Catholic News
- Cardinal Roche: 'Pope Leo is not going to change Traditionis Custodes' (CWN)
The prefect of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments said in an interview that Pope Leo is “not going to change” Traditionis Custodes, Pope Francis’s 2021 apostolic letter restricting the celebration of the extraordinary form of the Mass, nor restore the provisions of Pope Benedict’s 2007 apostolic letter Summorum Pontificum. - Pope to celebrate 4 public Masses in August (Vatican Press Office)
Archbishop Diego Ravelli, the Master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations, announced that Pope Leo XIV will celebrate four public Masses in August. The Pontiff will celebrate Mass in Assisi on August 6, in Rimini on August 22, and at different churches in Castel Gandolfo on August 15 and 29. - Schedule announced for papal visit to Assisi (Vatican Press Office)
The Prefecture of the Papal Household announced the schedule of Pope Leo XIV’s brief visit to Assisi on August 6, in the midst of the Year of Saint Francis. During his visit of under four hours, Pope Leo will meet with young people taking part in the GO! Franciscan Youth Meeting and with representatives of the Franciscan order. The Pontiff will then celebrate Mass in the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels, which encloses the Portiuncula, where St. Francis heard the call to rebuild the Church. - Pope says he hopes to visit United States soon (NBC News)
In a brief exchange with an NBC News reporter following last evening’s concert in Castel Gandolfo, Pope Leo said that “nothing is set in stone yet, but I certainly hope to be there [in the United States] soon.” The Pontiff also reflected on being the first American pope and spoke briefly about his ancestry, which includes slaves and slave owners. Pope Leo also spoke with Telemundo and said that “we must recognize that we can all truly participate in a society that loves peace, seeks peace, and accepts one another despite our differences. If we all work for peace, we can overcome so many situations that cause conflict and hatred.” - Vatican prefect discusses prayer life, fidelity to Scripture and Tradition (The Catholic Leader)
The new prefect of the Dicastery for Legislative Texts said in an interview that his dicastery’s work “must always remain faithful to Sacred Scripture and the living Tradition of the Church.” “Because the law of the Church touches the faith and daily lives of all the faithful, the responsibility entrusted to us is a significant one,” said Archbishop Anthony Randazzo. “My hope is that everything we place before Pope Leo for his consideration will be faithful to the Gospel, just in its application and always marked by compassion.” In response to a question, the prelate also discussed his life of prayer: For me, that begins each day with time spent reading and praying with the Word of God. It is sustained through the daily celebration of the Holy Mass, regular reception of the Sacrament of Penance, and a rich devotional life in the company of Our Lady and the saints. Personally, I find great strength and consolation in praying the Rosary, meditating on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ through the intercession of Mary. Those moments of prayer continually remind me that everything I do must begin and end with Christ. I also firmly believe that I cannot devote myself to canon law unless I have first been nourished by the Gospel, because the law of the Church is never an end in itself; it is always at the service of the Gospel and the salvation of souls. - Report: Indonesian soldiers enter church during Mass, cause panic (Human Rights Monitor)
Indonesian soldiers entered a church in Intan Jaya Regency during Sunday Mass on July 26, causing “fear and panic,” according to a report from the organization Human Rights Monitor. “The reported incident occurred amid an intensified military operation and repeated armed violence affecting Catholic communities in Intan Jaya Regency,” according to the report. “On 29 June 2026, a vehicle carrying a priest, nuns, parishioners and workers reportedly came under fire.” - Priests, religious demand international investigation into Sri Lanka mass graves (Tamil Guardian)
Priests and religious in Jaffna, Sri Lanka, took part in a peaceful demonstration on July 30 to demand an international investigation into the Chemmani mass graves. The graves date to 1995-96, when the army retook control of an area held by rebels during the Sri Lankan Civil War (1983-2009). - Vatican newspaper highlights religious sisters' work against human trafficking (L'Osservatore Romano (Italian))
On July 30, the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, L’Osservatore Romano devoted five articles to human trafficking. Four of the articles highlighted the work of religious sisters against human trafficking. “This grave human rights violation currently affects over 50 million people worldwide,” the newspaper reported in an unsigned introductory article. “Data released by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reveal a criminal enterprise linked to exploitation that is worth $236 billion annually.” - The Society of Jesus: a numerical overview (CWN)
Today is the memorial of St. Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556), the founder of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). According to the online edition of the Annuario Pontificio, the institute had 13,768 members, 9,987 of them priests, in 2024. - Pope to meet with Italian priests (Conferenza Episcopale Italiana)
The Italian Episcopal Conference announced that Pope Leo XIV will address Italian priests during a prayer vigil on December 11 and then meet with them again on December 12. The meeting will commemorate the first anniversary of the Pope’s apostolic letter on fidelity and the priesthood, A Fidelity that Generates the Future. - Let the beauty of music lead you to God, Pope tells young choir members (CWN)
Pope Leo XIV encouraged young choir members to let music’s beauty lead them to God. - Vatican diplomat calls for greater investment in affordable housing (Holy See Mission)
