Catholic News
- Cardinal Brislin addresses fellow cardinals on Magnifica Humanitas (Vatican News)
Following prayer, the third session of the extraordinary consistory of the College of Cardinals (program) began today with an address by Cardinal Stephen Brislin of Johannesburg, South Africa. Reflecting on Magnifica Humanitas, Pope Leo’s encyclical on safeguarding the human person in the time of artificial intelligence, Cardinal Brislin said that for believers, contributing to the common good “takes on the form of synodality.” “Cardinal Brislin described synodality as the concrete trace of the communion from which the Church is born and grows, enabling Christians to enter the building site of history without fear,” Vatican News reported in its summary of the prelate’s remarks. - In consistory's 2nd session, cardinals discuss just war, faith in Christ (Vatican News)
During the second session of the two-day extraordinary consistory (program), members of the College of Cardinals discussed the topic, “The Culture of Power and the Civilization of Love.” According to the Vatican News’s summary of the confidential deliberations, “all the groups [of cardinals] reaffirmed the centrality of faith in Christ and of the Gospel, which has the power to transform the world when it is lived rather than treated as mere theory.” “Many participants stressed the need to move beyond the logic of just war, since the Gospel cannot be imposed by force, and instead to speak of the right to proportionate self-defense,” according to the summary. Vatican News reported that the cardinals also discussed the following topics, among others: “the challenges of the present time, highlighting the dehumanizing force of the culture of power, its universal reach, the temptation to conform to the logic of the powerful, and the normalization of war and polarization” “the responsibility to build peace and a civilization of love” “the importance of offering a credible witness—beginning within the Church itself—through a language centered on people: one of listening, forgiveness, reconciliation, restorative justice, and concrete gestures” “unity within the Church is essential to its credibility, as is dialogue with other faiths and religions, particularly Islam” “the role of political authority, calling for it to be freed from what was described as its toxic link with economic power” - In consistory's 1st session, 178 cardinals ponder the contemporary world (Vatican News)
178 of the 241 members of the College of Cardinals took part in the first session of the two-day extraordinary consistory (program), during which they pondered the question, “In what kind of world are we called to proclaim the Gospel?” According to the Vatican News’s summary of the confidential deliberations, the cardinals, gathered in groups, spoke about the following topics, among others: “increasing polarization within societies and communities, generating political tensions and violence and fueled by social divisions, misinformation and forms of communication that fail to foster encounter” “the suffering caused in many parts of the world by the lack of respect for religious and ethnic minorities, undermining religious freedom and giving rise to hostility, and at times violence, particularly against the Church” “excessive individualism, the crisis of the family, and the growing loneliness experienced by both elderly people and young people, identifying these as contributing factors to even more serious problems, including rising suicide rates and drug use” “the awareness of a widespread sense of distrust, fatalism and powerlessness towards institutions, democracy and the future, linked also to declining birth rates, the growth of criminal organizations, youth delinquency and drug trafficking” “the need to address migration in a humane and Christian way, recognizing how it is reshaping peoples, societies and communities while making effective integration policies increasingly urgent amid new forms of exclusion” - The Good Samaritan is a model for the Church, Cardinal Ryś says at consistory (Vatican News)
In a biblical meditation on the first day of the extraordinary consistory (program), Cardinal Grzegorz Ryś of Kraków, Poland, upheld the Good Samaritan as a model for the Church today. In summarizing the prelate’s biblical meditation, Vatican News, the news agency of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication, reported that Cardinal Ryś said that “the Samaritan’s mercy, closeness and generosity reveal that charity is not the exclusive preserve of Christians but a place where the Church and the world can meet in genuine dialogue.” Vatican News also reported—inaccurately—that the prelate is the archbishop of Łódź. Pope Leo transferred Cardinal Ryś from Łódź to Kraków last year. - Cardinal Re calls on cardinals to unite around Pope, thanks Pope for AI encyclical (L'Osservatore Romano (Italian))
In his opening address on the first day of the extraordinary consistory (program), Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re said that the cardinals had gathered at a “difficult moment for humanity, to seek to face, viribus unitis [with forces united] around the Successor of Peter, the challenges of this historical era of ours.” Cardinal Re, the dean of the College of Cardinals, praised Magnifica Humanitas, Pope Leo’s encyclical on safeguarding the human person in the time of artificial intelligence, as part of the “living tradition of the great documents of the Pontifical Magisterium regarding the Church’s social doctrine, analyzing today’s reality with faith and depth.” Cardinal Re concluded by thanking the Pope for his “strong words condemning the war, which for everyone is nothing but a loss and a grave, inhumane tragedy.” - Mission is the Church's 'very reason for existing,' Pope tells world's cardinals (CWN)
Addressing the opening session of the two-day extraordinary consistory of the College of Cardinals (program), Pope Leo said today that “mission is not merely one of the Church’s many tasks,” but “her very reason for existing and thus, it also becomes the criterion that guides our discernment.” - The living, believing Church bears much fruit, Pope preaches to cardinals as consistory begins (CWN)
Reflecting on Christ’s parable of the vine and the branches, Pope Leo XIV told the world’s cardinals that the living, believing Church bears much fruit. - Holy See laments use of children in armed conflict (Holy See Mission)
