Catholic News
- 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.” - 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.” - 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. - 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. - DDF upholds automatic excommunication of deacon who left Church after son abused by priest (National Catholic Reporter)
The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith upheld the automatic excommunication of a Louisiana deacon who left the Church after his son was abused by a priest. Deacon Scott Peyton of Lafayette, Louisiana, became an Anglican after his son was sexually abused by a priest of the same diocese; the priest pled guilty to the abuse and is now in prison. The deacon incurred the excommunication for the canonical crime of schism. Canon 1364 of the Code of Canon Law states that schismatics incur an automatic excommunication; canon 751 defines schism as “refusal of submission to the Supreme Pontiff or of communion with the members of the Church subject to him.” - 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. - Draft agenda announced for US bishops' fall meeting (USCCB)
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops announced the draft agenda of its November 16-19 meeting in Baltimore. In addition to voting for a new conference secretary and six committee chairmen, the bishops will discuss AI, immigration, the Guadalupan Novena marking the 500th anniversary of the apparitions, and the growing number of conversions. The bishops will also vote on seven action items, including a new edition of the Lectionary for Mass and Book of the Gospels, an annual Day of Prayer for Racial Justice, and consultation for the causes of beatification and canonization of Maria Middleton and Thomas Steven Vander Woude. - Pope Leo, Ukrainian President Zelensky speak by telephone (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke by telephone on October 19. - Pope continues recovery in Vatican, will not visit Castel Gandolfo; Wednesday general audience confirmed (Vatican News)
The Holy See Press Office said in a statement that Pope Leo XIV is continuing his recovery at the Vatican and will not visit Castel Gandolfo today, as he customarily does on Tuesdays. Pope Leo will, however, hold his weekly Wednesday general audience. At this point, it is uncertain whether he will visit Assisi on October 27, as is currently scheduled. - Pope's surgeon: No clinical reason to cancel visit to South America (Vatican News)
Professor Stefano Margaritora, who led the surgical team that operated on Pope Leo XIV on October 13, said in an interview that the Pontiff should be fully recovered around October 27, two weeks after the surgery. Referring to the Pontiff’s apostolic journey to Latin America, which is scheduled to begin on November 6, Margaritora said that “as for a long trip involving air travel,” there are “no clinical reasons why it should not take place.” The surgeon revealed that “the discovery of the Pope’s malignant lung tumor was entirely accidental.” “During routine abdominal examinations, this small spot was found in the chest, at the base of the lung,” he said. “This is fairly normal because, when radiological examinations of the abdomen are performed, the lower part of the lungs is usually visible, since the diaphragm is shaped somewhat like a parachute. However, if this small spot had been a little higher up, it certainly would not have been seen.” - Pope appoints 30 members to International Theological Commission (Vatican News)
Pope Leo XIV appointed 30 theologians to the International Theological Commission for the 2026-2031 quinquennium. Two dozen of the members are new; six served on the commission between 2021 and 2026. The International Theological Commission is an advisory body under the auspices of the Dicastery of the Doctrine for the Faith. Pope St. Paul VI established the commission in 1969, in response to a proposal at the 1967 Synod of Bishops. - Cardinal Koovakad, representatives of other religions sign pledge for peace (CBCEW)
Cardinal George Koovakad, the prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, traveled to London, where he joined with local Anglican, Jewish, Muslim, Bahai, Buddhist, Hindu, Jain, Sikh, and Zoroastrian representatives in signing a pledge for peace on October 17. The following day, Cardinal Koovakad celebrated Mass at Westminster Cathedral and gathered with Jews and other Christians in the cathedral hall to pray for peace. On October 19, he emphasized peacebuilding as he took part in a Hindu-Christian dialogue. - French bishops appeal for calm amid riots, violence (Église catholique en France)
Leading French bishops appealed for calm amid France’s worst rioting in years. “Serious disturbances have occurred: members of the security forces have been attacked and injured, shops have been looted, public facilities damaged, and buildings representing state institutions ransacked,” the president and two vice presidents of the episcopal conferences said in a statement. “These scenes of riots have plunged the country into shock, fear and desolation, raising multiple questions about the root causes of this crisis.” Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline of Marseille, Archbishop Vincent Jordy of Tours, and Bishop Benoît Bertrand of Pontoise added: We would like to express our support and solidarity to all those who have suffered injuries, as well as to the many merchants who have been victims of this vandalism. We call on everyone not to let themselves be dragged into the spiral of this deadly violence: our country deserves better than this. Together with all believers, we pray that these disturbances will end, that the just demands will be heard and taken into account, and that, through the practice of dialogue and respect for justice, peace may return. - Vatican diplomat sees climate change as more than a technical challenge (Holy See Mission)
A leading Vatican diplomat said that challenges such as climate change cannot be “separated from humanity’s cultural, moral and spiritual dimensions.” “Too often, climate change is approached principally as a technical challenge,” said Archbishop Christophe-Zakhia El-Kassis, apostolic nuncio and Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, during a recent UN committee meeting on sustainable development. “While technological solutions and economic instruments play an important role, they cannot address the deeper social, moral and cultural factors that contribute to the crisis.” - 'Institutionalization should be a last resort': Catholic organizations rue DOJ guidance on disability decision (CWN)
The chairmen of two committees of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, joined by leaders of four other Catholic organizations, called on Congress to “do everything in its power to protect persons living with disabilities—including reaffirming that the ADA [Americans with Disabilities Act] requires states and local governments to provide services to persons with disabilities in their communities when appropriate.” - Nigerian police rescue abducted priest (Punch (Lagos))
Police in Benue State, Nigeria, rescued Father John Inalegwu Otache from captivity. The priest was abducted on October 13. Police also rescued seven other recent kidnapping victims and arrested two suspects. - Vatican newspaper highlights Scottish aid worker's efforts in Myanmar (CWN)
In a front-page article in its October 19 edition, the Vatican newspaper highlighted the work of Meredith Bunn, a Scottish aid worker who was abducted by soldiers in war-torn Myanmar. - Exorcist Father Ripperger agrees to 1-year hiatus from speaking (Archdiocese of Denver)
Father Chad Ripperger, a prominent exorcist, agreed to the archbishop of Denver’s request that he take a one-year hiatus from public speaking and interviews, according to an archdiocesan statement. “Archbishop [James] Golka recently met with Fr. Chad Ripperger to discuss his ministry and his community, the Society of the Most Sorrowful Mother,” according to the October 19 statement. “During that conversation, the Archbishop asked Fr. Ripperger to consider a one-year fast from public speaking and interviews. The time will allow him to devote himself to the Society and to the people it serves.” “Fr. Ripperger readily agreed,” the statement continued. “At the end of the year, they will review the arrangement together. Archbishop Golka is grateful for Fr. Ripperger’s priestly service, exorcism ministry, and for the generous spirit in which he received this request.” - More...