Catholic News
- Migrants are models of hope, Pope writes in message for World Day of Migrants (Vatican News)
In his message for the annual World Day of Migrants and Refugees, Pope Leo XIV writes that migrants—like the people of Israel in the Old Testament—offer the world a model of hope. “They demonstrate this daily through their resilience and their truth in God, as they face adversity while seeking a future in which they glimpse that integral human development and happiness are possible,” the Pontiff says. The World Day of Migrants and Refugees would ordinarily be observed on September 24. This year, however, the 111th annual observance will take place on October 4 and 5, to coincide with the Jubilee of Migrants and Missions. In his message the Pope laments the factors that prompt people to leave their homelands. “The prospect of a renewed arms race and the development of new armaments, including nuclear weapons, the lack of consideration for the harmful effects of the ongoing climate crisis, and the impact of profound economic inequalities make the challenges of the present and the future increasingly demanding,” he says. - Detroit archbishop fires seminary professors (CWN)
Detroit’s Archbishop Edward Weisenburger has fired two prominent teachers at the archdiocesan seminary, apparently because they had been critical of Pope Francis. - Father Arrupe, former Jesuit head, was aware of priest's abuse record (National Catholic Reporter)
The late Father Pedro Arrupe, the former world leader of the Jesuit order and now a candidate for beatification, was aware that a Jesuit candidate for the priesthood had a history of sex-abuse complaints, court documents in a New Orleans case show. Father Arrupe testified that he had been informed about complaints against Donald Dickerson, who had been described as “a poor risk for ordination.” But he did not block Dickerson’s path to the priesthood. Dickerson, who died in 2016, was eventually charged with multiple cases of sexual abuse during his priestly career. Father Arrupe, who led the Society of Jesus from 1965 to 1983, is credited with transforming the Jesuits, placing a heavy emphasis on social-justice work. He resigned as superior general in 1983 after suffering a severe stroke that left him incapacitated, and died in 1991. - Haiti's bishops deplore 'barbarism' into which nation has fallen (Haiti Libre)
In a July 23 statement, the bishops of the Caribbean nation of Haiti deplored current conditions there. The bishops described Haiti as “a failing state that no longer ensures security, justice, or the minimum subsistence for its people; a fragmented territory, abandoned to the law of arms and the terror of armed gangs; a population on the run, displaced, humiliated, impoverished, wounded in its flesh and soul.” They added: No one is exempt from the atrocities committed by armed gangs; no place or symbol is spared: places of worship are desecrated, sanctuaries are violated and ransacked, the country’s historical and cultural heritage is vandalized, burned down. “We denounce these acts of barbarism; they are the sign of a people that is losing the sense of God, and, with him, the sense of man,” they continued. “Above all, why do the State Authorities not make their greatest effort to protect what remains of our territory and what should be inviolable, namely: life, freedom, culture and memory?” - Pope Leo pays tribute to Italian president for work on behalf of peace (Vatican News (Italian))
In message to Italian President Sergio Mattarella for his 84th birthday, Pope Leo XIV assured the president of his prayers and paid tribute to the president’s “exemplary and tireless service to the cause of peace and harmony among peoples.” - Caritas, other agencies plead: let aid into Gaza (Caritas Internationalis)
Caritas Internationalis, the Church’s federation of relief and development agencies, joined over 100 agencies in “sounding the alarm to allow in life-saving aid” into Gaza. “As the Israeli government’s siege starves the people of Gaza, aid workers are now joining the same food lines, risking being shot just to feed their families,” the agencies stated. “With supplies now totally depleted, humanitarian organizations are witnessing their own colleagues and partners waste away before their eyes.” The agencies added that “just outside Gaza, in warehouses—and even within Gaza itself—tons of food, clean water, medical supplies, shelter items and fuel sit untouched with humanitarian organizations blocked from accessing or delivering them. The Government of Israel’s restrictions, delays, and fragmentation under its total siege have created chaos, starvation, and death.” - Papal encouragement for Dominican order (Order of Preachers)
Pope Leo XIV offered encouragement to the master of the Order of Preachers (Dominicans) as the order holds its general chapter of priors provincial. “I pray that your deliberations will enable you to listen attentively to the Holy Spirit, who continues to guide the Church in the fullness of truth (cf. Jn 16: 13),” Pope Leo wrote. “I likewise hope that this time together will strengthen your commitment to serve the Body of Christ in the form of evangelical life chosen by Saint Dominic.” The message, dated July 17, was publicized by Vatican media on July 24. - NY archdiocese reports strong response to priest-recruitment program (Our Sunday Visitor)
The Archdiocese of New York has reported a powerful response to a program designed to attract young men interested in exploring a vocation to the priesthood. The “Called by Name” program drew nearly 800 responses. “It’s more than I would have hoped for, for sure,” said Father George Sears, a spokesman for the archdiocese. - US bishops call for repeal of 'severely problematic' FACE Act (USCCB)
The chairmen of the US bishops’ Committee for Religious Liberty and Committee on Pro-Life Activities lent their support to the FACE Act Repeal Act of 2025, sponsored by Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX). Rejecting “violence in any form,” including the violence of abortion, Bishops Kevin Rhoades and Daniel Thomas wrote that “as Americans, we have the right to public self-expression, including praying peacefully, advocating, and compassionately reaching out to mothers seeking abortion with life-affirming alternatives.” “Our brother bishops opposed the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act when it was passed in 1994,” they continued. “They knew it would lead to discriminatory prosecutions against those peacefully protesting to uphold life, with all the accompanying personal impacts on them and their families ... It is time to repeal the severely problematic FACE Act.” - US envoy protested Israeli scrutiny of Evangelical visitors (Fides)
