Catholic News

• The Spirit opens borders in our hearts, Pope Leo preaches on Pentecost Sunday (CWN)
  Citing a Pentecost homily by Pope Benedict XVI, Pope Leo emphasized in his own Pentecost Sunday homily on June 8 that the Holy Spirit “opens borders, first of all, in our hearts.”
• Leo XIV reflects on faith of Nicaea, date of Easter (Vatican Press Office)
  Pope Leo XIV address participants in a conference on the Council of Nicaea organized by the International Orthodox Theological Association and the Angelicum’s Institute for Ecumenical Studies. The Pontiff reflected on three themes of the conference: the faith of Nicaea, synodality, and the date of Easter. “The Council of Nicaea is not merely an event of the past but a compass that must continue to guide us towards the full visible unity of Christians,” he said in his June 7 address, adding: I am convinced that by returning to the Council of Nicaea and drawing together from this common source, we will be able to see in a different light the points that still separate us. Through theological dialogue and with the help of God, we will gain a better understanding of the mystery that unites us. By celebrating together this Nicene faith and by proclaiming it together, we will also advance towards the restoration of full communion among us.
• Rupnik art quietly removed from Vatican web site (Crux)
  Artwork by the disgraced Father Marko Rupnik, which had appeared regularly on the web sites of the Vatican communications department, was quietly removed this past weekend. No explanation has been given. The persistent display of Rupnik’s work, despite his record of sexual and spiritual abuse, had prompted protests for several months. Last year the Vatican communications office had dismissed those protests. This year an online complaint by writer Amy Wellborn was quickly followed by the removal of the works.
• Holy Seek workers must seek holiness, Pope says (Vatican News)
  June 9 marked the Jubilee of the Holy See, and Pope Leo XIV led a procession of Vatican employees through the Holy Door of St. Peter’s basilica. In his remarks to the group the Pope said that “the best way to serve the Holy See is to strive to be holy, each of us according to his or her state of life and the task entrusted.” Reflecting of the work of the Holy See, the Pontiff called attention to the “two poles” of the Church: Marian and Petrine. “It is the Marian one that ensures the fruitfulness and holiness of the Petrine one, through her motherhood, gift of Christ and the Spirit.”
• The Holy Spirit gives us one synodal evangelizing mission, Pope tells ecclesial movements (CWN)
  Preaching during a Pentecost vigil to an estimated 70,000 pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Leo XIV told members of ecclesial movements that “at Pentecost, Mary, the Apostles, and the disciples with them received a Spirit of unity, which forever grounded in the one Lord Jesus Christ all their diversity.”
• Pontiff to visit Argentina, president's office says after Milei meets with Pope (CWN)
  Pope Leo XIV received President Javier Milei of Argentina in a June 7 audience.
• Papal nuncio in Ukraine reports on country's distress (Vatican News)
  Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas, the apostolic nuncio serving in Ukraine, told Vatican News that he had enjoyed a “very consoling meeting” with Pope Leo to brief the Pontiff on the country’s situation. Archbishop Kulbokas stressed that his meeting with the Pontiff had been prayerful. “I want to emphasize this,” he said, “because prayer is our main weapon.” Regarding the continued fighting, the archbishop said: “If, in the 21st century, the international community is unable to defend either international humanitarian law or international law itself, this is a great tragedy.”
• South African bishops' official disputes President Trump's white genocide claim (Crux)
  Mike Pothier, program manager of the Southern Africa Bishops’ Conference’s Catholic Parliamentary Liaison Office, disputed President Donald Trump’s recent claims about a white genocide in South Africa. The president made the claims made during a recent bilateral meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. “I was struck firstly by the rudeness and opportunism of Trump in surprising Ramaphosa with these videos and photos,” said Pothier. “It was soon clear that much of what Trump put forward as ‘facts’ concerning the murder of white farmers in South Africa was either completely false or highly exaggerated.”
• Renewed papal prayer for peace in Regina Caeli address (Vatican Press Office)
  Pope Leo XIV concluded his Pentecost Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square with a brief Regina Caeli address. After thanking those present at the Mass and noting the end of the school year in many places, the Pope said: Now, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, let us ask from the Holy Spirit the gift of peace. First of all, peace in our hearts, for only a peaceful heart can spread peace in the family, society and international relations. May the Spirit of the risen Christ open paths of reconciliation wherever there is war; may he enlighten those who govern and give them the courage to make gestures of de-escalation and dialogue.
