Catholic News
- Cardinal Parolin, at Guadalupe, emphasizes presence, witness, and prayer (Vatican News (Spanish))
The Secretary of State of His Holiness emphasized presence, witness, and prayer as he celebrated Mass at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City on August 5. The Blessed Virgin Mary’s “presence brought comfort and security to a society that had experienced rapid and unexpected changes,” Cardinal Pietro Parolin preached. “Her apparition revealed a way to reconcile cultures and peoples within a truly universal faith, where there is neither Jew nor Greek, neither slave nor free, but where all are united and are one.” “Her example challenges us to be present, too, for the needy, the marginalized, migrants, and foreigners,” Cardinal Parolin continued. “A faithful witness to the truth of the Gospel can transform hearts and, consequently, transform the world.” The prelate added that “each of us is invited to set aside time to open ourselves to the Lord and truly listen to the promptings of the heart. When the Lord speaks of giving us His peace, a peace the world cannot give, He speaks of something that is found only in prayer.” - Australian bishops issue statement, 'Living the Gospel in Times of Social Division' (Australian Catholic Bishops Conference)
The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference today released a 15-page statement, “Living the Gospel in Times of Social Division.” “We are living through an era of heightened community tension and a growing normalization of abusive behavior, incendiary language and violence,” said Archbishop Timothy Costelloe, S.D.B., of Perth, the president of the bishops’ conference. “The Gospel offers a different path. It calls us back to Jesus Christ, who meets division not with hostility but with mercy; not with the logic of ‘us and them’ but with the costly love that heals and transforms.” The Australian bishops’ tradition of releasing an annual social justice statement dates to 1940. - Franciscan minister-general issues letter, 'Clare, Woman of Peace' (Order of Friars Minor)
The minister-general of the Order of Friars Minor issued a letter, “Clare, Woman of Peace,” ahead of the upcoming memorial of St. Clare of Assisi. Written by Father Massimo Fusarelli, O.F.M., the August 1 letter to the Poor Clares has six sections: Clare on the Path of Reconciliation and Peace Gazing into the Mirror: Contemplation leading to Peace Francis and Clare: Two different Paths towards the same Peace Forgiveness and Guarding the Heart Stories of Peace Rediscovered Clare, a Prophet of Peace for our Time “As we celebrate 800 years since the blessed Transitus of Saint Francis, an evangelical man and preacher of reconciliation, the world continues to be torn apart by wars, divisions, and polarization, with little to no understanding of the Good News of ‘peace,’” Father Fusarelli began. “We feel this reality with great sorrow, as it is a challenge to all Christians but particularly to religious. And so we seek a word of hope, some light to shine and help us navigate through this time.” - 541 people currently living at Gaza parish (Vatican News)
The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem said in an interview yesterday that Gaza’s sole Catholic parish is housing 541 people. As he discussed the present situation of Christians in the Holy Land, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, O.F.M., said that the 541 people “are trying, in whatever way they can, to return to normal life.” “We are working to reopen the school,” Cardinal Pizzaballa continued. “We have opened a medical center.” The prelate added that at the parish, “there are priests, but above all very active religious sisters who run activities for children, not only Christian children. In the midst of such a devastated reality, we are trying above all to recreate an environment that is as healthy and peaceful as possible.” - Safeguard voting rights, USCCB subcommittee chairman urges (USCCB)
Recalling the anniversary of the signing of the Voting Rights Act (1965), the chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Subcommittee for the Promotion of Racial Justice and Reconciliation said that “today, many communities of color worry about how recent developments will impact their fair representation and future participation in the democratic process.” “For decades, the U.S. bishops have advocated for the right of eligible citizens to participate fully in public life, including the protection of voting rights,” Bishop Daniel Garcia of Austin, Texas, said in an August 5 statement. “We encourage all citizens to exercise their right to vote and urge policymakers to safeguard voting rights and promote fair representation for all.” - Nigerian cardinal's remarks about presidential advisors spark controversy (Fides)
