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<title>Philippine Examiner &#45; News Magazine &#45; : RELIGION</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/rss/category/religion</link>
<description>Philippine Examiner &#45; News Magazine &#45; : RELIGION</description>
<dc:language>en</dc:language>
<dc:rights>Copyright 2025 Philippine Examiner &#45; All Rights Reserved.</dc:rights>

<item>
<title>Media narrative about nuncio’s Pentagon meeting untrue, Vatican says</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/media-narrative-about-nuncios-pentagon-meeting-untrue-vatican-says</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/media-narrative-about-nuncios-pentagon-meeting-untrue-vatican-says</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Vatican responded to a media report claiming Cardinal Christophe Pierre, then-papal envoy to the U.S., received “a bitter lecture” in a meeting with U.S. defense officials. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 12 Apr 2026 16:02:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Media, narrative, about, nuncio’s, Pentagon, meeting, untrue, Vatican, says</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo names Father Andrea Ciucci chancellor of Pontifical Academy for Life</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-names-father-andrea-ciucci-chancellor-of-pontifical-academy-for-life</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-names-father-andrea-ciucci-chancellor-of-pontifical-academy-for-life</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Italian priest has served as the academy&#039;s secretariat coordinator since 2016. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 12 Apr 2026 16:02:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, names, Father, Andrea, Ciucci, chancellor, Pontifical, Academy, for, Life</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Chaldean Catholic bishops meet Pope Leo as they prepare to elect new patriarch</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/chaldean-catholic-bishops-meet-pope-leo-as-they-prepare-to-elect-new-patriarch</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/chaldean-catholic-bishops-meet-pope-leo-as-they-prepare-to-elect-new-patriarch</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The synod of Chaldean Catholic bishops is meeting in Rome this week to elect a new patriarch amid complex internal and national challenges. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 12 Apr 2026 16:02:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Chaldean, Catholic, bishops, meet, Pope, Leo, they, prepare, elect, new, patriarch</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV at Vatican peace vigil: &amp;apos;Enough of war!&amp;apos;</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-at-vatican-peace-vigil-enough-of-war</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-at-vatican-peace-vigil-enough-of-war</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Prayer is &quot;the most free, universal and disruptive response to death,&quot; the pope said in St. Peter&#039;s Basilica on Apr. 11. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 12 Apr 2026 16:02:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, Vatican, peace, vigil:, Enough, war</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>On Easter Monday, Pope Leo XIV remembers those ‘tormented’ by war: ‘The truth does not remain hidden’</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/on-easter-monday-pope-leo-xiv-remembers-those-tormented-by-war-the-truth-does-not-remain-hidden</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/on-easter-monday-pope-leo-xiv-remembers-those-tormented-by-war-the-truth-does-not-remain-hidden</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Upon the recitation of the Regina Caeli, the pope also remembered Pope Francis, who died a year ago on Easter Monday. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 09 Apr 2026 16:02:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Easter, Monday, Pope, Leo, XIV, remembers, those, ‘tormented’, war:, ‘The, truth, does, not, remain, hidden’</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV welcomes ceasefire in Iran as ‘sign of living hope’</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-welcomes-ceasefire-in-iran-as-sign-of-living-hope</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-welcomes-ceasefire-in-iran-as-sign-of-living-hope</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ “Only through a return to negotiation can the war come to an end,” the pope said at the end of his weekly general audience. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 09 Apr 2026 16:02:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, welcomes, ceasefire, Iran, ‘sign, living, hope’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope will address tensions between Christianity and Islam in Africa, Nigerian bishop says</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-will-address-tensions-between-christianity-and-islam-in-africa-nigerian-bishop-says</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-will-address-tensions-between-christianity-and-islam-in-africa-nigerian-bishop-says</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ An Augustinian confrere of Pope Leo XIV discussed the pontiff’s upcoming trip to four African countries. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 09 Apr 2026 16:02:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, will, address, tensions, between, Christianity, and, Islam, Africa, Nigerian, bishop, says</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Vatican urges Catholics not to leave Pope Leo XIV alone in opposing war</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/vatican-urges-catholics-not-to-leave-pope-leo-xiv-alone-in-opposing-war</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/vatican-urges-catholics-not-to-leave-pope-leo-xiv-alone-in-opposing-war</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Vatican Secretary of State said the pope’s appeals for peace need concrete support. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 09 Apr 2026 16:02:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Vatican, urges, Catholics, not, leave, Pope, Leo, XIV, alone, opposing, war</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Threat against entire people of Iran ‘not acceptable,’ Pope Leo XIV says</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/threat-against-entire-people-of-iran-not-acceptable-pope-leo-xiv-says</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/threat-against-entire-people-of-iran-not-acceptable-pope-leo-xiv-says</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Attacks on civilian infrastructure violate international law and are also a sign of hatred, division, and destruction, Pope Leo XIV said. “Let’s come back to the table,” he said. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 09 Apr 2026 16:02:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Threat, against, entire, people, Iran, ‘not, acceptable, ’, Pope, Leo, XIV, says</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>At the Colosseum, Pope Leo XIV urges the faithful to &amp;apos;live our lives as a journey&amp;apos; in Christ&amp;apos;s love</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/at-the-colosseum-pope-leo-xiv-urges-the-faithful-to-live-our-lives-as-a-journey-in-christs-love</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/at-the-colosseum-pope-leo-xiv-urges-the-faithful-to-live-our-lives-as-a-journey-in-christs-love</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Holy Father carried the cross at the Roman amphitheater on Good Friday, the first time a pope has done so in several years. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 06 Apr 2026 16:02:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>the, Colosseum, Pope, Leo, XIV, urges, the, faithful, live, our, lives, journey, Christs, love</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>At Easter Vigil, Pope Leo XIV calls for peace to &amp;apos;grow and flourish&amp;apos; throughout the world</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/at-easter-vigil-pope-leo-xiv-calls-for-peace-to-grow-and-flourish-throughout-the-world</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/at-easter-vigil-pope-leo-xiv-calls-for-peace-to-grow-and-flourish-throughout-the-world</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The ancient vigil &quot;stretches across the centuries as a path of reconciliation and grace,&quot; the pope said at the Vatican. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 06 Apr 2026 16:02:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
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</item>

