HOW POPE LEO PRAYS FOR MOTHERS, THE MISSION OF MARY, BUILDING AUGUSTINIAN BRIDGES ......
For Immediate Release From Vatican News!
(A Leisure Read)
Pope: Virgin Mary Is Perfect Model Of What The Church Is Called To Be
During his weekly General Audience, and on the feast day of Our Lady of Fatima, Pope Leo XIV emphasizes how the Blessed Virgin Mary is the perfect model, member and mother of the Church. By Isabella H. de Carvalho
On the feast day of Our Lady of Fatima, May 13, Pope Leo XIV highlighted how the Blessed Virgin Mary is a model, member and mother of the ecclesial community and she teaches all the faithful to love and serve the Church.
�The mystery of the Church is also reflected in the Virgin Mary: in Her, the people of God find the representation of their origin, their model and their homeland,� he said in his catechesis during the Wednesday General Audience in St. Peter�s Square.
�In the Mother of the Lord, the Church contemplates her own mystery, not only because she finds in Her the model of virginal faith, maternal charity and the spousal covenant to which she is called, but also and above all because in Her she recognizes her own archetype, the ideal figure of what she is called to be.�
Pope Leo XIV continued his catechesis series on the Documents of the Second Vatican Council, reflecting again on the 1964 Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, Lumen gentium, whose last chapter focuses on the Virgin Mary.
Do I ask Mary for help?
In emphasizing how Our Lady can be a model for the Church, the Pope called the faithful to �ask Her to help us, through Her intercession, to respond to what is asked of us through Her example.�
In this regard he asked a series of questions to help us reflect:
�Do I live my participation of the Church with humble and active faith? Do I recognize in her the community of the covenant that God has given me to respond to His infinite love? Do I feel that I am a living part of the Church, in obedience to the pastors given by God? Do I look to Mary as a model, an outstanding member and Mother of the Church, and ask Her to help me be a faithful disciple of her Son?�
Model, Member And Mother Of The Church
Citing Lumen gentium, the Pope pointed out how it invites us to recognize in Mary �the model and the pre-eminent member and mother of the entire ecclesial community.�
Shaped by God�s grace and by welcoming Jesus through her faith and �virginal love,� Mary is the �perfect model of what the Church is called to be: a creature of the Word of the Lord and mother of the children of God, begotten in docility to the action of the Holy Spirit,� the Pope explained.
He also emphasized how she is �an excellent member of the ecclesial community� as she is the �believer par excellence� and was unconditionally open to the divine mystery.
Then the Pope highlighted that she is �the mother of the whole Church� as she � brings forth children� in Christ and all the faithful can �turn to her with filial confidence, in the certainty of being heard, protected and loved.�
A Woman Icon Of The Mystery
The Pope then explained how these three characteristics can be summarized by defining the Virgin Mary as �a woman who is the icon of the Mystery.�
He underlined how the word �woman highlights the historical reality of this young daughter of Israel,� to whom it was granted to become the mother of Jesus.
Then the word icon shows how �in Her, both God�s gratuitous election and Her free consent of faith in Him shine forth.�
�Mary is therefore the woman who is the icon of the Mystery, that is, of the divine plan of salvation, once hidden and now revealed in its fullness in Jesus Christ,� he said.
May The Love For The Church Grow In All Of Us
The Pope also noted that the �Council has left us clear teaching on the unique place reserved to the Virgin Mary in the work of Redemption.�
The �sole mediator of salvation is Jesus Christ� and his mother �fosters the immediate union of the faithful� with Him, Pope Leo explained, citing Lumen gentium.
Lastly the Pope invoked the Holy Spirit so that it may grant to all the grace to live fully in the Church.
�Having reflected deeply on the Constitution Lumen gentium, let us ask the Virgin to obtain this gift for us: that love for the Holy Mother Church may grow in all of us,� he concluded.