A Nigerian cardinal sparked controversy when he said that presidential advisors were hiding information about true conditions in the nation from Bola Tinubu, the nation’s president since 2023. Cardinal John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan, archbishop emeritus of Abuja, made his remarks following the July 28 meeting between President Tinubu and Nigerian prelates. Cardinal Onaiyekan said that “we knew that what the bishops had revealed was different from the kind of information our president continues to receive from the people he meets.” - War is disfigurement, Cardinal Tagle preaches on Feast of the Transfiguration (Fides)
In his homily for the Feast of the Transfiguration, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle said that “what the world disfigures, the Father transfigures.” Preaching in the chapel of the Palazzo di Propaganda Fide, Cardinal Tagle, one of the two pro-prefects of the Dicastery for Evangelization, concluded: On August 6, 1945, 81 years ago, at 8:15 in the morning, a burst of light illuminated the city of Hiroshima in Japan—light from a nuclear bomb that brought the darkness of destruction, sickness, and death. Some say that day “transfigured” the world because it led to the surrender of an enemy, thereby contributing to the end of World War II. Now we ask: Is the war really over? Can we truly call war a transformation? Why can’t we call war by its true name: disfigurement? Only God’s revelation—not war—can bring transformation to humanity. - Cardinal Ambongo calls Church in Africa to embrace a deeper culture of listening (SECAM)
The president of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) called upon the Church in Africa to embrace a deeper culture of listening, shared responsibility, and discernment. “Let us listen attentively, not only to one another but, above all, to the voice of the Holy Spirit,” said Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, O.F.M. Cap., of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, at a seminar entitled “The Synodal Church in Africa: Journeying Towards the 2028 Ecclesial Assembly.” The Church is currently in the implementation phase of the 2021-24 Synod on synodality, with diocesan assemblies scheduled to take place in the first half of 2027, national assemblies in the second half of 2027, and continental assemblies during the first four months of 2028. The implementation phase culminates in an ecclesial assembly in Rome in October 2028. - Kansas diocese establishes college seminary (Diocese of Wichita)
The Diocese of Wichita, Kansas, announced that its house of formation is becoming a college seminary, St. Philip Neri Seminary. “Nine years ago when we started the house of formation, we had no idea if it would be successful,” said Bishop Carl Kemme. “It was a bit of a risk, you know, and a lot depended on how many men would come. Over the years, our numbers have grown significantly.” With 44 seminarians for 113,970 Catholics (one for every 2,590 Catholics), the Diocese of Wichita is among the most vocation-rich in the nation, according to a recent Catholic World Report analysis. - The Theatines: a numerical overview (CWN)
Today is the optional memorial of St. Cajetan (1480-1547), cofounder of the Congregation of Clerics Regular (Theatines). - Follow Christ and do not fear lifelong commitments, Pope tells young people in Assisi (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV arrived in Assisi this morning for a brief pastoral visit with participants in the Go! Franciscan Youth Meeting. In his first public meeting there (video), he challenged young people present to follow Jesus and not fear lifelong commitments. - Pope mourns Mozambique's Cardinal Langa, recalls him as 'distinguished shepherd' (Vatican Press Office)
Pope Leo XIV sent a telegram of condolence to the apostolic administrator of Xai-Xai, Mozambique, following the death of Cardinal Júlio Duarte Langa (1927-2026), who governed the see from 1976 to 2004. The Pontiff recalled Cardinal Langa, who ministered during the Mozambican Civil War (1977-1992), as a “distinguished shepherd.” The Pope explained: Faithful to Jesus, Master and Lord, he learned from him the art of closeness in the shepherding of souls, devoting himself with simplicity, zeal and perseverance to the flock entrusted to him, without allowing himself to be discouraged by difficulties, instead seeing them as places in need of the Good News, especially when it was necessary to proclaim the Gospel of peace and reconciliation for a future of fraternity among all Mozambicans. - Listen to God, 'dare to obey the Holy Spirit,' and 'be new saints,' Pope Leo preaches in Assisi (CWN)
As his brief pastoral visit to Assisi today drew to a close, Pope Leo XIV celebrated Mass in the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels (video) and challenged the young people present to listen to God and “dare to obey the Holy Spirit.” - Warm papal greetings for Polish people, Jasna Góra pilgrims (CWN)
At the conclusion of his August 5 general audience, Pope Leo XIV said: - Confucian-Christian dialogue's final statement focuses on common convictions (Vatican News)
