Catholic News
- Pope Leo breaks new ground with encyclical on AI [News/Analysis] (CWN)
In choosing to be known as Pope Leo XIV, our current Pontiff made tribute to Leo XIII, the author of Rerum Novarum, the encyclical that formed the foundation of Catholic social teaching. Now Leo XIV stands alongside his illustrious predecessor, as the author of his own landmark encyclical, breaking new ground in that field. - Pope, in encyclical, affirms right of self-defense, says just war theory outdated (Dicastery for Communication)
In his new encyclical letter, Pope Leo XIV wrote that “today, more than ever, without prejudice to the right to self-defense in the strictest sense, it is important to reaffirm that the ‘just war’ theory, which has all too often been used to justify any kind of war, is now outdated” (n. 192). Pope Leo cited Pope Francis’s 2020 encyclical letter Fratelli tutti: In recent decades, every single war has been ostensibly ‘justified.’ The Catechism of the Catholic Church speaks of the possibility of legitimate defense by means of military force, which involves demonstrating that certain ‘rigorous conditions of moral legitimacy’ have been met. Yet it is easy to fall into an overly broad interpretation of this potential right. In this way, some would also wrongly justify even ‘preventive’ attacks or acts of war that can hardly avoid entailing ‘evils and disorders graver than the evil to be eliminated.’ - 5 killed, several abducted in new attacks on Nigerian Catholics (ACI Africa)
The Archdiocese of Kaduna, Nigeria, condemned new terrorist attacks on Catholic communities within its territory. “The Archdiocese condemns these incessant attacks in the strongest terms and calls on government and the security agencies to intensify efforts towards the protection of lives and properties of such besieged areas,” Father Christian Okewu Emmanuel, the archdiocesan chancellor, said in a statement. - Vatican spokesman: New encyclical challenges us to remain human in an age of algorithms (Vatican News)
In an editorial on Pope Leo’s first encyclical letter, a Vatican spokesman wrote that “in the age of artificial intelligence, with human dignity in danger of being obscured by enormous concentrations of technological power beyond all control, and by new forms of dehumanization, Pope Leo XIV recalls us to the ‘urgent duty’ to remain deeply human.” Andrea Tornielli, editorial director of the Dicastery for Communication, said that “the Successor of Peter invites us to let technology to advance ‘without allowing the heart to regress,’ even amid our times filled with polarization and violence, which see the expansion of a ‘culture of power’ and war rehabilitated as an instrument of international politics.” - Vatican diplomat calls for international cooperation to address health disparities (Holy See Mission)
Addressing the World Health Assembly, a Vatican diplomat called for international cooperation to address “disparities in life expectancy and health quality across and within countries.” “Shared responsibility is a call for civil authorities to consistently uphold the God-given dignity of every human being, by promoting the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health in policymaking and improving the conditions that enable people to live in good health,” said Archbishop Ettore Balestrero, apostolic nuncio and Permanent Observer to the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva, Switzerland. Archbishop Balestrero added that “the ethical litmus test of any reshaped global health architecture is how it treats those whose inherent dignity is most easily forgotten: the child in the womb, the elderly, persons with disabilities, the poor, the displaced.” - Amid mass protests, Bolivian bishops issue urgent plea for dialogue (Conferencia Episcopal Boliviana)
The Bolivian bishops issued an urgent plea for dialogue amid ongoing mass protests that began on May 7. The Church “reiterates her readiness to accompany every sincere effort at encounter and reconciliation, and invites the People of God to intensify their prayer for Bolivia,” the episcopal conference said in a May 25 statement. - Prelate discusses Church's response to ethnic violence in Manipur (Catholic Connect)
Three years after the outbreak of ethnic violence in the northeastern Indian state of Manipur (map), the state’s leading prelate discussed the Church’s efforts to foster reconciliation. “The Church has been deeply affected, just as the wider society in Manipur has,” said Archbishop Linus Neli of Imphal, India. “Thousands were displaced, and even after three years, only around 10% have been resettled, while many continue to live in relief camps.” - Kansas City priest arrested on suspicion of stealing $160,000 from parish (KMBC-TV)
