Catholic News
- Pope promulgates new Fundamental Law for Vatican City State, the 4th since 1929 (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV promulgated a new Fundamental Law of Vatican City State (unofficial translation) on July 31. In doing so, he replaced the Fundamental Law promulgated by Pope Francis in 2023, which included a controversial phrase in its preamble. - Pope Leo's prayer intention and video for August: for evangelization in the city (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV’s prayer intention for August 2026 is “let us pray that in large cities often marked by anonymity and loneliness we find new ways to proclaim the Gospel, discovering creative paths to build community.” - APSA announces growth in net assets to $3.1 billion; profit decreases (Vatican News)
The Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See (APSA) announced an €89 million ($102.6M) growth in net assets in 2025, to €2.686 billion ($3.10B). APSA also reported a profit of €22.8 million ($26.3 million) in 2025—down from €62.2 million the previous year—allowing APSA to contribute €22.7 million ($26.2 million) to the operations of the Roman Curia. “The comparison with the €62.2 million recorded in 2024 must be viewed in the proper perspective,” said Archbishop Giordano Piccinotti, APSA’s president. “The previous year was an extraordinary one that cannot be repeated, characterized by proceeds linked to the restructuring of the investment portfolio. By contrast, 2025 represents a return to ordinary operating conditions, and in this context the indicators are positive.” Vatican News reported that APSA “manages 4,281 real estate units, to which are added around 1,200 units abroad—in London, Paris, Geneva and Lausanne—through wholly owned companies.” APSA’s responsibilities, including real estate management and financial services, are outlined in articles 219-221 of Praedicate Evangelium, the 2022 apostolic constitution on the Roman Curia. - Spanish diocese pledges to assist civil authorities as 60,000 migrants enter city (CWN)
60,000 migrants from Morocco entered Ceuta, a Spanish city of 84,000, in a 24-hour period, leading the local diocese to express “deep concern” and offer its assistance to civil authorities. - Mexican bishops decry human trafficking (Red Católica de Noticias )
The presidents of two commissions of the Mexican Episcopal Conference issued a statement against human trafficking on July 30, the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. Bishops Eugenio Andrés Lira Rugarcía and José Hirais Acosta Beltrán warned that “foreign nationals and members of rural, indigenous, and Afro-descendant communities are particularly easy prey for trafficking networks due to their economic vulnerability, immigration status, and the xenophobia, fear of the poor, and racism that persist in our societies, as well as a lack of state protection.” “In this way, they become victims of criminal groups that traffic in human beings and organs; that subjugate them and force them to commit illicit acts for drug cartels; that enslave them through prostitution and servile domestic labor; and that tyrannize them in agricultural fields, tourist areas, and the maquiladora and construction industries, in Mexico, the United States, and Canada alike,” the prelates added. - Singer Patti Smith meets with Pontiff (Vatican News)
Pope Leo XIV received American singer and songwriter Patti Smith in a July 31 audience. Smith was accompanied by Father Antonio Spadaro, S.J., an undersecretary of the Dicastery for Culture and Education. He tweeted: There are unforgettable moments in life. Today I lived one of these. With #PattiSmith, with whom for years I have shared a simple and deep friendship, and #PapaLeone, the Holy Father, today an indispensable reference for anyone who still wants to hope in this world. Together. Today. For 40 minutes. When every single word had its own weight and its own lightness. In May, Smith inaugurated one of the two venues of the Holy See’s pavilion at the Venice Biennale, a major contemporary art exhibition that takes place every two years. - World Armenian Catholic Youth Days begin in Lebanon (Vatican News)
Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian, I.C.P.B., the head of the Armenian Catholic Church, celebrated the opening Mass at the World Armenian Catholic Youth Days in Lebanon. The event, which has attracted 250 Armenian Catholic youth from around the world, began on July 29 and will conclude on August 3. The theme is “One Heart in Christ.” The Armenian Catholic Church (CNEWA profile) is among the Eastern Catholic churches in full communion with the Holy See. - 1 year to World Youth Day 2027 (Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life)
The Local Organizing Committee for the 2027 World Youth Day in Seoul, South Korea, announced that it is “moving preparations from groundwork to full implementation across international cooperation, pilgrim services, accommodation, transportation, safety, medical care and communications.” “With one year to go until the start of World Youth Day Seoul 2027, the young people who will be traveling to Korea alongside their pastors are increasingly at the heart of the preparations for the event,” said Cardinal Kevin Farrell, prefect of the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life. In 1985, Pope St. John Paul II announced the annual celebration of World Youth Day in the dioceses of the world. In addition, World Youth Days have been celebrated internationally every few years—most recently, in Lisbon, Portugal (2023). - Austrian parishes toll bells for 5 minutes to draw attention to hunger ( Caritas Österreich)
Parishes in Austria tolled their bells for five minutes at 3:00 yesterday to draw attention to the 673 million people worldwide who suffer from hunger. “This ringing is intended to send a strong signal: every day, people die of hunger or the consequences of hunger,” stated Caritas Austria, which organized the initiative in conjunction with the bishops’ conference. “At the same time, we are calling for commitment against hunger.” - The Redemptorists: a numerical overview (CWN)
