Catholic News
- Pope Leo to undergo surgery to remove lung nodule (CWN)
At the conclusion of his October 11 Angelus address, Pope Leo XIV revealed that “during some recent medical examinations, the doctors found a small, localized nodule in my lung.” - 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.” - Pope Leo: 'The wedding feast is ours' (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV reflected on the parable of the wedding feast (Matthew 22:1-14) during his Sunday Angelus address (video) and told pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square that “the wedding feast is ours.” - 'The entire Catholic Church is with you,' Pope tells Melkite bishops (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV offered strong words of solidarity to the bishops of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church (CNEWA profile). - Art is an imitation of God's work, Pope tells museum directors (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV described art as a “creative process through which human beings, in imitation of God’s work, shape matter and imbue it with a transcendent meaning.” - Pontiff appeals for safe transport of grain through Black Sea (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV appealed to Russia and Ukraine to permit the passage of grain through the Black Sea. - Ursuline sister beatified in Italy (CWN)
Sister Maria Ignazia Isacchi (1857-1934), the foundress of the Ursuline Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, was beatified at the Basilica of St. Andrew in Mantova, Italy, on October 10. - Pope Leo: The death penalty is inadmissible (@Pontifex)
In a social media post published on October 10, the World Day Against the Death Penalty, Pope Leo XIV said that the death penalty is inadmissible. “The death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person,” he wrote. “The common good can be safeguarded and the requirements of justice can be met without recourse to capital punishment: effective systems of detention have been developed that protect citizens while at the same time do not completely deprive those who are guilty of the possibility of redemption.” - Vatican lists recognized chivalric orders (Secretariat of State)
The Secretariat of State, led by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, restated the Holy See’s position on chivalric orders. “In addition to its own chivalric orders (the Supreme Order of Christ, the Order of the Golden Spur, the Pian Order/Order of Pope Pius IX, the Order of Saint Gregory the Great, and the Order of Saint Sylvester the Pope), the Holy See recognizes and protects only the Sovereign Military Order of Malta (that is, the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta) and the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem,” the Secretariat stated on October 10. “To prevent the continuation of abuses that ultimately harm many people acting in good faith, the Holy See reaffirms that it attaches no value to knighthood diplomas and related insignia issued by unrecognized organizations and does not consider the use of churches and chapels for so-called ‘investiture ceremonies’ to be appropriate,” the statement added. - Cardinal Müller defends Marian title of Co-Redemptrix as 'truth objectively contained in Revelation' (Diane Montagna's Substack)
Addressing an international Marian conference in Rome, Cardinal Gerhard Müller said that when “Mary is called ‘Co-Redemptrix’ in Catholic piety and theology, this is neither a misleading attribution nor an enthusiastic exaggeration, but a truth objectively contained in Revelation.” Cardinal Müller delivered his talk, entitled “The Blessed Virgin Mary’s Cooperation in Redemption,” nearly a year after the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith issued a document that discouraged the use of the title. - USCCB president prays Christ will guide the hands of Pope Leo's surgeons (USCCB)
The president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops offered prayers for Pope Leo XIV as he faces surgery. “he bishops of the United States join with the faithful and all people of good will in praying for his good health,” said Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City. “May the hand of Pope Leo’s surgeons be guided by the divine physician Jesus Christ. Please find a moment today, as I will, to offer a prayer for Pope Leo and his care team.” - 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 Viola appointed Archpriest of St. Peter's Basilica (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV today named Archbishop Francesco Viola, O.F.M., the secretary of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, as the new Archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica. - Cardinal Tagle elected Dean of College of Cardinals (Vatican News)
