Catholic News
- 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. - 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. - 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.” - 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.” - Indonesian bishop who declined red hat resigns at 63 (Pillar)
Pope Leo XIV accepted the resignation of an Indonesian prelate who was named a cardinal in 2024, but soon declined the nomination. The prelate, Bishop Paskalis Bruno Syukur, OFM, of Bogor, is only 63. “Behind every administrative decision, I believe there is the hand of God weaving His plan,” Bishop Syukur said upon his resignation, which was accepted on January 19. “I accept this with inner joy, because obedience to the Holy See is a promise that He holds firmly.” - South African archbishop threatens lay protestors with canonical penalties (CNA)
A South African archbishop said he would impose canonical penalties, including possible excommunication, on 42 lay protestors, unless they took part in a “rehabilitative process.” The protestors, who took issue with a personnel decision made by Archbishop Dabula Mpako of Pretoria, disrupted Mass in the cathedral there last month, the prelate said. - 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. - Papal prayers, condolences for victims of Spain train accident (Vatican News)
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State of His Holiness, sent a telegram in the Holy Father’s name to the president of the Spanish Episcopal Conference after the Adamuz train derailments left at least 40 dead and injured nearly 300 others. Pope Leo offered prayers for the eternal rest of the deceased and extended his consolation to their families and to the injured, Cardinal Parolin said in his telegram, sent on January 19. - Vatican newspaper highlights wealth inequality (L'Osservatore Romano (Italian))
L’Osservatore Romano devoted a prominent front-page article in its January 19 edition to wealth inequality. In “Disuguaglianza, la legge del più ricco” [Inequality, the law of the most rich], Stefano Leszczynski cited a new report by Oxfam, the British charitable confederation. - USCCB discusses regulatory change on foreign-born religious workers (USCCB)
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has published a two-page document, “Regulatory Change Impacting Foreign-Born Religious Workers.” The document follows the Trump administration’s policy change on religious worker visas—a change that the bishops’ conference welcomed. - Prelate hails Relevant Radio on 25th anniversary (Relevant Radio)
Bishop David Ricken of Green Bay, Wisconsin, praised Relevant Radio as it celebrated its 25th anniversary, describing it as “an example of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes” and a “model of evangelization.” The Catholic radio network has grown to “200 owned and operated and affiliate stations in the United States with the potential to reach 250 million souls.” - Pope proclaims Year of Saint Francis, with special plenary indulgences (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV has proclaimed a Year of Saint Francis to mark the 800th anniversary of the death of the beloved saint. - Cardinal Parolin, in major lecture, decries violations of international law, collapse of multilateralism (CWN)
In a lecture delivered on January 17, the Secretary of State of His Holiness emphasized that peace and justice should “once again become the pillars of order among nations, and not merely remain simple aspirations or empty claims.” - 3 cardinals issue statement on US foreign policy (Archdiocese of Washington)
Cardinals Blase Cupich of Chicago, Robert McElroy of Washington, and Joseph Tobin of Newark today issued a joint statement, “Charting A Moral Vision of American Foreign Policy.” “In 2026, the United States has entered into the most profound and searing debate about the moral foundation for America’s actions in the world since the end of the Cold War,” said the prelates. “The events in Venezuela, Ukraine and Greenland have raised basic questions about the use of military force and the meaning of peace.” They continued: The sovereign rights of nations to self-determination appear all too fragile in a world of ever greater conflagrations. The balancing of national interest with the common good is being framed within starkly polarized terms. Our country’s moral role in confronting evil around the world, sustaining the right to life and human dignity, and supporting religious liberty are all under examination. And the building of just and sustainable peace, so crucial to humanity’s well-being now and in the future, is being reduced to partisan categories that encourage polarization and destructive policies. Citing the Pope’s recent address to the diplomatic corps, the prelates said that “the contribution of Pope Leo in outlining a truly moral foundation” has “provided us an enduring ethical compass for establishing the pathway for American foreign policy in the coming years.” They added: As pastors and citizens, we embrace this vision for the establishment of a genuinely moral foreign policy for our nation. We seek to build a truly just and lasting peace, that peace which Jesus proclaimed in the Gospel. We renounce war as an instrument for narrow national interests and proclaim that military action must be seen only as a last resort in extreme situations, not a normal instrument of national policy. We seek a foreign policy that respects and advances the right to human life, religious liberty, and the enhancement of human dignity throughout the world, especially through economic assistance. - Nuncio says current Russian attacks on Ukraine bear some resemblance to Stalin's Holodomor (Vatican News)
The apostolic nuncio to Ukraine said in an interview that current Russian attacks on Ukraine bear “some resemblance” to the Holodomor perpetrated against Ukraine by Joseph Stalin’s Soviet regime in 1932-1933. Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas said: Food shortages are being caused by this energy crisis, apart from the difficulties faced by civilians due to the cold. This seems to have some resemblance to the Holodomor that Ukraine went through in the 1930s. We have our own generator at the Nunciature, which means we can have more light, water, and heating than the others. If the situation remains unchanged, it is possible that the entire Ukrainian capital would need to be evacuated, as the mayor of Kyiv said a few days ago. The nuncio also spoke about the Latin-rite hierarchy’s decision to dedicate the year to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Seeking Christ’s “merciful reception, forgiveness of sins, and protection from all evil, we prayed that God’s goodness would overcome sin and war and grant us peace,” said the nuncio. “We know that war is caused by the devil’s actions, and the devil is afraid every time we worship God.” - Marking anniversary of Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy, Pope offers vision for Vatican diplomacy (CWN)
In a letter marking the 325th anniversary of the founding of the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy, Pope Leo XIV offered his vision of Vatican diplomacy, one in which priests of “deep spirituality” listen and build bridges. - Cardinal Parolin condemns Iranian repression, threat of force in Greenland (Vatican News)
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State of His Holiness, decried the Iranian government’s repression of its citizens, rued the possibility of war over Greenland, and expressed hope that the “great uncertainty” in Venezuela might develop into democracy and an improved economic situation. Fielding questions from journalists on January 17, Cardinal Pietro Parolin said that “solutions by force cannot be used” in Greenland and that threats to do so are “unacceptable.” - Charlotte bishop returns accused priest to active ministry (CWN)
A North Carolina bishop returned a priest accused of sexual abuse to active ministry effective January 13, over six years after the priest was placed on administrative leave by the previous bishop. - Mexican bishops announce national dialogue for peace (Jesuitas México)
The Mexican bishops’ conference announced that 1,370 people will gather in Guadalajara from January 30 and February 1 for a National Dialogue for Peace. The murder of two Jesuit priests in 2022 led to “the largest listening movement in Mexico’s recent history: more than a thousand forums throughout the national territory that documented more than 20,000 voices,” according to the Jesuits of Mexico. The listening sessions led to a national peace agenda and will culminate in the national dialogue. The dialogue’s executive director is Father Atilano González Candia, SJ. - More...