Catholic News
- Pope, in audience on Vatican II, reflects on sacred music (CWN)
Continuing his series of Wednesday general audiences on the Second Vatican Council and its documents, Pope Leo XIV today reflected on sacred music. - Pope mourns victims of Zimbabwe ferry accident (Vatican Press Office)
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State of His Holiness, wrote a telegram in the Holy Father’s name following a ferry accident in Zimbabwe that left over 90 people dead. Cardinal Parolin said that Pope Leo was “deeply saddened” to learn of the accident and that “entrusting the souls of the deceased to the loving mercy of Almighty God, he sends heartfelt condolences to those who mourn their loss.” The Pope also prayed for civil authorities and military personnel, Cardinal Parolin wrote in his August 18 telegram. - Baptisms in Ireland fall 30% over 10 years (Iona Institute)
The number of baptisms in Ireland fell by 29.9% between 2015 and 2025. The number of births fell by 18.8% over the ten-year period. The decline in the number of baptisms was steepest in the Diocese of Meath (-40.8%) and the Archdiocese of Dublin (-39.9%), according to a report from the Iona Institute. The number of baptisms rose in one diocese: the Diocese of Elphin (+0.9%). - Australian state's inquiry raps Catholic schools over 'bullying and discrimination faced by LGBTIQA+ students' (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
A parliamentary inquiry in the Australian state of Tasmania issued a 225-page report on discrimination and bullying in Tasmanian schools. Brian Mitchell, the member of parliament who chaired the committee, highlighted “the bullying and discrimination faced by LGBTIQA+ students in Tasmania’s Catholic schools.” “We owe it to every young Tasmanian to provide schools that are both temples of learning and sanctuaries, where they feel nurtured, heard, safe, and secure, not dread, fear, and anxiety,” Mitchell said. - Cardinal Parolin recalls St. Agatha, prays for persecuted Christians (Vatican News)
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State of His Holiness, paid tribute to St. Agatha during an August 17 Mass marking the 900th anniversary of the return of her relics to Catania. “Celebrating this anniversary, means recognizing that the Lord has been faithful to his Church throughout the centuries, sustaining her in times of trial, purifying her in difficulties, and continually making her flourish anew through the witness of the saints,” Cardinal Parolin preached, adding: Let us therefore remember and pray at this moment for all these brothers and sisters of ours scattered throughout the various parts of the world who suffer persecution for the name of the Lord and for his Gospel. But let us not forget that there is also, so to speak, a bloodless martyrdom to which we too are called. Cardinal Parolin also paid tribute to St. Agatha during a prayer vigil the previous evening. - USCCB announces initiative against abortion pills (USCCB)
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops announced an initiative of prayer and action against abortion pills. The initiative concludes on October 31, at the end of Respect Life Month. In late July, the bishops’ conference posted information about the initiative on its website. - Cologne cardinal says defining synodality a 'major challenge' for Church (Catholic Herald)
Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki of Cologne, Germany, said in an interview that “a major challenge lies in defining for the universal Church what synodality is.” “There will be no ‘German special path,’” he continued. “Now we are waiting to see where the Holy Father and his collaborators will make the corrections that I believe are necessary.” Cardinal Woelki praised the work of Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter, whose priests celebrate the sacraments in the extraordinary form, and said “we need a healthy mix of traditions that can grow together.” He added, “I see myself as firmly rooted in the tradition and teaching of the Second Vatican Council. The liturgical reform was one of the essential reforms there—we shouldn’t forget that.” - American CEO, 2 Notre Dame professors named consultors to Vatican dicastery (Vatican Press Office)
Pope Leo XIV named 12 new consultors to the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, including two professors at the University of Notre Dame and the CEO of a California asset management company. Father Emmanuel Katongole, a Ugandan priest, is professor of theology and peace studies at the university; Clemens Sedmak is professor of social ethics and director of the Nanovic Institute for European Studies. Katie Koch, the president and CEO of TCW, also has connections to the Indiana university: she is an alumna and member of the board of trustees. - St. Bernadette's relics to tour the United States (EWTN News)
The relics of St. Bernadette Soubirous (1844-1879), to whom Our Lady appeared in Lourdes, will tour the United States in 2026-27. The tour will begin on September 18 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington. - Vatican vegetable garden goes 100% organic (Vatican City State)
The Vatican City State announced that the vegetable garden adjacent to Mater Ecclesiae Monastery is now 100% organic. In 1994, Pope St. John Paul II established the monastery for contemplative nuns within the Vatican City State; the monastery became Pope Benedict XVI’s residence after his resignation. In 2023, it again became a monastery for contemplative nuns. - Cardinal Pizzaballa visits beleaguered Palestinian Christian village (Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem)
The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem visited the West Bank Palestinian Christian village of Taybeh on August 15, amid increasing harassment from Israeli settlers. “We will continue to do everything within our power to preserve the ecclesial presence here, at every level throughout the Holy Land,” Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, O.F.M., preached during the Mass of the Assumption. Cardinal Pizzaballa added: We must also learn from the Virgin Mary how to guard our hearts, because this situation can contaminate our hearts. And if our hearts become contaminated, the ‘dragon’ has won. But we want to remain a community that gives birth to life, without giving up or abandoning our rights, our right to life. So be courageous. Do not be afraid. - Parish vandalized in Tel Aviv (Times of Israel)
A vandal smashed statues a broke crucifixes at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Jaffa, a neighborhood of Tel Aviv. Israeli police arrested a man in his 20s in connection with the attack. - Pope offers prayers, condolences for Indonesian earthquake victims (Vatican Press Office)
