Catholic News

• Pope Leo calls for 'theology of wisdom,' cites examples of Augustine, Aquinas, Rosmini (Dicastery for Communication)
  Addressing participants in a conference organized by the Pontifical Academy of Theology, Pope Leo XIV called for a “theology of wisdom” and cited the examples of St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas, and Blessed Antonio Rosmini. A theology of wisdom follows “the model developed by the great Fathers and Masters of antiquity. Because of their docility to the Spirit, they knew how to unite faith and reason, reflection, prayer and practice,” Pope Leo said. “Theology is the wisdom, therefore, that opens up greater existential horizons, dialoguing with science, philosophy, art and all human experience. The theologian is a person who lives out, in his or her theological work, a missionary fervor.” In his address, the Pope also referred to the conference’s theme (“Creation, Nature, Environment for a World of Peace”). “You have reflected on issues of urgent relevance, which are very dear to me, just as they were to my venerable predecessors Saint John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis,” Pope Leo said. “Environmental sustainability and the care of creation are essential commitments to ensure the survival of the human race.”
• Vatican newspaper welcomes Sudan diplomacy of Trump administration, Arab nations (CWN)
  In the most prominent article in its September 13 edition, L’Osservatore Romano praised the diplomatic work of the United States, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates in seeking to end the civil war in Sudan.
• Holy Land bishops open theological institute in Nazareth (Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem)
  Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, OFM, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, presided at the opening ceremony of the Annunciation Theological Institute in Nazareth. “We discussed this initiative with the Catholic bishops’ council and concluded the need for a theological center that serves the faithful—especially adults—since what we receive as children is not enough,” he said. “We need to deepen our understanding of our faith. The more we delve into the Church and the faith, the deeper it becomes within our hearts.”
• Vatican diplomat condemns child labor, use of children as soldiers (Holy See Mission)
  Citing Pope Leo XIII’s encyclical Rerum Novarum, a Vatican diplomat described child labor as “a grave violation of human dignity, since every child is a unique and unrepeatable masterpiece of God.” Archbishop Ettore Balestrero, apostolic nuncio and Permanent Observer to the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva, Switzerland, said at a meeting of the UN Human Rights Council that “exploiting [children] through labor, sometimes of the worst forms, is an ancient scourge and a betrayal of their innocence. It is also one of the most heinous assaults on their human rights.” “The Holy See is also deeply concerned about the continued recruitment and indiscriminate use of children in armed conflicts, as well as the growing misuse of digital technologies to radicalize them and incite their participation,” he added.
• Pope Leo, other Christian leaders pay tribute to 21st-century martyrs (Dicastery for Communication)
  Pope Leo XIV presided at an ecumenical commemoration of 21st-century martyrs at the Papal Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls on September 14. “Despite the end of the great dictatorships of the twentieth century, to this day the persecution of Christians has not ended; on the contrary, in some parts of the world it has increased,” Pope Leo preached. “Just as in the first centuries, so too in the third millennium, the blood of the martyrs is the seed of new Christians,” he continued. “We want to keep this memory alive alongside our brothers and sisters of other Churches and Christian Communities. I therefore wish to reaffirm the commitment of the Catholic Church to safeguard the memory of the witnesses of the faith from all Christian traditions.” During his homily, the Pope cited the witness of Sister Dorothy Stang, Father Ragheed Ganni, and Anglican Brother Francis Tofi.
• God transformed the Cross into an instrument of life, Pope tells pilgrims (Dicastery for Communication)
  In his Angelus address on September 14, Pope Leo XIV reflected on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. “God saves us by showing himself to us, offering himself as our companion, teacher, doctor, friend, to the point of becoming bread broken for us in the Eucharist,” Pope Leo told pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square. “In order to accomplish this task, he used one of the cruelest instruments that human beings have ever invented: the cross.” The Pope added, “That is why today we celebrate the ‘exultation’: for the immense love with which God has transformed the means to death into an instrument of life, embracing it for our salvation, teaching us that nothing can separate us from him and that his love is greater than our own sin.”
• Pope speaks on Ukraine, synodality, leadership in interview (Crux)
  Pope Leo XIV speaks on a variety of topics including the war in Ukraine, the concept of synodality, economic inequality, and his own leadership, in excerpts from an interview that will soon be published in book form. The Pope’s lengthy discussion with Elise Ann Allen of Crux is appearing in Spanish this week; it will be published in the US—under the title Leo XIV: Citizen of the World early next year. In the excerpts that appear on the Crux site, the Pontiff: suggests that the Vatican will continue to advocate for peace in Ukraine, but that proposals for Vatican mediation are “not as realistic.” acknowledges that the concept of “synodality” is not well understood, and offers the explanation that “synodality is a way of describing how we can come together and be a community and seek communion as a Church.” questions extreme inequalities of income in the world economy, noting that chief executives now earn “600 times more than what average workers are earning.” notes that “it seems to be generally recognized that the United Nations, at least at this moment in time, has lost its ability to bring people together on multilateral issues.” discloses that the most novel aspect of his new role has been “being thrown into the level of world leader.” says that in World Cup soccer competition, he will probably be cheering for Peru, but “I’m also a big fan of Italy”—and goes on to discuss his rooting interests in baseball.
