Catholic News
- US bishops express opposition to 'indiscriminate mass deportation' (USCCB)
In a 216-5 vote at their fall meeting in Baltimore, the US bishops approved a rare special pastoral message on immigration. The bishops stated, “To our immigrant brothers and sisters, we stand with you in your suffering, since, when one member suffers, all suffer (cf. 1 Corinthians 12:26). You are not alone!” “We oppose the indiscriminate mass deportation of people,” the bishops added. “We pray for an end to dehumanizing rhetoric and violence, whether directed at immigrants or at law enforcement. We pray that the Lord may guide the leaders of our nation, and we are grateful for past and present opportunities to dialogue with public and elected officials.” - EU, African bishops call for economic partnerships that bring justice (COMECE)
The Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the EU (COMECE) and the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), joined by four regional Catholic charitable and development organizations, have released a joint statement, “For a partnership that brings justice for the African people.” The statement’s first three sections are entitled “From extractivist energy deals to fair partnerships and democratic energy systems,” “From industrial food production to agroecology,” and “From excessive consumption to joyful sobriety.” “Concrete steps from the EU’s side regarding local value-addition, democratic energy systems, promoting agroecological principles and practices, as well as debt resolution, are all key to address the root causes of poverty and inequality in Africa—neither aid, nor investments with suffice—and they are all part of a process of addressing historical injustices,” the EU and African bishops’ organizations concluded. - Vatican conference participants: AI should assist, not replace physicians (Vatican News (Italian))
Participants in a three-day Vatican conference on AI and medicine issued a statement at the conference’s conclusion. “The intrinsic dignity of every human being and the fraternity that unites us as members of the one human family must underpin the development of new technologies and serve as indisputable criteria for evaluating them before their use,” according to the final statement at the conference, organized by the Pontifical Academy for Life and International Federation of Catholic Medical Associations. The statement continued: It is essential that AI be an aid that improves clinical judgment, supports diagnostic accuracy, and improves patient outcomes, without ever replacing the physician’s expertise, empathy, or responsibility ... Decisions regarding patient treatment and the burden of responsibility they entail must always remain the responsibility of humans and must never be delegated to AI. - Leading Portuguese prelate warns against polarization, extremism (Ecclesia (Portuguese))
In an address to his brother bishops at their November meeting, the president of the Portuguese Episcopal Conference said polarization and extremism are aggravating the nation’s social problems. “The nation only flourishes when each citizen recognizes in the other a brother, not an enemy,” said Bishop José Ornelas Carvalho, SCJ, of Leiria-Fátima. The prelate warned that “Portugal continues to face several challenges from a social point of view: the economic difficulties of many families, social inequalities, difficult access to housing, pressure on health services and the migratory phenomenon are some of the examples, aggravated by polarized discourses and extremist ideologies.” - Papal tribute to newly beatified Indian nun (Dicastery for Communication (Italian))
At the conclusion of his weekly general audience, Pope Leo XIV paid tribute to Blessed Eliswa Vakayil (1831-1913), who was recently beatified in India. “Last Saturday in Kochi, in the Indian state of Kerala, Mother Eliswa Vakayil, who lived in the 19th century, foundress of the Third Order of the Teresian Discalced Carmelites, was beatified,” Pope Leo said to pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square. “Her courageous commitment to the emancipation of the poorest girls is a source of inspiration for those who work, in the Church and in society, for the dignity of women.” The Vatican omitted the Pope’s words from its English translation of his remarks. - 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.” - Panama archbishop laments violence (El Siglo Panamá)
In his most recent Sunday Mass homily, Archbishop José Domingo Ulloa Mendieta, OSA, of Panamá lamented violence in the Central American nation. “Every life taken, every young person lost, every family that weeps in silence, is a cry that calls out to heaven,” he preached. “We cannot remain indifferent or accustomed to fear ... Only together can we rebuild the soul of the country.” - Ukrainian Catholic leader praises heroic resistance, credits St. Michael (Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church)
