Catholic News
- Pope Leo calls for 'theology of wisdom,' cites examples of Augustine, Aquinas, Rosmini (Dicastery for Communication)
Addressing participants in a conference organized by the Pontifical Academy of Theology, Pope Leo XIV called for a “theology of wisdom” and cited the examples of St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas, and Blessed Antonio Rosmini. A theology of wisdom follows “the model developed by the great Fathers and Masters of antiquity. Because of their docility to the Spirit, they knew how to unite faith and reason, reflection, prayer and practice,” Pope Leo said. “Theology is the wisdom, therefore, that opens up greater existential horizons, dialoguing with science, philosophy, art and all human experience. The theologian is a person who lives out, in his or her theological work, a missionary fervor.” In his address, the Pope also referred to the conference’s theme (“Creation, Nature, Environment for a World of Peace”). “You have reflected on issues of urgent relevance, which are very dear to me, just as they were to my venerable predecessors Saint John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis,” Pope Leo said. “Environmental sustainability and the care of creation are essential commitments to ensure the survival of the human race.” - Duchess of Kent receives first Catholic royal funeral in UK since 1685 (Reuters)
Cardinal Vincent Nichols of Westminster presided on September 16 at the funeral of the Duchess of Kent, Katharine Worsley, who became the first member of the British royal family to receive a Catholic funeral since King Charles II in 1685. King Charles III attended the Requiem Mass, as did his heir, Prince William of Wales, with his wife Kate. Pope Leo XIV sent a message that was read at the service, offering his condolences to “Your Majesty, the members of the Royal Family, and especially to her husband, the Duke of Kent, and their children and grandchildren.” The Duchess of Kent, a convert to Catholicism, died on September 4 at the age of 92. - Vatican confirms Pope's prayers for Charlie Kirk, family (Vatican News)
The Vatican press office has confirmed that Pope Leo XIV spoke of his prayers for Charlie Kirk and his family during a meeting on Saturday with the new US ambassador to the Holy See, Brian Burch. Matteo Bruni, the Vatican spokesman, said that in the same meeting with the American envoy the Pontiff “spoke of the need to refrain from rhetoric and instrumentalization that lead to polarization rather than dialogue.” - Pope speaks on Ukraine, synodality, leadership in interview (Crux)
Pope Leo XIV speaks on a variety of topics including the war in Ukraine, the concept of synodality, economic inequality, and his own leadership, in excerpts from an interview that will soon be published in book form. The Pope’s lengthy discussion with Elise Ann Allen of Crux is appearing in Spanish this week; it will be published in the US—under the title Leo XIV: Citizen of the World early next year. In the excerpts that appear on the Crux site, the Pontiff: suggests that the Vatican will continue to advocate for peace in Ukraine, but that proposals for Vatican mediation are “not as realistic.” acknowledges that the concept of “synodality” is not well understood, and offers the explanation that “synodality is a way of describing how we can come together and be a community and seek communion as a Church.” questions extreme inequalities of income in the world economy, noting that chief executives now earn “600 times more than what average workers are earning.” notes that “it seems to be generally recognized that the United Nations, at least at this moment in time, has lost its ability to bring people together on multilateral issues.” discloses that the most novel aspect of his new role has been “being thrown into the level of world leader.” says that in World Cup soccer competition, he will probably be cheering for Peru, but “I’m also a big fan of Italy”—and goes on to discuss his rooting interests in baseball. - Pope encourages Umbrian pilgrims to be 'missionaries of love and peace' (Vatican Press Office)
Addressing participants in the jubilee pilgrimage of the dioceses of Umbria, Pope Leo XIV hailed the Italian region’s heritage of holiness and natural beauty. “You are surrounded by it [beauty], in various ways: appreciate it, love it, let it speak to you of God, and in turn become its proclaimers,” Pope Leo said to pilgrims in St. Peter’s Basilica. “I invite you to live this Eucharist in the same way: free, united, attentive, in awe, and ready to set out from the Altar as missionaries of love and peace.” - Papal rescript encourages employment of persons with disabilities in the Curia (Vatican News)