• Cardinal Sarah speaks on tradition, liturgy, synodality (Avvenire )
  Cardinal Robert Sarah spoke out on topics including tradition, the liturgy, synodality, and homosexuality in a conversation with Avvenire, the newspaper owned by the Italian bishops’ conference. “Without living Tradition that allows the transmission of Divine Revelation, the Church itself could not exist,” said the retired prefect of the Dicastery for Divine Worship. He criticized an “ideological” attitude toward tradition, in which “those who would like to erase and deny Tradition” opposed “those who consider Tradition as something crystallized and mummified.” Specifically addressing the ban on the Traditional Latin liturgy, Cardinal Sarah said: “I wonder if we can ‘ban’ a ritual lasting over a thousand years.” The African cardinal said that the concept of synodality “must be explored and clarified,” adding that it “should be theologically substantiated.” Cardinal Sarah also called for a reconsideration of the Vatican document Fiducia Supplicans, allowing for blessings of same-sex couples. He described the document as “theologically weak and therefore unjustified.”
• Brazilian prelate decries 'unacceptable' US tariffs (Pillar)
  The vice-president of the Brazilian bishops’ conference has denounced heavy tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump as “unacceptable,” saying that they are an effort to influence Brazil’s internal politics. Archbishop Paulo Jackson de Sousa said that the Trump tariffs were imposed in a bid to secure the acquittal of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who was convicted on September 11 of attempting a coup. The archbishop said that his country had weathered the crisis—“more so than in the ‘biggest democracy in the world,’ as the USA likes to call itself.” Archbishop Jackson said: “It is unacceptable for one country to try and exert pressure on another, especially using methods such as tariffs.”
• Pope hails Lampedusa's hospitality to migrants, calls for 'culture of reconcilation' (Vatican Press Office)
  In a video message to the faithful of Lampedusa, Pope Leo XIV praised the islanders’ hospitality to migrants and recalled Pope Francis’s 2013 apostolic journey there. “Just as Pope Francis opposed the globalization of indifference with the culture of encounter, so today I would like for us, together, to begin to oppose the globalization of powerlessness with a culture of reconciliation,” Pope Leo said. “Today we must meet each other by healing our wounds, forgiving each other for the evil we have done and also that we have not done, but whose effects we bear.” “So much fear, so many prejudices, so many great walls, even invisible ones, that are between us and between our peoples, as consequences of a wounded history,” the Pope continued, adding: Evil is handed down from one generation to another, from one community to another. But good is also transmitted, and it knows that it is stronger! To practice it, to put it back into circulation, we must become experts in reconciliation.
• Jerusalem patriarchate forgives tuition debts for Catholic schools (Jerusalem Patriarchate)
  As a gesture to celebrate the Jubilee Year, the Latin-rite Catholic Patriarchate of Jerusalem has announced that it will forgive all debts owed by families for students in Catholic schools. In announcing the debt-forgiveness program, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa said that he recognized the costs the measure would entail, and reported that “various administrative offices did not fail to raise their legitimate concerns,” but concluded that the gesture was an important means of helping families, restoring hope, and showing reliance on God.
• Italian cardinal: expecting papal decision on Latin Mass (Catholic Herald)
  An Italian cardinal has indicated that Church leaders are awaiting a decision by Pope Leo XIV on the status of the Traditional Latin Mass (TLM). Questioned by the Catholic Herald about the future of the TLM and the restrictions imposed by Traditionis Custodes, Cardinal Mauro Maria Gambetti replied: “I have been told that we will wait for the Holy Father to decide.” Cardinal Gambetti, a Franciscan friar, was raised to the College of Cardinals by Pope Francis, who appointed him as archpriest of St. Peter’s basilica. There he implemented the restriction on the use of the traditional liturgy by pilgrimage groups—although that policy has recently been changed to allow an October celebration of the TLM by Cardinal Raymond Burke during the annual Summorum Pontificum pilgrimage.
