Catholic News
- Vatican announces ways to obtain special 2025 Jubilee Indulgence (Vatican Press Office)
The Apostolic Penitentiary has published a decree listing the conditions for obtaining a special plenary indulgence during the 2025 jubilee year. The Jubilee Indulgence may be obtained, under the conditions described in the decree, by pilgrimages to jubilee sites in Rome, the Holy Land, or elsewhere (such as cathedrals); by pious visits to sacred places in Rome or elsewhere (such cathedrals, minor basilicas, and Marian shrines); and by works of mercy and penance. As is the case with obtaining any plenary indulgence, the decree discusses the concomitant conditions for obtaining the Jubilee Indulgence: “all the faithful, who are truly repentant and free from any affection for sin, who are moved by a spirit of charity and who, during the Holy Year, purified through the Sacrament of Penance and refreshed by Holy Communion, pray for the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff, will be able to obtain from the treasury of the Church a plenary indulgence, with remission and forgiveness of all their sins, which can be applied in suffrage to the souls in Purgatory.” Typically, a plenary indulgence may be obtained only once a day. During the jubilee year, however, “the faithful who have carried out an act of charity on behalf of the souls in Purgatory, if they receive Holy Communion a second time that day, can obtain the plenary indulgence twice on the same day, applicable only to the deceased (this must take place within a Eucharistic celebration).” - Pope decries attitude that elderly are a burden (Vatican Press Office)
Conflict between generations is based on “a fallacy and the poisoned fruit of a culture of conflict,” Pope Francis said in his statement for the Fourth World Day of Grandparents. The Pope lamented the fact that many elderly people are lonely, neglected by their relatives, and even seen as a burden on society. He remarked that “this accusation that the elderly ‘rob the young of their future’ is nowadays present everywhere.” To counteract that attitude the Pope offered the example of Ruth, who chose to remain with her mother-in-law Naomi, rather than return to her own people. “Ruth is not afraid to challenge customs and inbred patterns of thought,” he said. The Day of Grandparents will be observed on July 28. The Pope’s statement was released by the Vatican on May 14. - Australian archbishop blasts 'organized campaign' against Christian morality (ABC Australia)
Archbishop Julian Porteous of Hobart, Australia has sparked intense controversy with a statement decrying a campaign to overturn Christian moral principles. “Over the last 30-40 years we have witnessed an organized campaign to overturn the traditional Christian understanding of sex and sexuality in western society,” the archbishop wrote in a letter to Catholic-school parents. Archbishop Porteous warned against “the imposition of certain ideological positions on social and moral questions by means of legislation.” He said that Catholics “cannot stand by as we experience are freedoms being taken from us.” The archbishop said that a radical campaign reached its peak in 2017 with the legal redefinition of marriage. He also pointed to the drives for unrestricted abortion, legal euthanasia, and “transgender” rights. The archbishop’s strong message predictably drew angry responses from supporters of the political campaigns that he criticized. A member of the Australian parliament, Kristie Johnson, whose received the archbishop’s letter because her daughter attends a Catholic school, characterized the prelate’s message as “nothing short of hateful speech.” - US bishops to discern future of controversial anti-poverty program at spring meeting (USCCB)
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has announced the tentative agenda of its spring meeting, which will take place this year in Louisville from June 12-14. Prior to the public portion of the meeting, the bishops will “be reflecting on positioning the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) for the future,” according to the announcement, which added that the bishops “have begun the process of discerning the next 50 years” of the program. The bishops will also vote on a national pastoral framework for youth and young adult ministries, a pastoral plan for Native American and Indigenous ministry, and liturgical texts in the Liturgy of the Hours. - Pope asks Vatican's paleographers, librarians to be open to dialogue, exchange (Vatican Press Office)
Pope Francis received the teachers and students of the Vatican School of Paleography, Diplomatics and Archivistics and the Vatican School of Library Science as the former school marked its 140th anniversary, and the latter school its 90th anniversary. Paleography is the study of ancient writing and inscriptions; diplomatics is the study of the interpretation of ancient documents; archivistics is archival science. “The first capacity that is required is that of great openness to exchange and dialogue, and a readiness to welcome, especially the marginalized and the materially, culturally and spiritually poor,” the Pope said during the May 13 audience. “May your studies truly measure up to the fragility and richness of people today!” The Pope also discussed “decisive cultural and epochal challenges,” including “the risk of the dulling and devaluation of knowledge” and “the need to include and never exclude anyone from the sources of knowledge and, at the same time, to defend everyone from what is toxic, unhealthy and violent that can lurk in the world of social media and technological knowledge.” - 'Make yourself a gift for God, in order to be a gift of God,' Pope tells Montevergine's monks (Vatican Press Office)
