Catholic News
- DDF publishes document on transmitting the faith (Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith)
The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith today published “Venite Ad Me (Come to Me): Considerations on the Transmission of the Faith in an Epochal Change.” The document has eight chapters: The Proclamation of the Father’s Love The Light of Faith The Epochal Change Centrality of the Kerygma The Transmission of the Faith in Communities Faith and Culture Some Specific Areas of Attention Personal Testimonies “Jesus is the true light of the world, and whoever believes in him, the living Risen One, overcomes the darkness of death and lives by the light of life (cf. Jn 1:6–9; 8:12),” the dicastery stated. “This is the faith of the Church, and this is the faith that every believer is called to spread to the ends of the earth. This task, the transmission of the faith under today’s sociocultural conditions, is at the heart of these Considerations.” - Pope Leo's doctors: 'No further treatment is necessary' (Vatican News)
Eight days after Pope Leo XIV underwent lung surgery, the Pontiff’s personal physician, joined by the head of the surgical team that operated on him, said that “no further treatment is necessary.” “The final histopathology and molecular testing reports on the tissue removed during the Holy Father’s surgery were issued today,” Dr. Luigi Carbone and Professor Stefano Margaritora said in an October 21 statement. “The results confirmed that the tumor was a lung adenocarcinoma and that the disease was localized. A subsequent oncological assessment has confirmed that no further treatment is necessary.” - Pope reflects on relationship between sanctity and history (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV told participants in a conference organized by the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints that “the history of the world without the saints would be immensely poorer; in other words, less human.” - Pope pays tribute to Balearic Islands martyrs (CWN)
At the conclusion of his October 21 general audience, Pope Leo XIV paid tribute to 20 martyred diocesan priests who were beatified four days earlier. - Cardinal Parolin contrasts culture of power, civilization of love (Vatican News)
Speaking at the Pontifical Gregorian University, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State of His Holiness, delivered a wide-ranging address entitled “The Culture of Power and the Civilization of Love.” In his October 20 lecture, Cardinal Parolin asked whether it is possible to “stop the increasingly dominant ‘culture of power’ in relations between individuals, communities, and peoples,” as “the failure or limited contribution of law in governing the digital sphere and algorithms makes the ‘culture of power’ evident, both as an exercise of power and as an attitude.” “The civilization of love stands in opposition to the culture of power by pursuing justice and building effective institutions,” he continued. This civilization uses “instruments proper to law, constructing them patiently and verifying their effects.” - Place human dignity at the center of eradicating global crime, Vatican diplomat urges (Vatican News (Italian))
Addressing a UN conference on combatting international organized crime, a Vatican diplomat stressed the importance of the dignity of the human person. “it is necessary to empower young people to recognize manipulation and defend their own dignity in digital environments,” said Msgr. Luca Marabese, an official of the Permanent Mission of the Holy See to the International Organizations in Vienna. “The protection of minors online is a responsibility shared by states, families, schools, civil society, and technology providers.” The diplomat also discussed crime prevention, human trafficking, the theft of cultural property, and responsibility to creation. - Vatican diplomat: Our Lady of Guadalupe is greatest symbol of encounter between Europeans, indigenous peoples (Vatican News)
A Vatican diplomat told the Organization of American States that he sees Our Lady of Guadalupe as “the greatest symbol” of the encounter between Europeans and the indigenous peoples of the Americas. “The greatest symbol of this encounter is found in Our Lady of Guadalupe, as we draw ever closer to the 500th anniversary of her apparitions,” Msgr. Juan Antonio Cruz Serrano, Permanent Observer to the Organization of American States, said during an October 20 address to the permanent council of the OAS. “Her image remains a source of unity and encounter.” “The encounter between Europe and the peoples of the Americas, brought about by the arrival of Europeans in these lands, opened new horizons of knowledge, cultural exchange, and mutual enrichment,” the Vatican diplomat said. This encounter was “accompanied by suffering and injustices inflicted upon indigenous peoples, whose dignity and culture were not always respected.” - New Vatican official: 'Women today may hear the call to priesthood' (EWTN News)
