Catholic News
- Pope's prayer intention for November: for the proper use of wealth (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV’s prayer intention for November 2026 is “let us pray for the proper use of wealth, that not succumbing to the temptation of selfishness, it may always be put at the service the common good and solidarity of those who have less.” - Pope offers scientists 5 considerations in guiding AI's development (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV offered scientists in the field of artificial intelligence five considerations for AI’s future development. - Annual Vatican message to Hindus focuses on peace in the 'spirit of Assisi' (Vatican Press Office)
The Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue issued its annual message to Hindus ahead of Diwali (Deepavali), the Hindu festival of lights. The message—entitled “Hindus and Christians: Forging pathways of peace together in the ‘spirit of Assisi’”—recalls the 40th anniversary of Pope St. John Paul II’s 1986 day of prayer for peace there. “As persons grounded in our respective religions, and as people with shared values, may we, Hindus and Christians, draw renewed inspiration from the fortieth anniversary of the Assisi gathering,” the dicastery’s prefect and secretary wrote in their October 30 message. They added: May we imbibe ever more the spirit of Assisi in our own lives by praying for peace, living the spirit of fraternity in our daily lives, and, by engaging actively in interreligious dialogue, joining hands with people of other religions and all people of goodwill in working for peace in our world. We wish you all a Happy Deepavali! - Pope Leo votes in US midterm elections; USCCB issues statement (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV cast a mail-in ballot in the U.S. midterm elections. - Pope names 2 Synod undersecretaries; Sister Becquart's term ends (General Secretariat of the Synod)
Pope Leo XIV appointed two undersecretaries of the General Secretariat of the Synod, which remains under the leadership of its secretary general, Cardinal Mario Grech. Father Giacomo Costa, S.J., the special secretary of the synods on youth (2018) and synodality (2021-2024), succeeds Archbishop Luis Marín de San Martín, O.S.A., who was appointed prefect of the Dicastery for the Service of Charity in March. (The functions of the papally appointed special secretary are described in the apostolic constitution Episcopalis Communio.) Sister Elena Massimi, F.M.A., succeeds Sister Nathalie Becquart, X.M.C.J., who has spoken frequently on the topic of synodality. Sister Massimi is president of the Association of Professors and Scholars of Liturgy, and head of Liturgical Music at the National Liturgical Office of the Italian Episcopal Conference. Cardinal Grech said that “Father Giacomo accompanied the Assembly from within and knows its method; Sister Elena comes from liturgy and music, and so she knows what it means to build unity, to harmonize different voices without reducing them to a single note. This is exactly what the implementation phase [of the synod on synodality] needs.” - Venezuela's bishops call for free elections (Aid to the Church in Need)
Citing “polarization, a lack of institutional integrity, and restrictions on democratic guarantees,” the bishops of Venezuela called for “free and transparent elections, with an impartial National Electoral Council (CNE) and an independent Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ), so that due process is guaranteed, disqualifications are brought to an end, and the political rights of all citizens are respected.” Delcy Rodríguez, Nicolás Maduro’s vice president, has been the nation’s acting president since U.S. forces removed Maduro from office in January. The bishops welcomed “greater freedom of expression for the mass media” since January, even as they said that “many actions still need to be taken to restore citizens’ rights.” - Holy See 'deeply concerned' by withdrawals from international weapons treaties (Holy See Mission)
A leading Vatican diplomat said that the Holy See is “deeply concerned” by withdrawals from two international treaties: the Convention on Anti-Personnel Mines (1997) and the Convention on Cluster Munitions (2008). Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland have withdrawn from the former treaty; Lithuania, from the latter. China, Russia, and the United States have not signed either treaty. Archbishop Christophe-Zakhia El-Kassis, apostolic nuncio and Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, told participants in a recent UN General Assembly committee meeting that the withdrawals “threaten decades of progress in humanitarian disarmament.” The prelate added that “the devastating humanitarian consequences of using explosive weapons in populated areas are a grave concern for the Holy See.” - Albania's bishops meet with Pontiff (CNA.al)
The bishops of Albania met with Pope Leo XIV on October 30 for over an hour. The prelates, who were in Rome for their ad limina visit, “presented the Holy Father with the icon of Our Lady of Good Counsel, Patroness of the Albanian People, skillfully crafted by an Albanian artist, while renewing the invitation to visit our country,” the Albanian news site CNA.al reported. Located in southern Europe, the Balkan nation of 2.6 million is 65% Muslim and 33% Christian (20% Orthodox, 11% Catholic). - Cardinal Becciu 'nervous' after appeal trial postponed until January (AdVaticanum)
At a brief hearing on October 29, Archbishop Alejandro Arellano Cedillo, the president of the Vatican City State’s Court of Appeal and dean of the Roman Rota, postponed until January 26 the appeal trial of Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu, former prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. “We are nervous,” the prelate said in reaction to the postponement. Cardinal Becciu and his co-defendants were convicted in 2023 of financial crimes. Both the prosecution and the defense appealed the ruling. - Europe's bishops appeal for 'just and sustainable peace' in Ukraine, elsewhere (CCEE)
