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Spain’s Toledo Cathedral at 800: A tour of its Marian and Eucharistic heart – #Catholic – The Archdiocese of Toledo in Spain is in the midst of celebrating a jubilee on the occasion of the 800th anniversary of the laying of the first stone of its cathedral in August 1226. On Oct. 25, Primatial Archbishop Francisco Cerro opened the holy door in a ceremony without precedent. EWTN News Español, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News, asked the cathedral dean, Father Juan Pedro Sánchez Gamero, for a tour of some of the most significant elements that, in his opinion, showcase the deep Marian and Eucharistic heart of the church.Inside, the cathedral houses an immense wealth of heritage accumulated over the centuries featuring works by artists such as Goya, Titian, Berruguete, Luca Giordano, Caravaggio, and El Greco, all in the service of evangelization.

Construction of the Toledo Cathedral began in 1226. | Credit: Nicolás de Cárdenas/EWTN News Español

“Everything here is made for him — specifically so that by contemplating it, everyone may come to Jesus Christ and get to know him much better,” explained the dean as he began the tour at the Chapel of the Descent.

The dean of the Cathedral of Toledo Cathedral, Father Juan Pedro Sánchez Gamero, at the Chapel of the Descent. | Credit: Nicolás de Cárdenas/EWTN News Español

The site of this chapel is located where tradition places the high altar of the Visigothic church dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the first church on the present site of the cathedral, and where the people of Toledo come to touch the stone associated with a remarkable event according to tradition: “The Virgin Mary descended from the heavens to bestow a chasuble upon St. Ildefonso, in recognition of his fervent defense of Mary’s virginity,” the dean explained.After admiring the small original chapel, the tour continued along the left aisle of the central nave to admire the monstrance crafted by Enrique de Arfe (Custodia de Arfe), built from the one used by the Servant of God Queen Isabella (1451–1504) for her private devotion. “When she died, it was Cardinal [Francisco Jiménez de] Cisneros [1436–1517] who purchased it from Queen Isabella’s estate for the cathedral” and ordered it to be made of new pieces that highlight the human and divine nature of Jesus Christ.

The monstrance crafted by Enrique de Arfe (Custodia de Arfe) was recreated from the one used by the Servant of God Queen Isabella for her personal devotion. | Credit: Nicolás de Cárdenas/EWTN News Español

“Above is the Holy Spirit beneath the cross. Then there is a child holding an orb, [as if] saying: God is man, Jesus is man, and he is here. And further down, there is a magnificent figure of the risen Christ, which declares: He is God. Jesus is not only man; he is also God,” the priest explained.The third area the dean highlighted is the main chapel. Its layout is credited to Cisneros and it serves as the liturgical heart of the church. Sánchez drew attention to the imposing gilded and polychromed Baroque altarpiece, specifically noting the central placement of the tabernacle, which was moved there from a side chapel.

The altarpiece in the main chapel of the Toledo Cathedral is one of the most significant works of its kind from that period. | Credit: Nicolás de Cárdenas/EWTN News Español

This tabernacle is also at the origin of the “Transparente,” another expression of devotion to the Eucharist within the cathedral, which, in the view of the dean, represents an architectural “bold stroke” in the service of the liturgy; it involves an opening made in the vault above to allow light to stream down toward the tabernacle, creating “an explosion of joy directed toward the Eucharist.”At this point, the dean took the tour back to the center of the cathedral, where the choir is located. Upon passing through the gate, an image of the “White Virgin” holding the child Jesus in her arms greets the visitor.“It is the most beautiful Gothic-era Virgin I have ever beheld. Observe the tenderness, the motherhood of Mary, her smile, and the pleasure she takes in having her chin caressed by her Son, as well as the way she holds him close to her breast. They express to each other mutual delight, joy, tenderness, and her motherhood that is truly worth contemplating,” Sánchez remarked.The dean next takes the tour to the chapter house, the upper reaches of which are adorned with numerous motifs alluding to the Virgin Mary, while, just below, one can see portraits of all the bishops of the primatial see of Spain, from St. Eugenius to Braulio Rodríguez, the archbishop emeritus of Toledo.

View of the frescoes in the chapter house of the Toledo Cathedral. | Credit: Nicolás de Cárdenas/EWTN News Español

The tour concludes at the Chapel of the Rosary, where a jubilee Mass is celebrated daily under the patronage of the patroness of Toledo who last year received a silver lily (a papal distinction) to commemorate the centenary of her canonical coronation.

An image of Our Lady of the Rosary in her chapel at the Toledo Cathedral features the silver lily granted by the pope. | Credit: Nicolás de Cárdenas/EWTN News Español

This story was first published by EWTN News Español, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

unitedyam November 9, 2026November 9, 2026

The dean of Toledo Cathedral revealed the Marian and Eucharistic heart of the cathedral, which is celebrating a jubilee on the 800th anniversary of the beginning of its construction.

unitedyam November 9, 2026November 9, 2026

Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column. November 8: Io and Callisto race across Jupiter Dark skies make tonight the perfect opportunity to try spotting Comet 161P/Hartley-IRAS, still nearly 50° above the western horizon two hours after sunset. Glowing around 10th magnitude, the comet is currently located in farContinue reading “The Sky Today on Monday, November 9: Chase Comet 161P/Hartley-IRAS”

The post The Sky Today on Monday, November 9: Chase Comet 161P/Hartley-IRAS appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

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Picture of the day

MACS 2129-1 Galactic Graveyard: “This chillingly haunted galaxy mysteriously stopped making stars only a few billion years after the Big Bang! It became a cosmic cemetery, illuminated by the red glow of decaying stars. Dare to enter, and you might encounter the frightening corpses of exoplanets or the final death throes of once-mighty stars.” NASA Exoplanet Exploration Halloween poster 2020.

In Argentina, Pope Leo XIV highlights social problems #Catholic BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Pope Leo XIV spoke about crime, economic inequality, and political polarization, among other topics, in a wide-ranging speech to President Javier Milei and other dignitaries Nov. 8, the pope’s first day in Argentina.Milei is a self-described “anarcho-capitalist” whose policies of austerity have drawn criticism from Argentina’s Catholic bishops. Though Leo did not directly criticize the president, his speech was the most political he has given so far on his tour of South America, which began Nov. 6 in Uruguay and will conclude Nov. 16 in Peru.The pope opened by stating that he had come to Argentina “as a pastor,” but that the Church wishes “to propose to those who hold public office a message inspired by the Gospel and aimed at safeguarding the dignity of every person, civic concord, and the common good.”Leo highlighted several widespread social problems, including public safety. “Organized crime, human trafficking networks, arms and drug trafficking together with corruption all undermine social cohesion, fuel violence and divert resources necessary for the common good,” the pope said.Violent crime is an urgent concern across the region. According to a U.N. report, the homicide rate for Latin America and the Caribbean was the world’s highest in 2023, and nearly four times the world average.Addressing the question of inequality, the pope said that efforts should be made to ensure “that economic growth also benefits those who are disadvantaged. Here I think of families facing an uncertain future, the unemployed, the elderly who for years contributed to society, and all those who, despite hard work, nonetheless struggle to meet their household’s needs.”Leo pointed to the plight of young people driven to emigrate in search of opportunities. “A nation must seriously ask itself where it has failed when its young people have to leave their homeland in order to make their dreams come true,” he said.

Pope Leo XIV tours the Casa Rosada alongside Argentine President Javier Milei and other members of the delegation during his visit to Buenos Aires on Nov. 8, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media

He also addressed what he described as a threat to democracy from political polarization, a widely noted trend in Latin America and beyond.The pope said democracy is strengthened “through willingness to listen, through careful use of words, through the patient search for agreement, and through the ability to see those who think differently as fellow citizens with whom we share a common future. In this way, a spirit of trust is created, one that enables a society to deal with its differences without losing sight of the things that keep it united,” Leo said.Milei campaigned for president as a firebrand, wielding a chainsaw to show what he would do to government budgets and deriding his fellow Argentine Pope Francis as, among other things, a “filthy leftist,” though he later said he apologized personally to Francis. On Sunday, speaking right before the current pope, the president lauded the late pontiff as “an exceptional figure who inspired us all with his humanity, regardless of our creed. A person of immense generosity, whom I had the honor of knowing personally.”Leo opened his own speech by recalling his predecessor, saying the universal Church had “listened to the voice of an Argentinian pope” for years. The pope also urged the countryʼs leaders to make room for the unborn. The audience of foreign diplomats and Argentine civil and political leaders frequently interrupted Leo’s speech with vigorous applause and cheering reminiscent of a parliament or a political convention.Earlier on Sunday, Milei met Leo’s plane at the airport and met with him privately at the seat of government, the Casa Rosada, before he and the pope gave their speeches.

unitedyam November 8, 2026November 9, 2026

The pontiff met with President Javier Milei on his first day in the country.

Built to flex, made to last: Inside New Zealand’s first new cathedral in a century #Catholic The architects of Christchurchʼs new cathedral have revealed new details about the building that they will last for generationsWarren and Mahoney, the Christchurch firm responsible for the master plan, architecture and landscape design, has released new details of New Zealandʼs first new Catholic cathedral in more than 120 years.“Some projects carry a different responsibility. They ask us to think beyond our own lifetime and consider what stewardship looks like 50, 100, or even 200 years from now,” said Joseph Hampton, the firmʼs principal and lead architect.The church will have seating for 800 people and go up on Barbadoes Street, a mere 20 meters (65 feet) from where its 1905 predecessor stood until it was demolished in 2020, nine years after the Canterbury earthquakes left it beyond repair.The walls will be of local brick and stone, with glass-fiber reinforced concrete. The structure is designed to bend rather than break in a quake. To keep costs down, much of the building will be made off-site in building modules, which the firm said still allows “a sense of monumentality within a constrained budget.”While the old cathedral faced the street, the new edifice will face north, toward a planned Catholic campus. Behind it will be a perpetual adoration chapel, which Bishop Michael Gielen said will be open day and night, along with the Te Rangimarie community center.The diocese unveiled the design in July and appealed to Catholics to help pay for it. The project will cost 80 million New Zealand dollars (about million). Insurance proceeds and asset sales cover 45 million New Zealand dollars.Construction can start once the total reaches 72 million New Zealand dollars.To save money, the diocese will put electronic bells in the two towers instead of real ones, saving about 7 million New Zealand dollars. Students from Catholic schools will design the side windows until the diocese can afford stained glass.Gielen told “EWTN News Nightly” in September that the rebuild is “a metaphor.”“Itʼs not only the cathedral weʼre rebuilding. We lost 30 or 35 of our churches — damaged or demolished — in the last 15 years,” he said.Hampton said the cathedral is meant to reach beyond its walls.“It is a home for the Catholic community, but it is also part of Christchurch,” he said.

unitedyam November 8, 2026November 9, 2026

Architects say Christchurch’s new Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, the first Catholic cathedral built in New Zealand in more than 120 years, is designed to serve for the next 200 years.

unitedyam November 8, 2026November 9, 2026

Three high school students in the Project Hōkūlani internship at Gemini North on Maunakea, Hawaii, chose this pair of clashing spirals, cataloged collectively as NGC 7253 or Arp 278, for imaging with the 8.1-meter telescope. It captured this photo — the most detailed ever taken of these galaxies — in October 2025. The students selectedContinue reading “Gemini North reveals Twin Spirits in Pegasus”

The post Gemini North reveals Twin Spirits in Pegasus appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

Pope Leo XIV’s appeal to mothers: ‘Never tire of passing on the faith!’ – #Catholic – FLORIDA, Uruguay — Pope Leo XIV celebrated Mass at Uruguay’s most prominent Marian shrine on Sunday, where he paid tribute to women’s role in transmitting the Catholic faith and urged them to continue doing so despite secular trends.“Mothers and grandmothers: never tire of passing on the faith!” Leo told a congregation in the square outside the cathedral of Florida, a city in south-central Uruguay. “Even if your loved ones seem far from God, continue to place them before him. Do not stop blessing them, accompanying them, and simply reminding them of what they once received.”Uruguay is one of Latin America’s most secular countries, where the majority of people are not affiliated with any organized religion and 28% identity as atheist or agnostic.The cathedral in Florida houses the Virgin of Thirty-Three, a small wooden sculpture of Mary named for the number of early 19th-century patriots who entrusted their efforts for Uruguay’s independence to her intercession.Leo noted the history to underscore, as he has done throughout his visit, that Catholicism has deep roots in the country.

Pope Leo XIV says Mass at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Thirty-Three in Florida, Uruguay. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News

The patriots’ “gesture reminds us that the history of peoples, too, cannot be fully understood without reference to God. Thus, from the earliest days of the nation’s founding, Uruguay has been intimately linked to a Mother,” the pope said.He linked the figure of Mary to the tradition of mothers and grandmothers teaching children how to pray and “live out Christian charity.”Thanking such women for their efforts, the pope commiserated with them over a widespread decline in religious practice.“I know that many of you carry a very specific sorrow. You taught your children to pray, and today they no longer do so. You used to attend Mass together, and it has been years since they entered a church. You spoke to your grandchildren about God, and now you do not know if those words left a mark. Sometimes you wonder if you did something wrong or if it was all futile,” Leo said.He encouraged them with the example of St. Monica, mother of St. Augustine, the inspiration for Leo’s religious order, who never despaired of her son’s eventual conversion and sanctity.

