<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<rss version="2.0"
     xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
     xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
     xmlns:admin="http://webns.net/mvcb/"
     xmlns:rdf="http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#"
     xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
     xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/">
<channel>
<title>OFW Today &#45; News Magazine &#45; : OFW Adventures</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/rss/category/ofw-adventures</link>
<description>OFW Today &#45; News Magazine &#45; : OFW Adventures</description>
<dc:language>en</dc:language>
<dc:rights>Copyright 2026 OFW Today &#45; All Rights Reserved.</dc:rights>

<item>
<title>National shrine planned to honor the first publicly recognized Black Catholic priest for the US</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/national-shrine-planned-to-honor-the-first-publicly-recognized-black-catholic-priest-for-the-us</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/national-shrine-planned-to-honor-the-first-publicly-recognized-black-catholic-priest-for-the-us</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Father Augustus (Augustine) Tolton is now getting his own national shrine in western Illinois where he grew up and once served.
The post National shrine planned to honor the first publicly recognized Black Catholic priest for the US first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/20260504T1704-TOLTON-SHRINE-CAMPAIGN-1819219.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 07 May 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>National, shrine, planned, honor, the, first, publicly, recognized, Black, Catholic, priest, for, the</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Catholic, other faith leaders push Ohio lawmakers to end the death penalty</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/catholic-other-faith-leaders-push-ohio-lawmakers-to-end-the-death-penalty</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/catholic-other-faith-leaders-push-ohio-lawmakers-to-end-the-death-penalty</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ (OSV News) — As Ohio prepares for its upcoming gubernatorial election, faith leaders pushed lawmakers on May 4 to end the practice of capital punishment.  Ohio’s May 5 primary election will…
The post Catholic, other faith leaders push Ohio lawmakers to end the death penalty first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/20260504T1632-OHIO-FAITH-LEADERS-DEATH-PENALTY-1819304.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 07 May 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Catholic, other, faith, leaders, push, Ohio, lawmakers, end, the, death, penalty</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Christian sites under attack in Holy Land as violence and displacement intensify</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/christian-sites-under-attack-in-holy-land-as-violence-and-displacement-intensify</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/christian-sites-under-attack-in-holy-land-as-violence-and-displacement-intensify</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ &quot;In whose name and for what motivation can sacred places be destroyed and outraged, human beings offended and humiliated, religious signs and symbols trampled upon?&quot;
The post Christian sites under attack in Holy Land as violence and displacement intensify first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/20260504T1500-ISRAEL-LEBANON-BULLDOZERS-1819314.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 07 May 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Christian, sites, under, attack, Holy, Land, violence, and, displacement, intensify</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV meets with Catholic Charities USA leadership, urges mission of compassion</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-meets-with-catholic-charities-usa-leadership-urges-mission-of-compassion</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-meets-with-catholic-charities-usa-leadership-urges-mission-of-compassion</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The pope acknowledged difficulties inherent in charitable work, from securing resources to combating discouragement, and urged them not to lose heart.
The post Pope Leo XIV meets with Catholic Charities USA leadership, urges mission of compassion first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/20260504T1335-CATHOLIC-CHARITIES-MEETS-POPE-1819307.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 07 May 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, meets, with, Catholic, Charities, USA, leadership, urges, mission, compassion</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Supreme Court hits brakes on court ruling that blocked abortion pill distribution by mail</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/supreme-court-hits-brakes-on-court-ruling-that-blocked-abortion-pill-distribution-by-mail</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/supreme-court-hits-brakes-on-court-ruling-that-blocked-abortion-pill-distribution-by-mail</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Supreme Court temporarily blocked an appeals court ruling that sought to pause a federal policy permitting an abortion pill to be dispensed by mail.
The post Supreme Court hits brakes on court ruling that blocked abortion pill distribution by mail first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/20260504T1200-SCOTUS-MIFEPRISTONE-MAIL-INJUNCTION-1819308.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 07 May 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Supreme, Court, hits, brakes, court, ruling, that, blocked, abortion, pill, distribution, mail</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV says violence is a last resort, rejects Trump’s claim about supporting nuclear weapons</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-says-violence-is-a-last-resort-rejects-trumps-claim-about-supporting-nuclear-weapons</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-says-violence-is-a-last-resort-rejects-trumps-claim-about-supporting-nuclear-weapons</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Just war is &quot;a very complex problem. You have to analyze it on many levels,&quot; Pope Leo XIV said. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1778005911/ewtn-news/en/Image_3_alwz8f.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 07 May 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, says, violence, last, resort, rejects, Trump’s, claim, about, supporting, nuclear, weapons</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV: Church serves coming of God’s kingdom in history</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-church-serves-coming-of-gods-kingdom-in-history</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-church-serves-coming-of-gods-kingdom-in-history</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The pontiff said the Church is a pilgrim people called to proclaim Christ’s salvation while rejecting all that wounds human life. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1778060517/ewtn-news/en/WhatsApp_Image_2026-05-06_at_10.23.24_AM_jcudcp.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 07 May 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV:, Church, serves, coming, God’s, kingdom, history</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV appoints Jesuit priest as bishop of Honolulu</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-appoints-jesuit-priest-as-bishop-of-honolulu</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-appoints-jesuit-priest-as-bishop-of-honolulu</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Father Michael T. Castori, SJ, was appointed the sixth bishop of the U.S. diocese. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1778070859/ewtn-news/en/shutterstock_2660859773-2_vpvtd2.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 07 May 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, appoints, Jesuit, priest, bishop, Honolulu</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Synod report includes testimonies from civilly ‘married’ homosexuals</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/synod-report-includes-testimonies-from-civilly-married-homosexuals</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/synod-report-includes-testimonies-from-civilly-married-homosexuals</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ A Vatican synod study group’s final report includes testimony from two men in civil marriages with other men and calls for a listening-based approach to difficult doctrinal and pastoral questions. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1769207375/sinodo-sinodalidad-daniel-ibanez-ewtn-news-en-vivo-18102024_hm4hr4.webp" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 07 May 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Synod, report, includes, testimonies, from, civilly, ‘married’, homosexuals</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Cardinal Parolin says talks with German bishops continue, calls sanctions talk premature</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/cardinal-parolin-says-talks-with-german-bishops-continue-calls-sanctions-talk-premature</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/cardinal-parolin-says-talks-with-german-bishops-continue-calls-sanctions-talk-premature</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Cardinal Pietro Parolin also discussed Thursday&#039;s meeting between Pope Leo and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1768486133/vatican-media-02-04-2025-santa-messa-nel-20.mo-anniversario-della-morte-di-san-giovanni-paolo-ii-1768461985.2368.jpg_erlk1t.webp" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 07 May 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Cardinal, Parolin, says, talks, with, German, bishops, continue, calls, sanctions, talk, premature</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Why Every Digital Nomad Loves Working in El Nido, Palawan</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/why-every-digital-nomad-loves-working-in-el-nido-palawan</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/why-every-digital-nomad-loves-working-in-el-nido-palawan</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The reality at El Nido coworking is this: a view of turquoise waters, towering limestone cliffs, and breathtaking sunsets. If you’re tired of the typical office grind and want to blend productivity with adventure, El Nido is your dream destination! We soft launched in April 2025 with our first site in Town Square, El Nido. […] ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://twomonkeystravelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Neighbors-Nomads-3.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 03 May 2026 21:59:52 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Tomas Kauer - News Writer &amp; Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Why, Every, Digital, Nomad, Loves, Working, Nido, Palawan</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>21 Magical Christmas Destinations in the Philippines for OFWs, Families, and Travelers</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/21-magical-christmas-destinations-in-the-philippines-for-ofws-families-and-travelers</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/21-magical-christmas-destinations-in-the-philippines-for-ofws-families-and-travelers</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Christmas season in the Philippines is like no other. It’s the longest and brightest in the world – so colorful and full of music. If you’ve been away, now is the perfect time to rediscover the Filipino way of celebrating the holidays. Let these Christmas destinations in the Philippines fill your heart with warmth, […] ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://twomonkeystravelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Christmas-Destinations-in-the-Philippines-3.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 03 May 2026 21:59:52 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Tomas Kauer - News Writer &amp; Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Magical, Christmas, Destinations, the, Philippines, for, OFWs, Families, and, Travelers</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Public Holidays Philippines 2026 for Smart Trip Planning</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/public-holidays-philippines-2026-for-smart-trip-planning</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/public-holidays-philippines-2026-for-smart-trip-planning</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Ever tried booking a trip during a Philippine holiday? You know the struggle: sky-high flight fares, fully booked hotels, and endless crowds. But don’t worry! With the right strategies, you can enjoy your public holidays in the Philippines without paying too much or feeling anxious. This guide gives you the complete holiday list! Plus, get […] ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://twomonkeystravelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/public-holidays-1.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 03 May 2026 21:59:49 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Tomas Kauer - News Writer &amp; Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Public, Holidays, Philippines, 2026, for, Smart, Trip, Planning</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Philippine Festivals 2026: The Best Festivals in the Philippines You Can’t Miss</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/philippine-festivals-2026-the-best-festivals-in-the-philippines-you-cant-miss</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/philippine-festivals-2026-the-best-festivals-in-the-philippines-you-cant-miss</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Festivals in the Philippines are not just famous… They’re vibrant and joyful! Imagine a grand parade of people dancing in tribal finery. Filipino traditions come alive through music, dance, and cultural caregiving passed down across generations. Many OFWs look forward to them because it’s a chance to reconnect with home. Some festivals focus on faith […] ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://twomonkeystravelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/dinagyang-festival.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 03 May 2026 21:59:49 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Tomas Kauer - News Writer &amp; Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Philippine, Festivals, 2026:, The, Best, Festivals, the, Philippines, You, Can’t, Miss</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Ultimate Emergency Kit Philippines Guide for Earthquake and Typhoon Preparedness</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/ultimate-emergency-kit-philippines-guide-for-earthquake-and-typhoon-preparedness</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/ultimate-emergency-kit-philippines-guide-for-earthquake-and-typhoon-preparedness</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ What happens after an earthquake or typhoon hits the Philippines? The power’s out. The internet’s down. Clean water is lost. And all of that can happen in a matter of minutes. That’s why preparing a reliable emergency kit that Philippine residents can depend on is very important! For any traveler, having the right kit is […] ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://twomonkeystravelgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Emergency-kit-philippines-1.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 03 May 2026 21:59:49 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Tomas Kauer - News Writer &amp; Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Ultimate, Emergency, Kit, Philippines, Guide, for, Earthquake, and, Typhoon, Preparedness</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Bishop Gracida, emeritus of Corpus Christi, dies at 102</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/bishop-gracida-emeritus-of-corpus-christi-dies-at-102</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/bishop-gracida-emeritus-of-corpus-christi-dies-at-102</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Bishop René Henry Gracida, who was shepherd of the Diocese of Corpus Christi for 14 years, died on the morning of May 1
The post Bishop Gracida, emeritus of Corpus Christi, dies at 102 first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/20260501T2115-BISHOP-GRACIDA-OBIT-1819295.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 03 May 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Bishop, Gracida, emeritus, Corpus, Christi, dies, 102</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Appeals court temporarily blocks policy permitting distribution of abortion pill by mail</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/appeals-court-temporarily-blocks-policy-permitting-distribution-of-abortion-pill-by-mail</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/appeals-court-temporarily-blocks-policy-permitting-distribution-of-abortion-pill-by-mail</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ An appeals court on May 1 temporarily blocked ‌a federal policy permitting mifepristone, sometimes called the abortion pill, to be dispensed through the mail.
The post Appeals court temporarily blocks policy permitting distribution of abortion pill by mail first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/20260501T1840-MAIL-ORDER-MIFEPRISTONE-TEMPORARILY-BLOCKED-1819293.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 03 May 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Appeals, court, temporarily, blocks, policy, permitting, distribution, abortion, pill, mail</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Feds charge ‘Purgatory’ cybercriminal in swatting attack on Pope Leo’s alma mater</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/feds-charge-purgatory-cybercriminal-in-swatting-attack-on-pope-leos-alma-mater</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/feds-charge-purgatory-cybercriminal-in-swatting-attack-on-pope-leos-alma-mater</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Federal authorities announced that an unnamed juvenile will be prosecuted for &quot;a rash of swatting calls&quot; targeting several universities and institutions last August.
The post Feds charge ‘Purgatory’ cybercriminal in swatting attack on Pope Leo’s alma mater first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/20260501T1720-FED-CHARGES-VILLANOVA-SWATTING-ATTACK-1819289.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 03 May 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Feds, charge, ‘Purgatory’, cybercriminal, swatting, attack, Pope, Leo’s, alma, mater</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Augustinian charisms of truth, unity, love revealed in Pope Leo’s pastoral style, say panelists</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/augustinian-charisms-of-truth-unity-love-revealed-in-pope-leos-pastoral-style-say-panelists</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/augustinian-charisms-of-truth-unity-love-revealed-in-pope-leos-pastoral-style-say-panelists</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ &quot;In many ways, this Augustinian spirituality that shapes Leo&#039;s pastoral heart, also contributes to a much-needed, prophetic voice.&quot;
The post Augustinian charisms of truth, unity, love revealed in Pope Leo’s pastoral style, say panelists first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/20260501T0900-POPE-LEO-SPECIAL-PANEL-1819209.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 03 May 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Augustinian, charisms, truth, unity, love, revealed, Pope, Leo’s, pastoral, style, say, panelists</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Archdiocese of New York proposes $800 million settlement for abuse claims</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/archdiocese-of-new-york-proposes-800-million-settlement-for-abuse-claims</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/archdiocese-of-new-york-proposes-800-million-settlement-for-abuse-claims</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The body representing &quot;a majority of victim-survivors,&quot; has worked &quot;hard for months to reach agreement on a global settlement of all sex abuse lawsuits.&quot;
The post Archdiocese of New York proposes $800 million settlement for abuse claims first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/20260501T1427-ARCHDIOCESE-NEW-YORK-ABUSE-SETTLEMENT-1819287.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 03 May 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Archdiocese, New, York, proposes, 800, million, settlement, for, abuse, claims</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>The story behind the feast of St. Joseph the Worker</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/the-story-behind-the-feast-of-st-joseph-the-worker</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/the-story-behind-the-feast-of-st-joseph-the-worker</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ St. Joseph, the beloved spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary and earthly father of Jesus, is celebrated twice by the Catholic Church every year — March 19 and May 1. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1745615938/images/size680/San_Jos___Alonso_Miguel_de_Tovar.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 02 May 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>The, story, behind, the, feast, St., Joseph, the, Worker</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Here’s why the month of May is dedicated to the Virgin Mary</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/heres-why-the-month-of-may-is-dedicated-to-the-virgin-mary</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/heres-why-the-month-of-may-is-dedicated-to-the-virgin-mary</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Catholic Church dedicates the entire month of May to the Blessed Virgin Mary, mother of God and spiritual mother of all. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/images/ga-8.9.23" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 02 May 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Here’s, why, the, month, May, dedicated, the, Virgin, Mary</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>This is Pope Leo’s prayer intention for the month of May</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/this-is-pope-leos-prayer-intention-for-the-month-of-may</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/this-is-pope-leos-prayer-intention-for-the-month-of-may</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV’s prayer intention for the month of May is that everyone might have food. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1777649415/_SIM1145_13987054130667752936_jwnpge.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 02 May 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>This, Pope, Leo’s, prayer, intention, for, the, month, May</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Vatican detected 78 suspicious activities in its financial system in 2025</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/vatican-detected-78-suspicious-activities-in-its-financial-system-in-2025</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/vatican-detected-78-suspicious-activities-in-its-financial-system-in-2025</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The report by the Supervisory and Financial Information and Authority for 2025 detailed the efforts at transparency and accountability in Vatican financial affairs. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1777663912/banco-vaticano-1770899934_d04vmh.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 02 May 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Vatican, detected, suspicious, activities, its, financial, system, 2025</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>The life and legacy of St. Athanasius, champion of the Nicene Creed</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/the-life-and-legacy-of-st-athanasius-champion-of-the-nicene-creed</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/the-life-and-legacy-of-st-athanasius-champion-of-the-nicene-creed</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ St. Athanasius, celebrated on May 2, was a fourth-century bishop who is known as “the father of orthodoxy” for his dedication to the doctrine of Christ’s divinity. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/images/Saint_Athanasius_2_CNA_US_Catholic_News_4_27_11" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 02 May 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>The, life, and, legacy, St., Athanasius, champion, the, Nicene, Creed</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>US, Japanese bishops warn 9 nuclear powers are killing non&#45;proliferation treaty</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/us-japanese-bishops-warn-9-nuclear-powers-are-killing-non-proliferation-treaty</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/us-japanese-bishops-warn-9-nuclear-powers-are-killing-non-proliferation-treaty</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Several U.S. and Japanese Catholic bishops seeking nuclear disarmament are expressing both urgency and wariness as the U.N. head admits &quot;arms control is dying.&quot;
The post US, Japanese bishops warn 9 nuclear powers are killing non-proliferation treaty first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260428T1720-NUCLEAR-WEAPONS-REVIEW-STATEMENT-1819115.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 29 Apr 2026 18:00:09 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>US, Japanese, bishops, warn, nuclear, powers, are, killing, non-proliferation, treaty</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>King Charles invokes faith, ‘shared values’ as he calls for peace in address to Congress</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/king-charles-invokes-faith-shared-values-as-he-calls-for-peace-in-address-to-congress</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/king-charles-invokes-faith-shared-values-as-he-calls-for-peace-in-address-to-congress</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ WASHINGTON (OSV News) — King Charles III appealed to the Christian faith and invoked “shared values” between the United Kingdom and the United States as he called for peace around the…
The post King Charles invokes faith, ‘shared values’ as he calls for peace in address to Congress first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260428T1720-KING-CHARLES-CONGRESS-SPEECH-1819119.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 29 Apr 2026 18:00:09 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>King, Charles, invokes, faith, ‘shared, values’, calls, for, peace, address, Congress</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>After Easter surge in confirmations, college students look forward in faith</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/after-easter-surge-in-confirmations-college-students-look-forward-in-faith</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/after-easter-surge-in-confirmations-college-students-look-forward-in-faith</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Universities across the country are experiencing a surge in students seeking the sacrament of confirmation this academic year.
The post After Easter surge in confirmations, college students look forward in faith first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260428T1505-EASTER-COLLEGE-NEOPHYTES-2026-1819105.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 29 Apr 2026 18:00:09 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>After, Easter, surge, confirmations, college, students, look, forward, faith</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Msgr. Robert Coll, creator of Rice Bowl, dies at 95 after a life ‘poured out in service’</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/msgr-robert-coll-creator-of-rice-bowl-dies-at-95-after-a-life-poured-out-in-service</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/msgr-robert-coll-creator-of-rice-bowl-dies-at-95-after-a-life-poured-out-in-service</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ &quot;We give thanks for a priest whose life was a gift poured out in service&quot; and who touched countless lives &quot;by his compassion, leadership and unwavering faith.&quot;
The post Msgr. Robert Coll, creator of Rice Bowl, dies at 95 after a life ‘poured out in service’ first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260428T1414-CRS-RICE-BOWL-FOUNDER-OBIT-1819072.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 29 Apr 2026 18:00:09 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Msgr., Robert, Coll, creator, Rice, Bowl, dies, after, life, ‘poured, out, service’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Patron saints named for World Youth Day 2027</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/patron-saints-named-for-world-youth-day-2027</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/patron-saints-named-for-world-youth-day-2027</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Organizers said the lives of the patron saints reflected on issues relevant today, including persecution, migration and social struggle.
The post Patron saints named for World Youth Day 2027 first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260428T1009-WYD-SEOUL-PATRON-SAINTS-1819062.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 29 Apr 2026 18:00:09 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Patron, saints, named, for, World, Youth, Day, 2027</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Vatican warns of political promotion of abortion as an instrument of population control</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/vatican-warns-of-political-promotion-of-abortion-as-an-instrument-of-population-control</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/vatican-warns-of-political-promotion-of-abortion-as-an-instrument-of-population-control</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ “Integral Ecology in the Life of the Family” is a comprehensive overview of environmental and human ecology drawing on the teachings of the previous four popes. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1777322777/ewtn-news/en/vaticano-1773065403_jdmyie.webp" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 29 Apr 2026 18:00:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Vatican, warns, political, promotion, abortion, instrument, population, control</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV: Vatican diplomats must be bridges and channels of peace</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-vatican-diplomats-must-be-bridges-and-channels-of-peace</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-vatican-diplomats-must-be-bridges-and-channels-of-peace</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The pontiff said the Holy See’s diplomatic service is a unique ministry rooted in peace, truth, and justice and directed not only to Catholics but also to the entire human family. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1777390360/_MAR8812_lvpaak.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 29 Apr 2026 18:00:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV:, Vatican, diplomats, must, bridges, and, channels, peace</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Living ‘martyr’ of communism, Cardinal Simoni, presents relic of Albanian martyrs to Leo XIV</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/living-martyr-of-communism-cardinal-simoni-presents-relic-of-albanian-martyrs-to-leo-xiv</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/living-martyr-of-communism-cardinal-simoni-presents-relic-of-albanian-martyrs-to-leo-xiv</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The cardinal, who endured long years of imprisonment and forced labor for fidelity to Christ, met with the pope during a private audience. He was ordained 70 years ago on April 7, 1956. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1777413414/simoni-1777386835_a69gcy.webp" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 29 Apr 2026 18:00:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Living, ‘martyr’, communism, Cardinal, Simoni, presents, relic, Albanian, martyrs, Leo, XIV</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>From visions to reform: The powerful witness of St. Catherine of Siena</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/from-visions-to-reform-the-powerful-witness-of-st-catherine-of-siena</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/from-visions-to-reform-the-powerful-witness-of-st-catherine-of-siena</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ St. Catherine’s incredible spiritual graces led her to sainthood, and her influential writings earned her the title of doctor of the Church. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1777399727/StCatherineofSienaVaticano042826_apbazm.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 29 Apr 2026 18:00:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>From, visions, reform:, The, powerful, witness, St., Catherine, Siena</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>7 powerful moments from Pope Leo XIV’s trip to Africa</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/7-powerful-moments-from-pope-leo-xivs-trip-to-africa</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/7-powerful-moments-from-pope-leo-xivs-trip-to-africa</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV spent 11 days in Africa from April 13–23 and visited Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1776956651/ewtn-news/en/_SIM7438_eolluu.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 28 Apr 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>powerful, moments, from, Pope, Leo, XIV’s, trip, Africa</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV tells new priests: ‘You are a channel, not a filter’</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-tells-new-priests-you-are-a-channel-not-a-filter</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-tells-new-priests-you-are-a-channel-not-a-filter</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The pope ordained 10 men to the priesthood on Good Shepherd Sunday and later warned at the Regina Caeli against the “thieves” that rob people of freedom, dignity, and peace. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1777201243/ewtn-news/en/WhatsApp_Image_2026-04-26_at_10.37.09_AM_rv42fv.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 28 Apr 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, tells, new, priests:, ‘You, are, channel, not, filter’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV meets archbishop of Canterbury amid deepening church divides</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-meets-archbishop-of-canterbury-amid-deepening-church-divides</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-meets-archbishop-of-canterbury-amid-deepening-church-divides</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The pontiff addressed &quot;new problems&quot; facing Catholic-Anglican dialogue in his meeting with Archbishop Sarah Mullally, the first woman to serve as spiritual head of the Anglican Communion. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1777294279/ewtn-news/en/_SIM2876_pjpp4j.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 28 Apr 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, meets, archbishop, Canterbury, amid, deepening, church, divides</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Here are the patron saints of World Youth Day Seoul 2027</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/here-are-the-patron-saints-of-world-youth-day-seoul-2027</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/here-are-the-patron-saints-of-world-youth-day-seoul-2027</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The five saints chosen for the international youth gathering reflect the event’s spiritual themes of truth, love, and peace. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1745612908/images/Saint_Andrew_Kim_Taegon_Public_Domain_CNA.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 28 Apr 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Here, are, the, patron, saints, World, Youth, Day, Seoul, 2027</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope sends new shipment of humanitarian aid to Lebanon and Ukraine</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-sends-new-shipment-of-humanitarian-aid-to-lebanon-and-ukraine</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-sends-new-shipment-of-humanitarian-aid-to-lebanon-and-ukraine</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Both war-torn countries will receive essential medications, and Ukraine will receive other needed items, including food and clothing. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1763824019/images/tyre.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 28 Apr 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, sends, new, shipment, humanitarian, aid, Lebanon, and, Ukraine</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Diocese of Peoria releases schedule of pilgrimage events for Sheen beatification</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/diocese-of-peoria-releases-schedule-of-pilgrimage-events-for-sheen-beatification</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/diocese-of-peoria-releases-schedule-of-pilgrimage-events-for-sheen-beatification</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The schedule begins with a nine-day novena of holy hours at 7 p.m. every evening at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception in Peoria, Illinois, from Sept. 15-23.
The post Diocese of Peoria releases schedule of pilgrimage events for Sheen beatification first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260422T2330-SHEEN-BEATIFICATION-LANDRY-1818762.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 25 Apr 2026 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Diocese, Peoria, releases, schedule, pilgrimage, events, for, Sheen, beatification</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Top 10 takeaways from a report on the 400 men becoming US priests in 2026</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/top-10-takeaways-from-a-report-on-the-400-men-becoming-us-priests-in-2026</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/top-10-takeaways-from-a-report-on-the-400-men-becoming-us-priests-in-2026</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ What does the latest generation of priests in the U.S. look like, and what factors have shaped their vocation?
The post Top 10 takeaways from a report on the 400 men becoming US priests in 2026 first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260422T1645-CARA-REPORT-2026-1818709.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 25 Apr 2026 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Top, takeaways, from, report, the, 400, men, becoming, priests, 2026</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Belarus rights groups urge Church to ‘continue caring’ amid ongoing suppression of religion</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/belarus-rights-groups-urge-church-to-continue-caring-amid-ongoing-suppression-of-religion</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/belarus-rights-groups-urge-church-to-continue-caring-amid-ongoing-suppression-of-religion</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Belarus&#039;s foremost Catholic dissident has urged Church leaders not to ignore the plight of his country&#039;s political prisoners amid a continuing crackdown on religious freedoms.
The post Belarus rights groups urge Church to ‘continue caring’ amid ongoing suppression of religion first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260422T1418-BELARUS-PRIEST-DETAINED-BIALIATSKI-INTV-1818715.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 25 Apr 2026 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Belarus, rights, groups, urge, Church, ‘continue, caring’, amid, ongoing, suppression, religion</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo offers encouragement to inmates, young people and families in final full day of Africa visit</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-offers-encouragement-to-inmates-young-people-and-families-in-final-full-day-of-africa-visit</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-offers-encouragement-to-inmates-young-people-and-families-in-final-full-day-of-africa-visit</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo told inmates at a correctional facility in Equatorial Guinea that &quot;no one is excluded from God&#039;s love&quot; and &quot;God never grows tired of forgiving.&quot;
The post Pope Leo offers encouragement to inmates, young people and families in final full day of Africa visit first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260422T1530-POPE-AFRICA-PRISON-EG-1818744.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 25 Apr 2026 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, offers, encouragement, inmates, young, people, and, families, final, full, day, Africa, visit</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Appeals court upholds Texas law on Ten Commandments in public schools</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/appeals-court-upholds-texas-law-on-ten-commandments-in-public-schools</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/appeals-court-upholds-texas-law-on-ten-commandments-in-public-schools</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ A federal appeals court on April 21 narrowly upheld a Texas law requiring public school classrooms to display the Ten Commandments.
The post Appeals court upholds Texas law on Ten Commandments in public schools first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260422T1435-TEXAS-TEN-COMMANDMENTS-RULING-1818747.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 25 Apr 2026 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Appeals, court, upholds, Texas, law, Ten, Commandments, public, schools</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Kicked out of Mass as a mischievous child, Pope Leo will ordain him Sunday</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/kicked-out-of-mass-as-a-mischievous-child-pope-leo-will-ordain-him-sunday</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/kicked-out-of-mass-as-a-mischievous-child-pope-leo-will-ordain-him-sunday</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Seminarians shared their personal stories of hearing and responding to God’s call to the priesthood. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1776973265/ewtn-news/en/papa-leon-xiv-ordenacion-2025-22042026-1776904731_lgqhz7.webp" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 25 Apr 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Kicked, out, Mass, mischievous, child, Pope, Leo, will, ordain, him, Sunday</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV to youth and families: ‘Peace be with you’</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-to-youth-and-families-peace-be-with-you</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-to-youth-and-families-peace-be-with-you</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ In Equatorial Guinea, the pope told young people and families to let Christ’s light shape a future of love, responsibility, and hope. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1776884399/ewtn-news/en/_RIS6186_ai6ijy.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, youth, and, families:, ‘Peace, with, you’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>PHOTOS: Pope Leo XIV visits prisoners, meets with families, says Mass in Equatorial Guinea</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/photos-pope-leo-xiv-visits-prisoners-meets-with-families-says-mass-in-equatorial-guinea</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/photos-pope-leo-xiv-visits-prisoners-meets-with-families-says-mass-in-equatorial-guinea</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Holy Father is wrapping up his papal trip to the African continent after visiting multiple countries there. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1776860261/ewtn-news/en/_RIS1101_qhpyl8.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>PHOTOS:, Pope, Leo, XIV, visits, prisoners, meets, with, families, says, Mass, Equatorial, Guinea</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope to Equatorial Guinea: ‘Carry on the mission of Jesus’ first disciples with joy’</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-to-equatorial-guinea-carry-on-the-mission-of-jesus-first-disciples-with-joy</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-to-equatorial-guinea-carry-on-the-mission-of-jesus-first-disciples-with-joy</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ At his final Mass in Africa, Pope Leo XIV urged Catholics to proclaim the Gospel with passion and bear witness through their lives to &quot;the faith that saves.&quot; ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1776934545/ewtn-news/en/Malabo_Mass_Patrick_Leonard_zyws1j.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Equatorial, Guinea:, ‘Carry, the, mission, Jesus’, first, disciples, with, joy’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV, returning from Africa: ‘I condemn all actions that are unjust’</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-returning-from-africa-i-condemn-all-actions-that-are-unjust</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-returning-from-africa-i-condemn-all-actions-that-are-unjust</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Speaking to reporters on his flight from Malabo to Rome, the pope addressed war, migration, same-sex blessings, and the Vatican’s diplomacy with authoritarian governments. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1776965614/ewtn-news/en/WhatsApp_Image_2026-04-23_at_7.28.24_PM_ueyibq.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, returning, from, Africa:, ‘I, condemn, all, actions, that, are, unjust’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>PHOTOS: Pope Leo XIV departs Africa, returns to Rome after 11&#45;day papal trip</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/photos-pope-leo-xiv-departs-africa-returns-to-rome-after-11-day-papal-trip</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/photos-pope-leo-xiv-departs-africa-returns-to-rome-after-11-day-papal-trip</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Holy Father visited four countries during his first apostolic visit to Africa. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1776956113/ewtn-news/en/_SIM6337_dvxknc.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>PHOTOS:, Pope, Leo, XIV, departs, Africa, returns, Rome, after, 11-day, papal, trip</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>‘The heart of the Church’ is ‘alive and beating’: Pope Leo XIV leads rosary at beloved Muxima Marian shrine in Angola</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/the-heart-of-the-church-is-alive-and-beating-pope-leo-xiv-leads-rosary-at-beloved-muxima-marian-shrine-in-angola</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/the-heart-of-the-church-is-alive-and-beating-pope-leo-xiv-leads-rosary-at-beloved-muxima-marian-shrine-in-angola</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV led tens of thousands of Angolan Catholics in praying the rosary April 19 at southern Africa&#039;s most visited Catholic shrine.
The post ‘The heart of the Church’ is ‘alive and beating’: Pope Leo XIV leads rosary at beloved Muxima Marian shrine in Angola first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260419T1630-POPE-AFRICA-MUXIMA-SHRINE-1818303.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 18:00:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>‘The, heart, the, Church’, ‘alive, and, beating’:, Pope, Leo, XIV, leads, rosary, beloved, Muxima, Marian, shrine, Angola</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>The Eucharist can ‘rekindle lost hope,’ Pope Leo says at Sunday Mass in Angola</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/the-eucharist-can-rekindle-lost-hope-pope-leo-says-at-sunday-mass-in-angola</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/the-eucharist-can-rekindle-lost-hope-pope-leo-says-at-sunday-mass-in-angola</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV celebrated an outdoor Mass for an estimated 100,000 Catholics in Angola on Sunday, urging them to find renewed hope in the Eucharist and the Risen Christ.
The post The Eucharist can ‘rekindle lost hope,’ Pope Leo says at Sunday Mass in Angola first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260419T1500-POPE-AFRICA-LUANDA-MASS-1818278.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 18:00:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>The, Eucharist, can, ‘rekindle, lost, hope, ’, Pope, Leo, says, Sunday, Mass, Angola</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo arrives in Angola, calls for fostering ‘just model of coexistence’</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-arrives-in-angola-calls-for-fostering-just-model-of-coexistence</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-arrives-in-angola-calls-for-fostering-just-model-of-coexistence</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV touched down in the Angolan capital of Luanda, beginning a three-day visit to a country that is home to 20 million Catholics.
The post Pope Leo arrives in Angola, calls for fostering ‘just model of coexistence’ first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260418T1330-1818202.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 18:00:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, arrives, Angola, calls, for, fostering, ‘just, model, coexistence’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>With candor, Pope Leo confronts Cameroon’s ongoing abductions, killings in plea for peace</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/with-candor-pope-leo-confronts-cameroons-ongoing-abductions-killings-in-plea-for-peace</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/with-candor-pope-leo-confronts-cameroons-ongoing-abductions-killings-in-plea-for-peace</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ In clear, direct language, the pope spent his time in Cameroon denouncing violence, corruption and exploitation, while calling for reconciliation and credible leadership.
The post With candor, Pope Leo confronts Cameroon’s ongoing abductions, killings in plea for peace first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260416T1321-POPE-AFRICA-PEACE-MEETING-1818036.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 18:00:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>With, candor, Pope, Leo, confronts, Cameroon’s, ongoing, abductions, killings, plea, for, peace</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo visits nursing home in Angola: The elderly ‘need to be listened to’</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-visits-nursing-home-in-angola-the-elderly-need-to-be-listened-to</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-visits-nursing-home-in-angola-the-elderly-need-to-be-listened-to</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Saurimo, a city in northeastern Angola, is known as the center of diamond mining in the country. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1776677458/ewtn-news/en/Nursing_Home_Angola_Patrick_Leonard_rkccp8.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, visits, nursing, home, Angola:, The, elderly, ‘need, listened, to’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Christ is not ‘a guru or a good luck charm,’ pope says at Mass in Angola</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/christ-is-not-a-guru-or-a-good-luck-charm-pope-says-at-mass-in-angola</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/christ-is-not-a-guru-or-a-good-luck-charm-pope-says-at-mass-in-angola</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ After praying at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption in Saurimo, Pope Leo XIV proceeded to the site of the Mass, attended by an estimated 60,000 people. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1776689353/ewtn-news/en/_RIS2706_pjv2tz.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Christ, not, ‘a, guru, good, luck, charm, ’, pope, says, Mass, Angola</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV thanks Angola’s Church for promoting reconciliation and peace</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-thanks-angolas-church-for-promoting-reconciliation-and-peace</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-thanks-angolas-church-for-promoting-reconciliation-and-peace</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The pontiff urged bishops, priests, religious, and catechists to remain committed to peace, justice, and integral development. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1776705697/ewtn-news/en/WhatsApp_Image_2026-04-20_at_7.21.00_PM_jn6ynl.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, thanks, Angola’s, Church, for, promoting, reconciliation, and, peace</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>PHOTOS: Pope Leo XIV visits elderly home, says Mass for 60,000 in Angola</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/photos-pope-leo-xiv-visits-elderly-home-says-mass-for-60000-in-angola</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/photos-pope-leo-xiv-visits-elderly-home-says-mass-for-60000-in-angola</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ A look in photos at Pope Leo XIV’s eighth day of his apostolic journey to Africa. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1776699304/ewtn-news/en/_RIS0541_izqtv2.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>PHOTOS:, Pope, Leo, XIV, visits, elderly, home, says, Mass, for, 60, 000, Angola</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Remembering Pope Francis: 9 moments that defined his legacy</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/remembering-pope-francis-9-moments-that-defined-his-legacy</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/remembering-pope-francis-9-moments-that-defined-his-legacy</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ On the first anniversary of Pope Francis’ death, we remember the late pontiff and some of the most significant moments of his papacy. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1751922816/images/pf.wave.april.2025.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Remembering, Pope, Francis:, moments, that, defined, his, legacy</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV urges Angola to ‘remove the obstacles to integral human development’</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-urges-angola-to-remove-the-obstacles-to-integral-human-development</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-urges-angola-to-remove-the-obstacles-to-integral-human-development</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The pontiff urged the country to reject exploitative models of development and place the common good above particular interests. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1776529744/ewtn-news/en/_SIM5870_eokcmq.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 20 Apr 2026 18:00:08 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, urges, Angola, ‘remove, the, obstacles, integral, human, development’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>PHOTOS: Pope Leo XIV departs Cameroon, journeys to Angola</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/photos-pope-leo-xiv-departs-cameroon-journeys-to-angola</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/photos-pope-leo-xiv-departs-cameroon-journeys-to-angola</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Holy Father will spend several days in Angola before finishing his trip in Equatorial Guinea. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1776522300/ewtn-news/en/_RIS1161_93.JPG_sugvd2.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 20 Apr 2026 18:00:08 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>PHOTOS:, Pope, Leo, XIV, departs, Cameroon, journeys, Angola</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV in Angola: ‘Build the hope of the future’</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-in-angola-build-the-hope-of-the-future</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-in-angola-build-the-hope-of-the-future</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The pontiff urged the country to overcome old divisions, reject corruption, and help young people recover hope. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1776614931/ewtn-news/en/_RIS6443_sfbred.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 20 Apr 2026 18:00:08 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, Angola:, ‘Build, the, hope, the, future’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV urges Angola’s young people to build a world free of war, injustice, and poverty</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-urges-angolas-young-people-to-build-a-world-free-of-war-injustice-and-poverty</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-urges-angolas-young-people-to-build-a-world-free-of-war-injustice-and-poverty</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The pontiff told young Angolans that Our Lady entrusts them with the task of building a better world shaped by the Gospel. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1776615824/ewtn-news/en/WhatsApp_Image_2026-04-19_at_6.19.52_PM_utlshb.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 20 Apr 2026 18:00:08 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, urges, Angola’s, young, people, build, world, free, war, injustice, and, poverty</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>PHOTOS: Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass, leads rosary in Angola</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/photos-pope-leo-xiv-celebrates-mass-leads-rosary-in-angola</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/photos-pope-leo-xiv-celebrates-mass-leads-rosary-in-angola</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ A look in photos at Pope Leo XIV’s seventh day of his apostolic visit to Africa. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1776630187/ewtn-news/en/_RIS8803_nvud2l.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 20 Apr 2026 18:00:08 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>PHOTOS:, Pope, Leo, XIV, celebrates, Mass, leads, rosary, Angola</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Investigation ‘ongoing’ in false bomb threat at home of Pope Leo’s brother</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/investigation-ongoing-in-false-bomb-threat-at-home-of-pope-leos-brother</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/investigation-ongoing-in-false-bomb-threat-at-home-of-pope-leos-brother</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Police is conducting &quot;an ongoing and active investigation&quot; of an unsubstantiated bomb threat at the house of one of Pope Leo XIV&#039;s brothers.
The post Investigation ‘ongoing’ in false bomb threat at home of Pope Leo’s brother first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260416T1900-POPE-BROTHER-BOMB-THREAT-1818077.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 17 Apr 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Investigation, ‘ongoing’, false, bomb, threat, home, Pope, Leo’s, brother</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Francis remembered in Buenos Aires as ‘guiding light’ for Argentine Church</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-francis-remembered-in-buenos-aires-as-guiding-light-for-argentine-church</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-francis-remembered-in-buenos-aires-as-guiding-light-for-argentine-church</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (OSV News) — María Rico ambled along a busy Buenos Aires boulevard as part of a caravan through Barrio Flores — the childhood neighbourhood of the late Pope…
The post Pope Francis remembered in Buenos Aires as ‘guiding light’ for Argentine Church first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Photo-2026-04-11-2-38-11-PM.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 17 Apr 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Francis, remembered, Buenos, Aires, ‘guiding, light’, for, Argentine, Church</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Analysis: Does a new survey show potential for a confession revival? Some say yes; others not so sure</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/analysis-does-a-new-survey-show-potential-for-a-confession-revival-some-say-yes-others-not-so-sure</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/analysis-does-a-new-survey-show-potential-for-a-confession-revival-some-say-yes-others-not-so-sure</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ A new survey finds 67% of Catholics who haven&#039;t been to confession in the past year are open to returning. Experts discuss whether that is enough for revival.
The post Analysis: Does a new survey show potential for a confession revival? Some say yes; others not so sure first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260416T1600-CONFESSION-VINEA-DATA-OPPORTUNITIES-1817881.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 17 Apr 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Analysis:, Does, new, survey, show, potential, for, confession, revival, Some, say, yes, others, not, sure</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Trump says he has ‘right to disagree’ with Pope Leo, not ‘necessary’ to meet him</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/trump-says-he-has-right-to-disagree-with-pope-leo-not-necessary-to-meet-him</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/trump-says-he-has-right-to-disagree-with-pope-leo-not-necessary-to-meet-him</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House April 16 that he does not see a meeting with Pope Leo XIV as &quot;necessary&quot; after his social media tirade.
The post Trump says he has ‘right to disagree’ with Pope Leo, not ‘necessary’ to meet him first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/20260331T1550-POPE-MESSAGE-TRUMP-WAR-1816427.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 17 Apr 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Trump, says, has, ‘right, disagree’, with, Pope, Leo, not, ‘necessary’, meet, him</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Irish&#45;born religious sister’s joyful witness endures 10 years after her death in Ecuador quake</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/irish-born-religious-sisters-joyful-witness-endures-10-years-after-her-death-in-ecuador-quake</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/irish-born-religious-sisters-joyful-witness-endures-10-years-after-her-death-in-ecuador-quake</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ &quot;The Lord transformed her soul,&quot; and Sister Clare &quot;no longer longed for anything other than to have Christ as her only love.&quot;
The post Irish-born religious sister’s joyful witness endures 10 years after her death in Ecuador quake first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260416T1339-CLARE-CROCKETT-DEATH-10-ANNIV-1817999.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 17 Apr 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Irish-born, religious, sister’s, joyful, witness, endures, years, after, her, death, Ecuador, quake</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV in Cameroon urges Christians and Muslims to heal wounds of conflict</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-in-cameroon-urges-christians-and-muslims-to-heal-wounds-of-conflict</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-in-cameroon-urges-christians-and-muslims-to-heal-wounds-of-conflict</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ At a peace gathering in Bamenda’s Cathedral, the pope praised interreligious solidarity and urged a “true conversion” away from war. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1776345236/ewtn-news/en/_SIM0324_1_iyd0hd.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 17 Apr 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, Cameroon, urges, Christians, and, Muslims, heal, wounds, conflict</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV in Cameroon says ‘the time has come’ to rebuild peace</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-in-cameroon-says-the-time-has-come-to-rebuild-peace</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-in-cameroon-says-the-time-has-come-to-rebuild-peace</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The pope urged Cameroonians to reject resignation and obey God over “earthly ways of thinking.” ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1776358379/ewtn-news/en/PopeLeoBamendaMass041626_jdxcve.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 17 Apr 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, Cameroon, says, ‘the, time, has, come’, rebuild, peace</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>PHOTOS: Highlights from Pope Leo XIV’s first full day in Cameroon</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/photos-highlights-from-pope-leo-xivs-first-full-day-in-cameroon</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/photos-highlights-from-pope-leo-xivs-first-full-day-in-cameroon</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Holy Father will ultimately spend several days in Cameroon before heading on to Angola and then Equatorial Guinea during his first apostolic journey to Africa. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1776359537/ewtn-news/en/_MAT6767_18.JPG_vtouep.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 17 Apr 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>PHOTOS:, Highlights, from, Pope, Leo, XIV’s, first, full, day, Cameroon</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV meets Augustinians in Annaba in fraternal visit</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-meets-augustinians-in-annaba-in-fraternal-visit</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-meets-augustinians-in-annaba-in-fraternal-visit</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The pope shared lunch with the local Augustinian community after visiting Hippo’s ruins and a home run by the Little Sisters of the Poor. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1776250622/ewtn-news/en/shared_image_jpm5uk.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 16 Apr 2026 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, meets, Augustinians, Annaba, fraternal, visit</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV arrives in Cameroon for second leg of Africa trip</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-arrives-in-cameroon-for-second-leg-of-africa-trip</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-arrives-in-cameroon-for-second-leg-of-africa-trip</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Reflecting on the visit to Algeria, the pope described it as “a wonderful opportunity to continue building bridges and promoting dialogue.” ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1776266723/ewtn-news/en/Papal_plane_April_15_2026_Patrick_Leonord_zbx4yu.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 16 Apr 2026 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, arrives, Cameroon, for, second, leg, Africa, trip</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope in Cameroon: Peace ‘cannot be decreed: It must be embraced and lived’</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-in-cameroon-peace-cannot-be-decreed-it-must-be-embraced-and-lived</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-in-cameroon-peace-cannot-be-decreed-it-must-be-embraced-and-lived</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The second stop on Leo’s Africa trip is Cameroon, a country marked by conflict, yet whose civil society is ready to begin again. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1776275098/ewtn-news/en/_SIM5499_50_oq6rsn.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 16 Apr 2026 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Cameroon:, Peace, ‘cannot, decreed:, must, embraced, and, lived’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV to orphaned children in Cameroon: ‘God is present’</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-to-orphaned-children-in-cameroon-god-is-present</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-to-orphaned-children-in-cameroon-god-is-present</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ “Wherever there is misery, suffering, or injustice, God is present,” the pope said in a meeting with orphaned or abandoned children in Cameroon. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1776276819/ewtn-news/en/Orphanage_George_Wirnkar_ACI_Africa_jldjof.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 16 Apr 2026 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, orphaned, children, Cameroon:, ‘God, present’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>PHOTOS: Pope Leo XIV continues papal trip in Algeria, Cameroon</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/photos-pope-leo-xiv-continues-papal-trip-in-algeria-cameroon</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/photos-pope-leo-xiv-continues-papal-trip-in-algeria-cameroon</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Holy Father spent several days touring Algeria and meeting with Catholics and religious leaders before heading south to the Cameroonian capital of Yaoundé. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1776251135/ewtn-news/en/_SIM2778_1_tdtetu.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 16 Apr 2026 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>PHOTOS:, Pope, Leo, XIV, continues, papal, trip, Algeria, Cameroon</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Washington Roundup: Iran war powers bid fails; 1st ‘Take It Down’ conviction; Vance stumps for Orbán</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/washington-roundup-iran-war-powers-bid-fails-1st-take-it-down-conviction-vance-stumps-for-orban</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/washington-roundup-iran-war-powers-bid-fails-1st-take-it-down-conviction-vance-stumps-for-orban</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ House Republicans blocked a measure to limit Trump&#039;s war-making ability in Iran; Vice President JD Vance travelled to Hungary to support Viktor Orbán; and more.
The post Washington Roundup: Iran war powers bid fails; 1st ‘Take It Down’ conviction; Vance stumps for Orbán first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260410T1715-WASHINGTON-ROUNDUP-4-10-1817358.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 13 Apr 2026 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Washington, Roundup:, Iran, war, powers, bid, fails, 1st, ‘Take, Down’, conviction, Vance, stumps, for, Orbán</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo’s Africa trip will be his longest trip yet</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leos-africa-trip-will-be-his-longest-trip-yet</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leos-africa-trip-will-be-his-longest-trip-yet</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ A Vatican spokesman described the ambitious trip as &quot;one of the longest stretches of time that the pope has been outside the Vatican.&quot;
The post Pope Leo’s Africa trip will be his longest trip yet first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260410T1436-POPE-AFRICA-OVERVIEW-1817366.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 13 Apr 2026 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo’s, Africa, trip, will, his, longest, trip, yet</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Latest Planned Parenthood report: abortions and taxpayer funding up, cancer screenings down</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/latest-planned-parenthood-report-abortions-and-taxpayer-funding-up-cancer-screenings-down</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/latest-planned-parenthood-report-abortions-and-taxpayer-funding-up-cancer-screenings-down</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Planned Parenthood&#039;s new 2024-2025 annual report showed an increase in abortions from its previous report, while also showing an increase in government funding.
The post Latest Planned Parenthood report: abortions and taxpayer funding up, cancer screenings down first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260410T1615-PLANNED-PARENTHOOD-ANNUAL-REPORT-2024-2025-1817262.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 13 Apr 2026 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Latest, Planned, Parenthood, report:, abortions, and, taxpayer, funding, up, cancer, screenings, down</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>‘Children need you, they need your presence,’ Sister of Life tells educators at convention</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/children-need-you-they-need-your-presence-sister-of-life-tells-educators-at-convention</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/children-need-you-they-need-your-presence-sister-of-life-tells-educators-at-convention</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ &quot;You may not see the impact of your work … but God sees it, and he sees every act of love. Nothing is unseen and nothing is unemptied.&quot;
The post ‘Children need you, they need your presence,’ Sister of Life tells educators at convention first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260410T1513-NCEA-CLOSING-SISTER-GRACE-1817294.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 13 Apr 2026 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>‘Children, need, you, they, need, your, presence, ’, Sister, Life, tells, educators, convention</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Indiana bishops put Eucharist at center of call to ‘integral ecology’ in new pastoral</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/indiana-bishops-put-eucharist-at-center-of-call-to-integral-ecology-in-new-pastoral</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/indiana-bishops-put-eucharist-at-center-of-call-to-integral-ecology-in-new-pastoral</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ A new pastoral from the Indiana Catholic bishops calls on people to live &quot;eucharistic lives as we care for both our human community and for God&#039;s good world.&quot;
The post Indiana bishops put Eucharist at center of call to ‘integral ecology’ in new pastoral first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260410T1450-INDIANA-PASTORAL-INTEGRAL-ECOLOGY-1817340.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 13 Apr 2026 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Indiana, bishops, put, Eucharist, center, call, ‘integral, ecology’, new, pastoral</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV urges ceasefire, protection of civilians in war zones</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-urges-ceasefire-protection-of-civilians-in-war-zones</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-urges-ceasefire-protection-of-civilians-in-war-zones</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ On Divine Mercy Sunday, the pope prayed for Ukraine, Lebanon, and Sudan. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1767020680/images/mat5054.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 13 Apr 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, urges, ceasefire, protection, civilians, war, zones</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV: Eucharist is &amp;apos;indispensable for Christian life&amp;apos;</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-eucharist-is-indispensable-for-christian-life</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-eucharist-is-indispensable-for-christian-life</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ &quot;It is through the Eucharist that even our hands become ‘hands of the Risen One&#039;,&quot; the pope said. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1776010879/ewtn-news/en/spw010enq9nadema7v5a.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 13 Apr 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV:, Eucharist, indispensable, for, Christian, life</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV in Africa</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-in-africa</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-in-africa</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Follow here for live updates of Pope Leo XIV’s journey to Africa from April 13–23. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1775840342/ewtn-news/en/PopeLeoWavesGenAud041026_bdjhh9.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 13 Apr 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, Africa</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV departs for Algeria, beginning third apostolic journey</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-departs-for-algeria-beginning-third-apostolic-journey</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-departs-for-algeria-beginning-third-apostolic-journey</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The 10-day Africa trip will take the pope to Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1776066604/ewtn-news/en/WhatsApp_Image_2026-04-13_at_8.55.12_AM_ns0rch.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 13 Apr 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, departs, for, Algeria, beginning, third, apostolic, journey</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Media narrative about nuncio’s Pentagon meeting untrue, Vatican says</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/media-narrative-about-nuncios-pentagon-meeting-untrue-vatican-says</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/media-narrative-about-nuncios-pentagon-meeting-untrue-vatican-says</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Vatican responded to a media report claiming Cardinal Christophe Pierre, then-papal envoy to the U.S., received “a bitter lecture” in a meeting with U.S. defense officials. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1745613972/images/pierre-christophe-daniel-ibanez-2.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 12 Apr 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Media, narrative, about, nuncio’s, Pentagon, meeting, untrue, Vatican, says</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Chaldean Catholic bishops meet Pope Leo as they prepare to elect new patriarch</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/chaldean-catholic-bishops-meet-pope-leo-as-they-prepare-to-elect-new-patriarch</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/chaldean-catholic-bishops-meet-pope-leo-as-they-prepare-to-elect-new-patriarch</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The synod of Chaldean Catholic bishops is meeting in Rome this week to elect a new patriarch amid complex internal and national challenges. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1775827505/ewtn-news/en/_SIM7994_wdstnw.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 12 Apr 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Chaldean, Catholic, bishops, meet, Pope, Leo, they, prepare, elect, new, patriarch</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo names Father Andrea Ciucci chancellor of Pontifical Academy for Life</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-names-father-andrea-ciucci-chancellor-of-pontifical-academy-for-life</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-names-father-andrea-ciucci-chancellor-of-pontifical-academy-for-life</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Italian priest has served as the academy&#039;s secretariat coordinator since 2016. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1745615627/images/size500/Fr_Andrea_Ciucci_of_the_Pontifical_Council_for_the_Family_speaks_with_CNA_July_11_2014_Credit_Daniel_Ibanez_CNA.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 12 Apr 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, names, Father, Andrea, Ciucci, chancellor, Pontifical, Academy, for, Life</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Leo XIV and Macron meet: Peace is both a ‘duty and a requirement’</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/leo-xiv-and-macron-meet-peace-is-both-a-duty-and-a-requirement</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/leo-xiv-and-macron-meet-peace-is-both-a-duty-and-a-requirement</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The two leaders expressed their common conviction on the necessity of dialogue and negotiations to resolve conflicts between nations. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1775863014/ewtn-news/en/Macron.Pope_noenol.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 12 Apr 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Leo, XIV, and, Macron, meet:, Peace, both, ‘duty, and, requirement’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV at Vatican peace vigil: &amp;apos;Enough of war!&amp;apos;</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-at-vatican-peace-vigil-enough-of-war</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-at-vatican-peace-vigil-enough-of-war</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Prayer is &quot;the most free, universal and disruptive response to death,&quot; the pope said in St. Peter&#039;s Basilica on Apr. 11. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1775934248/ewtn-news/en/_SIM9509-1_2.JPG_fdsh00.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 12 Apr 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, Vatican, peace, vigil:, Enough, war</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Experts: Trump threat to wipe out Iran’s civilization violates international law, Christian ethics</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/experts-trump-threat-to-wipe-out-irans-civilization-violates-international-law-christian-ethics</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/experts-trump-threat-to-wipe-out-irans-civilization-violates-international-law-christian-ethics</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Direct and public incitement of genocide, along with conspiracy and attempts to commit genocide, are punishable under the Genocide Convention.
The post Experts: Trump threat to wipe out Iran’s civilization violates international law, Christian ethics first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260407T1800-TRUMP-EASTER-WAR-GOD-REMARKS-1817109.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 09 Apr 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Experts:, Trump, threat, wipe, out, Iran’s, civilization, violates, international, law, Christian, ethics</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>BREAKING: Trump backs down from threat to annihilate Iran condemned by Catholic leaders</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/breaking-trump-backs-down-from-threat-to-annihilate-iran-condemned-by-catholic-leaders</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/breaking-trump-backs-down-from-threat-to-annihilate-iran-condemned-by-catholic-leaders</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Before the deadline he set, Trump said he would suspend the attacks for two weeks if Iran reopened the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil trade route.
The post BREAKING: Trump backs down from threat to annihilate Iran condemned by Catholic leaders first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260407T1930-TRUMP-BACKS-DOWN-IRANIAN-THREAT-1817157.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 09 Apr 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>BREAKING:, Trump, backs, down, from, threat, annihilate, Iran, condemned, Catholic, leaders</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>‘We need more saints’: Center helps to advance canonization causes</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/we-need-more-saints-center-helps-to-advance-canonization-causes</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/we-need-more-saints-center-helps-to-advance-canonization-causes</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ A California-based initiative is working to help speed along sainthood causes among Americans, and to make the canonization process more accessible overall.
The post ‘We need more saints’: Center helps to advance canonization causes first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260407T1636-CENTER-SAINTHOOD-CAUSES-1814181.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 09 Apr 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>‘We, need, more, saints’:, Center, helps, advance, canonization, causes</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope sends Easter message to displaced Lebanese Christians living ‘in dramatic circumstances’</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-sends-easter-message-to-displaced-lebanese-christians-living-in-dramatic-circumstances</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-sends-easter-message-to-displaced-lebanese-christians-living-in-dramatic-circumstances</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ &quot;May you, amidst feelings of sorrow, anguish, and mourning, experience a deeper joy in your hearts today: Jesus has gloriously triumphed over death.&quot;
The post Pope sends Easter message to displaced Lebanese Christians living ‘in dramatic circumstances’ first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260407T1512-POPE-LEO-LEBANON-MESSAGE-1817131.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 09 Apr 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, sends, Easter, message, displaced, Lebanese, Christians, living, ‘in, dramatic, circumstances’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo urges citizens to call on their leaders to reject war after Trump’s ‘unacceptable’ Iran threat</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-urges-citizens-to-call-on-their-leaders-to-reject-war-after-trumps-unacceptable-iran-threat</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-urges-citizens-to-call-on-their-leaders-to-reject-war-after-trumps-unacceptable-iran-threat</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Speaking to journalists at Castel Gandolfo April 7, and without naming Trump, Pope Leo called the president&#039;s threat &quot;truly unacceptable.&quot;
The post Pope Leo urges citizens to call on their leaders to reject war after Trump’s ‘unacceptable’ Iran threat first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260407T1620-POPE-LEO-CASTEL-GANDOLFO-PEACE-APPEAL-1817145.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 09 Apr 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, urges, citizens, call, their, leaders, reject, war, after, Trump’s, ‘unacceptable’, Iran, threat</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV welcomes ceasefire in Iran as ‘sign of living hope’</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-welcomes-ceasefire-in-iran-as-sign-of-living-hope</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-welcomes-ceasefire-in-iran-as-sign-of-living-hope</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ “Only through a return to negotiation can the war come to an end,” the pope said at the end of his weekly general audience. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1775640879/ewtn-news/en/_SIM1145_g5j7dd.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 09 Apr 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, welcomes, ceasefire, Iran, ‘sign, living, hope’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope will address tensions between Christianity and Islam in Africa, Nigerian bishop says</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-will-address-tensions-between-christianity-and-islam-in-africa-nigerian-bishop-says</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-will-address-tensions-between-christianity-and-islam-in-africa-nigerian-bishop-says</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ An Augustinian confrere of Pope Leo XIV discussed the pontiff’s upcoming trip to four African countries. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1775658952/ewtn-news/en/WhatsApp_Image_2026-04-08_at_9.33.38_AM_nv2nnb.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 09 Apr 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, will, address, tensions, between, Christianity, and, Islam, Africa, Nigerian, bishop, says</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Vatican urges Catholics not to leave Pope Leo XIV alone in opposing war</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/vatican-urges-catholics-not-to-leave-pope-leo-xiv-alone-in-opposing-war</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/vatican-urges-catholics-not-to-leave-pope-leo-xiv-alone-in-opposing-war</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Vatican Secretary of State said the pope’s appeals for peace need concrete support. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1769641095/cardenal-parolin-secretario-de-estado-del-vaticano-28012026-1769635464_drk081.webp" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 09 Apr 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Vatican, urges, Catholics, not, leave, Pope, Leo, XIV, alone, opposing, war</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope at Easter: ‘May Christ, our Passover, bless us and give his peace to the whole world!’</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-at-easter-may-christ-our-passover-bless-us-and-give-his-peace-to-the-whole-world</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-at-easter-may-christ-our-passover-bless-us-and-give-his-peace-to-the-whole-world</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ On his first Easter as pontiff, Leo XIV urged Christians to bring the hope of the Resurrection into a world scarred by war, violence, and injustice. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1775383052/WhatsApp_Image_2026-04-05_at_10.54.06_AM_einnxv.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 08 Apr 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Easter:, ‘May, Christ, our, Passover, bless, and, give, his, peace, the, whole, world’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV announces April 11 peace vigil at St. Peter’s</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-announces-april-11-peace-vigil-at-st-peters</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-announces-april-11-peace-vigil-at-st-peters</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ In his first Easter message to the city and the world, the pontiff urged those with weapons to lay them down. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1775386526/WhatsApp_Image_2026-04-05_at_12.27.42_PM_tum8v7.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 08 Apr 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, announces, April, peace, vigil, St., Peter’s</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV: Every vocation is a ‘path of beauty’</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-every-vocation-is-a-path-of-beauty</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-every-vocation-is-a-path-of-beauty</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ In a message for the World Day of Prayer for Vocations titled “The Interior Discovery of God’s Gift,” the Holy Father reflects on the interior dimension of one’s vocation. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1745615894/images/size680/Papal_ordination_of_priests_3_in_St_Peters_Basilica_on_April_26_2015_Credit_Bohumil_Petrik_CNA_4_26_15.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 08 Apr 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV:, Every, vocation, ‘path, beauty’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>On Easter Monday, Pope Leo XIV remembers those ‘tormented’ by war: ‘The truth does not remain hidden’</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/on-easter-monday-pope-leo-xiv-remembers-those-tormented-by-war-the-truth-does-not-remain-hidden</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/on-easter-monday-pope-leo-xiv-remembers-those-tormented-by-war-the-truth-does-not-remain-hidden</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Upon the recitation of the Regina Caeli, the pope also remembered Pope Francis, who died a year ago on Easter Monday. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1775481420/PopeLeoReginaCaeli040226_m5gptg.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 08 Apr 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Easter, Monday, Pope, Leo, XIV, remembers, those, ‘tormented’, war:, ‘The, truth, does, not, remain, hidden’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Threat against entire people of Iran ‘not acceptable,’ Pope Leo XIV says</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/threat-against-entire-people-of-iran-not-acceptable-pope-leo-xiv-says</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/threat-against-entire-people-of-iran-not-acceptable-pope-leo-xiv-says</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Attacks on civilian infrastructure violate international law and are also a sign of hatred, division, and destruction, Pope Leo XIV said. “Let’s come back to the table,” he said. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1775588783/ewtn-news/en/0a89f922-fa2f-43e0-bd3c-8ee3b4f9a428_nwjtyu.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 08 Apr 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Threat, against, entire, people, Iran, ‘not, acceptable, ’, Pope, Leo, XIV, says</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>TopView Inn Puerto Princesa Opens: A Strategic New Hospitality Destination in Palawan</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/topview-inn-puerto-princesa-opens-a-strategic-new-hospitality-destination-in-palawan</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/topview-inn-puerto-princesa-opens-a-strategic-new-hospitality-destination-in-palawan</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Puerto Princesa City, Palawan — April 7, 2026  - TopView Inn features a selection of Standard and Deluxe Rooms, thoughtfully designed to meet the expectations of modern travelers seeking comfort, efficiency, and value. The property also includes a café and bar overlooking the bay, providing an added lifestyle amenity that enhances guest experience while capitalizing on the scenic views of one of Puerto Princesa City’s most recognized coastal landmarks. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://ofw.today/uploads/images/202604/image_870x580_69d4ae03da4d1.jpg" length="107345" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 07 Apr 2026 15:14:56 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Tomas Kauer - News Writer &amp; Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords></media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope: Don’t be paralyzed by mistrust, fear; be catalyzed by Christ to build peace</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-dont-be-paralyzed-by-mistrust-fear-be-catalyzed-by-christ-to-build-peace</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-dont-be-paralyzed-by-mistrust-fear-be-catalyzed-by-christ-to-build-peace</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Some &quot;stones&quot; weigh heavily on the human heart, &quot;such as mistrust, fear, selfishness and resentment. ... Let us not allow ourselves to be paralyzed by them!&quot;
The post Pope: Don’t be paralyzed by mistrust, fear; be catalyzed by Christ to build peace first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260404T1610-POPE-EASTER-VIGIL-1816900.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 05 Apr 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope:, Don’t, paralyzed, mistrust, fear, catalyzed, Christ, build, peace</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Archbishop Broglio: War in Iran likely not justified under Catholic teaching on legitimate defense</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/archbishop-broglio-war-in-iran-likely-not-justified-under-catholic-teaching-on-legitimate-defense</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/archbishop-broglio-war-in-iran-likely-not-justified-under-catholic-teaching-on-legitimate-defense</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Archbishop Broglio is concerned the U.S. military action in Iran was &quot;compensating for a threat&quot; before the threat &quot;is actually realized.&quot;
The post Archbishop Broglio: War in Iran likely not justified under Catholic teaching on legitimate defense first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260404T1549-FACE-THE-NATION-BROGLIO-WAR-1816898.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 05 Apr 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Archbishop, Broglio:, War, Iran, likely, not, justified, under, Catholic, teaching, legitimate, defense</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Kansas Catholic school answers the call to go old&#45;school with landline phones</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/kansas-catholic-school-answers-the-call-to-go-old-school-with-landline-phones</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/kansas-catholic-school-answers-the-call-to-go-old-school-with-landline-phones</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ LEAWOOD, Kan. (OSV News) —  Kids at Nativity Parish School skated like it’s 1999 in February to kick off what their moms hope will be a lower-tech lifestyle. Kindergarten-through-fifth grade…
The post Kansas Catholic school answers the call to go old-school with landline phones first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260402T0745-PROJECT-LANDLINE-KANSAS-1816591.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 05 Apr 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Kansas, Catholic, school, answers, the, call, old-school, with, landline, phones</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>At Colosseum, pope carries the cross, leading thousands in Good Friday prayer for suffering world</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/at-colosseum-pope-carries-the-cross-leading-thousands-in-good-friday-prayer-for-suffering-world</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/at-colosseum-pope-carries-the-cross-leading-thousands-in-good-friday-prayer-for-suffering-world</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ When asked earlier in the week about his decision to carry the cross for all 14 stations, Pope Leo told reporters that he saw it as a sign the world needed.
The post At Colosseum, pope carries the cross, leading thousands in Good Friday prayer for suffering world first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/20260403T1730-POPE-VIA-CRUCIS-COLOSSEUM-1816842.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 05 Apr 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Colosseum, pope, carries, the, cross, leading, thousands, Good, Friday, prayer, for, suffering, world</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Good Friday liturgy underscores need to break ‘this chain’ of violence</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/good-friday-liturgy-underscores-need-to-break-this-chain-of-violence</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/good-friday-liturgy-underscores-need-to-break-this-chain-of-violence</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ A message of nonviolence and quiet endurance marked the Good Friday liturgy at the Vatican, during which the Passion of Christ offers an example of breaking the cycle of violence that continues today.
The post Good Friday liturgy underscores need to break ‘this chain’ of violence first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/SIM9608-scaled.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 05 Apr 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Good, Friday, liturgy, underscores, need, break, ‘this, chain’, violence</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>At Easter Vigil, Pope Leo XIV calls for peace to &amp;apos;grow and flourish&amp;apos; throughout the world</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/at-easter-vigil-pope-leo-xiv-calls-for-peace-to-grow-and-flourish-throughout-the-world</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/at-easter-vigil-pope-leo-xiv-calls-for-peace-to-grow-and-flourish-throughout-the-world</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The ancient vigil &quot;stretches across the centuries as a path of reconciliation and grace,&quot; the pope said at the Vatican. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1775336829/260404_EASTER_VIGIL_IN_THE_HOLY_NIGHT_Daniel_Ibáñez_1_fusiic.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 05 Apr 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Easter, Vigil, Pope, Leo, XIV, calls, for, peace, grow, and, flourish, throughout, the, world</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>EWTN News explains: What are the Good Friday Reproaches?</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/ewtn-news-explains-what-are-the-good-friday-reproaches</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/ewtn-news-explains-what-are-the-good-friday-reproaches</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Good Friday Reproaches are a series of antiphons, known also as “Popule Meus” (“My People”), and come from the opening lines of the Latin text of the recitation. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1775067776/LordsPassionVatican040126_tpe2wv.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 04 Apr 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>EWTN, News, explains:, What, are, the, Good, Friday, Reproaches</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope speaks with Israeli and Ukrainian presidents amid conflicts in Holy Land, Ukraine</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-speaks-with-israeli-and-ukrainian-presidents-amid-conflicts-in-holy-land-ukraine</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-speaks-with-israeli-and-ukrainian-presidents-amid-conflicts-in-holy-land-ukraine</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The pontiff discussed the ongoing wars and exchanged Easter greetings with the two presidents. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1775217982/_SIM1145_jo4ihp.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 04 Apr 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, speaks, with, Israeli, and, Ukrainian, presidents, amid, conflicts, Holy, Land, Ukraine</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV celebrates Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion in St. Peter’s Basilica</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-celebrates-good-friday-of-the-lords-passion-in-st-peters-basilica</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-celebrates-good-friday-of-the-lords-passion-in-st-peters-basilica</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ After the proclamation of the Gospel of John’s account of Christ’s passion, the papal preacher, Father Roberto Pasolini, OFMCap, delivered a homily. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1775234106/260403_GOOD_FRIDAY_CELEBRATION_OF_THE_PASSION_OF_THE_LORD_Daniel_Ibáñez_10_af7et0.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 04 Apr 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, celebrates, Good, Friday, the, Lord’s, Passion, St., Peter’s, Basilica</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>At the Colosseum, Pope Leo XIV urges the faithful to &amp;apos;live our lives as a journey&amp;apos; in Christ&amp;apos;s love</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/at-the-colosseum-pope-leo-xiv-urges-the-faithful-to-live-our-lives-as-a-journey-in-christs-love</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/at-the-colosseum-pope-leo-xiv-urges-the-faithful-to-live-our-lives-as-a-journey-in-christs-love</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Holy Father carried the cross at the Roman amphitheater on Good Friday, the first time a pope has done so in several years. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1775250049/260403_GOOD_FRIDAY_WAY_OF_THE_CROSS_Daniel_Ibáñez_24_goijou.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 04 Apr 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>the, Colosseum, Pope, Leo, XIV, urges, the, faithful, live, our, lives, journey, Christs, love</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>PHOTOS: Pope Leo XIV carries the cross at the Via Crucis in the Colosseum</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/photos-pope-leo-xiv-carries-the-cross-at-the-via-crucis-in-the-colosseum</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/photos-pope-leo-xiv-carries-the-cross-at-the-via-crucis-in-the-colosseum</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The pope personally carried the cross through every station of the Good Friday Way of the Cross at the Colosseum. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1775250767/260403_GOOD_FRIDAY_WAY_OF_THE_CROSS_Daniel_Ibáñez_21_ukacqq.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 04 Apr 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>PHOTOS:, Pope, Leo, XIV, carries, the, cross, the, Via, Crucis, the, Colosseum</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Jerusalem Church leaders decry ‘expanding wreckage’ of Iran war</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/jerusalem-church-leaders-decry-expanding-wreckage-of-iran-war</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/jerusalem-church-leaders-decry-expanding-wreckage-of-iran-war</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Patriarchs and Heads of the Churches in Jerusalem issued an Easter message calling the Iran war an &quot;expanding wreckage&quot; and its timing a &quot;deep darkness.&quot;
The post Jerusalem Church leaders decry ‘expanding wreckage’ of Iran war first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/20260329T1442-JERUSALEM-PATRIARCHS-MESSAGE-WAR-ESCALATION-1816225.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 18:00:03 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Jerusalem, Church, leaders, decry, ‘expanding, wreckage’, Iran, war</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>On first Palm Sunday, Pope Leo says Jesus cries out from the cross against war</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/on-first-palm-sunday-pope-leo-says-jesus-cries-out-from-the-cross-against-war</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/on-first-palm-sunday-pope-leo-says-jesus-cries-out-from-the-cross-against-war</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ At his first Palm Sunday, Pope Leo XIV declared that Jesus, the King of Peace, embraces all suffering in human history and cries out from the cross against war.
The post On first Palm Sunday, Pope Leo says Jesus cries out from the cross against war first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/20260329T0840-POPE-PALM-SUNDAY-DENOUNCES-WAR-1816183.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 18:00:03 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>first, Palm, Sunday, Pope, Leo, says, Jesus, cries, out, from, the, cross, against, war</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Full text: Pope Leo XIV’s first Palm Sunday homily</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/full-text-pope-leo-xivs-first-palm-sunday-homily</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/full-text-pope-leo-xivs-first-palm-sunday-homily</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The following is the full text of Pope Leo XIV&#039;s Palm Sunday homily given March 29, 2026, in St. Peter&#039;s Square on Jesus Christ as the King of Peace.
The post Full text: Pope Leo XIV’s first Palm Sunday homily first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/20260329T0840-POPE-PALM-SUNDAY-DENOUNCES-WAR-1816182.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 18:00:03 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Full, text:, Pope, Leo, XIV’s, first, Palm, Sunday, homily</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Israeli police prevent Latin patriarch, custos, from entering Church of the Holy Sepulcher on Palm Sunday</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/israeli-police-prevent-latin-patriarch-custos-from-entering-church-of-the-holy-sepulcher-on-palm-sunday</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/israeli-police-prevent-latin-patriarch-custos-from-entering-church-of-the-holy-sepulcher-on-palm-sunday</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, and Father Francesco Ielpo, the custos of the Holy Land, were prevented from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulcher by Israeli police on Palm Sunday, the Latin patriarchate said.
The post Israeli police prevent Latin patriarch, custos, from entering Church of the Holy Sepulcher on Palm Sunday first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/2026-03-29T142924Z_1593271871_RC2CEKAPU74G_RTRMADP_3_RELIGION-EASTER-JERUSALEM-PALM-SUNDAY.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 18:00:03 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Israeli, police, prevent, Latin, patriarch, custos, from, entering, Church, the, Holy, Sepulcher, Palm, Sunday</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>‘Behold your mother’: Jesus’ love and confidence</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/behold-your-mother-jesus-love-and-confidence</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/behold-your-mother-jesus-love-and-confidence</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Ahead of Good Friday April 3, this is the third reflection in a series on Jesus’ final statements from the cross, known in tradition as the seven last words. (OSV…
The post ‘Behold your mother’: Jesus’ love and confidence first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/20251201T1130-2026-LENT-LAST-WORDS-3-1808740.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 18:00:03 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>‘Behold, your, mother’:, Jesus’, love, and, confidence</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Vatican cancels 2026 World Children’s Day</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/vatican-cancels-2026-world-childrens-day</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/vatican-cancels-2026-world-childrens-day</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Rome event set for Sept. 25–27 is scrapped as the Vatican says children’s pastoral initiatives should instead be held locally with families. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1766782511/leoblessesbaby_idzcb6.webp" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 18:00:03 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Vatican, cancels, 2026, World, Children’s, Day</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Vatican official warns of ‘Christianophobia’ in Muslim world and secular West</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/vatican-official-warns-of-christianophobia-in-muslim-world-and-secular-west</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/vatican-official-warns-of-christianophobia-in-muslim-world-and-secular-west</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ A Nigerian archbishop said African missionaries can evangelize a Europe uneasy with its Christian past. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1774976492/FortunatusNwachukwu033126_oeqhxu.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 18:00:03 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Vatican, official, warns, ‘Christianophobia’, Muslim, world, and, secular, West</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>This is Pope Leo XIV’s prayer intention for the month of April</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/this-is-pope-leo-xivs-prayer-intention-for-the-month-of-april</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/this-is-pope-leo-xivs-prayer-intention-for-the-month-of-april</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ In a video released on X, the Holy Father posed a question for the faithful: “Have you ever been in a crisis?” ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1771504164/_RIS3540_1_vriif9.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 18:00:03 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>This, Pope, Leo, XIV’s, prayer, intention, for, the, month, April</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo makes Holy Week appeal to Trump, world leaders to end Iran war</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-makes-holy-week-appeal-to-trump-world-leaders-to-end-iran-war</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-makes-holy-week-appeal-to-trump-world-leaders-to-end-iran-war</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The pope expressed hope that President Donald Trump is seeking a way to decrease violence in the Middle East. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1774875573/260325_GA_Daniel_Ibáñez_5_edqh7a.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 18:00:03 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, makes, Holy, Week, appeal, Trump, world, leaders, end, Iran, war</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV says God ‘does not listen’ to prayers of those who wage war</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-says-god-does-not-listen-to-prayers-of-those-who-wage-war</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-says-god-does-not-listen-to-prayers-of-those-who-wage-war</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ At Palm Sunday Mass and the Angelus following it, the pope prayed for Middle East Christians, victims of war, and migrants who died at sea off Crete. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1774783479/260329_PALM_SUNDAY_Daniel_Ibáñez_20_nsitbp.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 31 Mar 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, says, God, ‘does, not, listen’, prayers, those, who, wage, war</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope names Vatican diplomats to key positions in Secretariat of State, papal household</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-names-vatican-diplomats-to-key-positions-in-secretariat-of-state-papal-household</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-names-vatican-diplomats-to-key-positions-in-secretariat-of-state-papal-household</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Archbishop Paolo Rudelli is the new head of the general affairs section of the Secretariat of State and Archbishop Petar Rajič is the new prefect of the Papal Household. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1774875573/260325_GA_Daniel_Ibáñez_5_edqh7a.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 31 Mar 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, names, Vatican, diplomats, key, positions, Secretariat, State, papal, household</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Cardinal of Tehran prays in Rome for ‘end to violence’ in Persian Gulf</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/cardinal-of-tehran-prays-in-rome-for-end-to-violence-in-persian-gulf</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/cardinal-of-tehran-prays-in-rome-for-end-to-violence-in-persian-gulf</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ In the Basilica of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme in Rome, Cardinal Dominique Mathieu, archbishop of Tehran-Isfahan, on Monday evening stood in prayer for peace. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1774903195/CardinalDominiqueMathieu1033026_ag8aoe.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 31 Mar 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Cardinal, Tehran, prays, Rome, for, ‘end, violence’, Persian, Gulf</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Vatican affirms future of Anglican ordinariates: ‘A precious gift and a treasure to be shared’</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/vatican-affirms-future-of-anglican-ordinariates-a-precious-gift-and-a-treasure-to-be-shared</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/vatican-affirms-future-of-anglican-ordinariates-a-precious-gift-and-a-treasure-to-be-shared</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Bishop Steven Lopes welcomed a Vatican document as a significant encouragement, calling it “an exhortation to live this patrimony in all of its richness.” ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1774896902/EasterOLW_un25xd.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 31 Mar 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Vatican, affirms, future, Anglican, ordinariates:, ‘A, precious, gift, and, treasure, shared’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Leo XIV: The most difficult circumstances can be transformed by the power of love</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/leo-xiv-the-most-difficult-circumstances-can-be-transformed-by-the-power-of-love</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/leo-xiv-the-most-difficult-circumstances-can-be-transformed-by-the-power-of-love</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ In an audience with the Illinois Municipal League, the pontiff said that Gospel values can be applied to city government to the benefit of the most vulnerable and for the common good. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1774904027/papa-illinois-1774882141_nlbijt.webp" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 31 Mar 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Leo, XIV:, The, most, difficult, circumstances, can, transformed, the, power, love</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Hundreds rally with bishops to protest mass detention and deportation in El Paso, inspired by Romero</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/hundreds-rally-with-bishops-to-protest-mass-detention-and-deportation-in-el-paso-inspired-by-romero</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/hundreds-rally-with-bishops-to-protest-mass-detention-and-deportation-in-el-paso-inspired-by-romero</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ On March 24, the feast day of St. Óscar Romero, hundreds joined in a march and vigil calling to end mass deportations and mass detention in El Paso, Texas.
The post Hundreds rally with bishops to protest mass detention and deportation in El Paso, inspired by Romero first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/20260326T1720-EL-PASO-IMMIGRATION-VIGIL-1815891.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 28 Mar 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Hundreds, rally, with, bishops, protest, mass, detention, and, deportation, Paso, inspired, Romero</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope assures archbishop of Canterbury of his prayers in message read after her installation</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-assures-archbishop-of-canterbury-of-his-prayers-in-message-read-after-her-installation</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-assures-archbishop-of-canterbury-of-his-prayers-in-message-read-after-her-installation</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Prince and Princess of Wales were among 2,000 guests gathered at Canterbury Cathedral for the installation ceremony of Archbishop Mullally.
The post Pope assures archbishop of Canterbury of his prayers in message read after her installation first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/20260326T1503-POPE-MESSAGE-CANTERBURY-1815867.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 28 Mar 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, assures, archbishop, Canterbury, his, prayers, message, read, after, her, installation</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Vatican ‘unequivocally’ condemns slavery, counters ‘partial narrative’ in UN resolution</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/vatican-unequivocally-condemns-slavery-counters-partial-narrative-in-un-resolution</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/vatican-unequivocally-condemns-slavery-counters-partial-narrative-in-un-resolution</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ (OSV News) — The Vatican’s top diplomat to the United Nations condemned modern and historical slavery — while countering what he called a “partial narrative” in a newly adopted U.N. resolution…
The post Vatican ‘unequivocally’ condemns slavery, counters ‘partial narrative’ in UN resolution first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/20260326T1400-HOLY-SEE-UN-SLAVERY-STATEMENT-1815844.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 28 Mar 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Vatican, ‘unequivocally’, condemns, slavery, counters, ‘partial, narrative’, resolution</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Marriage or the priesthood? Pope Leo XIV shares advice for discerning one’s vocation</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/marriage-or-the-priesthood-pope-leo-xiv-shares-advice-for-discerning-ones-vocation</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/marriage-or-the-priesthood-pope-leo-xiv-shares-advice-for-discerning-ones-vocation</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ &quot;Life reveals itself as a continual act of trusting in the Lord and abandoning ourselves to him, even when his plans unsettle our own.&quot;
The post Marriage or the priesthood? Pope Leo XIV shares advice for discerning one’s vocation first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/20260326T1300-POPE-VOCATIONS-MESSAGE-1815872.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 28 Mar 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Marriage, the, priesthood, Pope, Leo, XIV, shares, advice, for, discerning, one’s, vocation</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Looking for a Holy Week read? Updated book explores ‘What Christ Suffered’</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/looking-for-a-holy-week-read-updated-book-explores-what-christ-suffered</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/looking-for-a-holy-week-read-updated-book-explores-what-christ-suffered</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Dr. Thomas W. McGovern, author of &quot;What Christ Suffered: A Doctor&#039;s Journey Through the Passion,&quot; spoke about his newly revised and expanded edition for 2026.
The post Looking for a Holy Week read? Updated book explores ‘What Christ Suffered’ first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/20260326T1225-INTERVIEW-MCGOVERN-CHRIST-SUFFERED-1815859.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 28 Mar 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Looking, for, Holy, Week, read, Updated, book, explores, ‘What, Christ, Suffered’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo praises organ donation, warns about commodification of the body</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-praises-organ-donation-warns-about-commodification-of-the-body</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-praises-organ-donation-warns-about-commodification-of-the-body</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The audience with participants in an event organized by the Italian National Transplant Network took place March 26 at the Vatican. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1774620230/_TOM2975_h2mro1.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 28 Mar 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, praises, organ, donation, warns, about, commodification, the, body</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Asian Catholics pay tribute to late Vietnamese Cardinal Van Thuan</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/asian-catholics-pay-tribute-to-late-vietnamese-cardinal-van-thuan</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/asian-catholics-pay-tribute-to-late-vietnamese-cardinal-van-thuan</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Vatican held the “Cardinal Văn Thuận: Witness of Hope” conference at the Apostolic Palace of the Lateran in Rome on March 25. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1774609197/Van_Thuan_2026_evwqeq.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 28 Mar 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Asian, Catholics, pay, tribute, late, Vietnamese, Cardinal, Van, Thuan</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV set to meet with first female archbishop of Canterbury</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-set-to-meet-with-first-female-archbishop-of-canterbury</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-set-to-meet-with-first-female-archbishop-of-canterbury</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The announcement came just two days after Sarah Mullally’s installation as archbishop of Canterbury. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1773946460/Screenshot_2026-03-19_at_2.23.05_PM_fiv9bk.png" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 28 Mar 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, set, meet, with, first, female, archbishop, Canterbury</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Mother Angelica’s enduring legacy celebrated at Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/mother-angelicas-enduring-legacy-celebrated-at-mass-at-st-peters-basilica</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/mother-angelicas-enduring-legacy-celebrated-at-mass-at-st-peters-basilica</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Mother Angelica knew from experience that “God works through humble, unexpected instruments to spread his Gospel,” said the principal celebrant at the Mass, Father Michael Baggot, LC. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1774645936/MEMORA_MASS_FOR_MOTHER_ANGELICA_Daniel_Ibáñez_48_fmjbog.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 28 Mar 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Mother, Angelica’s, enduring, legacy, celebrated, Mass, St., Peter’s, Basilica</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope urges liturgical unity, inclusion of Traditional Latin Mass faithful</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-urges-liturgical-unity-inclusion-of-traditional-latin-mass-faithful</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-urges-liturgical-unity-inclusion-of-traditional-latin-mass-faithful</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ In message to French bishops, Pope Leo XIV called for “concrete solutions” to heal divisions over the Mass. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1772390959/Screenshot_2026-03-01_at_19.38.48_dxe8e8.png" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 27 Mar 2026 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, urges, liturgical, unity, inclusion, Traditional, Latin, Mass, faithful</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Vatican secretary of state says war on Iran is not just</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/vatican-secretary-of-state-says-war-on-iran-is-not-just</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/vatican-secretary-of-state-says-war-on-iran-is-not-just</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Cardinal Pietro Parolin also addressed tensions over the Traditional Latin Mass. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1774536719/WhatsApp_Image_2026-03-26_at_3.47.03_PM_pa8xxb.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 27 Mar 2026 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Vatican, secretary, state, says, war, Iran, not, just</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope invites continued dialogue in message to new Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-invites-continued-dialogue-in-message-to-new-archbishop-of-canterbury-sarah-mullally</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-invites-continued-dialogue-in-message-to-new-archbishop-of-canterbury-sarah-mullally</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Mullally’s installation as archbishop of Canterbury took place on March 25. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1774537843/260325_GA_Daniel_Ibáñez_3_wnz68f.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 27 Mar 2026 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, invites, continued, dialogue, message, new, Archbishop, Canterbury, Sarah, Mullally</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Vatican bank names new president</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/vatican-bank-names-new-president</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/vatican-bank-names-new-president</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ François Pauly will succeed Jean-Baptiste de Franssu at helm of Institute for the Works of Religion. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1774540275/FrancoisPauly032626_mmrcpn.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 27 Mar 2026 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Vatican, bank, names, new, president</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Synod on Synodality proposes a Church ‘Observatory on Disability’</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/synod-on-synodality-proposes-a-church-observatory-on-disability</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/synod-on-synodality-proposes-a-church-observatory-on-disability</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The report is the conclusion of the work carried out by one of the 10 study groups created by Pope Francis in 2024 during the Synod on Synodality. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1773265869/sinodosinodalidad-271024_tc2mxz.webp" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 27 Mar 2026 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Synod, Synodality, proposes, Church, ‘Observatory, Disability’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Belgian bishop says he will ‘make every effort’ to ordain married men by 2028</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/belgian-bishop-says-he-will-make-every-effort-to-ordain-married-men-by-2028</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/belgian-bishop-says-he-will-make-every-effort-to-ordain-married-men-by-2028</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The question is &quot;no longer whether&quot; married men can be ordained, but &quot;when&quot; and &quot;who will do it,&quot; Bishop Johan Bonny of Antwerp said.
The post Belgian bishop says he will ‘make every effort’ to ordain married men by 2028 first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/20260323T1729-BELGIAN-BISHOP-ORDAINING-MARRIED-MEN-1815654.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 24 Mar 2026 18:00:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Belgian, bishop, says, will, ‘make, every, effort’, ordain, married, men, 2028</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV meets head of Israel’s Holocaust memorial center</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-meets-head-of-israels-holocaust-memorial-center</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-meets-head-of-israels-holocaust-memorial-center</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ &quot;We also addressed the alarming rise in antisemitism worldwide and the urgent need for coordinated, decisive action to confront it.&quot;
The post Pope Leo XIV meets head of Israel’s Holocaust memorial center first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/20260323T1610-POPE-HOLOCAUST-REMEMBRANCE-DELEGATION-1815657.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 24 Mar 2026 18:00:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, meets, head, Israel’s, Holocaust, memorial, center</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Universal health coverage is not a luxury but ‘a moral imperative,’ pope says</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/universal-health-coverage-is-not-a-luxury-but-a-moral-imperative-pope-says</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/universal-health-coverage-is-not-a-luxury-but-a-moral-imperative-pope-says</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ &quot;Healthcare must be accessible to the most vulnerable ... because their dignity requires it but also to prevent injustice from becoming a cause of conflict.&quot;
