Catholic News
- Foster missionary attitude, Pope urges Roman Curia [news analysis] (Vatican Press Office)
In a December 22 address to the leaders of the Roman Curia, Pope Leo XIV insisted that the work of the Vatican should be characterized by a missionary attitude and a spirit of communion. The Pope’s annual exchange of Christmas greetings with the Roman Curia has an opportunity for the Pontiff—especially, as in this case, a new Pontiff—to set priorities for the Vatican leadership. Pope Leo stressed the need for “the missionary transformation of the Church,” while adding that this transformation must be closely linked to a spirit of communion among the Church’s leaders, and between the leaders and the people. Under Pope Francis, the papal address to the Curia had blunt criticism, even outright scolding of prevailing attitudes at the Vatican. Pope Leo’s tone was much gentler, but his message did include cautions against the rivalries and turf battles that can arise among Church leaders. Mission and communion Pope Leo praised his predecessor at the start of the speech, saying of Pope Francis: “His prophetic voice, pastoral style and rich magisterium have marked the Church’s journey in recent years.” He also sounded some of the themes that prevailed especially at the start of the last pontificate. “By her very nature, the Church is outward-looking, turned toward the world, missionary,” Pope Leo said. He said that the Curia should always seek to “make progress in the missionary transformation of the Church, who draws her inexhaustible strength from the mandate of the Risen Christ.” Toward that end, the Pope said, the Vatican should work to advance the cause of evangelization, in a spirit of “pastoral solicitude in service to the particular churches and their pastors.” He concluded by again saying, “We need an ever more missionary Roman Curia.” To be missionary, however, requires a spirit of communion, Pope Leo said. He urged Curial officials to work cooperatively, guarding against competition and rivalry and inter-office conflicts, working toward “genuine fraternal friendship” among Vatican officials. Quoting St. Augustine, as he so frequently does, the Pope said: “In all human affairs, nothing is truly cherished without a friend.” “Is it possible to be friends in the Roman Curia?” asked the Pontiff—who, during his months as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, saw the effects of bureaucratic conflicts. He said: Thus, in interpersonal relationships, in internal office dynamics, or in addressing questions of faith, liturgy, morality and more besides, there is a risk of falling into rigidity or ideology, with their consequent conflicts. To guard against such friction, the Pope encouraged the Curial leaders to bear in mind that “we are not mere gardeners tending our own plot, but disciples and witnesses of the Kingdom of God.” He concluded with an insistent reassurance that “mission and communion are possible if we place Christ at the center.” - Priestly formation is key, Pope writes in new apostolic letter (Vatican News)
“A fidelity that generates the future is what priests are called to today,” Pope Leo XIV says, in the opening line of a new apostolic letter on priestly formation. The papal document, entitled Una Fedelta che Genera Future, was released on December 22, to mark the 60th anniversary of the Vatican II documents on priestly formation and priestly ministry. In it the Pontiff challenges priests to be conscious of the call from God that drew them to the priesthood. He assures them that their fidelity to priestly ministry will be strengthened “when we passionately remember the sound of the voice of the Lord who loves, chooses and calls us.” The need for that fidelity has been dramatized in recent years by the crises that have rocked the Catholic world, “caused by abuses committed by members of the clergy,” the Pope observes. He adds notes the unfortunate increase in the number of priests leaving the ministry. The Pope writes: Only priests and consecrated persons who are humanly mature and spiritually solid – in other words, those in whom the human and spiritual dimensions are well integrated and who are therefore capable of authentic relationships with everyone – can take on the commitment of celibacy and credibly proclaim the Gospel of the Risen One. Pope Leo calls for greater attention to a spirit of fraternity among priests, and suggests exploring “possible forms of community life” to strengthen those bonds. He also encourages priests to recognize that they are not called to “dominate or take on all tasks themselves,” but should work humbly in cooperation with the laity. - Pope Leo hails St. Joseph's example of 'piety and charity, mercy and abandonment' (CWN)
In his Angelus address on the Fourth Sunday of Advent, Pope Leo XIV upheld St. Joseph as a model of “piety and charity, mercy and abandonment” that Christians should imitate as Christmas approaches (video). - Archbishop Coakley defends immigration stance in TV interview (Politico)
Archbishop Paul Coakley, the president of the US bishops’ conference, defended the American bishops’ focus on immigration in a Sunday television interview, saying that the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration has caused “fear in a rather widespread manner.” The archbishop acknowledged the nation’s right to control its own borders. But he said that the Trump approach has created “a lot of anxiety,” and the US bishops wanted worried immigrants to know: “We hear you, we’re aware of your suffering of your fears, and we fully intend to accompany you during this difficult time.” Archbishop Coakley said that he had not yet met President Trump but looked forward to speaking with him soon. - Pope, in final Saturday jubilee audience, says that 'to hope is to generate' (CWN)
In the eleventh and final special Saturday audience of the jubilee year, Pope Leo XIV said that to hope is to generate, as the Blessed Virgin Mary did (video). - Jerusalem cardinal visits Gaza, vows to rebuild (Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem)