Thousands of faithful participate in the Mass that Pope Leo XIV is celebrating at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Thirty-Three. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News

The pope also urged fathers and grandfathers to foster faith in the young. “Children learn a great deal by seeing that their father can kneel before God without feeling that he is any less of a man doing it,” he said.Leo concluded by urging all Uruguayan Catholics to evangelize in their daily lives.“You must enter people’s homes once more, draw near to them, listen to their questions and bring them to Christ! Each of you knows a person toward whom you need to take that step: perhaps a child, a friend, a neighbor, someone who stopped believing long ago or who has never had anyone close to them to speak to them about God,” the pope said.At the end of the Mass, Leo placed a golden rose before the image of the Virgin, a traditional papal devotion. But his homily contained a note of caution about veneration of Mary, recalling the Vatican’s decision last year to reject the title of “co-redemptrix” for her as potentially confusing.There is “one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus,” the pope said, quoting St. Paul. The he added: “All of Mary’s greatness is based on her relationship with Christ: she welcomes him, lives by him, and leads others to him. An encounter with the Master is the goal of all evangelization and of all authentic Marian devotion.”Instagram postSilvia, from Uruguay, shared her excitement about serving as a Eucharistic minister at the Mass.“It truly is a beautiful moment, very, very moving. I’m eager to help people and to be part of this celebration, which belongs to all of us. It is also a privilege to be able to distribute the Eucharist,” she said.She said being from the city hosting the Holy Father is “a tremendous gift from God,” especially on the feast day of its patroness, Our Lady of the Thirty-Three, celebrated on Nov. 8.Reflecting on the three days the Holy Father has spent in her country, she recalled the pope’s homily during Mass in Paysandú, in which he encouraged the faithful to be bridges, build communities, and accompany others.

Pope Leo XIV places a golden rose before the image of the Virgin, a traditional papal devotion, on Nov. 8, 2026 at the end of Mass at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Thirty-Three in Florida, Uruguay. | Credit: Vatican Media

“I think it is a challenge and an invitation that we need in Uruguay,” she said.Later in the afternoon, the pope is scheduled to depart for Argentina, where he is set to visit the Monument to General San Martín and meet with President Javier Milei.Instagram post

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The pontiff celebrated Mass at Uruguay’s principal Marian shrine.

Chaldean monks return historic manuscripts to Iraqi archdiocese after more than 50 years – #Catholic – After safeguarding them for more than half a century, the Chaldean Antonian Order of St. Hormizd has returned a collection of historic manuscripts belonging to the former Chaldean Diocese of Akra in northern Iraq to its ecclesiastical authorities.The formal handover ceremony took place at the Monastery of the Servant of God and Martyr Gabriel Danbo in Ankawa, Iraq, a predominantly Christian district of Erbil. It was attended by Archbishop Najeeb Michaeel of Mosul and Akra; Abbot Samer Soreshow, superior general of the Chaldean Antonian Order of St. Hormizd; and several monks.The manuscripts were entrusted to the order in the 1960s amid the difficult circumstances and widespread displacement affecting the region, Soreshow explained in an interview with ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News.According to Soreshow, Abdul-Ahad Rabban, a member of the order who served as its superior general and later became bishop of Akra, sought to protect the ecclesiastical heritage from being lost. The manuscripts were placed in the order’s care until circumstances would allow their safe return to the diocese.Soreshow emphasized that throughout the decades, the order regarded the manuscripts not only as priceless treasures but also as an essential part of the Chaldean Church’s historical and spiritual memory and a legacy preserving its identity.He explained that changing conditions over the years forced the order’s manuscript collections, including those belonging to the Diocese of Akra, to be moved repeatedly in search of safety.

Manuscripts of the Diocese of Akra are returned after decades of preservation by the Chaldean Antonian Order of St. Hormizd. | Credit: Chaldean Antonian Order of St. Hormizd

The manuscripts were transferred from the Monastery of Our Lady of the Seeds in Alqosh to St. George Monastery in Mosul and later to St. Anthony Monastery in Baghdad. Their journey eventually brought them to the order’s general headquarters in Ankawa in 2021, which houses the Scriptorium Syriacum, a cultural center dedicated to preserving Syriac manuscripts.The repeated relocations resulted in the Akra manuscripts becoming mixed with other collections held by the order, requiring extensive efforts to identify and separate them.Soreshow said the monks relied on earlier manuscript catalogs compiled at different times by Bishop Addai Scher, Belgian Dominican orientalist Jacques-Marie Vosté, and Fathers Yousif Habbi, Boutros Haddad, and Jacques Isaac. These cataloging efforts included work published by the Iraqi Academy in 1988.However, the order’s work went well beyond identifying and sorting the manuscripts.Soreshow explained that the restoration and preservation process involved cleaning the manuscripts, gathering their scattered pages, photographing and numbering them, reassembling them into complete volumes, and preparing comprehensive catalogs.This work was particularly demanding, he noted, “especially since several copies of the same manuscript existed, many of which had been copied at the Monastery of Our Lady of the Seeds.”The project required considerable time and effort from the Chaldean Antonian monks, who began the work in 2021 through the Scriptorium Syriacum.The work was carried out under the direction of Father Yousif Ajim, the center’s director, with assistance from other staff members who graduated from the Department of Syriac Language at Salahaddin University in Erbil.

Manuscripts of the Diocese of Akra are returned after decades of preservation by the Chaldean Antonian Order of St. Hormizd. | Credit: Chaldean Antonian Order of St. Hormizd

93 manuscripts returned, while 4 remain unaccounted for in the collectionAccording to Soreshow, the Diocese of Akra’s collection originally comprised 97 manuscripts, of which 93 were handed over to Michaeel.Of the remaining four, three were identified in the Chaldean Patriarchate’s digitized archives, made available through manuscript digitization efforts and accessible via the Hill Museum & Manuscript Library in Minnesota.The fourth manuscript remains missing.Soreshow praised the commitment of both the religious order and the archdiocese to ensuring that the manuscripts remain properly preserved and accessible to researchers, scholars, and clergy, contributing to the study of Church history and the advancement of academic research.“The smooth transfer of these manuscripts from the custody of our order to that of their diocese reflects the continuity of the Church’s mission to safeguard its historical memory and preserve its heritage for future generations,” he said.Akra was formerly an independent Chaldean Catholic diocese. However, the unrest and conflicts that affected the region during the 1960s led to the displacement of many of its Christian inhabitants and a decline in the local Church’s presence.In 2018, the independent Diocese of Akra was merged with the Archdiocese of Mosul, forming the Chaldean Catholic Archeparchy of Mosul and Akra, currently headed by Michaeel.This story was first published by ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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The formal handover ceremony took place at the Monastery of the Servant of God and Martyr Gabriel Danbo in Ankawa, a predominantly Christian district of Erbil.

‘Bless those who wrong you,’ Kenyan bishop urges Christians – #Catholic – BUNGOMA, Kenya — Bishop Mark Kadima Wamukoya of Kenya’s Diocese of Bungoma has urged Christians to pray for those who hurt or mistreat them and to set aside their differences when gathering for worship.In his homily during the consecration of St. Mark’s Ojamii Catholic Parish church on Nov. 5, Kadima reflected on Jesus Christ’s institution of the Eucharist amid betrayal.“Jesus Christ instituted the Eucharist at the time he was betrayed. Despite the pain, suffering, and betrayal, he gave us a lasting blessing,” he said.The Kenyan bishop called on Christians to follow this example in their relationships with others.“This teaches us that even when someone wrongs us, we should still bless them. Even when we are hurt or mistreated, we should come to church, pray, and ask God to bless others,” he said. “This is a place where we should leave our differences behind and say, ‘May everyone be blessed.’”Kadima emphasized the importance of the church as a place for prayer and the celebration of the sacraments, particularly the Eucharist. He encouraged the faithful to participate in worship despite difficulties in their personal and family lives.“Coming to church does not mean that everything in our lives is perfect. Our families, marriages, and children may be facing challenges, but we still come to church to pray and ask God to bless everyone,” he said.Turning to promises made before God, Kadima urged Christians to take their commitments seriously, including those made at priestly ordination and in the sacrament of matrimony.“The Church is a place where we come to make promises and honor them,” he said. “When we say yes at the altar, that yes must mean something.”Recalling his own ordination, the bishop said: “Even my own priestly ordination involved being brought before the altar, where I was instructed to lie down. Once you make a commitment, you must be ready to fulfill it.”He added: “We need the Church because we are a people of promises. Our lives as Godʼs people cannot be built without promises and their fulfillment. When we say, ‘I accept’ or ‘I promise,’ we must mean it.”Kadima also called on Catholics to respect rules and regulations in their daily lives.“As Catholics, including myself, we are called to be people who respect and obey the law. The Church reminds us that we must live according to rules and regulations,” he said. Kadima linked this responsibility to service, good conduct, and respectful communication.“When we come to church, we are reminded to become people of service and good conduct. We must cultivate a culture of obedience and respect for rules, whether in the Church, at the table, at the altar, or in the way we communicate with one another,” he said.This story was first published by ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, and has been adapted by EWTN News.

unitedyam November 8, 2026November 8, 2026

Bishop Mark Kadima Wamukoya reminded Christians to follow Christ’s example to pray for everyone, even those who “hurt and betray.”

Polish bishops call for prayer after gunman kills 6 in Kraków’s historic square #Catholic The archbishop of Kraków called on the city to stand “together” in prayer after a gunman killed six people in its Main Market Square, a few steps from St. Maryʼs Basilica, on Saturday afternoon.“We do not want to, we cannot, we are unable to be indifferent at such a moment. We want, we need and we must be together,” Cardinal Grzegorz Ryś wrote in a letter to the faithful on Nov. 7.“I write ‘us’ because in truth any one of us could have been in the Square at that time, passing where the bullets struck random, unsuspecting people,” the Polish prelate wrote.Ryś invited residents to a Mass for the dead, the wounded and their families at St. Maryʼs Basilica on Sunday, Nov. 8, at 4 p.m. local time, saying that “the last word does not and cannot belong to hatred.”The cardinal asked the pastors of the victims' parishes to “be there” for them and give every possible help.Police said the gunman drove onto the square shortly after 3 p.m. and fired at passersby from his car. Four women and two men were killed, among them three Polish women and a British national. Sixteen people were wounded, including the suspect and two police officers, one of whom was shot three times.Officers shot and detained the attacker, a man in his mid-20s from Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski, a town in southeastern Poland. Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński said the suspect held “very radical views” and that “everything indicates he was fascinated by far-right ideologies,” though this had yet to be verified. Prime Minister Donald Tusk called the attack terrorism.Police found three bodies in the suspectʼs flat. President Karol Nawrocki declared national mourning for Nov. 8 and 9.Archbishop Tadeusz Wojda, president of the Polish bishops' conference, said he was “deeply shaken.”“It is hard even to grasp that in the very heart of Kraków, right by St. Maryʼs Basilica … such dramatic scenes could unfold,” he said.Archbishop Wojciech Polak, the primate of Poland, said he was praying for the dead and the wounded and expressed solidarity with Ryś. He spoke of “faith that good is stronger than hatred and love always wins.”Warsawʼs Archbishop Adrian Galbas echoed the Kraków cardinal.“As Cardinal Grzegorz asked: let us be together!” he wrote on Facebook, echoing the Kraków cardinal.

unitedyam November 8, 2026November 8, 2026

Cardinal Grzegorz Ryś invited Kraków to a Mass for the victims at St. Mary’s Basilica after a gunman killed six people in the city’s Main Market Square.

Picture of the day

Sunrays shining through trees and weak fog near Walchwil, Switzerland
#ImageOfTheDay

unitedyam November 7, 2026November 7, 2026

Picture of the day

Sunrays shining through trees and weak fog near Walchwil, Switzerland

Pope Leo XIV encourages Uruguay’s Catholic minority to keep — and spread — the faith #Catholic MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay — Pope Leo XIV on Saturday encouraged practicing Catholics in a secular society, and especially young people, to keep their faith strong and to live in virtuous ways that can attract people to the Church.The pope made his remarks at an evening prayer vigil in a stadium in Uruguay’s capital, with about 70,000 people in attendance. Local authorities estimated that another 30,000 people were following the event nearby.Uruguay is one of Latin Americaʼs most secular societies, where a majority of people have no affiliation with organized religion and the official state calendar has renamed Catholic holidays with secular terms, such as substituting Tourism Week for Holy Week.Leo said the experience of faithful Uruguayan Catholics “can help brothers and sisters in other parts of the world who are beginning to discover, in different ways, what it means to be a minority.”The pope consoled Uruguayan Catholics for their small numbers, noting that Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, was proverbially small and that, in the Eucharist, “the Lord of the universe is present under the humble appearances of bread and wine.”Yet he said that Christians can draw others into their ranks by behaving in exemplary ways.“Perhaps there are people who would never open a Bible on their own, who have not set foot in a church in years, or who cannot even say whether they believe in God. But when they see you, the desire for God may be awakened in them; they may even discover that it is worth risking their lives to find him,” the pope said.“Christ did not call us to mediocrity,” Leo said. He urged his listeners to pursue excellence in the pursuit of holiness.“When being just and honest comes at a price, pay it. When forgiving seems like a defeat, forgive. When everyone tells you to think of yourselves first, do not be afraid to put yourselves in the last place,” he said. “Be willing to give up time, money, comfort and plans to serve others. May those who see you find themselves asking: ‘Why do they live in this way? Where do they get this freedom? Why do they love one another so much?’”The vigil ended with a spectacular fireworks display.Earlier, the pope spoke at the Catholic University of Uruguay, where he shared thoughts on the intellectual formation of young people in the Church.“Our Catholic education cannot be confined to a closed circle. Rather, it must learn to listen to families, civil society, political and administrative authorities, as well as representatives of the various economic sectors and professional groups,” Leo concluded. But he warned that “generations are changing far more rapidly than in the past and that keeping pace with the times — without abandoning sound tradition — is a real challenge.”The pope was scheduled to leave Uruguay on Sunday for Argentina, where he will spend three days before moving on to his former home of Peru, where he will spend five days before returning to Rome.

unitedyam November 7, 2026November 8, 2026

The pontiff presided at an evening prayer vigil on his last night in the country.