In his weekly address, the head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church praised members of the Ukrainian armed forces for their heroism as Russian forces launched a massive attack on Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad. “It was there that the Russians amassed 170,000 of their troops—almost as many as invaded Ukraine at the start of the full-scale war,” said Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk. “We rediscover the presence of countless incorporeal heavenly powers, whom we call angels,” he added, as he referred to a feast day, the Synaxis of Archangel Michael and All Heavenly Powers. “Kyiv experiences this holiday in a special way, because it is dedicated to Archangel Michael, the patron and protector of our capital since the days of the princes.” - Italian bishops publish introduction to Islam for use in schools (Conferenza Episcopale Italiana)
The Italian Episcopal Conference, in conjunction with the Pontifical Institute for Arabic and Islamic Studies, has published 11 chapters on Islam for use in schools. The publication of the text follows the recent publication of An Introduction to Judaism in 16 Chapters, jointly published by the Italian Episcopal Conference and the Union of Italian Jewish Communities. - Shrine of the Virgin of the Rosary of Pompei marks 150 years (CWN)
The Pontifical Shrine of the Blessed Virgin of the Rosary of Pompei, founded by St. Bartolo Longo, today celebrates the 150th anniversary of its beginnings: the arrival of the Marian image venerated there. - Vatican newspaper highlights 'cry of indigenous peoples' at UN climate change conference (L'Osservatore Romano (Italian))
With the headline “Il grido dei popoli indigeni” [The cry of the indigenous peoples], Vatican newspaper devoted the most prominent front-page article in its November 12 edition to a protest at COP30, the UN Climate Change Conference in Brazil. “Carrying signs reading ‘Our land is not for sale’ and ‘We cannot eat money,’ dozens of protesters, mostly from indigenous Amazonian communities, stormed the venue of the 30th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30), currently underway in Belém, Brazil, on Tuesday afternoon,” Francesco Ricupero reported. “The protesters were calling for concrete climate action and greater forest protection.” - 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. - Fraternity is essential to Christianity, Pope tells audience (Vatican News)
Pope Leo XIV emphasized the theme of universal fraternity in his remarks at his public audience on November 12. Christ’s Sacrifice “encourages us to invest in goodness,” the Pope said. The Christian is inspired to recognize all men as brothers. Without that sense of fraternity, Pope Leo said, “The ‘other’ is reduced to someone from whom we can take, without ever being truly willing to give, to offer ourselves.” The sense of fraternity, the Pope continued, is “an essential feature of Christianity.” He recalled that St. Francis of Assisi addressed everyone as “Omnes Fratres,” and Pope Francis set the example, with his encyclical Fratelli Tutti. - AI poses risk of human extinction: Cardinal Parolin (Vatican News)
In a message to a Rome conference on artificial intelligence (AI), Cardinal Pietro Parolin issued a stern warning that if AI is developed without due respect for human dignity, the future of mankind will be imperiled. “Are we standing at the threshold of a new era, or will human beings sooner or later bring about their own extinction through the introduction of artificial forms of life?” the Vatican Secretary of State asked. - 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 denies supernatural source of reported French apparitions (Vatican News)
The Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith has concluded that reported apparitions of Jesus in the town of Dozulé, France, in the 1970s were “not supernatural in origin.” The decision confirms a judgment made by the local bishop years ago. A local woman, Madeleine Aumont, had claimed that Jesus gave instructions for the construction of an enormous cross, through which people could receive forgiveness of their sins. In 1983, Bishop Jean-Marie-Clément Badré of Bayeux-Lisieux discouraged fundraising for the project, saying that “in no case can the construction of a monumental cross undertaken in Dozulé (...) be an authentic sign of the manifestation of the Spirit of God.” The cross was never built. - US bishops to consecrate nation to Sacred Heart (USCCB)
At their general assembly meeting this week, the members of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops voted to consecrate the United States to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The formal consecration will be made in June 2026, as a part of celebrations for the 250th anniversary of the nation. - 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.” - New Orleans parishes to join in bankruptcy (WDSU)
More 100 parishes and charitable agencies in the New Orleans archdiocese will file for bankruptcy protection, as part of the overall plan to resolve the bankruptcy of the archdiocese. The archdiocese is nearing a settlement that will allow its emergence from bankruptcy. The bankruptcy filings of individual parishes and agencies will ensure that those entities, too, are shielded from future suits brought by abuse victims. The parishes and agencies are then expected to emerge from bankruptcy along with the archdiocese. - '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.” - More...