Catholic News
- Pope Leo: 'Today a new missionary age opens up in the history of the Church' (Dicastery for Communication)
During his Mass for participants in the Jubilee of the Missions, which coincided with the Jubilee of Migrants, Pope Leo XIV spoke of a “new missionary age” dawning in the Church. “We are called to renew in ourselves the fire of our missionary vocation,” Pope Leo preached during yesterday’s Sunday Mass, celebrated in St. Peter’s Square. “Brothers and sisters, today a new missionary age opens up in the history of the Church.” “If for a long time we have associated with mission the word ‘depart,’ the going out to distant lands that did not know the Gospel or were experiencing poverty, today the frontiers of the missions are no longer geographical, because poverty, suffering and the desire for a greater hope have made their way to us,” the Pope continued. “The story of so many of our migrant brothers and sisters bears witnesses to this.” Calling on “all of us to let ourselves be permanently in a state of mission,” Pope Leo called for “a renewed missionary cooperation” among dioceses of the West and the global South, as well as missionary vocations. He explained: I refer in particular to the Church in Europe: today there is a need for a new missionary effort by laity, religious and priests who will offer their service in missionary lands. - Pope rues anti-Semitic hatred, Palestinians' suffering in Gaza; renews call for prayer for peace (Dicastery for Communication)
Addressing pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square during yesterday’s Sunday Angelus address, Pope Leo XIV expressed concern about “the rise of antisemitic hatred in the world, as unfortunately we saw with the terrorist attack in Manchester a few days ago. I continue to be saddened by the immense suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza.” “In recent hours, in the dramatic situation in the Middle East, some significant steps forward have been taken in peace negotiations, which I hope will achieve the desired results as soon as possible,” Pope Leo continued. “I ask all those in positions of responsibility to commit themselves to this path, to bring about a ceasefire and to release the hostages. At the same time, I urge everyone to remain united in prayer, so that the ongoing efforts may put an end to the war and lead us towards a just and lasting peace.” Recalling the supplication to the Virgin of the Holy Rosary at the Shrine in Pompeii, the Pope also renewed his call to pray the Rosary for peace during October, the month dedicated to the Rosary. - St. Clare of Assisi's choice to follow the Gospel inspires hope, Pope tells jubilee audience (CWN)
In the sixth Saturday jubilee audience of 2025, Pope Leo XIV paid tribute to St. Clare of Assisi. - Leo XIV compares transmission of faith within families to Poland's defense against Nazis (CWN)
In a Latin-language letter for the centenary of the Archdiocese of Gdańsk, Pope Leo XIV compared the struggle to transmit the Christian spirit within families to the Battle of Westerplatte, in which the Polish army held out for seven days against a Nazi attack early in World War II. - Vatican foreign minister outlines Holy See's positions, urges UN to recommit itself to its founding principles (Holy See Mission)
In a lengthy statement for the opening of the UN General Assembly, the Holy See’s Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations outlined the Holy See’s position on dozens of issues, including peace, the persecution of Christians, the dignity of the human person, and the care of creation. “The Holy See calls for a recommitment to the original principles enshrined in the UN Charter, which remain as relevant today as ever,” Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher concluded. “It is important to resist the temptation to replace these foundational commitments with new ideas or programs that risk diluting the UN’s mission. “Central to this mission is striking a balance between the four pillars of the United Nations: promoting of human rights, maintaining international peace and security, achieving sustainable development, and upholding rule of law,” the prelate added. “The rule of law, in particular, is the sine qua non of a just international order, providing the foundation for all other efforts.” - Latin Patriarch expresses cautious optimism about President Trump's Gaza peace plan (Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem)
Echoing Pope Leo XIV’s cautious but positive reaction to President Donald Trump’s peace plan for Gaza, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem spoke of “a possible new positive development: the release of Israeli hostages, of some Palestinian prisoners and the cessation of bombing and military offensives.” “This is an important and long-awaited first step,” Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, OFM, wrote in an October 4 letter to the faithful. “Nothing is entirely clear or definite yet; many questions remain unanswered, and much still needs to be defined. We must not delude ourselves, but we are pleased that something new and positive is on the horizon.” “We await the moment to rejoice for the families of the hostages, who will finally be able to embrace their loved ones,” he continued. “We hope the same for Palestinian families, who will be able to embrace those returning from prison. We rejoice above all for the end of hostilities, which we hope will not be temporary and will bring relief to the inhabitants of Gaza.” - Swiss president, Pontiff discuss values (Vatican Press Office)
