Day: September 22, 2026

Priest’s murder in Mexico may be warning to sow fear, priest says #Catholic The recent murder of Father Román de la Cruz Hernández in the Mexican state of Hidalgo has once again drawn attention to the violence plaguing the country and has renewed concerns over how organized crime acts with impunity. De la Cruz, 48, the parish priest of Santa Cruz in Huejutla, Hidalgo, was found dead on a road in the Lolotla district on Sept. 15. On Sept. 17, Francisco Ángel Fernández Hasbun, chief of staff for the Hidalgo state attorney generalʼs office, stated in a video that the agency is “conducting the appropriate investigations.”According to local media, the priestʼs body was found with gunshot wounds near a pickup truck, accompanied by a placard bearing a message whose content has not been disclosed by the authorities. The Mexican Bishops’ Conference (CEM) has demanded a “thorough investigation” of the case, while Bishop José Hiraís Acosta Beltrán of the Diocese of Huejutla lamented “the alarming situation of violence being experienced in our country.”Around 600 people marched for peace in Huejutla on Sunday, Sept. 20, and attended a Mass for De la Cruz. During the homily, Acosta called for “a culture of peace and reconciliation,” asking for the crime to be solved and urging that "neither this event nor the other crimes that have wounded our Mexican nation be allowed to go unpunished.”On the afternoon of Sept. 21, Acosta and Fernández met and delivered a brief joint statement.Fernández said important information regarding the case was provided during the meeting and said the two believe the case will resolve quickly, noting the Church’s collaboration with the authorities during the inquiries.‘The telltale signs of organized crime’According to the Catholic Multimedia Center, a group that documents violence against Church members in Mexico, four priests have been murdered so far during President Claudia Sheinbaum’s term in office. The total number of priests murdered since 1990 exceeds 60.The center’s director, priest and journalist Father Omar Sotelo, told ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News, that the murder “bears the telltale signs of organized crime.”Sotelo noted that “extortion and threats against priests in the country are an ongoing reality.” He noted that, among those recorded and analyzed by the group, “more than 80% of cases remain unsolved,” including the 1993 murder of Cardinal Juan Jesús Posadas Ocampo, archbishop of Guadalajara, a case that stands as “a monument to impunity.”In a 2016 Facebook video, Cardinal Juan Sandoval Íñiguez, then-archbishop emeritus of Guadalajara and Posadas’ successor, declared the murder “a crime by the state, perpetrated by the Federal Judicial Police.” He even named Rodolfo León Aragón, then-director of the police, as the one behind the murder, who Sandoval said probably got his orders from then-Attorney General Jorge Carpizo, whose death in 2012 ended the investigation. ‘This could happen to us, too’Julieta Appendini, director of the pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) in Mexico, told ACI Prensa “it is important not to view these murders merely as isolated criminal acts.”The impact of a crime against a priest “goes far beyond the loss of an individual,” she said, noting that “the priest often has a very close presence in the life of the community: He knows the families, ministers to the sick, listens to people’s problems, celebrates the sacraments, and can also serve as a figure of trust and mediation.”“When he is murdered, the community loses someone who fulfilled many of those roles, and an even greater sense of fear and helplessness can take hold.”She warned that the murder could serve as a warning to other priests: ‘This could happen to us, too.’” The faithful attend the Mass celebrated on Sept. 20, 2026, in Santa Cruz, Huejutla, in memory of Father Román de la Cruz Hernández. | Credit: Father Domingo Porfirio Cruz/Diocese of Huejutla ‘The goal is to sow fear’“The goal is to sow fear,” Sotelo said. The community of Huejutla “is afraid; they have already told us so.”Despite this, he affirmed that, “the clergy of Huejutla will continue working and carrying out their pastoral mission just as they are doing now.”According to Sotelo, this type of murder demonstrates “the ruthless power” of organized crime in the country, “where, regrettably, the authorities have been ineffective in managing the situation and ensuring the safety of the Mexican people.”Appendini pointed out that “a priest working in a community affected by violence does not merely celebrate the sacraments. Often, he is one of the individuals who remains when others have had to leave; he ministers to the families, listens to the victims, defends the vulnerable, and can become a voice denouncing these acts of violence.”“That can place him in a vulnerable position vis-à-vis those seeking to control territory or impose silence,” she said.Appendini noted that ACN’s 2025 Religious Freedom Report “points to threats, extortion, murders, assaults, and pressure to remain silent directed at priests and other religious leaders in Mexico.”However, she clarified that “not every attack on a priest is necessarily motivated by an intent to attack religion. In Mexico, violence can be linked to territorial control, drug trafficking, extortion, or land disputes.”Religious freedom “comes into play when a person is put at risk precisely for carrying out their mission and ministering to their community,” she said.‘We must not normalize these situations’“Fear also has consequences for religious freedom,” Appendini warned, noting that “a person may legally have the right to practice their faith, but if doing so publicly, serving their community, or speaking out against violence puts him in danger, then that right is not being fully exercised.”“That is why, at ACN, we believe we must not normalize these situations or reduce them merely to statistics. When a priest who serves his community is threatened or murdered, we must also ask ourselves what is happening to that community and to the freedom of the people living there,” she noted.Sotelo acknowledged that, in both his priestly ministry and his work as a journalist, “we sometimes feel fear; we know that at any moment we could even lose our lives for speaking about these kinds of circumstances.”However, he affirmed that “God is with us, the Master Jesus is with us, and in the face of that, we have no choice but to continue carrying out our pastoral work as a priest, a journalist, as a reporter.”This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
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Priest’s murder in Mexico may be warning to sow fear, priest says #Catholic The recent murder of Father Román de la Cruz Hernández in the Mexican state of Hidalgo has once again drawn attention to the violence plaguing the country and has renewed concerns over how organized crime acts with impunity. De la Cruz, 48, the parish priest of Santa Cruz in Huejutla, Hidalgo, was found dead on a road in the Lolotla district on Sept. 15. On Sept. 17, Francisco Ángel Fernández Hasbun, chief of staff for the Hidalgo state attorney generalʼs office, stated in a video that the agency is “conducting the appropriate investigations.”According to local media, the priestʼs body was found with gunshot wounds near a pickup truck, accompanied by a placard bearing a message whose content has not been disclosed by the authorities. The Mexican Bishops’ Conference (CEM) has demanded a “thorough investigation” of the case, while Bishop José Hiraís Acosta Beltrán of the Diocese of Huejutla lamented “the alarming situation of violence being experienced in our country.”Around 600 people marched for peace in Huejutla on Sunday, Sept. 20, and attended a Mass for De la Cruz. During the homily, Acosta called for “a culture of peace and reconciliation,” asking for the crime to be solved and urging that "neither this event nor the other crimes that have wounded our Mexican nation be allowed to go unpunished.”On the afternoon of Sept. 21, Acosta and Fernández met and delivered a brief joint statement.Fernández said important information regarding the case was provided during the meeting and said the two believe the case will resolve quickly, noting the Church’s collaboration with the authorities during the inquiries.‘The telltale signs of organized crime’According to the Catholic Multimedia Center, a group that documents violence against Church members in Mexico, four priests have been murdered so far during President Claudia Sheinbaum’s term in office. The total number of priests murdered since 1990 exceeds 60.The center’s director, priest and journalist Father Omar Sotelo, told ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News, that the murder “bears the telltale signs of organized crime.”Sotelo noted that “extortion and threats against priests in the country are an ongoing reality.” He noted that, among those recorded and analyzed by the group, “more than 80% of cases remain unsolved,” including the 1993 murder of Cardinal Juan Jesús Posadas Ocampo, archbishop of Guadalajara, a case that stands as “a monument to impunity.”In a 2016 Facebook video, Cardinal Juan Sandoval Íñiguez, then-archbishop emeritus of Guadalajara and Posadas’ successor, declared the murder “a crime by the state, perpetrated by the Federal Judicial Police.” He even named Rodolfo León Aragón, then-director of the police, as the one behind the murder, who Sandoval said probably got his orders from then-Attorney General Jorge Carpizo, whose death in 2012 ended the investigation. ‘This could happen to us, too’Julieta Appendini, director of the pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) in Mexico, told ACI Prensa “it is important not to view these murders merely as isolated criminal acts.”The impact of a crime against a priest “goes far beyond the loss of an individual,” she said, noting that “the priest often has a very close presence in the life of the community: He knows the families, ministers to the sick, listens to people’s problems, celebrates the sacraments, and can also serve as a figure of trust and mediation.”“When he is murdered, the community loses someone who fulfilled many of those roles, and an even greater sense of fear and helplessness can take hold.”She warned that the murder could serve as a warning to other priests: ‘This could happen to us, too.’” The faithful attend the Mass celebrated on Sept. 20, 2026, in Santa Cruz, Huejutla, in memory of Father Román de la Cruz Hernández. | Credit: Father Domingo Porfirio Cruz/Diocese of Huejutla ‘The goal is to sow fear’“The goal is to sow fear,” Sotelo said. The community of Huejutla “is afraid; they have already told us so.”Despite this, he affirmed that, “the clergy of Huejutla will continue working and carrying out their pastoral mission just as they are doing now.”According to Sotelo, this type of murder demonstrates “the ruthless power” of organized crime in the country, “where, regrettably, the authorities have been ineffective in managing the situation and ensuring the safety of the Mexican people.”Appendini pointed out that “a priest working in a community affected by violence does not merely celebrate the sacraments. Often, he is one of the individuals who remains when others have had to leave; he ministers to the families, listens to the victims, defends the vulnerable, and can become a voice denouncing these acts of violence.”“That can place him in a vulnerable position vis-à-vis those seeking to control territory or impose silence,” she said.Appendini noted that ACN’s 2025 Religious Freedom Report “points to threats, extortion, murders, assaults, and pressure to remain silent directed at priests and other religious leaders in Mexico.”However, she clarified that “not every attack on a priest is necessarily motivated by an intent to attack religion. In Mexico, violence can be linked to territorial control, drug trafficking, extortion, or land disputes.”Religious freedom “comes into play when a person is put at risk precisely for carrying out their mission and ministering to their community,” she said.‘We must not normalize these situations’“Fear also has consequences for religious freedom,” Appendini warned, noting that “a person may legally have the right to practice their faith, but if doing so publicly, serving their community, or speaking out against violence puts him in danger, then that right is not being fully exercised.”“That is why, at ACN, we believe we must not normalize these situations or reduce them merely to statistics. When a priest who serves his community is threatened or murdered, we must also ask ourselves what is happening to that community and to the freedom of the people living there,” she noted.Sotelo acknowledged that, in both his priestly ministry and his work as a journalist, “we sometimes feel fear; we know that at any moment we could even lose our lives for speaking about these kinds of circumstances.”However, he affirmed that “God is with us, the Master Jesus is with us, and in the face of that, we have no choice but to continue carrying out our pastoral work as a priest, a journalist, as a reporter.”This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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The Sept. 15 murder of Father Román de la Cruz Hernández was likely perpetrated by organized crime and is not an isolated incident but forms part of a pattern of fear and intimidation.

