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Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass in St Peter’s Basilica for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, who awakens “in the inhabitants of America the joy of knowing they are loved by God.”
By Christopher Wells
Christian tradition recognizes the Blessed Virgin Mary as “the mother of love,” Pope Leo said on Friday, in his homily for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
“In the Gospel,” he continued, “we hear how Mary lives the dynamic of one who allows the world to enter her life and transform it.” Filled with joy at the Annunciation, Mary throughout her life “brings joy to places where human joy is insufficient.”
This, the Pope said, is what happens in Guadalupe, where Mary “awakens in the inhabitants of America the joy of knowing themselves loved by God.” Noting that the Virgin spoke to St Juan Diego in his mother tongue, Pope Leo said that “in the midst of ongoing conflicts, injustices, and sufferings that seek relief, Our Lady of Guadalupe proclaims the core of her message: ‘Am I not here, I who am your mother?’” Mary, he continued, “is the voice that makes the promise of divine faithfulness resound, the sustaining presence when life becomes unbearable.”
As our Mother, Mary tells us to “do whatever [Jesus] tells us,” and we, in return, respond, “Yes, Mother, we want to be your true children. Tell us how to advance in faith when our strength wanes, and shadows grow. Help us to understand that with you, even winter becomes a time of roses.”
Then, in a spirit of filial devotion, Pope Leo addressed the Blessed Virgin directly, asking her to teach the world not to be divided into irreconcilable factions; to accompany young people to remain steadfast in the faith; to seek out those who have strayed from the Church, and to strengthen families.
“Holy Virgin,” the Pope said, “may we, like you, keep the Gospel in our hearts,” convinced that wherever the Gospel is proclaimed, “everything becomes beautiful, restored, renewed.”
Finally, Pope Leo asked Mary to support him in his ministry as the Successor of St Peter, so that he might confirm “in the one path that leads to the blessed Fruit of your womb, all those entrusted to [him].”
Concluding his homily, the Holy Father prayed that, trusting in Mary’s protection, the Blessed Virgin would grant “that we may advance, united ever more with Jesus and one another, toward the eternal dwelling He has prepared for us, and in which [Mary] awaits us.”
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The Catholic Bishops of Thailand and Cambodia voice their concern for the intensifying conflict along the two countries' shared border, as thousands of people have been displaced.
By Chainarong Monthienvichienchai, LiCAS News
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Thailand (CBCT) warned on December 11 of rising casualties and large-scale displacement as renewed fighting along the Thai-Cambodian border entered its fifth day.
In a public statement, the CBCT described the current violence as a “dangerous escalation” of the long-standing border dispute, with clashes now reported across multiple provinces in both countries, many of them still scarred by earlier conflicts from which thousands continue to recover.
“The second round of clashes between Thai and Cambodian forces, which began on December 7 in the border area of Sisaket province in the Diocese of Ubon Ratchathani, has intensified and spread continuously,” the statement said.
The Bishops said the clashes have intensified from sporadic gunfire to the use of heavy weapons, spreading across border areas in seven provinces from the southern Northeast to Trat province in the Diocese of Chanthaburi, spanning more than 800 kilometers.
Authorities said evacuation operations have been underway around the clock, with hundreds of temporary shelters hastily set up throughout border districts.
“Several people have been killed and injured, and more than 250,000 people have been evacuated to about 900 temporary shelters. The situation remains tense, and there is no sign of it easing anytime soon,” the CBCT said.
Unlike the first wave of clashes in July, many Thai families in Surin province said they fled even before hearing gunfire, following early warnings from local leaders after a brief border skirmish on Sunday.
Most evacuees this time left with only a few sets of clothing; some said they even forgot to lock their homes in the rush to escape.
Conditions in the shelters remain basic, but regular meals and the support of volunteers have helped ease the strain on displaced families.
The CBCT noted that the local Catholic Church, through Caritas and its social action arms in the dioceses of Ubon Ratchathani, Nakhon Ratchasima, and Chanthaburi, is “urgently providing assistance to those affected to the best of its ability.”
“To demonstrate unity in faith in Christ, the CBCT invites all dioceses, religious orders, Catholic organizations, and all benevolent Christians to show love and compassion to our brothers and sisters who are suffering through donations according to their ability via Caritas Thailand,” the statement concluded.
The message was signed by Archbishop Francis Xavier Vira Arpondratana, Archbishop of Bangkok and CBCT president.
Caritas Thailand told LiCAS News on December 12 that it has been coordinating closely with dioceses along the border since the clashes began.
“Since December 7, we have been coordinating with the Diocese of Ubon Ratchathani and the Diocese of Chanthaburi,” Caritas Thailand said. “We prepared for the border situation after previous clashes, including designating areas within Catholic churches as initial evacuation centers and working with local government agencies.”
Four Catholic churches, two in Ubon Ratchathani and two in Chanthaburi, have now been opened as temporary shelters for evacuees.
During his General Audience in St. Peter’s Square on December 10, Pope Leo XIV expressed deep concern over the escalating violence.
“I am deeply saddened by the news of the renewed conflict along the border between Thailand and Cambodia,” the Pope said. “There have been casualties, including among civilians, and thousands of people have been forced to leave their homes.”
He appealed to both nations to “cease fire immediately and resume dialogue.”
The Catholic Church in Cambodia also voiced its alarm over the intensifying conflict. In a joint message, Bishop Olivier Schmitthaeusler, Bishop Pierre Suon Hangly, and Bishop Enrique Figaredo urged both sides to prioritize peace and encouraged Catholics to assist those displaced.
Caritas Cambodia has likewise begun providing support to affected communities along the border.
As the fighting shows no sign of subsiding, Catholic communities in Thailand and Cambodia continue to coordinate humanitarian efforts while pleading for dialogue, restraint, and a swift return to peace.
This article was originally published on https://www.licas.news/. All rights reserved. Unauthorized republication by third parties is not permitted.
