Catholic News
- Venezuelan Nobel Prize winner María Corina Machado meets with Pope (Vatican News)
Pope Leo XIV received María Corina Machado, the Venezuelan politician and pro-democracy activist who was awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize. “Today I had the blessing and the honor of being able to share time with His Holiness and to express our gratitude for his attention to what is happening in our country,” Machado said following yesterday’s audience. “I also conveyed to him the strength of the Venezuelan people, who remain steadfast and in prayer for the freedom of Venezuela, and I asked him to intercede for all Venezuelans who remain kidnapped and disappeared.” - US bishops' president meets with President Trump, Vice President Vance (OSV News)
The president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops met yesterday at the White House with President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance. Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City “had the opportunity for introductory meetings with President Trump, Vice President Vance, and other Administration officials, in which they discussed areas of mutual concern, as well as areas for further dialogue,” the USCCB stated last evening. “Archbishop Coakley is grateful for the engagement and looks forward to ongoing discussions,” the statement added. - Vatican court blocks prosecutor's appeal in Becciu case (Pillar)
The Holy See Press Office announced yesterday that the Vatican’s highest appellate court ruled against prosecutor Alessandro Diddi in his appeal of the 2023 court ruling in the “trial of the century.” The 2023 ruling in the financial crimes trial saw the conviction of Cardinal Angelo Becciu and eight other defendants. Diddi appealed the court’s rejection of his charge that the defendants engaged in a conspiracy. The defendants’ appeals of the 2023 ruling are pending. - In Brussels, Cardinal Parolin urges Europe to rediscover Christian boldness (Vatican News)
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State of His Holiness, was the Pope’s legate at Sunday’s Mass marking the 800th anniversary of the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula in Brussels, Belgium (video). Cardinal Parolin preached that “it is not numerical weakness that undermines Christian witness, but the loss of evangelical boldness.” “The Church does not stand above history, nor does she simply merge with it,” he added. “She journeys through it as a presence that accompanies, discerns and serves.” - UN official briefs Pope on Palestinians' suffering (@UNLazzarini)
Pope Leo XIV received Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). “I briefed him on the immense suffering endured by Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory as well as on the political & financial challenges confronting UNRWA,” Lazzarini said following yesterday’s audience. “I stressed that the attacks on UNRWA are an assault on the multilateral system and a defiance of international law with reverberations far beyond the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.” “I also stressed that bringing back to a learning environment the more than 600,000 girls and boys currently living in the rubble of Gaza should be our common priority to avoid a lost generation,” he added. “I sought the Holy Father’s support to preserve UNRWA’s critical services, primarily in the area of education, public health and safety nets for Palestine Refugees in Gaza and across the region until a just and fair political solution is in place.” Lazzarini subsequently spoke with Vatican News about the audience and the UNRWA. The agency is facing a “dire” financial crisis, The Times of Israel reported. - USCCB affirms support for Hyde amendment following President Trump's comments (USCCB)
The president of the US bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities affirmed the importance of the Hyde amendment, which forbids federal funding of most abortions. “Authentic health care upholds the dignity of all human life, and health care policy must not violate this dignity,” said Bishop Daniel Thomas of Toledo, Ohio. “In upholding this core principle, the U.S. bishops have long opposed any proposals to expand taxpayer funding of abortion and will continue to do so, including, if necessary, in the current debates in Congress over health care affordability plans.” President Donald Trump recently called on Republican lawmakers to be “flexible” about the Hyde amendment, provoking criticism from pro-life organizations. - Pope decries abuse of political power in 'State of the World' address [News Analysis] (CWN)
“War is back in vogue and the zeal for war is spreading,” Pope Leo XIV said in a January 9 speech to the Vatican diplomatic corps. Basing his address on the thought of St. Augustine, the Pontiff made an appeal for a new approach to international collaboration, which “cannot depend on mere circumstances and military or strategic interests.” - Holy Land friars, diplomats gather at Jordan River to celebrate Christ's Baptism (Custody of the Holy Land)
Commemorating the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, the custos of the Holy Land, Father Francesco Ielpo, OFM, celebrated an outdoor Mass at Qasr al-Yahud in the West Bank, on the western side of the Jordan River. In the 14th century, the Holy See entrusted the care of the holy sites in the Holy Land to the Franciscan order. Before the Mass, the consuls of Italy, Spain, France, and Belgium joined the custos, or Franciscan provincial, for a meeting with local officials. - Vatican newspaper critiques portrayal of Pius XII in Nuremberg film (L'Osservatore Romano (Italian))
Writing in L’Osservatore Romano, a history professor at the University of Molise critiqued the portrayal of Venerable Pius XII, who reigned as Pope from 1939 to 1958, in the 2025 film Nuremberg. Matteo Luigi Napolitano examined the “clear distinction between the theatrical invention proposed by [James] Vanderbilt’s film and the historical truth now established by the documents.” - Brazilian bishops invite Pope Leo to visit nation for 2029 missionary congress (Vatican News (Portuguese))