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Gospel and Word of the Day – 23 September 2026 – A reading from the Book of Proverbs 30:5-9 Every word of God is tested; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Add nothing to his words, lest he reprove you, and you will be exposed as a deceiver. Two things I ask of you, deny them not to me before I die: Put falsehood and lying far from me, give me neither poverty nor riches; provide me only with the food I need; Lest, being full, I deny you, saying, "Who is the LORD?" Or, being in want, I steal, and profane the name of my God.From the Gospel according to Luke 9:1-6 Jesus summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He said to them, "Take nothing for the journey, neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money, and let no one take a second tunic. Whatever house you enter, stay there and leave from there. And as for those who do not welcome you, when you leave that town, shake the dust from your feet in testimony against them." Then they set out and went from village to village proclaiming the Good News and curing diseases everywhere.There is no going without staying : before sending the disciples forth on mission, Christ — the Gospel says — “calls them to himself” (cf. Mt 10:1). The proclamation is born from the encounter with the Lord; every Christian activity, especially the mission, begins from there. Not from what is learnt in an academy. No, no! It begins from the encounter with the Lord. Witnessing him, in fact, means radiating him; but, if we do not receive his light, we will be extinguished; if we do not spend time with him, we will bear ourselves instead of him — I am bringing myself and not him — and it will all be in vain. So only those who remain with him can bring the Gospel of Jesus. Anyone who does not remain with him cannot bear the Gospel. He will bring ideas, but not the Gospel. Equally, however, there is no staying without going. In fact, following Christ is not an inward-looking fact: without proclamation, without service, without mission, the relationship with Jesus does not grow. (…) In other words: we have a gift, so we are called to make a gift of ourselves; we have received a gift and our vocation is to make a gift of ourselves to others; there is in us the joy of being children of God, it must be shared with our brothers and sisters who do not yet know it! This is the reason for the proclamation. Going forth and bringing the joy of what we have received. (…) This is how one should proclaim: by showing Jesus rather than talking about Jesus. And how do we show Jesus? With our witness. (Pope Francis, General Audience, 15 February 2023)

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A reading from the Book of Proverbs
30:5-9

Every word of God is tested;
he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
Add nothing to his words,
lest he reprove you, and you will be exposed as a deceiver.

Two things I ask of you,
deny them not to me before I die:
Put falsehood and lying far from me,
give me neither poverty nor riches;
provide me only with the food I need;
Lest, being full, I deny you,
saying, "Who is the LORD?"
Or, being in want, I steal,
and profane the name of my God.

From the Gospel according to Luke
9:1-6

Jesus summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority
over all demons and to cure diseases,
and he sent them to proclaim the Kingdom of God
and to heal the sick.
He said to them, "Take nothing for the journey,
neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money,
and let no one take a second tunic.
Whatever house you enter, stay there and leave from there.
And as for those who do not welcome you,
when you leave that town,
shake the dust from your feet in testimony against them."
Then they set out and went from village to village
proclaiming the Good News and curing diseases everywhere.

There is no going without staying : before sending the disciples forth on mission, Christ — the Gospel says — “calls them to himself” (cf. Mt 10:1). The proclamation is born from the encounter with the Lord; every Christian activity, especially the mission, begins from there. Not from what is learnt in an academy. No, no! It begins from the encounter with the Lord. Witnessing him, in fact, means radiating him; but, if we do not receive his light, we will be extinguished; if we do not spend time with him, we will bear ourselves instead of him — I am bringing myself and not him — and it will all be in vain. So only those who remain with him can bring the Gospel of Jesus. Anyone who does not remain with him cannot bear the Gospel. He will bring ideas, but not the Gospel. Equally, however, there is no staying without going. In fact, following Christ is not an inward-looking fact: without proclamation, without service, without mission, the relationship with Jesus does not grow. (…) In other words: we have a gift, so we are called to make a gift of ourselves; we have received a gift and our vocation is to make a gift of ourselves to others; there is in us the joy of being children of God, it must be shared with our brothers and sisters who do not yet know it! This is the reason for the proclamation. Going forth and bringing the joy of what we have received. (…) This is how one should proclaim: by showing Jesus rather than talking about Jesus. And how do we show Jesus? With our witness. (Pope Francis, General Audience, 15 February 2023)

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Venerable Fulton Sheen’s powerful messages still resonate with audiences #Catholic – If he were alive today, Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen might be lighting up social media — like TikTok, Facebook, and X — with his simple, engaging lessons and stories about how to live a fulfilling life in Christ. Matthew E. Bunson, vice president and editorial director of EWTNNews, said that Venerable Sheen, one of the 20th Century’s most influential Catholic evangelists, would already have attracted “millions of followers” on digital platforms by now. On the night of Sept. 16, Bunson made that assertion during his talk, “The Life and Beatification of Archbishop Fulton Sheen,” at St. Thomas More Church in the Convent Station neighborhood of Morris Township, N.J. The well-attended presentation in Morris County occurred less than a week before Venerable Sheen is beatified this Thursday, Sept. 24, at a Mass at The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis, Mo. At that time, he will be designated as “blessed.” During his life, the nationally known TV and radio evangelist, author, and speaker traveled from his New York City residence to the Paterson Diocese, N.J., many times to give presentations and visit family and friends. Fulton J. Sheen’s family overjoyed about his beatification Long before digital media, Venerable Sheen transformed religious communications. Starting in the 1930s, he rose to fame, touching the lives of millions with the Catholic Hour radio show and, even more lives in the 1950s, with his popular TV program, Life is Worth Living. He also authored 73 books and countless pamphlets and essays explaining how the tenets of the Catholic faith enrich lives. “The archbishop’s magnetic personality and presentations quickly drew an estimated 30 million viewers each week [to the TV show]. Jews, Protestants, Catholics and skeptics tuned in, quickly making him a household name,” Bunson said. The archbishop often beat his TV competitors on Sunday nights using little more than his engaging presentation, direct and into the camera, a corny joke, and writings on a chalkboard, he said. “It shows us [Catholic evangelizers] how to speak truth with clarity and charity. He possessed a variability to explain profound truths in language ordinary people could understand,” Bunson said. Even today, Venerable Sheen reminds Catholics that no matter their walk of life, they are all called to be evangelists of the Gospel and to become saints, said Bunson, also a prominent Catholic historian, author, and theologian. In the modern age, Venerable Sheen has cultivated a huge following among Gen Z, he said. Venerable Sheen’s “dramatic gestures or actual illustrations, and stories, were not entertainment for their own sake.” Instead, they were tools placed in the service of God’s truth, not to make himself famous. In accepting his Emmy award in 1952, he quipped, “I feel it is time I pay tribute to my four writers — Matthew, Mark, Luke and John,” Bunson said. “The archbishop understood that people are not searching for theories. They’re searching for meaning, forgiveness, truth, love, mercy, and hope. Christianity answers that search to a person,” said Bunson, adding Venerable Sheen spoke about the beauty of life and faith as well as the demands of the Gospel. “He challenged people to examine their consciousness and warned against materialism, pride, sexual immorality, indifference, resentment, and worship of social. The archbishop reminded his listeners that a person can gain the whole world and still lose their soul,” he said. Venerable Sheen also staunchly promoted the pro-life cause long before legalized abortion and was a prophet of the Eucharistic revival. He also taught at Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., was national director of the Society of the Propagation of the Faith, and served as bishop of Rochester, N.Y. He died in 1979 at 84. The New Jersey Area Order of Malta, a lay religious order of the Church that seeks to glorify God through work with the sick and the poor and witness of the Catholic faith, sponsored the presentation. Christine Myers of the Order of Malta served as master of ceremonies. Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney and members of Venerable Sheen’s family attended. After Bunson’s talk, the bishop told the crowd, “Thank God for Archbishop Sheen’s ministry, and we look forward to his beatification next Thursday.” In his presentation, Bunson said, “The archbishop reminds us that the salvation of souls must remain our priority. Evangelization, however, can also take place through a microphone, television camera, classroom, a newspaper, conversation, in an ordinary home, or anyone who lives,” Bunson said. BEACON PHOTOS | MATTHEW GIGLI [See image gallery at beaconnj.org] Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.  
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Venerable Fulton Sheen’s powerful messages still resonate with audiences #Catholic – If he were alive today, Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen might be lighting up social media — like TikTok, Facebook, and X — with his simple, engaging lessons and stories about how to live a fulfilling life in Christ. Matthew E. Bunson, vice president and editorial director of EWTNNews, said that Venerable Sheen, one of the 20th Century’s most influential Catholic evangelists, would already have attracted “millions of followers” on digital platforms by now. On the night of Sept. 16, Bunson made that assertion during his talk, “The Life and Beatification of Archbishop Fulton Sheen,” at St. Thomas More Church in the Convent Station neighborhood of Morris Township, N.J. The well-attended presentation in Morris County occurred less than a week before Venerable Sheen is beatified this Thursday, Sept. 24, at a Mass at The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis, Mo. At that time, he will be designated as “blessed.” During his life, the nationally known TV and radio evangelist, author, and speaker traveled from his New York City residence to the Paterson Diocese, N.J., many times to give presentations and visit family and friends. Fulton J. Sheen’s family overjoyed about his beatification Long before digital media, Venerable Sheen transformed religious communications. Starting in the 1930s, he rose to fame, touching the lives of millions with the Catholic Hour radio show and, even more lives in the 1950s, with his popular TV program, Life is Worth Living. He also authored 73 books and countless pamphlets and essays explaining how the tenets of the Catholic faith enrich lives. “The archbishop’s magnetic personality and presentations quickly drew an estimated 30 million viewers each week [to the TV show]. Jews, Protestants, Catholics and skeptics tuned in, quickly making him a household name,” Bunson said. The archbishop often beat his TV competitors on Sunday nights using little more than his engaging presentation, direct and into the camera, a corny joke, and writings on a chalkboard, he said. “It shows us [Catholic evangelizers] how to speak truth with clarity and charity. He possessed a variability to explain profound truths in language ordinary people could understand,” Bunson said. Even today, Venerable Sheen reminds Catholics that no matter their walk of life, they are all called to be evangelists of the Gospel and to become saints, said Bunson, also a prominent Catholic historian, author, and theologian. In the modern age, Venerable Sheen has cultivated a huge following among Gen Z, he said. Venerable Sheen’s “dramatic gestures or actual illustrations, and stories, were not entertainment for their own sake.” Instead, they were tools placed in the service of God’s truth, not to make himself famous. In accepting his Emmy award in 1952, he quipped, “I feel it is time I pay tribute to my four writers — Matthew, Mark, Luke and John,” Bunson said. “The archbishop understood that people are not searching for theories. They’re searching for meaning, forgiveness, truth, love, mercy, and hope. Christianity answers that search to a person,” said Bunson, adding Venerable Sheen spoke about the beauty of life and faith as well as the demands of the Gospel. “He challenged people to examine their consciousness and warned against materialism, pride, sexual immorality, indifference, resentment, and worship of social. The archbishop reminded his listeners that a person can gain the whole world and still lose their soul,” he said. Venerable Sheen also staunchly promoted the pro-life cause long before legalized abortion and was a prophet of the Eucharistic revival. He also taught at Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., was national director of the Society of the Propagation of the Faith, and served as bishop of Rochester, N.Y. He died in 1979 at 84. The New Jersey Area Order of Malta, a lay religious order of the Church that seeks to glorify God through work with the sick and the poor and witness of the Catholic faith, sponsored the presentation. Christine Myers of the Order of Malta served as master of ceremonies. Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney and members of Venerable Sheen’s family attended. After Bunson’s talk, the bishop told the crowd, “Thank God for Archbishop Sheen’s ministry, and we look forward to his beatification next Thursday.” In his presentation, Bunson said, “The archbishop reminds us that the salvation of souls must remain our priority. Evangelization, however, can also take place through a microphone, television camera, classroom, a newspaper, conversation, in an ordinary home, or anyone who lives,” Bunson said. BEACON PHOTOS | MATTHEW GIGLI [See image gallery at beaconnj.org] Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.  

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Venerable Fulton Sheen’s powerful messages still resonate with audiences #Catholic –

If he were alive today, Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen might be lighting up social media — like TikTok, Facebook, and X — with his simple, engaging lessons and stories about how to live a fulfilling life in Christ.

Matthew E. Bunson, vice president and editorial director of EWTNNews, said that Venerable Sheen, one of the 20th Century’s most influential Catholic evangelists, would already have attracted “millions of followers” on digital platforms by now. On the night of Sept. 16, Bunson made that assertion during his talk, “The Life and Beatification of Archbishop Fulton Sheen,” at St. Thomas More Church in the Convent Station neighborhood of Morris Township, N.J.