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Fr. Roberto Pasolini, the Preacher of the Papal Household, delivers his second Advent meditation to Pope Leo XIV and members of the Roman Curia.
By Isabella Piro
What kind of unity must we bear witness to? And how can we offer the world a credible form of communion that is not simply generic fraternity?
These were the questions at the heart of the second of three Advent sermons delivered by Father Roberto Pasolini, preacher of the Papal Household, on Friday morning to Pope Leo XIV and the Roman Curia.
The chosen theme for the three reflections was: “Awaiting and hastening the coming of the day of God.”
Fr. Pasolini structured his reflection around three images: the Tower of Babel, Pentecost, and the reconstruction of the Temple of Jerusalem.
The first image, the Tower of Babel, embodies a humanity which, after the flood, tries to exorcize “the fear of being scattered.” But that project hides “a deadly logic,” because it pursues unity “not through the reconciliation of differences, but by means of uniformity.”
This is the “dream of a world where no one is different, no one takes risks, everything is predictable,” Fr. Pasolini observed, noting that the builders of the tower used not irregular stones but uniform bricks, all identical.
The result is unanimity, he said, but one that is only apparent and illusory, because it is “achieved at the price of eliminating individual voices.”
The preacher then turned to consider contemporary times, pointing to the totalitarian regimes of the 20th century, which imposed “a single-minded ideology,” silencing and persecuting dissent.
Yet, “whenever unity is built by suppressing differences,” he warned, “the result is not communion but death.”
Even today, Fr. Pasolini said, “in the age of social media and artificial intelligence,” the risks of homogenization have not disappeared—indeed, they appear in new forms: algorithms that create “single-track information bubbles,” predictable patterns reducing human complexity to standards, and platforms that chase instant consensus while penalizing “reflective dissent.”
The Church, the Capuchin friar added, is not immune to this temptation, since often in history the unity of faith has been mistaken for uniformity, to the detriment of “the slow rhythm of communion, which does not fear dialogue and does not erase nuances.”
Pope Leo listens to the Advent reflection (@VATICAN MEDIA)
A world built on the utopia of identical copies, Fr. Pasolini continued, “is the antithesis of creation,” because “God creates by separating, distinguishing, differentiating”: light from darkness, the waters from the dry land, and day from night.
In this sense, “difference is the very grammar of existence,” and rejecting it means reversing “the creative impulse” in search of a false security that is in fact “a refusal of freedom.”
The confusion of languages with which God responds to Babel, therefore, is not a punishment but “a cure,” the preacher emphasized. God “restores dignity to particularity,” giving humanity once more its “most precious gift”: “the possibility of not all being the same.”
After all, “there is no communion without difference.”
Fr. Pasolini’s second image, Pentecost, thus becomes an emblem of communion without uniformity. The apostles speak in their own languages, and the listeners understand in theirs, because “diversity remains, but it does not divide.”
Differences are not eliminated to create unity; they are transformed “into the fabric of a broader communion.”
Fr. Pasolini then turned to discuss his third image: the Temple of Jerusalem, destroyed and rebuilt multiple times.
Every reconstruction, he said, “can never be a linear process,” for it is shaped by “enthusiasm and tears, new momentum and deep regrets.”
All this serves as “a precious compendium” for understanding “the perennial necessity of the Church’s renewal,” so well embodied by St. Francis of Assisi.
The Church is called to allow herself to be rebuilt again and again, so that “the beauty of the Gospel” may shine through, remaining faithful to itself while continuing “to place herself at the service of the world.”
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In an address to Italy's secret services, Pope Leo XIV calls for security rooted in ethics, warning that the pursuit of peace must never come at the expense of human dignity or truth.
By Francesca Merlo
Welcoming members of Italy’s Security Intelligence System on the centenary of its foundation, Pope Leo XIV recalled that it was in 1925 that Italy’s first coordinated intelligence service was established, laying “the foundations for building a more effective and coordinated system, aimed at safeguarding the security of the State.”
One hundred years on, he continued, tools and capabilities have evolved significantly, but so too have the responsibilities and moral risks attached to such work.
Intelligence professionals, he said as he greeted them in the Vatican on Friday, are entrusted with “the serious responsibility of constantly monitoring the dangers that may threaten the life of the Nation, in order above all to contribute to the protection of peace.”
Their work, often hidden from public view, is essential precisely because it seeks to anticipate crises before they erupt.
Yet, discretion, the Pope warned, can also expose intelligence work to misuse or instrumentalization. For this reason, he continued, professionalism must be accompanied by a firm ethical outlook, beginning with “respect for the dignity of the human person.”
“Security activity,” he said, “must never lose sight of this foundational dimension and must never fail to respect the dignity and rights of each individual.”
Even when the common good appears urgent, the temptation to bypass ethical limits must be resisted. Gathering information, the Pope said, inevitably affects individual rights—a reality that demands proportionality, legal clarity, and constant oversight.
The Pope then called for intelligence activities to be firmly regulated by law, subject to judicial scrutiny, and transparent in their financial governance. National security, he stressed, must never come at the expense of fundamental rights, including “private and family life, freedom of conscience and information, and the right to a fair trial.”
Pope Leo went on to highlight the importance of the ethics of communication. In a world saturated with data and instant transmission, the Pope warned of the dangers posed by misinformation, manipulation, and the exploitation of the vulnerable.
The “massive and continuous exchange of information,” he said, requires critical vigilance, especially when faced with fake news, blackmail, and the incitement of hatred and violence.
He stressed that confidential information must never be weaponized to “intimidate, manipulate, blackmail, or discredit” public figures, journalists, or civil society actors.
This warning, he added, applies also to the ecclesial sphere. In some countries, the Church itself becomes a victim of intelligence operations that “act for wrongful purposes, oppressing her freedom.”
Such risks, the Pope noted, demand “a high moral stature”—not only from those newly entering intelligence services, but also from those who have long served within them.
Pope Leo XIV then dedicated his thoughts to all those who have lost their lives during delicate missions, often carried out far from public recognition.