The post Universal health coverage is not a luxury but ‘a moral imperative,’ pope says first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/20260323T1651-POPE-UNIVERSAL-HEALTH-CARE-1815611.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 24 Mar 2026 18:00:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Universal, health, coverage, not, luxury, but, ‘a, moral, imperative, ’, pope, says</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>‘Venerable’ Boys Town founder Father Flanagan ‘a model of charity,’ says Omaha archbishop</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/venerable-boys-town-founder-father-flanagan-a-model-of-charity-says-omaha-archbishop</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/venerable-boys-town-founder-father-flanagan-a-model-of-charity-says-omaha-archbishop</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Archbishop McGovern summed up Father Flanagan&#039;s legacy as that of &quot;such a good priest,&quot; one who experienced a call to work with disadvantaged youth.
The post ‘Venerable’ Boys Town founder Father Flanagan ‘a model of charity,’ says Omaha archbishop first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Untitled-1-copy2.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 24 Mar 2026 18:00:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>‘Venerable’, Boys, Town, founder, Father, Flanagan, ‘a, model, charity, ’, says, Omaha, archbishop</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Who was Venerable Father Flanagan, Boys Town founder?</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/who-was-venerable-father-flanagan-boys-town-founder</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/who-was-venerable-father-flanagan-boys-town-founder</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Written by Deacon Omar F.A. Gutierrez, Archdiocese of Omaha (OSV News) — In the early 1940s, a young boy sought out Father Edward Flanagan as he toured the East Coast…
The post Who was Venerable Father Flanagan, Boys Town founder? first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/20260323T1545-VENERABLE-FLANAGAN-SERVANT-HEART-1815630.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 24 Mar 2026 18:00:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Who, was, Venerable, Father, Flanagan, Boys, Town, founder</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Boys Town founder Father Flanagan moves one step closer to sainthood</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/boys-town-founder-father-flanagan-moves-one-step-closer-to-sainthood</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/boys-town-founder-father-flanagan-moves-one-step-closer-to-sainthood</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Irish-born priest is revered for his revolutionary approach to caring for impoverished boys at the group home he founded in Omaha, Nebraska. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1745612474/images/Father_Edward_Flanagan_with_baseball_players_at_Boystown_Courtesy_of_Father_Flanagan_League_CNA_6_24_15.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 24 Mar 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Boys, Town, founder, Father, Flanagan, moves, one, step, closer, sainthood</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope condemns aerial bombardment</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-condemns-aerial-bombardment</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-condemns-aerial-bombardment</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV warned that modern technology is being “put at the service of war.” ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1774273031/_RIS2986_p01vj0.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 24 Mar 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, condemns, aerial, bombardment</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Does the pope vote in Peru or pay U.S. taxes? Key questions remain unsettled</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/does-the-pope-vote-in-peru-or-pay-us-taxes-key-questions-remain-unsettled</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/does-the-pope-vote-in-peru-or-pay-us-taxes-key-questions-remain-unsettled</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Legal expert argues papal dual citizenship is real, but obligations tied to it may not apply in practice. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1773690450/leon-xiv-en-el-vaticano-23082025-1770559133_v7cjqt.webp" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 24 Mar 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Does, the, pope, vote, Peru, pay, U.S., taxes, Key, questions, remain, unsettled</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV reunites with his eighth grade classmates</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-reunites-with-his-eighth-grade-classmates</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-reunites-with-his-eighth-grade-classmates</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV met with 10 of his eighth grade classmates in St. Peter’s Square at a recent general audience. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1774280202/_SIM5413_11899500478242706539_oxyzvp.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 24 Mar 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, reunites, with, his, eighth, grade, classmates</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>EWTN News explains: What is the ‘papal almoner’?</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/ewtn-news-explains-what-is-the-papal-almoner</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/ewtn-news-explains-what-is-the-papal-almoner</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The papal almoner is a key position in the Vatican, one that has played a vital role in the Church and its charitable undertakings for centuries. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1773331853/WhatsApp_Image_2026-03-12_at_4.02.29_PM_ibgxi8.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 23 Mar 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>EWTN, News, explains:, What, the, ‘papal, almoner’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Vatican urges Catholic organizations to divest from mining sector for the common good</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/vatican-urges-catholic-organizations-to-divest-from-mining-sector-for-the-common-good</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/vatican-urges-catholic-organizations-to-divest-from-mining-sector-for-the-common-good</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Around 40 faith-based organizations are participating in the &quot;Platform for Divestment in the Mining Industry,&quot; meeting March 19–21 in Rome. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1774017379/Mining032026_eovqaw.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 23 Mar 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Vatican, urges, Catholic, organizations, divest, from, mining, sector, for, the, common, good</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>King Felipe VI of Spain installed as protocanon of the Basilica of St. Mary Major</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/king-felipe-vi-of-spain-installed-as-protocanon-of-the-basilica-of-st-mary-major</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/king-felipe-vi-of-spain-installed-as-protocanon-of-the-basilica-of-st-mary-major</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ “Protocanon” is an honorary title reserved exclusively for the Spanish head of state, recognizing the monarch as a collaborator of the pope. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1774022151/260320_TAKING_POSSESSION_OF_THE_TITLE_OF_PROTOCANON_OF_HIS_MAJESTY_THE_KING_OF_SPAIN_Daniel_Ibáñez_10_rpzeot.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 23 Mar 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>King, Felipe, Spain, installed, protocanon, the, Basilica, St., Mary, Major</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Francis broke with predecessors on policy, appointments, and papal trips, sociologist says</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-francis-broke-with-predecessors-on-policy-appointments-and-papal-trips-sociologist-says</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-francis-broke-with-predecessors-on-policy-appointments-and-papal-trips-sociologist-says</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The University of Notre Dame hosted the lecture on their Rome campus on Thursday. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1774026007/PXL_20260319_164525337_tssdvh.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 23 Mar 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Francis, broke, with, predecessors, policy, appointments, and, papal, trips, sociologist, says</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope decries war’s toll</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-decries-wars-toll</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-decries-wars-toll</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV says suffering of innocent victims “hurts all of humanity” as he calls for end to hostilities and renewed paths to peace. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1774181842/_MAT5806_d1iemb.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 23 Mar 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, decries, war’s, toll</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Washington Roundup: DHS funding deal fails again; housing bill advances; Cuba’s Trump talks</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/washington-roundup-dhs-funding-deal-fails-again-housing-bill-advances-cubas-trump-talks</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/washington-roundup-dhs-funding-deal-fails-again-housing-bill-advances-cubas-trump-talks</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ WASHINGTON (OSV News) — A measure to fund the Department of Homeland Security failed in the Senate as negotiations over new, stronger constraints on federal immigration officers stalled.  The same week,…
The post Washington Roundup: DHS funding deal fails again; housing bill advances; Cuba’s Trump talks first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/20260306T1650-WASHINGTON-ROUNDUP-3-6-1814722.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 20 Mar 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Washington, Roundup:, DHS, funding, deal, fails, again, housing, bill, advances, Cuba’s, Trump, talks</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Detroit archbishop offers pastoral message on clergy abuse, outlines stronger protections</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/detroit-archbishop-offers-pastoral-message-on-clergy-abuse-outlines-stronger-protections</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/detroit-archbishop-offers-pastoral-message-on-clergy-abuse-outlines-stronger-protections</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ &quot;I remain firmly committed to ensuring protection of children and vulnerable adults is upheld as a central and enduring priority of my pastoral leadership.&quot;
The post Detroit archbishop offers pastoral message on clergy abuse, outlines stronger protections first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/20260312T1710-DETROIT-PASTORAL-ABUSE-REFORM-1815120.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 20 Mar 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Detroit, archbishop, offers, pastoral, message, clergy, abuse, outlines, stronger, protections</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>St. Patrick’s ‘Confessio’ shows the human behind the halo, say experts</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/st-patricks-confessio-shows-the-human-behind-the-halo-say-experts</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/st-patricks-confessio-shows-the-human-behind-the-halo-say-experts</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The fifth-century bishop, who became an adopted son and apostle of Ireland, is far more relatable than many realize, as the saint&#039;s own retelling of his life shows, one scholar told OSV News.
The post St. Patrick’s ‘Confessio’ shows the human behind the halo, say experts first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/20260313T0800-ST-PATRICK-CONFESSIO-1815176.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 20 Mar 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>St., Patrick’s, ‘Confessio’, shows, the, human, behind, the, halo, say, experts</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Father Norvel, first Black superior general for US men’s religious community, dies at 90</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/father-norvel-first-black-superior-general-for-us-mens-religious-community-dies-at-90</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/father-norvel-first-black-superior-general-for-us-mens-religious-community-dies-at-90</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ &quot;He was just a model, holy priest and a true son of the Church. ... He instilled in young Black youths of his parishes a real sense of our God-given dignity.&quot;
The post Father Norvel, first Black superior general for US men’s religious community, dies at 90 first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/20260313T1520-OBIT-JOSEPHITE-FATHER-NORVEL-1815157.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 20 Mar 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Father, Norvel, first, Black, superior, general, for, men’s, religious, community, dies</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Omaha police arrest son suspected of murdering his father, a Catholic deacon</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/omaha-police-arrest-son-suspected-of-murdering-his-father-a-catholic-deacon</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/omaha-police-arrest-son-suspected-of-murdering-his-father-a-catholic-deacon</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ A Catholic deacon in Omaha, Nebraska, has been murdered, with his adult son now in custody as the suspected killer.
The post Omaha police arrest son suspected of murdering his father, a Catholic deacon first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/20260313T1548-OMAHA-DEACON-MURDERED-1815194.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 20 Mar 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Omaha, police, arrest, son, suspected, murdering, his, father, Catholic, deacon</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo calls bishops to Rome to discuss families, ‘Amoris Laetitia’ in October</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-calls-bishops-to-rome-to-discuss-families-amoris-laetitia-in-october</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-calls-bishops-to-rome-to-discuss-families-amoris-laetitia-in-october</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation on marriage and the family followed two contentious synods at the Vatican dominated by debate over divorce. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1773917651/_SIM7445_wziobu.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 20 Mar 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, calls, bishops, Rome, discuss, families, ‘Amoris, Laetitia’, October</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Collection for the Holy Land: Christians need concrete hope, not just consoling words</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/collection-for-the-holy-land-christians-need-concrete-hope-not-just-consoling-words</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/collection-for-the-holy-land-christians-need-concrete-hope-not-just-consoling-words</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Now more than ever, the Christian minority in the Holy Land needs the support it receives through the annual Good Friday collection as ongoing violence in the Middle East has curtailed pilgrimages. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1773870602/armenio-1773677165_htntrs.webp" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 20 Mar 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Collection, for, the, Holy, Land:, Christians, need, concrete, hope, not, just, consoling, words</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Nigerian bishops tell the pope: Our people are dying</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/nigerian-bishops-tell-the-pope-our-people-are-dying</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/nigerian-bishops-tell-the-pope-our-people-are-dying</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ As Christians in their country suffer increased persecution, the Nigerian bishops bring the hopes of a nation to Rome. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1773934682/PXL_20260304_173837363_awwwys.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 20 Mar 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Nigerian, bishops, tell, the, pope:, Our, people, are, dying</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Vatican secretary of state urges end to Iran war, warns of escalation</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/vatican-secretary-of-state-urges-end-to-iran-war-warns-of-escalation</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/vatican-secretary-of-state-urges-end-to-iran-war-warns-of-escalation</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Cardinal Pietro Parolin said he would tell Trump and Israel to “stop as soon as possible.” ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1771363322/cardenal-pietro-parolin-daniel-ibanez-17022026-1771357010_m4twxj.webp" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 20 Mar 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Vatican, secretary, state, urges, end, Iran, war, warns, escalation</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>At a time of conflict, Pope Leo sends a bridge&#45;builder to the United States</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/at-a-time-of-conflict-pope-leo-sends-a-bridge-builder-to-the-united-states</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/at-a-time-of-conflict-pope-leo-sends-a-bridge-builder-to-the-united-states</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, the new papal envoy to Washington, has been shaped by a diplomatic career in geopolitical hot spots. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1745612192/images/Archbishop_Caccia.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2026 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>time, conflict, Pope, Leo, sends, bridge-builder, the, United, States</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Vatican court orders partial retrial in ‘trial of the century’ finance case</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/vatican-court-orders-partial-retrial-in-trial-of-the-century-finance-case</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/vatican-court-orders-partial-retrial-in-trial-of-the-century-finance-case</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Judges cite procedural flaws tied to papal decrees, requiring renewed proceedings while leaving prior convictions formally intact. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1758639824/images/20201204021220-fbf693df16360093aa9da7325db18c6ea161f223c14e377f390cfa102d1d6505.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2026 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Vatican, court, orders, partial, retrial, ‘trial, the, century’, finance, case</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV: ‘Each baptized person is an active agent of evangelization’</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-each-baptized-person-is-an-active-agent-of-evangelization</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-each-baptized-person-is-an-active-agent-of-evangelization</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The pope’s message at the general audience focused on the “communion of the faithful” as taught in the second chapter of Lumen Gentium. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1773841236/PopeLeoGeneralAudience1031826_oqlsvk.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2026 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV:, ‘Each, baptized, person, active, agent, evangelization’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Holy See calls on UN to eradicate surrogacy ‘in all its forms’</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/holy-see-calls-on-un-to-eradicate-surrogacy-in-all-its-forms</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/holy-see-calls-on-un-to-eradicate-surrogacy-in-all-its-forms</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, the Holy See’s permanent observer to the United Nations, laid out the economic reasons surrogacy exists, the harm it does, and why it is wrong. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1745615930/images/size680/Pregnant_Credit_K3S_via_wwwshutterstockcom_CNA_1_11_16.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2026 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Holy, See, calls, eradicate, surrogacy, ‘in, all, its, forms’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>From Pius IX to Francis: 7 modern popes who strengthened devotion to St. Joseph</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/from-pius-ix-to-francis-7-modern-popes-who-strengthened-devotion-to-st-joseph</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/from-pius-ix-to-francis-7-modern-popes-who-strengthened-devotion-to-st-joseph</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The popes of the last two centuries have sought the protection and intercession of St. Joseph in times of personal and societal need, elevating his status as a patron for all Catholics. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1773774604/StJoseph031726_rdvnb3.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2026 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>From, Pius, Francis:, modern, popes, who, strengthened, devotion, St., Joseph</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV names Archbishop Caccia papal ambassador to United States</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-names-archbishop-caccia-papal-ambassador-to-united-states</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-names-archbishop-caccia-papal-ambassador-to-united-states</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Archbishop Caccia has significant experience in the U.S., having served as the permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations in New York since 2020. 
The post Pope Leo XIV names Archbishop Caccia papal ambassador to United States first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/20260307T0650-NEW-US-NUNCIO-APPOINTED-1814772.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 10 Mar 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, names, Archbishop, Caccia, papal, ambassador, United, States</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Trump administration seeks pause on another lawsuit challenging abortion pill</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/trump-administration-seeks-pause-on-another-lawsuit-challenging-abortion-pill</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/trump-administration-seeks-pause-on-another-lawsuit-challenging-abortion-pill</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ DOJ lawyers in the Trump administration argued in the filing that the court &quot;should either stay this case until after FDA completes its review or dismiss it.&quot;
The post Trump administration seeks pause on another lawsuit challenging abortion pill first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/20260306T2102-DOJ-ABORTION-PILL-MISSOURI-1814770.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 10 Mar 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Trump, administration, seeks, pause, another, lawsuit, challenging, abortion, pill</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pew: Americans ‘more likely’ to disapprove of their own nation’s morals</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pew-americans-more-likely-to-disapprove-of-their-own-nations-morals</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pew-americans-more-likely-to-disapprove-of-their-own-nations-morals</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Along with the U.S., Canada and Mexico, Pew included in its survey various European, Asian and South American nations, as well as Australia.
The post Pew: Americans ‘more likely’ to disapprove of their own nation’s morals first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/20260306T2030-PEW-MORALITY-VIEWS-SURVEY-1814735.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 10 Mar 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pew:, Americans, ‘more, likely’, disapprove, their, own, nation’s, morals</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Indiana court blocks state abortion restrictions in lawsuit claiming religious objections</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/indiana-court-blocks-state-abortion-restrictions-in-lawsuit-claiming-religious-objections</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/indiana-court-blocks-state-abortion-restrictions-in-lawsuit-claiming-religious-objections</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ &quot;Indiana&#039;s Religious Freedom Restoration Act was never intended to equate taking the life of an unborn child with religious expression,&quot; a pro-life leader said.
The post Indiana court blocks state abortion restrictions in lawsuit claiming religious objections first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/usethisone20260306T1759-INDIANA-ABORTION-BAN-BLOCKED-RFRA-1814767.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 10 Mar 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Indiana, court, blocks, state, abortion, restrictions, lawsuit, claiming, religious, objections</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Diocese of El Paso declares bankruptcy to settle abuse claims filed under New Mexico lookback law</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/diocese-of-el-paso-declares-bankruptcy-to-settle-abuse-claims-filed-under-new-mexico-lookback-law</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/diocese-of-el-paso-declares-bankruptcy-to-settle-abuse-claims-filed-under-new-mexico-lookback-law</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Diocese of El Paso, Texas, filed for bankruptcy March 6, citing financial strain from claims related to sexual abuse alleged to have occurred decades prior.
The post Diocese of El Paso declares bankruptcy to settle abuse claims filed under New Mexico lookback law first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/20260306T1750-EL-PASO-BANKRUPTCY-FILING-1814749.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 10 Mar 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Diocese, Paso, declares, bankruptcy, settle, abuse, claims, filed, under, New, Mexico, lookback, law</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo tackles topic of domestic abuse on International Women’s Day</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-tackles-topic-of-domestic-abuse-on-international-womens-day</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-tackles-topic-of-domestic-abuse-on-international-womens-day</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Responding to a woman writing to the Vatican magazine Piazza San Pietro, Pope Leo decried violence against women and emphasized that educating young people in respect is the key to preventing it. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1773091984/papa-leon-xiv-violencia-mujeres-08032026-1772980869_axerzb.webp" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 10 Mar 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, tackles, topic, domestic, abuse, International, Women’s, Day</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Father Pasolini at the Vatican: Conversion and humility are paths to peace in times of conflict</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/father-pasolini-at-the-vatican-conversion-and-humility-are-paths-to-peace-in-times-of-conflict</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/father-pasolini-at-the-vatican-conversion-and-humility-are-paths-to-peace-in-times-of-conflict</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ In a Lenten sermon to the pope, Roman Curia, and Vatican employees, Capuchin friar Father Roberto Pasolini drew the connection between humility, conversion, and peace in life of St. Francis of Assisi. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1772824384/sfo4912_mkrfiw.webp" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 09 Mar 2026 18:00:08 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Father, Pasolini, the, Vatican:, Conversion, and, humility, are, paths, peace, times, conflict</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV appoints new envoy to the U.S.</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-appoints-new-envoy-to-the-us</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-appoints-new-envoy-to-the-us</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Archbishop Gabriele Giordano Caccia has till now served as the Vatican&#039;s representative to the United Nations in New York. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1757171144/images/gabrielecaccia.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 09 Mar 2026 18:00:08 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, appoints, new, envoy, the, U.S.</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Large family with 13&#45;year&#45;old in seminary and a baby named Leo touches pope’s heart</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/large-family-with-13-year-old-in-seminary-and-a-baby-named-leo-touches-popes-heart</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/large-family-with-13-year-old-in-seminary-and-a-baby-named-leo-touches-popes-heart</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ When their 13-year-old son entered the minor seminary, his parents had no idea that one day the whole family would meet Pope Leo XIV, an encounter that was a special blessing for them all. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1772648025/familia-1772384546_ts4c44.webp" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 09 Mar 2026 18:00:08 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Large, family, with, 13-year-old, seminary, and, baby, named, Leo, touches, pope’s, heart</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV warns of wider Middle East conflict</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-warns-of-wider-middle-east-conflict</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-warns-of-wider-middle-east-conflict</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ At his Sunday Angelus, the pope voiced alarm over violence and fear spreading from Iran across the region. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1772981085/_MAT2344_tidutk.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 09 Mar 2026 18:00:08 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, warns, wider, Middle, East, conflict</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo says parishes should reflect a Church that ‘cares for her children’</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-says-parishes-should-reflect-a-church-that-cares-for-her-children</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-says-parishes-should-reflect-a-church-that-cares-for-her-children</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The pontiff encouraged a Rome parish facing poverty and social challenges to show its closeness to those wounded and searching for hope. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1772989332/WhatsApp_Image_2026-03-08_at_4.43.38_PM_q9gr5p.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 09 Mar 2026 18:00:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, says, parishes, should, reflect, Church, that, ‘cares, for, her, children’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Rhode Island AG releases report on clerical abuse in Diocese of Providence</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/rhode-island-ag-releases-report-on-clerical-abuse-in-diocese-of-providence</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/rhode-island-ag-releases-report-on-clerical-abuse-in-diocese-of-providence</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ (OSV News) — Rhode Island’s attorney general has published a 284-page report on sexual abuse in the Diocese of Providence, capping a six-year investigation that began in 2019 through a…
The post Rhode Island AG releases report on clerical abuse in Diocese of Providence first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/20260304T1735-AG-REPORT-RHODE-ISLAND-1814632.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 06 Mar 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Rhode, Island, releases, report, clerical, abuse, Diocese, Providence</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Religious freedom watchdog annual report spotlights ‘terrifying crisis of religious violence’ in Nigeria</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/religious-freedom-watchdog-annual-report-spotlights-terrifying-crisis-of-religious-violence-in-nigeria</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/religious-freedom-watchdog-annual-report-spotlights-terrifying-crisis-of-religious-violence-in-nigeria</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The report was released by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom March 4. 
The post Religious freedom watchdog annual report spotlights ‘terrifying crisis of religious violence’ in Nigeria first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/20251208T1240-YEAR-END-2025-RELIGIOUS-PERSECUTION-1808999.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 06 Mar 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Religious, freedom, watchdog, annual, report, spotlights, ‘terrifying, crisis, religious, violence’, Nigeria</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Court allows subpoena of Archdiocese of Seattle in abuse investigation</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/court-allows-subpoena-of-archdiocese-of-seattle-in-abuse-investigation</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/court-allows-subpoena-of-archdiocese-of-seattle-in-abuse-investigation</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ A Washington state appeals court has ruled that the state&#039;s attorney general can subpoena religious organizations for records related to alleged sexual abuse.
The post Court allows subpoena of Archdiocese of Seattle in abuse investigation first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/20260304T1730-ARCHDIOCESE-SEATTLE-ABUSE-RECORDS-RULING-1814622.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 06 Mar 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Court, allows, subpoena, Archdiocese, Seattle, abuse, investigation</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Bishops of the Americas meet to address migration, poverty and other shared challenges</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/bishops-of-the-americas-meet-to-address-migration-poverty-and-other-shared-challenges</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/bishops-of-the-americas-meet-to-address-migration-poverty-and-other-shared-challenges</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ &quot;Our conversations have focused on how to better guide the People of God with wisdom and courage in a time marked by profound changes and challenges.&quot;
The post Bishops of the Americas meet to address migration, poverty and other shared challenges first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/20260304T1649-USCCB-EPISCOPAL-CONFERENCES-AMERICAS-1814637.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 06 Mar 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Bishops, the, Americas, meet, address, migration, poverty, and, other, shared, challenges</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Cardinal Parolin questions whether missiles, bombs are solution to Iranian people’s aspirations</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/cardinal-parolin-questions-whether-missiles-bombs-are-solution-to-iranian-peoples-aspirations</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/cardinal-parolin-questions-whether-missiles-bombs-are-solution-to-iranian-peoples-aspirations</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ ROME (OSV News) — The Vatican secretary of state appealed for peace and diplomacy on the fifth day of the U.S. and Israel-Iran war, warning that recognition of any country’s right…
The post Cardinal Parolin questions whether missiles, bombs are solution to Iranian people’s aspirations first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/20260304T1600-CARDINAL-PAROLIN-IRAN-INTERVIEW-1814593.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 06 Mar 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Cardinal, Parolin, questions, whether, missiles, bombs, are, solution, Iranian, people’s, aspirations</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>A pope’s magnificent bet on a young Bernini</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/a-popes-magnificent-bet-on-a-young-bernini</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/a-popes-magnificent-bet-on-a-young-bernini</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ An exhibition in Rome traces how Pope Urban VIII backed the 25-year-old artist behind St. Peter’s soaring bronze canopy — and the decade-long project that helped define Baroque Catholicism. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1772721101/Screenshot_2026-03-05_at_7.30.12_AM_sunbt8.png" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 06 Mar 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>pope’s, magnificent, bet, young, Bernini</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>This is Pope Leo XIV’s prayer intention for the month of March</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/this-is-pope-leo-xivs-prayer-intention-for-the-month-of-march</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/this-is-pope-leo-xivs-prayer-intention-for-the-month-of-march</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ In a video released on X, the Holy Father posed a question to the faithful: “Would you imagine what a world without wars would be like? A world without the terror of approaching explosions?” ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1770418942/papa-leon-xiv-daniel-ibanez-230525-1770410448_dgmgbk.webp" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 06 Mar 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>This, Pope, Leo, XIV’s, prayer, intention, for, the, month, March</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Holy See to UN: Christians are the most persecuted community in the world</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/holy-see-to-un-christians-are-the-most-persecuted-community-in-the-world</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/holy-see-to-un-christians-are-the-most-persecuted-community-in-the-world</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Holy See’s permanent observer to the UN provided statistics demonstrating the extent of the persecution of Christians worldwide. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1772740584/Candles030526_p2fp81.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 06 Mar 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Holy, See, UN:, Christians, are, the, most, persecuted, community, the, world</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope ‘cannot comment’ on Jimmy Lai’s imprisonment</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-cannot-comment-on-jimmy-lais-imprisonment</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-cannot-comment-on-jimmy-lais-imprisonment</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The pontiff spoke to reporters for the first time since Dec. 23. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1772567984/pope_leo_xiv_3.2.26_by_Daniel_Ibañez_xzz4gc.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 05 Mar 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, ‘cannot, comment’, Jimmy, Lai’s, imprisonment</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV explains the Church’s ‘human and divine dimensions’</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-explains-the-churchs-human-and-divine-dimensions</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-explains-the-churchs-human-and-divine-dimensions</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The pope’s catechesis focused on the dogmatic constitution Lumen Gentium, one of the pillars of Vatican II. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1772622472/Pope_Leo_March_4_2026_Ibanez_c5jszn.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 05 Mar 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, explains, the, Church’s, ‘human, and, divine, dimensions’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>International Theological Commission: Human life is a vocation</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/international-theological-commission-human-life-is-a-vocation</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/international-theological-commission-human-life-is-a-vocation</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ New Vatican-approved document weighs challenges posed by AI and social media. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1761359241/images/aicompanion102125.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 05 Mar 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>International, Theological, Commission:, Human, life, vocation</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Vatican synod report urges women’s input in preparing future priests</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/vatican-synod-report-urges-womens-input-in-preparing-future-priests</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/vatican-synod-report-urges-womens-input-in-preparing-future-priests</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The report also warns seminaries must not become an “artificial environment” detached from the ordinary life of the faithful. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1745615894/images/size680/Papal_ordination_of_priests_3_in_St_Peters_Basilica_on_April_26_2015_Credit_Bohumil_Petrik_CNA_4_26_15.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 05 Mar 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Vatican, synod, report, urges, women’s, input, preparing, future, priests</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Vatican secretary of state warns of Iran escalation</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/vatican-secretary-of-state-warns-of-iran-escalation</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/vatican-secretary-of-state-warns-of-iran-escalation</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Cardinal Pietro Parolin says sidelining international law and embracing “preventive war” could ignite a broader conflict and deepen civilian suffering. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1769641095/cardenal-parolin-secretario-de-estado-del-vaticano-28012026-1769635464_drk081.webp" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 05 Mar 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Vatican, secretary, state, warns, Iran, escalation</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>In the face of the mystery of evil, Christians must be signs of hope, pope says</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/in-the-face-of-the-mystery-of-evil-christians-must-be-signs-of-hope-pope-says</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/in-the-face-of-the-mystery-of-evil-christians-must-be-signs-of-hope-pope-says</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo was visiting the Church of the Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the working-class neighborhood of Quarticciolo in Rome March 1.
The post In the face of the mystery of evil, Christians must be signs of hope, pope says first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/20260301T1500-POPE-PARISH-ROME-MAR1-1814374.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 02 Mar 2026 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>the, face, the, mystery, evil, Christians, must, signs, hope, pope, says</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Full text: Pope Leo XIV’s Angelus address given March 1, 2026</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/full-text-pope-leo-xivs-angelus-address-given-march-1-2026</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/full-text-pope-leo-xivs-angelus-address-given-march-1-2026</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ (OSV News) — The following is the full text of Pope Leo XIV‘s Angelus address given March 1, 2026, at St. Peter’s Square. Dear brothers and sisters, happy Sunday! Today’s…
The post Full text: Pope Leo XIV’s Angelus address given March 1, 2026 first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/20260301T0803-POPE-ANGELUS-IRAN-1814343.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 02 Mar 2026 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Full, text:, Pope, Leo, XIV’s, Angelus, address, given, March, 2026</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope warns of ‘irreparable abyss,’ if diplomacy doesn’t take over violence in Iran, Middle East</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-warns-of-irreparable-abyss-if-diplomacy-doesnt-take-over-violence-in-iran-middle-east</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-warns-of-irreparable-abyss-if-diplomacy-doesnt-take-over-violence-in-iran-middle-east</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV issued a fervent appeal for return of diplomacy in the Middle East and Iran, condemning use of weapons that cause &quot;destruction, pain, and death.&quot;
The post Pope warns of ‘irreparable abyss,’ if diplomacy doesn’t take over violence in Iran, Middle East first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/20260301T0803-POPE-ANGELUS-IRAN-1814342.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 02 Mar 2026 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, warns, ‘irreparable, abyss, ’, diplomacy, doesn’t, take, over, violence, Iran, Middle, East</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Catholic clergy call for prayer, peace after US&#45;Israel attacks on Iran, retaliatory strikes</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/catholic-clergy-call-for-prayer-peace-after-us-israel-attacks-on-iran-retaliatory-strikes</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/catholic-clergy-call-for-prayer-peace-after-us-israel-attacks-on-iran-retaliatory-strikes</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Catholic clergy are calling for prayer and peace following U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran Feb. 28 that killed Iran&#039;s supreme leader and prompted counterattacks.
The post Catholic clergy call for prayer, peace after US-Israel attacks on Iran, retaliatory strikes first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/2026-03-01T125606Z_1637356760_RC2CVJABNP03_RTRMADP_3_IRAN-CRISIS-ISRAEL.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 02 Mar 2026 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Catholic, clergy, call, for, prayer, peace, after, US-Israel, attacks, Iran, retaliatory, strikes</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>USCCB president: Prayer, diplomacy needed in Middle East to avert ‘tragedy of immense proportions’</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/usccb-president-prayer-diplomacy-needed-in-middle-east-to-avert-tragedy-of-immense-proportions</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/usccb-president-prayer-diplomacy-needed-in-middle-east-to-avert-tragedy-of-immense-proportions</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The leader of the U.S. Catholic bishops echoed Pope Leo XIV&#039;s call for deescalation and dialogue in the Middle East March 1.
The post USCCB president: Prayer, diplomacy needed in Middle East to avert ‘tragedy of immense proportions’ first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/20260301T1430-1814381.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 02 Mar 2026 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>USCCB, president:, Prayer, diplomacy, needed, Middle, East, avert, ‘tragedy, immense, proportions’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Angels don’t indulge whims, Bishop Varden tells Vatican officials</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/angels-dont-indulge-whims-bishop-varden-tells-vatican-officials</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/angels-dont-indulge-whims-bishop-varden-tells-vatican-officials</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Cistercian bishop reflected on angels as mediators of God’s providence and on St. Bernard of Clairvaux’s realism rooted in mercy. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1772188996/_RIS2084_vhfnxt.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 02 Mar 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Angels, don’t, indulge, whims, Bishop, Varden, tells, Vatican, officials</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Vatican issues stamp honoring Ukrainian Catholics as war enters fourth year</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/vatican-issues-stamp-honoring-ukrainian-catholics-as-war-enters-fourth-year</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/vatican-issues-stamp-honoring-ukrainian-catholics-as-war-enters-fourth-year</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The stamp features the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Kyiv. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1772208462/55118885501_c781c94a35_b_btk8ko.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 02 Mar 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Vatican, issues, stamp, honoring, Ukrainian, Catholics, war, enters, fourth, year</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV thanks preacher at end of Lenten exercises</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-thanks-preacher-at-end-of-lenten-exercises</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-thanks-preacher-at-end-of-lenten-exercises</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Bishop Erik Varden closed a weeklong retreat for the Roman Curia with meditations on the cross and hope. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1772265156/_SIM2245_knyp2b.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 02 Mar 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, thanks, preacher, end, Lenten, exercises</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV urges diplomacy amid Iran tensions</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-urges-diplomacy-amid-iran-tensions</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-urges-diplomacy-amid-iran-tensions</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The pontiff warned that “stability and peace are not built with mutual threats” and appealed for dialogue to avert a wider crisis. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1772362913/Screenshot_2026-03-01_at_12.01.20_wbt8gi.png" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 02 Mar 2026 18:00:03 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, urges, diplomacy, amid, Iran, tensions</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV urges ‘unconditional love’ amid hardship</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-urges-unconditional-love-amid-hardship</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-urges-unconditional-love-amid-hardship</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Visiting a parish in Rome, the pope preached on the Transfiguration and Abraham’s journey of faith. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1772391849/_RIS6143_pkozxj.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 02 Mar 2026 18:00:03 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, urges, ‘unconditional, love’, amid, hardship</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Team USA’s hockey gold honors Catholic hockey star tragically killed with brother in 2024</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/team-usas-hockey-gold-honors-catholic-hockey-star-tragically-killed-with-brother-in-2024</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/team-usas-hockey-gold-honors-catholic-hockey-star-tragically-killed-with-brother-in-2024</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Throughout the 2026 Winter Games Olympics in Milan Cortina, Team USA kept Gaudreau&#039;s memory at the forefront, displaying his No. 13 jersey in the locker room.
The post Team USA’s hockey gold honors Catholic hockey star tragically killed with brother in 2024 first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/20260223T1520-OLYMPICS-GAUDREAU-BROTHERS-HONORED-1813901.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 26 Feb 2026 18:00:08 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Team, USA’s, hockey, gold, honors, Catholic, hockey, star, tragically, killed, with, brother, 2024</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Miami clergy, staff accompany aid to Cuba for ongoing recovery from Hurricane Melissa</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/miami-clergy-staff-accompany-aid-to-cuba-for-ongoing-recovery-from-hurricane-melissa</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/miami-clergy-staff-accompany-aid-to-cuba-for-ongoing-recovery-from-hurricane-melissa</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The fuel shortage makes distribution of aid more challenging, and garbage pickup throughout the region is &quot;almost nonexistent.&quot;
The post Miami clergy, staff accompany aid to Cuba for ongoing recovery from Hurricane Melissa first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/20260223T1611-CUBA-MELISSA-AID-MIAMI-CRS-1813918.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 26 Feb 2026 18:00:08 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Miami, clergy, staff, accompany, aid, Cuba, for, ongoing, recovery, from, Hurricane, Melissa</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Bishop Rhoades makes biblical case for Church’s response to ‘immense’ migration crisis</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/bishop-rhoades-makes-biblical-case-for-churchs-response-to-immense-migration-crisis</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/bishop-rhoades-makes-biblical-case-for-churchs-response-to-immense-migration-crisis</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Written by Elyse Maldonado, Today’s Catholic SOUTH BEND, Ind. (OSV News) — Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Indiana, and the secretary for the U.S.…
The post Bishop Rhoades makes biblical case for Church’s response to ‘immense’ migration crisis first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/20260220T1545-RHOADES-IMMIGRATION-CRISIS-TALK-1813782.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 26 Feb 2026 18:00:08 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Bishop, Rhoades, makes, biblical, case, for, Church’s, response, ‘immense’, migration, crisis</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>New initiative to form mental health professionals rooted in Church teaching</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/new-initiative-to-form-mental-health-professionals-rooted-in-church-teaching</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/new-initiative-to-form-mental-health-professionals-rooted-in-church-teaching</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ (OSV News) — A new initiative by the University of Mary and the Diocese of Phoenix promises to respond to today’s rising mental health challenges by forming mental health professionals who…
The post New initiative to form mental health professionals rooted in Church teaching first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/20260223T1423-UM-PHOENIX-DIOCESE-COUNSELING-PARTNERSHIP-1813942.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 26 Feb 2026 18:00:08 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>New, initiative, form, mental, health, professionals, rooted, Church, teaching</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>At Curia retreat, Bishop Varden warns of Gospel’s use ‘as a weapon in culture wars’</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/at-curia-retreat-bishop-varden-warns-of-gospels-use-as-a-weapon-in-culture-wars</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/at-curia-retreat-bishop-varden-warns-of-gospels-use-as-a-weapon-in-culture-wars</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ &quot;The extent of the peace we embody -- that exemplary peace &#039;which the world cannot give&#039; -- bears witness to the constant presence of Jesus within us.&quot;
The post At Curia retreat, Bishop Varden warns of Gospel’s use ‘as a weapon in culture wars’ first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/20260223T1215-VARDEN-RETREAT-REFLECTIONS-1813912.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 26 Feb 2026 18:00:08 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Curia, retreat, Bishop, Varden, warns, Gospel’s, use, ‘as, weapon, culture, wars’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Cardinal Dolan: Vance ‘apologized’ for ‘out of line’ comments about US bishops and immigration</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/cardinal-dolan-vance-apologized-for-out-of-line-comments-about-us-bishops-and-immigration</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/cardinal-dolan-vance-apologized-for-out-of-line-comments-about-us-bishops-and-immigration</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan said U.S. Vice President JD Vance &quot;apologized&quot; for &quot;out of line&quot; comments he made against the nation&#039;s Catholic bishops over immigration.
The post Cardinal Dolan: Vance ‘apologized’ for ‘out of line’ comments about US bishops and immigration first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/20260220T0900-DOLAN-VANCE-CLAIM-BISHOPS-1813784.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 22 Feb 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Cardinal, Dolan:, Vance, ‘apologized’, for, ‘out, line’, comments, about, bishops, and, immigration</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>ICE ‘mega centers’ for mass detention ‘challenge the conscience,’ says USCCB bishop</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/ice-mega-centers-for-mass-detention-challenge-the-conscience-says-usccb-bishop</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/ice-mega-centers-for-mass-detention-challenge-the-conscience-says-usccb-bishop</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ (OSV News) — A Texas bishop and head of the U.S. Catholic bishops’ migration committee is sounding the alarm over the Trump administration’s plans to acquire massive warehouses all over…
The post ICE ‘mega centers’ for mass detention ‘challenge the conscience,’ says USCCB bishop first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/20260220T1645-CAHILL-USCCB-DETENTION-CENTERS-1813798.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 22 Feb 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>ICE, ‘mega, centers’, for, mass, detention, ‘challenge, the, conscience, ’, says, USCCB, bishop</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Washington Roundup: Board of Peace holds inaugural meeting; DHS funding stalemate continues</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/washington-roundup-board-of-peace-holds-inaugural-meeting-dhs-funding-stalemate-continues</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/washington-roundup-board-of-peace-holds-inaugural-meeting-dhs-funding-stalemate-continues</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ More than two dozen countries have accepted Trump’s invitation to join the Board of Peace, including Israel as well as Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt.
The post Washington Roundup: Board of Peace holds inaugural meeting; DHS funding stalemate continues first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/20260220T1604-WASHINGTON-ROUNDUP-2-20-1813791.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 22 Feb 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Washington, Roundup:, Board, Peace, holds, inaugural, meeting, DHS, funding, stalemate, continues</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Church channels international aid to Cubans, but assistance falls short</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/church-channels-international-aid-to-cubans-but-assistance-falls-short</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/church-channels-international-aid-to-cubans-but-assistance-falls-short</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Power outages have been common for years, Archbishop García added, so even when people had food, cooking it was not easy.
The post Church channels international aid to Cubans, but assistance falls short first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/20260220T1523-CUBA-AID-EFFORTS-1813801.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 22 Feb 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Church, channels, international, aid, Cubans, but, assistance, falls, short</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Unmarked graves on land once owned by Catholic slaveholders trigger search for descendants</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/unmarked-graves-on-land-once-owned-by-catholic-slaveholders-trigger-search-for-descendants</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/unmarked-graves-on-land-once-owned-by-catholic-slaveholders-trigger-search-for-descendants</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ (OSV News) — Sometimes “silent as the grave” isn’t just a metaphor. A team of student and professional history detectives — led by Laura Masur, assistant professor of anthropology at The…
The post Unmarked graves on land once owned by Catholic slaveholders trigger search for descendants first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/20260220T1410-CUA-BRENT-SLAVERY-GRAVES-1813757.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 22 Feb 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Unmarked, graves, land, once, owned, Catholic, slaveholders, trigger, search, for, descendants</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Rev. Jesse Jackson dies at 84; Catholic leaders praise civil rights leader’s work for justice</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/rev-jesse-jackson-dies-at-84-catholic-leaders-praise-civil-rights-leaders-work-for-justice</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/rev-jesse-jackson-dies-at-84-catholic-leaders-praise-civil-rights-leaders-work-for-justice</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Catholic leaders were among those who praised the legacy of the Rev. Jesse Jackson, a Baptist minister and prominent civil rights leader, who died Feb. 17. He was 84.
The post Rev. Jesse Jackson dies at 84; Catholic leaders praise civil rights leader’s work for justice first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/20260217T1700-CATHOLIC-REAX-JESSE-JACKSON-1813402.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 18 Feb 2026 18:00:03 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Rev., Jesse, Jackson, dies, 84, Catholic, leaders, praise, civil, rights, leader’s, work, for, justice</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>BREAKING: Georgia martyrs expected to be beatified in Savannah Oct. 31</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/breaking-georgia-martyrs-expected-to-be-beatified-in-savannah-oct-31</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/breaking-georgia-martyrs-expected-to-be-beatified-in-savannah-oct-31</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The beatification of five Franciscans known as the Georgia martyrs has been set for Oct. 31, according to the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints&#039; website.
The post BREAKING: Georgia martyrs expected to be beatified in Savannah Oct. 31 first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/20260217T1631-GEORGIA-MARTYRS-BEATIFICATION-1813427.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 18 Feb 2026 18:00:03 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>BREAKING:, Georgia, martyrs, expected, beatified, Savannah, Oct.</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>From foreheads to crowns: How Ash Wednesday looks different worldwide</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/from-foreheads-to-crowns-how-ash-wednesday-looks-different-worldwide</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/from-foreheads-to-crowns-how-ash-wednesday-looks-different-worldwide</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The cross traced on the forehead echoes the sign first made at baptism and repeated throughout a Catholic’s sacramental life, Father Martis said.
The post From foreheads to crowns: How Ash Wednesday looks different worldwide first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/20260217T1145-ASH-WED-DIFFERENCES-1813374.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 18 Feb 2026 18:00:03 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>From, foreheads, crowns:, How, Ash, Wednesday, looks, different, worldwide</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Bishops, pro&#45;life leaders slam Notre Dame pro&#45;abortion appointment as ‘slap in face,’ ‘betrayal’</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/bishops-pro-life-leaders-slam-notre-dame-pro-abortion-appointment-as-slap-in-face-betrayal</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/bishops-pro-life-leaders-slam-notre-dame-pro-abortion-appointment-as-slap-in-face-betrayal</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ On Feb. 16, several recipients of Notre Dame&#039;s Evangelium Vitae Medal penned an open letter of protest to Father Dowd over the Ostermann appointment.
The post Bishops, pro-life leaders slam Notre Dame pro-abortion appointment as ‘slap in face,’ ‘betrayal’ first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/useuptop20260113T1426-NOTRE-DAME-DELTA-NETWORK-1811204.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 18 Feb 2026 18:00:03 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Bishops, pro-life, leaders, slam, Notre, Dame, pro-abortion, appointment, ‘slap, face, ’, ‘betrayal’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>A quick guide to fasting in Lent</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/a-quick-guide-to-fasting-in-lent</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/a-quick-guide-to-fasting-in-lent</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ (OSV News) — Lent begins Feb. 18 this year. During this holy and penitential season, fasting is required of adult Catholics between the ages of 18 and 59. The required…
The post A quick guide to fasting in Lent first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/20260217T1415-LENT-QUICK-FASTING-GUIDE-1791265.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 18 Feb 2026 18:00:03 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>quick, guide, fasting, Lent</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Vatican official says Notre Dame controversy shows need for dialogue on abortion</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/vatican-official-says-notre-dame-controversy-shows-need-for-dialogue-on-abortion</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/vatican-official-says-notre-dame-controversy-shows-need-for-dialogue-on-abortion</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Church should engage with universities about how to take “an ethical approach” to the dignity of unborn life, the president of the Pontifical Academy for Life said. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1771337379/Renzo_Pegoraro_Daniel_Ibanez_02.17.2026_r144io.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 18 Feb 2026 18:00:03 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Vatican, official, says, Notre, Dame, controversy, shows, need, for, dialogue, abortion</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>‘Aventine procession’: A centuries&#45;old tradition Pope Leo XIV will lead for the first time</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/aventine-procession-a-centuries-old-tradition-pope-leo-xiv-will-lead-for-the-first-time</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/aventine-procession-a-centuries-old-tradition-pope-leo-xiv-will-lead-for-the-first-time</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The brief Ash Wednesday walk between two hilltop basilicas marks the start of Lent in Rome. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1771343638/_SIM0212_c2bqv2.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 18 Feb 2026 18:00:03 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>‘Aventine, procession’:, centuries-old, tradition, Pope, Leo, XIV, will, lead, for, the, first, time</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>St. Peter’s marks 400 years with newly opened areas and digital access</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/st-peters-marks-400-years-with-newly-opened-areas-and-digital-access</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/st-peters-marks-400-years-with-newly-opened-areas-and-digital-access</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Vatican will open new parts of St. Peter’s — including the full terrace — and roll out a “SmartPass” digital entry system as it marks the basilica’s 400th anniversary. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1771347717/260216_PRESS_TOUR_BEYOND_THE_VISIBLE_PROJECT_Daniel_Ibáñez_2_tms3eb.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 18 Feb 2026 18:00:03 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>St., Peter’s, marks, 400, years, with, newly, opened, areas, and, digital, access</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Cardinal Parolin: The Vatican ‘will not participate in Trump’s Board of Peace’</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/cardinal-parolin-the-vatican-will-not-participate-in-trumps-board-of-peace</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/cardinal-parolin-the-vatican-will-not-participate-in-trumps-board-of-peace</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, announced that the Holy See “will not participate in the Board of Peace,&quot; promoted by the U.S. president to address Gaza and other conflicts. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1771363322/cardenal-pietro-parolin-daniel-ibanez-17022026-1771357010_m4twxj.webp" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 18 Feb 2026 18:00:03 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Cardinal, Parolin:, The, Vatican, ‘will, not, participate, Trump’s, Board, Peace’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV: ‘All lives are not equally respected’ amid war and inequality</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-all-lives-are-not-equally-respected-amid-war-and-inequality</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-all-lives-are-not-equally-respected-amid-war-and-inequality</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The pope told the Pontifical Academy for Life it is hypocritical to call health a universal value while ignoring policies that drive disparities. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1771257054/_SIM6316_uwdjjo.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 17 Feb 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV:, ‘All, lives, are, not, equally, respected’, amid, war, and, inequality</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV tells Opus Dei no decision yet on revised statutes</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-tells-opus-dei-no-decision-yet-on-revised-statutes</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-tells-opus-dei-no-decision-yet-on-revised-statutes</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Francis moved the prelature’s Vatican oversight from the office for bishops to that of clergy, triggering an ongoing review and rewrite of its governing norms. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1771260100/PapaOcariz1_ncgdmw.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 17 Feb 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, tells, Opus, Dei, decision, yet, revised, statutes</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope appoints Catholic Harvard professor to Vatican social sciences academy</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-appoints-catholic-harvard-professor-to-vatican-social-sciences-academy</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-appoints-catholic-harvard-professor-to-vatican-social-sciences-academy</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Tyler J. VanderWeele, a Catholic, is an epidemiologist and director of the Human Flourishing Program at Harvard University. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1771268389/VanderWeele021626_n60z0s.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 17 Feb 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, appoints, Catholic, Harvard, professor, Vatican, social, sciences, academy</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Apostolic vicariate in Rome dedicates its day of arts to Gaza</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/apostolic-vicariate-in-rome-dedicates-its-day-of-arts-to-gaza</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/apostolic-vicariate-in-rome-dedicates-its-day-of-arts-to-gaza</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The humanitarian situation in Gaza was the focus of a day of the arts at the Lateran Apostolic Palace on Feb. 14, drawing attention to the ongoing suffering of residents in the Gaza Strip. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1771270612/Day_of_Arts_Lateran_21_ex6j6h.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 17 Feb 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Apostolic, vicariate, Rome, dedicates, its, day, arts, Gaza</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV eliminates committee created by Francis for World Children’s Day</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-eliminates-committee-created-by-francis-for-world-childrens-day</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-eliminates-committee-created-by-francis-for-world-childrens-day</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV has eliminated the Pontifical Committee for World Children’s Day, transferring the committee’s functions to the Dicastery for the Laity, the Family, and Life. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1771261474/240525-encounter-of-the-world-childrens-day-at-olympic-stadium-daniel-iba-nez-41_ms7nfy.webp" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 17 Feb 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, eliminates, committee, created, Francis, for, World, Children’s, Day</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pew survey finds dip in Catholic support for Trump agenda</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pew-survey-finds-dip-in-catholic-support-for-trump-agenda</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pew-survey-finds-dip-in-catholic-support-for-trump-agenda</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Support for President Donald Trump&#039;s agenda has dipped across Catholic and Protestant groups, according to a new survey by the Pew Research Center.
The post Pew survey finds dip in Catholic support for Trump agenda first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/20260211T1756-PEW-CATHOLIC-SUPPORT-TRUMP-DECLINE-1813087.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 14 Feb 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pew, survey, finds, dip, Catholic, support, for, Trump, agenda</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Lent’s CRS Lent Rice Bowl collection seen as more critical than ever after USAID cuts</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/lents-crs-lent-rice-bowl-collection-seen-as-more-critical-than-ever-after-usaid-cuts</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/lents-crs-lent-rice-bowl-collection-seen-as-more-critical-than-ever-after-usaid-cuts</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Deep slashes to USAID funding have now made the annual Rice Bowl collection more essential than ever for Catholic Relief Services.
The post Lent’s CRS Lent Rice Bowl collection seen as more critical than ever after USAID cuts first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/20260210T1700-CRS-RICE-BOWL-2026-1812993.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 14 Feb 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Lent’s, CRS, Lent, Rice, Bowl, collection, seen, more, critical, than, ever, after, USAID, cuts</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>In pastoral letter, Baltimore archbishop calls for renewed political culture</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/in-pastoral-letter-baltimore-archbishop-calls-for-renewed-political-culture</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/in-pastoral-letter-baltimore-archbishop-calls-for-renewed-political-culture</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The pastoral is &quot;about the qualities of mind and heart that we as citizens, believers and leaders ought to be striving to bring to our political culture,&quot;
The post In pastoral letter, Baltimore archbishop calls for renewed political culture first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/20201102T1619-MCGIVNEY-BEATIFICATION-MASS-1813115.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 14 Feb 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>pastoral, letter, Baltimore, archbishop, calls, for, renewed, political, culture</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Catholic advocates speak out as ICE data shows just 14% arrested have violent criminal records</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/catholic-advocates-speak-out-as-ice-data-shows-just-14-arrested-have-violent-criminal-records</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/catholic-advocates-speak-out-as-ice-data-shows-just-14-arrested-have-violent-criminal-records</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Catholic immigration advocates are speaking out after an internal federal document showed most individuals arrested in immigration crackdowns over the past year do not have violent criminal records.
The post Catholic advocates speak out as ICE data shows just 14% arrested have violent criminal records first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/20260211T1500-ICE-ARRESTS-NO-CRIMINAL-RECORDS-1812973.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 14 Feb 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Catholic, advocates, speak, out, ICE, data, shows, just, 14, arrested, have, violent, criminal, records</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Bishop in British Columbia calls for prayer after mass shooting that ‘has traumatized us all’</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/bishop-in-british-columbia-calls-for-prayer-after-mass-shooting-that-has-traumatized-us-all</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/bishop-in-british-columbia-calls-for-prayer-after-mass-shooting-that-has-traumatized-us-all</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ TUMBLER RIDGE, British Columbia (OSV News) — On the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes — the Church’s World Day of the Sick — Bishop Stephen Jensen of Prince George called…
The post Bishop in British Columbia calls for prayer after mass shooting that ‘has traumatized us all’ first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/20260211T1521-BRITISH-COLUMBIA-SCHOOL-SHOOTING-1813046.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 14 Feb 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Bishop, British, Columbia, calls, for, prayer, after, mass, shooting, that, ‘has, traumatized, all’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Cuban bishops postpone Vatican visit amid worsening national crisis</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/cuban-bishops-postpone-vatican-visit-amid-worsening-national-crisis</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/cuban-bishops-postpone-vatican-visit-amid-worsening-national-crisis</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The country’s growing economic and social instability prompts request to delay meeting with Pope Leo XIV. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1769798762/cuba-shutterstock-290126-1769712663_bcn8js.webp" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 14 Feb 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Cuban, bishops, postpone, Vatican, visit, amid, worsening, national, crisis</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope proposes Lenten ‘fast’ from hurtful words</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-proposes-lenten-fast-from-hurtful-words</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-proposes-lenten-fast-from-hurtful-words</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV urges Catholics to listen more closely to God and others — and to “disarm” their language by fasting from words that wound — in his message for Lent 2026. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1770987231/_RIS8524_rhwulm.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 14 Feb 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, proposes, Lenten, ‘fast’, from, hurtful, words</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope’s visit brings hope to seaside community challenged by drugs, prostitution</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/popes-visit-brings-hope-to-seaside-community-challenged-by-drugs-prostitution</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/popes-visit-brings-hope-to-seaside-community-challenged-by-drugs-prostitution</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ A popular summer destination for tourists, Ostia will be the first of five parishes where the pope, as bishop of Rome, will celebrate Mass on Sundays in February and March. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1770998735/Église_Santa_Maria_Regina_Pacis_-_Rome__IT62__-_2021-08-29_-_8_lo9gol.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 14 Feb 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope’s, visit, brings, hope, seaside, community, challenged, drugs, prostitution</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV: ‘The Church is the rightful home of sacred Scripture’</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-the-church-is-the-rightful-home-of-sacred-scripture</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-the-church-is-the-rightful-home-of-sacred-scripture</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV spoke about sacred Scripture during his weekly audience with pilgrims in the Vatican. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1770806525/GA_Feb._11_2026_Daniel_Ibanez_anhby5.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 13 Feb 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV:, ‘The, Church, the, rightful, home, sacred, Scripture’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Archbishop Checchio takes helm in New Orleans as pope accepts Archbishop Aymond’s resignation</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/archbishop-checchio-takes-helm-in-new-orleans-as-pope-accepts-archbishop-aymonds-resignation</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/archbishop-checchio-takes-helm-in-new-orleans-as-pope-accepts-archbishop-aymonds-resignation</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV appointed Archbishop James Checchio coadjutor archbishop of New Orleans in September 2025 to automatically succeed the 76-year-old Archbishop Gregory Aymond upon his retirement. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1745612551/images/Image_of_Bishop_elect_James_F_Checchio_Credit_Leo_Song_Seminarian_Pontifical_North_American_College_CNA_3_8_16.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 13 Feb 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Archbishop, Checchio, takes, helm, New, Orleans, pope, accepts, Archbishop, Aymond’s, resignation</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Jubilee 2033: Rift between Moscow and Constantinople patriarchates threatens ecumenical progress</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/jubilee-2033-rift-between-moscow-and-constantinople-patriarchates-threatens-ecumenical-progress</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/jubilee-2033-rift-between-moscow-and-constantinople-patriarchates-threatens-ecumenical-progress</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The 2033 Jubilee will commemorate the bimillennium of the Redemption but the main ecumenical obstacle is the rift between the Russian Orthodox Patriarchate and the Patriarchate of Constantinople. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1770759115/papa-1770302924_tnmtgz.webp" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 13 Feb 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Jubilee, 2033:, Rift, between, Moscow, and, Constantinople, patriarchates, threatens, ecumenical, progress</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Vatican bank launches 2 new equity indexes aligned with Catholic principles</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/vatican-bank-launches-2-new-equity-indexes-aligned-with-catholic-principles</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/vatican-bank-launches-2-new-equity-indexes-aligned-with-catholic-principles</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Two indexes with 50 companies each that adhere to Catholic social teachings were announced by the Vatican Bank in order to promote ethical Catholic investing. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1760627111/images/vaticanbank.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 13 Feb 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Vatican, bank, launches, new, equity, indexes, aligned, with, Catholic, principles</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Vatican offers talks with Society of St. Pius X, warns illicit consecrations would end dialogue</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/vatican-offers-talks-with-society-of-st-pius-x-warns-illicit-consecrations-would-end-dialogue</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/vatican-offers-talks-with-society-of-st-pius-x-warns-illicit-consecrations-would-end-dialogue</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Vatican’s doctrinal office told a traditionalist group that consecrating bishops without a papal mandate would mean a “decisive rupture” of communion. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1770907230/SSPXVaticanMeeting021226_w0dfkm.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 13 Feb 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Vatican, offers, talks, with, Society, St., Pius, warns, illicit, consecrations, would, end, dialogue</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Hochul signs assisted suicide measure into law, making New York 13th state allowing it</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/hochul-signs-assisted-suicide-measure-into-law-making-new-york-13th-state-allowing-it</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/hochul-signs-assisted-suicide-measure-into-law-making-new-york-13th-state-allowing-it</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ &quot;We call on Catholics and all New Yorkers to reject physician-assisted suicide for themselves, their loved ones, and those in their care,&quot; the bishops said.
The post Hochul signs assisted suicide measure into law, making New York 13th state allowing it first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/20260208T1555-NY-ASSISTED-SUICIDE-NOW-LAW-1812803.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 10 Feb 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Hochul, signs, assisted, suicide, measure, into, law, making, New, York, 13th, state, allowing</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Full text: Pope Leo XIV’s Angelus address given Feb. 8, 2026</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/full-text-pope-leo-xivs-angelus-address-given-feb-8-2026</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/full-text-pope-leo-xivs-angelus-address-given-feb-8-2026</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ &quot;Indeed, it is gestures of openness and attentiveness to others that rekindle joy. Certainly, in their simplicity, they set us against the current.&quot;
The post Full text: Pope Leo XIV’s Angelus address given Feb. 8, 2026 first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/USEUPTOP_TRE6423.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 10 Feb 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Full, text:, Pope, Leo, XIV’s, Angelus, address, given, Feb., 2026</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Meet 5 married couples who are saints</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/meet-5-married-couples-who-are-saints</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/meet-5-married-couples-who-are-saints</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Here are five married couples who are saints today because they lived out a vocation of love for each other -- and for God.
The post Meet 5 married couples who are saints first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/20260204T1200-5-MARRIED-COUPLE-SAINTS-1812611.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 10 Feb 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Meet, married, couples, who, are, saints</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Vatican confirms pope will not visit U.S. in 2026</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/vatican-confirms-pope-will-not-visit-us-in-2026</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/vatican-confirms-pope-will-not-visit-us-in-2026</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The trip seems unlikely to happen in the immediate future, given a growing divide between the Trump administration and the pope over U.S. immigration policies.
The post Vatican confirms pope will not visit U.S. in 2026 first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/20260208T1015-POPE-NO-VISIT-US-1812801.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 10 Feb 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Vatican, confirms, pope, will, not, visit, U.S., 2026</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>March for Life rally, national shrine, CUA among infection sites for confirmed measles cases in DC</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/march-for-life-rally-national-shrine-cua-among-infection-sites-for-confirmed-measles-cases-in-dc</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/march-for-life-rally-national-shrine-cua-among-infection-sites-for-confirmed-measles-cases-in-dc</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, measles is one of the most contagious diseases and can be dangerous in babies and young children.
The post March for Life rally, national shrine, CUA among infection sites for confirmed measles cases in DC first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/20260208T1206-MFL-CUA-MEASLES-CASES-1812805.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 10 Feb 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>March, for, Life, rally, national, shrine, CUA, among, infection, sites, for, confirmed, measles, cases</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV prays for victims of attacks in Nigeria</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-prays-for-victims-of-attacks-in-nigeria</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-prays-for-victims-of-attacks-in-nigeria</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ In his Angelus catechesis, the pope said true joy is found in communion with Christ and lived through concrete acts of charity. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1770654991/_TRE6423_jmowtc.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 10 Feb 2026 18:00:03 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, prays, for, victims, attacks, Nigeria</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV approves new statutes of Pontifical International Marian Academy</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-approves-new-statutes-of-pontifical-international-marian-academy</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-approves-new-statutes-of-pontifical-international-marian-academy</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV approved the new statutes of the Pontifical International Marian Academy, founded to promote and coordinate Mariological and Marian studies worldwide. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1770671851/papa-leon-xiv-virgen-maria-mosaico-mariano-07022026-1770480002_hhjknk.webp" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 10 Feb 2026 18:00:03 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, approves, new, statutes, Pontifical, International, Marian, Academy</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>‘Historic occasion’: Pope Leo XIV meets with same&#45;sex attraction ministry Courage International</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/historic-occasion-pope-leo-xiv-meets-with-same-sex-attraction-ministry-courage-international</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/historic-occasion-pope-leo-xiv-meets-with-same-sex-attraction-ministry-courage-international</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ “We talked about the importance of chastity, how it heals and strengthens and restores the person,&quot; said Courage International Executive Director Father Brian Gannon. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1770396204/Father.Brian.Gannon_ehzeja.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 09 Feb 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>‘Historic, occasion’:, Pope, Leo, XIV, meets, with, same-sex, attraction, ministry, Courage, International</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Leo XIV meets with founder of Sant’Egidio Community</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/leo-xiv-meets-with-founder-of-santegidio-community</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/leo-xiv-meets-with-founder-of-santegidio-community</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV and Sant’Egidio Community founder Andrea Riccardi discussed the role Christians and the Church are called to play in promoting peace in the midst of various world conflicts. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1770402405/papa-1770308036_kv8se3.webp" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 09 Feb 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Leo, XIV, meets, with, founder, Sant’Egidio, Community</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV: Peace begins with dignity, not weapons</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-peace-begins-with-dignity-not-weapons</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-peace-begins-with-dignity-not-weapons</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ In a message for the Church’s Feb. 8 World Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking, the pope warns that conflict and inequality fuel exploitation. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1745614288/images/santa-bakhita-at-margheritamirabella.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 09 Feb 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV:, Peace, begins, with, dignity, not, weapons</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Cuba’s bishops headed to Vatican this month to meet with Pope Leo XIV</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/cubas-bishops-headed-to-vatican-this-month-to-meet-with-pope-leo-xiv</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/cubas-bishops-headed-to-vatican-this-month-to-meet-with-pope-leo-xiv</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The country’s bishops will travel to Rome from Feb. 16–20 to present to Pope Leo XIV “the vicissitudes, sorrows, joys, and hopes of the Church in Cuba.” ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1745613901/images/obispos.cubanos.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 09 Feb 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Cuba’s, bishops, headed, Vatican, this, month, meet, with, Pope, Leo, XIV</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV will not travel to the United States in 2026, Vatican says</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-will-not-travel-to-the-united-states-in-2026-vatican-says</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-will-not-travel-to-the-united-states-in-2026-vatican-says</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The pontiff is expected to travel to Africa in April, visit Peru later this year, and make a summer stop in Spain. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1770418942/papa-leon-xiv-daniel-ibanez-230525-1770410448_dgmgbk.webp" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 09 Feb 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, will, not, travel, the, United, States, 2026, Vatican, says</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Catholic immigrant advocates call for humane approach as report finds child ICE detentions up 600%</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/catholic-immigrant-advocates-call-for-humane-approach-as-report-finds-child-ice-detentions-up-600</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/catholic-immigrant-advocates-call-for-humane-approach-as-report-finds-child-ice-detentions-up-600</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Catholic leaders reiterated the bishops&#039; call for &quot;humane, community-based alternatives&quot; to family detention.
The post Catholic immigrant advocates call for humane approach as report finds child ICE detentions up 600% first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/20260205T1545-CHILDREN-ICE-DETENTION-1812643.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 06 Feb 2026 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Catholic, immigrant, advocates, call, for, humane, approach, report, finds, child, ICE, detentions, 600</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Human dignity at center of social justice, development, says Vatican diplomat at UN</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/human-dignity-at-center-of-social-justice-development-says-vatican-diplomat-at-un</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/human-dignity-at-center-of-social-justice-development-says-vatican-diplomat-at-un</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ &quot;Human flourishing requires meeting basic needs such as food, water, shelter, together with quality healthcare and education and also freedom.&quot;
The post Human dignity at center of social justice, development, says Vatican diplomat at UN first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/20260205T1556-HOLY-SEE-UN-SOCIAL-DEVELOPMENT-1812683.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 06 Feb 2026 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Human, dignity, center, social, justice, development, says, Vatican, diplomat</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>New York archbishop from Joliet is on a mission from God to go make disciples of everyone</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/new-york-archbishop-from-joliet-is-on-a-mission-from-god-to-go-make-disciples-of-everyone</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/new-york-archbishop-from-joliet-is-on-a-mission-from-god-to-go-make-disciples-of-everyone</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ NEW YORK (OSV News) — A day before his installation as the 11th archbishop of New York, Archbishop Ronald A. Hicks gathered with the press in St. Patrick’s Cathedral, a place…
The post New York archbishop from Joliet is on a mission from God to go make disciples of everyone first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/20260205T1200-NYC-HICKS-PRESS-MEETING-1812654.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 06 Feb 2026 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>New, York, archbishop, from, Joliet, mission, from, God, make, disciples, everyone</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Meloni&#45;look&#45;alike angel removed from Rome church after brief viral moment</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/meloni-look-alike-angel-removed-from-rome-church-after-brief-viral-moment</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/meloni-look-alike-angel-removed-from-rome-church-after-brief-viral-moment</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Valentinetti told La Repubblica: &quot;I erased it. I don&#039;t care. I keep saying she wasn&#039;t the prime minister, but the Curia wanted it that way, and I erased it.&quot; 
The post Meloni-look-alike angel removed from Rome church after brief viral moment first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/20260205T1340-MELONI-ANGEL-NO-MORE-1812671.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 06 Feb 2026 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Meloni-look-alike, angel, removed, from, Rome, church, after, brief, viral, moment</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV calls for prayers for children with incurable diseases</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-calls-for-prayers-for-children-with-incurable-diseases</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-calls-for-prayers-for-children-with-incurable-diseases</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ ROME (OSV News) —  Pope Leo XIV has called on people around the world to pray for children living with incurable diseases in a video message released by the Vatican…
The post Pope Leo XIV calls for prayers for children with incurable diseases first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/20260205T1410-POPE-PRAYER-KIDS-INCURABLE-DISEASES-1812637-scaled.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 06 Feb 2026 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, calls, for, prayers, for, children, with, incurable, diseases</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Vatican to meet with SSPX after announcement of unauthorized episcopal consecrations</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/vatican-to-meet-with-sspx-after-announcement-of-unauthorized-episcopal-consecrations</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/vatican-to-meet-with-sspx-after-announcement-of-unauthorized-episcopal-consecrations</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Planned consecrations could trigger automatic excommunication and deepen rupture with Rome. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1770293539/cdf_uzdrrr.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 06 Feb 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Vatican, meet, with, SSPX, after, announcement, unauthorized, episcopal, consecrations</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV laments lack of progress in protecting children</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-laments-lack-of-progress-in-protecting-children</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-laments-lack-of-progress-in-protecting-children</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The pontiff told organizers of a Vatican-backed initiative that global crises are still leaving many children in extreme poverty. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1770301051/_SIM8301_1_fcrj0c.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 06 Feb 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, laments, lack, progress, protecting, children</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV, with Eastern Orthodox, urges Christians to strengthen unity</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-with-eastern-orthodox-urges-christians-to-strengthen-unity</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-with-eastern-orthodox-urges-christians-to-strengthen-unity</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The pontiff said Christians grow closer when they deepen their shared faith in Christ, “the ultimate source of our peace.” ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1770309980/_RIS6159_xqdovt.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 06 Feb 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, with, Eastern, Orthodox, urges, Christians, strengthen, unity</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope warns against new arms race</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-warns-against-new-arms-race</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-warns-against-new-arms-race</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ At his general audience, Pope Leo XIV appealed for renewed nuclear arms-control efforts and asked Catholics to proclaim the Gospel in ways that speak to people’s real lives. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1770203498/WhatsApp_Image_2026-02-04_at_10.51.30_AM_yvgufh.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 05 Feb 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, warns, against, new, arms, race</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo’s liturgical celebrations for February, March, and Holy Week</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leos-liturgical-celebrations-for-february-march-and-holy-week</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leos-liturgical-celebrations-for-february-march-and-holy-week</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Vatican has published the schedule of liturgies that Pope Leo XIV will celebrate in February, March, and the beginning of April, which includes the start of Lent, Holy Week, and Easter. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1770155507/papa1-1770122911_ibgiaz.webp" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 05 Feb 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo’s, liturgical, celebrations, for, February, March, and, Holy, Week</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Monastic&#45;style retreat planned for pope and Roman Curia at start of Lent</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/monastic-style-retreat-planned-for-pope-and-roman-curia-at-start-of-lent</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/monastic-style-retreat-planned-for-pope-and-roman-curia-at-start-of-lent</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Trappist Bishop Erik Varden of Trondheim will preach the week of spiritual exercises, with two daily meditations beginning Feb. 22. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1770216892/WhatsApp_Image_2026-02-04_at_3.52.45_PM_yrzx8m.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 05 Feb 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Monastic-style, retreat, planned, for, pope, and, Roman, Curia, start, Lent</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV tells religious: Be ‘leaven of peace’ and a ‘sign of hope’</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-tells-religious-be-leaven-of-peace-and-a-sign-of-hope</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-tells-religious-be-leaven-of-peace-and-a-sign-of-hope</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The pontiff urged consecrated men and women to witness to God’s presence in a world where faith and daily life often drift apart. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1770057541/WhatsApp_Image_2026-02-02_at_5.49.21_PM_ildwut.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 04 Feb 2026 08:28:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, tells, religious:, ‘leaven, peace’, and, ‘sign, hope’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>St. John Henry Newman is added to the General Roman Calendar: What does it mean?</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/st-john-henry-newman-is-added-to-the-general-roman-calendar-what-does-it-mean</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/st-john-henry-newman-is-added-to-the-general-roman-calendar-what-does-it-mean</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The English saint, proclaimed a doctor of the Church by Pope Leo XIV in November 2025, is honored every Oct. 9. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1770138336/GettyImages-1180754232_et8db5.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 04 Feb 2026 08:28:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>St., John, Henry, Newman, added, the, General, Roman, Calendar:, What, does, mean</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Rome events to highlight World Day Against Human Trafficking</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/rome-events-to-highlight-world-day-against-human-trafficking</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/rome-events-to-highlight-world-day-against-human-trafficking</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ From Feb. 4–8, the Catholic Church will mobilize with a series of activities in Rome in support of human dignity and peace. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1745614288/images/santa-bakhita-at-margheritamirabella.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 04 Feb 2026 08:28:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Rome, events, highlight, World, Day, Against, Human, Trafficking</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo appoints Sister Raffaella Petrini as a member of Commission on Reserved Matters</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-appoints-sister-raffaella-petrini-as-a-member-of-commission-on-reserved-matters</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-appoints-sister-raffaella-petrini-as-a-member-of-commission-on-reserved-matters</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV has appointed Sister Raffaella Petrini as a member of the Commission for Reserved Matters, which is responsible for awarding financial contracts in confidential areas of the Vatican. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1770142187/Raffaela_Petrini_mnllk1.webp" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 04 Feb 2026 08:28:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, appoints, Sister, Raffaella, Petrini, member, Commission, Reserved, Matters</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>This is the pope’s prayer intention for the month of February</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/this-is-the-popes-prayer-intention-for-the-month-of-february</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/this-is-the-popes-prayer-intention-for-the-month-of-february</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV’s prayer intention for the month of February is for children with incurable diseases. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1764774330/images/ris4806.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 04 Feb 2026 08:28:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>This, the, pope’s, prayer, intention, for, the, month, February</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>A Quaker, a Bavarian monk and a Catholic king: Exploring Catholic history in Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/a-quaker-a-bavarian-monk-and-a-catholic-king-exploring-catholic-history-in-pennsylvania-new-york-and-new-jersey</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/a-quaker-a-bavarian-monk-and-a-catholic-king-exploring-catholic-history-in-pennsylvania-new-york-and-new-jersey</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ In New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Catholic life took shape unevenly, shaped as much by law and political culture as by migration and missionary effort.
The post A Quaker, a Bavarian monk and a Catholic king: Exploring Catholic history in Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/20150918cnsto0026.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 04 Feb 2026 08:27:50 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Quaker, Bavarian, monk, and, Catholic, king:, Exploring, Catholic, history, Pennsylvania, New, York, and, New, Jersey</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>A nation within the Church: Consecrated life, lived from the inside</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/a-nation-within-the-church-consecrated-life-lived-from-the-inside</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/a-nation-within-the-church-consecrated-life-lived-from-the-inside</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The World Day for Consecrated Life is celebrated annually Feb. 2. Consecrated life reaches back to the very beginnings of the Church, to that moment when the first disciples heard Christ&#039;s call to &quot;leave everything&quot; and follow him.
The post A nation within the Church: Consecrated life, lived from the inside first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/20260130T1500-NATION-WITHIN-THE-CHURCH-1812314.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 04 Feb 2026 08:27:50 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>nation, within, the, Church:, Consecrated, life, lived, from, the, inside</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Illinois pitching for funds to shore up abortion tourism denounced as ‘macabre’</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/illinois-pitching-for-funds-to-shore-up-abortion-tourism-denounced-as-macabre</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/illinois-pitching-for-funds-to-shore-up-abortion-tourism-denounced-as-macabre</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ &quot;Pro-life and pro-parents&#039; rights Americans need to start paying attention to what&#039;s going on in our state, because this is officially a national problem.&quot;
The post Illinois pitching for funds to shore up abortion tourism denounced as ‘macabre’ first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/20260202T1639-ILLINOIS-ABORTION-SANCTUARY-1812400.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 04 Feb 2026 08:27:50 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Illinois, pitching, for, funds, shore, abortion, tourism, denounced, ‘macabre’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Historic San Diego parish opens new center to help immigrants amid deportation fears</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/historic-san-diego-parish-opens-new-center-to-help-immigrants-amid-deportation-fears</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/historic-san-diego-parish-opens-new-center-to-help-immigrants-amid-deportation-fears</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ SAN DIEGO (OSV News) — Immigrants have worshipped at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church since it opened its doors more than 100 years ago in San Diego, starting with exiles…
The post Historic San Diego parish opens new center to help immigrants amid deportation fears first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/20260202T1551-SAN-DIEGO-POPE-FRANCIS-CENTER-1812283.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 04 Feb 2026 08:27:50 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Historic, San, Diego, parish, opens, new, center, help, immigrants, amid, deportation, fears</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Happiness cannot be bought, hoarded, only shared with others, pope says</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/happiness-cannot-be-bought-hoarded-only-shared-with-others-pope-says</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/happiness-cannot-be-bought-hoarded-only-shared-with-others-pope-says</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ VATICAN CITY (CNS) — A lack of faith in Christ leads to many delusions, such as believing the arrogant will always rule and only money can buy happiness, Pope Leo…
The post Happiness cannot be bought, hoarded, only shared with others, pope says first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/20260202T0930-POPE-CUBA-ANGELUS-1812388.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 04 Feb 2026 08:27:50 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Happiness, cannot, bought, hoarded, only, shared, with, others, pope, says</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Washington Roundup: Shutdown negotiations on ICE; bishops praise new Mexico City Policy; and more</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/washington-roundup-shutdown-negotiations-on-ice-bishops-praise-new-mexico-city-policy-and-more</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/washington-roundup-shutdown-negotiations-on-ice-bishops-praise-new-mexico-city-policy-and-more</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Lawmakers sought to avoid a partial government shutdown, while some U.S. bishops praised the Trump administration&#039;s expanded Mexico City Policy.
The post Washington Roundup: Shutdown negotiations on ICE; bishops praise new Mexico City Policy; and more first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/20260130T1815-WASHINGTON-ROUNDUP-1-30-1812298.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 02 Feb 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Washington, Roundup:, Shutdown, negotiations, ICE, bishops, praise, new, Mexico, City, Policy, and, more</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pew analysis shows ‘no clear evidence’ Christian revival in UK</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pew-analysis-shows-no-clear-evidence-christian-revival-in-uk</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pew-analysis-shows-no-clear-evidence-christian-revival-in-uk</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Claims of a Christian revival among the UK&#039;s young adults may be based on data from surveys whose methodology can&#039;t guarantee accurate results -- while two major UK studies show a downturn, rather than a resurgence, in faith, said Pew Research Center.
The post Pew analysis shows ‘no clear evidence’ Christian revival in UK first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/54317632880_bd54c8232c_o.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 02 Feb 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pew, analysis, shows, ‘no, clear, evidence’, Christian, revival</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>‘Radical’ abortion amendment passes Virginia General Assembly despite pro&#45;life advocacy</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/radical-abortion-amendment-passes-virginia-general-assembly-despite-pro-life-advocacy</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/radical-abortion-amendment-passes-virginia-general-assembly-despite-pro-life-advocacy</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Virginia General Assembly has sent a sweeping amendment enshrining a &quot;fundamental right&quot; to abortion in the Constitution of Virginia to a statewide referendum on the November ballot.
The post ‘Radical’ abortion amendment passes Virginia General Assembly despite pro-life advocacy first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/20260130T1511-VIRGINIA-ABORTION-AMENDMENT-1812267.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 02 Feb 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>‘Radical’, abortion, amendment, passes, Virginia, General, Assembly, despite, pro-life, advocacy</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Nicaragua prohibits parish missions, insists church activities be confined to parish premises</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/nicaragua-prohibits-parish-missions-insists-church-activities-be-confined-to-parish-premises</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/nicaragua-prohibits-parish-missions-insists-church-activities-be-confined-to-parish-premises</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Many religious congregations leaving Nicaragua have departed quietly to protect staff and avoid reprisals for communities they were previously supporting.
The post Nicaragua prohibits parish missions, insists church activities be confined to parish premises first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/20260130T1330-NICARAGUA-PASTORAL-VISITS-1812193.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 02 Feb 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Nicaragua, prohibits, parish, missions, insists, church, activities, confined, parish, premises</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>New book aims to help women find fruitfulness amid struggles with infertility</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/new-book-aims-to-help-women-find-fruitfulness-amid-struggles-with-infertility</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/new-book-aims-to-help-women-find-fruitfulness-amid-struggles-with-infertility</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Leigh Fitzpatrick Snead wanted to write the book she wished she had as a young woman struggling with infertility.
The post New book aims to help women find fruitfulness amid struggles with infertility first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/20260130T1252-SNEAD-INFERTILE-BUT-FRUITFUL-1812292.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 02 Feb 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>New, book, aims, help, women, find, fruitfulness, amid, struggles, with, infertility</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Doomsday Clock now at 85 seconds to midnight; ‘failure of leadership’ faulted</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/doomsday-clock-now-at-85-seconds-to-midnight-failure-of-leadership-faulted</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/doomsday-clock-now-at-85-seconds-to-midnight-failure-of-leadership-faulted</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Doomsday Clock -- a model indicating humanity&#039;s risk of self-destruction -- has edged to 85 seconds to midnight, its sponsoring group announced Jan. 27.
The post Doomsday Clock now at 85 seconds to midnight; ‘failure of leadership’ faulted first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/2026-Doomsday-Clock-clock-and-logo-22-1-scaled.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 29 Jan 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Doomsday, Clock, now, seconds, midnight, ‘failure, leadership’, faulted</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Cardinal Parolin meets with Danish king, prime minister amid tensions over Greenland</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/cardinal-parolin-meets-with-danish-king-prime-minister-amid-tensions-over-greenland</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/cardinal-parolin-meets-with-danish-king-prime-minister-amid-tensions-over-greenland</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The cardinal celebrated Mass Jan. 25 emphasizing witness rooted in faith, not power, and warning against violations of sovereignty.
The post Cardinal Parolin meets with Danish king, prime minister amid tensions over Greenland first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/uptop20260127T1440-DENMARK-PAROLIN-ANSGAR-1812039.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 29 Jan 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Cardinal, Parolin, meets, with, Danish, king, prime, minister, amid, tensions, over, Greenland</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>‘The Bible in a Year’ podcast at 5: Father Mike Schmitz has 5 takeaways</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/the-bible-in-a-year-podcast-at-5-father-mike-schmitz-has-5-takeaways</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/the-bible-in-a-year-podcast-at-5-father-mike-schmitz-has-5-takeaways</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Father Mike Schmitz is sharing five takeaways, things he&#039;s learned, from hosting the wildly popular &quot;The Bible in a Year&quot; podcast released five years ago.
The post ‘The Bible in a Year’ podcast at 5: Father Mike Schmitz has 5 takeaways first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/20260127T1635-BIBLE-IN-A-YEAR-TURNS-5-1812066.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 29 Jan 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>‘The, Bible, Year’, podcast, Father, Mike, Schmitz, has, takeaways</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo: Let us raise our voices for peace</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-let-us-raise-our-voices-for-peace</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-let-us-raise-our-voices-for-peace</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ (Vatican News) — “I’ll only say that we must pray very much for peace.” Those were the words of Pope Leo XIV given in a brief statement to Italian television…
The post Pope Leo: Let us raise our voices for peace first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/20260127T1700-1812078.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 29 Jan 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo:, Let, raise, our, voices, for, peace</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Hispanic Pro&#45;Life Conference: ‘We must unite our voices’ against abortion</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/hispanic-pro-life-conference-we-must-unite-our-voices-against-abortion</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/hispanic-pro-life-conference-we-must-unite-our-voices-against-abortion</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ FALLS CHURCH, Va. (OSV News) — Following the National March for Life, the pro-life organization Alianza por la Vida (Alliance for Life) held its annual daylong conference to discuss ways…
The post Hispanic Pro-Life Conference: ‘We must unite our voices’ against abortion first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/20260126T1645-MFL26-HISPANIC-PROLIFE-CONFERENCE-1812023-e1769550368964.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 29 Jan 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Hispanic, Pro-Life, Conference:, ‘We, must, unite, our, voices’, against, abortion</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Police chief: 37&#45;year&#45;old Minneapolis resident dies in shooting involving federal agents</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/police-chief-37-year-old-minneapolis-resident-dies-in-shooting-involving-federal-agents</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/police-chief-37-year-old-minneapolis-resident-dies-in-shooting-involving-federal-agents</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Minneapolis city officials are reporting a fatal shooting involving federal agents occurred in south Minneapolis Jan. 24.
The post Police chief: 37-year-old Minneapolis resident dies in shooting involving federal agents first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/20260124T1130-MCC-JOINT-STATEMENT-ICE-1811888.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 25 Jan 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Police, chief:, 37-year-old, Minneapolis, resident, dies, shooting, involving, federal, agents</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>MN Catholic Conference director, other faith leaders call for ‘off&#45;ramp’ to immigration enforcement ‘crisis’</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/mn-catholic-conference-director-other-faith-leaders-call-for-off-ramp-to-immigration-enforcement-crisis</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/mn-catholic-conference-director-other-faith-leaders-call-for-off-ramp-to-immigration-enforcement-crisis</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ ST. PAUL, Minn. (OSV News) — Urging federal, state and local elected officials in Minnesota to chart an “off-ramp from this crisis” of increased federal immigration enforcement, Minnesota Catholic Conference…
The post MN Catholic Conference director, other faith leaders call for ‘off-ramp’ to immigration enforcement ‘crisis’ first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/20260123T1950-HOPE-CMS-MIGRANT-REFUGEE-RESPONSE-1811628.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 25 Jan 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Catholic, Conference, director, other, faith, leaders, call, for, ‘off-ramp’, immigration, enforcement, ‘crisis’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Democrats for Life, other pro&#45;life groups launch Legislating for Human Dignity coalition</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/democrats-for-life-other-pro-life-groups-launch-legislating-for-human-dignity-coalition</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/democrats-for-life-other-pro-life-groups-launch-legislating-for-human-dignity-coalition</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ &quot;Our vision here is to restore the dignity in policymaking.&quot;
The post Democrats for Life, other pro-life groups launch Legislating for Human Dignity coalition first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/20260123T1317-HUMAN-DIGNITY-LEGISLATION-COALITION-1811790-e1769226399989.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 25 Jan 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Democrats, for, Life, other, pro-life, groups, launch, Legislating, for, Human, Dignity, coalition</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>‘Complex’ political moment has challenges, opportunities, March for Life president says</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/complex-political-moment-has-challenges-opportunities-march-for-life-president-says</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/complex-political-moment-has-challenges-opportunities-march-for-life-president-says</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ A “complex” political environment presents both challenge and opportunity for the pro-life movement, said Jennie Bradley Lichter.
The post ‘Complex’ political moment has challenges, opportunities, March for Life president says first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/20260124T1130-MFL26-OCONNOR-CONFERENCE-1811841.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 25 Jan 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>‘Complex’, political, moment, has, challenges, opportunities, March, for, Life, president, says</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>A lesson plan for holiness</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/a-lesson-plan-for-holiness</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/a-lesson-plan-for-holiness</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Over the years, the Sermon on the Mount has been called many things.
The post A lesson plan for holiness first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/20240130T0700-LENT-WITH-THE-CHOSEN-RUPPRECHT-1771943-1024x576.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 25 Jan 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>lesson, plan, for, holiness</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Archbishop Gänswein: With Pope Leo, ‘normality’ is returning to the Vatican</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/archbishop-gaenswein-with-pope-leo-normality-is-returning-to-the-vatican</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/archbishop-gaenswein-with-pope-leo-normality-is-returning-to-the-vatican</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Archbishop Georg Gänswein, the Vatican’s nuncio to the Baltic states, gives an exclusive interview to EWTN News in Vilnius, Lithuania, on Jan. 20, 2026. | Credit: Tim Hotzelmann/EWTN News

