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Pope to Cardinal Simoni: No prison can separate a person from God’s love
Pope Leo XIV sent a message to 97-year-old Cardinal Ernest Simoni, who yesterday morning, Friday 31 July, presided over the Mass at the former prison camp of Spaç, Albania, in memory of those who suffered or lost their lives there. During the communist regime, the Cardinal spent most of his 18-year sentence of forced labour in the camp, where he celebrated Mass in secret.
By Fabrizio Peloni
“No chain is strong enough to imprison a conscience enlightened by the Gospel; no night is so long that it can prevent the dawn the Lord prepares for His children; and no prison is deep enough to separate a person from the love of God.”
With these words, echoing Saint Paul’s Letter to the Romans (8:35–39), Pope Leo XIV addressed a message to Albanian Cardinal Ernest Simoni and to all those who took part in the Mass the Cardinal presided over on Friday morning, 31 July, at the former prison camp of Spaç, in remembrance of those who suffered or died there.
A site where many bore the cross of injustice
“That place, deeply engraved in the memory of the Albanian people, remains one of the most painful chapters in the nation’s history. Spaç was a place where many carried the heavy cross of injustice,” the Pope wrote in the message, which was read at the conclusion of Mass.
The Holy Father recalled that “the blood of those who suffered and died among those mountains has watered that land, making it a silent witness to fidelity, courage and hope.”
A witness to persecution under the communist regime
Cardinal Simoni, now 97, returned to the camp where he spent most of his 18 years in prison “to celebrate the Sacrifice of Christ, which transformed the Cross from a sign of death into the promise of life,” Pope Leo wrote.
The Albanian Cardinal experienced first-hand the persecution of the communist regime. Initially sentenced to death as an enemy of the people, his sentence was later commuted to imprisonment in various labour camps, where he endured years of forced labour.
“I risked my life every time I celebrated Mass”
Cardinal Simoni recalled that during his imprisonment, he celebrated Mass from memory in Latin, noting, "I risked my life each time." He also said he heard confessions and distributed Holy Communion in secret.
Explaining that he baked the bread using flour cooked over makeshift stoves and used juice squeezed from grapes for the Eucharistic celebration, he recognized, “If they had found me, they would have hanged me immediately."
In fact, during Friday’s Mass, the Cardinal showed those present the miner’s helmet he wore as a young priest when he was sent to work underground in the mines.
The Pope’s prayer for those buried in unmarked graves
Reflecting on those years of persecution, Pope Leo wrote, “Who knows how many prayers rose to Heaven from that place? How many supplications were whispered in silence? How many faces, marked by hardship and deprivation, entrusted their final hope to the Lord?”
The Pope joined in prayer for each of those men and women, many of whom were buried in unmarked graves, where no one was able to mourn them or lay a flower in their memory.
He prayed that “their memory may remain alive and serve as a constant reminder to new generations of the inviolable dignity of every human person, the value of freedom, and the commitment to peace.”
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Seoul to host first Christian–Confucian colloquium
The Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue is bringing together Christian and Confucian leaders and scholars to explore how the two traditions can help build a more just, peaceful and humane world.
Vatican News
Christian and Confucian religious leaders, scholars, and representatives are set to gather at Sogang University in Seoul on August 4-5 for the first Christian–Confucian Colloquium.
The event is organized by the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue in collaboration with the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea, Sogang University, and the Korean Confucian Academy.
The colloquium will be held under the theme: “New Heaven, New Earth and Datong (Great Harmony, Great Unity): Christian–Confucian Dialogue for Building an Ideal Society.”
According to a communique released on Saturday, participants will explore how Christianity and Confucianism can jointly inspire responses to some of the most urgent challenges facing society today.
The press release noted that the two traditions are rooted in distinct theological and philosophical foundations.
However, it added, the two religious traditions share a concern for human dignity, moral integrity, responsible leadership, and the common good.
Discussions will focus particularly on social fragmentation, moral uncertainty, environmental degradation, and threats to peace.
The press release said the colloquium is expected to wrap up with a call for continued Christian–Confucian cooperation in the fields of education, ethical formation, and peacebuilding.
Organizers hope the meeting will mark the beginning of a lasting tradition of dialogue between followers of Christianity and Confucianism.
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Harmonics of Wisdom: Music as a catalyst for listening with the heart
In the Thai coastal retreat of Hua Hin, a glass harp rang in front of 70 high school students who have gathered over the weekend to transform their bold visions into tangible social actions.
By Chainarong Monthienvichienchai
Weerapong Taweesak, dancing his fingers over wine glasses filled with water, created delicate melodies as the children listened intently. The glass harpist then recounted a memory of playing inside a Bangkok prison, sharing how art and quiet listening can penetrate even the most guarded human hearts.
Co-organized by the Catholic Education Council of Thailand and LiCAS News, the three-day initiative at the Salesian Retreat House and the Hua Hin Vittayalai School provided a space for inspiration, collaborative problem-solving and shared hope under the overarching synodal theme, “Together We Make a Better World Possible.”
At the end of the three days, 12 teams from Catholic schools across Thailand will pitch for seed funding to make their dream solutions a reality.
A Synodal Spirit Across Traditions
Although rooted in Catholic tradition, the hackathon drew a diverse group of participants, the majority of whom are Buddhists.
Despite their different religious backgrounds, the young delegates embraced the spirit of synodality – a concept championed by the late Pope Francis that calls for a Church and a human family that listens deeply, walks together and acts in hope.
Modulating mindsets
The opening day on July 25 focused on grounding the students in purpose. Social innovators, acting as mentors to the young “hackers”, shared personal stories of life challenges, resilience and finding hope, offering guidance as the teams began refining their project concepts.
One mentor shared her experience of confronting cancer three times, emphasizing how an unflappable positive attitude can transform seemingly unbearable suffering into strength.
Another mentor recalled engaging directly with protesters outside Government House, demonstrating the transformative power of standing alongside people and listening deeply to the injustices they endure.
Among the day’s highlights was Taweesak’s performance on his glass harp and reflection.
“Getting the attention of prisoners is one thing, but getting their trust that you are there for them is very difficult,” shared Taweeskak. “But when I play the glass harp in front of them, they can feel that I am really there for them, and it is then when we are ready to listen to each other.”
The young participants at the youth social hackathon felt the same.
“Music got our full attention and helped us listen deeply to what he said,” said Korn, a Grade 11 student from St. Peter’s School in Thonburi. “It taught us to use genuine wisdom in our hacking – not just technical intelligence.”
Korn’s classmate, Noppanant, echoed the sentiment, saying the unconventional medium of the glass harp opened their eyes to creative ways of touching lives through social projects.
Youths taking inspiration from mentors at MISSION POSSIBLE Thailand Season 3, July 25, 2026. (Photo by Catholic Social Communications of Thailand)
From Ideas to Action: The Path Ahead
As the intensive “hacking” sessions reached full stride on July 26, professional speaking coaches worked side by side with the youth teams, guiding them from initial brainstorming toward structured and implementable solutions.
New friendships formed across school boundaries and regional divides, turning individual insights into collective momentum.
As the hackathon moved toward its final showcase on July 27, the young participants began moving beyond theory and taking steps toward active citizenship.
Addressing the young participants, the organizers offered advice as the teams prepared to pitch their projects:
“I truly believe that when you pitch your idea and secure the funding to actually implement it, you can change your life, lives of others and the wider society. But receiving funding is not a reward, it is a burden and responsibility, a mission to make a better world a reality.”
By combining creative technology with humanistic empathy – championing the magnificence of humanity – the young participants of MISSION POSSIBLE are demonstrating how deep listening can guide innovation toward a more just and harmonious world.
Fr. Thomas Nattawut Kitsawad, Vice Rector, Hua Hin Vitthayalai School, welcomes the participants of MISSION POSSIBLE Thailand Season 3, July 25, 2026. (Photo by Catholic Social Communications of Thailand)
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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Youth Social Hackathon concludes with proposals mental health, ecology
Armed with digital blueprints, pitch decks, and a shared urgency for social change, 70 high school students from 12 Catholic schools across Thailand concluded the third season of the MISSION POSSIBLE Youth Social Hackathon.
By Chainarong Monthienvichienchai & June Nattha Nuchsuwan
Choosing tailor-made digital platforms as their primary tool for social change, the young changemakers presented innovative non-profit solutions addressing some of the country’s most persistent social, ecological, and human challenges.
Building on its 2024 and 2025 editions, the youth social hackathon concluded with five-minute “mic-off” pitches from each participating team. Competing for critical seed funding, the students “hackers” pitched projects intended to serve the common good rather than generate commercial profit.
Faith in action and the synodal calling
The final day opened with a Liturgy of the Word presided over by retired Bishop Joseph Prathan Sridarunsil of Surat Thani and former chairman of Thailand’s Social Communication Commission.
In his homily, the prelate urged the students to embody the Gospel imperative of being the “salt of the earth and the light of the world” by preserving goodness in society and developing pathbreaking solutions.
Reminding the delegates that human effort finds its ultimate strength in divine grace, Bishop Prathan assured them that, “with God by your side, even an impossible mission becomes “Mission Possible”.
Bishop Emeritus Joseph Prathan Sridarunsil of the Diocese of Surat Thani presides over the opening Liturgy of the Word on the final day of MISSION POSSIBLE Thailand Season 3, July 27, 2026. (Photo by Catholic Social Communications of Thailand)
Throughout the gathering, organizers repeatedly challenged the teams to ensure that their technical models fostered synodality or the practice of deep listening, walking together, and including people on the margins of society.