Pope Leo XIV received President Karin Keller-Sutter of Switzerland on October 3. “Switzerland and the Holy See are jointly committed to peace,” the president tweeted. “During a meeting with Pope Leo XIV, we discussed the importance of values in today’s society.” The president subsequently met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State of His Holiness, and Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations. Discussion topics, according to a Vatican statement, included peace prospects in Gaza and Ukraine, as well as “the generous and professional commitment of the Pontifical Swiss Guard.” - Leo signs Dilexit te, his 1st major document (Vatican News (Italian))
Pope Leo XIV signed Dilexit te, his first major document, on October 4, the memorial of St. Francis of Assisi. The apostolic exhortation, devoted to love for the poor, will be released on October 9. - Cardinal Farrell: Longevity is not a problem, but a gift from God (Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life)
Addressing a Vatican conference on the pastoral care of the elderly, Cardinal Kevin Farrell said that “while many view the phenomenon of the increase in the elderly with concern, as if it were a burden on society, we, as a Church, recognize longevity as a gift from God.” “It is not an emergency to be managed, but a new opportunity,” said the prefect of the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life. “In the light of faith, a greater number of years to live should be considered a time of grace to open oneself enthusiastically to the proclamation of the Gospel, and as an enrichment for the entire community.” - Papal telegram marks accession of new Grand Duke of Luxembourg (Vatican Press Office)
Invoking “the heavenly protection of the Mother of God,” Pope Leo XIV sent a telegram to Guillaume V, the new Grand Duke of Luxembourg. The Pontiff expressed hope that the Grand Duke will promote “a life based on respect for the Christian values that have forged Luxembourg’s identity.” - Woman chosen as Archbishop of Canterbury (BBC)
Dame Sarah Mullally has been nominated by King Charles III to become Archbishop of Canterbury and leader of the worldwide Anglican communion. The appointment of the first woman as Archbishop of Canterbury will increase strains among the world’s Anglicans. Conservative Anglicans—particularly in Africa, where the faith is growing fastest—have resisted the ordination of women. The Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans, in a statement responding to the appointment, said that “the majority of the Anglican communion still believes that the Bible requires a male-only episcopacy.” The nominee—who will assume her post after her election is formally confirmed early next year—has been serving as Bishop of London since 2018. She has gained a reputation as skillful negotiator, who has held together her diocese despite heated disputed on issues such as the blessing of same-sex unions—which she welcomed as “a moment of hope for the church.” Archbishop-elect Mullally is a former nurse, who describes herself as a feminist and supports legal abortion, but opposes the legalization of assisted suicide. Cardinal Kurt Koch, the of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, send a message of congratulations, “to express the good wishes of the Catholic Church to you as you prepare to undertake this important service in your church.” - Pontiff thanks Swiss Guard for service (Vatican Press Office)
Pope Leo XIV met on October 3 with members of the Swiss Guard, thanking them for “your dedication and your commitment.” In remarks addressed particularly to new recruits, who were being sworn in, the Pope encouraged them to make the best use of their time. He remarked: “The city of Rome, with its treasures and riches, offers you an unforgettable journey through history, not only of the arts, but also and above all of the Christian faith.” - Pope Leo's first major document expected next week (National Catholic Register)
The first major teaching document of Pope Leo XIV, an apostolic exhortation on poverty, will be released on October 9, according to a report in the National Catholic Register. The apostolic exhortation had originally been planned by Pope Francis, who reportedly assigned Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, the controversial president of the Pontifical Academy for Life, to draft the document. Pope Leo chose to continue the work, but heavily revised the draft to reflect his own thoughts. - AI cannot substitute for personal closeness, Pope reminds Latin American physicians (Dicastery for Communication)
Pope Leo XIV received members of the Confederación Médica Latino-iberoamericana y del Caribe [Latin American and Caribbean Medical Confederation] yesterday and spoke about the importance of the doctor-patient relationship. Christ’s healing of a leper was “not a mechanical gesture; a personal relationship is established between the leper and Jesus,” Pope Leo said during the audience, which took place in Consistory Hall of the Apostolic Palace. Citing the example of Blessed José Gregorio Hernández, the Pope said that “likewise, there are many figures of doctors who have devoted their lives to their patients.” AI “can and should be a great help in improving clinical care, but nothing can take the place of the doctor,” Pope Leo added. But “the algorithm cannot substitute a gesture of closeness or a word of consolation.” - Recognize the elderly as a gift, Pope urges (Vatican Press Office)
