Catholic News
- Put Christ at the center, Pope preaches to Benedictines of Sant'Anselmo (Dicastery for Communication (Italian))
Pope Leo XIV celebrated Mass at Sant’Anselmo all’Aventino, the church of the Abbot Primate of the Benedictine order, and preached that “we too will be able to respond to the demands of the vocation received only by putting Christ at the center of our existence and our mission.” “We are called to seek him and to him we are called to bring all those we meet, grateful for the gifts he has bestowed on us, and above all for the love with which he has gone before us,” the Pope said at the conclusion of yesterday evening’s homily for the 125th anniversary of the church’s dedication. “This temple will then also become more and more a place of joy, where one experiences the beauty of sharing with others what one has freely received.” - Vatican tribunal rules against listing 'credibly accused' priests (Pillar)
The Vatican’s top canonical court has reportedly ruled that the release of lists of priests who have been “credibly accused” of sexual abuse can be a violation of the priests’ rights. According to a report in the Italian daily La Repubblica, the Roman Rota ruled in favor of an American priest who sued a religious order for publishing his name on a list of “credibly accused” priests. Such a decision, which could be subject to appeal, could challenge to policies of the many dioceses and religious orders that have released “credibly accused” lists. The Vatican has not confirmed the report of the Roman Rota’s decision. The case reportedly was brought by a priest who said that the listing of his name damaged his reputation without providing him an opportunity to defend his good name. Last September, the Vatican Dicastery for Legislative Texts issued a caution on the release of “credibly accused” lists, emphasizing the right of those accused to the presumption of innocence. The dicastery acknowledged that a listing could be justified in order “to avoid any danger or threat to individuals or to the community,” but argued forcefully against posting such lists “for alleged reasons of transparency.” - 'Jesus calls you to be witnesses of communion,' Pope tells Slovak youth (Dicastery for Communication)
In a video message to youth gathered outside the cathedral in Košice, Slovakia, Pope Leo XIV said, “Jesus calls you to be witnesses of communion, builders of bridges and sowers of trust in a world often marked by division and suspicion.” “Do not be afraid, then, to show that you are Christians, to live the Gospel with enthusiasm, and to share the joy that springs from encountering the Lord,” Pope Leo continued. “Bring the light of Christ into your families, schools, universities, workplaces and communities.” - US bishops elect new president, VP (USCCB)
At their fall plenary assembly in Baltimore (texts, videos), the US bishops elected Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City and Bishop Daniel Flores of Brownsville, Texas, as the conference’s president and vice president. The bishops also affirmed the advancement of the cause of beatification and canonization of Father Richard Thomas, SJ (1928-2006). OSV News and The Pillar have been providing extensive coverage of the November 10-13 gathering. - Papal praise for missionary cooperation between Europe, Africa (Dicastery for Communication)
Pope Leo XIV received members of the Fondation Internationale Religions et Sociétés and praised them for their commitment to support education in Africa. “I encourage your engagement, which is not limited to Catholic education, but which extends equally to missionary cooperation between North and South,” Pope Leo said, as he praised the foundation for its “decision to create an International Center for Missiology and North-South Pastoral Care. It is my hope that this institution will come into being.” - Pontifical academy president welcomes 'dismantling' of term Co-Redemptrix (L'Osservatore Romano (Italian))
The president of the Pontifical Academy of Theology welcomed Mater Populi Fidelis, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith’s new doctrinal note on some Marian titles (CWN coverage). “The document, with surgical precision, dismantles the title [of Co-Redemptrix] not because Mary does not cooperate, but because the term constructs a misleading image,” Bishop Antonio Staglianò wrote in an article for the Vatican newspaper. “Abandoning ‘Co-Redemptrix’ is not a loss, but a gain in depth.” “Mary ceases to be a ‘quasi-Christ’ in a dangerous salvific parallelism,” he added. “Instead, she becomes the icon of creaturely dissimilarity before God.” - South African president, Pontiff discuss poverty (@CyrilRamaphosa)
