Catholic News
- Cardinal Zuppi, leading EU bishop pen letter to 'dearest European Union' (COMECE)
Bishop Mariano Crociata, the president of the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the EU, and Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, the president of the Italian Episcopal Conference, have written a five-page letter, distinctive in genre and style, to “dearest European Union.” Using the word “dearest” eight times, the prelate expressed their deep affection for the personified EU. They also expressed concern for its well-being. “Dearest European Union, you are a living body, so perhaps the time has come for new institutional reforms in order to allow you taking up today’s challenges,” they wrote. “You cannot just be a bureaucracy ... You need a soul!” “We find in you so much care for the dignity of the person, which the Gospel of Christ has sown in our hearts and in your culture,” they added. “Therefore, we suffer while seeing that you are afraid of life, do not know how to defend it and welcome it from its beginning to its end, and do not always encourage the growth of population.” The prelates released their letter on May 8 for Europe Day. - Pope urges parish priests to become missionaries of synodality (Vatican Press Office)
The Vatican has published Pope Francis’s mandate to the parish priests who were present at the recent international meeting on synodality. “I ask you today to become missionaries of synodality with your brother parish priests, once you return home: inspiring reflection on the renewal of the ministry of the parish priest in a synodal and missionary light, promoting moments of conversation in the Spirit among parish priests, in person or online, making the most of the opportunity of meetings that are already organized, or organizing one for the purpose,” the Pontiff wrote. “And then, I ask you to inform the Secretariat of the Synod of the fruits of these meetings, following the directions that will be given to you,” he continued. Pope Francis entrusted the mandate to the priests on May 2, the day on which he wrote a separate letter to the world’s parish priests. - Texas attorney general files injunction against Catholic agency for migrants (CNA)
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed an injunction to halt what he calls “systematic criminal conduct” by a Catholic agency involved with migrants. Paxton argues that Annunciation House in El Paso has been facilitated illegal border crossings and has shielded illegal immigrants from law-enforcement detection. Earlier this year he had sought unsuccessfully to revoke the agency’s non-profit status. Annunciation House has decried the attorney general’s campaign as “illegal, immoral, and anti-faith.” Bishop Mark Seitz of El Paso said that Catholic institutions bring relief to migrants as a necessary response to “federal neglect to provide a safe, orderly and humane response to migration at our southern border.” - City of Rome bracing for Jubilee Year pilgrims (AP)
On May 9, as Pope Francis officially reads the papal bull proclaiming 2025 as a Jubilee Year, the City of Rome is struggling to complete dozens of public-works projects to prepare for the arrival of an expected 30 million pilgrims. The city expects to spend €4 billion ($4.3 billion) in repairs and new construction before the Jubilee Year. But because of delays caused by political turmoil, only 2 of a proposed 231 projects have been completed, while more than 100 have not yet begun. Both public officials and Church leaders profess confidence that the city will be ready for the Jubilee, however. Archbishop Renato Fisichella, the pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, says: “Rome will become an even more beautiful city, because it will be ever more at the service of its people, pilgrims and tourists who will come.” - Blood is 'flowing everywhere' in Ethiopia, prelate says (Fides)
The secretary general of the Episcopal Conference of Ethiopia lamented the intensification of civil conflict in the East African nation. “We were once considered a people of faith and humility, but today this is being challenged by the daily and ongoing conflicts and wars that continue to result in a state of general insecurity and extreme poverty,” said Bishop Teshome Fikre Woldetensae. “Blood is flowing everywhere.” ”By remaining neutral, free from ethnic sectarianism and political influence, religious leaders can play an important role as mediators and in building a culture of peace and reconciliation,” he added. The nation of 116 million (map)—the 12th most populous in the world—is 60% Christian (41% Orthodox, 16% Protestant), 34% Muslim, and 5% ethnic religionist. - Peruvian bishops decry euthanasia (Conferencia Episcopal Peruana)
The bishops of Peru renewed their condemnation of euthanasia following the first instance of euthanasia in the nation’s history. A 47-year-old woman who suffered from polymyositis sought and obtained authorization from the nation’s Supreme Court to be killed. “No authority can legitimize or allow” euthanasia, the bishops said in their statement. “The human being, created in the image and likeness of God, possesses an intrinsic dignity that no one can deny or detract from ... There is no situation ... that justifies the killing of a human being.” - Chile's bishops, president discuss security, migrants (L'Osservatore Romano (Italian))
The leaders of Chile’s episcopal conference met recently with Gabriel Boric, the nation’s left-wing president. The parties discussed “the migration issue, the current situation of growing violence against the security forces, and the role of religions in building the common good,” according to the Vatican newspaper. The meeting followed the brutal killing of three police officers—an incident the bishops discussed with Boric. - Pope recalls Our Lady of Luján, Pompeii (Vatican Press Office (Spanish, Italian))
At the conclusion of his May 8 general audience, Pope Francis recalled Our Lady of Luján and Our Lady of Pompeii, both commemorated on that day. “Today in my homeland, in Argentina, the solemnity of Our Lady of Luján is celebrated, whose image is present here,” he said. “Let us pray for Argentina, that the Lord help it on its path.” The Pontiff placed flowers at the feet of Our Lady’s statue. “Today the Church raises the prayer of Supplication to the Madonna of the Rosary of Pompeii,” the Pope added. Bishop Giuseppe Favale of Conversano-Monopoli was the principal celebrant at Mass on May 8 at the Marian shrine. - Vatican removes block on gay-friendly university dean (New Ways Ministry)