Jan 23, 2026 / 06:27 am (CNA).
Archbishop Georg Gänswein says last year’s change of popes has brought a “whole new positive dimension” to the Vatican.“Above all, there has been a change for the better in the atmosphere” with Pope Leo XIV, the Vatican’s nuncio to the Baltic states and Pope Benedict XVI’s former secretary told Rudolf Gehrig of EWTN News during a Jan. 20 interview in Vilnius, Lithuania.Gänswein said he met Leo twice last year, most recently in mid-December.“Both meetings went very, very well. And the intervening period has made it very clear to me that — to put it somewhat idiosyncratically — normality is slowly returning,” he said, calling it a sign for him that “faith and the Holy Spirit are indeed at work.”“I used the term normalization. For me, it is important to see that Pope Leo has simply emphasized some matters that are not new but which have been completely overlooked in recent years.”Gänswein has been nuncio to Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, based out of Vilnius, since 2024. The archbishop’s diplomatic post follows 17 years as the personal secretary of Pope Benedict XVI and 11 years as the Vatican’s prefect of the Papal Household.The nuncio, originally from Germany, also praised Leo’s “clear line when it comes to proclaiming the faith,” which he does “joyfully and convincingly.”“When you read his catechesis or sermons, you can sense that this is a man who lives and proclaims the faith with an Augustinian spirit,” Gänswein said.German Synodal WayThe archbishop also addressed the Synodal Way in Germany, also known as the Synodal Path, which is set to hold its sixth and final assembly starting Jan. 29.Gänswein expressed concern that the process will lead to deeper division in society and the Church, and underlined that any possible reforms must always adhere to established Church teaching.“Anyone who has followed the events surrounding the Synodal Path from the beginning to the present day can see one important thing, namely that a number of the demands of the Synodal Path lead away from the faith,” he said.“There is no doubt that there is indeed a need to change and reform certain things here and there. I agree with that,” the nuncio said. “However, what has been shown so far on the Synodal Path is, for me, clear evidence that this is not about a return to a deepening of the faith but about a watering down of the faith.”He said any changes cannot differ from the Catholic Church’s position on morality, ethics, the sacramental structure of the Church, or the official authority of bishops.“I can only hope and pray that this wrong path will simply come to an end soon,” he added. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1769164363/2026_Gaenswein3_btrkdp.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 24 Jan 2026 18:00:09 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Archbishop, Gänswein:, With, Pope, Leo, ‘normality’, returning, the, Vatican</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Vatican rejects claims of widespread worker discontent after internal survey</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/vatican-rejects-claims-of-widespread-worker-discontent-after-internal-survey</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/vatican-rejects-claims-of-widespread-worker-discontent-after-internal-survey</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News

Jan 23, 2026 / 06:50 am (CNA).
The Holy See’s labor office is pushing back on claims of widespread worker dissatisfaction after an internal survey by the Association of Vatican Lay Employees (ADLV) alleged distrust of leadership and instances of workplace bullying.In an interview with the official Vatican News outlet, Monsignor Marco Sprizzi, president of the Office of Labor of the Apostolic See (ULSA), said his office “always has its doors open” and stressed that its mission is to ensure “there are no situations in which employees’ rights are not respected or are violated in any way.”“It doesn’t seem to me that the discontent is widespread,” Sprizzi said, noting that the survey sample was “very small,” amounting to “less than 5% of employees.”According to the report, 250 people responded to the     survey, with about 80% of respondents belonging to the ADLV. The Holy See has around 4,200 workers, though Vatican News estimated the overall figure at more than 6,000 when including retirees.Sprizzi added that even a single complaint must be taken seriously. “We listen to everyone. We are a structure of dialogue,” he said.New statutes, broader representationSprizzi also pointed to new statutes for ULSA approved in December 2025 by Pope Leo XIV, which he said strengthen the office’s mission of unity, representativeness, and the promotion of labor rights in line with the Church’s social teaching.“Rowing in the same direction does not mean reducing the protection of workers but promoting it in a spirit of dialogue and mutual trust,” he said.Sprizzi said ULSA remains in constant contact with employees, Vatican administrations, and the ADLV, describing the relationship as marked by “constructive and frequent” discussions. He said technical working groups and commissions have been created to examine solutions to specific situations “in the interest of everyone: the employees and also the Holy See.”‘More positive’ overall — but wages still a concernAgainst perceptions of general dissatisfaction, Sprizzi said that, in his experience, “the most widespread feeling is rather positive.”He cited the Vatican’s decision during the COVID-19 pandemic not to lay off employees or reduce salaries despite financial difficulties. He also pointed to employee family services such as a daycare center and summer camp, as well as recent measures by Pope Leo XIV aimed at improving accessibility for persons with disabilities.At the same time, Sprizzi acknowledged areas that still need improvement, including aligning salary levels more closely with actual responsibilities. “In some cases the necessary adjustments have not been made, but we are working on it to do justice to those who have a right to it,” he said.Harassment claims: ‘I am not aware of any case’Asked about allegations of workplace harassment referenced in the survey, Sprizzi said: “Personally, I am not aware of any case.” He noted that legal mechanisms exist to report abuse and said that if such situations were present, “the first to intervene would be the Holy Father.”“One thing is rumors, another is verifying the truth,” he said, adding that the moral demands of justice in the world of work have been a priority of the Church since Rerum Novarum of Pope Leo XIII.A path of dialogueSprizzi insisted the Vatican’s approach is dialogue rather than conflict, saying those who work for the Holy See share a common mission.“We are like an orchestra in which each instrument must contribute to harmony,” he said, adding that ULSA aims to strengthen dialogue with workers — individually and through their associations — and to serve as a bridge with Vatican employers.“The goal is for this dialogue to be increasingly constructive and serene, rooted in the light of the Gospel and the social magisterium of the Church, in a spirit of ecclesial communion and effective respect for workers’ rights,” he said.This story     was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1769168855/Vaticano1_e0myu0.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 24 Jan 2026 18:00:08 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Vatican, rejects, claims, widespread, worker, discontent, after, internal, survey</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV to visit 5 Rome parishes during Lent</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-to-visit-5-rome-parishes-during-lent</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-to-visit-5-rome-parishes-during-lent</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV shakes hands with Cardinal Baldassare Reina, vicar general of Rome, during a meeting with priests of the Rome Diocese at the Vatican on June 12, 2025. | Credit: Vatican Media

Jan 23, 2026 / 10:04 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV will visit five Catholic parishes of Rome in February and March, in continuity with his predecessors, the Diocese of Rome announced Friday.The visits, which will take place on Sundays during the penitential season of Lent, will include the celebration of Mass.The pope will also meet with Rome’s priests for the second time on Feb. 19 at the Vatican. His     first encounter with priests of the diocese took place one month into his pontificate.The pope is not only the head of the universal Catholic Church, he is also the bishop of the Diocese of Rome, though he does not manage the diocese like a typical diocesan bishop. A cardinal vicar general, vice regent (deputy), and auxiliary bishops are responsible for the ordinary running of the diocese.Cardinal Baldassare Reina, the vicar general of Rome, said last year there were 8,020 priests and deacons in the diocese, of whom 809 were permanent Rome diocesan priests, and most of the remaining were part of religious communities or doing advanced studies.The first parishes selected for papal visits in 2026 are located in each of the five sectors of the diocese: north, south, east, west, and center. Leo reinstated the central sector in November 2025 after Pope Francis had eliminated it the year prior.Pope Leo’s predecessors also visited parishes in the Diocese of Rome during their papacies.John Paul II managed     to visit 317 of 333 parishes throughout his long pontificate. During his final years, when he was too ill to travel to them, he invited the remaining 16 parishes to come to the Vatican.Pope Francis in his 12 years as pope made     20-some pastoral visits to parishes in Rome, mostly concentrated in the city’s outskirts, part of his great attention to the peripheries, which was also reflected in his visits to many of the city’s prisons and charitable entities. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1769176054/_SIM3286_zms7f1.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 24 Jan 2026 18:00:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, visit, Rome, parishes, during, Lent</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Christian identity vital amid aggressive secularization, ecumenism expert says</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/christian-identity-vital-amid-aggressive-secularization-ecumenism-expert-says</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/christian-identity-vital-amid-aggressive-secularization-ecumenism-expert-says</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Father Philip Goyret, an ecclesiology professor at Rome’s Pontifical University of the Holy Cross. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Father Philip Goyret

Jan 23, 2026 / 12:04 pm (CNA).
Ecumenical dialogue is especially important in a time when Christian belief and practice are on the decline, said one Catholic expert during the Jan. 18–25 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.“What is happening today is that the secularization [of society] is incredibly strong … and the temptation among Christian traditions is to step back,” Father Philip Goyret, an ecclesiology professor at Rome’s Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, told EWTN News.“But if [Christians] step back, we lose our identity, and we cannot be united,” he said. “That is a serious concern.”Goyret said it is evident that the theological principles of “unity” and “communion” have become important policies of Leo’s pontificate, as summarized in his papal motto, “In Illo uno unum” (“In the one Christ we are one”).“Leo, from the very beginning, has said that he wants to be the pope of unity, and that is extremely linked with ecumenism,” he added.When Leo first stepped out onto the Loggia of Blessings of St. Peter’s Basilica in May last year, he said humanity needs God and stressed the need for a “united Church” in Jesus Christ.“Therefore, without fear, united hand in hand with God and among ourselves, let us move forward,” the pope said in his May 8 address. “We are disciples of Christ. Christ goes before us. The world needs his light.”Two months after his election, Pope Leo shed further light on his desire to forge the belief, identity, and mission of the Church.“I believe very strongly in Jesus Christ and believe that that’s my priority, because I’m the bishop of Rome and successor of Peter, and the pope needs to help people understand, especially Christians, Catholics, that this is who we are,” the pope told the Catholic website Crux in July 2025.Noting the Holy Father’s particular emphasis on Christian identity and witness as key to advancing ecumenical relations among churches, Goyret said Leo’s predecessors have also shown commitment to promoting unity among the faithful through different approaches.Pope Francis placed great attention to engaging in dialogue with Eastern and Orthodox Churches, while Pope Benedict XVI is recognized for his 2009 apostolic constitution     Anglicanorum Coetibus, which structurally supported Anglicans seeking full communion with the Catholic Church.“Pope Francis presented himself as ‘bishop of Rome,’ and that’s very significant because that title is the way that Eastern non-Catholic Christians understand the Petrine ministry,” he said, recalling the late pope’s first urbi et orbi address in 2013. “It was an invitation for dialogue.”By focusing on the Vatican II documents     Unitatis Redintegratio (Restoration of Unity) and     Lumen Gentium (Light of the Nations), Goyret said Pope Benedict’s approach to ecumenical dialogue encouraged academic study and the faithful living of Christian traditions.“If you dig and dig into these different traditions, you will eventually discover the Church as Jesus Christ wished it,” he said.Speaking on the theme of the 2026 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, “One Body, One Spirit,” Goyret said there is a great need for Christians to be united in prayer and hope to strengthen faith in God in a secularized world.“Pope Leo said that we have to pray in this Week of Prayer for Christian Unity,” he said. “The Church needs our prayers especially because the unity of the Church is a gift of God.”“We don’t build it ourselves through negotiation. It’s not diplomatic and it’s not political,” he added. “If we want to restore unity to the Church, we have to ask God for it.” ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1769182542/WhatsApp_Image_2026-01-23_at_3.51.46_PM_wqpqtj.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 24 Jan 2026 18:00:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Christian, identity, vital, amid, aggressive, secularization, ecumenism, expert, says</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo to beatify Guatemalan martyr and Italian religious who founded a new congregation</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-to-beatify-guatemalan-martyr-and-italian-religious-who-founded-a-new-congregation</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-to-beatify-guatemalan-martyr-and-italian-religious-who-founded-a-new-congregation</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Franciscan Father Augusto Ramírez Monasterio is shown after his initial interrogation and torture; he is hiding the wounds on his hands and wrists. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Ana Morales Ramirez

Jan 23, 2026 / 12:34 pm (CNA).
On Jan. 22, Pope Leo XIV approved the decree recognizing the martyrdom of Servant of God Augusto Ramírez Monasterio, a Franciscan priest murdered in Guatemala in 1983, and the miracle attributed to the intercession of the Venerable Maria Ignazia Isacchi, foundress of the Congregation of the Ursulines of the Sacred Heart of Jesus of Asola in Italy.Murdered in the street during the Guatemalan Civil WarMonasterio was last seen trying to escape his killers on one of the busiest streets in downtown Guatemala City. With his hands tied, he was crying out for help while dodging traffic going in the opposite direction. His desperate efforts were in vain: He was struck by eight bullets.The future blessed thus joined the long list of priests murdered — apparently at the hands of Guatemalan security forces — during the 1960–1996 civil war that pitted the official security forces against the Catholic clergy, Marxist guerrillas, political dissidents, and the poor.His murder was the culmination of months of persecution, death threats, and torture for refusing to break the seal of confession after hearing the confession of Fidel Coroy, a catechist and member of the Kaqchikel Maya people known for his involvement in peasant organizations such as the Committee of Peasant Unity and the Guerrilla Army of the Poor.Accounts following Ramírez’s murder revealed that he had been tortured by his military captors, who stripped him naked and hung him by his wrists, subjecting him to beatings and burns and breaking several of his ribs.At the time of his death, Ramírez was the superior of the Franciscans and a priest at St. Francis the Great Parish in the city of Antigua, known for its colonial churches. He was remembered as an exemplary priest and for his service to and protection of the poor of Guatemala.Devotion of Maria Ignazia to the Sacred Heart of JesusFollowing Thursday morning’s audience with Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, the pope also approved the miracle attributed to the intercession of the Venerable Servant of God Maria Ignazia Isacchi, founder of the Congregation of the Ursulines of the Sacred Heart of Jesus of Asola, Italy.As highlighted by the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, Isacchi distinguished herself by a profound life of prayer and devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, demonstrating heroic virtues of faith, hope, and charity, and dedicating her life to educational services and to those in need. Her reputation for holiness remains alive within the congregation she founded.Miracle attributed to her intercessionIn 1950, at age 23, Sister Maria Assunta became seriously ill with tuberculosis and did not respond to medical treatment. After a novena of prayer invoking Isacchi and a medal with her image was placed on Sister Maria Assunta, she experienced a sudden and complete recovery from Sept. 27–29, 1950. The healing was medically confirmed and considered miraculous, becoming one of the steps toward Isacchi’s beatification. Maria Assunta lived to be 92 years old, passing away in 2018.New venerablesThe Holy Father has also recognized the heroic virtues of Servant of God Maria Tecla Antonia Relucenti, co-founder of the Congregation of the Pious Sisters Workers of the Immaculate Conception in Italy.The pope recognized the heroic virtues of Italians Servant of God Crocifissa Militerni, a religious sister of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. John the Baptist, and Servant of God Nerino Cobianchi, a lay member of the faithful and father of a family.Pope Leo XIV also recognized on Jan. 22 the heroic virtues of Maria Immaculata of the Blessed Trinity, a Brazilian Discalced Carmelite and a key figure in the founding of the Carmel of the Holy Family in Pouso Alegre, Brazil, in 1943.This story     was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1769117695/20240122080132_c9446897e8bb9227fdb779271fec1194bf39677a6320d7fe7e25b4ce8b54b18b_lik5uq.webp" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 24 Jan 2026 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, beatify, Guatemalan, martyr, and, Italian, religious, who, founded, new, congregation</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Reviving monasticism</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/reviving-monasticism</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/reviving-monasticism</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ As we struggle with the complexity and noise of today, the church needs monastics more, not less. And the world? Even more so.
The post Reviving monasticism first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/20250221T1500-REVIVING-MONASTICISM-WOLFE-1790339.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 20 Jan 2026 18:00:09 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Reviving, monasticism</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Washington Roundup: Senate blocks Venezuela war powers resolution; Trump health plan lacks Hyde</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/washington-roundup-senate-blocks-venezuela-war-powers-resolution-trump-health-plan-lacks-hyde</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/washington-roundup-senate-blocks-venezuela-war-powers-resolution-trump-health-plan-lacks-hyde</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ WASHINGTON (OSV News) — The Senate Jan. 14 blocked a bipartisan measure that aimed to limit President Donald Trump from taking further military action in Venezuela after two Republicans dropped their…
The post Washington Roundup: Senate blocks Venezuela war powers resolution; Trump health plan lacks Hyde first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/20260116T1650-WASHINGTON-ROUNDUP-1-16-1811384.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 20 Jan 2026 18:00:09 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Washington, Roundup:, Senate, blocks, Venezuela, war, powers, resolution, Trump, health, plan, lacks, Hyde</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Charges for pro&#45;life activists over disruption at abortion clinic dismissed in plea deal</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/charges-for-pro-life-activists-over-disruption-at-abortion-clinic-dismissed-in-plea-deal</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/charges-for-pro-life-activists-over-disruption-at-abortion-clinic-dismissed-in-plea-deal</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ A statement from William Goodman provided to OSV News called the court outcome &quot;a modest victory. But a victory nonetheless.&quot;
The post Charges for pro-life activists over disruption at abortion clinic dismissed in plea deal first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/20260116T1633-RED-ROSE-RESCUERS-COURT-PLEA-DEAL-1811371.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 20 Jan 2026 18:00:09 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Charges, for, pro-life, activists, over, disruption, abortion, clinic, dismissed, plea, deal</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Vance to address March for Life rally in person; Trump to speak via video</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/vance-to-address-march-for-life-rally-in-person-trump-to-speak-via-video</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/vance-to-address-march-for-life-rally-in-person-trump-to-speak-via-video</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ WASHINGTON (OSV News) — Vice President JD Vance is expected to address the 53rd annual March for Life in Washington Jan. 23, organizers of the event said Jan. 16. “We’re thrilled…
The post Vance to address March for Life rally in person; Trump to speak via video first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/20250128T1200-MFL25-POLITICAL-LANDSCAPE-1789095-e1768599553703.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 20 Jan 2026 18:00:09 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Vance, address, March, for, Life, rally, person, Trump, speak, via, video</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Algeria, Angola, Spain among 2026 papal trips, with invitation to Mexico on the table</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/algeria-angola-spain-among-2026-papal-trips-with-invitation-to-mexico-on-the-table</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/algeria-angola-spain-among-2026-papal-trips-with-invitation-to-mexico-on-the-table</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Recent announcements by bishops in Angola, Algeria and Spain have indicated Pope Leo XIV will visit their respective countries this year. 
The post Algeria, Angola, Spain among 2026 papal trips, with invitation to Mexico on the table first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/20251128T2330-POPE-ISTANBUL-CATHOLIC-1808610.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 20 Jan 2026 18:00:09 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Algeria, Angola, Spain, among, 2026, papal, trips, with, invitation, Mexico, the, table</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Vatican confirms it tried to mediate with Maduro to avoid military intervention in Venezuela</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/vatican-confirms-it-tried-to-mediate-with-maduro-to-avoid-military-intervention-in-venezuela</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/vatican-confirms-it-tried-to-mediate-with-maduro-to-avoid-military-intervention-in-venezuela</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State | Credit: Vatican Media

Jan 19, 2026 / 13:02 pm (CNA).
Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin confirmed Saturday that the Holy See attempted to mediate to avert U.S. military intervention in Venezuela, which culminated Jan. 3 with the capture of Nicolás Maduro.“We had tried precisely — as, among other things, has appeared in some newspapers — to find a solution that would avoid any bloodshed, trying perhaps to reach an agreement even with Maduro and with other figures in the regime, but this was not possible,” Parolin told reporters on the afternoon of Saturday, Jan. 17, outside Rome’s Domus Mariae church.Parolin had just celebrated Mass there for the public veneration — for the first time — of relics of St. Pier Giorgio Frassati.In remarks reported by, among others, the Italian daily Corriere della Sera, Parolin — who served as apostolic nuncio to Venezuela from 2009 to 2013 — said the Vatican has “always supported a peaceful solution,” adding: “But we, too, find ourselves faced with a fait accompli, a de facto situation.”He described Venezuela’s current moment as “a situation of great uncertainty.”“We hope it evolves toward stability, toward an economic recovery — because the economic situation is truly very, very precarious — and also toward the democratization of the country,” the cardinal said.Parolin declined to provide further details about a Jan. 9 Washington Post report stating that the Holy See had attempted to help facilitate Maduro’s departure from Venezuela by offering asylum in Russia.After that report was published, the Holy See Press Office confirmed that the conversation took place during the Christmas period, while adding that it considered it “disappointing that parts of a confidential conversation are published without accurately reflecting its content.”Pope Leo XIV has referred to the Venezuelan crisis on several occasions, most recently Jan. 9 in his address to diplomats accredited to the Holy See, when he called for respect for the will of the Venezuelan people and for peaceful solutions free of “partisan interests.”The pope also received Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado on Monday, Jan. 12 — three days before her meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, whom ACI Prensa identified as a 2025 Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Speaking afterward at the Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C., Machado said the Holy Father “knows very well what is happening in Venezuela,” adding that he is “fully aware of what the Catholic Church is experiencing, due to the persecution and pressure on our bishops and priests.” She also said the pope is “not only concerned, but is helping and actively supporting” efforts toward a peaceful transition.This story was     first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1768486133/vatican-media-02-04-2025-santa-messa-nel-20.mo-anniversario-della-morte-di-san-giovanni-paolo-ii-1768461985.2368.jpg_erlk1t.webp" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 20 Jan 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Vatican, confirms, tried, mediate, with, Maduro, avoid, military, intervention, Venezuela</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Mexico’s Cardinal Aguiar: Pope Leo XIV would like to visit Mexico ‘soon’</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/mexicos-cardinal-aguiar-pope-leo-xiv-would-like-to-visit-mexico-soon</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/mexicos-cardinal-aguiar-pope-leo-xiv-would-like-to-visit-mexico-soon</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Cardinal Aguiar and his auxiliary bishop, Francisco Javier Acero Pérez, OAR, met with Pope Leo on Jan. 14, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media

Jan 16, 2026 / 06:00 am (CNA).
The primatial archbishop of Mexico, Cardinal Carlos Aguiar Retes, has invited Pope Leo XIV to visit the country. The cardinal extended the invitation during their Jan. 14 meeting at the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican, shortly before the Wednesday general audience.According to a statement released later by the Archdiocese of Mexico, during the audience Aguiar renewed the invitation he had first extended to the pope a few days after the conclave for him to travel to the country.“In response, the Holy Father expressed his gratitude and his desire and interest in visiting our country soon to entrust his pontificate to Our Lady of Guadalupe,” the press release indicated.In addition, Aguiar shared with Pope Leo XIV the progress and development of the synodal process underway in the Mexican diocese.In this context, the pontiff expressed his gratitude for the work of the religious communities, pastoral workers, and laypeople, and encouraged them to continue strengthening this path of listening, discernment, and pastoral co-responsibility.During the meeting, the Holy Father expressed his joy at the pilgrimage that the archdiocese will make Saturday, Jan. 17, to the Guadalupe Basilica at the beginning of the pilgrimage season to the sacred shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe at Tepeyac.The cardinal was accompanied by Francisco Javier Acero Pérez, OAR, auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese. The communications office of the primatial archdiocese of Mexico invited all the faithful to join in prayer for the Holy Father and for the fruits of the synodal journey that the Mexican Church continues to undertake.This story     was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by the EWTN News English Service. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1768501678/papa2-1768485108_hoo0hs.webp" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 19 Jan 2026 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Mexico’s, Cardinal, Aguiar:, Pope, Leo, XIV, would, like, visit, Mexico, ‘soon’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Former U.S. ambassador to Holy See weighs in on Vatican diplomacy in Venezuela, U.S.</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/former-us-ambassador-to-holy-see-weighs-in-on-vatican-diplomacy-in-venezuela-us</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/former-us-ambassador-to-holy-see-weighs-in-on-vatican-diplomacy-in-venezuela-us</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Former United States Ambassador to the Holy See Francis Rooney speaks to “EWTN News Nightly” anchor Catherine Hadro on Monday, May 12, 2025. | Credit: “EWTN News Nightly”/Screenshot

Jan 17, 2026 / 10:00 am (CNA).
Francis Rooney, former U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, said Pope Leo XIV’s papacy marks a period of opportunity for the Church in the U.S. in an interview this week with “EWTN News In Depth.”The former diplomat and congressman highlighted Leo’s measured approach to diplomacy in light of U.S. involvement in Venezuela. “He’s always calm, he’s always careful, and he’s very judicious in his comments,&quot; Rooney said in a report that aired Jan. 16.“The Holy See has a long tradition of intervening in hostage situations and situations of marginalized people or people under great stress and change, like a regime change,” Rooney said.The Vatican’s move to host opposition leader María Corina Machado this week, he said, likely had diplomatic intentions to strengthen her standing. “I think it’s predictable that [Pope Leo XIV] would want to shore up her position on the international stage as well as he can,” Rooney said. “So a pre-Trump meeting with the Holy Father is a global expression of her importance right now.”Reacting to     a speech by Pope Leo     to diplomats at the Vatican, during which the Holy Father lamented that “peace is no longer sought as a gift and a desirable good,” Rooney pointed out that while Leo does not do so in the same manner as Pope Francis, “he speaks very clearly and says a lot of the same things.”“[Leo’s] willing to call out bad activities by world leaders. He’s willing to call out the actions of Trump undermining the post-World War II order and creating potential consequences of bad actions by other people like North Korea, Russia, China,” he said, adding: “He’s not at all like Pope Francis. He’s calm, deliberate.”Rooney served as U.S. ambassador to the Holy See from 2005 to 2008. He was a Republican member of the U.S. House from Florida from 2017 to 2021.“The Church has a love-hate relationship with the United States. They resent our power, but they love our money, and they love our number of Catholics in the United States,” he said. “So this is an opportunity for Pope Leo to close that gap, earn more respect for the United States for the important role it plays in the Church, and also in Latin America.”U.S. President Donald Trump met with Archbishop Paul Coakley, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, on Jan. 12. Rooney, whose congressional Florida district included Fort Myers and Naples, speculated the closed meeting likely revolved around immigration.“We have Alligator Alcatraz down here near where we live, and a lot of migrants are being kicked out of the country who have no criminal record,” Rooney said. “I think most Americans would agree that we need workers. If theyve been living here a long time, some of their kids have gone to school with our kids, they should be able to stay and have an orderly rational plan for citizenship like President George W. Bush tried to accomplish but didn’t get it done.”“On the other hand, if they’re criminals, they should go. I don’t think anybody would argue that we shouldn’t police the border and have a strong border,” he said, concluding that Coakley and the president likely “spoke about that a great deal.” ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1751922839/images/screenshot-2025-05-13-at-2.05.13-pm.png" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 19 Jan 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Former, U.S., ambassador, Holy, See, weighs, Vatican, diplomacy, Venezuela, U.S.</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Report: More than 388 million Christians worldwide face ‘high levels’ of persecution</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/report-more-than-388-million-christians-worldwide-face-high-levels-of-persecution</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/report-more-than-388-million-christians-worldwide-face-high-levels-of-persecution</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ More than 388 million Christians -- or 1 in 7 believers worldwide -- face &quot;high levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith,&quot; according to a new report.
The post Report: More than 388 million Christians worldwide face ‘high levels’ of persecution first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/20260114T1845-OPEN-DOORS-PERSECUTION-REPORT-2026-1811261.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 16 Jan 2026 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Report:, More, than, 388, million, Christians, worldwide, face, ‘high, levels’, persecution</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Vatican completes official mosaic portrait of Pope Leo XIV for papal basilica</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/vatican-completes-official-mosaic-portrait-of-pope-leo-xiv-for-papal-basilica</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/vatican-completes-official-mosaic-portrait-of-pope-leo-xiv-for-papal-basilica</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The circular mosaic, known as a tondo, will be installed in the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls.
The post Vatican completes official mosaic portrait of Pope Leo XIV for papal basilica first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/20260114T1038-POPE-LEO-MOSAIC-PORTRAIT-1811236.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 16 Jan 2026 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Vatican, completes, official, mosaic, portrait, Pope, Leo, XIV, for, papal, basilica</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Rubio says US closely working with Catholic Church to get Cuba humanitarian aid</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/rubio-says-us-closely-working-with-catholic-church-to-get-cuba-humanitarian-aid</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/rubio-says-us-closely-working-with-catholic-church-to-get-cuba-humanitarian-aid</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ WASHINGTON (OSV News) — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Jan. 14 that the first in a series of direct humanitarian shipments to Cuba “in close partnership with the Catholic…
The post Rubio says US closely working with Catholic Church to get Cuba humanitarian aid first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/20260114T1730-STORM-MELISSA-CUBA-1811293.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 16 Jan 2026 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Rubio, says, closely, working, with, Catholic, Church, get, Cuba, humanitarian, aid</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Senate hearing examines abortion pill after FDA approval of new generic version</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/senate-hearing-examines-abortion-pill-after-fda-approval-of-new-generic-version</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/senate-hearing-examines-abortion-pill-after-fda-approval-of-new-generic-version</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ A Senate committee held a hearing on the abortion pill Jan. 14 as the Trump administration faces scrutiny from some pro-lifers over the Food and Drug Administration&#039;s recent approval of a new generic form of the drug.
The post Senate hearing examines abortion pill after FDA approval of new generic version first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/20260114T1000-ABORTION-PILL-SENATE-HEARING-1811267.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 16 Jan 2026 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Senate, hearing, examines, abortion, pill, after, FDA, approval, new, generic, version</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>US bishops praise DHS policy change on wait times for religious worker visas</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/us-bishops-praise-dhs-policy-change-on-wait-times-for-religious-worker-visas</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/us-bishops-praise-dhs-policy-change-on-wait-times-for-religious-worker-visas</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ &quot;Our appreciation&quot; for efforts supporting the religious worker visas program &quot;cannot be overstated,&quot; said the USCCB&#039;s president and its migration chair.
The post US bishops praise DHS policy change on wait times for religious worker visas first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/20260114T1514-DHS-RELIGIOUS-WORKER-VISAS-INTERIM-RULE-1811288.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 16 Jan 2026 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>bishops, praise, DHS, policy, change, wait, times, for, religious, worker, visas</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Mosaic bearing Pope Leo XIV’s portrait readied for St. Paul Outside the Walls</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/mosaic-bearing-pope-leo-xivs-portrait-readied-for-st-paul-outside-the-walls</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/mosaic-bearing-pope-leo-xivs-portrait-readied-for-st-paul-outside-the-walls</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV next to the new mosaic of him that will be added to St. Paul Outside the Walls Basilica in Rome. | Credit: Vatican Media

Jan 15, 2026 / 12:54 pm (CNA).
A mosaic bearing the official portrait of Pope Leo XIV was presented to the pontiff on Jan. 14. The mosaic will be placed in St. Paul Outside the Walls Basilica at the request of the basilica’s archpriest, Cardinal James Michael Harvey.The artwork, which, according to ancient tradition, is created upon the election of each pope, was made in the     Vatican Mosaic Studio of the Fabric of St. Peter, where the basilica’s mosaics are currently being conserved through restoration work and where artwork is also produced for sale to the public.    
        Today, Pope Leo XIV was presented with the round mosaic featuring his official papal portrait — the 267th papal portrait to be placed in the Basilica of St. Paul’s Outside the Walls — which will be installed at the end of the right nave of the basilica. The presentation took… pic.twitter.com/CddKjcXekt— EWTN Vatican (@EWTNVatican) January 14, 2026



    Thanks to the skill and experience of its mosaic artists, who still use ancient technical and artistic methods, mosaics are produced that are inspired by masterpieces of sacred and secular art.The mosaic “tondo” — from the Italian word meaning “round” — of the Holy Father is 54 inches in diameter and was made with glass enamels and gold on a metal structure, according to the Vatican.The mosaic is composed of more than 15,000 tesserae — the small pieces used to create the mosaic — including some that date back to the 19th century. These pieces were created using the ancient technique of cut mosaic and have been fixed with the traditional oil-based stucco of the Vatican tradition.The mosaic will be placed in the space next to the portrait of Pope Francis, in the right nave of the papal basilica, at an approximate height of 43 feet.The work is based on a pictorial sketch by the Italian artist Rodolfo Papa, an oil painting on canvas that will be preserved in the Fabric of St. Peter in the Vatican.The mosaic of Pope Leo XIV will be placed in the space next to the portrait of Pope Francis. | Credit: Vatican MediaAlso participating in the presentation were Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica, and Harvey along with the abbot of the Benedictine monastery of St. Paul Outside the Walls, Donato Ogliari.At the end of the presentation, the Holy Father invited all those present to join him in a moment of prayer.This story     was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1768493224/papa-mosaico-1768406556_ydeqb0.webp" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 16 Jan 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Mosaic, bearing, Pope, Leo, XIV’s, portrait, readied, for, St., Paul, Outside, the, Walls</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Archbishop Gallagher: Surrogacy is a ‘new form of colonialism’</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/archbishop-gallagher-surrogacy-is-a-new-form-of-colonialism</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/archbishop-gallagher-surrogacy-is-a-new-form-of-colonialism</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, secretary for relations with states and international organizations of the Holy See. | Credit: Santosh Digal

Jan 15, 2026 / 13:37 pm (CNA).
Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, secretary for relations with states and international organizations of the Holy See, described the practice of surrogacy as a “new form of colonialism” in which the interests of adults prevail over the rights of children.The Italian Embassy to the Holy See hosted the Jan. 13 event “A Common Front for Human Dignity: Preventing the Commodification of Women and Children in Surrogacy” with the aim of fostering international debate on this practice and raising awareness of its ethical, legal, and social implications.The event, held at the Borromeo Palace in Rome, is part of an awareness campaign promoted by the Italian Ministry for Family, Birth Rate, and Equal Opportunities together with the Holy See at the United Nations.In his address, Gallagher stated that surrogacy is an issue that concerns all of humanity and therefore urged a united front to stop “the commodification of women and children.”The Vatican official emphasized that this practice “exploits bodies and takes any meaning out of relationships,” reducing the person to a mere product, as Pope Francis has denounced. He also noted that Pope Leo XIV recently warned that surrogacy sacrifices the rights of children.During his address to the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See, the pontiff denounced that “by turning gestation into a negotiable service, the dignity of both is violated: that of the child, who is reduced to a ‘product,’ and that of the mother, by exploiting her body and the generative process and altering the original relational vocation of the family.”In this context, Gallagher warned that surrogacy — although presented as “an act of generosity” — reduces the person to an “object of transaction.” “It’s the sale of a child, handed over to the buyers by virtue of a contract that places the interests of the adults at the center, and not those of the children,” he said emphatically.He also stated that it reduces women’s bodies to a “mere reproductive instrument,” affecting the social conception of motherhood and human dignity.After recalling that feminist groups also reject surrogacy, Gallagher emphasized that it is “a new form of colonialism” that exploits the most vulnerable people and pointed out that women’s consent is often the result of “financial pressures.”Finally, the Vatican official argued for the “total abolition” of surrogacy and expressed its opposition to the creation of an international regulatory framework, which, in his view, would lead to “more children destined to be sold.”The event also included speeches by the Italian ambassador to the Holy See, Francesco Di Nitto; the dean of the diplomatic corps to the Holy See and ambassador of Cyprus, George Poulides; and Italian Minister for Family, Natality, and Equal Opportunities Eugenia Roccella.This story     was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1768423414/santosh4-1764183470_kycwg7.webp" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 16 Jan 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Archbishop, Gallagher:, Surrogacy, ‘new, form, colonialism’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>St. Peter’s Holy Door to be sealed Jan. 16</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/st-peters-holy-door-to-be-sealed-jan-16</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/st-peters-holy-door-to-be-sealed-jan-16</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  The pope closed the large bronze doors of St. Peter’s Basilica on Jan. 6, 2025, when the Jubilee of Hope concluded. | Credit: Vatican Media

Jan 15, 2026 / 17:42 pm (CNA).
With the final sealing on Jan. 16 of the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica, the Holy See will complete the closing — which includes the actual masonry work — of the four Holy Doors of the papal basilicas following the Jubilee of Hope.The concluding rite of closing the Holy Door of St. Mary Major Basilica took place Jan. 13. St. John Lateran Basilica’s was closed Jan. 14 and the Holy Door of St. Paul Outside the Walls was closed Jan. 15.The Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica will be sealed shut on Jan. 16. The so-called “sanpietrini,” the staff of the Fabric of St. Peter — comprising carpenters, cabinetmakers, and electricians — who normally handle the maintenance of the basilica, will repeat the process they have already carried out in the other three basilicas: They will erect a brick wall inside the church to permanently seal the Holy Door.In addition, the traditional metal capsule (“capsis”), a bronze box, will be inserted into the wall of the church. It will contain the official closing document, the coins minted during the jubilee year, and the keys to the Holy Door.These elements serve as material and symbolic testimony of the holy year, which, as the pope emphasized in the Jan. 6 ceremony in which he closed the great doors of the Vatican basilica, has concluded on the calendar but not in the spiritual life of the Catholic Church.In all the papal basilicas, the official document of closing the Holy Door has been deposited along with the key to the door and several pontifical medals from the last sealing, during the conclusion of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy in 2016 to the present day.This story     was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1768498582/eli2380-1-1768475885_yq056w.webp" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 16 Jan 2026 18:00:03 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>St., Peter’s, Holy, Door, sealed, Jan.</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV proclaims Franciscan Jubilee Year</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-proclaims-franciscan-jubilee-year</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-proclaims-franciscan-jubilee-year</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  St. Francis of Assisi. | Credit: Paolo Gallo/Shutterstock

Jan 12, 2026 / 17:21 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV has proclaimed a “Special Year of St. Francis” to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the saint’s death. During this time of grace, which will extend until January 2027, the faithful are granted the opportunity to obtain a     plenary indulgence.This Franciscan Jubilee Year, considered a gift for the entire Church and an occasion for authentic spiritual renewal, was inaugurated on Jan. 10 with     a decree issued by the Apostolic Penitentiary of the Holy See.Until Jan. 10 of next year, the faithful can obtain this grace under the usual conditions — sacramental confession, Communion, and prayer for the intentions of the pope — by making a pilgrimage to any Franciscan conventual church or place of worship dedicated to St. Francis anywhere in the world.Furthermore, the elderly, the sick, and those who, for serious reasons, cannot leave their homes can obtain the plenary indulgence by spiritually joining in the jubilee celebrations and offering their prayers, pains, or sufferings to God.In a world where “the virtual takes over the real, disagreements and social violence are part of everyday life, and peace becomes more insecure and distant every day, this Year of St. Francis spurs all of us, each according to our possibilities, to imitate the poor man of Assisi, to form ourselves as far as possible on the model of Christ,” the decree states.For     the Order of Friars Minor, this time is also an opportunity for the faithful to become “models of holiness of life and constant witnesses of peace.”On the occasion of this anniversary, Pope Leo XIV addressed     a letter to the ministers general of the Franciscan Family Conference in which he emphasized that “in this era, marked by so many seemingly endless wars, by internal and social divisions that create distrust and fear, he continues to speak. Not because he offers technical solutions, but because his life points to the authentic source of peace.”In this regard, he highlighted that St. Francis reminds us that “peace with God, peace among people, and peace with creation are inseparable dimensions of a single call to universal reconciliation.”This story     was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1768254833/StFrancisofAssisi011226_z2ffir.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 15 Jan 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, proclaims, Franciscan, Jubilee, Year</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Order of Malta seeks greater UN role as hospital in Bethlehem faces operational constraints</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/order-of-malta-seeks-greater-un-role-as-hospital-in-bethlehem-faces-operational-constraints</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/order-of-malta-seeks-greater-un-role-as-hospital-in-bethlehem-faces-operational-constraints</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Grand Master Fra’ John Dunlap addresses the diplomatic corps accredited to the Sovereign Military Order of Malta at the Magistral Villa on Rome’s Aventine Hill on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026. | Credit: Order of Malta

Jan 13, 2026 / 11:11 am (CNA).
The Order of Malta’s Holy Family Hospital in Bethlehem is facing severe operational constraints and its mobile clinics remain unable to reach Bedouin villages in the West Bank due to movement restrictions and violence, the order’s grand master told diplomats Jan. 10.Fra’ John Dunlap said in his annual     address to the diplomatic corps that the 900-year-old Catholic order is committed to help reconstruction efforts in Gaza City led by Egypt, the Palestinian Authority, and other partners.Middle East operations centralThe ties to the Middle East are central to the order’s mission, particularly in Lebanon and the Holy Land, Dunlap told the diplomatic corps accredited to the order at the Magistral Villa on Rome’s Aventine Hill.He expressed concern about restrictions on movement, violence, and persistent shortages of essential services in the West Bank, citing the operational challenges facing Holy Family Hospital and the inability of mobile clinics to reach Bedouin communities.Latin America remains a region of paramount importance, Dunlap said, announcing a regional conference of the Order of Malta for the Americas in Buenos Aires in autumn 2026 to streamline regional humanitarian initiatives.Africa continues to receive substantial investment through specialized programs of Ordre de Malte France and Malteser International, with newly established relations with Gambia and Burundi yielding rapid progress, he said.Ukraine constituted a major focus, with Dunlap calling for hostilities to cease and full protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure. The order expressed readiness to support dialogue initiatives “in full respect of its principles of neutrality and impartiality.”UN status soughtThe order aspires to attain “enhanced status” within the United Nations that more accurately reflects the nature and breadth of its worldwide activities, Dunlap concluded.The order currently holds permanent observer status at the U.N. and maintains diplomatic relations with 115 countries.Ambassador Antoine Zanga of Cameroon, dean of the diplomatic corps, praised the order’s “humanitarian diplomacy” in     his response speech and invited Dunlap to continue promoting “charity, solidarity, peace, and defense of international humanitarian law in a world where the rules are fading.”Dunlap described 2025 as a year of exceptional intensity, marked by the jubilee, the death of Pope Francis, and the election of Pope Leo XIV, which “profoundly resonated across both the life of the universal Church and the broader international community.”“The order is truly the institution of the Gospel, which it follows as Jesus taught it through his apostles,” Bolivian Ambassador Teresa Susana Subieta Serrano shared with CNA after the speech of the grand master. She noted that the grand master mentioned Latin America as a region of paramount importance for the order.“We recognize many good things that the order is doing. I am also the special envoy of my country to Africa, so I appreciate the particular mention of this continent. My intention is to do projects in Africa together with the order,” Slovenian Ambassador Franc But told CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1768300393/NICU9919-copia-1536x1024_ax7afj.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 15 Jan 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Order, Malta, seeks, greater, role, hospital, Bethlehem, faces, operational, constraints</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Dozens of Charlotte priests query Vatican over bishop’s move to abolish altar rails, kneelers</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/dozens-of-charlotte-priests-query-vatican-over-bishops-move-to-abolish-altar-rails-kneelers</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/dozens-of-charlotte-priests-query-vatican-over-bishops-move-to-abolish-altar-rails-kneelers</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  St. Patrick Cathedral in the Diocese of Charlotte. | Credit: Diocese of Charlotte

Jan 13, 2026 / 11:41 am (CNA).
Reacting to Bishop Michael Martin’s Dec. 17, 2025, pastoral letter announcing the impending abolishment of altar rails and kneelers in the Diocese of Charlotte, North Carolina, 31 of the diocese’s priests have signed a letter to the Vatican’s Dicastery for Legislative Texts containing a set of questions, or “dubia,” related to the matter.    According to The Pillar, which obtained a leaked copy of the diocesan priests’ letter last week, the priests directly question “whether a diocesan bishop may prohibit the use of kneelers to assist members of the faithful who, of their own accord, wish to receive holy Communion kneeling.” In December, Martin issued a pastoral letter saying that by Jan. 16, the use of altar rails, kneelers, and “prie-dieus” (movable kneelers) will no longer be permitted in the diocese, and any “temporary or movable fixtures used for kneeling for the reception of Communion” must be removed.In his     pastoral letter, Martin said while an “individual member of the faithful” is free to kneel to receive and should not be denied Communion, the “normative posture for all the faithful in the United States is standing,”     per guidelines from the U.S. bishops.“The faithful who feel compelled to kneel to receive the Eucharist as is their individual right should also prayerfully consider the blessing of communal witness that is realized when we share a common posture,” he wrote.In their letter to the Vatican, the diocesan priests specifically question the bishop’s actions to impede the faithful from kneeling at built-in altar rails when that is the norm for a parish, a practice the bishop has insisted upon when he celebrates Mass at such churches in the diocese, according to Brian Williams, an advocate for Charlotte’s Traditional Latin Mass community.When Martin concelebrated a Mass with several other bishops     last summer at a parish whose commmunicants usually receive at temporary kneelers, per the bishop’s direction, according to Williams, Communion was distributed in front of the kneelers to discourage parishioners from kneeling.“Since an altar rail is a common and traditional ‘structure and ornamentation’ that marks off the sanctuary from the body of the church within the Roman rite, it is asked whether a diocesan bishop has the legitimate authority to prohibit the erection of altar rails within churches or other sacred places in his diocese,” the diocese’s priests query in their letter, as reported by The Pillar.A priest in the Charlotte Diocese who wished to remain anonymous due to an alleged “atmosphere of fear, retaliation, and mistrust” told CNA that the actual number of the dubia’s supporters is “well north” of the 31, or a quarter of all priests in the diocese, who actually signed it.“Certain priests have prudentially decided to withhold their signature,” he told CNA.According to     a social media post by the Traditional Latin Mass community in Charlotte: “Several diocesan sources in Charlotte have confirmed that the actual support for the dubia is closer to 50% of priests, nearly double the number of signers.”In his December pastoral letter, Martin also specified norms for extraordinary ministers, prohibited the practice of intinction (when the consecrated bread is dipped into the wine before being placed on the tongue), and encouraged the reception of Communion under both kinds — the bread and the wine — which he says fell out of practice during the COVID-19 pandemic.In May 2025, a     draft of a letter detailing several other of Martin’s intended reforms of traditional practices in the diocese was leaked. In that letter, the bishop said that because “there is no mention in the conciliar documents, the reform of the liturgy, or current liturgical documents concerning the use of altar rails or kneelers for the distribution of holy Communion, they are not to be employed in the Diocese of Charlotte.”The diocesan priests’ Jan. 5 letter to the Vatican manifests that “both the leaked letter from this past summer and the pastoral letter of Dec. 17 have caused a great deal of concern amongst the priests and faithful of the Diocese of Charlotte, especially in those parishes that have allowed the faithful to use an altar rail or prie-dieu for the reception of holy Communion.”The diocesan priests’ letter also addresses issues from Martin’s leaked May letter in which the prelate suggested that certain liturgical practices and elements such as the use of Latin, ornately decorated vestments, certain prayers, and altar ornaments will be prohibited because they are not in accord with changes made after the Second Vatican Council.Asked about the Jan. 5 letter containing the dubia, a spokesperson for the Diocese of Charlotte told CNA that the bishop “has not ‘restricted kneeling.’”In a Jan. 8 statement to CNA, Martin stated: “My brother priests are always welcome to ask questions and seek clarification about the application of liturgical norms. To be clear, the only modifications that have been made since the Diocese of Charlotte last updated its liturgical norms in 2011 involve the distribution of holy Communion, as spelled out in my letter to the faithful in December.”Apparently referring to the leaked May letter, Martin continued: “Questions arising from the internal and confidential conversations of the Presbyteral Council are premature and lack substance, since no definitive action has taken place outside of the December 2025 letter. The norms highlighted in the letter keep our diocese aligned with the broader norms of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the universal Church.”  ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1745614568/images/st.-patricks-cathedral.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 15 Jan 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Dozens, Charlotte, priests, query, Vatican, over, bishop’s, move, abolish, altar, rails, kneelers</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV urges making time ‘to speak with God’</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-urges-making-time-to-speak-with-god</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-urges-making-time-to-speak-with-god</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV gives the first general audience of 2026 in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall on Jan. 7, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media

Jan 14, 2026 / 06:20 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV urged Christians on Wednesday to set aside time in their daily lives to speak with God in prayer and warned about the harm to one’s relationship with him when this is ignored.“Time dedicated to prayer, meditation, and reflection cannot be lacking in the Christian’s day and week,” the pontiff said during the catechesis at his general audience in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall on Jan. 14.The pope devoted the second week of his series of teachings on the documents of the Second Vatican Council to a closer examination of the dogmatic constitution Dei Verbum dedicated to divine revelation.Pointing to the document, he highlighted listening and dialogue with God as foundations of a Christian life.“From this perspective, the first attitude to cultivate is listening, so that the divine Word may penetrate our minds and our hearts; at the same time, we are required to speak with God, not to communicate to him what he already knows but to reveal ourselves to ourselves,” Leo said.The Holy Father also drew on the human experience of friendship to warn about the dangers of neglecting one’s spiritual life: “Our experience tells us that friendships can come to an end through a dramatic gesture of rupture, or because of a series of daily acts of neglect that erode the relationship until it is lost.”“If Jesus calls us to be friends, let us not leave this call unheeded. Let us welcome it, let us take care of this relationship, and we will discover that friendship with God is our salvation,” he said.The pope insisted that this living relationship with God is cultivated above all through prayer, understood as an authentic friendship with the Lord.This experience, he explained, is achieved first of all in liturgical and community prayer, “in which we do not decide what to hear from the Word of God, but it is he himself who speaks to us through the Church.” It is also achieved in personal prayer, which takes place “in the interiority of the heart and mind,” and which should form part of every believer’s day and week.‘Only when we speak with God can we also speak about him’The pontiff stressed that only from a personal relationship with God is it possible to bear authentic witness to the faith: “Only when we speak with God can we also speak about him.”Referring to the dogmatic constitution Dei Verbum, promulgated by St. Paul VI in 1965, Leo emphasized that Christian revelation is grounded in a living and personal dialogue between God and humanity. Through this dialogue, God reveals himself as an ally who invites each person into a true relationship of friendship.The pope noted that divine revelation has a profoundly dialogical character, proper to the experience of friendship: It does not tolerate silence but is nourished by the exchange of true words capable of creating communion.Leo XIV also distinguished between “words” and “chatter,” explaining that the latter remains on the surface and does not create authentic relationships. In genuine relationships, he said, words do not serve merely to exchange information but to reveal who we are and to establish a deep bond with the other.This story     was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA&#039;s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1767788878/_SIM5029_iz4hnf.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 15 Jan 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, urges, making, time, ‘to, speak, with, God’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Vatican prosecutor steps aside as London property trial appeal moves forward</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/vatican-prosecutor-steps-aside-as-london-property-trial-appeal-moves-forward</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/vatican-prosecutor-steps-aside-as-london-property-trial-appeal-moves-forward</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu in 2019. | Credit: Daniel Ibanez/EWTN

Jan 14, 2026 / 11:45 am (CNA).
The Vatican’s Court of Cassation has cleared the way for the appeal phase of the Secretariat of State funds trial — commonly tied in headlines to Cardinal Angelo Becciu — rejecting last-ditch procedural challenges and accepting the recusal of Vatican Promoter of Justice Alessandro Diddi from the case.In two separate rulings — one brief and another running eight pages — the court closed the remaining disputes that had stalled the appeal proceedings over the Holy See’s investment in a luxury property on Sloane Avenue in London.The Cassation decisions mean the appeal will proceed without Diddi, and they also uphold the appeal court’s earlier finding that the promoter’s office filed its own appeal improperly and outside required procedures and deadlines. As a result, the appeal phase will now focus primarily on defense appeals — which could at most lead to reduced sentences or even acquittals for some defendants.The appeal trial is scheduled to resume Feb. 3.What the Cassation court decidedThe case reached the Court of Cassation after a series of procedural clashes in the appeal court, including:— defense motions seeking Diddi’s recusal following intercepted communications suggesting contacts with individuals involved in the wider case;— defense arguments that the promoter’s appeal was inadmissible because it failed to follow procedural rules and timelines; and— a countermove from the promoter’s office seeking to challenge the appeal court itself — effectively attempting to halt proceedings by disputing the court’s authority to declare the promoter’s appeal inadmissible.The Vatican’s Court of Cassation accepted Diddi’s decision to abstain from the case, a move that effectively ends the push to force a formal ruling against him. In its more detailed ruling, the court reaffirmed that the promoter’s appeal was filed incorrectly and that the appeal court acted properly in declaring it inadmissible.The court is presided over by Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, with Cardinals Matteo Zuppi, Augusto Paolo Lojudice, and Mauro Gambetti among the judges, alongside other members of the panel.Background: London deal and first verdictsThe broader trial centers on Vatican financial management tied to the Secretariat of State and its London real estate investment. Vatican prosecutors argued that intermediaries worked together to extract money from the Holy See as control of the property shifted between financiers.Becciu — the first cardinal tried by a Vatican civil tribunal following a decision by Pope Francis — was convicted in the first-instance verdict and sentenced to five years and six months in prison on charges including embezzlement and fraud. Other defendants received prison sentences as well, including Enrico Crasso (seven years), Raffaele Mincione (five years and six months), Cecilia Marogna (three years and nine months), and Gianluigi Torzi (six years). In total, first-instance convictions amounted to about 37 years of prison time, along with an order to confiscate 166 million euros ($193.6 million), though several defendants were acquitted on some counts.The appeal phase has unfolded in a changed Vatican context after the death of Pope Francis and the election of Pope Leo XIV, who has signaled he intends to let Vatican justice proceed without the kinds of papal interventions that marked earlier stages of the case.This story was     first published by ACI Stampa, CNA’s Italian-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1758639824/images/20201204021220-fbf693df16360093aa9da7325db18c6ea161f223c14e377f390cfa102d1d6505.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 15 Jan 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Vatican, prosecutor, steps, aside, London, property, trial, appeal, moves, forward</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Survivors praise pope’s words during consistory that not welcoming abuse victims is ‘scandal’</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/survivors-praise-popes-words-during-consistory-that-not-welcoming-abuse-victims-is-scandal</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/survivors-praise-popes-words-during-consistory-that-not-welcoming-abuse-victims-is-scandal</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The pope warned that &quot;many times the pain of the victims has been greater because they were not welcomed and listened to.&quot;
The post Survivors praise pope’s words during consistory that not welcoming abuse victims is ‘scandal’ first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/USETHIS20260111T1339-POPE-CONSISTORY-ABUSE-1810920.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 12 Jan 2026 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Survivors, praise, pope’s, words, during, consistory, that, not, welcoming, abuse, victims, ‘scandal’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Full text: Pope Leo XIV’s Angelus address Jan. 11, 2026</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/full-text-pope-leo-xivs-angelus-address-jan-11-2026</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/full-text-pope-leo-xivs-angelus-address-jan-11-2026</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ &quot;We confirm and renew our Baptism, the sacrament that makes us Christians, freeing us from sin and transforming us into children of God.&quot;
The post Full text: Pope Leo XIV’s Angelus address Jan. 11, 2026 first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/use20260104T0930-VENEZUELA-SOUTH-AMERICAN-CHURCH-REAX-1810468.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 12 Jan 2026 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Full, text:, Pope, Leo, XIV’s, Angelus, address, Jan., 11, 2026</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Parents can’t wait for children to choose baptism, says pope, baptizing 20 infants in Sistine Chapel</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/parents-cant-wait-for-children-to-choose-baptism-says-pope-baptizing-20-infants-in-sistine-chapel</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/parents-cant-wait-for-children-to-choose-baptism-says-pope-baptizing-20-infants-in-sistine-chapel</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ We wouldn&#039;t &quot;leave newborns without clothes or food, waiting for them to choose how to dress and what to eat as adults,&quot; would we?
The post Parents can’t wait for children to choose baptism, says pope, baptizing 20 infants in Sistine Chapel first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/useuptop20260111T1428-POPE-BAPTISM-CHILDREN-1811026.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 12 Jan 2026 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Parents, can’t, wait, for, children, choose, baptism, says, pope, baptizing, infants, Sistine, Chapel</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope embraces youth of Rome, tells them setting world ablaze requires a burning heart</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-embraces-youth-of-rome-tells-them-setting-world-ablaze-requires-a-burning-heart</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-embraces-youth-of-rome-tells-them-setting-world-ablaze-requires-a-burning-heart</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ &quot;It&#039;s very important that we try to build human relationships, good friendships, and above all, friendship with Jesus,&quot; the pope told thousands of young people.
The post Pope embraces youth of Rome, tells them setting world ablaze requires a burning heart first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/USEUPTOP20260111T1000-POPE-YOUTH-ROME-1811020.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 12 Jan 2026 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, embraces, youth, Rome, tells, them, setting, world, ablaze, requires, burning, heart</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Anti&#45;trafficking advocates cite aid cuts, immigration crackdowns as key challenges</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/anti-trafficking-advocates-cite-aid-cuts-immigration-crackdowns-as-key-challenges</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/anti-trafficking-advocates-cite-aid-cuts-immigration-crackdowns-as-key-challenges</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The work of anti-trafficking advocates faces challenges due to funding downturns and fears of reprisal amid the Trump administration&#039;s immigration crackdowns.
The post Anti-trafficking advocates cite aid cuts, immigration crackdowns as key challenges first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/USETHISONEtop20260109T1858-TRAFFICKING-AWARENESS-STATE-2026-1810885.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 12 Jan 2026 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Anti-trafficking, advocates, cite, aid, cuts, immigration, crackdowns, key, challenges</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV condemns violence in Iran, Syria, and Ukraine</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-condemns-violence-in-iran-syria-and-ukraine</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-condemns-violence-in-iran-syria-and-ukraine</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV greets pilgrims gathered in St. Peter&#039;s Square at the Vatican for the recitation of the Angelus on Jan. 11, 2026. / Vatican Media

Vatican City, Jan 11, 2026 / 08:25 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV on Sunday lamented escalating violence in Iran and Syria and renewed his appeal for peace in Ukraine, while also offering a special blessing for children receiving baptism and praying for those born into “difficult circumstances.”Speaking after the Angelus on Jan. 11, the pope said: “My thoughts turn to the situation currently unfolding in the Middle East, especially in Iran and Syria, where ongoing tensions continue to claim many lives.” He added: “I hope and pray that dialogue and peace may be patiently nurtured in pursuit of the common good of the whole of society.”The pope’s remarks came amid unrest in Tehran, where anti-government protests that began about two weeks ago have left more than 70 people dead, according to human rights organizations.He also pointed to renewed fighting in Syria, where international media reports say clashes have erupted in Aleppo between the interim government’s army and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces over control of neighborhoods in the city center. At least 14 civilians have been killed, with dozens injured and tens of thousands displaced, according to those reports.Turning to the war in Ukraine, Leo warned of the mounting toll of Russian strikes as winter intensifies.“In Ukraine, new attacks – particularly severe ones aimed at energy infrastructure as the cold weather grows harsher – are taking a heavy toll on the civilian population,” he said. “I pray for those who suffer and renew my appeal for an end to the violence and for renewed efforts to achieve peace.”Recent attacks have left more than one million homes without water or heat in Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region.Earlier in the day, the pope celebrated Mass for the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord and baptized 20 newborns, the children of Vatican employees, in the Sistine Chapel. After the Angelus, he said he wanted to extend his blessing “to all children who have received or will receive Baptism during these days – in Rome and throughout the world – entrusting them to the maternal care of the Virgin Mary.”He added: “In a particular way, I pray for children born into difficult circumstances, whether due to health conditions or external dangers. May the grace of Baptism, which unites them to the Paschal Mystery of Christ, bear fruit in their lives and in the lives of their families.”During his Angelus reflection, Leo spoke about the meaning of Christ’s baptism and how the sacrament of baptism makes believers “children of God through the power of his Spirit of life,” encouraging the faithful to remember “the great gift we have received” and to bear witness to it “with joy and authenticity.”This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/mat2825-2.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 12 Jan 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, condemns, violence, Iran, Syria, and, Ukraine</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV baptizes 20 infants in Sistine Chapel, tells parents faith is ‘more than necessary’</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-baptizes-20-infants-in-sistine-chapel-tells-parents-faith-is-more-than-necessary</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-baptizes-20-infants-in-sistine-chapel-tells-parents-faith-is-more-than-necessary</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV baptizes a child in the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, January 11, 2026. / Vatican Media

Vatican City, Jan 11, 2026 / 09:00 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV baptized 20 infants, the children of Vatican employees, during Mass in the Sistine Chapel on Sunday for the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord.In his homily, the pope urged parents to see faith as essential for their children’s lives, comparing it to the basic care no newborn can do without.“When we know that something good is essential, we immediately seek it for those we love,” he said. “Who among us, in fact, would leave newborns without clothes or without nourishment, waiting for them to choose when they are grown how to dress and what to eat?”“Dear friends, if food and clothing are necessary to live, faith is more than necessary, because with God life finds salvation,” the pope said.Baptism as God’s closenessReflecting on the Gospel account of Jesus’ baptism, Leo said the Lord chooses to be found where people least expect him — “the Holy One among sinners” — drawing near without keeping distance. He pointed to Jesus’ reply to John the Baptist: “Let it be so now, for it is proper for us to fulfill all righteousness,” explaining that God’s “righteousness” is his saving action, by which the Father makes humanity righteous through Christ.The pope described Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan as a sign renewed with deeper meaning — “death and resurrection, forgiveness and communion” — and said the sacrament celebrated for the infants is rooted in God’s love.“The children you now hold in your arms are transformed into new creatures,” Leo told parents. “Just as from you, their parents, they have received life, so now they receive the meaning for living it: faith.”A word to mothers and fathersLeo emphasized the role of parents as the first witnesses and educators of faith, saying God’s provident love becomes visible on earth through mothers and fathers who ask for faith for their children.He also noted the changing seasons of family life: “Certainly, the day will come when they will become heavy to hold in your arms; and the day will also come when they will be the ones to support you.”The pope prayed that the sacrament would strengthen families in lasting love: “May baptism, which unites us in the one family of the Church, sanctify all your families at all times, giving strength and constancy to the affection that unites you.”The signs of baptismTurning to the rites themselves, Leo explained the meaning of baptism’s symbols: “The water of the font is the washing in the Spirit, which purifies from every sin; the white garment is the new robe that God the Father gives us for the eternal feast of his Kingdom; the candle lit from the paschal candle is the light of the risen Christ, which illumines our path.”“I wish you to continue it with joy throughout the year that has just begun and for your whole life, certain that the Lord will always accompany your steps,” he said.The baptism of children of Vatican employees is a tradition begun in 1981 by St. John Paul II. The first ceremonies were held in the Pauline Chapel, and since 1983 the annual celebration has taken place in the Sistine Chapel.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/mar0971.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 12 Jan 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, baptizes, infants, Sistine, Chapel, tells, parents, faith, ‘more, than, necessary’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV to cardinals: ‘We gather not to promote personal or group agendas’</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-to-cardinals-we-gather-not-to-promote-personal-or-group-agendas</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-to-cardinals-we-gather-not-to-promote-personal-or-group-agendas</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV arrives at St. Peter’s Basilica for a Mass with cardinals on Jan. 8, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media

Jan 8, 2026 / 17:04 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV on Thursday called on cardinals to experience the extraordinary consistory as a time of spiritual discernment in unity and warned against the temptation to put personal interests ahead of the common good.“We gather not to promote personal or group ‘agendas’ but to entrust our plans and inspirations to a discernment that transcends us — ‘as the heavens are higher than the earth’ — and which comes only from the Lord,” he said in     his homily for the Mass he celebrated Jan. 8 in St. Peter’s Basilica with the cardinals present in Rome for this important two-day ecclesial meeting convened to help him make decisions about the future of the Catholic Church.Leo XIV urged the cardinals to experience the Eucharist as the place where this discernment is purified and transformed, asking them to place all their “hopes and ideas upon the altar.”Truly listening to the voice of God“Only in this way will we truly know how to listen to his voice and to welcome it through the gift that we are to one another — which is the very reason we have gathered,” he added.The pope linked this vision to the spirituality of communion, recalling that Christian love is “Trinitarian” and “relational,” and quoted St. John Paul II, who defined it as “the heart’s contemplation of the mystery of the Trinity dwelling in us.”Pope Leo XIV during the consecration at the Mass for the consistory of cardinals on Jan. 8, 2026, at St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican. | Credit: Vatican MediaThis extraordinary consistory — different from the ordinary ones, which are more limited and frequent — was planned to take place immediately after the Jubilee of Hope to “offer support and advice to the Holy Father in the exercise of his high and arduous responsibility of governing the Church,” according to a statement from the Holy See.St. John Paul II convened six extraordinary consistories during his 26-year pontificate, while Pope Benedict XVI chose to hold consultative meetings with the cardinals on the eve of the ordinary consistories. In total, he held three such meetings during his pontificate.During the 12 years of his pontificate, Pope Francis held only one extraordinary consistory, on Feb. 20, 2014, which focused primarily on the family and marriage, ahead of the Synod on the Family held that same year.Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass with cardinals at the consistory on Jan. 8, 2026. | Credit: Vatican MediaUnlike his predecessor, who preferred to consult with a smaller council, Leo XIV convened the entire College of Cardinals to assist him in governing the universal Church.Evangelization and synodalityThe cardinals are expected to offer the new pontiff their views on two specific topics: the Synod and synodality, and the mission of evangelization and the missionary character of the Church in light of Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation     Evangelii Gaudium. Initially, the meeting topics also included discussions on the liturgy and the apostolic constitution     Praedicate Evangelium, but lack of time has limited the issues that will be addressed.The pontiff reflected on the very meaning of the consistory, recalling that the word “consistorium” in Latin refers to the idea of ​​“pausing.” “Indeed, all of us have ‘paused’ in order to be here. We have set aside our activities for a time, and even canceled important commitments, so as to discern together what the Lord is asking of us for the good of his people,” he emphasized.Not a group of experts, but a community of faithIn his homily, the Holy Father reminded those present that this gathering is not about a “mere group of experts” but “a community of faith. Only when the gifts that each person brings are offered to the Lord and returned by him, will they bear the greatest fruit according to his providence.”Cardinals arrive for the Mass during the consistory on Jan. 8, 2026, at St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican. | Credit: Vatican MediaThe pontiff also recalled the words of St. Leo the Great to emphasize the communal dimension of ecclesial service: “In this way,” he said, “‘the hungry are fed, the naked clothed, the sick visited, and no one seeks his or her own interests, but those of others.’”Referring to the challenges of today’s world, marked by profound inequalities and a widespread “hunger for goodness and peace,” the pope acknowledged the feeling of inadequacy in the face of the mission but encouraged them to face it together, trusting in providence.“We will be able to help one another — and in particular, to help the pope — to find the “five loaves and two fish” that providence “never fails to provide,” he affirmed.Leo XIV concluded his homily by offering the cardinals his “heartfelt thanks” for their service and reminding them that, even if they don’t always manage to find solutions to the problems they face.‘We may not always find immediate solutions to the problems we face’“We may not always be able to find immediate solutions to the problems we face. Yet in every place and circumstance, we will be able to help one another — and in particular, to help the pope,” he said, calling for collaboration.“Beloved brothers,” the pope noted, “what you offer to the Church through your service, at every level, is something profound and very personal, unique to each of you and precious to all.”According to what the director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, reported Jan. 7, of the 245 cardinals who currently make up the College of Cardinals, 170 are in Rome participating in the closed-door meetings that concluded Thursday.This story     was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1767892747/papa2-1767866401_rpcrql.webp" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 11 Jan 2026 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, cardinals:, ‘We, gather, not, promote, personal, group, agendas’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>‘Pray with the Pope’: Leo XIV proposes monthly prayer for the challenges of the world</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pray-with-the-pope-leo-xiv-proposes-monthly-prayer-for-the-challenges-of-the-world</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pray-with-the-pope-leo-xiv-proposes-monthly-prayer-for-the-challenges-of-the-world</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Official image of the “Pray with the Pope” campaign for January 2026. | Credit: World Prayer Network

Jan 8, 2026 / 17:40 pm (CNA).
The Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication has launched a new prayer campaign in which Pope Leo XIV invites Catholics to pray with him for the great challenges facing the world.The “Pray with the Pope” initiative is part of the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, which, during the pontificate of Pope Francis, launched the project known as “The Pope’s Video,” through which the faithful were invited each month to unite in prayer for a specific intention.Continuing this mission, the new campaign not only invites people to pray but also offers a specific prayer from Leo XIV, who will present his monthly intention from a renewed perspective, encouraging an intimate and serene experience with Christ.Transforming life from withinAccording to Jesuit Father Cristobal Fones, international director of the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, who presented the initiative Jan. 7 in Rome alongside Paolo Ruffini, prefect of the Dicastery for Communication, the initiative proposes “a shared inner experience that aspires to transform life from within.”The focus of this new phase, as the Jesuit priest explained, “will be more centered on supporting a spiritual experience, which often becomes difficult amidst our busy and noise-filled daily lives.”“The pope is very aware of this and wants to help us, inviting us to pray together for others,” he added. The “update” of the initiative, according to Fones, stems “from the profound need we have to slow down in order to achieve greater depth in our decisions and relationships.”With a simple and accessible format, “Pray with the Pope” aims to allow anyone, wherever they are, to join in the Holy Father’s prayer intention, which this year 2026 begins with the invitation to “learn to pray with the most definitive Word, which is not our own, so full of empty promises, but Jesus Christ.”In this month’s video, Pope Leo XIV is seen silently reading a passage from the Bible in the presence of the Lord, and then he recites a short prayer:“Lord Jesus, living word of the Father, in you we find the light that guides our steps.“We know that the human heart lives restless, hungry for meaning, and only your Gospel can give it peace and fullness.“Teach us to listen to you each day in the Scriptures, to let ourselves be challenged by your voice, and to discern our decisions from the closeness to your heart.“May your word be nourishment in weariness, hope in darkness, and strength in our communities.“Lord, may your word never be absent from our lips or from our hearts — the word that makes us sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, disciples and missionaries of your kingdom.“Make us a Church that prays with the word, that builds upon it and shares it with joy, so that in every person the hope of a new world may be born again.“May our faith grow in the encounter with you through your word, moving us from the heart to reach out to others, to serve the most vulnerable, to forgive, build bridges, and proclaim life. Amen.”Countering the globalization of indifferenceFor Fones, this January’s intention will be the basis for the rest of the year’s intentions, which will include children with incurable diseases, the end of war, priests in crisis, respect for human life, and families experiencing the absence of a mother or father, among others.The priest explained that the initiative also seeks to “highlight important and crucial issues for everyone, opening our hearts to urgent realities and transforming our environment to counteract the globalization of indifference.”The campaign can be followed on the     pope’s prayer website in several languages, and will also be available in audio format through Vatican Radio and partner platforms such as Pray as You Go, RezandoVoy, and Hallow. The Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network is currently present in more than 90 countries and reaches over 22 million people.This story     was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1767901787/red-mundial-oracion-enero-1767801624_pabovc.webp" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 11 Jan 2026 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>‘Pray, with, the, Pope’:, Leo, XIV, proposes, monthly, prayer, for, the, challenges, the, world</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV to hold next consistory in June, hopes for annual meetings with cardinals</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-to-hold-next-consistory-in-june-hopes-for-annual-meetings-with-cardinals</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-to-hold-next-consistory-in-june-hopes-for-annual-meetings-with-cardinals</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Cardinals meet with Pope Leo XIV in the third session of the consistory on Jan. 8, 2025, at the Vatican. | Credit: Vatican Media

Jan 8, 2026 / 19:18 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV will be hosting a second consistory of cardinals at the end of June and wants to hold such meetings annually.The Vatican made the announcement Thursday evening at the conclusion of the Holy Father’s first extraordinary consistory of cardinals that lasted two days. The next such meeting is expected to be held on June 27–28, the vigil of Sts. Peter and Paul.Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said the pope would like to hold annual meetings lasting three to four days, allowing more time for discussion on various topics of importance and for free interventions by the members of the Sacred College of Cardinals.Cardinal Stephen Brislin of Johannesburg, South Africa, told reporters at a closing Vatican briefing that he and the other cardinals found this consistory a “very enriching and very deepening experience.” He said they also appreciated that it also gave the opportunity for the cardinals to “get to know each other and to listen to each other.” The fact that the pope wishes to hold more meetings, he added, shows that the pope, too, “found it very important” and helpful. The cardinal said some doubts were expressed when they were told they would be split into small groups, and “certainly a concern” was that there would be insufficient opportunity for them “to express themselves and to listen to others.” Still, he said he thought the way the groups were constructed, having been split into two blocks, was “very helpful” and “gave the opportunity for every cardinal to speak,” even if it wasn’t heard by the whole assembly. The liturgy was briefly mentioned, Cardinal Wilfrid Napier, archbishop emeritus of Durban, South Africa, told the National Catholic Register, CNA’s sister news partner. But he said the Traditional Latin Mass and “particulars like that” were not discussed. “I think the whole thing was how do we get the whole Church onto the same level at evangelizing, I think that was the main point,” he said.” Hope was expressed by various cardinals that other topics not discussed would be covered at forthcoming consistories. Little information emerged both during and after the consistory as cardinals told reporters that Pope Leo had instructed them to keep the proceedings confidential. Nevertheless, Brislin, who was joined by Filippino Cardinal Pablo David and Colombian Cardinal Luis José Rueda Aparicio at Thursday’s press briefing, spoke relatively freely. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1767917436/ConsistoryVatican010826_fczdq6.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 11 Jan 2026 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, hold, next, consistory, June, hopes, for, annual, meetings, with, cardinals</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo condemns ‘zeal for war,’ weak multilateralism in speech to diplomats</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-condemns-zeal-for-war-weak-multilateralism-in-speech-to-diplomats</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-condemns-zeal-for-war-weak-multilateralism-in-speech-to-diplomats</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV addresses ambassadors and other diplomatic representatives to the Holy See in the Apostolic Palace on Jan. 9, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media

Jan 9, 2026 / 10:17 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV condemned the weakening of international multilateralism and the increased use of force in a speech to diplomats at the Vatican on Friday.He also said states should respect fundamental human rights, such as religious freedom and freedom of speech, and comply with international humanitarian law in     the lengthiest speech to date of his pontificate.“A diplomacy that promotes dialogue and seeks consensus among all parties is being replaced by a diplomacy based on force, by either individuals or groups of allies. War is back in vogue and a zeal for war is spreading,” he told ambassadors and other diplomatic representatives to the Holy See in the Apostolic Palace on Jan. 9. Currently, 184 states have diplomatic relations with the Holy See.“Peace is no longer sought as a gift and a desirable good in itself,” the pontiff continued. “Instead, peace is sought through weapons as a condition for asserting one’s own dominion. This gravely threatens the rule of law, which is the foundation of all peaceful civil coexistence.”The Holy Father called for concern for the common good of peoples to take precedence over “the defense of partisan interests” amid escalating tensions, pointing in particular to Venezuela, for which he reiterated an appeal “to respect the will of the Venezuelan people, and to safeguard the human and civil rights of all.”Leo framed his speech, part of the annual new year greeting to the diplomatic corps, within St. Augustine of Hippo’s work of Christian philosophy “De Civitate Dei” (“City of God”).“The ‘City of God’ does not propose a political program. Instead, it offers valuable reflections on fundamental issues concerning social and political life, such as the search for a more just and peaceful coexistence among peoples. Augustine also warns of the grave dangers to political life arising from false representations of history, excessive nationalism and the distortion of the ideal of the political leader,” the pope said.He called “City of God,” written in the fifth century, highly relevant to the present time, marked by widespread migration and the “profound readjustment of geopolitical balances and cultural paradigms.”Pope Leo XIV greets ambassadors and other diplomatic representatives to the Holy See in the Apostolic Palace on Jan. 9, 2026. | Credit: Vatican MediaHuman rights short-circuitedLeo lamented what he called a “short circuit” of human rights around the world today, especially the right to life.“We firmly reiterate that the protection of the right to life constitutes the indispensable foundation of every other human right. A society is healthy and truly progresses only when it safeguards the sanctity of human life and works actively to promote it,” he said.He also called out the restriction of the right to freedom of expression, freedom of conscience, religious freedom, and the right to life in favor of other “so-called new rights,” so that “the very framework of human rights is losing its vitality and creating space for force and oppression.”“This occurs when each right becomes self-referential, and especially when it becomes disconnected from reality, nature, and truth,” he added.Christian persecutionPope Leo said     Christian persecution is one of the most widespread human rights crises today, with over 380 million believers around the world suffering high or extreme levels of discrimination, violence, and oppression.He recalled the victims of religiously motivated violence in Bangladesh, in the Sahel region, in Nigeria, and those killed or injured in the terrorist attack on the parish of St. Elias in Damascus in June.The pontiff also decried “a subtle form of religious discrimination against Christians” taking place even in Christian-majority countries in Europe and the Americas.“There, they are sometimes restricted in their ability to proclaim the truths of the Gospel for political or ideological reasons, especially when they defend the dignity of the weakest, the unborn, refugees and migrants, or promote the family,” he said.Leo also called for respect for the freedom of other religious communities and the rejection of all forms of antisemitism.Pope Leo XIV greets ambassadors and other diplomatic representatives to the Holy See in the Hall of the Blessing in the Apostolic Palace on Jan. 9, 2026. | Credit: Vatican MediaThe meaning of wordsThe Holy Father also spoke about debates over the meaning of words and how they are tied to attacks on freedom of expression.“Rediscovering the meaning of words is perhaps one of the primary challenges of our time. When words lose their connection to reality, and reality itself becomes debatable and ultimately incommunicable,” he said.“We should also note the paradox that this weakening of language is often invoked in the name of freedom of expression itself. However, on closer inspection, the opposite is true, for freedom of speech and expression is guaranteed precisely by the certainty of language and the fact that every term is anchored in the truth,” he noted.He called it painful to see the space for genuine freedom of expression rapidly shrink, especially in the West.“At the same time, a new Orwellian-style language is developing which, in an attempt to be increasingly inclusive, ends up excluding those who do not conform to the ideologies that are fueling it,” he said.A consequence of this, Leo said, is that the freedom of conscience, another fundamental human right, is increasingly questioned by states.The freedom of conscience, which “establishes a balance between the collective interest and individual dignity,” protects individuals “to refuse legal or professional obligations that conflict with moral, ethical, or religious principles deeply rooted in their personal lives,” such as military service, abortion, or euthanasia.“Conscientious objection is not rebellion but an act of fidelity to oneself,” he underlined.Life and the familyPope Leo urged states to protect the institution of the family as “the vocation to love and to life” manifested in the “exclusive and indissoluble union between a woman and a man” and implying a “fundamental ethical imperative for enabling families to welcome and fully care for unborn life.”Noting the increasing priority of raising birth rates, he emphasized life as a gift to be cherished and said “we categorically reject any practice that denies or exploits the origin of life and its development,” including abortion and surrogacy.He added that the Holy See is also concerned about projects aimed at financing cross-border mobility to increase access to abortion and “considers it deplorable that public resources are allocated to suppress life rather than being invested to support mothers and families.”Pope Leo XIV poses with ambassadors and other diplomatic representatives to the Holy See in the Sistine Chapel on Jan. 9, 2026. | Credit: Vatican MediaFor the sick and elderly, “civil society and states also have a responsibility to respond concretely to situations of vulnerability, offering solutions to human suffering, such as palliative care, and promoting policies of authentic solidarity rather than encouraging deceptive forms of compassion such as euthanasia,” he said.The pontiff underlined the inalienable dignity of every person and that migrants, as people, have “inalienable rights that must be respected in every situation.”“I renew the Holy See’s hope that the actions taken by states against criminality and human trafficking will not become a pretext for undermining the dignity of migrants and refugees,” he said.Pride and self-loveLeo recalled that in Augustine’s “City of God,” the saint interprets events and history according to a model of two cities. The city of God is characterized by God’s unconditional love and love for one’s neighbor, especially the poor, while the earthly city “is centered on pride and self-love (‘amor sui’), on the thirst for worldly power and glory that leads to destruction.”“While St. Augustine highlights the coexistence of the heavenly and earthly cities until the end of time, our era seems somewhat inclined to deny the city of God its ‘right of citizenship,’” the pope noted.“Yet, as Augustine notes, ‘Great is the folly of pride in those individuals who think that the supreme good can be found in this life and that they can become happy by their own resources,’” Leo said. “Pride obscures both reality itself and our empathy towards others. It is no coincidence that pride is always at the root of every conflict.” ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1767967911/_RIS8396_hdakod.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 11 Jan 2026 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, condemns, ‘zeal, for, war, ’, weak, multilateralism, speech, diplomats</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>At consistory, Cardinal Zen slams synodality as ‘ironclad manipulation’ and ‘insult’ to bishops</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/at-consistory-cardinal-zen-slams-synodality-as-ironclad-manipulation-and-insult-to-bishops</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/at-consistory-cardinal-zen-slams-synodality-as-ironclad-manipulation-and-insult-to-bishops</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun speaks at the Asianews Conference at the Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome, Nov. 18, 2014.  -  Bohumil Petrik/CNA.