The well-attended presentation in Morris County occurred less than a week before Venerable Sheen is beatified this Thursday, Sept. 24, at a Mass at The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis, Mo. At that time, he will be designated as “blessed.” During his life, the nationally known TV and radio evangelist, author, and speaker traveled from his New York City residence to the Paterson Diocese, N.J., many times to give presentations and visit family and friends.

Fulton J. Sheen’s family overjoyed about his beatification

Long before digital media, Venerable Sheen transformed religious communications. Starting in the 1930s, he rose to fame, touching the lives of millions with the Catholic Hour radio show and, even more lives in the 1950s, with his popular TV program, Life is Worth Living. He also authored 73 books and countless pamphlets and essays explaining how the tenets of the Catholic faith enrich lives.

“The archbishop’s magnetic personality and presentations quickly drew an estimated 30 million viewers each week [to the TV show]. Jews, Protestants, Catholics and skeptics tuned in, quickly making him a household name,” Bunson said. The archbishop often beat his TV competitors on Sunday nights using little more than his engaging presentation, direct and into the camera, a corny joke, and writings on a chalkboard, he said. “It shows us [Catholic evangelizers] how to speak truth with clarity and charity. He possessed a variability to explain profound truths in language ordinary people could understand,” Bunson said.

Even today, Venerable Sheen reminds Catholics that no matter their walk of life, they are all called to be evangelists of the Gospel and to become saints, said Bunson, also a prominent Catholic historian, author, and theologian. In the modern age, Venerable Sheen has cultivated a huge following among Gen Z, he said.

Venerable Sheen’s “dramatic gestures or actual illustrations, and stories, were not entertainment for their own sake.” Instead, they were tools placed in the service of God’s truth, not to make himself famous. In accepting his Emmy award in 1952, he quipped, “I feel it is time I pay tribute to my four writers — Matthew, Mark, Luke and John,” Bunson said.

“The archbishop understood that people are not searching for theories. They’re searching for meaning, forgiveness, truth, love, mercy, and hope. Christianity answers that search to a person,” said Bunson, adding Venerable Sheen spoke about the beauty of life and faith as well as the demands of the Gospel. “He challenged people to examine their consciousness and warned against materialism, pride, sexual immorality, indifference, resentment, and worship of social. The archbishop reminded his listeners that a person can gain the whole world and still lose their soul,” he said.

Venerable Sheen also staunchly promoted the pro-life cause long before legalized abortion and was a prophet of the Eucharistic revival. He also taught at Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., was national director of the Society of the Propagation of the Faith, and served as bishop of Rochester, N.Y. He died in 1979 at 84.

The New Jersey Area Order of Malta, a lay religious order of the Church that seeks to glorify God through work with the sick and the poor and witness of the Catholic faith, sponsored the presentation. Christine Myers of the Order of Malta served as master of ceremonies. Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney and members of Venerable Sheen’s family attended.

After Bunson’s talk, the bishop told the crowd, “Thank God for Archbishop Sheen’s ministry, and we look forward to his beatification next Thursday.”

In his presentation, Bunson said, “The archbishop reminds us that the salvation of souls must remain our priority. Evangelization, however, can also take place through a microphone, television camera, classroom, a newspaper, conversation, in an ordinary home, or anyone who lives,” Bunson said.

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– If he were alive today, Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen might be lighting up social media — like TikTok, Facebook, and X — with his simple, engaging lessons and stories about how to live a fulfilling life in Christ. Matthew E. Bunson, vice president and editorial director of EWTNNews, said that Venerable Sheen, one of the 20th Century’s most influential Catholic evangelists, would already have attracted “millions of followers” on digital platforms by now. On the night of Sept. 16, Bunson made that assertion during his talk, “The Life and Beatification of Archbishop Fulton Sheen,” at St. Thomas More Church

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Bishop sees Pope Leo’s visit as bringing a ‘spiritual springtime’ to Uruguay #Catholic The president of the Uruguayan Bishops’ Conference, Bishop Milton Tróccoli, said the apostolic visit of Pope Leo XIV scheduled for Nov. 6–8 will awaken a “spiritual springtime” in the country. Located in the Southern Hemisphere, the season of spring is also just beginning in Uruguay. “The pope’s visit will be a renewal of faith; many people may sometimes have a faith that is a bit dormant, or they are very practicing Catholics who will come and listen attentively to the message the pope will bring to us,” the bishop stated in an interview with “EWTN Noticias,” the Spanish-language broadcast edition of EWTN News, following his Sept. 18 meeting with the pontiff at the Vatican.“I believe it will bring about a renewal, a kind of spiritual springtime, for all of Uruguay,” Tróccoli emphasized.Uruguay’s bishops were in Rome last week for their ad limina visit to the Vatican, a trip that included various meetings at the dicasteries of the Roman Curia. The bishops of Uruguay conclude their ad limina visit to the Vatican on Sept. 18, 2026, with a meeting with the pope. The visit included various meetings at the dicasteries of the Roman Curia. | Credit: Vatican Media The pope received them for an hour and shared one of his primary concerns: how to transmit the Gospel.“Today, we see a sort of breakdown in the transmission of the Gospel, especially within the family. We can no longer take for granted that families are the ones encouraging their children or teenagers to attend church or receive the sacraments; indeed, the number of child baptisms in Uruguay has dropped significantly,” the Uruguayan prelate noted.However, he noted that much like in other secularized countries such as France, Uruguay is also experiencing an unprecedented phenomenon: a rise in young adults seeking Christian initiation.“Baptisms for adults are on the rise, specifically young adults requesting the sacrament of baptism and the full process of Christian initiation: baptism, confirmation, and the Eucharist. For us, this is very encouraging,” he commented.An increasingly secularized countryUruguay is often described as one of the most secularized countries in Latin America. For instance, it is the only country in the region where Holy Week is not recognized by the government; instead, it was renamed “Tourism Week” by law in 1919.According to data from the Uruguayan Bishops’ Conference, in a country of barely 3 million inhabitants, approximately 35% of the population identifies as Catholic. Within that group, according to Tróccoli, “we can say that approximately 10% attend Mass every Sunday or frequently receive the sacraments.” The Uruguayan bishops present the pope with a book featuring 80 Catholic churches across the country with images by Julio Testoni and stories compiled by Miguel Ángel Álvarez Montero, titled “Architecture, Art, and Heritage in the Churches of Uruguay,” during their visit to the Vatican on Sept. 18, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media There are also “many who call themselves believers without a religion, that is, without institutional affiliation, who believe in God but do not belong to any specific religion; this is a group that has been growing in recent years.”He also noted that approximately “40% of the population currently falls into this category, while others declare themselves agnostic or nonbelievers.”In this context, evangelization constitutes, according to the bishop, “a very great challenge.” The local Church considers Uruguay “a mission country where we must proclaim the Gospel extensively.”“We must place strong emphasis on the initial proclamation of the Gospel, while the Church also works extensively through various social and human development initiatives, naturally bringing the Gospel and acting out of faith in Jesus Christ, and working for the common good, though these efforts often go unnoticed,” Tróccoli explained.Drug trafficking, childhood poverty, and suicidesDuring his meeting with the Uruguayan bishops, Leo XIV showed interest in learning firsthand about the countryʼs social situation.Tróccoli lamented the extent of “social fragmentation” and the fact that Uruguay is “a society tending toward polarization, just as our world is polarized.”He also noted the issue of “rising violence stemming from drug trafficking, something we were not accustomed to experiencing. Well, perhaps the rate is very low compared to other countries, but for our society, it is something new and something that deeply affects families."The bishop also highlighted concerns regarding children living in poverty and the rise in youth suicides, issues he linked to “a lack of a more transcendent perspective.”“The number of suicides, especially among young people, represents a high percentage, the highest in Latin America. This deeply questions and challenges us as a Church,” he stated.For the Uruguayan Church, this reality presents the challenge of proclaiming a message of hope. “We must do a better job of proclaiming the Gospel so that it can offer hope, give meaning to life, and provide reasons, truth, for living, growing, and developing as a person.”A visit marked by devotion to the Virgin of the 33The visit of the Uruguayan bishops to the Vatican took place less than two months before the apostolic journey with which Pope Leo XIV will begin his Latin American tour. A meeting between Pope Leo XIV and Uruguayan bishops on Sept. 18, 2026, provided an opportunity to present the Holy Father with a document containing messages from citizens across Uruguay, sent in anticipation of his arrival in the country on Nov. 6, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media The pontiff will arrive in Latin America on Nov. 6, lead an event in Montevideo, and meet with President Yamandú Orsi. The following day, he will travel to Paysandú and subsequently return to Montevideo to visit various charitable works of the Church and celebrate a Mass at Centenario Stadium.On Sunday, Nov. 8, before departing for Argentina, he will celebrate the Mass of the Virgin of the 33, Uruguay’s national patroness, in the city of Florida.The National Shrine of the Virgin of the 33 is located there, situated about 60 miles from Montevideo. Indeed, the coincidence of dates with the countryʼs principal Marian celebration was one of the factors influencing Leo XIVʼs decision to begin his tour of Latin America there.The feast of the Virgin of the 33 is celebrated every Nov. 8, although the national pilgrimage traditionally takes place on the second Sunday of the month. In 2026, the two dates coincide, and the pope did not want to miss the occasion.“For us, it is truly a tremendous gift that the pope could come at this time, especially since it coincides with the feast of the Virgin of the 33, who is the patroness of Uruguay, and the national pilgrimage. The feast day of the Virgin falls on Nov. 8, which is a Sunday this year, and the pope himself will celebrate the Eucharist,” Tróccoli explained.Memories of St. John Paul IIThe Uruguayan bishops presented the pope with two books featuring images of various churches from across the country. They also gave him a collection of letters and drawings prepared by both the faithful and nonbelievers.Leo XIV has never visited Uruguay. However, some Uruguayans knew him when he was still Father Robert Prevost. During his time as superior general of the Order of St. Augustine, he traveled to Argentina on several occasions, where he met Uruguayan Augustinians.However, memories of St. John Paul II’s visits remain very much alive among Uruguayan Catholics. The Polish pontiff visited the country twice — in 1987 and 1988 — at a particularly significant time of democratic consolidation following the military dictatorship.Tróccoli said he believes the visit of Leo XIV could have a similar impact. “It created a sense of unity not only within the country but also a resurgence of faith and personal devotion. We saw an immediate increase, for instance, in the number of people attending Mass or drawing closer to the faith,” the prelate noted.In this regard, he said he believes Pope Leo XIV’s visit will awaken “the most genuine aspects of the search for faith and of religious sentiment, and from there, more people will want to draw closer.”The president of the bishops' conference also stated that the trip will mark a turning point for Uruguayan society: “It will be a visit filled with hope. The pope isn’t going to come just for some people; he comes for everyone, and everyone is also invited to feel part of this celebration of encountering him.”This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
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Bishop sees Pope Leo’s visit as bringing a ‘spiritual springtime’ to Uruguay #Catholic The president of the Uruguayan Bishops’ Conference, Bishop Milton Tróccoli, said the apostolic visit of Pope Leo XIV scheduled for Nov. 6–8 will awaken a “spiritual springtime” in the country. Located in the Southern Hemisphere, the season of spring is also just beginning in Uruguay. “The pope’s visit will be a renewal of faith; many people may sometimes have a faith that is a bit dormant, or they are very practicing Catholics who will come and listen attentively to the message the pope will bring to us,” the bishop stated in an interview with “EWTN Noticias,” the Spanish-language broadcast edition of EWTN News, following his Sept. 18 meeting with the pontiff at the Vatican.“I believe it will bring about a renewal, a kind of spiritual springtime, for all of Uruguay,” Tróccoli emphasized.Uruguay’s bishops were in Rome last week for their ad limina visit to the Vatican, a trip that included various meetings at the dicasteries of the Roman Curia. The bishops of Uruguay conclude their ad limina visit to the Vatican on Sept. 18, 2026, with a meeting with the pope. The visit included various meetings at the dicasteries of the Roman Curia. | Credit: Vatican Media The pope received them for an hour and shared one of his primary concerns: how to transmit the Gospel.“Today, we see a sort of breakdown in the transmission of the Gospel, especially within the family. We can no longer take for granted that families are the ones encouraging their children or teenagers to attend church or receive the sacraments; indeed, the number of child baptisms in Uruguay has dropped significantly,” the Uruguayan prelate noted.However, he noted that much like in other secularized countries such as France, Uruguay is also experiencing an unprecedented phenomenon: a rise in young adults seeking Christian initiation.“Baptisms for adults are on the rise, specifically young adults requesting the sacrament of baptism and the full process of Christian initiation: baptism, confirmation, and the Eucharist. For us, this is very encouraging,” he commented.An increasingly secularized countryUruguay is often described as one of the most secularized countries in Latin America. For instance, it is the only country in the region where Holy Week is not recognized by the government; instead, it was renamed “Tourism Week” by law in 1919.According to data from the Uruguayan Bishops’ Conference, in a country of barely 3 million inhabitants, approximately 35% of the population identifies as Catholic. Within that group, according to Tróccoli, “we can say that approximately 10% attend Mass every Sunday or frequently receive the sacraments.” The Uruguayan bishops present the pope with a book featuring 80 Catholic churches across the country with images by Julio Testoni and stories compiled by Miguel Ángel Álvarez Montero, titled “Architecture, Art, and Heritage in the Churches of Uruguay,” during their visit to the Vatican on Sept. 18, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media There are also “many who call themselves believers without a religion, that is, without institutional affiliation, who believe in God but do not belong to any specific religion; this is a group that has been growing in recent years.”He also noted that approximately “40% of the population currently falls into this category, while others declare themselves agnostic or nonbelievers.”In this context, evangelization constitutes, according to the bishop, “a very great challenge.” The local Church considers Uruguay “a mission country where we must proclaim the Gospel extensively.”“We must place strong emphasis on the initial proclamation of the Gospel, while the Church also works extensively through various social and human development initiatives, naturally bringing the Gospel and acting out of faith in Jesus Christ, and working for the common good, though these efforts often go unnoticed,” Tróccoli explained.Drug trafficking, childhood poverty, and suicidesDuring his meeting with the Uruguayan bishops, Leo XIV showed interest in learning firsthand about the countryʼs social situation.Tróccoli lamented the extent of “social fragmentation” and the fact that Uruguay is “a society tending toward polarization, just as our world is polarized.”He also noted the issue of “rising violence stemming from drug trafficking, something we were not accustomed to experiencing. Well, perhaps the rate is very low compared to other countries, but for our society, it is something new and something that deeply affects families."The bishop also highlighted concerns regarding children living in poverty and the rise in youth suicides, issues he linked to “a lack of a more transcendent perspective.”“The number of suicides, especially among young people, represents a high percentage, the highest in Latin America. This deeply questions and challenges us as a Church,” he stated.For the Uruguayan Church, this reality presents the challenge of proclaiming a message of hope. “We must do a better job of proclaiming the Gospel so that it can offer hope, give meaning to life, and provide reasons, truth, for living, growing, and developing as a person.”A visit marked by devotion to the Virgin of the 33The visit of the Uruguayan bishops to the Vatican took place less than two months before the apostolic journey with which Pope Leo XIV will begin his Latin American tour. A meeting between Pope Leo XIV and Uruguayan bishops on Sept. 18, 2026, provided an opportunity to present the Holy Father with a document containing messages from citizens across Uruguay, sent in anticipation of his arrival in the country on Nov. 6, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media The pontiff will arrive in Latin America on Nov. 6, lead an event in Montevideo, and meet with President Yamandú Orsi. The following day, he will travel to Paysandú and subsequently return to Montevideo to visit various charitable works of the Church and celebrate a Mass at Centenario Stadium.On Sunday, Nov. 8, before departing for Argentina, he will celebrate the Mass of the Virgin of the 33, Uruguay’s national patroness, in the city of Florida.The National Shrine of the Virgin of the 33 is located there, situated about 60 miles from Montevideo. Indeed, the coincidence of dates with the countryʼs principal Marian celebration was one of the factors influencing Leo XIVʼs decision to begin his tour of Latin America there.The feast of the Virgin of the 33 is celebrated every Nov. 8, although the national pilgrimage traditionally takes place on the second Sunday of the month. In 2026, the two dates coincide, and the pope did not want to miss the occasion.“For us, it is truly a tremendous gift that the pope could come at this time, especially since it coincides with the feast of the Virgin of the 33, who is the patroness of Uruguay, and the national pilgrimage. The feast day of the Virgin falls on Nov. 8, which is a Sunday this year, and the pope himself will celebrate the Eucharist,” Tróccoli explained.Memories of St. John Paul IIThe Uruguayan bishops presented the pope with two books featuring images of various churches from across the country. They also gave him a collection of letters and drawings prepared by both the faithful and nonbelievers.Leo XIV has never visited Uruguay. However, some Uruguayans knew him when he was still Father Robert Prevost. During his time as superior general of the Order of St. Augustine, he traveled to Argentina on several occasions, where he met Uruguayan Augustinians.However, memories of St. John Paul II’s visits remain very much alive among Uruguayan Catholics. The Polish pontiff visited the country twice — in 1987 and 1988 — at a particularly significant time of democratic consolidation following the military dictatorship.Tróccoli said he believes the visit of Leo XIV could have a similar impact. “It created a sense of unity not only within the country but also a resurgence of faith and personal devotion. We saw an immediate increase, for instance, in the number of people attending Mass or drawing closer to the faith,” the prelate noted.In this regard, he said he believes Pope Leo XIV’s visit will awaken “the most genuine aspects of the search for faith and of religious sentiment, and from there, more people will want to draw closer.”The president of the bishops' conference also stated that the trip will mark a turning point for Uruguayan society: “It will be a visit filled with hope. The pope isn’t going to come just for some people; he comes for everyone, and everyone is also invited to feel part of this celebration of encountering him.”This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