<item>
<title>Pope at Easter: &amp;apos;May Christ, our Passover, bless us and give his peace to the whole world!&amp;apos;</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-at-easter-may-christ-our-passover-bless-us-and-give-his-peace-to-the-whole-world</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-at-easter-may-christ-our-passover-bless-us-and-give-his-peace-to-the-whole-world</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ On his first Easter as pontiff, Leo XIV urged Christians to bring the hope of the Resurrection into a world scarred by war, violence, and injustice. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 06 Apr 2026 16:02:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Easter:, May, Christ, our, Passover, bless, and, give, his, peace, the, whole, world</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>PHOTOS: Pope Leo XIV carries the cross at the Via Crucis in the Colosseum</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/photos-pope-leo-xiv-carries-the-cross-at-the-via-crucis-in-the-colosseum</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/photos-pope-leo-xiv-carries-the-cross-at-the-via-crucis-in-the-colosseum</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The pope personally carried the cross through every station of the Good Friday Way of the Cross at the Colosseum. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 06 Apr 2026 16:02:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
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</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV announces April 11 peace vigil at St. Peter’s</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-announces-april-11-peace-vigil-at-st-peters</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-announces-april-11-peace-vigil-at-st-peters</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ In his first Easter message to the city and the world, the pontiff urged those with weapons to lay them down. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 06 Apr 2026 16:02:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, announces, April, peace, vigil, St., Peter’s</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope says Christian mission counters ‘imperialist occupation of the world’</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-says-christian-mission-counters-imperialist-occupation-of-the-world</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-says-christian-mission-counters-imperialist-occupation-of-the-world</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ At the Holy Thursday chrism Mass, Leo XIV said the Church must reject domination, power, and “calculated strategy” in favor of humble service, unity, and peace. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 03 Apr 2026 16:02:09 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, says, Christian, mission, counters, ‘imperialist, occupation, the, world’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV: ‘Kneel down as brothers and sisters alongside the oppressed’</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-kneel-down-as-brothers-and-sisters-alongside-the-oppressed</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-kneel-down-as-brothers-and-sisters-alongside-the-oppressed</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ On Holy Thursday, the pontiff urged Catholics to imitate Christ’s service in a world marked by brutality. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 03 Apr 2026 16:02:09 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV:, ‘Kneel, down, brothers, and, sisters, alongside, the, oppressed’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>PHOTOS: Pope Leo XIV celebrates the Mass of the Lord’s Supper at the Vatican</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/photos-pope-leo-xiv-celebrates-the-mass-of-the-lords-supper-at-the-vatican</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/photos-pope-leo-xiv-celebrates-the-mass-of-the-lords-supper-at-the-vatican</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Departing from Pope Francis’ custom of celebrating the liturgy in prisons or migrant centers, Leo celebrated the rite in the cathedral of Rome and washed the feet of 12 priests of the Diocese of Rome. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 03 Apr 2026 16:02:09 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>PHOTOS:, Pope, Leo, XIV, celebrates, the, Mass, the, Lord’s, Supper, the, Vatican</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>PHOTOS: Holy Thursday chrism Mass at the Vatican</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/photos-holy-thursday-chrism-mass-at-the-vatican</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/photos-holy-thursday-chrism-mass-at-the-vatican</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Chrism Mass includes the blessing of the holy oils that will be used throughout the year in the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, anointing of the sick, and holy orders. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 03 Apr 2026 16:02:09 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>PHOTOS:, Holy, Thursday, chrism, Mass, the, Vatican</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope names Vatican diplomats to key positions in Secretariat of State, papal household</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-names-vatican-diplomats-to-key-positions-in-secretariat-of-state-papal-household</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-names-vatican-diplomats-to-key-positions-in-secretariat-of-state-papal-household</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Archbishop Paolo Rudelli is the new head of the general affairs section of the Secretariat of State and Archbishop Petar Rajič is the new prefect of the Papal Household. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 31 Mar 2026 16:02:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, names, Vatican, diplomats, key, positions, Secretariat, State, papal, household</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Cardinal of Tehran prays in Rome for ‘end to violence’ in Persian Gulf</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/cardinal-of-tehran-prays-in-rome-for-end-to-violence-in-persian-gulf</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/cardinal-of-tehran-prays-in-rome-for-end-to-violence-in-persian-gulf</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ In the Basilica of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme in Rome, Cardinal Dominique Mathieu, archbishop of Tehran-Isfahan, on Monday evening stood in prayer for peace. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 31 Mar 2026 16:02:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Cardinal, Tehran, prays, Rome, for, ‘end, violence’, Persian, Gulf</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Vatican affirms future of Anglican ordinariates: ‘A precious gift and a treasure to be shared’</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/vatican-affirms-future-of-anglican-ordinariates-a-precious-gift-and-a-treasure-to-be-shared</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/vatican-affirms-future-of-anglican-ordinariates-a-precious-gift-and-a-treasure-to-be-shared</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Bishop Steven Lopes welcomed a Vatican document as a significant encouragement, calling it “an exhortation to live this patrimony in all of its richness.” ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 31 Mar 2026 16:02:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Vatican, affirms, future, Anglican, ordinariates:, ‘A, precious, gift, and, treasure, shared’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Leo XIV: The most difficult circumstances can be transformed by the power of love</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/leo-xiv-the-most-difficult-circumstances-can-be-transformed-by-the-power-of-love</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/leo-xiv-the-most-difficult-circumstances-can-be-transformed-by-the-power-of-love</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ In an audience with the Illinois Municipal League, the pontiff said that Gospel values can be applied to city government to the benefit of the most vulnerable and for the common good. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 31 Mar 2026 16:02:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Leo, XIV:, The, most, difficult, circumstances, can, transformed, the, power, love</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Synod on Synodality proposes a Church ‘Observatory on Disability’</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/synod-on-synodality-proposes-a-church-observatory-on-disability</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/synod-on-synodality-proposes-a-church-observatory-on-disability</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The report is the conclusion of the work carried out by one of the 10 study groups created by Pope Francis in 2024 during the Synod on Synodality. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 28 Mar 2026 16:02:13 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Synod, Synodality, proposes, Church, ‘Observatory, Disability’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Asian Catholics pay tribute to late Vietnamese Cardinal Van Thuan</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/asian-catholics-pay-tribute-to-late-vietnamese-cardinal-van-thuan</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/asian-catholics-pay-tribute-to-late-vietnamese-cardinal-van-thuan</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Vatican held the “Cardinal Văn Thuận: Witness of Hope” conference at the Apostolic Palace of the Lateran in Rome on March 25. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 28 Mar 2026 16:02:13 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Asian, Catholics, pay, tribute, late, Vietnamese, Cardinal, Van, Thuan</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV set to meet with first female archbishop of Canterbury</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-set-to-meet-with-first-female-archbishop-of-canterbury</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-set-to-meet-with-first-female-archbishop-of-canterbury</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The announcement came just two days after Sarah Mullally’s installation as archbishop of Canterbury. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 28 Mar 2026 16:02:13 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, set, meet, with, first, female, archbishop, Canterbury</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo praises organ donation, warns about commodification of the body</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-praises-organ-donation-warns-about-commodification-of-the-body</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-praises-organ-donation-warns-about-commodification-of-the-body</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The audience with participants in an event organized by the Italian National Transplant Network took place March 26 at the Vatican. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 28 Mar 2026 16:02:13 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, praises, organ, donation, warns, about, commodification, the, body</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Mother Angelica’s enduring legacy celebrated at Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/mother-angelicas-enduring-legacy-celebrated-at-mass-at-st-peters-basilica</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/mother-angelicas-enduring-legacy-celebrated-at-mass-at-st-peters-basilica</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Mother Angelica knew from experience that “God works through humble, unexpected instruments to spread his Gospel,” said the principal celebrant at the Mass, Father Michael Baggot, LC. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 28 Mar 2026 16:02:13 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Mother, Angelica’s, enduring, legacy, celebrated, Mass, St., Peter’s, Basilica</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>From the altar to the track: Marathon&#45;running cardinal highlights spirituality of sport</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/from-the-altar-to-the-track-marathon-running-cardinal-highlights-spirituality-of-sport</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/from-the-altar-to-the-track-marathon-running-cardinal-highlights-spirituality-of-sport</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Cardinal Jean-Paul Vesco, the archbishop of Algiers, Algeria, said running is for him a “school of prayer.” ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 25 Mar 2026 16:02:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>From, the, altar, the, track:, Marathon-running, cardinal, highlights, spirituality, sport</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Exorcists urge pope to appoint trained practitioners in every diocese</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/exorcists-urge-pope-to-appoint-trained-practitioners-in-every-diocese</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/exorcists-urge-pope-to-appoint-trained-practitioners-in-every-diocese</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ An exorcist group said growing occult practices and spiritual harm highlight the need for trained priests and better formation. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 25 Mar 2026 16:02:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Exorcists, urge, pope, appoint, trained, practitioners, every, diocese</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV warns children should not look to chatbots for friendship</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-warns-children-should-not-look-to-chatbots-for-friendship</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-warns-children-should-not-look-to-chatbots-for-friendship</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The pope cautioned that AI risks dulling young people’s intelligence, relationships, and creativity. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 25 Mar 2026 16:02:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, warns, children, should, not, look, chatbots, for, friendship</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Yad Vashem chief: Holocaust memory is key to fighting antisemitism</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/yad-vashem-chief-holocaust-memory-is-key-to-fighting-antisemitism</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/yad-vashem-chief-holocaust-memory-is-key-to-fighting-antisemitism</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Dani Dayan spoke after meeting Pope Leo XIV, saying antisemitism is “bigotry” independent of Israeli policy. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 25 Mar 2026 16:02:04 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Yad, Vashem, chief:, Holocaust, memory, key, fighting, antisemitism</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Vatican secretary of state urges end to Iran war, warns of escalation</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/vatican-secretary-of-state-urges-end-to-iran-war-warns-of-escalation</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/vatican-secretary-of-state-urges-end-to-iran-war-warns-of-escalation</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Cardinal Pietro Parolin said he would tell Trump and Israel to “stop as soon as possible.” ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 22 Mar 2026 16:02:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Vatican, secretary, state, urges, end, Iran, war, warns, escalation</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>EWTN News explains: What is the ‘papal almoner’?</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/ewtn-news-explains-what-is-the-papal-almoner</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/ewtn-news-explains-what-is-the-papal-almoner</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The papal almoner is a key position in the Vatican, one that has played a vital role in the Church and its charitable undertakings for centuries. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 22 Mar 2026 16:02:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>EWTN, News, explains:, What, the, ‘papal, almoner’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Vatican urges Catholic organizations to divest from mining sector for the common good</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/vatican-urges-catholic-organizations-to-divest-from-mining-sector-for-the-common-good</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/vatican-urges-catholic-organizations-to-divest-from-mining-sector-for-the-common-good</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Around 40 faith-based organizations are participating in the &quot;Platform for Divestment in the Mining Industry,&quot; meeting March 19–21 in Rome. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 22 Mar 2026 16:02:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Vatican, urges, Catholic, organizations, divest, from, mining, sector, for, the, common, good</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Leo XIV to journalists: War is not a video game; guard against propaganda, verify the news</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/leo-xiv-to-journalists-war-is-not-a-video-game-guard-against-propaganda-verify-the-news</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/leo-xiv-to-journalists-war-is-not-a-video-game-guard-against-propaganda-verify-the-news</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV exhorted journalists to fact-check the news and show the true face of war. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2026 16:02:13 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Leo, XIV, journalists:, War, not, video, game, guard, against, propaganda, verify, the, news</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>At a time of conflict, Pope Leo sends a bridge&#45;builder to the United States</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/at-a-time-of-conflict-pope-leo-sends-a-bridge-builder-to-the-united-states</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/at-a-time-of-conflict-pope-leo-sends-a-bridge-builder-to-the-united-states</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, the new papal envoy to Washington, has been shaped by a diplomatic career in geopolitical hot spots. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2026 16:02:13 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>time, conflict, Pope, Leo, sends, bridge-builder, the, United, States</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Vatican court orders partial retrial in ‘trial of the century’ finance case</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/vatican-court-orders-partial-retrial-in-trial-of-the-century-finance-case</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/vatican-court-orders-partial-retrial-in-trial-of-the-century-finance-case</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Judges cite procedural flaws tied to papal decrees, requiring renewed proceedings while leaving prior convictions formally intact. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2026 16:02:13 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Vatican, court, orders, partial, retrial, ‘trial, the, century’, finance, case</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Holy See calls on UN to eradicate surrogacy ‘in all its forms’</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/holy-see-calls-on-un-to-eradicate-surrogacy-in-all-its-forms</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/holy-see-calls-on-un-to-eradicate-surrogacy-in-all-its-forms</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, the Holy See’s permanent observer to the United Nations, laid out the economic reasons surrogacy exists, the harm it does, and why it is wrong. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2026 16:02:13 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Holy, See, calls, eradicate, surrogacy, ‘in, all, its, forms’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV: ‘Each baptized person is an active agent of evangelization’</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-each-baptized-person-is-an-active-agent-of-evangelization</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-each-baptized-person-is-an-active-agent-of-evangelization</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The pope’s message at the general audience focused on the “communion of the faithful” as taught in the second chapter of Lumen Gentium. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2026 16:02:13 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV:, ‘Each, baptized, person, active, agent, evangelization’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Vatican promoting dialogue on Cuba, Cardinal Parolin says</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/vatican-promoting-dialogue-on-cuba-cardinal-parolin-says</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/vatican-promoting-dialogue-on-cuba-cardinal-parolin-says</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Vatican secretary of state pointed to recent contacts with Cuban and U.S. officials as the Holy See seeks a dialogue-based solution on the island. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 12 Mar 2026 16:02:09 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Vatican, promoting, dialogue, Cuba, Cardinal, Parolin, says</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo calls Maronite priest killed in bombing ‘a true shepherd’</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-calls-maronite-priest-killed-in-bombing-a-true-shepherd</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-calls-maronite-priest-killed-in-bombing-a-true-shepherd</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ “I am close to all the Lebanese people at this time of grave trial,” the pope said on March 11. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 12 Mar 2026 16:02:09 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, calls, Maronite, priest, killed, bombing, ‘a, true, shepherd’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>The religious sisters in Vatican leadership</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/the-religious-sisters-in-vatican-leadership</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/the-religious-sisters-in-vatican-leadership</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The percentage of Vatican employees who are women grew from 19.2% to 23.4% during the first decade of the last pontificate. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 12 Mar 2026 16:02:09 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>The, religious, sisters, Vatican, leadership</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Synod calls for more leadership roles for women but female diaconate ‘not yet ripe’</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/synod-calls-for-more-leadership-roles-for-women-but-female-diaconate-not-yet-ripe</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/synod-calls-for-more-leadership-roles-for-women-but-female-diaconate-not-yet-ripe</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Synod on Synodality’s study group on “Women’s Participation in the Life and Leadership of the Church” has issued its final report, calling for expanded leadership roles for women in the Church. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 12 Mar 2026 16:02:09 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Synod, calls, for, more, leadership, roles, for, women, but, female, diaconate, ‘not, yet, ripe’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Tehran cardinal meets with Pope Leo XIV after being evacuated from Iran</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/tehran-cardinal-meets-with-pope-leo-xiv-after-being-evacuated-from-iran</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/tehran-cardinal-meets-with-pope-leo-xiv-after-being-evacuated-from-iran</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Archbishop of Tehran-Isfahan Cardinal Dominique Mathieu witnessed the first days of military clashes in the Iranian capital. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 12 Mar 2026 16:02:09 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Tehran, cardinal, meets, with, Pope, Leo, XIV, after, being, evacuated, from, Iran</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Father Pasolini at the Vatican: Conversion and humility are paths to peace in times of conflict</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/father-pasolini-at-the-vatican-conversion-and-humility-are-paths-to-peace-in-times-of-conflict</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/father-pasolini-at-the-vatican-conversion-and-humility-are-paths-to-peace-in-times-of-conflict</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ In a Lenten sermon to the pope, Roman Curia, and Vatican employees, Capuchin friar Father Roberto Pasolini drew the connection between humility, conversion, and peace in life of St. Francis of Assisi. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 09 Mar 2026 16:02:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Father, Pasolini, the, Vatican:, Conversion, and, humility, are, paths, peace, times, conflict</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV appoints new envoy to the U.S.</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-appoints-new-envoy-to-the-us</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-appoints-new-envoy-to-the-us</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Archbishop Gabriele Giordano Caccia has till now served as the Vatican&#039;s representative to the United Nations in New York. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 09 Mar 2026 16:02:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, appoints, new, envoy, the, U.S.</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Large family with 13&#45;year&#45;old in seminary and a baby named Leo touches pope’s heart</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/large-family-with-13-year-old-in-seminary-and-a-baby-named-leo-touches-popes-heart</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/large-family-with-13-year-old-in-seminary-and-a-baby-named-leo-touches-popes-heart</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ When their 13-year-old son entered the minor seminary, his parents had no idea that one day the whole family would meet Pope Leo XIV, an encounter that was a special blessing for them all. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 09 Mar 2026 16:02:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Large, family, with, 13-year-old, seminary, and, baby, named, Leo, touches, pope’s, heart</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo says parishes should reflect a Church that ‘cares for her children’</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-says-parishes-should-reflect-a-church-that-cares-for-her-children</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-says-parishes-should-reflect-a-church-that-cares-for-her-children</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The pontiff encouraged a Rome parish facing poverty and social challenges to show its closeness to those wounded and searching for hope. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 09 Mar 2026 16:02:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, says, parishes, should, reflect, Church, that, ‘cares, for, her, children’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV warns of wider Middle East conflict</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-warns-of-wider-middle-east-conflict</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-warns-of-wider-middle-east-conflict</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ At his Sunday Angelus, the pope voiced alarm over violence and fear spreading from Iran across the region. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 09 Mar 2026 16:02:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, warns, wider, Middle, East, conflict</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Vatican secretary of state warns of Iran escalation</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/vatican-secretary-of-state-warns-of-iran-escalation</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/vatican-secretary-of-state-warns-of-iran-escalation</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Cardinal Pietro Parolin says sidelining international law and embracing “preventive war” could ignite a broader conflict and deepen civilian suffering. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 06 Mar 2026 16:04:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Vatican, secretary, state, warns, Iran, escalation</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>A pope’s magnificent bet on a young Bernini</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/a-popes-magnificent-bet-on-a-young-bernini</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/a-popes-magnificent-bet-on-a-young-bernini</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ An exhibition in Rome traces how Pope Urban VIII backed the 25-year-old artist behind St. Peter’s soaring bronze canopy — and the decade-long project that helped define Baroque Catholicism. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 06 Mar 2026 16:04:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>pope’s, magnificent, bet, young, Bernini</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>This is Pope Leo XIV’s prayer intention for the month of March</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/this-is-pope-leo-xivs-prayer-intention-for-the-month-of-march</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/this-is-pope-leo-xivs-prayer-intention-for-the-month-of-march</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ In a video released on X, the Holy Father posed a question to the faithful: “Would you imagine what a world without wars would be like? A world without the terror of approaching explosions?” ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 06 Mar 2026 16:04:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>This, Pope, Leo, XIV’s, prayer, intention, for, the, month, March</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Holy See to UN: Christians are the most persecuted community in the world</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/holy-see-to-un-christians-are-the-most-persecuted-community-in-the-world</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/holy-see-to-un-christians-are-the-most-persecuted-community-in-the-world</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Holy See’s permanent observer to the UN provided statistics demonstrating the extent of the persecution of Christians worldwide. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 06 Mar 2026 16:04:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Holy, See, UN:, Christians, are, the, most, persecuted, community, the, world</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Vatican synod report urges women’s input in preparing future priests</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/vatican-synod-report-urges-womens-input-in-preparing-future-priests</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/vatican-synod-report-urges-womens-input-in-preparing-future-priests</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The report also warns seminaries must not become an “artificial environment” detached from the ordinary life of the faithful. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 06 Mar 2026 16:04:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Vatican, synod, report, urges, women’s, input, preparing, future, priests</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Vatican issues stamp honoring Ukrainian Catholics as war enters fourth year</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/vatican-issues-stamp-honoring-ukrainian-catholics-as-war-enters-fourth-year</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/vatican-issues-stamp-honoring-ukrainian-catholics-as-war-enters-fourth-year</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The stamp features the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Kyiv. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 03 Mar 2026 16:01:11 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Vatican, issues, stamp, honoring, Ukrainian, Catholics, war, enters, fourth, year</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV thanks preacher at end of Lenten exercises</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-thanks-preacher-at-end-of-lenten-exercises</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-thanks-preacher-at-end-of-lenten-exercises</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Bishop Erik Varden closed a weeklong retreat for the Roman Curia with meditations on the cross and hope. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 03 Mar 2026 16:01:11 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, thanks, preacher, end, Lenten, exercises</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV urges ‘unconditional love’ amid hardship</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-urges-unconditional-love-amid-hardship</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-urges-unconditional-love-amid-hardship</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Visiting a parish in Rome, the pope preached on the Transfiguration and Abraham’s journey of faith. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 03 Mar 2026 16:01:11 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, urges, ‘unconditional, love’, amid, hardship</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV promulgates new statutes for Pontifical Academy for Life</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-promulgates-new-statutes-for-pontifical-academy-for-life</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-promulgates-new-statutes-for-pontifical-academy-for-life</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The new statues introduce the new role of “supporters” who, while not academics, identify with the academy’s mission and “contribute to the advancement of its academic activities.” ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 03 Mar 2026 16:01:11 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, promulgates, new, statutes, for, Pontifical, Academy, for, Life</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV eliminates committee created by Francis for World Children’s Day</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-eliminates-committee-created-by-francis-for-world-childrens-day</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-eliminates-committee-created-by-francis-for-world-childrens-day</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV has eliminated the Pontifical Committee for World Children’s Day, transferring the committee’s functions to the Dicastery for the Laity, the Family, and Life. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 19 Feb 2026 16:00:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, eliminates, committee, created, Francis, for, World, Children’s, Day</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>‘Aventine procession’: A centuries&#45;old tradition Pope Leo XIV will lead for the first time</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/aventine-procession-a-centuries-old-tradition-pope-leo-xiv-will-lead-for-the-first-time</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/aventine-procession-a-centuries-old-tradition-pope-leo-xiv-will-lead-for-the-first-time</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The brief Ash Wednesday walk between two hilltop basilicas marks the start of Lent in Rome. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 19 Feb 2026 16:00:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>‘Aventine, procession’:, centuries-old, tradition, Pope, Leo, XIV, will, lead, for, the, first, time</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>St. Peter’s marks 400 years with newly opened areas and digital access</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/st-peters-marks-400-years-with-newly-opened-areas-and-digital-access</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/st-peters-marks-400-years-with-newly-opened-areas-and-digital-access</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Vatican will open new parts of St. Peter’s — including the full terrace — and roll out a “SmartPass” digital entry system as it marks the basilica’s 400th anniversary. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 19 Feb 2026 16:00:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>St., Peter’s, marks, 400, years, with, newly, opened, areas, and, digital, access</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Vatican official says Notre Dame controversy shows need for dialogue on abortion</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/vatican-official-says-notre-dame-controversy-shows-need-for-dialogue-on-abortion</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/vatican-official-says-notre-dame-controversy-shows-need-for-dialogue-on-abortion</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Church should engage with universities about how to take “an ethical approach” to the dignity of unborn life, the president of the Pontifical Academy for Life said. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 19 Feb 2026 16:00:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Vatican, official, says, Notre, Dame, controversy, shows, need, for, dialogue, abortion</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope proposes Lenten ‘fast’ from hurtful words</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-proposes-lenten-fast-from-hurtful-words</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-proposes-lenten-fast-from-hurtful-words</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV urges Catholics to listen more closely to God and others — and to “disarm” their language by fasting from words that wound — in his message for Lent 2026. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 16 Feb 2026 16:00:08 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, proposes, Lenten, ‘fast’, from, hurtful, words</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope’s visit brings hope to seaside community challenged by drugs, prostitution</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/popes-visit-brings-hope-to-seaside-community-challenged-by-drugs-prostitution</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/popes-visit-brings-hope-to-seaside-community-challenged-by-drugs-prostitution</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ A popular summer destination for tourists, Ostia will be the first of five parishes where the pope, as bishop of Rome, will celebrate Mass on Sundays in February and March. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 16 Feb 2026 16:00:08 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope’s, visit, brings, hope, seaside, community, challenged, drugs, prostitution</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>‘It was the best thing I’ve ever done’: Abuse victim details papal meeting</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/it-was-the-best-thing-ive-ever-done-abuse-victim-details-papal-meeting</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/it-was-the-best-thing-ive-ever-done-abuse-victim-details-papal-meeting</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ David Ryan, a 61-year-old Irishman who suffered sexual abuse as a teenager, shared his story face-to-face with Pope Leo XIV, the first time the pope met with a victim individually. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 16 Feb 2026 16:00:08 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>‘It, was, the, best, thing, I’ve, ever, done’:, Abuse, victim, details, papal, meeting</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV, in first Roman parish visit, calls for ‘disarming’ meekness</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-in-first-roman-parish-visit-calls-for-disarming-meekness</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-in-first-roman-parish-visit-calls-for-disarming-meekness</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The pontiff urged “coherence between faith and life” and persistent prayer for peace. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 16 Feb 2026 16:00:08 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, first, Roman, parish, visit, calls, for, ‘disarming’, meekness</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV prays for Madagascar after twin cyclones</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-prays-for-madagascar-after-twin-cyclones</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-prays-for-madagascar-after-twin-cyclones</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ In his catechesis before the Angelus, Leo said Jesus fulfills the Law by calling Christians beyond minimal righteousness to great love. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 16 Feb 2026 16:00:08 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, prays, for, Madagascar, after, twin, cyclones</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV: ‘The Church is the rightful home of sacred Scripture’</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-the-church-is-the-rightful-home-of-sacred-scripture</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-the-church-is-the-rightful-home-of-sacred-scripture</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV spoke about sacred Scripture during his weekly audience with pilgrims in the Vatican. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 13 Feb 2026 16:00:10 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV:, ‘The, Church, the, rightful, home, sacred, Scripture’</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Archbishop Checchio takes helm in New Orleans as pope accepts Archbishop Aymond’s resignation</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/archbishop-checchio-takes-helm-in-new-orleans-as-pope-accepts-archbishop-aymonds-resignation</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/archbishop-checchio-takes-helm-in-new-orleans-as-pope-accepts-archbishop-aymonds-resignation</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV appointed Archbishop James Checchio coadjutor archbishop of New Orleans in September 2025 to automatically succeed the 76-year-old Archbishop Gregory Aymond upon his retirement. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 13 Feb 2026 16:00:10 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Archbishop, Checchio, takes, helm, New, Orleans, pope, accepts, Archbishop, Aymond’s, resignation</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Jubilee 2033: Rift between Moscow and Constantinople patriarchates threatens ecumenical progress</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/jubilee-2033-rift-between-moscow-and-constantinople-patriarchates-threatens-ecumenical-progress</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/jubilee-2033-rift-between-moscow-and-constantinople-patriarchates-threatens-ecumenical-progress</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The 2033 Jubilee will commemorate the bimillennium of the Redemption but the main ecumenical obstacle is the rift between the Russian Orthodox Patriarchate and the Patriarchate of Constantinople. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 13 Feb 2026 16:00:10 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Jubilee, 2033:, Rift, between, Moscow, and, Constantinople, patriarchates, threatens, ecumenical, progress</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Vatican offers talks with Society of St. Pius X, warns illicit consecrations would end dialogue</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/vatican-offers-talks-with-society-of-st-pius-x-warns-illicit-consecrations-would-end-dialogue</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/vatican-offers-talks-with-society-of-st-pius-x-warns-illicit-consecrations-would-end-dialogue</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Vatican’s doctrinal office told a traditionalist group that consecrating bishops without a papal mandate would mean a “decisive rupture” of communion. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 13 Feb 2026 16:00:10 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Vatican, offers, talks, with, Society, St., Pius, warns, illicit, consecrations, would, end, dialogue</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Vatican bank launches 2 new equity indexes aligned with Catholic principles</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/vatican-bank-launches-2-new-equity-indexes-aligned-with-catholic-principles</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/vatican-bank-launches-2-new-equity-indexes-aligned-with-catholic-principles</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Two indexes with 50 companies each that adhere to Catholic social teachings were announced by the Vatican Bank in order to promote ethical Catholic investing. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 13 Feb 2026 16:00:10 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Vatican, bank, launches, new, equity, indexes, aligned, with, Catholic, principles</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Cuba’s bishops headed to Vatican this month to meet with Pope Leo XIV</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/cubas-bishops-headed-to-vatican-this-month-to-meet-with-pope-leo-xiv</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/cubas-bishops-headed-to-vatican-this-month-to-meet-with-pope-leo-xiv</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The country’s bishops will travel to Rome from Feb. 16–20 to present to Pope Leo XIV “the vicissitudes, sorrows, joys, and hopes of the Church in Cuba.” ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 10 Feb 2026 16:00:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Cuba’s, bishops, headed, Vatican, this, month, meet, with, Pope, Leo, XIV</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV prays for victims of attacks in Nigeria</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-prays-for-victims-of-attacks-in-nigeria</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-prays-for-victims-of-attacks-in-nigeria</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ In his Angelus catechesis, the pope said true joy is found in communion with Christ and lived through concrete acts of charity. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 10 Feb 2026 16:00:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, prays, for, victims, attacks, Nigeria</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV approves new statutes of Pontifical International Marian Academy</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-approves-new-statutes-of-pontifical-international-marian-academy</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-approves-new-statutes-of-pontifical-international-marian-academy</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV approved the new statutes of the Pontifical International Marian Academy, founded to promote and coordinate Mariological and Marian studies worldwide. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 10 Feb 2026 16:00:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, approves, new, statutes, Pontifical, International, Marian, Academy</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV laments lack of progress in protecting children</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-laments-lack-of-progress-in-protecting-children</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-laments-lack-of-progress-in-protecting-children</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The pontiff told organizers of a Vatican-backed initiative that global crises are still leaving many children in extreme poverty. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1770301051/_SIM8301_1_fcrj0c.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 07 Feb 2026 16:00:13 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, laments, lack, progress, protecting, children</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV, with Eastern Orthodox, urges Christians to strengthen unity</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-with-eastern-orthodox-urges-christians-to-strengthen-unity</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-with-eastern-orthodox-urges-christians-to-strengthen-unity</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The pontiff said Christians grow closer when they deepen their shared faith in Christ, “the ultimate source of our peace.” ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1770309980/_RIS6159_xqdovt.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 07 Feb 2026 16:00:13 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, with, Eastern, Orthodox, urges, Christians, strengthen, unity</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope calls for Olympic Truce in letter for Winter Games</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-calls-for-olympic-truce-in-letter-for-winter-games</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-calls-for-olympic-truce-in-letter-for-winter-games</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The pontiff warned that profit, doping, and fanaticism can distort sport’s deeper human purpose. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 07 Feb 2026 16:00:13 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, calls, for, Olympic, Truce, letter, for, Winter, Games</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Leo XIV meets with founder of Sant’Egidio Community</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/leo-xiv-meets-with-founder-of-santegidio-community</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/leo-xiv-meets-with-founder-of-santegidio-community</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV and Sant’Egidio Community founder Andrea Riccardi discussed the role Christians and the Church are called to play in promoting peace in the midst of various world conflicts. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1770402405/papa-1770308036_kv8se3.webp" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 07 Feb 2026 16:00:13 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Leo, XIV, meets, with, founder, Sant’Egidio, Community</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>‘Historic occasion’: Pope Leo XIV meets with same&#45;sex attraction ministry Courage International</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/historic-occasion-pope-leo-xiv-meets-with-same-sex-attraction-ministry-courage-international</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/historic-occasion-pope-leo-xiv-meets-with-same-sex-attraction-ministry-courage-international</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ “We talked about the importance of chastity, how it heals and strengthens and restores the person,&quot; said Courage International Executive Director Father Brian Gannon. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1770396204/Father.Brian.Gannon_ehzeja.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sat, 07 Feb 2026 16:00:13 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>‘Historic, occasion’:, Pope, Leo, XIV, meets, with, same-sex, attraction, ministry, Courage, International</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>St. John Henry Newman is added to the General Roman Calendar: What does it mean?</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/st-john-henry-newman-is-added-to-the-general-roman-calendar-what-does-it-mean</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/st-john-henry-newman-is-added-to-the-general-roman-calendar-what-does-it-mean</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The English saint, proclaimed a doctor of the Church by Pope Leo XIV in November 2025, is honored every Oct. 9. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1770138336/GettyImages-1180754232_et8db5.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 04 Feb 2026 16:00:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>St., John, Henry, Newman, added, the, General, Roman, Calendar:, What, does, mean</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Rome events to highlight World Day Against Human Trafficking</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/rome-events-to-highlight-world-day-against-human-trafficking</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/rome-events-to-highlight-world-day-against-human-trafficking</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ From Feb. 4–8, the Catholic Church will mobilize with a series of activities in Rome in support of human dignity and peace. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 04 Feb 2026 16:00:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Rome, events, highlight, World, Day, Against, Human, Trafficking</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo appoints Sister Raffaella Petrini as a member of Commission on Reserved Matters</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-appoints-sister-raffaella-petrini-as-a-member-of-commission-on-reserved-matters</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-appoints-sister-raffaella-petrini-as-a-member-of-commission-on-reserved-matters</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV has appointed Sister Raffaella Petrini as a member of the Commission for Reserved Matters, which is responsible for awarding financial contracts in confidential areas of the Vatican. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://res.cloudinary.com/ewtn/image/upload/v1770142187/Raffaela_Petrini_mnllk1.webp" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 04 Feb 2026 16:00:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, appoints, Sister, Raffaella, Petrini, member, Commission, Reserved, Matters</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>This is the pope’s prayer intention for the month of February</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/this-is-the-popes-prayer-intention-for-the-month-of-february</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/this-is-the-popes-prayer-intention-for-the-month-of-february</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV’s prayer intention for the month of February is for children with incurable diseases. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 04 Feb 2026 16:00:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>This, the, pope’s, prayer, intention, for, the, month, February</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Money is A Moral Question</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/money-is-a-moral-question</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/money-is-a-moral-question</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Money is not neutral. It never has been. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://catholics.news/uploads/images/202601/image_870x580_6977ac51c2db5.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Tue, 27 Jan 2026 16:00:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Money, Moral, Question</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Why the Church dedicates a week of prayer for Christian unity</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/why-the-church-dedicates-a-week-of-prayer-for-christian-unity</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/why-the-church-dedicates-a-week-of-prayer-for-christian-unity</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Dominican Father Nelson Medina discusses this year’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. | Credit: “EWTN Noticias”/Screenshot