Jan 10, 2026 / 11:30 am (CNA).
Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun delivered a forceful critique of synodality at the extraordinary consistory of cardinals this week, decrying the process as an “ironclad manipulation” that was an “insult to the dignity of the bishops.” The bishop emeritus of Hong Kong also described the “continual reference to the Holy Spirit” during the 2021-2024 Synod on Synodality as “ridiculous and almost blasphemous.” The cardinal, 93, made his remarks during one of two free discussion periods during the Jan. 7-8 consistory that drew together 170 of the 245 members of the College of Cardinals in Pope Leo XIV’s first major meeting with the sacred college since his election.In impassioned comments, first     reported Jan. 9 by the College of Cardinals Report, the bishop emeritus criticized Pope Francis for bypassing the college of bishops while at the same time Francis was insisting it was an appropriate means for “understanding the hierarchical ministry.”The cardinal questioned the ability of any pope to listen to the entire People of God and whether the laity represent the People of God. He asked if the bishops elected to take part in the synodal process had been able to carry out a work of discernment. “The ironclad manipulation of the process is an insult to the dignity of the bishops, and the continual reference to the Holy Spirit is ridiculous and almost blasphemous,” Zen said. “They expect surprises from the Holy Spirit. What surprises? That he should repudiate what he inspired in the Church’s two-thousand-year tradition?”The cardinal also observed apparent inconsistencies in the synod’s     final document: That it was declared to be part of the magisterium and yet it said it did not establish any norms; that although it stressed unity of teaching and practice, it said these could be applied according to “different contexts;” and that each country or region “can seek solutions better suited to its culture and sensitive to its tradition and needs.”The cardinal also pointed to what he called “many ambiguous and tendentious expressions in the document,” and asked if the Holy Spirit guarantees that “contradictory interpretations will not arise.” Zen openly wondered whether the results of what the document calls “experimenting and testing” of these “new forms of ministeriality” will be submitted to the Synod Secretariat and, if so, whether the secretariat will be “more competent than the bishops to judge different contexts” of the Church in various countries or regions. “If the bishops believe themselves to be more competent, do the differing interpretations and choices not lead our Church to the same division (fracture) found in the Anglican Communion?” the cardinal asked.Regarding the Orthodox Church, Zen said he believes their bishops “will never accept” what he called “Bergoglian synodality” as, for them, synodality is “the importance of the Synod of Bishops.” Pope Francis, he said, “exploited the word synod, but has made the Synod of Bishops — an institution established by Paul VI — disappear.” Zen’s remark was an apparent reference to how the late pope had reshaped the institution by giving non-bishops a formal role, making the institution no longer simply an episcopal advisory body.The Vatican press office and cardinals chosen to speak to the press made no mention of Zen’s remarks during the consistory. In press statements, it was claimed there was no criticism of Pope Francis during the two-day meeting, although Cardinal Stephen Brislin did speak of a “divergence” of opinion, saying some cardinals wanted the concept of synodality to be further clarified. The consistory was a closed-door meeting to which no media were admitted, and cardinals were asked to keep the proceedings confidential. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1745615841/images/size680/Cardinal_Joseph_Zen_Ze_kiun_speaks_at_the_Asianews_Conference_at_the_Pontifical_Urbaniana_University_in_Rome_Nov_18_2014_Credit_Bohumil_Petrik_CNA_CNA_11_19_14.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 11 Jan 2026 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>consistory, Cardinal, Zen, slams, synodality, ‘ironclad, manipulation’, and, ‘insult’, bishops</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>As Maduro faces New York trial, uncertainty lingers for Venezuelan migrants</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/as-maduro-faces-new-york-trial-uncertainty-lingers-for-venezuelan-migrants</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/as-maduro-faces-new-york-trial-uncertainty-lingers-for-venezuelan-migrants</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Millions of Venezuelans live abroad due to the situation in Venezuela, including in the U.S.
The post As Maduro faces New York trial, uncertainty lingers for Venezuelan migrants first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/20260105T1555-MADURO-VENEZUELA-TPS-1810505.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 08 Jan 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Maduro, faces, New, York, trial, uncertainty, lingers, for, Venezuelan, migrants</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Jesuit missionaries and a log chapel: Exploring the Catholic history of Delaware</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/jesuit-missionaries-and-a-log-chapel-exploring-the-catholic-history-of-delaware</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/jesuit-missionaries-and-a-log-chapel-exploring-the-catholic-history-of-delaware</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ As the nation marks the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution this year, this series will examine the origins of the church and Catholic life in each of the 50…
The post Jesuit missionaries and a log chapel: Exploring the Catholic history of Delaware first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/2021-11-20T233209Z_59478264_RC2MYQ95NYJN_RTRMADP_3_USA-BIDEN.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 08 Jan 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Jesuit, missionaries, and, log, chapel:, Exploring, the, Catholic, history, Delaware</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>New Orleans archbishop apologizes to abuse survivors as settlement takes effect</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/new-orleans-archbishop-apologizes-to-abuse-survivors-as-settlement-takes-effect</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/new-orleans-archbishop-apologizes-to-abuse-survivors-as-settlement-takes-effect</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ (OSV News) — Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond of New Orleans has issued a formal apology to abuse survivors in that archdiocese, following last month’s court approval of a $230 million…
The post New Orleans archbishop apologizes to abuse survivors as settlement takes effect first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/20200501T1059-508-CNS-NEW-ORLEANS-BANKRUPTCY-1.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 08 Jan 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>New, Orleans, archbishop, apologizes, abuse, survivors, settlement, takes, effect</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Vatican sees record number of visitors during Jubilee year, officials say</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/vatican-sees-record-number-of-visitors-during-jubilee-year-officials-say</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/vatican-sees-record-number-of-visitors-during-jubilee-year-officials-say</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ An estimated 33 million visitors and pilgrims came to the Vatican to celebrate the Jubilee Year, exceeding early forecasts, officials said.
The post Vatican sees record number of visitors during Jubilee year, officials say first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/20260105T1315-VATICAN-HOLY-YEAR-PRESSER-1810487.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 08 Jan 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Vatican, sees, record, number, visitors, during, Jubilee, year, officials, say</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Indiana University running back carries Catholic values with him into playoffs</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/indiana-university-running-back-carries-catholic-values-with-him-into-playoffs</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/indiana-university-running-back-carries-catholic-values-with-him-into-playoffs</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Indiana University running back Roman Hemby is one of numerous transfers who have helped turn the 2025 Hoosiers into a No. 1-ranked, unbeaten powerhouse.
The post Indiana University running back carries Catholic values with him into playoffs first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/20260105T0832-INDIANA-RUNNING-BACK-HEMBY-1810486.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 08 Jan 2026 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Indiana, University, running, back, carries, Catholic, values, with, him, into, playoffs</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo names New York auxiliary bishop to lead Diocese of Rochester</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-names-new-york-auxiliary-bishop-to-lead-diocese-of-rochester</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-names-new-york-auxiliary-bishop-to-lead-diocese-of-rochester</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Rochester, New York. | Credit: DanielPenfield via Wikimedia (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Jan 7, 2026 / 09:07 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday named New York Auxiliary Bishop John S. Bonnici to lead the Diocese of Rochester, New York.Bonnici, 60, was made an auxiliary bishop for New York in March 2022 after 30 years as a priest of the archdiocese. In Rochester, he succeeds Bishop Salvatore R. Matano, who is 79.Bonnici holds a doctorate from the Pontifical John Paul II Institute in Washington (1995) and a licentiate degree from the Pontifical John Paul II Institute (1992) in Rome, where he also studied at the Pontifical North American College and the Gregorian University (1987–1990) before his ordination.He was born in New York on Feb. 17, 1965, and earned bachelor of science degrees in biology and philosophy from St. John’s University in Queens, New York, in 1987.The Diocese of Rochester serves approximately 306,000 Catholics in the upstate region of the state of New York. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1767786538/SacredHeartCathedralRochesterNewYorkWestView_uitu2l.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 08 Jan 2026 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, names, New, York, auxiliary, bishop, lead, Diocese, Rochester</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV emphasizes relevance of Second Vatican Council before meeting with cardinals</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-emphasizes-relevance-of-second-vatican-council-before-meeting-with-cardinals</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-emphasizes-relevance-of-second-vatican-council-before-meeting-with-cardinals</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV gives the first general audience of 2026 in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall on Jan. 7, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media

Jan 7, 2026 / 09:37 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV began a series of reflections on the Second Vatican Council at his first general audience of 2026 on Wednesday.The public audience, held indoors in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall due to low temperatures, took place shortly before the start of Leo’s first consultation with cardinals, called a consistory, convened for Jan. 7–8.The pope noted that though the Second Vatican Council took place just over 60 years ago, its generation of bishops, theologians, and lay Catholics is no longer alive — necessitating a renewed study of its teachings.“While we hear the call not to let [the council’s] prophecy fade, and to continue to seek ways and means to implement its insights, it will be important to get to know it again closely, and to do so not through ‘hearsay’ or interpretations that have been given, but by rereading its documents and reflecting on their content,” the pope said on the morning of Jan. 7.He affirmed that the magisterium of Vatican II “still constitutes the guiding star of the Church’s journey today.”“As the years have passed, the conciliar documents have lost none of their timeliness; indeed, their teachings are proving particularly relevant to the new situation of the Church and the current globalized society,” he said, quoting Pope Benedict XVI.Pope Leo XIV gives the first general audience of 2026 in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall on Jan. 7, 2026. | Credit: Vatican MediaThe Holy Father also recalled the original impulse of this great ecclesial event, convened by St. John XXIII, which paved “the way for a new ecclesial season” following a “rich biblical, theological, and liturgical reflection spanning the 20th century.”Leo reviewed some of the council’s principal fruits, including that it “rediscovered the face of God as the Father who, in Christ, calls us to be his children.”It also led, he said, to a renewed understanding of the Church “as a mystery of communion and sacrament of unity between God and his people,” and it initiated an important “liturgical reform” by placing the mystery of salvation and the active and conscious participation of the entire people of God at its center.“It helped us to open up to the world and to embrace the changes and challenges of the modern age in dialogue and co-responsibility, as a Church that wishes to open her arms to humanity,” he explained.Quoting St. Paul VI, he stated that the Church embarked on a new path in order “to seek the truth by way of ecumenism, interreligious dialogue, and dialogue with people of goodwill.”That same spirit, he added, “must characterize our spiritual life and the pastoral action of the Church, because we have yet to achieve ecclesial reform more fully in a ministerial sense and, in the face of today’s challenges, we are called to continue to be vigilant interpreters of the signs of the times, joyful proclaimers of the Gospel, courageous witnesses of justice and peace.”“As we approach the documents of Vatican Council II and rediscover their prophetic and contemporary relevance, we welcome the rich tradition of the life of the Church and, at the same time, we question ourselves about the present and renew our joy in running towards the world to bring it the Gospel of the kingdom of God, a kingdom of love, justice, and peace,” he said.This story     was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA&#039;s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1767788878/_SIM5409_kchola.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 08 Jan 2026 18:00:03 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, emphasizes, relevance, Second, Vatican, Council, before, meeting, with, cardinals</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Ahead of consistory, priest urges new canonical structure to resolve Latin Mass standoff</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/ahead-of-consistory-priest-urges-new-canonical-structure-to-resolve-latin-mass-standoff</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/ahead-of-consistory-priest-urges-new-canonical-structure-to-resolve-latin-mass-standoff</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  The concluding high Mass for the Summorum Pontificum Pilgrimage, an annual three-day pilgrimage for devotees of the Traditional Latin Mass, on Oct. 29, 2023, celebrated by Bishop Guido Pozzo at the Church of the Most Holy Trinity of the Pilgrims in Rome. | Credit: Andrea Zuffellato

Jan 7, 2026 / 10:37 am (CNA).
As cardinals gather this week in an extraordinary consistory convened by Pope Leo XIV on Jan. 7–8, a French traditionalist priest has sent a memorandum to members of the Sacred College of Cardinals proposing the creation of an ecclesiastical jurisdiction specifically structured to oversee the celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass in an effort to resolve the liturgical crisis that has marked the Church in recent years.The letter, dated Dec. 24, 2025, and     made public by U.S. journalist Diane Montagna, was written by Father Louis-Marie de Blignières, founder of the Fraternity of St. Vincent Ferrier in 1979 and a senior figure of the post-1988 Ecclesia Dei movement who took part in dialogue with St. John Paul II following Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre’s illicit episcopal consecrations.“Before the consistory, where liturgy will be on the agenda, I take the filial liberty of addressing this short memorandum to you,” de Blignières, 76, wrote at the outset, explaining that his purpose is to suggest “an ecclesial solution that could provide a stable framework for these faithful who are in full communion with the Catholic hierarchy and attached to the ancient Latin rite.”In practical terms, de Blignières proposes the creation of a new Church structure — such as a personal apostolic administration or an ordinariate — similar to a diocese but not tied to a specific territory. Instead of being organized by geography, it would bring together priests and faithful attached to the traditional Latin liturgy under a single authority wherever they are located.De Blignières pointed to existing canonical models, particularly military ordinariates, which exercise what canon law calls “cumulative jurisdiction.” Under this arrangement, priests and faithful attached to the traditional rite would belong to the new jurisdiction while remaining members of their local dioceses. Diocesan bishops would therefore not be bypassed but would share pastoral responsibility with bishops appointed to oversee the proposed structure.According to the letter, this would allow bishops familiar with the 1962 liturgical books to oversee ordinations, confirmations, and other rites specific to the traditional liturgy while relieving diocesan ordinaries who may feel unprepared or reluctant to manage these matters. For the faithful, it would offer clarity and continuity in a context that has often been marked by uncertainty and conflict.“For more than 60 years, this group has continued to exist and to grow, but it lacks the support of a juridical framework adapted to its legitimate needs,” de Blignières wrote. “The creation of dedicated ecclesiastical jurisdictions would move matters forward toward stability, peace, and unity.”The proposal comes amid renewed tensions following Pope Francis’ 2021 motu proprio Traditionis Custodes, which significantly restricted the celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass and reversed the more permissive regime established under Benedict XVI’s 2007 motu proprio Summorum Pontificum.Implementation of Traditionis Custodes has varied widely across dioceses. In some places, bishops have sought pragmatic arrangements to preserve coexistence. In others, traditional communities and liturgical celebrations have been heavily reduced or suppressed. Critics of the current situation argue that this uneven application has contributed to pastoral instability and deepened divisions within the Church, particularly in     France and the U.S.De Blignières framed his proposal not as a challenge to papal authority but as an attempt to offer a constructive way forward. In his view, the absence of a stable juridical solution since the end of the postconciliar liturgical reform has left communities attached to the older rite in a recurring state of vulnerability.Following the illicit episcopal consecrations carried out by Lefebvre in 1988, the Holy See created the     Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei to facilitate the reconciliation of communities attached to the liturgy in use prior to the postconciliar reform.Over the decades that followed, various proposals were already advanced to provide a more stable canonical framework for these communities. One such solution was adopted in 2002 with the establishment of the Personal Apostolic Administration Saint John Mary Vianney in Campos, Brazil, which was granted the faculty to celebrate the sacraments according to the 1962 Roman rite. Other initiatives, including petitions from lay associations such as Una Voce in the United States, did not result in comparable structures elsewhere.Father Matthieu Raffray, superior of the European District of the Institute of the Good Shepherd and a popular public figure among the youth,     commented on the proposal in an interview with Montagna, describing it as a constructive contribution rather than a demand. In his view, the proposal seeks to move beyond what he calls a “sterile” opposition by offering an institutional solution capable of preserving ecclesial communion while recognizing the distinct pastoral reality of communities attached to the vetus ordo.Other Church figures, however, have already expressed reservations. Father Pierre Amar, a priest of the Diocese of Versailles near Paris who is also well known on social media,     claimed that while a dedicated jurisdiction is “one solution,” it is “not the best one” in his view, warning that it could “isolate traditionalists within a structure, where contact and interaction are a source of enrichment for everyone.”The letter was sent to a number of cardinals known for their interest in liturgical questions — 15 by post and approximately 100 by email — but not directly to Pope Leo XIV. Its author presented it explicitly as a contribution to reflection ahead of the consistory rather than as a formal request. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1745614613/images/tlm-3.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 08 Jan 2026 18:00:03 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Ahead, consistory, priest, urges, new, canonical, structure, resolve, Latin, Mass, standoff</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>As consistory opens, Pope Leo XIV tells cardinals ‘I am here to listen’</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/as-consistory-opens-pope-leo-xiv-tells-cardinals-i-am-here-to-listen</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/as-consistory-opens-pope-leo-xiv-tells-cardinals-i-am-here-to-listen</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  The extraordinary consistory of cardinals is taking place from Jan 7-8, 2026. Credit: Vatican Media

Jan 7, 2026 / 19:12 pm (CNA).
In his opening     address at the extraordinary consistory convened for Jan. 7–8, Pope Leo XIV assured the cardinals from around the world gathered at the Vatican that “I am here to listen.”The Holy Father reminded the cardinals, assembled in the Synod Hall, that “as we learned during the two assemblies of the Synod of Bishops in 2023 and 2024,” within the framework of the so-called Synod on Synodality, “the synodal dynamic implies a listening par excellence.”“We are called to get to know one another and to dialogue so that we may work together in serving the Church,” Pope Leo XIV told the cardinals on Jan. 7, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media“Every moment of this kind is an opportunity to deepen our shared appreciation for synodality,” Pope Leo said, recalling that in the speech Pope Francis delivered on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the institution of the Synod of Bishops in 2015, the late pontiff said that it is “precisely this path of synodality which God expects of the Church of the third millennium.”“We must not arrive at a text,” the pope clarified regarding the task of the consistory, “but continue a conversation that will help me in serving the mission of the entire Church.”The 4 themes of the consistoryIn his address, the Holy Father outlined the four themes that will be discussed during the extraordinary consistory. Two of them are named after papal documents of his predecessor, Francis: the apostolic exhortation     Evangelii Gaudium and the apostolic constitution     Praedicate Evangelium.Evangelii Gaudium, he noted, has to do with “the mission of the Church in today’s world,” while Praedicate Evangelium refers to “the service of the Holy See, especially to the particular Churches.”The third and fourth topics will be “synod and synodality,” as “both an instrument and a style of collaboration,” and “the liturgy, the source and summit of Christian life.”However, he clarified, “due to time constraints and in order to encourage a genuinely in-depth analysis, only two of them will be discussed specifically.”“While each of the 21 groups will contribute to the choice that we will make, the groups that will be reporting will be those nine coming from the local Churches, since it is naturally easier for me to seek counsel from those who work in the Curia and live in Rome,” he added.On Jan. 8, he said, the two chosen themes will be addressed with the following question as a guide: “Looking at the path of the next one or two years, what considerations and priorities could guide the action of the Holy Father and of the Curia regarding each theme?”As the consistory proceeds, the pope called on the cardinals to be “attentive to the heart, mind, and spirit of each; listening to one another; expressing only the main point and in a succinct manner, so that all can speak.”“The ancient Romans in their wisdom used to say: ‘Non multa sed multum!’ [Not many things, but much],” Leo pointed out, a phrase understood as prioritizing quality over quantity.“And in the future, this way of listening to one another, seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit and walking together, will continue to be of great help for the Petrine ministry entrusted to me,” he affirmed.“Even the way in which we learn to work together, with fraternity and sincere friendship, can give rise to something new, something that brings both the present and the future into focus,” Leo declared.A conciliar perspectiveFrom the beginning of his address, the pope made clear the perspective of the Second Vatican Council for this consistory, quoting the first paragraph of the dogmatic constitution     Lumen Gentium, which emphasizes that “Christ is the light of the nations” and that it is the Church’s duty to ensure that “all men, joined more closely today by various social, technical, and cultural ties, might also attain fuller unity in Christ.”“We can understand the overall pontificates of St. Paul VI and St. John Paul II within this conciliar perspective, which sees the mystery of the Church as entirely held within the mystery of Christ and thus understands the evangelizing mission as a radiation of the inexhaustible energy released by the central event of salvation history,” Leo XIV said.He then noted that both Benedict XVI and Francis “summarized this vision in one word: attraction.”“Pope Benedict did this in the inaugural homily of the Aparecida Conference in 2007 when he said: ‘The Church does not engage in proselytism. Instead, she grows by ‘attraction’: Just as Christ ‘draws all to himself’ by the power of his love, culminating in the sacrifice of the cross, so the Church fulfills her mission to the extent that, in union with Christ, she accomplishes every one of her works in spiritual and practical imitation of the love of her Lord,’” Leo recalled.“Pope Francis was in perfect agreement with this and repeated it several times in different contexts,” he added.‘Unity attracts, division scatters’Pope Leo XIV also emphasized in his speech that “unity attracts, division scatters. It seems to me that physics also confirms this, both on the microscopic and macroscopic levels.”“Therefore, in order to be a truly missionary Church, one that is capable of witnessing to the attractive power of Christ’s love, we must first of all put into practice his commandment, the only one he gave us after washing his disciples’ feet: ‘Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.’”“And he adds: ‘By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another,’” the pope emphasized.The Holy Father went on to indicate that in the consistory, “we are a very diverse group, enriched by a wide range of backgrounds, cultures, ecclesial and social traditions, formative and academic paths, pastoral experiences, not to mention personal characteristics and traits.”“We are called first to get to know one another and to dialogue, so that we may work together in serving the Church. I hope that we can grow in communion and thus offer a model of collegiality,” he said.This story     was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1767828372/Pope.consis.Jan.7.2026_nk7wga.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 08 Jan 2026 18:00:03 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>consistory, opens, Pope, Leo, XIV, tells, cardinals, ‘I, here, listen’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope says Christian hope doesn’t depend on human calculations</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-says-christian-hope-doesnt-depend-on-human-calculations</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-says-christian-hope-doesnt-depend-on-human-calculations</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV addresses pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican for the recitation of the Angelus on Jan. 4, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Jan 4, 2026 / 05:20 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV said Christian hope “is not based on optimistic forecasts or human calculations” but on God’s decision to share humanity’s path so that no one is alone on life’s journey.Speaking Jan. 4 from the window of the Apostolic Palace to hundreds of faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square despite the rain, the pope said the foundation of Christian hope is “God’s Incarnation,” pointing to the day’s Gospel reading from the Prologue of St. John: “The Word became flesh and lived among us” (Jn 1:14).On the second Sunday after Christmas, before reciting the Angelus, Leo urged believers to rethink their faith and avoid an abstract or distant spirituality. “He is not a distant deity in a perfect heaven above us, but a God who is nearby and inhabits our fragile earth, who becomes present in the faces of our brothers and sisters, and reveals himself in the circumstances of daily life,” he said.The pope also underscored that the Incarnation calls for a concrete and consistent commitment, including examining whether one’s spirituality and the ways faith is expressed are “truly incarnate.” “God has become flesh; therefore, there is no authentic worship of God without care for humanity,” he said, linking Christian faith to solidarity with those who suffer.After the Angelus, Leo reiterated his closeness to those affected by the New Year’s Eve fire in a bar in the Alpine town of Crans-Montana, Switzerland, where young people had been celebrating. Swiss authorities have confirmed at least 40 dead and about 115 injured, many of them seriously.“I wish to express once again my closeness to those suffering as a result of the tragedy in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, and to assure them of my prayers for the young people who died, for the injured, and for their families,” the pope said.He also said he was following developments in Venezuela “with deep concern” and that “the good of the beloved Venezuelan people must prevail over every other consideration.” His remarks came a day after news of the U.S. capture and arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. The pope urged that the country’s sovereignty and rule of law be guaranteed.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1767625510/images/tre0019-1.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 07 Jan 2026 18:00:03 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, says, Christian, hope, doesn’t, depend, human, calculations</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Vatican says more than 33 million pilgrims took part in jubilee</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/vatican-says-more-than-33-million-pilgrims-took-part-in-jubilee</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/vatican-says-more-than-33-million-pilgrims-took-part-in-jubilee</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Seminarians approach the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica, Tuesday, June 24, 2025 - Credit: Courtney Mares/CNA

Vatican City, Jan 5, 2026 / 04:00 am (CNA).
More than 33.4 million pilgrims traveled to Rome to participate in the Jubilee of Hope, surpassing initial projections, the Vatican said Monday.Archbishop Rino Fisichella, pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, said 33,475,369 pilgrims ultimately took part in the jubilee — nearly 2 million more than the Vatican’s initial estimate of 31.7 million.He also said the final group to pass through the Holy Door on Monday will be staff from the Dicastery for Evangelization, the principal organizers of the holy year, at 5:30 p.m. local time.The solemn closing of the holy year will take place Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. local time, when Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to close the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica in a ceremony expected to be attended by Italian President Sergio Mattarella, civil authorities, and large numbers of faithful.The Holy Door is scheduled to be opened again in eight years, in 2033, for the Jubilee of the Redemption.In his assessment of the jubilee, Fisichella described the year as extraordinary in many respects and noted its unusual historical arc: The jubilee began under Pope Francis and concludes under Pope Leo XIV — a transition he said underscored the complexity of the organizational effort.He also pointed to major events that unfolded alongside the jubilee calendar, including the funeral of Pope Francis on April 26 and the election of his successor, Leo XIV, on May 8, saying those developments were integrated into the jubilee schedule amid an exceptional succession of events.Pilgrims from 185 countriesAccording to official Vatican data presented Monday, pilgrims from 185 countries took part in jubilee events. By geographic area, Europe accounted for 62.63% of participants, followed by North America (16.54%), South America (9.44%), and Asia (7.69%). The remaining pilgrims came from Oceania (1.14%), Central America and the Caribbean (1.04%), Africa (0.95%), and the Middle East (0.46%).By country, Italy represented 36.34% of pilgrims, followed by the United States (12.57%) and Spain (6.23%). Other leading countries included Brazil (4.67%), Poland (3.69%), Germany (3.16%), the United Kingdom (2.81%), China (2.79%), Mexico (2.37%), and France (2.31%). The Vatican also recorded significant participation from Argentina, Canada, Portugal, Colombia, Australia, the Philippines, Slovakia, Indonesia, and Austria.Fisichella said that beginning in May — around the time of Leo XIV’s election — Rome saw an unexpected increase in pilgrims, which he said was managed with close attention in a city that remained under international media focus throughout the year.How the count was madeFisichella said the initial projections were based on a study by the faculty of sociology at Roma Tre University and were intended as an early planning guide.He said the primary count was made at St. Peter’s Basilica’s Holy Door, where a camera automatically recorded the number of pilgrims passing through each day.For the other three papal basilicas — St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major, and St. Paul Outside the Walls — the Vatican applied percentages based on the flow recorded at St. Peter’s, supplemented by volunteer counts using manual clickers. Attendance at major jubilee events and audiences was also tracked and cross-checked with registrations made through the official jubilee website.Rome mayor cites lasting legacy and spendingRome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri said the Jubilee of Hope has left a lasting legacy for the city, both in infrastructure and in institutional governance, pointing to what he described as a “jubilee method” of sustained cooperation among public administrations.Gualtieri said the jubilee program included 332 interventions, with 204 already completed or partially completed. He added that street works in Rome were about 90% finished, with the remaining 10% scheduled for completion in 2026.He also said government funding specifically allocated for jubilee-related works totaled 1.725 billion euros ($2.02 billion). According to Gualtieri, 75% of those resources were used for interventions completed or partially completed, while spending for essential, nondeferrable interventions reached 90%.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1751922898/images/holydoorseminarians.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 07 Jan 2026 18:00:03 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Vatican, says, more, than, million, pilgrims, took, part, jubilee</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>St. Carlo Acutis’ parents helped develop new Vatican City State app</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/st-carlo-acutis-parents-helped-develop-new-vatican-city-state-app</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/st-carlo-acutis-parents-helped-develop-new-vatican-city-state-app</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  The news app for Vatican City State, developed with support from the family of St. Carlo Acutis. | Credit: Vatican City State/Screenshot

Vatican City, Jan 5, 2026 / 05:20 am (CNA).
The parents of St. Carlo Acutis contributed to the development of a new official news application connected to the institutional website of the Vatican City State,     www.vaticanstate.va, an initiative presented as part of an ongoing digital renewal and as a tribute to the young saint, often held up as a model for evangelizing through new technologies.After downloading the app, users can read a message of thanks from the Governorate of Vatican City State to Andrea and Antonia Acutis, Carlo’s parents.“The Governorate of Vatican City State thanks Andrea and Antonia Acutis who, on the occasion of the canonization of their son Carlo, generously contributed to the creation and development of the News App of the official website     www.vaticanstate.va,” the message reads.The new application, officially launched over the weekend, is dedicated to the Italian saint, who died of leukemia in 2006 at age 15 and is frequently remembered for his computer prowess.The platform is designed to provide fast, intuitive access to news, notices, and official communications from the Vatican Governorate, aiming to improve navigation and accessibility to institutional information.The app includes several sections, including “saint of the day,” news, interviews, videos, and direct links to other institutions of the Governorate, such as the Gendarmerie Corps, the Vatican Museums, the Vatican Pharmacy, Poste Vaticane, the Pontifical Villas, and the Vatican Observatory.According to the report, additional features will be implemented progressively.The app’s launch comes after     the institutional website of the Holy See received a graphic overhaul following the May 8 election of Pope Leo XIV. That portal now features a more modern design, including a sky-blue background and an image of the pope greeting the faithful, updating a site that has been online since December 1995.The Vatican City State app is available as a free download for iOS and Android devices.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1767711847/images/whatsapp-image-2026-01-05-at-2.37.13-pm.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 07 Jan 2026 18:00:03 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>St., Carlo, Acutis’, parents, helped, develop, new, Vatican, City, State, app</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV closes St. Peter’s Holy Door, concluding Jubilee of Hope</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-closes-st-peters-holy-door-concluding-jubilee-of-hope</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-closes-st-peters-holy-door-concluding-jubilee-of-hope</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV closes the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica, concluding the Jubilee of Hope, on Jan. 6, 2026. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Jan 6, 2026 / 07:00 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV on Tuesday closed the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica, bringing the ordinary holy year to an end — a time of grace that invited Catholics to conversion, reconciliation, and hope.The pontiff processed toward the Holy Door as the antiphon “O clavis David” was sung. Reaching the threshold, he knelt before the door and remained for a few minutes in silent prayer. He then rose and, at 9:41 a.m., pushed shut the two large bronze doors — a gesture that visibly marked the end of the jubilee season.“With thankful hearts we now prepare to close this Holy Door, crossed by a multitude of faithful, certain that the Good Shepherd always keeps the door of his heart open to welcome us whenever we feel weary and oppressed,” Leo XIV said in an address before the concluding gesture that ended the ecclesial event, ordinarily held every 25 years to offer the faithful the possibility of obtaining a plenary indulgence.With these words, Leo XIV emphasized that even though the jubilee has ended, God’s mercy remains ever open to believers.Before closing the doors, the Holy Father pronounced in Latin the formula prescribed by the rite, following a practice established in 1975 and later simplified by St. John Paul II during the Jubilee of the Year 2000.In keeping with the simplified celebration, the public rite did not include the portion involving the construction of a brick wall and was limited to the closing of the bronze doors. The masonry work itself will be carried out later, privately, about 10 days after this public rite.The act will be overseen by the Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff. The so-called “sampietrini” — personnel of the Fabric of St. Peter, including carpenters, cabinetmakers, and electricians who normally handle basilica maintenance — will build the brick wall inside the basilica to definitively seal the Holy Door.During this private rite — without cameras or journalists — the traditional metal capsule (“capsis”) will be inserted into the wall. It will contain the official act of closure, coins minted during the jubilee year, and the keys of the Holy Door as a material and symbolic testimony of the holy year that, as the pope noted, has ended on the calendar but not in the spiritual life of the Church.Leo XIV then recited the prayer of thanksgiving for the ordinary holy year, proclaiming: “This Holy Door is closed, but the door of your mercy is not closed.”The formula concluded with an invocation that the “treasures” of divine grace would remain open “so that, at the end of our earthly pilgrimage, we may confidently knock at the door of your house and enjoy the fruits of the tree of life.”The Jubilee of Hope was instituted on Dec. 24, 2024, by Pope Francis but, after his death in April 2025, was concluded by his successor, Leo XIV — a situation not seen since the year 1700. The last ordinary jubilee (celebrated every 25 years) took place in 2000.Jubilees may also be celebrated at “extraordinary” moments, such as the Jubilee of Mercy celebrated by Francis in 2015 or the one to be convoked in 2033 to commemorate the two millennia of the death and resurrection of Jesus.After closing the Holy Door, Leo XIV presided over Mass for the solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord inside St. Peter’s Basilica, bringing the day’s liturgical celebration to its conclusion.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/sim2123.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 07 Jan 2026 18:00:03 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, closes, St., Peter’s, Holy, Door, concluding, Jubilee, Hope</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV says God is found in humble places, not in prestige</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-says-god-is-found-in-humble-places-not-in-prestige</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-says-god-is-found-in-humble-places-not-in-prestige</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican on Jan. 6, 2026. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News

Vatican City, Jan 6, 2026 / 08:45 am (CNA).
Celebrating the solemnity of the Epiphany in St. Peter’s Basilica on Tuesday, Pope Leo XIV said God’s saving presence is revealed not “in a prestigious location” but “in a humble place” and urged Catholics to protect what is holy and newly born — “small, vulnerable, fragile” — in a world that often seeks to profit from everything.“The child whom the Magi adore is a priceless and immeasurable good. It is the Epiphany of a gift. It does not occur in a prestigious location but in a humble place,” the pope said in his homily, delivered during a Mass that also included the closing of the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica, the last Holy Door to be shut at the end of the jubilee year.Reflecting on the Gospel account of the Magi’s journey (Matthew 2:1-12), Leo contrasted the joy of those who seek Christ with the fear of Herod, who “tries to take advantage of the wishes of the Magi by manipulating their quest.” “Fear does indeed blind us,” he said. “Conversely, the joy of the Gospel liberates us. It makes us prudent, yes, but also bold, attentive, and creative; it beckons us along ways that are different to those already traveled.”In one of the final major liturgies of his first Christmas season as pope, Leo also warned against the spiritual dangers of a distorted economy that turns even humanity’s deepest longings into a commodity.“Loving and seeking peace means protecting what is holy and, consequently, that which is newly born like a small, vulnerable, fragile baby. Around us, a distorted economy tries to profit from everything. We see how the marketplace can turn human yearnings of seeking, traveling, and beginning again into a mere business,” he said.The pope pointed to the “stream of innumerable men and women, pilgrims of hope” who crossed the Holy Door during the jubilee and asked what the Church offered them — and what she must offer going forward.“Millions of them crossed the threshold of the Church. What did they find?” he asked, adding that “the spiritual searching of our contemporaries, much richer than perhaps we can comprehend, invites us to earnest reflection.”After the jubilee year, he continued, Catholics should examine whether they have learned to recognize God’s presence in those they encounter: “After this year, will we be better able to recognize a pilgrim in the visitor, a seeker in the stranger, a neighbor in the foreigner, and fellow travelers in those who are different?”Leo also urged Catholics not to reduce churches to museums but to ensure they are places where faith is alive and hope is born anew.“If we do not reduce our churches to monuments, if our communities are homes, if we stand united and resist the flattery and seduction of those in power, then we will be the generation of a new dawn,” he said.Angelus: Replace the industry of war with the craft of peaceFollowing the Mass, Pope Leo XIV appeared at the central loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica to pray the Angelus and again linked the Epiphany to the end of the jubilee year, emphasizing that Christian hope must be lived concretely in the world.“Dear friends, the hope that we proclaim must be grounded in reality, for Jesus came down from heaven in order to create a new story here below,” he said.In a pointed appeal for peace, he prayed: “May strangers and enemies become brothers and sisters. In the place of inequality, may there be fairness, and may the industry of war be replaced by the craft of peace. As weavers of hope, let us journey together towards the future by another road.”After the Marian prayer, the pope greeted children and young people around the world on Missionary Childhood Day and thanked them for praying for missionaries and helping those in need. He also offered good wishes for serenity and peace to Eastern Christian communities preparing to celebrate Christmas according to the Julian calendar.This story was first published in two parts by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner, and has been adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/whatsapp-image-2026-01-06-at-10.33.30-am.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 07 Jan 2026 18:00:03 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, says, God, found, humble, places, not, prestige</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Washington Roundup: Trump drops National Guard deployment, Roberts says Constitution remains ‘firm’</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/washington-roundup-trump-drops-national-guard-deployment-roberts-says-constitution-remains-firm</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/washington-roundup-trump-drops-national-guard-deployment-roberts-says-constitution-remains-firm</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ President Donald Trump said Dec. 31 he would drop, for now, his administration&#039;s efforts to deploy National Guard troops after a series of legal defeats.
The post Washington Roundup: Trump drops National Guard deployment, Roberts says Constitution remains ‘firm’ first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/2025-10-22T220615Z_198036251_RC29HHAAL9DB_RTRMADP_3_USA-TRUMP-PORTLAND-scaled.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 04 Jan 2026 18:00:03 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Washington, Roundup:, Trump, drops, National, Guard, deployment, Roberts, says, Constitution, remains, ‘firm’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Kentucky, Wisconsin bishops issue statements affirming dignity of migrants</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/kentucky-wisconsin-bishops-issue-statements-affirming-dignity-of-migrants</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/kentucky-wisconsin-bishops-issue-statements-affirming-dignity-of-migrants</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ In separate statements, Catholic bishops in Kentucky and Wisconsin urged political leaders to seek immigration reform that upholds the dignity of migrants.
The post Kentucky, Wisconsin bishops issue statements affirming dignity of migrants first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/useuptop20260102T1641-KY-BISHOPS-STATEMENT-IMMIGRATION-1810426.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 04 Jan 2026 18:00:03 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Kentucky, Wisconsin, bishops, issue, statements, affirming, dignity, migrants</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Catholic influencer says son is ‘already in heaven at work’ after losing flu battle</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/catholic-influencer-says-son-is-already-in-heaven-at-work-after-losing-flu-battle</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/catholic-influencer-says-son-is-already-in-heaven-at-work-after-losing-flu-battle</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ (OSV News) — Catholic influencer Paul J. Kim announced his 5-year-old son Micah “flew into the gates of heaven like a shooting star” after succumbing to influenza and sepsis, and he…
The post Catholic influencer says son is ‘already in heaven at work’ after losing flu battle first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Screenshot-2026-01-02-at-7.26.09aE¯AM-copy-e1767387029473.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 04 Jan 2026 18:00:03 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Catholic, influencer, says, son, ‘already, heaven, work’, after, losing, flu, battle</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Israel bans dozens of aid groups from Gaza, including Caritas, drawing condemnation</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/israel-bans-dozens-of-aid-groups-from-gaza-including-caritas-drawing-condemnation</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/israel-bans-dozens-of-aid-groups-from-gaza-including-caritas-drawing-condemnation</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Aid organizations whose licenses have been revoked include Doctors Without Borders, Oxfam, CARE and World Vision International.
The post Israel bans dozens of aid groups from Gaza, including Caritas, drawing condemnation first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/useuptop20260102T1501-ISRAEL-BAN-NGO-GAZA-1810407.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 04 Jan 2026 18:00:03 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Israel, bans, dozens, aid, groups, from, Gaza, including, Caritas, drawing, condemnation</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Trump’s order and Pope Leo’s vision for regulating AI: Can they converge?</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/trumps-order-and-pope-leos-vision-for-regulating-ai-can-they-converge</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/trumps-order-and-pope-leos-vision-for-regulating-ai-can-they-converge</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ How do we balance the freedom to innovate and guard against known harms of AI? Catholic social teaching has a human-first answer.
The post Trump’s order and Pope Leo’s vision for regulating AI: Can they converge? first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/20250827T1013-AI-CHALLENGES-TIGHE-INTV-1803176.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 04 Jan 2026 18:00:03 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Trump’s, order, and, Pope, Leo’s, vision, for, regulating, AI:, Can, they, converge</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV on New Year’s Eve: The future is in God’s hands</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-on-new-years-eve-the-future-is-in-gods-hands</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-on-new-years-eve-the-future-is-in-gods-hands</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV presides over first vespers (evening prayer) in St. Peter&#039;s Basilica in anticipation of the Jan. 1 solemnity of Mary, Mother of God on Dec. 31, 2025. Credit: Vatican Media.

Dec 31, 2025 / 15:00 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV at a New Year’s Eve prayer service reflected on God’s divine plan of salvation for the world — and the hope of ordinary people.“The world moves forward in this way, propelled by the hope of so many simple people — unknown to the world but not to God — who, despite everything, believe in a better tomorrow, because they know that the future is in the hands of the One who offers them the greatest hope,” the pope said in St. Peter’s Basilica on Dec. 31.Leo presided over first vespers (evening prayer) in anticipation of the Jan. 1 solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. The liturgy included hymns, Psalms, readings from Scripture, and the singing of the “Te Deum,” a Latin hymn of thanksgiving from the early Church.In his homily, the pontiff spoke about God’s plan versus the plans the world makes.“In our own time we feel the need for a wise, benevolent, merciful plan — one that is free and liberating, peaceful and faithful, like the plan that the Virgin Mary proclaimed in her canticle of praise: ‘From generation to generation his mercy is upon those who fear him’ (Lk 1:50),” he said.But, Leo noted, the world is enveloped in other plans: “Strategies aimed at conquering markets, territories, spheres of influence — armed strategies, cloaked in hypocritical rhetoric, ideological proclamations, and false religious motives.”However, the holy Mother of God sees things with God’s eyes, the pope continued. She knows that “with the power of his arm the Most High scatters the schemes of the proud, casts the mighty from their thrones and lifts up the lowly, fills the hungry with good things and sends the rich away empty.”Pope Leo XIV presides over first vespers (evening prayer) in St. Peter’s Basilica on Dec. 31, 2025, in anticipation of the Jan. 1 solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. | Credit: Vatican MediaThe Holy Father referenced the words of the Apostle Paul in Galatians 4, that “when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children.”The apostle presents the mystery of Christ as “a great plan for human history,” Leo said. “A mysterious plan, yet one with a clear center, like a lofty mountain illuminated by the sun in the midst of a dense forest: This center is the ‘fullness of time.’”On the vigil of the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, he emphasized Mary’s motherhood and her role in the revelation of the great mystery and paradox of “a God who is born of a virgin.”Pope Leo XIV presides over first vespers (evening prayer) in St. Peter’s Basilica in anticipation of the Jan. 1 solemnity of Mary, Mother of God on Dec. 31, 2025. | Credit: Vatican Media“The mother of Jesus is the woman with whom God, in the fullness of time, wrote the Word that reveals the mystery,” he said. “He did not impose it; he first proposed it to her heart, and once her ‘yes’ was received, he wrote it with ineffable love in her flesh,” he said.“Thus God’s hope became intertwined with Mary’s hope,” he added.Pope Leo pointed out that the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, concludes the Octave of Christmas and “spans the passage from one year to the next and extends over it the blessing of the One ‘who is, who was, and who is to come’ (Rv 1:8).”“The liturgy of the first vespers of the Mother of God possesses a singular richness, deriving both from the dizzying mystery it celebrates and from its placement at the very end of the solar year,” he said.Recalling that the Church is at the end of the Jubilee Year 2025, he added that the “Te Deum” prayer, to be sung at the end of the liturgy, “seems to expand so as to give voice to all the hearts and faces that have passed beneath these vaults and through the streets of this city.”Pope Leo XIV visits the Nativity scene in St. Peter’s Square on Dec. 31, 2025. | Credit: Vatican Media“We thank God for the gift of the jubilee, which has been a great sign of his plan of hope for humanity and for the world. And we thank all those who, during the months and days of 2025, have worked in service to the pilgrims and to make Rome more welcoming,” he said.“What can we wish for Rome?” he continued. “That it may be worthy of its smallest ones: of children, of elderly people who are alone and frail, of families who struggle most to make ends meet, of men and women who have come from afar hoping for a dignified life.”After the prayer service, Pope Leo visited the Nativity scene in St. Peter’s Square, a papal custom, while the Swiss Guard Band gave its annual Christmas concert.He then personally greeted the band and some of the people gathered in the square.    
        Pope Leo celebrates First Vespers of the Feast of Saint Mary, Most Holy Mother of God and Te Deum of Thanksgiving on New Year’s Eve in St. Peter’s Basilica, emphasizing in his homily the paradox of “a God born of a virgin, blessing the passing of one year to the next with Him,… pic.twitter.com/nKFQuNCDgh— EWTN Vatican (@EWTNVatican) December 31, 2025



     ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1767205859/_RIS1996_zbwmvg.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 03 Jan 2026 18:00:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, New, Year’s, Eve:, The, future, God’s, hands</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>How to obtain a plenary indulgence for the end of 2025 and the beginning of 2026</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/how-to-obtain-a-plenary-indulgence-for-the-end-of-2025-and-the-beginning-of-2026</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/how-to-obtain-a-plenary-indulgence-for-the-end-of-2025-and-the-beginning-of-2026</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Credit: Wirestock Creators/Shutterstock

Dec 31, 2025 / 16:00 pm (CNA).
On New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31, and the first day of 2026, the Catholic Church offers the opportunity to obtain plenary indulgences as a sign of God’s mercy and the desire for the sanctification of all her members.A plenary indulgence is remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven.Indulgences on Dec. 31On the eve of the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, the Church grants a plenary indulgence to those Christian faithful who publicly recite the “Te Deum,” thanking God for the year that is ending. This blessing is extended especially on Dec. 31.To recite the “Te Deum,” click     here.Indulgences on Jan. 1Likewise, on Jan. 1, the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, a plenary indulgence is granted to those who publicly recite the hymn “Veni Creator,” imploring blessings for the new year that is beginning.To recite the “Veni Creator,” click     here.Additionally, those who devoutly receive the papal blessing “urbi et orbi” (“for the city and for the world”), either through radio, television, or the internet, as well as those who devoutly receive the blessing of the bishop of their diocese, will also be able to obtain these special blessings from the Church.Conditions to obtain a plenary indulgenceIn addition to performing the specific work mentioned above, the following conditions must be met:First, it is necessary to be detached from all sin, even venial sin.Second, one must make a sacramental confession, receive Communion, and pray for the pope’s intentions. These conditions can be met a few days before or after carrying out the action prescribed to obtain the indulgence, but it is suggested that Communion and prayer be performed on the same day that the action is carried out.It is important to note that several indulgences can be obtained through a single confession, although frequent participation in the sacrament of reconciliation is recommended in order to deepen one’s conversion and purity of heart.As for receiving Communion and praying for the intentions of the Holy Father, it should be noted that with just one Communion and one prayer, made on the same day, a plenary indulgence is obtained.Finally, the condition of praying for the intentions of the supreme pontiff is fulfilled by reciting one Our Father and one Hail Mary. However, each Christian is given the right to use any other formula according to his personal piety and devotion.What is a plenary indulgence?A plenary indulgence is a grace granted by the Catholic Church through the merits of Jesus Christ to remove the temporal punishment due to sin.It is not a forgiveness of sin but the remission of punishment for sins already forgiven. It may apply either to oneself or to souls already in purgatory.In order to obtain a plenary indulgence the faithful must — in addition to being in the state of grace — both have the interior disposition of complete detachment from sin (even venial sin), have sacramentally confessed their sins and received the Eucharist (either within or outside of Mass), and must pray for the intentions of the Holy Father.The conditions for a plenary indulgence can be fulfilled a few days before or after performing the actions specified to gain the indulgence, but it is appropriate that Communion and the prayer take place on the same day that the work is completed.This story     was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1745613948/images/peopleinchurch092624.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 03 Jan 2026 18:00:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>How, obtain, plenary, indulgence, for, the, end, 2025, and, the, beginning, 2026</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Leo XIV: The world is saved by welcoming all without fear</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/leo-xiv-the-world-is-saved-by-welcoming-all-without-fear</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/leo-xiv-the-world-is-saved-by-welcoming-all-without-fear</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican on Jan. 1, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Jan 1, 2026 / 02:05 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV called Catholics to a steadfast openness to other people, warning that peace will not be built through force or exclusion, as he celebrated his first liturgy of the new year on Thursday.“The world is not saved by sharpening swords, nor by judging, oppressing, or eliminating our brothers and sisters,” the pope said in his homily for the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. Rather, he added, it is saved by “tirelessly striving to understand, forgive, liberate, and welcome everyone, without calculation and without fear.”As is customary for the Jan. 1 Mass, a large group of diplomats accredited to the Holy See attended the liturgy in St. Peter’s Basilica, underlining the international scope of the Church’s prayer for peace on the World Day of Peace, observed each year on the first day of January.A blessing for a new beginningAt the start of his     homily, Leo XIV pointed to the ancient biblical blessing proclaimed in the liturgy: “May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord let his face shine on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord uncover his face to you and bring you peace” (Num 6:24-26). He recalled that this blessing was addressed to a people set free, Israel after slavery in Egypt, and he drew a parallel to the Christian life at the opening of a new year.“For each of us, every day can be the beginning of a new life, thanks to God’s generous love, his mercy, and the response of our freedom,” he said. The coming year, he continued, can be seen “as an open journey to be discovered,” lived with confidence “free and bearers of freedom, forgiven and bringers of forgiveness,” trusting in “the closeness and goodness of the Lord who accompanies us always.”Mary’s ‘yes’ and the human face of mercyThe pope centered his reflection on the mystery of the Incarnation and Mary’s decisive role in salvation history. “By her ‘yes,’ she helped give a human face to the source of all mercy and benevolence: the face of Jesus,” he said.Leo XIV invited the faithful to contemplate God’s love through Christ’s life: “Through his eyes — first as a child, then as a young man and as an adult — the Father’s love reaches us and transforms us.”He urged Catholics to begin the year with renewed confidence in that love: “Let us ask the Lord to help us experience at every moment, around us and upon us, the warmth of his fatherly embrace and the light of his benevolent gaze.”‘Unarmed and disarming’ peaceEchoing the theme he chose for this year’s     World Day of Peace message, Leo XIV returned repeatedly to the image of God’s humility revealed in the Nativity. Citing St. Augustine, he emphasized “the complete gratuity of his love” and described God’s approach to humanity as one of radical vulnerability.“As I emphasized in the message for this World Day of Peace, God presents himself to us ‘unarmed and disarming,’ as naked and defenseless as a newborn in a cradle,” the pope said.That divine “style,” he suggested, is the model for Christian action in a world tempted by coercion, retaliation, and fear. Christian witness, he said, should reflect a God who does not overwhelm but invites, and who heals rather than humiliates.Mary the disciple who ‘laid aside every defense’Leo XIV also reflected on Mary’s path after Bethlehem, presenting her not only as mother but also as disciple. He described her as one who followed Jesus “with the heart of a humble disciple… all the way to the cross and the Resurrection.”“To do so, she too laid aside every defense,” he said, renouncing “expectations, claims, and comforts,” and “consecrating her life without reserve to the son she had received by grace.”In Mary’s divine motherhood, the pope added, the Church sees “the meeting of two immense, ‘unarmed’ realities”: God, who “renounces every privilege of his divinity to be born in the flesh” (cf. Phil 2:6-11), and the human person who embraces God’s will, offering “the greatest power she possesses: her freedom.”A renewed missionNear the end of the homily, Leo XIV recalled a Jan. 1 homily of St. John Paul II that invited Christians to begin again with courage after the Jubilee of 2000. As the Church approaches the conclusion of the Jubilee of Hope, Leo XIV urged the faithful to return to the Nativity with faith and then step forward with renewed commitment.“Let us approach it as the place of ‘unarmed and disarming’ peace par excellence,” he said, and then, “like the humble witnesses at the grotto,” to set out once more, “glorifying and praising God” (Lk 2:20) for what they have seen and heard.“This be our commitment and our resolve for the months ahead, and, indeed, for the whole of our Christian lives,” he concluded.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1767366259/images/mat7515-1.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 03 Jan 2026 18:00:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Leo, XIV:, The, world, saved, welcoming, all, without, fear</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV urges prayers for peace in bloodied nations and wounded families</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-urges-prayers-for-peace-in-bloodied-nations-and-wounded-families</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-urges-prayers-for-peace-in-bloodied-nations-and-wounded-families</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV addresses pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican for recitation of the Angelus on Jan. 1, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Jan 1, 2026 / 02:30 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV on Thursday urged Catholics to pray for peace, “first, among nations bloodied by conflict and suffering,” and also “within our homes, in families wounded by violence or pain,” during the Angelus address on the first day of 2026.Greeting pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, and the 59th World Day of Peace, the pope     reflected on the start of a new year as a time to renew hope and reconciliation.“While the rhythm of passing months repeats itself, the Lord invites us to renew our times by finally ushering in an era of peace and friendship among all peoples,” he said. “Without this desire for the good, there would be no point in turning the pages of the calendar and filling our diaries.”Leo also looked back on the jubilee, which he said “is about to end,” noting that it has taught the Church to cultivate hope for a new world by converting hearts to God, so as “to transform wrongs into forgiveness, pain into consolation, and resolutions of virtue into good works.”The pope then turned to the Marian feast, saying Christmas today “directs our gaze towards Mary, who was the first to experience Christ’s beating heart.” He evoked “the silence of her virginal womb,” where “the Word of life presents himself as a heartbeat of grace.”“God, the good creator, has always known Mary’s heart and our hearts,” Leo said. “By becoming man, he makes his heart known to us.” He added that the heart of Jesus “beats for every man and woman,” both for those who welcome him and for those who reject him.“His heart is not indifferent to those who have no heart for their neighbor,” the pope said. “It beats for the righteous, so that they may persevere in their dedication, as well as for the unrighteous, so that they may change their lives and find peace.”At the end of the Angelus, Leo greeted the tens of thousands of pilgrims in the square and offered “good wishes of peace.” He also returned to the theme of the World Day of Peace, recalling that it has been celebrated on Jan. 1 since 1968 at the request of St. Paul VI.In his message for the day, Leo said he wanted to repeat the wish he felt the Lord gave him at the start of his pontificate: “Peace be with you all!”“A peace that is unarmed and disarming, which comes from God, a gift of his unconditional love, and is entrusted to our responsibility,” he said.“Dear friends, with the grace of Christ, let us begin today to build a year of peace, disarming our hearts and refraining from all violence,” the pope continued.Leo also expressed appreciation for peace initiatives held around the world, mentioning a national march held the previous evening in Catania and greeting participants in a march organized by the Community of Sant’Egidio.He offered greetings as well to a group of students and teachers from Richland, New Jersey, and to the Romans and pilgrims present.Finally, the pope noted that 2026 marks the eighth centenary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi, and he invoked a biblical blessing for the new year: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.”“May the Holy Mother of God guide us on our journey in the new year,” Leo said. “Best wishes to everyone!”This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1767366250/images/mat7889.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 03 Jan 2026 18:00:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, urges, prayers, for, peace, bloodied, nations, and, wounded, families</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Key dates on the agenda of the pope and Vatican for 2026</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/key-dates-on-the-agenda-of-the-pope-and-vatican-for-2026</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/key-dates-on-the-agenda-of-the-pope-and-vatican-for-2026</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV waves from the popemobile in St. Peter’s Square in October 2025. Credit: Vatican Media

Jan 1, 2026 / 07:00 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV is preparing for a very busy year at the Vatican in 2026, with important events such as the conclusion of the Jubilee of Hope and his first consistory of cardinals since his election on May 8, 2025.1. Closing of the Jubilee of Hope — Jan. 6On Jan. 6, the solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, Pope Leo XIV will celebrate the Mass and perform the rite for the closing the Holy Door in St. Peter’s Basilica, bringing to an end the Jubilee of Hope that Pope Francis began on Dec. 24, 2024. This liturgical act officially closes a year that, according to the papal bull     Spes non Confundit, has been experienced as “a time of grace and hope” for the global Church.Pope Leo XIV walks through the Holy Door carrying the jubilee cross while leading the Holy See’s pilgrimage on June 9, 2025. Credit: Vatican Media2. Extraordinary consistory of cardinals — Jan. 7–8Following the conclusion of the jubilee, the pope has convened an extraordinary consistory of cardinals for Jan. 7–8. This type of meeting is usually reserved for discussing major doctrinal, institutional, or pastoral issues affecting the entire Church. Its scheduling in the days immediately following the close of the holy year underscores the pope’s intention to set a new course after the intense experience of the jubilee.3. Extraordinary restoration in the Sistine Chapel — JanuaryBeginning in January, the Vatican Museums will undertake extraordinary conservation work on Michelangelo’s “Last Judgment” fresco in the Sistine Chapel, which will continue until March, with the expectation of completion before Holy Week. This project addresses the need to preserve the masterpiece in light of the impact of millions of visitors each year.4. Appeal hearing in the Becciu case — Feb. 3The appeal hearing in the case concerning the management of funds by the Secretariat of State of the Holy See in the purchase of a building in London has been postponed until Feb. 3. Spanish judge Alejandro Arellano Cedillo, dean of the Roman Rota, presides over the three-judge panel hearing the appeal of 77-year-old Cardinal Angelo Becciu. On Dec. 16, 2023, the cardinal was convicted of embezzlement and barred from holding public office. He was also fined 8,000 euros ($9,400).5. Second World Children’s Day — Sept. 25–27Pope Leo XIV has announced the celebration of the second World Children’s Day, which will take place in Rome Sept. 25–27. Organized by the Dicastery for the Laity, the Family, and Life, this event aims to bring together thousands of children and families from around the world for a time of encounter, prayer, and celebration for peace and the future of children.Pope Leo XIV blesses a newborn baby. Credit: Vatican MediaPossible international trips for Pope Leo XIV in 2026Although the official travel schedule is not yet finalized, the pontiff has expressed a desire to visit several countries during 2026:— Algeria, an African country with deep ties to St. Augustine, is still in the planning stages as part of a possible continental itinerary.— Argentina and Uruguay have been mentioned as possible destinations, along with an extended visit to Peru and Mexico, with a particular interest in visiting the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, one of the most visited Marian shrines in the world.— There is also a strong possibility of an upcoming papal trip to Spain.This story     was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1766441013/leoOct25_fgbhdc.webp" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 03 Jan 2026 18:00:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Key, dates, the, agenda, the, pope, and, Vatican, for, 2026</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Dispensation in Columbus diocese for those who fear immigration crackdown pursuit</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/dispensation-in-columbus-diocese-for-those-who-fear-immigration-crackdown-pursuit</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/dispensation-in-columbus-diocese-for-those-who-fear-immigration-crackdown-pursuit</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ (OSV News) — Bishop Earl K. Fernandes of Columbus, Ohio, has granted a dispensation from Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation to Catholics without authorization to stay in the…
The post Dispensation in Columbus diocese for those who fear immigration crackdown pursuit first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2020-03-02T000000Z_777382664_RC2DBF9YG1KT_RTRMADP_3_USA-IMMIGRATION.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 31 Dec 2025 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Dispensation, Columbus, diocese, for, those, who, fear, immigration, crackdown, pursuit</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Puerto Rico Catholic governor signs historic personhood law for the unborn</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/puerto-rico-catholic-governor-signs-historic-personhood-law-for-the-unborn</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/puerto-rico-catholic-governor-signs-historic-personhood-law-for-the-unborn</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Father Carlos Pérez Toro, a civil lawyer graduate of Inter American University of Puerto Rico School of Law, explained to OSV News the new law&#039;s implications.
The post Puerto Rico Catholic governor signs historic personhood law for the unborn first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/20251230T1525-PUERTO-RICO-PERSONHOOD-1810307.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 31 Dec 2025 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Puerto, Rico, Catholic, governor, signs, historic, personhood, law, for, the, unborn</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Wisconsin man’s Catholic faith revived after finding bishop’s crosier in scrapyard</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/wisconsin-mans-catholic-faith-revived-after-finding-bishops-crosier-in-scrapyard</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/wisconsin-mans-catholic-faith-revived-after-finding-bishops-crosier-in-scrapyard</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ ST. PAUL, Minn. (OSV News) — A bishop’s golden crosier, or hooked staff symbolizing his office, found in a Minnesota scrapyard has drawn the man who discovered it into a journey…
The post Wisconsin man’s Catholic faith revived after finding bishop’s crosier in scrapyard first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Helgeson_with_Archbishop_Hebda.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 31 Dec 2025 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Wisconsin, man’s, Catholic, faith, revived, after, finding, bishop’s, crosier, scrapyard</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>‘Knives Out’ discovers the strange, attractive light of the Christian story</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/knives-out-discovers-the-strange-attractive-light-of-the-christian-story</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/knives-out-discovers-the-strange-attractive-light-of-the-christian-story</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The new “Knives Out” movie is out on Netflix, and Catholic commentators are rightly fascinated by its winsome portrayal of a young Catholic priest, the protagonist accused of committing the…
The post ‘Knives Out’ discovers the strange, attractive light of the Christian story first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/WUDM_20240806_32194_R.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 31 Dec 2025 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>‘Knives, Out’, discovers, the, strange, attractive, light, the, Christian, story</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Why is New Year’s Day a holy day of obligation?</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/why-is-new-years-day-a-holy-day-of-obligation</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/why-is-new-years-day-a-holy-day-of-obligation</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ If the church&#039;s new year begins on the first Sunday of Advent, then why is New Year&#039;s Day a holy day of obligation?
The post Why is New Year’s Day a holy day of obligation? first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2025-12-29T170654Z_670086469_RC2GQIAHCL0K_RTRMADP_3_NEW-YEAR-USA-NEW-YORK-CONFETTI.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 31 Dec 2025 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Why, New, Year’s, Day, holy, day, obligation</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV: To let God work in your life, you have to empty yourself</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-to-let-god-work-in-your-life-you-have-to-empty-yourself</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-to-let-god-work-in-your-life-you-have-to-empty-yourself</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV meets with a group of pilgrims from St. Thomas of Villanova Parish in Alcalá de Henares, Spain, on Dec. 29, 2025, in the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican. | Credit: Vatican Media

Dec 29, 2025 / 14:48 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV on Monday explained that in order to allow God’s action in our personal lives, people must “empty” themselves and cultivate a deep inner life.The pontiff made the observation during a Dec. 29 audience at the Apostolic Palace with a group of pilgrims from St. Thomas of Villanova Parish in Alcalá de Henares, Spain.The event took place in the context of the Jubilee Year of Hope, which the Holy Father described as “a particularly significant time for the Church.” Leo XIV thanked the pilgrims for their spiritual closeness and support for the successor of Peter “with their prayers and generosity,” emphasizing that this is “a gesture of communion and closeness.”In his greeting, the pope recalled the figure of     St. Thomas of Villanova, an Augustinian Spanish bishop and the patron saint of the pilgrims’ parish, highlighting that he was a man “open to God’s action in his life.” “That openness led him to do much good,” Pope Leo said.The pontiff invited the faithful to be inspired by some of the distinctive traits of the Spanish saint, beginning with his intense spiritual life.Recognize talents, put them at service of community“In his life and in his writings, he reveals to us an unceasing search for continuous prayer; that is, a holy restlessness to be in God’s presence at every moment,” he said. This attitude involves profound interiority, emptying yourself to listen to and allow the Lord to work.”Leo XIV also highlighted the saint’s “sobriety and simplicity” as well as “his selfless labor,” especially in the university setting, and his “apostolic zeal.” The pope emphasized that all these attitudes lead us to believe that “we must recognize the talents we have received and put them at the service of the community, with effort and dedication, so that they may multiply for the benefit of all,” especially in a world that “seems to offer us everything more and more quickly and easily.”He also highlighted the simplicity of St. Thomas of Villanova (1486–1555), historically known as the “Archbishop of the Poor” or the “Almsgiver of God” because of his immense charity. “I would like to emphasize his love for the poor,” he said.Referring to the parish life of the pilgrims, Leo XIV expressed his gratitude for their concrete sensitivity toward those most in need, reminding them that “the poor are not only someone to be helped but the sacramental presence of the Lord.”This story     was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1767039173/Parr.Villanueva.Dec.2025_wnzhhh.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 31 Dec 2025 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV:, let, God, work, your, life, you, have, empty, yourself</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>PHOTOS: Unforgettable moments from the 2025 papal transition</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/photos-unforgettable-moments-from-the-2025-papal-transition</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/photos-unforgettable-moments-from-the-2025-papal-transition</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  The coffin of Pope Francis rests before the altar at the funeral Mass on St. Peter’s Square, April 26, 2025. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

Vatican City, Dec 30, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).
2025 began with Catholics around the world uniting in prayer for Pope Francis’ health as he entered the hospital on Feb. 14. He was admitted to Gemelli Hospital in Rome for a respiratory infection that progressed to bilateral pneumonia, requiring a prolonged hospitalization that lasted almost six weeks.Soon after, on March 29, the pontiff was readmitted into the hospital with difficulty breathing. On April 21, the day after Easter, Pope Francis passed away at the age of 88 from a stroke, coma, and irreversible cardiovascular collapse, according to the death certificate published just over 12 hours after his death.On April 26, more than 400,000 people filled St. Peter’s Square for the funeral of Pope Francis as the world said goodbye to the first Latin American pope who led the Catholic Church for 12 years. Then on May 7, 133 cardinal electors gathered from all corners of the globe in the Sistine Chapel for the start of the conclave to elect a new pope. After four ballots, Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected on May 8 as the 267th bishop of Rome and leader of the Catholic Church. He took the name Pope Leo XIV. A Chicago native, he became the first American pope in Church history.Here are some of the most impactful images from the papal transition — beginning with Pope Francis’ last general audience before being admitted to the hospital, the start of the conclave, and the election of Pope Leo: Pope Francis greets visitors at his general audience at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. Credit: Vatican MediaThe first photo of Pope Francis after entering Gemelli Hospital on Feb. 14, 2025. Credit: Holy See Press OfficePope Francis waves from a balcony at Gemelli Hospital in Rome on Sunday, March 23, 2025, following weeks of hospitalization for bilateral pneumonia. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNAThe body of Pope Francis lies in state at the Vatican&#039;s Domus Sanctae Marthae chapel, surrounded by Swiss Guards, cardinals, and Vatican officials paying their respects before his transfer to St. Peter&#039;s Basilica for public veneration, Monday, April 21, 2025. Credit: Vatican MediaPope Francis&#039; hands are seen as his body lies in state at the Vatican&#039;s Domus Sanctae Marthae chapel, Monday, April 21, 2025. Credit: Vatican MediaPallbearers carry the wooden coffin of Pope Francis, marked with a cross, into St. Peter&#039;s Square for the funeral Mass on April 26, 2025. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNAAn aerial view of St. Peter&#039;s Square filled with thousands of mourners, clergy, and dignitaries gathered for Pope Francis&#039; funeral Mass under clear blue skies in Vatican City on April 26, 2025. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNATables and chairs sit in the Sistine Chapel waiting for the arrival of cardinals for the conclave to elect the next pope, Tuesday, May 6, 2025. Credit: Vatican MediaCardinals prepare to begin the conclave to elect a new pope in the Sistine Chapel on May 7, 2025. Credit: Vatican MediaWhite smoke billows from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel on May 8, 2025, as the crowds cheer on St. Peter’s Square. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNAPope Leo XIV waves to pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square shortly after his election on Thursday, May 8, 2025. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNAPope Leo XIV prays at the tomb of Pope Francis at the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Vatican City, Saturday, May 10, 2025. Credit: Vatican MediaPope Leo XIV waves during the inaugural Mass of his pontificate, held in St. Peter&#039;s Square on May 18, 2025. He stands in front of a Flemish tapestry depicting the dialogue between Jesus and Peter after the miraculous catch of fish. Credit: Vatican Media ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/whatsapp-image-2025-04-26-at-18.37.41-1.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 31 Dec 2025 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>PHOTOS:, Unforgettable, moments, from, the, 2025, papal, transition</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV warns against gambling, which ‘ruins many families’</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-warns-against-gambling-which-ruins-many-families</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-warns-against-gambling-which-ruins-many-families</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Credit: Zolnierek/Shutterstock

Dec 30, 2025 / 10:45 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV warned about the danger that gambling poses to many families during a Dec. 29 audience with members of the National Association of Italian Municipalities.At the beginning of his address, delivered in the Apostolic Palace of the Vatican, the Holy Father explained that “the incarnation of the Son of God brings us face to face with a child, whose gentle fragility is in stark contrast to the crushing power of King Herod.”In this context, he emphasized that “the massacre of the innocents ordered by him not only represents a loss of a future for society but is also a manifestation of an inhuman power that does not know the beauty of love because it disregards the dignity of human life.”On the contrary, the pope explained that the birth of the Lord “reveals the most authentic aspect of all power, which is above all responsibility and service,” and noted that all authority must “embody the virtues of humility, honesty, and communion.”The pontiff thus alluded to the public commitment of the Italian association, reminding them of the importance of listening “as a social dynamic that activates these virtues,” specifically “to the needs of families and individuals, especially caring for the most vulnerable, for the good of all.”Pope Leo XIV focused his attention on certain realities that require special attention, such as the difficulties faced by families and young people as well as the loneliness of the elderly and the “silent cry of the poor.”In this regard, he emphasized that “our cities are not anonymous places but rather faces and stories that must be safeguarded like precious treasures.”He also quoted     Venerable Giorgio La Pira, known as “the holy mayor” of Florence, who maintained that his fundamental duty was to care for and alleviate anyone who was suffering. In this way, the pope stated that “social cohesion and civic harmony require, first and foremost, listening to the least among us and the poor.”He then urged the members of the National Association of Italian Municipalities to “become models of dedication to the common good, fostering a social alliance for hope.”Problem of gambling addictionAfter lamenting that cities are experiencing forms of marginalization, violence, and loneliness “that demand to be addressed,” Pope Leo specifically warned against gambling, “which ruins many families.” Citing the latest report from Caritas Italy, he emphasized that this type of gambling addiction is a “serious problem of education, mental health, and social trust.”“We cannot forget other forms of loneliness from which many people suffer: mental disorders, depression, cultural and spiritual poverty, and social abandonment. These are signs that indicate how much hope is needed. To bear witness to it effectively, politics is called to forge authentically human relationships among citizens, promoting social peace,” the pontiff said.He also urged that administrative activity promote “the talents of individuals, giving cultural and spiritual depth to cities.”At the end of his address, he asked the members of the association to have “the courage to offer hope to the people, planning together the best future for their lands, in the logic of integral human development.”This story     was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1745612367/images/Casino_gambling_Credit_Zolnierek_Shutterstock_CNA.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 31 Dec 2025 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, warns, against, gambling, which, ‘ruins, many, families’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>More than 3 million people attended Vatican audiences and ceremonies in 2025</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/more-than-3-million-people-attended-vatican-audiences-and-ceremonies-in-2025</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/more-than-3-million-people-attended-vatican-audiences-and-ceremonies-in-2025</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Aerial view of St. Peter’s Square filled with thousands of mourners including clergy and dignitaries gathered for Pope Francis’ funeral Mass under a clear blue sky on April 26, 2025, in Vatican City. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News

Dec 30, 2025 / 15:56 pm (CNA).
During the year 2025, the participation of the faithful in audiences and liturgical celebrations at the Vatican reached a total of 3,176,620 people.The Vatican released on Dec. 30 the attendance figures for liturgical celebrations in 2025, a year marked by the Jubilee of Hope, the death of Pope Francis, and the election in May of Pope Leo XIV.Under the pontificate of Pope Francis, who died on April 21, a total attendance of 262,820 faithful was recorded. The largest crowds were at the Angelus, with 130,000 people, followed by the liturgical celebrations, which drew 62,000 faithful.The general and jubilee audiences were attended by 60,500 people, while the total for special audiences was 10,320. The months with the highest attendance were January and February, especially for the Angelus and liturgical celebrations.Pope Francis did not preside over any ceremonies or hold any meetings or audiences during the month of March due to his extended stay at Gemelli Hospital in Rome.For Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate, which began on May 8, a total of 2,913,800 faithful attended various events. General and jubilee audiences had the greatest participation, drawing 1,069,000 people, followed by the Angelus, with 900,000 in attendance, and liturgical celebrations, which drew 796,500 faithful.Special audiences brought together 148,300 people. The months with the highest attendance were September, October, and December, with October standing out for the large number of attendees at general audiences.This story     was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1767123857/plaza-san-pedro-pf-301225-1767095877_rmqwiw.webp" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 31 Dec 2025 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>More, than, million, people, attended, Vatican, audiences, and, ceremonies, 2025</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV urges families to keep the flame of love alive</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-urges-families-to-keep-the-flame-of-love-alive</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-urges-families-to-keep-the-flame-of-love-alive</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV greets pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican for the recitation of the Angelus on Dec. 28, 2025. | Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Dec 28, 2025 / 08:30 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV on Sunday urged Christian families to “cherish the values of the Gospel” and protect the “flame of love” in their homes against modern myths of success, power, and comfort that he said often leave people isolated and divided.Speaking to pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square before the Angelus on Dec. 28, the feast of the Holy Family of Nazareth, the pope     reflected on the Gospel account of the family’s flight into Egypt and contrasted the trust of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph with what he called the fear-driven cruelty of King Herod.“It is a moment of trial for Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,” Leo said, adding that “the bright image of Christmas is suddenly almost eclipsed by the disturbing shadow of a deadly threat.”The pope described Herod as “a cruel and bloodthirsty man” who is “deeply lonely and gripped with the fear of being deposed.” After hearing from the Magi that the “king of the Jews” had been born, Herod “decrees that all children of the same age as Jesus should be killed,” the pope said.“In Bethlehem there is light and joy,” Leo noted, recalling the shepherds who “have glorified God before the manger,” but he said “none of this can penetrate the armored defenses of the royal palace, except as a distorted echo of a threat to be stifled with blind violence.”Against that backdrop, the pope said the Holy Family reveals “the only possible answer of salvation,” namely, “God who, in total gratuitousness, gives himself to men without reserve and without pretension.”Leo pointed to St. Joseph’s obedience in protecting Mary and Jesus, saying that “the gesture of Joseph is revealed in all its redemptive significance.” He added: “In Egypt, the flame of domestic love, to which the Lord has entrusted his presence in the world, grows and gains strength in order to bring light to the whole world.”Turning to families today, the pope warned that “the world always has its ‘Herods,’ its myths of success at any cost, of unscrupulous power, of empty and superficial well-being” and said societies often “pay the price in the form of loneliness, despair, divisions, and conflicts.”“Let us not allow these mirages to suffocate the flame of love in Christian families,” he said.Instead, Leo urged families to cultivate “prayer, frequent reception of the sacraments, especially confession and Communion, healthy affections, sincere dialogue, fidelity, and the simple and beautiful concreteness of everyday words and gestures.” He said such family life can make homes “a light of hope for the places in which we live; a school of love and an instrument of salvation in God’s hands.”After the Angelus, the pope greeted pilgrims from several Italian parishes and groups. He also renewed his appeal for peace, asking Catholics to remember those suffering because of conflict.“In the light of the Nativity of the Lord, let us continue to pray for peace,” he said. “Today, in particular, let us pray for families suffering because of war, especially for children, elderly, and the most vulnerable.”This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1767020689/images/mat5116.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 30 Dec 2025 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, urges, families, keep, the, flame, love, alive</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV sends 3 truckloads of humanitarian aid to Ukraine</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-sends-3-truckloads-of-humanitarian-aid-to-ukraine</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-sends-3-truckloads-of-humanitarian-aid-to-ukraine</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV addresses pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican for recitation of the Angelus on Dec. 28, 2025. | Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Dec 28, 2025 / 09:00 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV has sent three trucks carrying humanitarian aid to parts of Ukraine hit hardest by bombardments, where residents are facing severe shortages of electricity, water, and heat.Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, the pope’s almoner, disclosed the delivery to Vatican media on Dec. 27, saying the convoy carried special food that can be dissolved in a small amount of water to produce energy-rich soups with chicken and vegetables.Krajewski described the shipment as a small gesture of closeness from the pope to Ukrainian families on the feast of the Holy Family, celebrated Dec. 28.The trucks, he said, arrived in the Vatican shortly before Christmas loaded with supplies donated by South Korean food company Samyang Foods. As had happened on previous occasions, including during the pontificate of Pope Francis, the aid was then redirected to war zones most severely affected by strikes, where basic utilities are often unavailable.Krajewski said the delivery underscores that the pope not only prays for peace but also wants to be concretely present with families who are suffering.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1767020680/images/mat5054.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 30 Dec 2025 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, sends, truckloads, humanitarian, aid, Ukraine</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>To turn away others is to turn away God, pope says on Christmas Eve</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/to-turn-away-others-is-to-turn-away-god-pope-says-on-christmas-eve</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/to-turn-away-others-is-to-turn-away-god-pope-says-on-christmas-eve</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ If people refuse to make room for others -- like the poor, children and the stranger -- then they also refuse to make room for God, Pope Leo XIV said as he celebrated the birth of Jesus.
The post To turn away others is to turn away God, pope says on Christmas Eve first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/122425_ChristmasEveMass-9-scaled.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 27 Dec 2025 18:00:03 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>turn, away, others, turn, away, God, pope, says, Christmas, Eve</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Arriving at the manger with Caryll Houselander</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/arriving-at-the-manger-with-caryll-houselander</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/arriving-at-the-manger-with-caryll-houselander</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Have you ever wondered what the course of Mary&#039;s thoughts were on that first Christmas day? Just what did her contemplation reveal?
The post Arriving at the manger with Caryll Houselander first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/20251006T0500-2025-CHRISTMAS-MARY-AT-MANGER-1804013.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 27 Dec 2025 18:00:03 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Arriving, the, manger, with, Caryll, Houselander</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Barrett discusses Dobbs decision, Roe’s ‘flawed’ reasoning, life at the court, her faith</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/barrett-discusses-dobbs-decision-roes-flawed-reasoning-life-at-the-court-her-faith</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/barrett-discusses-dobbs-decision-roes-flawed-reasoning-life-at-the-court-her-faith</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ &quot;Roe told Americans what they should agree to, rather than what they have already agreed to in the Constitution,&quot; Justice Barrett said.
The post Barrett discusses Dobbs decision, Roe’s ‘flawed’ reasoning, life at the court, her faith first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/usethis20251223T2051-BARRON-JUSTICE-BARRETT-INTV-1810053.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 27 Dec 2025 18:00:03 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Barrett, discusses, Dobbs, decision, Roe’s, ‘flawed’, reasoning, life, the, court, her, faith</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Bishop: To welcome immigrants is to follow God’s ‘divine command’ to care for the stranger</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/bishop-to-welcome-immigrants-is-to-follow-gods-divine-command-to-care-for-the-stranger</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/bishop-to-welcome-immigrants-is-to-follow-gods-divine-command-to-care-for-the-stranger</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ &quot;Immigration isn&#039;t politics -- it&#039;s part of our DNA as people of faith. God commands us to welcome the immigrant, to love the foreigner.&quot;
The post Bishop: To welcome immigrants is to follow God’s ‘divine command’ to care for the stranger first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/uptop20251223T1555-PROVIDENCE-IMMIGRATION-FORM-1810055.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 27 Dec 2025 18:00:03 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Bishop:, welcome, immigrants, follow, God’s, ‘divine, command’, care, for, the, stranger</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Jesuit search, recovery of migrant remains finds bodies of 2 women in difficult desert terrain</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/jesuit-search-recovery-of-migrant-remains-finds-bodies-of-2-women-in-difficult-desert-terrain</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/jesuit-search-recovery-of-migrant-remains-finds-bodies-of-2-women-in-difficult-desert-terrain</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Heidi Cerneka has volunteered in searches every month in the Chihuahuan Desert for the past two years and almost every time, each site had human remains.
The post Jesuit search, recovery of migrant remains finds bodies of 2 women in difficult desert terrain first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/useuptop20251223T1439-JESUITS-SEARCH-RESCUE-MISSION-DESERT-1810067.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 27 Dec 2025 18:00:03 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Jesuit, search, recovery, migrant, remains, finds, bodies, women, difficult, desert, terrain</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope at Christmas Day Mass says wars fed by falsehoods send young people to their deaths</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-at-christmas-day-mass-says-wars-fed-by-falsehoods-send-young-people-to-their-deaths-10466</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-at-christmas-day-mass-says-wars-fed-by-falsehoods-send-young-people-to-their-deaths-10466</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican on Dec. 25, 2025. / Credit: Daniel Ibañez/EWTN News

Vatican City, Dec 25, 2025 / 06:35 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV on Christmas Day deplored the “falsehoods” used to justify wars that leave young people “forced to take up arms” and “sent to their deaths,” while also drawing attention to the humanitarian suffering of displaced people, including families living in tents in Gaza.In his first Christmas as pope, Leo celebrated Christmas Day Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica, reviving a practice not seen since 1994 during the pontificate of St. John Paul II. Reflecting on the prologue of St. John’s Gospel, the pope said in his homily that the Christmas liturgy highlights a striking contrast: God’s Word, which acts with power, comes into the world in utter weakness.“The ‘Word’ is a word that acts,” Leo said. Yet, he added, “the Word of God appears but cannot speak. He comes to us as a newborn baby who can only cry and babble.”Leo said the mystery Christians celebrate at Christmas cannot be separated from the vulnerability of those whose dignity is assaulted by war, displacement, and poverty. He urged Catholics to let Christ’s birth pierce complacency and move them toward tenderness and solidarity.“‘Flesh’ is the radical nakedness that, in Bethlehem as on Calvary, remains even without words — just as so many brothers and sisters, stripped of their dignity and reduced to silence, have no words today,” he said.In one of the homily’s most striking passages, Leo connected the Gospel image of the Word “pitching” his tent among humanity with the reality faced by families living in makeshift shelters amid conflict.“Dear brothers and sisters, since the Word was made flesh, humanity now speaks, crying out with God’s own desire to encounter us. The Word has pitched his fragile tent among us,” he said, before asking: “How, then, can we not think of the tents in Gaza, exposed for weeks to rain, wind, and cold; and of those of so many other refugees and displaced persons on every continent; or of the makeshift shelters of thousands of homeless people in our own cities?”The pope also described the toll of war in terms of both shattered communities and wounded consciences.“Fragile is the flesh of defenseless populations, tried by so many wars, ongoing or concluded, leaving behind rubble and open wounds,” he said. “Fragile are the minds and lives of young people forced to take up arms, who on the front lines feel the senselessness of what is asked of them and the falsehoods that fill the pompous speeches of those who send them to their deaths.”Leo framed Christmas as a proclamation that peace is not merely a hope for the future but a gift already present in Christ, even when few recognize it. Quoting Jesus’ words to the disciples, he said: “‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you’ (Jn 14:27).”That peace, he said, begins not in rhetoric but in concrete compassion that listens, stays close, and responds to suffering.“When the fragility of others penetrates our hearts, when their pain shatters our rigid certainties, then peace has already begun,” he said. “The peace of God is born from a newborn’s cry that is welcomed, from weeping that is heard. It is born amidst ruins that call out for new forms of solidarity.”The pope warned that believers can bury what the Gospel calls “the power to become children of God” by keeping their distance from the vulnerable.“Becoming children of God is a true power — one that remains buried so long as we keep our distance from the cry of children and the frailty of the elderly, from the helpless silence of victims and the resigned melancholy of those who do the evil they do not want,” he said.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/whatsapp-image-2025-12-25-at-10.40.35-am.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 27 Dec 2025 18:00:03 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Christmas, Day, Mass, says, wars, fed, falsehoods, send, young, people, their, deaths</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV: Christians have no enemies, only brothers and sisters</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-christians-have-no-enemies-only-brothers-and-sisters</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-christians-have-no-enemies-only-brothers-and-sisters</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV addresses pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican for the recitation of the Angelus on Dec. 26, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Dec 26, 2025 / 07:17 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV on Friday urged Christians to resist the temptation to treat others as enemies, saying the mystery of Christmas calls believers to recognize the God-given dignity of every person, even in their adversaries.“Christians, however, have no enemies, but brothers and sisters, who remain so even when they do not understand each other,” the pope said Dec. 26 during his Angelus address from the Apostolic Palace on the feast of St. Stephen, the Church’s first martyr.Leo acknowledged that “those who believe in peace and have chosen the unarmed path of Jesus and the martyrs are often ridiculed, excluded from public discourse,” and sometimes even “accused of favoring adversaries and enemies.” Yet, he said Christian joy is sustained by “the tenacity of those who already live in fraternity.”Reflecting on St. Stephen’s martyrdom, the pope noted that early Christians spoke of the saint’s “birthday,” convinced “that we are not born just once” and that “martyrdom is a birth into heaven.”Citing the Acts of the Apostles, Leo recalled that those who witnessed Stephen’s trial and death “saw that his face was like the face of an angel” (Acts 6:15), calling it “the face of one who does not leave history indifferently but responds to it with love.”The pope linked Stephen’s witness to the meaning of Christmas, saying “the birth of the Son of God among us calls us to live as children of God,” drawing believers through the humility of Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds of Bethlehem.At the same time, he said, the beauty of Christ and of those who imitate him can be rejected because it exposes injustice and threatens those “who struggle for power.”“To this day, however, no power can prevail over the work of God,” Leo said, pointing to people around the world who choose justice “even at great cost,” who “put peace before their fears,” and who serve the poor.“In the current conditions of uncertainty and suffering in the world, joy might seem impossible,” he added, but insisted hope still “sprouts” and “it makes sense to celebrate despite everything.”The pope said Stephen’s final act of forgiveness mirrors Jesus’ own, flowing from “a force more real than that of weapons,” a “gratuitous force” rekindled when people learn to look at their neighbor with “attention and recognition.” “Yes, this is what it means to be reborn, to come once more into the light, this is our ‘Christmas!’” he said.After the Angelus, Leo renewed his Christmas wishes “for peace and serenity,” greeted pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square, and asked St. Stephen’s intercession for persecuted Christians and communities suffering for their faith. He also encouraged those working amid conflict to pursue “dialogue, reconciliation, and peace.”This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/tre9199.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 27 Dec 2025 18:00:03 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV:, Christians, have, enemies, only, brothers, and, sisters</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV on Christmas night: Make room for others</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-on-christmas-night-make-room-for-others</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-on-christmas-night-make-room-for-others</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV celebrates Christmas Mass during the Night in a packed St. Peter’s Basilica on Dec. 24, 2025. / Credit: Daniel Ibanez/CNA