“Their dedication may not be recorded in newspaper headlines,” he said, “but it lives on in the people they helped and in the crises they helped to resolve.”
Bringing his address to a close, the Pope expressed gratitude for the role Italian intelligence services play in ensuring the security of the Holy See and the Vatican City State.
He encouraged those present to live their professional vocation with balance and discernment, always keeping the common good in sight and remaining “firmly anchored to those legal and ethical principles that place the dignity of the human person above all else.”
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In a message addressed to Latin American priests, seminarians, and religious men and women studying in Rome, Pope Leo XIV encourages them to remember their calling to follow Christ and strive to place God above everything.
By Isabella H. de Carvalho
“Since we live in a confusing society of noise, today more than ever we need servants and disciples who announce the absolute primacy of Christ and who keep His voice clearly in their ears and hearts.”
Pope Leo XIV offered that invitation to Latin American priests, seminarians, and religious men and women who study Rome, in a message released on Friday, December 12.
They gathered at the Vatican for a meeting organized by the Pontifical Commission for Latin America on “Mary: Star of Evangelization and Mission for Latin America Today,” on the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
In his message, Pope Leo reflected on Christ’s words to His disciples, “Follow me,” as representative of the “deepest purpose” of the life of a seminarian, priest, or consecrated person.
He invited them to remember their calling and stay faithful to God through good and hard times, by also nurturing their relationship with Him through reading Scripture, meditating in prayer, following their pastors, and studying the knowledge and wisdom offered by the Church.
“In joys and in difficulties, our motto must be: if Christ went through it, then we too must live what He lived,” he wrote. “We should not cling to applause, for its echo fades quickly; nor is it healthy to dwell only on memories of crises or times of bitter disappointment.”
“Rather, let us see all of it as part of our formation and say, ‘If God has willed it for me, I too will it. The deep bond that unites us to Christ, whether as priests, consecrated persons, or seminarians, resembles what is said to Christian spouses on their wedding day: ‘for poorer, for richer, in sickness and in health’.”
The Pope pointed out how the Gospel passages about vocation all underline “the absolute initiative of the Lord,” who calls people “without any merit” on their part.
Rather, he said their vocation is “an opportunity to bring the Gospel message to sinners and the weak,” and so Jesus' disciples become “instruments of the plan of salvation that God has for all people.”
However, Pope Leo emphasized that the Gospel also highlights the commitment that responding to such a vocation entails, such as placing God above everything, detaching oneself from all human security, and “the demand of the urgent necessity of theoretical and practical knowledge of the divine law.”
“In this requirement to leave everything—even things good in themselves—the Lord does not intend to make us evade natural duties, sanctioned by God’s law, but to open our eyes to a new life,” Pope Leo explained, citing St. Ambrose.
“In this new life nothing can be placed before God, not even what we had previously known as good, and it entails death to sin and to the old worldly self.”
Quoting again St. Ambrose, Pope Leo underlines how this union with Jesus then helps us be in communion with others and walk together.
“We are not united by bonds of sympathy, shared interests, or mutual convenience, but by belonging to the people whom the Lord purchased at the price of His Blood,” the Pope insisted.
The Pope also highlighted that in the Gospel of John, Christ tells the apostle Peter to follow Him twice, and both times, it shows the Lord’s closeness.
The first time is after Peter’s triple confession of love after denying Jesus three times, and even though “the Apostle did not fully understand the mystery of the Cross,” God already had “in mind the sacrifice with which Peter would glorify God.”
“When, throughout life, our vision becomes clouded, like Peter’s did in the night or amid the storms,” the Pope explained, “it will be the voice of Jesus that, with loving patience, sustains us.”
Similarly, the second time is shortly after when Peter asks about John, and Jesus replies, “What concern is it of yours? You follow me.” This second episode “assures us that the Lord knows our frailty and that, often, it is not the cross imposed upon us, but our own selfishness, that becomes a stumbling block in our desire to follow him,” Pope Leo emphasized.
“The dialogue with the Apostle shows us how easily we judge our brother and even God, without docilely accepting His will in our lives.”
At the end of his message, the Pope entrusted the Latin American seminarians, priests, and religious to Mary and asked Our Lady of Guadalupe to “teach us to respond with courage and to keep in our hearts the wonders that Christ has done in us, so that we may go forth without delay to proclaim the joy of having found him, of being one in the One, and living stones of a temple for His glory.”
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As the Church celebrates the Jubilee of Prisoners, the head of the Catholic Mobilizing Network reflects on the dignity of those who are incarcerated and the role each of us has to honor that dignity as Pilgrims of Hope.
By Krisanne Vaillancourt Murphy, Executive Director of Catholic Mobilizing Network*
Last year, on the second day of Christmas, Pope Francis opened the second Holy Door of this Jubilee year at Rebibbia Prison in Rome. How appropriate, then, that this week, his successor, Pope Leo XIV, will preside over the Jubilee of Prisoners, the last major event of this Holy Year.
The “revolution of tenderness” inaugurated by Pope Francis has continued, with Pope Leo calling for a “revolution of love”—a “love that gives itself and does not possess, love that forgives and does not demand, love that helps and never abandons.”
Pope Leo called for this revolution while preaching about the lessons of the Good Samaritan for our world today. “Today, the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Jericho is the road travelled by all those who descend into sin, suffering, and poverty,” he said. “It is the road travelled by all those weighed down by troubles or hurt by life. The road travelled by all who fall down, lose their bearings, and hit rock bottom.”
This Jubilee, themed Pilgrims of Hope, signals the sacred journey that connects these two revolutionary visions of mercy and hope. And it is not surprising that it is bookended by events centered on people who are incarcerated.
For people in prison—especially those serving long terms, awaiting execution, or living in very difficult confined conditions—hope can be elusive. We can understand why so many feel ignored and discarded.
These are precisely the people that Pope Francis was talking about when he denounced the “throwaway culture.” These are people who feel weighed down, who have fallen down and lost their bearings, as Pope Leo has spoken about.