In an August 4 audience with Cardinal Pietro Parolin (his Secretary of State), Pope Leo XIV approved decisions of the Labor Office of the Apostolic See that promote the hiring of persons with disabilities. Cardinal Parolin, in turn, issued an August 11 rescript that was published over a month later. The General Regulations of the Roman Curia now state the “employment of persons with disabilities is to be promoted in a spirit of welcome and, where necessary, through the adoption of appropriate and specific measures, since the condition of disability does not preclude suitability for work.” One regulation formerly stated that new employees should be in a “state of good health.” It now states that new employees should have “psycho-physical suitability for the duties to be carried out.” - Raleigh is proportionally the nation's most conversion-rich diocese (Catholic World Report)
Catholic World Report has published an analysis of the ratio of conversions and other non-infant receptions into the Church to diocesan population in America’s dioceses. The analysis of statistics published in the latest edition of The Official Catholic Directory took into account adult baptisms, the baptisms of minors who are not infants, and receptions into full communion. The Diocese of Raleigh led the way, with 1 non-infant reception into the Church for every 71 Catholics. In the typical American diocese, there was one for every 413 Catholics; in the last-place Archdiocese of Newark, there was one for every 2,448 Catholics. - Papal telegram pays tribute to Carmelite martyrs of Compiègne (Vatican Press Office (French))
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State of His Holiness, sent a telegram in the Holy Father’s name to the archbishop of Paris as he celebrated a Mass of thanksgiving for the December 2024 canonization of the Carmelite martyrs of Compiègne, slain during the French Revolution. “The peace of heart that inhabited these daughters of St. Teresa [of Avila], who faced martyrdom praising God with hymns and psalms dear to the Church’s liturgy, was truly the fruit of immense charity, but also of the theological faith and hope that inspired them,” Cardinal Parolin wrote. “Total self-giving, forgiveness and gratitude, joy and peace: these are the fruits of charity that have filled the souls of our martyrs,” he continued. “May we learn from them the strength and fruitfulness of an interior life completely focused on heavenly realities!” - Benin: terrorists threaten work of the Church, bishop says (Vatican News)
In the wake of a jihadist attack in Benin, Bishop Martin Adjou Moumouni of N’Dali, Benin told the Fides news agency that terrorists have “made it clear that they want to prevent the Church from continuing its pastoral activities.” The bishop said that the terrorist attack, carried out by an estimated 200 armed men, was aimed to kidnap soldiers, who might be exchanged for prisoners held by the government. He reported that the Islamic terrorists have pledged to launch further attacks, raising fears among his people. - Orthodox Patriarch visits White House (AP)
Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, the “first among equals” of the world’s Orthodox primates, met with President Donald Trump at the White House on September 15. Patriarch Bartholomew said that he had spoken with Turmp about the “the difficulties, the persecutions” that Christians face in Turkey, and more generally about the declining Christian presence in the Middle East. He also spoke about the war in Ukraine, describing “these tragic events that wound the conscience of humanity.” - Holy Land bishops open theological institute in Nazareth (Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem)
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, OFM, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, presided at the opening ceremony of the Annunciation Theological Institute in Nazareth. “We discussed this initiative with the Catholic bishops’ council and concluded the need for a theological center that serves the faithful—especially adults—since what we receive as children is not enough,” he said. “We need to deepen our understanding of our faith. The more we delve into the Church and the faith, the deeper it becomes within our hearts.” - San Diego deacon announces self-deportation during Mass (ABC 10News)
A deacon in the San Diego diocese announced during Mass that he would self-deport, after his legal-residency status was revoked. The deacon’s identity was not revealed either by the San Diego diocese or by the news outlet that reported his announcement. The diocese said that he had been a legal resident during his service as a deacon. - Vatican newspaper welcomes Sudan diplomacy of Trump administration, Arab nations (CWN)
In the most prominent article in its September 13 edition, L’Osservatore Romano praised the diplomatic work of the United States, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates in seeking to end the civil war in Sudan. - Another priest kidnapped in Nigeria (Fides)
Another Catholic priest has been kidnapped in Nigeria. Father Wilfred Ezemba was among several people seized by armed men on the road near Imane on September 13. Police are searching for the kidnappers. - Holy See, Vietnam express satisfaction at progress of relations (Vatican News)
