Catholic News
- 'Live out the Gospel of peace and mercy' during summer, Pontiff writes (Vatican News)
In the July-August issue of Piazza San Pietro, the magazine of St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Leo responded to a letter writer who sought advice on deepening his Christian life during the summer months. Encouraging the faithful to “live out the Gospel of peace and mercy,” Pope Leo asked families to visit elderly relatives who live alone and not to forget the sick. “Commit yourselves to bringing humanity and hope to those who suffer, and you will see the fruits of grace,” the Pope continued. “You will discover how much love will fill your lives, how much joy, how much happiness.” “Let us also avoid excess and waste, materialism and consumerism, and let us educate ourselves in simplicity and moderation,” he added. “The accumulation of wealth hinders evangelization.” - Cardinal Parolin renews call for peace, dialogue (Vatican News)
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State of His Holiness, renewed his call for peace and dialogue amid continued fighting in the Iran war and in Ukraine. Cardinal Parolin also criticized the construction of a barrier in Gaza and appealed for calm in Bologna following the death of a Moroccan man under police restraint. Cardinal Parolin made his remarks on July 22 at the Italian Embassy to the Holy See, where he was speaking at the presentation of Antonio Preziosi’s book Easter of Peace: From John XXIII to Leo XIV Towards the Jubilee of 2033. - Bishop appointed, consecrated in China (Vatican Press Office)
The Holy See Press Office announced the July 22 consecration of Father Joseph Chang Yanfeng, 42, as bishop of Chifeng, China. Typically, the Holy See Press Office announces a bishop’s appointment, rather than his consecration. In announcing the prelate’s consecration, the press office stated that Pope Leo, “having approved his candidature within the framework of the Provisional Agreement between the Holy See and the People’s Republic of China,” made the appointment on June 15. The principal celebrant at Bishop Chang’s episcopal ordination Mass was Bishop Meng Qinglu of Hohhot, vice chairman of the government-controlled Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association. - Archbishop Gallagher hails Ukrainians' faith, courage (Vatican News)
The Holy See’s Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations paid tribute to the faith and courage of the Ukrainian people. “What struck and moved me most was the courage of the people, their determination, and also their faith in God the Father,” Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher said after returning from a visit to Ukraine. “There is a firm resolve to live as normal a life as possible: to continue working, to care for their children, to look after the elderly, and to foster solidarity with those who have suffered under bombardment.” “I was deeply impressed by their nobility of spirit and by their determination to preserve their freedom and independence,” Archbishop Gallagher added, During Archbishop Gallagher’s visit to Ukraine, the Russian military launched a missile and drone attack that struck the neighborhood of the apostolic nunciature, where the prelate was staying. - Christ is the true bridge-builder, Cardinal Tagle tells Asia's bishops (Fides)
Addressing the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle described Christ as the true builder of bridges. Cardinal Tagle, one of the two pro-prefects of the Dicastery for Evangelization, “exhorted the assembly to anchor all pastoral discernment in the person of Christ before launching structural initiatives and to pray with biblical images rather than abstract concepts,” the Fides News Agency reported. In his July 22 reflection, Cardinal Tagle also compared synodal accompaniment to helping someone walk. Citing the example of his 96-year-old father, who is no longer able to walk, Cardinal Tagle said, “How do you walk with someone who cannot walk? You stay. You touch the hand. You whisper to his ears, and he is assured he is not alone.” - Brazil's Catholic youth want more doctrine, a reverent liturgy, and less politics, survey finds (EWTN News)
A survey of over 11,000 Catholic youth conducted by the Brazilian bishops’ Episcopal Commission for Youth found that a widespread desire for formation in the faith and in holiness. Participants also said that their life of faith was hindered by “a lack of reverence for the liturgy and an excessive emphasis on sociopolitical issues,” according to an EWTN News report. “Among the perceptions voiced by participants, many expressed a desire to find a Church deeply centered on Jesus Christ, spirituality, liturgy, and faith formation,” said Layla Kamila, who works for the episcopal commission. “Open-ended responses also reveal observations regarding the desire for evangelization to keep Christ at the center.” - Historic Peruvian churches severely damaged following earthquake (OSV News)
An earthquake in Huancayo, Peru, destroyed approximately homes and caused severe damage to two churches, including the sixteenth-century Church of St. James the Apostle in Chongos Bajo. “We join in the grief of the families mourning their loved ones, raising our prayers for the eternal rest of the deceased, and asking the Lord to grant strength, comfort, and hope to all,” the Peruvian bishops’ conference said in a statement. - Vatican newspaper highlights international wealth inequality (L'Osservatore Romano (Italian))
L’Osservatore Romano devoted the most prominent article in its July 22 edition to rising international wealth inequality. “The number of people suffering from hunger continues to decline, yet the gap between the wealthiest nations and developing countries is widening, especially in Africa,” the Vatican newspaper reported. Valerio Palombaro’s article cites “The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2026,” a new UN report. - Florida bishops ask governor to stay executions (Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops)
Citing Evangelium Vitae, Pope St. John Paul II’s 1995 encyclical letter on the value and inviolability of human life, the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops asked Governor Ron DeSantis to stay two executions scheduled for July 28. “The crimes of which these men were convicted are gravely evil,” the conference’s executive director, Michael Sheedy, wrote in his July 21 letter. “To punish with lifelong imprisonment is not to minimize the heinousness of these men’s crimes,” Sheedy added. “It is rather to recognize with awe that God is the author of life, and to reserve to him the taking of human life except where it is otherwise impossible to maintain the common good.” - Lawmaker calls for police probe of Buffalo diocese (WKBW-TV)