Following a recent papal audience, President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa said that he was deeply moved by the Pontiff’s empathy for the poor and that he had invited the Pontiff to visit South Africa. The nation of 60.4 million is 81% Christian (7% Catholic), 7% ethnic religionist, and 2% Hindu. - Pope plans special consistory of cardinals in January (National Catholic Register)
Pope Leo XIV plans a special consistory of cardinals, to take place on January 7-8. The Vatican Secretariat of State sent a message to all the world’s cardinals on November 6, telling them to expect a summons to the consistory. A special consistory is an unusual event, ordinarily called to discuss an important event. At the last such consistory, in August 2022, the cardinals discussed the reorganization of the Roman Curia. The topic of the January meeting has not been disclosed. However, at meeting leading up to the conclave that elected Pope Leo, several cardinals suggested more frequent meetings, noting their responsibilities as advisers to the Pontiff. For several years, under Pope Francis, the College of Cardinals had not met as a body except at consistories for the elevation of new cardinals. - Spanish bishop under Vatican investigation over historical abuse claim (Catholic Herald)
The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith is investigating a claim that Bishop Rafael Zornoza Boy of Cádiz y Ceuta, Spain, abused a seminarian over a period of several years in the 1990s. The prelate denies the allegation. - Syrian Christians return to village after 14 years (Custody of the Holy Land)
Syrian Christians returned to their village of Ghassanieh (Al-Ghassaniyah, Idlib), 14 years after their displacement at the beginning of the Syrian Civil War. “Ghassanieh has returned, hope is alive, faith has triumphed,” said Father Raimondo Girgis, a native of the village. - Vatican newspaper warns of climate change's effects on children (L'Osservatore Romano (Italian))
L’Osservatore Romano devoted the most prominent article in its November 11 edition to the effects of climate change on children. In “Vite in pericolo” [Lives in danger], the Vatican newspaper referred to the United Nations Children’s Fund and the UN Climate Change Conference as it cited “UNICEF’s warning at COP30 in Belém: approximately one billion children live in areas at ‘very high risk’ due to climate change.” The data “should shock consciences,” wrote Vatican media’s Valerio Palombaro. “Extreme climate events are the second leading cause of malnutrition after war.” “The combined effects of extreme weather events, widespread poverty, and fragile basic services have fueled a long-lasting nutritional crisis: today, 40% of children under five suffer from chronic malnutrition, and nearly 12 million people live in conditions of acute food insecurity,” Palombaro concluded. - Retired Vatican cardinal writes book on synod on synodality (L'Osservatore Romano (Italian))
Cardinal Francesco Coccopalmerio, 88, the president of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts from 2007 to 2018, has written a book for parish priests and parish councils on the synod on synodality’s Final Document. In his foreword, Cardinal Mario Grech, the Secretary General of the Synod, praised the book for “revisiting and illustrating the salient passages of that document so that it can be accessed by a wide audience.” “I also appreciate the critical remarks he occasionally makes about the Final Document, for example, pointing out certain general statements or repetitions,” Cardinal Grech added. “It must be kept in mind that the text was drafted under considerable time pressure, and, ultimately, it is almost surprising that, in such a context, a final draft of such quality was achieved.” - Strip away non-essential structures, Pope tells Italian religious superiors (Dicastery for Communication)
Addressing participants in the general assembly of the Italian Conference of Major Superiors, Pope Leo XIV called for “a continuous stripping away of structures and attachments that are non-essential or even harmful to the full realization today of the original mission inspired by the founders.” “To this end I would like to recall, in particular, the importance of encouraging, in the forms of governance, a fruitful alternation in responsibilities and offices, avoiding static situations that risk favoring rigidity and sclerosis,” Pope Leo said. The Pope also cited “three important attitudes” listed in the synod on synodality’s final document: “ecclesial discernment, care in decision-making processes, and a commitment to accountability and evaluation of one’s actions and their results and methods.” - Cardinal Fernandez explains Vatican approach to apparitions, revelations (Vatican News)