PHOTOS: Pope Leo XIV in Uruguay – #Catholic – Pope Leo XIV held a papal Mass, visited with several Catholic groups and communities, and presided over a prayer vigil in Uruguay on Nov. 7, the first full day of his historic trip to South America. The pope arrived in Uruguay on Nov. 6 and was scheduled to leave the country on Sunday for Argentina, where he will spend three days before moving on to his former home of Peru, where he will spend five days before returning to Rome.Here are photos of Pope Leo’s activities in Uruguay:

Pope Leo XIV boards the papal plane en route to Uruguay for the first leg of his 12-day trip to South America, Nov. 6, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Leo XIV waves as he boards the papal plane en route to Uruguay for the first leg of his trip to South America, Nov. 6, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Leo XIV speaks to journalists aboard the papal plane from Rome to Montevideo, Uruguay, alongside Montse Alvarado (left), prefect of the Dicastery for Communication, and Matteo Bruni (right), director of the Holy See Press Office, at the start of his papal journey to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru, on Nov. 6, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Leo XIV waves as he exits the plane after landing in Montevideo, Uruguay, on Nov. 6, 2026. | Credit: Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News

Pope Leo XIV addresses Uruguay’s President Yamandú Orsi and other dignitaries in the country’s capital in Montevideo on Nov. 6, 2026. | Credit: Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News

Pope Leo XIV participates in vespers at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception and Sts. Philip and James in Montevideo, Uruguay, Nov. 6, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News

Catholics gather for Mass as part of Pope Leo XIVʼs official visit to Uruguay at Parque Paris Londres on Nov. 07, 2026 in Paysandú, Uruguay. Pope Leo XIV is on his first trip to South America as pope, where he is visiting Uruguay, Argentina and Peru on a 10-day trip. | Credit: Sandro Pereyra/Getty Images

Pope Leo XIV waves to crowds as he arrives for the papal Mass at Parque París Londres, Paysandú, Uruguay, Nov. 7, 2026. | Credit: Tiziana FABI / AFP via Getty Images

Pope Leo XIV opens Mass at Paris Londres Park in Paysandu, on Nov. 7, 2026. Pope Leo XIV arrived in Uruguay on November 6, to start an ambitious 11-day tour of South America, which will continue with visits to Argentina and Peru, just a few weeks after undergoing surgery for lung cancer. | Credit: Tiziana FABI / AFP via Getty Images

Pope Leo XIV holds a crozier aloft at the papal Mass at Parque París Londres, Paysandú, Uruguay, Nov. 7, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN

Pope Leo XIV delivers the homily at the papal Mass in Paysandú, Uruguay, Nov. 7, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN

Pope Leo XIV walks alongside Cardinal Daniel Sturla, Archbishop of Montevideo, during a visit to the Parish of Our Lady of Guadalupe in the Casavalle neighborhood of Montevideo on Nov. 7, 2026. | Tiziana FABI / AFP via Getty Images

Pope Leo XIV greets faithful during a visit to the Parish of Our Lady of Guadalupe in the Casavalle neighborhood of Montevideo on Nov. 7, 2026. | Credit: Tiziana FABI / AFP via Getty Images

Pope Leo XIV arrives for a prayer vigil for young people at Estadio Centenario in Montevideo, Uruguay, on Nov. 7, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN

Pope Leo XIV appears on giant screens as he leads a prayer vigil for young people at Estadio Centenario in Montevideo, Uruguay, on Nov. 7, 2026. | Credit: Leonardo Carreño/AFP via Getty Images

Pope Leo XIV speaks while leading a prayer vigil for young people at Estadio Centenario in Montevideo, Uruguay, on Nov. 7, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN

unitedyam November 7, 2026November 8, 2026

The Holy Father said a papal Mass and visited with several communities in Uruguay on the first full day of his South American trip.

unitedyam November 7, 2026November 8, 2026

Lord,
With your bright and open heart forgive me for showing darkness to the light.
Putting my back, to what is right was wrong and I have sinned against you.
Forgive me O merciful one because I have relished my wrong and I am sorry for what I have done.
Lord I am ready to continue following in your footsteps.
Take me from the dark.
Hear me now O lord.
Amen

I’ve Been Visiting California’s Sierra Nevada for Over 20 Years—This Small Town Near Yosemite Is an Ideal Fall Escape #Travel It doesn’t get more lovely than Coarsegold.

unitedyam November 7, 2026November 7, 2026

It doesn’t get more lovely than Coarsegold.

In Uruguay, Pope Leo XIV deplores the social costs of violent crime – #Catholic – MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay — Pope Leo XIV, speaking to residents of a disadvantaged neighborhood in Uruguay’s capital on Nov. 7, drew attention to one of Latin America’s most urgent social problems: violent crime.“We cannot turn a blind eye to the fact that there are children in Uruguay who do not go to school for fear of never returning home,” the pope said.“In a country as rich in resources as this, children should never have to go to bed hungry or be denied the chance of a decent education and a dignified future because of the insecurity that reigns in the streets. Much less should they have to suffer violence to the point of losing their lives.”Leo made his remarks in a speech to members of a Catholic parish in Casavalle, a lower-income neighborhood in northern Montevideo.Violent crime is a pressing problem across Latin America, much of it driven by the drug trade and other organized crime. UN figures put the homicide rate in Latin America and the Caribbean at roughly four times the global level, the highest of any world region.In his brief talk, Leo cited Jesus’s parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:29-37), emphasizing that the man helped by the Samaritan was a victim of violent crime, since he “fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and took off, leaving him half dead.”The pope lamented that “this story is repeated today in the widespread insecurity and violence that unfortunately threaten the peace of our neighborhoods and even the lives of our loved ones, and all too often society responds with indifference,” like those who passed by the beaten man before the Samaritan helped him.“Yet we can see another side: the actions of many institutions and people of goodwill who foster peace and offer practical assistance to those in need,” Leo said. He pointed to the testimonies of hardship and hope recounted by parish members just before he made his own remarks. The pope also acknowledged the U.S.-based Papal Foundation for its financial support for building houses for needy members of the parish.“We must work together: the Church, civil society and the State. We need to shake off our apathy and advocate for the common good,” the pope said. “Let us therefore unite our efforts and respond generously to the call to build together a homeland of brothers and sisters.”The pope was scheduled to leave Uruguay on Sunday for Argentina, where he will spend three days before moving on to his former home of Peru, where he will spend five days before returning to Rome.

unitedyam November 7, 2026November 8, 2026

The pontiff visited a lower-income neighborhood where a Catholic parish is helping the needy.

unitedyam November 7, 2026November 8, 2026

A reading from the Book of Wisdom
6:12-16

Resplendent and unfading is wisdom,
and she is readily perceived by those who love her,
and found by those who seek her.
She hastens to make herself known in anticipation of their desire;
Whoever watches for her at dawn shall not be disappointed,
for he shall find her sitting by his gate.
For taking thought of wisdom is the perfection of prudence,
and whoever for her sake keeps vigil
shall quickly be free from care;
because she makes her own rounds, seeking those worthy of her,
and graciously appears to them in the ways,
and meets them with all solicitude.

A reading from the First Letter of St. Paul to Thessalonians
4:13-18

We do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters,
about those who have fallen asleep,
so that you may not grieve like the rest, who have no hope.
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose,
so too will God, through Jesus,
bring with him those who have fallen asleep.
Indeed, we tell you this, on the word of the Lord,
that we who are alive,
who are left until the coming of the Lord,
will surely not precede those who have fallen asleep.
For the Lord himself, with a word of command,
with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God,
will come down from heaven,
and the dead in Christ will rise first.
Then we who are alive, who are left,
will be caught up together with them in the clouds
to meet the Lord in the air.
Thus we shall always be with the Lord.
Therefore, console one another with these words.

From the Gospel according to Matthew
25:1-13

Jesus told his disciples this parable:
"The kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins
who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
Five of them were foolish and five were wise.
The foolish ones, when taking their lamps,
brought no oil with them,
but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps.
Since the bridegroom was long delayed,
they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
At midnight, there was a cry,
‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps.
The foolish ones said to the wise,
‘Give us some of your oil,
for our lamps are going out.’
But the wise ones replied,
‘No, for there may not be enough for us and you.
Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.’
While they went off to buy it,
the bridegroom came
and those who were ready went into the wedding feast with him.
Then the door was locked.
Afterwards the other virgins came and said,
‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us!’
But he said in reply,
‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.’
Therefore, stay awake,
for you know neither the day nor the hour."

Today’s Gospel is a famous parable that speaks of ten maidens invited to a wedding feast, a symbol of the Kingdom of Heaven and of eternal life (Mt 25:1-13). It is a happy image with which, however, Jesus teaches a truth that calls us into question. In fact five of those 10 maidens were admitted to the feast because when the bridegroom arrived they had brought the oil to light their lamps, whereas the other five were left outside because they had been foolish enough not to bring any. What is represented by this “oil”, the indispensable prerequisite for being admitted to the nuptial banquet? St Augustine (cf. Discourses 93, 4), and other ancient authors interpreted it as a symbol of love that one cannot purchase but receives as a gift, preserves within one and uses in works. True wisdom is making the most of mortal life in order to do works of mercy, for after death this will no longer be possible. When we are reawoken for the Last Judgement, it will be made on the basis of the love we have shown in our earthly life (cf. Mt 25:31-46). And this love is a gift of Christ, poured out in us by the Holy Spirit. Those who believe in God-Love bear within them invincible hope, like a lamp to light them on their way through the night beyond death to arrive at the great feast of life. (Pope Benedict XVI, Angelus, 6 November 2011)

unitedyam November 7, 2026November 7, 2026

Beyond The Beacon podcast 122 – The Good News Workshop: Why it’s important to make art without using AI #Catholic –

What’s the harm in using AI to create church event flyers? Find out in an interview with artist and Jesuit scholastic Angelo Jesus Canta, S.J., who penned an article for American Magazine entitled “The Catholic case against A.I. art.” Canta joins Jai Agnish, Communications director for the Diocese of Paterson, for a segment of “The Good News Workshop” to discuss the hidden cost of using AI to create content for parish bulletins and social media. It’s also a larger conversation about the soul of art and remaining human. They refer to Magnifica Humanitas and discuss how Pope Leo supports artists and urges caution and reflection when engaging with artificial intelligence. “The Church wishes to renew its alliance with artists and cultural institutions,” he said, as quoted in a Vatican News article entitled “Pope Leo: the Church needs artists.”

Agnish also catches up with Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney to begin the episode. Bishop Sweeney shares the latest news and notes from around the diocese, touches on the midterm elections, and urges support for an important educational tax credit. He also reflects on National Vocation Awareness Week, the annual Diocesan Gold and Silver Anniversary Mass, and more!

Listen to or watch the episode here, on any major podcast platform, or on Bishop Sweeney’s YouTube channel.

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– What’s the harm in using AI to create church event flyers? Find out in an interview with artist and Jesuit scholastic Angelo Jesus Canta, S.J., who penned an article for American Magazine entitled “The Catholic case against A.I. art.” Canta joins Jai Agnish, Communications director for the Diocese of Paterson, for a segment of “The Good News Workshop” to discuss the hidden cost of using AI to create content for parish bulletins and social media. It’s also a larger conversation about the soul of art and remaining human. They refer to Magnifica Humanitas and discuss how Pope Leo supports

unitedyam November 7, 2026November 7, 2026

First diocesan Missionary Formation Conference celebrates faith and leadership #Catholic –

On Oct. 10 and 11, 20 young adult leaders from seven parishes answered the Lord’s call and gathered at the Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace Chapel in Haledon, N.J., for the first Missionary Formation Conference. They came from different towns, different cultures, and different parish communities, but with one mission: to become better missionary disciples of Jesus Christ.

These leaders represented Our Lady of Victories Parish and St. Stephen Parish, both in Paterson; St. Peter the Apostle Parish in Parsippany, N.J.; St. Paul Parish in Prospect Park, N.J., St. Margaret of Scotland Parish in Morristown, N.J.; Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Passaic, N.J.; St. Clement Pope and Martyr Parish in Dover, N.J.; and Our Lady of the Lake Parish in Sparta, N.J. The leaders dedicated a weekend to prayer, formation, and fellowship.

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More than a series of talks, the conference was a powerful encounter with Christ. Each day began with prayer and included daily Mass, Eucharistic adoration, holy hours, and opportunities for confession, allowing participants to receive not only knowledge but also the grace needed to live and lead with authenticity.

Throughout the weekend, participants explored essential topics for missionary leadership, including the identity and mission of Corazón Puro, radical welcome, servant leadership, communication between men and women, chastity and self-mastery, fraternal correction, public speaking, testimony sharing, action planning, and practical strategies for building young adult ministries. Corazón Puro is a young adult organization that promotes chastity and respect for human life and is active in the Paterson Diocese, N.J.

One of the most inspiring moments was witnessing young leaders discover that they are not simply volunteers in their parishes. They are missionaries. They are leaders. They are called by God to bring others to Christ.

The conference also marked an exciting milestone as Our Lady of Victories Parish, under the leadership of Father Ángel Torres, officially joined the growing Corazón Puro family. This new partnership represents another step forward in building a culture of missionary discipleship throughout the diocese.

Over two days, friendships were formed, hearts were renewed, and a vision for the future began to take shape. Through workshops, keynote presentations, prayer, and collaboration, participants developed action plans that will now be brought back to their parishes to strengthen young adult ministry and evangelization efforts.

The success of this first Missionary Formation Conference is not measured simply by the number of attendees, but by the generosity of 20 men and women who said “yes” to the Lord. Their commitment to formation, holiness, and mission will bear fruit in countless lives throughout the diocese.

As the conference concluded with Mass, one thing was clear: this was not the end of a weekend. It was the beginning of a movement.

The Holy Spirit is raising a new generation of missionary leaders in the diocese, and their journey is just beginning.

Twenty young adults proved that when ordinary people say “yes” to Jesus, extraordinary things happen. Through prayer, formation, and mission, they are becoming the leaders our Church needs today, bringing Christ’s love, truth, and hope to a world that desperately longs for Him.

Salomon Cariño is program director of Corazón Puro and the Missionary Formation Institute program.

