Catholic News
- Archbishop of Canterbury resigns (BBC)
Dr. Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, has resigned in the face of angry criticism about his handling of a sex-abuse scandal. Dr. Welby, who has been leader of the worldwide Anglican communion since 2013, announced his decision to step down on November 12, saying that it was “very clear I must take personal and institutional responsibility for the long and re-traumatising period between 2013 and 2024.” The Anglican leader had earlier stated that he would not resign, despite harsh criticism of his leadership in a report on the handling of sex-abuse complaints against the late John Smyth, a prominent barrister who has been accused of molesting dozens of young people at church-run camps. Dr. Welby continues to say that he had “no idea or suspicion of this abuse,” but concedes that he failed to ensure a thorough investigation of complaints. - Pope thanks American philanthropists who funded Vatican's COVID-19 commission (Vatican Press Office)
Pope Francis thanked members of Foundations and Donors Interested in Catholic Activities (FADICA) for their financial support of the Holy See. He also praised them for acting synodally. “I am especially grateful for the support that you give to the offices of the Holy See that seek to discern the signs of the times and to help the universal Church to respond with wisdom, charity and foresightedness to the needs and challenges of the present moment,” the Pope said during the November 11 audience. “At the same time, I thank you for your quiet encouragement of so many initiatives that enrich the life and apostolate of the Church in the United States.” The Pope added: As a “network,” FADICA is naturally “synodal” in that it counts on the common vision, commitment and cooperation of so many individuals, families and foundations. I ask that this synodal spirit of solidarity and generous concern for others will always be nurtured by a sense of gratitude for the abundant gifts the Lord has bestowed upon us and an ever deeper experience of the transforming power of his love. In 2022, FADICA’s largest program-service expense was $1,020,863 for the Vatican COVID-19 Commission, according to its latest publicly available tax return. FADICA expended $1,447,253 on the commission in 2021 and $1,346,355 on the commission in 2020. - Pontiff hopes UN climate change conference will make 'effective contribution' (Vatican Press Office)
Pope Francis expressed hope that COP29, the annual United Nations Climate Change Conference, will “make an effective contribution for the protection of our common home.” The Pontiff made his brief remarks about the UN conference, which is taking place in Azerbaijan, at the conclusion of his November 10 Angelus address. The Vatican newspaper trumpeted his remarks as the leading front-page story in its November 11 edition. The Pope also recalled the third anniversary of the Laudato Si’ Action Platform, named after his 2015 encyclical letter, and thanked “those who work in support of this initiative.” - Pope receives Assyrian Patriarch, adds St. Isaac of Nineveh to Roman Martyrology (CWN)
Pope Francis received Mar Awa III, the Catholicos-Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East (CNEWA profile), on November 9 to commemorate the anniversary of two ecumenical milestones: the 30th anniversary of a common Christological declaration and the 40th anniversary of the first visit of an Assyrian Patriarch to Rome. - Vatican, Microsoft unveil AI-generated 'digital twin' of St. Peter's (CNS)
Speaking at a Vatican press conference (video), the Archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica and the president of Microsoft unveiled plans for a “digital twin” of the basilica for the 2025 jubilee year. “The digital ecosystem, which will be active from 1 December, is a container that systematizes technologies, rationalizes and simplifies activities, and can help each pilgrim ‘experience’ the Basilica in its spiritual essence,” said Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, OFM Conv. He added: The portal is intended to accompany the visitor up to the threshold of the spaceship that will lead him or her to a spiritual experience. The pilgrim will be able to enter the spaceship of the Church, led by Christ, whose boatswain is Peter with his successor Francis, and its sailors are the people one can meet in the Basilica, either directly (priests, pilgrims, accredited guides, pilgrims...) or through the channels made available in the digital sphere. Brad Smith, Microsoft’s president, explained the technology behind the initiative and noted that the company “had done similar work elsewhere in Europe,” including Mont-Sant-Michel. - 'Rediscover the Rosary,' Pope writes in message to Marian shrine of Pompei (Vatican Press Office)