unitedyam

Although church attendance is low and the society is quite s quite secularized, the president of Uruguay’s bishops’ conference believes Pope Leo’s visit will give a boost to the country’s spiritual renewal.

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What the 112th World Day of Migrants and Refugees means for us #Catholic – “For this 112th World Day (of Migrants and Refugees), the theme ‘Even just one of these children,’ draws our attention to the minors directly involved in the experience of migration and flight, to the care owed them, and to the Lord’s promise that ‘whoever receives one such child in my name receives me’ (Mk. 9:37).” (From the first paragraph of Pope Leo XIV’s message. See: Message of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV for the 112th World Day of Migrants and Refugees) BISHOP KEVIN J. SWEENEY I had thought that I may not be writing a column this week, because I was blessed to travel this past weekend on a brief, four-day pilgrimage to Mexico — you can see pictures, reflections, and more information here. This pilgrimage, however, gave me the opportunity to reflect on how many of our human vulnerabilities intersect with some of our present-day social difficulties and, regrettably, sometimes strife. In my reflection these days, I noted that moving through a place that we do not know well always makes us feel a little insecure to some degree. When we appreciate that, in one way or another, we are all vulnerable in our travels, we can expand our horizons toward welcome. In welcoming the vulnerable or the displaced, we are in the company of the Lord. The Lord’s presence is reassuring and empowering of the gifts of the Holy Spirit that enable us to remove obstacles from one another’s path so we can travel safely. These gifts we use along the way are poured forth by the Holy Spirit as the virtues of faith, hope, and charity. Even the briefest of pilgrimages, or travel, calls to mind the image of life as a journey. While some travel is for pleasure and adventure, other kinds of travel can be anxiety-inducing, and for some, wearying. While I do not travel often, I do so enough to witness the experience of many “frequent flyers” who are constantly in transit for work or other responsibilities that keep them on the move. There is nothing pleasurable about that kind of ceaseless trek. When a long journey is made alone, it can also enhance the feeling of weariness and sometimes lead to a sense of insecurity. Whether the road is short or long, by God’s plan, we are on a journey through this life to the next. While in transit, so to speak, the Lord gives us the mission of caring for one another. The companions we meet on life’s journey, as on any journey, determine whether our travel is a joyful adventure or tedious crawl. Even on the most arduous journey, we can learn and pass the time more profitably when we share conversation that begins with openness to others. This short pilgrimage of mine, which included time in Mexico City at the foot of the Tepeyac Hill, where the Blessed Virgin appeared to the simple peasant and now the first canonized saint of the Americas, Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin, is a blessing. You can feel the Blessed Mother’s continuing embrace of all of her children at this Basilica Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. So many feel drawn to this shrine of Our Lady because of her reassuring maternal love that leads us to her Son. The Blessed Mother encourages us to be worthy disciples of her Son. Our goal to be faithful disciples is, in itself, a journey and one never made alone. In first reaching out to Saint Juan Diego at Tepeyac, the Virgin Mary provided yet another sign of God’s special love for the poor and the marginalized. That embrace continues. On this particular pilgrimage, we also walked in the footsteps of the Venerable Father Aloysius Schwartz, who is in the process of beatification and perhaps, one day, canonization. Father Schwartz founded the Sisters of Mary and the World Villages for Children Girlstown and Boystown and other orphanages for children who have no place to call “home.” Girlstowns and Boystowns provide places of safety and joy for so many boys and girls who have no safety net in life. A few days before I left for the pilgrimage, one of our priests sent me some information on the upcoming (Sunday, Sept. 27) 112th World Day for Migrants and Refugees. I guess I had “missed” a notification, especially from the USCCB. The priest also shared information from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) about the 45th annual “National Migration Week,” sponsored by the Church in the United States, which will already have started but hopefully not finished by the time you are reading this. For more information, see: National Migration Week to Focus on the Presence of Christ within Each Migrant Child. Very often, we can get lost in statistics when we discuss complex issues like immigration. The message of the Virgin Mary at Tepeyac and the example of Father Schwartz highlight our need to approach one another as companions on this life’s journey. In this way, we are more likely to open our hearts to understanding by seeking solutions that are durable, humane, and welcoming. When we welcome the poor and vulnerable with a generous response, we are embracing the Lord himself. Pilgrims know that their destinations in this world are never final. We are “citizens of heaven” (Philippians 3:20). Our human condition means that each one of us is vulnerable along the way. The example of the Blessed Mother, who said to Saint Juan Diego, “Am I not here, I, who am your Mother?” is a challenge to us all to have the courage to magnify the power of God’s presence through our love for one another. The concrete acts of mercy by the Venerable Father Aloysius Schwartz demonstrate what a vision based on the absolute dignity of the human person, especially children, can produce: compassion and love multiplied by the power of God’s grace. What can we do to help obtain dignity and safety for those involved in the tumultuous process of migration? First, we can pray for migrants and refugees themselves and pray for just laws and policies that reflect human dignity and love founded on justice. We can also welcome the stranger where and when we can. Recalling that we are all passing through this world, we can commit to making our shared journey more peaceful through care, compassion, and generous hospitality born of the Holy Spirit who dwells in our hearts. Reminding us that in welcoming the stranger, we welcome Christ, our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV exhorts us to open our hearts to vulnerable migrants and refugees so we are witnesses to the divine truth of our faith that “love can overcome indifference.” In recognizing this special week dedicated to Migrants and Refugees, we recommit ourselves to our commitment to make room on our own journeys for the displaced and vulnerable. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.  
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What the 112th World Day of Migrants and Refugees means for us #Catholic – “For this 112th World Day (of Migrants and Refugees), the theme ‘Even just one of these children,’ draws our attention to the minors directly involved in the experience of migration and flight, to the care owed them, and to the Lord’s promise that ‘whoever receives one such child in my name receives me’ (Mk. 9:37).” (From the first paragraph of Pope Leo XIV’s message. See: Message of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV for the 112th World Day of Migrants and Refugees) BISHOP KEVIN J. SWEENEY I had thought that I may not be writing a column this week, because I was blessed to travel this past weekend on a brief, four-day pilgrimage to Mexico — you can see pictures, reflections, and more information here. This pilgrimage, however, gave me the opportunity to reflect on how many of our human vulnerabilities intersect with some of our present-day social difficulties and, regrettably, sometimes strife. In my reflection these days, I noted that moving through a place that we do not know well always makes us feel a little insecure to some degree. When we appreciate that, in one way or another, we are all vulnerable in our travels, we can expand our horizons toward welcome. In welcoming the vulnerable or the displaced, we are in the company of the Lord. The Lord’s presence is reassuring and empowering of the gifts of the Holy Spirit that enable us to remove obstacles from one another’s path so we can travel safely. These gifts we use along the way are poured forth by the Holy Spirit as the virtues of faith, hope, and charity. Even the briefest of pilgrimages, or travel, calls to mind the image of life as a journey. While some travel is for pleasure and adventure, other kinds of travel can be anxiety-inducing, and for some, wearying. While I do not travel often, I do so enough to witness the experience of many “frequent flyers” who are constantly in transit for work or other responsibilities that keep them on the move. There is nothing pleasurable about that kind of ceaseless trek. When a long journey is made alone, it can also enhance the feeling of weariness and sometimes lead to a sense of insecurity. Whether the road is short or long, by God’s plan, we are on a journey through this life to the next. While in transit, so to speak, the Lord gives us the mission of caring for one another. The companions we meet on life’s journey, as on any journey, determine whether our travel is a joyful adventure or tedious crawl. Even on the most arduous journey, we can learn and pass the time more profitably when we share conversation that begins with openness to others. This short pilgrimage of mine, which included time in Mexico City at the foot of the Tepeyac Hill, where the Blessed Virgin appeared to the simple peasant and now the first canonized saint of the Americas, Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin, is a blessing. You can feel the Blessed Mother’s continuing embrace of all of her children at this Basilica Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. So many feel drawn to this shrine of Our Lady because of her reassuring maternal love that leads us to her Son. The Blessed Mother encourages us to be worthy disciples of her Son. Our goal to be faithful disciples is, in itself, a journey and one never made alone. In first reaching out to Saint Juan Diego at Tepeyac, the Virgin Mary provided yet another sign of God’s special love for the poor and the marginalized. That embrace continues. On this particular pilgrimage, we also walked in the footsteps of the Venerable Father Aloysius Schwartz, who is in the process of beatification and perhaps, one day, canonization. Father Schwartz founded the Sisters of Mary and the World Villages for Children Girlstown and Boystown and other orphanages for children who have no place to call “home.” Girlstowns and Boystowns provide places of safety and joy for so many boys and girls who have no safety net in life. A few days before I left for the pilgrimage, one of our priests sent me some information on the upcoming (Sunday, Sept. 27) 112th World Day for Migrants and Refugees. I guess I had “missed” a notification, especially from the USCCB. The priest also shared information from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) about the 45th annual “National Migration Week,” sponsored by the Church in the United States, which will already have started but hopefully not finished by the time you are reading this. For more information, see: National Migration Week to Focus on the Presence of Christ within Each Migrant Child. Very often, we can get lost in statistics when we discuss complex issues like immigration. The message of the Virgin Mary at Tepeyac and the example of Father Schwartz highlight our need to approach one another as companions on this life’s journey. In this way, we are more likely to open our hearts to understanding by seeking solutions that are durable, humane, and welcoming. When we welcome the poor and vulnerable with a generous response, we are embracing the Lord himself. Pilgrims know that their destinations in this world are never final. We are “citizens of heaven” (Philippians 3:20). Our human condition means that each one of us is vulnerable along the way. The example of the Blessed Mother, who said to Saint Juan Diego, “Am I not here, I, who am your Mother?” is a challenge to us all to have the courage to magnify the power of God’s presence through our love for one another. The concrete acts of mercy by the Venerable Father Aloysius Schwartz demonstrate what a vision based on the absolute dignity of the human person, especially children, can produce: compassion and love multiplied by the power of God’s grace. What can we do to help obtain dignity and safety for those involved in the tumultuous process of migration? First, we can pray for migrants and refugees themselves and pray for just laws and policies that reflect human dignity and love founded on justice. We can also welcome the stranger where and when we can. Recalling that we are all passing through this world, we can commit to making our shared journey more peaceful through care, compassion, and generous hospitality born of the Holy Spirit who dwells in our hearts. Reminding us that in welcoming the stranger, we welcome Christ, our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV exhorts us to open our hearts to vulnerable migrants and refugees so we are witnesses to the divine truth of our faith that “love can overcome indifference.” In recognizing this special week dedicated to Migrants and Refugees, we recommit ourselves to our commitment to make room on our own journeys for the displaced and vulnerable. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.  