[See image gallery at beaconnj.org] – On Oct. 10 and 11, 20 young adult leaders from seven parishes answered the Lord’s call and gathered at the Jesus Christ, Prince of Peace Chapel in Haledon, N.J., for the first Missionary Formation Conference. They came from different towns, different cultures, and different parish communities, but with one mission: to become better missionary disciples of Jesus Christ. These leaders represented Our Lady of Victories Parish and St. Stephen Parish, both in Paterson; St. Peter the Apostle Parish in Parsippany, N.J.; St. Paul Parish in Prospect Park, N.J., St. Margaret of Scotland Parish in Morristown, N.J.; Our Lady of Mount

unitedyam November 7, 2026November 8, 2026

In early September 1882, a comet was sighted from the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa. The comet brightened over the following weeks, reaching a magnitude of -2 on the 15th; at perihelion two days later, it was bright enough to be visible during the day. But at the time, David Gill, the directorContinue reading “Nov. 7, 1882: A Great Comet transforms astrophotography”

The post Nov. 7, 1882: A Great Comet transforms astrophotography appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

This National Forest Is a Less-busy Alternative to the Smoky Mountains—With Waterfalls and Hundreds of Miles of Trails #Travel You’ll get all the beauty and none of the crowds at Pisgah National Forest in North Carolina.

unitedyam November 7, 2026November 8, 2026

You’ll get all the beauty and none of the crowds at Pisgah National Forest in North Carolina.

M30’s Sparkling Stars – This NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image features the globular star cluster called Messier 30 (M30), also called NGC 7099.

unitedyam November 7, 2026November 7, 2026

This NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image features the globular star cluster called Messier 30 (M30), also called NGC 7099.

unitedyam November 6, 2026November 8, 2026

Madison workshop urges Vocation Ministries to promote family life #Catholic –

Members of Vocation Ministries in parishes of the Paterson Diocese, N.J., gathered on Oct. 24 for a workshop to support their efforts to build a local “culture of vocations” that encourages priesthood, religious life, and marriage, held that morning at St. Paul Inside the Walls in Madison, N.J. During the event, participants were encouraged to promote family life as the foundation of vocations in all their forms.

Twenty people attended the workshop — from parishioners currently involved in a Vocation Ministry to those who want to learn more or start a group. The diocesan Vocations Office and diocesan Family Life Office collaborated on the event. Religious sisters also attended the workshop.

In her presentation, Eni Honsberger, director of the Office of Family Life, shared statistics showing that, over the past more than 50 years in the United States, church marriages have declined by more than 60 percent.

Despite the decline in church weddings—and in priestly and religious vocations, Catholics should still promote vocations to the priesthood, religious life, and marriage as an answer to a call to serve others. In marriage, a husband and wife give themselves to each other for life. In the priesthood, a priest gives himself to the Church. In religious life, sisters and brothers give their lives to Christ alone, Honsberger said.

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Catholic parents also need to model strong relationships with their spouses and children who are watching them. Parents need to demonstrate kindness even on days when they are tired and frustrated, ask for forgiveness when they are wrong, and express joy, Honsberger said.

“A solid family isn’t a perfect family. It’s one where promises are kept, and wounds are repaired. The next priest of this diocese is probably sitting at a kitchen table tonight, watching his parents decide whether to keep their promises,” Honsberger said.

Honsberger suggested that parishes promote family life by placing long-married couples beside a priest or sister at each vocations event, hold a blessing for couples celebrating significant anniversaries at Sunday Mass with the youth group present, and plan a joint event with the parish’s Family Life Team.

At the beginning of the workshop, Father Charles Lana Jr., diocesan vocations director, welcomed the participants and provided Vocations Office updates — the number of seminarians, overall statistics on the priesthood and vocations events.

The Vocations Office seeks to equip parish Vocation Ministries to create a culture of vocations by building community, providing resources to uplift all vocations, and involving priests, deacons, sisters, and especially parishioners.

“Promoting vocations is one of the most important things parishes can do. Vocation Ministries are a practical way for parish to accomplish this.” Father Lana said.

BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI

[See image gallery at beaconnj.org]

– Members of Vocation Ministries in parishes of the Paterson Diocese, N.J., gathered on Oct. 24 for a workshop to support their efforts to build a local “culture of vocations” that encourages priesthood, religious life, and marriage, held that morning at St. Paul Inside the Walls in Madison, N.J. During the event, participants were encouraged to promote family life as the foundation of vocations in all their forms. Twenty people attended the workshop — from parishioners currently involved in a Vocation Ministry to those who want to learn more or start a group. The diocesan Vocations Office and diocesan Family Life

unitedyam November 6, 2026November 8, 2026

Faithful gather in Passaic to mark Fatima’s final apparition #Catholic –

Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney joined Our Lady of Fatima and St. Nicholas Parish in Passaic, N.J., on the evening of Oct. 13 to celebrate a Mass for Our Lady of Fatima, commemorating the anniversary of her final apparition to the three shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal, on Oct. 13, 1917.

The event commenced with a procession through the streets surrounding the parish. Then, Bishop Sweeney celebrated a 7 p.m. Mass. Father Rolands Uribe, the parish’s pastor, and Father Luis Carlos Moreno, who is providing pastoral assistance to the parish, concelebrated the liturgy with the bishop. The event also included a reception.

BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI

[See image gallery at beaconnj.org]

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– Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney joined Our Lady of Fatima and St. Nicholas Parish in Passaic, N.J., on the evening of Oct. 13 to celebrate a Mass for Our Lady of Fatima, commemorating the anniversary of her final apparition to the three shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal, on Oct. 13, 1917. The event commenced with a procession through the streets surrounding the parish. Then, Bishop Sweeney celebrated a 7 p.m. Mass. Father Rolands Uribe, the parish’s pastor, and Father Luis Carlos Moreno, who is providing pastoral assistance to the parish, concelebrated the liturgy with the bishop. The event also included a

unitedyam November 6, 2026November 6, 2026

Picture of the day

Vineyards (AOC Languedoc-Cabrières) in autumn at the foot of the Pic de Vissou. Commune of Cabrières, Hérault, France.

Priest refuses to remove his clerical attire after being told he must to renew passport in Mexico #Catholic Father Alberto Medel reported that staff at Mexico’s Secretariat of Foreign Affairs (SRE, by its Spanish acronym) demanded he remove his clerical attire for the photo to renew his passport, a requirement he described as discriminatory and a violation of his right to religious freedom.The incident took place on Nov. 4 at the passport office in the Coyoacán borough of Mexico City, according to an account the priest shared on X.In response to the complaint, Roberto Velasco Álvarez, who heads the SRE, said on X that he had given instructions “for the photograph to be retaken with him wearing his ecclesiastical attire, and for the passport to be issued.”What happened?According to Medel, the coordinator of the theological committee for the college of exorcists of the Primatial Archdiocese of Mexico, an SRE employee told him that he “could not have the photograph taken while wearing his ecclesiastical attire.”The priest refused to remove his attire, arguing that he had the right to dress according “to my state of life, provided that my face remained perfectly visible.”The employee consulted with a supervisor, and Medel was allowed to be photographed in his clerical attire.However, while waiting for his new passport, the priest was told by another person, who “did not identify herself by name or position and displayed a hostile attitude from the start,” that the SRE would not process a passport application with a photograph showing him in clerical attire.When Medel requested that she show him the law that prohibited his attire, the official “showed him a page from the secretariat’s internal regulations, which state that photographs containing religious symbols are not permitted.”Medel said a police officer standing behind the official seemed to indicate “a clear attitude of intimidation.”“We Catholic priests are second-class citizens whose freedoms and rights are restricted because of our choice of faith,” he stated, alleging that what occurred violated the rights stipulated in the Mexican Constitution concerning nondiscrimination and religious freedom.“Today, I was subjected to discrimination; my human rights were violated, and I was humiliated through clear expressions of anticlericalism and Christianophobia,” he said.Passport regulations and the Supreme Court precedentArticle 14 of Mexico’s “Regulations for Passports and Identity and Travel Documents” stipulates that for the passport application process, “the photograph must be taken facing forward, in color, with a white background; the head must be uncovered, and there must be no garments or objects that partially or completely cover the face, including eyeglasses.”The article does not establish a general prohibition against the use of religious attire or symbols in photographs for a Mexican passport.On Dec. 11, 2025, the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation resolved a dispute concerning Muslim women who had been required to remove their hijabs in order to obtain a passport.In that case, the court determined that the women could wear the hijabs; regulations must be interpreted in a manner consistent with freedom of religion, ideology, and conscience; and individuals may wear “religious garments, attire, or symbols” that do not hinder their identification.Furthermore, the court cautioned against “the absolute sacrifice of religious freedom.”‘I am not the only person who has suffered this’In a statement to EWTN News Español, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News, Medel confirmed that following Velasco’s statement, he received an email and a phone call from SRE staff in order to facilitate the renewal of his passport.However, he has been unable to return to the government office due to his pastoral commitments including the celebration of the 500th anniversary of his parish, Santa María de la Visitación, in the Indigenous town of Santa María Tepepan. This event is scheduled for this Saturday, Nov. 7, and will be attended by the apostolic nuncio to Mexico, Archbishop Joseph Spiteri. Medel said he plans to travel to Rome on Monday, Nov. 9, which is why he needed his passport.He said he hopes to be able to complete the process but also believes it is necessary for the SRE to take measures to prevent other religious from facing similar situations.“I don’t need an apology,” he said, expressing his hope that this case will lead to “firmer steps” being taken to ensure that nothing like this happens again.He said other priests and religious sisters told him they have had similar experiences. Medel clarified that clerical attire “is not a uniform; it is my way of life.” He noted that because he dresses as a priest, he’s been insulted but has also experienced “a great deal of good: People I encounter ask for a blessing, and I have heard confessions in airports, on airplanes, on buses, and out on the street.”He said he is requesting from the authorities, “in writing, a commitment and an instruction to all offices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, that ensures this does not happen again to any priest or religious.”After EWTN News Español contacted the General Directorate for Social Communication of the Secretariat of Foreign Affairs, the office forwarded Velasco’s public statement.This story was first published by EWTN News Español, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

unitedyam November 6, 2026November 7, 2026

Father Alberto Medel reported that he was told to remove his clerical attire in order to renew his passport in Mexico despite the existence of judicial rulings that protect religious clothing.

Nationwide tax-funded abortion is top priority for Democrats in next session #Catholic The Democratic Party will head into the 2027 legislative session with majorities in the House of Representatives and the Senate following a landslide victory in the midterm elections, and one of its focuses will be to advance pro-abortion legislation.Earlier this year, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries promised healthcare would be one of the top Democratic priorities for 2027 and created a Cost-of-Living Healthcare Working Group to develop a legislative plan, led by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-New York, and Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Alabama.Based on a memo developed by the working group and obtained by Politico in late September, Democratic plans to codify the now-defunct Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision, which made abortion legal nationwide, and plans for tax-funded elective abortions, “should be considered for advancement in the first 100 hours” of the legislative session.“Reestablish a federal right to abortion care and end restrictions that prevent people covered through federal health programs from receiving abortion coverage,” read the memo, which is dated Sept. 1 and was published by Politico on Sept. 25.EWTN News reached out to Ocasio-Cortez’s office and Sewell’s office to ask whether this is still the plan but did not receive a response by the time of publication.The White House provided a statement to EWTN News when asked about Democrats’ plans to prioritize abortion legislation but did not specifically say whether President Donald Trump would veto any pro-abortion bills.“The Trump Administration is committed to Gold Standard Science, as outlined in detail by President Trump’s Executive Order, ‘Restoring Gold Standard Science,’” White House spokeswoman Allison Schuster said in the statement. “The mifepristone safety review by the FDA is just one example of President Trumpʼs total commitment to ensuring the health and safety of all Americans.”2 bills for immediate considerationOne bill the working group suggests Democrats consider to advance in the first 100 hours is the Women’s Health Protection Act, which was first introduced in 2013 to codify Roe. This bill would declare abortion “a human right” and prevent state governments from restricting abortion before fetal viability, which is typically in the 23rd or 24th week of pregnancy.According to the 2025 version of the bill, viability is when the unborn child can survive outside of the womb. Whether the unborn child is viable would be determined by “the treating health care provider,” who is typically the abortionist.Although some post-viability abortion restrictions would be allowed, all state laws would need to allow abortion through the ninth month of pregnancy if “the treating health care provider,” who is typically the abortionist, deems it necessary to protect “the life or health of the patient.” The text is unclear as to what qualifies as a threat to the patient’s health.If this bill were to become law, it would immediately invalidate state-level pro-life laws across the country.“It would sweep aside state protections for unborn children,” Laura Echevarria, communications director National Right to Life, told EWTN News.She said the bill would “take away the ability for [people’s] elected representatives … [to] protect babies before viability.” And after viability, she said abortions would be allowed “if the abortionist determines the abortion is necessary.”Echevarria said the text used in the bill offers a “very broad definition” for the health exemption and warned that it could include not just physical health complications but also mental health complications, as determined by the abortionist.The second bill the working group suggests Democrats consider within the first 100 hours is the Equal Access to Abortion Coverage in Health Insurance (EACH) Act, which would add abortion coverage to tax-funded health insurance plans for government workers and people enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid, and the Childrenʼs Health Insurance Program (CHIP).Essentially, the bill would eliminate the Hyde Amendment, which has been included in spending bills since 1976 to prohibit federal funds for elective abortions. Although the ban on tax-funded abortion originally had bipartisan support, Democrats have sought to eliminate the ban in recent years.Echevarria said the EACH Act would “require abortion coverage across specific government health programs,” with the goal being to eliminate Hyde. She said: “The federal government would ensure that abortion would be covered, so it’s very broad and very sweeping.”She said the Democrats’ plan to prioritize these bills is “disappointing” but “not surprising.” She said that although the Democratic Party used to welcome pro-life voices, “now it’s the party that encourages women to ‘shout their abortion.’”“It used to be we had more pro-life Democrats in the House years ago, [but] the Democratic Party has not welcomed pro-lifers in years,” Echevarria said. “So they are not welcoming that viewpoint.”Kelsey Pritchard, the communications director for Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, said in a statement to EWTN News that this agenda shows “pro-abortion Democrat extremism will be on full display next Congress.”In addition to the two bills included in the memo, Pritchard said: “We also anticipate efforts to revive the expansion of Obamacare subsidies that further taxpayer funded abortion coverage, another avenue for more babies to die at the hands of the federal government.”The incoming members of Congress will be sworn in at noon on Jan. 3, 2027. Although not all of the results are finalized, Democrats will have at least 253 seats in the House and at least 54 seats in the Senate.

unitedyam November 6, 2026November 7, 2026

Democrats are considering two abortion-related bills for the first 100 hours of the 2027 legislative session: one to legalize abortion nationwide and one to allow federal tax funds for abortion.

unitedyam November 6, 2026November 7, 2026

A reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Philippians
4:10-19

Brothers and sisters:
I rejoice greatly in the Lord
that now at last you revived your concern for me.
You were, of course, concerned about me but lacked an opportunity.
Not that I say this because of need,
for I have learned, in whatever situation I find myself,
to be self-sufficient.
I know indeed how to live in humble circumstances;
I know also how to live with abundance.
In every circumstance and in all things
I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry,
of living in abundance and of being in need.
I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me.
Still, it was kind of you to share in my distress.