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Pope Leo Prays For Every Mother On Mothers' Day
Pope Leo XIV sends greetings to His Holiness Pope Tawadros on the annual �Day of Coptic-Catholic Friendship, praises the welcoming spirit of the citizens of the Canary Islands, and wishes all mothers Happy Mothers� Day. By Linda Bordoni
Mother's Day is celebrated in over 40 countries across the world on the second Sunday in May, and Pope Leo XIV did not neglect to dedicate a special thought to all mothers.
Speaking after the recitation of the Regina Coeli prayer in St Peter's Square, the Pope said, �Through the intercession of Mary, the Mother of Jesus and our Mother, let us pray with affection and gratitude for every mother, especially for those living in the most difficult conditions,� he said.
�Let us pray with affection and gratitude for every mother, especially for those living in the most difficult conditions.�
Day of Coptic-Catholic Friendship
The Pope also had fraternal greetings for the head of the Coptic Orthodox Church, as he recalled that �On May 10 each year, the 'Day of Coptic-Catholic Friendship� is celebrated.�
�I extend a fraternal greeting to His Holiness Pope Tawadros II and assure my prayers for the entire beloved Coptic Church, in the hope that our journey of friendship may lead us to perfect unity in Christ, who has called us �friends,'" he added.
Gratitude to the Canary Islands
Pope Leo also had words of gratitude for the �welcoming spirit that characterises the people of the Canary Islands.�
Noting that the Canary Islands have allowed passengers of the �Hondius Cruise Ship with hantavirus patients on board,� he said he is happy �to be able to meet you next month during my visit to the islands�.
The Pope is scheduled, in fact, to undertake an apostolic journey to Spain from 6 to 12 June, and he will spend the last two days of the trip on the islands of Tenerife and Gran Canaria, where he will meet with migrants and organisations dedicated to helping them.
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The Enduring Commitment Of Religious Congregations To South Sudan�s Recovery
In 2008, religious congregations established �Solidarity with South Sudan� as a joint effort in response to a plea from the Sudanese Bishops� Conference. The goal was to tackle urgent educational, health, and pastoral challenges that emerged after many years of war. Their efforts gained momentum after an exploratory visit in 2006, laying the groundwork for tangible support. The question on everyone�s lips: How do you build in a place that had lost almost everything?
Christine Masivo, CPS � Vatican City
At the time, facing dire need, the Bishops appealed to religious leaders in Rome for help from their congregations worldwide. Their simple request was for the universal church to stand with them and help build institutions. This led to the birth of Solidarity with South Sudan.
When South Sudan gained independence on 9 July 2011, the expectations from citizens became urgent.
A Shared Mission
The first group sent to South Sudan landed in 2008. Fr Callistus Joseph, a Claretian Missionary, was one of the pioneers, serving as the director of the projects and coordinating them all. Speaking recently to Vatican News, Fr Callistus explains that Solidarity with South Sudan was formed as a collaborative effort between the leaders of religious congregations and the local bishops. Rather than work independently, the initiative focused on shared responsibilities and common goals.
At that time, nineteen missionaries from 16 countries volunteered to serve, bringing with them their diverse skills in teaching, nursing, agriculture, and pastoral work. United by a commitment to walk alongside the people of South Sudan, they immediately recognised urgent needs in teacher training, healthcare, pastoral formation, and agriculture. There were only a small number of trained teachers and very few doctors, qualified nurses, and midwives.
Read the full article HERE: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/africa/news/...
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Coaching The Boston Celtics With The Spirit of A Deacon
NBA Coach of the Boston Celtics, Joseph Mazzulla, stresses how indebted he is to God for the ability to bring together all his passions - family, faith, and basketball - and live out his dream job, all while keeping his faith at the center of his life. By Giampaolo Mattei
Joseph Mazzulla coaches the Boston Celtics but his dream is also to become a permanent deacon in the Catholic Church. Born in 1988 in Johnston, Rhode Island, Mazzulla has Italian roots: his father is from Itri, while his mother is African American. After playing college basketball for the West Virginia Mountaineers, Mazzulla started coaching the Celtics full-time in 2023.