unitedyam

What the 112th World Day of Migrants and Refugees means for us #Catholic –

“For this 112th World Day (of Migrants and Refugees), the theme ‘Even just one of these children,’ draws our attention to the minors directly involved in the experience of migration and flight, to the care owed them, and to the Lord’s promise that ‘whoever receives one such child in my name receives me’ (Mk. 9:37).” (From the first paragraph of Pope Leo XIV’s message. See: Message of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV for the 112th World Day of Migrants and Refugees)

BISHOP KEVIN J. SWEENEY

I had thought that I may not be writing a column this week, because I was blessed to travel this past weekend on a brief, four-day pilgrimage to Mexico — you can see pictures, reflections, and more information here. This pilgrimage, however, gave me the opportunity to reflect on how many of our human vulnerabilities intersect with some of our present-day social difficulties and, regrettably, sometimes strife.

In my reflection these days, I noted that moving through a place that we do not know well always makes us feel a little insecure to some degree. When we appreciate that, in one way or another, we are all vulnerable in our travels, we can expand our horizons toward welcome.

In welcoming the vulnerable or the displaced, we are in the company of the Lord. The Lord’s presence is reassuring and empowering of the gifts of the Holy Spirit that enable us to remove obstacles from one another’s path so we can travel safely. These gifts we use along the way are poured forth by the Holy Spirit as the virtues of faith, hope, and charity.

Even the briefest of pilgrimages, or travel, calls to mind the image of life as a journey. While some travel is for pleasure and adventure, other kinds of travel can be anxiety-inducing, and for some, wearying.

While I do not travel often, I do so enough to witness the experience of many “frequent flyers” who are constantly in transit for work or other responsibilities that keep them on the move. There is nothing pleasurable about that kind of ceaseless trek. When a long journey is made alone, it can also enhance the feeling of weariness and sometimes lead to a sense of insecurity.

Whether the road is short or long, by God’s plan, we are on a journey through this life to the next. While in transit, so to speak, the Lord gives us the mission of caring for one another. The companions we meet on life’s journey, as on any journey, determine whether our travel is a joyful adventure or tedious crawl. Even on the most arduous journey, we can learn and pass the time more profitably when we share conversation that begins with openness to others.

This short pilgrimage of mine, which included time in Mexico City at the foot of the Tepeyac Hill, where the Blessed Virgin appeared to the simple peasant and now the first canonized saint of the Americas, Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin, is a blessing. You can feel the Blessed Mother’s continuing embrace of all of her children at this Basilica Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. So many feel drawn to this shrine of Our Lady because of her reassuring maternal love that leads us to her Son. The Blessed Mother encourages us to be worthy disciples of her Son. Our goal to be faithful disciples is, in itself, a journey and one never made alone.

In first reaching out to Saint Juan Diego at Tepeyac, the Virgin Mary provided yet another sign of God’s special love for the poor and the marginalized. That embrace continues. On this particular pilgrimage, we also walked in the footsteps of the Venerable Father Aloysius Schwartz, who is in the process of beatification and perhaps, one day, canonization. Father Schwartz founded the Sisters of Mary and the World Villages for Children Girlstown and Boystown and other orphanages for children who have no place to call “home.” Girlstowns and Boystowns provide places of safety and joy for so many boys and girls who have no safety net in life.

A few days before I left for the pilgrimage, one of our priests sent me some information on the upcoming (Sunday, Sept. 27) 112th World Day for Migrants and Refugees. I guess I had “missed” a notification, especially from the USCCB. The priest also shared information from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) about the 45th annual “National Migration Week,” sponsored by the Church in the United States, which will already have started but hopefully not finished by the time you are reading this.

For more information, see: National Migration Week to Focus on the Presence of Christ within Each Migrant Child. Very often, we can get lost in statistics when we discuss complex issues like immigration. The message of the Virgin Mary at Tepeyac and the example of Father Schwartz highlight our need to approach one another as companions on this life’s journey. In this way, we are more likely to open our hearts to understanding by seeking solutions that are durable, humane, and welcoming. When we welcome the poor and vulnerable with a generous response, we are embracing the Lord himself.

Pilgrims know that their destinations in this world are never final. We are “citizens of heaven” (Philippians 3:20). Our human condition means that each one of us is vulnerable along the way. The example of the Blessed Mother, who said to Saint Juan Diego, “Am I not here, I, who am your Mother?” is a challenge to us all to have the courage to magnify the power of God’s presence through our love for one another.

The concrete acts of mercy by the Venerable Father Aloysius Schwartz demonstrate what a vision based on the absolute dignity of the human person, especially children, can produce: compassion and love multiplied by the power of God’s grace.

What can we do to help obtain dignity and safety for those involved in the tumultuous process of migration? First, we can pray for migrants and refugees themselves and pray for just laws and policies that reflect human dignity and love founded on justice. We can also welcome the stranger where and when we can. Recalling that we are all passing through this world, we can commit to making our shared journey more peaceful through care, compassion, and generous hospitality born of the Holy Spirit who dwells in our hearts.

Reminding us that in welcoming the stranger, we welcome Christ, our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV exhorts us to open our hearts to vulnerable migrants and refugees so we are witnesses to the divine truth of our faith that “love can overcome indifference.” In recognizing this special week dedicated to Migrants and Refugees, we recommit ourselves to our commitment to make room on our own journeys for the displaced and vulnerable.