Addressing a UN Security Council discussion of children and armed conflict, a Vatican diplomat said that the Holy See “remains particularly concerned by the continued recruitment, abuse and abduction of children.” “These grave violations rob children of their childhood, separate them from their families and communities, and expose them to violence and exploitation, resulting in lasting consequences,” Msgr. Marco Formica, interim chargé d’affaires of the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations, said on June 25. “Such suffering is a grave affront to the God-given dignity of every child, who deserves protection and care, and can never be considered as mere collateral damage in the prosecution of war.” Msgr. Formica also said that the Holy See “encourages States that have not yet done so” to endorse the Political Declaration on Strengthening the Protection of Civilians from the Humanitarian Consequences arising from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas. - Report: Cardinal Müller calls for Vatican response to SSPX (CWN)
An Italian journalist reported today that Cardinal Gerhard Müller “shook up” the extraordinary consistory of the College of Cardinals by calling for a formal response to the Society of Saint Pius X’s latest statements ahead of its scheduled episcopal consecrations. - Pope sends aid to earthquake-stricken Venezuela (Vatican News)
Pope Leo XIV sent 100,000 euros ($113,895) in aid to Venezuela following violent earthquakes there. The Pontiff sent the aid, described as an initial donation, through the Dicastery for the Service of Charity (apostolic almoner’s office), in coordination with the apostolic nuncio to Venezuela and the archbishop of Caracas, the nation’s capital. - Vatican diplomat calls for legal migration routes to deter human trafficking (Holy See Mission)
A Vatican diplomat called for the establishment of “safe and regular migration routes” to help deter human trafficking. “Human trafficking is a contemporary form of slavery and a grave violation of the God-given human dignity,” Archbishop Ettore Balestrero, apostolic nuncio and Permanent Observer to the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva, Switzerland, said during a June 22 meeting with the UN’s Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons. “My Delegation wishes to emphasize the importance of prevention, protection, liberation, and rehabilitation,” Archbishop Balestrero added. “In this context, the role of the family is vital, particularly through family reunification and guardianship for unaccompanied children.” - Prelates celebrate Border Mass 250 (Reuters)
Bishop James Misko of Tucson was the principal celebrant at Border Mass 250 in Nogales, Arizona, on June 26. The Mass was followed by a Rosary procession to Nogales, Mexico. During the Mass and procession, prelates called for the humane treatment of migrants. Reuters reported that “more than 100” Catholics took part, including bishops, priests, religious, and lay faithful. - USCCB committee chairman urges international assistance following deadly Venezuela earthquakes (USCCB)
The chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace called for international assistance for the victims of violent earthquakes in Venezuela. “I offer the prayers and solidarity of the Church in the United States to our sisters and brothers affected by this tragedy,” said Bishop A. Elias Zaidan, the Maronite bishop of Los Angeles. “Let us all join in prayer that Our Lady of Coromoto, patroness of Venezuela, will comfort and protect her children and that compassionate international assistance will arrive swiftly.” - Sports are an opportunity for spiritual growth, Pope Leo tells swimmers (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV described sports as a “medicine for both body and spirit, when it is practiced well” and an “opportunity for spiritual growth.” - Earthquakes cause serious damage to Venezuelan seminary, churches (CWN)
Violent earthquakes struck Venezuela on June 24, causing extensive loss of human life and damage to Catholic institutions. - Pope encourages Jesuit college presidents to help students encounter God through the Spiritual Exercises (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV encouraged the presidents of Jesuit colleges and universities in North America to turn to the Society of Jesus’ four universal apostolic preferences to help confront the challenges of our time—and to begin by helping students encounter God. - Prelate laments plight of Haitian mothers present illegally in Dominican Republic (CWN)
The vice president of the Haitian Episcopal Conference lamented the plight of Haitian mothers who have fled the conflict there for the neighboring Dominican Republic (map). - US nuns' Alliance to End Human Trafficking warns of loopholes in bill (CWN)
The Alliance to End Human Trafficking, whose members include over 200 congregations of religious sisters, warned that legislation under consideration in the U.S. Senate “could weaken safeguards against illicit finance and create vulnerabilities that traffickers and transnational criminal organizations may exploit.” - Pope offers support, encouragement to Synod continental leaders (General Secretariat of the Synod)
Cardinal Mario Grech, Secretary General of the Synod, said that Pope Leo XIV offered “powerful” support and encouragement to leading prelates from around the world during a June 25 private audience. “The meeting with the Holy Father was for all the participants a powerful sign of support and encouragement as they continue their work for the Church’s synodal conversion,” said Cardinal Mario Grech. The papal audience came at the conclusion of a three-day meeting of Synod staff with leaders of continental bishops’ assemblies, in preparation for the synodal assemblies of 2027-2028. The implementation phase of the 2021-2024 Synod on synodality culminates in an ecclesial assembly in Rome in October 2028. Prior to that, diocesan assemblies are scheduled to take place during the first half of 2027; national assemblies, during the second half of 2027; and continental assemblies, during the first four months of 2028 (Towards the Assemblies 2027-2028, p. 5). - National Eucharistic Pilgrimage reaches Maine before turning toward Philadelphia (OSV News)
The 2026 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage, whose theme is “One Nation Under God,” arrived in the Diocese of Portland, Maine, its northernmost point, on June 23. The pilgrimage, which began in St. Augustine, Florida, on May 24, will turn back to the south today, before concluding in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia on July 5. - More...