One year later, the team won the NBA title in 2024. However, this year, the Celtics� run was cut short after losing in the semifinal match against the Philadelphia 76ers.
He married his wife Camai in 2014 and has a son, Emmanuel, and an adopter son, Michael. The coach stresses that family is at the center of everything, citing a passage from the Book of Joshua: �As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord� (24:15).
From Childhood to Coach
Faith has always played a role in the coach�s life. He describes himself as a fortunate man, above all because he grew up in an environment where the Catholic faith was part of everyday life.
Read the full article HERE: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/world/news/2...
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13 May 1981: The Day The Attack On John Paul II Shocked The World
45 years from the attack on Saint John Paul II during a General Audience in St Peter�s Square, the memory of the event continues to be linked to themes of prayer, forgiveness, and trust in God reflected in the words of the Pope and his successors. By Vatican News
Forty-five years have passed since the attack on Pope John Paul II in Saint Peter�s Square on 13 May 1981, an event that marked the history of the Church and dramatically drew the attention of the international community.
The memory of that day remains linked not only to the images from Saint Peter�s Square, but also to the words of prayer, forgiveness, and trust in God pronounced in the years that followed by the Pope and his successors.
In May 1981, the international socio-political context was marked by renewed tensions between East and West. The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan had intensified the Cold War climate, while concern was growing in Eastern Europe over the emergence of the independent trade union Solidarność in Poland. In Italy, years of terrorism and extremist political violence known as the Anni di Piombo � Years of Lead � rocked society to the core.
On Wednesday, 13 May 1981, Saint Peter�s Square was filled with pilgrims gathered for the weekly General Audience. Pope John Paul II was greeting the faithful from the white jeep traditionally used to circle the square when shots were fired at close range. The Pope was seriously wounded and immediately transported to Rome�s Gemelli Hospital.
Among those reporting on the event live was Vatican Radio journalist Benedetto Nardacci, whose voice conveyed the confusion and silence that followed the attack.
Observing the crowd in the square, he described people standing in silence and waiting for news, while bishops and clergy invited the faithful to pray for the Pope�s recovery.
A statement released by the Holy See Press Office later confirmed that the Pope had been struck in the abdomen and was undergoing surgery at the Gemelli Hospital. The communiqu� added that, although his condition was serious, there were �founded hopes for recovery.�
Four days later, during the Regina Caeli message from the hospital, John Paul II addressed the faithful and spoke publicly of forgiveness for Mehmet Ali Ağca, the man responsible for the attack.
He assured his prayers for the attacker and entrusted himself once more to the Virgin Mary with the words: �Totus tuus ego sum.�
Suffering Transformed Through Love
In the years that followed, the events of 13 May 1981 became closely associated with the Pope�s devotion to Our Lady of Fatima. John Paul II repeatedly expressed his conviction that his life had been preserved through her intercession.
Read the full article HERE: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/20...
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Holy See: Wars And Extreme Climate Events Have Lethal Impact On Food Systems
The Holy See laments the impact of war, recessions, climate events, and political instability on the world�s agrifood systems, calling for local food systems to keep human dignity at their center. By Devin Watkins
Msgr. Fernando Chica Arellano, Permanent Observer to the FAO, IFAD, and WFP, has expressed the Holy See�s call for resilience in agrifood systems, which have seen significant disruption in recent years.
He spoke on Tuesday at the 35th Session of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization�s regional conference for Europe, held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
Msgr. Chica Arellano expressed support for the conference�s goal of promoting agrifood systems, so that no one may lack the food that �enables them to lead a serene and full life.�
He upheld the importance of concrete actions to foster food security in the wake of recent global crises.