Jan 22, 2026 / 10:00 am (CNA).
Friar Nelson Medina, a Colombian Dominican priest who holds a doctorate in fundamental theology, explained why it is important for the Catholic Church to celebrate and promote a     Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (Jan. 18–25), which in 2026 has the theme “One Body, One Spirit.”“There are two reasons, one theological and one biblical, both extremely important. The theological reason is that the fruit of sin is always division, and therefore the victory over sin is always unity around the truth and love in Christ,” the priest emphasized in an interview with “EWTN Noticias,” the Spanish-language broadcast edition of EWTN News.“Then we have a biblical reason, which is that Christ Our Lord, as appears in chapter 17 of the Gospel according to St. John, prayed precisely for this intention. It is clear that it was from the depths of his heart, precisely in the hours leading up to his sorrowful passion and therefore to our redemption,” Medina emphasized.“So it is something that God wants, it is a common objective for the Church, and it is an initiative to which we should all unite.”Regarding the theme of this year’s week of prayer — “One Body, One Spirit” — the friar emphasized that “it is very interesting to see the Church from this dual perspective ... When we speak of unity in the Spirit, we are talking about that working [of the Spirit] which is interior, because the Spirit precisely comes into our hearts, as Romans 5:5 says.”“But then the unity of the body is also necessary, that is, a unity that is visible. It’s not just that we have general charity towards other people; it’s that it is visibly evident that we believe in the same God, that we believe in the same Scripture, and that we celebrate the same sacraments with a common understanding and truth,” the Dominican priest pointed out.What is the aim of Christian unity?On this point, Medina emphasized “the ecumenism of theology; serious theological study is truly indispensable, especially to avoid superficiality. Sometimes people think that for there to be ecumenism, it’s enough for us to simply get together, share a meal, and take a nice picture with people smiling. That’s not the case.”The Dominican priest explained that this unity helps address serious issues such as “gender ideology, the disregard for the dignity of human life with euthanasia, and all pro-life issues. It is necessary that, together with other Christians, and even with people of other religious beliefs, when appropriate, we understand that we are on the same side.”“And we shouldn’t underestimate this effort for the causes of defending life, ecology, and justice because in this collaborative work, prejudices are often broken down and doors are opened,” he emphasized.Regarding the work of priests, Medina continued, this unity among Christians is also important, because “we priests have quite a lot of work to do, because I think we move between two extremes ... on the one hand, parishes where nothing is done [for Christian unity], apart from perhaps putting up a poster on the parish bulletin board; nothing else is done. And others where a lot is done, but sometimes causing confusion.”“And this, too, we must warn against as a danger. For example, I learned of a case where some religious invited Anglicans to attend, and then everyone started receiving Communion, as if full Eucharistic unity had already been achieved,” he recalled.That, the Dominican priest lamented, “which should have been a very beautiful ceremony, ended up being a source of scandal for many people.”Medina noted that “formation is needed. It is a noble ideal, a pressing and unavoidable task for the Church, but it must, of course, have very clear parameters and guidelines from our pastors so that it does not end up being a fleeting enthusiasm, but also so that it does not produce this type of doctrinal or liturgical confusion.”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. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 24 Jan 2026 16:01:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Why, the, Church, dedicates, week, prayer, for, Christian, unity</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV to French Catholic media: Keep the heart of communication in an age of AI</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-to-french-catholic-media-keep-the-heart-of-communication-in-an-age-of-ai</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-to-french-catholic-media-keep-the-heart-of-communication-in-an-age-of-ai</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV waves to crowds in St. Peter’s Square after praying the Angelus on Jan. 18, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media