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State of His Holiness, sent a telegram in the Holy Father’s name to the archbishop of Ende, on the Indonesian island of Flores, following a severe earthquake there. Pope Leo offered “spiritual solidarity and closeness to those suffering the continuing effects of this disaster,” encouragement to authorities offering humanitarian assistance, and prayers for emergency personnel, before commending the dead to God’s mercy. - Cardinal Parolin pays tribute to St. Agatha (Vatican News)
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State of His Holiness, paid tribute to St. Agatha during an August 16 prayer vigil marking the 900th anniversary of the return of her relics to Catania. “After so many centuries, Agatha’s witness continues to speak to the Church,” Cardinal Parolin preached. “For those who put down their roots in the Lord can pass through even the most difficult trials without losing hope and can continue to bear fruit.” “Faith does not eliminate trials, but it gives us a new presence and a new strength with which to face them,” the prelate added. “The Lord knows the path of His children, accompanies their steps and transforms even their wounds into places of grace.” - Vatican News emphasizes longstanding papal support for 2-state solution (Vatican News)
Vatican News, the news agency of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication, published an article emphasizing longstanding papal support, dating back to Venerable Pius XII, for a two-state solution in the Holy Land. The article follows Pope Leo’s appeal in his August 16 Angelus address: “I urgently call on the international community to work toward advancing the two-state solution, for a just and lasting peace.” “The ‘two-State’ solution is, and remains, the only possible path to peace between Israel and Palestine,” Salvatore Cernuzio began, adding: Popes have changed, as has the situation in the Middle East, where violence and division have intensified dramatically since 7 October 2023. Yet for almost eighty years, the Holy See’s diplomatic position has remained unshakeable: “two States” as the only prospect capable of guaranteeing justice and a just and lasting peace. Pope Leo XIV is the latest to forcefully reaffirm this historic position, which has endured through the decades despite the Israeli government’s firm rejection of it. - Leading English prelate laments international religious freedom violations (CBCEW)
The president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales lamented international violations of the right to religious freedom and called for support for Aid to the Church in Need’s petition on behalf of the right. “Men and women are imprisoned, others are driven from their homes, or even killed, simply because of their peacefully held beliefs,” Archbishop Richard Moth of Westminster said in a statement released today. “In some countries women and girls are kidnapped, forced to renounce their faith and marry their abductors, children are denied the right to learn about their faith.” “We need to stand up for our brothers and sisters in Christ and stand in support of all those who suffer for their beliefs, recognizing religious freedom as a universal human right,” Archbishop Moth added. - Sydney archbishop complains to ombudsman over media coverage of assisted suicide (The Catholic Weekly)
Archbishop Anthony Fisher, O.P., of Sydney filed a complaint with the ombudsman of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation over its coverage of assisted suicide. “Over a period of nine days the ABC repeatedly provided the founder of an organization established to advocate for euthanasia and assisted suicide law reform, with opportunities across television, radio, online and social media to make the case for amending a federal prohibition on the use of telehealth for euthanasia and assisted suicide,” wrote Archbishop Fisher. “Given the significance of the issue, the imminence of the political decisions to which the coverage related, and the ABC’s particular obligation to maintain public confidence in its impartiality, I ask that these matters be carefully investigated and addressed,” he added. - Ukrainian Catholic priest charged with over $740K in thefts in Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General)
The attorney general of Pennsylvania announced that Father Gregory Madeya, a Ukrainian Catholic priest suspended by his bishop in 2024, has been charged with “theft and financial exploitation regarding more than $740,000 stolen from three churches, church affiliates, and the priest’s own mother.” According to investigators, Father Madeya, now 69, sold a gold chalice to a jeweler, purchased a Ford Mustang, and gave it to the man who was living with him. “In addition to the church-related thefts, investigators found that Madeya’s mother was evicted from multiple nursing home facilities because of a lack of payment,” according to the attorney general. “Investigators found that Madeya abused his position as his mother’s power of attorney to steal funds meant for her care.” - Florida bishops push back against AG over vaccine mandates (Tallahassee Democrat)
The Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops responded to Attorney General James Uthmeier’s warning that a refusal by Catholic schools to grant religious exemptions to vaccine mandates is “troubling and may disqualify them from state scholarships and vouchers.” In a letter dated August 7 and released yesterday, the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops’ executive director wrote that “where we differ is on your interpretation and application of Catholic teaching, an interpretation (and right) exclusively vested, by United States and Florida constitutional law, in the bishops of Florida’s dioceses.” “Respectfully, any insinuation that a government official can dictate to the Catholic Church (or any religion) how to apply her tenets and dogma, violates well-established constitutional religious freedom rights,” executive director Michael Sheedy added. “It is beyond cavil that the bishops, not the state, decide how to interpret and apply Catholic principles and theology.” - Catholic schools shouldn't mimic secular schools, Columbus bishop says (The Catholic Times)
The bishop of Columbus, Ohio, said that Catholic schools should be centers of evangelization and catechesis, rather than “cheap imitations” of secular schools. “So if all we’re doing is imitating our secular peers, we’re only ever going to be a cheap imitation because they’re going to have greater sources of funding than we will,” Bishop Earl Fernandes said in an interview released today about his forthcoming pastoral letter on Catholic education. “And is that what we’re called to be, or are we called to be something more, something greater?” “And so, this is what I propose, is that we make saints and we capture the best of our tradition and propose it for new generations as a way of confronting the challenges of the modern era,” he added. “I want to form disciples who are convicted in the faith and who are willing to witness to the joy of the Gospel.” - More...