�The combination of merciless wars, economic recessions, extreme climate events, political instability, and market volatility has given rise to a lethal combination for the world�s food systems,� he said.
In recent years, several conflicts have disrupted global food markets, including the Russia-Ukraine war that disrupted grain exports and fertilizer supplies, as well as the ongoing Iran-US war that has already pushed up the prices of fuel and fertilizer.
Other conflicts have caused catastrophic disruption to local food systems, such as the war in Sudan, which has led to severe food shortages in major cities and a spike in acute hunger.
In his address, Msgr. Chica Arellano called on nations to combat this �very negative trend� by coordinating interventions so that countries can walk together �in fraternal harmony.�
The overarching goal, he said, is for all people to have stable and permanent access to sufficient, nutritious, and safe food.
The Holy See�s Permanent Observer called for European countries to implement legal frameworks to move toward food models that integrate �social justice, environmental sustainability, and respect for the human person as guiding principles of all public and private action.�
Building resilience into the world�s agrifood systems is among the most urgent priorities of our time, he said.
Rather than employing the same production methods, Msgr. Chica Arellano called for the way food is produced to be transformed, moving away from greedy exploitation to increased investment in the most vulnerable and forgotten rural areas.
�The agricultural sector,� he said, �should be supported by wise economic and political decisions, enabling young people to devote themselves enthusiastically to agriculture and not to abandon the countryside in discouragement in order to migrate to the cities.�
Finally, Msgr. Chica Arellano said agrifood production must keep the dignity of the human person at the center, meet food needs without compromising the future, and promote decent work at the local level. (https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2026-05/holy-see-fao-europe-regional-conference-agrifood-systems-war.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawRxllNleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe-m3OGM_ymsvVI-V36QNp8658JXtUQQs2pZBncIahS_YDF3UEx5CbufuDTgI_aem_X6h8UWG9rV37N46prnb2rA)
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Uganda: Bishop Odoki Calls On Christians To Be Peace Ambassadors
The Bishop of Arua Diocese in North Western Uganda, Sabino Ochan Odoki, has called on Christians to reject modern-day idols and embrace God as the foundation for lasting peace in society. Bishop Odoki made the appeal during the closing Eucharistic celebration of the Gulu Ecclesiastical Province's �Prayer and Peace Week,� held this week at Lango College in Uganda�s Lira Diocese. Fr Isaac Ojok � Lira City
During the closing Mass, Bishop Odoki also commissioned peace pilgrims and urged them to return to their dioceses as peace ambassadors.
The Prayer and Peace Week was held in Lira Diocese under the theme, �Peace Be With You,� from the Gospel of Saint John 20:19. This week-long pastoral and spiritual event drew participants from the four dioceses of Gulu Ecclesiastical Province�Gulu Archdiocese, Lira, Nebbi, and Arua dioceses respectively�as well as the Diocese of Kotido from the Ecclesiastical Province of Tororo.
Worldly Pursuits Are A Distraction
In his homily, Bishop Odoki warned that many people let worldly distractions replace God, thus depriving society of genuine peace.
�Idols take away our minds from the true God. God becomes secondary while other things take priority in our lives,� the bishop said.
Read the full article HERE: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/africa/news/...
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Some 200 Ethiopians Sentenced to Death In Saudi Arabia
As 200 Ethiopian migrants in Saudi Arabia face execution, the Catholic eparch of Adigrat is appealing to international organizations for dialogue and mercy. By Roberto Paglialonga
Over 200 people of Ethiopian origin, many of them young, are reportedly at risk of being executed in the coming days in Saudi Arabia.
This was reported last week by the online newspaper Addis Standard, citing data from the Tigray Youth Office.
Human Rights Watch, an organization working in the field of human rights protection, could not directly verify this number but reported 65 Ethiopian migrants, all already convicted of crimes related to drug trafficking and possession, currently imprisoned at Khamis Mushait prison.
Three other death sentences were reportedly carried out on April 21.