Although the students came from diverse religious traditions, the predominantly Buddhist group embraced the pastoral vision.
“This was not just about fostering technical innovation. It was a living experience of a Church that listens, trusts, and empowers the young, generating actionable insights with authentic, real-world impact,” one event mentor observed.
Award-winning solutions for mental health and ecological dignity
An all-female team from Assumption Convent School (run by the Sisters of St. Paul de Chartres) in Bangkok was given the “burden and responsibility” of the top seed grant of 110,000 Thai Baht or approximately US$3,200.
The team’s pitch addresses the growing mental health crisis among Thai teenagers, a problem exacerbated by academic pressures, digital connectivity, economic anxiety, and other personal difficulties.
Pranchalee Chitvimolrat, an 11th-grade student at Assumption Convent, explained that her team spent more than two months holding weekly deliberations before narrowing its focus.
“Even though our school prioritizes mental health and even provides direct counseling from psychiatrists, the crisis of depression in children persists,” Pranchalee said with a bright smile after securing the grant.
“We realized that small but important feelings were being ignored until they escalated into severe stress or self-harm. We wanted to catch the root cause early,” she added.
Using the seed funding, the team plans to design a custom mobile application offering accessible, early-stage emotional tracking leveraging the digital tool to provide crucial human connection through peer-support.
12 teams from Catholic schools across Thailand gather on the final day of season 3 of MISSION POSSIBLE Thailand Youth Social Hackathon at Hua Hin Vittayalai School, Thailand, July 27, 2026 (Photo by Catholic Social Communications of Thailand)
While the students will work with professional developers to code the application, Pranchalee emphasized that the conceptual vision and user experience design would remain entirely in the hands of their team.
The team from Theppamit Suksa School in Surat Thani, from southern Thailand, received the next seed funding of 75,000 Thai Baht or approximately US$2,200. Its members traveled seven hours from southern Thailand to participate in the event.
Their project applies the principles of synodality to waste management and the informal labor economy.
“At first, we were pulled in many directions with different ideas,” 11th-grade team member Kritapob Kaewhitnui said.
“But after listening carefully to everyone on our team—including perspectives from those on the fringe of society—we decided to tackle the ‘garbage’ problem,” Kaewhitnui added.
The team proposed a lightweight, customized mobile application designed to connect local informal waste collectors with household sellers.
The digital platform would streamline collection routes, reduce disposal costs for families, and provide fairer, more predictable incomes for informal sanitation workers whose labor is frequently overlooked.
Youth “hackers” pitch their solutions to chronic social issues in their local communities on the final day of MISSION POSSIBLE Thailand Season 3, July 27, 2026. (Photo by Catholic Social Communications of Thailand)
Seed funding of 40,000 Thai Baht or approximately US$1,200 was also given to Don Bosco Technical School – the only vocational school in this season. Their defiance pitch was rooted in the frustration experienced by many vocational students in Thailand where they are perceived by the wider society as being less educated and less well behaved.
They put their hope to change such mindset in a digital platform to connect those who cannot afford to maintain their cars and other machineries to volunteer students from first their school, but then scale up later to vocational schools around the country.
Sister Nina Benedikta Krapić, MVZ, Deputy Director of the Holy See Press Office, praised the students for viewing innovation through the lens of human care. (Photo by Catholic Social Commmunications of Thailand)
Encouragement from Rome and the diplomatic corps
The participants also received messages of support from Church leaders who addressed the assembly during the event’s opening sessions.
In a video message from the Vatican, Sister Nina Benedikta Krapić, MVZ, deputy director of the Holy See Press Office, praised the students for viewing innovation through the lens of human care.
Sister Krapić, who attended the first two seasons in person, noted that the relational growth among the students far outweighed the technological output.
“Listening to your ideas and observing your creativity gives me great hope for the future,” Sister Krapić told the assembly.
“Very often, you are even more courageous than adults when it comes to standing firm in defense of human dignity,” said Sister Krapić, who is a communication expert.
Anchoring her address in Catholic social teaching, Sister Krapić cited Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, reminding the students that “the quality of a civilization is measured not by the power of its means, but by the care it is able to offer.”
Father François-Xavier Collin of the Apostolic Nunciature in Thailand addresses the participants of MISSION POSSIBLE Thailand Season 3, July 27, 2026. (Photo by Catholic Social Communications of Thailand)
Father François-Xavier Collin of the Apostolic Nunciature in Thailand also reminded the delegates that the hackathon was more than an academic or technical competition.
Calling on the students to cultivate “attitudes of the heart,” Father Collin urged them to practice honesty when identifying societal wounds and to listen deeply and attentively to one another.
“If you speak the truth with honesty and from the heart, God can speak through you to us and to the whole world,” Father Collin emphasized.
MISSION POSSIBLE is a flagship youth engagement program of LiCAS News, organized in collaboration with Catholic academic institutions and youth-oriented organizations. (Photo by Catholic Social Communications of Thailand)
As the 2026 MISSION POSSIBLE Youth Social Hackathon concluded, the 70 participants left the coastal resort with awards, technical prototypes, and structured action plans to implement in their respective communities.
Their pitches of hope reflected the event’s emphasis on pairing technology with empathetic listening, inclusion, and service to vulnerable communities.
The first MISSION POSSIBLE Youth Social Hackathon was held in Thailand in 2024. The initiative launched its Philippines edition in 2025, and organizers plan to bring the program to other Southeast Asian countries.
MISSION POSSIBLE is a flagship youth engagement program of LiCAS News, organized in collaboration with Catholic academic institutions and youth-oriented organizations. (Photo by Catholic Social Communications of Thailand)
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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Mexican youth urged to embrace missionary vocation with courage
As over 6,000 young Mexican Catholics attend the 15th National Missionary Youth Congress, Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu, Secretary of the Dicastery for Evangelization, reminds young people that they are called to sail the open sea, not to be locked in an aquarium.
By Sr. Christine Masivo, CPS
Mexico's Archdiocese of San Luis Potosì hosted the 15th National Missionary Youth Congress (CONAJUM) on July 23-26, organized by the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) of Mexico in collaboration with the Archdiocese.
The congress gathered over 6,000 young people from dioceses across the country under the theme: "With Mary, Virgin of Expectation, Young People Bearers of Hope Through Mission!”
Mission beyond comfort
The four-day conference strengthened the young people through prayer, formation, missionary experience, and a renewed commitment to evangelization, including the growing mission in the digital world.
Archbishop Fortunatus Nwanchuku, Secretary of the Dicastery for Evangelization (Section for First Evangelization and New Particular Churches), challenged the young people to respond wholeheartedly to Christ’s missionary mandate.
He drew this inspiration from the Gospel command, “Go in to all the world and proclaim the gospel to every creature,” reminding them that all Christians are called to proclaim the Good News to all in person and even in the digital space.
Called to cast nets into the deep
The Archbishop encouraged the young people to move beyond familiar surroundings like the disciples on the Sea of Galilee.
"You are not sent into an aquarium, a small, safe, predictable, and controlled space, but into the open sea, which is vast, deep, and, at times, stormy," he said, stressing that every human heart is created for the vast horizons of God's mission.
He reminded them that their missionary vocation began at Baptism and that they were already sent and were entrusted with a mission: to make Christ known, to love Him, and to follow Him."
His message called them to trust God and courageously proclaim the Gospel wherever they are.
A missionary heart
Archbishop Nwanchuku encouraged young people to embrace the three essential qualities of a missionary that they should cultivate.
The first is detachment: the willingness to leave behind whatever prevents a deeper commitment to Christ.
The second is encounter, recognizing that authentic evangelization begins with genuine relationships rather than merely communicating ideas.
Finally, the Archbishop spoke about the acceptance of the Cross, acknowledging that missionary work often demands sacrifice, perseverance, and fidelity even when immediate results are not visible.
Concluding his address, he urged the youths not to fear the challenges of mission. "The sea of humanity is vast. The world needs missionaries. The Church needs you. And Christ is calling you."
He ended with a personal challenge: "Are you willing to sacrifice something of your life to bring the face of Christ to others?"
Being a missionary disciple for today
The congress celebrated the continuity of the Church's missionary work while looking confidently to the future. The gathering took place during the centenary of World Mission Sunday and the 75th anniversary of the Mexican Youth Missionary League.
The 15th National Missionary Youth Congress reaffirmed the Church's commitment to forming young missionary disciples.
Antonio de Jesus Mascorro Tristán, MG, National Director of the Mexican Pontifical Mission Societies, noted that these events have been shaping missionary formation since 1982 through a rich program of conferences, testimonies, Eucharistic celebrations, prayer, and fellowship.
A key highlight of this year's congress was its focus on digital evangelization, where Catholic content creators shared how social media can become a space for proclaiming the Gospel.
The event concluded with a missionary march and a closing Eucharist led by Archbishop Joseph Spiteri, Apostolic Nuncio to Mexico, who conveyed Pope Leo XIV's blessing.
Participants departed not simply having attended a congress but with a renewed commitment to return to their communities as missionary disciples, sharing the hope and joy of the Gospel.
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Syria: Serving God and people among war and hardship
In Damascus, she is known as the sister who runs the “French Hospital.” For the past four years, Sr. Judita has been serving in Syria, where she and her community manage a Catholic hospital. She speaks about the fears of Christians, the exodus of young people, and the hope they strive to bring to patients every day.
By Sr. Jana Pavla Halčinová, DC
For 33 years, Sr. Judita Cáková has been a member of the Company of the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul. A trained nurse, she has served in many parts of the world, including refugee camps and conflict zones before arriving in Damascus.
