Catholic News
- Pope arrives in Lourdes, prays for France and the Church at Grotto of the Apparitions (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV departed from Paris this evening and flew to Tarbes-Lourdes-Pyrénées International Airport, from which he traveled to the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes (video). - 700,000 attend papal Mass in Paris (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV celebrated Mass this afternoon at the Place de la Concorde in Paris (video 1, video 2) and emphasized in his homily that Jesus quenches the thirst present in every human heart. - Welcome catechumens with joy and respect, Pope says at Institut Catholique (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV visited the Institut Catholique of Paris this morning and met with members of the Provincial Synodal Assembly, as well as with a group of catechumens and neophytes (video). - Christ is encountered and loved in the needy, Pope says in Paris (CWN)
In a visit to a Catholic apostolate that serves migrants and refugees, Pope Leo XIV said that “Christ, poor and crucified, continues to allow himself to be encountered and loved through these men and women, who call us to go beyond ourselves and to dare to practice charity.” - Pope challenges young French Catholics to be 'radiant witnesses' to the Gospel (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV traveled from Paris to the suburb of Saint-Denis late last evening to lead a prayer vigil for 80,000 young people in the Stade de France, the national athletic stadium (video 1, video 2). - Pope, at Notre-Dame Cathedral, calls France's priests, religious to missionary conversion (CWN)
An estimated 300,000 people lined the streets of Paris as Pope Leo XIV traveled from UNESCO headquarters to the Cathedral of Notre-Dame late in the afternoon of September 25 (video). There, the Pontiff adored the Blessed Sacrament, venerated Christ’s Crown of Thorns, and celebrated Vespers with bishops, priests, deacons, religious and seminarians (video). - The future depends on respecting the dignity of the human person, Pope says in address at UNESCO (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV visited the headquarters of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Paris and delivered a wide-ranging reflection on education, culture, peace, and technology in light of the dignity of the human person (video). - Background: World Day of Migrants and Refugees (CWN)
On September 27, the Church observes the 112th World Day of Migrants and Refugees, a commemoration instituted by St. Pius X. Pope Leo XIV’s message for the day, issued on August 11, is entitled “Even Just One of These Children” (cf. Matthew 18:10). - Pope Leo, in France, calls for respect for right to life, ban on nuclear weapons (CWN)
Following his arrival in Paris today—the first day of his apostolic journey to France—Pope Leo XIV traveled to Élysée Palace, where he paid a courtesy visit to President Emmanuel Macron (video). - Pope Leo departs from Rome, arrives in Paris; recalls Blessed Fulton Sheen's influence (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV departed for France this morning at 7:58 local time as he embarked on the fifth apostolic journey of his pontificate. - Vatican diplomat rues moral imbalance of aid cuts, rising military expenses (Holy See Mission)
A Vatican diplomat criticized reductions in international development assistance amid rising military expenditures. Archbishop Ettore Balestrero, apostolic nuncio and Permanent Observer to the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva, Switzerland, told participants in a recent meeting of the United Nations Trade and Development Board that “it is concerning that LDCs [Least Developed Countries] have suffered almost 70% of all global food emergencies in the past 15 years. Meanwhile, as military expenditure continues to grow, Official Development Assistance (ODA) has fallen by over 25% to $23.5 billion in 2025.” “In other words, conflicts are more readily ‘fed’ than people are nourished,” said Archbishop Balestrero. “This reveals a fundamental imbalance in political and moral priorities.” - Cardinal Parolin says concern for human life at heart of Pope's trip to France (Vatican News)
In an interview with Vatican News, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State of His Holiness, offered a preview of Pope Leo’s apostolic journey to France, as is customary on the eve of an apostolic journey. Asked why the “That the world may have life” was chosen as the motto of the papal journey, Cardinal Parolin offered three reasons: “The first message we wish to convey is the value of human life, which must be welcomed, loved and cared for from conception until natural death.” “France today stands out for its large number of young adult catechumens,” which “provides an opportunity to highlight the thirst for spiritual life that marks the world today.” “In an increasingly technological and artificial world, the motto of the journey to Paris makes it possible to draw attention to the creative vitality of the human person.” - Pope Leo calls for 'responsible and discerning approach' to AI, climate change (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV called for a “responsible and discerning approach” to artificial intelligence (AI) and changes in the climate. - Pope issues appeal for migrants, refugees (CWN)