You Philippians indeed know that at the beginning of the Gospel,
when I left Macedonia,
not a single church shared with me
in an account of giving and receiving, except you alone.
For even when I was at Thessalonica
you sent me something for my needs,
not only once but more than once.
It is not that I am eager for the gift;
rather, I am eager for the profit that accrues to your account.
I have received full payment and I abound.
I am very well supplied because of what I received from you
through Epaphroditus,
“a fragrant aroma,” an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.
My God will fully supply whatever you need,
in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

From the Gospel according to Luke
16:9-15

Jesus said to his disciples:
“I tell you, make friends for yourselves with dishonest wealth,
so that when it fails, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.
The person who is trustworthy in very small matters
is also trustworthy in great ones;
and the person who is dishonest in very small matters
is also dishonest in great ones.
If, therefore, you are not trustworthy with dishonest wealth,
who will trust you with true wealth?
If you are not trustworthy with what belongs to another,
who will give you what is yours?
No servant can serve two masters.
He will either hate one and love the other,
or be devoted to one and despise the other.
You cannot serve God and mammon.”

The Pharisees, who loved money,
heard all these things and sneered at him.
And he said to them,
“You justify yourselves in the sight of others,
but God knows your hearts;
for what is of human esteem is an abomination in the sight of God.”

Jesus presents a clear alternative between God and wealth, asking us to take a clear and consistent position. “No slave can serve two masters”, therefore “You cannot serve God and wealth” (cf. Lk 16:13).(…)We must decide on a real way of life. It is a matter of choosing where to place our heart. (…) The thirst for wealth risks taking God’s place in our heart, when we believe that it is wealth that will save our lives. (…) The temptation is this: to think that without God we could still live well, while without wealth we would be sad and afflicted by a thousand needs. When faced with the test of need, we feel threatened, but instead of asking for help with trust and sharing with fraternity, we are led to calculate, to accumulate, becoming suspicious and distrustful of others. (…) On the contrary, God assigns the goods of creation to all. (…) Indeed, the Word of the Lord does not pit people against each other in rival classes, but urges everyone to an inner revolution, a conversation that starts from the heart. Then our hands will open: to give, not to grab. (…) Those who serve God become free from wealth, but those who serve wealth remain its slave! Those who seek justice transform wealth into the common good; those who seek dominion transform the common good into the prey of their own greed. (Pope Leo XIV, Homily, 21 September 2025)

New film ‘Jimmy’ explores the untold story of Jimmy Stewart’s WWII service and enduring faith – #Catholic – A piece of American history came to life at the Nov. 4 red carpet premiere of a new film called “Jimmy.” With music from the 1940s playing in the background, a military color guard paying tribute to legendary actor Jimmy Stewart, and a B-24 Liberator flying overhead, the evening in Dallas celebrated a side of Stewart that many don’t know: his service as a World War II bomber pilot.James “Jimmy” Stewart was a beloved American actor best known for his portrayal of George Bailey in the Christmas classic “It’s a Wonderful Life.” But at the height of his Hollywood career, Stewart put acting on hold to serve his country during World War II. The new film explores this transformative chapter of his life and how his wartime experiences would later influence his iconic portrayal of the family man from Bedford Falls.Stewart served in the military from 1941 to 1945, eventually deploying to England in 1943 as a heavy bomber pilot with the United States Army Air Forces. Assigned to the Eighth Air Force, he rose to become a squadron and group commander and flew the B-24 Liberator on 20 combat missions over occupied Europe, including raids on targets such as Berlin. He would later serve as a strategic bomber officer and attain the rank of brigadier general in the U.S. Air Force Reserve.It was Stewart’s service to his country that inspired director Aaron Burns to create the new film.

A military color guard pays tribute to actor and war veteran Jimmy Stewart at the red carpet premiere of the new film “Jimmy” in Fort Worth, Texas, on Nov. 4, 2026. | Credit: Francesca Fenton/EWTN News

In an interview with EWTN News at the premiere of “Jimmy,” Burns shared that he grew up watching Stewart’s movies but he had “no idea that the life he lived was every bit as interesting — maybe even more so — than the films he made.”“I read an article that Jimmy wrote about this period of his life and how ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ was the first movie he made when he came back from serving in World War II,” he added. “And I had no idea that Jimmy was in a war and so it uncovered, for me, a whole new chapter to explore.”For Kelly Stewart-Harcourt — one of Stewart’s daughters — her initial reaction upon hearing someone wanted to make a biopic on her father was that it would be “boring because he had a scandal-free life.”“But then, when it was focused on this particular chapter of his life, then I started thinking more about it,” she said. “My biggest concern was, ‘Would dad approve?’ And I think, it doesn’t glorify war, it tells a really true story, and I think he would approve.”Stewart-Harcourt also recalled the role her father’s faith played in his life professionally as an actor, during his service, and as a father and husband.“Faith was very important to dad. He didn’t wear it on his sleeve. He was very quietly religious but he went to church every single Sunday … A few times, I would burst into the bedroom to tell him something, and it would be before he was going to bed, and he would be kneeling at the bed like a little boy saying his prayers.”She added that he often told her that his faith is what “gave him great strength and comfort.”

Jimmy Stewart’s daughter, Kelly Stewart-Harcourt, and KJ Apa on the set of “Jimmy.” | Credit: Photo courtesy of Burns & Co.

KJ Apa, the actor who portrays Stewart in the film, shared that taking on this role impacted the way in which he thinks about what it truly means to live a meaningful life.He admitted that in his early 20s he got “caught up for the wrong reasons” in the entertainment industry. Now, as a father and in a committed relationship, it “puts things in perspective.”“At the end of the day, what it comes down to is what kind of person you are behind closed doors. That’s who you really are. I can say with certainty that Jimmy was that same guy behind closed doors and hopefully it inspires other people to practice what you preach, in a way,” he said.Apa added: “Because in a time where people like to capitalize on fame, and one opportunity, and they’re very quick to kind of forget about everything else in order to gain this thing that’s going to make them huge — this story kind of shows the opposite of what that looks like, to throw that away and be like I’m doing this because itʼs the right thing to do. It’s pretty cool. It’s the ultimate to me. It’s the ultimate story.”Karolyn Grimes, the actress who played ZuZu Bailey in “It’s a Wonderful Life,” recalled her time working alongside Stewart and called him “an angel on earth” and that the beloved American Christmas classic “was a gift to people.”She said she hopes viewers will “realize that there is kindness in this world and there is goodness. Sometimes you have to look for it, but it’s there.”“Jimmy was the epitome of kindness and he set such a wonderful example that I hope they could take that away from him and maybe make some changes in their lives to be more of a good Samaritan and to give of themselves more,” Grimes added.

Karolyn Grimes, the actress who portrayed ZuZu Bailey in “It’s a Wonderful Life,” on the red carpet at the premiere of “Jimmy” in Fort Worth, Texas, on Nov. 4, 2026. | Credit: Francesca Fenton/EWTN News Screenshot

Hien Papaian, the founder of the production studio behind the film, Papaian Studios, shared similar sentiments. She told EWTN News that she hopes viewers will see “the kindness and the love that exudes from every part of this movie. Again we can disagree, we can have differences, but we can love each other through that and still unite in kindness.”As for Stewart-Harcourt, she said she hopes viewers will come to see “how very honorable” her father was.“Jimmy” can be watched in theaters nationwide now. Veterans, active-duty military, first responders, and their families can receive free tickets to see the film. Instagram post

unitedyam November 6, 2026November 7, 2026

The movie explores the lesser-known story of Jimmy Stewart’s military service and the faith, humility, and kindness that shaped his life.

Pope Leo in Uruguay: Protect life at all stages, provide universal healthcare – #Catholic – MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay — Pope Leo XIV on Friday opened his first visit to South America as pope with a call to protect life from its beginning in the womb until its natural end and to guarantee healthcare for all members of society.The pope addressed Uruguay’s President Yamandú Orsi and other dignitaries in the country’s capital on the first day of an 11-day tour of the continent that will also take him to Argentina and Peru.“The unborn already belong to the human family and to the future of their people. Their absolute dependence on their mother does not diminish the dignity to which they are entitled or the protection they deserve,” Leo said.Though he did not directly mention euthanasia, which Uruguay legalized last year, the pope stressed the need to preserve life even in the midst of suffering.“Given the painful reality of suicide, it is clear that adequate healthcare, family ties, and the closeness of the community are inseparable. None should ever feel like a stranger among their own or think that their absence matters less than their presence,” Leo said. “It is everyone’s responsibility to ensure that each person can live with dignity, receive the care they need, and be accompanied until the natural end of his or her life.”Euthanasia, the intentional ending of a human life in order to relieve suffering, is forbidden by Catholic teaching.The pope referred to his recent surgery for lung cancer, less than a month before his trip to South America, in his call for universal healthcare.“Recently I experienced firsthand the limitations imposed by illness and I received care for which I am deeply grateful. That experience makes me think of the many men and women who lack the means to obtain a timely diagnosis or receive the treatments they need. Ensuring that healthcare is accessible to everyone, regardless of their resources, is a duty that confronts every society,” Leo said.Uruguay is exceptional among Latin American countries for the extent of its state-provided social services. It is also one of the most secular countries in the region, where more than half the population does not identify with organized religion and the official state calendar refers to Holy Week as Tourism Week.Echoing remarks he made in September in France, whose model of secularism has historically influenced Uruguay, Leo called for religious believers and institutions to take part in public life.“The secular character of the state involves an obligation to ensure that there is room for believers and nonbelievers to live together in freedom and respect. This neutrality does not require that the religious dimension be confined to the private sphere,” the pope said. “Individuals and religious communities can contribute to the common good while respecting the autonomy of civil institutions.”

Pope Leo XIV participates in vespers at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception and Sts. Philip and James in Montevideo, Uruguay, Nov. 6, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News

Leo also took up the theme of Uruguay’s secularism in his second and final speech of the day, a homily at a vespers service in the city’s cathedral with bishops, clergy, religious, and seminarians. The pope said the example of a Christian minority was especially important in evangelizing the society around them.“One of the secrets of evangelization is to resemble the One whom we proclaim. In this land, where many of our contemporaries barely know Jesus Christ and so many young people have grown up far from the life of the Church, that witness has a special power. May the way we look at others, the way we listen, or the way we reach out to those who suffer prompt them to ask about the origins of that love. When we speak to them of Jesus, may they discover the very Lord whose goodness they have begun to experience, despite our own poverty,” the pope said.This story was updated at 6:42 p.m. ET on Nov. 6, 2026, with his speech at vespers.

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The pontiff’s speech referred to his own recent cancer surgery.

Exit polling shows Catholics almost evenly split between Democrats, Republicans in 2026 midterms – #Catholic – Catholics voted about equally for Democrats and Republicans in the 2026 midterms, exit polls show, with Catholic voters shifting their alignment from 2024 to help propel Democratic politicians to their historic victories on Nov. 3. Exit polling data released by NBC News shows the Catholic vote almost equally split between Democratic and Republican politicians this year, with the network reporting 50% of Catholic voters choosing Democrats and 49% choosing Republicans. The even split marks a notable departure from the 2024 presidential election, which saw just 39% of Catholic voters casting ballots for Democrat Kamala Harris and 59% of them voting for Republican Donald Trump, according to NBC data from that year.Andrew Chestnut, the Bishop Walter F. Sullivan chair in Catholic studies at Virginia Commonwealth University, told EWTN News that the results represent a “notable shift” from 2024, though “it remains to be seen whether this represents a lasting political realignment.”He noted that a closer read of polling data reveals a more nuanced view of the Catholic voting bloc. “The preliminary exit polls underscore the considerable diversity of American Catholicism, with 56% of white Catholics voting Republican compared with 65% of Hispanic Catholics who favored Democrats,” he said. “Equally noteworthy is the generational divide, with 65% of Catholics under 29 voting Democratic,” he said, though he pointed out that “younger voters' preferences do not necessarily predict their political allegiances later in life.”The stronger Latino Catholic vote for Democrats likely reflects a response to Trump’s hard-line immigration policies, Chestnut said. The president’s public criticism of Pope Leo XIV earlier in the year “could also have influenced some voters,” he noted, though “the extent of either effect is difficult to establish.” Though the Catholic vote in the midterms broke markedly from 2024, the 2026 numbers are similar to other recent elections in which NBC obtained exit polling data. Exit polling in 2016 showed 46% of Catholics voting for Hillary Clinton that year and 50% voting for Trump, while in 2020 Catholics voted for Democrat Joe Biden over Trump by a 52% to 47% margin. Though Catholics were evenly divided between both major parties in 2026, other religions broke heavily for Democrats, according to the exit poll data. Muslim voters reported voting Democratic 86% of the time, according to the network’s data, while 68% of Jewish voters cast Democratic ballots. Those who identified their religious affiliation as “none,” meanwhile, were 78% in favor of Democrats, with just 20% voting Republican. Chestnut said high Democratic support from “nones” reflects the “growing electoral significance of religiously unaffiliated Americans,” while high Muslim support “point[s] to the diversity of the partyʼs religious coalition.”Regarding the Catholic vote, meanwhile, “ultimately, the results reinforce the importance of Catholics as a potentially pivotal constituency whose voting patterns reflect differences in ethnicity, generation, and political outlook, rather than any unified Catholic political identity,” he said.

unitedyam November 6, 2026November 7, 2026

Muslim and Jewish voters, along with the nonreligious, voted overwhelmingly for Democrats, according to polls.