Ethiopians Fleeing The Tigray war
HRW managed to contact sources familiar with the situation of three of these detainees, who stated that they are refugees. They reportedly fled during the bloody conflict in the Tigray region (northern Ethiopia) that occurred between 2020 and 2022, where the humanitarian situation remains dire today.
According to the sources, they took the notorious and dangerous �eastern route,� passing through Djibouti and Yemen, before reaching their destination and being arrested between 2023 and 2024 by Saudi police in the Abha region, where they were working.
The substance they were found in possession of is khat�a plant banned in Saudi Arabia, which has extremely harsh drug laws. Khat is a shrub native to East Africa, whose leaves, when chewed, produce stimulant effects similar to amphetamines.
The Appeal of the Catholic Eparch of Ethiopia
On May 5, the Bishop of the Catholic Eparchy of Adigrat, Tesfaselassie Medhin, made a heartfelt appeal to several international organizations and humanitarian agencies defending human dignity, seeking protection for the lives of the 200 prisoners.
Read the full article HERE: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/world/news/2...
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Haitian Bishop Appeals For World Leaders To Help The Suffering People
Amid gang violence, widespread poverty, and an unprecedented institutional and political crisis, Bishop Pierre-Andr� Dumas of the Diocese of Anse-�-Veau-Mirago�ne and vice president of the nation's Episcopal Conference, is calling on the international community to help the suffering people of the Caribbean nation. By Federico Piana
Abandoned by everyone, Haiti�s hope lies in prayer, according to Bishop Pierre-Andr� Dumas of the Diocese of Anse-�-Veau-Mirago�ne. Speaking to Vatican News, the Bishop, also vice president of the Episcopal Conference, underscored often the need for prayerful support. While his voice carries a tone of deep concern, he has also expressed hopes for solidarity: �Our people have suffered for years without anyone seeming to care. That is why the world must be helped to rediscover a sense of concrete solidarity with Haiti through prayer. It would be very beautiful to see individuals, parishes, institutions, families, and religious communities come together for a worldwide day of prayer.�
Desperate Appeals
For years, the local Church has been making desperate appeals to the international community that have not been met with a response. According to the Bishop, the gang violence that claims dozens of lives every day, the extreme poverty, and the chronic political instability that generates injustice and inequality have failed to break through the priorities of international governments focused elsewhere.
But Bishop Dumas refuses to give up and continues to cry out louder than ever: �I believe that within the family of nations, the stronger brother cannot forget the weaker and wounded brother. The international community should allow itself to be challenged by what is happening in Haiti. My country is only an hour away from the United States, the world�s leading power. Yet it spends enormous sums on wars while we suffer right beside it. Haiti is not asking for superficial pity, but for concrete fraternity.�
Suffering For Decades
World leaders, he says, are well aware of the Haitian people�s suffering since it has been ongoing for years, always the same. And Bishop Dumas once again recounts how �the violence of armed gangs continues to spread fear, death, and destruction. Most of the capital, Port-au-Prince, is controlled by gangs. Thousands of families have been forced to flee their homes, which are often burned or destroyed. Children and young people live traumatized in a permanent climate of insecurity.�
Humanitarian Crisis
Then there is the humanitarian crisis. More than five million people risk dying of hunger. Much of the population has no access to basic healthcare services because some hospitals have been occupied by gang members, while many schools have been closed and thousands of students are denied the right to education.
Read the full article HERE: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/...
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Zambia: PMS Solwezi Diocese Trains Holy Childhood Animators
The Catholic Diocese of Solwezi's Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) recently concluded the training of 57 Holy Childhood animators, focusing on equipping them to nurture children's faith and wellbeing. By Fr. Wilbroad Musonda - Solwezi
The week-long PMS Solwezi programme ended with a graduation ceremony at St. Paul Parish, Mutanda.