Vatican City, Dec 24, 2025 / 17:30 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV, at Christmas Mass during the Night, said Christ’s birth brings light into the world’s darkness — and where the human person is welcomed, God is welcomed too.“To enlighten our blindness, the Lord chose to reveal himself as a man to man, his true image, according to a plan of love that began with the creation of the world,” the pope said in his homily in St. Peter’s Basilica on Dec. 24.“As long as the night of error obscures this providential truth, then ‘there is no room for others either, for children, for the poor, for the stranger,’” he added, quoting Pope Benedict XVI’s homily at Christmas Mass on Dec. 24, 2012.“These words of Pope Benedict XVI remain a timely reminder that on earth, there is no room for God if there is no room for the human person,” the pontiff said.Leo celebrated the Christmas Mass, also known as midnight Mass, for a packed Vatican basilica at 10 p.m. The Vatican said an estimated 6,000 people were inside the basilica for the Mass, while another 5,000 people followed the papal Mass via jumbo screens in St. Peter’s Square.In a surprise before the Mass, the pope stepped outside St. Peter’s Basilica to greet those who were forced to stay in the rainy square because there was no more room inside.“The basilica of St. Peter’s is very large, but unfortunately it is not large enough to receive all of you,” Leo said, thanking everyone for their presence, wishing them a merry Christmas, and bestowing his apostolic blessing.Just now: Pope Leo surprised and blessed the crowd that could not get into St. Peter’s Basilica for tonight’s Christmas Eve Mass. “The basilica of St. Peter is very large, but unfortunately, it is not large enough to receive all of you. Tante grazie per venire qui questa sera.” pic.twitter.com/vMK1Zmibl8— EWTN Vatican (@EWTNVatican) December 24, 2025 The preparatory readings and the sung Proclamation of the Birth of Christ — also called the Kalenda Proclamation — preceded the Mass. The pontiff removed a cloth to reveal a wooden sculpture of the Christ Child, placed in front of the main altar of the basilica, after the chanting of the Kalenda Proclamation. A group of 10 children dressed in traditional clothing from different parts of the world brought flowers to the figure of baby Jesus.In his homily, the pope recalled that, “for millennia, across the earth, peoples have gazed up at the sky” attempting to read the future in the stars. Yet, they remained lost and in the dark, he said. “On this night, however, ‘the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light’ (Is 9:2).”“Born in the night is the One who redeems us from the night,” Leo said. “The hint of the dawning day is no longer to be sought in the distant reaches of the cosmos, but by bending low, in the stable nearby.Pope Leo invited Christians to marvel at the wisdom of Christmas, through which “God gives the world a new life: his own, offered for all.”“He does not give us a clever solution to every problem but a love story that draws us in. In response to the expectations of peoples, he sends a child to be a word of hope. In the face of the suffering of the poor, he sends one who is defenseless to be the strength to rise again. Before violence and oppression, he kindles a gentle light that illumines with salvation all the children of this world,” he said.The pontiff quoted a sermon of St. Augustine, who said “human pride weighed you down so heavily that only divine humility could raise you up again.”“While a distorted economy leads us to treat human beings as mere merchandise, God becomes like us, revealing the infinite dignity of every person,” Leo said. “While humanity seeks to become ‘god’ in order to dominate others, God chooses to become man in order to free us from every form of slavery. Will this love be enough to change our history?” ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/christmas-night-2025-1.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 26 Dec 2025 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, Christmas, night:, Make, room, for, others</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Full text: Pope Leo XIV’s Christmas night homily</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/full-text-pope-leo-xivs-christmas-night-homily</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/full-text-pope-leo-xivs-christmas-night-homily</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV venerates a statue of the child Jesus during the celebration of Christmas Mass during the Night in St. Peter’s Basilica on Dec. 24, 2025. / Credit: Daniel Ibanez/CNA

Vatican City, Dec 24, 2025 / 17:31 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV celebrated Christmas Mass during the Night in St. Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday. The Mass was attended by an estimated 6,000 people inside the basilica, while around 5,000 people gathered outside in St. Peter&#039;s Square, according to the Vatican.Below is the full text of the pope’s Christmas night homily:Dear brothers and sisters,For millennia, across the earth, peoples have gazed up at the sky, giving names to the silent stars, and seeing images therein. In their imaginative yearning, they tried to read the future in the heavens, seeking on high for a truth that was absent below amidst their homes. Yet, as if grasping in the dark, they remained lost, confounded by their own oracles. On this night, however, “the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined” (Is 9:2).Behold the star that astonishes the world, a spark newly lit and blazing with life: “To you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord” (Lk 2:11). Into time and space — in our midst — comes the One without whom we would not exist. He who gives his life for us lives among us, illuminating the night with his light of salvation. There is no darkness that this star does not illumine, for by its light all humanity beholds the dawn of a new and eternal life.It is the birth of Jesus, Emmanuel. In the Son made man, God gives us nothing less than his very self, in order to “redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own” (Titus 2:14). Born in the night is the One who redeems us from the night. The hint of the dawning day is no longer to be sought in the distant reaches of the cosmos, but by bending low, in the stable nearby.The clear sign given to a darkened world is indeed “a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger” (Lk 2:12). To find the Savior, one must not gaze upward, but look below: The omnipotence of God shines forth in the powerlessness of a newborn; the eloquence of the eternal Word resounds in an infant’s first cry; the holiness of the Spirit gleams in that small body, freshly washed and wrapped in swaddling clothes. The need for care and warmth becomes divine since the Son of the Father shares in history with all his brothers and sisters. The divine light radiating from this Child helps us to recognize humanity in every new life.To heal our blindness, the Lord chooses to reveal himself in each human being, who reflect his true image, according to a plan of love begun at the creation of the world. As long as the night of error obscures this providential truth, then “there is no room for others either, for children, for the poor, for the stranger” (Benedict XVI, Homily, Christmas Mass during the Night, 24 December 2012).These words of Pope Benedict XVI remain a timely reminder that on earth, there is no room for God if there is no room for the human person. To refuse one is to refuse the other. Yet, where there is room for the human person, there is room for God; even a stable can become more sacred than a temple, and the womb of the Virgin Mary become the Ark of the New Covenant.Let us marvel, dear brothers and sisters, at the wisdom of Christmas. In the Child Jesus, God gives the world a new life: his own, offered for all. He does not give us a clever solution to every problem, but a love story that draws us in. In response to the expectations of peoples, he sends a child to be a word of hope. In the face of the suffering of the poor, he sends one who is defenseless to be the strength to rise again. Before violence and oppression, he kindles a gentle light that illumines with salvation all the children of this world. As St. Augustine observed, “human pride weighed you down so heavily that only divine humility could raise you up again” (St. Augustine, Sermon 188, III, 3). While a distorted economy leads us to treat human beings as mere merchandise, God becomes like us, revealing the infinite dignity of every person. While humanity seeks to become “god” in order to dominate others, God chooses to become man in order to free us from every form of slavery. Will this love be enough to change our history?The answer will come as soon as we wake up from a deadly night into the light of new life, and, like the shepherds, contemplate the child Jesus. Above the stable of Bethlehem, where Mary and Joseph watch over the newborn Child with hearts full of wonder, the starry sky is transformed into “a multitude of the heavenly host” (Lk 2:13). These are unarmed and disarming hosts, for they sing of the glory of God, of which peace on earth is the true manifestation (cf. v. 14). Indeed, in the heart of Christ beats the bond of love that unites heaven and earth, Creator and creatures.For this reason, exactly one year ago, Pope Francis affirmed that the Nativity of Jesus rekindles in us the “gift and task of bringing hope wherever hope has been lost,” because “with him, joy flourishes; with him, life changes; with him, hope does not disappoint” (Homily, Christmas Mass during the Night, 24 December 2024). With these words, the holy year began. Now, as the jubilee draws to a close, Christmas becomes for us a time of gratitude and mission; gratitude for the gift received, and mission to bear witness to it before the world. As the Psalmist sings: “Tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all the peoples” (Ps 96:2–3).Brothers and sisters, contemplation of the Word made flesh awakens in the whole Church a new and true proclamation. Let us therefore announce the joy of Christmas, which is a feast of faith, charity, and hope. It is a feast of faith, because God becomes man, born of the Virgin. It is a feast of charity, because the gift of the redeeming Son is realized in fraternal self-giving. It is a feast of hope, because the child Jesus kindles it within us, making us messengers of peace. With these virtues in our hearts, unafraid of the night, we can go forth to meet the dawn of a new day. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/christmas-night-2025-2.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 26 Dec 2025 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Full, text:, Pope, Leo, XIV’s, Christmas, night, homily</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope, at Christmas Day Mass, says wars fed by falsehoods send young people to their deaths</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-at-christmas-day-mass-says-wars-fed-by-falsehoods-send-young-people-to-their-deaths</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-at-christmas-day-mass-says-wars-fed-by-falsehoods-send-young-people-to-their-deaths</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass in St. Peter&#039;s Basilica at the Vatican on December 25, 2025. / Daniel Ibañez/ EWTN News

Vatican City, Dec 25, 2025 / 06:35 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV on Christmas Day deplored the “falsehoods” used to justify wars that leave young people “forced to take up arms” and “sent to their deaths,” while also drawing attention to the humanitarian suffering of displaced people, including families living in tents in Gaza.In his first Christmas as pope, Leo celebrated Christmas Day Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica, reviving a practice not seen since 1994 during the pontificate of St. John Paul II. Reflecting on the prologue of St. John’s Gospel, the pope said in his homily that the Christmas liturgy highlights a striking contrast: God’s Word, which acts with power, comes into the world in utter weakness.“The ‘Word’ is a word that acts,” Leo said. Yet, he added, “the Word of God appears but cannot speak. He comes to us as a newborn baby who can only cry and babble.”Leo said the mystery Christians celebrate at Christmas cannot be separated from the vulnerability of those whose dignity is assaulted by war, displacement, and poverty. He urged Catholics to let Christ’s birth pierce complacency and move them toward tenderness and solidarity.“‘Flesh’ is the radical nakedness that, in Bethlehem as on Calvary, remains even without words – just as so many brothers and sisters, stripped of their dignity and reduced to silence, have no words today,” he said.In one of the homily’s most striking passages, Leo connected the Gospel image of the Word “pitching” his tent among humanity with the reality faced by families living in makeshift shelters amid conflict.“Dear brothers and sisters, since the Word was made flesh, humanity now speaks, crying out with God’s own desire to encounter us. The Word has pitched his fragile tent among us,” he said, before asking: “How, then, can we not think of the tents in Gaza, exposed for weeks to rain, wind and cold; and of those of so many other refugees and displaced persons on every continent; or of the makeshift shelters of thousands of homeless people in our own cities?”The pope also described the toll of war in terms of both shattered communities and wounded consciences.“Fragile is the flesh of defenseless populations, tried by so many wars, ongoing or concluded, leaving behind rubble and open wounds,” he said. “Fragile are the minds and lives of young people forced to take up arms, who on the front lines feel the senselessness of what is asked of them and the falsehoods that fill the pompous speeches of those who send them to their deaths.”Leo framed Christmas as a proclamation that peace is not merely a hope for the future but a gift already present in Christ, even when few recognize it. Quoting Jesus’ words to the disciples, he said: “‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you’ (Jn 14:27).”That peace, he said, begins not in rhetoric but in concrete compassion that listens, stays close, and responds to suffering.“When the fragility of others penetrates our hearts, when their pain shatters our rigid certainties, then peace has already begun,” he said. “The peace of God is born from a newborn’s cry that is welcomed, from weeping that is heard. It is born amidst ruins that call out for new forms of solidarity.”The pope warned that believers can bury what the Gospel calls “the power to become children of God” by keeping their distance from the vulnerable.“Becoming children of God is a true power – one that remains buried so long as we keep our distance from the cry of children and the frailty of the elderly, from the helpless silence of victims and the resigned melancholy of those who do the evil they do not want,” he said.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/whatsapp-image-2025-12-25-at-10.40.35-am.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 26 Dec 2025 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Christmas, Day, Mass, says, wars, fed, falsehoods, send, young, people, their, deaths</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV highlights Gaza, Yemen, migrants in first Christmas Urbi et Orbi message</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-highlights-gaza-yemen-migrants-in-first-christmas-urbi-et-orbi-message</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-highlights-gaza-yemen-migrants-in-first-christmas-urbi-et-orbi-message</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV delivers his Christmas &quot;Urbi et Orbi&quot; message at the Vatican on December 25, 2025. / Daniel Ibañez/ EWTN News

Vatican City, Dec 25, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).
In his first Christmas “Urbi et Orbi” message as pope, Leo XIV urged the world to embrace “responsibility” as the sure way to peace, while pointing in particular to the suffering of people in Gaza, Yemen, and those fleeing war and poverty as refugees and migrants.Before an estimated 26,000 people gathered in St. Peter’s Square on Dec. 25, the pope appeared at the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to deliver the traditional Christmas blessing “to the city and to the world,” eight months after his May 8 election.In one of the most evocative passages of the message, the pope cited at length from “Wildpeace,” a poem by Israeli poet Yehuda Amichai, contrasting “the peace of a cease-fire” with a deeper peace that arrives unexpectedly — “like wildflowers” — after exhaustion and conflict.“Responsibility is the sure way to peace,” Leo said. “If all of us, at every level, would stop accusing others and instead acknowledge our own faults, asking God for forgiveness, and if we would truly enter into the suffering of others and stand in solidarity with the weak and the oppressed, then the world would change.”The pope framed his appeal around the Christian proclamation that Christ “is our peace,” adding: “Without a heart freed from sin, a heart that has been forgiven, we cannot be men and women of peace or builders of peace.”Turning to concrete “faces” of contemporary pain, Leo said that in becoming man, Jesus “took upon himself our fragility, identifying with each one of us: with those who have nothing left and have lost everything, like the inhabitants of Gaza; with those who are prey to hunger and poverty, like the Yemeni people; with those who are fleeing their homeland to seek a future elsewhere, like the many refugees and migrants who cross the Mediterranean or traverse the American continent.”He also named those who have lost jobs, underpaid workers who are exploited, and prisoners “who often live in inhumane conditions.”Leo offered “a warm and fatherly greeting” to Christians, “especially those living in the Middle East,” recalling his recent trip to Turkey and Lebanon. “I listened to them as they expressed their fears and know well their sense of powerlessness before the power dynamics that overwhelm them,” he said.“From God let us ask for justice, peace and stability for Lebanon, Palestine, Israel and Syria,” the pope continued, as he invoked Scripture on righteousness and peace.He also prayed “in a particular way for the tormented people of Ukraine,” asking that “the clamor of weapons cease,” and that the parties involved — “with the support and commitment of the international community” — find “the courage to engage in sincere, direct and respectful dialogue.”In a wider survey of global crises, the pope said: “From the Child of Bethlehem, we implore peace and consolation for the victims of all current wars in the world, especially those that are forgotten, and for those who suffer due to injustice, political instability, religious persecution and terrorism,” naming Sudan, South Sudan, Mali, Burkina Faso, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. He prayed as well for Haiti, asking that “all forms of violence in the country will cease,” and called for a future of reconciliation for Myanmar.Leo also included a specific appeal for Latin America, asking that “the Child Jesus inspire those in Latin America who hold political responsibilities,” so that amid the region’s challenges “space may be given to dialogue for the common good, rather than to ideological and partisan prejudices.”He concluded by urging the faithful to open their hearts to those in need: “On this holy day, let us open our hearts to our brothers and sisters who are in need or in pain,” before offering “heartfelt good wishes for a peaceful and holy Christmas!”This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/whatsapp-image-2025-12-25-at-12.07.58-pm.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 26 Dec 2025 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, highlights, Gaza, Yemen, migrants, first, Christmas, Urbi, Orbi, message</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>PHOTOS: Pope Leo meets the tiniest members of the flock — babies</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/photos-pope-leo-meets-the-tiniest-members-of-the-flock-babies</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/photos-pope-leo-meets-the-tiniest-members-of-the-flock-babies</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV blesses a baby on All Saints Day’ 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Dec 25, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV has welcomed and greeted a plethora of babies at the Vatican since his election on May 8. As Christians everywhere celebrate the birth of Jesus, who came into this world as a baby, it’s a perfect time to highlight many of these sweet “pontiff meets babies” moments.Pope Leo XIV holds a baby during an audience at the Vatican. Credit: Vatican MediaPope Leo XIV blesses a baby during his general audience  in St. Peter’s Square on June 18, 2025, at the Vatican. Credit: Vatican MediaPope Leo XIV greets a young attendee at a Pentecost prayer vigil in St. Peter’s Square, Saturday, June 7, 2025. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNAPope Leo XIV blesses a baby during his Wednesday general audience on Aug. 6, 2025, in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican. Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNAPope Leo XIV blesses a baby during his Wednesday general audience in St. Peter’s Basilica on Aug. 13, 2025, at the Vatican. Due to the heat, the pope gave his address in Paul VI Audience Hall but also greeted pilgrims in other locations. Credit: Vatican MediaPope Leo meets a family at the general audience on Aug. 27, 2025. Credit: Vatican MediaPope Leo embraces a crying baby in St. Peter&#039;s Square on Sept. 6, 2025. Credit: Vatican MediaPope Leo ambraces a baby at his general audience on Aug. 27, 2025. Credit: Vatican MediaPope Leo XIV blesses a baby during the general audience on Sept. 3, 2025, in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican. Credit: Vatican MediaPope Leo XIV blesses a baby during his general audience on Sept. 24, 2025, in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican. Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNAPope Leo XIV blesses a baby during his general audience on Sept. 24, 2025, in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican. Credit: Vatican MediaPope Leo XIV greets a baby during his general audience on Sept. 24, 2025, in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican. Credit: Vatican MediaPope Leo XIV blesses a baby during his jubilee audience on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican. Credit: Vatican MediaPope Leo XIV greets a family in Rome. Credit: Vatican MediaPope Leo XIV greets a baby at his general audience in St. Peter&#039;s Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNAPope Leo XIV pauses to embrace a baby in the crowd during Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square on Oct. 12, 2025. Credit: Vatican MediaPope Leo greets young children and families in St. Peter&#039;s Basilica Credit: Vatican MediaPope Leo XIV greets a baby during his general audience in St. Peter&#039;s Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025. Credit: Vatican MediaPope Leo blesses a baby on All Saints&#039; Day 2025. Credit: Vatican Media ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/emblematic.baby.pope.leo.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 26 Dec 2025 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>PHOTOS:, Pope, Leo, meets, the, tiniest, members, the, flock, —, babies</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>These are Pope Leo XIV’s prayer intentions for 2026</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/these-are-pope-leo-xivs-prayer-intentions-for-2026</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/these-are-pope-leo-xivs-prayer-intentions-for-2026</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV prays during his Wednesday general audience on Aug. 13, 2025, in the Paul VI Audience Hall at the Vatican. / Credit: Vatican Media

CNA Staff, Dec 22, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).
The pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network has released Pope Leo XIV’s list of prayer intentions for the year 2026.Every month, Pope Leo asks Catholics around the world to pray for a particular intention. This initiative is accompanied by a video in which the pontiff expresses the reasons why he has chosen that particular intention.Below is the complete list of Pope Leo’s prayer intentions for 2026.January: For prayer with the word of GodLet us pray that praying with the word of God be nourishment for our lives and a source of hope in our communities, helping us to build a more fraternal and missionary Church.February: For children with incurable diseasesLet us pray that children suffering from incurable diseases and their families receive the necessary medical care and support, never losing strength and hope.March: For disarmament and peaceLet us pray that nations move toward effective disarmament, particularly nuclear disarmament, and that world leaders choose the path of dialogue and diplomacy instead of violence.April: For priests in crisisLet us pray for priests going through moments of crisis in their vocation, that they may find the accompaniment they need and that communities may support them with understanding and prayer.May: That everyone might have foodLet us pray that everyone, from large producers to small consumers, be committed to avoid wasting food and to ensure that everyone has access to quality food.June: For the values of sportsLet us pray that sports be an instrument of peace, encounter, and dialogue among cultures and nations, and that they promote values such as respect, solidarity, and personal growth.July: For respect for human lifeLet us pray for the respect and protection of human life in all its stages, recognizing it as a gift from God.August: For evangelization in the cityLet us pray that in large cities often marked by anonymity and loneliness we find new ways to proclaim the Gospel, discovering creative paths to build community.September: For the care of waterLet us pray for a just and sustainable management of water, a vital resource, so that everyone may have equal access to it.October: For mental health ministryLet us pray that mental health ministry be established throughout the Church, helping to overcome the stigma and discrimination of persons with mental illnesses.November: For the proper use of wealthLet us pray for the proper use of wealth, that not succumbing to the temptation of selfishness, it may always be put at the service of the common good and solidarity of those who have less.December: For single-parent familiesLet us pray for families experiencing the absence of a mother or father, that they may find support and accompaniment in the Church, and help and strength in the faith during difficult times. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/popeleoprays081325.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 23 Dec 2025 18:00:03 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>These, are, Pope, Leo, XIV’s, prayer, intentions, for, 2026</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV urges a ‘more missionary’ Roman Curia and warns against internal divisions</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-urges-a-more-missionary-roman-curia-and-warns-against-internal-divisions</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-urges-a-more-missionary-roman-curia-and-warns-against-internal-divisions</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV addresses officials of the Roman Curia at the Vatican on Dec. 22, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Dec 22, 2025 / 06:25 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV on Monday called on officials of the Roman Curia to deepen both mission and communion, urging Vatican offices to be “more mission-oriented” and cautioning against the “forces of division” that can take root even “beneath an apparent calm.”Speaking during his annual Christmas greetings with personnel of the Church’s central administration, the pope also paid tribute to Pope Francis, whom he described as his “beloved predecessor” who “this year concluded his earthly life.”Leo said Francis’ “prophetic voice, pastoral style, and rich magisterium” encouraged the Church “to place God’s mercy at the center, to give renewed impetus to evangelization, and to be a joyful Church, welcoming to all and attentive to the poorest.”Drawing on Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, Leo focused his address on what he called “two fundamental aspects of the Church’s life: mission and communion.”“By her very nature, the Church is outward-looking, turned toward the world, missionary,” the pope said, adding that the Church exists to invite people into “the good news of God’s love.”He insisted that ecclesial structures should serve evangelization rather than slow it down. “Structures must not weigh down or slow the progress of the Gospel or hinder the dynamism of evangelization; instead, we must ‘make them more mission-oriented,’” he said.Applying that principle directly to Vatican governance, the pope said: “We need an ever more missionary Roman Curia in which institutions, offices, and tasks are conceived in light of today’s major ecclesial, pastoral, and social challenges, and not merely to ensure ordinary administration.”Leo said the mystery of Christmas highlights not only the mission of the Son of God but also the purpose of that mission: reconciliation and a new kind of fraternity. “Christmas reminds us that Jesus came to reveal the true face of God as Father, so that we might all become his children and therefore brothers and sisters to one another,” he said.Pope Leo XIV addresses officials of the Roman Curia at the Vatican on Dec. 22, 2025. Credit: Vatican MediaThe pope warned that communion within the Church requires ongoing conversion, especially when tensions arise in workplaces and debates about doctrine and practice.“At times, beneath an apparent calm, forces of division may be at play,” he said. He cautioned against “swinging between two opposite extremes: uniformity that fails to value differences, or the exacerbation of differences and viewpoints instead of seeking communion.”Such patterns, he said, can lead to “rigidity or ideology” and the conflicts that follow.Yet, he continued, Christians are united in Christ even amid real diversity. “And in Christ, though many and diverse, we are one: ‘In Illo uno unum,’” he said.Leo called Curia officials in particular to be “builders of Christ’s communion,” emphasizing a synodal Church in which “all cooperate in the same mission, each according to his or her charism and role.”The pope acknowledged that long years of service can leave some Vatican employees disheartened by workplace dynamics, including “the exercise of power,” “the desire to prevail,” or “the pursuit of personal interests.”He posed the question directly: “Is it possible to be friends in the Roman Curia? To have relationships of genuine fraternal friendship?” He said it is “a grace to find trustworthy friends, where masks fall away,” where “no one is used or sidelined,” and where each person’s “worth and competence are respected.”Such relationships, he said, require personal conversion so that “Christ’s love” can be visible.The pope also linked internal communion to the Church’s public witness in a world marked by violence and polarization. He said this conversion becomes a sign “ad extra” in “a world wounded by discord, violence, and conflict,” where there is “a growth in aggression and anger,” often “exploited by both the digital sphere and politics.”“Dear brothers and sisters, mission and communion are possible if we place Christ at the center,” Leo said.He also pointed to the significance of the Church’s current jubilee year, saying it underscores that Christ “alone is the hope that does not disappoint.”The pope referenced two major anniversaries marked this year: the Council of Nicaea, which he said returns the Church “to the roots of our faith,” and the Second Vatican Council, which “strengthened the Church and sent her forth to engage the modern world.”Leo closed by recalling the 50th anniversary of St. Paul VI’s apostolic exhortation Evangelii Nuntiandi, highlighting its emphasis that evangelization belongs to the whole Church and that the first means of evangelization is the witness of an authentically Christian life.“Let us remember this also in our curial service: The work of each is important for the whole, and the witness of a Christian life, expressed in communion, is the first and greatest service we can offer,” he said.Quoting Lutheran pastor and theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer on the humility of God revealed at Christmas, Leo prayed that the Lord would grant the Curia “his own humility, his compassion, and his love,” and he concluded by wishing all present “a holy Christmas” and asking God to “grant peace to the world.”At the close of the exchange of greetings, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals, offered Christmas wishes on behalf of Curia offices, the Vatican City State Governorate, and the Diocese of Rome, and the pope presented curial personnel with a copy of “The Practice of the Presence of God,” the spiritual classic he has recently recommended.This story was first published by ACI Stampa, CNA’s Italian-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/popeleoromancuria2122225.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 23 Dec 2025 18:00:03 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, urges, ‘more, missionary’, Roman, Curia, and, warns, against, internal, divisions</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo in apostolic letter calls for renewed priestly formation, fraternity, and mission</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-inapostolic-letter-callsfor-renewed-priestly-formation-fraternity-and-mission</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-inapostolic-letter-callsfor-renewed-priestly-formation-fraternity-and-mission</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV greets pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square on Dec. 20, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

ACI Prensa Staff, Dec 22, 2025 / 12:07 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV calls for renewed priestly formation, stronger priestly fraternity, and a more missionary focus in pastoral ministry in an apostolic letter released by the Vatican on Monday.The document, “A Fidelity That Generates the Future,” reflects on two decrees of the Second Vatican Council: Optatam Totius — on priestly formation — and Presbyterorum Ordinis — on the ministry and life of priests — both promulgated in 1965. Leo urges Catholics to keep reading the two conciliar texts in Christian communities and to study them “particularly in seminaries and in all places of preparation and formation for ordained ministry.”An apostolic letter is a formal papal document, typically addressed to the Church, meant to teach, encourage, or direct pastoral priorities on a specific theme.In his new letter, Leo says the Church is not simply marking an anniversary. He writes that the council’s “desired renewal” remains closely tied to priestly ministry, quoting the council’s assessment that “the desired renewal of the whole Church depends to a great extent on a priestly ministry animated by the spirit of Christ.”The pope presents fidelity as both a grace and “a constant journey of conversion,” and he thanks priests worldwide for their ministry — from celebrating the Eucharist and proclaiming the Word to caring for those who suffer.Formation and the abuse crisisLeo writes that every vocation begins with an encounter with Christ and recalls the Lord’s call, “Follow me” (Mk 1:17). He says fidelity in “times of trial and temptation” is strengthened by remembering “the sound of the voice of the Lord who loves, chooses, and calls us,” and by seeking the accompaniment of those experienced in the spiritual life. Addressing what he calls “the crisis of trust in the Church caused by abuses committed by members of the clergy,” the pope says the scandal “has filled us with shame and called us to humility” and underscores “the urgent need for a comprehensive formation” that fosters human maturity alongside “a rich and solid spiritual life.” He urges seminarians to examine their motivations and includes a pointed line on formation of the heart: “The seminary is meant to be a training ground to help a seminarian attend to his own heart… we need to learn how to love and how to do so as Jesus did.” Priestly fraternity and lonelinessLeo describes priestly fraternity as a gift rooted in ordination itself and warns against individualism. He encourages practical steps to strengthen bonds among priests, including support for those who are isolated, sick, or elderly.The pope also flags disparities that can undermine communion, saying more remains to be done — including “economic equalization between those who serve poor parishes and those who carry out their ministry in wealthy communities.”Synodality and shared leadershipLeo calls synodality “particularly close to my heart,” arguing that the Church still has work to do in fostering healthy relationships between priests and bishops, among priests themselves, and with the lay faithful. He encourages priests to engage the Synod on Synodality’s final document and says priestly ministry should move away from “exclusive leadership” that centralizes parish life and places every responsibility on the priest alone. Instead, he points to more collegial leadership and cooperation among priests, deacons, and the whole people of God. Mission and the temptations of activism and withdrawalThe pope links priestly identity to mission and warns against two temptations: an efficiency-driven mindset that measures worth by performance, and a “quietism” that retreats from evangelization. He writes that media exposure and social networks require discernment and recalls St. Paul’s warning: “‘All things are lawful for me,’ but not all things are beneficial” (1 Cor 6:12). The letter closes with a focus on vocations and the need for both prayer and renewed pastoral creativity. Leo entrusts seminarians, deacons, and priests to the intercession of the Immaculate Virgin, Mother of Good Counsel, and St. John Mary Vianney. This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.  ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/popeleojubilee122225.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 23 Dec 2025 18:00:03 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, in apostolic, letter, calls for, renewed, priestly, formation, fraternity, and, mission</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV tells Vatican employees doing work well gives glory to God</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-tells-vatican-employees-doing-work-well-gives-glory-to-god</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-tells-vatican-employees-doing-work-well-gives-glory-to-god</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV addresses employees of the Vatican on Dec. 22, 2025, in the Paul VI Audience Hall at the Vatican. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Dec 22, 2025 / 12:37 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV told Vatican and Holy See employees to see their daily work as part of the Church’s mission, saying that doing one’s job well “gives glory to the Lord.”Meeting the workers for a Christmas greeting on Dec. 22, the pope said he is still getting to know the Vatican and experiences it as “a great mosaic” made up of many offices and services. He said he hopes, with God’s help, to meet employees as he visits different workplaces.Reflecting on the Nativity scene, Pope Leo pointed to the many figures shown at work — each carrying out a task — as a reminder that everyday activities find their full meaning in God’s plan centered on Jesus Christ. He said it is as if the Christ Child blesses everyone from the manger, giving purpose and unity to the work of each person.Even when some figures in the Nativity seem distant from the central event, he said, they participate precisely by being themselves, staying in their place and doing what they are called to do. The pope applied that image to Vatican life, saying each person can praise God by carrying out his or her responsibilities with commitment and care.The pope also linked professional dedication to family life, telling lay employees that striving to do one’s best at work — and loving one’s family and children — honors God.He urged Vatican workers to make that spirit a hallmark of the Church “in every expression,” and he asked them to convey his greetings to their relatives at home, telling them that the pope is praying for them.After giving his blessing, Pope Leo greeted some of those present individually.This story was first published by ACI Stampa, CNA’s Italian-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/popeleovaticanemployees122225.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 23 Dec 2025 18:00:03 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, tells, Vatican, employees, doing, work, well, gives, glory, God</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV writes preface to book that shaped his spiritual life</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-writes-preface-to-book-that-shaped-his-spiritual-life</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-writes-preface-to-book-that-shaped-his-spiritual-life</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass for the Jubilee of Prisoners in St. Peter’s Basilica on Dec. 14, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Dec 19, 2025 / 11:05 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV has written the preface to a new Vatican edition of the book “The Practice of the Presence of God,” a spiritual work he says is “one of the texts that has most shaped my spiritual life.”“The Practice of the Presence of God” is a 17th-century spiritual classic written by the Carmelite friar Lawrence of the Resurrection.The pontiff shared the personal importance of this work during the return flight to Rome at the end of his first international trip to Turkey and Lebanon earlier this month.“It’s a very simple book, by someone who doesn’t even give his last name — Brother Lawrence — written many years ago,” he said at the time.“But it describes, if you will, a type of prayer and spirituality where one simply gives his life to the Lord and allows the Lord to lead.”The book that has ‘shaped my spiritual life’In a preface to “The Practice of the Presence of God,” published by the Vatican Publishing House (LEV) in Italian, the pope goes deeper into this personal experience and places the work within his own journey of faith.“As I have had occasion to say, together with the writings of St. Augustine and other books, this is one of the texts that has most shaped my spiritual life and has formed me in what the path for knowing and loving the Lord can be,” he writes.Leo emphasizes that the small book by Brother Lawrence places at the center not merely the experience but a true “practice” of the presence of God, lived in everyday life.It is, he explains, a path that is “simple and arduous at the same time. Simple, because it requires nothing other than “constantly calling God to mind, with small, continual acts of praise, prayer, supplication, adoration, in every action and in every thought, with him alone as our horizon, source, and end.”It is demanding because it requires “a journey of purification, of ascetic discipline, of renunciation and conversion of the most intimate part of ourselves — of our mind and our thoughts, even more than of our actions,” he explains.In this context, the pontiff cites St. Paul’s exhortation to the Philippians: “Have in you the same sentiments as Christ Jesus” — to underscore that “it is not only our attitudes and behaviors that must be conformed to God, but our very sentiments, our very way of feeling.”Making daily tasks ‘easy and light’In the preface, Leo underscores that this spiritual path, in which the presence of God becomes “familiar and occupies our inner space,” is where “graces and spiritual riches blossom, and even daily tasks become easy and light.”The pope situates Brother Lawrence’s message in the context of today’s world. The writings of this Carmelite, who lived with luminous faith through a century marked by conflicts and violence — “certainly no less violent than our own” — can, he affirms, “also be an inspiration and a help for the lives of us men and women of the third millennium.”Beyond ‘moralism’The writing of Brother Lawrence shows us “that there is no circumstance that can separate us from God, that each of our actions, each of our occupations, and even each of our mistakes acquires infinite value if lived in the presence of God, continually offered to him,” the Holy Father says.The pope adds that the whole of Christian ethics “can truly be summed up in this continual calling to mind of the fact that God is present: He is here.”“This remembrance, which is more than a simple memory because it involves our feelings and affections, overcomes all moralism and every reduction of the Gospel to a mere set of rules, and shows us that truly, as Jesus promised us, the experience of entrusting ourselves to God the Father already gives us a hundredfold here on earth,” he explains. “Entrusting ourselves to the presence of God means tasting a foretaste of paradise,” Leo writes.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA&#039;s Spanish-language partner agency. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/ris6585.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 22 Dec 2025 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, writes, preface, book, that, shaped, his, spiritual, life</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV: The person and families must be at center of labor system</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xivthe-person-and-families-must-be-at-center-of-labor-system</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xivthe-person-and-families-must-be-at-center-of-labor-system</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV addresses employment consultants on Dec. 18, 2025, at the Vatican. / Credit: Vatican Media

ACI Prensa Staff, Dec 19, 2025 / 14:30 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV advocated for a labor system that serves individuals and families so that the dignity of each employee is recognized and his or her real needs are met.During a Dec. 18 audience at the Vatican with members of the Order of Employment Consultants, the Holy Father highlighted three aspects that he considers particularly important in the business world: the dignity of the person, mediation, and the promotion of safety.At the beginning of his address in the Apostolic Palace, the pontiff emphasized that at the heart of any work dynamic “should neither be capital, nor the laws of the market, nor profit, but the person, the family, and their well-being, to which everything else is secondary.”Consequently, he stated that workers must “be recognized in their dignity” and receive concrete responses to their real needs, such as the needs of young families, of parents with small children, “as well as the importance of helping those who, even while working, must care for elderly and sick family members.”“These are needs,” he pointed out, “that no truly civilized society can afford to forget or neglect.” This is especially true today, when artificial intelligence and technology “increasingly manage and influence our activities.” Therefore, he emphasized the urgent need to ensure that companies are characterized “as humane and fraternal communities.”He also urged the establishment of fair mediation between managers and employees, avoiding “excessive bureaucratization of relationships” and “distance and detachment and distance from reality.”Thus, he invited employment consultants to pay close attention “to the people in front of you, especially those who are in difficulty and have fewer opportunities to express their needs and assert their interests.” Finally, he emphasized the importance of promoting workplace safety and lamented the numerous accidents that occur at work. “Prevention is better than remediating,” he remarked.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/labor.dec.2025jpg.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 22 Dec 2025 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV: The, person, and, families, must, center, labor, system</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV strengthens legal protections for employees of the Vatican and Holy See</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-strengthens-legal-protections-for-employees-of-the-vatican-and-holy-see</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-strengthens-legal-protections-for-employees-of-the-vatican-and-holy-see</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  A new Vatican labor regulations decree was issued after an audience granted to Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, pictured here with Pope Leo XIV. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Dec 19, 2025 / 16:22 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV approved new labor regulations at the Office of Labor of the Apostolic See (ULSA, by its Italian acronym), the Holy See’s body responsible for managing labor relations for personnel working in the Roman Curia, the Governorate of Vatican City State, and other entities directly administered by the Apostolic See.The reform, established through a pontifical rescript signed on Nov. 25, introduces significant changes that strengthen institutional representation, improve internal coordination, and underscore the pontiff’s care for employees and the application of the Church’s social doctrine.The document that has been released — corresponding to the ULSA’s new statute — details, in precise legal language, how labor disputes should be handled in the Vatican, reinforcing protections, procedures, and deadlines for both current and former employees of the Holy See.Specifically, the text regulates the chapter dedicated to labor disputes, clearly establishing who can appeal, to which authorities, and within what time frames.The document indicates that anyone who believes they have been harmed by an administrative act in labor matters — unless it has been expressly approved by the pope — may file a complaint with ULSA or take it to the Vatican judicial authority.However, it is emphasized that attempting conciliation with the ULSA director is a mandatory condition, an indispensable requirement before pursuing any other course of action.The text also specifies that, when required by the internal regulations of each administration, the employee must first exhaust all internal remedies, failing which his or her claim will be deemed inadmissible. Only after completing this process can the procedure before ULSA or the courts of Vatican City State be initiated.Solutions through dialogue before resorting to legal actionLabor disputes — whether individual or collective — will be resolved preferably through conciliation mechanisms, and only in case of failure will they be referred to the ULSA Conciliation and Arbitration Board or the Vatican court. In this way, the system prioritizes solutions through dialogue before resorting to legal action.The document also establishes a five-year statute of limitations for rights arising from the employment relationship, although it clarifies that filing a request for conciliation interrupts this period until official notification of the document that concludes this phase.Matters falling under the jurisdiction of the Disciplinary Commissions established in the general regulations of the various Vatican administrations are expressly excluded from this procedure.Regarding deadlines, the statute stipulates that the appeal must be filed within 30 days of notification — or actual knowledge — of the contested act. The same deadline applies after a negative decision on an internal appeal or in the case of administrative silence, if the administration fails to respond within the prescribed time.Finally, the text details the formal requirements of the claim, which must include the claimant’s personal data, the identification of the administration involved,and the act being challenged, as well as the necessary elements to allow for the proper processing of the case.The decree was issued after an audience granted to Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and coincides with the approval of the new general regulations of the Roman Curia.Overall, the document reflects an effort to provide greater legal certainty, transparency, and procedural order to labor relations within the Vatican, in line with the recent reform initiated by Pope Leo XIV to strengthen the protection of workers and promote a culture of conciliation before resorting to legal conflict.A more representative councilAnother major innovation of the new statute is the expansion of the ULSA Council, the advisory body responsible for developing regulatory proposals. For the first time, it will include a representative from the Secretariat of State as well as from the Vicariate of Rome, the Pension Fund, and the Healthcare Fund (FAS) used by employees of the Vatican and the Holy See. This addition brings the number of newly represented entities to four and aims to strengthen the technical expertise and effective protection of workers.The council — whose members serve a five-year term — already included representatives from various Vatican dicasteries and bodies, such as the Dicastery for Evangelization, the Secretariat for the Economy, the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See, and the Governorate of Vatican City State.A more ‘synodal’ working styleThe new statute also introduces a more participatory way of working. From now on, each council member will be able to propose topics for the agenda directly, a power that previously required the support of at least four members. According to Vatican sources, this measure emphasizes a more “synodal” working style and promotes the creative involvement of the various departments and staff representatives.Leo XIV has confirmed the historical responsibilities of ULSA, an organization established by St. John Paul II in 1988 and operational since 1989, and which was further updated during the pontificates of Benedict XVI and Francis.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/paro.pope.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 22 Dec 2025 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, strengthens, legal, protections, for, employees, the, Vatican, and, Holy, See</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV highlights key virtues for final days of Advent</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-highlights-key-virtues-for-final-days-of-advent</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-highlights-key-virtues-for-final-days-of-advent</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV greets pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican for the recitation of the Angelus on Dec. 21, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

ACI Prensa Staff, Dec 21, 2025 / 09:15 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV on Sunday highlighted four virtues of St. Joseph — “piety and charity, mercy and trust” — as guides for Catholics in the final days of Advent leading up to Christmas.Speaking during his Angelus address from the window of the Apostolic Palace on the Fourth Sunday of Advent, the pope said the day’s liturgy invited the faithful to reflect on St. Joseph, especially “at the moment when God reveals his mission to him in a dream.”Calling the Gospel episode “a very beautiful page in salvation history,” Leo described Joseph as a man who is “fragile and fallible — like us — and at the same time courageous and strong in faith.”Referring to the Gospel of Matthew, the pontiff recalled that Joseph of Nazareth was a “just man,” a devout Israelite who observed the law and frequented the synagogue, while also being “extremely sensitive and human.”In the face of Mary’s mysterious pregnancy — a situation that was difficult to understand and accept — the pope noted that Joseph did not choose “the way of scandal” or public condemnation. Instead, he opted for the discreet and benevolent path of planning to divorce her quietly.In doing so, Leo said, Joseph demonstrated he had grasped the deepest meaning of religious observance: mercy.The pope added that Joseph’s purity and nobility became even clearer when the Lord revealed his plan of salvation in a dream, showing Joseph the unexpected role he would assume as the husband of the Virgin Mother of the Messiah.Leo pointed to Joseph’s “great act of faith,” saying the saint left behind the last of his certainties and set out into a future fully in God’s hands.Referring to St. Augustine, the pope said that from Joseph’s piety and charity, “a son was born of the Virgin Mary — Son at the same time of God.”“Piety and charity, mercy and trust,” Leo said, are the virtues the liturgy proposes for the faithful today so that they may accompany Christians through these final Advent days toward “holy Christmas.”The pope emphasized that these attitudes “educate the heart” for encountering Christ and one another and can help believers become for each other “a welcoming manger, a comfortable home, a sign of God’s presence.”He urged Catholics not to miss opportunities during this season of grace to put the virtues into practice — forgiving, encouraging, offering hope to those they live with and meet — and renewing in prayer a childlike trust in the Lord and in his providence.Leo concluded by entrusting the faithful to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph, who were the first to welcome Jesus, the Savior of the world, “with great faith and love.”This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/tre7484.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 22 Dec 2025 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, highlights, key, virtues, for, final, days, Advent</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>With Enrique Shaw on path to sainthood, Vatican confirms you can be a holy businessman</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/with-enrique-shaw-on-path-to-sainthood-vatican-confirms-you-can-be-a-holy-businessman</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/with-enrique-shaw-on-path-to-sainthood-vatican-confirms-you-can-be-a-holy-businessman</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ ROSARIO, Argentina (OSV News) — In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells his disciples that “it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for…
The post With Enrique Shaw on path to sainthood, Vatican confirms you can be a holy businessman first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Enrique_Shaw.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 19 Dec 2025 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>With, Enrique, Shaw, path, sainthood, Vatican, confirms, you, can, holy, businessman</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>New archbishop ‘committed’ to immigration issues, accountability on abuse — and staying a Cubs fan</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/new-archbishop-committed-to-immigration-issues-accountability-on-abuse-and-staying-a-cubs-fan</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/new-archbishop-committed-to-immigration-issues-accountability-on-abuse-and-staying-a-cubs-fan</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ &quot;As a church, we can never rest in our efforts to prevent abuse, to protect children and to care for survivors.,&quot; says newly named New York archbishop.
The post New archbishop ‘committed’ to immigration issues, accountability on abuse — and staying a Cubs fan first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/useuptop20251218T1351-ARCHBISHOP-NEW-YORK-APPOINTMENT-REAX-1809811.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 19 Dec 2025 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>New, archbishop, ‘committed’, immigration, issues, accountability, abuse, —, and, staying, Cubs, fan</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>HHS proposes new regulatory actions to prohibit gender transition procedures for minors</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/hhs-proposes-new-regulatory-actions-to-prohibit-gender-transition-procedures-for-minors</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/hhs-proposes-new-regulatory-actions-to-prohibit-gender-transition-procedures-for-minors</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Dec. 18 announced new regulatory actions that would effectively ban certain types of medical or surgical gender reassignment procedures for minors who identify as transgender.
The post HHS proposes new regulatory actions to prohibit gender transition procedures for minors first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/20251218T1314-HHS-CHILDREN-MEDICAL-INTERVENTIONS-1809803.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 19 Dec 2025 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>HHS, proposes, new, regulatory, actions, prohibit, gender, transition, procedures, for, minors</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Fundraiser by cancer survivor, third&#45;grade classmates brings Christmas joy to school, community</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/fundraiser-by-cancer-survivor-third-grade-classmates-brings-christmas-joy-to-school-community</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/fundraiser-by-cancer-survivor-third-grade-classmates-brings-christmas-joy-to-school-community</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Even though Hattie&#039;s cancer is in remission, she is at Children&#039;s frequently for blood tests to monitor the remission, which is in its seventh year.
The post Fundraiser by cancer survivor, third-grade classmates brings Christmas joy to school, community first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/useatbottom20251218T0821-HATTIES-HEARTS-CHRISTMAS-JOY-1809765.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 19 Dec 2025 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Fundraiser, cancer, survivor, third-grade, classmates, brings, Christmas, joy, school, community</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope advances causes of Argentine businessman, Spanish martyrs</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-advances-causes-of-argentine-businessman-spanish-martyrs</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-advances-causes-of-argentine-businessman-spanish-martyrs</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The pope also signed decrees recognizing the martyrdom of 11 Spaniards and the heroic virtues of three other candidates during an audience at the Vatican Dec. 18.
The post Pope advances causes of Argentine businessman, Spanish martyrs first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/20251121T1232-VATICAN-PAKALUK-CAUSE-1808216.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 19 Dec 2025 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, advances, causes, Argentine, businessman, Spanish, martyrs</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Countdown to the closing of the jubilee: When, who will close the Holy Doors in Rome?</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/countdown-to-the-closing-of-the-jubilee-when-who-will-close-the-holy-doors-in-rome</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/countdown-to-the-closing-of-the-jubilee-when-who-will-close-the-holy-doors-in-rome</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV passes through the Holy Door carrying the jubilee cross as he leads the pilgrimage of the Holy See on June 9, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Dec 18, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).
Just a few weeks remain until the closing of the holy year, which was inaugurated by Pope Francis on Dec. 24, 2024. On Jan. 6, 2026, Pope Leo XIV will be the one to close the enormous bronze door of St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, through which nearly 30 million pilgrims have passed during the last 12 months seeking a plenary indulgence. This Holy Door is slated to be reopened in 2033, when the Church celebrates the Extraordinary Holy Year of the Redemption.The schedule for closing rites of the Holy Doors of the main papal basilicas in Rome is as follows:The first Holy Door to be closed — and which will remain walled up until the next jubilee — is that of St. Mary Major Basilica. The rite will take place on Dec. 25, as reported by the Holy See Press Office. The ceremony will be begin at 6 p.m. local time, followed by Mass celebrated by the cardinal archpriest of the basilica, Rolandas Makrickas.Lithuanian Cardinal Rolandas Makrickas, archpriest of the Basilica of St. Mary Major, celebrates Mass on Aug. 5, 2025, to mark the anniversary of the dedication of the Marian basilica. Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNATwo days later, on Dec. 27 at 11 a.m. local time, the closing ceremony at St. John Lateran Basilica will be presided over by the cardinal vicar of Rome, Baldassare Reina, who will celebrate the Eucharist, and will feature the participation of the diocesan choir, directed by Monsignor Marco Frisina.On Dec. 28 at 10 a.m. local time, the Holy Door of St. Paul Outside the Walls Basilica will be closed. The solemn event will be presided over by Cardinal Archpriest James Michael Harvey.Finally, on Jan. 6, 2026, the solemnity of the Epiphany, Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to close the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica before celebrating the Mass that will mark the concluding act of the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope. On that occasion, the pontiff will invite pilgrims to return to Rome in 2033 for the Extraordinary Holy Year of Redemption.Detail of the bronze panels on the Holy Door of St. Peter&#039;s Basilica, highlighted during the nocturnal opening for the Jubilee of Artists, Feb. 16, 2025. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNAThe Holy Doors, as is tradition, have been solely those of the four papal basilicas of Rome: St. Peter’s in the Vatican, St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major, and St. Paul Outside the Walls. However, on Dec. 26, two days after officially inaugurating the holy year, Pope Francis made an exception by traveling to the Rebibbia prison in Rome to repeat this gesture at another door as a symbol of hope.The late pope wanted to extend this gesture of grace to prisoners by opening the door of this correctional facility in the Italian capital.The date on which the closing ceremony for this fifth Holy Door will take place has yet to be announced.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/popejubileeecc.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 19 Dec 2025 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Countdown, the, closing, the, jubilee:, When, who, will, close, the, Holy, Doors, Rome</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV warns against destructive spiral of autonomous weapons and escalation</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-warns-against-destructive-spiral-of-autonomous-weapons-and-escalation</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-warns-against-destructive-spiral-of-autonomous-weapons-and-escalation</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV speaks to patients and caregivers at the De La Croix Hospital in Jal el Dib, Lebanon, on Dec. 2, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Dec 18, 2025 / 18:28 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV warned against the destructive spiral fueled by the arms race and the development of autonomous weapons, and called for an “unarmed and disarming” peace — one that springs from the resurrection of Christ — as the only answer to the world’s challenges.“The peace of the risen Jesus is unarmed, because his was an unarmed struggle in the midst of concrete historical, political, and social circumstances,” the pontiff wrote in his message for the 59th World Day of Peace, which will be celebrated on Jan. 1, 2026. Its text was released Dec. 18 by the Holy See Press Office.The four-page document is titled “Peace Be with You All: Towards an Unarmed and Disarming Peace,” an expression that directly echoes the first words spoken by Leo XIV after his election as the successor of Peter on May 8, when he appeared on the balcony of the Apostolic Palace to greet the faithful for the first time.In the text, the pope lamented that, in the face of global challenges, the predominant response is an “enormous economic investment in rearmament.” In this regard, he noted that in 2024, global military spending increased by 9.4% compared with the previous year, confirming “the trend of the last 10 years.” According to the data cited, total spending reached $2.718 trillion, equivalent to 2.5% of the world’s gross domestic product.Beyond the statistics, the pope warned of the cultural and educational consequences of this logic. He criticized the fact that schools and universities are not adequately preserving “a culture of memory” that remembers the “millions of victims” of wars ​​and lamented that, instead, educational programs are being promoted that are based on the “perception of threats,” promoting “only an armed notion of defense and security.”The Holy Father also emphasized how technological advancements and the incorporation of artificial intelligence in the military sphere have “worsened the tragedy” of armed conflicts. He therefore warned of the risk of a growing tendency to “shirk responsibility” by political and military leaders such that “decisions about life and death are increasingly “‘delegated’ to machines.” In his view, this is an “unprecedented destructive betrayal” of the “legal and philosophical principles of humanism” upon which any civilization is based and safeguarded.The pontiff did not shy away from denouncing “the enormous concentrations of private economic and financial interests” that are driving states in this direction, but emphasized that just criticizing this would not be enough “unless we also awakened conscience and critical thought” throughout society.In his reflection, Leo XIV included an explicit warning against the religious instrumentalization of violence. The pope observed that it is part of the contemporary landscape to “to drag the language of faith into political battles, to bless nationalism, and to justify violence and armed struggle in the name of religion.” In response, he urged believers to “actively refute this, above all by the witness of their lives,” because “these forms of blasphemy profane the holy name of God.”Therefore, he emphasized that, alongside concrete actions for peace, it is increasingly necessary to cultivate “prayer, spirituality, and ecumenical and interreligious dialogue” as authentic paths to peace and as languages ​​of encounter between traditions and cultures.The Holy Father also warned of the risk of treating peace as a “distant ideal” and “disconnected from the concrete experience of people and the political life of nations.”When peace is presented as something unattainable, the pope noted in the text, “we cease to be scandalized when it is denied, or even when war is waged in its name.”According to the pontiff, there is a real risk that this logic will end up seeping into both private and public life, fueling the perception that it is almost “a fault” not to be sufficiently prepared for war, “not to react to attacks,” even going “far beyond the principle of legitimate defense.”“It is no coincidence that repeated calls to increase military spending, and the choices that follow, are presented by many government leaders as a justified response to external threats,” Leo XIV lamented.Indeed, he continued, “the deterrent power of military might, especially nuclear deterrence, is based on the irrationality of relations between nations, built not on law, justice, and trust but on fear and domination by force.”Faced with this scenario, the pope proposed a different understanding of peace that “wants to dwell within us” and has the “gentle power to enlighten and expand our understanding; it resists and overcomes violence.”‘Peace is a breath of the eternal’“Peace is a breath of the eternal: while to evil we cry out ‘Enough,’ to peace we whisper ‘Forever,’” the pope emphasized.The reflection included a cultural critique of the modern world, which he called “realistic” in its narratives but “devoid of hope, blind to the beauty of others,” and that forgets that “God’s grace is always at work in human hearts, even those wounded by sin.”In this regard, the pope recalled that the path proposed by Jesus was already perplexing even for his own disciples: “The Gospels do not hide the fact that what troubled the disciples was his nonviolent response,” a path that everyone, starting with Peter, opposed, “yet the Master asked them to follow this path to the end. The way of Jesus continues to cause unease and fear.” The Holy Father acknowledged the discouragement experienced by people of goodwill who “have hearts ready for peace” and are overwhelmed by a feeling of “powerlessness” in the face of the increasingly uncertain course of events.The World Day of Peace was instituted by St. Paul VI, who proposed it on Dec. 8, 1967, the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. It was celebrated for the first time on Jan. 1, 1968, coinciding with the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, and since then it has become an annual occasion for the Church to reflect on the great challenges of human coexistence.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/ris4417.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 19 Dec 2025 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, warns, against, destructive, spiral, autonomous, weapons, and, escalation</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>‘Seeking Beauty’ travel show with David Henrie premieres at Vatican</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/seeking-beauty-travel-show-with-david-henrie-premieres-at-vatican</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/seeking-beauty-travel-show-with-david-henrie-premieres-at-vatican</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Catholic actor and director David Henrie speaks with EWTN News after the first episode of his new travel show, “Seeking Beauty,” premiered at the Vatican’s movie theater on Dec. 15, 2025. / Credit: Daniel Ibanez/CNA

Vatican City, Dec 16, 2025 / 10:45 am (CNA).
The first episode of a new travel show, hosted by Catholic actor and director David Henrie, premiered at the Vatican’s movie theater on Monday evening.“Seeking Beauty,” which will debut on EWTN’s free streaming platform EWTN+ on Jan. 19, 2026, is a series documenting Henrie’s exploration of the beauty of art and culture in six Italian cities.Henrie and executive producer Edmundo Reyes, with other crew members, were present for the airing of Episode 1 inside Vatican City on Dec. 15. The premiere was followed by a Q-and-A with Henrie, Reyes, and Peter Gagnon, president of EWTN Studios, moderated by Andreas Thonhauser, chief global officer of EWTN.“It’s a blessing to be able to play the show at the Vatican, which is where we [filmed] our first episode,” Henrie told EWTN News. “You can’t help but feel grateful, and feel like [it’s] a full-circle moment.”Catholic actor and director David Henrie shares just how much fun he had while filming his new travel show, &quot;Seeking Beauty,&quot; in Italy. ?The first episode premiered at the Vatican on Dec. 15, and will stream on EWTN+ (via Roku) starting Jan. 19. pic.twitter.com/4GtNvqKycn— Hannah Brockhaus (@HannahBrockhaus) December 16, 2025 In the first episode, Henrie speaks to a range of experts — including art historian Elizabeth Lev and artist Kelly Medford — to learn more about the Vatican Gardens, the Swiss Guard, St. Peter’s Basilica, and St. Peter’s Square.Reyes called it “such a special moment” to show the first episode of “Seeking Beauty” at the Vatican.“We can’t wait for people to see it,” he told EWTN News at the event. “I think it’s going to be a great, great evangelization tool.”Reyes, who had the original idea for the show, recalled visiting Spain with his family four years ago and how it was there he realized how many stories about art and faith have not been shared with a wider audience.“God put in my heart this desire … Let’s create a travel show that will be more than a travel show, that would help people encounter God through beauty,” he said.“What David has done is very special, because it’s not about going to places but retraining us or inviting us to contemplate and to look at beauty differently,” Reyes said during the Q-and-A. It’s about “God speaking to us through beauty, and not so much about, ‘Hey, here’s a cool place to visit and to put on your bucket list.’”The first episode of new travel show “Seeking Beauty” premiered at the Vatican’s movie theater on Dec. 15, 2025. It was followed by a Q-and-A with, from left, EWTN Studios President Peter Gagnon, series executive producer Edmundo Reyes, and series host David Henrie. Credit: Daniel Ibanez/CNAThe series is produced by EWTN Studios in partnership with Digital Continent and in association with Novo Inspire and Sacred Arthouse.“Each episode is very unique … There’s so much there that can touch people in different ways,” Gagnon said.In Season 1, Henrie will also visit Rome, Milan, Venice, Florence, and Subiaco, a place connected to St. Benedict. Season 2 of “Seeking Beauty” recently wrapped filming in Spain.“I’m not an expert. You’re just seeing it through my eyes,” Henrie told EWTN News. “The thing that will make this accessible is that you’re not sitting down for a history lesson; it’s a travel show,” he said. “When my wife and I watch travel shows, we have a glass of wine, we hang out, we relax, we watch something. It’s easy consumption, but there’s some medicine under all the sugar.”Paola Flynn, Vatican correspondent for EWTN Noticias, contributed to this report. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/251215-presentation-in-vatican-of-ewtn-studios-daniel-ibanez-8.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 18 Dec 2025 18:00:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>‘Seeking, Beauty’, travel, show, with, David, Henrie, premieres, Vatican</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>With special permission, prisoners travel to Rome for the jubilee</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/with-special-permission-prisoners-travel-to-rome-for-the-jubilee</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/with-special-permission-prisoners-travel-to-rome-for-the-jubilee</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV presides at the jubilee Mass for prisoners on Dec. 14, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

ACI Prensa Staff, Dec 16, 2025 / 15:11 pm (CNA).
The last major event of the Jubilee of Hope was dedicated to prisoners around the world, some of whom during the past weekend were able to experience freedom and fulfill a dream: to go see Pope Leo XIV.Víctor Aguado, director of prison ministry in Valencia, Spain, accompanied a group of prisoners to the Eternal City, many of whom had spent more than 12 years behind bars. Thanks to special permission, they were able to travel and become living witnesses that “hope breaks down walls and that dignity cannot be taken away.”In a conversation with ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner, Aguado recounted the details of the “intense, emotional, and spiritual” trip that will forever mark the lives of the men and women who have been incarcerated. The group was composed of a total of 13 people from Valencia, including prisoners, volunteers, and the chaplain. Six of them were inmates in the second and third degree of the prison system — regimens that combine incarceration with controlled outings — so they had to obtain a series of permits from the Treatment Board, the General Secretariat, and the Oversight Institutions. “It was a long bureaucratic process, but we didn’t have any problems,” Aguado explained.He explained that they selected the prisoners they have known for a long time. Those in the third degree of the prison system enjoy a semi-release regimen and live in halfway houses, while those in the second degree usually go to workshops and cooperate with everything the prison ministry proposes. “They are people of faith who attend Mass, and we knew that, given their situation and attitude, they needed this and wouldn’t turn it down,” he commented.&quot;With the pilgrimage, the prisoners assumed a new responsibility and embarked on a new path.&quot; Credit: Photo courtesy of Víctor Aguado“They wanted to be very well prepared, free of burdens, and participate in Sunday Mass completely cleansed and at peace with themselves,” said Aguado, who also highlighted their passing through the Holy Door as one of the most emotional moments of the jubilee. “With the pilgrimage, the prisoners assumed a new responsibility and a new path, a new life, and the feeling that now they have to do things right.”He also highlighted their excitement at seeing the pope, since for them “he is the representation of the Lord on earth.” The Sunday Mass with the Holy Father, Aguado explained, was “very simple, and although it was in Italian, it was perfectly understandable.”“Hope goes beyond, it breaks down walls wherever it may be, and the dignity of people cannot be taken away, and that is what they conveyed during the three days we were in Rome. These were very intensely personal experiences, and we could feel their joy; everyone had a look of peace,” he noted.For Aguado — who has been working with prisoners for 14 years — the fact that this event closed the Jubilee of Hope is no mere coincidence. “The world of prisons is not visible, and in some way we must begin to consider that people who have been judged eventually get out and have to reintegrate into normal life, and that depends on society.”“We know that the Lord forgives everything, so who are we to not forgive these people and keep on stigmatizing them? They are called ex-convicts, but they are nothing more than persons, with all their dignity and freedom,” he affirmed.Although he assured that the Lord “is always with them and walks with them,” he emphasized the urgency of recognizing the prisoners as living members of the Church and appealed to the responsibility of every Christian: “Sometimes we take the works of mercy for granted, but we don’t always put them into practice. The Lord challenges us: ‘I was in prison,’ and the question remains the same: ‘Did you come to see me?’”There are many lives that need to be rescuedThe Italian priest Father Raffaele Grimaldi, who left his chaplaincy at the Secondigliano prison in Naples — where he served the inmates for 23 years — to coordinate the 230 priests who minister to the nearly 62,000 detainees throughout Italy, also participated in this historic jubilee.Speaking to ACI Prensa, he noted that the event “is a strong reminder that the Church wants to bring God’s love and mercy to prisons, who goes in search of those who are lost.”Father Raffaele Grimaldi, center, with volunteers from Italian prisons at the Jubilee of Prisoners. Credit: Photo courtesy of Father Raffaele GrimaldiAccording to Grimaldi, this jubilee “has brought to light the most difficult situations we are experiencing in our prisons and the plight of the prisoners” including overcrowding, lack of resources, suicides, neglect, and “above all, the lack of acceptance from society.”The priest brought some prisoners from different Italian prisons before Pope Leo XIV, especially young people and one man sentenced to life in prison. “It was a moment of great joy for them,” he commented.“Every prisoner needs to constantly hear a word of mercy: from people who do not judge, who do not point fingers, who do not condemn, but who embrace,” he stated.He also emphasized that this jubilee has not been an isolated event, since throughout the year there has been spiritual preparation in the correctional facilities, where “proclaiming hope is a powerful message that resonates deeply in the hearts of all.”Grimaldi admitted that these individuals have “made mistakes” and are serving a sentence for them; however, he urged people to “reach out to them so that they can take up their lives again and change,” with justice accompanied by mercy, “so that justice itself does not become vengeance.”During his years of service in the prisons, he said he has encountered many people who have traveled on a beautiful spiritual journey, “like a young Albanian man who received the sacrament of baptism on Dec. 12.”“This makes us understand that in our prisons there are many lives that need to be rescued and helped, because if these opportunities don’t exist, the prisoner dies inside, and we also kill the hope that is in their heart.”This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/prison.mass.dec.14.2025.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 18 Dec 2025 18:00:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>With, special, permission, prisoners, travel, Rome, for, the, jubilee</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Vogue magazine includes Pope Leo XIV on its list of best dressed of 2025</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/vogue-magazine-includes-pope-leo-xiv-on-its-list-of-best-dressed-of-2025</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/vogue-magazine-includes-pope-leo-xiv-on-its-list-of-best-dressed-of-2025</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV looks out from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica after his election on May 8, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

ACI Prensa Staff, Dec 17, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).
Although “papal fashion,” meticulously crafted down to the smallest detail, has evolved over time, the popes’ attire still holds profound symbolism that continues to capture the attention of many.Proof of this is the recent naming of Pope Leo XIV as one of the 55 best-dressed people of 2025 by Vogue magazine, one of the most prestigious and recognized fashion and beauty publications in the world.Pope Leo XIV shares this distinction with athletes, actors, singers, politicians, and models, including Rosalía, Rihanna, Bad Bunny, actress Jennifer Lawrence, and tennis player Venus Williams.Pope Leo XIV greets the crowd gathered in St. Peter&#039;s Square after the announcement of his election on May 8, 2025. Credit: Vatican MediaThe American magazine, founded in 1892, highlights in its annual ranking that Leo XIV has broken “with the humble tastes of his predecessor,” Pope Francis, preserving “the papal legacy of impeccably crafted liturgical vestments.”As the “best outfit of 2025,” the magazine cites his first appearance as pope on May 8 in the central loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica, wearing a red satin mozzetta and a wine-colored stole, embroidered in gold and with a pectoral cross held by a golden silk cord.The mozzetta is an elbow-length cape that falls over the shoulders and is worn over the rochet as a sign of authority, while the chasuble is the outer liturgical vestment worn over the alb and stole, and its color changes according to the liturgical season. Historically, the liturgical garment represents the “yoke of Christ” and is a symbol of charity.Pope Francis chose not to wear these garments after his election in 2013, a gesture of simplicity that marked his pontificate and was recognized at the time by Esquire magazine, which also included him on its list of “best-dressed men,” highlighting his understated style.The Italian Filippo Sorcinelli has established himself as one of the leading designers for recent popes, starting with Benedict XVI. Furthermore, the tailoring of the papal liturgical vestments is entrusted to the historic Gammarelli tailor shop, located near the Pantheon in the heart of the Eternal City.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/popevogue1.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 18 Dec 2025 18:00:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Vogue, magazine, includes, Pope, Leo, XIV, its, list, best, dressed, 2025</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV: True treasure is found in the heart, not ‘too much doing’</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-true-treasure-is-found-in-the-heart-not-too-much-doing</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-true-treasure-is-found-in-the-heart-not-too-much-doing</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV spoke about the solution for restless hearts in his catechesis at the general audience in St. Peter’s Square on Dec. 17. 2025. / Credit: Daniel Ibanez/CNA

Vatican City, Dec 17, 2025 / 07:30 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV said Wednesday true satisfaction is found not in the accumulation of money or things, or by “too much doing,” but by returning to Jesus Christ, the source of hope, love, and joy.“We are absorbed by many activities that do not always leave us satisfied … We have to assume responsibility for many commitments, solve problems, face difficulties,” the pope said at the general audience in St. Peter’s Square on Dec. 17. “Yet,” he added, “we often perceive how too much doing, instead of giving us fulfillment, becomes a vortex that overwhelms us, takes away our serenity, and prevents us from living to the fullest what is truly important in our lives.”In his catechesis, the pontiff stressed that the true value of life is not measured by “days full of activities” or economic success.“It is therefore in the heart that true treasure is kept, not in earthly safes, not in large financial investments, which today more than ever before are out of control and unjustly concentrated at the bloody price of millions of human lives and the devastation of God’s creation,” he said.Leo warned that this logic of accumulation ends up emptying life of meaning even for those who, from the outside, seem to have achieved success: “It is important to reflect on these aspects, because in the numerous commitments we continually face, there is an increasing risk of dispersion, sometimes of despair, of meaninglessness.”“Human life is characterized by a constant movement that that drives us to do, to act,” he acknowledged, adding that Jesus’ resurrection can give us insight into this human experience.“When we participate in [Christ’s] victory over death, will we rest? Faith tells us: Yes, we will rest,” the pope said. “We will not be inactive, but we will enter into God’s repose, which is peace and joy. So, should we just wait, or can this change us right now?”The true destiny of the heartLeo noted that many people, despite having so much, feel empty at the end of the day.The answer, according to the pontiff, is “because we are not machines, we have a ‘heart’; indeed, we can say that we are a heart.”He turned to the Gospel of St. Matthew to underscore the centrality of the heart, citing the words of Jesus: “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Mt 6:21).He also cited the beginning of St. Augustine’s “Confessions,” where the bishop of Hippo wrote: “Lord, you have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.”St. Augustine, with the adjective restless, “helps us understand the human being’s yearning for fulfillment.”“The authentic approach of the heart,” he continued, “does not consist in possessing the goods of this world, but in achieving what can fill it completely; namely, the love of God, or rather, God who is Love.”The Holy Father explained that this treasure is found only by “loving the neighbor we meet along the way: brothers and sisters in flesh and blood, whose presence stirs and questions our heart, calling it to open up and give itself.”But in order to love one’s neighbor, Leo pointed out that it is necessary to “slow down” one’s pace, to “look them in the eye, sometimes to change our plans, perhaps even to change direction.”“Here is the secret of the movement of the human heart: returning to the source of its being, delighting in the joy that never fails, that never disappoints. No one can live without a meaning that goes beyond the contingent, beyond what passes away,” he concluded.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA&#039;s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/ga-12.17.2025-ibanez.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 18 Dec 2025 18:00:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV:, True, treasure, found, the, heart, not, ‘too, much, doing’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV to appoint next archbishop of New York</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-to-appoint-next-archbishop-of-new-york</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-to-appoint-next-archbishop-of-new-york</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Bishop Ronald A. Hicks of Joliet, Illinois. / Credit: Diocese of Joliet YouTube video

Vatican City, Dec 17, 2025 / 09:58 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV has chosen Bishop Ronald Hicks of the Diocese of Joliet, Illinois, to be the next archbishop of New York — the most consequential U.S. episcopal appointment of Leo’s pontificate thus far.The appointment was confirmed by EWTN News with two independent sources with direct knowledge of the appointment.Hicks, 58, will succeed Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who has led New York, the second-largest U.S. archdiocese by population — with 2.5 million Catholics — since 2009.The choice of Hicks for one of the most important U.S. archdioceses is likely to be heavily scrutinized for the insight it may give into the direction Pope Leo wishes to take the Church in the U.S.A native of Illinois, Hicks has led the Joliet Diocese since September 2020. He was an auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of Chicago from 2018 to 2020, following three years as the archdiocese’s vicar general from 2015 to 2018.Hicks was born on Aug. 4, 1967, in the town of Harvey, Illinois, south of Chicago, and grew up in South Holland, one suburb over from Dolton, where Pope Leo XIV grew up.“I recognize a lot of similarities between [Pope Leo] and me,” Hicks told WGN in an interview in May. “So we grew up literally in the same radius, in the same neighborhood together. We played in the same parks, went swimming in the same pools, liked the same pizza places to go to.”Ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Chicago in 1994, Hicks’ priestly ministry included time as an associate pastor and pastor, and dean of formation as St. Joseph College Seminary.In 2005, he began a five-year term as regional director of Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (NPH) in Central America. Based in El Salvador, he oversaw the care of more than 3,400 orphaned and abandoned children in nine Latin American and Caribbean countries.He returned to Chicago in 2010 to serve as dean of formation at Mundelein Seminary before Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago appointed him vicar general of the archdiocese on Jan. 1, 2015.As bishop, Hicks serves on the Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life, and Vocations for the U.S. bishops’ conference, and as the conference liaison to the Association of Ongoing Formation of Priests and the National Association of Diaconate Directors.The Archdiocese of New York serves Catholics in the boroughs of Manhattan, the Bronx, and Staten Island, and in seven counties to the north. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/This_oine.png" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 18 Dec 2025 18:00:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, appoint, next, archbishop, New, York</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Washington Roundup: Supreme Court hears case on independent agencies; CDC abortion report delayed</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/washington-roundup-supreme-court-hears-case-on-independent-agencies-cdc-abortion-report-delayed</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/washington-roundup-supreme-court-hears-case-on-independent-agencies-cdc-abortion-report-delayed</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ U.S. Senate rejects dueling health care bills Dec. 11. The Democratic and GOP-led bills didn&#039;t reach the chamber&#039;s 60-vote filibuster threshold to advance. 
The post Washington Roundup: Supreme Court hears case on independent agencies; CDC abortion report delayed first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/uptop20251212T1634-WASHINGTON-ROUNDUP-12-12-1809483.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 15 Dec 2025 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Washington, Roundup:, Supreme, Court, hears, case, independent, agencies, CDC, abortion, report, delayed</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Emergency foodstuffs from Florida Catholics delivered to people in eastern Cuba</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/emergency-foodstuffs-from-florida-catholics-delivered-to-people-in-eastern-cuba</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/emergency-foodstuffs-from-florida-catholics-delivered-to-people-in-eastern-cuba</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ “It goes to show the power of faith” that some 66 years after the Cuban Revolution still there helping the people “is the Catholic Church and people of faith.&quot;
The post Emergency foodstuffs from Florida Catholics delivered to people in eastern Cuba first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/useuptop20251211T1734-MIAMI-CATHOLICS-CUBA-AID-1809402.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 15 Dec 2025 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Emergency, foodstuffs, from, Florida, Catholics, delivered, people, eastern, Cuba</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Our Lady of Guadalupe transcends borders, brings us together, says Texas archbishop</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/our-lady-of-guadalupe-transcends-borders-brings-us-together-says-texas-archbishop</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/our-lady-of-guadalupe-transcends-borders-brings-us-together-says-texas-archbishop</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Our Lady of Guadalupe continues to bring us together at a time when the world needs &quot;our unity, our friendship and our collaboration&quot; more than ever, said San Antonio Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller.
The post Our Lady of Guadalupe transcends borders, brings us together, says Texas archbishop first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Gustavo3-copy.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 15 Dec 2025 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Our, Lady, Guadalupe, transcends, borders, brings, together, says, Texas, archbishop</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Illinois legalizes assisted suicide, despite outcry from bishops, pro&#45;life advocates</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/illinois-legalizes-assisted-suicide-despite-outcry-from-bishops-pro-life-advocates</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/illinois-legalizes-assisted-suicide-despite-outcry-from-bishops-pro-life-advocates</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Illinois has become the 12th state, along with the District of Columbia, to legalize assisted suicide, amid outcry among the state&#039;s Catholic bishops and other pro-life and disability advocates.
The post Illinois legalizes assisted suicide, despite outcry from bishops, pro-life advocates first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2025-08-04T052607Z_531606079_RC220GAXK5PE_RTRMADP_3_USA-ELECTION-TEXAS-REDISTRICTING.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 15 Dec 2025 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Illinois, legalizes, assisted, suicide, despite, outcry, from, bishops, pro-life, advocates</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Under the mantle of Guadalupe: A miracle for a mother and her child</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/under-the-mantle-of-guadalupe-a-miracle-for-a-mother-and-her-child</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/under-the-mantle-of-guadalupe-a-miracle-for-a-mother-and-her-child</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The story of a special miracle from Our Lady of Guadalupe.
The post Under the mantle of Guadalupe: A miracle for a mother and her child first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/203241b9-a3b5-4000-bda0-48e8175116bf-2-e1765570784125.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 15 Dec 2025 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Under, the, mantle, Guadalupe:, miracle, for, mother, and, her, child</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV urges mercy, reform as Jubilee of Prisoners closes Holy Year</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-urges-mercy-reform-as-jubilee-of-prisoners-closes-holy-year</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-urges-mercy-reform-as-jubilee-of-prisoners-closes-holy-year</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass for the Jubilee of Hope for prisoners in St. Peter&#039;s Basilica at the Vatican on December 14, 2025. / Vatican Media

Vatican City, Dec 14, 2025 / 05:25 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV on Sunday presided over the final major celebration of the Holy Year, calling for renewed commitment to justice, rehabilitation, and hope as he celebrated a Jubilee Mass dedicated to prisoners in St. Peter’s Basilica.About 6,000 pilgrims from some 90 countries took part in the Jubilee of Prisoners, including detainees and their families, prison chaplains, correctional officers, police, and prison administrators. Participants came from across Europe, the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Oceania, including Italy, Spain, Portugal, the United Kingdom, Poland, Germany, Indonesia, Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, the United States, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Australia.In his homily, the pope said that as the Jubilee Year drew to a close, significant challenges remained within prison systems worldwide.“While the close of the Jubilee Year draws near, we must recognize that, despite the efforts of many, even in the penitentiary system there is much that still needs to be done,” he said. Quoting the prophet Isaiah — “the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing” — Leo said the passage recalled that “it is God who ransoms, who redeems and liberates.”The pope acknowledged the harsh realities of incarceration, saying prison was “a difficult place and even the best proposals can encounter many obstacles.” For that reason, he said, people must not “tire, be discouraged or give up,” but continue “with tenacity, courage, and a spirit of collaboration.”Leo stressed that justice should not be reduced to punishment alone. “There are many who do not yet understand that for every fall one must be able to get back up, that no human being is defined only by his or her actions and that justice is always a process of reparation and reconciliation,” he said.Reflecting on the meaning of the Jubilee, the pope said that even in difficult conditions, the preservation of compassion, respect, and mercy could bear unexpected fruit.“When even in difficult situations we are able to maintain and preserve the beauty of feelings, sensitivity, attention to the needs of others, respect, the capacity for mercy and forgiveness, beautiful flowers spring forth from the ‘hard ground’ of sin and suffering,” Leo said, adding that “gestures, projects, and encounters, unique in their humanity, mature even within prison walls.”The pope also recalled the hopes expressed by his predecessor, Pope Francis, for the Holy Year. Leo said Francis had wanted Jubilee celebrations to include “forms of amnesty or pardon meant to help individuals regain confidence in themselves and in society” and to offer “real opportunities of reintegration” to all.“I hope that many countries are following his desire,” the pope said, noting that in its biblical origins the Jubilee was “a year of grace in which everyone was offered the possibility of restarting in many different ways.”Addressing both prisoners and those who work in the penal system, Leo said the task entrusted to them was demanding. He pointed to challenges such as overcrowding, insufficient educational and rehabilitation programs, and limited job opportunities, as well as personal burdens including past wounds, disappointment, and the difficulty of forgiveness.“The Lord, however, beyond all this, continues to repeat to us that only one thing is important: that no one be lost and that all be saved,” he said. “Let no one be lost! Let all be saved! This is what our God wants, this is his Kingdom, and this is the goal of his actions in the world.”According to organizers, delegations attending the Jubilee included inmates and staff from several Italian prisons, including Rebibbia, Casal del Marmo, Brescia, Teramo, Pescara, Rieti, Varese, and Forlì, as well as international groups coordinated by prison chaplaincies in Portugal, Spain, Malta, and Chile. A group of 500 pilgrims was accompanied by the General Inspectorate of Chaplains of Italian prisons.The Hosts used for the Mass were produced by prisoners through the “Sense of Bread” project run by the Fondazione Casa dello Spirito e delle Arti. Since 2016, the initiative has involved more than 300 inmates each year in making Communion Hosts for more than 15,000 dioceses, religious communities, and parishes in Italy and abroad.This story was first published by ACI Stampa, CNA’s Italian-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/ris7162.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 15 Dec 2025 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, urges, mercy, reform, Jubilee, Prisoners, closes, Holy, Year</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Vatican to unveil Nativity scene, light up Christmas tree in St. Peter’s Square on Dec. 15</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/vatican-to-unveil-nativity-scene-light-up-christmas-tree-in-st-peters-square-on-dec-15</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/vatican-to-unveil-nativity-scene-light-up-christmas-tree-in-st-peters-square-on-dec-15</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  The fir tree and the Nativity scene are ready for the dedication in St. Peter’s Square on Dec. 15, 2025. / Credit: Victoria Cardiel/EWTN News

Vatican City, Dec 14, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).
The Governorate of Vatican City State has announced the origins of the fir tree and Nativity scenes that will adorn St. Peter’s Square and the Paul VI Audience Hall this Christmas as well as those who prepared the tree’s decorations.The decorations in St. Peter’s Square will once again have an Italian touch.The chosen tree, an imposing 80-foot Norway spruce, comes from the town of Val d’Ultimo in Ultental, one of the most picturesque and lesser-known valleys of South Tyrol in the Alto Adige region of Italy. Along with the large tree, 40 smaller trees destined for Vatican offices and buildings will arrive soon.In a novel initiative to ensure environmental sustainability and respect for nature, after Christmas, the main fir tree will be used to produce essential oils — a process that will be handled by the Austrian company Wilder Naturprodukte — and the rest of the wood will be donated to a charitable organization.The Nativity scene, which is more of a village scene and will include life-size figures, will also be monumental in size. It measures 56 feet in length and is nearly 40 feet wide with a height of 25 feet and comes from the Diocese of Nocera Inferiore-Sarno, one of the oldest in Italy whose origins date back to the third century, when Nuceria Alfaterna — the ancient Roman city in the Sarno Valley — already had an organized Christian community.The scene recreates emblematic elements of early Christian art from this region of Italy and includes a reproduction of the sixth-century baptistery from St. Mary Major Basilica, one of the best-preserved in the country. It also features an octagonal baptismal pool and frescoes that reveal Byzantine influences.Also represented is the Helvius Fountain (“Fons Helvii”), an ancient monumental Roman fountain built between the first and second centuries A.D. associated with a local aqueduct that supplied water to the Roman population.Upon this symbolic architecture unfolds a narrative that fuses sacred art, cultural heritage, and local identity.The life-size figures of the Holy Family have been created by craftsman Federico Iaccarino, and the rest of the Nativity scene will include characters inspired by saints associated with this Italian region.For example, among those represented are St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori, who in 1732 founded the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (Redemptorists), dedicated to evangelizing the most abandoned, especially in rural and marginalized areas; and a shepherd inspired by the Servant of God Don Enrico Smaldone, a priest who dedicated his life to caring for orphans, poor young people, and people with intellectual disabilities, for whom he created educational initiatives and welcoming spaces within the Church.Around them, shepherds and animals parade across a pavement that evokes the ancient Roman roads.In the central scene, Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus are accompanied by the ox and the donkey, the three Wise Men, and a shepherdess offering local produce — artichokes, San Marzano tomatoes, and dried fruit — as a tribute to the land that inspired the work.The ensemble includes elements that invite spiritual reflection: a pendulum clock that alludes to the passage of time, an observer leaning over a balcony representing the human perspective on the mystery, and a fisherman holding an anchor, a symbol of faith and the spiritual journey of the jubilee.The luminous star with a tail in the shape of an anchor that crowns the composition stands out, uniting the celestial and the earthly in a single gesture of hope.The dedication will take place Monday, Dec. 15, at 5 p.m. local time in a ceremony presided over by Sister Raffaella Petrini, president of the Governorate of Vatican City State, accompanied by Archbishop Emilio Nappa and lawyer Giuseppe Puglisi-Alibrandi, general secretaries of the Vatican body.The day will begin with several audiences with Pope Leo XIV, who will receive in the morning the delegations that donated the tree and those responsible for the huge Nativity scene that will adorn the square.Among others, the afternoon ceremony will be attended by Bishop Ivo Muser of Bolzano-Bressanone; the mayor of Lagundo, Alexandra Ganner; and the mayor of Ultimo, Stefan Schwarz.During the morning, the official presentation of a Nativity scene from Costa Rica, which will be installed this year in the Paul VI Audience Hall, will also take place.Titled “Nacimiento Gaudium” (“Nativity of Joy”), the work by Costa Rican artist Paula Sáenz Soto, is an “affirmation of life from conception.” The piece consists of a figure of a pregnant Virgin Mary and 28,000 colored ribbons that symbolize lives preserved thanks to the support provided by Catholic organizations to pregnant women in vulnerable situations.The Nativity scene — 16 feet long, 10 feet high, and 8 feet deep — will feature two interchangeable representations of the Virgin Mary: an image of her pregnant during Advent and another of her adoring the newborn child from Christmas Eve onward. In addition, 400 ribbons with prayers and wishes from children at the National Hospital of San José, Costa Rica, will be placed in the manger on Dec. 24.The Costa Rican delegation that will meet with the pope will be composed of First Lady Signe Zeicate; her daughter, Isabel Chaves Zeicate; and the country’s ambassador to the Holy See, Federico Zamora.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/vaticanchristmas.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 15 Dec 2025 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Vatican, unveil, Nativity, scene, light, Christmas, tree, St., Peter’s, Square, Dec.</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV voices concern over renewed fighting in eastern Congo, urges dialogue</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-voices-concern-over-renewed-fighting-in-eastern-congo-urges-dialogue</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-voices-concern-over-renewed-fighting-in-eastern-congo-urges-dialogue</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV greets pilgrims gathered in St. Peter&#039;s Square at the Vatican for the Angelus on December 14, 2025. / Vatican Media

