Catholic News
- Imitate the Samaritan's compassion, Pope writes in message for World Day of the Sick (Dicastery for Communication)
The Vatican has released Pope Leo’s Message for the 34th World Day of the Sick, commemorated on February 11 (background). The Pope’s message, dated January 13 and released January 20, is entitled “The compassion of the Samaritan: loving by bearing another’s pain.” The message has three parts: The gift of encounter: the joy of offering closeness and presence The shared mission of caring for the sick Always driven by love for God, to encounter ourselves and our neighbor “I genuinely hope that our Christian lifestyle will always reflect this fraternal, ‘Samaritan’ spirit—one that is welcoming, courageous, committed and supportive, rooted in our union with God and our faith in Jesus Christ,” Pope Leo said. “Enkindled by this divine love, we will surely be able to give of ourselves for the good of all who suffer, especially our brothers and sisters who are sick, elderly or afflicted.” - Pope, in letter, marks 1200th anniversary of St. Ansgar's evangelizing mission in Denmark (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV has written a Latin-language letter commemorating the 1200th anniversary of the beginning of St. Ansgar‘s evangelizing mission in Denmark. - Vatican diplomat calls for effective prevention, punishment of crimes against humanity (Holy See Mission)
Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, apostolic nuncio and Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, called for the “development of effective measures” to prevent and punish crimes against humanity. Addressing a UN committee on January 19, Archbishop Caccia said that the “the duty to prevent and counter crimes against humanity rests first and foremost” with individual nations. “At the same time, international cooperation plays an indispensable complementary role, both in addressing the transnational dimensions of such crimes and in supporting those States that lack the capacity to fulfill their obligations effectively,” he said. - Cardinal Czerny: Gospel, Pope Leo call us to 'real' encounters with the sick (CWN)
At a press conference presenting Pope Leo XIV’s message for the upcoming World Day of the Sick (video), Cardinal Michael Czerny, SJ, contrasted fleeting online encounters with the “real” encounters to which Christ and Pope Leo call us. - EU bishops call for 'just' ecological transition that protects human dignity, work, communities (COMECE)
The Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the EU (COMECE) has released a position paper, “A Just Transition that protects Human Dignity, Work and Communities.” “Europe’s commitment to ecological transformation is both necessary and urgent,” COMECE stated. “At the same time, it raises profound social, economic and ethical questions.” COMECE warned that “among workers in Europe’s industrial regions, a recurring concern is whether this transition will leave them behind and whether their children will be forced to leave their home regions in search of decent work.” “Only a transition that is humane, inclusive and socially just will be able to unite Europe and secure lasting support for the ecological transformation needed for the common good,” COMECE concluded. - Jerusalem Patriarchs criticize 'Christian Zionism' (Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem)
The Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem said in a statement that “recent activities undertaken by local individuals who advance damaging ideologies, such as Christian Zionism, mislead the public, sow confusion, and harm the unity of our flock.” “The Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem reiterate that they alone represent the Churches and their flock in matters pertaining to Christian religious, communal, and pastoral life in the Holy Land,” the Christian leaders added. - Leading Venezuelan prelate says Church is promoting dialogue, peace amid political uncertainty (L'Osservatore Romano (Italian))
The president of Venezuela’s episcopal conference told the Vatican newspaper that the Church there “strives to be a place of encounter for all and to constantly accompany the population in its struggle for the triumph of goodness, truth, and justice.” Archbishop Andoni González de Zárate Salas of Valencia said that the Church is emphasizing “the primacy of the dignity of the person, the common good and the great evangelical values” amid dire poverty and great political uncertainty. The prelate also renewed the Church’s call for the immediate release of all political prisoners; he said that the “release process” under new Venezuelan leadership has been “very slow.” - Bishop Bätzing will not run for reelection as German bishops' conference president (Hessenschau.de)
Bishop Georg Bätzing of Limburg, a leading proponent of Germany’s controversial Synodal Way, announced that he will not run for another term as chairman of the German Bishops’ Conference. The prelate has held the position since 2020. The dissident group We Are Church lamented his decision, describing it as a “bitter setback.” - Cardinal Koch sees ecumenism as 'tool of peace for the world' (Vatican News)
Observing that “Jesus wanted one Church, not a variety of churches,” Cardinal Kurt Koch said that “ecumenism can assist society if it does not mirror society’s discord, but is rather itself a sign of unity.” The prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity told Vatican News that ecumenism is a “tool of peace for the world” and that ecumenism “can assist society if it does not mirror society’s discord, but is rather itself a sign of unity.” The prelate, appointed to his position by Pope Benedict in 2010, made his remarks during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. - Financial situation casts pall over Church in Mali (Vatican News)
The secretary general of Mali’s episcopal conference said that the nation’s bishops are meeting to “assess the current financial situation” of the Church there. Vatican News, the news agency of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication, warned that the assessment is necessary to ensure the “continuity and credibility” of the Church’s mission. The West African nation of 22.6 million (map) is 87.5% Muslim and 3.5% Christian, with 9% adhering to ethnic religions. The Mali War began in 2012; it pits Mali’s government against various Islamist groups. - Relic of St. Thomas stolen from Toronto church (Catholic Register)
A relic of St. Thomas the Apostle has been stolen from a Syro-Malabar church in Toronto. “The relic of St. Thomas the Apostle is invaluable to us because it is a first-class relic that we received from Italy,” said Father Baiju Chakkery, pastor of St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Forane Church. “It has great emotional value to the people here. It matters for our faith.” The relic was stolen during an overnight break-in of the church, sacristy, and parish office. - NY state drops case to mandate religious groups cover abortion (OSV News)