Addressing the graduates of the School of Missionary Animation (SOMA 1), the Dean of Mumbezhi Deanery, Fr. Vincent Chola urged Holy Childhood animators�including representatives from Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Rwanda�to apply their training to advance missionary work for children in their home parishes.
�Now that you have been empowered with the necessary knowledge and skills, we call upon you, with the guidance of your Church leaders in your various parishes, to passionately impart the content of missionary animation and formation to the children under your pastoral care,� Fr. Chola said.
Children Helping Children
The Pontifical Society of the Holy Childhood encourages and promotes the idea of "Children praying for children, children evangelising children, children helping children worldwide.�
Fr. Chola, who formerly served as Director of PMS in the Diocese of Solwezi, prayed that the parish, Small Christian Community (SCC) leaders, and parents would support the Holy Childhood animators in their noble work of missionary animation and formation of children.
Fr Chola, who also serves as Parish Priest of Holy Family Parish, added that Holy Childhood animators need to embrace the spirit of missionary cooperation and impact adults in parishes, who can then serve as role models for children. Children in the Holy Childhood programme, he emphasised, should be encouraged to become evangelisers to their peers.
Praying the Missionary Rosary
In conclusion, Fr. Chola prayed for the success of Missionary Rosary prayers with children, entrusting the effort to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The School of Missionary Animation (SOMA 1) training at St. Paul Parish, Mutanda, gathered 57 participants�35 women and 22 men�for focused formation. Nationals of Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Rwanda also participated in the programme.
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From A Refugee Camp To The World Taekwondo Grand Prix
The Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation is giving 8 young athletes the opportunity to participate in the 2026 World Taekwondo Grand Prix in Rome this June, as well as the chance to meet Pope Leo XIV. Vatican News
From June 4 to 7, Rome will host the 2026 World Taekwondo Grand Prix. Among those present will be 8 young athletes of around 10-years-old from the Azraq Refugee Camp in Jordan, which currently houses around 60,000 people.
For the first time in their lives, these children will have the opportunity to leave the refugee camp, thanks to an initiative by the Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation, with the backing of the Italian Taekwondo Federation.
The group will participate in the �Kim and Li�� tournament�organized as part of the 2026 World Taekwondo Grand Prix�which will allow children to compete in the same venue and spaces as the world champions fighting for the Grand Prix title and for qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics.
As part of their stay in Rome, the group of child athletes will also be able to meet with Pope Leo XIV and visit the city and its cultural and historical sites.
The Taekwondo Humanitarian Foundation works with the International Taekwondo Federation (of which Athletica Vaticana�the Holy See�s official sports organization and association�is a part), to help refugees and displaced people worldwide through taekwondo and other educational tools. Through their initiatives they promote empowerment, peace, sustainability and Olympic values.
Read the full article HERE: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/world/news/2...
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Vatican's Vesak Message Calls On Buddhists And Christians To Become �Artisans of Peace�
In its message for Vesak 2026, the Vatican�s Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue invites Buddhists and Christians to work together for an �unarmed and disarming peace� rooted in compassion, dialogue, and inner transformation. By Francesca Merlo
Ahead of the Buddhist feast of Vesak, the Vatican�s Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue has released its annual message to Buddhist communities worldwide, inviting Christians and Buddhists alike to walk together in cultivating what it describes as an �unarmed and disarming peace.�
The message, signed by Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad, Prefect of the Dicastery, and the Dicastery�s Secretary, Monsignor Indunil Janakaratne Kodithuwakku Kankanamalage, offers both greetings for the sacred celebration of Vesak, as well as a meditation on peace at a time marked by war, division, and growing distrust.
What is Vesak
Vesak is one of the most important feasts in the Buddhist calendar. It commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and passing into final Nirvana of Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha.
Celebrated across Buddhist traditions�from Theravada communities in Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia to Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions throughout East Asia and the Himalayas�it is a moment of prayer, reflection, acts of compassion, and renewed commitment to the Buddha�s teachings.