She recalls one encounter that has remained with her. When people asked, "Who is the woman helping us?" an interpreter simply replied, "She is a woman who loves God and people." Those words have stayed with her ever since.
Her decision to volunteer in humanitarian missions was inspired by an article that deeply moved her. "I was touched by the extreme poverty of people who had fled war and violence with nothing and were in need of even the most basic assistance," she says.
Today, her mission has taken on a different form. "My responsibility is to manage the hospital in a way that keeps it financially sustainable while remaining faithful to our charism of serving the poor."
The hospital, widely known in Damascus as the French Hospital, belongs to the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul. While the sisters oversee its administration, most of its employees are lay professionals from different religious backgrounds.
Sister Judita assisting during a neurosurgical operation
A challenging beginning
When Sr. Judita first arrived in Syria, she did not speak Arabic and had to adapt to an entirely different healthcare system. "I knew some French and English," she recalls with a smile, "but all the languages became mixed up in my head."
Gradually, she found ways to communicate and settled into her work in the operating theatre. "I especially enjoyed assisting with Caesarean sections because the procedure was exactly the same."
Two doctors who had studied in Russia became invaluable mentors. "It was a great help because I could ask questions and they patiently explained everything to me."
Today, the hospital operates under demanding circumstances. It has 108 beds, around 250 employees, and works with approximately 130 doctors. "My responsibility is to ensure that staff receive their salaries regularly and that they have good working conditions."
Maintaining financial stability is a constant challenge while remaining faithful to the hospital's mission. "We cannot serve only the poor because we have no organisation that can finance all of their care. For that reason, we also welcome patients who can afford treatment, allowing us to provide care for those who cannot."
The hospital cooperates closely with Caritas and several charitable organisations in Syria supported by international donors. In previous years, it also received significant assistance through the Vatican's Open Hospital initiative, led by Apostolic Nuncio, Cardinal Mario Zenari. "Thanks to this support, many people were able to receive life-saving operations, even in emergency situations."
The hospital's staff team
Growing uncertainty
According to Sr. Judita, Syrian society has changed dramatically since the outbreak of war in 2011. "Many people work two jobs simply to survive. There has also been a large exodus of educated people—especially Christians and members of minority communities—to Europe, America, and Australia."
Those who remain, she says, are often people who have no possibility of leaving. Regional tensions have added yet another layer of uncertainty: explosions and rocket attacks have become part of daily life.
One attack remains particularly vivid in her memory. Following a bombing at an Orthodox church that claimed several lives, most of the injured were brought to the French Hospital. "We treated about eighty percent of them." Many of the victims were young people. "When we asked them after surgery how we could help them, almost all of them gave the same answer: they wanted to leave the country."
A visit to the youngest patients in the neonatal ward. Source: Sister's archive
A Place of Peace and Welcome
Despite the violence surrounding it, the hospital strives to remain a place of hope. "Our structure has a Christian atmosphere—one of respect, cooperation, and a genuine desire to serve others." Staff members are encouraged to see Christ in every person and to treat each patient with dignity and compassion. "It is one of the reasons people feel safe here."
In a country where most healthcare facilities are state-run, the French Hospital has become a symbol of trust for many families. The structure also continues to grow. Recently, it opened a new cardiology department offering cardiac catheterisation and open-heart surgery. "It is important that everyone, including Christians, has access to high-quality medical care."
Its mission often extends beyond healthcare. During periods of crisis, the hospital provided accommodation for healthcare workers who had suddenly lost both their homes and their jobs. It also organised transportation for employees because travelling through Damascus after dark had become increasingly dangerous. "There is no electricity. The city is dark, and people are afraid."
Hope that endures
Sr. Judita acknowledges that the hospital depends greatly on international support. "Every form of assistance is welcome—whether financial or material. We urgently need a new ambulance, and we also need help covering the cost of operations for poor patients."
Yet amid war, hardship, and uncertainty, it is the lives transformed that continue to sustain her hope. She recalls one baby girl who was born prematurely at only six months of pregnancy.
"She was born on the feast of Saint Michael, so we suggested the name Miša." Today, that little girl is a healthy two-year-old. "Moments like these bring us immense joy," Sr. Judita says. "They remind us why we continue."
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Pope Leo to Peruvian young people: Be Christ’s ‘salt and light’
In a video message to the young people taking part in Peru's National Youth Day (JNJ) 2026, taking place from 30 July to 2 August in the city of Chulucanas, Pope Leo XIV insists that many people today need "the joyful and contagious witness that a young person in love with Christ can offer."
By Renato Martinez
"Do not be afraid to be God's instruments for rekindling hope in the many, many hearts that are suffering."
With these words, Pope Leo XIV addressed the participants in Peru's National Youth Day (JNJ) 2026, taking place from 30 July to 2 August in the city of Chulucanas, in the Piura region.
The event seeks to strengthen participants' personal relationship with Jesus Christ and to promote a Church that is united in communion, synodal, and missionary.
An event that renews and strengthens the life of the Church
In his video message, the Holy Father thanked the more than 4,000 participants—including young people, Bishops, priests, and men and women religious from across Peru who have prepared with great enthusiasm over recent months for the event.
"I thank you wholeheartedly for responding to this initiative," the Pope said, describing it as one "that renews and strengthens the life of the Church."
Be courageous and bear witness
Reflecting on the theme of this National Youth Day, organized by the Episcopal Commission for Youth and Laity together with the Diocese of Chulucanas, the Pope encouraged young people to bear witness that it is possible to live united in Christ, recalling the event's motto: "Be courageous, Christ is alive."
"The certainty of the Lord's living presence in our midst is the inner fire that urges us to be courageous," Pope Leo said.
He encouraged the young people to step beyond "the comfort of individualism," to become part of "a community of brothers and sisters in the faith," to forge "genuine bonds of friendship," and to bear witness "that it is possible to live united in Christ."
Be God's instruments for rekindling hope
Pope Leo XIV also invited the young people to open their hearts to receive the gifts the Lord wishes to pour out upon them during these days.
"Do not be afraid to be God's instruments for rekindling hope in the many, many hearts that are suffering," he said.
He also urged them not to keep the experience of the gathering to themselves.
"Do not let it remain only in the photos on your phones or in videos shared on social media," he said.
Instead, he encouraged them to share it through the witness of their lives, insisting that many people today need "the joyful and contagious witness that a young person in love with Christ can offer."
Be Christ's salt and light in Peru
Before imparting his Apostolic Blessing, the Holy Father entrusted all those taking part in the National Youth Day to the maternal intercession of Our Lady of Evangelization.
"May she intercede for you," the Pope prayed, "so that you may be Christ's 'salt and light' in this beloved land of Peru. May God bless you!"
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Lord’s Day Reflection: ‘Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?’
As the Church celebrates the Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Fr. Edmund Power reflects on the theme: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?”
By Fr Edmund Power, OSB
The multiplication of the loaves is recounted by all four evangelists, and twice by Matthew and Mark. Today we have the first of Matthew’s two accounts, the feeding of the five thousand. The text opens with the declaration he saw a great throng; and he had compassion on them. It is that compassion or love that I want to reflect upon, in the light of the first and second readings.
The conclusion of chapter 8 of Romans is one of the most sublime passages of the New Testament and well merits a close meditation. It opens and closes with a verb that is laden with ambiguity: separate. Clearly, it has a neutral, literal meaning, but when we apply it to inter-personal situations, we realise how much pain it can convey: it lies at the heart of any kind of grief occasioned by loss. At the same time, it can also provide a relief: separation is sometimes necessary, but it is usually a compromise in the face of real reconciliation.
Paul creates an “inclusion” based on this verb. The rhetorical question, Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? is answered at the end, (nothing) will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Between the first and second use of the verb, we have two chains of negativity, things that might be able to separate us: in the first, Paul lists seven possibilities, tribulation, distress, etc; in the second, he recites no less than ten circumstances, starting with death and life. The answer to the first chain is the resounding No of verse 37. The negation of the second chain is even more striking: each of the ten items is individually negated with the neither followed nine times by nor.
Between the two chains we have the pivotal declaration: through him who loved us. The love of Christ, the compassion of which the gospel speaks, negates any separation. This is conveyed even by the grammatical structure of the text: the two uses of the verb separate, are separated by the negation of separation by way of eleven explicit words.
I apologise for what may seem a rather pedantic reflection on this text. Its message is clear, however. Our union with Christ, our non-separation from him, is the work of the divine love, mentioned three times in the short reading. The “agape” of God manifested in Christ is what drives the compassion of today’s gospel, a compassion that results not in esoteric feelings, but in the concrete act of putting bread on the table for the hungry. The sheer gratuity or disinterest of this is proclaimed in the Isaiah reading: come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
The sad and cynical saw, “there’s no such thing as a free meal”, is negated by all three readings on this eighteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time in the year of Matthew.
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3 Catholic churches desecrated in a single French archdiocese
The Archdiocese of Tours in France reported that three Catholic churches within its jurisdiction have been desecrated and announced that Masses of reparation will be held at the affected churches.
“In recent days, three churches in our diocese in Chambray-lès-Tours, Luynes, and Tours (St.Joan of Arc Church) have been targeted by malicious individuals,” the archdiocese said in a July 28 statement.
The text specifies that “offering boxes were looted and damaged, doors forced open, sacred vessels damaged, a tabernacle forced open, and the Blessed Sacrament desecrated.”