Newsom Clears Murderers Out Of Death Row To Make Room For People Caught With Plastic Straws #BabylonBee – SACRAMENTO, CA — California Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order on Thursday granting immediate clemency to all 548 inmates currently residing on the state’s death row to make room in prisons for people who use plastic straws.

unitedyam November 6, 2026November 6, 2026

SACRAMENTO, CA — California Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order on Thursday granting immediate clemency to all 548 inmates currently residing on the state’s death row to make room in prisons for people who use plastic straws.

‘Why Do I Feel So Rotten?’ Asks Man Briefly Coming Up For Air Between Twinkies #BabylonBee – RALEIGH, NC — Briefly catching his breath between Twinkies, local man Brantley Nettles wondered why he felt so rotten.

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RALEIGH, NC — Briefly catching his breath between Twinkies, local man Brantley Nettles wondered why he felt so rotten.

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The earliest test of Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity took place just four years after he published it. During the May 29, 1919, total solar eclipse, British astronomer Sir Arthur Eddington and colleagues studied the theory by measuring how the Sun distorts light from background stars. According to general relativity, any object with massContinue reading “Nov. 6, 1919: Einstein is right”

The post Nov. 6, 1919: Einstein is right appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

This Colorado Mountain Destination Is the Highest City in the U.S.—and It’s Not Denver #Travel Frontier grit meets modern mountain culture in Leadville, Colorado.

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Frontier grit meets modern mountain culture in Leadville, Colorado.

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City lights from the midwestern United States to the East Coast sparkle across the landscape a couple of hours before sunrise.

unitedyam November 6, 2026November 6, 2026

Friday, November 6The waning Moon leaves us with perfect skies for deep-sky observing. Let’s kick off the week with a bright planetary nebula in Aquarius: NGC 7293, commonly known as the Helix Nebula. Despite its impressive magnitude of 7.3, the Helix presents a challenge: It is a broad 13’ across, which spreads its light overContinue reading “The Sky This Week from November 6 to 13: Venus in the spotlight”

The post The Sky This Week from November 6 to 13: Venus in the spotlight appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

unitedyam November 5, 2026November 5, 2026

A reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Philippians
3:17—4:1

Join with others in being imitators of me, brothers and sisters,
and observe those who thus conduct themselves
according to the model you have in us.
For many, as I have often told you
and now tell you even in tears,
conduct themselves as enemies of the cross of Christ.
Their end is destruction.
Their God is their stomach;
their glory is in their “shame.”
Their minds are occupied with earthly things.
But our citizenship is in heaven,
and from it we also await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
He will change our lowly body
to conform with his glorified Body
by the power that enables him also
to bring all things into subjection to himself.

Therefore, my brothers and sisters,
whom I love and long for, my joy and crown,
in this way stand firm in the Lord, beloved.

From the Gospel according to Luke
16:1-8

Jesus said to his disciples, “A rich man had a steward
who was reported to him for squandering his property.
He summoned him and said,
‘What is this I hear about you?
Prepare a full account of your stewardship,
because you can no longer be my steward.’
The steward said to himself, ‘What shall I do,
now that my master is taking the position of steward away from me?
I am not strong enough to dig and I am ashamed to beg.
I know what I shall do so that,
when I am removed from the stewardship,
they may welcome me into their homes.’
He called in his master’s debtors one by one.
To the first he said, ‘How much do you owe my master?’
He replied, ‘One hundred measures of olive oil.’
He said to him, ‘Here is your promissory note.
Sit down and quickly write one for fifty.’
Then to another he said, ‘And you, how much do you owe?’
He replied, ‘One hundred measures of wheat.’
He said to him, ‘Here is your promissory note;
write one for eighty.’
And the master commended that dishonest steward for acting prudently.
For the children of this world
are more prudent in dealing with their own generation
than the children of light.”

In the story we see a steward summoned by the rich man for “an accounting” of his management. Here we are presented with an image that conveys something important: we are not the masters of our lives or of the goods we enjoy; everything has been given to us as a gift by the Lord, who has entrusted this to our care, our freedom, and our responsibility. One day we will be called to give an account of how we have managed ourselves, our possessions and the earth’s resources – before both God and humankind, before society, and especially before those who will come after us. (…)

Taking his cue from the story, Jesus exhorts us: “Make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth so that when it is gone, they may welcome you into the eternal homes” (v. 9).

Indeed, the steward in the parable, even while managing the dishonest wealth of this world, succeeds in finding a way to make friends, leaving behind the solitude of his own selfishness. How much more, then, must we, who are disciples living in the light of the Gospel, use the goods of this world and our very lives with a view to the true wealth, which is friendship with the Lord and with our brothers and sisters. (Pope Leo XIV, Angelus, 21 September 2025)

Catholic group praises California for ‘largest commutation in history’ as hundreds spared execution #Catholic The prominent anti-death penalty group Catholic Mobilizing Network praised California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Nov. 5 for his commutation of the death sentences of every prisoner on the state’s death row. In a publicly released letter, Newsom said he had “decided to exercise [his] constitutional clemency authority to commute all California death sentences to life without the possibility of parole.”The Democratic governor, who identifies as Catholic, said in the letter that he had come to “firmly believe that state-sanctioned killing is incompatible with California’s values,” that it “undermines the foundations of our legal system,” and that it “diminishes each of us.” The governor described life in prison without parole as “the most severe punishment I can lawfully impose.” The convicted criminals “will die in prison but not by our hand,” he said. The commutation covered all 548 prisoners condemned to death in the state. Newsom’s executive order in 2019 ensured executions would not occur while he remained governor.Responding to the news on Nov. 5, Krisanne Vaillancourt Murphy, executive director of Catholic Mobilizing Network, called the decision “an incredibly encouraging and historic witness for life and human dignity.” She described the order as “the largest commutation in world history.”The Catholic group regularly advocates death sentence commutations and the national abolition of the death penalty itself. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states bluntly that the death penalty is “inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person.”Vaillancourt Murphy in her statement said the mass clemency “demonstrates how justice can be rooted in mercy and restoration instead of death and retribution.”Newsom “has given each of [the condemned criminals] a tangible sign of hope and a chance for rehabilitation,” she said.The decision “underscores the sacred value” of the lives of the prisoners, she said, though she stressed the need to “bear witness to the incomparable suffering that the families and loved ones of murder victims endure.” “We hear the cry for justice and accountability that grave harm rightly deserves, and we continue to hold them in prayer,” Vaillancourt Murphy said. Newsom in his statement noted that the state Supreme Court will have to weigh in on some of the commutations according to the state constitution, though the governor said he was “confident that this act of categorical clemency” was in line with state law.

unitedyam November 5, 2026November 6, 2026

California Gov. Gavin Newsom commuted the death sentences of nearly 550 prisoners on the state’s death row on Nov. 5.

I Live in the Midwest and This Is the Region’s Most Exciting City, With Top Museums, a Buzzing Food Scene, and 22 Lakes #Travel It’s hard to beat Minneapolis.

unitedyam November 5, 2026November 5, 2026

It’s hard to beat Minneapolis.

Texas bishops congratulate Democratic winners, reaffirm pro-life and family agenda #Catholic After Democrats won every major statewide office in Tuesday’s midterm elections and gained a majority in the Texas House of Representatives, Texas’ Catholic bishops offered prayers for the winners and continued to emphasize public policy priorities aligned with Catholic social teaching.In a Nov. 5 message, the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops congratulated the winners, telling them that the bishops are praying “that God grants them wisdom as they take on the responsibilities of public office.”The bishops reiterated their legislative priorities in a previously finalized agenda: “As we look ahead to the 90th Texas Legislative Session, the principles of Catholic social and moral teaching that guide our work remain unchanged,” the bishops wrote. They said they will continue to advocate for policies that “uphold human dignity, strengthen families, care for the vulnerable and creation, and promote the common good.”In the agenda, the bishops stated: “Human life is intrinsically valuable and should be protected by law from conception, which happens at fertilization, to natural death. Moreover, the natural family is the sanctuary of life in which parents teach children how they ought to live.”Specific policy positions the bishops took in their legislative agenda include supporting funding for abortion alternatives and assistance for parents (including kinship, foster, and adoptive families); opposing euthanasia, in vitro fertilization, and surrogacy; and opposing “the advancement of gender ideology, especially in places where young people are affected.” They also promoted safeguards for “the inviolable dignity of the human person through the ethical development of Artificial Intelligence (AI)” and reasonable steps to address gun-related violence.The bishops stated they continue to oppose “efforts to weaken the protection of unborn human life.”Newly elected attorney general says he won’t enforce Texas abortion lawsThese stances come as the incoming Democratic administration is expected to pursue pro-abortion measures. Attorney general-elect and pro-abortion Democrat Nathan Johnson has already said he will not continue outgoing Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton’s lawsuits against out-of-state providers who have illegally mailed abortion pills into Texas, saying he will respect other states’ shield laws but will not enforce Texas’ pro-life laws.John Seago, president of Texas Right to Life, a Christian pro-life advocacy group, called Johnson’s position “absolutely ridiculous.”“His new job as attorney general is to enforce the laws of Texas, regardless of his personal feelings about them,” Seago told EWTN News.“The abortion pill trafficking enables abusive men that are ordering pills from other states and sneaking them into the drinks of Texas mothers,” he said. “Nathan Johnson is taking a position that he will defend an industry that enables this type of assault on Texas’ pregnant women.”Johnson did not respond to a request for comment from EWTN News by the time of publication.‘Remain engaged in civic life’Separately, Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller of San Antonio issued his own postelection statement. He recalled the U.S. bishops’ preelection call for Catholics to place faith before politics and noted that Pope Leo XIV cast a mail-in ballot from the Vatican.The archbishop highlighted issues the Holy Father has emphasized: “protecting human life; protecting religious freedom and human rights; promoting the family; upholding the human dignity of all, including migrants and prisoners; and also promoting political dialogue and building consensus, so that we may find common ground among our diversity.”“Following [Tuesday’s] election results, I strongly encourage all to remain actively engaged in civic life,” García-Siller wrote. “Let us further the Biblical values of the Kingdom. We do not need more division after a particularly bruising campaign season, but rather, we need unity to be fostered in order to move forward in freedom to discuss difficult topics more deeply in light of the Gospel.”He ended his statement with prayers for peace and for all officeholders to receive “wisdom and discernment from the Holy Spirit,” invoking Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas and of the archdiocese, to help “build up a civilization of love.”Republicans retained control of the Texas Senate, a fact noted by some pro-life advocates as a potential check on legislative changes.

unitedyam November 5, 2026November 6, 2026

Texas’ Catholic bishops congratulated Democratic winners, who won every top office statewide, and prayed for their wisdom while reaffirming that Catholic principles remain unchanged.

unitedyam November 5, 2026November 5, 2026

Picture of the day

Atakule TV tower with attached shopping mall in Ankara, Turkey

Tell Big Tech and Corporate HQs to Stay Away! (VIDEO) – Texas Built it…
The post Tell Big Tech and Corporate HQs to Stay Away! (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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Texas Built it…

The post Tell Big Tech and Corporate HQs to Stay Away! (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Justice Department Launches Criminal Investigation Into SCOTUS Dobbs Leak – The Justice Department has launched a criminal investigation into the Dobbs Roe v.
The post Justice Department Launches Criminal Investigation Into SCOTUS Dobbs Leak appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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The Justice Department has launched a criminal investigation into the Dobbs Roe v.

The post Justice Department Launches Criminal Investigation Into SCOTUS Dobbs Leak appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

WAYNE ROOT: Something Smells Rotten in Texas. And Kansas. And Mississippi. And Everywhere Else Too. Was This a 2020 Rigged Election All Over Again? Here are a Few Simple Questions About This Midterm Election. – By Wayne Allyn Root So, let’s ask a few simple questions.
The post WAYNE ROOT: Something Smells Rotten in Texas. And Kansas. And Mississippi. And Everywhere Else Too. Was This a 2020 Rigged Election All Over Again? Here are a Few Simple Questions About This Midterm Election. appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

unitedyam November 5, 2026November 5, 2026

By Wayne Allyn Root So, let’s ask a few simple questions.

The post WAYNE ROOT: Something Smells Rotten in Texas. And Kansas. And Mississippi. And Everywhere Else Too. Was This a 2020 Rigged Election All Over Again? Here are a Few Simple Questions About This Midterm Election. appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Vaticano: El Papa León, ‘entusiasmado’ y ‘clínicamente apto’ para su ajetreado viaje de regreso a América Latina #Catholic – (OSV News) — El Papa León XIV, quien viajará a Sudamérica poco más de tres semanas después de someterse a una cirugía por cáncer de pulmón, está “personalmente entusiasmado con este viaje” y contará con “la asistencia médica habitual”, confirmaron portavoces del Vaticano durante una rueda de prensa celebrada el 3 de noviembre en la Oficina de Prensa del Vaticano.
El viaje, del 6 al 17 de noviembre, será la primera visita papal a América Latina del pontificado del Papa León. A lo largo de 12 días, celebrará nueve misas públicas, visitará siete catedrales y presidirá dos vigilias de oración en estadios.
Matteo Bruni, director de la Oficina de Prensa de la Santa Sede, dijo que el Papa pronunciará “alrededor de 36 discursos” durante el viaje.
María Montserrat Alvarado, quien asumió su cargo como prefecta del Dicasterio para la Comunicación el 1 de noviembre, dijo a los periodistas que “él les va a dar mucho material improvisado con el que trabajar” –algo que, señaló, es “hermoso”, ya que “él quiere compartir su corazón y nosotros queremos ayudarlo a hacerlo”.