While Buddhist traditions may approach enlightenment and nirvana through different theological perspectives, Vesak remains a shared commemoration of the Buddha�s life, awakening, and enduring spiritual legacy.
Observed according to lunar calendars, Vesak celebrations vary from country to country. In many places, the feast itself lasts a single day, though celebrations and periods of prayer often extend over several days, particularly in monasteries and temples.
Read the full article HERE: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city...
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Pope: Never instrumentalize God For Military, Economic, Or Political Gain
Addressing representatives of Muslim communities of Senegal, Pope Leo XIV called for religions to work together toward peace and warned against instrumentalizing God for military, economic, or political gain. By Deborah Castellano Lubov
"We together assume our common responsibility: to condemn every form of discrimination and persecution founded on race, religion, or origin; to reject every instrumentalization of the name of God for military, economic, or political gain; to raise our voice in favor of every minority that suffers."
Pope Leo XIV made this statement during his encounter with representatives of Muslim communities of Senegal, alongside representatives of the Catholic Church in the country.
Safeguard Your Fraternity And Peaceful Coexistence
The Holy Father began his remarks by calling the meeting a significant expression of friendship and of a common commitment to promoting an inclusive, peaceful, and fraternal society.
He also recalled that Senegal embodies hospitality and solidarity, and demonstrates and serves as a model of peaceful coexistence among Christians, Muslims, and believers of other traditions. It is a reality, he said, that constitutes the foundation of dialogue among peoples who are different because of their religious affiliation and ethnic origin.
"This treasure of fraternity must be safeguarded with care," he said, noting it is "a precious good not only for your nation, but also for the whole of humanity."
Threats To Peace In Africa
However, Pope Leo went on to lament challenges in Africa.
"Unfortunately," he said, "armed conflicts persist on the African continent, generating grave humanitarian shortages and profound inequalities that every day put entire populations to the test, without forgetting the disturbing increase in violent extremism."
Added to this, he noted, are "growing flows of migrants and refugees, hateful speech that poisons the social fabric, the weakening of the family bond, and the erosion of ethical and spiritual reference points, particularly among the young."
In this context, he said, the values embodied by the spirit of �teranga� and interreligious dialogue are "a precious instrument" for easing tensions and building lasting peace.
"By fostering interreligious dialogue and involving religious leaders in mediation and reconciliation initiatives," Pope Leo said, "politics and diplomacy can make use of moral forces capable of calming tensions, preventing radicalizations, and promoting a culture of esteem and mutual respect."
Need for diplomacy and religious dialogue founded on truth and peace
Today, Pope Leo said, the world needs diplomacy and religious dialogue founded on peace, justice, and truth.
Read the full article HERE: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/20...
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Pope in Naples: Church Must Offer Closeness Amid Inequalities And Difficulties
In an address to the clergy and religious of the Church in Naples, Pope Leo XIV encourages the faithful to bear witness to Christ when confronting the difficult realities affecting the southern Italian city. By Isabella H. de Carvalho
Every member of the Church � priests, religious and laypeople � is called to be a strong presence as a witness of Christ�s love, especially in the face of injustices and difficulties, Pope Leo XIV said in a meeting with the clergy and religious in Naples on Friday.
�In a city marked by inequality, youth unemployment, school dropouts, and family instability, the proclamation of the Gospel cannot be separated from a concrete and supportive presence that involves everyone�priests, religious, and laypeople alike,� he underlined in his address at the Naples Cathedral.
�Don�t forget: you are part of a love story�that of the Lord for His people�which began before you and will not end with you; you are part of it as unique and indispensable pieces; you are part of it so that, even amid the dense shadows of darkness, you may turn on a light,� he continued.
�Do not be afraid, do not lose heart, and be, for this Church and for this city, witnesses of Christ and sowers of the future!�
Pope Leo XIV visited Naples and Pompeii on May 8, as he marked the first anniversary of his election to the See of Peter.