“These painful and hurtful events for the Catholic community unfortunately reveal the extent to which our society is permeated by disturbing forms of violence, a lack of culture, and a lack of civility,” the statement laments.
Finally, the text notes without specifying dates that “Masses of reparation will be celebrated in the desecrated churches.”
Michel Lamy, the mayor of Chambray-lès-Tours, condemned the desecration of the church in his town, stating: “These acts fill me with deep indignation and are simply unacceptable.”
“Nothing can justify an attack on a place of worship, our heritage, and what it represents for many residents of Chambray,” the mayor stated on his Facebook page.
The mayor posted photos of the desecration, showing Communion hosts scattered on the ground and excrement on the floor.
“I condemn this desecration in the strongest possible terms and offer my full support to the parish community, Father François Xavier Olayemy Oniossou, and all those deeply shocked by these events,” the mayor added.
“In Chambray-lès-Tours, as elsewhere, respect for places of worship, regardless of one’s convictions, is a fundamental value,” he stated.
In November 2024, similar acts of desecration occurred at four churches in the Archdiocese of Tours. Archbishop Vincent Jordy stated at the time that “there may be people who wish to express at times hatred toward the Church, or toward what she represents.”
“There is this type of phenomenon that unfortunately exists — we say it in the communique — and which manifests a lack of culture and a form of contempt for peopleʼs [way of] life and faith,” the prelate lamented at the time.
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.
More than 2,000 Catholic Scouts gather for Mass at Scouting America National Jamboree
More than 2,000 Catholic Scouts and leaders gathered for Mass during the Scouting America National Jamboree at the Summit Bechtel Reserve in West Virginia from July 26–30.
With 70% of Scouting units in the United States chartered by religious organizations, “faith is integral to who we are as an organization,” Michael Ramsey, chief marketing officer for Scouting America, told EWTN News.
“Our Scout Oath, that every Scout knows, starts off with, ‘On my honor, I will do my duty to God and my country.’”
“Faith is not just the motion that we go to. Faith is who we are as an organization,” he said.
As part of its National Boy Scouts Jamboree, Scouting America brought together thousands of Catholic Scouts for a Mass celebrated by Bishop Evelio Menjivar-Ayala of Wheeling-Charleston, West Virginia, and Bishop Michael Fisher of Buffalo, New York.
Bishop Evelio Menjivar-Ayala of Wheeling-Charleston, West Virginia, elevates the host during Mass at the Scouting America National Jamboree at the Summit Bechtel Reserve in West Virginia on July 26, 2026. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Scouting America
The jamboree, which wrapped up on July 30, is a 10-day-long event that takes place every four years. It brings together more than 15,000 Scouts to camp and learn outdoor, conservation, and survival skills while meeting peers from across the nation.
The event, which was first held in 1937 around the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C., is now held at the Summit Bechtel Reserve.
“We actually took over a coal mine that had been abandoned in the ‘70s. And we reclaimed something that was an ugly scar on the earth … and turned it into heaven for Scouting,” Ramsey said.
At the camp are zip lines, rock climbing, skateboarding, and also a Sunday morning of worship.
Scouting America offers multiple worship services at the jamboree, the Catholic Mass being the largest.
At the recent Mass it “was absolutely stunning to see that many young people,” Ramsey reflected. “Theyʼre at camp, but they chose to be there. Almost 9,000 Scouts that were here, 2,000 of them came to Mass on Sunday morning. “
“Itʼs really a powerful testimony to faith in Scouting,” he said. “I donʼt know who else is running a Mass for 2,000 youth on Sunday morning. We like to think it was the biggest one in the country at that time, but itʼs such an important part of who we are.”
Bishop Michael Fisher of Buffalo, New York, with Scouts at a Mass held at the Scouting America National Jamboree at the Summit Bechtel Reserve in West Virginia on July 26, 2026. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Scouting America
The jamboree also offers a number of other attractions.
“Weʼve got the second-largest zip line in the country at our property in West Virginia,” Ramsey said. “We have a skate park thatʼs the size of an aircraft carrier and some of the largest shooting ranges in the country.”
At the jamboree, there are also concerts, food trucks, booths, adventure activities, and opportunities for Scouts to earn merit badges.
“And youʼre with a bunch of scouts who are all living the ideals of the Scout Oath and Scout Law — to be trustworthy, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent,” he said.
The event brings “together scouts from all across the country,” Ramsey said. “They come in contingents from 228 of our local councils across the country.”
National Catholic Committee on Scouting
“Right now across the country, there are almost 131,000 Catholic Scouts across the country, which is a phenomenal number for us representing just shy of 200 dioceses, which we are very proud of.”
“The Catholic Church is the largest chartering organization that we work with in the whole country — by a fair amount. It is absolutely critical for us,” Ramsey said. “We actually have the National Catholic Committee on Scouting.”
The organization was recently renamed to Catholic Scouting America but has the same goal — to provide guidance and structure for the integration of Catholic teaching into Scouting America programs.
An organization officially related to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Catholic Scouting America is “made up of Catholic leaders that helped promote Scouting in the Catholic Church but also serve as a liaison with the leadership of the Catholic Church,” Ramsey said.
The MOU reported it reaffirms the organizations' “shared values and outlines collaborative efforts to provide enriching and character-building opportunities for Catholic youth through Scouting.”
The MOU noted that the ties between the Catholic faith and Scouting in the United States are as old as the movement itself.
In 1910, the same year Scouting America was founded, one of the earliest known Catholic-chartered troops was established in St. Paul, Minnesota. It was quickly followed by the founding of a troop at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York in 1912.
“It was one of the earliest religious organizations to adopt Scouting in the U.S. Itʼs a long, proud history that we have with the Church,” Ramsey said. “We want to make sure that we reach every young person in the Catholic Church who wants to be involved in Scouting.”
Florida attorney general confronts Catholic schools over vaccine mandate
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has sent a letter to the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops urging compliance with state law requiring religious exemptions for vaccine mandates.
In a July 31 letter addressed to Michael Sheedy, the conference’s executive director, Uthmeier, a Catholic, expressed concern that “at least one diocese” appears to have adopted a policy articulated by theNational Catholic Bioethics Center in 2011 that states Catholic institutions “cannot grant an exemption from vaccination on religious grounds.” Under Florida law, the attorney general pointed out, both public and private schools are required to provide religious exemptions for vaccinations.
Citing Church teaching on respect for human life from conception to natural death, Uthmeier noted that “the Catholic Church has historically encouraged the faithful to abstain from the use of vaccines produced from aborted fetal tissue, while at the same time recognizing the moral permissibility of using such vaccines in certain circumstances.”
“But even if abortion-derived vaccines may be permissible to take, Church teaching also recognizes that no one should be forced to take a vaccine ‘if it would violate the sanctity of his or her conscience,’” he said. “Having no legitimate religious reason to refuse granting religious exemptions to the taking of abortion-derived vaccines, Catholic schools in Florida should comply with Florida law.”
Institute for Ethics and Common Good grants boost ethics and spirituality research on AI
The University of Notre Dame announced that its Institute for Ethics and the Common Good has awarded more than $800,000 in rapid-response grants for research on “the ethical and spiritual implications” of AI.
“The grants, provided through the institute’s DELTA Partner Program and selected from a competitive pool of over 160 applicants, offer seed funding for organizations to convene strategic gatherings, provide training, and create high-impact, practical tools and resources for educators, students, policymakers, and pastoral leaders as they lead in the midst of the rapidly changing technological landscape,” the university said in a July 29 press release.
Grants were distributed to 12 organizations, including Catholic tech companies, schools, and public policy nonprofits.
“We were thrilled to see such a wide range of organizations and individuals who were interested in immersing themselves in the DELTA framework and adapting it for their own unique contexts,” Meghan Sullivan, director of the Ethics Initiative, said in the release. “We know that those working to develop this new technology are moving rapidly, and so there’s a real need for Christian leaders across a wide variety of fields to also work quickly to help navigate questions of what it means to lead a good human life, to serve the common good, and to build what Pope Leo calls the ‘civilization of love’ in this new context.”
“Each of these partners brings a unique perspective to bear on the question of what it means to be human in this current moment,” Adam Kronk, director of DELTA, said in the release. “We are excited to have them as part of our growing community of leaders who are looking for tools to protect the dignity of learning and form people’s hearts and minds.”
Franciscan University launches ‘Be Light’ faculty appreciation fellowship
Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio, has announced a faculty fellowship program aimed at recognizing professors who have made an exceptional impact on students and the university’s Catholic mission.
“The highly competitive Be Light Faculty Fellows Program was established in 2026 to recognize and retain professors whose consistent exceptional performance strengthens academic programs, creates new opportunities, inspires students, and advances the university,” Franciscan said in a July 28 press release.
The university named seven faculty members to the fellowship, which includes “a monetary award that can be utilized for research costs, course reduction, or salary.”
“Recipients were selected following a nomination process and an extensive review of their performance in teaching, scholarship, and service over the previous three years, along with assessments of their broader institutional impact by their deans and department chairs,” the university said.
The program comes as part of the university’s Be Light Strategic Plan aimed at improving recruitment and retention of “mission-dedicated faculty and staff.”
John Paul the Great Catholic University announces degree in narrative arts
John Paul the Great Catholic University will launch a bachelor of narrative arts degree in screenwriting and fiction in fall 2026.
“The degree creates new pathways for students pursuing careers in storytelling across multiple media, while retaining the previous pathways,” the university said in a July 1 press release. Students who apply to the program before Sept. 1 will receive a $1,000 scholarship that may be stacked with other need- and merit-based aid.