• Cardinal Parolin hopes for 'new perspective on a new world' (Vatican News (Italian))
  Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State of His Holiness, encouraged participants in a Vatican conference to work to build a different planet. In his keynote address to the Pontifical Academy of Theology’s conference on “Creation, Nature, Environment for a World of Peace,” Cardinal Parolin said that “the current worrying historical context is, unfortunately, characterized by conflict, selfishness, indifference, and the inability to listen to others, to see the great opportunities that open up to us through the simple act of collaborating together, interacting with mutual respect and in the responsible awareness that, as clearly stated in Laudato Si’, everything is interconnected.” “The harmony between the Creator, humanity, and all of creation has been destroyed because we claimed to take God’s place, refusing to recognize ourselves as limited creatures,” he continued. “What we need is a new perspective on a new world, capable of carefully reading the challenges and signs of the times that can contribute to peace by stimulating social dialogue.”
• New US ambassador meets with Pontiff (CatholicVote)
  Brian Burch, the new US ambassador to the Holy See, presented his credentials to Pope Leo XIV on September 13. During what he described as an “extraordinarily friendly” conversation, Burch spoke to the Pontiff about the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, religious freedom, the Vatican’s ties with China, and the challenges of artificial intelligence.” They also discussed the shooting of Charlie Kirk, with the Pope saying that he was praying for Kirk’s widow and their children. Burch presented the Pope with several gifts, including a birthday cake, in anticipation of the Pontiff’s 70th birthday on September 14.
• Cardinal Bagnasco calls for relaxing ban on Traditional Latin Mass (Il Roma (Italian))
  Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, the former president of the Italian bishops’ conference, indicated that he favored a relaxation of the ban on the Traditional Latin Mass in a newspaper interview. Noting the need for unity in the Church—and saying that Pope Leo has made unity his goal—the retired Archbishop of Genoa said: “I have never seen, and I do not see now, how the extraordinary form of the Roman Rite... could create problems.” He pointed out that the Catholic Church embraces more than 30 different liturgical rites today. If restrictions on the traditional liturgy are relaxed, “I see neither risks nor dangers if things are done peacefully and with everyone’s good will,” the cardinal said.
• Cardinal Tagle: We have lost the sense of creation as God's gift (L'Osservatore Romano (Italian))
  Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, one of the two pro-prefects of the Dicastery for Evangelization, told participants in a Vatican conference, that “with dismay and fear, I note that the horizon of gift is slowly blurring.” “It is being replaced by the horizon of productivity, success, meritocracy, and profit, which in itself is not negative, but is limited and limiting,” Cardinal Tagle said. In contrast, “from contemplation emerges an attitude of respect and reverence toward gifts. It motivates people to care for gifts, to develop them so that they become gifts for all.” “In the horizon of gift, human beings discover their vocation to be confessors of faith in the Creator, contemplators of God’s marvelous works, and stewards and collaborators with the Creator in the care and development of creation for the benefit of all,” the Philippine prelate added.
• Be builders of bridges, Pope says during conversation with new bishops (Vatican News)
  Following his September 11 address to 192 recently ordained bishops, Pope Leo XIV fielded questions. The Vatican published a summary of the Pope’s answers the following day. Synodality is “a style of Church, of listening and of a common search for the mission to which we are called,” Pope Leo said, as he advised bishops to “be builders of bridges,” rather than closing oneself off in one’s own group. The Pontiff also addressed questions about mercy, social media, formation, mission, and youth, according to the summary of his remarks. Pope Leo told the bishops that the spiritual thirst of youth is not satisfied “in the typical experiences of our parishes.”
• USCCB removes Bishop Campbell's 'DEI means God' essay from website (Pillar)
  The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops removed “DEI Means God,” a reflection by Auxiliary Bishop Roy Campbell of Washington, from its website after Catholic World News published an article on it. Chieko Noguchi, the USCCB’s executive director of public affairs, told The Pillar that the essay was “a draft of a personal reflection from Bishop Campbell that is yet to be discussed and given to a definitive publication plan.” “It was mistakenly posted to the website, and has been taken down,” she said.
• US Catholics favorable toward Pope Leo, but know little about him (Pew Forum)
  Pope Leo XIV is viewed favorably by 84% of American Catholics, according to a new Pew Research survey. Only 4% of respondents had a negative view. However a majority of those questioned (52%) said that they did not know much about the first American Pontiff, and/or that they could not predict how his leadership of the Church would compare with that of Pope Francis.
• Vatican newspaper draws attention to widespread child malnutrition in Afghanistan (L'Osservatore Romano (Italian))
  L’Osservatore Romano devoted the most prominent article in its September 11 edition to children’s malnutrition in Afghanistan. In an article with the headline “Nemmeno la forza per piangere” [Not even the strength to cry], Sara Costantini reported that “there are children who no longer cry because malnutrition has made them too weak even to ask for help. This is the most silent wound in Afghanistan.” “Nearly five million children, equal to 20 % of children in Afghanistan, face ‘crisis’ or ‘emergency’ levels of food shortages,” she added. “For them, every day is an invisible struggle to stay alive. If concrete help doesn’t reach them, Afghanistan risks losing its most fragile and precious asset: the future of its children.”
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