Catholic News
- Ecumenical Patriarch: Only another ecumenical council can modify the calculation of the date of Easter (CWN)
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, who holds a primacy of honor among the Orthodox churches, said in an interview that only another ecumenical council is able to modify the calculation of the date of Easter. - Only Christ can change the world, Pope tells French political leaders (Vatican News)
Pope Leo XIV encouraged a group of French political leaders to base their work on Catholic social teaching and on natural law, at a private audience on August 28. The Pontiff cautioned that “the promotion of ‘values,’ however evangelical they may be,” is not enough to solve the world’s needs. Abstract principles, not anchored to faith in Christ, are “powerless,” he insisted. He said: The salvation that Jesus obtained through His death and resurrection encompasses all dimensions of human life, such as culture, the economy and work, family and marriage, respect for human dignity and life, health, as well as communication, education, and politics. - Pope, US bishops lament Minneapolis church shooting (Vatican Press Office)
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State of His Holiness, sent a telegram in the Holy Father’s name following the Annunciation Catholic Church shooting in Minneapolis (CWN coverage). The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops also issued a statement, as did Archbishop Bernard Hebda of St. Paul and Minneapolis, who said, “My heart is broken as I think about students, teachers, clergy and parishioners and the horror they witnessed in a Church, a place where we should feel safe.” - Brazilian bishops' conference publishes manifesto ahead of UN climate change conference (CWN)
The Brazilian bishops’ Commission for Integral Ecology and Mining published a 30-page manifesto ahead of COP30, the upcoming UN climate change conference in Brazil. - Mass shooting during Mass at Catholic school in Minneapolis (AP)
At least two children were killed, and another 17 people wounded, when a shooter opened fire on the congregation at a Mass being celebrated for Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis on August 27. The shooter was identified as Robin Westman, a young man who had chosen to live as a woman, and who posted a disturbing hate-laced manifesto online before the massacre, in which he announced “I am not well.” After shooting through the windows of the church, he shot himself, and died of the wound. Pope Leo XIV sent a message to Archbishop Bernard Hebda of Minneapolis expressing “his heartfelt condolences and the assurance of spiritual closeness to all those affected by this terrible tragedy, especially the families now grieving the loss of a child.” - UN report seeks worldwide ban on surrogacy (UN)
A UN report has called for a worldwide ban on surrogacy. “The practice of surrogacy is characterized by exploitation and violence against women and children, including girls,” writes Reem Alsalem, a UN special rapporteur on violence against women. The report, based on consultations with dozens of experts and medical practitioners involved in surrogacy, uncovers patterns of violence and coercion, exploitation of needy women, and harms to the children born of surrogacy. The UN report finds that the business of surrogacy—mostly unregulated—brought in nearly $15 billion in 2023, and could reach $100 billion within a decade. The bulk of that money goes to intermediaries, with the surrogate mothers receiving only 10% to 25% of the fees paid. - Priests, religious are committed to remaining in Gaza, pastor says (Vatican News)
Father Gabriel Romanelli, IVE, the Argentine priest who serves as pastor of Gaza’s sole Catholic parish, said that he and the other priests and religious there are committed to remaining in Gaza. “We all share the same feelings,” he said. “Seeing the needs of the elderly, of those who are anxious, of those who are sad and anguished, of people with disabilities, we understand that the Lord is calling us to continue serving them—because otherwise, how will those people survive, how will they manage?” “We, with great simplicity and humility, will carry on here,” he added, as he asked for prayers for peace. - Holy Land bishops lament destruction of Gaza's schools (Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem)
In a letter for the opening of the school year, the Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land said that the joy of the opening of the school year “does not extend to our children in Gaza, who for the third consecutive year are deprived of their right to education because of the war.” “Their schools have been destroyed, their classrooms have closed,” the bishops stated in their August 28 letter, signed by Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, OFM, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem. “We carry them in our prayers, imploring that peace may soon prevail so that they may return to their desks and reclaim their childhood.” - Myanmar bishop: churches destroyed by bombs, but faith is strong (Fides)