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El Papa, dijo, “revelará su corazón en un lenguaje que le sea propio”, tal como lo hizo en España. “Lo verán de nuevo, pero de una manera totalmente diferente, porque conoce estas calles”.
El Papa León llegó por primera vez a Perú en 1985 y la labor misionera moldeó su visión de la Iglesia universal. Allí fue nombrado obispo y allí experimentó los desafíos y las alegrías de pastorear a su rebaño.
El Papa León está en condiciones de emprender el viaje sin necesidad de equipo especial
En su primera intervención ante los periodistas, durante una conferencia de prensa tras asumir su cargo como la primera mujer laica en ocupar el puesto de prefecta de un dicasterio vaticano, Alvarado dijo que el Papa está “emocionado” ante el viaje más largo de su pontificado hasta la fecha, y que “confirmó que el viaje se realizaría sin cambios”, agregando que él está “agradecido” por las oraciones y la preocupación por su salud.
“Cuando escucha esos mensajes de preocupación, las preguntas sobre los médicos, lo único que percibe es el amor de la gente y la esperanza que tienen en lo que este viaje traerá”, dijo Alvarado.
Durante la rueda de prensa del 3 de noviembre, los periodistas preguntaron repetidamente sobre los retos para la salud que suponen los cambios de altitud y los vuelos en helicóptero a la región de los Andes para el Papa, aproximadamente un mes después de que cirujanos le extirparan parte de un pulmón durante la cirugía del 13 de octubre.
Bruni confirmó que “no se está utilizando ninguna adaptación ni equipo especial” desde el punto de vista médico y que “el Papa fue bastante claro” en su comunicado del 26 de octubre al indicar que “el plan sigue siendo el mismo” y que no se prevén cambios en el itinerario inicial debido a su reciente hospitalización.
La naturaleza de la cirugía, dijo Bruni, es que “no produce una limitación permanente”, y agregó que al Papa Francisco le faltaba parte de un pulmón y que viajaba sin inconvenientes.
“¿Se necesitaron medidas médicas especiales para esos viajes? Tomemos como ejemplo nuestro viaje a Tierra Santa: concentramos los eventos de una semana en solo tres días. Es una condición que permite llevar una vida normal sin necesidad de precauciones especiales”, dijo Bruni.
“Si algo cambia, me aseguraré de avisarles, pero tal como están las cosas –según lo que nos han dicho los médicos– no se requiere ningún tratamiento, y él está clínicamente apto para realizar este viaje”, dijo el director de prensa.
Por su parte, Alvarado mencionó la Misa de los Difuntos del 2 de noviembre en el Cementerio de Campo Verano: “No sé si todos vieron la Misa de ayer. Su resistencia es fantástica”, señaló.
“La forma en que canta es increíble. Y solo se puede cantar si los pulmones son realmente fuertes”, dijo Alvarado, y agregó que el Papa “ya había superado el período de recuperación necesario”.
Sus médicos, dijo ella, “están muy seguros y dispondrá de atención médica adecuada a bordo en caso de que suceda algo. Pero no vemos eso en su pronóstico, por la forma en que se está comportando”.
El viaje a América Latina comienza el 6 de noviembre con un vuelo de más de 14 horas y 6.900 millas desde Roma a Montevideo, Uruguay. El vuelo de regreso desde Lima, Perú, a Roma cubre 6.700 millas. Entre tanto, el Papa viajará a un nuevo destino casi todos los días, incluyendo un vuelo de 2.200 millas de Buenos Aires a Lima y un vuelo en helicóptero militar el 14 de noviembre hacia la localidad andina de Santa Cruz de Succhabamba, en Perú.
A modo de comparación, el Papa León recorrió 11.000 millas en 11 días durante su viaje a Argelia, Camerún, Angola y Guinea Ecuatorial a principios de este año. El viaje a América Latina culmina con un regreso a Chiclayo, Perú, donde se desempeñó como obispo de 2015 a 2023.
El Papa León regresa a casa con un mensaje de paz
Al ser preguntado sobre los objetivos del viaje, Alvarado dijo que hay “dos aspectos realmente importantes de lo que él quiere que sea este viaje”.
En primer lugar, está el regreso a América Latina de un Papa con ciudadanía peruana. “Él lo siente muy profundamente”, señaló, ya que “este es un lugar donde desarrolló su ministerio y lo forjó como pastor”.
Dijo que el continente le enseñó al Papa “su manera de entender el encuentro y las… diversas necesidades de la Iglesia” y “le abrió los ojos de una manera nueva y diferente”.
Al tomar su teléfono, Alvarado leyó el segundo objetivo y lo que, según ella, el Papa le pidió que compartiera con los periodistas: ayudar a “compartir su mensaje de paz y encuentro con el mundo”, algo que, según señaló, “se expresa en América Latina a través de su diversidad de pueblos y culturas”.
Sanación, paz y diálogo: elementos importantes del viaje
Dijo que el Papa espera “que todos puedan ver la importancia del encuentro, para la sanación y para la paz, y por qué el diálogo es tan importante, y que los distintos elementos del viaje realmente contribuyan a hacerlo realidad”.
El Papa León comenzará su viaje en Uruguay, el país más secularizado de América Latina. Allí su recorrido lo llevará ante una pequeña imagen mariana que el proceso de secularización de Uruguay nunca pudo separar por completo de la identidad nacional del país: la Virgen de los Treinta y Tres.
En Argentina, adonde llegará el 8 de noviembre, enfrentará el desafío de visitar la patria del pontífice argentino, el Papa Francisco –quien nunca visitó su patria como Papa– y un país que el arzobispo de Buenos Aires, Jorge Ignacio García Cuerva, describió recientemente como “una Argentina herida, una Argentina dividida”.
En Perú, visitará Lima, Chiclayo, Santa Cruz de Succhabamba y Cusco en los Andes, así como Pucallpa en la Amazonía, sin pasar por Chulucanas ni Trujillo, donde se desempeñó como misionero.
Bruni señaló que, si bien el programa del viaje incluye “algunos elementos de la historia personal del Papa”, también es “una oportunidad para llegar a esos lugares a los que normalmente no se llega”, lo que le brinda al Papa la oportunidad de “seguir los pasos de aquellos misioneros que quisieron llegar a lugares donde Cristo no había sido llevado antes”, expresando así un sentimiento “de gratitud hacia la enorme labor que se realizó en los inicios del cristianismo en América Latina”.
“Se nota este equilibrio entre Prevost y el Papa León XIV” en el itinerario del viaje, señaló Alvarado, refiriéndose al apellido de nacimiento del Papa.
“Él pertenece al mundo. Y por mucho que su corazón esté en ciertos lugares de Perú, también debe cumplir con los deberes pastorales de reunirse con las personas que dirigen estos países y que lo han invitado a visitarlos”, dijo, y agregó que “hay un verdadero equilibrio entre los lugares a los que le encantaría ir… y los deberes que debe cumplir como Santo Padre”.
El primer viaje oficial de Alvarado en la comitiva papal
Al ser preguntada sobre sus propias emociones antes del primer viaje oficial con el Papa, dijo: “Es un honor y un privilegio increíbles formar parte de su comitiva”.
“Es increíblemente emotivo pensar en un viaje que nos va a revelar tanto sobre su corazón”, dijo.
Refiriéndose a una de las preguntas anteriores sobre Uruguay –el país más secularizado del itinerario del viaje apostólico–, Alvarado dijo: “¿Por qué no? Todos necesitan escuchar el mensaje de Jesucristo, y eso es parte de quién es el Papa León”.
Dijo que el pontífice “entiende que no solo va a hablar con los países y sus representantes, sino que va a encontrarse con la gente, a llegar a sus corazones y, con suerte, a inspirarlos a volver a buscar aquellos lugares donde la Iglesia tuvo una gran presencia y ahora es pequeña” y a “reconsiderar”.
“Eso forma parte en gran medida de lo que siento en mi corazón y es la razón por la que acepté este trabajo”.
Paulina Guzik es editora internacional de OSV News. Síguela en X @Guzik_Paulina.

unitedyam November 5, 2026November 5, 2026

Vaticano: El Papa León, ‘entusiasmado’ y ‘clínicamente apto’ para su ajetreado viaje de regreso a América Latina #Catholic –

(OSV News) — El Papa León XIV, quien viajará a Sudamérica poco más de tres semanas después de someterse a una cirugía por cáncer de pulmón, está “personalmente entusiasmado con este viaje” y contará con “la asistencia médica habitual”, confirmaron portavoces del Vaticano durante una rueda de prensa celebrada el 3 de noviembre en la Oficina de Prensa del Vaticano.

El viaje, del 6 al 17 de noviembre, será la primera visita papal a América Latina del pontificado del Papa León. A lo largo de 12 días, celebrará nueve misas públicas, visitará siete catedrales y presidirá dos vigilias de oración en estadios.

Matteo Bruni, director de la Oficina de Prensa de la Santa Sede, dijo que el Papa pronunciará “alrededor de 36 discursos” durante el viaje.

María Montserrat Alvarado, quien asumió su cargo como prefecta del Dicasterio para la Comunicación el 1 de noviembre, dijo a los periodistas que “él les va a dar mucho material improvisado con el que trabajar” –algo que, señaló, es “hermoso”, ya que “él quiere compartir su corazón y nosotros queremos ayudarlo a hacerlo”.

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El Papa, dijo, “revelará su corazón en un lenguaje que le sea propio”, tal como lo hizo en España. “Lo verán de nuevo, pero de una manera totalmente diferente, porque conoce estas calles”.

El Papa León llegó por primera vez a Perú en 1985 y la labor misionera moldeó su visión de la Iglesia universal. Allí fue nombrado obispo y allí experimentó los desafíos y las alegrías de pastorear a su rebaño.

El Papa León está en condiciones de emprender el viaje sin necesidad de equipo especial

En su primera intervención ante los periodistas, durante una conferencia de prensa tras asumir su cargo como la primera mujer laica en ocupar el puesto de prefecta de un dicasterio vaticano, Alvarado dijo que el Papa está “emocionado” ante el viaje más largo de su pontificado hasta la fecha, y que “confirmó que el viaje se realizaría sin cambios”, agregando que él está “agradecido” por las oraciones y la preocupación por su salud.

“Cuando escucha esos mensajes de preocupación, las preguntas sobre los médicos, lo único que percibe es el amor de la gente y la esperanza que tienen en lo que este viaje traerá”, dijo Alvarado.

Durante la rueda de prensa del 3 de noviembre, los periodistas preguntaron repetidamente sobre los retos para la salud que suponen los cambios de altitud y los vuelos en helicóptero a la región de los Andes para el Papa, aproximadamente un mes después de que cirujanos le extirparan parte de un pulmón durante la cirugía del 13 de octubre.

Bruni confirmó que “no se está utilizando ninguna adaptación ni equipo especial” desde el punto de vista médico y que “el Papa fue bastante claro” en su comunicado del 26 de octubre al indicar que “el plan sigue siendo el mismo” y que no se prevén cambios en el itinerario inicial debido a su reciente hospitalización.

La naturaleza de la cirugía, dijo Bruni, es que “no produce una limitación permanente”, y agregó que al Papa Francisco le faltaba parte de un pulmón y que viajaba sin inconvenientes.

“¿Se necesitaron medidas médicas especiales para esos viajes? Tomemos como ejemplo nuestro viaje a Tierra Santa: concentramos los eventos de una semana en solo tres días. Es una condición que permite llevar una vida normal sin necesidad de precauciones especiales”, dijo Bruni.

“Si algo cambia, me aseguraré de avisarles, pero tal como están las cosas –según lo que nos han dicho los médicos– no se requiere ningún tratamiento, y él está clínicamente apto para realizar este viaje”, dijo el director de prensa.

Por su parte, Alvarado mencionó la Misa de los Difuntos del 2 de noviembre en el Cementerio de Campo Verano: “No sé si todos vieron la Misa de ayer. Su resistencia es fantástica”, señaló.

“La forma en que canta es increíble. Y solo se puede cantar si los pulmones son realmente fuertes”, dijo Alvarado, y agregó que el Papa “ya había superado el período de recuperación necesario”.

Sus médicos, dijo ella, “están muy seguros y dispondrá de atención médica adecuada a bordo en caso de que suceda algo. Pero no vemos eso en su pronóstico, por la forma en que se está comportando”.

El viaje a América Latina comienza el 6 de noviembre con un vuelo de más de 14 horas y 6.900 millas desde Roma a Montevideo, Uruguay. El vuelo de regreso desde Lima, Perú, a Roma cubre 6.700 millas. Entre tanto, el Papa viajará a un nuevo destino casi todos los días, incluyendo un vuelo de 2.200 millas de Buenos Aires a Lima y un vuelo en helicóptero militar el 14 de noviembre hacia la localidad andina de Santa Cruz de Succhabamba, en Perú.

A modo de comparación, el Papa León recorrió 11.000 millas en 11 días durante su viaje a Argelia, Camerún, Angola y Guinea Ecuatorial a principios de este año. El viaje a América Latina culmina con un regreso a Chiclayo, Perú, donde se desempeñó como obispo de 2015 a 2023.

El Papa León regresa a casa con un mensaje de paz

Al ser preguntado sobre los objetivos del viaje, Alvarado dijo que hay “dos aspectos realmente importantes de lo que él quiere que sea este viaje”.

En primer lugar, está el regreso a América Latina de un Papa con ciudadanía peruana. “Él lo siente muy profundamente”, señaló, ya que “este es un lugar donde desarrolló su ministerio y lo forjó como pastor”.

Dijo que el continente le enseñó al Papa “su manera de entender el encuentro y las… diversas necesidades de la Iglesia” y “le abrió los ojos de una manera nueva y diferente”.

