Catholic News
- Pope pays tribute to the Benedictine charism (Dicastery for Communication)
Pope Leo XIV received monks and nuns from three Italian Benedictine communities on March 30 and reflected on the Benedictine charism, emphasizing lectio divina, community life, and intercession, as well as ongoing formation. “In identifying ‘the instruments of good works,’ Saint Benedict, in Chapter IV of the Rule, urges us to ‘keep guard over one’s every act,’” Pope Leo said. “You, contemplative Benedictine nuns, Benedictine monks, know well how much prayer and prayerful reading of the Word of God, especially in the lectio divina, assist in this vigilance, enabling those who practice them to understand the truth about themselves, in the recognition of their own weaknesses and sins and in the celebration of the Lord’s graces and blessings.” The Pope concluded: Dear brothers and sisters, thank you for the immense and hidden good you do for the Church, through your offering, your unceasing prayer, your service, and the witness of your life. Continue this work, which is “the work of God” (cf. Saint Benedict, Rule, 43, 3). I entrust you to Mary Most Holy, Mother of Silence, Woman of Listening, to Saint Benedict, to Saint Scholastica, and to the many Benedictine saints, and I bless you from my heart. - Pope encourages Illinois municipal leaders to serve others, listen to the poor (Dicastery for Communication)
Pope Leo XIV received members of the Illinois Municipal League and encouraged them to serve others as Christ did. “The victory born of Christ’s gift-of-self stands as both a beacon and a challenge for all of us today,” Pope Leo said during the audience, which took place on March 30 in Clementine Hall of the Apostolic Palace. “As men and women charged with the role of governance, you too are called to discover and to exemplify the gift of service.” “In a particular way, you are called to be attentive to the needs of the weakest and the most vulnerable in order to assist them towards an integral human development,” the Pope continued. “While there are many tasks that vie for your attention each day, I would encourage you to continue listening to the poor, to immigrants, to the least among you, seeking to accompany them in your work to promote the common good to the benefit of all.” - Young people are more than 'cogs in the wheel of commercial success,' Pope tells Italian foundation (Dicastery for Communication)
Pope Leo received members of the Ausilia Foundation, an Italian foundation that assists youth, on March 30, as the foundation, led by Cardinal Giuseppe Versaldi, held a conference in Rome. “Thank you for your generous commitment to helping young people in their formation and integration into the workplace,” Pope Leo said. “Investing not in objects, but in people, in their abilities and skills, constitutes a key strength of your work.” “Indeed, in this way, it is the young people themselves who become the protagonists of their own future, without being regarded as functional tools for a company or cogs in the wheel of commercial success,” the Pope added. - Church in the Holy Land confirms agreement with Israeli police permitting access to Church of the Holy Sepulchre (Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem)
The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Custody (Franciscan province) of the Holy Land issued a joint statement confirming that “matters concerning the Holy Week and Easter celebrations at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre have been addressed and resolved in coordination with the relevant authorities.” “In agreement with the Israel Police, access for representatives of the Churches has been secured in order to conduct the liturgies and ceremonies and to preserve the ancient Easter traditions at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre,” the statement continued. “Naturally, and in light of the current state of war, the existing restrictions on public gatherings remain in force for the time being. Accordingly, the Churches will ensure that the liturgies and prayers are broadcast live to the faithful in the Holy Land and throughout the world.” The March 30 statement followed the Israeli police’s decision, made the previous day, to prevent Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, O.F.M., from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to celebrate Palm Sunday Mass. Following international condemnation, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced he would permit Cardinal Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, to enter the church. In their March 30 statement, the Latin Patriarchate and the Custody of the Holy Land thanked Israeli President Isaac Herzog for his “prompt attention and valued intervention,” as well heads of state around the world who “acted swiftly to convey their firm positions, many of whom personally reached out to express their closeness and support.” - Archbishop Caccia criticizes UN declaration on slavery, defends papal record (Pillar)
Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, the new apostolic nuncio to the United States, criticized a new UN declaration on slavery for its “partial narrative, which, regrettably, does not serve the cause of truth.” “As early as 1435, Pope Eugene IV condemned the enslavement of the inhabitants of the Canary Islands and excommunicated those who refused to free them,” Archbishop Caccia said. “More recently, in 1888, Pope Leo XIII condemned slavery as contrary to the Christian values.” Archbishop Caccia’s mandate as Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations officially ceased on March 7. However, no replacement has been named, and he has continued to represent the Holy See at the UN. - French bishops discuss traditional Latin Mass (La Croix)
French bishops spoke with the Catholic newspaper La Croix about the traditional Latin Mass after Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State of His Holiness, encouraged them to develop “concrete proposals” to allow for the generous inclusion of persons attached to the extraordinary form. “There is a shared willingness to truly get to the bottom of things,” said Bishop Olivier de Cagny of Évreux, who led a discussion of the topic at the French bishops’ recent meeting. “It is the first time I have heard so clearly that the subject must be addressed at a theological level, and not merely in a pastoral and emotional way.” La Croix reported: While the majority of the Assembly showed itself determined to tackle the subject head-on, several positions emerged: some, aligned with the Motu Proprio of Francis, expect the same firmness from Leo XIV; others are open to accommodations, but only under certain conditions—a common lectionary and liturgical calendar, the celebration of the other sacraments (baptism, marriage, confirmation…) according to the new rite (possibly in Latin), a return to episcopal responsibility within each diocese, and above all, an end to “exclusivism”—that is, the strict refusal to celebrate according to the new missal, which the bishops consider “unacceptable” (and contrary to the spirit of Benedict XVI’s Motu Proprio, which called for “mutual enrichment”). - Bishop Wilmer, Pope Leo discuss evangelization, Church in Germany (Deutsche Bischofskonferenz)
Pope Leo XIV received Bishop Heinrich Wilmer, S.C.J., the new chairman of the German Bishops’ Conference and new bishop of Münster, on March 30. “The central topic of the conversation was the proclamation of the Gospel—and, in this context, the situation of the Church in Germany,” the bishops’ conference said in a statement. “Bishop Wilmer expressed his gratitude to the Holy Father for the trust placed in him regarding his appointment as Bishop of Münster,” Germany’s most populous diocese. - 11 new members named to Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV appointed eleven new members of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development. Four of the new members are from the United States. - Angelicum rector meets with Pontiff, renews commitment to Thomist tradition (Angelicum)
Pope Leo XIV, who obtained his licentiate and doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum), received the university’s rector magnificus, Father Thomas Joseph White, O.P., on March 30. “The Angelicum expresses its deep gratitude to the Holy Father for his paternal attention and encouragement, and renews its commitment to serving the Church and her universal mission of evangelization through study, teaching, and research in the tradition of St. Thomas Aquinas,” the university said in a statement following the audience. - USCCB publishes 'The Two Feet of Love in Action' (USCCB)
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has published a brief resource, “The Two Feet of Love in Action.” The bishops’ conference explained that the two feet are “two distinct, but complementary, ways we can put the Gospel in action in response to God’s love: social justice (addressing systemic, root causes of problems that affect many people) and charitable works (addressing immediate needs and providing emergency assistance).” The resource, developed by the Secretariat of Justice and Peace, was released on March 27. - Israel denies Cardinal Pizzaballa access to Church of the Holy Sepulchre, then backtracks (CWN)
Israeli police prevented Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, O.F.M., from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to celebrate Palm Sunday Mass. Following international condemnation, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced he would permit Cardinal Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, to enter the church. - 13-year decline in worldwide priestly vocations accelerates (CWN)