The members of the Brazilian bishops’ Episcopal Commission for Missionary Action and Interecclesial Cooperation met yesterday with Pope Leo XIV and invited him to visit Brazil for the 7th American Missionary Congress, which will take place in 2029 in the Archdiocese of Curitiba. The prelates discussed the work of the commission and thanked the Pope for beginning a series of Wednesday general audiences on the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965). Archbishop Luiz Fernando Lisboa, CP, of Cachoeiro do Itapemirim asked Pope Leo to “speak more about the wars in Africa, which are all due to natural resources, and which are spoken about very little in Brazil and elsewhere.” - Arizona bill would hit priests with felony if they fail to break confessional seal to report abuse (CNA)
An Arizona legislator, Rep. Stacey Travers, has filed a bill that would require priests to violate the seal of Confession when a penitent confesses “ongoing abuse.” Last year, the State of Washington enacted, and then agreed not to enforce, similar legislation. - San Marino's leaders meet with Pontiff (Vatican Press Office)
Pope Leo XIV received Matteo Rossi and Lorenzo Bugli, the two captains regent, or heads of state, of San Marino. Following yesterday’s papal audience, Rossi and Bugli met with Cardinal Parolin, Secretary of State of His Holiness, and Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations. The parties discussed international crises, “with particular reference to the conflict in Ukraine, collaboration in the sphere of multilateral diplomacy, and the importance of interreligious dialogue in promoting peace,” according to the Holy See Press Office. The nation of 35,000 (map) is 91% Catholic. - To bless nationalism is blasphemy, Irish Primate says (Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference)
In his new year’s message to the people of Ireland, the Primate of All Ireland said that he is “saddened when I see people of faith online who seem ‘armed to the teeth,’ and who persist in ‘othering’ and accentuating difference.” “It is particularly disappointing when you see this from Christians online who label and dismiss others because of their race, religion or some other perceived difference,” said Archbishop Eamon Martin of Armagh. “This is not of God.” Archbishop Martin added that “unfortunately, it has become increasingly common to drag the language of faith into political battles, to bless nationalism, and to justify violence and armed struggle in the name of religion. Believers must actively refute, above all by the witness of their lives, these forms of blasphemy that profane the holy name of God.” - Turin cardinal presents new website on Shroud (Aleteia)
During an audience with Pope Leo on January 9, Cardinal Roberto Repole of Turin presented Avvolti (“Wrapped”), a website that allows for the digital examination of the Shroud of Turin. “Each enlargement is accompanied by explanations and links to passages from the Gospels that describe the passion of Jesus,” L’Osservatore Romano reported. “Despite the scientific rigor of the texts and images, the aim was to create a product accessible to all, thus bringing the general public closer to the image of the Shroud.” - Amid armed conflict, Cameroon's bishops discuss communion, collegiality (Vatican News)
Amid the Anglophone Crisis, an armed conflict that began in 2017, Cameroon’s bishops met in Kumba and devoted their meeting to the theme of “communion and collegiality.” The central African nation of 32 million (map) is 58% Christian (28% Catholic), 22% Muslim, and 19% ethnic religionist. Pope Benedict XVI made an apostolic journey there in 2009. - Argentine diocese marks 50th anniversary of martyrs of La Rioja (Fides)
The Diocese of La Rioja, Argentina, has begun a jubilee year in commemoration of the martyrdoms of Blessed Enrique Angelelli and his companions. Bishop Dante Braida of La Rioja “emphasized how the martyrs’ witness continues to inspire a faithful listening to the Gospel, along with a concrete commitment to justice, reconciliation, and closeness to the poor,” the Fides news agency reported. - Group protests Tanzanian bishops' comments on politics (Fides)
A group of self-styled Tanzanian Catholics attempted to deliver a petition to Pope Leo via the apostolic nunciature criticizing the leaders of the nation’s episcopal conference for alleged political interference. “Severe doubts have been raised on social media as to whether the petition signatories actually belong to the Catholic Church,” the Fides news agency reported. Last fall, the bishops criticized the violent suppression of political protests and called for an independent investigation. - Former Irish president says infant baptism violates human rights (Irish Times)
Mary McAleese, Ireland’s president from 1997 to 2011, described infant baptism as “a long-standing, systemic and overlooked severe restriction on children’s rights with regard to religion.” Writing in Ireland’s leading newspaper, McAleese charged that infant baptism violates the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989). - Witness to Christ and listen to abuse victims, Pope tells world's cardinals (CWN)
In his concluding remarks to the recent extraordinary consistory of the College of Cardinals, Pope Leo XIV spoke about the centrality of Christ, emphasized the importance of the Second Vatican Council (1962-65), reflected on synodality, and called on the world’s cardinals to listen to abuse victims. - Gabon's leading prelate condemns ritual murders (Fides)
The president of Gabon’s episcopal conference condemned the recent rise of ritual killings of children in the central African nation. “My heart is filled with sorrow for the ritual murders that are staining our beloved country with blood,” Bishop Jean Vincent Ondo Éyéne of Oyem said on the recent National Day for Combating All Forms of Violence and Attacks on Life. “I think of those who have been taken from life, whose bodies have been desecrated, and whose innocence has been broken.” The central African nation of 2.5 million (map) is 84% Christian (52% Catholic) and 11% Muslim, with 3% adhering to ethnic religions. - More...