Catholic News
- Pope departs from Uruguay, arrives in Argentina (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV departed from Uruguay and arrived in Argentina on the afternoon of November 8, the third day of his apostolic journey to three South American nations (program) - Pope, in final Mass in Uruguay, reconsecrates nation to the Virgin Mary, calls on faithful to evangelize (CWN)
In his final Mass in Uruguay, Pope Leo XIV reconsecrated the nation to the Blessed Virgin Mary and called on the faithful to evangelize. - Pope Leo: Today's world recalls Bethlehem, where Christ was rejected by some, sought by others (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV told Uruguayan youth who took part in a prayer vigil that today’s secularized world recalls Bethlehem, where Christ experienced indifference and rejection from some but was sought by others. - Let the Good News enlighten the senses, Pope tells educators (CWN)
In an address at the Catholic University of Uruguay, Pope Leo XIV told educators that the “goal of the pastoral mission in education is for students, teachers and school administrators to hear, see, taste, touch and smell the Good News, allowing it to enlighten the senses” (video). - Pope calls on barrio parish to follow examples of Virgin Mary, Good Samaritan (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV visited a barrio of Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay, and called on a parish there to follow the examples of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Good Samaritan. - 'Carry forward the mission of evangelization with enthusiasm,' Pope preaches at Mass in Uruguay (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV called upon the faithful of Uruguay—Latin America’s most secularized nation—to “carry forward the mission of evangelization with enthusiasm.” - Zelensky: Russian forces have killed 120 clergy, damaged 800 religious sites (OIDAC Europe)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview that Russian forces have killed 120 clergy and damaged or destroyed 800 religious sites since invading Ukraine in 2022. Zelensky “said that some of the damaged buildings were around a thousand years old and had been struck with drones and missiles, including cruise and ballistic missiles,” the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians in Europe reported. - Wisconsin voters back closing of houses of worship during 'emergencies' (New York Times)
In a little noticed ballot initiative, Wisconsin voters, by a 51.9%-48.1% margin, rejected a proposed state constitutional amendment that would have prohibited “the state or a political subdivision of the state from ordering the closure of, or forbidding gatherings in, places of worship in response to a state of emergency, including a public health emergency.” The Wisconsin Catholic Conference did not weigh in on the ballot initiative, according to a comprehensive list of statements on its website. - Seminarian numbers surge in Denver for 3 consecutive years (Denver Catholic)
For the third consecutive year, the Archdiocese of Denver welcomed a record number of new seminarians: 13 in 2024-25, 27 in 2025-26, and 34 in 2026-27—bringing the total number of seminarians to 110. “God is doing something incredible in his Church, especially here in northern Colorado, right now,” said Archbishop James Golka. “We have unprecedented numbers of individuals seeking to become Catholic. We have the highest number of seminarians in recent memory. Thanks be to God!” - Pope, in Uruguay, calls for prayer, fasting for vocations (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV concluded the first day of his apostolic journey to three South American nations (program) with the celebration of Vespers (video) in the Metropolitan Cathedral in Montevideo, Uruguay’s capital. - Public authority should serve the common good and protect the unborn, Pope says in Uruguay (CWN)
Following a flight of over 13 hours from Rome, Pope Leo XIV arrived on November 6 at Carrasco International Airport in Montevideo, Uruguay’s capital, where he was welcomed by civil authorities (video). - Hong Kong cardinal, Beijing archbishop praise sinicization (CWN)
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Cardinal Stephen Chow Sau-yan, S.J., of Hong Kong, and the archbishop of Beijing spoke at a conference marking the 100th anniversary of the consecration of the first native Chinese bishops. The two Chinese prelates praised sinicization, described by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom as “the complete subordination of religious groups to the CCP’s [Chinese Communist Party’s] political agenda.” - Belarus priest sentenced to 3 years for speaking out against Russian invasion of Ukraine (AP)
A 66-year-old Belarusian priest was sentenced to three years in prison in a closed-door trial on charges of “insulting the authorities” and “extremism.” Father Anatoly Parakhnevich, 66, denounced the Russian invasion of Ukraine, advocated for peace, took up a collection to aid Ukrainian refugees, and called on Belarus to repent for its support for the invasion. The priest, jailed in March, has suffered a heart attack. - Allow depositors access to their money, Paraguay's bishops demand after bank collapse (Diario HOY)
The bishops of the South American nation of Paraguay demanded that depositors be granted access to their money following the collapse of Ueno Bank. In a statement entitled “I have seen the affliction of my people, and I have heard their cry” (Ex. 3:7), the bishops asked the nation’s parishes to assist those affected by the crisis and called for accountability. “We reject all forms of financial crime and any improper use of public or private resources that harm people, destroy trust and harm the common good,” they said. “There were warnings that were not heeded in time and, as so often, those who suffer the most are the little ones.” - Nuncio, Vatican newspaper pay tribute to slain Congolese prelate, 30 years after assassination (CWN)
The apostolic nuncio to the Democratic Republic of the Congo paid tribute to the Servant of God Archbishop Christophe Munzihirwa Mwene Ngabo, S.J. (1926-1996), at a conference marking the 30th anniversary of his assassination. - Catholic support for Democrats jumped in midterm election (The Christian Century)
Polls conducted by NBC News and CNN found a marked shift in the Catholic vote between the 2024 and 2026 elections. In 2024, Catholics favored Republicans by a 59%-39% margin, according to NBC News (and by a 60%-39% margin according to CNN). In 2026, NBC News and CNN reported that Catholics, who made up 20% of the electorate, supported Democrats by a 50%-49% margin. - USCCB, CRS call on world leaders to take 'decisive action' on climate change (CWN)
The chairmen of two committees of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, joined by the president and CEO of Catholic Relief Services, called on world leaders who will gather at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP31) to take “decisive action that will protect and promote human flourishing and our common home.” - Seminarian numbers decline in Charlotte for 3rd consecutive year (CWN)
The number of seminarians in a North Carolina diocese has declined by nearly 20% since 2023-24, according to a brochure included with a new fundraising letter written by the diocese’s bishop. - Raleigh diocese refers financial case involving priest to law enforcement (WECT-TV)
The Diocese of Raleigh, North Carolina, announced that one of its vicars forane resigned from his position and his pastorate “following a preliminary investigation into financial irregularities conducted by third-party accounting and legal professionals.” “The matter involving Father John McGee, O.S.F.S., has been referred to law enforcement officials,” the diocese said in a statement. Before his resignation, Father McGee was vicar forane of one of the diocese’s eight deaneries. - Times publishes overview of abuse scandal settlements (New York Times)
Abuse scandal settlements announced by the nation’s dioceses have now reached “well over $2 billion in just the last few years,” according to a New York Times overview. The largest settlements include settlements announced by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles ($880 million in 2024 and $660 million in 2007), the Archdiocese of New York ($800 million in 2026), the Archdiocese of San Francisco ($395 million in 2026), and the Archdiocese of New Orleans (at least $230 million in 2025). In addition, plaintiffs recently held a vote on whether to accept the Diocese of Buffalo’s $325-million offer. - More...