Screenwriting students will be able to choose from a bachelor of science in communications media with an emphasis in screenwriting, a bachelor of arts in humanities with an emphasis in screenwriting, or a bachelor of narrative arts with an emphasis in screenwriting. Creative writing students will be able to choose from a bachelor of arts in humanities with an emphasis in creative writing or a bachelor of narrative arts with an emphasis in fiction.
“Alongside the launch of the Bachelor of Narrative Arts, JPCatholic is also introducing a renewed emphasis in Catholic Education & Evangelization within its Bachelor of Arts in Humanities,” the release said. “Led by Professor Justin Panlasigui, chair of Humanities, the revised emphasis builds upon the universityʼs former New Evangelization emphasis while providing students with stronger preparation for careers in Catholic education, ministry, catechesis, and evangelization.”
“Our new Catholic Education & Evangelization emphasis will help students develop an important skill set for todayʼs intra- and extra-ecclesial landscape,” Panlasigui said.
University of Dallas, DeSales University launch graduate partnership
The University of Dallas and DeSales University have announced an academic partnership to expand graduate-level business school offerings.
“Through a Memorandum of Understanding, enrolled graduate students at each university will be able to pursue select online concentration courses offered by the partner institution while remaining matriculated at their home university,” the University of Dallas said in a July 15 press release. Courses will be available online with flexible synchronous and asynchronous options, the release said.
“We are excited to partner with DeSales University in a collaboration that expands academic opportunities for students at both institutions while preserving our shared commitment to rigorous, applied graduate business education,” said J. Lee Whittington, dean of the Gupta College of Business at the University of Dallas.
Under the agreement, University of Dallas students will be able to enroll in DeSales’ courses in healthcare management and operations and supply chain management, while DeSales students will have access to University of Dallas classes in accounting, finance, and financial planning.
“We view this partnership as more than an academic agreement — it is a strategic collaboration between two institutions committed to student success,” said Chris Cocozza, dean of the Waterbury Reilly School of Business at DeSales.
California bishops slam state for targeting abortion pill reversal: ‘Everyone should oppose this’
Two Catholic bishops are criticizing the California government’s targeting of abortion pill reversal ministries and urging support for the right of women to choose life, a cause the bishops argue people on all sides of the aisle should support.
Abortion pill reversal gives a mother the option to save the life of her child after she has taken the first chemical abortion pill. If she changes her mind, she can take the hormone progesterone to potentially save the child.
California’s attorney general is asking the Alameda County Superior Court to stop nonprofits Heartbeat International and RealOptions from offering this reversal, demanding up to $20 million in fines for alleged false advertising, with the government calling the measure “an unproven and largely experimental procedure.”
The state government is targeting those ministries for “telling women who regret swallowing the abortion pill that there is a medical treatment that can sometimes save their babies,” San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone and Oakland Bishop Michael Barber wrote in a July 30 op-ed for the Wall Street Journal.
Cordileone and Barber said that as priests they hear from many women who regret their abortions. Reading those depositions is “painful,” the bishops said.
They cited the case of Elizabeth Barrett, a woman who turned to abortion pill reversal through Heartbeat International and who ultimately gave birth to a healthy baby girl. Barrett testified in the case that she had originally felt pressured by Planned Parenthood staff to abort the baby.
Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone, left, at the California Walk for Life; Bishop Michael Barber of Oakland at his appointment as bishop. | Credit: Jim Graves; photo courtesy of the Catholic Voice
“To be a Catholic priest these days, as we both are, is to have heard many similar stories of women who felt pressured to have an abortion they didn’t want,” they said. “Everyone should oppose this.”
The bishops argued that the California government aims to take away choices from women. The legal dispute “is a rare case that should bring together both sides of the abortion debate,” the bishops wrote.
“In particular, it tests the souls of those who claim the platform of ‘pro-choice.’ What kind of people see a pregnant woman who wants to reverse the effects of an abortion pill and think, ‘Let’s punish the nonprofits that informed her she has a choice’?” they said.
This is not the only case targeting abortion pill reversal, the bishops pointed out. New York state’s attorney general has filed a similar lawsuit against Heartbeat International.
People of faith have a particular call to support women in these scenarios, the bishops said.
“[T]hese women especially need support from the religious — those who hold that creation in God’s image means life is endowed with a dignity that can’t be trampled by a government determined to punish those who oppose unquestioned abortion,” they said.
Church in Spain grapples with sudden illegal arrival of 50,000 migrants
The Catholic Church is responding to the illegal arrival within the span of just a few hours of nearly 50,000 migrants in the Spanish city of Ceuta, located on the North African coast, by mobilizing resources for the diocesan migrant ministry.
The Diocese of Cádiz and Ceuta, led by Apostolic Administrator Ramón Valdivia (auxiliary bishop of Seville), expressed in a statement its “deep concern regarding the gravity of the events and the particular vulnerability of so many people affected by this situation.”
The diocese reiterated its readiness “to collaborate with civil institutions and competent bodies” to address “any needs that may arise.”
In support of this commitment, the diocese has directed that the entirety of the collections taken up this weekend in Ceutaʼs parishes be allocated to the diocesan migrant ministry in order to channel aid through the San Antonio Migrant Care Center.
“We thank the faithful and all people of goodwill in advance for their generosity, and we invite Christian communities to pray earnestly for those who are suffering, for those responsible for managing this situation, and for all who work to build paths of peace, justice, and hope,” the statement concludes.
On social media the bishops’ Commission for Social Pastoral Care and Human Promotion of the Spanish Bishops’ Conference called for “measures addressing this situation to be taken within the framework of current law, with respect for human dignity, and avoiding manipulation for partisan ends.”
Court ruling that precipitated the surge
Migrants are entering Spanish territory by swimming around the Tarajal breakwater, a border structure that extends into the sea located south of the autonomous city of Ceuta continuing the border fence that separates the Spanish town from Moroccan territory on land. The crossing, which can sometimes last for hours, is fraught with danger; Spanish authorities have already reported the recovery of more than 40 bodies.
On June 29, Spain’s Supreme Court issued a ruling rejecting the practice of “hot returns” (summary expulsions) applied to migrants intercepted at sea who attempt to swim into the Spanish territories of Ceuta and Melilla in Africa.
The high court determined that this method of illegal entry into the country takes place without getting over any border barrier as occurs when scaling a border fence and therefore the Law on Immigration’s Tenth Additional Provision cannot be applied.
The referenced section of the regulation stipulates that foreign nationals detected at the border line of demarcation of the territory of Ceuta or Melilla while attempting to get over a border barrier in order to enter illegally “may be turned back to prevent their illegal entry into Spain."
The Supreme Court ruling further stated that “nothing would prevent” the application of this provision for automatic return “were containment measures to be established at sea to protect the border line.”
Calls to exclude Spain from Europeʼs Schengen Area
The president of the autonomous city of Ceuta, Juan Jesús Vivas, requested that the central government on the Spanish mainland declare a national emergency so that Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez could assume unified command of the situation and adopt “decisive” measures.
However, the request was rejected, even though the current situation involves a volume of arrivals many times greater than the last migratory wave the city experienced in 2021 when a group of around 12,000 people arrived, a figure nearly four times smaller.
The vulnerability of the borders of Spain’s African territories has led Italy and Finland to back a proposal to exclude Spain from the Schengen Area, the zone of free movement for people that comprises 29 European countries.
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.
Archbishop Cordileone discusses future of Latin Mass restrictions, calling for ‘easier access’
Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco called for “easier access” to the Traditional Latin Mass (TLM) as the future of the restrictions on the traditional rite remain uncertain.
“I think with some precautions, we can allow a greater access to the Mass and maintain unity within the Church,” Cordileone said in a July 30 interview on “The World Over with Raymond Arroyo.”
The SSPX consecrations manifest “a growing lack of trust that has been simmering for a very long time,” Cordileone wrote in a post to X.
“Let us pray that an ardent effort toward sincere and honest dialogue will soon start up, and that easier access to the traditional form of the Mass will be available to our people, so they will not feel as if they are constrained to seek spiritual nourishment outside of the family in union with Rome,” he said in the July 10 statement.
While Cordileone and other leaders have called for less restrictions on the TLM, Cardinal Arthur Roche, head of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, said in an interview with The Tablet that Pope Leo has no intention of changing Pope Francis’ restrictions on the traditional liturgy.
Cordileone told Raymond Arroyo in response to Roche’s comments: “I donʼt know how well he knows the mind of the Holy Father. But I think one thing thatʼs clear to everyone is the Holy Father wants to bring everyone together. Heʼs all about unity.”
Cordileone said he is concerned that if the restrictions remain in place, people who want a traditional form of worship will feel they “have no choice” other than “to go outside of officially approved institutions and communities.”
“They will do that. So I think thereʼs concern for unity on both sides. One, if the restrictions are in place, people will then go to these other groups that are not in full communion with the See of Rome,” he said.
“But if theyʼre allowed generously, we have to make sure that the people who access the Mass are in full communion in terms of their belief and their acceptance of the teachings of the Second Vatican Council,” he said.
In the U.S. and other nations, Cordileone said that has, for “the most part,” been the case.
“So I think with some precautions, we can allow a greater access to the Mass and maintain unity within the Church,” he said.
Reconciliation of TLM restrictions not ‘realistic’
While Cordileone said he believes more access to the TLM is possible, he said he does not think itʼs “realistic” to reconcile the TLM restrictions following Pope Leoʼs message to the French bishops to be more inclusive of those who want to celebrate the traditional rite.