The Jubilee reminds us that no one is beyond redemption. No human being is to be discarded when it suits our purposes. No one can forfeit their worth or dignity as a child of God. We cling to the hope that this throwaway mentality can be vanquished, that mercy can overcome the desire for vengeance or an imagined community of the morally pure.
Mercy is not for the strong and perfect. This is why visiting our brothers and sisters in prison is one of the corporeal works of mercy. Gospel justice is more than the mere application of the law. In its fullness, justice is about restoring right relationships and redeeming human beings.
We have needed this Jubilee year. This special year of favor reminds us that revenge is contrary to our Christian beliefs and comes at a great cost, paid in real lives.
A purely punitive approach to harm cannot deliver justice. It cannot rebuild relationships and communities. And the death penalty remains a fundamental rejection of Christian hope, mercy, and justice. It betrays a lack of trust in the God of mercy.
As Pope Benedict XVI once wrote, “The one who has hope lives differently; the one who hopes has been granted the gift of a new life.”
In this new life, our eyes must be opened to those who are easy to ignore in our daily lives.
When people are locked away behind bars, they remain our brothers and sisters. The pain of their loved ones is real. The harm they have caused is too often left untreated with no efforts at restoration or healing. We must do better not only for them, but for all who have been impacted by their actions.
We pray that the Jubilee will give us, Pilgrims of Hope, the courage to be present on that road to Jericho today.
As Pilgrims of Hope, we can decide how to respond to harm, violence, and crime. We have the ability to choose restoration over retribution, accompaniment over abandonment, and healing over harm. We have the ability to pursue life over death.
This Jubilee Year has illuminated the need for a more complete understanding of justice and has reminded us that we need to be renewed in hope.
Closing out this Jubilee Year with a focus on those who are incarcerated is a powerful reminder that hope is not lost for anyone. Anyone.
Pilgrims of hope respect the dignity of those who are in prison, even if they have done grave harm to others, and refuse to participate in their dehumanization.
Pilgrims of hope denounce inhumane prison conditions, reject the baseless promises of the death penalty, and work to abolish it. Pilgrims on the journey of hope continue to believe that redemption is possible and to create the conditions where the grace of forgiveness might be known.
May this Jubilee of Prisoners remind each of us that whatsoever we do for those who are incarcerated, we do for Christ.
“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.’ [...] ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’” (Matthew 25:35-40)
“Pilgrims on the Way of Hope: A Resource for the Jubilee of Prisoners” was drafted by Catholic Mobilizing Network in collaboration with Catholic Ministry Leaders and published by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in order to support the celebration of the Jubilee of Prisoners. Download it here.
* Krisanne Vaillancourt Murphy is the Executive Director of Catholic Mobilizing Network, a national organization in the United States that mobilizes Catholics and people of goodwill to end the death penalty, advance justice solutions in alignment with Catholic values and promote healing through restorative justice approaches and practices. For more information and to join the movement, visit catholicsmobilizing.org.
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The Methodist-Roman Catholic International Commission releases an updated synthesis of the fruits of 60 years of theological dialogue, affirming that the two Churches converge much more than they diverge.
By Devin Watkins
“We Believe in One God: Sixty years of Methodists and Catholics walking together.”
That’s the title of a new book released on Friday, December 12, produced by the Joint International Commission for Dialogue between the World Methodist Council and the Roman Catholic Church (MERCIC).
Printed by the Vatican Publishing House (LEV), the document examines the theological progress made over the past six decades between the Catholic and Methodist Churches.
MERCIC enjoys the support of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, and the book comes on the same year as Christians celebrate the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea.
Presented as “both a record of hope and a call to deeper communion,” the volume serves as “a gift to all the Churches, as they affirm their faith in the Triune God and reflect on the next stages of the quest for Christian unity.”
In a press release, MERCIC recalls that there is no history of formal separation between the Catholic and Methodist Churches, since Methodism finds its origins as a revival movement within the Church of England in the mid-18th century.
Division is real, however, it notes, and the book shows the need for a “healing of memories, acknowledgment of past wrongs, and the retelling of histories to honour victims and foster mutual respect and trust.”
The book’s preface was written by Revd. Prof. Edgardo Colón-Emeric, Dean of Duke Divinity School, USA, Methodist Co-Chairman, and Archbishop Shane Mackinlay of Brisbane, Catholic Co-Chairman.
The two MERCIC Chairmen said the Commission has examined all elements of the Nicene Creed over the past 60 years, revealing a “clear convergence in understanding the faith we profess together in the Nicene Creed.”
“Our Commission has confirmed that the consensus between Methodists and Catholics about the foundation of faith and the source of our salvation far outweighs our remaining differences on matters relating to the means of saving grace in the life and practice of our respective communions—although here, too, we have made great advances toward mutual understanding and agreement,” they write.
The book discusses difficult questions about doctrine, the sacraments, and the structures of authority and decision making.
It also examines the central question of the Eucharist, noting that both Churches are growing in mutual understanding.
Methodists, notes the book, increasingly recognize “that the Lord’s Table belongs to the fulness of Christian worship, while Catholics are appreciating the fundamental importance of preaching the Word.”
As the two Churches continue to journey toward full Christian unity, “We Believe in One God” hopes to help Catholics and Methodists recognize in their various professions “the one Christian faith that was proclaimed by the Council of Nicaea.”
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On 12 December, world-renowned conductor Riccardo Muti performs with the Luigi Cherubini Youth Orchestra and the Choir of the Siena Cathedral “Guido Chigi Saracini” in the Vatican's Paul VI Hall. During the occasion, Muti will receive the prestigious "Ratzinger Prize," established in 2011, and awarded annually, with the Pope's approval, to eminent personalities in the field of Christian-inspired culture and art.
