Catholic News
- Look to St. Paul amid our 'cultural and ecclesial winter,' Pope tells Daughters of St. Paul (Dicastery for Communication)
Pope Leo XIV received participants in the general chapter of the Daughters of St. Paul, founded by Blessed Giacomo Alberione and Venerable Tecla Merlo. “In this cultural and ecclesial winter we are going through, do not be afraid to risk and to continue your journey,” Pope Leo advised the religious sisters in yesterday’s audience, which took place in Consistory Hall of the Apostolic Palace. “Look at the ardor of Saint Paul, his tireless joy in proclaiming Christ even in the midst of difficulties and persecution.” The Pope encouraged the sisters of the 110-year-old institute to “look up and immerse yourselves.” He explained: “Look up, so that you can be impelled by the Holy Spirit. Your vocation and your mission come from the Lord, let us not forget.” Immerse “yourselves in, inside situations, because an upturned gaze is not an escape but, on the contrary, must help us to have the same compassion as Christ, who divested himself for us, descended into our flesh, lowered himself so as to enter the abysses of wounded humanity and to bring us the love of the Father.” - AI cannot substitute for personal closeness, Pope reminds Latin American physicians (Dicastery for Communication)
Pope Leo XIV received members of the Confederación Médica Latino-iberoamericana y del Caribe [Latin American and Caribbean Medical Confederation] yesterday and spoke about the importance of the doctor-patient relationship. Christ’s healing of a leper was “not a mechanical gesture; a personal relationship is established between the leper and Jesus,” Pope Leo said during the audience, which took place in Consistory Hall of the Apostolic Palace. Citing the example of Blessed José Gregorio Hernández, the Pope said that “likewise, there are many figures of doctors who have devoted their lives to their patients.” AI “can and should be a great help in improving clinical care, but nothing can take the place of the doctor,” Pope Leo added. But “the algorithm cannot substitute a gesture of closeness or a word of consolation.” - Pope Leo's first major document expected next week (National Catholic Register)
The first major teaching document of Pope Leo XIV, an apostolic exhortation on poverty, will be released on October 9, according to a report in the National Catholic Register. The apostolic exhortation had originally been planned by Pope Francis, who reportedly assigned Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, the controversial president of the Pontifical Academy for Life, to draft the document. Pope Leo chose to continue the work, but heavily revised the draft to reflect his own thoughts. - Vatican foreign minister laments youth suicide rate, deplores assisted suicide (Holy See Mission)
Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Holy See’s Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, said in a statement for a recent UN meeting that “the Holy See is deeply concerned about the high number of attempted suicides around the world each year.” “Tragically, suicide is a leading cause of death among young people, whose bright futures can be overshadowed by despair,” said Archbishop Gallagher. “Society has the vital duty to affirm the sacredness of life and the God-given dignity of those temporarily unable to recognize it themselves. It must also provide them with mental healthcare and psychosocial support.” “The Holy See stresses that assisting suicide in any way violates medical ethics and human dignity because the dignity of each person, no matter how weak or burdened by suffering, is the dignity of us all,” the prelate added. He also called for “universal health coverage, particularly through primary healthcare,” as “health is also a fundamental human right, and everyone has the right to enjoy the highest possible standard of physical and mental health.” - Pope's moral authority on migration is crucial in polarized world, UN migration leader says (Vatican News)
The director general of the UN’s International Organization for Migration spoke about the importance of Pope Leo’s moral authority on migration following an audience with Pontiff yesterday. Amy Pope told Vatican News that Pope Leo “provides a level of moral authority to communities around the world. And that’s really important at this moment in time, when the issue of migration has become, as I mentioned, hyper politicized and polarized.” “We want to reorient the conversation back to what is human and how we as humans can connect and provide support,” she added. “So, part of it is using the moral authority that the Church brings. But then there’s something much more practical, which is how each individual parish, each individual community can serve as an example of how to work and support and protect migrant communities.” - USCCB committee chairman calls for ardent prayer following President Trump's Gaza peace plan (USCCB)