Pope Leo XIV approved the election of Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, 69, one of the two pro-prefects of the Dicastery for Evangelization, as dean of the College of Cardinals. Cardinal Tagle succeeds Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, 92, the prefect emeritus of the Congregation for Bishops, who resigned from the position. As dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Tagle is first among equals and presides at a conclave (if he is under 80). Although cardinals are as a rule bishops, the College of Cardinals is composed of three orders: the cardinal-deacons (typically curial cardinals), the cardinal-priests (who typically govern dioceses), and the cardinal-bishops (the highest rank: those honored with the designation by the Pope, as well as Eastern Catholic Patriarchs who are cardinals). Cardinal Tagle was elected dean of the College of Cardinals by his fellow cardinal-bishops. - US bishops' conference president deplores government's decision to livestream execution (USCCB)
Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City, the president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, condemned the federal government’s decision to livestream an execution by firing squad. “It is with shock and great sorrow that I have learned of the Department of War’s decision to publicly livestream the execution of Nidal Hasan,” said Archbishop Coakley. “Our God is the God of life. In no way can Hassan’s actions be condoned but this decision is a barbaric promotion of a culture of death and must be reconsidered.” Archbishop Coakley added: The word of God exhorts us: ‘do not repay anyone evil for evil’ (Romans 12:17). The public execution even of one who has done grave harm will only further undermine the moral fabric of our nation and be a blight on the conscience of its people. I pray for the intercession of Our Lady of Good Counsel that we as a nation may always choose life even in the most trying times and circumstances. - Undertake your studies 'with and for the Lord,' Pope tells pontifical university students (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV encouraged the students of Rome’s pontifical universities not to “teach, study or undertake research solely for themselves, but together with others, for others and, above all, with and for the Lord.” - Pontiff encourages Honduran bishops to educate for peace (Vatican News (Spanish))
Pope Leo XIV met with the bishops of Honduras for two hours—an hour longer than scheduled—on October 9. The prelates were in Rome for their ad limina visit. Bishop Jenry Orlando Ruiz of Trujillo said in an interview that “the Pope urged the bishops to foster education for peace within families, schools, neighborhoods, and villages, with the aim that every Honduran might contribute to building a more fraternal and reconciled society,” according to Vatican News’ summary of his remarks. The Pontiff also encouraged the bishops to strengthen Catholic education and to promote the dignity of the human person. Located in Central America, Honduras, a nation of 9.7 million (map), is 95% Christian (67% Catholic). - Vatican newspaper highlights stories of volunteers (CWN)
L’Osservatore Romano devoted a special section in its October 9 edition to stories of volunteers from around the world. - Pope Leo, International Red Cross president discuss respect for international humanitarian law (International Committee of the Red Cross)
The president of the International Committee of the Red Cross discussed respect for international humanitarian law during an October 9 audience with Pope Leo XIV. “More war, combined with less respect for international humanitarian law, risks putting humanity on a very dangerous path,” Mirjana Spoljaric Egger said after the audience. “The way wars are fought in one part of the world informs how they are fought in another. The choices made before, during and after conflict to uphold or disregard the rules of war can either preserve or obstruct pathways back to peace.” Egger also met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State of His Holiness. - Vatican diplomat: 'The first right of the child is to be born in a real family' (Holy See Mission)
Citing the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, a leading Vatican diplomat said that “the first right of the child is ‘to be born in a real family,’ a right that has not always been respected and that today is subject to new violations because of developments in genetic technology.” Archbishop Christophe-Zakhia El-Kassis, apostolic nuncio and Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, made his remarks on October 6 during a UN General Assembly discussion of the rights of children. “The family is the foundation and most important safeguard for children’s rights,” said Archbishop El-Kassis. “It is a child’s first community and is responsible for the child’s wellbeing. Mothers and fathers are their children’s first teachers, protectors, and advocates, helping them to become aware of their God-given dignity.” The prelate concluded: Some serious problems remain unsolved: trafficking in children, child labor, “street children,” child marriage, exploitation, violence and the use of children in pornography and modern communication. These violations of the God-given dignity of boys and girls must be effectively fought with adequate preventive and penal measures. - More...