The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem concluded a three-day pastoral visit yesterday and vowed to rebuild. “We will rebuild—our schools, our houses, and our life,” Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, OFM, said at Gaza’s sole Catholic parish on the first day of his visit. Later during the visit, he celebrated Mass and preached: We are in a very difficult situation, like many others throughout Gaza. But now we are in a new phase. We are called not only to survive, but to rebuild life. We must bring the spirit of Christmas—the spirit of light, tenderness, and love. It may seem impossible, but after two years of terrible war, we are still here. - Peacemaking is the 'quintessential Catholic action,' Pope tells children of Catholic Action (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV received young people of the Italian Catholic Action movement on December 19 and told them that “to make peace is the quintessential ‘Catholic action,’ because it is the gesture that makes us witnesses of Jesus, the Redeemer of the world.” - Pontiff prays that young people understand importance of sacramental marriage, be open to life (CWN)
At the conclusion of his December 20 jubilee audience, Pope Leo XIV told Polish-speaking pilgrims: - Nigerian officials: all kidnapped school children are now free (BBC)
Nigerian government officials have announced that all of the children abducted from a Catholic school by gunmen on November 21 have now been set free. Over 250 students and teachers had been kidnapped, with more than 100 released earlier this month. Government officials announced “the rescue of the remaining 130 children and staff,” boasting that “not a single pupil is left in captivity.” - Papal preacher devotes final Advent sermon to the universality of salvation (Vatican News)
The Preacher of the Papal Household preached his third and final weekly Advent sermon in Paul VI Audience Hall on December 19, in the presence of Pope Leo, the Roman Curia, and staff of the Vatican City State and of the Vicariate of Rome. The title of Father Roberto Pasolini’s sermon was “The Universality of Salvation: An Unconditional Hope.” The sermon had five sections, entitled “The true light,” “Those who seek, find,” “Remaining seated,” “Arise and shine,” and “Finding oneself.” The overall theme of the Capuchin Franciscan’s series of Advent sermons was “Awaiting and hastening the coming of the day of God: Jubilee hope between waiting for the Lord and the universality of salvation.” The theme of the first sermon was “The Parousia of the Lord: An expectation without hesitation”; the theme of the second, “Rebuilding the Lord’s house: A Church without contrapositions.” - New Florida bishop's parish has perpetual adoration, 68 hours of weekly Confession (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV has named Father Manuel de Jesus Rodriguez, the pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows Parish in Corona, New York, as the new bishop of Palm Beach, Florida. - Vatican newspaper shines spotlight on 'forgotten' refugees fleeing Sudan (CWN)
The Vatican newspaper devoted the most prominent front-page article in its December 19 edition to what charitable organizations have described as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis: the plight of refugees fleeing the Sudanese civil war. - Vatican spokesman: Contemplate the Christ Child, and seek the ways of peace (Vatican News)
In an editorial, “Commitment to peace born from contemplating face of the Christ Child,” a Vatican spokesman wrote that “to look upon that Child, the central figure of our Nativity scenes, cannot leave us indifferent to the tragedy of the many children who are victims of war.” Andrea Tornielli, the editorial director of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication, said on December 19 that “for Christians, peace and non-violence have profoundly evangelical roots in the words and attitude of Jesus, who ordered Peter—when he tried to defend Him—to put his sword back into its sheath.” Tornielli warned that “In public debate and in the media, an aggressive and confrontational logic seems to prevail”—“a destabilizing and extremely dangerous logic that goes far beyond the principle of legitimate defense and leads us towards the abyss of a new world conflict, with unpredictable and devastating consequences.” - Catholic author reflects on interrogating Guantanamo prisoners (Lincoln diocese)
Author and translator Jennifer Bryson, whose most recent published work is a translation of the German Catholic author Ida Görres, reflected on her experience interrogating prisoners at Guantanamo, and how her Catholic faith influenced her approach. “I said, ‘these are human beings,” she explains. “An interrogation is a conversation between two human beings.” - Pope Leo's vision of 'disarming peace' [News Analysis] (CWN)
“Peace exists; it wants to dwell within us,” Pope Leo XIV writes in his message for the 59th annual World Day of Peace. - Pope, in phone call with Israeli president, reiterates Church's condemnation of anti-Semitism (CWN)
President Isaac Herzog of Israel called Pope Leo XIV on the afternoon of December 17 to extend his Christmas greetings. During the call, which took place three days after the Bondi Beach shooting, Pope Leo “reiterated the Catholic Church’s firm condemnation of all forms of antisemitism,” according to a statement from the Holy See Press Office. - Surprise papal visit to Italian Senate library (Rome Reports)
Pope Leo XIV made an unexpected visit to the Italian senate library on December 18. There, he viewed the Borso d’Este Bible, a 15th-century Bible typically kept in Modena, Italy, but now on loan to the Senate. - Pontiff appoints new archbishop of Westminster (Vatican Press Office)
Pope Leo XIV today named Bishop Richard Moth of Arundel and Brighton as the new archbishop of Westminster, England. The 67-year-old prelate was ordained to the priesthood in 1982 and ordained a bishop in 2009, serving as military ordinary from 2009-16 until his transfer to Arundel and Brighton. Bishop Moth succeeds Cardinal Vincent Nichols, 80, who has led the Archdiocese of Westminster since 2009. - War victim, assassinated leader's daughter help present papal peace message (CWN)
A Bosnian war victim and the daughter of an assassinated Italian prime minister helped present Pope Leo XIV’s Message for the World Day of Peace (CWN analysis) at a Vatican press conference yesterday (video). - 'Maximum security' planned for Pakistan's churches at Christmas (Fides)
Regional governments in Pakistan have “implemented special measures to ensure maximum security near Christian churches” at Christmas, the Fides news agency reported. “There is widespread fear of terrorist attacks in Pakistani society,” said Father Qaisar Feroz, OFM Cap, communications officer for the bishops’ conference. “The government’s plan for alerting and protecting sensitive locations also includes churches, especially during the Christmas season.” Islam is the official religion of the South Asian nation of 252 million (map), the fifth most populous in the world. 95% of Pakistan’s people are Muslim; 2% are Christian, and 1% are Hindu. - More...