A priest of the Archdiocese of Kansas City, Kansas, was arrested on suspicion of stealing $160,000 from his former parish. Father Richard Storey, formerly of Curé of Ars Catholic Church in Leawood, was suspended and resigned his pastorate last fall amid a criminal investigation into an allegation that involved an adult victim. According to an archdiocesan statement, a subsequent archdiocesan review of parish finances uncovered information that “warranted referral to law enforcement.” - Leading Dominican prelate meets with Pontiff (N Digital)
Pope Leo XIV met for 30 minutes on May 25 with Coadjutor Archbishop Carlos Tomás Morel Diplán of Santo Domingo, a massive see of 2.5 million Catholics in the Dominican Republic. Archbishop Diplán, who already exercises administrative and financial authority in the archdiocese, said he was “invited to participate in several meetings at the Vatican.” The Dominican news site N Digital reported that the Pope and the archbishop discussed the prelate’s mission in the archdiocese, as well as other issues related to the Church in the Caribbean nation. - Bishop Barron warns against open borders, 'demonization' of Trump administration (Fox News)
Bishop Robert Barron of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota, said in an interview that “there are darn good reasons, moral reasons, for being concerned about an open border.” “At times, the Catholic left is great for calling for dialogue and bridge-building—until it comes to conservatives,” Bishop Barron continued, as he called for “bridges of conversation.” “What I don’t want from the Church is a kind of demonization of the Trump administration,” he added. - Philippine cardinal rips politician's defense of drug war (CBCP News)
The president of the Philippine senate praised former President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war (2016-2022), which involved extrajudicial killings, as a “pro-life campaign”—evoking a sharp rebuke from a Philippine cardinal. “I wonder if he can say this straight to the faces of the thousands of women widowed and children orphaned,” Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan said in response to comments made by Alan Peter Cayetano. - USCCB president welcomes new encyclical, says 'no technology can replace a child of God' (USCCB)
The president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops welcomed Pope Leo XIV’s new encyclical (CWN coverage) with “praise and gratitude.” The encyclical is “a powerful reminder that no technology can replace a child of God, and all technology should be placed at the service of helping humanity thrive,” said Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City. - Pope Leo issues 1st encyclical, urges safeguarding of human person in AI era (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV promulgated his first encyclical letter today and emphasized the importance of safeguarding the human person in the era of artificial intelligence. - Pope Leo asks pardon for Holy See's complicitly in slavery (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV renewed the teaching Church’s condemnation of slavery and asked pardon for the Holy See’s complicity in the slave trade. - Coptic Orthodox Church resumes dialogue following Pope Leo's assurances on 'non-blessing of same-sex couples' (CWN)
Citing papal assurances regarding the “non-blessing of same-sex couples,” the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church announced that it was resuming dialogue with the Catholic Church. - Addressing EU lawmakers, Pope laments abortion, says family is founded on marriage between a man and a woman (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV received members of the European Parliament’s Intergroup on Demography and linked the continent’s demographic crisis to the rejection of the Christian vision associated with the founding of European institutions after World War II. - 'Live Christian charity,' Pope tells Barcelona business leaders (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV received members of Círculo Ecuestre, a club of Barcelona business leaders, and encouraged them to “live Christian charity.” - The Spirit of the Risen Christ is the Spirit of peace, mission, and truth, Pope preaches on Pentecost Sunday (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV celebrated Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica on the morning of Pentecost Sunday (booklet, video) and emphasized that the Spirit of the Risen Christ is the Spirit of peace, mission, and truth. - The Holy Spirit opens doors, Pope tells pilgrims on Pentecost (CWN)
In his midday Regina Caeli address on Pentecost Sunday, Pope Leo XIV emphasized that that the Holy Spirit opens doors (video). - Pope asks Mary, Help of Christians, to pray for Church in China, Christians of the Middle East (CWN)
Addressing pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square on Pentecost Sunday, Pope Leo XIV recalled the Day of Prayer for the Church in China and also prayed for the Christians of the Middle East. - More...