“They destroyed the walls of the church, but not the faith. Our faith remains strong,” said Bishop Lucius Hre Kung of Hakha, Myanmar, as he viewed the ruins of a church that had been the target of bombing by the military government. The church of Christ the King, which had been dedicated in 2023, was leveled in April during an air strike on the town of Falam, as the military struck against a rebel militia force there. More than 100 religious buildings have reportedly been destroyed in fighting in the local area. - Pope splits up massive archdiocese in Dominican Republic (Vatican Press Office)
Pope Leo XIV has split up the Archdiocese of Santo Domingo, a massive diocese in the Dominican Republic with 3.48 million Catholics—more than the Archdiocese of New York (3.26 million) or the Archdiocese of Chicago (2.08 million). On August 27, Pope Leo established the Diocese of Stella Maris, Dominican Republic, carving it from the territory of the Archdiocese of Santo Domingo. The new diocese has 944,000 Catholics, 64 parishes, and 95 priests; the Santo Domingo archdiocese, following the loss of territory to the new diocese, now has 2.54 million Catholics, 156 parishes, and 316 priests. It is the second such action taken by Pope Leo XIV; in July, he established a new diocese in Kenya. - Vietnamese Catholics from California meet with Pope (L'Osservatore Romano (Italian))
Pope Leo met on August 27 with over 160 members of the Vietnamese Catholic community in San Jose, California. The Vietnamese Catholics made a pilgrimage commemorating the 50th anniversary of their arrival in the United States, which followed the Communist North Vietnam’s conquest of South Vietnam in April 1975. There are “over 14,000 Vietnamese in this community, which represents 14% of the city’s total population,” said Father Justin Le, diocesan vicar of Vietnamese ministry. “Our pilgrimage to Rome is intended as a profound act of thanksgiving to God for protecting and assisting our people fleeing the ravages of war and granting them the grace to rise from the ashes.” “Today,” he added, “we brought the Pope a gift of a copy of the statue of Our Lady of La Vang, patroness of Vietnam.” - Vatican cardinal mourns passing of Peter Cruchley, British Protestant minister (Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity)
Cardinal Kurt Koch, prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, mourned the passing of Peter Cruchley, director of the Commission on World Mission and Evangelism of the World Council of Churches (WCC), and a pastor of the United Reformed Church in Great Britain. “Dr. Cruchley’s ministry was marked by a deep commitment to mission and justice, especially on behalf of the neglected, the poor, and vulnerable,” Cardinal Koch said in a letter to the WCC’s secretary general. “With clarity and conviction, he devoted himself to confronting the enduring legacies of slavery, racism, and colonialism, giving voice to those too often left unheard.” Over 300 Protestant and Orthodox communities are members of the World Council of Churches, founded in 1948 and headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. - Caritas strongly condemns Israel's 'machinery of annihilation' in Gaza (Caritas Internationalis)
Caritas Internationalis, the Church’s confederation of relief and development agencies, strongly condemned Israeli actions in Gaza. “On August 20, 2025, Israeli forces stormed Gaza City, where nearly one million displaced civilians had sought refuge, many already starving,” Caritas stated. “Gazans have long endured a deliberate descent into starvation. This is not a tragic accident.” “The siege of Gaza has become a machinery of annihilation, sustained by impunity and the silence, or complicity, of powerful nations,” Caritas added. “Famine here is not a natural disaster, but the outcome of a deliberate strategy: blocking aid, bombing food convoys, destroying infrastructure, and denying basic needs.” Caritas issued seven demands, including “an immediate and permanent ceasefire,” “unrestricted humanitarian access to end starvation and provide care,” and the “release of all hostages and arbitrarily detained persons.” - Pope, at audience, reflects on arrest of Jesus in Garden of Gethsemane (Vatican News)