Vatican City, Dec 14, 2025 / 08:05 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV on Sunday voiced deep concern over renewed fighting in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, urging an immediate end to violence and a return to dialogue in line with ongoing peace efforts.After leading pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square in praying the Angelus on the Third Sunday of Advent, the pope said he was “following with deep concern the resumption of fighting in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo.”“While expressing my closeness to the people, I urge the parties in the conflict to cease all forms of violence and to seek constructive dialogue, respecting the ongoing peace process,” he said.The pope’s appeal came amid reports of intensified clashes involving the M23 rebel group in the mineral-rich eastern region, despite a recently signed peace agreement between Congolese and Rwandan leaders.Pope Leo also recalled recent beatifications of martyrs in Spain and France, praising their fidelity to the faith amid persecution. “Let us praise the Lord for these martyrs, courageous witnesses to the Gospel, persecuted and killed for remaining close to their people and faithful to the Church,” he said.Earlier, in his catechesis before leading the Angelus, Pope Leo reflected on the Gospel reading for the Third Sunday of Advent, which presents John the Baptist imprisoned for his preaching yet still seeking the truth about Jesus.From prison, John hears “about the works of Christ” and sends his disciples to ask whether Jesus is truly the one who is to come, the pope noted. Jesus’ response, he said, points not to abstract claims but to concrete signs.“Christ announces who he is by what he does. And what he does is a sign of salvation for all of us,” Pope Leo said. Encountering Jesus, he explained, restores meaning to lives marked by darkness and suffering: “The blind see, the mute speak, the deaf hear… Even the dead, who are completely lifeless, come back to life. This is the Gospel of Jesus, the good news proclaimed to the poor.”“The words of Jesus free us from the prison of despair and suffering,” the pope said, adding that Christ “gives voice to the oppressed and to those whose voices have been silenced by violence and hatred” and “defeats ideologies that make us deaf to the truth.”Concluding his reflection, Pope Leo said that Advent calls Christians to unite their expectation of the Savior with attentiveness to God’s action in the world. “Then we will be able to experience the joy of freedom in encountering our Savior,” he said, echoing the Church’s celebration of Gaudete Sunday.This story was first published in two parts by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/tre5108-1.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 15 Dec 2025 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, voices, concern, over, renewed, fighting, eastern, Congo, urges, dialogue</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV, in meeting with award committee, calls for concrete acts of charity</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-in-meeting-with-award-committee-calls-for-concrete-acts-of-charity</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-in-meeting-with-award-committee-calls-for-concrete-acts-of-charity</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV meets with the committee that chooses recipients of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity at the Vatican on Dec. 11, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Dec 12, 2025 / 06:52 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV urged concrete acts of charity and solidarity in a world marked by conflict as he met with the committee that chooses recipients of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity.“In a time marked by increased conflict and division, we need authentic testimonies of human kindness and charity to remind us that we are all brothers and sisters. Words are not enough,” the pope told the delegation at the Vatican on Dec. 11.Leo praised the committee for continuing the legacy of Pope Francis and Grand Imam Ahmad Al-Tayyeb in promoting compassion and fraternity, calling their work a “noble service of human fraternity.”The Zayed Award for Human Fraternity, named after the late United Arab Emirates president Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, was established following the signing of the Document on Human Fraternity by Pope Francis and Al-Tayyeb during Francis’ 2019 apostolic journey to Abu Dhabi.“This prize not only embodies the legacy of Sheikh Zayed and these other leaders, it also emphasizes that every human being and every religion is called to promote fraternity,” Leo said.The pope stressed that ideals must be matched by action, telling the committee that building a society founded on love and respect requires “concrete actions.”“Remaining in the realm of ideas and theories, while failing to give them expression through frequent and practical acts of charity, will eventually cause even our most cherished hopes and aspirations to weaken and fade away,” he said, quoting his apostolic exhortation Dilexi Te.Leo encouraged the committee to persevere in its work, expressing confidence that its efforts would “continue to bear fruit for the good of the human family.”The Zayed Award association has received nominations from individuals and institutions worldwide whose work aims to foster solidarity and human connection across national, ethnic, and religious lines. For its 2026 edition, the award received more than 350 nominations from over 75 countries, with winners to be announced in January.Award recipients will be honored at a ceremony in Abu Dhabi on Feb. 4, coinciding with the anniversary of the Document on Human Fraternity and the U.N. International Day of Human Fraternity. A $1 million prize will be divided among the winners.Earlier this week, the Zayed Award delegation met with Grand Imam Ahmad Al-Tayyeb in Cairo. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/sim7900.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 14 Dec 2025 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, meeting, with, award, committee, calls, for, concrete, acts, charity</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope warns about risks to Church when intelligence agencies ‘act for nefarious purposes’</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-warns-about-risks-to-church-when-intelligence-agencies-act-for-nefarious-purposes</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-warns-about-risks-to-church-when-intelligence-agencies-act-for-nefarious-purposes</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV speaks to people who work in Italy’s intelligence sector in the Vatican’s Hall of Blessings on Dec. 12, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Dec 12, 2025 / 09:11 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV warned that intelligence agencies in some countries work against the Catholic Church, “oppressing its freedom” by using confidential information for “nefarious purposes.”In an audience at the Vatican on Friday with people who work in Italy’s intelligence sector, the pope recalled the importance of conducting their jobs both ethically and morally.“We must be vigilant to ensure that confidential information is not used to intimidate, manipulate, blackmail, or discredit politicians, journalists, or other actors in civil society. All of this also applies to the ecclesial sphere,” he said on Dec. 12.Speaking in the Hall of Blessings, Leo urged those engaged in national security intelligence work to act with professionalism, to have respect for human dignity, and to engage in ethical communication.“Security agencies often have to collect information on individuals and therefore have a strong impact on individual rights,” he noted. “It is therefore necessary that limits be established, according to the criterion of human dignity, and that we remain vigilant against the temptations to which a job like yours exposes you.”The pope urged them to ensure that the protection of national security “always and in all cases guarantees people’s rights, their private and family life, freedom of conscience and information, and the right to a fair trial.”Leo recalled the massive changes to digital communications in recent decades and warned that the arrival of new and increasingly advanced technologies “offers us greater possibilities but, at the same time, exposes us to constant dangers.”“The massive and continuous exchange of information requires us to be critically vigilant about certain issues of vital importance: the distinction between truth and fake news, the undue exposure of private life, the manipulation of the most vulnerable, the logic of blackmail, and incitement to hatred and violence,” he said. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/ris7301.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 14 Dec 2025 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, warns, about, risks, Church, when, intelligence, agencies, ‘act, for, nefarious, purposes’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo praises Christian archaeology, capable of ‘bringing to light anonymous holiness’</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-praises-christian-archaeology-capable-of-bringing-to-light-anonymous-holiness</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-praises-christian-archaeology-capable-of-bringing-to-light-anonymous-holiness</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV waves to pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square during his Wednesday general audience on Dec. 10, 2025. / Credit: Daniel Ibañez/EWTN News

Vatican City, Dec 12, 2025 / 11:42 am (CNA).
On the centenary of the founding of the Pontifical Institute of Christian Archaeology, Pope Leo XIV published a new apostolic letter in which he praised Christian archaeology as a work capable of “giving a voice to the silence of history” and of “bringing to light the anonymous holiness of many faithful who have contributed to building up the Church.”“In today’s fast-paced world, there is a tendency to forget and to consume images and words without reflecting on their meaning. The Church, on the other hand, is called to educate people in memory, and Christian archaeology is one of its most noble tools for doing so — not in order to take refuge in the past, but consciously to live in the present and work towards an enduring future,” the pope stated in the document, published on Dec. 11.This is the third magisterial publication of this kind by Leo XIV in his eight months as pontiff, following “Drawing New Maps of Hope,” a document focused on education, and In Unitate Fidei on the Ecumenical Council of Nicaea, in which he explored the unity of Christians.For Leo XIV, Christian archaeology allows the Church to “remember its origins” and “recount the history of salvation not only through words but also through images, forms, and spaces.” In a time that “often loses sight of its roots,” it is “a valuable instrument of evangelization.”Thus, he emphasized that archaeology speaks to believers and nonbelievers, young people, scholars, and pilgrims, because it illuminates the meaning of the journey and evokes an “echo of eternity.”‘Christianity is not an abstract concept’Each archaeological discovery, he explained, demonstrates that “Christianity is not an abstract concept but rather a body that has lived, celebrated, and inhabited space and time.”For the Holy Father, archaeology shows that faith “has already survived difficult times and resisted persecution, crises, and changes. Faith has been renewed and regenerated,” and has “flourished in new forms.” Hence, he described it as “a ministry of hope.”The pope said the discipline allows people to intuit the “power of an existence that transcends time,” to read in burials the “expectation of the Resurrection” and in apses “the orientation toward Christ.”The pope emphasized that archaeology also plays a decisive role in the theology of revelation, since God “has in time spoken through events and people.” Therefore, understanding revelation requires knowing its historical contexts: Archaeology “illuminates the texts,” he affirmed, and also “completes written sources.”In the document, the pope distanced himself from any idealization of the past and called for understanding the true history of the Church — made up of “greatness and limitation, holiness and fragility, continuity and rupture” — which will allow for a more authentic theology.‘Living memory,’ not ‘a cult of the past’Leo XIV warned against a merely conservationist vision of archaeology. “True Christian archaeology is not a matter of sterile conservation but of living memory,” he emphasized after pointing out that Christian archaeology must foster a “reconciled memory” and promote spaces for dialogue.Likewise, the pope recalled the value of academic communion and cooperation among archaeological institutions, describing this field as “a resource for everyone.”In affirming the fundamental role of Christian archaeology, the pope underscored that “theological studies that disregard archaeology run the risk of becoming disembodied, abstract, or even ideological.”According to the pontiff, archaeology not only provides historical data but also allows theology to remain rooted in the concrete reality of the people of God. Thus, he affirmed that a theology that “embraces archaeology ... listens to the body of the Church, assesses its wounds, reads its signs, and is touched by its history.”In his reflection, Leo XIV highlighted the human and pastoral dimension of archaeological work. He described it as an essentially “hands-on” profession in which researchers “are the first to handle buried material that conserves its vitality even after centuries.”But the contribution of the Christian archaeologist, Leo XIV added, goes beyond material recovery: “They study not only the artifacts but also the hands that forged them, the minds that conceived them, and the hearts that loved them.”God has truly entered history, and faith is not a philosophyThe pope recalled that from its origins, the Christian faith was transmitted through the memory of places and signs. “Christian communities safeguarded not only Jesus’ words but also the places, objects, and signs of his presence,” he stated.Places such as the empty tomb, Peter’s house in Capernaum, and the Roman catacombs not only served as historical testimony but also “all testify that God has truly entered history and that faith is not a mere philosophy but a tangible path within the reality of the world,” the Holy Father wrote.The pope affirmed that the Church needs to “search for a profound wisdom capable of preserving and passing on to future generations what is truly essential” and emphasized that archaeology has “an essential role in understanding Christianity and, consequently, its application within catechetical and theological formation.”Citing Pope Francis’ apostolic constitution Veritatis Gaudium, Leo recalled that archaeology is part of the fundamental disciplines of theological formation, because “it does not merely tell us about artifacts but about people: their homes, tombs, churches, and prayers” and about “how faith shaped their spaces, cities, landscapes, and mentalities.”The pope also emphasized that archaeology “is not just a specialized discipline reserved to a few experts” but rather a path accessible “to anyone who wishes to understand how faith is embodied in time, place, and culture.”Archaeology as a ‘school of hope’In his view, studying and narrating history helps to keep “the flame of collective conscience” alive. Otherwise, he warned, “all that remains is the personal memory of facts bound to our own interests or sensibilities, with no real connection to the human and ecclesial community in which we live.”Leo XIV recalled that the Pontifical Institute of Christian Archaeology was established by Pius XI’s motu proprio Primitivi Cemeteri (“Primitive Cemeteries”) of Dec. 11, 1925, with the task “of directing studies on the monuments of ancient Christianity with the utmost scientific rigor” in order to “reconstruct the lives of the early communities.”The institute has participated in crucial excavations, such as that of the tomb of the apostle Peter beneath the Altar of the Confession in St. Peter’s Basilica, and in recent investigations at St. Paul Outside the Walls.The pope asked: “How fruitful can the role of Christian archaeology still be for society and the Church in an age marked by artificial intelligence and by the exploration of the innumerable galaxies of the universe?”He himself offered the answer: Contemporary methods “enable us to glean new information from findings once considered insignificant,” reminding us that “nothing is truly useless or lost.” Even the marginal, he affirmed, can “reveal profound meaning in the light of new questions and methods. In this respect, archaeology is also a school of hope.”This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/pope1211.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 14 Dec 2025 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, praises, Christian, archaeology, capable, ‘bringing, light, anonymous, holiness’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV entrusts pontificate to the Virgin of Guadalupe</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-entrusts-pontificate-to-the-virgin-of-guadalupe</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-entrusts-pontificate-to-the-virgin-of-guadalupe</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV honors Our Lady of Guadalupe during the Mass on her feast day, Dec. 12, 2025, in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Dec 12, 2025 / 17:46 pm (CNA).
On Dec. 12, Pope Leo XIV presided over his first Mass on the solemnity of Our Lady of Guadalupe, whom he asked to come to his aid “so that she may confirm in the one true path that leads to the blessed Fruit of your womb all those who have been entrusted to me.”A large number of the faithful, mostly from the Mexican community residing in Rome as well as clergy and members of the Roman Curia, attended the ceremony held in St. Peter’s Basilica at 4 p.m. local time.The Holy Father delivered a homily in Spanish in the form of a prayer addressed to the patroness of Mexico and empress of the Americas.The pontiff recalled that Mary allows the Word of God “to enter her life and transform it,” bringing “that joy wherever human joy is insufficient, wherever the wine has run out.” For the Holy Father, at Tepeyac, the Virgin Mary “awakens in the inhabitants of America the joy of knowing they are loved by God.” Thus, “amidst ceaseless conflicts, injustices, and sorrows that seek relief,” Mary of Guadalupe proclaims the core of her message: “Am I not here, I who am your mother?”“It is the voice,” the pope continued, “that echoes the promise of divine fidelity, the presence that sustains us when life becomes unbearable.”The pope then focused his message on the motherhood of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Before her image, he expressed his desire that the faithful might feel like “true children of yours,” and he asked for her guidance to maintain their faith “when strength fails and shadows grow.”“Mother, teach the nations that wish to be your children not to divide the world into irreconcilable factions, not to allow hatred to mark their history nor lies to write their memory. Show them that authority must be exercised as service and not as domination. Instruct their leaders in their duty to safeguard the dignity of every person at every stage of life. Make these peoples, your children, places where every person can feel welcome,” he continued.He also prayed to the Virgin for young people, “that they may obtain from Christ the strength to choose what is good and the courage to remain steadfast in the faith, even when the world pushes them in another direction.” He also prayed that nothing would trouble their hearts and that “they may embrace God’s plans without fear.” “Protect them from the threats of crime, addiction, and the danger of a meaningless life,” he added.The Holy Father turned to those who have distanced themselves from the Church and asked the Virgin Mary to bring them “back home” with the power of her love. He also prayed for those who sow discord, asking Mary to restore them to charity.He also implored Our Lady of Guadalupe to strengthen families and, following her example, to help “parents educate with tenderness and firmness, so that every home may be a school of faith.”He also asked her to sustain the clergy and consecrated life “in daily fidelity” and to renew their first love. “Guard their inner lives in prayer, protect them from temptation, encourage them in their weariness, and comfort those who are discouraged,” he added.“Assist us so that we may not tarnish with our sin and misery the holiness of the Church, which, like you, is a mother,” he said.In his conclusion, the Holy Father asked that the mother “of the true God for whom we live come to the aid of the successor of Peter, so that he may confirm in the one path that leads to the blessed Fruit of your womb all those entrusted to me.”“Remember this son of yours, ‘to whom Christ entrusted the keys of the kingdom of heaven for the good of all,’ that these keys may serve ‘to bind and loose and to redeem all human misery,’” he said, quoting a 1994 homily by St. John Paul II.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/guadalupe.mass.dec.12.2025.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 14 Dec 2025 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, entrusts, pontificate, the, Virgin, Guadalupe</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Swedish choir honors St. Lucy with songs in St. Peter’s Basilica</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/swedish-choir-honors-st-lucy-with-songs-in-st-peters-basilica</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/swedish-choir-honors-st-lucy-with-songs-in-st-peters-basilica</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Students from Nordiska Musikgymnasiet — The Nordic Music High School — in Stockholm perform traditional Swedish “Lucia songs” during an afternoon Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica on Dec. 11, 2025. / Credit: Bénédicte Cedergren/EWTN News

Rome Newsroom, Dec 13, 2025 / 09:00 am (CNA).
A Swedish youth choir marked the feast of St. Lucy by singing at a Mass at the Vatican on Thursday, Dec. 11.Students from Nordiska Musikgymnasiet — The Nordic Music High School — in Stockholm performed traditional Swedish “Lucia songs” during an afternoon Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica ahead of the Italian saint’s Dec. 13 feast day.Students from Nordiska Musikgymnasiet — The Nordic Music High School — in Stockholm perform traditional Swedish “Lucia songs” during an afternoon Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica on Dec. 11, 2025. Credit: Bénédicte Cedergren/EWTN News“It was just really amazing” singing in St. Peter’s Basilica, choir member Alfio Tota told EWTN News after the Dec. 11 Mass. “It’s so enormous … And the acoustics are very interesting.”The student recalled that though Sweden is a very secular country, the tradition of St. Lucia, as they call her, is quite strong.Students from Nordiska Musikgymnasiet — The Nordic Music High School — in Stockholm perform traditional Swedish “Lucia songs” during an afternoon Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica on Dec. 11, 2025. Credit: Bénédicte Cedergren/EWTN News“I think everyone feels quite a lot of joy and nostalgia in singing” the St. Lucy hymns, he said.Choir member Fabienne Glader told EWTN News that she always spends the feast of St. Lucy with her family.Students from Nordiska Musikgymnasiet — The Nordic Music High School — in Stockholm perform traditional Swedish “Lucia songs” during an afternoon Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica on Dec. 11, 2025. Credit: Bénédicte Cedergren/EWTN NewsSt. Lucy “shows courage and patience and just to never [give up] on yourself,” Glader said. “Even if you’re not really religious in any way, you can look up to her as just a wonderful person.”The choir’s conductor, Casimir Käfling, said as a Christian, the tradition of St. Lucy was always part of Christmas for his family.Students from Nordiska Musikgymnasiet — The Nordic Music High School — in Stockholm perform traditional Swedish “Lucia songs” during an afternoon Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica on Dec. 11, 2025. Credit: Bénédicte Cedergren/EWTN NewsHe called it “an incredible honor to be able to sing and conduct” her songs in St. Peter’s Basilica.Käfling also recalled the darkness Sweden experiences during the winter, especially in the month of December, and said St. Lucy brings light into that darkness.“The story of St. Lucy really plays with these contrasts of light and dark, and most importantly, hope and despair,” Tota said. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/st.-lucia-07.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 14 Dec 2025 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Swedish, choir, honors, St., Lucy, with, songs, St., Peter’s, Basilica</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>White House rejects call from key pro&#45;life group to fire FDA commissioner</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/white-house-rejects-call-from-key-pro-life-group-to-fire-fda-commissioner</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/white-house-rejects-call-from-key-pro-life-group-to-fire-fda-commissioner</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ &quot;The FDA is doing nothing while every single day abortion drugs take the lives of children, put women and girls at serious risk.&quot;
The post White House rejects call from key pro-life group to fire FDA commissioner first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/useuptop20251209T1638-SBA-PRO-LIFE-AMERICA-MAKARY-FDA-1809276.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 11 Dec 2025 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>White, House, rejects, call, from, key, pro-life, group, fire, FDA, commissioner</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Boston Archdiocese tells church to remove ICE message from Nativity, but pastor refuses for now</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/boston-archdiocese-tells-church-to-remove-ice-message-from-nativity-but-pastor-refuses-for-now</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/boston-archdiocese-tells-church-to-remove-ice-message-from-nativity-but-pastor-refuses-for-now</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ &quot;The people of God have the right to expect that, when they come to church, they will encounter genuine opportunities for prayer and Catholic worship -- not divisive political messaging,&quot; the statement said.
The post Boston Archdiocese tells church to remove ICE message from Nativity, but pastor refuses for now first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/20251209T1633-DEDHAM-CHURCH-ANTI-ICE-NATIVITY-SCENE-1809266.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 11 Dec 2025 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Boston, Archdiocese, tells, church, remove, ICE, message, from, Nativity, but, pastor, refuses, for, now</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Archbishop Hebda sees ‘a great sign of hope that Jesus is in’ Minneapolis church</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/archbishop-hebda-sees-a-great-sign-of-hope-that-jesus-is-in-minneapolis-church</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/archbishop-hebda-sees-a-great-sign-of-hope-that-jesus-is-in-minneapolis-church</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The archbishop spoke in the hours after a special Mass and rite of reparation that restored the church for worship.
The post Archbishop Hebda sees ‘a great sign of hope that Jesus is in’ Minneapolis church first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/20251209T1133-ANNUNCIATION-HEBDA-INTERVIEW-1809208.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 11 Dec 2025 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Archbishop, Hebda, sees, ‘a, great, sign, hope, that, Jesus, in’, Minneapolis, church</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Vatican yearbook goes online</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/vatican-yearbook-goes-online</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/vatican-yearbook-goes-online</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Vatican&#039;s fat red yearbook, known as the Annuario Pontificio, will now be available and updated regularly on an app and online.
The post Vatican yearbook goes online first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/20251209T1145-VATICAN-ANNUARIO-YEARBOOK-DIGITAL-1809279.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 11 Dec 2025 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Vatican, yearbook, goes, online</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Dialogue, diplomacy can lead to just, lasting peace in Ukraine, pope says</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/dialogue-diplomacy-can-lead-to-just-lasting-peace-in-ukraine-pope-says</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/dialogue-diplomacy-can-lead-to-just-lasting-peace-in-ukraine-pope-says</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Pope Leo XIV reiterated the importance of dialogue and his hopes for a just and lasting peace in the region.
The post Dialogue, diplomacy can lead to just, lasting peace in Ukraine, pope says first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/20251209T0730-VATICAN-POPE-ZELENSKYY-1809244.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 11 Dec 2025 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Dialogue, diplomacy, can, lead, just, lasting, peace, Ukraine, pope, says</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pontifical Yearbook goes digital: What is it and what does it contain?</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pontifical-yearbook-goes-digital-what-is-it-and-what-does-it-contain</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pontifical-yearbook-goes-digital-what-is-it-and-what-does-it-contain</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV uses a tablet to navigate the website of the new digital version of the Vatican&#039;s Pontifical Yearbook, known as the &quot;Annuario Pontificio&quot; in Italian. / Credit: Vatican Media.

Vatican City, Dec 10, 2025 / 11:00 am (CNA).
The Vatican this week launched the first-ever digital version of its annual directory, creating an easier way to find reliable and up-to-date information about the Church’s structures and members all around the world.The red-covered Pontifical Yearbook — known in Italian as the “Annuario Pontificio” — is an important reference updated every year with Church statistics, the names and contacts of bishops, information about the departments of the Holy See, and more.The Pontifical Yearbook, in its current form, started in the early 20th century, though other versions of a book with information about the Catholic hierarchy and the Roman Curia can be traced to the 18th century or earlier.The 2025 edition of the Annuario Pontificio, also called the Pontifical Yearbook. Credit: EWTN News.The biggest benefits to users are the ability to easily search for information and the possibility for updates to be reflected in real time.Before now, to keep the directory current, one would have to cut out and glue periodic updates from the Vatican into the hardback book.The directory includes global data that is frequently changing, including statistics about Catholic dioceses and missions, and information about bishops, the members of the Church, the number of priests and religious, and the Holy See’s diplomatic representation.It also contains information about the pope and cardinals, and lists the people who lead the many different entities that make up the Roman Curia and the Vatican.Screenshot of the homepage of the digital version of the Pontifical Yearbook.On Dec. 8, the Vatican’s Secretariat of State, which is responsible for publishing the Pontifical Yearbook, unveiled the digital version, available in both web and app versions for an annual subscription of 68,10 euros ($79.20), around the same price as a printed version, which is still being published.The Vatican said in time it intends to offer the directory in languages other than Italian, “making it more accessible to a growing number of users around the world.”At a presentation of the project, Pope Leo XIV had a chance to receive a first lesson in how the digital yearbook works. He thanked those involved, calling it “a wonderful service which will be of great help.” ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/pope-leo-with-annuario-pontificio-digitale.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 11 Dec 2025 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pontifical, Yearbook, goes, digital:, What, and, what, does, contain</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV criticizes transhumanism: ‘Death is not opposed to life’</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-criticizes-transhumanism-death-is-not-opposed-to-life</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-criticizes-transhumanism-death-is-not-opposed-to-life</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV greets pilgrims in St. Peter&#039;s Square during a Jubilee audience on Nov. 22, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media.

Vatican City, Dec 10, 2025 / 11:21 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday rejected technological promises to indefinitely prolong human existence — such as those proposed by “transhumanism”— and said the resurrection of Christ “reveals to us that death is not opposed to life.”Speaking on a cold morning in St. Peter’s Square Dec. 10, the pontiff warned that numerous current anthropological visions “promise immanent immortality [and] theorize the prolongation of earthly life through technology.”That outlook, he said, is characteristic of “the transhumance scenario,” a phenomenon that “is making its way into the horizon of the challenges of our time.”In response, Leo urged people to consider two central questions: “Could death really be defeated by science? But then, could science itself guarantee us that a life without death is also a happy life?”The Holy Father explained that death and life are not opposed, and that in the Christian meaning, death is “a constitutive part of [life], as the passage to eternal life.”“The Pasch of Jesus gives us a foretaste, in this time still full of suffering and trials, of the fullness of what will happen after death,” he added.Thailand-Cambodia border clashesAt the end of his audience, Pope Leo spoke out against violent clashes at the border of Thailand and Cambodia, saying he was “deeply saddened by the news of the escalation of the conflict.”The hostilities have injured more than 100 people and displaced thousands of people in both countries. An estimated 13 people, including civilians, have been killed as the fighting entered the third day on Wednesday.“I express my closeness in prayer to these beloved populations and I ask the parties to immediately cease fire and resume dialogue,” the pope said.Death, ‘a great teacher of life’In his catechesis for the general audience, Leo XIV noted that throughout history, “many ancient peoples developed rites and customs linked to the cult of the dead, to accompany and to recall those who journeyed towards the supreme mystery.” But today, death “seems to be a sort of taboo” and “something to be spoken of in hushed tones, to avoid disturbing our sensibilities and our tranquility.”The pope lamented that this attitude often leads people to avoid visiting cemeteries.He also evoked the teachings of St. Alphonsus Liguori, recalling the enduring relevance of the saint’s work, “Preparation for Death.” The pontiff emphasized that, for the saint, death is “a great teacher of life,” capable of guiding the believer toward what is essential.As the pope explained, St. Alphonsus invited people to “to know that [death] exists, and above all to reflect on it” as a way to discern what is truly important in life.Leo also recalled that, in Alphonsian spirituality, prayer holds a central place “to understand what is beneficial in view of the kingdom of heaven, and letting go of the superfluous that instead binds us to ephemeral things.”From this perspective, he asserted that only the resurrection of Christ “is capable of illuminating the mystery of death to its full extent.”“In this light, and only in this, what our heart desires and hopes  becomes true: that death is not the end, but the passage towards full light, towards a happy eternity,” he said.The pope explained that the risen Christ “has gone before us in the great trial of death, emerging victorious thanks to the power of divine Love.”“He has prepared for us the place of eternal rest, the home where we are awaited; he has given us the fullness of life in which there are no longer any shadows and contradictions,” Leo said.This story was originally published by ACI Prensa, CNA&#039;s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/ris8515-1.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 11 Dec 2025 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, criticizes, transhumanism:, ‘Death, not, opposed, life’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>You heard of the popemobile, now meet the papal lawn mower</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/you-heard-of-the-popemobile-now-meet-the-papal-lawn-mower</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/you-heard-of-the-popemobile-now-meet-the-papal-lawn-mower</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV receives an electric lawn mower from Czech manufacturer Swardman during a general audience in mid-November 2025. / Credit: Photo courtesy of Swardman

Rome Newsroom, Dec 7, 2025 / 08:00 am (CNA).
The Vatican’s gardeners have a new tool for maintaining the papal grounds: a custom-designed electric lawn mower bearing the Holy See’s coat of arms.Pope Leo XIV received the white Electra 2.0 mower during a general audience in mid-November, a gift from Czech manufacturer Swardman.The specially commissioned model features leather-lined handles and was hand-assembled at the company’s facility in Šardice, Czech Republic. “It was an incredibly powerful experience full of humility and respect,” Jakub Dvořák, the company’s sales manager who personally presented the gift, told CNA. “The pontiff appreciated the Vatican’s coat of arms placed on the appliance, listened with interest as we explained how it functions, and thanked us very politely.”The quiet, precision-cutting mower is destined for use in the Vatican Gardens or possibly at the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, according to a press release from the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which facilitated the presentation.Founded in 2013, the company manufactures lawn care equipment that it describes as combining functionality with “timeless elegance” suited to historic settings. The Czech Embassy to the Holy See played a key role in arranging the gift, which Dvořák called “a moment of unmistakable magic.”Vatican gardeners will put the electric mower to work maintaining the manicured lawns that provide green respite within the world’s smallest state. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/mower.-credit-courtesy-of-swardman.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 10 Dec 2025 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>You, heard, the, popemobile, now, meet, the, papal, lawn, mower</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>‘Peace is possible,’ Pope Leo XIV says after visits to Turkey and Lebanon</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/peace-is-possible-pope-leo-xiv-says-after-visits-to-turkey-and-lebanon</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/peace-is-possible-pope-leo-xiv-says-after-visits-to-turkey-and-lebanon</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV addresses pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican for the Angelus on Dec. 7, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Dec 7, 2025 / 09:00 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV on Sunday said his apostolic journey to Turkey and Lebanon showed that “peace is possible,” pointing to renewed steps toward Christian unity and powerful encounters with the Lebanese people still seeking justice after the 2020 Beirut port explosion.Speaking after the Angelus to pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square on Dec. 7, the pope recalled praying in İznik, ancient Nicaea, with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, considered first among equals among Eastern Orthodox bishops, and representatives of other Christian communities on the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea. Marking Sunday’s 60th anniversary of the “Common Declaration” between Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras, Leo said: “We give thanks to God and renew our dedication to journeying towards the full visible unity of all Christians.”In Lebanon, the pope said he encountered a “mosaic of coexistence” and met people who serve the most vulnerable by welcoming refugees, visiting the imprisoned, and sharing food with those in need. He was especially moved by meeting relatives of the victims of the Beirut port blast. “The Lebanese people were waiting for a word and a presence of consolation, but it was they who comforted me with their faith and their enthusiasm,” he said.The pope also expressed closeness to communities in south and southeast Asia struck by recent natural disasters, praying for victims and urging international solidarity.Earlier, in his Advent catechesis before the Angelus, Pope Leo reflected on John the Baptist’s call to prepare the way of the Lord. John’s severe tone, he said, still resonates because it carries God’s “plea to take life seriously” and to ready the heart for the God who judges “not by appearance, but by deeds and intentions.”The pope said the kingdom manifests itself gently, in the meekness and mercy of Christ described by Isaiah as a shoot rising from a seemingly dead tree trunk. He linked this surprising newness to the spirit of the Second Vatican Council, which closed 60 years ago and continues to guide the Church on its journey toward unity and renewal.“This is the spirituality of Advent, very luminous and concrete,” he said. “The streetlights remind us that each of us can be a little light, if we welcome Jesus, the shoot of a new world.” ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/teo0162.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 10 Dec 2025 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>‘Peace, possible, ’, Pope, Leo, XIV, says, after, visits, Turkey, and, Lebanon</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>On solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, pope encourages renewing our ‘yes’ to God</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/on-solemnity-of-the-immaculate-conception-pope-encourages-renewing-our-yes-to-god</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/on-solemnity-of-the-immaculate-conception-pope-encourages-renewing-our-yes-to-god</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV prays the Angelus prayer on the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception on Dec. 8, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

ACI Prensa Staff, Dec 8, 2025 / 13:30 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV led the Angelus prayer Dec. 8 from the window of the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican on the occasion of the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.Addressing the faithful and pilgrims in attendance in St. Peter’s Square, the pontiff commented that on Dec. 8 we express our joy because the Father of heaven wanted her to be “preserved immune from all stain of original sin.”“The Lord has granted to Mary the extraordinary grace of a completely pure heart, in view of an even greater miracle: the coming of Christ the Savior,” he added.The pope also noted that the gift of the fullness of grace in the young woman of Nazareth “was able to bear fruit because she in her freedom welcomed it, embracing the plan of God.”He emphasized that “the Lord always acts in this way: He gives us great gifts, but he leaves us free to accept them or not.”For the Holy Father, this feast also invites us to “believe as she believed, giving our generous assent to the mission to which the Lord calls us.”In this way, he pointed out that the miracle that happened for Mary at her conception was “renewed for us in baptism: Cleansed from original sin, we have become children of God, his dwelling place and the temple of the Holy Spirit.”“The ‘yes’ of the mother of the Lord is wonderful, but so also can ours be, renewed faithfully each day, with gratitude, humility, and perseverance, in prayer and in concrete acts of love, from the most extraordinary gestures to the most mundane and ordinary efforts and acts of service. In this way, Christ can be known, welcomed, and loved everywhere and salvation can come to everyone,” he emphasized.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/dec82025pope.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 10 Dec 2025 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>solemnity, the, Immaculate, Conception, pope, encourages, renewing, our, ‘yes’, God</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Former Hungarian ambassador reflects on 10&#45;year term at the Vatican</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/former-hungarian-ambassador-reflects-on-10-year-term-at-the-vatican</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/former-hungarian-ambassador-reflects-on-10-year-term-at-the-vatican</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Eduard Habsburg, Hungary&#039;s ambassador to the Holy See from 2015 to 2025, takes his leave during a farewell visit to Pope Leo XIV on Nov. 21, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media.

Vatican City, Dec 9, 2025 / 10:30 am (CNA).
Archduke of Austria Eduard Habsburg, who served as Hungary’s ambassador to the Holy See since 2015, described his post at the Vatican as “the greatest 10 years of my life.”Shortly before his farewell meeting with Pope Leo XIV on Nov. 21, Habsburg told EWTN News reporter Colm Flynn that after a decade on the job, he has “seen it all” and now wants to dedicate more time to his family, particularly his parents.“I felt that 10 years is a good term. It’s far longer than ambassadors usually have here,” he said in the exclusive interview.“I think I’ve seen everything you can see here, including a conclave, visits by my prime minister, exciting moments,” he added. “In a way, I’m going to miss it but also family is important.” The former ambassador, whose term at the Vatican ended on Nov. 30, said he will likely continue to represent Hungary at future international events organized by the Church and pro-family groups.  “I’ll keep a foot in that world, so to speak, so I’m not going to totally give it up,” he said.Reflecting on his initial surprise at being asked to be Hungary’s ambassador to the Holy See, Habsburg, who belongs to the prominent 850-year-old European Catholic dynasty, said he “hit the floor running” when he arrived in Rome for his first post.On Pope Francis and his love for HungaryDescribing his relationship with Pope Francis as “incredibly positive,” the former ambassador said the Argentine pontiff had a warm affection for the Central European nation and its people.“I saw it every time he met a Hungarian,” he said. “He would use Hungarian expressions. He would smile. He would be happy. He would take his time with them.”Though Pope Francis had not visited Hungary until 2021 for the 52nd International Eucharistic Conference, he told Habsburg that he “learned everything” about Hungary through three religious sisters who fled their country in 1956, during the Soviet occupation, to a monastery in Buenos Aires, Argentina.   “They have shaped Pope Francis’ outlook on Hungary and that made my work very easy,” he quipped. “He was incredibly generous.”Pope Francis visited Hungary a second time in 2023 for his apostolic journey to the country’s capital of Budapest from April 28–30.   On Pope Benedict XVI and his humorDuring the 1990s, Pope Benedict XVI, then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, read Habsburg’s doctoral thesis on the topic of Thomas Aquinas and Vatican II and told him “he liked it” and that he wanted him to either make a documentary or a thriller about Thomism.After first meeting with Pope Francis, the former ambassador said he later met with Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in the Vatican Gardens.  “He looked at me and said, ‘So you’re ambassador now?’” Habsburg recalled. “And then he said, ‘You know you still owe me a documentary or a thriller about Thomism.” “That was the first thing he said. I was so blown away,” he said. “I still haven’t written it.”“That’s the one thing many people don’t realize about Pope Benedict XVI was the sense of humor that he had that we never got to see publicly,” he said.  Habsburg earned a doctorate in philosophy from the University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt in 1999. On Pope Leo XIV The archduke told EWTN News he had briefly met Pope Leo XIV four times prior to his farewell visit to the pontiff on Nov. 21.  “I’m very impressed by him. I feel [he is] a very balanced and just man who is trying to do good,” he said of the first U.S.-born pope. Noting Pope Leo’s fluency in many languages, including English, Italian, Spanish, and Latin, Habsburg commented that he believes the universal Church’s new leader “has several cultures in his heart and in his mind.”“And yes, we will see the things that he’ll do. We pray for him every day,” he said.Watch the full interview with Eduard Habsburg on the EWTN News YouTube channel. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/00280-21112025.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 10 Dec 2025 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Former, Hungarian, ambassador, reflects, 10-year, term, the, Vatican</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>The pope urges ‘continued dialogue’ after receiving Zelenskyy in Castel Gandolfo</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/the-pope-urges-continued-dialogue-after-receiving-zelenskyy-in-castel-gandolfo</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/the-pope-urges-continued-dialogue-after-receiving-zelenskyy-in-castel-gandolfo</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  The Pope greets Zelenskyy in Castel Gandolfo. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Dec 9, 2025 / 14:32 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV received the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in audience today at the papal residence in Castel Gandolfo, the Holy See announced in a statement.The meeting, described as &quot;cordial,&quot; focused on the situation of the war in Ukraine and the prospects for the diplomatic initiatives currently underway.During the conversation, the Holy Father reiterated “the need to continue the dialogue” and renewed his “pressing desire” that diplomatic efforts might lead to “a just and lasting peace,” according to the statement released by the Vatican.The meeting also addressed particularly sensitive humanitarian issues. During the discussions, reference was made to the “prisoners of war” situation and the urgency of “guaranteeing the return” of Ukrainian children separated from their families and illegally deported to Russia was emphasized.Following the private audience, Zelenskyy expressed his “profound gratitude” to Pope Leo XIV for the Holy See&#039;s constant support for the Ukrainian people.In a message posted on his social media after the meeting, Zelenskyy expressed particular gratitude for the humanitarian aid. During the audience, he said he thanked the pope for &quot;his constant prayers for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people, as well as his calls for a just peace.&quot;The Ukrainian president also informed the pope about the diplomatic contacts and negotiations that Kyiv is conducting with the United States to pave the way for peace. &quot;I informed the pope about the diplomatic efforts with the United States to achieve peace,&quot; he said.One of the central points of the conversation was the fate of the Ukrainian children illegally deported to Russian territory. Zelenskyy emphasized that they discussed “future actions and the Vatican&#039;s mediation aimed at securing the return of our children kidnapped by Russia,” an issue that the Holy See has kept on its humanitarian agenda since the first months of the conflict.The Ukrainian president emphasized that the meeting was “an important and cordial dialogue,” focused on the protection of the civilian population and the spiritual support that the pontiff has repeatedly shown.Zelenskyy took the opportunity to renew a formal invitation to the pope to travel to Ukraine. “I invited the pope to visit Ukraine. It would be a powerful sign of support for our people,” he said.The audience took place a day after Zelenskyy traveled to the United Kingdom, where he held a meeting at Downing Street with the country&#039;s prime minister, Keir Starmer, which was also attended by the president of France, Emmanuel Macron, and the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz.That meeting focused on negotiations surrounding the peace plan and next steps for Ukraine presented by Washington. The first 28-point draft presented by the Trump administration in November proposed a resolution to the conflict that was largely favorable to Moscow.That proposal was followed by another put together in Geneva by delegations from the United States, Ukraine, and Europe. Zelenskyy arrived in Castel Gandolfo on Tuesday, Dec. 9, after three days of talks in Miami between Trump&#039;s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and the Ukrainian negotiator, Rustem Umerov. Exactly one week ago, Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Witkoff in Moscow without any significant progress.This is the third official meeting between the two, after Leo XIV received Zelenskyy in an audience following the Mass marking the beginning of his pontificate on May 18, and in a second meeting on July 9, also in Castel Gandolfo. Pope Leo usually takes Tuesday every week as a day off at Castel Gandolfo.Following today’s meeting with the pope, Zelenskyy was scheduled to meet with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni as part of a new round of contacts with key European leaders regarding the peace process in Ukraine.Ukraine first requested the Vatican&#039;s intervention shortly after the full-scale Russian invasion in February 2022. Since then, the Holy See has continued its diplomatic efforts for peace, while maintaining open channels of dialogue with all parties involved.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/zelen.dec.9.2025.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 10 Dec 2025 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>The, pope, urges, ‘continued, dialogue’, after, receiving, Zelenskyy, Castel, Gandolfo</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>6 years after Sheen’s cause was shelved, could Illinois&#45;born Pope Leo bring it back?</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/6-years-after-sheens-cause-was-shelved-could-illinois-born-pope-leo-bring-it-back</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/6-years-after-sheens-cause-was-shelved-could-illinois-born-pope-leo-bring-it-back</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ His beatification had been scheduled for Dec. 21, 2019, in Peoria, Illinois, before its postponement, a move that was  scandalous, given the stage of the cause.
The post 6 years after Sheen’s cause was shelved, could Illinois-born Pope Leo bring it back? first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/useuptop20251015T0600-FULTON-SHEEN-BIO-18031101.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 07 Dec 2025 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>years, after, Sheen’s, cause, was, shelved, could, Illinois-born, Pope, Leo, bring, back</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Franciscan Media to close at end of 2025 amid larger downturn in Catholic news media</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/franciscan-media-to-close-at-end-of-2025-amid-larger-downturn-in-catholic-news-media</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/franciscan-media-to-close-at-end-of-2025-amid-larger-downturn-in-catholic-news-media</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ As &quot;this chapter closes,&quot; said the outlet, &quot;the friars remain committed to proclaiming the Good News and walking with people of faith in new ways.&quot;
The post Franciscan Media to close at end of 2025 amid larger downturn in Catholic news media first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/usethisonefranciscanmediafarewell.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 07 Dec 2025 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Franciscan, Media, close, end, 2025, amid, larger, downturn, Catholic, news, media</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Cardinal McElroy of Washington says he’s ‘cancer&#45;free’ following surgery</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/cardinal-mcelroy-of-washington-says-hes-cancer-free-following-surgery</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/cardinal-mcelroy-of-washington-says-hes-cancer-free-following-surgery</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ &quot;I give thanks to all of you who have prayed to God for my healing. I believe those prayers were what led to this wonderful outcome.&quot;
The post Cardinal McElroy of Washington says he’s ‘cancer-free’ following surgery first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/uptop20251105T1041-MCELROY-CANCER-DIAGNOSIS-1807428.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 07 Dec 2025 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Cardinal, McElroy, Washington, says, he’s, ‘cancer-free’, following, surgery</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>​​New Very Marian Advent carols premieres in concert in San Francisco, Oakland</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/new-very-marian-advent-carols-premieres-in-concert-in-san-francisco-oakland</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/new-very-marian-advent-carols-premieres-in-concert-in-san-francisco-oakland</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Modeled on a lessons and carols format, Very Marian Advent invites Catholics to &quot;wait with Mary&quot; in prayer and song during the final weeks before Christmas
The post ​​New Very Marian Advent carols premieres in concert in San Francisco, Oakland first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/20251205T1645-ADVENT-MARIAN-PRAYER-SERVICE-SAN-FRANCISCO-1809048.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 07 Dec 2025 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>​​New, Very, Marian, Advent, carols, premieres, concert, San, Francisco, Oakland</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Washington Roundup: High court to hear birthright citizenship case, OKs Texas congressional map</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/washington-roundup-high-court-to-hear-birthright-citizenship-case-oks-texas-congressional-map</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/washington-roundup-high-court-to-hear-birthright-citizenship-case-oks-texas-congressional-map</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Supreme Court on Dec. 5 said it would take up a case regarding the Trump administration’s executive order to end birthright citizenship.
The post Washington Roundup: High court to hear birthright citizenship case, OKs Texas congressional map first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/20251205T1640-WASHINGTON-ROUNDUP-12-5-1809065.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 07 Dec 2025 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Washington, Roundup:, High, court, hear, birthright, citizenship, case, OKs, Texas, congressional, map</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>5 things to know and share about St. Nicholas</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/5-things-to-know-and-share-about-st-nicholas</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/5-things-to-know-and-share-about-st-nicholas</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  St. Nicholas, by Jaroslav Čermák (1831-1878). / Credit: Galerie Art Praha via Wikimedia (public domain)

Vatican City, Dec 6, 2025 / 04:00 am (CNA).
St. Nicholas, whose feast day is celebrated on Dec. 6, is known to possibly be the real-life inspiration for the beloved Christmas character of Santa Claus.Not a lot is known about the historical Nicholas, who was bishop of Myra, a Greek city in modern-day Turkey, during the fourth century A.D. But there are many stories and legends that explain his reputation as a just and upright man, charitable gift-giver, and miracle-worker.Here are five things to know and share about St. Nicholas:1. There is a legend behind why St. Nicholas is the patron saint of children.Many people know that St. Nicholas is the patron saint of children, but they may not know why he has that title.There is a grisly legend that says that during a famine in Myra, three young boys were lured into a butcher’s shop, where they were killed and then brined in a wooden barrel with the intention of being sold as “ham.” The good bishop worked a miracle, bringing the pickled children back to life and saving them from a gruesome fate.Painting by Gentile da Fabriano, who lived in Italy from c. 1370 to 1427. Credit: Public domainThis story became the subject of many portrayals of Nicholas in art, especially during the Middle Ages. Some people believe depictions of Bishop Nicholas with the three boys led to his reputation as a protector of children.The legend of the brining may explain how he also became, oddly, the patron saint of brewers and coopers (people who make wooden casks, barrels, vats, troughs, and similar containers from timber).2. He is one of the foremost saints in the Russian Orthodox Church.St. Nicholas is a unifying figure among Catholics and Orthodox Christians since both churches venerate him.He is incredibly important in the Russian Orthodox Church, where he is known as St. Nicholas the Wonderworker for the many miracles attributed to him both during and after his life.To the Orthodox, Nicholas is principally honored for his qualities as a holy bishop and a good shepherd of his people. Also, in their weekly liturgical cycle, which dedicates different days of the week to Jesus Christ and other saints, only three are specifically named: Mary, the Mother of God; John the Forerunner (known to Catholics as St. John the Baptist); and St. Nicholas.Nicholas did not leave behind any theological writings, but when he was made a bishop, he is credited with saying that “this dignity and this office demand different usage, in order that one should live no longer for oneself but for others.”3. Was he really jolly ol’ St. Nicholas?Because of his popularity among Orthodox Christians, St. Nicholas is a favorite subject in iconography. But don’t be surprised if, among the hundreds of icons depicting him, you don’t see any merry dimples or a “round little belly.” He does have a white beard, though.An icon of St. Nicholas painted in 1294 for a Russian Orthodox church on Lipno Island in northwestern Russia. Credit: Public domain4. He is the patron saint of unmarried people, fishermen, pawnbrokers, and the falsely accused.One of the most popular legends about Nicholas is that the saint, who is said to have come from a wealthy family, secretly helped a poor man with three daughters.The father could not provide proper dowries for the girls to marry, and without husbands to support them, they might have been forced to turn to prostitution.After learning about the situation, Nicholas secretly slipped a bag of gold coins through the family’s window while they were sleeping. He later left a second bag of coins, and likewise, another bag for the third daughter, at which point, the legend says, the father, who had waited up all night, “caught” Nicholas red-handed in his gift-giving. But Nicholas made him promise to keep the secret.The story is likely the explanation for why the modern Christmas character of Santa Claus brings his gifts for children under the cover of night.In artworks referencing this legend, the three bags of coins are often depicted as three golden balls. Images of gold balls were also used to mark the shops of pawnbrokers, which is probably how Nicholas came to be their patron saint, too.A painting of St. Nicholas and Mary Magdalene by Antonello da Messina, created between 1475 and 1476. Credit: Public domainOne of many miracles attributed to St. Nicholas happened at sea as he traveled aboard a boat to the Holy Land. Nicholas is a patron saint of sailors and travelers because he calmed the stormy waters that threatened their lives.His patronage of the falsely accused can be attributed to an early story about his rescue of three innocent men moments before their execution. It is said that St. Nicholas, then bishop of Myra, boldly pushed away the executioner’s sword, released the men from their chains, and angrily reprimanded a juror who had taken a bribe to find them guilty. 5. He has two feast days.Most people know that Nicholas’ feast day is celebrated on Dec. 6, the day he died in the year 343, but for East Slavs, as well as the people of Bari, Italy, May 9 is also an important day to celebrate the saint.That date is the anniversary of the day that St. Nicholas’ relics were moved from Myra, in present-day Turkey, to Bari, not long after the Great Schism of Catholics and Orthodox in 1054 A.D.Accounts differ over whether the transmission of the relics was theft or an attempt by Christian sailors to preserve the saint’s remains from destruction by the Turks. But whatever the real reason, the relics can still be venerated today in the Basilica of St. Nicholas in Bari.Pope Francis visited Bari, in Italy’s southern region of Puglia, two times during his papacy. During both the 2018 and 2020 visits, he stopped in the basilica’s crypt to venerate St. Nicholas’ relics.Credit: Perrant via Wikimedia Commons CC BY 3.0The pontifical basilica is an important place of ecumenism, since the Catholic Church welcomes many Eastern Catholics and Orthodox Christians to the pilgrimage site. In the crypt, where St. Nicholas is buried, there is also an altar for the celebration of Orthodox and Eastern Catholic liturgies.For Christians who follow the Julian calendar, as the Eastern Orthodox do, St. Nicholas’ principal feast day falls on Dec. 19. An Orthodox Divine Liturgy is usually celebrated at the Basilica of St. Nicholas that morning.On Dec. 6, Catholics in Bari celebrate the beloved saint with Mass, concerts, and a procession of the saint’s statue through the city’s streets.This story was first published on Dec. 6, 2022, and has been updated.  ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/jaroslav-cermak-1831-1878-sv.-mikulas.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 07 Dec 2025 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>things, know, and, share, about, St., Nicholas</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>New Slovak Virgin Mary mosaic highlights spiritual bonds between Slovakia and Vatican</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/new-slovak-virgin-mary-mosaic-highlights-spiritual-bonds-between-slovakia-and-vatican</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/new-slovak-virgin-mary-mosaic-highlights-spiritual-bonds-between-slovakia-and-vatican</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Archbishop Bernard Bober of Košice, president of the Slovak Bishops’ Conference, blesses the new mosaic of Our Lady of Sorrows in the Vatican Gardens at a ceremony attended by Slovak President Peter Pellegrini and Vatican officials on Dec. 5, 2025 / Credit: Bohumil Petrík

EWTN News, Dec 6, 2025 / 08:00 am (CNA).
Just before the feast of the Immaculate Conception, a mosaic of Our Lady of Sorrows, Protectress of Slovakia, was inaugurated in the Vatican Gardens. Archbishop Bernard Bober of Košice, president of the Slovak Bishops&#039; Conference, blessed the artwork during a ceremony attended by Slovak President Peter Pellegrini, whom Pope Leo XIV received in audience the day before.Among other bishops and diplomats, two cardinals took part: the dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Re, and Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches.Slovak President Peter Pellegrini and Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti unveil the new Slovak Our Lady of Sorrows mosaic in the Vatican Gardens on Dec. 5, 2025. Credit: Bohumil PetríkThe Slovak president said he was happy to see the Slovak Virgin Mary image inside the Vatican as she &quot;is a source of hope, faith and unity.&quot; Peter Pellegrini stressed that his Central European country and the Holy See &quot;share common values, such as the dignity of human person, true liberty and open dialog.&quot;During the audience with Pope Leo XIV, the Vatican said, pontiff and president reaffirmed their commitment to supporting social cohesion, promoting justice, and safeguarding the family, and discussed the war in Ukraine, its impact on European security, and the situation in the Middle East.Each time we pass by this beautiful artwork, Cardinal Gugerotti underlined in his speech at the inauguration, &quot;we will pray for the Slovak people&quot; who suffered during atheist communism, and yet &quot;were able to maintain and renew its Christian roots.&quot;Likewise, Cardinal Giovanni Re told CNA that he is very happy for the new artwork. &quot;I have always loved Slovakia because it is still very Catholic,&quot; the prelate said.It is a great honor for us that the mosaic of Our Lady of Sorrows has reached the heart of the Church, Archbishop Bober underscored. The Slovak Virgin Mary is &quot;a symbol of the spiritual connection between Slovakia and the Vatican.&quot; It reminds us, the archbishop continued, that &quot;Our Lady of Sorrows has a special place in our nation, but also in the lives of all believers.&quot;The colorful mosaic, created by Greek Catholic priest and artist Father Kamil Dráb, is a copy of an image in the chapel of the Pontifical Slovak College of St. Cyril and Methodius in Rome and has been installed in the Vatican Gardens near the bell used during the Great Jubilee of 2000. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/thumbnail-img-8226.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 07 Dec 2025 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>New, Slovak, Virgin, Mary, mosaic, highlights, spiritual, bonds, between, Slovakia, and, Vatican</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Christ Pratt to release documentary on tomb of St. Peter</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/christ-pratt-to-release-documentary-on-tomb-of-st-peter</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/christ-pratt-to-release-documentary-on-tomb-of-st-peter</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Chris Pratt speaks at the 2016 San Diego Comic Con International for “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego. / Credit: Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

CNA Staff, Dec 6, 2025 / 12:00 pm (CNA).
American actor Chris Pratt, best known for his roles in “Guardians of the Galaxy” and “Jurassic World,” is currently filming a documentary on the Vatican Necropolis, which lies underneath Vatican City containing tombs dating from the first to fourth century A.D., at depths varying between 16 and 39 feet below St. Peter’s Basilica. The film, which is being produced by Vatican Media, the Fabric of St. Peter, and AF Films, will be released in 2026 for the 400th anniversary of the inauguration and dedication of the basilica. Pratt will guide viewers on a journey to discover the tomb of St. Peter through stories of faith, history, and archaeology.“It is an extraordinary honor to partner with Pope Leo and the Vatican on this project. St. Peter’s story is foundational to the Christian faith, and I’m deeply grateful for the trust and access granted to help bring his legacy to the screen,” Pratt told Vatican News in an interview. 
     While Pratt is not Catholic, he and his wife, Katherine Schwarzenegger, a practicing Catholic, attend Mass regularly and are raising their children Catholic. Pratt speaks openly about his faith and the importance he places on praying daily. He has also partnered with Hallow, a Catholic prayer and meditation app, on multiple occasions and been featured in its Lent, Advent, and daily prayer challenges. Through historical evidence and archaeological discoveries, viewers of the new film are invited to discover St. Peter’s burial place in the Vatican Necropolis, which was officially announced by Pope Pius XII in 1950. In 1939, Pope Pius XII had workers begin excavations under the basilica in order to try to find the location of the beloved apostle’s burial place. In 1950, the pope officially announced that the location of the tomb was found, along with bone fragments likely belonging to the saint. In 1968, Pope Pius XII announced that the bone fragments found were indeed those of St. Peter. St. Peter’s bones were publicly displayed for the first time in 2013 by Pope Francis. The late pontiff held the relics during a Mass at St. Peter’s Square, which marked the end of the Church’s Year of Faith. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/chrispratt28556109022.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 07 Dec 2025 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Christ, Pratt, release, documentary, tomb, St., Peter</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Vatican commission rejects female diaconate, although without a ‘definitive judgment’</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/vatican-commission-rejects-female-diaconate-although-without-a-definitive-judgment</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/vatican-commission-rejects-female-diaconate-although-without-a-definitive-judgment</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. / Credit: Xosema (CC BY-SA 4.0)

ACI Prensa Staff, Dec 4, 2025 / 13:37 pm (CNA).
The Vatican published on Dec. 4 the summary of the work carried out by the commissions studying the possibility of admitting women to the diaconate, presented to Pope Leo XIV by Cardinal Giuseppe Petrocchi.Petrocchi, the president of the Study Commission on the Female Diaconate created by Pope Francis, stated that — with seven votes in favor and one against — the possibility of admitting women to the diaconate as a degree of the sacrament of holy orders is ruled out.However, he emphasized that for the moment it is not possible “to formulate a definitive judgment, as in the case of priestly ordination.”Historical investigation into so-called ‘deaconesses’This second working session — following the one held in 2021 — ended last February, and the conclusions were presented on Sept. 18 to Pope Leo XIV, who ordered that they be made public on Dec. 4.In a seven-page document, the cardinal stated that, based on a historical investigation, the commissions agree that the so-called “deaconesses” existed in the history of the Church but with diverse functions and not equivalent to the male diaconate.Petrocchi emphasized that this question cannot be resolved solely with historical data and that, ultimately, it is up to the magisterium to issue a doctrinal judgment.Following the Synod on Synodality, everyone who wished to do so was invited to submit their contributions on the topic. The cardinal revealed that “although numerous submissions were received, the individuals or groups who sent their work numbered only 22 and represented only a few countries.”“Therefore, although the material is abundant and, in some cases, skillfully argued, it cannot be considered the voice of the synod, much less of the people of God as a whole,” he noted.Christ is male and the sex of those who receive ordinationAlthough there is not enough consensus to admit women to the diaconate, the votes show divided positions, with a clear tendency to maintain caution in this regard.On the one hand, those who support the female diaconate argue for “the equal status of men and women as images of God,” while those who are against it recall “the fact that Christ is male, and therefore that those who receive ordination are male is not accidental but is an integral part of the sacramental identity, preserving the divine order of salvation in Christ.”For those who oppose it, “altering this reality would not be a simple adjustment of the ministry but a rupture of the nuptial meaning of salvation.”Despite the lack of consensus surrounding the diaconate, there is unanimity on the need to expand the ministries instituted for women, further exploring the “baptismal diaconate” (every baptized person’s call to serve) and promoting greater female co-responsibility in the life of the Church. Petrocchi concluded by recommending that Pope Leo XIV follow a line of doctrinal prudence in his discernment as well as continue the theological study of the diaconate and, at the same time, open new ministerial spaces for women without resorting to sacramental ordination.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/stpeters103.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 06 Dec 2025 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Vatican, commission, rejects, female, diaconate, although, without, ‘definitive, judgment’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Leo XIV eliminates commission for donations to Holy See created by Pope Francis</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/leo-xiv-eliminates-commission-for-donations-to-holy-see-created-by-pope-francis</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/leo-xiv-eliminates-commission-for-donations-to-holy-see-created-by-pope-francis</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  null / Credit: Yury Dmitrienko/Shutterstock

ACI Prensa Staff, Dec 4, 2025 / 16:07 pm (CNA).
The Vatican announced on Dec. 4 a new decision by Pope Leo XIV regarding fundraising for the Holy See.Through the new chirograph Vinculum Unitatis et Caritatis, the Holy Father is eliminating the current Commissio de Donationibus (Donations Commission) structure created in February by Pope Francis to raise funds, which was approved “ad experimentum” (for temporary or provisional use) for three years.This commission was tasked with encouraging donations through specific campaigns among the faithful, bishops’ conferences, and other potential benefactors.The pontiff thus repealed the rules in force until now and established that they will no longer have “any canonical or legal force,” as well as any acts adopted up to this point. Furthermore, Pope Leo XIV decreed that all the commission’s assets must be transferred to the Holy See.By means of this decree, the members of the commission are immediately dismissed. The commission was composed of Monsignor Roberto Campisi, adviser for general affairs of the Secretariat of State, who chaired it; Archbishop Flavio Pace, secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity; Alessandra Smerilli, secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development; Sister Silvana Piro, undersecretary of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See; and Giuseppe Puglisi-Alibrandi, deputy secretary-general of the Governorate of Vatican City State.The decision of Leo XIV comes after consulting with experts in the field and following the recommendations of the Council for the Economy, with the aim of strengthening administrative efficiency in the financial management of the Holy See.The liquidation of the former commission will be managed by the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See, while the Secretariat for the Economy will resolve any outstanding issues and must keep the Council for the Economy informed of all actions taken in this regard.The Holy Father also ordered the creation of a new working group tasked with designing a renewed and more suitable model for fundraising, whose members will be proposed by the Council for the Economy. This measure takes effect immediately upon its publication in L’Osservatore Romano.On Nov. 26, Pope Leo XIV also made an adjustment to the reforms undertaken by his predecessor with a new decree to revise the financial and administrative rules governing the basilicas of St. Peter and St. Mary Major.The pontiff placed both institutions under the ordinary supervision of the Vatican’s Council for the Economy, emphasizing that the economic and financial reform of the Holy See requires a “periodic reevaluation and redefinition” of the regulatory framework.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/stpetervatican022625.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 06 Dec 2025 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Leo, XIV, eliminates, commission, for, donations, Holy, See, created, Pope, Francis</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>How can AI serve the common good and not just the powerful? Pope Leo XIV responds</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/how-can-ai-serve-the-common-good-and-not-just-the-powerful-pope-leo-xiv-responds</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/how-can-ai-serve-the-common-good-and-not-just-the-powerful-pope-leo-xiv-responds</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV meets with members of the Centesimus Annus Pro Pontifice Foundation and the Strategic Alliance of Catholic Research Universities on Dec. 5, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

ACI Prensa Staff, Dec 5, 2025 / 14:38 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV reflected Dec. 5 at the Vatican on the challenges posed by artificial intelligence during a meeting with members of the Centesimus Annus Pro Pontifice Foundation and participants in the Strategic Alliance of Catholic Research Universities.In his address, the Holy Father pointed out that artificial intelligence affects certain essential characteristics of the human person, “such as critical thinking, discernment, learning, and interpersonal relationships.”For the pontiff, this has a real impact “on the lives of millions of people, every day and in every part of the world.”“How can we ensure that the development of artificial intelligence truly serves the common good and is not just used to accumulate wealth and power in the hands of a few?” he then asked.To answer this question, the pope urged deeper reflection on “what it means to be human in this moment of history” — that is, those who are called to be collaborators in the work of creation and not simply “passive consumers of content generated by artificial technology.”“Our dignity,” he added, “lies in our ability to reflect, choose freely, love unconditionally, and enter into authentic relationships with others.”He also emphasized that this technology raises “serious concerns about its possible repercussions on humanity’s openness to truth and beauty, and capacity for wonder and contemplation.”Consequently, he noted that “recognizing and safeguarding what characterizes the human person and guarantees his or her balanced growth is essential for establishing an adequate framework for managing the consequences of artificial intelligence.”Leo XIV mentioned his concern about the vulnerability of children and young people in this new reality, where their freedom and spirituality are at stake, as well as their intellectual and neurological development.Therefore, he warned that “the ability to access vast amounts of data and information should not be confused with the ability to derive meaning and value from it.”In this context, he emphasized that “it will therefore be essential to teach young people to use these tools with their own intelligence, ensuring that they open themselves to the search for truth, a spiritual and fraternal life, broadening their dreams and the horizons of their decision-making.”He also emphasized the need to “restore and strengthen their confidence in the human ability to guide the development of these technologies. It is a confidence that today is increasingly eroded by the paralyzing idea that its development follows an inevitable path.”Finally, the Holy Father affirmed that these objectives can only be achieved through “widespread participation that gives everyone the opportunity to be heard with respect, even the most humble.” This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/ai.dec.5.2025.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 06 Dec 2025 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>How, can, serve, the, common, good, and, not, just, the, powerful, Pope, Leo, XIV, responds</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Michael Bublé calls meeting Pope Leo XIV ‘one of the greatest moments of my life’</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/michael-buble-calls-meeting-pope-leo-xiv-one-of-the-greatest-moments-of-my-life</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/michael-buble-calls-meeting-pope-leo-xiv-one-of-the-greatest-moments-of-my-life</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Singer Michael Bublé called meeting Pope Leo XIV on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, “one of the greatest moments of my life,” adding that as he prepares to headline the Vatican’s annual Christmas concert for the poor, he hopes his example will encourage more people to speak openly about their faith. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Dec 5, 2025 / 15:08 pm (CNA).
Michael Bublé called meeting Pope Leo XIV on Friday “one of the greatest moments of my life,” adding that as he prepares to headline the Vatican’s annual Christmas concert for the poor, he hopes his example will encourage more people to speak openly about their faith.The Grammy-winning singer, known for his velvety voice and popular Christmas albums, said faith “changes everything in my life, every single interaction.”“When you say that you have strong faith, this is shocking to people, which is sometimes hard for me to understand,” Bublé said in response to a question from CNA at a Vatican press conference on Dec. 5.“And with the platform I have, my hope is that … there’s a young person who might listen to me today who might be afraid to share their faith or to be open about it, and they look at me and they say, ‘Wow, look at Bublé. He’s not afraid to share it,’ and maybe it will give them the strength to do the same.”Michael Bublé speaks at the Vatican on Dec. 5, 2025, about preparing to sing &quot;Ave Maria&quot; for Pope Leo at the upcoming Christmas concert for the poor at the Vatican. Credit: Courtney Mares/CNABublé met Pope Leo XIV on Friday along with other artists participating in the Vatican’s sixth annual “Concert with the Poor” on Saturday, Dec. 6.“I am overwhelmed,” Bublé said. “This morning, I had the opportunity to meet the Holy Father. For me, this was something that I knew was going to be one of the greatest moments of my life.” This year marks the first time a pope will attend the Vatican concert, which is free and offered to 3,000 people in need served by volunteer organizations around Rome. They will receive a hot takeaway dinner and other necessities after the event.“We know that times are difficult for many people, and there’s a lot of darkness,” Bublé said. I feel like when you have faith, you have your own pilot light. And the lights can go out everywhere, everywhere, but if you have that faith and you have that light inside you, you can find your way.”I asked Michael Bublé about how his faith at a Vatican press conference today and this was his response: pic.twitter.com/WF80pnhNzf— Courtney Mares (@catholicourtney) December 5, 2025  The Canadian singer told EWTN News after the press conference that it was especially meaningful to introduce the pontiff to his mother, who was his childhood catechism teacher.  “A lot of people won’t know, but I was raised in the Catholic Church, and my mother was my catechism teacher,” said Bublé, who has noted in previous interviews that he does not identify with a particular organized religion.“Christmas is about celebrating the birth of Christ and the sacrifice that allows all of us to have an eternal life,” Bublé said, describing how music is central to his spiritual life.“Music is a gift from God,” he said. “I talk to so many people today about what a gift from God music is.”Grammy-winning singer Michael Bublé , known for his velvety voice and popular Christmas albums, said faith “changes everything in my life, every single interaction.” He met Pope Leo XIV on Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, at the Vatican. Credit: Joshua MellinBublé noted that “Silent Night” and “Adeste Fideles” are among his favorite Christmas hymns. He said that he asked the pope for specific song requests for the concert, which will feature selections Pope Leo enjoys. One of them is “Ave Maria,” a piece not normally in Bublé’s repertoire. He acknowledged feeling “a bit nervous” to perform it before the pope and was coaxed into offering reporters a brief a cappella preview during the press conference.
     The concert will also feature the choir of the Diocese of Rome, the Nuova Opera Orchestra, and Catholic composer Monsignor Marco Frisina. Past editions of the concert have been conducted by composers Hans Zimmer and Ennio Morricone.“Before every show … I say, ‘Thank you, God, for giving me the ability to connect with these beautiful souls,’” Bublé said. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/834cb3a8-fa1c-4673-8c4e-2b57ff4de476.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 06 Dec 2025 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Michael, Bublé, calls, meeting, Pope, Leo, XIV, ‘one, the, greatest, moments, life’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV among the most viewed and searched on Wikipedia and Google in 2025</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-among-the-most-viewed-and-searched-on-wikipedia-and-google-in-2025</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-among-the-most-viewed-and-searched-on-wikipedia-and-google-in-2025</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV. / Credit: Vatican Media

ACI Prensa Staff, Dec 5, 2025 / 15:38 pm (CNA).
The profile of Pope Leo XIV is among the most viewed pages on the digital encyclopedia Wikipedia, and his names — both the one he took upon beginning his pontificate on May 8 and his given name, Robert Francis Prevost — are among the most searched terms globally on Google during 2025.The Wikimedia Foundation, which supports Wikipedia, presented on Dec. 2 its list of “most read articles” in English. Pope Leo XIV in English holds fifth place.Wikimedia highlighted that one of the deaths that had the biggest impact during 2025 was that of Pope Francis, whom they remembered as “the first Latin American to become pope” who “served as pope for 12 years before passing away” on April 21.“The Catholic Church selected his successor, Pope Leo XIV, a few weeks later. As people rushed online to learn about Leo, traffic to all Wikimedia projects peaked at around 800,000 hits per second, more than six times over normal traffic levels and a new all-time record for us,” the foundation noted.“Plenty of people also came to learn more about Francis’ life, too,” it added, noting that his English Wikipedia page ranks 11th among the most read pages this year.Wikipedia, which defines itself as “a free online encyclopedia written and maintained by a community of volunteers, known as Wikipedians, through open collaboration and the wiki software MediaWiki,” is one of the most visited websites in the world. According to Statista, in 2025 it ranked fifth, just behind Google, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.Leo XIV and his election: Search trends in 2025Near the end of the year, the search engine Google also released its list of trends, “Year in Search 2025.” In its “people” section, Pope Leo XIV ranked fifth worldwide, and among news searches, the election of the new pope ranked fourth.In the United States, his native country, Pope Leo XIV ranked fifth among trending people searches. The election of the new pope was in seventh place among trending news searches, while Pope Francis ranked seventh on the list of searches for those who died in 2025.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/p.leo.official.png" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 06 Dec 2025 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, among, the, most, viewed, and, searched, Wikipedia, and, Google, 2025</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>UPDATED: Pope Leo XIV calls Lebanon to stand up, be a home of justice and fraternity</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/updated-pope-leo-xiv-calls-lebanon-to-stand-up-be-a-home-of-justice-and-fraternity</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/updated-pope-leo-xiv-calls-lebanon-to-stand-up-be-a-home-of-justice-and-fraternity</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass for an estimated 150,000 people at Beirut’s Waterfront in Lebanon on Dec. 2, 2025. / Credit: Marwan Semaan/ACI MENA

Beirut, Lebanon, Dec 2, 2025 / 04:52 am (CNA).
Beirut heard a different kind of voice on Tuesday morning. In a city still marked by the sounds of the 2024 escalation between Hezbollah and Israel, Pope Leo XIV urged Lebanon to rise above violence and division. “Lebanon, stand up. Be a home of justice and fraternity. Be a prophetic sign of peace for the whole of the Levant,” he said at a Mass attended by about 150,000 people at Beirut Waterfront.The liturgy closed the final day of the pope’s visit to a nation strained by intermittent political paralysis, economic freefall, and persistent instability. The Waterfront itself carries symbolic weight. Built on land reclaimed from the sea with rubble from downtown Beirut destroyed in the civil war, it has come to represent both loss and reconstruction.In his homily, Pope Leo spoke of praise, hope, beauty, and responsibility, calling for unity at a moment of national fracture. He acknowledged the burdens carried by the Lebanese people and said praise becomes difficult “when life is weighed down by hardship.” Lebanon, he added, has suffered “many problems” and “difficult situations” that leave people feeling powerless.The pope urged the country to rediscover gratitude. Lebanon, he said, is “the recipient of a rare beauty,” even though that beauty is often obscured by suffering. The country is also, he noted, a witness to how “evil, in its various forms, can obscure this splendor.”From the open coastal space, he recalled biblical images of Lebanon. He then pointed to the nation’s present wounds: poverty, political instability, economic collapse, and renewed fear after conflict. He mentioned his prayer earlier in the day at the Beirut port, the site of the 2020 explosion, and connected that visit to the broader national trauma. In such circumstances, he said, praise and hope can give way to disillusionment.The pope invited the faithful to look for “small shining lights in the heart of the night.” Jesus, he said, gives thanks not for extraordinary signs but for the faith and humility of “little ones.” He spoke of the “small signs of hope” found in families, parishes, religious communities, and laypeople who remain dedicated to service and to the Gospel. These lights, he said, promise rebirth.He urged the country not to yield to “the logic of violence” or the “idolatry of money” and asked all Lebanese to work together. “Everyone must do their part,” he said. He called for a “dream of a united Lebanon” where peace and justice prevail and where all recognize one another as brothers and sisters.At the end of Mass, the pope offered a spontaneous prayer for peace in the region and the world, calling on “Christians of the Levant” to be “artisans of peace, heralds of peace, witnesses of peace.”Farewell ceremonyAfter the Mass, the pope traveled to Beirut International Airport for a farewell ceremony, where he was received by the president. In brief remarks, the pope recalled the sight of the port earlier that morning and praised the resilience of the Lebanese people. “You are as strong as the cedars that populate your beautiful mountains, and as beautiful as the olive trees that grow in the plains, in the south and near the sea.”The pope also greeted regions of the country he was unable to visit and repeated his appeal for peace. “May the attacks and hostilities cease,” he said. “Armed struggle brings no benefit. Weapons are lethal. Negotiation, mediation, and dialogue are constructive.” He urged all to choose peace “as a way, not just as a goal.” ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/papal-mass-marwan-semaan-acimena.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 03 Dec 2025 18:00:02 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>UPDATED:, Pope, Leo, XIV, calls, Lebanon, stand, up, home, justice, and, fraternity</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Official Vatican documents can now be drafted in languages ​​other than Latin</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/official-vatican-documents-can-now-be-drafted-in-languages-other-than-latin</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/official-vatican-documents-can-now-be-drafted-in-languages-other-than-latin</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV holds his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on Nov. 19, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Dec 2, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).
The pope has approved the new General and Personnel Regulations of the Roman Curia, which come into effect Jan. 1, 2026, and which adapt the internal functioning of the Vatican bodies to the apostolic constitution Praedicate Evangelium, promulgated by Pope Francis in 2022.The document, approved “ad experimentum” (for temporary or provisional use) for five years, seeks to consolidate “an ecclesial service marked by a pastoral and missionary character.”Documents in Latin... or in other languagesAmong the most significant innovations is a historic change in linguistic matters. For the first time, the regulations stipulate that “the curial institutions will, as a general rule, draft their documents in Latin or in another language.”Until now, Latin was used by default in the drafting of internal documents. The new rule will allow documents to be written directly in languages ​​used by the Curia, such as Italian, English — the native language of Pope Leo XIV — or Spanish, which the pontiff speaks fluently due to his extensive pastoral work in Peru.The text also introduces clear boundaries to prevent nepotism in Vatican offices. For example, it prohibits the hiring within the same entity of blood relatives up to the fourth degree and of relatives by marriage in the first and second degree. Furthermore, it requires that candidates be distinguished by their “virtue, prudence, knowledge, and appropriate experience.”For lay employees, the initial hiring will be on a probationary basis for at least one year, with no possibility of extending it beyond two years. This will require that, once this period has been completed, the employee be hired on a permanent basis or let go.No assets in ‘tax havens’The regulations also include measures that reinforce financial transparency. Officials and senior executives will be required to submit a declaration every two years confirming that they do not own assets in “tax havens” or hold shares in companies that contradict the social doctrine of the Church, such as the arms or abortion industries.Failure to submit this declaration, or the submission of false information, will be considered a serious disciplinary offense. The new legal framework regulates the organization of work within the Curia. The standard work week will be “at least 36 hours.” Maternity leave will begin three months before the expected delivery date and extend for another three months afterward. In addition, 158 hours of annual leave are granted.Staff members must observe strict professional confidentiality and may not make public statements without prior authorization.The regulations establish, for the first time, unified retirement ages for the various positions. Heads of dicasteries must retire at age 75; lay employees at age 70; and ecclesiastical and religious undersecretaries at age 72. All positions automatically terminate at age 80.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/sim6750-1.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 03 Dec 2025 18:00:02 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Official, Vatican, documents, can, now, drafted, languages, ​​other, than, Latin</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo reveals Mideast peace talks with Trump, Netanyahu, other regional players</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-reveals-mideast-peace-talks-with-trump-netanyahu-other-regional-players</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-reveals-mideast-peace-talks-with-trump-netanyahu-other-regional-players</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV speaks with reporters on his flight from Beirut to Rome on Dec. 2, 2025. / Credit: Elias Turk/EWTN

Rome, Italy, Dec 2, 2025 / 11:30 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV has begun conversations with U.S. President Donald Trump and Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the need to halt violence and seek solutions in the Middle East, the pope told journalists on his Tuesday flight from Beirut to Rome.The wide-ranging news conference also touched on Ukraine, the Catholic Church in Germany, and Leo’s own election as pope, among other topics.In response to a question referring to Hezbollah, an Iran-backed political party and militia that holds significant influence in Lebanon, the pope said that during the trip he also held personal meetings with representatives of unnamed political groups involved in regional conflicts. “Our work is not something we announce publicly,” he said. “We try to convince the parties to put down the arms and violence and come together to the table of dialogue.” Leo also addressed concerns about Islam in Europe, saying fear is often “generated by people who are against immigration.” He said the Middle East offers an alternative model. “One of the great lessons that Lebanon can teach to the world,” he said, “is showing a land where Islam and Christianity are both present and respected, and where there is a possibility to live together.”On Ukraine, Leo repeated his appeal for a ceasefire. He acknowledged that the United States is seeking to promote a peace plan, but “the presence of Europe is important,” noting that the administration in Washington modified its first proposal after European concerns. He suggested that Italy could play “a very important role” as an intermediary.Asked about his own election, he said he had once imagined retiring. He affirmed his commitment to conclave secrecy but recalled telling a reporter the day before his election that “everything is in the hands of God.” When the reality of the vote became clear, he said, “I took a deep breath. I said, here we go, Lord, you are in charge.” Leo added that he is often amused by journalists’ interpretations of his expressions. “You think you can read my mind or my face,” he joked, “and you are not always correct.”Leo said he hopes his next trip will be to somewhere in Africa and said he wants eventually to go to Algeria to visit sites associated with St. Augustine and continue building bridges with Muslims. He said he would also like to visit Argentina and Uruguay, which have been waiting for a papal visit. He added that other Latin American countries, including Peru, are being considered, but “nothing is confirmed.”On Venezuela, Leo said the Holy See is working with the national bishops’ conference and the nuncio to calm tensions after recent threats from the United States. “We are looking for ways to calm the situation,” he said, “seeking above all the good of the people, because so often those who suffer are the people, not the authorities.”Responding to a question about the German Church’s Synodal Way, a controversial series of meetings of bishops and laity that have proposed major changes to Catholic doctrine and governance, Leo noted concerns among many German Catholics that “certain aspects of the Synodal Way … do not represent their own hope for the Church.” He stressed the need for “dialogue and listening … so that the voice of those who are more powerful does not silence or stifle” others. “I suspect there will be some adjustments made on both sides in Germany, but I’m certainly hopeful that things will work out positively,” Leo said. He added that the ongoing meetings between German bishops and the Roman Curia aim “to try and make sure that the German Synodal Way does not, if you will, break away from what needs to be considered as the pathway of the universal Church.”Asked what the Middle Eastern Church can offer the West, Leo reflected on the value of unity in an individualistic age. “Young people ask, why should I want to be one?” he said. “But unity, friendship, human relationships, communion are extremely important and extremely valuable.” Recalling the testimony of Christians and Muslims who helped one another after their villages were destroyed, he said such gestures show how “authentic peace and justice” can take root when people overcome distrust.In response to a question about how he is learning to be pope, Leo recommended a book that he said has shaped his own life by the 17th-century Carmelite friar known as Brother Lawrence. “If you want to know something about me,” he said, “read ‘The Practice of the Presence of God.’ It describes a way of prayer where one simply gives his life to the Lord and allows the Lord to lead. That has been my spirituality for many years.” ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/whatsapp-image-2025-12-02-at-3.58.59-pm.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 03 Dec 2025 18:00:02 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, reveals, Mideast, peace, talks, with, Trump, Netanyahu, other, regional, players</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Powerful moments from Pope Leo XIV’s trip to Turkey and Lebanon</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/powerful-moments-from-pope-leo-xivs-trip-to-turkey-and-lebanon</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/powerful-moments-from-pope-leo-xivs-trip-to-turkey-and-lebanon</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV interacts with a baby before celebrating Mass in Beirut, Lebanon, on Dec. 2, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

CNA Staff, Dec 2, 2025 / 17:34 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV’s first official papal trip from Nov. 27–Dec. 2 to Turkey and Lebanon has just ended. The wide-ranging international visit included historic ecumenical encounters, deeply symbolic gestures of prayer, and pastoral visits to Christian communities under pressure. Pope Leo highlighted the importance of unity, peace, and fraternity, and brought encouragement to a region marked by ancient faith and present suffering.Here are some of the most powerful moments from Pope Leo’s trip:TurkeyUpon landing at the Esenboğa International Airport in Ankara, Turkey, Pope Leo was greeted by Turkish authorities and members of the military. Outside of the Presidential Palace, the pontiff  was welcomed by a cavalry escort, the playing of the national anthems, and 21 cannon shots.null The pope commemorated the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea on Nov. 28 alongside Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople and other Christian leaders in the Turkish city of Iznik, southeast of Istanbul, the site of the Council of Nicaea, historically known as the birthplace of the Nicene Creed.The ecumenical prayer service took place at the archaeological excavations of the ancient Basilica of St. Neophytus, built in 380 at the site of the first Christian ecumenical council, which was convened by Emperor Constantine I in 325.null While in Istanbul, Pope Leo visited the Nursing Home of the Little Sisters of the Poor, telling the community that Christian charity begins not with doing but with being — i.e., living a real communion with those one serves.Pope Leo XIV visits a care home for the elderly run by a community of the Little Sisters of the Poor in Istanbul, Turkey, on Nov. 28, 2025. Credit: Vatican MediaLater that day, Pope Leo met the “little flock” of Catholics at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Istanbul. Catholics in Turkey make up roughly just 0.05% of the country’s 85 million people. The pope encouraged them to rediscover what he called the Gospel’s “logic of littleness” and not to be discouraged by their tiny numbers but to recognize in them the strength of authentic Christian witness.null In another touching moment at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Istanbul, a young child eagerly awaited and received the blessing of the Holy Father:null Pope Leo and Patriarch Bartholomew I gave a joint ecumenical blessing from the balcony of the patriarchate following the Orthodox Divine Liturgy on Nov. 30. The joint blessing recalls the fraternity and communion between the Church of Rome and the Church of Constantinople.Pope Leo XIV and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I give a joint blessing from the balcony of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul, Turkey, following an Orthodox Divine Liturgy on Nov. 30, 2025. Credit: Elias Turk/EWTN NewsLebanonAhead of his second day in Lebanon, a stunning rainbow appeared over the Port of Beirut, the site of the explosion that devastated the area in 2020.This morning, a stunning rainbow over the Port of Beirut opened the second day of Pope Leo’s visit to Lebanon. The pope will pray at the site of the explosion that devastated this area in 2020. What a beautiful sign of peace and hope.?Magdalena Wolińska-Riedi / EWTN News pic.twitter.com/DKqS9pclSg— EWTN News (@EWTNews) December 1, 2025 Pope Leo XIV became the first pope in history to visit the tomb of St. Charbel Makhlouf when he arrived at the Monastery of St. Maron in Annaya on the second day of his apostolic journey to Lebanon.Pope Leo XIV reflects on the enduring message of St. Charbel Makhlouf at the hermit&#039;s tomb at the Monastery of St. Maron, in Annaya, Lebanon, on Dec. 1, 2025. Credit: Vatican Medianull In another beautiful moment, Pope Leo gave a Golden Rose to the Virgin Mary during his visit to the Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa, Lebanon.Pope Leo XIV presents a Golden Rose to Mary at the Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa, Lebanon, on Dec. 1, 2025. Credit: Vatican MediaA little girl proudly showed off a rosary given to her by Pope Leo during the pope’s meeting with bishops, clergy, and religious at the Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa.null On the final morning of his trip to Lebanon, Pope Leo XIV paused before the ruins of the Beirut port explosion, praying in silence and placing a wreath in memory of the victims. In one of the most emotional moments of his trip, he also met family members of those killed and survivors still carrying the wounds of the Aug. 4, 2020, blast.Five years after the explosion, one of the largest nonnuclear blasts in history, families of the 236 people killed and more than 7,000 wounded say they are still waiting for truth and accountability.Pope Leo XIV prays in silence at the site of the 2020 port explosion in Beirut, Lebanon, on Dec. 2, 2025. Credit: AIGAV PoolPope Leo XIV greets a young child at the site of the Aug. 4, 2020, blast at the Port of Beirut on Dec. 2, 2025. Credit: Vatican MediaPope Leo XIV prayed in silence at the Port of Beirut, where an explosion in 2020 left hundreds of victims. He stopped before the monument honoring the dead, amid the debris that still remains, to lay a wreath of flowers and light a candle. pic.twitter.com/asEbtchn7R— EWTN Vatican (@EWTNVatican) December 2, 2025 After visiting the site of the explosion, Pope Leo celebrated Mass for an estimated 150,000 people at the Beirut Waterfront. Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass for an estimated 150,000 people at Beirut&#039;s Waterfront in Lebanon, on Dec. 2, 2025. Credit: Vatican MediaWhile visiting the De La Croix Hospital in Jal el Dib, north of Beirut, Pope Leo also spent time in the Saint-Dominique wing, where children with severe physical and mental disabilities are cared for, and blessed the children.Pope Leo XIV blesses a child at the De La Croix Hospital for the mentally disabled in Jal el Dib, north of Beirut, Lebanon, on Dec. 2, 2025. Credit: Vatican MediaFrom there, Pope Leo boarded the papal plane for Rome, telling the Lebanese people: “Leaving this land means carrying you in my heart.”Pope Leo XIV waves goodbye to those in attendance at a farewell ceremony at the International Airport of Beirut in Lebanon on Dec. 2, 2025. Credit: Vatican Media ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/sim1027.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 03 Dec 2025 18:00:02 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Powerful, moments, from, Pope, Leo, XIV’s, trip, Turkey, and, Lebanon</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo to Lebanese youth: Love, not retaliation, is the real answer to evil</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-to-lebanese-youth-love-not-retaliation-is-the-real-answer-to-evil</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-to-lebanese-youth-love-not-retaliation-is-the-real-answer-to-evil</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV greets a young mother and her child outside of the Monastery of St. Maron in Annaya, Lebanon, on Dec. 1, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

