Catholic News
- Amoris Laetitia meeting concludes with papal homily, message (CWN)
The weeklong extraordinary meeting on the tenth anniversary of Amoris Laetitia concluded on October 14 with a Mass in St. Peter’s Square (video), a papal message, and a press briefing (video). - Pope has good 2nd night in hospital (Vatican News)
The Holy See Press Office issued a brief statement this morning on the Pope’s recovery from lung surgery. “The Pope had a good night in the hospital, got up, and had breakfast,” according to the statement. - Vatican issues message for World Mental Health Day (Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development)
The prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development issued a message for World Mental Health Day. “No psychological wound can ever erase the dignity of a human person,” Sister Alessandra Smerilli, F.M.A., wrote in her message, released October 9. “To all who suffer, the Church says: you are not alone, and God has not abandoned you.” “As Christians, we are called to develop a stable, competent, compassionate and preventive ministry that embraces the person in their totality: body, mind and spirit,” she added. “This requires trained pastoral workers, collaboration with health professionals, clear referral pathways, attention to suicide prevention, support for families and care for young people.” - Put faith before politics, USCCB president says in election message (USCCB)
In a message for the 2026 election, the president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops described voting as a right and responsibility, called for “free and fair” elections, and asked “all Catholics to put their faith before politics.” “The Church’s contribution to the public life of a nation is not a political or partisan program; rather, it reflects our commitment to the dignity of every person, who is created in the image and likeness of God,” Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City said in his October 14 statement. “We must reject rhetoric that appeals to fear, resentment, or division, and listen instead, to the Gospel call to love God and all our neighbors.” - Vatican diplomat calls for abolition of death penalty (Holy See Mission)
At a UN committee meeting devoted to the promotion and protection of human rights, a leading Vatican diplomat called for the abolition of the death penalty. Archbishop Christophe-Zakhia El-Kassis, apostolic nuncio and Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, said that the defense of human life must be “consistent and universal, extending to every person, at every stage and in every circumstance.” “For this reason, ‘the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person,’” he said, citing the 2018 revision to the Catechism of the Catholic Church. “This God-given dignity is never forfeited, no matter the gravity of the crime. Advances in penal systems now allow States to protect society effectively without foreclosing the possibility of repentance and redemption.” “The Holy See is encouraged by the fact that many States have abolished the death penalty in law or established moratorium,” he added in his October 7 statement. “States that retain the death penalty should consider establishing, without delay, a moratorium on executions as a step towards abolition.” - Cardinal Czerny receives Pope Leo XIV Sustainability Medal (Villanova University)
In a ceremony at Borgo Laudato Si’ in Castel Gandolfo, Cardinal Michael Czerny, S.J., received the first Pope Leo XIV Sustainability Medal on October 13. The medal is awarded by Villanova University, the Pontiff’s undergraduate alma mater. At the ceremony, Cardinal Czerny, the prefect emeritus of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, said that “the only true solution” to ecological challenges is “to discard our many bad habits and adopt new paths through countless personal, communal and social changes of behavior.” - Bishop Varden: There is a Catholic springtime in Norway (Aleteia)
The Trappist bishop of Trondheim, Norway, said in an interview that the Catholic faith is experiencing a springtime in Norway and that “ Catholicism—which remained a very marginal part of society for a long time and only modestly returned to Norway in the 19th century—is no longer quite so marginal.” Bishop Erik Varden, O.C.S.O., said in an interview that “this springtime also brings many responsibilities. We truly see grace at work. Many people are searching for truth, communion, and true life with diligence, seriousness, and sincerity.” (Bishop Varden appeared on the Catholic Culture Podcast in 2024 and on Criteria: The Catholic Film Podcast in April 2026.) - Order of Discalced Carmelites: current numerical overview (CWN)
The Church today commemorates the memorial of St. Teresa of Ávila (1030-1101), founder (with St. John of the Cross) of the Order of Discalced Carmelites. - Pope has calm night following surgery (Vatican News)
In a brief statement issued this morning, the Holy See Press Office said that “the night passed calmly for the Pope. Further information will be provided later today.” Pope Leo XIV underwent lung surgery yesterday at Gemelli Hospital in Rome. The lower lobe of the Pope’s right lung was removed, and the diagnosis of adenocarcinoma, which is cancerous, was confirmed. - 1 day after surgery, Pope Leo able to concelebrate Mass (Vatican News)
A day after Pope Leo XIV underwent lung surgery, the Pope’s personal physician, joined by the head of the surgical team that operated on the Pontiff, said that “his postoperative recovery is progressing normally.” Dr. Luigi Carbone and Professor Stefano Margaritora said in a statement issued this afternoon that “the Holy Father underwent the blood tests and chest X-ray scheduled after surgery. The results confirm that his postoperative recovery is progressing normally: the values are within the expected range for the type of operation performed.” “The Holy Father has undergone respiratory physiotherapy and has begun walking around his room,” they added. “He has resumed eating normally and had breakfast and lunch, and “his recovery is proceeding as expected.” Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See Press Office, said that the Pope was able to concelebrate Mass this afternoon in a room on his hospital floor. - Amoris Laetitia meeting, October 13: prelates discuss missionary role of Christian families (CWN)