In a message to Archbishop Tommaso Caputo, prelate of the Pontifical Shrine of the Blessed Virgin of the Rosary of Pompei, Pope Francis recalled the upcoming 150th anniversary of the arrival of the Marian image there, encouraged a renewed devotion to the Rosary, and paid tribute to the shrine’s “great history of charity.” “It is providential that the jubilee of the image of Our Lady of Pompei coincides with the imminent Jubilee Year, focused on Jesus our hope, and with the seventeenth centenary of the Council of Nicaea (325), which gave particular prominence to the divine-human mystery of Christ, in the light of the Trinity,” Pope Francis wrote in the message, dated October 7 and released by the Vatican on November 10. “It is good to rediscover the Rosary, in this perspective, in order to assimilate the mysteries of the Saviour’s life, contemplating them through the gaze of Mary,” the Pope continued. “The Rosary, a simple instrument within everyone’s reach, can support the renewed evangelization to which the Church is called today.” There is an error in the Vatican’s English translation of the Pope’s message. The translation states that “the image arrived there on 13 November 1975”; it actually arrived in 1875, as the Pope wrote in his Italian-language text. - 19th-century Spanish priest beatified (Catedral de Sevilla TV)
Father José Torres Padilla (1811-1878), a priest of the Archdiocese of Seville (Spain) who helped found the Hermanas de la Cruz [Sisters of the Cross], was beatified at the cathedral there on November 9. Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, presided at the Mass of beatification. Blessed Torres Padilla “distinguished himself as a priest confessor and spiritual guide, bearing witness to great charity with those in need,” Pope Francis said the day after the beatification. “May his example sustain priests in their ministry.” - Pope warns against hypocrisy, praises humble service (Vatican Press Office)
Reflecting on the Gospel reading of the day (Mark 12:38-44), Pope Francis discussed the hypocrisy of the scribes and encouraged those in positions of responsibility to serve humbly. Some of the scribes “behaved like corrupt people, feeding a social and religious system in which it was normal to take advantage of others behind their backs, especially the most defenseless, committing injustices and ensuring impunity for themselves,” the Pope told pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square for his November 10 Angelus address. “Jesus warned to stay away from these people, to beware of them, not to imitate them.” The Pope added: So, brothers and sisters, we can ask ourselves: how do I behave in my fields of responsibility? Do I act with humility, or do I vaunt my position? Am I generous and respectful with people, or do I treat them in a rude and authoritarian way? And with my most fragile brothers and sisters, am I close to them, do I know how to bow to help lift them up? May the Virgin Mary help us fight the temptation of hypocrisy in ourselves—Jesus tells them they are hypocrites, hypocrisy is a great temptation—and help us to do good, simply and without ostentation. - Mumbai cardinal decries bid for anti-conversion law (AsiaNews)
The Hindu-nationalist BJP Party has vowed to impose an anti-conversion law on the state of Maharashtra, which includes the city of Mumbai, if they are victorious in state elections later this month. Mumbai’s Cardinal Oswald Gracias reacted to the campaign promise by saying that a law against religious conversion is “meaningless.” He explained: No civil authority has the right to enter the shrine, which is the conscience of every single person, let alone decide what a conscience should say. No government can come into my soul and tell my conscience saying, “You cannot change your religion. You must worship God in this way.” Ten of India’s 36 states already have anti-conversion laws, which forbid Hindus from adopting another faith. - Kidnappers release Nigerian priest (Fides)
Father Emmanuel Azubuike, who was abducted by armed men on November 5, has been released, the Diocese of Okigwe has disclosed. He was set free by his kidnappers on November 11. - Spanish friar confirmed dead after violent beating by intruder (AGP)
A Franciscan friar who was severely beaten by an intruder at a monastery in Spain has died, Church authorities have confirmed. The victim— whose name has not yet been released— was beaten about the head by an apparently deranged man who burst into the Monastery of Santo Espíritu del Monte on November 9. Two other friars required hospitalization. - New Orleans archbishop offers to resign--or stay through bankruptcy process (The Guardian)
Archbishop Gregory Aymond of New Orleans has submitted his resignation to Pope Francis—as required by church law—upon reaching the age of 75 on November 12. However, noting that the Pope often delays acceptance of a bishop’s retirement, Archbishop Aymond said that he was willing to remain in office until the resolution of the contentious bankruptcy proceedings in which the archdiocese is embroiled. - Parents of children provided vote margin for Trump (CatholicVote)
Parents with minor children voted heavily for Donald Trump, an NBC exit poll revealed, giving the president-elect his margin of victory. Among parents of young children, Trump won by 53 to 44%. That 9% margin was a 15% swing from the 2020 result, when that category of voters gave Joe Biden a 6% margin. Parents with children at home constituted 27% of the electorate in 2024. Among all other groups, Kamala Harris enjoyed a 50 to 48% edge. - Papal tribute to St. Bernard of Aosta, patron saint of mountaineers (Vatican Press Office)