Bkerke, Lebanon, Dec 1, 2025 / 12:34 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV told thousands of young people in Lebanon on Monday that love, not retaliation, is the real force capable of transforming their country as it continues to grapple with the wounds of conflict and social instability. “The true opposition to evil is not evil, but love,” he said, calling the nation’s youth to rebuild their homeland through reconciliation, service, and a renewed rooting in faith.The gathering took place in the square before the Maronite Patriarchate of Antioch, in Bkerké, where the pope was welcomed by Patriarch Cardinal Béchara Boutros Raï. After greeting the crowd in a brief tour, Pope Leo opened his address with the Arabic words “assalamu alaykum,” meaning “peace be with you,” telling the young people that this greeting of the risen Christ “sustains the joy of our meeting.”Lebanon’s young generation has endured some of the nation’s hardest years. A devastating financial collapse, the 2020 Beirut port explosion, and the 2023–2024 border war between Hezbollah and Israel have left deep physical and social scars, contributing to widespread emigration and a sense of exhaustion among the country’s youth.The pope spoke directly to their anxieties, acknowledging that many feel they have inherited “a world torn apart by wars and disfigured by social injustice,” yet insisted that hope lives within them. “You have time to dream, to plan, and to do good. You are the present, and the future is already taking shape in your hands.”Pointing to Lebanon’s national symbol, he said the country “will flourish once again, beautiful and vigorous like the cedar,” explaining that its strength lies in deep roots. In the same way, he told them, the foundation of renewal cannot rest only on ideas or agreements. “The true principle of new life is the hope that comes from above. It is Christ himself. He, the Living One, is the foundation of our trust.”Peace, he continued, cannot grow out of factional interests. “It is only genuinely sincere when I do to others what I would like them to do to me. Forgiveness leads to justice, which is the foundation of peace.”Calling them to works of charity, he reminded them that nothing reveals God’s presence more clearly than love. Renewal begins in daily choices, he said, such as welcoming “those near and far” and offering concrete help “to friends and refugees and enemies.”The pope held up several saints as companions for the journey: Carlo Acutis, Pier Giorgio Frassati, St. Rafqa, Blessed Yakub El-Haddad, and St. Charbel, whose hidden life “shines a powerful light.” He urged the youth to pray, to read Scripture, and attend Mass and adoration. “Be contemplatives like St. Charbel,” he told them.Pope Leo ended with the prayer attributed to St. Francis of Assisi, “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,” and assured the young people that “the Lord will always be with you, and you can be assured of the support of the whole Church.” He entrusted them to the Mother of God, Our Lady. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/ris6177-1.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 02 Dec 2025 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, Lebanese, youth:, Love, not, retaliation, the, real, answer, evil</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Aid to the Church in Need welcomes appointment of Cardinal Koch as its new president</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/aid-to-the-church-in-need-welcomes-appointment-of-cardinal-koch-as-its-new-president</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/aid-to-the-church-in-need-welcomes-appointment-of-cardinal-koch-as-its-new-president</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Cardinal Kurt Koch during an interview with EWTN News. / Credit: EWTN News

ACI Prensa Staff, Dec 1, 2025 / 16:21 pm (CNA).
The executive director of Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), Regina Lynch, thanked Pope Leo XIV for appointing Cardinal Kurt Koch as the new president of the pontifical foundation.“We very much look forward to having Cardinal Koch as our president and for the guidance he can bring to our mission to persecuted and suffering Christians all over the world. We are grateful to Pope Leo XIV for this appointment and for his interest in our work,” Lynch said.Koch is 75 years old and replaces Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, who is 81 years old and has led the institution since 2011.Piacenza was the first president of ACN since the organization received the title of pontifical foundation.In a Nov. 27 statement published on the ACN website, Lynch highlighted the work carried out by Piacenza, in whom the international institution “has always had a steady and trusted mentor and president.”Furthermore, Piacenza “was always a great supporter of ACN initiatives, such as the One Million Children Praying the Rosary and the Middle East campaigns, and we are very grateful for his service to suffering and persecuted Christians.”Koch is the prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity and has headed the Commission for Religious Relations with Judaism since 2010. He has also closely collaborated with the Catholic charity over the years, ACN reported.The organization highlighted its new president’s experience in ecumenical and interreligious relations, as these are an essential part of the pontifical foundation’s mission, “especially in countries where Christians, or Catholics, are a minority.”This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/koch.ewtn.news.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 02 Dec 2025 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Aid, the, Church, Need, welcomes, appointment, Cardinal, Koch, its, new, president</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>The Holy See closed the 2024 fiscal year with a surplus of $1.86 million</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/the-holy-see-closed-the-2024-fiscal-year-with-a-surplus-of-186-million</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/the-holy-see-closed-the-2024-fiscal-year-with-a-surplus-of-186-million</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  St. Peter’s Square during the declaration of St. John Henry Newman a doctor of the Church in November 2025. / Credit: Daniel Ibañez/EWTN News

Vatican City, Dec 1, 2025 / 16:51 pm (CNA).
The Holy See closed the 2024 fiscal year with a surplus of 1.6 million euros ($1.86 million), according to the 2024 Consolidated Financial Statement published Nov. 26 by the Vatican Secretariat for the Economy. This result represents a substantial change compared with the deficit of 51.2 million euros ($59.5 million) recorded in 2023, according to the Vatican.The last public report from the Holy See was from 2020 — published in 2021 — and showed a deficit of 66.3 million euros ($77 million).The current report indicates that the financial improvement is based on a reduction in the operating deficit, which decreased by almost 50%, from 83 million to 44 million euros, ($96.4 to $51.1 million) driven by a 79-million-euro ($91.8 million) increase in revenue, mainly from donations and hospital management, and by strict cost control that partially offset inflation and rising personnel costs.The report also highlights the performance of financial management with positive results of 46 million euros ($53.4 million), higher than the previous year thanks to capital gains obtained from the sale of historical investments and the start of operations of the Investment Committee.Surplus excluding hospitalsExcluding hospital entities, the Holy See recorded a surplus of 18.7 million euros ($21.7 million), although the secretariat warns that this figure reflects extraordinary accounting effects and a one-time increase in donations, so its sustainability will depend on future fiscal years.The Holy See’s balance sheet reveals a total allocation of 393.29 million euros ($457 million) destined for the apostolic mission and the pontifical funds, not including the financing of hospitals. This budget reflects the priority of supporting the Church’s core activities worldwide and shows how resources are distributed to guarantee the continuity of the apostolic mission.Approximately 83% of the funds are concentrated in five strategic areas that underpin the pastoral and social work of the Holy See. The most significant allocation, amounting to 146.4 million euros ($170.1 million) — equivalent to 37% of the total — is dedicated to supporting local Churches in difficult situations and for evangelization, recognizing the importance of strengthening the most vulnerable communities and supporting the spread of the faith in territories where the mission faces greater challenges.Worship and evangelization constitute the second most significant category, representing 14% of the resources. This allocation supports liturgical activities, religious formation, and initiatives for spreading Church teachings worldwide. A ​​further 12% is specifically dedicated to communicating the pope’s message, ensuring that his teachings, exhortations, and statements effectively reach the faithful and the international community.Ten percent of the budget is allocated to charitable servicesLikewise, 10% of the budget is dedicated to maintaining the international presence of the Holy See through the apostolic nunciatures, which play an essential diplomatic and pastoral role in relations with states and local Churches. Another 10% is allocated to charitable services, reinforcing humanitarian and assistance initiatives that respond to the most urgent needs of the poor and marginalized.The remaining 17% finances activities such as the organization of ecclesial life, management of historical heritage, and support for academic institutions. The secretariat emphasized that these allocations reflect consistency between the Church’s pastoral mission and its financial management.The report concludes that, although the result is encouraging, the full financial sustainability of the Holy See will continue to depend on its performance in the coming fiscal years, marking 2024 as a year of economic recovery after years of deficits.Maximino Caballero Ledo, prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy, gave a comprehensive explanation of the results in an interview with Vatican media, highlighting both the achievements and the need for prudence and continuity in management.“The data reflect remarkable progress in consolidating the economic situation of the Holy See,” Caballero said. “It is not only about maintaining a balanced budget but also about strengthening our ability to make the best use of every contribution received, making the service to the mission of the universal Church more solid and sustainable.”The financial document presented by the Vatican shows that the structural operating deficit was reduced by almost half, from 83.5 million euros to 44.4 million euros ($97 million to $51.6 million). This is mainly due to an increase in revenue, which amounted to almost 79 million euros ($91.8 million) compared with the previous year, driven by greater donor participation, positive results from hospital activities, and progress in real estate and commercial management.Caballero emphasized that these “favorable dynamics,” combined with prudent spending control and a constant effort to improve operational efficiency, offer a positive outlook for the Vatican’s finances. However, he recalled that “the deficit of 44.4 million euros [$51.6 million] indicates that there is still a long way to go. Financial sustainability is not only a possible objective but a necessary condition to guarantee the continuity of our apostolic mission.”Growth in donations and the trust of the faithfulThe prefect noted that contributions from the faithful experienced a rebound in 2024 after years of slowdown. “This increase represents an encouraging sign of renewed participation by the faithful and local Churches in the mission of the Holy See. However, these dynamics are variable and always require prudence and realism in their interpretation,” he emphasized.The analysis of expenditures confirms, according to Caballero, that most resources continue to be allocated directly to apostolic activities, “reflecting the consistency between the priorities of the mission and the financial decisions that make it possible. This allows for the strengthening of pastoral initiatives and support for the most vulnerable communities, consolidating a balanced and responsible management of resources.”Financial management and future prospectsThe 2024 balance sheet also shows positive results of 46 million euros ($53.4 million) from financial activities, including extraordinary transactions related to the restructuring of the investment portfolio in accordance with the new policy approved by the Investment Committee. Caballero warned that “these capital gains are not repeatable with the same intensity in future years and reflect the natural volatility of financial activity.”Therefore, he emphasized that “along with prudence in spending, it is essential to continue working on the revenue side: donations, fundraising, asset valuation, and consistent investment management. The goal is not to pit these dimensions against each other but to consolidate progress and gradually strengthen a more stable economic foundation.”Toward full financial sustainabilityThe prefect concluded by highlighting that the 2024 fiscal year closed with a small surplus of 1.6 million euros ($1.86 million), an encouraging sign that, according to him, “demonstrates that the direction taken is positive. Now we must consolidate this progress, aware that some of the results come from nonrecurring elements. Financial sustainability is essential to ensure the continuity of the Holy See’s mission, which by its nature requires a stable economic foundation.”Caballero emphasized that “it is not simply a matter of balancing the budget but of strengthening our ability to optimally utilize every contribution received, making the Holy See’s service to the entire universal Church more solid and sustainable.”This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/stpeterssquare.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 02 Dec 2025 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>The, Holy, See, closed, the, 2024, fiscal, year, with, surplus, 1.86, million</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo urges Lebanon to place the sick at the center of society</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-urges-lebanon-to-place-the-sick-at-the-center-of-society</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-urges-lebanon-to-place-the-sick-at-the-center-of-society</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Children costumed as participants in a papal conclave await Pope Leo XIV at the De La Croix Hospital in Jal el Dib, Lebanon, on December 2, 2025. / AIGAV Pool

Jal el Dib, Lebanon, Dec 2, 2025 / 02:07 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV told hospital patients and caregivers in Lebanon that he had come to “where Jesus dwells,” adding that Christ is present “in you who are ill, and in you who care for the ailing.” He delivered the message during a Tuesday morning visit to De La Croix Hospital in Jal el Dib, one of the final stops of his trip to Lebanon as the country continues to struggle with the wounds of conflict and economic collapse.The Holy Father addressed staff, patients, and the Franciscan Sisters of the Cross who operate the institution. Pointing to the hospital’s founder, Blessed Yaaqub El-Haddad, Pope Leo described him as a “tireless apostle of charity” whose devotion to the suffering shaped the institution’s identity.“Your presence is a tangible sign of the merciful love of Christ,” Leo told the healthcare workers, comparing their service to the Good Samaritan who stopped for the wounded man. He urged them not to lose heart when fatigue or discouragement take hold. “Keep before your eyes the good you are able to accomplish. In God’s eyes, it is a great work.”Pope Leo also offered a pointed appeal to Lebanese society. A community focused only on achievement and wellbeing, he warned, risks abandoning its most vulnerable members. “We cannot conceive of a society that races ahead at full speed while ignoring so many situations of poverty and vulnerability.” Christians, he insisted, are called to make the poor a priority because “the cry of the poor,” heard throughout Scripture, continues to demand a response.Jal el Dib, a town in Lebanon’s Matn district with a largely Maronite Catholic population, grew from a small Ottoman-era stop on the Beirut–Tripoli route into a commercial hub during the French Mandate, the period of French-administered rule that shaped much of modern Lebanon after World War I. In that setting, the De La Croix institution, founded in 1919 by Blessed Yaaqub, developed into one of the region’s most significant centers for psychiatric care and mental disability services. Operated by the Franciscan Sisters of the Cross, it now includes five patient pavilions and serves more than 2,200 people each year.Turning to the patients, the pope emphasized their dignity and their place in the heart of God. “You are close to the heart of God our Father. He holds you in the palm of his hand,” he said. “Today, the Lord repeats to each one of you: &#039;I love you, I care for you, you are my child. Never forget this!&#039;” At times during the visit, Leo seemed to be holding back tears.After the public event, Pope Leo was scheduled to visit one of the hospital’s pavilions privately to meet patients and staff. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/whatsapp-image-2025-12-02-at-7.32.23-am.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 02 Dec 2025 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, urges, Lebanon, place, the, sick, the, center, society</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo prays at Beirut blast site, meets families seeking justice</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-prays-at-beirut-blast-site-meets-families-seeking-justice</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-prays-at-beirut-blast-site-meets-families-seeking-justice</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV prays in silence at the site of the 2020 port explosion in Beirut, Lebanon, on December 2, 2025. / AIGAV Pool

Beirut, Lebanon, Dec 2, 2025 / 03:15 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV paused on the final morning of his trip to Lebanon before the ruins of the Beirut port explosion, praying in silence and placing a wreath in memory of the victims. He also met families of those killed and survivors still carrying the wounds of the 2020 blast.The pope lit a candle and laid down a wreath of red flowers at the site, and seemed at one point to hold back tears. Afterwards, he spoke with family members of victims, some of whom who were holding photographs of their relatives killed in the blast.The pope’s silent prayer at the port unfolded against an unresolved search for justice, a grief still felt across Lebanon.Five years after the August 4, 2020 explosion, one of the largest non-nuclear blasts in history, families of the 236 people killed and more than 7,000 wounded say they are still waiting for truth and accountability. Vast neighborhoods of Beirut were shattered, yet justice remains elusive. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam greeted the pope at the site.Lebanon’s investigation has been marked by political interference and long periods of inactivity. Although the probe formally resumed in 2025 after a two-year halt, it remains stalled. Successive governments have failed to ensure an independent and impartial process, leaving families of victims facing what they describe as a prolonged denial of justice.Several senior officials summoned by lead investigative judge Tarek Bitar have resisted cooperation, invoking immunity or filing legal challenges that repeatedly froze the inquiry. Some movement returned in early 2025. Judge Bitar resumed work in February after new public commitments by President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Salam to uphold the rule of law. The following month, interim top prosecutor Jamal Hajjar reversed earlier measures that had paralyzed the investigation. A number of figures, including former Prime Minister Hassan Diab and Major General Abbas Ibrahim, responded to summonses, while others, including members of parliament, continued to refuse cooperation. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/whatsapp-image-2025-12-02-at-9.07.34-am.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 02 Dec 2025 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, prays, Beirut, blast, site, meets, families, seeking, justice</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope arrives in Turkey giving thanks, preaching peace</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-arrives-in-turkey-giving-thanks-preaching-peace</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-arrives-in-turkey-giving-thanks-preaching-peace</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV began his first papal trip speaking of dialogue, peace and thanksgiving -- referring to both the holiday and his own gratitude.
The post Pope arrives in Turkey giving thanks, preaching peace first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/A9_00689.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 29 Nov 2025 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, arrives, Turkey, giving, thanks, preaching, peace</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>UN report: Every 10 minutes, a woman is killed somewhere in the world</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/un-report-every-10-minutes-a-woman-is-killed-somewhere-in-the-world</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/un-report-every-10-minutes-a-woman-is-killed-somewhere-in-the-world</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Nov. 25 is observed as International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
The post UN report: Every 10 minutes, a woman is killed somewhere in the world first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/shoes.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 29 Nov 2025 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>report:, Every, minutes, woman, killed, somewhere, the, world</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Catholic bishops offer prayers for National Guard members shot in DC</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/catholic-bishops-offer-prayers-for-national-guard-members-shot-in-dc</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/catholic-bishops-offer-prayers-for-national-guard-members-shot-in-dc</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The midafternoon attack, believed to be perpetrated by a lone suspect now in custody, left the two victims in critical condition.
The post Catholic bishops offer prayers for National Guard members shot in DC first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/20251126T1950-DC-SHOOTING-NATIONAL-GUARD-1808524.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 29 Nov 2025 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Catholic, bishops, offer, prayers, for, National, Guard, members, shot</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Former business manager charged with stealing $1.1 million from suburban Philadelphia parish</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/former-business-manager-charged-with-stealing-11-million-from-suburban-philadelphia-parish</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/former-business-manager-charged-with-stealing-11-million-from-suburban-philadelphia-parish</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ PHILADELPHIA (OSV News) — A former business manager at a suburban Philadelphia parish has been charged with stealing more than $1.1 million, allegedly diverting funds through his private companies while…
The post Former business manager charged with stealing $1.1 million from suburban Philadelphia parish first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2022-01-12T110010Z_253099752_RC2NXR9PLEWF_RTRMADP_3_HEALTH-CORONAVIRUS-USA-LIABILITY.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 29 Nov 2025 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Former, business, manager, charged, with, stealing, 1.1, million, from, suburban, Philadelphia, parish</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pew: US Latinos disapprove of Trump’s immigration, economic policies</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pew-us-latinos-disapprove-of-trumps-immigration-economic-policies</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pew-us-latinos-disapprove-of-trumps-immigration-economic-policies</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Most of the nation&#039;s Latinos disapprove of President Donald Trump&#039;s hardline immigration and economic policies -- and more than half are worried that they or a loved one could be deported, including about 1 in 3 Puerto Ricans, who are U.S. citizens by birth.
The post Pew: US Latinos disapprove of Trump’s immigration, economic policies first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2025-11-20T141531Z_11157133_RC2QRHAWKDDS_RTRMADP_3_USA-TRUMP-MIGRATION-ICE.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 29 Nov 2025 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pew:, Latinos, disapprove, Trump’s, immigration, economic, policies</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo reminds Turkish Catholic minority of the ‘logic of littleness’</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-reminds-turkish-catholic-minority-of-the-logic-of-littleness</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-reminds-turkish-catholic-minority-of-the-logic-of-littleness</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV encourages Catholic clergy, religious brothers and sisters, and lay pastoral workers to see the Catholic community’s small size as a strength during an encounter at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Istanbul, Turkey, on Nov. 28, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media.

Istanbul, Turkey, Nov 28, 2025 / 01:55 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV encouraged Turkey’s small Catholic community Friday to rediscover what he called the Gospel’s “logic of littleness,” urging them not to be discouraged by their tiny numbers but to recognize in them the strength of authentic Christian witness.The pope addressed bishops, priests, religious, pastoral workers, and laypeople at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Istanbul on his second day in the country. Catholics in Turkey make up roughly 0.05% of the nation’s 85 million people.Calling Turkey a “holy land” where the Old and New Testaments meet, the pope recalled the deep Christian roots of the region: Abraham’s journey through Harran, the early Christian communities in Antioch and Ephesus, and the long and influential history of Byzantine Christianity. He noted in particular that the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, currently led by Patriarch Bartholomew I,  remains “a point of reference” both for its Greek faithful and for other Orthodox Churches.The pope warned Christians not to treat this heritage merely as a memory of past greatness. Instead, he urged them to adopt “an evangelical vision” that sees their present reality through the Holy Spirit’s light.“When we look with God’s eyes, we discover that he has chosen the way of littleness,” he said, pointing to the mustard seed, the little ones praised by Jesus, and the quiet growth of the kingdom of God. The Church’s true strength, he explained, “does not lie in her resources or structures,” nor in numbers or influence, but in remaining gathered around Christ and sent by the Holy Spirit.Quoting Jesus’ words, “Do not be afraid, little flock,” the pope encouraged Christians in Turkey to cultivate hope. He pointed to the growing number of young people approaching the Catholic Church as a sign of promise and asked communities to continue welcoming and accompanying them.He urged particular dedication to ecumenical and interreligious dialogue, the transmission of the faith to local communities, and pastoral service to refugees and migrants—many of whom are among the most vulnerable people in the country. The pope also noted that many Catholics in Turkey come from abroad, a reality that calls for a deeper process of inculturation so that the language and culture of the country become “more and more your own.”The pope highlighted Turkey’s unique role in the history of the Church, recalling that the first eight ecumenical councils were held on its soil. Marking the 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea, he said the council continues to pose three questions to Christians today: What is the essence of the faith? Who is Jesus for us? And how should doctrine be expressed in ways that speak to contemporary culture?He warned against what he described as a “new Arianism,” a version of the heresy that divided Christianity in its early centuries, that reduces Jesus to a moral teacher or heroic figure while denying his divinity and lordship over history.Before concluding, the pope invoked the memory of St. John XXIII, who served in Turkey and wrote affectionately of its people. Reflecting on the saint’s image of Bosporus fishermen laboring through the night, he encouraged Turkish Catholics to persevere in the same spirit: working faithfully, joyfully, and courageously “in the Lord’s boat.”The Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, where the meeting took place, was built in 1846 and houses relics of early popes, including St. Linus. A statue of Pope Benedict XV stands in its courtyard, erected in gratitude for his efforts to help victims of the 1915–1918 war. The inscription honors him as a “benefactor of peoples, without distinction of nationality or religion.”Watch Pope Leo XIV&#039;s full homily here. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/eli8351-1.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 29 Nov 2025 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, reminds, Turkish, Catholic, minority, the, ‘logic, littleness’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo shares ‘secret of Christian charity’ with Little Sisters of the Poor</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-shares-secret-of-christian-charity-with-little-sisters-of-the-poor</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-shares-secret-of-christian-charity-with-little-sisters-of-the-poor</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV visits a care home for the elderly run by a community of the Little Sisters of the Poor in Istanbul, Turkey, on Nov. 28, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media.

Istanbul, Turkey, Nov 28, 2025 / 03:00 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV visited the Nursing Home of the Little Sisters of the Poor in Istanbul on Friday, telling the community that Christian charity begins not with doing, but with being, i.e., living a real communion with those one serves.“The secret of Christian charity is that before being for others, we must first be with others in a communion based on fraternity,” he said during the encounter on Nov. 28, the second day of his apostolic trip to Turkey, where he is marking the 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea. A papal stop at a charitable institution has become customary during international journeys, and Pope Leo chose to spend time with the elderly as a sign of closeness to those often marginalized in modern societies.Founded in France in 1839 by St. Jeanne Jugan, the Little Sisters of the Poor serve elderly people in need around the world, including in Turkey, where they welcome residents of different religious backgrounds. The pope was greeted at the residence by the mother superior, former superior, and provincial leader before proceeding to the chapel to meet residents, staff, and benefactors.Pope Leo XIV visits a care home for the elderly run by a community of the Little Sisters of the Poor in Istanbul, Turkey, on Nov. 28, 2025. Credit: Vatican Media.Reflecting on the congregation’s name, the pope told the Sisters that their mission mirrors the life of Christ himself. “The Lord has called you not only to assist or help the poor, but has also called you to be their ‘sisters.’ You are to be like Jesus, whom the Father sent to us not only to help and serve us, but also to be our brother.” Turning to the residents, he warned that the word “elderly” risks losing its meaning in cultures driven by efficiency and materialism. Such attitudes, he said, lead societies to forget the dignity and value of older persons. Scripture and tradition, by contrast, present the elderly as bearers of memory and wisdom.“As Pope Francis loved to repeat – the elderly are the wisdom of a people, a treasure for their grandchildren, families and society as a whole,” he said. Pope Leo concluded by thanking the community for its patient, prayerful witness and prayed that the Lord would strengthen all who live and serve in the home. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/ris8030.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 29 Nov 2025 18:00:03 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, shares, ‘secret, Christian, charity’, with, Little, Sisters, the, Poor</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV marks Nicaea anniversary, urges Christians to overcome divisions</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-marks-nicaea-anniversary-urges-christians-to-overcome-divisions</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-marks-nicaea-anniversary-urges-christians-to-overcome-divisions</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople at an ecumenical event marking the 1,700th anniversary of Nicene Creed, in Iznik, Turkey, on November 28th, 2025. / Screenshot: Vatican Media

Iznik, Turkey, Nov 28, 2025 / 08:05 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV commemorated the 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea on Friday in the Turkish city historically known as the birthplace of the Nicene Creed, calling Christians to overcome “the scandal of divisions” and to renew their commitment to unity.The pope spoke during an ecumenical prayer service held at the archaeological site of the ancient Basilica of Saint Neophytos on the shore of Lake Iznik, southeast of Istanbul. The gathering marked one of the most symbolic moments of his apostolic visit to Turkey, which has focused heavily on ecumenical and interreligious outreach.“We are all invited to overcome the scandal of divisions,” he said, urging Christians to nurture “the desire for unity for which the Lord Jesus prayed and gave his life.”Pope Leo and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, considered first among equals among Eastern Orthodox bishops,  were welcomed by two senior Orthodox bishops before proceeding to a platform beside the submerged ruins of the basilica. The two leaders stood before icons of Christ and of the council and lit candles together.Iznik, formerly Nicaea, is located about 130 kilometers southeast of Istanbul. The remains of an early Christian basilica dedicated to Saint Neophytos, a young martyr killed in 303 during the persecutions of Diocletian, were first identified in 2014 after aerial photographs revealed the outline of a submerged church. The basilica collapsed during an earthquake in 740, and its ruins are now visible from the lakeshore.In his homily, Leo said the anniversary was “a precious opportunity to ask ourselves who Jesus Christ is in the lives of men and women today, and who he is for each one of us personally.” He cautioned against reducing Christ to “a kind of charismatic leader or superman,” recalling Arius’ denial of Christ’s divinity and the council’s defense of the full humanity and full divinity of Jesus.“If God did not become man, how can mortal creatures participate in his immortal life?” the pope asked, emphasizing what was at stake in the fourth-century debate.Leo said the Nicene confession of faith remains a foundation for unity among Christians worldwide. Quoting the creed, he underlined the proclamation of Christ as “consubstantial with the Father,” describing it as “a profound bond already uniting all Christians.” Citing St. Augustine, he added: “Although we Christians are many, in the one Christ we are one.”A reconciled Christianity, he continued, can “bear credible witness to the Gospel” and offer “a proclamation of hope for all.”The pope also extended his appeal for fraternity beyond the Christian world, insisting that authentic recognition of God as Father requires honoring all people as brothers and sisters. He warned against using religion “to justify war, violence, or any form of fundamentalism or fanaticism,” and called instead for “fraternal encounter, dialogue, and cooperation.”Pope Leo’s schedule in Turkey includes a series of ecumenical events, among them the signing of a joint declaration with Patriarch Bartholomew I on Nov. 29 at the Patriarchal Palace. His trip also carries an interreligious dimension. Earlier on Friday he met the Chief Rabbi of Turkey, discussing the visit as a sign of peace and support for all religious communities. On Saturday, Nov. 29, he will visit the Sultan Ahmed Mosque. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/screenshot-2025-11-28-at-13.57.26.png" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 29 Nov 2025 18:00:03 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, marks, Nicaea, anniversary, urges, Christians, overcome, divisions</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Council of Nicaea: 1,700 years of Christian unity amid division</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/council-of-nicaea-1700-years-of-christian-unity-amid-division</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/council-of-nicaea-1700-years-of-christian-unity-amid-division</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  The Council of Nicaea in 325 as depicted in a fresco in Salone Sistino at the Vatican. / Credit: Giovanni Guerra (1544-1618), Cesare Nebbia (1534-1614) e aiuti, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Nov 28, 2025 / 10:00 am (CNA).
In the summer of A.D. 325, more than 300 bishops gathered in Nicaea — located in modern-day northern Turkey — to promulgate a common Christian creed, settle Christological disputes that arose from the Arian heresy, and promote unity in the Church.The first ecumenical council, known as the Council of Nicaea, is still accepted as authoritative by the Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and many Protestant denominations. The common beliefs still offer a strong element of unity in an otherwise fractured Christianity 1,700 years later.During the council, the bishops established the initial formulation of the Nicene Creed, which is the profession of faith still recited at the Catholic Mass, Orthodox liturgies, and some Protestant services. It also rejected heretical Arian claims that Christ was a created being who lacked an eternal divine nature and rather confirmed that the Son is eternally begotten of the Father.The council was called by Emperor Constantine — a convert to Christianity — less than 15 years after the empire halted the persecution of Christians and granted them the freedom to worship. It came just 20 years after the reign of Emperor Diocletian, who brutally persecuted Christians for their rejection of paganism.“That council represents a fundamental stage in the development of the creed shared by all the Churches and ecclesial communities,” Pope Leo XIV said two weeks ago, acknowledging the 1,700th anniversary.“While we are on the path towards the reestablishment of full communion among all Christians, we recognize that this unity can only be unity in faith,” the pontiff said.The Arian heresyThe primary purpose of the council was to settle a major question about Christ’s divine nature and address Arianism, which was a heresy promoted by the priest Arius asserting that Jesus Christ was a created being and not eternal.“Arius began to preach something that was scandalous to many Christian believers and [which] seemed incompatible to the Christian faith as witnessed to in Scripture and transmitted through the tradition of the Church,” Dominican Father Dominic Legge, the director of the Thomistic Institute and professor of theology, told CNA.Arius wrote in “Thalia” that he believed the Father “made the Son” and “produced him as a son for himself by begetting him.” He wrote that “the Son was not always [in existence], for he was not [in existence] before his generation.” He asserted that Christ was not eternal but “came into existence by the Father’s will.” Arius contested that Christ “is not true God” but was rather “made God by participation.”Legge said that Arius understood that “there’s an infinite gap between God and creatures,” but where he was mistaken was that “he thought that the Son was on the ‘creature’ side of that gap” and “not equal in divinity to God.”“Therefore, he considered him to be the highest creature,” Legge added. “The first creature, but nonetheless a creature.”Legge said that at Nicaea there was “a consensus of bishops with very different approaches to the mystery of God and they could see that Arius had to be wrong and so they condemned him and they affirmed that the Son is ‘God from God, true God from true God.’”The language adopted at Nicaea expressly contradicted Arius, affirming Christ is “true God from true God, begotten not made, of one substance with the Father.” It condemned Arius’ view as heresy. The vote was nearly unanimous with more than 300 bishops voting in favor of this text and only two siding with Arius.St. Athanasius, one of the most outspoken opponents of Arianism at the council and in its aftermath, wrote in his First Discourse Against the Arians in the mid-fourth century that “the Scriptures declare the Son’s eternity.”Athanasius notes, for example, the Gospel of St. John states that “in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” He also cites Chapter 8 of the same Gospel in which Christ declares “before Abraham was, I am,” invoking the divine name used by God to indicate his eternity when appearing to Moses as the burning bush.“The Lord himself says, ‘I am the Truth,’ not ‘I became the Truth,’ but always, ‘I am — I am the Shepherd — I am the Light‘ — and again, ‘Call me not, Lord and Master? And you call me well, for so I am,‘” Athanasius wrote. “Who, hearing such language from God, and the Wisdom, and Word of the Father, speaking of himself, will any longer hesitate about the truth, and not immediately believe that in the phrase ‘I am,‘ is signified that the Son is eternal and without beginning?”Legge noted that Athanasius also warned that Arius’ position “threatened the central truth of Christianity that God became man for our salvation.”Unifying the Church in the fourth centuryPrior to the Council of Nicaea, bishops in the Church held many synods and councils to settle disputes that arose within Christianity.This includes the Council of Jerusalem, which was an apostolic council detailed in Acts 15, and many local councils that did not represent the entire Church. Regional councils “have a kind of binding authority — but they’re not global,” according to Thomas Clemmons, a professor of Church history at The Catholic University of America.When the Roman Empire halted its Christian persecution and Emperor Constantine converted to the faith, this allowed “the opportunity to have a more broad, ecumenical council,” Clemmons told CNA. Constantine embraced Christianity more than a decade before the council, though he was not actually baptized until moments before his death in A.D. 337.Constantine saw a need for “a certain sense of unity,” he said, at a time with theological disputes, debates about the date of Easter, conflicts about episcopal jurisdictions, and canon law questions.“His role was to unify and to have [those] other issues worked out,” Clemmons said.The pursuit of unity helped produce the Nicene Creed, which Clemmons said “helps to clarify what more familiar scriptural language doesn’t.”Neither the council nor the creed was universally adopted immediately. Clemmons noted that it was more quickly adopted in the East but took longer in the West. There were several attempts to overturn the council, but Clemmons said “it’s later tradition that will affirm it.”“I don’t know if the significance of it was understood [at the time],” he said.The dispute between Arians and defenders of Nicaea were tense for the next half century, with some emperors backing the creed and others backing Arianism. Ultimately, Clemmons said, the creed “convinces people over many decades but without the imperial enforcement you would expect.”It was not until 380 when Emperor Theodosius declared that Nicene Christianity was the official religion of the Roman Empire. One year later, at the First Council of Constantinople, the Church reaffirmed the Council of Nicaea and updated the Nicene Creed by adding text about the Holy Spirit and the Church.Common misconceptionsThere are some prominent misconceptions about the Council of Nicaea that are prevalent in modern society.Clemmons said the assertion that the Council of Nicaea established the biblical canon “is probably the most obvious” misconception. This subject was not debated at Nicaea and the council did not promulgate any teachings on this matter.Another misconception, he noted, is the notion that the council established the Church and the papacy. Episcopal offices, including that of the pope (the bishop of Rome), were already in place and operating long before Nicaea, although the council did resolve some jurisdictional disputes.Other misconceptions, according to Clemmons, is an asserted “novelty” of the process and the teachings. He noted that bishops often gathered in local councils and that the teachings defined at Nicaea were simply “the confirmation of the faith of the early Church.”This article was first published on June 5, 2025, and has been updated. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/councilofnicea040325.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 29 Nov 2025 18:00:03 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Council, Nicaea:, 1, 700, years, Christian, unity, amid, division</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV to focus on Christian unity, relations with Islam in Turkey and Lebanon</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-to-focus-on-christian-unity-relations-with-islam-in-turkey-and-lebanon</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-to-focus-on-christian-unity-relations-with-islam-in-turkey-and-lebanon</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV blesses rosaries for EWTN News&#039; Elias Turk aboard the papal plane to Ankara, Turkey, on Nov. 27, 2025. / Credit: Courtesy Elias Turk of EWTN News.

Vatican City, Nov 27, 2025 / 04:57 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV arrived in Turkey Thursday on his first international apostolic journey. The wide-ranging trip — spanning historic ecumenical encounters, deeply symbolic gestures of prayer, and pastoral visits to Christian communities under pressure — is expected to highlight the pope’s priorities of unity, peace, and encouragement across a region marked by both ancient faith and present suffering.During his flight from Rome, the pope told reporters that he hoped his trip would be an occasion to &quot;proclaim how important peace is throughout the world, and to invite all people to come together, to search for greater unity, greater harmony, and to look for the ways that all men and women can truly be brothers and sisters.&quot;He also wished American reporters in particular a Happy Thanksgiving. The papal plane arrived in Turkey’s capital, Ankara, around 12:30 pm local time. Upon arrival, the pope was scheduled to visit the Atatürk Mausoleum, built in honor of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder and first president of the Turkish Republic. He will then travel to the Presidential Palace for a meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and an address to authorities, civil society representatives, and the diplomatic corps. The pope will not remain overnight in Ankara but will continue by air to Istanbul the same day.Ecumenically focused visitThe visit to Turkey centers on the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea. The pope will participate in an ecumenical prayer service in Iznik, the site of the historic council that articulated Christian teaching on the nature of Christ and affirmed the Nicene Creed. The council also issued disciplinary norms and established a common date for Easter.During his stay, the pope will take part in several ceremonies and is expected to sign a joint declaration with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople. He will also visit Istanbul’s Sultan Ahmed Mosque.A notable omission from the pope’s itinerary is Hagia Sophia, the Byzantine church-turned-mosque that the Turkish government designated a museum open to all faiths in the 20th century. Pope Francis visited the monument in 2014, on the last papal visit to Turkey, but said he was “deeply pained” when the government turned it back into a mosque six years later. Patriarch Bartholomew also protested the change.Pope Leo’s visit carries particular significance for Turkey’s small Christian community, which looks to the pope for support and encouragement. The motto for the visit is “One Lord, one faith, one baptism.” The Catholic community has witnessed several attacks in past decades, such as the killing of Father Andrea Santoro in Trabzon in 2006 and the assassination of the Apostolic Vicar of Anatolia, Bishop Luigi Padovese, in 2010. In 2024, two people attacked Santa Maria Church in Istanbul’s Sariyer district during Holy Mass, leading to the death of one person attending the service. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the last attack.Christians have also been facing, like the rest of the population, the economic consequences of severe inflation in the Turkish lira, the national currency, in recent years. They have likewise endured the devastating effects of the earthquake that shook southern Turkey in February 2023.A message of peace for LebanonAfter Turkey, the pope will travel to Lebanon. Speaking to journalists last month, he said he would have there “the opportunity to proclaim once again the message of peace in the Middle East, in a country that has suffered so much.”Leo’s itinerary in Lebanon highlights both the nation’s deep Christian roots and its recent trauma. The pope will visit the tomb of St. Charbel, a revered Maronite saint, in Annaya, meet with young people outside the Maronite Patriarchate in Bkerke, and spend time in silent prayer at the site of the 2020 Beirut port explosion, which killed more than 236 people and injured over 7,000, according to Human Rights Watch.Lebanon’s Christian community has endured years of hardship — from the 2019 economic collapse to the 2020 blast, as well as ongoing clashes between Israel and Hezbollah since October 2023. Though weakened by emigration and crisis, Christians remain central to the nation’s political and social life: the president, army commander, and central bank governor must all be Maronite Catholics, and Parliament is evenly divided between Christians and Muslims.Many Lebanese Christians have left the country in search of stability and economic opportunity. For those who remain, the pope’s presence is widely seen as a sign of hope, particularly during the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/elias-aboard-papal-plane.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 28 Nov 2025 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, focus, Christian, unity, relations, with, Islam, Turkey, and, Lebanon</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo’s prayer intention for December: for Christians in areas of war or conflict</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leos-prayer-intention-for-december-for-christians-in-areas-of-war-or-conflict</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leos-prayer-intention-for-december-for-christians-in-areas-of-war-or-conflict</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV speaks from the Vatican, Nov. 21, 2025 / Credit: Vatican Media

ACI Prensa Staff, Nov 27, 2025 / 06:28 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV’s prayer intention for December is for Christians living amidst war or conflict, especially in the Middle East:“Let us pray that Christians living in areas of war or conflict, especially in the Middle East, might be seeds of peace, reconciliation, and hope,” the Holy Father said in a video released Nov. 25 by the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network.Father Cristóbal Fones, international director of the Pope&#039;s Worldwide Prayer Network, emphasized that Leo XIV&#039;s request &quot;is a gesture of closeness and hope: a way of saying to the Christians of Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and so many other countries that they are not forgotten, that the universal Church walks with them; but also to remind us all that faith grows even in the midst of trials, and that seeds of reconciliation and peace can be born from wounded communities.&quot;Below is the prayer that Pope Leo XIV encourages us to pray this December:God of peace,who through the blood of Your Sonhas reconciled the world to Yourself,today we pray for Christiansliving amidst wars and violence. Even surrounded by pain, may theynever cease to feel the gentle kindness of your presenceand the prayers of their brothers and sisters in faith.For only through You, and strengthened by fraternal bonds,can they become the seeds of reconciliation,builders of hope in ways both small and great,capable of forgiving and moving forward,of bridging divides,and of seeking justice with mercy.Lord Jesus, who called blessedthose who work for peace,make us Your instruments of peaceeven where harmony seems impossible.Holy Spirit,source of hope in the darkest times,sustain the faith of those who suffer and strengthen their hope.Do not let us fall into indifference,and make us builders of unity, like Jesus.Amen.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/sim27892.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 28 Nov 2025 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo’s, prayer, intention, for, December:, for, Christians, areas, war, conflict</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo denounces ‘might is right’ in address to Turkish authorities</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-denounces-might-is-right-in-address-to-turkish-authorities</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-denounces-might-is-right-in-address-to-turkish-authorities</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara, Turkey, on November 27, 2025. / Vatican Media

Vatican City, Nov 27, 2025 / 08:25 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV opened his first international trip on Thursday with a sweeping call for unity, renewed dialogue, and a rejection of the global drift toward division and violence.Speaking in Turkey’s capital of Ankara on Nov. 27 during his formal welcome by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the pope said he hoped Turkey could be “a source of stability and rapprochement between peoples” and serve the cause of a “just and lasting peace.” He described the country as “inextricably linked to the origins of Christianity” and a land that invites a fraternity “that recognizes and appreciates differences.”Launching a six-day trip that will also take him to Lebanon, the pope said the region’s peoples can help remind the world that peace, human dignity, and fraternity “are the only sure foundations for our common future.”The massive Presidential Palace where he spoke has become a symbol of Turkey’s contemporary political authority since Erdoğan inaugurated it in 2014. Bombed during the failed 2016 coup attempt, it remains the seat from which Erdoğan has shaped the country’s domestic and international posture. Before his meeting with Erdoğan, the pope paid his respects at the tomb of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder and first president of the Turkish Republic.In his remarks welcoming Leo, Erdoğan praised the cultural openness and interreligious harmony of Turkish society and his country&#039;s  commitment to peace and humanitarian assistance, citing its welcome to refugees from Syria&#039;s long civil war.In his speech, the pope rejected the mentality of “might is right,” urging a renewed “culture of encounter” to counter what he described as a growing “globalization of indifference.” Justice and mercy, he said, must guide political and social life. He also warned that artificial intelligence risks entrenching existing inequalities because it “simply reproduces our own preferences,” and appealed for cooperation to “repair the damage already done to the unity of our human family.”Recalling his predecessor’s description of today’s conflicts as “a third world war fought piecemeal,” Pope Leo cautioned: “We must not give in to this! The future of humanity is at stake.” He said the Vatican seeks to work with all nations committed to the integral development of each person.Calling Turkey a “crossroads of sensibilities,” the pope emphasized that the country’s social vitality depends on plurality. “Uniformity would be an impoverishment,” he said, warning that communities today risk becoming “polarized and torn by extreme positions.” Reflecting on the journey’s emblem — a bridge spanning the Dardanelles — he said it symbolizes not only a link between Asia and Europe but also a deeper call to unity: “It connects Turkey to itself.”Pope Leo recalled Saint John XXIII, remembered locally as the “Turkish Pope” because he spent nearly a decade as a Vatican diplomat in Turkey before becoming pontiff and worked to ensure Catholics were not marginalized in the early decades of the republic. Echoing the saint’s teaching, Leo dismissed isolationism as “a false logic.” He also highlighted the contributions of women to society and international life and underscored the importance of the family, where “without the ‘other’ there is no ‘I’.”Turning to the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, the primary impetus for his visit, which will include ecumenical meetings and worship with Eastern Orthodox leaders, the pope said the historic 4th-century gathering still speaks of encounter and sustained dialogue.Turkey has played roles in several regional conflicts in recent years, including involvement in the Syrian war and support for Azerbaijan in its conflict with Armenia. At the same time, Ankara has taken part in diplomatic efforts, including mediating between Russia and Ukraine and influencing ceasefire discussions involving Hamas.Pope Leo was scheduled to continue on by air to Istanbul following the speech, and had no further public events planned for Thursday. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/ris2229.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 28 Nov 2025 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, denounces, ‘might, right’, address, Turkish, authorities</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pies and a baseball bat: The gifts Pope Leo XIV received on the papal flight to Turkey </title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pies-and-a-baseball-bat-the-gifts-pope-leo-xiv-received-on-the-papal-flight-to-turkey</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pies-and-a-baseball-bat-the-gifts-pope-leo-xiv-received-on-the-papal-flight-to-turkey</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV receives a Thanksgiving pie on board the papal flight to Turkey, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025 / Credit: Courtesy of Claudio Lavanga

Rome Newsroom, Nov 27, 2025 / 09:25 am (CNA).
Aboard the papal plane on Thanksgiving Day, Pope Leo XIV kicked off his first international trip — a visit to Turkey — with distinctly American gifts: a baseball bat and pumpkin pie. “To the Americans here, Happy Thanksgiving!” Leo said as he greeted about 80 journalists aboard the chartered ITA Airways flight to Ankara on Thursday morning. “It’s a wonderful day to celebrate.” Two American journalists traveling with the pope gave him pumpkin pies. “It’s not Thanksgiving if there’s not enough to share,” Crux correspondent Elise Ann Allen told the pope as she handed him the second pie. “I’ll definitely share some,” Leo responded. The pope had plenty to share as NBC News correspondent Claudio Lavanga also gave him a pecan pie.  Leo, a longtime Chicago White Sox fan, also received a baseball bat once owned by Nellie Fox, the White Sox legend who played for the team from 1950 to 1963, when Leo, then Robert Prevost, was a small child. Pope Leo XIV receives a baseball bat once owned by White Sox player Nellie Fox on board the papal flight to Turkey, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025. Credit: Photo courtesy of Elisabetta Piqué / La NaciónSmiling, the pope joked, “How did it get through security?” As a collective gift from the Vatican press corps, the pope received a Byzantine-style icon of Our Lady of Guadalupe made by Spanish iconographer Débora Martínez, a missionary in Cyprus. Pope Leo XIV receives a Byzantine-style icon of Our Lady of Guadalupe made by Spanish iconographer Débora Martínez, a missionary in Cyprus, on board the papal flight to Turkey, Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025. Credit: Vatican MediaThe icon, presented by Mexican journalist Valentina Alazraki, who has logged more than 170 papal trips, was crafted using classical techniques of Eastern iconography. It depicts the Virgin of Guadalupe in Byzantine style, symbolically linking Latin America’s Marian tradition with the iconography of the Christian East. At the start of the nearly three-hour flight, the pope continued a practice of his predecessor Pope Francis of walking down the aisle to greet each journalist. Pope Leo XIV wishes Americans &#039;Happy Thanksgiving&#039; as he greets journalists traveling with him aboard the papal plane bound for Ankara at the start of his Apostolic Journey to Türkiye.https://t.co/08vdNe3GQK pic.twitter.com/M27sVIW2jg— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) November 27, 2025 Among them was Elias Turk, a journalist from Lebanon who is the Vatican editor for ACI MENA and EWTN News. Turk briefly shared a personal story with the pope, recounting how he lived through part of the 2024 escalation between Hezbollah and Israel and was trapped in Lebanon during the fighting. “I told him that I lived … a traumatizing experience with my nephews during the war. We had to run and hide inside a house after being in a garden. We heard fighter jets passing in the skies and then powerful explosions,” he explained. The pope listened closely. Turk, who is godfather to his nephews, asked the pope to bless two rosaries for the children, a three-year-old and a one-and-a-half-year-old, so they could pray for peace. He also carried a third rosary for a two-year-old Polish girl who has been repeatedly hospitalized. In a light moment with another journalist, Pope Leo said he had already completed his daily Wordle game before takeoff, adding that he solved Thursday’s puzzle in three tries. According to the pope’s brother, Leo plays Wordle every day and his favorite Thanksgiving dish is stuffing. During his first apostolic trip, taking place Nov. 27–Dec. 2, Leo will visit Turkey and Lebanon.  ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/photo-2025-11-27-14-25-13-3.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 28 Nov 2025 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pies, and, baseball, bat:, The, gifts, Pope, Leo, XIV, received, the, papal, flight, Turkey </media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Vatican&amp;amp;#039;s 2025 Christmas tree installed in St. Peter&amp;amp;#039;s Square</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/vaticans-2025-christmas-tree-installed-in-st-peters-square</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/vaticans-2025-christmas-tree-installed-in-st-peters-square</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Workers erect the Vatican&#039;s 2025 Christmas tree in St. Peter&#039;s Square on Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025 / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Nov 27, 2025 / 14:30 pm (CNA).
A towering Christmas tree now stands in the center of St. Peter’s Square, after the spruce arrived at the Vatican on Thursday morning. The 88-foot-tall spruce tree from Italy’s Bolzano province was erected next to the ancient Egyptian obelisk which stands in the middle of the 17th century Baroque square designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini.This year, the northern Italian municipalities of Lagundo and Ultimo gifted the Christmas tree to the Vatican. The tree was harvested in the alpine valley of Ultimo.In an Oct. 20 interview published on the Vatican State website, Bishop Ivo Muser of the Diocese of Bolzano-Bressanone said the tree reaffirms the local church’s “spiritual and emotional bond” with the pope. “It is a way of saying: ‘We are with you, Pope Leo; we wish to pray with you and share the joy of Christmas with you,” he said.“The tree thus becomes an ‘ambassador’ of our territory, our culture, and our faith — a way of bringing a small piece of our local Church into the heart of the universal Church,” he added.The Vatican’s large-scale nativity display — donated by the Italian Diocese of Nocera Inferiore-Sarno — is currently under construction behind covered fencing in St. Peter’s Square.The highly-awaited 2025 nativity scene will honor St. Alphonus Maria de Liguori, whose remains lay in the southern Italian diocese. In Italy, St. Alponsus is famous for composing the famous Italian Christmas carol “Tu scendi dalle stelle” (“From starry skies descending”).Bishop Giuseppe Giudice of the Diocese of Nocera Inferiore-Sarno said the nativity project for the Vatican, which involved a “long period of preparation,” will also showcase local Neapolitan Christmas traditions.  “I am happy to say that everyone working on the project is from our wonderful region, and the Nativity scene will be rich in elements typical of our local Agro nocerino-sarnese area,” he said in an Oct. 24 interview published by Vatican City State.  The Vatican will hold a special ceremony on Dec. 7 at 6:30 pm local time to present  the Christmas tree and nativity scene to the public. The display will be open to the public until mid-January 2026. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/tree.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 28 Nov 2025 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Vatican&amp;039s, 2025, Christmas, tree, installed, St., Peter&amp;039s, Square</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Jesus ‘is the king of our hearts,’ archbishop shares at NCYC closing Mass</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/jesus-is-the-king-of-our-hearts-archbishop-shares-at-ncyc-closing-mass</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/jesus-is-the-king-of-our-hearts-archbishop-shares-at-ncyc-closing-mass</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Christ the King has &quot;given us victory. We have to embrace that, internalize that and make a part of who we are. And that&#039;s the journey of our Christian life.&quot;
The post Jesus ‘is the king of our hearts,’ archbishop shares at NCYC closing Mass first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/useuptop20251124T1844-NCYC25-OVERVIEW-1808371.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 25 Nov 2025 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Jesus, ‘is, the, king, our, hearts, ’, archbishop, shares, NCYC, closing, Mass</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Bishops: Affordable housing, just wages, environmental safeguards reduce food insecurity</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/bishops-affordable-housing-just-wages-environmental-safeguards-reduce-food-insecurity</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/bishops-affordable-housing-just-wages-environmental-safeguards-reduce-food-insecurity</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ VANCOUVER, British Columbia (OSV News) — “Give us this day our daily bread.” With those words from the Lord’s Prayer, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops is framing a new…
The post Bishops: Affordable housing, just wages, environmental safeguards reduce food insecurity first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/The-Door-is-Open-22.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 25 Nov 2025 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Bishops:, Affordable, housing, just, wages, environmental, safeguards, reduce, food, insecurity</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Chicago White Sox co&#45;owner says pope told him he’d ‘love to’ throw a season opening pitch in future</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/chicago-white-sox-co-owner-says-pope-told-him-hed-love-to-throw-a-season-opening-pitch-in-future</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/chicago-white-sox-co-owner-says-pope-told-him-hed-love-to-throw-a-season-opening-pitch-in-future</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo&#039;s favorite sports team is the Chicago White Sox.
The post Chicago White Sox co-owner says pope told him he’d ‘love to’ throw a season opening pitch in future first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2025-06-14T212852Z_363892346_RC2I2FAMV6PC_RTRMADP_3_POPE-LEO-CHICAGO.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 25 Nov 2025 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Chicago, White, Sox, co-owner, says, pope, told, him, he’d, ‘love, to’, throw, season, opening, pitch, future</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Celebrity chef ‘Lidia’ hasn’t forgotten what it’s like to be a refugee. Here’s how she’s giving back</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/celebrity-chef-lidia-hasnt-forgotten-what-its-like-to-be-a-refugee-heres-how-shes-giving-back</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/celebrity-chef-lidia-hasnt-forgotten-what-its-like-to-be-a-refugee-heres-how-shes-giving-back</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ (OSV News) — Celebrity Chef Lidia Bastianich knows what it’s like to be in a strange land, without a home. OSV News recently spoke with the Italian-American — who has become…
The post Celebrity chef ‘Lidia’ hasn’t forgotten what it’s like to be a refugee. Here’s how she’s giving back first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Lidia-Bastianich-2-1.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 25 Nov 2025 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Celebrity, chef, ‘Lidia’, hasn’t, forgotten, what, it’s, like, refugee., Here’s, how, she’s, giving, back</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>German bishops face new division over ‘sex identity’ guidelines for schools</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/german-bishops-face-new-division-over-sex-identity-guidelines-for-schools</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/german-bishops-face-new-division-over-sex-identity-guidelines-for-schools</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ (OSV News) — Authors of new German church guidelines for sexual identity classes at Catholic schools have declined to defend their text, after several bishops said it violated Catholic teaching and…
The post German bishops face new division over ‘sex identity’ guidelines for schools first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/210316-093-000251.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 25 Nov 2025 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>German, bishops, face, new, division, over, ‘sex, identity’, guidelines, for, schools</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV: Hope does not mean having all the answers but trusting in God</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-hope-does-not-mean-having-all-the-answers-but-trusting-in-god</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-hope-does-not-mean-having-all-the-answers-but-trusting-in-god</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV greets pilgrims from Latvia on Nov. 24, 2025, at the Vatican. / Credit: Vatican Media

ACI Prensa Staff, Nov 24, 2025 / 15:38 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV stated that hope “does not mean having all the answers, but rather it calls us to put our trust in God.”The pontiff made his remarks during an audience granted Nov. 24 at the Vatican to faithful from Latvia, who traveled to the Eternal City to commemorate the centenary of the first official Latvian pilgrimage to Rome.After greeting Prime Minister Evika Siliņa, with whom he had met privately earlier, the Holy Father thanked the pilgrims for keeping the tradition alive and following in the footsteps “of your forebears in the faith.”He then recalled that Rome “has always been a home for all Christians, since it is here that the great apostles Peter and Paul gave the supreme witness to the Gospel by becoming martyrs for the faith.”The Holy Father also recalled Pope Francis’ visit to the country in 2018, on the occasion of the centenary of the nation’s independence, where he spoke “of the difficulties your country experienced in the past.”“While the current conflict in your region may evoke memories of those turbulent times,” Leo said, “it is important for all of us to turn to God and to be strengthened by God’s grace when faced with such tribulation.”Recalling Francis’ words, Leo emphasized the “vital role the Christian faith played in your country’s history.” He expressed gratitude for the bond between Latvia and the Holy See, whose relations have grown closer in recent years.The Holy Father also affirmed that it is necessary to unite with hope “the virtue of faith in order to keep our eyes on the present and see the many ways that God is blessing us here and now.”In this regard, he explained that a pilgrimage “has an important role in our life of faith for it gives us the time and space to encounter God more deeply.”“It takes us away from the routine and noise of everyday life,” he added, “and offers the space and silence to hear God’s voice more clearly.”Finally, he encouraged them to share what they experienced in Rome when they return home, because, he affirmed, “a pilgrimage does not end but its seeds should take root in your daily discipleship and bear fruit in your lives.”This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/latvians.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 25 Nov 2025 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV:, Hope, does, not, mean, having, all, the, answers, but, trusting, God</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>New book by Pope Leo XIV: Human fraternity is ‘the antidote against all extremism’</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/new-book-by-pope-leo-xiv-human-fraternity-is-the-antidote-against-all-extremism</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/new-book-by-pope-leo-xiv-human-fraternity-is-the-antidote-against-all-extremism</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  The Holy Father in a new Italian-language book states that faith “unites us beyond our personalities, our cultural and geographical origins.” / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News

Vatican City, Nov 22, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).
The Vatican Publishing House published Nov. 20 a new Italian-language book by Pope Leo XIV titled “The Power of the Gospel: The Christian Faith in 10 Words,” a compilation of the pontiff’s speeches and addresses that also includes a previously unpublished text in which he invites readers to dream of a “reconciled, peaceful, and harmonious humanity.”The Holy Father affirms that faith “unites us beyond our personalities, our cultural and geographical origins, our language, and our histories” and presents the Church as “a plurality that strives for unity and that does not fall into the disorder of confusion.”In today’s world, “marked by so many wars,” the pope asks Christians “to be witnesses of this harmony, this fraternity, this closeness.”“We must look our world squarely in the face: We cannot continue to tolerate structural injustices by which those who have the most receive even more, and those who have the least become increasingly impoverished,” the pontiff says.Similarly, he warns of the risk that hatred and violence will cause “misery to spread among peoples.” “Peace is not the fruit of oppression or violence; it is not related to hatred or revenge,” he says, noting that the saints have taught that “only goodness disarms perfidy and that nonviolence can annihilate oppression.”“Precisely the desire for communion, the recognition of ourselves as brothers and sisters, is an antidote against all extremism,” he says.‘We are not condemned to live in perpetual conflict’For the pope, this model of fraternity is replicable in other areas. He thus affirms that the Church, “a home for diverse peoples, can become a sign that we are not condemned to live in perpetual conflict” and can “embody the dream of a reconciled, peaceful, and harmonious humanity.”“It is a dream that has a foundation: Jesus, his prayer to the Father for the unity of his followers. And if Jesus prayed to the Father, all the more reason we should ask him to grant us the gift of a peaceful world,” the pope writes.In this way, he emphasizes the centrality of Christ and says that faith has nothing to do with “the titanic effort to reach a supernatural God” but rather with the discovery that “the face of God is not far from our hearts.”Leo XIV recalls that Christ’s entire existence was marked by the “will” to be a bridge.“The Church is this communion of Christ that continues in history. And it is a community that, in unity, lives diversity,” he explains after using the metaphorical image of a garden that St. Augustine used to illustrate the beauty of a community of believers.In the text, the pope includes the words of the prior of the monastery of Tibhirine in Algeria, Christian de Chergé, who was kidnapped by Islamic terrorists in March 1996 and executed two months later. He was beatified along with 18 other men and women religious who were martyred.“Speaking of [the terrorist] who had violently broken into the monastery, he wrote: ‘Do I have the right to ask [God]: Disarm him, if I don’t first ask; disarm me and disarm us, as a community? This is my daily prayer,’” the pope recalls, noting that in that same land of North Africa, some 1,600 years earlier, St. Augustine remarked: “Let us live well and the times will be good. We are the times.”“We can have an impact on our time ourselves, with our witness, with our prayer to the Holy Spirit that he would make us men and women with a peace that is contagious, welcoming the grace of Christ and spreading in the world the fragrance of his charity and mercy,” the pontiff emphasizes in the new book.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/popeleocloseup.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 24 Nov 2025 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>New, book, Pope, Leo, XIV:, Human, fraternity, ‘the, antidote, against, all, extremism’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV visits Augustinian nuns he has known for years</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-visits-augustinian-nuns-he-has-known-for-years</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-visits-augustinian-nuns-he-has-known-for-years</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV meets with the Augustinian nuns of Montefalco on Nov. 20, 2025, in Italy. / Credit: Vatican Media

ACI Prensa Staff, Nov 22, 2025 / 09:00 am (CNA).
“A moment of great familiarity” is how Abbess Maria Cristina Daguati of the Augustinian convent in Montefalco, Italy, described Pope Leo XIV’s visit on Thursday.After visiting the tomb of St. Francis in Assisi and meeting with the Italian bishops on Nov. 20, the pope traveled to the Italian city of Montefalco to celebrate Mass at the monastery of the Augustinian nuns, erected in the 13th century and one of the oldest and most significant spiritual centers in the Umbria region.After meeting with the Italian bishops in Assisi, Pope Leo XIV traveled to the Augustinian monastery of St. Clare of Montefalco, where he wished to spend some time with the cloistered nuns. The Holy Father spoke informally with the community, celebrated Mass, and shared lunch with the nuns.The pope arrived by helicopter in the city, known for its medieval architecture, and landed in the sports field, where he was greeted by Mayor Alfredo Gentili and Deputy Mayor Daniele Morici.At the gates of the monastery — where 13 nuns currently live — residents of this small region of Perugia gathered, awaiting his arrival with great anticipation.“We have known him for years; it was a moment of familiarity. He has a very peaceful personality,” Mother Maria Cristina explained in a statement to Vatican News.Leo XIV had already been to the convent when he served as superior of the Order of St. Augustine, and on Nov. 20, he returned as pope, becoming the first pontiff to do so.The pope spoke with the Augustinian nuns on Nov. 20, 2025, then celebrated Mass and shared lunch with them. Credit: Vatican MediaThis convent is intrinsically linked to the figure of St. Clare of Montefalco (1268–1308), also known as St. Clare of the Cross, an Augustinian mystic whose contemplative life left a profound mark on the spiritual tradition of the Catholic Church.“It’s a great friendship, because obviously we’ve known him for many years, so I would say that everything unfolded in an atmosphere of great familiarity,” the abbess said.The pope spoke with the Augustinian nuns, then celebrated Mass and shared lunch with them. For the nuns, the day was characterized by “great simplicity” spent with “a disarmed and disarming man” with a personality that sets you at ease. “Pope Leo XIV brings with him a great atmosphere of prayer. So it wasn’t that he inconvenienced us too much; it was truly beautiful,” Daguati added. Before lunch, the pope celebrated Mass in the convent church, built in the 17th century and designed by the Peruvian architect Valentino Martelli.Before returning to the Vatican, the nuns presented the pope with a 2026 calendar titled “Toward an Unarmed and Disarming Peace,” featuring texts from his speeches and homilies as well as from St. Augustine.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/pope.nuns.20.nov..jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 24 Nov 2025 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, visits, Augustinian, nuns, has, known, for, years</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV warns against ‘false mercy’ in marriage annulment proceedings</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-warns-against-false-mercy-in-marriage-annulment-proceedings</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-warns-against-false-mercy-in-marriage-annulment-proceedings</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV holds an audience with the Roman Rota on Nov. 21, 2025, at the Vatican. / Credit: Vatican Media

ACI Prensa Staff, Nov 22, 2025 / 10:00 am (CNA).
In a firm call to avoid “false mercy” in marriage annulment proceedings, Pope Leo XIV reminded that compassion cannot disregard the truth.During a Friday audience with participants in the legal-pastoral training course of the Roman Rota, the Holy See’s court of appeals, the Holy Father read a lengthy speech in which he recalled the importance of the reform of marriage annulment processes initiated by Pope Francis 10 years ago.The pontiff emphasized that theology, law, and pastoral care must be understood in a harmonious way, not as separate or opposing areas, and pointed out that annulment proceedings are not merely technical procedures to obtain the “free status of persons” but rather an ecclesial service based on the search for truth and on family pastoral care.Judicial processes at the service of truthIn this context, Pope Leo stressed that ecclesial judicial processes must be “at the service of the truth” and also reiterated that “the mystery of the conjugal covenant” must be kept in mind.“A fundamental aspect of pastoral service operates in judicial authority: the diaconia [ministry] of truth. Every faithful person, every family, every community needs truth about their ecclesial situation in order to walk well the path of faith and charity. The truth about personal and community rights is situated in this context: the juridical truth declared in ecclesiastical processes is an aspect of existential truth within the Church,” he stated.Consequently, the Holy Father pointed out that “the sacred authority is participation in the authority of Christ, and its service to truth is a way of knowing and embracing the ultimate truth, which is Christ himself.”A manifestation of justice and mercyHe then recalled that in God’s judgment on salvation, “his forgiveness of the repentant sinner is always at work, but human judgment on the nullity of marriage cannot however be manipulated by false mercy.”“Any activity contrary to the service of the process of truth must certainly be deemed unjust. However, it is precisely in the proper exercise of judicial authority that true mercy must be practiced,” he emphasized.In this regard, Pope Leo XIV insisted that the process of matrimonial nullity can be seen as “a contribution by legal practitioners to satisfy the need for justice that is so deeply rooted in the conscience of the faithful, and thus to accomplish a just work motivated by true mercy.”“The aim of the reform,” he added, “which is to make the process more accessible and expeditious, but never at the expense of truth, thus appears as a manifestation of justice and mercy.”The pontiff also emphasized the urgency of ensuring realism in annulment cases and appealed to the responsibility of the judges of the Roman Rota. He thus encouraged them to view the institution of the judicial process “as an instrument of justice” in which there is “an impartial judge” and the aim is to seek “a great benefit for all concerned and for the Church herself.”He stressed the importance of making “efforts to promote reconciliation between spouses are very important, including, where possible, through the validation of the marriage.”“Behind the procedural technicalities, with the faithful application of the current legislation, the ecclesiological presuppositions of the matrimonial process are therefore at stake: the search for truth and the ‘salus animarum’ itself [the salvation of souls],” he noted.Synergy between justice and pastoral carePope Leo recalled in this regard that, in recent years, there has been “a growing awareness of the inclusion of the Church’s judicial activity in the field of marriage within the overall pastoral care of the family.”“This pastoral care,” he pointed out, “cannot ignore or underestimate the work of ecclesiastical tribunals, and the latter must not forget that their specific contribution to justice is a piece in the task of promoting the good of families, with particular reference to those in difficulty.”Thus, he emphasized that “the synergy between pastoral attention to critical situations and the judicial sphere has found significant expression in the implementation of preliminary investigations aimed at ascertaining the existence of grounds for initiating a case of nullity.”This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/rota.21.nov.2025.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 24 Nov 2025 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, warns, against, ‘false, mercy’, marriage, annulment, proceedings</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>New EWTN docuseries commemorates 100th anniversary of Christ the King</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/new-ewtn-docuseries-commemorates-100th-anniversary-of-christ-the-king</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/new-ewtn-docuseries-commemorates-100th-anniversary-of-christ-the-king</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Aidan Gallagher, director of EWTN Ireland, speaks at the premiere of “The Kingship of Christ” at the Vatican on Nov. 18, 2025. / Credit: Daniel Ibañez/EWTN News

CNA Staff, Nov 23, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).
Marking the 100th anniversary of the feast of Christ the King, which this year falls on Nov. 23, EWTN has released “The Kingship of Christ,” a four-part docuseries that explores some of the core aspects of the kingship of Christ. The four 30-minute episodes look at the origin of kingship in the Old and New Testaments, what type of kingship is that of Christ’s, the growth in interest and devotion to kingship in the 1800s and 1900s, and how Christ’s kingship is being realized today. Currently airing on EWTN, the docuseries features Father Bernard McGuckian, SJ; Father Dominic Holtz, OP; and Father Mark Lewis, SJ.The four-part series was filmed across five principal locations in Rome that are highly relevant to Christ’s kingship, namely St. Peter’s Basilica, the Gesù (the main Jesuit Church in Rome), the Scala Santa, the Basilica of Santa Croce Gerusalemme, and the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Christ the King. Additionally, many other churches, basilicas, and monuments are featured across many countries throughout the world that were built in honor of the kingship of Christ.Aidan Gallagher, director of EWTN Ireland, who co-produced the series alongside EWTN Studios and EWTN Vatican, told CNA in an interview that he was approached by McGuckian 18 months ago to see if he was interested in making a series on the kingship of Christ to “commemorate and celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the establishment of feast of Christ the King in 1925, which had followed Pope Pius XI’s papal encyclical Quas Primas.”From there, they worked to create a comprehensive series looking into this devotion and its importance. “At the heart of this work lies the desire that the kingship of Christ is recognized, realized, and accepted by individuals, peoples, societies, countries across the entire world so that Christ can reign in all hearts and thus be truly king of the world, leading us to peace,” he said. He explained that extensive work “has been put into researching and evidencing the fact that Jesus Christ is King, where we highlighted relevant Scripture across thousands of years from the Old Testament and New Testament. So, for thousands of years it has been there, and we hope that people will take away this fact from watching the series.”The premiere of &quot;The Kingship of Christ&quot; at the Vatican on Nov. 18, 2025. Credit: Daniel Ibañez/EWTN NewsThe film premiered at the Filmoteca Vaticano, a screening room in the Vatican, on Nov. 18. Ambassadors to the Holy See, journalists, and dignitaries were present for the screening. Gallagher shared that it was “very well received” and “there was excitement about watching the full series online.”After watching the series, he said he hopes that “people will understand the type of kingship which Christ presents and that recognition and allegiance to his kingship can ultimately lead us to peace, holiness, and the betterment of human existence — both in this life and the next.”“The Kingship of Christ” can also be viewed on EWTN Ireland’s website. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/thekingshipofchrist.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 24 Nov 2025 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>New, EWTN, docuseries, commemorates, 100th, anniversary, Christ, the, King</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV urges Christians to move beyond outdated theological disputes</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-urges-christians-to-move-beyond-outdated-theological-disputes</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-urges-christians-to-move-beyond-outdated-theological-disputes</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV receives Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople at the Vatican on May 30, 2025. / Vatican Media

Vatican City, Nov 23, 2025 / 12:29 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV has called on Christians to move beyond “theological controversies” that no longer serve the cause of unity and to rediscover together the faith professed at the Council of Nicaea 1,700 years ago.In a new apostolic letter, In unitate fidei (“In the Unity of Faith”), released Nov. 23, the solemnity of Christ the King, the pope links the anniversary of the first ecumenical council to the Holy Year of 2025 and to his upcoming apostolic journey to Türkiye, where he will commemorate Nicaea’s 1700th anniversary and take part in an ecumenical event with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on Nov. 30 before traveling on to Lebanon.“I would like this Letter to encourage the whole Church to renew her enthusiasm for the profession of faith,” the pope writes, stressing that the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed “for centuries… has been the common heritage of Christians, and it deserves to be professed and understood in ever new and relevant ways.”In a strong ecumenical appeal, Leo XIV says the Nicene Creed “can be the basis and reference point” for a renewed journey toward full communion among Christians. “It offers us a model of true unity in legitimate diversity. Unity in the Trinity, Trinity in Unity, because unity without multiplicity is tyranny, multiplicity without unity is fragmentation,” he writes.“We must therefore leave behind theological controversies that have lost their raison d’être in order to develop a common understanding and even more, a common prayer to the Holy Spirit, so that he may gather us all together in one faith and one love,” the pope continues.“The restoration of unity among Christians does not make us poorer; on the contrary, it enriches us,” he adds, calling the goal of full visible unity “a theological challenge and, even more so, a spiritual challenge, which requires repentance and conversion on the part of all.”‘This Creed gives us hope’Linking Nicaea to today’s crises, Leo XIV notes that the Holy Year is dedicated to the theme “Christ our hope” and that the Nicene Creed remains a source of confidence amid war, injustice, and suffering.“In this Holy Year, dedicated to the theme of Christ our hope, it is a providential coincidence that we are also celebrating the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea,” he writes. That council, he recalls, “proclaimed the profession of faith in Jesus Christ, Son of God. This is the heart of the Christian faith.”“In these difficult times we are living, amid so many concerns and fears, threats of war and violence, natural disasters, grave injustices and imbalances, and the hunger and misery suffered by millions of our brothers and sisters, this Creed gives us hope,” the pope says.Leo XIV presents the letter as an invitation for all Christians “to walk in harmony, guarding and transmitting the gift they have received with love and joy,” especially through the words of the Creed: “I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God… for our salvation he came down from heaven.”Nicaea and the heart of the Christian faithThe pope devotes much of In unitate fidei to explaining the historical and theological context of the Council of Nicaea, which met in 325 to address the Arian controversy over the divinity of Christ.The dispute, he notes, “concerned the essence of the Christian faith,” namely the answer to Jesus’ question in the Gospel: “Who do you say that I am?” In response, the Nicene Fathers confessed that Jesus is the Son of God “in as much as he is of the substance (ousia) of the Father… ‘begotten, not made, consubstantial (homooúsios) with the Father.’”“The Fathers of Nicaea were firm in their resolution to remain faithful to biblical monotheism and the authenticity of the Incarnation,” Leo XIV writes. By adopting terms such as “substance” and “consubstantial,” which are not found in Scripture, the Council “did not… replace biblical statements with Greek philosophy,” he explains. Rather, it sought “to affirm biblical faith with clarity and to distinguish it from Arius’ error, which was deeply influenced by Hellenism.”“The Nicene Creed does not depict a distant, inaccessible and immovable God who rests in himself, but a God who is close to us and accompanies us on our journey in the world, even in the darkest places on earth,” the pope writes. “His immensity is revealed when he makes himself small, laying aside his infinite majesty to become our neighbor in the little ones and in the poor. This revolutionizes pagan and philosophical conceptions of God.”Leo XIV also highlights the Nicene emphasis on the full humanity of Christ, noting the clarification that the Word “became man.” Against teachings that suggested the Logos only assumed a body, he recalls that later councils made explicit that “in Christ, God assumed and redeemed the whole human being, body and soul.”Quoting St. Athanasius and the patristic tradition, the pope writes: “Divinization, then, is true humanization (becoming fully human). This is why human existence points beyond itself, seeks beyond itself, desires beyond itself, and is restless until it rests in God.” Only God, he adds, “in his infinity, can satisfy the infinite desire of the human heart, and for this reason the Son of God chose to become our brother and redeemer.”A call to examine conscienceBeyond doctrine, Leo XIV insists that the Creed must shape Christian life.“Both the liturgy and the Christian life are thus firmly anchored in the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed: what we profess with our mouths must come from the heart so that we may bear witness to it with our lives,” he writes. “We must therefore ask ourselves: What about our interior reception of the Creed today? Do we experience that it also affects our current situation? Do we understand and live out what we say every Sunday? What do these words mean for our lives?”“In this sense, the Nicene Creed invites us to examine our conscience,” the pope continues. “What does God mean to me and how do I bear witness to my faith in him? Is the one and only God truly the Lord of my life, or do I have idols that I place before God and his commandments?”He ties this examination to care for creation and social justice, asking: “How do I treat creation, the work of his hands? Do I exploit and destroy it, or do I use it with reverence and gratitude, caring for and cultivating it as the common home of humanity?”Echoing the Second Vatican Council, Leo XIV notes that “for many people today, however, God and the question of God have almost no meaning in their lives,” and that Christians themselves bear some responsibility, since “they do not bear witness to the true faith; they hide the true face of God with lifestyles and actions that diverge from the Gospel.”Instead of proclaiming a merciful God, he laments, “a vengeful God has been presented who instils terror and punishes.”Following Christ and loving one anotherAt the center of the Creed, the pope writes, is the confession of Jesus Christ as Lord and God.“The profession of faith in Jesus Christ, our Lord and God is the center of the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed. This is the heart of our Christian life,” he says. “For this reason, we commit to follow Jesus as our master, companion, brother and friend.”Following Christ, he continues, “is not a wide and comfortable path,” but “this often demanding or even painful path always leads to life and salvation.”“If God loves us with all his being, then we too must love one another,” Leo XIV writes. “We cannot love God whom we do not see without loving our brother and sister whom we do see. Love for God without love for neighbor is hypocrisy; radical love for our neighbor, especially love for our enemies, without love for God, requires a ‘heroism’ that would overwhelm and oppress us.”“In the face of disasters, wars and misery, we bear witness to God’s mercy to those who doubt him only when they experience his mercy through us,” he adds.Ecumenism as ‘sign of peace and instrument of reconciliation’Recalling the teaching of Vatican II and St. John Paul II’s 1995 encyclical Ut unum sint, the pope says that in a divided world “the one universal Christian community can be a sign of peace and an instrument of reconciliation, playing a decisive role in the global commitment to peace.”He notes that, while full visible unity with Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and communities born of the Reformation has not yet been achieved, ecumenical dialogue “founded on one baptism and the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed” has already helped Christians recognize each other as brothers and sisters in Christ and rediscover “the one universal community of Christ’s disciples throughout the world.”“We share the same faith in the one and only God, the Father of all people; we confess together the one Lord and true Son of God, Jesus Christ, and the one Holy Spirit, who inspires us and impels us towards full unity and the common witness to the Gospel,” he writes. “Truly, what unites us is much greater than what divides us!”‘Come, divine Comforter’The letter concludes with a prayer to the Holy Spirit for the renewal of faith and the healing of divisions among Christians.“Holy Spirit of God, you guide believers along the path of history,” Leo XIV prays. “We thank you for inspiring the Symbols of Faith and for stirring in our hearts the joy of professing our salvation in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, consubstantial with the Father. Without him, we can do nothing.”“Come, divine Comforter, source of harmony, unite the hearts and minds of believers. Come and grant us to taste the beauty of communion,” he continues. “Come, Love of the Father and the Son, gather us into the one flock of Christ. Show us the ways to follow, so that with your wisdom, we become once again what we are in Christ: one, so that the world may believe.” ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/unknown-52-1-1748618366.png" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 24 Nov 2025 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, urges, Christians, move, beyond, outdated, theological, disputes</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>US Catholics urged to build culture of life, pray for end to abortion during January vigil</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/us-catholics-urged-to-build-culture-of-life-pray-for-end-to-abortion-during-january-vigil</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/us-catholics-urged-to-build-culture-of-life-pray-for-end-to-abortion-during-january-vigil</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ &quot;Together, we must pray to change hearts and build a culture of life as we advocate for the most vulnerable,&quot; said Bishop Daniel E. Thomas of Toledo, Ohio.
The post US Catholics urged to build culture of life, pray for end to abortion during January vigil first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/usethisone20251120T1726-USCCB-PRAYER-VIGIL-FOR-LIFE-2026-1808168.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 21 Nov 2025 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Catholics, urged, build, culture, life, pray, for, end, abortion, during, January, vigil</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Youth leaders share their hearts and faith with teens at NCYC and grow in both</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/youth-leaders-share-their-hearts-and-faith-with-teens-at-ncyc-and-grow-in-both</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/youth-leaders-share-their-hearts-and-faith-with-teens-at-ncyc-and-grow-in-both</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Even kids &quot;who I think, ‘Man, they didn&#039;t get anything out of it,&#039; months later I hear stories of how it impacted them and totally changed their faith journey.&quot;
The post Youth leaders share their hearts and faith with teens at NCYC and grow in both first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/usethisuptop20251120T1742-NYCY25-OPENING-1808171.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 21 Nov 2025 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Youth, leaders, share, their, hearts, and, faith, with, teens, NCYC, and, grow, both</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Bishops’ new racial justice leader discusses healing racism, his own experience and DEI</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/bishops-new-racial-justice-leader-discusses-healing-racism-his-own-experience-and-dei</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/bishops-new-racial-justice-leader-discusses-healing-racism-his-own-experience-and-dei</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ OSV News spoke with Bishop Daniel E. Garcia of Austin, Texas, moments after the announcement of his appointment as inaugural chairman of the Subcommittee for the Promotion of Racial Justice and Reconciliation.
The post Bishops’ new racial justice leader discusses healing racism, his own experience and DEI first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/BS1I2660.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 21 Nov 2025 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Bishops’, new, racial, justice, leader, discusses, healing, racism, his, own, experience, and, DEI</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>NJ diocese studies possible cause for CUA alum who died protecting parents from assailant</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/nj-diocese-studies-possible-cause-for-cua-alum-who-died-protecting-parents-from-assailant</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/nj-diocese-studies-possible-cause-for-cua-alum-who-died-protecting-parents-from-assailant</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Francis added the &quot;offering of one&#039;s life&quot; as a new, distinct path to sainthood in his 2017 apostolic letter, &quot;Maiorem hac dilectionem.&quot;
The post NJ diocese studies possible cause for CUA alum who died protecting parents from assailant first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/USEthis20251120T1358-CUA-ALUM-CAUSE-INVESTIGATION-1808154.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 21 Nov 2025 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>diocese, studies, possible, cause, for, CUA, alum, who, died, protecting, parents, from, assailant</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Austin’s Bishop Garcia named head of now&#45;permanent racial justice committee</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/austins-bishop-garcia-named-head-of-now-permanent-racial-justice-committee</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/austins-bishop-garcia-named-head-of-now-permanent-racial-justice-committee</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The news was announced by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in a Nov. 20 media release.
The post Austin’s Bishop Garcia named head of now-permanent racial justice committee first appeared on OSV News. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.osvnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/20251120T1600-USCCB-RACIAL-JUSTICE-COMMITTEE-1808183.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 21 Nov 2025 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Austin’s, Bishop, Garcia, named, head, now-permanent, racial, justice, committee</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Belarus pardons 2 Catholic priests after talks with Vatican</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/belarus-pardons-2-catholic-priests-after-talks-with-vatican</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/belarus-pardons-2-catholic-priests-after-talks-with-vatican</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  The priests’ release was credited in part to Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches, pictured here celebrating the seventh Novendiales Mass for Pope Francis on May 2, 2025. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

CNA Staff, Nov 20, 2025 / 12:12 pm (CNA).
Two Catholic priests in Belarus will be released from prison in an act of “goodwill” after national leaders engaged in talks with the Vatican.The state media organ BelTA reported on Nov. 20 that Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko “pardoned two Catholic priests convicted of serious crimes against the state.”The pardons of Father Henrykh Akalatovich and Father Andzej Yukhnevich came after “intensification of contacts with the Vatican, as well as the principles of goodwill, mercy, and the jubilee year proclaimed by the Roman Catholic Church,” the government media organization said. A separate press release from the Conference of Catholic Bishops of Belarus expressed “gratitude to all those who contributed to the release of imprisoned priests.”The bishops thanked both Vatican officials and Belarusian Church leaders for helping maintain “a positive dynamic of bilateral relations based on traditional values, brotherhood, tolerance, and respect for believers.”Akalatovich had been sentenced on Dec. 30, 2024, to 11 years in prison for “high treason,” a charge that Lukashenko’s regime applies to political prisoners. The priest had reportedly already suffered a heart attack and undergone surgery for cancer before his arrest in November 2023.Reuters, meanwhile, reported that Yukhnevich had been sentenced to 13 years in prison earlier this year on charges of abusing minors. The priest denied those allegations. The human rights group Viasna reported on Nov. 20 that the release came in part “thanks to the visit of Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti,” who serves as prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches.Akalatovich previously said his conviction of “spying on behalf of Poland at the Vatican” was a “gross provocation.” There was “not a word of truth in the case against him, not a single fact that implicates him in espionage, while the entire accusation is based on lies, threats, and blackmail,” the priest said, according to Viasna. During the prosecution of his own case, meanwhile, Yukhnevich “denied all charges and tried to prove his innocence,” Viasna said. The human rights group claimed that the alleged victims who testified against him “may have given their testimony under pressure,” though it did not offer any further information. In a 2023 report, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom said religious freedom conditions in Belarus “continued to trend negatively” as the government “persisted in exerting control over all aspects of society.”The report highlighted the September 2022 closure of the Church of Sts. Simon and Helena in Minsk, which it described as ”a symbol of political opposition to the Lukashenko regime” during protests in 2020. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/claudio.may.2.2025.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 21 Nov 2025 18:00:03 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Belarus, pardons, Catholic, priests, after, talks, with, Vatican</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV prays at tomb of St. Francis of Assisi</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-prays-at-tomb-of-st-francis-of-assisi</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-prays-at-tomb-of-st-francis-of-assisi</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV visits the tomb of St. Francis in Assisi, Italy, on Nov. 20, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Nov 20, 2025 / 16:00 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV traveled to Assisi on Thursday to meet with Italian bishops and pay homage to St. Francis in a visit marked by silence and prayer, part of the celebrations for the eighth centenary of the death of the “saint of the poor.”According to Vatican News, the pontiff traveled from the Vatican by helicopter and arrived in the Italian city shortly after 8 a.m. local time. He landed at the Bastia Umbra stadium and from there traveled by car to the heart of Assisi, where St. Francis was born in 1182.Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio adopted his name upon becoming pope, while it was St. John Paul II who named St. Francis of Assisi the patron saint of ecology in 1979. Despite the rain and cold, a number of people waited for the Holy Father and greeted him with applause and cheers of “Long live the pope!”His first stop was the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, the burial place of the founder of the Franciscan order. Leo XIV was received by the president of the Italian Bishops’ Conference (CEI by its Italian acronym), Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, and the custodian of the Sacro Convento (Franciscan friary) Friar Marco Moroni, who accompanied him to the crypt where the relics of St. Francis are kept.Once in front of the tomb of the “Poverello” (“Little Poor Man”), the Holy Father paused for a few minutes in prayer. There he spoke his first public words of the day: “It is a blessing to be able to come to this sacred place today. We are approaching the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis; this occasion allows us to prepare to celebrate this great saint, humble and poor, while the world seeks signs of hope,” he said.He also recalled the enduring legacy of St. Francis: “His witness continues to speak to us today, inviting us to keep hope alive and to look to the future with confidence.”Afterward, Pope Leo XIV traveled to the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli (Our Lady of the Angels) where he met with the bishops of the CEI, who are holding their 81st general assembly.According to the Vatican Press Office, at the conclusion of the meeting with the bishops of the CEI, Pope Leo XIV traveled to the city of Montefalco, where he celebrated Mass in the monastery of the Augustinian nuns, which was erected in the 13th century.It is one of the oldest and most significant spiritual centers in the Umbria region. It is linked to the figure of St. Clare of Montefalco (1268–1308), also known as St. Clare of the Cross, an Augustinian mystic whose contemplative life left a profound mark on the spiritual tradition of the Church. The pontiff had lunch there before returning to the Vatican by helicopter.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/st.francis.nov.2025.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Fri, 21 Nov 2025 18:00:03 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, prays, tomb, St., Francis, Assisi</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Synod on Synodality reports reveal continued study on women, but not female diaconate</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/synod-on-synodality-reports-reveal-continued-study-on-women-but-not-female-diaconate</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/synod-on-synodality-reports-reveal-continued-study-on-women-but-not-female-diaconate</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV listens to reports from seven representatives around the world about the implementation of synodality on their continents during the jubilee of synodal teams and participatory bodies at the Vatican on Oct. 24, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Nov 19, 2025 / 13:53 pm (CNA).
Reports from the Synod on Synodality published this week reveal that expert groups continue to discuss women’s participation in the Church but not the specific question of a possible female diaconate, which has been turned over to a newly-revived 2020 commission.The reports also show that a new group on the liturgy, requested by Pope Leo XIV, is not addressing the Vatican’s controversial restrictions on the Traditional Latin Mass.According to a report published Nov. 17, during the second session of the Synod on Synodality in October 2024, Pope Francis “reactivated the work” of a papal commission on the female diaconate first created in 2020.“All synodal contributions related to this subject have been forwarded to that commission for its consideration,” a one-page report from a study group on Church ministries says.The interim report on the group’s progress, published ahead of full reports, which are due at the end of the year, was signed by Father Armando Matteo, secretary of the doctrinal section of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, which is overseeing the highly-watched expert panel.Matteo confirmed to CNA that the synod is no longer examining a possible female diaconate and the question is in the hands of the now-revived 2020 commission, whose members “respond to the Holy Father.”In April 2020, Pope Francis created a 10-person theological commission to study the question of a female diaconate, the second commission he formed on the topic during his pontificate.An original member of the 2020 commission, permanent deacon and seminary professor James Keating, told CNA that “the commission still exists ‘until Pope Leo discerns its dissolution.’”The 12 synod study groups, 10 of which were formed by Pope Francis, were established to examine topics Francis took off the table for discussion at the second session of the Synod on Synodality, held in October 2024.The committees, made up of cardinals, bishops, priests, and lay experts from both in and outside of the Vatican, have until Dec. 31 to submit the final results of their studies to Pope Leo.The brief reports published this week give a few insights into what to expect in some of the final reports next year, should they be made public.While not considering women deacons, the highly-watched study group on Church ministries is drafting a report on “the participation of women in the life and leadership of the Church,” including the personal accounts of women in Church leadership, theological perspectives on men’s and women’s roles, and the contributions of Pope Leo XIV and Pope Francis on the topic.Another group, focused on Church law, is also discussing what roles women, and the laity in general, can hold in particular Church offices, including liturgical functions and in Church tribunals.An update from an expert panel on “controversial doctrinal, pastoral, and ethical issues” said its final document will clarify the current paradigm shift in the Church following the Second Vatican Council and the “emerging synodal experience.” It will include “procedural” proposals for the paradigm shift, such as how to conduct conversation in the Spirit, and how to manage cognitive, emotional, and cultural “resistance” to the shift.The document will also address homosexuality, which the report says it prefers to call an “emerging issue” rather than controversial.Another potentially fraught topic being examined by the study group on ecumenical practices is intercommunion, also known as Eucharistic hospitality — the idea to allow the reception of holy Communion to people in non-Catholic Christian denominations. The topic is tied to ecumenism, the relationship between Christian churches, and is especially relevant in couples and families with members of both Catholic and non-Catholic Christian faiths.The study group on ecumenism said its mandate includes “deepening the question of Eucharistic hospitality from theological, canonical, and pastoral perspectives.”A new group on liturgy in synodal perspective, requested by Pope Leo, gave insight into what it says are the first questions it intends to address, which focus on how to make the liturgy more synodal and the Mass “better configured as the source and summit of the synodal missionary life of the Church.”Other questions the group intends to study is the increased participation of all baptized Catholics in the liturgy, liturgical formation, “the role of women in the history of salvation,” the reinterpretation of liturgical preaching in a synodal perspective, and a “healthy decentralization of liturgical authority … also with a view to the inculturation of the rites.”The report said other “relevant issues” may be added later. The study group is overseen by the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.Victoria Cardiel, Vatican reporter for ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner, contributed to this report. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/sim9708.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 20 Nov 2025 18:00:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Synod, Synodality, reports, reveal, continued, study, women, but, not, female, diaconate</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>UPDATE: Pope Leo XIV meets with his home state’s governor</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/update-pope-leo-xiv-meets-with-his-home-states-governor</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/update-pope-leo-xiv-meets-with-his-home-states-governor</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  The Vatican did not release any details about what was discussed during the Nov. 19, 2025, meeting Pope Leo XIV held with Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker. / Credit: Photo courtesy of the Office of Gov. JB Pritzker