Despite their differences, the Christian and Confucian traditions share the conviction that “personal transformation, ethical living, and care for others are the foundations of healthy families, communities, and societies,” according to the final statement of a Confucian-Christian colloquium in South Korea, at which the prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue spoke. Participants in the colloquium, whose theme was “Dialogue on the Contribution of Christianity and Confucianism to an Ideal Society: The New Heaven, the New Earth, and Datong (Great Unity),” agreed that “a just and peaceful society depends on leadership rooted in integrity, humility, service, and concern for the common good.” “Care for the vulnerable, future generations, and our common home is both a moral and spiritual responsibility,” the statement continued. “Hope for a better world calls us to work together through the trials and imperfections of the present.” - Mexico's bishops mark 100th anniversary of persecution (Ángulo Político)
The Mexican bishops’ conference issued a statement marking the 100th anniversary of the Calles Law, which suppressed the liberty of the Church and precipitated the Cristero War. The episcopal conference’s president and secretary-general recalled that Pope Pius XI’s “teaching about the kingship of Christ—who does not impose himself with arms, but reigns from the cross—became in Mexico a popular cry that no army could extinguish: ‘Long live Christ the King and Holy Mary of Guadalupe!’ One hundred years later, that cry is still a program: to recognize that no human power is absolute, because God alone is Lord of conscience and of history.” Stating that “we do not commemorate a war or celebrate a victory,” Bishops Ramón Castro Castro and Héctor Pérez Villarreal said that “we commemorate, instead, three things”: “the fidelity of a believing people who, in the midst of fear, continued to pray in their homes, baptize their children in secret, protect their priests and keep the faith alive when there were no churches open” “the testimony of the martyrs, who did not kill for Christ, but died for Him, forgiving their executioners” “the lesson learned at a very high price: that religious freedom is not a privilege of the clergy, but a right of every human person, and that its denial always ends up costing blood” - South American bishops welcome announcement of November papal trip (CWN)
Bishops in Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru welcomed the Vatican’s August 5 announcement that Pope Leo XIV will visit the three nations in November. - German diocese criticizes donor's offer of money for baptisms (Katholisch.de)
The Diocese of Augsburg, Germany, criticized an entrepreneur’s offer to give families in the Starnberg area 500 euros ($577) upon the baptism of a child. While describing Peter Löw’s offer as a “well-intentioned action,” the diocese said that “Catholic parents are obliged to have their children baptized as soon as possible and to bring them up in the Christian faith. Since there are no costs for the church celebration of baptism, the financial aspect, which is brought to the fore in the ‘Starnberg Guardian Angel’ campaign, is unlikely to be decisive.” - USCCB committee chairman welcomes Gaza disarmament agreement (USCCB)
The chairman of the U.S. bishops’ chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace welcomed the announcement of a disarmament agreement in Gaza. “I am heartened by news of an agreement which aims at the disarmament of Hamas and Israel’s military withdrawal from the Strip, and I call for intense prayers for the success of these negotiations,” said Bishop A. Elias Zaidan, the Maronite bishop of Los Angeles. “To further strengthen this advance, I call on the United States, Israel, and the international community to facilitate greater amounts of humanitarian and development assistance to the Strip.” “Conscious of the extreme challenges inherent in this ongoing peace process, let us entrust the hearts and minds of the negotiators to the maternal care of Our Lady of Wisdom, that she may illumine and enliven their efforts to finally achieve peace in those sacred lands,” Bishop Zaidan concluded. - Latin American bishops, religious launch 'Care unites us' campaign (Fides)
The Latin American and Caribbean Network for the Culture of Care, joined by abuse-prevention commissions of bishops’ conferences, the Latin American Confederation of Religious, and Caritas, launched a campaign, “Care unites us: Caring is everyone’s responsibility.” Fides, the news agency of the Pontifical Mission Societies, reported that “one of the campaign’s central objectives is to move beyond a narrow understanding of prevention as merely a response to abuse or the implementation of protocols. Instead, it seeks to make care a permanent dimension of community and pastoral life.” - More...