In the morning, he celebrated Mass in Pompeii, met with local representatives of charity initiatives connected to the Shrine of the Blessed Virgin of the Rosary of Pompeii, and prayed to Our Lady of Pompeii, before traveling in the afternoon to Naples by helicopter to meet the clergy and later the local population.
Cardinal Domenico Battaglia, Archbishop of Naples, was present at the meeting in the Cathedral and gave an address. Pope Leo XIV also held up the reliquary containing the ampoules of the blood of Saint Januarius, patron saint of the city, and prayed before the Blessed Sacrament in the chapel dedicated to the saint.
Read the full article HERE: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/20...
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The �Son of Saint Augustine� Who Became Pope
A member of the Order of Saint Augustine, Pope Leo XIV lives the charism of the Augustinian family through his search for God, his commitment to fraternity, and his service to the Church.
By Tiziana Campisi
�I am a son of Saint Augustine, an Augustinian.�
That�s how Pope Leo XIV introduced himself to the world upon his election on May 8, 2025, from the Loggia of Saint Peter�s Basilica. Robert Francis Prevost is a religious of the Order of Saint Augustine. He has belonged to it since September 2, 1978, the day he first professed vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. St Augustine, the bishop of Hippo, has marked every step of his journey since.
This was already evident in the first words he spoke a year ago, shortly after being elected Pope: �With you I am a Christian, and for you a bishop.� This quotation from his �mentor� (Sermon 340) expresses both his sense of belonging to the community of believers, equal to all others, and his awareness of the responsibility of being a shepherd.
�In this sense, we can all walk together toward that homeland God has prepared for us,� the Pope has urged, encouraging us to �seek together how to be a missionary Church, a Church that builds bridges, dialogue, always open to welcoming � everyone who needs our charity, our presence, dialogue, and love.� This phrase summarizes Augustine�s three decades of episcopal ministry, in which he devoted himself to the faithful, fought heresy, engaged in dialogue with everyone, and cared for the poor and needy.
The Augustinian Family
Leo XIV is a deeply Augustinian Pope who, drawing on the experience and teaching of the Bishop of Hippo, fully lives the charism of his religious family through the search for God, the desire to imitate Christ, fraternity, and service to the Church.
He remains very attached to the Augustinians, so much so that he has not renounced moments of fellowship with his fellow Augustinians. Among Augustinians, the sense of community is strong, and sharing is of fundamental importance.
Just two days after his election to the papal throne, Leo XIV went to the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Counsel in Genazzano, just outside Rome, entrusted for centuries to the pastoral care of the Augustinians.
It was Mary�whose maternal presence accompanied him throughout his life �with her wisdom and the example of her love for the Son, who is always the center of my faith, the way, the truth, and the life,� as he wrote in the shrine�s guest book�that the Pope asked to accompany him in his �new mission.�
Pope Leo At The Sanctuary of Genazzano "The Desire For Unity"
From the very beginning, Augustine-inspired themes have recurred in the Pope�s homilies and speeches: interiority, Christ as the heart of the Church�s proclamation, friendship, dialogue, and unity. This unity is also expressed through the motto on his papal coat of arms�In Illo uno unum (�In the One Christ we are one�), taken from a sermon by the Bishop of Hippo on Psalm 127.
Another Augustinian mark appears in his papal emblem: the heart burning with the arrow of the Word.
Building Bridges With Saint Augustine
Following in the footsteps of Saint Augustine, Leo XIV made a pastoral journey to Algeria from April 13 to 15 of this year, in the conviction that this Father of the Church �is still a very important figure today as his writings, teachings, spirituality, invitation to search for God and for the truth is something that is very much needed today,� as he told journalists during the flight from Algiers to Yaound�. He added that Augustine�s vision offers inspiration �to seek unity among all peoples and a respect for all peoples in spite of differences."
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