Catholic News
- Pope Leo enters hospital today for surgery (CWN)
A Vatican spokesman announced that Pope Leo XIV will enter Gemelli Hospital this morning to undergo surgery to remove a lung nodule. - Amoris Laetitia meeting, October 12: prelates discuss 'families in complex situations' (CWN)
On October 12—the fourth full day of the weeklong extraordinary Vatican meeting devoted to Amoris Laetitia—the presidents of the world’s episcopal conferences and the heads of the Eastern Catholic churches discussed the fourth of the meeting’s five themes: “in the difficulties of life, accompanying and supporting: walking with families in complex situations.” - Pope Leo pays tribute to Cardinal Re (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV paid tribute to Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re following the 92-year-old prelate’s resignation as dean of the College of Cardinals. - Charity unites prayer, action, and sacrifice, Pope tells Circle of Saint Peter (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV told members of the Circolo San Pietro (Circle of St. Peter) that charity unites the three words of its motto: prayer, action, and sacrifice. - Bishops, world leaders pray for Pope's health (L'Osservatore Romano (Italian))
Bishops from around the world offered prayers for the health of Pope Leo XIV as he prepared for surgery to remove a lung nodule. Italian President Sergio Mattarella, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Peruvian President Keiko Sofía Fujimori Higuchi, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also published messages of prayer or support, as did Dame Sarah Mullally, the Anglican primate. - Vatican diplomat calls for respect for indigenous peoples' rights (Holy See Mission)
A leading Vatican diplomat said that the rights of indigenous peoples “must be respected, protected, and promoted as a matter of justice and of the common good.” Addressing a UN committee session devoted to the rights of indigenous peoples, Archbishop Christophe-Zakhia El-Kassis, apostolic nuncio and Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, called for “recognition of past wounds, commitment to reconciliation, and firm defense of the fundamental human rights and the God-given dignity of every human being.” “Indigenous peoples are not objects of development policies, but subjects and protagonists of their own destinies,” the prelate added in his October 7 statement. “Their wisdom in living in harmony with creation offers vital lessons for the culture of care and for building a more just and fraternal world.” - Archbishop Broglio: 'I oblige' Catholics participating in livestream execution to request to be excused (Archdiocese for the Military, USA)
In a statement condemning the Pentagon’s proposal to livestream the execution of a terrorist, Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military, USA said that “as I would in the case of a procured abortion, I oblige any Catholics assigned to the firing squad to request to be excused from this action contrary to the teaching of the Church.” “It is my duty to express my disapproval of what is proposed regarding the execution of the terrorist Hasan in the Archdiocese entrusted to my spiritual care to be done by those for whose salvation I have been constituted as the Archbishop for the Military Services, USA,” Archbishop Broglio said in an October 12 statement. He added: Do we really want to imitate the terrorists of this world and make a public spectacle of barbarically killing our adversaries? The crime committed by Nidal Malik Hasan was heinous, but does exposing the public to his execution serve any purpose? Has the potential moral injury, which the members of the firing squad might experience, been considered? Will the exposure of a live-stream to the young and impressionable during the 250th anniversary year of our independence be able to be repaired? The US military generally enjoys a good reputation in the world. Is there really a value to throwing them in the same boat with terrorists by broadcasting the image of the execution of a man in a wheel chair to the whole world? Does this decision reflect the dignity of the human person? - Number of Catholic colleges, universities in US declines to 215 (USCCB)
Following the closing and merger of some institutions, there are now 215 Catholic colleges and universities in the United States, according to an updated listing published this month by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). The USCCB’s Secretariat for Catholic Education published two lists: an alphabetical list and a list by state. - Pope Leo: 'The wedding feast is ours' (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV reflected on the parable of the wedding feast (Matthew 22:1-14) during his Sunday Angelus address (video) and told pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square that “the wedding feast is ours.” - Archbishop Morel takes helm of massive Caribbean archdiocese (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV accepted the resignation of Archbishop Francisco Ozoria Acosta from the pastoral care of the Archdiocese of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, on October 12, just two days after the prelate’s 75th birthday. - Amoris Laetitia meeting, October 10: prelates discuss the first years of marriage (CWN)
On October 10—the third full day of the weeklong extraordinary Vatican meeting devoted to Amoris Laetitia—the presidents of the world’s episcopal conferences and the heads of the Eastern Catholic churches discussed the third of the meeting’s five themes: “married life, the first years of marriage: a decisive time Listening to and accompanying couples in the early years of married life and at every stage of life.” - Pontiff appeals for safe transport of grain through Black Sea (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV appealed to Russia and Ukraine to permit the passage of grain through the Black Sea. - Pope Leo to undergo surgery to remove lung nodule (CWN)
At the conclusion of his October 11 Angelus address, Pope Leo XIV revealed that “during some recent medical examinations, the doctors found a small, localized nodule in my lung.” - Art is an imitation of God's work, Pope tells museum directors (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV described art as a “creative process through which human beings, in imitation of God’s work, shape matter and imbue it with a transcendent meaning.” - Vatican lists recognized chivalric orders (Secretariat of State)
The Secretariat of State, led by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, restated the Holy See’s position on chivalric orders. “In addition to its own chivalric orders (the Supreme Order of Christ, the Order of the Golden Spur, the Pian Order/Order of Pope Pius IX, the Order of Saint Gregory the Great, and the Order of Saint Sylvester the Pope), the Holy See recognizes and protects only the Sovereign Military Order of Malta (that is, the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta) and the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem,” the Secretariat stated on October 10. “To prevent the continuation of abuses that ultimately harm many people acting in good faith, the Holy See reaffirms that it attaches no value to knighthood diplomas and related insignia issued by unrecognized organizations and does not consider the use of churches and chapels for so-called ‘investiture ceremonies’ to be appropriate,” the statement added. - 'The entire Catholic Church is with you,' Pope tells Melkite bishops (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV offered strong words of solidarity to the bishops of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church (CNEWA profile). - Pope Leo: The death penalty is inadmissible (@Pontifex)
In a social media post published on October 10, the World Day Against the Death Penalty, Pope Leo XIV said that the death penalty is inadmissible. “The death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person,” he wrote. “The common good can be safeguarded and the requirements of justice can be met without recourse to capital punishment: effective systems of detention have been developed that protect citizens while at the same time do not completely deprive those who are guilty of the possibility of redemption.” - Amoris Laetitia meeting, October 9: prelates discuss young people and the discovery of the vocation to marriage (CWN)
On October 9—the second full day of the weeklong extraordinary Vatican meeting devoted to Amoris Laetitia—the presidents of the world’s episcopal conferences and the heads of the Eastern Catholic churches discussed the second of the meeting’s five themes: “young people and the discovery of the vocation to marriage: listening to young people and accompanying them in discovering the value of marriage.” - Ursuline sister beatified in Italy (CWN)
Sister Maria Ignazia Isacchi (1857-1934), the foundress of the Ursuline Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, was beatified at the Basilica of St. Andrew in Mantova, Italy, on October 10. - USCCB president prays Christ will guide the hands of Pope Leo's surgeons (USCCB)
The president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops offered prayers for Pope Leo XIV as he faces surgery. “he bishops of the United States join with the faithful and all people of good will in praying for his good health,” said Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City. “May the hand of Pope Leo’s surgeons be guided by the divine physician Jesus Christ. Please find a moment today, as I will, to offer a prayer for Pope Leo and his care team.” - More...