Catholic News
- 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. - 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.” - 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.” - 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. - 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.” - Pope Leo pays tribute to Cardinal Re (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV paid tribute to Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re following the 92-year-old prelate’s resignation as dean of the College of Cardinals. - Bishops, world leaders pray for Pope's health (L'Osservatore Romano (Italian))
Bishops from around the world offered prayers for the health of Pope Leo XIV as he prepared for surgery to remove a lung nodule. Italian President Sergio Mattarella, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Peruvian President Keiko Sofía Fujimori Higuchi, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also published messages of prayer or support, as did Dame Sarah Mullally, the Anglican primate. - Vatican diplomat calls for respect for indigenous peoples' rights (Holy See Mission)
A leading Vatican diplomat said that the rights of indigenous peoples “must be respected, protected, and promoted as a matter of justice and of the common good.” Addressing a UN committee session devoted to the rights of indigenous peoples, Archbishop Christophe-Zakhia El-Kassis, apostolic nuncio and Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, called for “recognition of past wounds, commitment to reconciliation, and firm defense of the fundamental human rights and the God-given dignity of every human being.” “Indigenous peoples are not objects of development policies, but subjects and protagonists of their own destinies,” the prelate added in his October 7 statement. “Their wisdom in living in harmony with creation offers vital lessons for the culture of care and for building a more just and fraternal world.” - Charity unites prayer, action, and sacrifice, Pope tells Circle of Saint Peter (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV told members of the Circolo San Pietro (Circle of St. Peter) that charity unites the three words of its motto: prayer, action, and sacrifice. - Number of Catholic colleges, universities in US declines to 215 (USCCB)
Following the closing and merger of some institutions, there are now 215 Catholic colleges and universities in the United States, according to an updated listing published this month by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). The USCCB’s Secretariat for Catholic Education published two lists: an alphabetical list and a list by state. - Amoris Laetitia meeting, October 9: prelates discuss young people and the discovery of the vocation to marriage (CWN)
On October 9—the second 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 second of the meeting’s five themes: “young people and the discovery of the vocation to marriage: listening to young people and accompanying them in discovering the value of marriage.” - Archbishop Broglio: 'I oblige' Catholics participating in livestream execution to request to be excused (Archdiocese for the Military, USA)
In a statement condemning the Pentagon’s proposal to livestream the execution of a terrorist, Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military, USA said that “as I would in the case of a procured abortion, I oblige any Catholics assigned to the firing squad to request to be excused from this action contrary to the teaching of the Church.” “It is my duty to express my disapproval of what is proposed regarding the execution of the terrorist Hasan in the Archdiocese entrusted to my spiritual care to be done by those for whose salvation I have been constituted as the Archbishop for the Military Services, USA,” Archbishop Broglio said in an October 12 statement. He added: Do we really want to imitate the terrorists of this world and make a public spectacle of barbarically killing our adversaries? The crime committed by Nidal Malik Hasan was heinous, but does exposing the public to his execution serve any purpose? Has the potential moral injury, which the members of the firing squad might experience, been considered? Will the exposure of a live-stream to the young and impressionable during the 250th anniversary year of our independence be able to be repaired? The US military generally enjoys a good reputation in the world. Is there really a value to throwing them in the same boat with terrorists by broadcasting the image of the execution of a man in a wheel chair to the whole world? Does this decision reflect the dignity of the human person? - Amoris Laetitia meeting, October 10: prelates discuss the first years of marriage (CWN)
On October 10—the third 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 third of the meeting’s five themes: “married life, the first years of marriage: a decisive time Listening to and accompanying couples in the early years of married life and at every stage of life.” - Archbishop Morel takes helm of massive Caribbean archdiocese (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV accepted the resignation of Archbishop Francisco Ozoria Acosta from the pastoral care of the Archdiocese of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, on October 12, just two days after the prelate’s 75th birthday. - More...