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– “For this 112th World Day (of Migrants and Refugees), the theme ‘Even just one of these children,’ draws our attention to the minors directly involved in the experience of migration and flight, to the care owed them, and to the Lord’s promise that ‘whoever receives one such child in my name receives me’ (Mk. 9:37).” (From the first paragraph of Pope Leo XIV’s message. See: Message of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV for the 112th World Day of Migrants and Refugees) BISHOP KEVIN J. SWEENEY I had thought that I may not be writing a column this week, because I

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Notre Dame theologian John Cavadini to receive 2026 Ratzinger Prize – #Catholic – John Cavadini, a professor of patristic theology at the University of Notre Dame, will receive the 2026 Ratzinger Prize.The Vatican Foundation Joseph Ratzinger-Benedict XVI announced Cavadini as the winner of the prestigious award at a press briefing in Rome on Sept. 22. The foundation also said Pope Leo XIV will present the award to Cavadini on Dec. 19 at the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican.Present to announce the winner on Sept. 22 at the Holy See Press Office were Father Roberto Regoli, president of the Vatican Foundation Joseph Ratzinger-Benedict XVI, and Pierluca Azzaro, secretary of the foundation.Cavadini will also be the third faculty member from the University of Notre Dame to receive the award, following Cyril O’Regan (2024) and Jesuit Father Brian E. Daley (2012). Since the award was established in 2011, the university has had the most winners of any institution.In a press release from the foundation, Cavadini expressed gratitude for the award, saying he sought to conduct his theology “as a man of the Church and, at the same time, as a man of academia.”The unique contributions of American theologiansCavadini has been affiliated with the University of Notre Dame since joining its faculty of theology in 1990. He also served as the director of the McGrath Institute for Church Life from 2000–2026.His research and teaching have focused on the theology of St. Augustine, an influential figure of the patristic era.Regoli praised Cavadini’s work for the “rigor of his theologicalpublications, his commitment and zeal in university teaching.” Speaking to EWTN News on the sidelines of Tuesday’s press conference, he noted the unique contributions of theologians hailing from the United States. Father Roberto Regoli, president of the Vatican Foundation Joseph Ratzinger-Benedict XVI, speaks to EWTN News at the Holy See Press Office in Rome on Sept. 22, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibañez/EWTN News “Undoubtedly, the cultural debates in the United States of America do not concern only America; they are followed around the rest of the world,” Regoli told EWTN News. “Our cultural traditions have been more influenced by the thought of the United States of America, and for this reason it is important to look toward the Anglo-Saxon world, because in the different fields of science it has taken on a leadership role for several decades.”The renewed interest in the theology of Joseph RatzingerThe 2026 Ratzinger Prize is part of numerous initiatives to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Joseph Ratzinger, who was later elected Pope Benedict XVI, in 2027. Pope Benedict XVI. | Credit: L’Osservatore Romano Regoli also noted the renewed academic interest worldwide in Ratzinger’s life and theological legacy ahead of the anniversary year.“The legacy of Ratzinger speaks for itself,” Regoli told journalists on the sidelines.“If we look around us at an international level, even in recent years, Ratzinger chairs have been born everywhere: in Europe, in the United States, in Latin America, and in Africa. Many doctoral theses on him, books on him, or his books continue to be edited; they are numerous, and even for the centenary, many more will come out,” Regoli added.One of the foundation’s focuses during the anniversary year will be Ratzinger’s legacy in Africa, with Azzaro telling EWTN News that, as pope, Ratzinger “strongly believed that Africa had the spiritual reserves necessary for the West to flourish again.”
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Notre Dame theologian John Cavadini to receive 2026 Ratzinger Prize – #Catholic – John Cavadini, a professor of patristic theology at the University of Notre Dame, will receive the 2026 Ratzinger Prize.The Vatican Foundation Joseph Ratzinger-Benedict XVI announced Cavadini as the winner of the prestigious award at a press briefing in Rome on Sept. 22. The foundation also said Pope Leo XIV will present the award to Cavadini on Dec. 19 at the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican.Present to announce the winner on Sept. 22 at the Holy See Press Office were Father Roberto Regoli, president of the Vatican Foundation Joseph Ratzinger-Benedict XVI, and Pierluca Azzaro, secretary of the foundation.Cavadini will also be the third faculty member from the University of Notre Dame to receive the award, following Cyril O’Regan (2024) and Jesuit Father Brian E. Daley (2012). Since the award was established in 2011, the university has had the most winners of any institution.In a press release from the foundation, Cavadini expressed gratitude for the award, saying he sought to conduct his theology “as a man of the Church and, at the same time, as a man of academia.”The unique contributions of American theologiansCavadini has been affiliated with the University of Notre Dame since joining its faculty of theology in 1990. He also served as the director of the McGrath Institute for Church Life from 2000–2026.His research and teaching have focused on the theology of St. Augustine, an influential figure of the patristic era.Regoli praised Cavadini’s work for the “rigor of his theologicalpublications, his commitment and zeal in university teaching.” Speaking to EWTN News on the sidelines of Tuesday’s press conference, he noted the unique contributions of theologians hailing from the United States. Father Roberto Regoli, president of the Vatican Foundation Joseph Ratzinger-Benedict XVI, speaks to EWTN News at the Holy See Press Office in Rome on Sept. 22, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibañez/EWTN News “Undoubtedly, the cultural debates in the United States of America do not concern only America; they are followed around the rest of the world,” Regoli told EWTN News. “Our cultural traditions have been more influenced by the thought of the United States of America, and for this reason it is important to look toward the Anglo-Saxon world, because in the different fields of science it has taken on a leadership role for several decades.”The renewed interest in the theology of Joseph RatzingerThe 2026 Ratzinger Prize is part of numerous initiatives to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Joseph Ratzinger, who was later elected Pope Benedict XVI, in 2027. Pope Benedict XVI. | Credit: L’Osservatore Romano Regoli also noted the renewed academic interest worldwide in Ratzinger’s life and theological legacy ahead of the anniversary year.“The legacy of Ratzinger speaks for itself,” Regoli told journalists on the sidelines.“If we look around us at an international level, even in recent years, Ratzinger chairs have been born everywhere: in Europe, in the United States, in Latin America, and in Africa. Many doctoral theses on him, books on him, or his books continue to be edited; they are numerous, and even for the centenary, many more will come out,” Regoli added.One of the foundation’s focuses during the anniversary year will be Ratzinger’s legacy in Africa, with Azzaro telling EWTN News that, as pope, Ratzinger “strongly believed that Africa had the spiritual reserves necessary for the West to flourish again.”

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Pope Leo XIV will present the award to Cavadini at the Vatican on Dec. 19.

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Pope Leo XIV, in France, will bring Catholic social teaching to a secular Europe – #Catholic – Pope Leo XIV flies to France on Friday, where across four days in three cities he will proclaim Catholic teaching to the heart of secular Europe on matters that include end-of-life questions, immigration, and artificial intelligence.The visit “will truly be a moment in which Leo’s project of making the Church’s social doctrine better known can take shape,” said Father Patrick Valdrini, a former rector of the Institut Catholique de Paris.France is statistically more secular than it was in 2008, when Pope Benedict XVI made a pastoral visit to the country. The latest data on religious identity in France, in 2019-2020, found that 51% of adults in France say they have no religious affiliation, an 8% increase from a decade before. While 29% of the population identifies as Catholic, the survey found only 8% say they go to Church regularly, according to the Institut National D’Etudes Démographiques.Yet according to Cyprien Viet, a journalist with the French agency I.Media, the country has become more open to Catholicism in recent years. The reasons for this shift include sympathy for Christianity following attacks on churches and the 2016 killing by Islamist terrorists of Father Jacques Hamel, enhanced appreciation for France’s Christian heritage after the 2019 burning of Notre-Dame Cathedral, and gratitude for the Church’s charitable service during the COVID-19 pandemic.More recently, “Pope Leo’s encyclical on artificial intelligence [Magnifica Humanitas] has had a fairly strong impact in France, and people recognize that there is a need to explore these issues more deeply. The pope is helping greatly in providing points of reference,” Viet said.The challenge of laïcitéDuring his Sept. 25–28 visits to Paris, Lourdes, and Metz, Leo’s approach to sharing the Catholic Church’s teaching on political and social issues will draw wide attention, not least because of France’s tradition of “laïcité,” a strict legal separation of Church and state.This policy has always involved a certain distrust, even hostility, toward the idea that faith can contribute something good to society, Valdrini said.“The concept of ‘laïcité’ emerged especially during the French Revolution, rooted in the view that religion hinders freedom and reason, that it is something burdensome rather than liberating,” he said.Among the most sensitive issues that the pope is expected to address are end-of-life questions. France legalized assisted suicide and euthanasia this summer, becoming the fifth European country to do so after Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Spain. In addition, Switzerland and Austria permit assisted suicide. Euthanasia is the intentional ending of a person’s life to relieve suffering. It differs from assisted dying, in which the patient takes life-ending drugs himself, under a physician’s guidance. Both practices are prohibited by Catholic teaching. Francis X. Rocca, Vatican editor of EWTN News, interviews Charles Personnaz, French ambassador to the Holy See, at his offices in Rome on Sept. 10, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibanez/EWTN News Charles Personnaz, France’s ambassador to the Holy See, says he expects the pope to speak out on the issue but to leave the political debate to the French bishops, who were already outspoken in their vigorous condemnation of the euthanasia bill before it passed in July.