Jan 22, 2026 / 04:45 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV urged Catholic journalists to double down on truth, human connection, and the voices of the vulnerable as artificial intelligence reshapes the communications landscape.In a message signed by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin on the pope’s behalf, Leo addressed the Fédération des Médias Catholiques ahead of its Saint François de Sales gathering in Lourdes, scheduled for Jan. 21–23.“To face this era marked — including in the world of communications — by the rise of artificial intelligence, we urgently need to return to what matters most: matters of the heart, the centrality of good relationships, and the ability to connect with others without excluding anyone,” the pope’s message said. That call, he added, is answered by “the service to truth that Catholic media can offer everyone, including those who do not believe.”The pope specifically encouraged Catholic communications professionals to be “sowers of good words” and to amplify voices “that courageously seek reconciliation,” helping to “disarm hearts filled with hatred and fanaticism” in a world he described as “fragmented and polarized.”He also urged journalists to tune in to those most likely to be overlooked.The message called on Catholic media to act like antennas, picking up and passing along “the experiences of the vulnerable, the marginalized, those who are alone — and those who need to discover the joy of feeling loved.”Leo’s message also pointed to Father Jacques Hamel, the French priest murdered at the altar while celebrating Mass in Saint-Étienne-du-Rouvray on July 26, 2016. He was killed by two attackers who pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group; both were later shot dead by police.Noting that the federation has created an award in Hamel’s honor for journalists committed to peace and interreligious dialogue, the pope wrote that Hamel “was a witness to the faith, even to the point of death,” and believed deeply in dialogue and “patient, mutual listening.” He was convinced, the message said, that it is urgent “to know how to be close to others, without exception.”This story     was first published by ACI Stampa, the Italian-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 24 Jan 2026 16:01:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, French, Catholic, media:, Keep, the, heart, communication, age</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV receives lambs on feast of St. Agnes</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-receives-lambs-on-feast-of-st-agnes</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-receives-lambs-on-feast-of-st-agnes</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV meets a pair of lambs blessed for the feast of the Roman virgin and martyr St. Agnes in the Urban VIII Chapel in the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace on Jan. 21, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media

Jan 21, 2026 / 10:30 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday received a pair of lambs to be blessed for the feast day of the Roman virgin and martyr St. Agnes — the first time a pope has welcomed lambs at the Vatican, part of a centuries-old tradition, since 2017.The presentation took place in the 17th-century Urban VIII Chapel in the Apostolic Palace, where the lambs’ bleats punctuated the brief ceremony Jan. 21. The wool of the blessed lambs will be used to make pallia — narrow white vestments worn by metropolitan archbishops.It was a tradition for the pope to bless the lambs every year on the feast of St. Agnes until Pope Francis discontinued the practice after 2017.Pope Leo XIV meets a pair of lambs blessed for the feast of the Roman virgin and martyr St. Agnes in the Urban VIII Chapel in the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace on Jan. 21, 2026. | Credit: Vatican MediaSt. Agnes, who was killed in Rome in A.D. 304 at the age of 12 or 13 for being a Christian, is associated with the lamb as a symbol of her purity and because her name means “lamb” in Latin.The lambs — carried in baskets dressed in white with red roses for St. Agnes’ virginity and martyrdom — were later blessed in the Mausoleum of Constantina, an ancient church close to the Minor Basilica of St. Agnes Outside the Walls, which is temporarily closed.The Benedictine nuns of the Basilica of St. Cecilia will take over care of the lambs, shearing them during Holy Week, then weaving their wool into pallia, which the pope will bestow on new metropolitan archbishops on June 29, the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul.Pope Leo XIV meets a pair of lambs blessed for the feast of the Roman virgin and martyr St. Agnes in the Urban VIII Chapel in the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace on Jan. 21, 2026. | Credit: Vatican MediaThe pallium is a narrow, circular band of white wool with pendants hanging down the front and the back. It is adorned with six small black crosses and three pins (called spinulae), which resemble both thorns and the nails used to crucify Jesus.It is bestowed on the Latin-rite patriarch of Jerusalem and metropolitan archbishops — the diocesan archbishops of the primary city of an ecclesiastical province or region — as a symbol of communion, authority, and unity with the pope and his pastoral mission to be a shepherd for the people of God. The pope also wears the pallium over his chasuble when he is celebrating Mass.Before the vestments are bestowed on the metropolitan archbishops, they are placed for a time in a spot near the tomb of St. Peter, under the main altar of St. Peter’s Basilica, to reinforce the bishop’s connection to Peter through apostolic succession. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 24 Jan 2026 16:01:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, receives, lambs, feast, St., Agnes</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Former U.S. ambassador to Holy See weighs in on Vatican diplomacy in Venezuela, U.S.</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/former-us-ambassador-to-holy-see-weighs-in-on-vatican-diplomacy-in-venezuela-us</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/former-us-ambassador-to-holy-see-weighs-in-on-vatican-diplomacy-in-venezuela-us</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Former United States Ambassador to the Holy See Francis Rooney speaks to “EWTN News Nightly” anchor Catherine Hadro on Monday, May 12, 2025. | Credit: “EWTN News Nightly”/Screenshot

Jan 17, 2026 / 10:00 am (CNA).
Francis Rooney, former U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, said Pope Leo XIV’s papacy marks a period of opportunity for the Church in the U.S. in an interview this week with “EWTN News In Depth.”The former diplomat and congressman highlighted Leo’s measured approach to diplomacy in light of U.S. involvement in Venezuela. “He’s always calm, he’s always careful, and he’s very judicious in his comments,&quot; Rooney said in a report that aired Jan. 16.“The Holy See has a long tradition of intervening in hostage situations and situations of marginalized people or people under great stress and change, like a regime change,” Rooney said.The Vatican’s move to host opposition leader María Corina Machado this week, he said, likely had diplomatic intentions to strengthen her standing. “I think it’s predictable that [Pope Leo XIV] would want to shore up her position on the international stage as well as he can,” Rooney said. “So a pre-Trump meeting with the Holy Father is a global expression of her importance right now.”Reacting to     a speech by Pope Leo     to diplomats at the Vatican, during which the Holy Father lamented that “peace is no longer sought as a gift and a desirable good,” Rooney pointed out that while Leo does not do so in the same manner as Pope Francis, “he speaks very clearly and says a lot of the same things.”“[Leo’s] willing to call out bad activities by world leaders. He’s willing to call out the actions of Trump undermining the post-World War II order and creating potential consequences of bad actions by other people like North Korea, Russia, China,” he said, adding: “He’s not at all like Pope Francis. He’s calm, deliberate.”Rooney served as U.S. ambassador to the Holy See from 2005 to 2008. He was a Republican member of the U.S. House from Florida from 2017 to 2021.“The Church has a love-hate relationship with the United States. They resent our power, but they love our money, and they love our number of Catholics in the United States,” he said. “So this is an opportunity for Pope Leo to close that gap, earn more respect for the United States for the important role it plays in the Church, and also in Latin America.”U.S. President Donald Trump met with Archbishop Paul Coakley, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, on Jan. 12. Rooney, whose congressional Florida district included Fort Myers and Naples, speculated the closed meeting likely revolved around immigration.“We have Alligator Alcatraz down here near where we live, and a lot of migrants are being kicked out of the country who have no criminal record,” Rooney said. “I think most Americans would agree that we need workers. If theyve been living here a long time, some of their kids have gone to school with our kids, they should be able to stay and have an orderly rational plan for citizenship like President George W. Bush tried to accomplish but didn’t get it done.”“On the other hand, if they’re criminals, they should go. I don’t think anybody would argue that we shouldn’t police the border and have a strong border,” he said, concluding that Coakley and the president likely “spoke about that a great deal.” ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 19 Jan 2026 16:01:08 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Former, U.S., ambassador, Holy, See, weighs, Vatican, diplomacy, Venezuela, U.S.</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Mexico’s Cardinal Aguiar: Pope Leo XIV would like to visit Mexico ‘soon’</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/mexicos-cardinal-aguiar-pope-leo-xiv-would-like-to-visit-mexico-soon</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/mexicos-cardinal-aguiar-pope-leo-xiv-would-like-to-visit-mexico-soon</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Cardinal Aguiar and his auxiliary bishop, Francisco Javier Acero Pérez, OAR, met with Pope Leo on Jan. 14, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media

Jan 16, 2026 / 06:00 am (CNA).
The primatial archbishop of Mexico, Cardinal Carlos Aguiar Retes, has invited Pope Leo XIV to visit the country. The cardinal extended the invitation during their Jan. 14 meeting at the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican, shortly before the Wednesday general audience.According to a statement released later by the Archdiocese of Mexico, during the audience Aguiar renewed the invitation he had first extended to the pope a few days after the conclave for him to travel to the country.“In response, the Holy Father expressed his gratitude and his desire and interest in visiting our country soon to entrust his pontificate to Our Lady of Guadalupe,” the press release indicated.In addition, Aguiar shared with Pope Leo XIV the progress and development of the synodal process underway in the Mexican diocese.In this context, the pontiff expressed his gratitude for the work of the religious communities, pastoral workers, and laypeople, and encouraged them to continue strengthening this path of listening, discernment, and pastoral co-responsibility.During the meeting, the Holy Father expressed his joy at the pilgrimage that the archdiocese will make Saturday, Jan. 17, to the Guadalupe Basilica at the beginning of the pilgrimage season to the sacred shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe at Tepeyac.The cardinal was accompanied by Francisco Javier Acero Pérez, OAR, auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese. The communications office of the primatial archdiocese of Mexico invited all the faithful to join in prayer for the Holy Father and for the fruits of the synodal journey that the Mexican Church continues to undertake.This story     was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by the EWTN News English Service. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 19 Jan 2026 16:01:08 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Mexico’s, Cardinal, Aguiar:, Pope, Leo, XIV, would, like, visit, Mexico, ‘soon’</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>St. Peter’s Holy Door to be sealed Jan. 16</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/st-peters-holy-door-to-be-sealed-jan-16</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/st-peters-holy-door-to-be-sealed-jan-16</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The pope closed the large bronze doors of St. Peter’s Basilica on Jan. 6, 2025, when the Jubilee of Hope concluded. | Credit: Vatican Media

Jan 15, 2026 / 17:42 pm (CNA).
With the final sealing on Jan. 16 of the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica, the Holy See will complete the closing — which includes the actual masonry work — of the four Holy Doors of the papal basilicas following the Jubilee of Hope.The concluding rite of closing the Holy Door of St. Mary Major Basilica took place Jan. 13. St. John Lateran Basilica’s was closed Jan. 14 and the Holy Door of St. Paul Outside the Walls was closed Jan. 15.The Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica will be sealed shut on Jan. 16. The so-called “sanpietrini,” the staff of the Fabric of St. Peter — comprising carpenters, cabinetmakers, and electricians — who normally handle the maintenance of the basilica, will repeat the process they have already carried out in the other three basilicas: They will erect a brick wall inside the church to permanently seal the Holy Door.In addition, the traditional metal capsule (“capsis”), a bronze box, will be inserted into the wall of the church. It will contain the official closing document, the coins minted during the jubilee year, and the keys to the Holy Door.These elements serve as material and symbolic testimony of the holy year, which, as the pope emphasized in the Jan. 6 ceremony in which he closed the great doors of the Vatican basilica, has concluded on the calendar but not in the spiritual life of the Catholic Church.In all the papal basilicas, the official document of closing the Holy Door has been deposited along with the key to the door and several pontifical medals from the last sealing, during the conclusion of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy in 2016 to the present day.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. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 16 Jan 2026 16:01:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>St., Peter’s, Holy, Door, sealed, Jan.</media:keywords>
</item>

<item>
<title>Archbishop Gallagher: Surrogacy is a ‘new form of colonialism’</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/archbishop-gallagher-surrogacy-is-a-new-form-of-colonialism</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/archbishop-gallagher-surrogacy-is-a-new-form-of-colonialism</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, secretary for relations with states and international organizations of the Holy See. | Credit: Santosh Digal