In March, Pope Leo XIV called for “concrete solutions” to heal divisions over the Mass in a message to the French bishops.
The Holy Father called for renewed unity in the Church’s liturgical life, urging French bishops to seek “concrete solutions” to include Catholics attached to the Traditional Latin Mass while preserving communion.
“We look at the younger generation — they all love the tradition,” Cordileone said. “They love the more classical way that the Church worships, the traditional Mass, what we call the traditional Mass, the form of the Mass before it was changed after the Second Vatican Council.”
“But even the order of the Mass as we have now done in a more traditional way with the priest ad orientem, and the sacred music, and great solemnity, and reverence. Theyʼre desiring this deep tradition. It takes them to a very deep place,” he said.
“This is unstoppable. Itʼs whatʼs drawing young people in and will continue to do so,” he said.
New York says Catholic sisters will not be required to participate in assisted suicide
A coalition of religious sisters in New York state won a major victory in federal court this week when the state agreed to not force the sisters to participate in New York’s looming assisted suicide regime.
The lawsuit had been brought earlier in July by four communities of religious sisters in the state. U.S. District Judge Anne Nardacci on July 30 issued the consent order holding that the government is “barred from requiring that [the sisters]” participate in the assisted suicide process in any way while their lawsuit proceeds.
The suicide law itself is scheduled to go into effect on Aug. 5.
The decision was announced by the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, which is representing the sisters in the suit along with Rockville Centre Bishop John Barres.
Mother Mary Rose Heery, OCarm, the prioress general of the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm, said in the legal group’s press release that families “entrust their loved ones to us” and that the sisters were “grateful that we can continue honoring that trust and remain beside every resident until the very end.”
“[The state’s] decision not to enforce this law against us means that we can continue our loving service to Christ’s poor,” Mother Marie Edward, OP, the superior general of the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne, said in the announcement.
Barres, meanwhile, called the consent order an “important first step toward protecting religious freedom” in the state.
“New York cannot force the Church to answer suffering with suicide or abandon the sick and dying when they need care most,” the bishop said.
“Until our legal fight is resolved, this temporary agreement keeps our ministries free to serve every patient according to the Gospel,” he said.
New York’s assisted suicide law has drawn pushback from Catholic advocates. In December 2025 the state’s Catholic bishops described assisted suicide as a “grave moral evil” and said the law signals the state government’s “abandonment of its most vulnerable citizens.”
New York cannot force the Church to answer suffering with suicide.”
Bishop John Barres
Diocese of Rockville Centre
The suicide law “[tells] people who are sick or disabled that suicide in their case is not only acceptable but is encouraged by our elected leaders,” the bishops argued.
In addition to the Catholic legal filing, disability advocates filed suit against the New York law earlier this year, arguing that it threatens the lives of people with disabilities there.
The suit, filed in federal court in June alongside a similar suit against a new assisted suicide regime in the state of Illinois, argued that the New York law does not require medical officials to “consider a patient’s psychiatric or psychological condition or how that may affect their suicidality” when they ask for help in dying, potentially leading to the euthanasia of patients who are not suffering from terminal conditions. A federal judge dismissed that suit on July 30.
When it legalized assisted suicide in February, New York became the 13th state in the U.S. to allow doctors to help kill patients.
‘One Heart in Christ’: World Armenian Catholic Youth Days kick off in Lebanon
Hundreds of Armenian Catholic young people gather in Anjar, Lebanon, for a week of prayer, workshops, and community.
Vatican News
Raphaël Bedros Minassian, Patriarch of the Armenian Catholic Church, has officially opened the 2026 World Armenian Catholic Youth Days (WAYD) in Lebanon.
The event, organized by the Armenian Catholic Youth Union, will run from 29th July-3rd August with the theme “One Heart in Christ”.
The inauguration Mass was attended by bishops, priests, and young people from over six countries, including Syria, Iraq, France, and Canada.
In his homily, Patriarch Minassian emphasized that young people are the beating heart of the Church and its ever-renewed hope. He urged participants to experience the event as a spiritual journey, deepening their relationship with Christ and with each other.
Over 250 young people are attending prayer sessions, conferences, and cultural evenings.
Over 250 young people were expected to attend the week-long event, which will include liturgical celebrations, prayer sessions, conferences, interactive workshops, meditation, community service, and cultural evenings showcasing the richness of Armenian heritage.
Father Aram Abrahamian, spiritual assistant to the Armenian Catholic youth in Lebanon and general coordinator of the event, said that WAYD 2026 reflects the Church’s deep conviction that young people are central to its life and evangelizing work.
Following the opening ceremony, the first session of the formative program took place. Sister Rita Ziada delivered a conference and workshop titled “A Heart Rooted in God,” focusing on the importance of grounding Christian life in a personal and deep relationship with God, which she described as the authentic starting point for every vocation and mission.
The closing solemn Divine Liturgy will take place on August 2 at the Monastery of Our Lady of Bzommar, presided over by Patriarch Minassian, with local political and religious authorities in attendance.
Patriarch Minassian emphasized that young people are the beating heart of the Church and its ever-renewed hope.
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St. John Paul II Retreat House to open in nation’s capital
A retreat house inspired by the life and ministry of St. John Paul II is set to open its doors next to the St. John Paul II National Shrine in Washington, D.C.
Inspired by the retreats of Father Karol Wojtyła — later Pope John Paul II — the St. John Paul II Retreat House will offer Catholic group retreats in a prayerful setting.
The house, which is a pastoral initiative of the Knights of Columbus, will be unveiled and blessed on Aug. 26. The event will include Mass and a blessing by Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore, supreme chaplain of the Knights of Columbus.
The St. John Paul II Retreat House will open in Washington, D.C., next door to the St. John Paul II Shrine. | Credit: Photo courtesy of St. John Paul II National Shrine
“Pope John Paul II’s deep spiritual life was the engine which drove everything else he did,” Stephen White, executive director of the St. John Paul II Shrine, said in a press release.
“Through prayer, he allowed God to make him a saint. The Retreat House is a way to invite guests to enter more deeply into the vocation we all share — answering God’s call to become saints,” White said.
As a young priest, then-Wojtyła led wilderness excursions for young people while teaching them about the faith. He used the quiet setting as a place for Mass, prayer, and discussion, which the center hopes to reflect.
The center strives to imitate the early home of Wojtyła, in the years prior to his election as pope, according to White. It houses a collection of the saint’s personal belongings including papal dishes, his rosary and cross, and handwritten letters and other items from his writing desk.
It also includes 40 rooms, a library, meeting spaces, a chapel, and a dining area.
Chapel located inside the St. John Paul II Retreat House in Washington, D.C. | Credit: Photo courtesy of the St. John Paul II Shrine
The center invites parish ministries, young adult groups, college campus ministries, leadership teams, formation groups, pilgrimage groups visiting the shrine, and any other Catholic group hoping to gather in prayer.
The center also allows for immediate access to the St. John Paul II National Shrine, one of the nationʼs premier Catholic pilgrimage sites, offering a 16,000-square-foot exhibit, sacred spaces, daily Mass, confessions, and a first-class relic of the saint.
Ceuta Church strengthens support amid migration emergency
The Diocese of Cádiz and Ceuta has expressed its concern over the serious migration emergency unfolding in the Spanish autonomous city of Ceuta, offering its cooperation to public authorities and announcing that this weekend's collections in the city's parishes will be devoted entirely to meeting the most urgent needs of migrants.
By Sebastián Sansón Ferrari and Linda Bordoni
About 60,000 migrants entered the Spanish autonomous city of Ceuta from Morocco over the past 24 hours, according to Ceuta's President, Juan Jesús Vivas, speaking on Friday. The figure is equivalent to around 70 per cent of the city's regular population. At least 34 migrants have died while attempting the crossing, highlighting the growing human cost of the unfolding crisis.
Located on the northern coast of Africa and bordering Morocco, Ceuta has for decades been one of the principal entry points into Europe for migrants.
In recent days, the growing number of arrivals has led to scenes of thousands of people scaling the border fence or attempting to swim to the Ceuta shoreline from the El Tarajal breakwater. Reception facilities remain overwhelmed.
The crossing between Spain and Morocco (JON NAZCA)
Deployment of Armed Forces
In response to the scale of the emergency, the Spanish Government ordered the deployment of members of the Armed Forces to reinforce security and support the Civil Guard.
At the same time, the President of the Autonomous City of Ceuta appealed to the central government for urgent assistance, warning that the city's capacity to respond had reached its limits.
Among those who have arrived are many unaccompanied minors, adding further complexity to reception and protection efforts.
Moroccan forces meanwhile reportedly beat back crowds with batons and tear gas at the gates to Ceuta, trying to prevent more from storming across into the tiny Spanish territory that juts on a sliver of sandy land into the Mediterranean from Morocco.
Two young Moroccans swim to Ceuta (AFP or licensors)
Diocese of Cádiz and Ceuta
Against this backdrop, the Diocese of Cádiz and Ceuta has voiced its "deep concern" over the unprecedented surge in migrant arrivals.
In a statement released on 30 July 2026, the local Church expressed its closeness to all those affected by the crisis and reaffirmed its readiness to work alongside public authorities in responding to the humanitarian emergency.
As an initial concrete measure, the Diocese announced that all collections taken this weekend in Ceuta's parishes will be allocated to the Diocesan Office for Migrants. The funds will be channelled through the San Antonio Migrant Assistance Centre, which will address the most urgent needs in coordination with the relevant services.