A New York State lawmaker called for a police investigation into the Diocese of Buffalo following the arrest of a suspended diocesan priest on child pornography charges. “Nearly every priest that I had, you know, I grew up in the Church, was credibly accused of child sexual abuse,” said Rep. Patrick Burke, 42. “Many friends of mine were victims of child sexual abuse.” - Pope makes surprise excursion to shrine, monasteries (Vatican News)
Pope Leo XIV made a surprise visit today to the Shrine of the Holy Trinity in Vallepietra, some 60 miles from the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo. The Pontiff then proceeded to Subiaco, where he visited the Monastery of Saint Benedict and Abbey of Saint Scholastica, before returning to Castel Gandolfo. - Vatican denies Rupnik acquittal rumors (Pillar)
The Vatican today denied rumors that Father Marko Rupnik’s canonical trial on charges of abusing women religious has ended in acquittal. “Reports of any deliberation by the judges following the case of Rev. Marko Ivan Rupnik are absolutely unfounded,” the Holy See Press Office said in a statement (excerpts). “The deliberation of the case is still ongoing, and the panel is examining documentation from the dioceses involved, the Jesuits, interested parties, and the press.” - Community life fosters holiness, Pope tells US male religious superiors (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV encouraged the superiors of men’s religious institutes in the United States to see community life as a “place of sanctification and a source of inspiration, witness and strength in your apostolate.” - Maronite Patriarch calls for prayer as Lebanon's president meets with President Trump (OSV News)
The Patriarch of the Maronite Catholic Church called for prayer as President Joseph Aoun traveled to Washington to meet with President Trump, amid the Lebanon war. “However severe the crises facing Lebanon may become, this country is not lost as long as God accompanies it,” said Cardinal Béchara Boutros Raï, O.M.M. “We pray for Lebanon and its officials, asking God to guide them in working for national unity, preserving the dignity of the people and safeguarding sovereignty.” - Cardinal Zuppi appeals for calm as protests erupt in Bologna (Faro di Roma)
Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi of Bologna appealed for calm after protests erupted in the Italian city following the death of a Moroccan immigrant under police restraint. Lamenting hatred and violence, Cardinal Zuppi offered prayers for the person who lost his life and called for respect for the law and institutions. He appealed to the faithful “not to tire of building paths of peace, reconciliation and encounter so that the strength of the love that is given to us by Jesus, sower of goodness in the heart of every person, prevails.” - Cardinal Gracias calls on Asia's bishops to be bridge builders (Catholic Connect)
Cardinal Oswald Gracias called on Asia’s bishops to “become bridge builders—to become bridges ourselves.” “We are called to connect people, bring them closer together, reconcile differences, resolve conflicts, and help build peace in the world,” Cardinal Gracias preached at the opening Mass of the plenary assembly of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC). “This is evangelization. This is building the Kingdom of God.” Pope Leo XIV appointed Cardinal Gracias, the retired archbishop of Mumbai, as his special envoy for the occasion. The plenary assembly, which is taking place in Jakarta, is the twelfth such gathering of Asia’s bishops since 1970; the assembly’s theme is “The Call to Synodal Conversion and the Mission to Be Bridges and Bridge-Builders in Asia.” - Vatican City State signs agreement to offer healthcare assistance to consecrated religious (Vatican City State)
The Governorate of the Vatican City State signed an agreement with a corporation (RBHold S.p.A.) and a foundation (Fondazione Futuro Salute ETS) to provide healthcare assistance to “consecrated religious, missionaries and other related categories of persons who are not enrolled, or are not eligible for enrolment, in the Vatican Healthcare Assistance Fund.” The agreement, signed on July 13, seeks to “facilitate access to preventive healthcare and medical treatment through a specific organizational and financial model inspired by the principles of mutual solidarity and sustainability, with the exclusion of any individual profit-making purpose,” the Vatican City State said in a statement. - Vatican newspaper laments war's effect on Ukraine's children (L'Osservatore Romano (Italian))
In a prominent front-page article in its July 21 edition, L’Osservatore Romano highlighted the suffering of Ukraine’s children amid Russian nighttime attacks. “Another night spent in shelters, another night interrupted by the sound of sirens and illuminated by the flashes of constant explosions,” staff journalist Francesco Citterich began. “For thousands of Ukrainian children, darkness no longer means rest, but terror. Sleeping peacefully is now a privilege that repeated Russian bombardments continue to deny.” “While entire cities are once again being struck and devastated, it is the children who pay the highest price for a military invasion that, after more than four years, continues to tear away security, serenity, and a future from an entire generation,” Citterich continued. “Every night without peace serves as a reminder of the burden of a war that continues to consume lives and hopes.” - Archbishop Dellagiovanna begins mission as nuncio, a year after Pope replaced him elsewhere (CWN)
Archbishop Giancarlo Dellagiovanna has begun his mission as apostolic nuncio to El Salvador, the Vatican newspaper reported on July 21. - Employees shaken after bullet flies through wall at Catholic Charities office (CBS Boston)
Gunshots were fired yesterday outside the Catholic Charities office in Brockton, Massachusetts, with one bullet piercing the building’s wall. “Our employees, who work tirelessly to serve the Brockton community through our food pantry, adult education, and elder outreach, are shaken by this frightening incident,” Catholic Charities said in a statement. “We are incredibly grateful to Brockton Police for their immediate response and that our staff and the clients we serve are safe.” - More...