At his weekly public audience in August 27, Pope Leo XIV reflected on the arrest of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, saying that this was “the hour in which the light of the greatest love can be revealed.” The Pope called particular attention to the Gospel passage in which Jesus says, “I am He,” noting the reference to God’s revelation to Moses: “I am.” At that point, the Pontiff remarked, the soldiers fell backward. While showing His power, Jesus nonetheless accepted arrest, and expressed concern only about His disciples. Knowing the pain that awaited Him, the Lord did not try to escape. The Pope observed: “This is what true hope consists of: not in trying to avoid pain, but in believing that even in the heart of the most unjust suffering, the seed of new life is hidden.” - Pope, in message to Italian liturgists, hopes faithful will 'rediscover churches as places of worship' (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV sent a message to Archbishop Claudio Maniago, president of the Centro Azione Liturgica [Liturgical Action Center], as the Church in Italy commenced its 75th National Liturgical Week. - USCCB calls for racial equity, justice in Hurricane Katrina anniversary statement (USCCB)
The chairmen of the US bishops’ Subcommittee for African American Affairs and Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism issued a joint statement for the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. The hurricane “threw into stark focus the deep racial and socio-economic disparities across various sectors, including environmental justice, systemic housing inequality, and disaster response,” said Auxiliary Bishops Roy E. Campbell, Jr. and Joseph Perry. “As we mark the 20th anniversary of this tragedy we remember those who were lost and displaced but also renew our commitment to racial equity and justice in every sector of public life. “ - New papal appeal for peace in Gaza (Vatican News)
At his public audience on August 27, Pope Leo XIV renewed his plea that “an end be put to the conflict in the Holy Land, which has caused so much terror, destruction, and death.” He said: I appeal for all hostages to be freed, a permanent ceasefire to be reached, the safe entry of humanitarian aid to be facilitated, and humanitarian law to be fully respected—especially the obligation to protect civilians and the prohibitions against collective punishment, the indiscriminate use of force, and the forced displacement of populations. - Pope Leo welcomes return of refugees to Chagos, condemns forced exile (Dicastery for Communication (French))
Pope Leo XIV received a group of refugees from the Chagos Archipelago in the Indian Ocean and welcomed their impending return to their native islands, over five decades after their removal by the United Kingdom. “I am pleased that your cause has been very successful, since the return of the Chagos Archipelago to the Republic of Mauritius was recently obtained through the signing of a treaty,” Pope Leo said on August 23. The Pope added: The renewed prospect of your return to your native archipelago is an encouraging sign and has symbolic force on the international scene: all peoples, even the smallest and weakest, must be respected by the powerful in their identity and in their rights, in particular the right to live on their lands; and no one may compel them into forced exile. - Italian prelates plead for government action to help repopulate rural areas (Chiesa Cattolica Italiana)
139 Italian cardinals, bishops, and abbots signed an open letter taking aim at a government report that spoke of the “irreversible depopulation” of rural areas. The report also stated that “the population can only grow in some large cities and in specific particularly attractive locations.” The signatories of the open letter appealed to the Italian government and parliament not to “put oneself at the service of an ‘assisted suicide’” of small communities. On the contrary, said the signatories, the government should encourage the repopulation of rural areas “with economic incentives and tax reductions, smart working and co-working solutions, agricultural innovation, sustainable tourism, enhancement of cultural and landscape heritage, specific transport plans, recovery of abandoned villages, co-housing, broadband extension, community health services, telemedicine.” Births in Italy have fallen by over 30% since 2008, and there are now more Italians over 80 than under 10. - Cardinal Parolin reflects on liturgy and hope (Vatican News)
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State of His Holiness, delivered the opening address at the Church in Italy’s 75th National Liturgical Week, an event held this year in Naples. In his address, entitled “The liturgy nourishes and sustains hope” (video), Cardinal Parolin discussed hope, contemplation, action, and peace. Citing the example of the parish in Gaza, “Cardinal Parolin stressed that the liturgy must increasingly become a ‘place’ of closeness, hope, freedom, hospitality, and refuge,” according to Vatican News’s summary of his remarks. “The Cardinal also called for a liturgy that is ‘inclusive, intercultural, and welcoming’ in today’s increasingly multicultural Italian parishes—a liturgy that is the fullest expression of ‘synodality.’” Pope Leo XIV sent a message to the event, which began on August 25. - More...