By Marcello Filotei
An orchestra that begins tuning its musical instruments is a sort of sonic chaos in which one can recognize hints and fragments of the piece that will be performed. Here and there appear arpeggios used to warm up a wind instrument, or echoes of technical exercises young musicians had to go through in their training. Then it happens: Maestro Riccardo Muti steps onto the podium in the Paul VI Hall, and suddenly the silence “erupts.” It does not happen with every conductor, it happens with those who command respect, sometimes through authority, and in this case, through a deep, natural authority.
The concert is scheduled for Friday, 12 December at 6 pm, but the adventure began twenty-four hours earlier. The young musicians of the Luigi Cherubini Youth Orchestra at their music stands, and behind them, the Choir of the Siena Cathedral “Guido Chigi Saracini” began rehearsals, everyone in casual clothes. On the program is Luigi Cherubini’s Mass for the Coronation of Charles X, a festive Mass and everything must move in that direction, even the lighting.
The advice given to the young musicians is clear and precise: perfection is the requirement. After all, the Cherubini Orchestra was founded by Muti in 2004 precisely to create a place where he could pass on what he inherited from his own teachers, starting with Antonino Votto, the first assistant to Arturo Toscanini and himself the custodian of knowledge handed down from Verdi. It is knowledge and experience that cannot be found in books, transmitted with discipline and an occasional ironic remark. The idea can be summed up in a non-negotiable principle: one must make music for the sake of music, understanding what one is playing and placing oneself at the service of the composer.
At the conclusion of the concert, Maestro Muti will be awarded this year's Ratzinger Prize. The Joseph Ratzinger-Benedict XVI Vatican Foundation announced the award, highlighting Muti's contributions to Christian-inspired culture through music. The event honours the conductor's artistic legacy while paying tribute to his mutual admiration with Pope Benedict XVI, who was an esteemed musicologist.
The rehearsals came to a conclusion, the lights come back on, and the magic is over, for now. It will begin again at 6 pm on Friday 12 December in a Paul VI Hall expected to be packed. Those who were unable to get a ticket can listen to the concert live on Vatican Radio. Tuning in at 5:30 pm, they can also enjoy an extended interview with Maestro Muti and the Choir’s director, Lorenzo Donati.
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UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell and former European Council President Charles Michel, two judges on the commission to select the honorees of the 2025 Zayed Award for Human Fraternity, share their perspectives on the importance of promoting human fraternity in the midst of a world marked by conflict and division.
By Kielce Gussie
In a world marred by ongoing violence and division, human fraternity can seem so distant and impossible.
Yet, each year, a group of men and women are given the task of awarding the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity to one or more individuals or organizations who are working across different cultures, religions, and ways of life to create peaceful coexistence through concrete action.
This morning, the organizers and judging committee met with Pope Leo at the Vatican (@Vatican Media)
This year, a record number of people were nominated for the 2026 edition, with more than 350 applicants from over 75 countries, which shows the global mission of building fraternity—even in the midst of division.
As conflicts—both national and international—continue to color the daily life of so many people around the world, the Zayed Award serves as a reminder of the power of examples.
Speaking to Vatican News, Charles Michel, one of the members of the judging committee, highlighted how these global challenges reveal why this generation has a responsibility to human fraternity.,
“We have to make decisions so that the world in the future will be better, will be fairer, with more opportunities for everyone all across the world” the former Belgian Prime Minister and former President of the European Council stressed.
Charles Michel, one of the members of the judging committee, is the former Belgian Prime Minister and former President of the European Council
To achieve this, he explained, everyone has to agree and believe in “some common-sense principles: fraternity, tolerance, peaceful coexistence, mutual respect, and efforts for more mutual understanding.”
But human fraternity is not just for those involved with the Zayed Award.
As UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell—another judge on the commission—argued, everyone can do something in their communities to make a difference.
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell
As head of the United Nations children's agency, she stressed how important it is to place children as a priority in building a better world.
“Children often get caught up in so many things they have no control over; they never create a bad situation. But they are directly impacted,” she noted.
Listen to UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell on everyone's call to build human fraternity
The only way to help care for and protect the future of these children is through creating better human bonds with one another.
“When you look at all these initiatives all across the world inspired by fraternity, inspired by the spirit of tolerance, inspired by the spirit of mutual respect, it shows that all of us are responsible,” Mr. Michel added to the UNICEF Executive Director's words.
The two judges reiterated that the Zayed Award is an invitation for everyone to be part of the global team dedicated to breaking down barriers of discrimination, division, and violence and putting in its place pathways of openness, love, and fraternity.
Presentation of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity 2025
Ms. Russell noted that this can take many shapes: “Some people run massive organizations, do incredible work, work in underprivileged circumstances, in war zones. People do all sorts of things. But everybody can do something.”
But the demand for change requires more than words. “We need more than that,” Mr. Michel highlighted, noting how with the “Zayed Award, there is this commitment to support concrete projects and actions.”
At the same time, Ms. Russell pointed out that the award rewards initiatives that take concrete steps “in a way that brings in people of different faiths and different beliefs.”
That’s the beauty of this award, Mr. Michel argued, “because we have different views on many topics, but we agree on the fundamental challenges.”
If there were common values and principles shared globally, he explained, it would be possible to have more peace, stability, and more positive opportunities for the future.
The award after Pope Francis and Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmed Al Tayeb, signed the document on "Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together" in 2019
After meeting with Pope Leo XIV on Thursday morning and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar just days ago, the judging committee is combing through their nominee finalists and selecting honoree(s)—to be announced in February 2026—that represent the future of human fraternity in the world today.
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At a conference organised by the Institute of Anthropology of the Pontifical Gregorian University, Church actors highlight the urgent need for action against human trafficking on the 25th anniversary of the Palermo Protocol.
By Christine Seuss and Linda Bordoni
Twenty-five years after the adoption of the Palermo Protocol—established to prevent, suppress and punish the trafficking of persons, especially women and children—human trafficking remains widespread and is even expanding.
According to the 2023 Global Slavery Index, an estimated 50 million people are trafficked globally, generating more than USD 236 billion in criminal profit each year.