The 13-year decline in the number of major seminarians worldwide accelerated during 2024, the last full year of Pope Francis’s pontificate, according to statistics published in the new editions of the Annuarium Statisticum Ecclesiae (2024 edition) and Annuario Pontificio (2026 edition). - Pope Leo appoints new Sostituto and new Prefect of the Papal Household (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV today named Archbishop Paolo Rudelli, the apostolic nuncio to Colombia, as the new Sostituto. The Pontiff also named Archbishop Petar Rajič, the apostolic nuncio to Italy and San Marino, as the new Prefect of the Papal Household, and in doing so filled a position that has been vacant for three years. - 'This is our God: Jesus, King of Peace,' Pope Leo preaches at Palm Sunday Mass (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV celebrated Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square this morning (booklet, video) and emphasized in his homily that Jesus is the King of Peace. - Bishops 'alarmed' by EU's approval of new deportation policies (COMECE)
The Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) lamented the European Parliament’s decision to develop a migration framework that will increase deportations. COMECE stated that it is “particularly alarmed by the potential consequences of the adopted position for the dignity and fundamental rights of vulnerable persons. Measures that facilitate returns, expand detention, or externalize responsibilities to third countries raise serious questions about the effective safeguarding of human rights and respect for the dignity of every human person.” - Catholic population remains stable at 17.8% of world population; baptisms decline, number of priests rises (CWN)
17.8% of the world’s people are Catholic, a figure that remained steady in 2024, according to statistics published in the new editions of the Annuarium Statisticum Ecclesiae (2024 edition) and Annuario Pontificio (2026 edition). - Archbishop Caccia condemns racism, warns against AI stereotypes (Holy See Mission)
Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, the new apostolic nuncio to the United States, reiterated the Holy See’s “full and firm condemnation of racism and racial discrimination in all their forms.” Addressing a UN meeting, Archbishop Caccia said that “at first glance, racism appears to persist in manifesting itself as discrimination founded on erroneous assumptions of racial superiority. However, at a more profound level, this pervasive scourge is operating through more subtle and complex mechanisms that often evade immediate recognition.” Citing Pope Leo, Archbishop Caccia warned that AI systems can reflect the biases of those who construct them. Archbishop Caccia’s mandate as Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations officially ceased on March 7. However, no replacement has been named, and he has continued to represent the Holy See at the UN. - French bishops announce program for abuse victims (Église catholique en France)
The French bishops overwhelmingly approved the formation of Renaître (To be reborn), a program to accompany abuse victims. Renaître will come into existence on September 1, following the expiration of the mandate of the Independent National Authority for Recognition and Reparation. The bishops’ conference explained that “personalized support is set up by people specifically trained by the national authority ... The support will make it possible to find restorative approaches with the person recognized as a victim.” Under Renaître, the local bishop will send a “letter of acknowledgment of the violence suffered” upon the canonical or civil conviction of the accused. In other cases, such as when the accused priest is deceased, the bishop will acknowledge the suffering that has been experienced. - USCCB urges faithful to oppose Trump administration's proposed regulations for federal funding recipients (CWN)
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) issued an action alert calling on the faithful to oppose the Trump administration’s proposed new regulations for recipients of federal funding. - Persian Gulf bishop says Iran responded 'legitimately' to attacks by Israel, US (AsiaNews)
The bishop who leads the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia said that the decision of Israel and the United States to begin the Iran war was “based on revenge” and that Iran responded “violently,” albeit “legitimately.” Bishop Aldo Berardi, O.SS.T., whose territory covers Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, told AsiaNews that Israel and the United States “said they wanted to reach a deal, then they bombed and killed (Iran’s) political and religious leader (Ali Khamenei). People understand that (Iran) is now trying to defend itself.” Bishop Berardi said that residents of the Persian Gulf states “are wondering why, despite the money spent on protection, bases, and weapons, we have been attacked so hard” by Iran. “At first, it was thought that (the war) could be over in a week,” the prelate continued; he said that Iran responded “violently,” albeit “legitimately.” - More...