Jan 15, 2026 / 13:37 pm (CNA).
Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, secretary for relations with states and international organizations of the Holy See, described the practice of surrogacy as a “new form of colonialism” in which the interests of adults prevail over the rights of children.The Italian Embassy to the Holy See hosted the Jan. 13 event “A Common Front for Human Dignity: Preventing the Commodification of Women and Children in Surrogacy” with the aim of fostering international debate on this practice and raising awareness of its ethical, legal, and social implications.The event, held at the Borromeo Palace in Rome, is part of an awareness campaign promoted by the Italian Ministry for Family, Birth Rate, and Equal Opportunities together with the Holy See at the United Nations.In his address, Gallagher stated that surrogacy is an issue that concerns all of humanity and therefore urged a united front to stop “the commodification of women and children.”The Vatican official emphasized that this practice “exploits bodies and takes any meaning out of relationships,” reducing the person to a mere product, as Pope Francis has denounced. He also noted that Pope Leo XIV recently warned that surrogacy sacrifices the rights of children.During his address to the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See, the pontiff denounced that “by turning gestation into a negotiable service, the dignity of both is violated: that of the child, who is reduced to a ‘product,’ and that of the mother, by exploiting her body and the generative process and altering the original relational vocation of the family.”In this context, Gallagher warned that surrogacy — although presented as “an act of generosity” — reduces the person to an “object of transaction.” “It’s the sale of a child, handed over to the buyers by virtue of a contract that places the interests of the adults at the center, and not those of the children,” he said emphatically.He also stated that it reduces women’s bodies to a “mere reproductive instrument,” affecting the social conception of motherhood and human dignity.After recalling that feminist groups also reject surrogacy, Gallagher emphasized that it is “a new form of colonialism” that exploits the most vulnerable people and pointed out that women’s consent is often the result of “financial pressures.”Finally, the Vatican official argued for the “total abolition” of surrogacy and expressed its opposition to the creation of an international regulatory framework, which, in his view, would lead to “more children destined to be sold.”The event also included speeches by the Italian ambassador to the Holy See, Francesco Di Nitto; the dean of the diplomatic corps to the Holy See and ambassador of Cyprus, George Poulides; and Italian Minister for Family, Natality, and Equal Opportunities Eugenia Roccella.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. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 16 Jan 2026 16:01:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Archbishop, Gallagher:, Surrogacy, ‘new, form, colonialism’</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Vatican prosecutor steps aside as London property trial appeal moves forward</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/vatican-prosecutor-steps-aside-as-london-property-trial-appeal-moves-forward</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/vatican-prosecutor-steps-aside-as-london-property-trial-appeal-moves-forward</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu in 2019. | Credit: Daniel Ibanez/EWTN

Jan 14, 2026 / 11:45 am (CNA).
The Vatican’s Court of Cassation has cleared the way for the appeal phase of the Secretariat of State funds trial — commonly tied in headlines to Cardinal Angelo Becciu — rejecting last-ditch procedural challenges and accepting the recusal of Vatican Promoter of Justice Alessandro Diddi from the case.In two separate rulings — one brief and another running eight pages — the court closed the remaining disputes that had stalled the appeal proceedings over the Holy See’s investment in a luxury property on Sloane Avenue in London.The Cassation decisions mean the appeal will proceed without Diddi, and they also uphold the appeal court’s earlier finding that the promoter’s office filed its own appeal improperly and outside required procedures and deadlines. As a result, the appeal phase will now focus primarily on defense appeals — which could at most lead to reduced sentences or even acquittals for some defendants.The appeal trial is scheduled to resume Feb. 3.What the Cassation court decidedThe case reached the Court of Cassation after a series of procedural clashes in the appeal court, including:— defense motions seeking Diddi’s recusal following intercepted communications suggesting contacts with individuals involved in the wider case;— defense arguments that the promoter’s appeal was inadmissible because it failed to follow procedural rules and timelines; and— a countermove from the promoter’s office seeking to challenge the appeal court itself — effectively attempting to halt proceedings by disputing the court’s authority to declare the promoter’s appeal inadmissible.The Vatican’s Court of Cassation accepted Diddi’s decision to abstain from the case, a move that effectively ends the push to force a formal ruling against him. In its more detailed ruling, the court reaffirmed that the promoter’s appeal was filed incorrectly and that the appeal court acted properly in declaring it inadmissible.The court is presided over by Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, with Cardinals Matteo Zuppi, Augusto Paolo Lojudice, and Mauro Gambetti among the judges, alongside other members of the panel.Background: London deal and first verdictsThe broader trial centers on Vatican financial management tied to the Secretariat of State and its London real estate investment. Vatican prosecutors argued that intermediaries worked together to extract money from the Holy See as control of the property shifted between financiers.Becciu — the first cardinal tried by a Vatican civil tribunal following a decision by Pope Francis — was convicted in the first-instance verdict and sentenced to five years and six months in prison on charges including embezzlement and fraud. Other defendants received prison sentences as well, including Enrico Crasso (seven years), Raffaele Mincione (five years and six months), Cecilia Marogna (three years and nine months), and Gianluigi Torzi (six years). In total, first-instance convictions amounted to about 37 years of prison time, along with an order to confiscate 166 million euros ($193.6 million), though several defendants were acquitted on some counts.The appeal phase has unfolded in a changed Vatican context after the death of Pope Francis and the election of Pope Leo XIV, who has signaled he intends to let Vatican justice proceed without the kinds of papal interventions that marked earlier stages of the case.This story was     first published by ACI Stampa, CNA’s Italian-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 16 Jan 2026 16:01:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Vatican, prosecutor, steps, aside, London, property, trial, appeal, moves, forward</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Mosaic bearing Pope Leo XIV’s portrait readied for St. Paul Outside the Walls</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/mosaic-bearing-pope-leo-xivs-portrait-readied-for-st-paul-outside-the-walls</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/mosaic-bearing-pope-leo-xivs-portrait-readied-for-st-paul-outside-the-walls</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV next to the new mosaic of him that will be added to St. Paul Outside the Walls Basilica in Rome. | Credit: Vatican Media

Jan 15, 2026 / 12:54 pm (CNA).
A mosaic bearing the official portrait of Pope Leo XIV was presented to the pontiff on Jan. 14. The mosaic will be placed in St. Paul Outside the Walls Basilica at the request of the basilica’s archpriest, Cardinal James Michael Harvey.The artwork, which, according to ancient tradition, is created upon the election of each pope, was made in the     Vatican Mosaic Studio of the Fabric of St. Peter, where the basilica’s mosaics are currently being conserved through restoration work and where artwork is also produced for sale to the public.    
        Today, Pope Leo XIV was presented with the round mosaic featuring his official papal portrait — the 267th papal portrait to be placed in the Basilica of St. Paul’s Outside the Walls — which will be installed at the end of the right nave of the basilica. The presentation took… pic.twitter.com/CddKjcXekt— EWTN Vatican (@EWTNVatican) January 14, 2026



    Thanks to the skill and experience of its mosaic artists, who still use ancient technical and artistic methods, mosaics are produced that are inspired by masterpieces of sacred and secular art.The mosaic “tondo” — from the Italian word meaning “round” — of the Holy Father is 54 inches in diameter and was made with glass enamels and gold on a metal structure, according to the Vatican.The mosaic is composed of more than 15,000 tesserae — the small pieces used to create the mosaic — including some that date back to the 19th century. These pieces were created using the ancient technique of cut mosaic and have been fixed with the traditional oil-based stucco of the Vatican tradition.The mosaic will be placed in the space next to the portrait of Pope Francis, in the right nave of the papal basilica, at an approximate height of 43 feet.The work is based on a pictorial sketch by the Italian artist Rodolfo Papa, an oil painting on canvas that will be preserved in the Fabric of St. Peter in the Vatican.The mosaic of Pope Leo XIV will be placed in the space next to the portrait of Pope Francis. | Credit: Vatican MediaAlso participating in the presentation were Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica, and Harvey along with the abbot of the Benedictine monastery of St. Paul Outside the Walls, Donato Ogliari.At the end of the presentation, the Holy Father invited all those present to join him in a moment of prayer.This story     was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 16 Jan 2026 16:01:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Mosaic, bearing, Pope, Leo, XIV’s, portrait, readied, for, St., Paul, Outside, the, Walls</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV urges making time ‘to speak with God’</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-urges-making-time-to-speak-with-god</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-urges-making-time-to-speak-with-god</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV gives the first general audience of 2026 in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall on Jan. 7, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media

Jan 14, 2026 / 06:20 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV urged Christians on Wednesday to set aside time in their daily lives to speak with God in prayer and warned about the harm to one’s relationship with him when this is ignored.“Time dedicated to prayer, meditation, and reflection cannot be lacking in the Christian’s day and week,” the pontiff said during the catechesis at his general audience in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall on Jan. 14.The pope devoted the second week of his series of teachings on the documents of the Second Vatican Council to a closer examination of the dogmatic constitution Dei Verbum dedicated to divine revelation.Pointing to the document, he highlighted listening and dialogue with God as foundations of a Christian life.“From this perspective, the first attitude to cultivate is listening, so that the divine Word may penetrate our minds and our hearts; at the same time, we are required to speak with God, not to communicate to him what he already knows but to reveal ourselves to ourselves,” Leo said.The Holy Father also drew on the human experience of friendship to warn about the dangers of neglecting one’s spiritual life: “Our experience tells us that friendships can come to an end through a dramatic gesture of rupture, or because of a series of daily acts of neglect that erode the relationship until it is lost.”“If Jesus calls us to be friends, let us not leave this call unheeded. Let us welcome it, let us take care of this relationship, and we will discover that friendship with God is our salvation,” he said.The pope insisted that this living relationship with God is cultivated above all through prayer, understood as an authentic friendship with the Lord.This experience, he explained, is achieved first of all in liturgical and community prayer, “in which we do not decide what to hear from the Word of God, but it is he himself who speaks to us through the Church.” It is also achieved in personal prayer, which takes place “in the interiority of the heart and mind,” and which should form part of every believer’s day and week.‘Only when we speak with God can we also speak about him’The pontiff stressed that only from a personal relationship with God is it possible to bear authentic witness to the faith: “Only when we speak with God can we also speak about him.”Referring to the dogmatic constitution Dei Verbum, promulgated by St. Paul VI in 1965, Leo emphasized that Christian revelation is grounded in a living and personal dialogue between God and humanity. Through this dialogue, God reveals himself as an ally who invites each person into a true relationship of friendship.The pope noted that divine revelation has a profoundly dialogical character, proper to the experience of friendship: It does not tolerate silence but is nourished by the exchange of true words capable of creating communion.Leo XIV also distinguished between “words” and “chatter,” explaining that the latter remains on the surface and does not create authentic relationships. In genuine relationships, he said, words do not serve merely to exchange information but to reveal who we are and to establish a deep bond with the other.This story     was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA&#039;s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 16 Jan 2026 16:01:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, urges, making, time, ‘to, speak, with, God’</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV meets Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-meets-venezuelan-opposition-leader-maria-corina-machado</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-meets-venezuelan-opposition-leader-maria-corina-machado</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV meets Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado at the Vatican on Jan. 12, 2026. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Jan 12, 2026 / 06:50 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV met with Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado at the Vatican on Monday in an audience that was not initially included in the official schedule for the day.The meeting was added to the pontiff’s agenda in the Holy See’s noon news bulletin. The Vatican has not released any details about the audience.Machado, one of the leading figures of the Venezuelan opposition, has been a prominent voice in denouncing the institutional, economic, and humanitarian crisis facing the country.The Venezuelan politician, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in December, is also expected to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump this week.According to a post on X from Machado&#039;s political party, Vente Venezuela, the politician met with the pope to request his help in the release of all political prisoners in Venezuela.“Today I had the blessing and honor of being able to share with His Holiness and express our gratitude for his attention to what is happening in our country. I also conveyed to him the strength of the Venezuelan people who remain steadfast and in prayer for the freedom of Venezuela, and I asked him to intercede for all Venezuelans who remain kidnapped and disappeared,” Machado said after the meeting, according to a post on X from political organization Comando Con Venezuela.Machado also met with Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin on Jan. 12, according to Comando Con Venezuela.Nicolás Maduro is being held in a New York prison after appearing before a federal judge on various charges related to drug trafficking and terrorism following his capture by the U.S. military in the early hours of Jan. 3.Delcy Rodríguez, former vice president of Venezuela, has assumed the interim presidency of the country following Maduro’s arrest.In his Angelus message on Jan. 4, Leo XIV called for full respect for the country’s national sovereignty and for the human and civil rights of its people.“It is with deep concern that I am following the developments in Venezuela,” said the pontiff, stressing that “the good of the beloved Venezuelan people must prevail over every other consideration.”The pope urged cooperation to “build a peaceful future of collaboration, stability, and harmony” and emphasized that this effort must be made “with special attention to the poorest, who suffer because of the difficult economic situation.”In his address to the diplomatic corps on Jan. 9, Leo reiterated his call to respect “the will of the Venezuelan people” and for work “to safeguard the human and civil rights of all, ensuring a future of stability and concord.”Hannah Brockhaus contributed to this report.This story was first published on ACI Prensa, CNA&#039;s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. It was updated at 10:18 a.m. ET with the statement from Machado. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 13 Jan 2026 16:01:08 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, meets, Venezuelan, opposition, leader, María, Corina, Machado</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>The story behind Pope Leo XIV’s new papal staff</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/the-story-behind-pope-leo-xivs-new-papal-staff</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/the-story-behind-pope-leo-xivs-new-papal-staff</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV introduced a new papal staff on Jan. 6, 2026, during the closing of the Holy Door | Credit: Vatican Media / null

Jan 12, 2026 / 12:25 pm (CNA).
Last week during the Jan. 6 closing of the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Leo XIV used a new papal staff, or ferula, which is used by pontiffs in solemn ceremonies and represents their leadership as bishop of Rome and supreme pastor of the entire Church.According to the Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Holy See, popes have traditionally received this insignia after their election, when they took possession of their see in St. John Lateran Basilica.The papal staff, used only by the pope and topped with a cross or a crucifix, is different from the bishop’s crozier — the shepherd’s staff — which ends in a curve and is used by bishops and archbishops.It was St. Paul VI who, in 1965 on the occasion of the closing of the Second Vatican Council, used a silver ferula with a crucifix designed by the sculptor Lello Scorzelli. The pontiff began to use this cross with increasing frequency in liturgical celebrations, as his successors would later do.St. John Paul II also chose to use the papal ferula from the beginning of his pontificate. Even in the last years of his life, the late pontiff leaned on it while convalescing in his room.Benedict XVI used a ferula topped with a golden cross, previously used by Blessed Pius IX. Leo XIV used Benedict XVI’s ferula on May 18 during his first Mass as pope and has also used the one designed by Scorzelli for St. Paul VI.Pope Leo XIV waves during the inaugural Mass of his pontificate, held in St. Peter&#039;s Square on May 18, 2025. He stands in front of a Flemish tapestry depicting the dialogue between Jesus and Peter after the miraculous catch of fish. Credit: Vatican MediaThe new papal ferula used by Pope Leo XIV is in continuity with those used by his predecessors, linking the mission of proclaiming the mystery of love expressed by Christ on the cross with its glorious manifestation in the Resurrection.Furthermore, as the Vatican explains, its style is reminiscent of Scorzelli’s work, as it depicts Christ no longer bound by the nails of the Passion but with his glorified body in the act of ascending to the Father.The ferula bears the motto chosen by Pope Leo XIV: “ In illo uno unum,” (“In the one Christ we are one”), which captures the theological dimension of his magisterium, founded on the unity and communion that makes us the Church.The use of the papal ferula is seen as carrying a profound symbolic meaning: It expresses the specific mission of the successor of Peter to confirm his brothers in the faith and preside over the Church in charity.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 13 Jan 2026 16:01:08 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>The, story, behind, Pope, Leo, XIV’s, new, papal, staff</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV proclaims Franciscan Jubilee Year</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-proclaims-franciscan-jubilee-year</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-proclaims-franciscan-jubilee-year</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ St. Francis of Assisi. | Credit: Paolo Gallo/Shutterstock