Marking this anniversary on 10 December, the Sovereign Order of Malta, Praeveni Global, the Santa Marta Group, and the Institute of Anthropology of the Pontifical Gregorian University convened a high-level conference in Rome. Participants, who included Cardinal Fabio Baggio and Fr Hans Zollner, examined how to strengthen the implementation of existing legal standards and how to mobilise greater resources for concrete, on-the-ground action to eradicate this global crime.
Among the speakers was Mama Fatima Singateh, UN Special Rapporteur on the Sale and Sexual Exploitation of Children. Speaking to Vatican Radio on the sidelines of the event, she underlined the importance of Church engagement at the grassroots level.
“The Church has a very important role in supporting communities… raising awareness on the vulnerability of children and the dangers that exist,” she said.
Through its presence in local settings, she added, the Church can contribute significantly “not only [to] empowerment, but also building capacity… providing financial but also moral support in order to tackle this problem.”
Reflecting on the conference, Singateh noted the value of bringing together experts from diverse countries and institutions. “
It’s an opportunity to share our own experiences… but also we learn from others,” she said. “We learn about what is happening in other countries… so that we can get best practices and examples… to help us do our work better.”
The Special Rapporteur also acknowledged the emotional toll of confronting such grave violations daily. “It’s not easy because we also suffer from vicarious trauma,” she explained.
“I speak to survivors every day, and it breaks my heart. But I know that my voice is a very powerful voice to speak for them… and to influence policy that would ensure their protection.”
Despite the challenges, she said she remains motivated: “Every day I wake up, I feel that a little can count towards impacting positively on the lives of children [and] vulnerable communities around the world.”
Listen to Mama Fatima Singateh
Kevin Hyland, member of the Santa Marta Group and long-time anti-trafficking advocate, offered a sober assessment of global progress since the Palermo Protocol entered into force.
“We’re here to look at 25 years on from this protocol… which was groundbreaking in many ways,” he said. Nearly 180 countries now have domestic legislation in place, and multiple international agencies and civil-society actors—including Catholic institutions—are active. “The Church has really taken a leadership role… through the religious sisters… Bishop conferences and different organisations.”
However, Hyland stressed that real-world outcomes still fall far short of what is needed. “Last year, there were 2,000 fewer victims recovered than the year before, and that only represents less than 0.5% of the 50 million victims,” he stated. “There were 7,000 convictions last year… So 99.8% of the time, people are getting away with the crimes.”
He contrasted the scale of the problem with the resources allocated to address it. “Globally, there is only about 1.5 billion invested by G20 countries… a very small amount of money for a crime that is so global,” he said, particularly when criminal profits are estimated at USD 236 billion annually.
Hyland highlighted the “incredible work” carried out by religious sisters worldwide, recalling his recent participation in awards recognising Catholic women religious combating trafficking in some of the world’s most challenging environments. Their contribution, he said, “really opens up your heart.”
Quoting reflections from Church leaders, Hyland recalled that at the first meeting of the Santa Marta Group, Pope Francis urged participants to “learn to cry” in the face of this “open wound on the body of Christ.” He also noted that Pope Leo XIV has continued to emphasise this priority.
Turning to the future, Hyland stressed that the next phase must focus on concrete implementation. Modern challenges—from globalised supply chains to artificial intelligence—were not envisioned in 2000, he noted. “The Palermo Protocol… doesn’t talk about AI. It’s very passive towards the way the world has moved on.”
He called for renewed commitment: “We need governments to invest financially and politically… to support the work of charities, civil society and religious sisters.” Accountability, he added—of businesses, states, and criminal networks—is essential.
Reflecting on the venue, the Pontifical Gregorian University, Hyland cited Saint Ignatius of Loyola: “Your deeds are what you’re measured on, not your words.” That principle, he said, must guide anti-trafficking efforts today. “This is about our deeds, our actions, not just the words and the policies.”
He concluded that the conference’s purpose is precisely this: to discern “how do we make those actions that prevent human trafficking, that respond to it when it happens, and that [address] human suffering with the passion, compassion and love that we need.”
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The most comprehensive overview.
We nodigen jullie graag uit om samen naar de Kerstspecial ’Holy Night’ van The Chosen te kijken! Aan het begin van de film krijgen we in een inleiding heel betekenisvolle en gekende liederen te horen die ons meenemen in het kerstgebeuren. Nadien beleven we door de ogen van Maria en van een herdersjongen de geboorte van Jezus.
Het is een kans om in de adventsperiode dieper binnen te treden in het kerstmysterie en ons innerlijk voor te bereiden op Kerstmis.
De voertaal van de film is Engels, ondertiteling wordt voorzien in het Nederlands.
Iedereen is welkom!
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We would like to invite you to watch the Christmas special ’Holy Night’ by The Chosen together! At the beginning of the movie we hear in an introduction very meaningful and well-known songs that take us into the Christmas event. Afterwards we experience the birth of Jesus through the eyes of Mary and the eyes of a shepherd boy.
It is an opportunity to get deeper into the Christmas mystery during the Advent period and to prepare ourselves for Christmas.
The spoken language of the movie is English, subtitles are provided in Dutch.
Everyone is welcome!
Meer info:Saturday, December 13th, the Catholic Community Delft (CCD) will hold our synodal discussion on the CCD and its future. We will start at 13.30h with Adoration in the Maria van Jesse chapel, and then we will move to the Jozefzaal for our conversation. Finally we will finish with pizza.
If you have things to share about the CCD, or are just interested in discovering what it means to be part of the CCD, this meeting is for you! We do have limited capacity in the Jozefzaal, so we will cap the number of participants to 50 (and there might be more opportunities like this in the future).
Meer info:The Christmas Advent
Come meet other people, share ideas, explore your beliefs and think about questions that really matter. Dont Miss it!
Program
15:30 - We gather at the church, in the Monica room to share a simple meal in community
(we welcome any small, symbolic contribution)
16:30 - As a deepening and sharing, we will look at the theology of Christmas and our customs and traditions
18:00 - We end with a prayer, a chant, a moment of silence, before going home, with brighter hearts.