At an October 3 audience with participants in a conference on pastoral care for the elderly, Pope Leo XIV emphasized that “the elderly are a gift, a blessing to be welcomed, and a longer life is something positive; indeed, it is one of the signs of hope in our time, everywhere in the world.” Quoting from the prophet Joel—“Your elders will dream dreams”—the Pontiff called for “an alliance between young and old, inspired by the ‘dreams’ of those who have lived long lives and enriched by the ‘visions’ of those who are beginning the great adventure of life.” - FDA approves new abortion pill (Daily Signal)
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has quietly approved the use of a new abortion pill. In September, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., the Secretary of the Health and Human Services, announced a new review of the safety of the abortion drug mifepristone. But the FDA has now approved a generic version of the same drug. - Pope's moral authority on migration is crucial in polarized world, UN migration leader says (Vatican News)
The director general of the UN’s International Organization for Migration spoke about the importance of Pope Leo’s moral authority on migration following an audience with Pontiff yesterday. Amy Pope told Vatican News that Pope Leo “provides a level of moral authority to communities around the world. And that’s really important at this moment in time, when the issue of migration has become, as I mentioned, hyper politicized and polarized.” “We want to reorient the conversation back to what is human and how we as humans can connect and provide support,” she added. “So, part of it is using the moral authority that the Church brings. But then there’s something much more practical, which is how each individual parish, each individual community can serve as an example of how to work and support and protect migrant communities.” - Vatican foreign minister laments youth suicide rate, deplores assisted suicide (Holy See Mission)
Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Holy See’s Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, said in a statement for a recent UN meeting that “the Holy See is deeply concerned about the high number of attempted suicides around the world each year.” “Tragically, suicide is a leading cause of death among young people, whose bright futures can be overshadowed by despair,” said Archbishop Gallagher. “Society has the vital duty to affirm the sacredness of life and the God-given dignity of those temporarily unable to recognize it themselves. It must also provide them with mental healthcare and psychosocial support.” “The Holy See stresses that assisting suicide in any way violates medical ethics and human dignity because the dignity of each person, no matter how weak or burdened by suffering, is the dignity of us all,” the prelate added. He also called for “universal health coverage, particularly through primary healthcare,” as “health is also a fundamental human right, and everyone has the right to enjoy the highest possible standard of physical and mental health.” - USCCB committee chairman calls for ardent prayer following President Trump's Gaza peace plan (USCCB)
Echoing Pope Leo XIV’s cautious but positive reaction to President Donald Trump’s peace plan for Gaza, the chairman of the US bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace called for ardent prayer for peace. “As an international community and people of faith who deeply care for all our brothers and sisters who live in the land of Christ’s life, death, and glorious resurrection, we cannot lose this opportunity for peace,” said Maronite Bishop A. Elias Zaidan of Los Angeles. “May Our Lady, Seat of Wisdom, instill on all sides a sincere willingness to attain peace.” - Look to St. Paul amid our 'cultural and ecclesial winter,' Pope tells Daughters of St. Paul (Dicastery for Communication)
Pope Leo XIV received participants in the general chapter of the Daughters of St. Paul, founded by Blessed Giacomo Alberione and Venerable Tecla Merlo. “In this cultural and ecclesial winter we are going through, do not be afraid to risk and to continue your journey,” Pope Leo advised the religious sisters in yesterday’s audience, which took place in Consistory Hall of the Apostolic Palace. “Look at the ardor of Saint Paul, his tireless joy in proclaiming Christ even in the midst of difficulties and persecution.” The Pope encouraged the sisters of the 110-year-old institute to “look up and immerse yourselves.” He explained: “Look up, so that you can be impelled by the Holy Spirit. Your vocation and your mission come from the Lord, let us not forget.” Immerse “yourselves in, inside situations, because an upturned gaze is not an escape but, on the contrary, must help us to have the same compassion as Christ, who divested himself for us, descended into our flesh, lowered himself so as to enter the abysses of wounded humanity and to bring us the love of the Father.” - More...