A shift in Israeli visa policy—calling for careful scrutiny of visa requests from Evangelical Christian groups in the US “to ascertain whether or not they should be recognized as religious institutions”—drew a sharp rebuke from the US Ambassador to Israel. Noting that Evangelicals in the US are among the most loyal supporters of the Israeli government, Ambassador Mike Huckabee warned that “if the government of Israeli continues to impose the expense and bureaucratic harassment for the granting of routine visas, that for decades have been routine, I will have no other choice that to instruct our consular section to review options for reciprocal treatment of Israeli citizens seeking visas to the United States.” Huckabee later reported that the potential conflict had been satisfactorily resolved. - Federal judge halts defunding of Planned Parenthood clinics that do not provide abortions (Religion Clause)
A federal judge has temporarily barred the federal government from cutting off Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood clinics that do not offer abortions. The decision follows a ruling by the same judge that temporarily blocked the one-year defunding of Planned Parenthood in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. - 'We are living in a nightmare,' prelate says of Cambodia-Thailand conflict (Fides)
The apostolic prefect of Battambang, Cambodia, told the Fides news agency that “we have woken up to the nightmare of a war.” “Military clashes have broken out again on the border between Cambodia and Thailand, and the situation is very tense and worrying, with the use of powerful military vehicles and fighter jets,” said Father Enrique Figaredo Alvargonzalez, SJ. The prelate attributed the conflict to “an internal political game in Thailand, where strong nationalist impulses are perceived.” - Leading Anglican prelate expresses solidarity with Gaza's Catholics (Episcopal News Service)
Archbishop Stephen Cottrell of York, currently the highest-ranking Anglican prelate with the see of Canterbury vacant, expressed solidarity with Gaza’s Catholic parish and with local Catholic and Orthodox prelates. “My prayers remain with the steadfast and suffering Christian community in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and most particularly in Gaza, after the recent deadly attack on the Roman Catholic Holy Family Church,” he said in his statement. “I stand in pastoral solidarity with the Latin and Greek Patriarchs of Jerusalem, and give thanks for their recent visit to Gaza.” The Anglican prelate added: There are no excuses for the bombing of places of worship where desperate people are taking shelter, or hospitals where the sick and injured are being cared for. I echo the words of Pope Leo XIV and say clearly that this barbarism must stop. - Vatican City announces plastic bottle recycling initiative (Vatican City State)
The Governorate of Vatican City State announced the signing of an agreement with Hera Group, an Italian utility company, to provide for plastic bottle recycling. “During the pilot phase, volunteers—easily identifiable by their distinctive vests—will manage the collection points in the Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Square,” according to the announcement. “Bottles will be deposited in dedicated containers, then transported to facilities for sorting and recycling to allow their reuse.” - Body of Blessed Frassati, relic of Blessed Acutis's heart will be in Rome for Jubilee of Youth (CNS)
The coffin of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati (1901-1925) is being transferred from Turin to the Basilica of Santa Maria sopra Minerva in Rome for the Jubilee of Youth, which begins on July 28. In addition, a first-class pericardium relic of Blessed Carlo Acutis (1991-2006) will be venerated in the Church of San Marcello al Corso. A half million young people from 146 countries are expected in Rome for the Jubilee of Youth. Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to canonize the two blesseds on September 7. - 'Hunger like bombs': Vatican newspaper article decries hunger in Gaza (CWN)
L’Osservatore Romano devoted its most prominent article in its July 24 edition to hunger in Gaza. - Mexican government invites Pontiff to visit nation (El Sol de México)
President Claudia Sheinbaum announced on July 24 that the Mexican interior minister would extend an invitation to Pope Leo XIV to visit the nation. The president made her announcement prior to a meeting between the interior minister and Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Holy See’s Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, who is currently visiting Mexico. - Israel report: shelling of Gaza church was accidental (Catholic Herald)
The shelling of Holy Family church in Gaza on July 17 was accidental, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have announced. After an investigation of the incident, the IDF said that the church was struck by a mortar round “due to an unintentional deviation of munitions.” The report went on to say that the IDF has issued new guidelines “for opening fire near religious buildings, shelters, and other sensitives sites.” The IDF report, issued on July 23, said that the mortar shell “injured several Gaza civilians.” It did not acknowledge the death that had resulted. Officials at the Patriarchate of Jerusalem said that they had heard about the IDF report from media reports. Witnesses at Holy Family church had originally reported that the church was hit by a shell from a tank, not a mortar. - The Church will never abandon Gaza, Patriarchs say following visit (CWN)
The Latin and Greek Orthodox Patriarchs of Jerusalem held a joint press conference on July 22 to discuss their visit to Holy Family Church in Gaza, following the Israeli military strike that left three dead and ten wounded there. - Los Angeles archdiocese sets up new fund for immigrants (Angelus News)
Archbishop José Gomez of Los Angeles, working with local business executives, has established a fund to help families facing special financial needs because of recent raids by federal immigration officials. “This program will provide direct support to families who are suffering financial hardships because of the current climate of uncertainty and fear,” the archbishop said at a July 23 press conference. The fund will support parish programs to assist families with groceries, medications, and other immediate needs. - More...