At the conclusion of his September 23 general audience, Pope Leo XIV issued an appeal for migrants and refugees. - Archbishop Fulton Sheen, beloved missionary shepherd, beatified in St. Louis (CWN)
Archbishop Fulton Sheen (1895-1979), whose radio and television apostolate and writings earned him the respect and affection of generations of American Catholics, was beatified in St. Louis, Missouri, on September 24. - Hungary's Prime Minister Magyar, Pontiff discuss AI, youth loneliness (@magyarpeterMP)
Pope Leo XIV received Prime Minister Péter Magyar of Hungary on September 24. “We spoke at length about Hungary and the challenges facing Europe, and we also touched on the increasingly important issue of artificial intelligence, as well as the loneliness experienced by young people,” Prime Minister Magyar said in a social media post. “I shared with [the Pope] the events of recent years in Hungary and explained how an approach to politics based on honesty, real human connection, and hard work can succeed.” “At the end of our meeting, I asked a papal blessing for our country and invited the Holy Father to visit Hungary,” the prime minister added. Following the papal audience, Prime Minister Magyar met with Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Holy See’s Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations. According to a Vatican statement, the parties discussed the “socioeconomic context in Hungary” and “issues of mutual interest, with particular reference to the field of education and the protection of the world’s most vulnerable Christian communities.” “The conversation continued with an exchange of opinions on current international affairs, in particular the situations of conflict in Ukraine and the Middle East, with the hope for an ever greater commitment from the international community to the promotion of peace,” the statement concluded. - USCCB files new brief in Supreme Court case involving Colorado Catholic preschools (USCCB)
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops filed a new brief supporting a Denver Catholic parish and other plaintiffs in a case involving Colorado’s universal preschool program. The Becket Fund explained that Colorado’s Department of Early Childhood excluded Denver archdiocesan schools from the program “by claiming the Archdiocese’s religious exercise—asking all families who enroll to support and uphold the Catholic Church’s teachings—was inconsistent with the preschool funding program’s requirements” regarding sexual orientation and gender identity. The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the state; the Supreme Court agreed to hear the plaintiffs’ appeal. The original 21-page USCCB brief was dated December 2025; the new 27-page USCCB brief was dated July 2026 and posted on the USCCB website yesterday. Neither brief was prepared by the USCCB’s general counsel; instead, both were prepared by attorneys from Lehotsky Keller Kohn. - Portugal's President Seguro, Pope Leo discuss peace, AI (Observador (Lisbon))
President António José Seguro of Portugal met for 40 minutes with Pope Leo XIV. President Seguro described the September 24 audience as “very important and very deep” and said that topics of conversation included peace and artificial intelligence. “I renewed the invitation for the Pope to visit Portugal,” the president added. “I have not yet received a response to this invitation.” Following the papal audience, President Seguro met with Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Holy See’s Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations. According to a Vatican statement, the parties discussed “socioeconomic developments,” “the promotion of the common good,” and “a number of regional and international issues,” including “the repercussions of conflicts around the world, migration, the importance of multilateralism and respect for international law, as well as the urgent need for a constant commitment to supporting peace.” - Archbishop Ulrich offers overview of Archdiocese of Paris (L'Osservatore Romano (Italian))
On the eve of Pope Leo’s apostolic journey to France, Archbishop Laurent Ulrich of Paris offered an overview of the Church there, including its 106 parish churches and its educational and charitable institutions. Writing in the Vatican newspaper, Archbishop Ulrich noted that “in 2010, 370 adults received baptism here; this year, the number is 800.” “It is our task and responsibility to accompany these new shoots and integrate them into our communities during the early years of their Christian lives,” he said. “But we are also called to let ourselves be challenged by these men and women, young and old alike, who in the coming years will profoundly transform the face of some of our parishes.” - Dates announced for 2028 International Eucharistic Congress (The Catholic Weekly (Sydney))
The 54th International Eucharistic Congress will be held in Sydney, Australia, from September 24 to October 1, 2028. The most recent international Eucharistic congresses took place in Cebu City, Philippines (2016); Budapest, Hungary (2021); and Quito, Ecuador (2024). Sydney also hosted the 29th International Eucharistic Congress in 1928. - More...