Pope Francis paid tribute to St. Bernard of Aosta (1020-1081) at conclusion of a jubilee year that marked the 100th anniversary of Pope Pius XI’s proclamation of him as patron saint of mountaineers. “We could summarize some of the fundamental traits of his work by referring to three areas of action to which Providence called him, which are also very relevant today, namely: proclamation, hospitality and the promotion of peace,” Pope Francis said in a November 11 audience with delegations from the Diocese of Aosta, Italy, and the Canons of Great-Saint-Bernard, based in Switzerland. “St. Bernard’s pickaxe was the Word of God, with which he was able to break into the coldest and most hardened hearts; his rope was the community, with whom he walked—and helped others to walk—even along risky paths, to reach the destination,” the Pope added. “I wish for everyone to walk beautiful paths like his, among the high mountains, but above all paths within the heart. Do we have the courage to walk within the heart, to know what the heart feels, what the heart says?” - Papal warning against globalized ideological education (Our Sunday Visitor)
Pope Francis received participants in a symposium on service learning and the Global Compact on Education and warned that “today’s globalization entails a risk for education, namely a process of levelling in the direction of certain programs that are often subservient to political and economic interests.” “This trend to uniformity conceals forms of ideological conditioning, which distort the work of education, making it an instrument of interests quite different from the promotion of human dignity and the search for truth,” the Pope continued. Praising service learning and the promotion of curiosity, the Pope said that Catholic education “signifies a commitment to cultivating a distinctive pedagogical style and teaching consistent with the teachings of the Gospel.” “Catholic schools of every kind and level are called courageously to make whatever changes are necessary, letting their activities be inspired by the teaching of Jesus, our common Teacher,” the Pope added. “Education programs should bring students into contact with the realities around them, so that, starting from experience, they learn to change the world not for their own benefit, but in a spirit of service.” - USCCB committee chairman lauds work of pregnancy help centers (USCCB)
The chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities lauded the nation’s 2,750 pregnancy help centers in a statement for Pregnancy Help Appreciation Week (November 11-15). “During Pregnancy Help Appreciation Week, we celebrate the thousands of pregnancy care centers providing life-saving help to the most vulnerable group in our society: pregnant women in need,” said Bishop Michael Burbidge of Arlington, Virginia. “We commend pregnancy help centers for their faithful love of Christ in serving vulnerable mothers.” - Franciscan monk feared dead, several injured by assailant (New York Post)
Several Franciscan friars were hospitalized, one perhaps fatally, after a man burst into the Monastery of Santo Espíritu del Monte in Gilet, Spain on November 9 and began beating the occupants. The Franciscan community was withholding the names of the injured friars. Early news reports indicated that one friar had died of head injuries. A later update said that he was alive but in critical condition. Police arrested the assailant, who was a man with a history of drug use. Authorities said that the attack did not appear to be a terrorist incident. - US bishops gather for annual meeting (Vatican News)
The US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has gathered in Baltimore this week for an annual meeting. Archbishop Timothy Broglio, the USCCB president, and Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the apostolic nuncio in Washington, spoke at the opening session on Monday, November 11. During the meeting the USCCB members will elect a new treasurer and chairmen for five USCCB committees. - Pontiff, European official discuss human rights, abducted Ukrainian children (Theodoros Roussopoulos (Facebook))
Pope Francis received Theodoros Roussopoulos, president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), in a November 8 audience. “During my meeting with His Holiness Pope Francis, we discussed the importance of safeguarding human dignity and promoting human rights, as well as tackling challenges related to poverty, social exclusion, and migration,” Roussopoulos said on Facebook. “We also touched on the war in Ukraine, with a particular focus on the plight of abducted children,” he continued. “We agreed that European cooperation and solidarity are essential in addressing these pressing issues. His Holiness expressed appreciation for the work of PACE in the field of migration.” - Calls for resignation of Archbishop of Canterbury after 'abhorrent' abuse report (BBC)
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Justin Welby, is facing calls for his resignation after the release of a report showing that the Church of England failed to take action on reports of “abhorrent” abuse by a barrister who worked at a Christian camp. The report found that leaders of the Church of England “at the highest level” were aware of the abuse by John Smyth, QC, and sought to keep the matter quiet. Smyth eventually was convinced to move to Zimbabwe and later to South Africa, where new abuse complaints arose against him. He was charged with more than 100 cases of abuse before his death in 2018. Bishop Helen-Ann Hartley of Newcastle said that the “horrific, horrendous, and shocking” report on the handling of the Smyth case had left Dr. Welby in an “untenable” position and suggested that he resign. - More...