The newly appointed president of the Pontifical Mission Societies discussed her views on women’s ordination in an interview. “Who am I to say whether the door is open or closed [to women priests]?” said Sister Mary Barron, O.L.A., who will assume her new office on January 4. “Women today may hear the call to priesthood,” Sister Barron continued. Some of the great women saints heard that call also.” “So for me, it’s how do we within Church facilitate that discernment?” she added. “So I think even though … there have been moments where we’ve been told we can’t talk about this at all, it’s over … it comes back and it comes back ... I think the Spirit will guide us even if we say we can’t talk about it now.” - Priest seriously injured in attack at Indian Catholic school (AsiaNews)
Father Benedict Barla, the principal of a Catholic middle school in the northeastern Indian state of Jharkand, was seriously injured during an October 21 attack. Father Barla was found in a pool of blood. Camera footage showed three masked men entering the school the previous night, nearly 12 hours before the attack. “We do not want to speculate about who could be behind this,” said Father Bisu Benjamin, vicar general of the Diocese of Khunti. “We will wait for the administration and police to investigate.” - 30 Augustinian friars meet with Pontiff (L'Osservatore Romano (Italian))
At the conclusion of his October 21 general audience, Pope Leo XIV met briefly with 30 confrères from the Order of Saint Augustine. The friars, who are attending a conference at the Augustinianum, said that following the Pontiff’s lung surgery, they wanted to show him “all our closeness” by attending the audience in person. - Melbourne archbishop rues political parties' support for abortion funding (Melbourne Catholic)
In an op-ed first published in the Melbourne Herald Sun, Archbishop Peter Comensoli of Melbourne lamented political support for funding abortions in the Australian state of Victoria. “In the past week, the Labor Party proudly announced that, if reelected, Victorian taxpayers would cover the full cost of abortions for expectant mothers in Victoria,” Archbishop Comensoli wrote. “The Liberal/ National Coalition swiftly confirmed they would follow suit.” “Last year, Victoria made so-called ‘Voluntary Assisted Dying’ easier to access,” he continued. “Do we hold in our mind and heart the stark reality of what is occurring when human lives are deliberately ended?” “Will politicians who advocate to fully fund one ‘choice’ also advocate to fully fund the alternatives?” he added. “Sadly, no major political party—Labor, Liberal, National—or the Greens or One Nation is offering to really turn back the tide on this culture of death.” - Pontifical Academy for Life to devote 2027 assembly to mental suffering (Pontifical Academy for Life)
The Pontifical Academy for Life announced the theme of its 32nd general assembly: “Unseen Wounds: Mental suffering and care.” The conference will take place in March. When one speaks of “the person and his interior psychic dynamics, the Church has a duty to intervene and offer her perspective,” Archbishop Renzo Pegoraro, the academy’s president, said in an interview with L’Osservatore Romano. Archbishop Pegoraro said that many adolescents experience “a sense of inadequacy, living in a disoriented society that is constantly rushing, and a difficulty in cultivating meaningful relationships, both within the family and among friends. While there are many points of contact, they do not truly feel welcomed, respected, protected, or loved.” “We need to better understand these phenomena and their impact on lived experience in order to determine how to intervene, keeping in mind that both the analysis and any proposed solutions must be interdisciplinary,” he added. - Vatican newspaper highlights Yemeni water crisis (CWN)
The Vatican newspaper devoted a front-page article in its October 21 edition to the water crisis in Yemen amid its civil war. - Jerusalem's Christian leaders condemn Israeli settlers' attack on Palestinian Christian village (Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem)
The Patriarchs and heads of churches in Jerusalem condemned an October 17 attack on residents of the Palestinian Christian village of Taybeh in the West Bank. The settlers also attacked European diplomats who were visiting the village. “This wild attack on the Christian village of Taybeh and against its peaceful population is not an isolated incident,” the Christian leaders said in their October 19 statement. “In the past weeks the Palestinian villages of the West Bank have been exposed to a wide-scale terror by settlers, which is reaching a peak during this time of the olive harvest, when families go to their lands to collect what they need to live and renew their generations-long bond with their lands.” “In this regard, we consider the religious ruling recently published, allowing Jews to take the olives of Palestinians, as unfounded, very worrying and dangerous, and absolutely unacceptable,” the Christian leaders continued. “We very much appreciate that several rabbis and Jewish voices have publicly rejected it.” “We call upon the competent authorities to bring those responsible to justice, and we urge the international community to intensify its efforts to ensure the protection of the people of Taybeh and the West Bank, as well as all those who visit these areas to express their solidarity,” the Christian leaders added. “We lift up our prayers for the people of Taybeh and for all the people of the Holy Land, that they may live in safety, justice and peace.” - Holy See, with caveats, welcomes progress toward treaty on crimes against humanity (Holy See Mission)