The presidents of the bishops’ conferences of Europe issued an “unwavering appeal for a just and sustainable peace in all conflict zones on this continent and across the globe.” “Our continent of Europe is facing the largest military conflict since World War II,” the prelates, who were meeting in Salzburg, said in their October 29 statement. “No one can remain indifferent to the atrocities taking place in Ukraine. Indeed, we must never become accustomed to such blatant violations of the norms of civilization.” The bishops also recalled St. Francis of Assisi, who “teaches us to greet one another with these words: ‘May the Lord give you peace.’ Through forgiveness Christians transform their hearts and pave the way for peace. We know that this is never an easy path. But it is the path of the Gospel.” - MIT physics professor hails Vatican's 'strong moral leadership' on AI (CWN)
A scientist who leads an organization concerned about the risks of artificial intelligence hailed the Vatican’s “strong moral leadership” on the issue. - Brother of slain Catholic official urges West to act against persecution in Pakistan (OSV News)
Peter Bhatti, the brother of the Servant of God Shahbaz Bhatti (1968-2011), said that “neither the U.K. nor any other Western government is doing enough for the persecuted Christians of Pakistan.” Shahbaz Bhatti, Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Minorities Affairs, was assassinated by members of the Taliban. His brother said earlier this week that “the West needs to promote interfaith harmony in Pakistan so everyone can live together. Unless the West talks seriously with the Pakistani government that won’t happen.” - 2,000 Ukrainians wait in line for food distributed by Vatican prefect (Vatican News)
An estimated 2,000 Ukrainians waited in line in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, as the prefect of the Dicastery for the Service of Charity led a delegation that distributed bread and canned food. Archbishop Luis Marín de San Martín, O.S.A., began a humanitarian mission to Ukraine on October 27. After he arrived in Zaporizhzhia the following evening, “air raid alarms sound[ed] without interruption,” Vatican News reported. “One can hear the buzzing of drones, missile explosions and distant artillery fire.” - Indonesian bishops: Burnt forests should be restored, not converted to economic use (AsiaNews)
The Commission for Justice, Peace, Migrants, and Itinerant People of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Indonesia said that there is a moral obligation to restore forests that have burned down, rather than converting them to economic uses such as agriculture and mining. The commission made its call for ecosystem restoration in an October 26 document, “Listening to the Cry of the Earth: Defending Life Amid Forest and Land Fire Disasters in Indonesia.” - Teens disrupt Vienna Mass with shouts of 'Allahu Akbar' (CNA Deutsch)
Shouting “Allahu Akbar” (Allah is the greatest), a group of teenagers disrupted Mass at an unnamed parish in Vienna, Austria, earlier this month. “There was no danger; it was not a threatening situation: I want to make that clear,” said the parish priest. “It was likely just youthful high spirits.” The priest told Die Presse that he did not file charges and asked, “What would that achieve?” Citing concern about potential Islamist attacks, he asked the newspaper not to print the name of his parish. - Pope approves modification of curial personnel regulations (Vatican News)
In a rescript approved on October 19 and released yesterday, Pope Leo XIV approved modifications of the 2025 Regulations of Personnel of the Roman Curia. Vatican News reported that the modifications “concern essential aspects of the employment relationship: the correct identification of the competent authority, the time allotted to an employee to present their defense in disciplinary procedures, and the right to access adequate legal assistance.” - Man arrested for releasing insects inside German cathedral (OIDAC Europe)
A 72-year-old man was arrested after 50 crickets were released inside the Cathedral of St. Peter in Trier, Germany. The release caused the temporary closure of the Chapel of the Holy Robe, where what is believed to be Christ’s seamless robe is venerated. - Cardinal Reina speaks on 'Church of Rome, Missionary Church' (Fides)
Cardinal Baldassare Reina, vicar general of His Holiness for the Diocese of Rome and Archpriest of the Lateran Basilica, delivered the inaugural lecture of the Pontifical Urban University’s new academic year. In his October 29 lecture, “Church of Rome, Missionary Church,” Cardinal Reina discussed aspects of the Diocese of Rome’s “missionary exemplarity.” Founded in 1627, the Pontifical Urban University, or Urbaniana, is closely linked with the Dicastery for Evangelization. - Detroit archbishop joins anti-ICE protest (The Detroit News)
Archbishop Edward Weisenburger of Detroit joined a protest against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on October 30. “Sometimes what people most need is for others to stand in solidarity with them,” he said. “I never thought I’d see something like that in my day: hiding behind masks, snatching people off streets.” The prelate also discussed his actions in an Instagram video posted by the Detroit Free Press. - Archbishop Gallagher says Pope wants Ukraine war to end (L'Osservatore Romano (Italian))
Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Holy See’s Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, told journalists that “we will remain committed to Ukraine, addressing humanitarian issues, the exchange of prisoners, and the return of deported Ukrainian children.” “Pope Leo XIV wants to bring the war in Ukraine to an end,” Archbishop Gallagher said on October 27. The prelate added that the White House and Russia want the Holy See to take a supportive role, rather than a direct role, in negotiations to end the war. At the same time, he noted that “we have a good relationship and good communication” with the White House, “including through Ambassador Brian Burch.” - More...