Catholic News
- Jesus Christ reveals the Father, Pope emphasizes in audience on Vatican II (CWN)
Continuing his series of Wednesday general audiences on the Second Vatican Council and its documents, Pope Leo XIV emphasized that Jesus Christ reveals God the Father. - Reviving custom, Pope Leo presented with lambs on feast of St. Agnes (CWN)
Reviving a custom discontinued by Pope Francis, Pope Leo XIV was presented with two lambs on the memorial of St. Agnes (video). - 'War is back in fashion,' Pope laments (CWN)
At the conclusion of his January 21 general audience, Pope Leo XIV lamented that “war is back in fashion.” - Pope evaluating President Trump's invitation to Vatican to join Gaza Board of Peace (OSV News)
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State of His Holiness, said that Pope Leo XIV is evaluating an invitation from President Donald Trump for the Vatican City State to join his Board of Peace for Gaza. The invitation “requires some time to answer,” Cardinal Parolin told journalists on January 21. The Vatican, he added, “will not be to participate financially” because “we are not in a position to do so.” - Papal message to Catholic media: be a voice of reconciliation in a polarized world (CWN)
In a papal message to the Fédération des Médias Catholiques (Federation of Catholic Media), Cardinal Pietro Parolin encouraged media professionals to be voices of reconciliation in a polarized world. - Pope Leo to celebrate Holy Thursday Mass at Lateran Basilica after hiatus under Pope Francis (EWTN News)
The Prefecture of the Pontifical Household has announced that Pope Leo XIV will celebrate the Holy Thursday evening Mass in the Lateran Basilica, as was customary before the pontificate of Pope Francis. Beginning in 2013, Pope Francis celebrated the Mass of the Lord’s Supper in sites such as prisons and migrant centers. “The years of Pope Francis’ pontificate, as happened with many other celebrations and initiatives, constitute an exception, motivated by the desire to offer the world a clear sign of predilection for the poor and the last, bringing the attention of the bishop of Rome to places of suffering,” said Msgr. Giovanni Falbo, a cathedral canon. - Cardinal Parolin rues tensions between US, Europe (Vatican News)
Fielding questions from journalists on January 21, Cardinal Pietro Parolin said that tensions between the US and Europe “are not healthy and create a climate that worsens an international situation that is already serious.” “I believe the important thing would be to eliminate tensions, to discuss the controversial points, but without entering into polemics and without fueling tensions,” the Secretary of State of His Holiness added. Cardinal Parolin also spoke about respect for international law, the “responsible use of the press,” Venezuela, Iran, the conflict in the Holy Land, and President Trump’s Board of Peace for Gaza. - Catholicism has declined in Latin America over the past decade (Pew Research Center)
The percentage of self-identified Catholics in six Latin American nations declined significantly over the past decade, according to the Pew Research Center. The decline was most pronounced in Colombia (79% to 60%) and Chile (64% to 46%). In Argentina, a decline from 71% to 58% coincided with the reign of an Argentine pope. - Cardinal Krajewski pleads for aid for suffering Ukrainians (Vatican News)
Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, the prefect of the Dicastery for the Service of Charity, appealed for aid for Ukraine. “One cannot remain indifferent to pain, to suffering—we must act,” he said, “because the risk, as Pope Leo says, is that of the ‘globalization of impotence,’ even more serious than the globalization of indifference.” Vatican News reported that “the Ukrainian people now live in darkness, with temperatures well below zero, without heating, without electricity, because of intense Russian raids on the capital, Kyiv.” - Danish bishop publishes brief letter on Greenland (Diocese of Copenhagen)
The Diocese of Copenhagen has published an English translation of a recent letter from its bishop, Bishop Czeslaw Kozon, to the pastor and faithful of the parish in Greenland. “A lot of concern and anxiety has filled many people worldwide, but especially in Greenland and Denmark, ordinary citizens and politicians alike,” Bishop Kozon wrote on January 16. “A lot of sympathy has been directed towards the people in Greenland. I would also like to assure you, that I follow you with my thoughts and prayers.” “Many things are challenged and turned upside down in today’s world,” the bishop added. “Peace and stability are at stake ... Let us so be confident in God’s mercy and providence that he may guide the governors of the world and make them open to his wisdom.” - Iraqi Kurdish leader, Pontiff discuss regional peace (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV received Masoud Barzani, the former president of Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region, which provided hospitality to an estimated 100,000 Iraqi Christians who fled the advance of the Islamic State in 2014. - Catholic school enrollment rises in some states (Thomas B. Fordham Institute)