The Holy See and Vietnam expressed “satisfaction with the progress in their bilateral relations” since last year, according to a statement issued by participants in the 12th meeting of the Viet Nam – Holy See Joint Working Group. The group is co-chaired by Msgr. Mirosław Wachowski, the Holy See’s undersecretary for relations with states, and Le Thi Thu Hang, Vietnam’s deputy minister of foreign affairs. Pope Leo XIV received participants in the group on September 13. Nhan Dan, the newspaper of Vietnam’s Communist party, also reported on the meeting, with the headline, “Viet Nam, Holy See bolster ties at 12th meeting of joint working group.” - Pope hails Lampedusa's hospitality to migrants, calls for 'culture of reconcilation' (Vatican Press Office)
In a video message to the faithful of Lampedusa, Pope Leo XIV praised the islanders’ hospitality to migrants and recalled Pope Francis’s 2013 apostolic journey there. “Just as Pope Francis opposed the globalization of indifference with the culture of encounter, so today I would like for us, together, to begin to oppose the globalization of powerlessness with a culture of reconciliation,” Pope Leo said. “Today we must meet each other by healing our wounds, forgiving each other for the evil we have done and also that we have not done, but whose effects we bear.” “So much fear, so many prejudices, so many great walls, even invisible ones, that are between us and between our peoples, as consequences of a wounded history,” the Pope continued, adding: Evil is handed down from one generation to another, from one community to another. But good is also transmitted, and it knows that it is stronger! To practice it, to put it back into circulation, we must become experts in reconciliation. - USCCB heightens mental health engagement (USCCB)
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops announced that it is “amplifying local engagement on mental health.” “As pastors, we want to emphasize this point to anyone who is suffering from mental illness or facing mental health challenges: nobody and nothing can alter or diminish your God-given dignity,” said Archbishop Borys Gudziak and Bishop Robert Barron. “You are a beloved child of God, a God of healing and hope.” - Vatican diplomat condemns child labor, use of children as soldiers (Holy See Mission)
Citing Pope Leo XIII’s encyclical Rerum Novarum, a Vatican diplomat described child labor as “a grave violation of human dignity, since every child is a unique and unrepeatable masterpiece of God.” Archbishop Ettore Balestrero, apostolic nuncio and Permanent Observer to the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva, Switzerland, said at a meeting of the UN Human Rights Council that “exploiting [children] through labor, sometimes of the worst forms, is an ancient scourge and a betrayal of their innocence. It is also one of the most heinous assaults on their human rights.” “The Holy See is also deeply concerned about the continued recruitment and indiscriminate use of children in armed conflicts, as well as the growing misuse of digital technologies to radicalize them and incite their participation,” he added. - Cardinal Parolin hopes for 'new perspective on a new world' (Vatican News (Italian))
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State of His Holiness, encouraged participants in a Vatican conference to work to build a different planet. In his keynote address to the Pontifical Academy of Theology’s conference on “Creation, Nature, Environment for a World of Peace,” Cardinal Parolin said that “the current worrying historical context is, unfortunately, characterized by conflict, selfishness, indifference, and the inability to listen to others, to see the great opportunities that open up to us through the simple act of collaborating together, interacting with mutual respect and in the responsible awareness that, as clearly stated in Laudato Si’, everything is interconnected.” “The harmony between the Creator, humanity, and all of creation has been destroyed because we claimed to take God’s place, refusing to recognize ourselves as limited creatures,” he continued. “What we need is a new perspective on a new world, capable of carefully reading the challenges and signs of the times that can contribute to peace by stimulating social dialogue.” - Pope Leo, other Christian leaders pay tribute to 21st-century martyrs (Dicastery for Communication)
Pope Leo XIV presided at an ecumenical commemoration of 21st-century martyrs at the Papal Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls on September 14. “Despite the end of the great dictatorships of the twentieth century, to this day the persecution of Christians has not ended; on the contrary, in some parts of the world it has increased,” Pope Leo preached. “Just as in the first centuries, so too in the third millennium, the blood of the martyrs is the seed of new Christians,” he continued. “We want to keep this memory alive alongside our brothers and sisters of other Churches and Christian Communities. I therefore wish to reaffirm the commitment of the Catholic Church to safeguard the memory of the witnesses of the faith from all Christian traditions.” During his homily, the Pope cited the witness of Sister Dorothy Stang, Father Ragheed Ganni, and Anglican Brother Francis Tofi. - More...