On October 13—the fifth 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 fifth of the meeting’s five themes: “Christian families as subjects of the Church’s mission: embracing conjugal and family love as an impetus for mission.” - Faithful rally around the Pope in prayer (L'Osservatore Romano (Italian))
In an article entitled “Il mondo si stringe intorno al Papa” (The world rallies around the Pope), the Vatican newspaper offered an overview of the many Masses and prayer vigils held around the world for Pope Leo as he underwent lung surgery. “This shows how much Pope Leo is loved, appreciated and followed by everyone,” said Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State of His Holiness, as he discussed Pope Leo’s calmness before his surgery. - Pope Leo, in message, pays tribute to Blessed John Paul I's teaching on peace (Fides)
Pope Leo XIV reflected on peace in a message to an October 13 conference devoted to Blessed John Paul I’s teaching on peace. “We are well aware that peace is not merely the absence of war,” Pope Leo wrote. “Saint Augustine speaks of it as the fruit of tranquillitas ordinis [tranquility of order]. It presupposes respect for the dignity and fundamental rights of every person, as well as solidarity among peoples. From this perspective, justice becomes an essential condition.” “Blessed John Paul I, with his simple and direct language, insisted on the need for personal involvement, fraternity and charity in building human relationships founded on trust. International peace begins in the family, at school and in the community, before reaching institutions,” Pope Leo added. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State of His Holiness, addressed the conference, which took place at the Pontifical Gregorian University. Cardinal Parolin recalled Blessed John Paul I’s work on behalf of peace during his brief pontificate in 1978. - Pope, in message, calls for intensified evangelization during Guadalupan Jubilee Year (Vatican News (Spanish))
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State of His Holiness, sent a telegram in Pope Leo’s name to Cardinal Carlos Aguiar Retes of Mexico City as the Guadalupan Jubilee Year began. In the message, the Pope called on the Church “to intensify the evangelizing mission, so that the light of the Word of God, the comfort of the sacraments, and the aid of prayer may reach everyone, and so that charitable and fraternal assistance to the most needy is never lacking.” - US bishops, National Association of Evangelicals issue joint statement on immigration (USCCB)
The Evangelical-Catholic Dialogue on Immigration—an initiative of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and the National Association of Evangelicals—issued a joint statement, “A Call for Christian Compassion and Wisdom in the Immigration Debate.” The statement, released on October 13, has four sections: Biblical Principles A Better Way Forward A Call to All Americans Prayer Bishop Brendan Cahill, the chairman of the bishops’ Committee on Migration, and Rev. Walter Kim, president of the National Association of Evangelicals, said that “what is unique about this statement is not the content, which is grounded in centuries of Christian teaching and tradition that we have already affirmed separately, but the clear unity that exists between us in this moment.” - Vatican diplomat calls for 'renewed determination' to combat drug trafficking (Holy See Mission)
A leading Vatican diplomat called for “renewed determination” in the face of “expanding drug markets and the links between drug trafficking, corruption, and criminal activity around the world.” Addressing a UN committee meeting on international drug trafficking, Archbishop Christophe-Zakhia El-Kassis, apostolic nuncio and Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, said on October 7 that “society and law enforcement should focus on identifying such criminal networks and prosecuting major criminals, while also working to prevent drug use.” “It is important to implement comprehensive programs that can reach those persons grappling with various forms of addiction,” he added. “This is while particularly crucial for young people and those serving criminal sentences.” - Glasgow archdiocese announces closing of 24 churches (BBC)
The Archdiocese of Glasgow, Scotland, announced the closing of 24 churches. “Only one of our priests is under the age of 45, most are over the age of 60,” said Archbishop William Nolan. “Thank goodness we have foreign priests and religious willing to serve in the Archdiocese, otherwise the situation would be even more critical than it is.” “Just as the vinedresser cuts back the vine so that it may grow, so we too must trim and prune in order to stay healthy, in order to grow,” he added. - Churchgoing Catholic couples trend the happiest, report finds (EWTN News)
The happiest husbands and wives are churchgoing Catholics, according to a new report from the Institute for Family Studies. “Couples who embrace classic Catholic teachings about marital permanence and openness to life are most likely to be happily married,” said Brad Wilcox, a coauthor of the report. Although Catholic weddings have fallen sharply in recent decades, “the believers who remain are more likely to enjoy strong, stable families.” - Pope Leo undergoes successful lung surgery; cancerous cells removed (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV successfully underwent surgery today at Gemelli Hospital, the Holy See Press Office said in a statement issued this evening. - 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.” - More...