Citing data from Florida and Iowa, the director of national research at EdChoice said that Catholic school enrollment has begun to rise in some states because of legislation that favors parental choice in education. “Families want Catholic education, but they can’t afford it,” said Michael McShane. “Private school choice programs solve that problem.” - Former Jesuit provincial steps down following student abuse complaint (Cherwell)
The former provincial of the Jesuits in Britain stepped down from his subsequent role as senior chaplain at the Oxford University Catholic Chaplaincy after a student there lodged an abuse complaint. Cherwell, an Oxford student newspaper, alleged that the Jesuits “substantially misrepresented the nature of the complaint made by the student.” - Pope, in letter, marks 1200th anniversary of St. Ansgar's evangelizing mission in Denmark (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV has written a Latin-language letter commemorating the 1200th anniversary of the beginning of St. Ansgar‘s evangelizing mission in Denmark. - Vatican diplomat calls for effective prevention, punishment of crimes against humanity (Holy See Mission)
Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, apostolic nuncio and Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, called for the “development of effective measures” to prevent and punish crimes against humanity. Addressing a UN committee on January 19, Archbishop Caccia said that the “the duty to prevent and counter crimes against humanity rests first and foremost” with individual nations. “At the same time, international cooperation plays an indispensable complementary role, both in addressing the transnational dimensions of such crimes and in supporting those States that lack the capacity to fulfill their obligations effectively,” he said. - Imitate the Samaritan's compassion, Pope writes in message for World Day of the Sick (Dicastery for Communication)
The Vatican has released Pope Leo’s Message for the 34th World Day of the Sick, commemorated on February 11 (background). The Pope’s message, dated January 13 and released January 20, is entitled “The compassion of the Samaritan: loving by bearing another’s pain.” The message has three parts: The gift of encounter: the joy of offering closeness and presence The shared mission of caring for the sick Always driven by love for God, to encounter ourselves and our neighbor “I genuinely hope that our Christian lifestyle will always reflect this fraternal, ‘Samaritan’ spirit—one that is welcoming, courageous, committed and supportive, rooted in our union with God and our faith in Jesus Christ,” Pope Leo said. “Enkindled by this divine love, we will surely be able to give of ourselves for the good of all who suffer, especially our brothers and sisters who are sick, elderly or afflicted.” - EU bishops call for 'just' ecological transition that protects human dignity, work, communities (COMECE)
The Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the EU (COMECE) has released a position paper, “A Just Transition that protects Human Dignity, Work and Communities.” “Europe’s commitment to ecological transformation is both necessary and urgent,” COMECE stated. “At the same time, it raises profound social, economic and ethical questions.” COMECE warned that “among workers in Europe’s industrial regions, a recurring concern is whether this transition will leave them behind and whether their children will be forced to leave their home regions in search of decent work.” “Only a transition that is humane, inclusive and socially just will be able to unite Europe and secure lasting support for the ecological transformation needed for the common good,” COMECE concluded. - Jerusalem Patriarchs criticize 'Christian Zionism' (Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem)
The Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem said in a statement that “recent activities undertaken by local individuals who advance damaging ideologies, such as Christian Zionism, mislead the public, sow confusion, and harm the unity of our flock.” “The Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem reiterate that they alone represent the Churches and their flock in matters pertaining to Christian religious, communal, and pastoral life in the Holy Land,” the Christian leaders added. - Cardinal Czerny: Gospel, Pope Leo call us to 'real' encounters with the sick (CWN)
At a press conference presenting Pope Leo XIV’s message for the upcoming World Day of the Sick (video), Cardinal Michael Czerny, SJ, contrasted fleeting online encounters with the “real” encounters to which Christ and Pope Leo call us. - Bishop Bätzing will not run for reelection as German bishops' conference president (Hessenschau.de)
Bishop Georg Bätzing of Limburg, a leading proponent of Germany’s controversial Synodal Way, announced that he will not run for another term as chairman of the German Bishops’ Conference. The prelate has held the position since 2020. The dissident group We Are Church lamented his decision, describing it as a “bitter setback.” - More...