Jan 12, 2026 / 17:21 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV has proclaimed a “Special Year of St. Francis” to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the saint’s death. During this time of grace, which will extend until January 2027, the faithful are granted the opportunity to obtain a     plenary indulgence.This Franciscan Jubilee Year, considered a gift for the entire Church and an occasion for authentic spiritual renewal, was inaugurated on Jan. 10 with     a decree issued by the Apostolic Penitentiary of the Holy See.Until Jan. 10 of next year, the faithful can obtain this grace under the usual conditions — sacramental confession, Communion, and prayer for the intentions of the pope — by making a pilgrimage to any Franciscan conventual church or place of worship dedicated to St. Francis anywhere in the world.Furthermore, the elderly, the sick, and those who, for serious reasons, cannot leave their homes can obtain the plenary indulgence by spiritually joining in the jubilee celebrations and offering their prayers, pains, or sufferings to God.In a world where “the virtual takes over the real, disagreements and social violence are part of everyday life, and peace becomes more insecure and distant every day, this Year of St. Francis spurs all of us, each according to our possibilities, to imitate the poor man of Assisi, to form ourselves as far as possible on the model of Christ,” the decree states.For     the Order of Friars Minor, this time is also an opportunity for the faithful to become “models of holiness of life and constant witnesses of peace.”On the occasion of this anniversary, Pope Leo XIV addressed     a letter to the ministers general of the Franciscan Family Conference in which he emphasized that “in this era, marked by so many seemingly endless wars, by internal and social divisions that create distrust and fear, he continues to speak. Not because he offers technical solutions, but because his life points to the authentic source of peace.”In this regard, he highlighted that St. Francis reminds us that “peace with God, peace among people, and peace with creation are inseparable dimensions of a single call to universal reconciliation.”This story     was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 13 Jan 2026 16:01:08 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, proclaims, Franciscan, Jubilee, Year</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Pope Leo condemns ‘zeal for war,’ weak multilateralism in speech to diplomats</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-condemns-zeal-for-war-weak-multilateralism-in-speech-to-diplomats</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-condemns-zeal-for-war-weak-multilateralism-in-speech-to-diplomats</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV addresses ambassadors and other diplomatic representatives to the Holy See in the Apostolic Palace on Jan. 9, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media

Jan 9, 2026 / 10:17 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV condemned the weakening of international multilateralism and the increased use of force in a speech to diplomats at the Vatican on Friday.He also said states should respect fundamental human rights, such as religious freedom and freedom of speech, and comply with international humanitarian law in     the lengthiest speech to date of his pontificate.“A diplomacy that promotes dialogue and seeks consensus among all parties is being replaced by a diplomacy based on force, by either individuals or groups of allies. War is back in vogue and a zeal for war is spreading,” he told ambassadors and other diplomatic representatives to the Holy See in the Apostolic Palace on Jan. 9. Currently, 184 states have diplomatic relations with the Holy See.“Peace is no longer sought as a gift and a desirable good in itself,” the pontiff continued. “Instead, peace is sought through weapons as a condition for asserting one’s own dominion. This gravely threatens the rule of law, which is the foundation of all peaceful civil coexistence.”The Holy Father called for concern for the common good of peoples to take precedence over “the defense of partisan interests” amid escalating tensions, pointing in particular to Venezuela, for which he reiterated an appeal “to respect the will of the Venezuelan people, and to safeguard the human and civil rights of all.”Leo framed his speech, part of the annual new year greeting to the diplomatic corps, within St. Augustine of Hippo’s work of Christian philosophy “De Civitate Dei” (“City of God”).“The ‘City of God’ does not propose a political program. Instead, it offers valuable reflections on fundamental issues concerning social and political life, such as the search for a more just and peaceful coexistence among peoples. Augustine also warns of the grave dangers to political life arising from false representations of history, excessive nationalism and the distortion of the ideal of the political leader,” the pope said.He called “City of God,” written in the fifth century, highly relevant to the present time, marked by widespread migration and the “profound readjustment of geopolitical balances and cultural paradigms.”Pope Leo XIV greets ambassadors and other diplomatic representatives to the Holy See in the Apostolic Palace on Jan. 9, 2026. | Credit: Vatican MediaHuman rights short-circuitedLeo lamented what he called a “short circuit” of human rights around the world today, especially the right to life.“We firmly reiterate that the protection of the right to life constitutes the indispensable foundation of every other human right. A society is healthy and truly progresses only when it safeguards the sanctity of human life and works actively to promote it,” he said.He also called out the restriction of the right to freedom of expression, freedom of conscience, religious freedom, and the right to life in favor of other “so-called new rights,” so that “the very framework of human rights is losing its vitality and creating space for force and oppression.”“This occurs when each right becomes self-referential, and especially when it becomes disconnected from reality, nature, and truth,” he added.Christian persecutionPope Leo said     Christian persecution is one of the most widespread human rights crises today, with over 380 million believers around the world suffering high or extreme levels of discrimination, violence, and oppression.He recalled the victims of religiously motivated violence in Bangladesh, in the Sahel region, in Nigeria, and those killed or injured in the terrorist attack on the parish of St. Elias in Damascus in June.The pontiff also decried “a subtle form of religious discrimination against Christians” taking place even in Christian-majority countries in Europe and the Americas.“There, they are sometimes restricted in their ability to proclaim the truths of the Gospel for political or ideological reasons, especially when they defend the dignity of the weakest, the unborn, refugees and migrants, or promote the family,” he said.Leo also called for respect for the freedom of other religious communities and the rejection of all forms of antisemitism.Pope Leo XIV greets ambassadors and other diplomatic representatives to the Holy See in the Hall of the Blessing in the Apostolic Palace on Jan. 9, 2026. | Credit: Vatican MediaThe meaning of wordsThe Holy Father also spoke about debates over the meaning of words and how they are tied to attacks on freedom of expression.“Rediscovering the meaning of words is perhaps one of the primary challenges of our time. When words lose their connection to reality, and reality itself becomes debatable and ultimately incommunicable,” he said.“We should also note the paradox that this weakening of language is often invoked in the name of freedom of expression itself. However, on closer inspection, the opposite is true, for freedom of speech and expression is guaranteed precisely by the certainty of language and the fact that every term is anchored in the truth,” he noted.He called it painful to see the space for genuine freedom of expression rapidly shrink, especially in the West.“At the same time, a new Orwellian-style language is developing which, in an attempt to be increasingly inclusive, ends up excluding those who do not conform to the ideologies that are fueling it,” he said.A consequence of this, Leo said, is that the freedom of conscience, another fundamental human right, is increasingly questioned by states.The freedom of conscience, which “establishes a balance between the collective interest and individual dignity,” protects individuals “to refuse legal or professional obligations that conflict with moral, ethical, or religious principles deeply rooted in their personal lives,” such as military service, abortion, or euthanasia.“Conscientious objection is not rebellion but an act of fidelity to oneself,” he underlined.Life and the familyPope Leo urged states to protect the institution of the family as “the vocation to love and to life” manifested in the “exclusive and indissoluble union between a woman and a man” and implying a “fundamental ethical imperative for enabling families to welcome and fully care for unborn life.”Noting the increasing priority of raising birth rates, he emphasized life as a gift to be cherished and said “we categorically reject any practice that denies or exploits the origin of life and its development,” including abortion and surrogacy.He added that the Holy See is also concerned about projects aimed at financing cross-border mobility to increase access to abortion and “considers it deplorable that public resources are allocated to suppress life rather than being invested to support mothers and families.”Pope Leo XIV poses with ambassadors and other diplomatic representatives to the Holy See in the Sistine Chapel on Jan. 9, 2026. | Credit: Vatican MediaFor the sick and elderly, “civil society and states also have a responsibility to respond concretely to situations of vulnerability, offering solutions to human suffering, such as palliative care, and promoting policies of authentic solidarity rather than encouraging deceptive forms of compassion such as euthanasia,” he said.The pontiff underlined the inalienable dignity of every person and that migrants, as people, have “inalienable rights that must be respected in every situation.”“I renew the Holy See’s hope that the actions taken by states against criminality and human trafficking will not become a pretext for undermining the dignity of migrants and refugees,” he said.Pride and self-loveLeo recalled that in Augustine’s “City of God,” the saint interprets events and history according to a model of two cities. The city of God is characterized by God’s unconditional love and love for one’s neighbor, especially the poor, while the earthly city “is centered on pride and self-love (‘amor sui’), on the thirst for worldly power and glory that leads to destruction.”“While St. Augustine highlights the coexistence of the heavenly and earthly cities until the end of time, our era seems somewhat inclined to deny the city of God its ‘right of citizenship,’” the pope noted.“Yet, as Augustine notes, ‘Great is the folly of pride in those individuals who think that the supreme good can be found in this life and that they can become happy by their own resources,’” Leo said. “Pride obscures both reality itself and our empathy towards others. It is no coincidence that pride is always at the root of every conflict.” ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 10 Jan 2026 16:01:10 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
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<item>
<title>This is Pope Leo XIV’s prayer intention for the month of January</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/this-is-pope-leo-xivs-prayer-intention-for-the-month-of-january</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/this-is-pope-leo-xivs-prayer-intention-for-the-month-of-january</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass for the Jubilee of Prisoners in St. Peter’s Basilica on Dec. 14, 2025. | Credit: Vatican Media

Jan 8, 2026 / 14:17 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV’s prayer intention for the month of January is for the faithful to pray with the word of God.In a video released Jan. 7 on X, the Holy Father said that he is praying “that we may learn, practice, and love praying with the word of God.”“The gift of Scripture is God’s love letter to humankind,” he said. “Let’s pray that we all draw from this gift and get to know Our Lord.”‘Pray with the Pope’ initiativeThe Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network and the Dicastery for Communication announced Jan. 7 the “Pray with the Pope” project. According to a press release, this is a new initiative in which the pope will share his monthly prayer intentions through both video and audio, “inviting the universal Church and all people of goodwill to unite spiritually, using the same prayer that will now be led by the pope himself.”“This initiative aims to increase the visibility of the pope’s prayer intentions, using a language suitable for prayer, in new formats, so as to better reach the faithful throughout the world, especially in today’s world of digital communication,” the press release stated.In the full video shared on the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network website, Pope Leo recites an original prayer written specifically for this month’s prayer intention.Here is the pope’s full prayer:Lord Jesus, living Word of the Father,in you we find the light that guides our steps.We know that the human heart lives restless, hungry for meaning,and only your Gospel can give it peace and fullness.Teach us to listen to you each day in the Scriptures,to let ourselves be challenged by your voice,and to discern our decisionsfrom the closeness to your heart.May your word be nourishment in weariness,hope in darkness,and strength in our communities.Lord, may your word never be absent from our lips or from our hearts — the word that makes us sons and daughters, brothers and sisters,disciples and missionaries of your kingdom.Make us a Church that prays with the word,that is built upon it and shares it with joy,so that in every person the hope of a new world may be born again.May our faith grow in the encounter with you through your word,moving us from the heartto reach out to others,to serve the most vulnerable,to forgive, build bridges, and proclaim life.Amen.“Pray with the Pope” is accessible on the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network     website and its digital platforms. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 10 Jan 2026 16:01:10 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
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<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV says God is found in humble places, not in prestige</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-says-god-is-found-in-humble-places-not-in-prestige</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-says-god-is-found-in-humble-places-not-in-prestige</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican on Jan. 6, 2026. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News