Speaking at a conference on mysticism, being held at the Pontifical Urban University, Cardinal Victor Fernandez said that while recognizing the “freedom of the Spirit” to act in many different ways, the Church is slow to give official recognition to supernatural phenomena because the messages associated with them might be misunderstood as “revealed Word.” Cardinal Fernandez pointed out that in the past 50 years, the Vatican has approved about 3,500 beatifications and canonizations, usually involving the recognition of a miraculous event in support of each cause. Yet over the same period of time, he added, the Church has only given full formal approval to the three or four cases involving supernatural events. Even in the cases when the Church does give formal approval to reported revelations or apparitions, the prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith remarked, they remain matters of “private devotion,” not required belief. More typically, he said, the Vatican will issue a statement expressing no obstacle to devotion, without giving a final verdict on the authenticity of the revelations. - Holy See reiterates position on gender (Holy See Mission)
The Holy See recently welcomed the outcome document of the 16th Ministerial Conference of the United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and, in doing so, stated: The Holy See reiterates its position regarding the term “gender.” The Holy See underlines that any reference to “gender” and related terms contained in any document that has been or that will be adopted by this Ministerial Conference or used within or adopted by the intergovernmental machinery of UNCTAD is to be understood as grounded in the biological sexual identity that is male or female. - Help young people counter Internet addiction: papal message (Dicastery for Communication)
In a video message to the 7th National Conference on Addictions, held in Rome, Pope Leo XIV warned against excessive Internet use “that often leads to addictions with negative consequences for health, such as compulsive gambling and betting, pornography, and almost constant presence on digital platforms.” Young people are often “not encouraged to strive for a righteous and beautiful life; they have the tendency to withdraw into themselves,” Pope Leo said. “State institutions, voluntary associations, the Church and society are called upon to perceive among these young people a cry for help and a deep thirst for life, to offer an attentive and supportive presence that invites them to make an intellectual and moral effort, and helps them to forge their will.” - Tanzanian prelate decried post-election violence (Vatican News)
Archbishop Jude Thaddeus Rwa’ichi of Dar es Salaam condemned the violence that broke out after general elections in Tanzania. At a November 9 Mass, celebrated for the victims of the violence—which has claimed hundreds of lives—the archbishop said that the bloodshed “does not reflect the true face of Tanzania even a little bit. It has no explanation. It is an abomination before God.” - Vatican releases documentary, 'Leo from Chicago' (Vatican News)
The Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication has released “Leo from Chicago,” a 52-minute documentary on Pope Leo XIV. Yesterday’s release of the documentary follows the release, in June, of “León de Perú.” - Indian Christians mark Dalit Liberation Sunday (UCANews)
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) and the National Council of Churches in India marked November 9 as Dalit Liberation Sunday, with the theme, “The Jubilee of Hope Begins at the Margins.” (India’s Dalits were once more commonly known as “untouchables.”) “Despite a legal ban, the caste system remains deeply embedded in our society, shaping how we relate to one another, how we worship, and how we live out our Christian faith,” said Father Vijay Kumar Nayak, secretary of the CBCI Office for Dalits and Lower Classes. “It tears apart the Body of Christ and silences the voices of the poor.” - Protestant minister, Vatican newspaper editor welcomes DDF document on Mary (L'Osservatore Romano (Italian))
Marcelo Figueroa, the Presbyterian minister who edits the Argentine edition of the Vatican newspaper, welcomed Mater Populi Fidelis, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith’s new doctrinal note on some Marian titles (CWN coverage). In “Uno sguardo protestante ed ecumenico” [A Protestant and Ecumenical Perspective], Figueroa said that the document “opens up courageous and solid paths of ecumenical Marian theology in Protestant and Catholic circles.” “From a Protestant perspective, the fact that the document preserves and favors titles such as Mother of Mercy, Hope of the Poor, Mother of Believers, Spiritual Mother, and Mother of the Faithful People, while questioning and challenging others such as Co-Redemptrix and Mediatrix, is very encouraging and gives rise to hope,” he added. - More...