Al tomar su teléfono, Alvarado leyó el segundo objetivo y lo que, según ella, el Papa le pidió que compartiera con los periodistas: ayudar a “compartir su mensaje de paz y encuentro con el mundo”, algo que, según señaló, “se expresa en América Latina a través de su diversidad de pueblos y culturas”.

Sanación, paz y diálogo: elementos importantes del viaje

Dijo que el Papa espera “que todos puedan ver la importancia del encuentro, para la sanación y para la paz, y por qué el diálogo es tan importante, y que los distintos elementos del viaje realmente contribuyan a hacerlo realidad”.

El Papa León comenzará su viaje en Uruguay, el país más secularizado de América Latina. Allí su recorrido lo llevará ante una pequeña imagen mariana que el proceso de secularización de Uruguay nunca pudo separar por completo de la identidad nacional del país: la Virgen de los Treinta y Tres.

En Argentina, adonde llegará el 8 de noviembre, enfrentará el desafío de visitar la patria del pontífice argentino, el Papa Francisco –quien nunca visitó su patria como Papa– y un país que el arzobispo de Buenos Aires, Jorge Ignacio García Cuerva, describió recientemente como “una Argentina herida, una Argentina dividida”.

En Perú, visitará Lima, Chiclayo, Santa Cruz de Succhabamba y Cusco en los Andes, así como Pucallpa en la Amazonía, sin pasar por Chulucanas ni Trujillo, donde se desempeñó como misionero.

Bruni señaló que, si bien el programa del viaje incluye “algunos elementos de la historia personal del Papa”, también es “una oportunidad para llegar a esos lugares a los que normalmente no se llega”, lo que le brinda al Papa la oportunidad de “seguir los pasos de aquellos misioneros que quisieron llegar a lugares donde Cristo no había sido llevado antes”, expresando así un sentimiento “de gratitud hacia la enorme labor que se realizó en los inicios del cristianismo en América Latina”.

“Se nota este equilibrio entre Prevost y el Papa León XIV” en el itinerario del viaje, señaló Alvarado, refiriéndose al apellido de nacimiento del Papa.

“Él pertenece al mundo. Y por mucho que su corazón esté en ciertos lugares de Perú, también debe cumplir con los deberes pastorales de reunirse con las personas que dirigen estos países y que lo han invitado a visitarlos”, dijo, y agregó que “hay un verdadero equilibrio entre los lugares a los que le encantaría ir… y los deberes que debe cumplir como Santo Padre”.

El primer viaje oficial de Alvarado en la comitiva papal

Al ser preguntada sobre sus propias emociones antes del primer viaje oficial con el Papa, dijo: “Es un honor y un privilegio increíbles formar parte de su comitiva”.

“Es increíblemente emotivo pensar en un viaje que nos va a revelar tanto sobre su corazón”, dijo.

Refiriéndose a una de las preguntas anteriores sobre Uruguay –el país más secularizado del itinerario del viaje apostólico–, Alvarado dijo: “¿Por qué no? Todos necesitan escuchar el mensaje de Jesucristo, y eso es parte de quién es el Papa León”.

Dijo que el pontífice “entiende que no solo va a hablar con los países y sus representantes, sino que va a encontrarse con la gente, a llegar a sus corazones y, con suerte, a inspirarlos a volver a buscar aquellos lugares donde la Iglesia tuvo una gran presencia y ahora es pequeña” y a “reconsiderar”.

“Eso forma parte en gran medida de lo que siento en mi corazón y es la razón por la que acepté este trabajo”.

Paulina Guzik es editora internacional de OSV News. Síguela en X @Guzik_Paulina.

– (OSV News) — El Papa León XIV, quien viajará a Sudamérica poco más de tres semanas después de someterse a una cirugía por cáncer de pulmón, está “personalmente entusiasmado con este viaje” y contará con “la asistencia médica habitual”, confirmaron portavoces del Vaticano durante una rueda de prensa celebrada el 3 de noviembre en la Oficina de Prensa del Vaticano. El viaje, del 6 al 17 de noviembre, será la primera visita papal a América Latina del pontificado del Papa León. A lo largo de 12 días, celebrará nueve misas públicas, visitará siete catedrales y presidirá dos vigilias de oración

Pope Leo XIV praises Chinese Catholics for unity 100 years after consecration of their first bishops – #Catholic – A century after the consecration of the first Chinese bishops, Pope Leo XIV praised the Church in China for remaining in communion with Rome.On Nov. 5, the Vatican published a video message from the pontiff during a conference titled “The Universal Face of the Church in China,” held at the Pontifical Urban University in Rome. The meeting not only marked the 1926 consecration of China’s first bishops but also reflected on the state of the Chinese church today, particularly regarding the ongoing Vatican-China deal.Among those present were Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin; Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, dean of the College of Cardinals; Cardinal Stephen Chow Sau-yan, SJ, bishop of Hong Kong; and Ignazio Ding Zuyao, bishop of Haimen.Communion with Peter, not colonialismIn his message, Leo noted Chinese Catholics’ long history of fidelity to the papacy, quoting Pope Benedict XVI, who said that they have always had “legitimate pastors who have preserved intact apostolic succession.”“No shepherd in the Church can claim the mission as his own,” Leo said. “Rather, he receives and exercises it in communion with the successor of Peter and with all the other successors of the apostles, the bishops.”

Pope Leo XIV passes in front of St. Peter’s Basilica in the popemobile during his weekly ride through the crowds in St. Peter’s Square for the general audience on Oct. 28, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media

The pope also noted the significance of six Chinese priests traveling from Shanghai to Rome in 1926 to receive consecration from Pope Pius XI.“They crossed the world to bear witness to the communion that springs from the faith of the apostles,” Leo said.Quoting Pope Benedict XV, Leo affirmed that the Church’s missionary work “cannot be confused with processes of colonization” but is “born of mission” to “bear witness to Christ in charity.”China-Holy See relations: A relationship marked by suspicion?The Holy See and China have not maintained official diplomatic relations since 1951. Their provisional, undisclosed 2018 agreement on the selection of bishops has been challenged, with concerns that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is suppressing the Church.Parolin, speaking on the sidelines of the conference, acknowledged that the deal still has its imperfections.

Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin speaks during the conference “The Universal Face of the Church in China” at the Pontifical Urban University in Rome on Nov. 5, 2026. | Credit: Ishmael Adibuah/EWTN News

“All agreements are imperfect, including the one on China,” Parolin said to reporters. “However, the path is open. So we move forward trying to perfect what is imperfect.”Chow noted the suspicion with which Catholics are sometimes viewed in China, out of fear that their religion could be used as a tool of foreign influence.“We wonder how come the Church, our Church, in China for so many years is still seen as a foreign Church,” he said. “I think that in China, a major concern is that, for example, religion will not be used as a vehicle for foreign intervention.”

The conference “The Universal Face of the Church in China” took place at the Pontifical Urban University in Rome on Nov. 5, 2026. | Credit: Ishmael Adibuah/EWTN News

Others, however, expressed support for the so-called “Sinicization” of the Church, which is a state-led campaign to subordinate religious institutions to its Chinese Communist Party agenda.“The ‘Sinicization of Catholicism’ is not a departure from Catholic tradition but an expression of authentic catholicity,” Joseph Li Shan, bishop of Beijing, said.Zuyao, made a bishop in October under the Vatican-China deal, added that Sinicization is “not a departure from communion with the universal faith” but rather “a natural expression of inner faith and a faithful implementation of Christ’s command ‘Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and unto God what is God’s.’”

unitedyam November 5, 2026November 6, 2026

The pope sent a message to a conference in Rome marking the anniversary, where attendees discussed the Vatican’s complex relations with China.

unitedyam November 5, 2026November 5, 2026

Bishop Sweeney challenges Delbarton students to become inspiring leaders #Catholic –

On Oct. 3, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney visited Delbarton School in Morristown, N.J., where the school community gathered for its annual Bishop’s Mass.

Bishop Sweeney celebrated the Mass, which was concelebrated by Benedictine Father Michael Tidd, Delbarton’s headmaster. Several students participated in the Mass, including as extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist, lectors, and liturgical musicians. The bishop’s visit also included meeting with a group of students.

Bishop Sweeney spoke with students about leading by example and how our actions can speak louder than words and inspire those around them.

Delbarton is a Benedictine Catholic college preparatory school that educates young men in grades 7 to 12 in mind, body, and spirit.

BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI

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– On Oct. 3, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney visited Delbarton School in Morristown, N.J., where the school community gathered for its annual Bishop’s Mass. Bishop Sweeney celebrated the Mass, which was concelebrated by Benedictine Father Michael Tidd, Delbarton’s headmaster. Several students participated in the Mass, including as extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist, lectors, and liturgical musicians. The bishop’s visit also included meeting with a group of students. Bishop Sweeney spoke with students about leading by example and how our actions can speak louder than words and inspire those around them. Delbarton is a Benedictine Catholic college preparatory school that educates young

Catholic priest pleads guilty to 1970s sexual assault of Baltimore boy – #Catholic – A Catholic priest has admitted to sexually abusing a boy in Baltimore in the mid-1970s, authorities said this week. Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown said Father Laurence LaPointe, 81, admitted to the abuse after an investigation led by the attorney general’s office. The prosecutor’s office said in a release that LaPointe pleaded guilty on Nov. 4 to a fourth-degree sex offense and common-law assault.Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Charles Dorsey III sentenced the priest to three years in prison, which the judge immediately suspended; LaPointe was also sentenced to five years of supervised probation.Among the terms of his probation is the stipulation that LaPointe “have no direct contact with minors under the age of 18” and that he “not volunteer or work in any educational setting involving individuals under the age of 18.”LaPointe’s victim offered a victim impact statement during the court proceedings, according to the attorney general’s office; the victim said that with the guilty plea, the “heavy burden” of the priest’s abuse “passes from me to [LaPointe].”“I hope he will find the courage to acknowledge any other misconduct, voluntarily and fully, without requiring other victims to endure years of investigation, the prospect of a trial, and the emotional burden of having to prove what happened to them,” the victim said. “Those who were sexually assaulted as children continue to carry the burden of that trauma long after they reach adulthood,” Brown said in the press release. “No matter how much time passes, we will help lift that weight off survivors’ shoulders and hold accountable anyone who abuses a position of trust to inflict such devastating harm on our children.”LaPointe is currently a priest in the Diocese of Norwich, Connecticut. The diocese did not immediately respond to a request for comment on his status there. The Norwich Diocese had announced that LaPointe had been placed on ministry leave in March when the allegations surfaced. He had been serving as pastor of Corpus Christi Parish at the time.

unitedyam November 5, 2026November 6, 2026

The Maryland attorney general’s office said Father Laurence LaPointe admitted to abusing a boy at Gilman School.

Chiclayo priest eagerly awaits his friend, Pope Leo XIV, in Peru – #Catholic – The last time Father Hugo Gabriel Sánchez met Robert Prevost in Chiclayo, Peru, the future pope had just been created a cardinal. In just a few days, that friend, who wishes Sánchez a happy birthday every year and with whom he shared “hearty laughter” when he was Sánchez’s bishop, will return to Peru as pontiff.A historic visitPope Leo will be in Peru from Nov. 11–16, a historic visit that Sánchez described as “a gift from God.” For him, Prevost’s election has meant “a change in the color of his cassock: He remains the same close friend as always, attentive to us and concerned for our well-being.”Serenity, trust in providence, clarity, and firmness are, in the priest’s view, some of the traits that best define Leo XIV.Speaking with EWTN News Español, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News, he also recalled that “Bishop Roberto reflected very well the image of Christ the good shepherd: a shepherd who was always close to his people, whose doors were always open and, above all, whose heart was ready and whose time was available to listen to you patiently and calmly. He knew how to offer wise answers that did not remain merely words but were translated into concrete actions.”‘The roots of his ministry are here’Although the two have met on more than one occasion in the Vatican since Leo was elected successor of St. Peter, the young priest acknowledged that this occasion will be different.“This visit is very important because it was here that he was able to fully develop his vocation and found a way of exercising his ministry first as a priest and then as a bishop. He grew deeply attached to Chiclayo, and having him here again after eight years will be very important for him and for us. The roots of his ministry are here,” Sánchez emphasized.Recalling the pope’s missionary journey, the priest highlighted the enthusiasm with which “Bishop Roberto” approached major projects and pastoral challenges.“One of the things that excited him most was launching major initiatives for evangelization, proclaiming the Gospel, and passing on the faith, while never neglecting social assistance,” he said.A source of encouragementSánchez said he has no doubt that Leo XIV is preparing for this trip “with much prayer,” just as the Church in Peru is doing. He is also convinced that this encounter will be a source of encouragement for the Holy Father, especially “after recovering from his operation.”The priest revealed that the Holy Father expressed a desire to visit the most remote communities. However, difficulties in access, especially because of weather conditions, ultimately prevented their inclusion in the official itinerary.Even so, he explained, “the pope wanted these people to be the guests of honor at the gathering that will take place in Zaña, in the Chiclayo district.” There, the pontiff will preside over the closing of the jubilee year marking the 300th anniversary of the canonization of St. Turibius of Mogrovejo.Expectations in the country that holds a special place in Leo XIV’s heart are immense. The Chiclayo priest noted that despite the pope’s simple, humble, and reserved character, “he is someone who, when he stands before a large crowd, seems to come alive even more, with greater joy, enthusiasm, and excitement. You could say that his heart grows larger, and for that reason he will enjoy it very much.”Sánchez, a member of the organizing committee for the papal trip, said that despite the diocese’s lack of experience and the enormous challenge of preparing a visit of this magnitude, special effort has been made to attend to every detail of the events and warmly welcome all pilgrims.Asked what Peru would like Leo XIV to find upon his arrival, the priest’s answer was clear: “It is reflected in his own Petrine motto, ‘In Illo uno unum’ — a united Church that knows how to walk together in fraternity.”This story was first published by EWTN News Español, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

unitedyam November 5, 2026November 6, 2026

For Father Hugo Gabriel Sánchez, Pope Leo “remains the same close friend as always, attentive to us and concerned for our well-being.”

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