Vatican City, Jan 6, 2026 / 08:45 am (CNA).
Celebrating the solemnity of the Epiphany in St. Peter’s Basilica on Tuesday, Pope Leo XIV said God’s saving presence is revealed not “in a prestigious location” but “in a humble place” and urged Catholics to protect what is holy and newly born — “small, vulnerable, fragile” — in a world that often seeks to profit from everything.“The child whom the Magi adore is a priceless and immeasurable good. It is the Epiphany of a gift. It does not occur in a prestigious location but in a humble place,” the pope said in his homily, delivered during a Mass that also included the closing of the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica, the last Holy Door to be shut at the end of the jubilee year.Reflecting on the Gospel account of the Magi’s journey (Matthew 2:1-12), Leo contrasted the joy of those who seek Christ with the fear of Herod, who “tries to take advantage of the wishes of the Magi by manipulating their quest.” “Fear does indeed blind us,” he said. “Conversely, the joy of the Gospel liberates us. It makes us prudent, yes, but also bold, attentive, and creative; it beckons us along ways that are different to those already traveled.”In one of the final major liturgies of his first Christmas season as pope, Leo also warned against the spiritual dangers of a distorted economy that turns even humanity’s deepest longings into a commodity.“Loving and seeking peace means protecting what is holy and, consequently, that which is newly born like a small, vulnerable, fragile baby. Around us, a distorted economy tries to profit from everything. We see how the marketplace can turn human yearnings of seeking, traveling, and beginning again into a mere business,” he said.The pope pointed to the “stream of innumerable men and women, pilgrims of hope” who crossed the Holy Door during the jubilee and asked what the Church offered them — and what she must offer going forward.“Millions of them crossed the threshold of the Church. What did they find?” he asked, adding that “the spiritual searching of our contemporaries, much richer than perhaps we can comprehend, invites us to earnest reflection.”After the jubilee year, he continued, Catholics should examine whether they have learned to recognize God’s presence in those they encounter: “After this year, will we be better able to recognize a pilgrim in the visitor, a seeker in the stranger, a neighbor in the foreigner, and fellow travelers in those who are different?”Leo also urged Catholics not to reduce churches to museums but to ensure they are places where faith is alive and hope is born anew.“If we do not reduce our churches to monuments, if our communities are homes, if we stand united and resist the flattery and seduction of those in power, then we will be the generation of a new dawn,” he said.Angelus: Replace the industry of war with the craft of peaceFollowing the Mass, Pope Leo XIV appeared at the central loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica to pray the Angelus and again linked the Epiphany to the end of the jubilee year, emphasizing that Christian hope must be lived concretely in the world.“Dear friends, the hope that we proclaim must be grounded in reality, for Jesus came down from heaven in order to create a new story here below,” he said.In a pointed appeal for peace, he prayed: “May strangers and enemies become brothers and sisters. In the place of inequality, may there be fairness, and may the industry of war be replaced by the craft of peace. As weavers of hope, let us journey together towards the future by another road.”After the Marian prayer, the pope greeted children and young people around the world on Missionary Childhood Day and thanked them for praying for missionaries and helping those in need. He also offered good wishes for serenity and peace to Eastern Christian communities preparing to celebrate Christmas according to the Julian calendar.This story was first published in two parts by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner, and has been adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 07 Jan 2026 16:01:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, says, God, found, humble, places, not, prestige</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Pope says Christian hope doesn’t depend on human calculations</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-says-christian-hope-doesnt-depend-on-human-calculations</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-says-christian-hope-doesnt-depend-on-human-calculations</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV addresses pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican for the recitation of the Angelus on Jan. 4, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Jan 4, 2026 / 05:20 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV said Christian hope “is not based on optimistic forecasts or human calculations” but on God’s decision to share humanity’s path so that no one is alone on life’s journey.Speaking Jan. 4 from the window of the Apostolic Palace to hundreds of faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square despite the rain, the pope said the foundation of Christian hope is “God’s Incarnation,” pointing to the day’s Gospel reading from the Prologue of St. John: “The Word became flesh and lived among us” (Jn 1:14).On the second Sunday after Christmas, before reciting the Angelus, Leo urged believers to rethink their faith and avoid an abstract or distant spirituality. “He is not a distant deity in a perfect heaven above us, but a God who is nearby and inhabits our fragile earth, who becomes present in the faces of our brothers and sisters, and reveals himself in the circumstances of daily life,” he said.The pope also underscored that the Incarnation calls for a concrete and consistent commitment, including examining whether one’s spirituality and the ways faith is expressed are “truly incarnate.” “God has become flesh; therefore, there is no authentic worship of God without care for humanity,” he said, linking Christian faith to solidarity with those who suffer.After the Angelus, Leo reiterated his closeness to those affected by the New Year’s Eve fire in a bar in the Alpine town of Crans-Montana, Switzerland, where young people had been celebrating. Swiss authorities have confirmed at least 40 dead and about 115 injured, many of them seriously.“I wish to express once again my closeness to those suffering as a result of the tragedy in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, and to assure them of my prayers for the young people who died, for the injured, and for their families,” the pope said.He also said he was following developments in Venezuela “with deep concern” and that “the good of the beloved Venezuelan people must prevail over every other consideration.” His remarks came a day after news of the U.S. capture and arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. The pope urged that the country’s sovereignty and rule of law be guaranteed.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 07 Jan 2026 16:01:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, says, Christian, hope, doesn’t, depend, human, calculations</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Vatican says more than 33 million pilgrims took part in jubilee</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/vatican-says-more-than-33-million-pilgrims-took-part-in-jubilee</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/vatican-says-more-than-33-million-pilgrims-took-part-in-jubilee</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Seminarians approach the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica, Tuesday, June 24, 2025 - Credit: Courtney Mares/CNA

Vatican City, Jan 5, 2026 / 04:00 am (CNA).
More than 33.4 million pilgrims traveled to Rome to participate in the Jubilee of Hope, surpassing initial projections, the Vatican said Monday.Archbishop Rino Fisichella, pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, said 33,475,369 pilgrims ultimately took part in the jubilee — nearly 2 million more than the Vatican’s initial estimate of 31.7 million.He also said the final group to pass through the Holy Door on Monday will be staff from the Dicastery for Evangelization, the principal organizers of the holy year, at 5:30 p.m. local time.The solemn closing of the holy year will take place Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. local time, when Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to close the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica in a ceremony expected to be attended by Italian President Sergio Mattarella, civil authorities, and large numbers of faithful.The Holy Door is scheduled to be opened again in eight years, in 2033, for the Jubilee of the Redemption.In his assessment of the jubilee, Fisichella described the year as extraordinary in many respects and noted its unusual historical arc: The jubilee began under Pope Francis and concludes under Pope Leo XIV — a transition he said underscored the complexity of the organizational effort.He also pointed to major events that unfolded alongside the jubilee calendar, including the funeral of Pope Francis on April 26 and the election of his successor, Leo XIV, on May 8, saying those developments were integrated into the jubilee schedule amid an exceptional succession of events.Pilgrims from 185 countriesAccording to official Vatican data presented Monday, pilgrims from 185 countries took part in jubilee events. By geographic area, Europe accounted for 62.63% of participants, followed by North America (16.54%), South America (9.44%), and Asia (7.69%). The remaining pilgrims came from Oceania (1.14%), Central America and the Caribbean (1.04%), Africa (0.95%), and the Middle East (0.46%).By country, Italy represented 36.34% of pilgrims, followed by the United States (12.57%) and Spain (6.23%). Other leading countries included Brazil (4.67%), Poland (3.69%), Germany (3.16%), the United Kingdom (2.81%), China (2.79%), Mexico (2.37%), and France (2.31%). The Vatican also recorded significant participation from Argentina, Canada, Portugal, Colombia, Australia, the Philippines, Slovakia, Indonesia, and Austria.Fisichella said that beginning in May — around the time of Leo XIV’s election — Rome saw an unexpected increase in pilgrims, which he said was managed with close attention in a city that remained under international media focus throughout the year.How the count was madeFisichella said the initial projections were based on a study by the faculty of sociology at Roma Tre University and were intended as an early planning guide.He said the primary count was made at St. Peter’s Basilica’s Holy Door, where a camera automatically recorded the number of pilgrims passing through each day.For the other three papal basilicas — St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major, and St. Paul Outside the Walls — the Vatican applied percentages based on the flow recorded at St. Peter’s, supplemented by volunteer counts using manual clickers. Attendance at major jubilee events and audiences was also tracked and cross-checked with registrations made through the official jubilee website.Rome mayor cites lasting legacy and spendingRome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri said the Jubilee of Hope has left a lasting legacy for the city, both in infrastructure and in institutional governance, pointing to what he described as a “jubilee method” of sustained cooperation among public administrations.Gualtieri said the jubilee program included 332 interventions, with 204 already completed or partially completed. He added that street works in Rome were about 90% finished, with the remaining 10% scheduled for completion in 2026.He also said government funding specifically allocated for jubilee-related works totaled 1.725 billion euros ($2.02 billion). According to Gualtieri, 75% of those resources were used for interventions completed or partially completed, while spending for essential, nondeferrable interventions reached 90%.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 07 Jan 2026 16:01:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
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<item>
<title>St. Carlo Acutis’ parents helped develop new Vatican City State app</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/st-carlo-acutis-parents-helped-develop-new-vatican-city-state-app</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/st-carlo-acutis-parents-helped-develop-new-vatican-city-state-app</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The news app for Vatican City State, developed with support from the family of St. Carlo Acutis. | Credit: Vatican City State/Screenshot

Vatican City, Jan 5, 2026 / 05:20 am (CNA).
The parents of St. Carlo Acutis contributed to the development of a new official news application connected to the institutional website of the Vatican City State,     www.vaticanstate.va, an initiative presented as part of an ongoing digital renewal and as a tribute to the young saint, often held up as a model for evangelizing through new technologies.After downloading the app, users can read a message of thanks from the Governorate of Vatican City State to Andrea and Antonia Acutis, Carlo’s parents.“The Governorate of Vatican City State thanks Andrea and Antonia Acutis who, on the occasion of the canonization of their son Carlo, generously contributed to the creation and development of the News App of the official website     www.vaticanstate.va,” the message reads.The new application, officially launched over the weekend, is dedicated to the Italian saint, who died of leukemia in 2006 at age 15 and is frequently remembered for his computer prowess.The platform is designed to provide fast, intuitive access to news, notices, and official communications from the Vatican Governorate, aiming to improve navigation and accessibility to institutional information.The app includes several sections, including “saint of the day,” news, interviews, videos, and direct links to other institutions of the Governorate, such as the Gendarmerie Corps, the Vatican Museums, the Vatican Pharmacy, Poste Vaticane, the Pontifical Villas, and the Vatican Observatory.According to the report, additional features will be implemented progressively.The app’s launch comes after     the institutional website of the Holy See received a graphic overhaul following the May 8 election of Pope Leo XIV. That portal now features a more modern design, including a sky-blue background and an image of the pope greeting the faithful, updating a site that has been online since December 1995.The Vatican City State app is available as a free download for iOS and Android devices.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 07 Jan 2026 16:01:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
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<title>Pope Leo XIV closes St. Peter’s Holy Door, concluding Jubilee of Hope</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-closes-st-peters-holy-door-concluding-jubilee-of-hope</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-closes-st-peters-holy-door-concluding-jubilee-of-hope</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV closes the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica, concluding the Jubilee of Hope, on Jan. 6, 2026. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Jan 6, 2026 / 07:00 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV on Tuesday closed the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica, bringing the ordinary holy year to an end — a time of grace that invited Catholics to conversion, reconciliation, and hope.The pontiff processed toward the Holy Door as the antiphon “O clavis David” was sung. Reaching the threshold, he knelt before the door and remained for a few minutes in silent prayer. He then rose and, at 9:41 a.m., pushed shut the two large bronze doors — a gesture that visibly marked the end of the jubilee season.“With thankful hearts we now prepare to close this Holy Door, crossed by a multitude of faithful, certain that the Good Shepherd always keeps the door of his heart open to welcome us whenever we feel weary and oppressed,” Leo XIV said in an address before the concluding gesture that ended the ecclesial event, ordinarily held every 25 years to offer the faithful the possibility of obtaining a plenary indulgence.With these words, Leo XIV emphasized that even though the jubilee has ended, God’s mercy remains ever open to believers.Before closing the doors, the Holy Father pronounced in Latin the formula prescribed by the rite, following a practice established in 1975 and later simplified by St. John Paul II during the Jubilee of the Year 2000.In keeping with the simplified celebration, the public rite did not include the portion involving the construction of a brick wall and was limited to the closing of the bronze doors. The masonry work itself will be carried out later, privately, about 10 days after this public rite.The act will be overseen by the Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff. The so-called “sampietrini” — personnel of the Fabric of St. Peter, including carpenters, cabinetmakers, and electricians who normally handle basilica maintenance — will build the brick wall inside the basilica to definitively seal the Holy Door.During this private rite — without cameras or journalists — the traditional metal capsule (“capsis”) will be inserted into the wall. It will contain the official act of closure, coins minted during the jubilee year, and the keys of the Holy Door as a material and symbolic testimony of the holy year that, as the pope noted, has ended on the calendar but not in the spiritual life of the Church.Leo XIV then recited the prayer of thanksgiving for the ordinary holy year, proclaiming: “This Holy Door is closed, but the door of your mercy is not closed.”The formula concluded with an invocation that the “treasures” of divine grace would remain open “so that, at the end of our earthly pilgrimage, we may confidently knock at the door of your house and enjoy the fruits of the tree of life.”The Jubilee of Hope was instituted on Dec. 24, 2024, by Pope Francis but, after his death in April 2025, was concluded by his successor, Leo XIV — a situation not seen since the year 1700. The last ordinary jubilee (celebrated every 25 years) took place in 2000.Jubilees may also be celebrated at “extraordinary” moments, such as the Jubilee of Mercy celebrated by Francis in 2015 or the one to be convoked in 2033 to commemorate the two millennia of the death and resurrection of Jesus.After closing the Holy Door, Leo XIV presided over Mass for the solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord inside St. Peter’s Basilica, bringing the day’s liturgical celebration to its conclusion.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 07 Jan 2026 16:01:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
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<title>Leo XIV: The world is saved by welcoming all without fear</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/leo-xiv-the-world-is-saved-by-welcoming-all-without-fear</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/leo-xiv-the-world-is-saved-by-welcoming-all-without-fear</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican on Jan. 1, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Jan 1, 2026 / 02:05 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV called Catholics to a steadfast openness to other people, warning that peace will not be built through force or exclusion, as he celebrated his first liturgy of the new year on Thursday.“The world is not saved by sharpening swords, nor by judging, oppressing, or eliminating our brothers and sisters,” the pope said in his homily for the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. Rather, he added, it is saved by “tirelessly striving to understand, forgive, liberate, and welcome everyone, without calculation and without fear.”As is customary for the Jan. 1 Mass, a large group of diplomats accredited to the Holy See attended the liturgy in St. Peter’s Basilica, underlining the international scope of the Church’s prayer for peace on the World Day of Peace, observed each year on the first day of January.A blessing for a new beginningAt the start of his     homily, Leo XIV pointed to the ancient biblical blessing proclaimed in the liturgy: “May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord let his face shine on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord uncover his face to you and bring you peace” (Num 6:24-26). He recalled that this blessing was addressed to a people set free, Israel after slavery in Egypt, and he drew a parallel to the Christian life at the opening of a new year.“For each of us, every day can be the beginning of a new life, thanks to God’s generous love, his mercy, and the response of our freedom,” he said. The coming year, he continued, can be seen “as an open journey to be discovered,” lived with confidence “free and bearers of freedom, forgiven and bringers of forgiveness,” trusting in “the closeness and goodness of the Lord who accompanies us always.”Mary’s ‘yes’ and the human face of mercyThe pope centered his reflection on the mystery of the Incarnation and Mary’s decisive role in salvation history. “By her ‘yes,’ she helped give a human face to the source of all mercy and benevolence: the face of Jesus,” he said.Leo XIV invited the faithful to contemplate God’s love through Christ’s life: “Through his eyes — first as a child, then as a young man and as an adult — the Father’s love reaches us and transforms us.”He urged Catholics to begin the year with renewed confidence in that love: “Let us ask the Lord to help us experience at every moment, around us and upon us, the warmth of his fatherly embrace and the light of his benevolent gaze.”‘Unarmed and disarming’ peaceEchoing the theme he chose for this year’s     World Day of Peace message, Leo XIV returned repeatedly to the image of God’s humility revealed in the Nativity. Citing St. Augustine, he emphasized “the complete gratuity of his love” and described God’s approach to humanity as one of radical vulnerability.“As I emphasized in the message for this World Day of Peace, God presents himself to us ‘unarmed and disarming,’ as naked and defenseless as a newborn in a cradle,” the pope said.That divine “style,” he suggested, is the model for Christian action in a world tempted by coercion, retaliation, and fear. Christian witness, he said, should reflect a God who does not overwhelm but invites, and who heals rather than humiliates.Mary the disciple who ‘laid aside every defense’Leo XIV also reflected on Mary’s path after Bethlehem, presenting her not only as mother but also as disciple. He described her as one who followed Jesus “with the heart of a humble disciple… all the way to the cross and the Resurrection.”“To do so, she too laid aside every defense,” he said, renouncing “expectations, claims, and comforts,” and “consecrating her life without reserve to the son she had received by grace.”In Mary’s divine motherhood, the pope added, the Church sees “the meeting of two immense, ‘unarmed’ realities”: God, who “renounces every privilege of his divinity to be born in the flesh” (cf. Phil 2:6-11), and the human person who embraces God’s will, offering “the greatest power she possesses: her freedom.”A renewed missionNear the end of the homily, Leo XIV recalled a Jan. 1 homily of St. John Paul II that invited Christians to begin again with courage after the Jubilee of 2000. As the Church approaches the conclusion of the Jubilee of Hope, Leo XIV urged the faithful to return to the Nativity with faith and then step forward with renewed commitment.“Let us approach it as the place of ‘unarmed and disarming’ peace par excellence,” he said, and then, “like the humble witnesses at the grotto,” to set out once more, “glorifying and praising God” (Lk 2:20) for what they have seen and heard.“This be our commitment and our resolve for the months ahead, and, indeed, for the whole of our Christian lives,” he concluded.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 04 Jan 2026 16:01:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Leo, XIV:, The, world, saved, welcoming, all, without, fear</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV urges prayers for peace in bloodied nations and wounded families</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-urges-prayers-for-peace-in-bloodied-nations-and-wounded-families</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-urges-prayers-for-peace-in-bloodied-nations-and-wounded-families</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV addresses pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican for recitation of the Angelus on Jan. 1, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Jan 1, 2026 / 02:30 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV on Thursday urged Catholics to pray for peace, “first, among nations bloodied by conflict and suffering,” and also “within our homes, in families wounded by violence or pain,” during the Angelus address on the first day of 2026.Greeting pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, and the 59th World Day of Peace, the pope     reflected on the start of a new year as a time to renew hope and reconciliation.“While the rhythm of passing months repeats itself, the Lord invites us to renew our times by finally ushering in an era of peace and friendship among all peoples,” he said. “Without this desire for the good, there would be no point in turning the pages of the calendar and filling our diaries.”Leo also looked back on the jubilee, which he said “is about to end,” noting that it has taught the Church to cultivate hope for a new world by converting hearts to God, so as “to transform wrongs into forgiveness, pain into consolation, and resolutions of virtue into good works.”The pope then turned to the Marian feast, saying Christmas today “directs our gaze towards Mary, who was the first to experience Christ’s beating heart.” He evoked “the silence of her virginal womb,” where “the Word of life presents himself as a heartbeat of grace.”“God, the good creator, has always known Mary’s heart and our hearts,” Leo said. “By becoming man, he makes his heart known to us.” He added that the heart of Jesus “beats for every man and woman,” both for those who welcome him and for those who reject him.“His heart is not indifferent to those who have no heart for their neighbor,” the pope said. “It beats for the righteous, so that they may persevere in their dedication, as well as for the unrighteous, so that they may change their lives and find peace.”At the end of the Angelus, Leo greeted the tens of thousands of pilgrims in the square and offered “good wishes of peace.” He also returned to the theme of the World Day of Peace, recalling that it has been celebrated on Jan. 1 since 1968 at the request of St. Paul VI.In his message for the day, Leo said he wanted to repeat the wish he felt the Lord gave him at the start of his pontificate: “Peace be with you all!”“A peace that is unarmed and disarming, which comes from God, a gift of his unconditional love, and is entrusted to our responsibility,” he said.“Dear friends, with the grace of Christ, let us begin today to build a year of peace, disarming our hearts and refraining from all violence,” the pope continued.Leo also expressed appreciation for peace initiatives held around the world, mentioning a national march held the previous evening in Catania and greeting participants in a march organized by the Community of Sant’Egidio.He offered greetings as well to a group of students and teachers from Richland, New Jersey, and to the Romans and pilgrims present.Finally, the pope noted that 2026 marks the eighth centenary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi, and he invoked a biblical blessing for the new year: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.”“May the Holy Mother of God guide us on our journey in the new year,” Leo said. “Best wishes to everyone!”This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 04 Jan 2026 16:01:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, urges, prayers, for, peace, bloodied, nations, and, wounded, families</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Key dates on the agenda of the pope and Vatican for 2026</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/key-dates-on-the-agenda-of-the-pope-and-vatican-for-2026</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/key-dates-on-the-agenda-of-the-pope-and-vatican-for-2026</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV waves from the popemobile in St. Peter’s Square in October 2025. Credit: Vatican Media