• Take action on VP's impeachment, Philippine prelate urges Senate (CBCP News)
  In February, the Philippine House of Representatives impeached Vice President Sara Duterte on culpable violation of the Constitution and other charges. Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo, president of Caritas Philippines, said that the impeachment trial in the Senate “must no longer be delayed. We call on our leaders to act with the highest sense of urgency.” The Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines also urged the Senate to proceed with the trial.
• German bishop who refused involvement in Synodal Committee resigns at 70 (CWN)
  Pope Leo has accepted the resignation of Bishop Gregor Maria Hanke, OSB, from the office of bishop of Eichstätt. The prelate is 70, five years younger than the customary retirement age for bishops.
• African cardinal says US aid is needed and effective (Wall Street Journal)
  In an op-ed column appearing in the Wall Street Journal, Cardinal Fridolin Ambogo of Kinshasa, the president of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar, argues that American foreign aid “is urgently needed, morally good, and of great strategic value to the US.” Cardinal Ambongo concedes that Americans “are right to be concerned about the proper use of their limited resources.” He also insists that aid should not be linked to ideological crusades—notably for population control.
• Pope welcomes lay movements, different charisms (Vatican Press Office)
  Pope Leo XIV met on June 6 with leaders of lay movements, who were gathered in Rome for a conference organized by the Dicastery for Laity, Family, and Life. The Pope said that the Church welcomes lay organizations, which present opportunities for Christians to work together. “The desire to work together for a common purpose reflects an essential reality: no one is Christian alone!” he said. The Pope went on to note the wide variety of charisms that guide the movements, showing the diversity of the Church. He urged them, however, to act as “leaven of unity.”
• Pope, in phone call, urges Putin to make peace (Vatican News)
  Pope Leo XIV spoke by telephone with Vladimir Putin on June 4, urging the Russian leader to “make a gesture that would favor peace” in Ukraine, the Vatican has disclosed. The Pope discussed the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine with Putin, emphasizing the need to allow aid to afflicted communities. He stressed “the importance of dialogue to create positive contacts between the parties and seek solutions to the conflict.” The Pontiff and Putin also talked about the mission of Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, who was appointed by Pope Francis to facilitate the exchange of war prisoners.
• Speak about God and communicate Christian hope, Vatican cardinals tell leaders of lay movements (CWN)
  Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State of His Holiness, and Cardinal Kevin Farrell, prefect of the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life, addressed the leaders of the of 115 recognized lay associations and movements, who have gathered in Rome for their annual meeting with officials of the dicastery.
• Cardinal Parolin tells Pope that Secretariat of State's 246 employees are mosaic of faith and love (CWN)
  Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State of His Holiness, delivered a greeting to Pope Leo XIV during the June 5 papal audience with superiors and officials of the Secretariat of State.
• USCCB welcomes Supreme Court decision on Catholic Charities (CWN)
  The chairman of the US bishops’ Committee on Religious Liberty.welcomed the US Supreme Court’s 9-0 decision in Catholic Charities Bureau, Inc. v. Wisconsin Labor and Industry Review Commission (CWN coverage).
• Neocatechumenal Way founder, leaders meet with Pontiff (Neocatechumenal Way)
  Pope Leo XIV received Kiko Argüello, founder of the Neocatechumenal Way, in a June 5 audience, along with other leaders of the lay movement. The movement stated that the Pontiff offered Argüello and the other leaders his encouragement: Pope Leo XIV also marveled at the large number of families who, grateful to the Lord for the new life offered to them, have made themselves available to help the Church’s mission in the poorest and most difficult areas of the world. He was also struck by the presence of the Way in 138 countries and the number of Redemptoris Mater seminaries currently open in more than 100 dioceses on five continents, as well as the many seminarians preparing to become diocesan missionary priests.
• Ukrainian Catholic leader, French ambassador discuss worsening humanitarian crisis (Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church)
  Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, the head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, recently received Gaël Veyssière, France’s ambassador to Ukraine, at the latter’s request. The ambassador praised the Eastern Catholic church for its “role in conveying the truth about Ukraine to the international community, particularly to the Apostolic See, and in supporting the efforts of Pope Leo XIV to end the war,” according to the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC). For his part, the Major Archbishop “emphasized that the humanitarian crises are worsening and spoke about the UGCC’s initiatives to address the urgent needs of the population. He also thanked the French side for its fruitful cooperation and continued support.”
• Cardinal, Orthodox metropolitan address international conference on Council of Nicaea (CWN)
  The Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity.is sponsoring a four-day ecumenical conference, organized by the International Orthodox Theological Association and the Angelicum’s Institute for Ecumenical Studies, on the 1700th anniversary the First Council of Nicaea, the first of the 21 ecumenical councils recognized by the Catholic Church.
• More...