Pope Francis received members of the Abbey of Montevergine, Italy, as the Benedictine community there marked the 900th anniversary of the founding of the abbey and Marian shrine. The Pontiff encouraged the monks to “make yourself a gift for God, in order to be a gift of God.” Making oneself a gift for God, he said, “is the meaning of the monastic vocation, which puts at the root of every action the work of God, and therefore prayer, which Saint Benedict recommends putting before all else.” Being a “gift of God,” the Pope explained, means “giving oneself generously to those who ascend to the Shrine, so that, by approaching the Sacraments of the Eucharist and of Reconciliation, they may feel, in attention and prayer, welcomed and brought under the mantle of the Mother of God.” - Ecuador's president meets with Pontiff, one month after embassy storming (Ecuador Times)
Pope Francis received President Daniel Noboa of Ecuador on May 13. The visit came a month after Noboa gained notoriety—and international condemnation—for ordering the storming of the Mexican embassy to arrest the nation’s former vice president, who was a fugitive there. The Ecuador Times reported that Noboa discussed his decisions with respect to “security, employment, and competitiveness.” The Pontiff reportedly told Noboa, “Courage,” with Noboa responding, “We will continue fighting.” Noboa then met with Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Holy See’s Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations. Noting good bilateral relations, the parties discussed “the current socio-political situation, with particular reference to youth employment, and to issues regarding public security and migration,” according to a Vatican statement. The South American nation of 17.5 million (map) is 95% Christian (84% Catholic). Pope Francis made an apostolic journey there in 2015. - Papal tweet evokes Fatima's call to conversion, penance (@Pontifex)
On May 13, the memorial of Our Lady of Fatima, Pope Francis tweeted, “May Our Lady of Fatima guide our path of conversion and penance so that we may encounter Christ, the sun of justice.” The Pope added, “Let us pray together that the gentle light of the Lord may free us from all evil and dispel the darkness of this world tormented by wars.” - Address nation's maternal health crisis, bishops urge Congress (USCCB)
The chairmen of three committees of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops have encouraged members of Congress to enact legislation that addresses “the maternal health crisis in our country.” “Despite research indicating that many maternal deaths are preventable, women face a high maternal mortality rate in our country, with Black and Indigenous women particularly at risk,” said the chairman of the bishops’ Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development; Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth; and Committee on Pro-Life Activities. The bishops asked that maternal health legislation reflect four principles: “respect life and dignity,” “honoring conscience rights,” “truly affordable,” and “comprehensive and high quality.” - Buffalo diocese curbs media contacts (WGRZ)
The Diocese of Buffalo, New York, has set a new policy requiring priests and diocesan employees to consult with diocesan officials before speaking to reporters. The new policy states that diocesan communications officials “will either address the request directly or collaborate with the employee to supply response to the inquiry.” Joe Martone, the director of communications for the diocese, insists: “What we are really trying to do is not to stifle communication of the diocese we’re trying to coordinate it.” - 'We have nothing left except the church,' young Gaza Catholic writes (L'Osservatore Romano (Italian))
In a letter reprinted in the May 13 edition of the Vatican newspaper, a Gaza Catholic wrote that “the war destroyed everything, our homes, our loved ones and our belongings.” “Just a few days ago my grandparents’ house was destroyed and devastated by a single rocket,” said Suhail Abo Dawood, who was 18 last October. “We have nothing left except the church and, due to the poor wartime conditions, a number of Christians from our parish have left Gaza.” He added, “Are the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church [in Gaza] becoming empty? I hope not. I don’t want Gaza to be left without Christians. We are the true witnesses of the love and mercy of Jesus in all parts of Gaza, the city through which the Holy Family fled to Egypt to protect the little Baby Jesus, the eternal king.” - Brooklyn auxiliary bishop cleared of negligence charges (Pillar)
The Diocese of Brooklyn, New York, has announced that Bishop Raymond Chappetto has been cleared of charges of negligence in handling abuse complaints. A Vatican investigation under the terms of Vos Estis found that charges against Bishop Chappetto were unfounded. The investigation was led by Archbishop Leonard Blair, who recently retired as head of the Hartford, Connecticut archdiocese. Bishop Chappetto, who had been an auxiliary in Brooklyn since 2012, retired in 2022 upon reaching the age of 75. - Wall Street Journal examines 'how 20 years of same-sex marriage changed America' (Wall Street Journal)