Diocesan sources explained that, for the time being, the local Church's resources remain limited and that it is awaiting further guidance from the unified command established by the Government of the Autonomous City to coordinate the emergency response.
Nevertheless, they stressed that the Diocese stands ready to place all of its available humanitarian resources at the disposal of the authorities and to respond to whatever needs arise as the situation develops.
Ceuta (ANSA)
Appeal for support and prayers
The Diocese concluded by thanking the faithful and all people of goodwill who wish to support the initiative.
It also invited Christian communities to intensify their prayers for all those suffering the consequences of this crisis, for the authorities entrusted with managing it, and for everyone working to build paths of peace, justice, and hope.
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‘He presented a gun’: Dispute over Islamic mosque turns violent at New Mexico Catholic parish
A public dispute over the construction of an Islamic mosque in Albuquerque, New Mexico, boiled over into violence earlier this month when a local resident reportedly drew a gun during an altercation with an employee of a Catholic parish.
Father Vincent Paul Chávez, the pastor of the Shrine of the Little Flower St. Therese of the Infant Jesus Parish in Albuquerque, told EWTN News that the violent incident on July 22 came after several weeks of tension in the community stemming in part from the priest’s open support of a proposed 45,000-square-foot mosque that would be built several miles away from the parish.
Chávez said he spoke at a county meeting on July 1 in support of the construction of the mosque. In remarks he provided to EWTN News, the priest said at the meeting that he would “love” if the mosque were built next to the Catholic parish.
He referred to the Islamic religion as “noble Islam” and as “a religion of Abraham as are Christianity and Judaism.”
“Let us not be influenced by ignorance and racism,” the priest said at the meeting. “We have freedom of religion in these United States.”
Chávez said one attendee filmed his remarks and posted the video to social media; she reportedly urged local residents to contact Archbishop John Wester in protest.
The priest said he eventually responded via the parish’s marquee sign on which he has regularly posted topical messages throughout the years. Chávez said he posted the phrase “Racism is a grave sin against God’s love” on the marquee; two days later he added part of the woman’s name to the sign.
On July 22 Chávez said the woman came to the parish to take a video of the sign. The priest said he spoke briefly with her; he said he remarked to her that he was “living rent-free in her head.” Chávez then went inside the parish, at which point he directed the parish’s facilities manager to ask the woman to leave.
The woman appeared to leave, the priest said, but eventually returned with another man who was reportedly her boyfriend. Chávez said the pair approached the facilities manager in his car while the boyfriend allegedly “presented a gun.” The manager then sprayed both of them in the face with mace.
Chávez said he ran out to take video of the rest of the encounter, which subsequently “de-escalated” with the boyfriend leaving in his car. He was arrested the next day and charged with two felony counts of aggravated assault. The priest said he was told by authorities that the FBI may be investigating the incident as a hate crime.
Both news reports and Chávez himself identified the individuals in the dispute as local residents Katrina Griego and David Romero. Neither individual responded to requests for comment regarding the incident.
Several days after the violent incident at the parish, on July 27, Wester issued a statement in which he said that Muslim residents of Albuquerque “have the same God-given and constitutionally protected right to worship freely as every other faith community, including our own.”
Citing the Second Vatican Council, the archbishop said the principle of freedom of religion “is not limited to Catholics or Christians; it extends fully to Muslims, Jews, and all people who seek to worship according to their conscience.”
In a July 30 statement the U.S. Council on American-Islamic Relations praised the assault charges brought against the suspect in the parish dispute, thanking law enforcement for “taking this alleged threat seriously.”
"No faith leader should face intimidation or violence for defending the constitutional rights and religious freedom of his neighbors,” the council said in its statement.
In a statement to his parishioners after the incident, meanwhile, Chávez said the altercation was “a sobering reminder that words matter.”
“When disagreements become fueled by anger, fear, or hatred, they can have real and dangerous consequences,” he said.
The priest urged the congregation to pray for “everyone involved,” including “those whose actions led to this painful event.”
Sant’Egidio refugees on solidarity holiday bringing hope to Cyprus
Volunteers from across Europe are spending their summer serving families in Cyprus, offering help and giving dignity and practical support to those displaced by war and persecution. Through compassion and solidarity, the community of Sant’Egidio continues to transform lives.
By Sr. Christine Masivo, CPS
For one month, nearly one hundred volunteers from various European countries, including many young people from across Europe, will participate in the fifth edition of a summer mission to the island of Cyprus, organized by Sant’Egidio Solidarity Holiday.
Compassion and human dignity
Until the end of August, the volunteers of the Community of Sant’Egidio from Italy, France, Spain, and other European countries, including many young people, will accompany the refugee families living in the Pournara Reception Centre, located about twenty kilometers from the capital, Nicosia, and the Kofinou-Limnes Refugee Camp.
The initiative goes far beyond humanitarian assistance. It is a mission of presence, friendship, and hope, offering displaced people the opportunity to experience human warmth and solidarity while rebuilding their confidence and dignity.
One of the mission’s most significant initiatives is the Tent of Friendship in Pournara. Set within an air-conditioned dining hall welcoming around 200 refugees each evening to share meals in a peaceful, family-friendly atmosphere, it provides not only physical comfort from the summer heat but also emotional healing.
Refugees at the camp site
Embrace of love
Volunteers spend time listening to personal stories, building relationships, and accompanying refugees in their daily struggles. Among the volunteers are several refugees who have faithfully supported the community in this service over the years. All of this is under the banner of regaining dignity and rebuilding a future for those with histories of suffering and deprivation, often violence, behind them.
Many have fled prolonged conflict and humanitarian crises in their home countries. Somali refugees continue to arrive after decades of instability and violence. Sudanese families continue to leave their homes to escape the challenges stemming from the humanitarian emergencies caused by ongoing war.
Since 2025, increasing numbers of Iranian women and families have sought refuge in Cyprus in pursuit of civil and religious freedom, with recent regional conflicts accelerating their displacement. Afghan refugees continue to seek protection despite ongoing discussions in some European countries about their repatriation. Others from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Cameroon arrive with hopes of reaching Europe but often remain stranded on the island for years while awaiting legal recognition. The refugee population in Cyprus remains diverse and continues to grow.
Building hope through education and friendship
Alongside humanitarian assistance, education and community-building remain central to the Sant’Egidio mission. English language courses are currently being offered to adults in Pournara and to refugee families living in Nicosia, equipping them with practical skills that can support their integration and future opportunities.
At the Kofinou-Limnes Refugee Camp, which accommodates approximately 400 refugees, the School of Peace has once again opened its doors to nearly 50 children. Through educational activities, games, creative workshops, and recreational programs, volunteers provide a safe and nurturing environment where children can learn, play, and rediscover the joy of childhood. For some of these young refugees, it is their first experience in a structured learning environment.
Holiday time
The Sant’Egidio Solidarity Holiday is a powerful reminder that every act of kindness has the potential to restore hope. By choosing to spend their summer alongside people forced to flee conflict, persecution, and poverty, these volunteers embody the Gospel values of compassion, welcome, and peace. Their presence affirms that refugees are not merely recipients of aid but individuals with stories, dreams, and immense dignity, deserving of respect, accompaniment, and the opportunity to build a better future.
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Pope’s August prayer intention: ‘for evangelization in the city’
Pope Leo XIV releases his prayer intention for the month of August, and invites Catholics to pray 'for evangelization in the city,' so that the Lord may accompany the millions who seek meaning amid noise and haste.
By Deborah Castellano Lubov
Pope Leo XIV has urged Catholics across the globe to join him this August in praying for evangelization in the city.
He released the monthly “Pray with the Pope” video on Friday, which is prepared by the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network.
In his prayer, Pope Leo asks the “Good Shepherd” who “walks through our streets and squares,” to “enter tall buildings and humble neighborhoods,” and to “silently accompany millions” of people who “seek meaning amid noise and haste.”
The Chicago-born Pope acknowledges that while cities are meant to be places of “freedom and opportunity,” they can also become “spaces of anonymity and isolation.”
Thus, he expressed his hope that urban environments may provide “fertile ground" for proclaiming the Gospel.
The Holy Father also prayed that the faithful make “simple and loving gestures,” and do so together as a community that “goes forth,” and combats indifference and isolation with presence and fraternity.
Today, almost 45% of the world’s population lives in urban areas. Demographic growth has led to a high concentration of people, generating social and community challenges, including loneliness that affects the mental health of many people, especially young people.
The Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network
Founded in 1844 as the Apostleship of Prayer, the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network is a Pontifical Work entrusted to the Society of Jesus.
In December 2020, Pope Francis established this Pontifical Work as a Vatican Foundation and approved its final statutes in July 2024.
It is present in over 92 countries, forming a spiritual community of more than 22 million people who seek to live each day with availability to God’s mission.
At the center of its mission are the monthly prayer intentions of the Pope, inviting its members to focus on the pressing challenges facing humanity and the Church’s mission.
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On Friday morning, July 31, the Pope received Patti Smith, the singer-songwriter, poet, and artist, who—like him—is originally from Chicago.
Vatican News
Pope Leo XIV met the American singer-songwriter, poet, and artist, Patti Smith, during a private audience at the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace on Friday morning, July 31. Smith is, like the Pope, originally from Chicago in the USA.
Patti Smith meeting Pope Leo XIV (@Vatican Media)
The inauguration of the Holy See's Pavilion
On May 8, marking the first anniversary of Pope Leo XIV's election to the papacy, Smith inaugurated the Holy See's Pavilion at the 61st International Art Exhibition of the Venice Biennale. She performed a sound prayer created in collaboration with the Soundwalk Collective, a key artistic partner in the exhibition project promoted by the Dicastery for Culture and Education.