Meer info:The Come & See evenings are moments of meeting, introduction and prayer at Gerardus Majella Church. The evening is for parishioners, and anyone else who is interested.
Dates
Program
Every Come & See evening there will be an introduction and matching testimony on various elements that are important within the ideas of the missionary parish. In this way, everyone can become more familiar with this thinking, and it can also become more alive in the parish. There is also room during an evening for both personal prayer and joint prayer for the parish. The hope is that the Come & See evenings will be a way in which the Holy Spirit brings and inspires the parish together. Thus, these evenings can contribute to a strengthened unity among parishioners, so that together they can increasingly offer a ’welcoming home’ to people who are not yet so familiar with the parish or Church. It is also hoped that these new people will become increasingly invited and feel at home.
A Come & See evening starts at 19:45 in the friars’ priory with coffee and tea. Then a programme of praise, an introduction and testimony, and Eucharistic adoration with music, silence and free prayer follows in the church from 20:15. From 21:30 - 22:00 there will be closing drinks in the basement of the church, where there will be room for meeting and sharing. Parishioner or not, old or young, everyone is welcome (even if you can only join for part of it). Come and see!
Meer info:Sycamore is een informele cursus over het katholieke geloof en de relevantie ervan voor het leven van vandaag. Het geeft je de ruimte om andere mensen te ontmoeten, ideeën uit te wisselen, je geloof te onderzoeken en na te denken over vragen die er echt toe doen.
Elke avond begint met een drankje en een hapje. Hét moment om elkaar op een ontspannen manier goed te leren kennen. Daarna volgt een korte, inspirerende film over een van de onderwerpen en vervolgens alle ruimte voor reacties, vragen en gesprekken in zowel Nederlands als Engels.
Praktisch
Data
For any young women in the Limburg area interested in learning more about the faith (whether you know nothing at all or have been Catholic your whole life and want to deepen your knowledge) and are looking for a Catholic community, we will be continuing with our young adult women’s group! The meetings will be once a month on Sunday in our convent in Brunssum. We speak a mix of English and Dutch at the events.
Young women between the ages of 18 and 28 who are looking for a Catholic Community and formation in the faith.
Program
16:00 - Arrival
16:45 - Presentation
18:00 - Adoration
18:30 - Vesper with the Sisters
19:00 - Dinner
Data
Sr. Perpetual Help
(06) 4268 6407
Our Lady Queen of the Travellers Ministry plans a retreat on the Sanctuary of Our Lady in Need in Heiloo.
Led by Sr. Ann Maria SH & Manoj Thayyil Uk
Meer info:+353 85 215 3192
Van zondag 28 december 2025 t/m donderdag 1 januari 2026 is er in Parijs een internationale ontmoeting in Taizé-stijl. Er vertrekt vanuit Utrecht een jongerenbus naar Parijs: Prijs rond € 179 pp… all inn (vervoer, slapen, eten intercultureel programma). Welkom zijn jongeren tussen 18 en 35 jaar.
Aanmelden via dit formulier:
nt2t0w2l.forms.app/aanmeldformulier-busreis-taize-parijs
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The Taizé European Meeting in Paris is scheduled to take place from December 28, 2025, to January 1, 2026. This event will occur in Paris and the broader Île-de-France region, as announced by Brother Matthew, the prior of the Taizé Community, during the 2024 meeting in Tallinn, Estonia.
This annual gathering, organized by the Taizé Community, brings together young people from across Europe for a New Year’s event focused on prayer, reflection, and community. Paris has hosted this event multiple times in the past, including the inaugural meeting and editions in 1983, 1988, 1994, and 2002.
Meer info:Het is weer tijd!
Met een grotere groep dan ooit tevoren gaan we weer de pistes op voor een onvergetelijke week! Met 76 man trekt de Gemeenschap Emmanuel dit jaar naar Chamrousse, waar we zullen skiën van 28 december t/m 4 januari.
Hou die week vrij, begin met sparen en strijk je skisokken – het wordt een gezellige reis vol sport en inhoud. Kortom: dit wil je niet missen!
Meer info over aanmelding volgt snel, dus houd je telefoon in de gaten!
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It’s that time again!
With a larger group than ever before, we’re hitting the slopes again for an unforgettable week! This year, 76 people from the Emmanuel Community will be heading to Chamrousse, where we’ll be skiing from December 28th to January 4th.
Keep that week free, start saving, and iron your ski socks – it’s going to be a great trip full of sports and fun. In short: you don’t want to miss this!
More information about registration will follow soon, so keep an eye on your phone!
Meer info:(06) 2381 4949 (Whatsapp)
Sycamore is een informele cursus over het katholieke geloof en de relevantie ervan voor het leven van vandaag. Het geeft je de ruimte om andere mensen te ontmoeten, ideeën uit te wisselen, je geloof te onderzoeken en na te denken over vragen die er echt toe doen.
Elke avond begint met een drankje en een hapje. Hét moment om elkaar op een ontspannen manier goed te leren kennen. Daarna volgt een korte, inspirerende film over een van de onderwerpen en vervolgens alle ruimte voor reacties, vragen en gesprekken in zowel Nederlands als Engels.
Praktisch
Data
For any young women in the Limburg area interested in learning more about the faith (whether you know nothing at all or have been Catholic your whole life and want to deepen your knowledge) and are looking for a Catholic community, we will be continuing with our young adult women’s group! The meetings will be once a month on Sunday in our convent in Brunssum. We speak a mix of English and Dutch at the events.
Young women between the ages of 18 and 28 who are looking for a Catholic Community and formation in the faith.
Program
16:00 - Arrival
16:45 - Presentation
18:00 - Adoration
18:30 - Vesper with the Sisters
19:00 - Dinner
Data
Sr. Perpetual Help
(06) 4268 6407
Join us for the Jong Katholiek Weekend 2026!
We dive into a faith that truly goes deeper — through an encounter with Christ, rooted in the tradition of the Church, and lived out in daily life.