Today is the memorial of St. Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787), the founder of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (Redemptorists). - Pope to celebrate 4 public Masses in August (Vatican Press Office)
Archbishop Diego Ravelli, the Master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations, announced that Pope Leo XIV will celebrate four public Masses in August. The Pontiff will celebrate Mass in Assisi on August 6, in Rimini on August 22, and at different churches in Castel Gandolfo on August 15 and 29. - Schedule announced for papal visit to Assisi (Vatican Press Office)
The Prefecture of the Papal Household announced the schedule of Pope Leo XIV’s brief visit to Assisi on August 6, in the midst of the Year of Saint Francis. During his visit of under four hours, Pope Leo will meet with young people taking part in the GO! Franciscan Youth Meeting and with representatives of the Franciscan order. The Pontiff will then celebrate Mass in the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels, which encloses the Portiuncula, where St. Francis heard the call to rebuild the Church. - Cardinal Roche: 'Pope Leo is not going to change Traditionis Custodes' (CWN)
The prefect of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments said in an interview that Pope Leo is “not going to change” Traditionis Custodes, Pope Francis’s 2021 apostolic letter restricting the celebration of the extraordinary form of the Mass, nor restore the provisions of Pope Benedict’s 2007 apostolic letter Summorum Pontificum. - Vatican prefect discusses prayer life, fidelity to Scripture and Tradition (The Catholic Leader)
The new prefect of the Dicastery for Legislative Texts said in an interview that his dicastery’s work “must always remain faithful to Sacred Scripture and the living Tradition of the Church.” “Because the law of the Church touches the faith and daily lives of all the faithful, the responsibility entrusted to us is a significant one,” said Archbishop Anthony Randazzo. “My hope is that everything we place before Pope Leo for his consideration will be faithful to the Gospel, just in its application and always marked by compassion.” In response to a question, the prelate also discussed his life of prayer: For me, that begins each day with time spent reading and praying with the Word of God. It is sustained through the daily celebration of the Holy Mass, regular reception of the Sacrament of Penance, and a rich devotional life in the company of Our Lady and the saints. Personally, I find great strength and consolation in praying the Rosary, meditating on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ through the intercession of Mary. Those moments of prayer continually remind me that everything I do must begin and end with Christ. I also firmly believe that I cannot devote myself to canon law unless I have first been nourished by the Gospel, because the law of the Church is never an end in itself; it is always at the service of the Gospel and the salvation of souls. - Report: Indonesian soldiers enter church during Mass, cause panic (Human Rights Monitor)
Indonesian soldiers entered a church in Intan Jaya Regency during Sunday Mass on July 26, causing “fear and panic,” according to a report from the organization Human Rights Monitor. “The reported incident occurred amid an intensified military operation and repeated armed violence affecting Catholic communities in Intan Jaya Regency,” according to the report. “On 29 June 2026, a vehicle carrying a priest, nuns, parishioners and workers reportedly came under fire.” - Pope says he hopes to visit United States soon (NBC News)
In a brief exchange with an NBC News reporter following last evening’s concert in Castel Gandolfo, Pope Leo said that “nothing is set in stone yet, but I certainly hope to be there [in the United States] soon.” The Pontiff also reflected on being the first American pope and spoke briefly about his ancestry, which includes slaves and slave owners. Pope Leo also spoke with Telemundo and said that “we must recognize that we can all truly participate in a society that loves peace, seeks peace, and accepts one another despite our differences. If we all work for peace, we can overcome so many situations that cause conflict and hatred.” - Vatican newspaper highlights religious sisters' work against human trafficking (L'Osservatore Romano (Italian))
On July 30, the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, L’Osservatore Romano devoted five articles to human trafficking. Four of the articles highlighted the work of religious sisters against human trafficking. “This grave human rights violation currently affects over 50 million people worldwide,” the newspaper reported in an unsigned introductory article. “Data released by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reveal a criminal enterprise linked to exploitation that is worth $236 billion annually.” - The Society of Jesus: a numerical overview (CWN)
Today is the memorial of St. Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556), the founder of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). According to the online edition of the Annuario Pontificio, the institute had 13,768 members, 9,987 of them priests, in 2024. - Priests, religious demand international investigation into Sri Lanka mass graves (Tamil Guardian)
Priests and religious in Jaffna, Sri Lanka, took part in a peaceful demonstration on July 30 to demand an international investigation into the Chemmani mass graves. The graves date to 1995-96, when the army retook control of an area held by rebels during the Sri Lankan Civil War (1983-2009). - Let the beauty of music lead you to God, Pope tells young choir members (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV encouraged young choir members to let music’s beauty lead them to God. - More...