“I think the pope will certainly repeat what is the Catholic doctrine: the preservation of life from the beginning to … the natural end,” the ambassador said. “But he will also leave to … the French Catholic Church the debate with the political parties in France and the institutions. That is the subsidiarity that is at the heart of Catholic doctrine as well.”A message about human dignityOn a visit to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, Pope Leo is expected to deliver a message about the inherent dignity of every human person, even when suffering from illness or disability.Meeting and praying with the sick and vulnerable at one of the most visited Catholic shrines in the world, the Holy Father will give a concrete sign of faith in the value of every human life.At the shrine he will also meet privately with victims of abuse in the Catholic Church in France and with the country’s bishops. The Massabielle Grotto in Lourdes, France. | Credit: Christian Pablo Inglize/Shutterstock Leo is expected to address the global challenges posed by artificial intelligence when he speaks at the headquarters of UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, in Paris on Sept. 25. On his last day, he will reflect on interreligious dialogue and the future of Europe at meetings in Metz.The pope’s visit to a migrant integration center run by the Archdiocese of Paris will touch on one of the most volatile political issues in Europe and beyond, and one closely tied to next year’s presidential election in France, in which the anti-immigration politician Marine Le Pen is the current frontrunner.Personnaz said he expects the pope’s comments on immigration to be well received, calling the pontiff’s previous statements on the topic “very balanced” with a focus on the responsibility of nations to help people stay in their homeland.State visit or apostolic journey?Pope Francis visited France three times during his pontificate, but Leo will be making the first state visit by a pope to France since Benedict XVI’s apostolic journey in 2008.The French Catholic newspaper La Croix has reported that the Holy See has refused some requests by the government, including a proposal that President Emmanuel Macron accompany the pontiff into Notre-Dame Cathedral for a prayer service on Sept. 25. The Holy See Press Office and the Élysée Palace, the official residence and office of the French president, did not respond to requests for comment on the report. Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. | Credit: Mistervlad/Shutterstock According to Valdrini, Leo is following in the tradition of St. Paul VI, who sought to emphasize the pastoral character of his travel — the visit to a local Church by the successor of Peter — rather than his role as a head of state.“It will still be a state visit, and there will be official ceremonies, but it is clear that the pope wanted to emphasize, as previous popes did, this [apostolic] dimension of the journey,” Valdrini said.Catholicism growsDespite a lack of religious practice in France, enthusiasm for Pope Leo’s visit is high, as demonstrated by the response to his events with the public in France’s capital.Adolescents and young adults have snapped up tickets for a prayer vigil in the 81,000-seat Stade de France and an open-air Mass in Place de la Concorde. Paris’ largest public square may draw some of the biggest crowds of his pontificate thus far, with 600,000 people expected to fill the square and a nearly two-mile stretch of avenue connecting to the Arc de Triomphe. This enthusiasm is also reflected in an atypical outpouring of donations to the dioceses to cover organizational costs.Leo will address France’s Catholics at a critical juncture in their history, as they welcome rising numbers of converts. He is likely to encourage the nation traditionally known as “the eldest daughter of the Church” to rediscover her Catholic roots.This Easter, France recorded more than 20,000 adult and adolescent baptisms, a 20% increase from the already record-high number in 2025, which saw a 45% increase from 2024 figures.The phenomenon has prompted the bishops of Île de France, the ecclesiastical region that includes the Archdiocese of Paris, to convene a special council on how to respond to the huge influx of Catholic converts.“Today people have not inherited their faith … and so they are kind of ignorant about the Catholic heritage,” Personnaz said. “But when they discover it, they have no prejudices about it. And in a world where the youth are searching for a sense to [their] life, the Catholic proposal remains very interesting.”Francis X. Rocca and Victoria Cardiel contributed to this report.
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Pope Leo XIV, in France, will bring Catholic social teaching to a secular Europe – #Catholic – Pope Leo XIV flies to France on Friday, where across four days in three cities he will proclaim Catholic teaching to the heart of secular Europe on matters that include end-of-life questions, immigration, and artificial intelligence.The visit “will truly be a moment in which Leo’s project of making the Church’s social doctrine better known can take shape,” said Father Patrick Valdrini, a former rector of the Institut Catholique de Paris.France is statistically more secular than it was in 2008, when Pope Benedict XVI made a pastoral visit to the country. The latest data on religious identity in France, in 2019-2020, found that 51% of adults in France say they have no religious affiliation, an 8% increase from a decade before. While 29% of the population identifies as Catholic, the survey found only 8% say they go to Church regularly, according to the Institut National D’Etudes Démographiques.Yet according to Cyprien Viet, a journalist with the French agency I.Media, the country has become more open to Catholicism in recent years. The reasons for this shift include sympathy for Christianity following attacks on churches and the 2016 killing by Islamist terrorists of Father Jacques Hamel, enhanced appreciation for France’s Christian heritage after the 2019 burning of Notre-Dame Cathedral, and gratitude for the Church’s charitable service during the COVID-19 pandemic.More recently, “Pope Leo’s encyclical on artificial intelligence [Magnifica Humanitas] has had a fairly strong impact in France, and people recognize that there is a need to explore these issues more deeply. The pope is helping greatly in providing points of reference,” Viet said.The challenge of laïcitéDuring his Sept. 25–28 visits to Paris, Lourdes, and Metz, Leo’s approach to sharing the Catholic Church’s teaching on political and social issues will draw wide attention, not least because of France’s tradition of “laïcité,” a strict legal separation of Church and state.This policy has always involved a certain distrust, even hostility, toward the idea that faith can contribute something good to society, Valdrini said.“The concept of ‘laïcité’ emerged especially during the French Revolution, rooted in the view that religion hinders freedom and reason, that it is something burdensome rather than liberating,” he said.Among the most sensitive issues that the pope is expected to address are end-of-life questions. France legalized assisted suicide and euthanasia this summer, becoming the fifth European country to do so after Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Spain. In addition, Switzerland and Austria permit assisted suicide. Euthanasia is the intentional ending of a person’s life to relieve suffering. It differs from assisted dying, in which the patient takes life-ending drugs himself, under a physician’s guidance. Both practices are prohibited by Catholic teaching. Francis X. Rocca, Vatican editor of EWTN News, interviews Charles Personnaz, French ambassador to the Holy See, at his offices in Rome on Sept. 10, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibanez/EWTN News Charles Personnaz, France’s ambassador to the Holy See, says he expects the pope to speak out on the issue but to leave the political debate to the French bishops, who were already outspoken in their vigorous condemnation of the euthanasia bill before it passed in July.“I think the pope will certainly repeat what is the Catholic doctrine: the preservation of life from the beginning to … the natural end,” the ambassador said. “But he will also leave to … the French Catholic Church the debate with the political parties in France and the institutions. That is the subsidiarity that is at the heart of Catholic doctrine as well.”A message about human dignityOn a visit to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, Pope Leo is expected to deliver a message about the inherent dignity of every human person, even when suffering from illness or disability.Meeting and praying with the sick and vulnerable at one of the most visited Catholic shrines in the world, the Holy Father will give a concrete sign of faith in the value of every human life.At the shrine he will also meet privately with victims of abuse in the Catholic Church in France and with the country’s bishops. The Massabielle Grotto in Lourdes, France. | Credit: Christian Pablo Inglize/Shutterstock Leo is expected to address the global challenges posed by artificial intelligence when he speaks at the headquarters of UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, in Paris on Sept. 25. On his last day, he will reflect on interreligious dialogue and the future of Europe at meetings in Metz.The pope’s visit to a migrant integration center run by the Archdiocese of Paris will touch on one of the most volatile political issues in Europe and beyond, and one closely tied to next year’s presidential election in France, in which the anti-immigration politician Marine Le Pen is the current frontrunner.Personnaz said he expects the pope’s comments on immigration to be well received, calling the pontiff’s previous statements on the topic “very balanced” with a focus on the responsibility of nations to help people stay in their homeland.State visit or apostolic journey?Pope Francis visited France three times during his pontificate, but Leo will be making the first state visit by a pope to France since Benedict XVI’s apostolic journey in 2008.The French Catholic newspaper La Croix has reported that the Holy See has refused some requests by the government, including a proposal that President Emmanuel Macron accompany the pontiff into Notre-Dame Cathedral for a prayer service on Sept. 25. The Holy See Press Office and the Élysée Palace, the official residence and office of the French president, did not respond to requests for comment on the report. Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. | Credit: Mistervlad/Shutterstock According to Valdrini, Leo is following in the tradition of St. Paul VI, who sought to emphasize the pastoral character of his travel — the visit to a local Church by the successor of Peter — rather than his role as a head of state.“It will still be a state visit, and there will be official ceremonies, but it is clear that the pope wanted to emphasize, as previous popes did, this [apostolic] dimension of the journey,” Valdrini said.Catholicism growsDespite a lack of religious practice in France, enthusiasm for Pope Leo’s visit is high, as demonstrated by the response to his events with the public in France’s capital.Adolescents and young adults have snapped up tickets for a prayer vigil in the 81,000-seat Stade de France and an open-air Mass in Place de la Concorde. Paris’ largest public square may draw some of the biggest crowds of his pontificate thus far, with 600,000 people expected to fill the square and a nearly two-mile stretch of avenue connecting to the Arc de Triomphe. This enthusiasm is also reflected in an atypical outpouring of donations to the dioceses to cover organizational costs.Leo will address France’s Catholics at a critical juncture in their history, as they welcome rising numbers of converts. He is likely to encourage the nation traditionally known as “the eldest daughter of the Church” to rediscover her Catholic roots.This Easter, France recorded more than 20,000 adult and adolescent baptisms, a 20% increase from the already record-high number in 2025, which saw a 45% increase from 2024 figures.The phenomenon has prompted the bishops of Île de France, the ecclesiastical region that includes the Archdiocese of Paris, to convene a special council on how to respond to the huge influx of Catholic converts.“Today people have not inherited their faith … and so they are kind of ignorant about the Catholic heritage,” Personnaz said. “But when they discover it, they have no prejudices about it. And in a world where the youth are searching for a sense to [their] life, the Catholic proposal remains very interesting.”Francis X. Rocca and Victoria Cardiel contributed to this report.