Echoing Pope Leo XIV’s cautious but positive reaction to President Donald Trump’s peace plan for Gaza, the chairman of the US bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace called for ardent prayer for peace. “As an international community and people of faith who deeply care for all our brothers and sisters who live in the land of Christ’s life, death, and glorious resurrection, we cannot lose this opportunity for peace,” said Maronite Bishop A. Elias Zaidan of Los Angeles. “May Our Lady, Seat of Wisdom, instill on all sides a sincere willingness to attain peace.” - South Sudan bishop pleads for peace, expresses closeness to faithful as fighting resumes (Fides)
Five years after the official end of the South Sudanese Civil War, one of the belligerents in the war attacked a military base. Bishop Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala of Tombura-Yambio pleaded, “To all those engaged in fighting, I raise my voice as a shepherd: Cease hostilities! Respect human life! Protect civilians!” Some of the faithful are “forced to hide in the bushes without food, medicine, or shelter, exposed to the rains and dangers of disease,” he said. “Some of our beloved have been killed, many wounded, and countless others, especially the elderly, women, children, and the disabled, are in desperate conditions.” He added: As your bishop, I want you to know: you are not forgotten. The Church is with you, I am with you, and Christ Himself walks with you in this valley of tears. Even though your homes, schools, and health centers have been looted, and though you now sleep in the open sky, remember that you are still held in the shelter of God’s hands. - Pilgrims from 100 countries expected at Jubilees of Missions, Migrants (Vatican News)
As part of the 2025 jubilee year, two jubilees will take place concurrently on October 4 and 5: the Jubilee of the Missions and the Jubilee of Migrants. Pilgrims from 100 countries are expected at the Jubilee of the Missions; 10,000 pilgrims from 95 counties are expected at the Jubilee of Migrants. Pope Leo will celebrate Sunday Mass for participants in both jubilee events on October 5 in St. Peter’s Square. - St. Francis of Assisi's feast day restored as national holiday in Italy (Reuters)
Following a 247-2 parliamentary vote, Italy will again celebrate the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi as a national holiday, beginning next year. “The national holiday will be an opportunity to celebrate an extraordinary man and to remind us, each year, who we are and what unites us,” said Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Italy celebrated the feast of St. Francis as a national holiday from 1958 to 1977, when the holiday was eliminated amid an “austerity drive,” according to Reuters. - Vermont diocese struggles to pay bankruptcy legal bills (AP)
A year after filing for bankruptcy, Vermont’s sole diocese is struggling to pay its legal bills. Under federal law, institutions that file for bankruptcy must pay their own legal fees, as well as those of creditors. With total legal fees approaching $1.5 million, the Diocese of Burlington has cut employees’ workweeks to 30 hours. Bishop John McDermott encouraged diocesan employees to seek work elsewhere, as “we cannot guarantee any position at this time.” - Background: World Day of Migrants and Refugees (CWN)
On October 5, the Church observes the 111th World Day of Migrants and Refugees, a commemoration instituted by St. Pius X. Pope Leo XIV’s message for the day, issued on July 25, is entitled “Migrants, missionaries of hope.” - Pope raps climate skepticism (Crux)
Pope Leo XIV spoke out against climate skeptics who “ridicule those who speak of global warming” in remarks to a Raising Hope conference held at the Vatican on October 1. The conference marked the 10th anniversary of the encyclical Laudato Si’ by Pope Francis. Pope Leo said that the impact of that document has “extended to summits, interreligious initiatives, economic and business circles, as well as theological and bioethical studies.” In a dramatic gesture the Pontiff blessed a chunk of ice, carved from a glacier in Greenland, which was melting on the stage from which speakers addressed the participants in the conference. - Israel forces threaten Catholic community in Gaza (CatholicVote)
The Israeli defense ministry announced on October 1 that troops would move into Gaza City, having ordered residents to leave. “Those who remain will be considered terrorists and terror supporters,” the defense ministry warned. Catholic and Orthodox Church workers in Gaza have vowed that they will not leave the city, explaining that they are dedicated to the care of elderly, disabled, and sick people living in their church compounds, who are unable to leave. - Pope Leo encourages Hamas to accept President Trump's Gaza peace plan (Vatican News)
Pope Leo XIV expressed hope that Hamas will accept President Donald Trump’s peace plan for Gaza. “We hope they accept it; so far it seems a realistic proposal,” the Pope told reporters on the evening of September 30. Stating that the proposal has “very interesting elements,” Pope Leo added, “We hope Hamas accepts within the established timeframe.” The Pope also expressed concern about the humanitarian emergency in Gaza, about the US Secretary of Defense’s address to military leaders, and about President Trump’s decision to rename the Department of Defense as the Department of War. He stated he would not intervene in the current Vatican appellate court proceedings related to the “trial of the century.” Finally, the Pope addressed a question about Cardinal Blase Cupich’s controversial decision to present a lifetime achievement award to Sen. Richard Durbin. - Vatican foreign minister emphasizes family's irreplaceable role in education (Holy See Mission)
Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Holy See’s Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, said that “the Holy See wishes to emphasize the irreplaceable role of the family in the formation of young generations.” “Parents have the fundamental right and duty to educate their children and guide them towards responsible adulthood,” Archbishop Gallagher said in a statement at a recent UN meeting. “Young people must be enabled to enjoy fully their fundamental human rights, in particular their right to freedom of religion and belief,” he added. The prelate also spoke of the challenges that youth face, including “war, social injustice, inequality, hunger and the exploitation of human beings and the environment.” - See Christ in your political opponents and examine your hearts, USCCB president urges (USCCB)
In a reflection for the fifth anniversary of Pope Francis’s encyclical Fratelli tutti, the president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops asked “every American to reflect on the value of every human life.” “I beg you to see Christ in every person, even those whose politics you oppose,” said Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services. “Each of us should examine our hearts, our thoughts, and our actions and ask ourselves how we contribute to the polarization and animosity plaguing our nation.” The prelate called on Americans to “put into practice those behaviors that can help us begin to heal the rifts between us,” including performing corporal works of mercy, fasting from social media, and praying for one’s enemies. “Disagree, debate civilly, stand for your rights, but always remember in your heart that we are all children of God and deserve dignity and life,” he added. - Durbin declines Chicago archdiocesan award (Chicago archdiocese)
Senator Richard Durbin has declined to accept a Lifetime Achievement award that he was scheduled to receive from the Archdiocese of Chicago. Durbin’s withdrawal—which was announced, perhaps significantly, by Cardinal Cupich, rather than the senator’s office—defuses a heated controversy within the US Catholic hierarchy. Ten American bishops had protested the award, and the leadership of the US bishops’ conference was reportedly weighing a public statement. In his statement announcing Durbin’s withdrawal, Cardinal Cupich stressed that he had intended to honor the lawmaker for “his singular contribution to immigration reform and his unwavering support of immigrants, which is so needed in our day.” He insisted that the honor for Durbin, who has consistently supported unrestricted legal abortion, should not be seen as compromising the Church’s stand on that issue. The cardinal went on to lament the polarization of American politics, arguing that “today is that there are essentially no Catholic public officials who consistently pursue the essential elements of Catholic social teaching because our party system will not permit them to do so.” He suggested “some synodal gatherings for members of the faithful to experience listening to each other with respect on these issues.” - Anglican commission will announce nominee to be Archbishop of Canterbury on October 3 (Church Times)
A commission charged with nominating a candidate to become the next Archbishop of Canterbury—the leader of the worldwide Anglican communion—will announce its selection on Friday, October 3. The Crown Nominations Commission has reportedly reached agreement on a candidate. That candidate’s name will be presented to the Prime Minister, who in turn presents the name to King Charles, who directs the Canons of Canterbury to elect the new archbishop, who will succeed Dr. Justin Welby, who resigned last November. For the first time, the rules governing the selection process allow for a female Archbishop of Canterbury. Such an appointment would undoubtedly add to strains in relations among the world’s Anglican bodies. - Bishop Burbidge welcomes Durbin's choice to decline award (Twitter)
Bishop Michael Burbidge of Arlington, Virginia, expressed relief at the news that Senator Richard Durbin would decline an award from the Chicago archdiocese. In a post on X (Twitter), the bishop said: Sincere dialogue will always be essential to the health of any political community, yet productive conversations occur only when participants share a basic commitment to certain objective moral realities about what is good and evil. Among these realities is the first and most fundamental natural right, that of the human right to life. - Pope laments 'attitude of indifference' on migration crisis (Vatican Press Office)
Speaking to participants in a Vatican conference on migration, Pope Leo XIV said that a major obstacle to solutions is “an attitude of indifference on the part of both institutions and individuals.” The Pontiff cited his predecessor, Pope Francis, in speaking of the “globalization of indifference,” and urged instead “a culture of reconciliation.” - More...