A leading Vatican diplomat said that the Holy See welcomes the progress that is being made toward an international treaty on crimes against humanity. Addressing a UN committee meeting, Archbishop Christophe-Zakhia El-Kassis, apostolic nuncio and Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, offered four caveats: “The Holy See supports retaining the definition of gender set out in Article 7(3) of the Rome Statute, which refers to the two sexes, male and female, in the context of society, as well as the established definition of forced pregnancy.” “No person should be extradited or surrendered to a jurisdiction where there are substantial grounds for believing that he or she would be subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, or to the death penalty.” The treaty should “recognize the right of victims to compensation and to assistance with rehabilitation and reintegration.” “Justice must respect the dignity of the accused.” “Due process, the presumption of innocence, the impartiality of judges, the effective rights of the defense and the reasonable duration of proceedings are not concessions to perpetrators, but conditions of the law’s legitimacy,” the prelate explained. “Penalties should be proportionate and open to reconciliation because persons can never be reduced to the crimes they have committed.” - Pope, in audience on Vatican II, discusses Council's teaching on contraception, indissolubility of marriage (CWN)
Continuing his series of Wednesday general audiences on the Second Vatican Council and its documents, Pope Leo XIV devoted today’s audience (video) to the theme of “commitment to the family in today’s society.” - Cardinal Semeraro: Historical research essential to understanding saints' lives (CWN)
The prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints highlighted the importance of historical research in understanding and appreciating the lives of the saints. - Cardinal Koovakad, Jains discuss nonviolence (CBCEW)
“Together to promote ‘Ahimsa’ (non-violence) for peace in the world” was theme of the October 20 meeting in London between the prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue and representatives of the Jain community. Cardinal George Koovakad said that “in an age where violence, in many and varied forms, has become a major concern in many parts of the world,” the theme “is not only relevant but also imperative for both the Jains and Catholics so as to contribute together for the cause of peace in the world.” “The conference reaffirmed the shared commitment of Jains and Christians to ahimsa, compassion and peace,” said Mehool Sanghrajka, managing trustee of the Institute of Jainology. “We agreed that by speaking with a united voice and actively engaging with global challenges, we can help shape a stronger moral and ethical framework for a more peaceful and compassionate world.” Earlier in his visit to the United Kingdom, Cardinal Koovakad signed an interreligious peace pledge, celebrated Mass in Westminster Cathedral, and met with representatives of other religions. - EU bishops issue statement on Europe and AI (COMECE)
At its fall meeting in Brussels, the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union issued a two-page statement, “Europe’s Responsibility in the Time of Artificial Intelligence: A Call to Safeguard the Human Person.” The bishops called on the EU and its member states to adopt and promote eight principles: Human dignity and human agency must remain paramount. The common good, solidarity, subsidiarity, care for creation and justice must guide technological innovation. Responsibility, transparency and accountability must accompany AI. AI must not become a source of discrimination, exclusion or manipulation. AI must not diminish or displace the uniqueness of the human person, and human beings must not be reduced to data or commodities. The digital and technological commons require responsible governance. Democracy and the rule of law must be protected. AI must contribute to peace and human fraternity. “The Catholic Church will continue to accompany the European Union in a path that safeguards the human person in the time of Artificial Intelligence,” the October 16 statement concluded. - Vatican newspaper spotlights cuts in food aid to Gaza (CWN)
The Vatican newspaper devoted the most prominent article in its October 20 edition to cuts in food aid to Gaza. - More...