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During his Sept. 25–28 visit to Paris, Lourdes, and Metz, Leo’s approach to sharing the Catholic Church’s teaching on political and social issues will be highly watched.

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Fragments of medieval Gospel of St. Mark-turned-relic reunited after 7 centuries – #Catholic – For the first time in seven centuries, Aquileia, a city in northeastern Italy with a fascinating past, has reunited the three scattered fragments of a sixth-century manuscript that for centuries was venerated as if it were the Gospel written by St. Markʼs own hand.The author of the Gospel that bears his name was St. Peter’s interpreter and secretary. He followed the apostle to Rome, where he witnessed his preaching in the homes of the first followers of Christ, who dared to defy the Roman Empire’s laws governing worship.St. Mark carefully recorded every courageous word of that early catechesis, and his notes became a firsthand source for the story of Jesus’ life.Today, Aquileia, a small town of just over 3,000 inhabitants, treasures St. Mark’s memory as the founder of one of the most flourishing Christian communities of the Middle Ages. The Basilica of Aquileia, home to the largest and best preserved early Christian mosaic in the Western world. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Tseng Kuang Yi After the Edict of Milan in A.D. 313, the city, situated at the crossroads of East and West and serving as a bridge between the Mediterranean world and Slavic culture, became a center for the spread of Christianity into Central Europe and the Balkans.By the fifth century, it had even been honored with the title of apostolic city, and its bishop held the rank of patriarch. That privilege was reserved only for dioceses that traced their origins to the preaching of an apostle.“We preserve extraordinary medieval frescoes in the basilica depicting St. Mark arriving here to found the city’s first Christian community. That is why we believe he truly came to Aquileia,” Aquileia tour guide Anna Sairu told “EWTN Noticias,” the Spanish-language broadcast edition of EWTN News.The codex that became a relicOne of the principal witnesses to this tradition is the “Codex Forojuliensis,” also known as the “Cividale Gospel Book.” The sixth-century manuscript, written in uncial script, the calligraphy reserved for sacred texts, originally contained all four Gospels in St. Jerome’s Latin translation.Scholars believe it was most likely produced in Ravenna, Italy. From there it arrived in Aquileia during the second half of the ninth century, where it was authenticated by the signature of Theodemar, patriarch of Aquileia.The presence of the codex strengthened the tradition linking St. Mark to the evangelization of the region. Its significance became so great that in 827 the Synod of Mantua recognized Aquileia’s ecclesiastical supremacy over Grado.Venice looked with suspicion on the growing religious prestige of its neighbor. Just a year later, in 828, Venetian merchants brought the relics attributed to the evangelist from Alexandria to the city on the lagoon. In doing so, “The Most Serene Republic” of Venice gained a patron of apostolic rank and strengthened the religious and political foundations of its power. Basilica of Aquileia, home to the largest and best preserved early Christian mosaic in the Western world. | Credit: Courtesy of Tseng Kuang Yi The fragmented GospelBetween the 12th and 13th centuries, the seven quires — folded sheets of paper stitched into booklets — containing the Gospel of Mark were separated from the rest of the codex, rebound independently, and covered with an elaborate gilded silver binding that transformed the book into an object of veneration resembling a reliquary.From that point on, the manuscript ceased to be viewed as merely an ancient copy and began to be regarded as an autograph written by St. Mark himself. Medieval inventories of the Patriarchal Treasury of Aquileia reflect this belief.“The Gospel was fragmented when it was removed from the Gospel book containing all four Gospels and began to be regarded as an autograph of the evangelist himself. This is connected to the tradition that St. Mark evangelized this region of Italy, Aquileia, and its surrounding territory. During the 12th and 13th centuries, the Gospel of Mark acquired a life of its own and came to be regarded as an extraordinary relic,” Cristiano Tiussi, director of the Aquileia Foundation and curator of the exhibition, told “EWTN Noticias.”The emperor who wanted a piece of St. MarkThe fame of the supposed authentic Gospel of St. Mark quickly spread across Europe. In 1354, while traveling to Rome to receive the imperial crown, Charles IV of Luxembourg stopped in Aquileia. At the time, his half-brother, Nicholas of Luxembourg, served as patriarch there. Gilded silver cover that helped transform the medieval Codex of the Gospel of St. Mark into an object of veneration similar to a reliquary. | Credit: Victoria Cardiel/EWTN News The emperor requested part of the revered manuscript and received two of the seven quires that comprised the Gospel of Mark. Those pages were taken to Prague, where they were deposited in St. Vitus Cathedral alongside the relics of St. Wenceslaus. Over the centuries, they became the oldest written document preserved in Czech libraries.The exhibition even displays the original documents recording Charles IV’s request to the patriarch of Aquileia.“Possessing part of the Gospel of St. Mark meant owning not only a religious relic but also a symbol of prestige, legitimacy, and power,” Tiussi noted.The conquest of VeniceThe remainder of the manuscript remained in Aquileia until May 30, 1420, when Doge Tommaso Mocenigo conquered the city. Venice then claimed the remaining fragments, arguing that they belonged beside the evangelist’s tomb in the Basilica of St. Mark.Their transfer symbolized Aquileia’s definitive incorporation into the Venetian sphere.The gesture also carried an unmistakable political significance. If Venice had claimed custody of the evangelist’s body since 828, it now also acquired part of the manuscript believed by tradition to have been written by his hand.As a result, the Gospel of Mark became permanently divided among the cities of Cividale del Friuli, Venice, and Prague.For the manuscript itself, however, the consequences proved devastating. Humidity from the Venetian lagoon gradually damaged the pages until they became almost illegible. Today, those remnants are preserved in a reliquary display case within the Treasury of St. Mark. One of the fragments of the sixth-century manuscript venerated as a relic, attributed to the authorship of the Evangelist St. Mark. | Credit: Courtesy of Tseng Kuang Yi A medieval FacebookThe exhibition offers visitors a second surprise. Before it was dismantled, the manuscript served as a “Liber Vitae,” or “Book of the Living.” More than 1,500 names were entered into its pages by people who wished to be remembered in the prayers of the monastic community that safeguarded the codex.“This is one of the features that makes this Gospel book exceptional. In Italy, we know of only two Carolingian-era ‘libri vitae.’ This is one of them. These inscriptions, written in a hand different from the original uncial script, were initially simple liturgical annotations. They are notes written on the Gospel between the seventh and eighth centuries indicating which passages should be read during particular periods of the year or providing other instructions for the book’s liturgical use,” said Luca Villa, another curator of the exhibition.Beginning in the second half of the ninth century, the names of benefactors, nobles, pilgrims, and distinguished visitors were added.Among them were figures as notable as Emperor Louis II the Younger and his wife Engelberga, the Moravian prince Svatopluk, and envoys from the newly Christianized Kingdom of Bulgaria.“There are more than 1,500 important figures who wrote their names in the Gospel, not merely to leave a record of themselves but because they believed that by doing so they would share in the liturgical celebrations every time the book was used in the church where it was kept,” Villa told “EWTN Noticias.”For historians, these lists provide an extraordinary window into medieval Europe. They reveal a network of contacts, pilgrimages, and cultural exchanges linking distant regions centuries before the emergence of modern nation-states.A European storyNow, for the first time in roughly 700 years, the three surviving portions of the Gospel have been reunited. Fresco of St. Mark in the Basilica of Aquileia. | Credit: Victoria Cardiel/EWTN News The quires preserved in Prague have left the Czech Republic for the first time. The fragments kept in Venice have temporarily departed St. Mark’s Basilica. Together with the pages preserved in Friuli, they reconstruct a story that had remained fragmented since the Middle Ages.Czech curator Martina Dlabajová said she believes the reunion also symbolizes the very essence of Europe.“What is beautiful is that, while acknowledging that each fragment has had a different history and followed a different path, by bringing them together we have chosen to embrace that shared history. That is why the exhibition’s title speaks of ‘Seven Centuries, Three Fragments, One European Story,’ because the three fragments never ceased to be part of a common narrative, and that narrative is a European one,” she explained.“I also like to emphasize that Europe itself should recognize differences, accept that distinct histories exist, and understand that those different histories from various countries enrich our shared history,” she added in comments to “EWTN Noticias.” An information booklet for the exhibit “The Gospel of Mark: Seven Centuries. Three Fragments. One European Story,” open to visitors until April 25, 2027. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Tseng Kuang Yi The exhibition, “The Gospel of Mark: Seven Centuries. Three Fragments. One European Story,” will remain open through April 2027. Due to the fragility of the parchment, however, restrictions are necessary. The original manuscripts will be on display only during the exhibition’s first six weeks. They will then be replaced by high-resolution digital reproductions.This report was made possible thanks to the support of the Aquileia Foundation.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
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Fragments of medieval Gospel of St. Mark-turned-relic reunited after 7 centuries – #Catholic – For the first time in seven centuries, Aquileia, a city in northeastern Italy with a fascinating past, has reunited the three scattered fragments of a sixth-century manuscript that for centuries was venerated as if it were the Gospel written by St. Markʼs own hand.The author of the Gospel that bears his name was St. Peter’s interpreter and secretary. He followed the apostle to Rome, where he witnessed his preaching in the homes of the first followers of Christ, who dared to defy the Roman Empire’s laws governing worship.St. Mark carefully recorded every courageous word of that early catechesis, and his notes became a firsthand source for the story of Jesus’ life.Today, Aquileia, a small town of just over 3,000 inhabitants, treasures St. Mark’s memory as the founder of one of the most flourishing Christian communities of the Middle Ages. The Basilica of Aquileia, home to the largest and best preserved early Christian mosaic in the Western world. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Tseng Kuang Yi After the Edict of Milan in A.D. 313, the city, situated at the crossroads of East and West and serving as a bridge between the Mediterranean world and Slavic culture, became a center for the spread of Christianity into Central Europe and the Balkans.By the fifth century, it had even been honored with the title of apostolic city, and its bishop held the rank of patriarch. That privilege was reserved only for dioceses that traced their origins to the preaching of an apostle.“We preserve extraordinary medieval frescoes in the basilica depicting St. Mark arriving here to found the city’s first Christian community. That is why we believe he truly came to Aquileia,” Aquileia tour guide Anna Sairu told “EWTN Noticias,” the Spanish-language broadcast edition of EWTN News.The codex that became a relicOne of the principal witnesses to this tradition is the “Codex Forojuliensis,” also known as the “Cividale Gospel Book.” The sixth-century manuscript, written in uncial script, the calligraphy reserved for sacred texts, originally contained all four Gospels in St. Jerome’s Latin translation.Scholars believe it was most likely produced in Ravenna, Italy. From there it arrived in Aquileia during the second half of the ninth century, where it was authenticated by the signature of Theodemar, patriarch of Aquileia.The presence of the codex strengthened the tradition linking St. Mark to the evangelization of the region. Its significance became so great that in 827 the Synod of Mantua recognized Aquileia’s ecclesiastical supremacy over Grado.Venice looked with suspicion on the growing religious prestige of its neighbor. Just a year later, in 828, Venetian merchants brought the relics attributed to the evangelist from Alexandria to the city on the lagoon. In doing so, “The Most Serene Republic” of Venice gained a patron of apostolic rank and strengthened the religious and political foundations of its power. Basilica of Aquileia, home to the largest and best preserved early Christian mosaic in the Western world. | Credit: Courtesy of Tseng Kuang Yi The fragmented GospelBetween the 12th and 13th centuries, the seven quires — folded sheets of paper stitched into booklets — containing the Gospel of Mark were separated from the rest of the codex, rebound independently, and covered with an elaborate gilded silver binding that transformed the book into an object of veneration resembling a reliquary.From that point on, the manuscript ceased to be viewed as merely an ancient copy and began to be regarded as an autograph written by St. Mark himself. Medieval inventories of the Patriarchal Treasury of Aquileia reflect this belief.“The Gospel was fragmented when it was removed from the Gospel book containing all four Gospels and began to be regarded as an autograph of the evangelist himself. This is connected to the tradition that St. Mark evangelized this region of Italy, Aquileia, and its surrounding territory. During the 12th and 13th centuries, the Gospel of Mark acquired a life of its own and came to be regarded as an extraordinary relic,” Cristiano Tiussi, director of the Aquileia Foundation and curator of the exhibition, told “EWTN Noticias.”The emperor who wanted a piece of St. MarkThe fame of the supposed authentic Gospel of St. Mark quickly spread across Europe. In 1354, while traveling to Rome to receive the imperial crown, Charles IV of Luxembourg stopped in Aquileia. At the time, his half-brother, Nicholas of Luxembourg, served as patriarch there. Gilded silver cover that helped transform the medieval Codex of the Gospel of St. Mark into an object of veneration similar to a reliquary. | Credit: Victoria Cardiel/EWTN News The emperor requested part of the revered manuscript and received two of the seven quires that comprised the Gospel of Mark. Those pages were taken to Prague, where they were deposited in St. Vitus Cathedral alongside the relics of St. Wenceslaus. Over the centuries, they became the oldest written document preserved in Czech libraries.The exhibition even displays the original documents recording Charles IV’s request to the patriarch of Aquileia.“Possessing part of the Gospel of St. Mark meant owning not only a religious relic but also a symbol of prestige, legitimacy, and power,” Tiussi noted.The conquest of VeniceThe remainder of the manuscript remained in Aquileia until May 30, 1420, when Doge Tommaso Mocenigo conquered the city. Venice then claimed the remaining fragments, arguing that they belonged beside the evangelist’s tomb in the Basilica of St. Mark.Their transfer symbolized Aquileia’s definitive incorporation into the Venetian sphere.The gesture also carried an unmistakable political significance. If Venice had claimed custody of the evangelist’s body since 828, it now also acquired part of the manuscript believed by tradition to have been written by his hand.As a result, the Gospel of Mark became permanently divided among the cities of Cividale del Friuli, Venice, and Prague.For the manuscript itself, however, the consequences proved devastating. Humidity from the Venetian lagoon gradually damaged the pages until they became almost illegible. Today, those remnants are preserved in a reliquary display case within the Treasury of St. Mark. One of the fragments of the sixth-century manuscript venerated as a relic, attributed to the authorship of the Evangelist St. Mark. | Credit: Courtesy of Tseng Kuang Yi A medieval FacebookThe exhibition offers visitors a second surprise. Before it was dismantled, the manuscript served as a “Liber Vitae,” or “Book of the Living.” More than 1,500 names were entered into its pages by people who wished to be remembered in the prayers of the monastic community that safeguarded the codex.“This is one of the features that makes this Gospel book exceptional. In Italy, we know of only two Carolingian-era ‘libri vitae.’ This is one of them. These inscriptions, written in a hand different from the original uncial script, were initially simple liturgical annotations. They are notes written on the Gospel between the seventh and eighth centuries indicating which passages should be read during particular periods of the year or providing other instructions for the book’s liturgical use,” said Luca Villa, another curator of the exhibition.Beginning in the second half of the ninth century, the names of benefactors, nobles, pilgrims, and distinguished visitors were added.Among them were figures as notable as Emperor Louis II the Younger and his wife Engelberga, the Moravian prince Svatopluk, and envoys from the newly Christianized Kingdom of Bulgaria.“There are more than 1,500 important figures who wrote their names in the Gospel, not merely to leave a record of themselves but because they believed that by doing so they would share in the liturgical celebrations every time the book was used in the church where it was kept,” Villa told “EWTN Noticias.”For historians, these lists provide an extraordinary window into medieval Europe. They reveal a network of contacts, pilgrimages, and cultural exchanges linking distant regions centuries before the emergence of modern nation-states.A European storyNow, for the first time in roughly 700 years, the three surviving portions of the Gospel have been reunited. Fresco of St. Mark in the Basilica of Aquileia. | Credit: Victoria Cardiel/EWTN News The quires preserved in Prague have left the Czech Republic for the first time. The fragments kept in Venice have temporarily departed St. Mark’s Basilica. Together with the pages preserved in Friuli, they reconstruct a story that had remained fragmented since the Middle Ages.Czech curator Martina Dlabajová said she believes the reunion also symbolizes the very essence of Europe.“What is beautiful is that, while acknowledging that each fragment has had a different history and followed a different path, by bringing them together we have chosen to embrace that shared history. That is why the exhibition’s title speaks of ‘Seven Centuries, Three Fragments, One European Story,’ because the three fragments never ceased to be part of a common narrative, and that narrative is a European one,” she explained.“I also like to emphasize that Europe itself should recognize differences, accept that distinct histories exist, and understand that those different histories from various countries enrich our shared history,” she added in comments to “EWTN Noticias.” An information booklet for the exhibit “The Gospel of Mark: Seven Centuries. Three Fragments. One European Story,” open to visitors until April 25, 2027. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Tseng Kuang Yi The exhibition, “The Gospel of Mark: Seven Centuries. Three Fragments. One European Story,” will remain open through April 2027. Due to the fragility of the parchment, however, restrictions are necessary. The original manuscripts will be on display only during the exhibition’s first six weeks. They will then be replaced by high-resolution digital reproductions.This report was made possible thanks to the support of the Aquileia Foundation.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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The exhibition, “The Gospel of Mark: Seven Centuries. Three Fragments. One European Story,” has made it possible to view the original sixth-century manuscripts once venerated as relics.

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Riccardo Maffioli from Albizzate, Varese, Italy The Soap Bubble Nebula (PN G75.5+1.7 or PN Ju 1), a little-studied planetary nebula in Cygnus near the better-known Crescent Nebula, is the shell cast off by a dying Sun-like star. Its near-perfect sphere, roughly 4′ across was only discovered in 2008; its faintness and position against other emissionContinue reading “A bubble adrift”

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