Remembering Pope Francis
In an interview with Vatican News last April, just days after Pope Francis’ death, Smith shared her personal memories of Jorge Mario Bergoglio, whom she had first met at the General Audience on April 10, 2013, and for whom she performed a year later.
"We have to take the words he cherished — love, humility, compassion — and believe them with our hearts. And, as some of our great Masters taught, we must try to imitate Christ. To imitate Francis is to be that much closer to God,” she said.
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APSA: 2025 Financial Statements show stronger Net Assets and continued service to Holy See
In the year marked by the papal succession, the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See (APSA) closed its ordinary financial year with Net Assets rising to €2.686 billion. Its twofold priority remains safeguarding and strengthening the Church's patrimony while ensuring the services on which the Roman Curia depends.
By Edoardo Giribaldi
A set of financial statements set against a "particular" year: those of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See (APSA) for 2025. In the year marked by the death of Pope Francis and the election of Pope Leo XIV, the Administration ensured full continuity and stability of service, confirming its role as an institutional body at the service of the Holy See, as APSA President Archbishop Giordano Piccinotti told Vatican Media.
The operating result for the financial year amounts to €22.8 million. "The comparison with the €62.2 million recorded in 2024 must be viewed in the proper perspective," Archbishop Piccinotti explained. "The previous year was an extraordinary one that cannot be repeated, characterised by proceeds linked to the restructuring of the investment portfolio. By contrast, 2025 represents a return to ordinary operating conditions, and in this context the indicators are positive."
The question of the €16 million allocated to Net Assets
The figure that deserves the closest attention, according to the APSA President, concerns the investment portfolio, which in the financial statements shows an accounting loss of €3.7 million. Here too, however, the figure risks being misunderstood if taken in isolation. "The accounting loss largely reflects the application of the Holy See's new accounting standards—the Vatican Financial Management Policy (VFMP)—which provide for changes in the value of investment portfolios to be recognised directly in Net Assets rather than in the income statement."
In practical terms, the positive returns actually realised by the managed portfolio, amounting to around €16 million, no longer pass through the income statement but are recognised directly among the reserves within Net Assets. This results in a natural divergence between the accounting result (-€3.7 million) and the portfolio's actual result, which remains positive at around €12.6 million. "It is a choice made in the interests of transparency and prudent accounting," the Archbishop said. "Those €16 million have not been lost; they have instead been recognised directly to strengthen the Administration's Net Assets."
This is the key to understanding the financial statements as a whole, because "APSA's purpose is not to generate an annual profit, but rather to preserve and strengthen the patrimony entrusted to it." The investments do not pursue speculative objectives and are never exposed to high levels of risk. The 2025 strategy was guided by the utmost prudence, with limited equity exposure (around 17%), a bond allocation of 32%, an allocation of 29% in physical gold, and an adequate liquidity buffer. The overall return on the proprietary portfolio was 14.37%.
Net Assets increase by €89 million
This approach of consolidation is borne out by the most significant figure for the financial year: Net Assets rose to €2.686 billion, an increase of around €89 million compared with the €2.597 billion recorded in 2024.
The increase was driven mainly by the revaluation of the physical gold held in the portfolio (+€40.8 million), the increase in the value of real estate (+€39.2 million), and the positive contribution from the valuation of securities (+€16.3 million), only partly offset by other negative components.
The real estate sector was the main driver of ordinary operations, improving by €9.4 million to reach a result of €44.5 million, thanks to more efficient management, higher operating revenues, and the rationalisation of maintenance costs.
In Italy, the Administration manages 4,281 real estate units, to which are added around 1,200 units abroad—in London, Paris, Geneva and Lausanne—through wholly owned companies. During the year, the programme to enhance the value of the property portfolio was strengthened with the launch of a three-year plan (2025–2027) for the disposal of non-strategic properties and the regularisation of planning and cadastral records, in order to release capital for reinvestment in higher-yielding assets.
Service to the Holy See: the contribution and what does not appear in the financial statements
"If APSA's first concern is to protect the patrimony, its second—inseparable from the first—is to guarantee the services on which the Holy See depends," Archbishop Piccinotti said, explaining that, even in an ordinary financial year, the Administration paid in full the contribution requested to cover the needs of the Roman Curia, amounting to €22.7 million. "This is tangible confirmation of the structural support it provides for the Church's mission."
It is from this figure that the operating result for the financial year is derived: a symbolic surplus of €155,000, allocated in its entirety to an increase in Net Assets.
"But perhaps the most significant part of this service does not appear in the figures in the financial statements," the Archbishop added. Around 40% of the Administration's human resources work for the benefit of the Holy See's other Entities—Dicasteries, Offices and Foundations—providing services that are largely free of charge. APSA serves as the Holy See's central purchasing body (in 2025 it handled 4,417 procurement requests, only one quarter of which were for its own needs), manages the accounting of 77 Entities, processed more than 50,000 payments, and oversees the maintenance of the entire real estate patrimony, including properties used by other Dicasteries. "These activities require time and personnel without generating revenue that can be recognised in the financial statements, yet they constitute the administrative backbone of the Curia."
Building, not only safeguarding
In conclusion, according to the APSA President, "2025 was not only a year of management, but a year of building." The signing of the agreement with the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches on the management of its real estate patrimony, the launch of the property enhancement plan, and projects in the pipeline for 2026—from the "Fratello Sole" agrivoltaic project at Santa Maria di Galeria, inspired by the Encyclical Laudato si', to the redevelopment of the Domus Paolo VI—bear witness to "a vision focused on future profitability, guided by sustainability and ethical principles."
The common thread running through every decision taken by the Administration remains "prudence, transparency and service." The patrimony entrusted to APSA is not an "end" but an "instrument" of the Church's mission. It is in this light that the €16 million recognised directly in the reserves should also be understood: "not a result that has been lost, but patrimony that has been strengthened in order to continue supporting, today and tomorrow, the works and presence of the Holy See throughout the world."
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Pope signs new Fundamental Law of Vatican City State
Leo XIV promulgates a new Fundamental Law replacing the 2023 text in order to address the need “to take account of new requirements of governance and of several important legislative changes introduced in recent years.” The new law incorporates into a single legislative text the amendment already introduced by the Motu Proprio of November 2025, under which the presidency of the Pontifical Commission is no longer reserved exclusively to cardinals.
By Alessandro Di Bussolo
On Thursday, 31 July, the Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Pope Leo XIV signed the new Fundamental Law of Vatican City State, which, as explained in its preamble, responds to the need “to take account of new requirements of governance and of several important legislative changes introduced in recent years.” The law enters into force immediately, replacing the previous Fundamental Law, which had been in effect since 13 May 2023.
New provision regarding the presidency of the Pontifical Commission
Promulgated by Pope Leo XIV at the beginning of his pontificate, the new Fundamental Law confirms and incorporates these amendments, which concern the legislative, executive, and judicial functions of the State. With regard in particular to the legislative function, it brings together in a single legislative text the amendment introduced by the Motu Proprio of 19 November 2025 concerning the presidency of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State, the body that exercises both the legislative and executive functions.
The 2025 Motu Proprio and the new Fundamental Law
On that occasion, the Pope repealed Article 8, paragraph 1, of the previous Fundamental Law of Vatican City State, which had provided that only cardinals could serve as President of the Pontifical Commission. That office is now held by Sister Raffaella Petrini, who also serves as President of the Governorate. Article 8 of the new Fundamental Law now states that: “The Pontifical Commission is composed of Cardinals and other Members, including the President, appointed by the Supreme Pontiff for a five-year term.”
Executive and judicial functions
Concerning the executive function, the new law confirms the role of the Governorate, whose organisational structure contributes to the proper mission of the State and serves the Successor of Peter, to whom it is directly accountable. At the same time, it further clarifies the responsibilities of the President and the Secretary General, as well as their collaborative relationship. It also underscores the institutional nature of the office of the Secretary General, thereby indicating that the role may be entrusted to more than one person.
As regards the judicial function, Article 22, paragraph 1, expressly reaffirms that the Law establishes the legal framework governing the judicial bodies on the Judicial System. Thanks to the significant reforms introduced in recent years, that law fully guarantees the proper administration of justice.
A law that gives the State its “constitutional identity”
With this carefully structured approach, the new Fundamental Law—which, like its predecessors, is intended, as stated in the preamble, “to give constitutional identity to Vatican City State,” its powers, and the exercise of the functions deriving from them—remains the foundation and point of reference for all other legislation of the State, while reaffirming the unique character and autonomy of the Vatican legal order.
The mission of the Governorate
The preamble also reiterates “the role of the Governorate, which contributes to the proper mission of the State and is at the service of the Successor of Peter, to whom it is directly accountable.”
As in the past, the preamble concludes, “the governing bodies and all those who, in positions of responsibility and animated by a true ecclesial spirit, carry out their stable service for the State, are entrusted with the exercise of all the powers pertaining to the territory defined by the Lateran Treaty and to the buildings and areas where institutions of the State or of the Holy See operate and where, by virtue of international law, personal and functional guarantees and immunities are in force.”
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While the students will work with professional developers to code the application, Pranchalee emphasized that the conceptual vision and user experience design would remain entirely in the hands of their team.
As the 2026 MISSION POSSIBLE Youth Social Hackathon concluded, the 70 participants left the coastal resort with awards, technical prototypes, and structured action plans to implement in their respective communities.