New York State has ceased its longtime effort to compel religious organizations to provide abortion in their health insurance plans. “After nearly a decade of trying to force nuns and other religious ministries to cover abortions, the state of New York has thrown in the towel,” the religious-liberty law firm Becket said in a statement. “Following two trips to the U.S. Supreme Court, the state late last week gave up on trying to make nuns pay for abortions.” - 'Cordial' meeting between FSSP superior, Pontiff (Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter)
The superior general of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP), accompanied by one of the institute’s founders, met with Pope Leo XIV on January 20. “The cordial half-hour meeting was an opportunity to present to the Holy Father in greater detail the foundation and history of the Fraternity, as well as the various forms of apostolate that it has been offering to the faithful for almost 38 years,” the Fraternity said in a statement. “The proper law and charism that guide the sanctification of its members were recalled.” “This audience also provided an opportunity to evoke any misunderstandings and obstacles that the Fraternity encounters in certain places and to answer questions from the Supreme Pontiff,” added the Fraternity, whose priests offer the extraordinary form of the Latin Mass. Founded in 1988, the institute has grown to 579 members, 387 of whom are priests. - Bring Christ's hope to the world, Pope tells Finnish Christian leaders (Dicastery for Communication)
Welcoming Finnish Catholic, Orthodox, and Lutheran prelates who were in Rome for their annual ecumenical pilgrimage, Pope Leo XIV praised their commitment to Christian unity and encouraged them to bear witness to Christ, the “incarnation of hope.” “At a time when people are often tempted by a sense of hopelessness, we have the essential mission, as Christian messengers of hope, to bring the Lord’s light into the darkest corners of our world,” Pope Leo said during the January 19 audience. “Thus, encouraged and strengthened by the grace of Jesus Christ, who is the very incarnation of hope for all, we are called and sent out to bear witness to this saving truth with edifying words and charitable deeds,” the Pope added. Finland, a Nordic nation of 5.6 million (map), is 75% Christian (73% Protestant) and 5% Muslim. - Kazakh bishop proposes apostolic constitution to settle Latin Mass dispute (Catholic Herald)
A bishop who ministers in Kazakhstan said that he has asked Pope Leo to promulgate an apostolic constitution that places the ordinary and extraordinary forms of the Mass on equal footing. Auxiliary Bishop Athanasius Schneider, ORC, of Astana said that his proposal would guarantee “complete freedom and the co-existence of both forms, pacific co-existence, with no limitations and impediments of both forms.” “Just like a bishop cannot forbid the Novus Ordo, the same principle applies: a bishop cannot limit or forbid the traditional form,” the prelate said of his proposal, made to the Pontiff during an audience last month. - Pope Leo accepts invitation to visit Czech Republic, nation's president says (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV has accepted an invitation to visit the Czech Republic, the nation’s president said after a papal audience yesterday. - Archbishop Broglio says it would be 'morally acceptable' for troops to refuse Greenland conquest orders (Pillar)
The head of the Archdiocese for the Military Services said that he “cannot see any circumstances” in which an American conquest of Greenland would fulfill just-war criteria. “I am obviously worried, because they [Catholic troops] could be put in a situation where they’re being ordered to do something which is morally questionable,” said Archbishop Timothy Broglio. “And it would be very difficult for a soldier or a Marine or a sailor by himself to disobey an order such as that.” “But strictly speaking, he or she, within the realm of their own conscience, it would be morally acceptable to disobey that order,” Archbishop Broglio added. “But that’s perhaps putting that individual in an untenable situation, and that’s my concern.” - Pope praises, admonishes Neocatechumenal Way (Dicastery for Communication (Italian))
Pope Leo XIV received the leaders of the Neocatechumenal Way and described the movement’s “charism and works of evangelization and catechesis” as “a precious contribution to the life of the Church.” “You have kindled the fire of the Gospel where it seemed to be extinguished, and you have accompanied many Christian individuals and communities, awakening them to the joy of faith, helping them to rediscover the beauty of knowing Jesus and fostering their spiritual growth and their commitment to witness,” the Pope said during yesterday’s audience. At the same time, the Pope warned the leaders that “no ministry must become a reason to feel better than one’s brothers and sisters and to exclude those who think differently ... The good you do is great, but its purpose is to allow people to know Christ, always respecting the path of life and the conscience of each one.” “The proclamation of the Gospel, catechesis and the various forms of pastoral action must always be free from forms of constraint, rigidity and moralism,” and should avoid evoking “feelings of guilt and fear instead of interior liberation,” the Pope added. Kiko Argüello, who was present at the audience, founded the Neocatechumenal Way in 1964. The Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life describes it as “an itinerary of Catholic instruction at the service of the bishop as one of the diocesan ways of implementing Christian initiation and ongoing education in the faith.” - Pope thanks Italian police for work in St. Peter's Square during jubilee year (Dicastery for Communication (Italian))
Pope Leo XIV received executives and officers of Italy’s Vatican Public Security Inspectorate on January 19 and thanked them for the sacrifices they made during the conclave and the jubilee year. The inspectorate, a division of the Italian police, is responsible for security in St. Peter’s Square. Quoting Pope Benedict XVI, Pope Leo said, “May your presence be an ever more valid guarantee of that good order and tranquility which are fundamental for building a peaceful and composed social life, and which, in addition to being taught to us by the Gospel message, are a sign of authentic civilization.” - Bishop Barron weighs in on 'untenable' situation in Minnesota (CWN)
Bishop Robert Barron of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota, commented on the “untenable” situation in the state. - More...