In a tendentious article, The Wall Street Journal has examined the rise of same-sex marriage in the United States, two decades after a Massachusetts court decision forced the state to redefine civil marriage so as to permit homosexual couples to marry. The article notes the rising support for same-sex marriage in the United States, from 27% in 1996, to 55% in 2014, to 71% today. - Pope: Holy See ready to facilitate exchange of Russian and Ukrainian prisoners of war (Vatican News)
Pope Francis said on May 12 that “as we celebrate the Ascension of the Risen Lord, who frees us and wants us free, I renew my appeal for a general exchange of all the prisoners between Russia and Ukraine, assuring the willingness of the Holy See to favor any effort in this regard, especially for those who are gravely injured and ill.” The Pontiff made a similar appeal on Easter Sunday, during his Urbi et Orbi message. - Pope urges obedience to Syro-Malabar liturgical rules (Vatican News)
Pope Francis met on May 13 with Major Archbishop Raphael Thattil of the troubled Syro-Malabar Catholic Church. In his public remarks the Pope urged acceptance of the new liturgical rules that provoked a rebellion in the India-based Syro-Malabar community. The Pontiff said that the ferocious liturgical disputes were the result of “a self-referentiality, which leads to listening to no other way of thinking but one’s own.” He said that priests and laity who resisted the new liturgical guidelines were “showing a lack of respect for the Blessed Sacrament” when they argued about “the details of how to celebrate the Eucharist.” - Step by step, Jesus leads us to heaven, Pope tells pilgrims (Vatican Press Office)
Christ is like a mountain climber who, through His Ascension, leads His Body, the Church, to heaven, Pope Francis said during his Regina Caeli address on May 12. “Step by step, one rung at a time, Jesus shows us the way” by His word and the grace of the sacraments, the Pope said to pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square. “What are these steps that must be taken? ... To perform the works of love: to give life, bring hope, steer away from any form of wickedness and meanness, respond to evil with good, be close to those who suffer.” The Pope continued, “And so we can ask ourselves: is the desire for God, the desire for His infinite love, for His life that is eternal life, alive in me? Or am I a bit dulled and anchored to passing things, or money, or success, or pleasure? And does my desire for Heaven isolate me, does it seal me off, or does it lead me to love my brothers and sisters with a big and selfless heart, to feel that they are my companions on the journey towards Paradise?” “May Mary, she who has already arrived at the destination, help us to walk together with joy towards the glory of Heaven,” the Pope concluded. - Workers at Vatican Museums file labor complaint (Reuters)
A group of workers at the Vatican Museums have filed a complaint with the Governorate of the Vatican, protesting “labor conditions undermining each worker’s dignity and health.” The unprecedented labor action was made by 49 of about 700 employees at the Vatican Museums, most of them custodians. Their complaint says that they took the action only after previous pleas were ignored. - Papal appeals for prayers for peace, mothers (Vatican Press Office)
Following his Regina Caeli address on May 12, Pope Francis renewed his appeal for prayer for peace in Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, and Myanmar referred to the World Day of Social Communications and his message for the day called for gratitude and prayer for mothers, living and deceased, entrusting them to Mary’s protection expressed gratitude for a climate change photo exhibition in St. Peter’s Square and encouraged pilgrims to visit it The Pope also emphasized that the Holy See is ready to facilitate an exchange of Russian and Ukrainian prisoners of war. - Peace in politics, in the world starts in people's hearts, Pope says at World Meeting on Human Fraternity (CNS)
Pope Francis joined Nobel laureates and political leaders at the Fratelli Tutti Foundation’s second World Meeting on Human Fraternity, which took place in Rome on May 10-11. “Dear brothers and sisters, war is a deception – war is always a defeat – as is the idea of international security based on the deterrent of fear,” Pope Francis said in his address to participants. “This too is a deception. To ensure lasting peace, we must return to a recognition of our common humanity and place fraternity at the center of peoples’ lives.” - 'Work for security, justice and peace in the Sahel,' papal message urges (Vatican Press Office)
Pope Francis has published a message, dated May 7 and released May 10, for the 40th anniversary of the creation of the John Paul II Foundation for the Sahel, which is now under the auspices of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development. Some countries in the Sahel, the arid African region south of the Sahara Desert, “are still going through crises that are increasingly threatening peace, stability, security and development,” Pope Francis wrote in his message to Cardinal Michael Czerny, SJ, the dicastery’s prefect. “These phenomena, linked to terrorism, economic insecurity, climate change and intercommunity struggles, are exacerbating the vulnerability of states and the poverty of their citizens, resulting in the migration of young people,” the Pope continued. “Echoing the heartfelt cries of Pope Saint John Paul II, I reiterate today his appeal to all people of goodwill throughout the world: work for security, justice and peace in the Sahel!” - More...