Theme
“You shall bear witness, because you have been with Me” (John 15:27)
Our focus is worship & witness: we can only speak about Christ after we have truly been with Him.
For whom?
Young adults 16–30 years seeking inspiration, depth, and real community.
What to expect?
Price: €125 p.p. (incl. meals & accommodation)
Register now! Cancellation till 15th of January!
Don’t miss it!
Meer info:www.rkkerk.nl/jongkatholiek/jongkatholiek-weekend-2026/jong-katholiek-weekend-2026-english
Sycamore is een informele cursus over het katholieke geloof en de relevantie ervan voor het leven van vandaag. Het geeft je de ruimte om andere mensen te ontmoeten, ideeën uit te wisselen, je geloof te onderzoeken en na te denken over vragen die er echt toe doen.
Elke avond begint met een drankje en een hapje. Hét moment om elkaar op een ontspannen manier goed te leren kennen. Daarna volgt een korte, inspirerende film over een van de onderwerpen en vervolgens alle ruimte voor reacties, vragen en gesprekken in zowel Nederlands als Engels.
Praktisch
Data
For any young women in the Limburg area interested in learning more about the faith (whether you know nothing at all or have been Catholic your whole life and want to deepen your knowledge) and are looking for a Catholic community, we will be continuing with our young adult women’s group! The meetings will be once a month on Sunday in our convent in Brunssum. We speak a mix of English and Dutch at the events.
Young women between the ages of 18 and 28 who are looking for a Catholic Community and formation in the faith.
Program
16:00 - Arrival
16:45 - Presentation
18:00 - Adoration
18:30 - Vesper with the Sisters
19:00 - Dinner
Data
Sr. Perpetual Help
(06) 4268 6407
Sycamore is een informele cursus over het katholieke geloof en de relevantie ervan voor het leven van vandaag. Het geeft je de ruimte om andere mensen te ontmoeten, ideeën uit te wisselen, je geloof te onderzoeken en na te denken over vragen die er echt toe doen.
Elke avond begint met een drankje en een hapje. Hét moment om elkaar op een ontspannen manier goed te leren kennen. Daarna volgt een korte, inspirerende film over een van de onderwerpen en vervolgens alle ruimte voor reacties, vragen en gesprekken in zowel Nederlands als Engels.
Praktisch
Data
A Roman Catholic walking retreat, a pilgrimage through Morocco’s beautiful Sahara Desert. A time to step back from daily life, find balance in simplicity and reconnect with ourselves and with God.
Starting in Marrakesh, we’ll journey through mountains and vast dunes, celebrating Mass in the desert and enjoying delicious Moroccon food.
Led by Father Arnaud (St. Antony’s, Forest Gate).
Meer info:The Come & See evenings are moments of meeting, introduction and prayer at Gerardus Majella Church. The evening is for parishioners, and anyone else who is interested.
Dates
Program
Every Come & See evening there will be an introduction and matching testimony on various elements that are important within the ideas of the missionary parish. In this way, everyone can become more familiar with this thinking, and it can also become more alive in the parish. There is also room during an evening for both personal prayer and joint prayer for the parish. The hope is that the Come & See evenings will be a way in which the Holy Spirit brings and inspires the parish together. Thus, these evenings can contribute to a strengthened unity among parishioners, so that together they can increasingly offer a ’welcoming home’ to people who are not yet so familiar with the parish or Church. It is also hoped that these new people will become increasingly invited and feel at home.
A Come & See evening starts at 19:45 in the friars’ priory with coffee and tea. Then a programme of praise, an introduction and testimony, and Eucharistic adoration with music, silence and free prayer follows in the church from 20:15. From 21:30 - 22:00 there will be closing drinks in the basement of the church, where there will be room for meeting and sharing. Parishioner or not, old or young, everyone is welcome (even if you can only join for part of it). Come and see!
Meer info:Sycamore is een informele cursus over het katholieke geloof en de relevantie ervan voor het leven van vandaag. Het geeft je de ruimte om andere mensen te ontmoeten, ideeën uit te wisselen, je geloof te onderzoeken en na te denken over vragen die er echt toe doen.
Elke avond begint met een drankje en een hapje. Hét moment om elkaar op een ontspannen manier goed te leren kennen. Daarna volgt een korte, inspirerende film over een van de onderwerpen en vervolgens alle ruimte voor reacties, vragen en gesprekken in zowel Nederlands als Engels.
Praktisch
Data
De Broeders van Sint Jan organiseren twee wintertochten:
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The Brothers of Saint John are organising two winter treks this year in the Alps (Italy and/or France). These camps are open to all young adults - including those who are searching or simply curious about faith. The mountains offer a powerful space to grow, reflect, and return renewed.
Accessibility
Each year, young people join from the Netherlands, the UK, Lithuania, and beyond. Travel is simple thanks to low-cost flights to Geneva (winter) or Milan (summer), followed by transport with the brothers by minibus.
Brothers who wish to participate are also very welcome - simply send a message.
For more information and questions, join the WhatsApp groups below:
Winter Survival Camp
chat.whatsapp.com/KLcQcbRS5B3A5h65OQdFbl
Winter Trek
chat.whatsapp.com/GCzvMA9EWeV0LZERC69TIV
Come and experience the mountains in a spirit of fraternity, challenge, and joy!
Meer info:For any young women in the Limburg area interested in learning more about the faith (whether you know nothing at all or have been Catholic your whole life and want to deepen your knowledge) and are looking for a Catholic community, we will be continuing with our young adult women’s group! The meetings will be once a month on Sunday in our convent in Brunssum. We speak a mix of English and Dutch at the events.
Young women between the ages of 18 and 28 who are looking for a Catholic Community and formation in the faith.
Program
16:00 - Arrival
16:45 - Presentation
18:00 - Adoration
18:30 - Vesper with the Sisters
19:00 - Dinner
Data
Sr. Perpetual Help
(06) 4268 6407
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