The Vatican has quietly removed its veto on the appointment of a controversial theologian to become dean of the Philosophical-Theological University of Brixen/Bressanone, Italy. Father Martin Lintner had been elected as dean in 2022, but his appointment was blocked by the Vatican because of his support for same-sex unions. The Vatican has now set aside that opposition and allowed the appointment, reports New Ways Ministry. - Killings of Christians continue in Nigeria (Aid to the Church in Need)
Dozens of Christians have been killed in Nigeria since the end of March, according to Aid to the Church in Need. The Christians were victims of raids by Muslim Fulani herdsmen in Plateau State (map), where at least 39 were killed, and Benue State (map), where at least 38 were killed. More than 500 Nigerian Christians were killed in 2023, and 67 attacks have left at least 239 dead in 2024, according to the report. The nation of 231 million (map), the most populous in Africa and sixth most populous in the world, is 47% Muslim, 46% Christian (11% Catholic), and 7% ethnic religionist. - Cause moves forward for beatification of Communion and Liberation founder (Aleteia)
The Archdiocese of Milan has opened the “testimonial phase” of the cause for beatification of Luigi Giussani, the founder of the Communion and Liberation movement. - Papua New Guinea indigenous leader, Pope discuss defense of creation (Vatican Press Office)
Pope Francis received Mundiya Kepanga, an indigenous Leader in Papua New Guinea, on May 8 The Pontiff and the tribal chief discussed the defense of creation and deforestation, according to a tweet reposted by Kepanga on his X (Twitter) account. The Pontiff is scheduled to visit Papua New Guinea and three other nations in September. - Appeals court finds for Catholic school in dismissal of homosexual teacher (Catholic Herald)
A federal appeals court has ruled that a Catholic school in North Carolina was justified in terminating the employment of a teacher who entered into a same-sex marriage. Reversing a lower court decision, the appeals court ruled that Charlotte Catholic High School had the right to insist that teachers support the teachings of the Catholic Church. - Catholic broadcasters challenge FCC rule on collecting employee data (CNA)
Two Catholic radio stations have protested a new ruling by the Federal Communications Commission that will require all broadcasters to report the race and gender of all employees. Ave Maria Radio, Armor of God Catholic Radio, and La Promesa Foundation contend that the requirement is designed to “advance the interests of the LGBTQ lobby and would chill the religious freedoms” of religious broadcasters. The National Religious Broadcasters Association and American Family Association have also announced plans to challenge the new rule. - Texas archdiocese keeps distance from archbishop's comments on Gaza campaign (Pillar)
The San Antonio archdiocese has taken the usual step of distancing itself from comments made on X (Twitter) by Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller. Commenting on the archbishop’s online criticism of Israel’s military conduct in Gaza, a spokesman for the archdiocese said: “The account of Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller, MSpS, is his personal account; it is not the official account of the Archdiocese of San Antonio.” - USCCB committee chairman backs bill compensating nuclear radiation exposure victims (USCCB)
Archbishop Borys Gudziak, chairman of the US bishops’ Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, has lent his support to the Radiation Exposure Compensation Reauthorization Act (S. 3853), sponsored by Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO). The legislation passed the Senate in a 69-30 vote and awaits action in the House. “This Act offers partial yet significant restitution to persons suffering from exposure to radiation from US nuclear weapons testing, production, and waste,” Archbishop Gudziak wrote in a letter to members of Congress. “It has been almost 80 years since the Trinity bomb was detonated on US soil, spreading poisonous and deadly radioactive material.” “As time passes, and the awareness of such damage increases, our laws must improve to reflect the justice due to those who continue to suffer the consequences,” he added. “This Act extends and expands partial restitution, and we look forward to working with you in bringing relief to a long-suffering and too-often ignored group of Americans.” - Logos, mottoes released for papal Asian trip (Vatican News)
The Holy See Press Office has released the logos and mottoes for the Pope’s upcoming visit to Indonesia and three other nations. The motto of the papal visit to Indonesia is “Faith, Fraternity, Compassion”; to Papua New Guinea, “Pray”; to Timor-Leste, “May your faith be your culture”; and to Singapore, “Unity, Hope.” - Catholic church in occupied Ukraine is rededicated as Russian Orthodox church (Our Sunday Visitor)
A Ukranian Greek Catholic church in Oleksandrivka, a village in a Ukrainian region occupied by Russian forces (map), has been rededicated as a Russian Orthodox church. Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, the head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, denounced the rededication of the Church of St. Michael the Archangel in Skadovsk district, Kherson region, as a sacrilege. “I was reminded of the words of the prophet Elijah, who cried out to the Lord, saying, ‘Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life,’” the prelate said. - Pope Francis, at general audience, reflects on virtue of hope (CWN)
At his May 8 general audience, held in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis reflected on the theological virtue of hope, in the latest talk in a series of Wednesday general audiences devoted to the virtues and vices. - Orthodox spokesman: Fiducia Supplicans complicates ecumenical talks (RIA Novosti- Russian)
The ecumenical-affairs spokesman for the Russian Orthodox Church has said that dialogue with Rome has become “significantly more difficult” since the release of the Vatican declaration Fiducia Supplicans. Metropolitan Anthony, who heads the External Church Relations department for the Moscow Patriarchate, said that ecumenical relations have been complicated by the declaration, which allows for blessings of same-sex couples. A theological commission of the Russian Orthodox Church had earlier concluded that the Vatican statement could not be reconciled with Christian teaching. A spokesman for the Catholic Archdiocese of the Mother of God in Moscow told the RIA Novisti news agency that Fiducia Supplicans should not be understood as implying acceptance of homosexual relations. Russian Orthodox analysts differ. - More...