Addressing a UN meeting on the New Urban Agenda, a Vatican diplomat emphasized the centrality of the human person and called for greater investment in affordable housing in order to address homelessness. “Urban development cannot be measured solely by the height of its buildings or the strength of its economy, but above all by its ability to enable every person to flourish by participating fully in society and contributing to the common good,” Msgr. Robert Murphy, interim chargé d’affaires of the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations, said on July 28. “Among the many challenges facing urban development, homelessness undoubtedly stands out as a grave affront to human dignity,” Msgr. Murphy continued. “In this regard, the Delegation of the Holy See encourages greater investment in affordable and adequate housing, as well as integrated social services.” The diplomat added: Urban planning should also address the root causes of homelessness, such as poverty, unemployment, drug addiction, mental health issues, family breakdown, displacement and conflict. These efforts must be developed through the meaningful participation of local communities, civil society, faith-based organizations and those individuals with lived experience of homelessness, whose involvement could be essential for shaping effective and lasting policies. - Continuing Irish diocesan consolidations, Pope unites 2 dioceses in persona episcopi (Vatican Press Office)
Pope Leo XIV appointed Bishop Gerard Nash of Ferns, Ireland, as the bishop of Ossory, and in doing so united the two dioceses in persona episcopi (in the person of the bishop). Four pairs out of Ireland’s 26 dioceses are now united in persona episcopi. According to the online Annuario Pontificio, the Diocese of Ferns. founded c. 500, has 111,079 Catholics and 49 parishes. The Diocese of Ossory, founded in 549, has 82,101 Catholics and 42 parishes. - Police detain Polish suspect in Medjugorje vandalism (OSV News)
Police in Bosnia and Herzegovina detained a Polish suspect following vandalism at the Marian pilgrimage site of Medjugorje. A vandal, or vandals, defaced a statute of the Blessed Virgin Mary and set fire to an outdoor altar there. In 2024, Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith granted cautious approval to Medjugorje devotions in its Note About the Spiritual Experience Connected with Medjugorje. - 12 years after Christian couple lynched, Pakistan's Supreme Court overturns convictions (Fides)
The Supreme Court of Pakistan overturned the death sentences of three men convicted of lynching a Christian couple in 2014. After Shama and Shahzad Masih were accused of desecrating a Qur’an, members of an angry mob threw them alive into a kiln. In overturning the convictions on July 9, the Court cited inconsistent witness testimony. - Florida bishops issue pastoral letter on death penalty (Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops)
In a pastoral letter on the death penalty in Florida, the state’s bishops said that they wished to “remind Catholics of the teaching of our Church against the use of the death penalty in situations—like our own—where bloodless means are sufficient to punish offenders and protect public safety.” “We do work with determination for its abolition, and we urge all Catholics, and our fellow citizens of good will, to end the practice of capital punishment in our state,” the bishops wrote in their July 27 letter. They concluded by “imploring God that the ethic of human dignity will infuse every element of society with respect for persons—from the most innocent unborn child to convicted felons—through people of faith transformed by the Gospel message of Christ’s love and life.” - Massachusetts bishops speak out against late-term abortion bill (Diocese of Worcester)
The bishops of Massachusetts issued a statement on state legislation that would remove legal limits on abortions between the 24th week of pregnancy and the moment of birth. “As Catholic bishops we have a moral responsibility to present and uphold Catholic teaching and the sacred God-given dignity of every human life from conception to the natural death,” the bishops said in their July 29 statement. “The proposed elimination of any legal restraint on late-term abortion is, in our judgement, a radical measure which is gravely immoral.” The legislation, which passed the state house in a 119-33 vote, is now being considered by the senate. - USCCB expresses prayerful solidarity with Church in South Sudan (USCCB)
The chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace expressed “continued solidarity and fraternal unity” with the Church in South Sudan. “Be assured of our steadfast prayers for the South Sudanese people at this time of severe economic hardship, deadly violence, environmental and food insecurity, and contestation surrounding the country’s Transitional Constitution framework,” Bishop A. Elias Zaidan, the Maronite bishop of Los Angeles, wrote in a July 28 letter to Bishop Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala of Tombura-Yambio, president of the Integral Human Development Commission Sudan and South Sudan Catholic Bishops’ Conference. “We mourn with the South Sudanese people, afflicted by violence between local communities, as well as conflict between the South Sudan People’s Defense Forces and opposition groups,” Bishop Zaidan added. “We implore God, as ever, to bring justice, healing, and lasting peace to your land!” - Vatican newspaper: 'Welcome to the age of fire' (L'Osservatore Romano (Italian))
L’Osservatore Romano devoted the most prominent article in its July 29 edition to the heat waves and wildfires that Europe has experienced this summer. In “Benvenuti nell’era del fuoco” (Welcome to the age of fire), staff journalist Valerio Palombaro wrote that “alarm is growing regarding the prospect of a near future in which this becomes the ‘new normal’ driven by climate change.” “The emergency in Europe highlights chronic global difficulties that are also attributable to climate change,” Palombaro added. “This environmental crisis, driven by human activity, calls on governments across Europe and the world to take action and change course.” - Talitha Kum releases report on anti-trafficking efforts (Talitha Kum)
Talitha Kum, an international network of consecrated religious against human trafficking, released its 2025 annual report. “Today, Talitha Kum is a global network of 68 national networks present in 113 countries, strengthening both our local presence and our collective global response,” said Sister Abby Avelino, M.M., the network’s international coordinator. “In 2025, Talitha Kum reached more than 1.2 million people through prevention, protection, survivor accompaniment, advocacy, formation, and capacity-building initiatives.” - More...