article. “Two years and much more, the third winter spent in fear and uncertainty. A translator, aunt of three children, she tries to survive in the hell of Gaza, because there is no other term to describe what is happening.” “The young woman talks about when their house was bombed; everyone was inside,” D’Anna added. “They survived miraculously, escaping barefoot, unable to collect anything from inside, saving themselves, the adults and the children. The whole family has been displaced at least ten times, without a place to stay.” - IMF director meets with Pontiff (Vatican Press Office)
Pope Leo XIV received Kristalina Georgieva, managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), on January 17. Founded in 1944, the IMF is the lender of last resort for its member nations. As is customary, the Vatican did not divulge the topics discussed in the private audience. Georgieva, who regularly tweets about her meetings with international leaders, did not discuss her audience with the Pontiff on her X account. - Leading Slovenian bishops tell Pope of desire to build a more missionary, unified Church (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV received the officers of the Slovenian Bishops’ Conference, who invited the Pontiff to Slovenia and spoke with him about their commitment to unity and their desire to become a more missionary Church. - Holy door of St. Peter's Basilica sealed in solemn rite (CWN)
The holy door of St. Peter’s Basilica was sealed on January 16, ten days after Pope Leo XIV concluded the 2025 jubilee year. - Vatican newspaper joins discussion of ordo amoris (CWN)
The Vatican newspaper has published a contribution to the discussion of the meaning of ordo amoris [order of love], nearly a year after US Vice President JD Vance spoke about the concept and Pope Francis wrote about it in a letter to the bishops of the United States. - Cardinal Parolin concludes Kuwait trip with elevation of nation's first church to basilica status (CWN)
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State of His Holiness, concluded his trip to Kuwait with a Mass marking the elevation of the nation’s first church to the status of a minor basilica. - Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy forms men of God who build bridges, prelate says (Vatican News (Italian))
Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio, the president of the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy, described the institute’s mission as “building bridges of peace and justice, restoring authentic bonds and promoting a civilization founded on love and respect for the dignity of every person.” “For the diplomats of the Holy See, this commitment is rooted in the virtue of hope, in the conviction that peace is born above all as a gift from God,” said Archbishop Pennacchio, who was appointed the academy’s president in 2023. “It is the task of the pontifical representative to nourish this hope in the light of Christ, with a spiritual life founded on the daily listening to the Word of God and on prayer.” Vatican News, the news agency of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication, interviewed the prelate as the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy begins its 325th anniversary year. The academy trains priests for the Holy See’s diplomatic service. - Angelo Gugel, private attendant to three Popes, dies at 90 (Vatican News)
Angelo Gugel, a layman who served as papal chamber assistant to Blessed John Paul I, St. John Paul II, and Pope Benedict XVI, has died at the age of 90. “Always impeccably dressed, with a sober elegance that never sought attention, Angelo Gugel preserved the discretion required by his delicate role even after retirement,” Vatican News, the news agency of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication, reported. Gugel assisted St. John Paul with Italian pronunciation prior to his October 1978 inaugural homily and was at the Pontiff’s side during the 1981 assassination attempt. - More...