CNA Newsroom, Nov 19, 2025 / 14:23 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV met with the governor of his native Illinois, JB Pritzker, on Wednesday at the Vatican. The first lady of the U.S. state known as “The Land of Lincoln,” MK Pritzker, accompanied the governor during his visit.“It was an honor for MK and me to meet with @Pontifex — a son of Illinois — to express the pride and reverence of the people of this great state,” Pritzker, who is Jewish, said following the meeting in a social media post. A statement from the governor’s office said: “As the first American pope, a native Illinoisan, and an advocate for the poor and less fortunate, Pope Leo XIV serves as a true inspiration to people of all faiths. His message of hope, unity, compassion, and peace resonates in his home state of Illinois and across the globe.”Invitation to return to hometownIn an interview with NBC Chicago following his audience, Gov. Pritzker said that during the meeting he presented Pope Leo with an invitation to return to his hometown of Chicago. While the pope didn’t express a timetable for the prospective visit, Pritzker said the pope “was optimistic that he would be coming to Chicago.”“We share a great love of the state and the city,” Pritzker said, adding that the pope “seems like he carries his heart on his sleeve and of course he carries Chicago on his sleeve, too.”Immigration discussionDuring the 40-minute meeting, which Pritzker said was arranged by Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago, the governor said that he and the pontiff also discussed the immigration enforcement actions that have been taking place in the city, with Pritzker saying that he expressed his gratitude for the pope’s “moral leadership on this issue.”Pritzker offered the pope several gifts including a framed piece of art made from an incarcerated woman at Logan Correctional Facility, the book “Lincoln: The Life and Legacy that Defined a Nation” by Ian Hunt, the book “A House That Made History: The Illinois Governor’s Mansion, Legacy of an Architectural Treasure” written by Illinois First Lady MK Pritzker, and a pack of Burning Bush Breweries’ “Da Pope” American mild ale. The Vatican itself did not release any details about what was discussed during the visit. The Democratic governor currently has before his desk the decision on whether to either sign into law or veto assisted suicide legislation that was recently approved the Illinois Legislature. The Illinois Catholic Conference is urging Gov. Pritzker to veto the bill. In an Oct. 31 statement, the conference said that “rather than signing this bill, we ask the governor to expand and improve on palliative care programs.” Such programs, the conference maintains, “represent a compassionate and morally acceptable alternative to assisted suicide.”This story was updated on Nov. 19, 2025, at 4:30 p.m. ET with additional details of the conversation provided by Gov. Pritzker. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/pope.pritzker.nov.19.2025.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 20 Nov 2025 18:00:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>UPDATE:, Pope, Leo, XIV, meets, with, his, home, state’s, governor</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo appoints Nigerian priest assessor for general affairs of the Secretariat of State</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-appoints-nigerian-priest-assessor-for-general-affairs-of-the-secretariat-of-state</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-appoints-nigerian-priest-assessor-for-general-affairs-of-the-secretariat-of-state</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Father Anthony Onyemuche Ekpo. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Nov 19, 2025 / 14:53 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday appointed Nigerian priest Father Anthony Onyemuche Ekpo as assessor for general affairs of the Vatican Secretariat of State.Ekpo, 44, succeeds Father Roberto Campisi, who was appointed permanent observer of the Holy See to UNESCO in September. In his new role, he will be responsible for overseeing the activities of Catholic international organizations connected to the Vatican.The Nigeria-born priest first began his service with the Holy See in 2016. He worked with the Vatican’s Section for General Affairs for six years between 2016 and 2023.In 2023, Pope Francis appointed him undersecretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development to assist the work of its prefect Cardinal Michael Czerny. Epko thanked his colleagues at the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development “for their friendship and shared work over these years” and prayed for ​​the grace to carry out his new role with the Secretariat of State with “joy, passion, and dedication,” Vatican News reported on Wednesday.“My desire is to be able to collaborate with the superiors and employees of the dicastery, to advance the vision of the dicastery and the mission of the Church,” Ekpo told Vatican News.Ordained a priest for the Diocese of Umuahia, Nigeria, in 2011, Epko continued his theological training abroad. In 2013, he obtained a doctorate in systematic theology from the Australian Catholic University as well as a doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome in 2021.He is fluent in English, Italian, French, and the Nigerian language Igbo.Earlier this month, Pope Leo appointed Nigerian priest Father Edward Daniang Daleng as vice regent of the Papal Household, the second-highest position in the Vatican office that organizes audiences with the pope. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/franthonyekpo.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 20 Nov 2025 18:00:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, appoints, Nigerian, priest, assessor, for, general, affairs, the, Secretariat, State</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>How Pope Leo XIV typically spends his day off</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/how-pope-leo-xiv-typically-spends-his-day-off</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/how-pope-leo-xiv-typically-spends-his-day-off</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News

ACI Prensa Staff, Nov 19, 2025 / 15:23 pm (CNA).
In reply to journalists’ questions last night as he left Castel Gandolfo, which he now regularly visits, Pope Leo XIV described what his typical Tuesday day off is like.The pontiff shared that he does “a little reading, a little work. Every day there is correspondence, phone calls; there are some matters that are perhaps more important, more recent. A little tennis, a little swimming.”A passionate tennis fan since childhood, the Holy Father in May received at the Vatican Italian tennis player Jannik Sinner, currently ranked second in the world (behind Carlos Alcaraz) and at that time was ranked first.When asked why he needs these moments of rest, Leo XIV emphasized on Nov. 19 that “to take good care of yourself, human beings… everyone, should do some activity for the body, the soul, all together.”“I think it does me a lot of good. So it’s a time, a break during the week that helps a lot,” he said.The Holy Father also addressed other topics with the journalists, such as the situation in Ukraine; his possible travel destinations, which include Peru, Portugal, and Mexico; the situation of migrants in the United States and the American bishops’ call to respect them; the massacres of Christians and Muslims in Nigeria; and the abuse allegations against a Spanish bishop, who insists on his innocence.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/popeleocloseup.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 20 Nov 2025 18:00:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>How, Pope, Leo, XIV, typically, spends, his, day, off</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Outgoing Hungarian ambassador reflects on 10&#45;year term at the Vatican</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/outgoing-hungarian-ambassador-reflects-on-10-year-term-at-the-vatican</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/outgoing-hungarian-ambassador-reflects-on-10-year-term-at-the-vatican</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Hungary’s ambassador to the Holy See Eduard Habsburg speaks to EWTN News in 2023. / Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNA

Vatican City, Nov 19, 2025 / 15:53 pm (CNA).
Archduke of Austria Eduard Habsburg has served as Hungary’s ambassador to the Holy See since 2015 and described his post at the Vatican as “the greatest 10 years of my life.”First presenting his credentials to Pope Francis on Dec. 8, 2015, Habsburg told EWTN News reporter Colm Flynn that after a decade on the job, he has “seen it all” and now wants to dedicate more time to his family, particularly his parents.“I felt that 10 years is a good term. It’s far longer than ambassadors usually have here,” he said in the exclusive interview.“I think I’ve seen everything you can see here, including a conclave, visits by my prime minister, exciting moments,” he added. “In a way, I’m going to miss it but also family is important.” Though his term at the Vatican is drawing to a close, the outgoing ambassador said he will likely continue to represent Hungary at future international events organized by the Church and pro-family groups.  “I’ll keep a foot in that world, so to speak, so I’m not going to totally give it up,” he said.Reflecting on his initial surprise at being asked to be Hungary’s ambassador to the Holy See, Habsburg, who belongs to the prominent 850-year-old European Catholic dynasty, said he “hit the floor running” when he arrived in Rome for his first post.On Pope Francis and his love for HungaryDescribing his relationship with Pope Francis as “incredibly positive,” the outgoing ambassador said the Argentine pontiff had a warm affection for the Central European nation and its people.“I saw it every time he met a Hungarian,” he said. “He would use Hungarian expressions. He would smile. He would be happy. He would take his time with them.”Though Pope Francis had not visited Hungary until 2021 for the 52nd International Eucharistic Conference, he told Habsburg that he “learned everything” about Hungary through three religious sisters who fled their country in 1956, during the Soviet occupation, to a monastery in Buenos Aires, Argentina.   “They have shaped Pope Francis’ outlook on Hungary and that made my work very easy,” he quipped. “He was incredibly generous.”Pope Francis visited Hungary a second time in 2023 for his apostolic journey to the country’s capital of Budapest from April 28–30.   On Pope Benedict XVI and his humorDuring the 1990s, Pope Benedict XVI, then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, read Habsburg’s doctoral thesis on the topic of Thomas Aquinas and Vatican II and told him “he liked it” and that he wanted him to either make a documentary or a thriller about Thomism.After first meeting with Pope Francis, the ambassador said he later met with Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in the Vatican Gardens.  “He looked at me and said, ‘So you’re ambassador now?’” Habsburg recalled. “And then he said, ‘You know you still owe me a documentary or a thriller about Thomism.” “That was the first thing he said. I was so blown away,” he said. “I still haven’t written it.”“That’s the one thing many people don’t realize about Pope Benedict XVI was the sense of humor that he had that we never got to see publicly,” he said.  Habsburg earned a doctorate in philosophy from the University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt in 1999. On Pope Leo XIV The archduke and ambassador told EWTN News he has briefly met Pope Leo XIV four times this year since his papal election in May.  “I’m very impressed by him. I feel [he is] a very balanced and just man who is trying to do good,” he said of the first U.S.-born pope. Noting Pope Leo’s fluency in many languages, including English, Italian, Spanish, and Latin, Habsburg commented that he believes the universal Church’s new leader “has several cultures in his heart and in his mind.”“And yes, we will see the things that he’ll do. We pray for him every day,” he said. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/storage/image/eduard-habsburg6.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 20 Nov 2025 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Outgoing, Hungarian, ambassador, reflects, 10-year, term, the, Vatican</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV: Where the world sees threats, the Church sees children</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-where-the-world-sees-threats-the-church-sees-children</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-where-the-world-sees-threats-the-church-sees-children</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass in St. Peter&#039;s Basilica at the Vatican on November 16, 2025. / Daniel Ibáñez

Vatican City, Nov 16, 2025 / 08:00 am (CNA).
Celebrating Mass for the Jubilee of the Poor on the Ninth World Day of the Poor, Pope Leo XIV urged Christians not to retreat into a closed or “religious” world of their own, but to help make human society “a space of fraternity and dignity for all, without exception.”Presiding in St. Peter’s Basilica on Sunday, the pope reflected on the “day of the Lord” and the upheavals of history, saying that Christ’s promise remains secure even amid war, violence, and deep social wounds.Quoting the prophet Malachi, he described the “day of the Lord” as the dawn of a new era in which “the hopes of the poor and the humble will receive a final and definitive answer from the Lord,” and recalled that Jesus himself is the “sun of righteousness” who comes close to every person. In the Gospel, he said, Christ assures his disciples that “Not a hair of your head will perish” (Lk 21:18), anchoring Christian hope even “when all human hope seems to be extinguished.”“In the midst of persecution, suffering, struggles, and oppression in our personal lives and in society, God does not abandon us,” the pope said, pointing to the “golden thread” of Scripture, in which God always takes the side of “the little ones, orphans, strangers and widows.”World Day of the Poor: ‘Dilexi te — I have loved you’Marking his first World Day of the Poor as pope, Leo XIV addressed his homily in a special way to those experiencing poverty and exclusion.“While the entire Church rejoices and exults, it is especially to you, dear brothers and sisters, that I want to proclaim the irrevocable words of the Lord Jesus himself: ‘Dilexi te, I have loved you,’” he said, citing the title of his recent apostolic exhortation on love for the poor. “Yes, before our smallness and poverty, God looks at us like no one else and loves us with eternal love.”In that spirit, he said, the Church today seeks to be “mother of the poor, a place of welcome and justice,” even as it continues to be “wounded by old and new forms of poverty.”The pope warned against living as “distracted wanderers,” withdrawn into “a life closed in on ourselves, in a religious seclusion that isolates us from others and from history.” Seeking God’s Kingdom, he insisted, “implies the desire to transform human coexistence into a space of fraternity and dignity for all, without exception.”Many forms of poverty, one wound of lonelinessLeo XIV noted that “so many forms of poverty oppress our world,” from material deprivation to moral and spiritual poverty that “often affect young people in a particular way.”“The tragedy that cuts across them all is loneliness,” he said. This tragedy, he continued, “challenges us to look at poverty in an integral way,” not limiting ourselves to emergency aid but developing “a culture of attention, precisely in order to break down the walls of loneliness.”“Let us, then, be attentive to others, to each person, wherever we are, wherever we live,” the pope said, inviting Christians to become “witnesses of God’s tenderness” in families, workplaces, schools, communities, and even the digital world.‘There can be no peace without justice’Looking to current conflicts, Leo XIV said that the proliferation of war “seems especially to confirm that we are in a state of helplessness,” but stressed that this resignation is rooted in a lie.“The globalization of helplessness arises from a lie, from believing that history has always been this way and cannot change,” he said. “The Gospel, on the other hand, reminds us that it is precisely in the upheavals of history that the Lord comes to save us. And today, as a Christian community, together with the poor, we must become a living sign of this salvation.”Poverty, he added, “challenges Christians, but it also challenges all those who have positions of responsibility in society.” Addressing world leaders, he said: “I urge Heads of State and the leaders of nations to listen to the cry of the poorest. There can be no peace without justice, and the poor remind us of this in many ways, through migration as well as through their cries, which are often stifled by the myth of well-being and progress that does not take everyone into account, and indeed forgets many individuals, leaving them to their fate.”He thanked charity workers and volunteers who serve those in need and encouraged them “to continue to be the critical conscience of society.”“You know well that the question of the poor leads back to the essence of our faith, for they are the very flesh of Christ and not just a sociological category,” he said, again citing Dilexi Te. “This is why, ‘the Church, like a mother, accompanies those who are walking. Where the world sees threats, she sees children; where walls are built, she builds bridges.’”The pope also invited the faithful to take inspiration from the saints who served Christ in the poor, highlighting Saint Benedict Joseph Labre, whose life as a “vagabond of God” makes him “the patron saint of the homeless.”Poor at the center of the celebrationSeveral thousand people in situations of poverty or social exclusion, accompanied by Catholic organizations, were present for the Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica and in St. Peter’s Square, where others followed the liturgy on large screens.Among them, according to organizers, were some 1,500 people from France who have experienced life on the streets, prostitution, prison, or other forms of marginalization, and who traveled to Rome with volunteers and pastoral workers for the Jubilee of the Poor. Before Mass, the pope greeted those gathered in the square from the popemobile.Angelus: Persecuted Christians as witnesses of truth, justice, and hopeLater, appearing at the window of the Apostolic Palace to pray the Angelus with pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square, Leo XIV returned to the day’s Gospel from Luke 21, which speaks of wars, uprisings, and persecutions.“As the liturgical year draws to a close, today’s Gospel (Lk 21:5-19) invites us to reflect on the travails of history and the end times,” he said. In the face of these upheavals, Jesus’ appeal “is very timely,” the pope said: “When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified” (v. 9).“Jesus’ words proclaim that the attack of evil cannot destroy the hope of those who trust in him. The darker the hour, the more faith shines like the sun,” he said.Twice in the Gospel, Christ says that “because of my name” many will suffer violence and betrayal, the pope continued, “but precisely then they will have the opportunity to bear witness.” That witness, he stressed, belongs not only to those who face physical violence.“Indeed, the persecution of Christians does not only happen through mistreatment and weapons, but also with words, that is, through lies and ideological manipulation,” he said. “Especially when we are oppressed by these evils, both physical and moral, we are called to bear witness to the truth that saves the world; to the justice that redeems peoples from oppression; to the hope that shows everyone the way to peace.”Quoting Jesus’ promise, “By your endurance you will gain your souls” (Lk 21:19), the pope said this assurance “gives us the strength to resist the threatening events of history and every offense,” because Christ himself gives believers “words and a wisdom” to persevere in doing good.He pointed to the martyrs as a sign that “God’s grace is capable of transforming even violence into a sign of redemption,” and entrusted persecuted Christians throughout the world to the intercession of Mary, Help of Christians.Appeals for persecuted Christians, Ukraine, and Peru crash victimsAfter praying the Angelus, Leo XIV turned to current situations of suffering, beginning with Christians who face discrimination and persecution.“Christians today are still suffering from discrimination and persecution in various parts of the world,” he said, mentioning in particular Bangladesh, Nigeria, Mozambique, Sudan, and other countries “from which we often hear news of attacks on communities and places of worship.” “God is a merciful Father, and he desires peace among all his children!” the pope added, praying especially for families in Kivu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where a recent terrorist attack killed at least 20 civilians.He said he is following “with sorrow” the reports of continuing attacks on numerous Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, which have caused deaths and injuries — “children among them” — and widespread damage to civilian infrastructure, leaving families homeless as winter approaches. “We must not become accustomed to war and destruction!” he said, urging prayer “for a just and lasting peace in war-torn Ukraine.”The pope also prayed for the victims of a serious bus accident in southern Peru’s Arequipa region, in which at least 37 people died and many others were injured after a bus plunged into a ravine in the rural district of Ocoña.“I would also like to offer my prayers for the victims of the serious road accident that occurred last Wednesday in southern Peru,” he said. “May the Lord welcome the deceased, sustain the injured and comfort the bereaved families.&quot;Road safety, new blessed, the poor, and abuse survivorsIn a wider appeal for road safety, Leo XIV noted that the Church was also remembering “all those who have died in road accidents, too often caused by irresponsible behavior. Let each of us examine our conscience on this matter,” he said.The pope recalled the beatification on Saturday in Bari of Italian diocesan priest Carmelo De Palma, who died in 1961 after a life “generously spent in the ministry of Confession and spiritual accompaniment,” and prayed that his example would inspire priests to give themselves “unreservedly” in service to God’s people.Marking the World Day of the Poor once more, Leo XIV thanked dioceses and parishes that organized initiatives of solidarity with those most in need, and invited the faithful to rediscover his exhortation Dilexi Te on love for the poor, “a document that Pope Francis was preparing in the last months of his life and which I completed with great joy.”Finally, he joined the Church in Italy in observing a day of prayer for victims and survivors of abuse, calling for “a culture of respect” that safeguards the dignity of every person, “especially minors and the most vulnerable.”This story was first published in three parts by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/whatsapp-image-2025-11-16-at-10.41.55-am.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 17 Nov 2025 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV:, Where, the, world, sees, threats, the, Church, sees, children</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV shares lunch with more than 1,300 people in need at the Vatican</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-shares-lunch-with-more-than-1300-people-in-need-at-the-vatican</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-shares-lunch-with-more-than-1300-people-in-need-at-the-vatican</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV shares lunch with people in need at the Vatican on November 16, 2025. / Daniel Ibáñez

Vatican City, Nov 16, 2025 / 11:15 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV had lunch on Sunday with more than 1,300 people experiencing poverty and social exclusion, gathering with them in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall for a festive meal marking the World Day of the Poor.The hall was transformed into a vast dining room for the occasion. The event was organized by the Congregation of the Mission on behalf of Vincentian missionaries worldwide, who this year celebrate the 400th anniversary of the founding of their congregation and of the Daughters of Charity. Volunteers served lasagna, breaded chicken with potatoes, and the traditional Italian dessert babà.As on similar occasions in past years, the Vatican, through the papal almoner Polish Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, invited a group of transgender people from the Roman seaside town of Torvaianica. Father Andrea Conocchia, a parish priest in Torvaianica, told ACI Prensa that he had accompanied about 50 transgender people from his community to the event.In a special effort to highlight dignity and respect, the Vatican provided full table service with proper dishes, flatware, and table linens—avoiding plastic or disposable materials. Organizers said the aim was not only to offer a meal but to create an experience of welcome and care for each guest.After the meal, the pope thanked the Vincentian family for its service to the most vulnerable. “This lunch that we now receive is offered by Providence and by the great generosity of the Vincentian Community, to whom we wish to express our gratitude,” he said.The pope also shared his joy at spending time with the poor on a day instituted by his predecessor. “With great joy we gather this afternoon for this lunch on the World Day of the Poor, which was so desired by my beloved predecessor, Pope Francis,” he said.He expressed gratitude for all who dedicate themselves to those in need: “So many priests, religious sisters, and lay volunteers devote their lives to helping people who experience various needs. We are filled with gratitude for them.”Before the meal, he prayed: “May the Lord bless the gifts we are about to receive, bless the life of each one of us, our loved ones, and all those who have accompanied us on our journey.” He also remembered those suffering around the world: “Let us invoke the Lord’s blessing upon those who suffer from violence, war, and hunger, and may we celebrate this feast today in a spirit of fraternity.”He concluded with a final blessing: “Bless our life, our fraternity. Help us always to walk united in your love. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. Warm greetings and enjoy your meal!”Music added to the joyful atmosphere, with performances of classical and traditional Neapolitan pieces by 100 young people from Naples’ Rione Sanità neighborhood involved in the Sanitansamble and Tornà a Cantà educational programs of the Nova Opera ETS Foundation.At the end of the lunch, the Vincentian Family of Italy gave each participant a “St. Vincent’s Backpack” containing food and hygiene products as a sign of continued accompaniment.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/whatsapp-image-2025-11-16-at-1.04.32-pm.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Mon, 17 Nov 2025 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, shares, lunch, with, more, than, 1, 300, people, need, the, Vatican</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV urges ‘thinking the faith’ amid risk of cultural emptiness</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-urges-thinking-the-faith-amid-risk-of-cultural-emptiness</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-urges-thinking-the-faith-amid-risk-of-cultural-emptiness</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV waves to those gathered at the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome on Nov. 14, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

ACI Prensa Staff, Nov 14, 2025 / 10:04 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV on Friday urged academics to “think the faith” in order to confront what he called an increasingly pervasive “cultural emptiness.”The pope spoke at a ceremony inaugurating the academic year at Rome’s Pontifical Lateran University, the ecclesiastical university under the direct control of the Holy See, an event that brought together more than a thousand students and professors. In his address, Pope Leo XIV highlighted what he called the Lateran University’s unique and “altogether special” bond with the successor of Peter, a characteristic that he said has shaped its identity and mission from the beginning. He recalled the contributions of various pontiffs since its founding in 1773 and described the Lateran as “a privileged center where the teaching of the universal Church is elaborated, received, developed, and contextualized.”“Today we urgently need to think the faith so that we can express it in contemporary cultural settings and challenges, but also to counter the risk of cultural emptiness, which in our time is becoming increasingly invasive,” he said.The pope noted that the faculty of theology is called “to reflect on the deposit of faith and to manifest its beauty and credibility in today’s diverse contexts,” while the study of philosophy “must be oriented toward the search for truth.”Turning to the university’s canon and civil law faculties, he encouraged students and professors “to consider administrative processes in depth, an urgent challenge for the Church.” He also pointed to the cycles of study in peace sciences and ecology and the environment, instituted by Pope Francis, describing them as “an essential part of the Church’s recent magisterium.”The “formation of people,” he said, is at the heart of the Lateran University’s mission. For this reason, he urged its members to keep “their eyes and hearts directed toward the future” and to face contemporary challenges with courage.The pope encouraged the academic community to be a “prophetic sign of communion and fraternity,” and said authentic academic formation serves as an antidote to individualism, self-reference, prejudice, and what he called “solitary leadership.”He also underlined the importance of scientific rigor, noting that it is “often not appreciated as it should be” because of “deeply rooted prejudices that unfortunately persist even within the ecclesial community.” Scientific research and intellectual effort, he said, are indispensable. “We need well-prepared and competent laypeople and priests,” he added.“The purpose of the educational and academic process must be to form people who, guided by the logic of gratuity and the passion for truth and justice, can become builders of a new, fraternal, and solidary world,” the pope said.He concluded by insisting that Catholics must take seriously the task of “thinking in faith,” and invited the university to explore the mystery of Christian belief with passion and in dialogue with the world.“The Lateran University holds a special place in the pope’s heart,” he said, “and the pope encourages you to dream big, to imagine new spaces for the Christianity of the future, and to work with joy so that all may discover Christ and in him find the fullness they seek.”This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/sim9771.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 16 Nov 2025 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, urges, ‘thinking, the, faith’, amid, risk, cultural, emptiness</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV praises the ‘silent and hidden love’ of cloistered nuns</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-praises-the-silent-and-hidden-love-of-cloistered-nuns</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-praises-the-silent-and-hidden-love-of-cloistered-nuns</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV receives cloistered Augustinian nuns at the Vatican on Nov. 13, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

ACI Prensa Staff, Nov 14, 2025 / 15:43 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV praised the “silent and hidden love” of cloistered nuns who, he said, are free from the slavery of society’s focus on outward appearances.Focusing on the contemplative dimension of the Augustinian nuns, Pope Leo recalled that their founder, St. Augustine, reflected in his book “Confessions” on the joy granted “to those who serve the Lord out of pure love.”In his address, delivered from the Paul VI Audience Hall on Nov. 13, the pope offered his reflection during an audience at the Vatican with participants in the Ordinary Federal Assembly of the Federation of Augustinian Monasteries of Italy.The pope highlighted the joy of those who serve the Lord &quot;out of pure love&quot; in a meeting with Augustinian nuns on Nov. 13, 2025, at the Vatican. Credit: Vatican MediaHe invited the nuns to embrace “the cloistered life with enthusiasm,” which, he assured them, will give them “peace and consolation, and to those who knock on the doors of your monasteries, a message of hope more eloquent than a thousand words.”The pope then emphasized the witness of charity of the cloistered Augustinian nuns and counseled them, in order to spread the fragrance of God throughout the world,” to strive to “to love one another with sincere affection, as sisters, and to carry in your hearts, in secret, every man and woman in this world, to present them to the Father in your prayers.”“In a society so focused on outward appearances, where people sometimes do not hesitate to violate the respect of others and their feelings in pursuit of a spotlight and applause, may your example of silent and hidden love help others to rediscover the value of daily and discreet charity, focused on the substance of loving one another and free from the slavery of appearances,” he said.At the end of his address, the pope emphasized the communal nature of the federation with the “form of association” promoted by Venerable Pius XII and reaffirmed by Pope Francis to foster fraternity among monasteries with the same charism.“It is a demanding challenge, but one we cannot shy away from, even at the cost of making difficult choices and sacrifices, and overcoming a certain temptation to ‘self-referentiality’ that can sometimes seep into our circles,” Leo XIV cautioned.The pope thanked the Augustinian nuns for all they do and promised them his prayers and heartfelt blessing.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/nuns.nov.13.2025.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 16 Nov 2025 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, praises, the, ‘silent, and, hidden, love’, cloistered, nuns</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV visits new health clinic for the poor under St. Peter’s colonnade</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-visits-new-health-clinic-for-the-poor-under-st-peters-colonnade</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-visits-new-health-clinic-for-the-poor-under-st-peters-colonnade</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  New outpatient clinic for people in need in St. Peter’s Square. / Credit: Vatican Media

ACI Prensa Staff, Nov 14, 2025 / 16:50 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV on Nov. 14 visited a new outpatient clinic in the Vatican, built beneath the colonnade of St. Peter’s Square, in the lead-up to the ninth World Day of the Poor, which will be celebrated on Sunday, Nov. 16.The new health center aims to strengthen assistance and increase health care services for those in need, according to a statement from the Office of the Papal Almoner, also known as the Dicastery for the Service of Charity. The center was made possible through the collaboration of the Health and Hygiene Directorate of the Governorate of Vatican City State and features two new medical consultation rooms equipped with state-of-the-art instruments and a new radiology service.This equipment, including a cutting-edge X-ray machine, will allow for the rapid and accurate diagnosis of pneumonia, bone fractures, tumors, degenerative diseases, kidney stones, and intestinal obstructions — conditions often overlooked by those living in poverty.“Early diagnosis of these conditions will make it possible to start appropriate treatments in a timely manner, contributing to improving the quality of life of those who have nothing,” the statement reads.At the Office of the Papal Almoner’s other outpatient clinic, more than 2,000 health care services are offered completely free of charge each month thanks to the work of 120 volunteers, including doctors, nurses, and health care technicians.Thanks to the two clinics located beneath Bernini’s colonnade, general and specialized medical consultations, dental visits, blood tests, and X-rays will continue to be available to the poor. In addition, removable dentures, eyeglasses, and hearing aids will be donated.Finally, the necessary medications will be delivered directly to the poor person, always completely free of charge. Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, prefect of the Dicastery for the Service of Charity and papal almoner, emphasized that in these places dignity is restored to the poor, “in whom we see not a homeless person or a poor person, but the face of Jesus.”This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/health.nov.14.2025.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 16 Nov 2025 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, visits, new, health, clinic, for, the, poor, under, St., Peter’s, colonnade</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV presents 62 indigenous artifacts to Canadian bishops</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-presents-62-indigenous-artifacts-to-canadian-bishops</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-presents-62-indigenous-artifacts-to-canadian-bishops</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV greets Vancouver Archbishop Richard Smith at the Vatican, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025 / Credit: Vatican Media

ACI Prensa Staff, Nov 15, 2025 / 13:00 pm (CNA).
In a Saturday meeting, Pope Leo XIV received Monsignor Pierre Goudreault, Bishop of Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pocatière and president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, at which the Holy Father gifted dozens of artifacts that originated with Indigenous peoples of the North American country. Leo at the meeting donated 62 pieces from the ethnological collections of the Vatican Museums to the Canadian bishops. Bishop Goudreault was accompanied by Archbishop Richard Smith of Vancouver and Father Jean Vézina, secretary general of the Canadian bishops.“It is an act of ecclesial sharing, through which the Successor of Peter entrusts to the Church in Canada these objects, which bear witness to the history of the encounter between the faith and cultures of indigenous peoples,” the Vatican said. The 62 donated objects come from various indigenous communities and are part of the collection received during the 1925 Vatican Missionary Exhibition, promoted by Pope Pius XI during the Holy Year to bear witness to the faith and cultural richness of the peoples.“The Holy Father Leo XIV wanted this gift to represent a concrete sign of dialogue, respect, and fraternity,&quot; the Holy See said.“Sent to Rome by Catholic missionaries between 1923 and 1925, these objects became part of the Lateran Missionary Ethnological Museum, which later became the Anima Mundi Ethnological Museum of the Vatican Museums,” the Vatican added.Pope Leo&#039;s gift is part of the observance of the Jubilee Year 2025. All the pieces are accompanied by information from the Vatican Museums “certifying their provenance and the circumstances of their transfer to Rome for the 1925 Exhibition.”“They were handed over to the Canadian Episcopal Conference, which, in a spirit of loyal cooperation and dialogue with the Directorate of Cultural Heritage of the Vatican City State, has committed to ensuring their proper care, promotion, and conservation,” the Vatican said.During a July 2022 visit to Canada, Pope Francis left a message of reconciliation and emphasized the need to “start afresh” by looking together at Christ crucified.Throughout his trip, the pope had expressed his shame and regret for the role played by the Catholic Church in the management of many of the government-sponsored residential schools for Indigenous children.These residential schools, which operated until the late 1990s, aimed to eradicate aspects of Indigenous culture, language, and religious practices. Former students have described mistreatment and even abuse at the residential schools.According to the Holy See, the meeting on Nov. 15 concludes “the path begun by Pope Francis through his Apostolic Journey to Canada in 2022, the various audiences with indigenous communities, and the publication of the Declaration on the Doctrine of Discovery in 2023.&quot;That year, the Vatican&#039;s Dicastery for Culture and Education and the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development stated that the so-called “Doctrine of Discovery,” which European colonizers allegedly used to justify their actions against indigenous peoples, is not part of Catholic teaching.The Vatican agencies then specified that “many Christians have committed acts of evil against indigenous populations, for which recent popes have asked forgiveness on numerous occasions.”This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/sim04996.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 16 Nov 2025 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, presents, indigenous, artifacts, Canadian, bishops</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV to movie makers: Film can portray ‘longing for the infinite’</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-to-movie-makers-film-can-portray-longing-for-the-infinite</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-to-movie-makers-film-can-portray-longing-for-the-infinite</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Film director Spike Lee gives Pope Leo XIV a customized New York Knicks jersey at the Vatican on November 15, 2025. / Vatican Media

Vatican City, Nov 15, 2025 / 13:45 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV told representatives of the global film industry on Saturday that cinema is far more than entertainment, calling it a vehicle capable of expressing humanity’s deepest spiritual search and its longing for the infinite.The pope received a group of filmmakers, actors, and producers at the Apostolic Palace Nov. 15. Among those greeting him were Academy Award–winning Australian actress Cate Blanchett, American actor Chris Pine, Italian actresses Monica Bellucci and Maria Grazia Cucinotta, and Oscar-winning director Spike Lee.Ahead of the audience, the Vatican released a list of some of the pope’s favorite films, including “The Sound of Music” and “Life is Beautiful.”Addressing the artists, the pope said cinema is “still a young, dreamlike and somewhat restless art form,” and that although it began as a “play of light and shadow, designed to amuse and impress,” it soon began to convey “much deeper realities,” eventually becoming “an expression of the desire to contemplate and understand life, to recount its greatness and fragility and to portray the longing for infinity.”He told them: “It is wonderful to see that when the magic light of cinema illuminates the darkness, it simultaneously ignites the eyes of the soul. Indeed, cinema combines what appears to be mere entertainment with the narrative of the human person’s spiritual adventure.” One of cinema’s most valuable contributions, he said, is “helping audiences consider their own lives, look at the complexity of their experiences with new eyes and examine the world as if for the first time,” thus rediscovering “a portion of the hope that is essential for humanity to live to the fullest.” He added, “I find comfort in the thought that cinema is not just moving pictures; it sets hope in motion!”The cinema as the heart of community life“Entering a cinema is like crossing a threshold,” the pope said. “In the darkness and silence, vision becomes sharper, the heart opens up and the mind becomes receptive to things not yet imagined.” Through their work, filmmakers “connect with people who are looking for entertainment, as well as those who carry within their hearts a sense of restlessness and are looking for meaning, justice and beauty.”“We live in an age where digital screens are always on,” he continued. “There is a constant flow of information. However, cinema is much more than just a screen; it is an intersection of desires, memories and questions. It is a sensory journey in which light pierces the darkness and words meet silence. As the plot unfolds, our mind is educated, our imagination broadens and even pain can find new meaning.”He stressed that cultural institutions such as cinemas and theaters are “the beating hearts of our communities because they contribute to making them more human,” adding: “If a city is alive, it is thanks in part to its cultural spaces. We must inhabit these spaces and build relationships within them, day after day.”Nonetheless, he warned that “cinemas are experiencing a troubling decline, with many being removed from cities and neighborhoods,” and noted that “more than a few people are saying that the art of cinema and the cinematic experience are in danger.” He urged institutions “not to give up, but to cooperate in affirming the social and cultural value of this activity.”Resisting the ‘algorithmic logic’ of the digital age“The logic of algorithms tends to repeat what ‘works,’ but art opens up what is possible,” he said. “Not everything has to be immediate or predictable. Defend slowness when it serves a purpose, silence when it speaks and difference when evocative. Beauty is not just a means of escape; it is above all an invocation.”“When cinema is authentic, it does not merely console, but challenges,” he continued. “It articulates the questions that dwell within us, and sometimes, even provokes tears that we did not know we needed to express.”In the Jubilee Year, he told them, the Church invites everyone “to journey towards hope,” saying their presence was “a shining example” of that. He described filmmakers as “pilgrims of the imagination, seekers of meaning, narrators of hope and heralds of humanity,” whose journey is measured not in distance but in “images, words, emotions, shared memories and collective desires.”The Church, he said, “esteems you for your work with light and time, with faces and landscapes, with words and silence.” Quoting Paul VI’s words to artists — “If you are friends of genuine art, you are our friends… this world in which we live needs beauty in order not to sink into despair” — he said he wished “to renew this friendship because cinema is a workshop of hope, a place where people can once again find themselves and their purpose.”He encouraged them to remember the words of film pioneer David W. Griffith: “What the modern movie lacks is beauty, the beauty of the moving wind in the trees,” linking it to the Gospel image of the wind as a sign of the Spirit. “I invite you to make cinema an art of the Spirit,” he said.“In the present era, there is a need for witnesses of hope, beauty and truth,” he continued. “You can fulfill this role through your artistic work. Good cinema and those who create and star in it have the power to recover the authenticity of imagery in order to safeguard and promote human dignity. Do not be afraid to confront the world’s wounds.” Good cinema, he stressed, “does not exploit pain; it recognizes and explores it.” Giving voice to the complex and sometimes dark feelings of the human heart “is an act of love,” he said, and authentic art “must engage with” human frailty.Filmmaking, he reminded them, “is a communal effort, a collective endeavor in which no one is self-sufficient,” involving the contributions of countless professionals. “Every voice, every gesture and every skill contributes to a work that can only exist as a whole.”“In an age of exaggerated and confrontational personalities,” he said, they show that film requires “dedication and talent,” and that everyone’s gifts can “shine in a collaborative and fraternal atmosphere.” He prayed that cinema would “always be a meeting place and a home for those seeking meaning and a language of peace,” and that it would “never lose its capacity to amaze and even continue to offer us a glimpse, however small, of the mystery of God.”“May the Lord bless you, your work and your loved ones,” he concluded. “And may he always accompany you on your creative journey and help you to be artisans of hope.”This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/tom4865.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 16 Nov 2025 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, movie, makers:, Film, can, portray, ‘longing, for, the, infinite’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope asks Benedictines to confront modern challenges with prayer, study, holiness</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-asks-benedictines-to-confront-modern-challenges-with-prayer-study-holiness</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-asks-benedictines-to-confront-modern-challenges-with-prayer-study-holiness</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass at Sant’Anselmo Church in Rome on Nov. 11, 2025, for the 125th anniversary of the church’s consecration. Sant’Anselmo Church is part of a residential college and offices of the Benedictine Confederation, the governing body of the Order of St. Benedict. / Credit: Vatican Media

ACI Prensa Staff, Nov 12, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV on Tuesday celebrated Mass at a Benedictine monastery in Rome, where he urged the monks to confront modern challenges with prayer, study, and personal holiness.Sant’Anselmo Church, located on the Aventine Hill, was consecrated on Nov. 11, 1900. It is part of a residential college and offices of the Benedictine Confederation, the governing body of the Order of St. Benedict. St. Anselm was a Benedictine monk and doctor of the Church.Upon his arrival at Sant’Anselmo Church, Leo was welcomed by the abbot primate of the Benedictines, Jeremias Schröder, who symbolically handed over the keys of the church to the pope.The Holy Father recalled that the church was erected at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century, when Pope Leo XIII “was convinced that your ancient order could be of great help to the good of all God’s people at a time full of challenges.”“The monastery,” he continued, “has increasingly come to be seen as a place of growth, peace, hospitality, and unity, even during the darkest periods of history.”Turning to the present day, Leo reflected on the challenges of the modern world, which “provoke and question us, raising issues never before encountered.”He addressed the Benedictine monks directly, inviting them to respond to the demands of their vocation by “placing Christ at the center of our existence and our mission — beginning from that act of faith that leads us to recognize in him the Savior, and translating it into prayer, study, and the commitment of a holy life.”He urged the monks of the Aventine to become “a beating heart within the great body of the Benedictine world — with the church at its center, according to the teachings of St. Benedict.”“In the industrious hive of Sant’Anselmo,” he added, “may this be the place from which everything begins and to which everything returns to be verified, confirmed, and deepened before God.”The pope also reflected on the deeper meaning of the anniversary, saying that “the dedication marks the solemn moment in the history of a sacred building when it is consecrated to be a place of encounter between space and time, between the finite and the infinite, between man and God: an open door toward eternity, where the soul finds an answer to ‘the tension between the circumstances of the moment and the light of time, of the larger horizon … which opens us to the future as a final cause that attracts.’”He went on to recall the teaching of the Second Vatican Council in Sacrosanctum Concilium, a constitution on the sacred liturgy, which “describes all this in one of its most beautiful pages, when it defines the Church as ‘human and divine, visible yet endowed with invisible realities, zealous in action and dedicated to contemplation, present in the world and yet a pilgrim; … in such a way, however, that what is human in her is ordered and subordinated to the divine, the visible to the invisible, action to contemplation, the present reality to the future city toward which we are journeying.’”“This,” the pope said, “is the experience of our lives and of the lives of all men and women of this world — searching for that ultimate and fundamental answer that ‘neither flesh nor blood’ can reveal, but only the Father who is in heaven; ultimately, a need for Jesus, ‘the Christ, the Son of the living God.’”At the end of his homily, the Holy Father recalled that Jesus “is the one we are called to seek, and to him we are called to bring all those we meet — grateful for the gifts he has bestowed upon us, and above all for the love with which he has gone before us.”“Then this temple,” Leo XIV concluded, “will increasingly become a place of joy, where we experience the beauty of sharing with others what we have freely received.”This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/ris3666-1.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 13 Nov 2025 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, asks, Benedictines, confront, modern, challenges, with, prayer, study, holiness</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV: Fraternity is ‘one of the great challenges for contemporary humanity’</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-fraternity-is-one-of-the-great-challenges-for-contemporary-humanity</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-fraternity-is-one-of-the-great-challenges-for-contemporary-humanity</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV gives his apostolic blessing at the end of the general audience in St. Peter’s Square on Nov. 12, 2025. / Credit: Daniel Ibanez/CNA

Vatican City, Nov 12, 2025 / 08:00 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV reflected Wednesday on the world’s need for fraternity — a gift from Christ that frees us from selfishness and division.Fraternity “is without doubt one of the great challenges for contemporary humanity, as Pope Francis saw clearly,” the pope said during his general audience in St. Peter’s Square on Nov. 12.“The fraternity given by Christ, who died and rose again, frees us from the negative logic of selfishness, division, and arrogance,” he added.Continuing his meditations on Christ’s death and resurrection, Leo said “to believe in the death and resurrection of Christ and to live paschal spirituality imbues life with hope and encourages us to invest in goodness.”He observed that fraternity “cannot be taken for granted, it is not immediate. Many conflicts, many wars all over the world, social tensions and feelings of hatred would seem to prove the opposite.”Fraternity “is not a beautiful but impossible dream; it is not the desire of a deluded few,” he emphasized, inviting the faithful “to go to the source, and above all to draw light and strength from him who alone frees us from the poison of enmity.”The importance of relationshipsThe pope reflected that “fraternity stems from something deeply human. We are capable of relationship and, if we want, we are able to build authentic bonds between us. Without relationships, which support and enrich us from the very beginning of our life, we would not be able to survive, grow, or learn. They are manifold, varied in form and depth. But it is certain that our humanity is best fulfilled when we exist and live together, when we succeed in experiencing authentic, not formal, bonds with the people around us.”He warned that “if we turn in on ourselves, we risk falling ill with loneliness, and even a narcissism that is concerned with others only out of self-interest. The other is then reduced to someone from whom we can take, without ever being truly willing to give, to offer ourselves.”Recalling that “disagreement, division, and sometimes hatred can devastate even relationships between relatives, not only between strangers,” the pope cited St. Francis of Assisi’s greeting of “omnes fratres,” (“all brothers”) — “the inclusive way in which the saint placed all human beings on the same level, precisely because he recognized them in their common destiny of dignity, dialogue, welcome, and salvation.”Pope Leo XIV waves at the crowds gathered in St. Peter&#039;s Square for his general audience on Nov. 12, 2025. Credit: Daniel Ibanez/CNALeo noted that Pope Francis had reproposed this approach in his encyclical Fratelli Tutti, emphasizing that the word “tutti” — Italian for “everyone” — “expresses an essential feature of Christianity, which ever since the beginning has been the proclamation of the good news destined for the salvation of all, never in an exclusive or private form.”He explained that “this fraternity is based on Jesus’ commandment, which is new insofar as he accomplished it himself, the superabundant fulfillment of the will of the Father: Thanks to him, who loved us and gave himself for us, we can in turn love one another and give our lives for others, as children of the one Father and true brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ.”They weep and rejoice together“Brothers and sisters support each other in hardship, they do not turn their back on those who are in need, and they weep and rejoice together in the active pursuit of unity, trust, and mutual reliance,” the pope said. “The dynamic is that which Jesus himself gives to us: ‘Love one another as I have loved you’ (cf. John 15:12).”He concluded his general audience by reminding the faithful that “the fraternity given by Christ, who died and rose again, frees us from the negative logic of selfishness, division, and arrogance, and restores to us our original vocation, in the name of a love and a hope that are renewed every day. The Risen One has shown us the way to journey with him, to feel and to be ‘brothers and sisters all.’”This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/general-audience-nov.-12-2025-1.jpeg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 13 Nov 2025 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV:, Fraternity, ‘one, the, great, challenges, for, contemporary, humanity’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Vatican declares alleged apparitions of Jesus in France ‘not supernatural’</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/vatican-declares-alleged-apparitions-of-jesus-in-france-not-supernatural</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/vatican-declares-alleged-apparitions-of-jesus-in-france-not-supernatural</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. / Credit: Xosema (CC BY-SA 4.0)

ACI Prensa Staff, Nov 12, 2025 / 14:54 pm (CNA).
The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) has declared that the alleged apparitions of Jesus in Dozulé, France, do not have an authentic divine origin and are therefore “not supernatural.”The prefect of the dicastery, Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez, confirmed the declaration based on the Norms for Discerning Alleged Supernatural Phenomena in a document released Nov. 12 and addressed to the bishop of Bayeux-Lisieux, Jacques Habert.In 1972, Madeleine Aumont claimed that Jesus had appeared to her, asking the Church to build a giant “glorious cross” in Dozulé, next to a “shrine of reconciliation.” Furthermore, the alleged visionary claimed that Jesus had announced his “imminent” return.In the document, the Vatican authority notes that the alleged apparitions in the Normandy town “have elicited spiritual interest” but also “not a few controversies and difficulties of a doctrinal and pastoral nature” that require clarification.Only the cross of Jerusalem is the universal sign of the RedemptionFirst, the DDF clarifies that it is erroneous to compare the “glorious cross” with the “cross of Jerusalem,” as Aumont did after the fifth alleged apparition. The Vatican says that “that wood, raised upon Calvary, has become the real sign of Christ’s sacrifice, which is unique and unrepeatable” and that any other “sign” of the cross “cannot be considered on the same plane.”“To compare the cross requested at Dozulé with the cross of Jerusalem risks confusing the sign with the mystery and risks giving the impression that what Christ has accomplished once and for all could be ‘reproduced’ or ‘renewed’ in a physical sense,” the letter explains.In this context, the declaration clarifies that the power of the cross “does not need to be replicated, for it is already present in every Eucharist, in every church, in every believer who lives united to the sacrifice of Christ.” Thus, it warns against the risk of fostering a “material sacrality” that does not belong to the heart of Christianity.Fernández also cautioned against the risk of this cross becoming “a symbol of an autonomous message” and pointed out that “no cross, no relic, and no private apparition can replace the means of grace established by Christ” nor be considered a “universal obligation.”The cardinal emphasized that the cross is not merely a religious ornament: It is a sign that speaks to the heart. “Those who wear the cross around their neck or keep it in their home proclaim, even without words, that the crucified Christ is the center of their life and that every joy and sorrow finds its meaning in him.”Forgiveness comes from ChristThe letter emphasizes what it considers one of the most troubling claims: the reference to the “remission of sins” through contemplation of the Dozulé cross.Aumont went so far as to claim: “All those who will have come to repent at the foot of ‘the glorious cross’ [of Dozulé] will be saved.”The Vatican points out the theological error of these statements, which are “incompatible with the Catholic doctrine on salvation, grace, and the sacraments.” Fernández clarified that “no material object can replace sacramental grace” and that forgiveness comes from Christ through the sacrament of penance.Regarding the ‘imminent return of Christ’Regarding the warnings that Jesus allegedly revealed about his “imminent” return as the Risen One, Fernández pointed out that, although the return of Christ is a truth of faith, “no one can know or predict the precise date or its signs.”Consequently, the declaration states that the Church “remains alert against millenarian or chronological interpretations, which risk setting the time or determining the modalities for the final judgment.”“The danger of reducing Christian hope to an expectation of an imminent return with extraordinary events must be firmly avoided,” the text emphasizes.With these clarifications, the DDF concludes that the phenomenon of the alleged apparitions in Dozulé “is to be regarded, definitively, as not supernatural in origin, with all the consequences that flow from this determination.”This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/stpeters103.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 13 Nov 2025 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Vatican, declares, alleged, apparitions, Jesus, France, ‘not, supernatural’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV proposes 19th&#45;century Indian religious as a model of women’s emancipation</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-proposes-19th-century-indian-religious-as-a-model-of-womens-emancipation</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-proposes-19th-century-indian-religious-as-a-model-of-womens-emancipation</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  The beatification ceremony for Mother Elisva Vakha’i was held in the square in front of the Basilica-Shrine of Our Lady of Ransom in Vallarpadam, Kochi, Kerala, India, Nov. 8, 2025. / Credit: Congregation of the Teresian Discalced Carmelite Sisters; Daniel Ibañez/EWTN News

Vatican City, Nov 12, 2025 / 16:24 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV spoke of the beatification this week of Mother Elisva Vakha’i, a 19th-century Indian religious and founder of the Third Order of the Teresian Discalced Carmelites, highlighting her “courageous commitment to the emancipation of the poorest girls.”“The witness of Mother Elisva Vakha’i,” the pope affirmed during his greetings in Italian at the end of his general audience on Nov. 12, “is a source of inspiration for all who work in the Church and in society for the dignity of women.”The beatification ceremony on Nov. 8 was held in the square in front of the Basilica-Shrine of Our Lady of Ransom in Vallarpadam, Kochi, in the Indian state of Kerala, and was presided over by Cardinal Sebastian Francis, bishop of Penang, Malaysia.Before thousands of faithful and men and women religious from across the country, the cardinal emphasized that the new blessed represents “a beacon of hope” for all “consecrated women, for all mothers, and for all those who suffer in silence and yet choose to love,” according to Vatican News.A mother and widow called by GodBefore embracing religious life, Vakha’i was married and had a daughter. She decided to take religious vows after becoming a widow, an experience that profoundly shaped her vocation and endowed her with a special sensitivity to the needs of women in her time. In a society marked by rigid cultural and religious divisions, she recognized the dignity of every person and offered concrete opportunities for education and support.In the mid-19th century, she founded an orphanage and a primary school for the poorest and most marginalized young women. Her work was not limited to mere assistance: It was a genuine commitment to the integral formation of women; she was convinced that education was the key to the social recognition of their dignity and active participation in social and ecclesial life.A pioneer of consecrated life for women in IndiaVakha’i opened a new path for the women of Kerala, allowing them enter religious life in both the Latin and Syro-Malabar rites. Her project, deeply rooted in Carmelite and Teresian spirituality, united contemplation, service, prayer, and education.Her example inspired her own sister, Thresia, and her daughter, Anna, who joined her in founding the first Discalced Carmelite convent in Kerala in 1866, under the spiritual guidance of Italian Carmelite missionaries. Together, they fostered a community experience that, as Cardinal Francis emphasized in his homily during her beatification, anticipated ecclesial insights now associated with the synodal journey of the Church.An ‘inclusive” and ‘synodal’ visionDuring the homily at the beatification, the cardinal emphasized the “inclusive vision” of Vakha’i, with which she “was ahead of her time and is a true expression of synodality in action: walking together in communion.”The new blessed, he added, “shows the way” to the Church on its synodal journey “listening, discerning, and walking together.” The foundation of her “unwavering faith,” he affirmed, “lies in her spirituality, vision, and mission, all rooted in her identity as a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ through baptism, the very heart of synodality.”With the official recognition of her holiness, the Church proposes Vakha’i as a model of evangelical life embodied in service to the poor, in the promotion of women, and in the building of fraternal communities.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/indianblessed.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Thu, 13 Nov 2025 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, proposes, 19th-century, Indian, religious, model, women’s, emancipation</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV warns AI could fuel ‘antihuman ideologies’ in medicine</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-warns-ai-could-fuel-antihuman-ideologies-in-medicine</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-warns-ai-could-fuel-antihuman-ideologies-in-medicine</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV addresses pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square for his Sunday Angelus on Nov. 9, 2025, at the Vatican. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Nov 10, 2025 / 16:06 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV warned Monday that artificial intelligence could exacerbate “antihuman ideologies” in medicine as Catholic doctors and moral theologians raise alarms about the future of AI in health care.In a message on Nov. 10 to an international congress on “Artificial Intelligence and Medicine: The Challenge of Human Dignity,” hosted by the Pontifical Academy for Life, the pope said that ensuring “true progress” in medicine depends on keeping the dignity of every human at the forefront.“It is easy to recognize the destructive potential of technology and even medical research when they are placed at the service of antihuman ideologies,” Leo XIV said.Leo added that those responsible for integrating AI into medicine must remember that “health care professionals have the vocation and responsibility to be guardians and servants of human life, especially in its most vulnerable stages.”“Indeed, the greater the fragility of human life, the greater the nobility required of those entrusted with its care,” he said.The pope’s message came a day after another of his statements on the ethics of AI led to controversy on the social media platform X. Tech billionaire Marc Andreessen posted a mocking reference to Leo’s call on the AI industry “to develop systems that reflect justice, solidarity, and a genuine reverence for life.” After a pileup of critical replies, Andreessen apparently deleted his own post.Pro-life concerns over AI billing in medical insurance  The pope’s remarks on Monday come amid growing concern among Catholic doctors about how artificial intelligence could shape access to care and respect for human dignity in health care systems worldwide.Dr. Kathleen Berchelmann, a pediatrician and founder of My Catholic Doctor, a telehealth network that connects families seeking Catholic care with like-minded providers, told CNA she is alarmed by how insurance companies are deploying AI in the U.S.She said AI-driven billing systems are “further pushing pro-life health care providers out of the insurance market to the self-pay market, reducing access to pro-life health care in America.”“What I see in AI and health care is a technology arms race,” Berchelmann said. “And unfortunately, the people with the big money have higher tech, and … that’s the insurance companies. That’s United Health Care, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Elevance Health, Aetna, Cigna. … These are the companies that are putting billions into utilization management, which means denials.”On Oct. 1, Aetna and Cigna implemented AI-automated payments nationwide, a move that has led to what critics call “downcoding,” where insurers automatically downgrade doctors’ claims to lower reimbursement levels without reviewing visit details.“In particular, in pro-life health care, we’re seeing automatic downcoding because restorative reproductive medicine, which is health care that finds root cause of infertility and treats the root cause, takes more time than a brief workup and a referral to IVF,” Berchelmann said.“That extended time requires a higher coding. But if I do a real quick workup, I can build a lower code for that. So the predictive AI doesn’t recognize that I’m doing a better job in finding root cause of disease,” she added.Berchelmann said she sees “tremendous potential for AI in terms of diagnostic capacity and clinical use” and hopes predictive models will demonstrate that “pro-life health care is so much cheaper than IVF.” But for now, she said, “insurance companies, employers paying for health care, and pharmaceutical companies with insurance, are all heavily using AI to not pay for your care.” In his message, Pope Leo acknowledged the influence of economic interests in health care and technology. “Given the vast economic interests often at stake in the fields of medicine and technology, and the subsequent fight for control, it is essential to promote a broad collaboration among all those working in health care and politics that extends well beyond national borders,” the pope said.  AI not a substitute for ‘human encounter’ in medicine Pope Leo underlined that “technological devices must never detract from the personal relationship between patients and health care providers.”“If AI is to serve human dignity and the effective provision of health care, we must ensure that it truly enhances both interpersonal relationships and the care provided,” he said.Leo described the new technological advancements brought by AI as “more pervasive” than those brought by the industrial revolution, noting their potential to alter “our understanding of situations and how we perceive ourselves and others.”“We currently interact with machines as if they were interlocutors, and thus become almost an extension of them,” he said. “In this sense, we not only run the risk of losing sight of the faces of the people around us but of forgetting how to recognize and cherish all that is truly human.” The three-day Vatican conference on AI and medicine, running Nov. 10–12, is one of several in recent months addressing the ethics of AI — an issue Pope Leo XIV has signaled will be a priority in his pontificate.At the Builders AI Forum in Rome last week, which addressed the challenge of AI for Catholics and Catholic institutions in a variety of fields, medical school professors, health care company executives, insurance company directors, medical chaplains, and entrepreneurs in the field came together to discuss and debate the future of AI in Catholic health care. Louis Kim, the former vice president of personal systems and AI at HP, shared that the consensus among these professionals at the end of the forum was that “AI may assist but must never substitute for human encounter [in Catholic health care] and must remain clearly identifiable as non-human so that the pastoral and sacramental integrity of care is preserved.” Daniel J. Daly, executive director of the Center for Theology and Ethics in Catholic Health and an associate professor of moral theology at Boston College, told CNA he is concerned that if AI models used in Catholic hospitals are only trained to maximize “efficiency and profit” it could lead to “a massive failure for Catholic health care.” “What I worry about is that what could happen in health care is that AI replaces that embodied witness to the kingdom of God,” Daly said. “That can never happen in Catholic health care, because Catholic health care is not just about medicine. It’s also about Jesus Christ and witnessing to his healing ministry that we see in the Scripture.” “I think the most important thing is that whatever the AI does, that it frees us to do the works of mercy, it doesn’t free us from the works of mercy,” he added. “That is, it doesn’t replace the embodied care and ministerial care that we provide through medicine.”  ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/popeleoxivangelus111025.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 12 Nov 2025 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, warns, could, fuel, ‘antihuman, ideologies’, medicine</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Vatican releases ‘Leo from Chicago’ biopic</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/vatican-releases-leo-from-chicago-biopic</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/vatican-releases-leo-from-chicago-biopic</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Image from trailer of the documentary biopic “Leo from Chicago.” / Credit: Vatican Media

ACI Prensa Staff, Nov 10, 2025 / 17:26 pm (CNA).
The Vatican has officially released the documentary “Leo from Chicago” about the life of Pope Leo XIV in the United States, coinciding with the sixth month of the pontificate of the first American and Peruvian pope in the history of the Catholic Church.The documentary premiered Nov. 10 at 4 p.m. Rome time and was screened at the Vatican Film Library for journalists accredited to the Holy See Press Office. At 6 p.m. Rome time it was published on the Vatican News YouTube channels in English, Italian, and Spanish, according to a statement from the Dicastery for Communication.The documentary was produced by the Dicastery for Communication in collaboration with the Archdiocese of Chicago and the Apostolado El Sembrador Nueva Evangelización (The Sower New Evangelization Apostolate.)The project was led by journalists Deborah Castellano Lubov, Salvatore Cernuzio, and Felipe Herrera-Espaliat, with editing by Jaime Vizcaíno Haro. It shows various locations, including the Dolton neighborhood in suburban Chicago where the pope lived with his family, and features the memories and stories of the Holy Father’s brothers, Louis Martin and John Prevost.Also featured are the offices, schools, and parishes run by the Augustinians, the Catholic Theological Union study center, and places frequented by Robert Prevost, such as Aurelio’s Pizza and Rate Field, the White Sox baseball stadium.The overview includes scenes from Villanova University near Philadelphia and Port Charlotte, Florida, where the pope’s older brother lives.The documentary features some 30 testimonies from people who knew Leo XIV in his childhood and youth; for example, when he marched in Washington, D.C., to support the pro-life cause. “Leo from Chicago” is the documentary that follows “Leo from Peru,” released in June, about the pope’s years in the South American country.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/leo.from.chicago.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 12 Nov 2025 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Vatican, releases, ‘Leo, from, Chicago’, biopic</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>‘The Sound of Music’ and ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ among Pope Leo XIV’s favorite films</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/the-sound-of-music-and-its-a-wonderful-life-among-pope-leo-xivs-favorite-films</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/the-sound-of-music-and-its-a-wonderful-life-among-pope-leo-xivs-favorite-films</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV blesses a baby in St. Peter’s Square during his general audience on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025, at the Vatican. / Credit: Vatican Media

ACI Prensa Staff, Nov 10, 2025 / 18:32 pm (CNA).
The Vatican has revealed the names of Pope Leo XIV’s favorite films, including “The Sound of Music” and “It’s a Wonderful Life,” upon announcing the Holy Father’s upcoming meeting with the world of cinema on Saturday, Nov. 15.In total, the Vatican shared four titles of the “most significant films” for Leo XIV:‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ (1946) by Frank CapraThe Christmas classic stars James Stewart as George Bailey, a man who has sacrificed his dreams because of his sense of responsibility and generosity but feeling like a failure, he contemplates suicide on Christmas Eve. This prompts the intervention of his guardian angel (Henry Travers), who shows him all the good he has done for many people. ‘The Sound of Music’ (1965) by Robert WiseThe film tells the story of a postulant at a convent in Austria in 1938.  After discerning out, the postulant (Julie Andrews) is sent to the home of Captain Von Trapp, a widowed retired naval officer (Christopher Plummer) to be the governess of his seven children. After bringing love and music to the Von Trapp family, she eventually marries the captain. As Von Tapp refuses to accept a commission in the Nazi navy, the family is forced to leave Austria in a dramatic escape. ‘Ordinary People’ (1980) by Robert RedfordThe film tells the story of the breakdown of a wealthy Illinois family after the death of one son in an accident and the suicide attempt of the other. It stars Donald Sutherland, Mary Tyler Moore, Judd Hirsch, and Timothy Hutton.‘Life Is Beautiful’ (1997) by Roberto BenigniIn this film, Benigni — whose father spent two years in a prisoner-of-war camp — plays Guido Orefice, an Italian Jewish bookstore owner who uses his imagination to protect his young son from the horrors of a Nazi concentration camp during World War II.Nov. 15 meeting with the world of cinema The meeting will take place on Saturday, Nov. 15, at 11 a.m. Rome time in the Apostolic Palace of Vatican City, according to a statement from the Dicastery for Culture and Education, in collaboration with the Vatican Museums.The event follows previous meetings with the world of visual arts (June 2023), comedy (June 2024), and the Jubilee of Artists and the World of Culture in February of this year.The Vatican statement highlights that Pope Leo XIV “has expressed his desire to deepen the dialogue with the world of cinema, and in particular with actors and directors, exploring the possibilities that artistic creativity offers to the mission of the Church and the promotion of human values.”Actors and directors the pope will meetAmong those who have already confirmed their participation are the Italian actresses Monica Bellucci, famous for her role as Mary Magdalene in Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ,” and Maria Grazia Cucinotta (“Il Postino” and “The World Is Not Enough.”)Also joining the Holy Father will be, among others, American actress Cate Blanchett (“The Lord of the Rings,” “The Aviator”), the African-American director Spike Lee, the director Gus Van Sant (“Good Will Hunting,” “Elephant”), the Australian director George Miller, creator of the Mad Max saga, and the Italian Giuseppe Tornatore, director of “Cinema Paradiso,” for which he won the Oscar for best foreign film in 1989.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/popeleobaby110525.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 12 Nov 2025 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>‘The, Sound, Music’, and, ‘It’s, Wonderful, Life’, among, Pope, Leo, XIV’s, favorite, films</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Soldier&#45;turned&#45;bishop St. Martin of Tours celebrated Nov. 11</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/soldier-turned-bishop-st-martin-of-tours-celebrated-nov-11</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/soldier-turned-bishop-st-martin-of-tours-celebrated-nov-11</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  St. Martin of Tours sharing his cloak with a beggar by François Joseph Thomas De Backer. / Credit: François Joseph Thomas De Backer, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

CNA Staff, Nov 11, 2025 / 04:00 am (CNA).
On Nov. 11, the Catholic Church honors St. Martin of Tours, who left his post in the Roman army to become a “soldier of Christ.”Martin was born around the year 316 in modern-day Hungary. His family left that region for Italy when his father, a military official of the Roman Empire, was transferred there. Martin’s parents were pagans, but he felt an attraction to the Catholic faith, which had become legal throughout the empire in 313. He received religious instruction at age 10 and even considered becoming a hermit in the desert.Circumstances, however, forced Martin to join the Roman army at age 15, when he had not even received baptism. Martin strove to live a humble and upright life in the military, giving away much of his pay to the poor. His generosity led to a life-changing incident, when he encountered a man freezing without warm clothing near a gate at the city of Amiens in Gaul.As his fellow soldiers passed by the man, Martin stopped and cut his own cloak into two halves with his sword, giving one half to the freezing beggar. That night, the unbaptized soldier saw Christ in a dream, wearing the half-cloak he had given to the poor man. Jesus declared: “Martin, a catechumen, has clothed me with this garment.”Martin knew that the time for him to join the Church had arrived. After his baptism, he remained in the army for two years but desired to give his life to God more fully than the profession would allow. But when he finally asked for permission to leave the Roman army, during an invasion by the Germans, Martin was accused of cowardice.He responded by offering to stand before the enemy forces unarmed. “In the name of the Lord Jesus, and protected not by a helmet and buckler but by the sign of the cross, I will thrust myself into the thickest squadrons of the enemy without fear.”But this display of faith became unnecessary when the Germans sought peace instead, and Martin received his discharge.After living as a Catholic for some time, Martin traveled to meet Bishop Hilary of Poitiers, a skilled theologian and later canonized saint. Martin’s dedication to the faith impressed the bishop, who asked the former soldier to return to his diocese after he had undertaken a journey back to Hungary to visit his parents. While there, Martin persuaded his mother, though not his father, to join the Church.In the meantime, however, Hilary had provoked the anger of the Arians, a group that denied Jesus was God. This resulted in the bishop’s banishment, so Martin could not return to his diocese as intended. Instead he spent some time living a life of severe asceticism, which almost resulted in his death. The two met up again in 360, when Hilary’s banishment from Poitiers ended.After their reunion, Hilary granted Martin a piece of land to build what may have been the first monastery in the region of Gaul. During the resulting decade as a monk, Martin became renowned for raising two people from the dead through his prayers. This evidence of his holiness led to his appointment as the third bishop of Tours in the middle of present-day France.Martin had not wanted to become a bishop and had actually been tricked into leaving his monastery in the first place by those who wanted him to the lead the local Church. Once appointed, he continued to live as a monk, dressing plainly and owning no personal possessions. In this same spirit of sacrifice, he traveled throughout his diocese, from which he is said to have driven out pagan practices.Both the Church and the Roman Empire passed through a time of upheaval during Martin’s tenure as bishop. Priscillianism, a heresy involving salvation through a system of secret knowledge, caused such serious problems in Spain and Gaul that civil authorities sentenced the heretics to death. But Martin, along with the pope and St. Ambrose of Milan, opposed this death sentence for the Priscillianists.Even in old age, Martin continued to live an austere life focused on the care of souls. His disciple and biographer, St. Sulpicius Severus, noted that the bishop helped all people with their moral, intellectual, and spiritual problems. He also helped many discover their calling to the consecrated life.Martin foresaw his own death and told his disciples of it. But when his last illness came upon him during a pastoral journey, he felt uncertain about leaving his people.“Lord, if I am still necessary to thy people, I refuse no labor. Thy holy will be done,” he prayed. He developed a fever but did not sleep, passing his last several nights in the presence of God in prayer.“Allow me, my brethren, to look rather toward heaven than upon the earth, that my soul may be directed to take its flight to the Lord to whom it is going,” he told his followers, shortly before he died in November 397.St. Martin of Tours has historically been among the most beloved saints in the history of Europe. In a 2007 Angelus address, Pope Benedict XVI expressed his hope “that all Christians may be like St. Martin, generous witnesses of the Gospel of love and tireless builders of jointly responsible sharing.”This story was first published on Oct. 6, 2011, and has been updated. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/stmartinoftours111025.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 12 Nov 2025 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Soldier-turned-bishop, St., Martin, Tours, celebrated, Nov.</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Vatican confirms investigation into alleged antisemitic act of Swiss Guard</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/vatican-confirms-investigation-into-alleged-antisemitic-act-of-swiss-guard</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/vatican-confirms-investigation-into-alleged-antisemitic-act-of-swiss-guard</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Swiss Guards and faithful pilgrims holding olive branches line the processional route in St. Peter’s Square for Palm Sunday celebrations, April 13, 2025. The ancient Vatican obelisk stands at the center of the square as clergy process toward the basilica. / Credit: Bénédicte Cedergren/EWTN News

Vatican City, Nov 11, 2025 / 09:30 am (CNA).
The Pontifical Swiss Guard this week opened an internal investigation to clarify an alleged act of antisemitism committed by one of its guards against two Jewish women in St. Peter’s Square, the Vatican confirmed. “The Pontifical Swiss Guard received a complaint regarding an incident that occurred at one of the entrances to Vatican City State in which elements interpreted as antisemitic were allegedly detected,” Holy See Press Office Director Matteo Bruni stated on Monday.The reported incident took place during Pope Leo XIV’s Oct. 29 general audience commemorating the 60th anniversary of Nostra Aetate, the 1965 declaration on the Church’s relations with non-Christian religions.According to a Nov. 7 report published in Italian newspaper La Repubblica, Israeli writer and theater director Michal Govrin said a Swiss Guard “hissed at” her and a female colleague, saying “les juifs, the Jews,” before “making a gesture of spitting in our direction with obvious contempt.”The two women were part of an international Jewish delegation in Rome to participate in Nostra Aetate anniversary celebrations, which included the Oct. 29 audience with Pope Leo in St. Peter’s Square.During that audience dedicated to interreligious dialogue, Pope Leo XIV emphasized that “the Church does not tolerate acts of antisemitism in any form” and reiterated “the Holy See’s commitment to friendship and respect towards our elder brothers in faith.”According to the Vatican’s preliminary investigation, the complaint stems from “a dispute that arose regarding a request for a photograph while on duty.” Members of the Pontifical Swiss Guard are strictly prohibited from taking photographs with tourists or pilgrims while on duty.Bruni on Monday explained that “the case is currently the subject of an internal verification procedure” and that this process “is being carried out in accordance with the principles of discretion and impartiality, in compliance with current regulations.”Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Swiss Guard, Eliah Cinotti, also confirmed that the alleged antisemitic incident involved “a photo taken at a duty station” in St. Peter’s Square.“The case remains under internal investigation,” Cinotti explained to ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. “There will be no further comments on the matter,” as the proceedings must remain “confidential,” he added.In a Nov. 10 statement given to The Catholic Herald, Cinotti said: “The Pontifical Swiss Guard firmly distances itself from any expression or act of antisemitism.” ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/250413-palm-sunday-benedicte-cedergren-16.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 12 Nov 2025 18:00:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Vatican, confirms, investigation, into, alleged, antisemitic, act, Swiss, Guard</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV meets with 15 abuse survivors at the Vatican</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-meets-with-15-abuse-survivors-at-the-vatican</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-meets-with-15-abuse-survivors-at-the-vatican</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV in St. Peter&#039;s Square at the Vatican on November 5, 2025. / Vatican Media

Vatican City, Nov 8, 2025 / 15:00 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV met on Saturday with 15 survivors of clergy sexual abuse in a meeting marked by dialogue, listening, and prayer, according to the Holy See Press Office.The encounter, described as one of “closeness with the victims, of deep and painful listening and dialogue,” lasted nearly three hours. The meeting concluded with “an intense moment of prayer” shared between the pope and the survivors.This was the second time in less than three weeks that Leo has met at the Vatican with victims of clerical abuse. On Oct. 20, he received four survivors and two representatives of the international coalition Ending Clergy Abuse, which brings together victims and advocates from more than 30 countries. That earlier meeting lasted about an hour and was described by participants as a “deeply meaningful conversation.”This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/tre8240.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 09 Nov 2025 18:00:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, meets, with, abuse, survivors, the, Vatican</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV: We should allow ‘ourselves to be challenged’ by those who suffer</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-we-should-allow-ourselves-to-be-challenged-by-those-who-suffer</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-we-should-allow-ourselves-to-be-challenged-by-those-who-suffer</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV receives members of the Religious of Jesus and Mary, founded by St. Claudine Thévenet, and the Missionary Sisters of St. Charles Borromeo, known as the Scalabrinians, in the consistory hall at the Vatican on Nov. 6, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Nov 7, 2025 / 08:00 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV said we should “allow ourselves to be challenged” by the presence of those who suffer “without fear of abandoning our own security” during an audience this week with the general chapters of two women’s religious congregations with strong missionary outreaches.The two orders present were the Religious of Jesus and Mary, founded by St. Claudine Thévenet, and the Missionary Sisters of St. Charles Borromeo, known as the Scalabrinians, who are dedicated to the pastoral care of migrants and refugees.During his Nov. 6 address at the Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father noted that both congregations, though they originated in different circumstances, were founded “out of the same love for the poor.”Specifically, he noted that St. Claudine Thévenet and the Religious of Jesus and Mary served “young women in difficult situations,” while St. Giovanni Battista Scalabrini, Blessed Assunta Marchetti, and Venerable Don Giuseppe Marchetti, founders of the Scalabrinians, served migrants. The pope urged the sisters to spend these days “humbly listening to God and in courageous attention to the needs of others.”“This requires courage, so as to let ourselves be challenged by the presence of those who suffer, without fear of abandoning our own security, and to venture, if the Lord asks it, onto new paths,” he noted.The pope also highlighted the profound harmony between the guiding themes chosen by both congregations for their chapters: “Jesus himself drew near” (Lk 24:15) for the Religious of Jesus and Mary, and “Wherever you go, I will go” (Ruth 1:16) for the Scalabrinian missionaries.“These are complementary themes,” the pope affirmed, “because they express the dynamics of your foundations. Indeed, they bring together God’s initiative and our response.”‘The most important insights are gained on our knees’“During these days,” the pope said, “may he always be at the center. Give plenty of space, then, to prayer and silence throughout the course of your work … the most important insights are gained ‘on our knees,’ and what matures in the meeting rooms of the chapter needs to be sown and sifted before the tabernacle and in listening to the word.”The Holy Father emphasized that listening to God and listening to one another are inseparable. “Only by listening to the Lord,” he affirmed, “do we learn to truly listen to one another.”Pope Leo also recalled the difficult circumstances in which both institutes were founded: the French Revolution for the Religious of Jesus and Mary, and an era of mass emigration for the Scalabrinians.“None of them backed down or became discouraged,” the pontiff emphasized, “even in the face of the difficulties that arose after their foundations.”He pointed out that the secret of such fidelity lies precisely in the “encounter with the risen Jesus. That is where it all began for them and also for you. That is where we begin and from where we start again, when necessary, in order to carry on with courage and tenacity in spending ourselves in charity,” he encouraged.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/popenuns.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 08 Nov 2025 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV:, should, allow, ‘ourselves, challenged’, those, who, suffer</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV calls on Catholics to lead in ethical AI development</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-calls-on-catholics-to-lead-in-ethical-ai-development</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-calls-on-catholics-to-lead-in-ethical-ai-development</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Pope Leo XIV greets pilgrims during his general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025 / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

Vatican City, Nov 7, 2025 / 14:41 pm (CNA).
The story of a mother whose son committed suicide after interacting with a chatbot moved participants at an AI conference in Rome on Friday, underscoring what Pope Leo XIV described earlier in the day as Catholics’ moral and spiritual responsibility for the development of artificial intelligence (AI).An MIT researcher nearly broke down in tears as he recounted the experience of the woman, Megan Garcia, who herself took part in the conference and spoke there to experts in robotics and AI.“I apologize for being so emotional because it is so emotional,” said Jose J. Pacheco, co-director of the MIT Advanced Manufacturing and Design Program, speaking at the Builders AI Forum at the Pontifical Gregorian University on Nov. 7. He said Garcia&#039;s story illustrated “how urgent this conversation needs to be, how urgent this conversation is, and how much responsibility we have.”In a message to the conference, which was read aloud to participants on Friday morning, Leo said the development of AI “cannot be confined to research labs or investment portfolios. It must be a profoundly ecclesial endeavor.”He urged all AI creators to “cultivate moral discernment” and put technology at the service of every human person.AI, the pope wrote, “carries an ethical and spiritual weight” because “every design choice expresses a vision of humanity.” He called on builders of AI “to develop systems that reflect justice, solidarity, and a genuine reverence for life.”The Builders Artificial Intelligence Forum met on Nov. 7, 2025 in the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, Italy. Credit: Courtney Mares / CNA“Whether designing algorithms for Catholic education, tools for compassionate health care, or creative platforms that tell the Christian story with truth and beauty, each participant contributes to a shared mission: to place technology at the service of evangelization and the integral development of every person,” Leo XIV said.The two-day Builders AI Forum brought together Catholic ethicists, entrepreneurs, educators, technology experts, and health care professionals from more than 160 organizations across the United States, Europe, Latin America, Asia, and the Vatican. Hosted by the Pontifical Gregorian University and sponsored by Longbeard, the company behind the Catholic chatbot Magisterium AI, the event aimed to form an interdisciplinary community to guide AI innovation through the lens of Catholic social teaching.In small working groups, participants discussed AI’s impact on education, health care, and business. Educators debated how much children should interact with chatbots, while health care experts questioned what the “essential role of a human” in medicine could be in an increasingly automated system.On the sidelines of the conference, young Catholic entrepreneurs pitched new AI tools and applications to potential investors, and professors exchanged ideas with practitioners over cappuccinos. Despite differences in opinion, participants broadly agreed that Catholics — with their intellectual and ethical tradition and focus on human dignity — must help shape AI’s future.Josh Thomason, CEO of TrekAI, an Atlanta-based Catholic tutoring startup, said he attended to “come together with like-minded believers to think together about where we are today and how we iterate towards what that future is.” He added that “it is critical that people of faith are ultimately working in this space to shape it.”John Johnson, CEO of Patmos Hosting and the Albertus Magnus Institute in California, urged participants to offer a “human alternative” to the commodification of people by technology.“Every tech company that invented this technology … has the same exact product and that’s you, and that’s me,” Johnson said. “The Church … is called to stand up and very aggressively, even triumphantly, pronounce … the transcendent alternative to the commodification of the human person.”Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope and a former mathematics major, has made ethical technology one of the key priorities of his papacy. He said he chose his papal name in part to honor Pope Leo XIII, who addressed the challenges of the industrial revolution in his encyclical Rerum Novarum.“In our own day,” Leo said shortly after his election in May, “the Church offers to everyone the treasury of her social teaching in response to another industrial revolution and to developments in the field of artificial intelligence that pose new challenges for the defense of human dignity, justice, and labor.”Leo XIV praised the Builders AI Forum for fostering “dialogue between faith and reason renewed in the digital epoch,” saying that “intelligence — whether artificial or human — finds its fullest meaning in love, freedom, and relationship with God.” ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/251022-ga-daniel-ibanez-1.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 08 Nov 2025 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, calls, Catholics, lead, ethical, development</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV highlights role of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Blessed Juan de Palafox in Mexico</title>
<link>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-highlights-role-of-our-lady-of-guadalupe-blessed-juan-de-palafox-in-mexico</link>
<guid>https://ofw.today/pope-leo-xiv-highlights-role-of-our-lady-of-guadalupe-blessed-juan-de-palafox-in-mexico</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ 
  
  Blessed Juan de Palafox y Mendoza and Our Lady of Guadalupe. / Credit: Public domain

ACI Prensa Staff, Nov 7, 2025 / 15:11 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV praised the missionary work of the Church in Mexico throughout history, inspired by the message of Our Lady of Guadalupe and the example of Blessed Juan de Palafox y Mendoza.In a message addressed to the participants of the 17th National Missionary Congress of Mexico, being held in Puebla Nov. 7–9, the Holy Father noted that the greatest privilege and duty of missionaries is “to bring Christ to the heart of every person.”Taking a closer look at missionary work, the pope offered the parable of the yeast from the Gospel of Matthew: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch was leavened” (Mt 13:33).In light of this verse, the pope explained that the “leaven of the Gospel” arrived in Mexico in the hands of a few missionaries: “These were the hands of the Church, which began to knead the leaven they carried with them — the deposit of faith — with the new flour of a continent that did not yet know the name of Christ.”The Holy Father noted that the Gospel “did not erase what it found but transformed it,” until it “took root in their hearts and blossomed into works of unique holiness and beauty.”Legacy of Our Lady of Guadalupe and Blessed Juan de Palafox y MendozaThe pope referred to the message of the Virgin Mary on Tepeyac Hill as “a sign of perfect inculturation” that God bestowed upon the Church, and noted that the message of Guadalupe provided “missionary momentum” for the first evangelizers, who “faithfully took up the task of doing what Christ commanded.”He also highlighted the figure of Blessed Juan de Palafox y Mendoza, whom he described as a “pastor and missionary who understood his ministry as service and leaven.”The Holy Father recalled his visit to Puebla as prior general of the Order of St. Augustine, where, he stated, the figure of Blessed Juan “remained alive in the memory of the people of Puebla; his [spiritual] fatherhood had left such a profound mark that it is still felt today in the simple faith of the faithful.”Palafox served as bishop of Puebla in the mid-1600s. For the pontiff, the example of the bishop challenges pastors today, “for it teaches that to govern is to serve, that to provide serious formation is to evangelize, and that all authority, when exercised according to the criteria of Christ, becomes a source of communion and hope.”Furthermore, as the pope pointed out, in his life and writings Palafox “shows that the true missionary does not dominate but loves; does not impose but serves; and does not exploit faith for personal gain.”Looking at the present, he lamented that “social divisions, the challenges of new technologies, and sincere desires for peace continue to be ground together like new flours that risk being fermented with bad yeast.”Therefore, he emphasized that today’s missionaries are called to be “the hands of the Church that place the leaven of the risen Lord in the dough of history, so that hope may be fermented anew.”“We must be willing to put our hands into the dough of the world! It is not enough to talk about the flour without getting our hands messed up; we must touch it,” he emphasized. He added: “This is how the kingdom will grow — not by force or numbers but by the patience of those who, with faith and love, continue kneading alongside God.”At the end of his message, the pope noted that the Catholic Church in Mexico “strives to live this call of Christ fully” and thus thanked the missionaries for their dedication.“May the Lord Jesus make all your initiatives fruitful and may Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Star of Evangelization, always accompany you with her motherly tenderness, showing you the way that leads to God,” he prayed.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/guada.palafox.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 08 Nov 2025 18:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, highlights, role, Our, Lady, Guadalupe, Blessed, Juan, Palafox, Mexico</media:keywords>
</item>

</channel>
</rss>