Jan 1, 2026 / 07:00 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV is preparing for a very busy year at the Vatican in 2026, with important events such as the conclusion of the Jubilee of Hope and his first consistory of cardinals since his election on May 8, 2025.1. Closing of the Jubilee of Hope — Jan. 6On Jan. 6, the solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, Pope Leo XIV will celebrate the Mass and perform the rite for the closing the Holy Door in St. Peter’s Basilica, bringing to an end the Jubilee of Hope that Pope Francis began on Dec. 24, 2024. This liturgical act officially closes a year that, according to the papal bull     Spes non Confundit, has been experienced as “a time of grace and hope” for the global Church.Pope Leo XIV walks through the Holy Door carrying the jubilee cross while leading the Holy See’s pilgrimage on June 9, 2025. Credit: Vatican Media2. Extraordinary consistory of cardinals — Jan. 7–8Following the conclusion of the jubilee, the pope has convened an extraordinary consistory of cardinals for Jan. 7–8. This type of meeting is usually reserved for discussing major doctrinal, institutional, or pastoral issues affecting the entire Church. Its scheduling in the days immediately following the close of the holy year underscores the pope’s intention to set a new course after the intense experience of the jubilee.3. Extraordinary restoration in the Sistine Chapel — JanuaryBeginning in January, the Vatican Museums will undertake extraordinary conservation work on Michelangelo’s “Last Judgment” fresco in the Sistine Chapel, which will continue until March, with the expectation of completion before Holy Week. This project addresses the need to preserve the masterpiece in light of the impact of millions of visitors each year.4. Appeal hearing in the Becciu case — Feb. 3The appeal hearing in the case concerning the management of funds by the Secretariat of State of the Holy See in the purchase of a building in London has been postponed until Feb. 3. Spanish judge Alejandro Arellano Cedillo, dean of the Roman Rota, presides over the three-judge panel hearing the appeal of 77-year-old Cardinal Angelo Becciu. On Dec. 16, 2023, the cardinal was convicted of embezzlement and barred from holding public office. He was also fined 8,000 euros ($9,400).5. Second World Children’s Day — Sept. 25–27Pope Leo XIV has announced the celebration of the second World Children’s Day, which will take place in Rome Sept. 25–27. Organized by the Dicastery for the Laity, the Family, and Life, this event aims to bring together thousands of children and families from around the world for a time of encounter, prayer, and celebration for peace and the future of children.Pope Leo XIV blesses a newborn baby. Credit: Vatican MediaPossible international trips for Pope Leo XIV in 2026Although the official travel schedule is not yet finalized, the pontiff has expressed a desire to visit several countries during 2026:— Algeria, an African country with deep ties to St. Augustine, is still in the planning stages as part of a possible continental itinerary.— Argentina and Uruguay have been mentioned as possible destinations, along with an extended visit to Peru and Mexico, with a particular interest in visiting the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, one of the most visited Marian shrines in the world.— There is also a strong possibility of an upcoming papal trip to Spain.This story     was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 04 Jan 2026 16:01:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Key, dates, the, agenda, the, pope, and, Vatican, for, 2026</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>How to obtain a plenary indulgence for the end of 2025 and the beginning of 2026</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/how-to-obtain-a-plenary-indulgence-for-the-end-of-2025-and-the-beginning-of-2026</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/how-to-obtain-a-plenary-indulgence-for-the-end-of-2025-and-the-beginning-of-2026</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Credit: Wirestock Creators/Shutterstock

Dec 31, 2025 / 16:00 pm (CNA).
On New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31, and the first day of 2026, the Catholic Church offers the opportunity to obtain plenary indulgences as a sign of God’s mercy and the desire for the sanctification of all her members.A plenary indulgence is remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven.Indulgences on Dec. 31On the eve of the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, the Church grants a plenary indulgence to those Christian faithful who publicly recite the “Te Deum,” thanking God for the year that is ending. This blessing is extended especially on Dec. 31.To recite the “Te Deum,” click     here.Indulgences on Jan. 1Likewise, on Jan. 1, the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, a plenary indulgence is granted to those who publicly recite the hymn “Veni Creator,” imploring blessings for the new year that is beginning.To recite the “Veni Creator,” click     here.Additionally, those who devoutly receive the papal blessing “urbi et orbi” (“for the city and for the world”), either through radio, television, or the internet, as well as those who devoutly receive the blessing of the bishop of their diocese, will also be able to obtain these special blessings from the Church.Conditions to obtain a plenary indulgenceIn addition to performing the specific work mentioned above, the following conditions must be met:First, it is necessary to be detached from all sin, even venial sin.Second, one must make a sacramental confession, receive Communion, and pray for the pope’s intentions. These conditions can be met a few days before or after carrying out the action prescribed to obtain the indulgence, but it is suggested that Communion and prayer be performed on the same day that the action is carried out.It is important to note that several indulgences can be obtained through a single confession, although frequent participation in the sacrament of reconciliation is recommended in order to deepen one’s conversion and purity of heart.As for receiving Communion and praying for the intentions of the Holy Father, it should be noted that with just one Communion and one prayer, made on the same day, a plenary indulgence is obtained.Finally, the condition of praying for the intentions of the supreme pontiff is fulfilled by reciting one Our Father and one Hail Mary. However, each Christian is given the right to use any other formula according to his personal piety and devotion.What is a plenary indulgence?A plenary indulgence is a grace granted by the Catholic Church through the merits of Jesus Christ to remove the temporal punishment due to sin.It is not a forgiveness of sin but the remission of punishment for sins already forgiven. It may apply either to oneself or to souls already in purgatory.In order to obtain a plenary indulgence the faithful must — in addition to being in the state of grace — both have the interior disposition of complete detachment from sin (even venial sin), have sacramentally confessed their sins and received the Eucharist (either within or outside of Mass), and must pray for the intentions of the Holy Father.The conditions for a plenary indulgence can be fulfilled a few days before or after performing the actions specified to gain the indulgence, but it is appropriate that Communion and the prayer take place on the same day that the work is completed.This story     was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 01 Jan 2026 16:01:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>How, obtain, plenary, indulgence, for, the, end, 2025, and, the, beginning, 2026</media:keywords>
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<title>Pope Leo XIV on New Year’s Eve: The future is in God’s hands</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-on-new-years-eve-the-future-is-in-gods-hands</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-on-new-years-eve-the-future-is-in-gods-hands</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV presides over first vespers (evening prayer) in St. Peter&#039;s Basilica in anticipation of the Jan. 1 solemnity of Mary, Mother of God on Dec. 31, 2025. Credit: Vatican Media.

Dec 31, 2025 / 15:00 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV at a New Year’s Eve prayer service reflected on God’s divine plan of salvation for the world — and the hope of ordinary people.“The world moves forward in this way, propelled by the hope of so many simple people — unknown to the world but not to God — who, despite everything, believe in a better tomorrow, because they know that the future is in the hands of the One who offers them the greatest hope,” the pope said in St. Peter’s Basilica on Dec. 31.Leo presided over first vespers (evening prayer) in anticipation of the Jan. 1 solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. The liturgy included hymns, Psalms, readings from Scripture, and the singing of the “Te Deum,” a Latin hymn of thanksgiving from the early Church.In his homily, the pontiff spoke about God’s plan versus the plans the world makes.“In our own time we feel the need for a wise, benevolent, merciful plan — one that is free and liberating, peaceful and faithful, like the plan that the Virgin Mary proclaimed in her canticle of praise: ‘From generation to generation his mercy is upon those who fear him’ (Lk 1:50),” he said.But, Leo noted, the world is enveloped in other plans: “Strategies aimed at conquering markets, territories, spheres of influence — armed strategies, cloaked in hypocritical rhetoric, ideological proclamations, and false religious motives.”However, the holy Mother of God sees things with God’s eyes, the pope continued. She knows that “with the power of his arm the Most High scatters the schemes of the proud, casts the mighty from their thrones and lifts up the lowly, fills the hungry with good things and sends the rich away empty.”Pope Leo XIV presides over first vespers (evening prayer) in St. Peter’s Basilica on Dec. 31, 2025, in anticipation of the Jan. 1 solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. | Credit: Vatican MediaThe Holy Father referenced the words of the Apostle Paul in Galatians 4, that “when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children.”The apostle presents the mystery of Christ as “a great plan for human history,” Leo said. “A mysterious plan, yet one with a clear center, like a lofty mountain illuminated by the sun in the midst of a dense forest: This center is the ‘fullness of time.’”On the vigil of the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, he emphasized Mary’s motherhood and her role in the revelation of the great mystery and paradox of “a God who is born of a virgin.”Pope Leo XIV presides over first vespers (evening prayer) in St. Peter’s Basilica in anticipation of the Jan. 1 solemnity of Mary, Mother of God on Dec. 31, 2025. | Credit: Vatican Media“The mother of Jesus is the woman with whom God, in the fullness of time, wrote the Word that reveals the mystery,” he said. “He did not impose it; he first proposed it to her heart, and once her ‘yes’ was received, he wrote it with ineffable love in her flesh,” he said.“Thus God’s hope became intertwined with Mary’s hope,” he added.Pope Leo pointed out that the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, concludes the Octave of Christmas and “spans the passage from one year to the next and extends over it the blessing of the One ‘who is, who was, and who is to come’ (Rv 1:8).”“The liturgy of the first vespers of the Mother of God possesses a singular richness, deriving both from the dizzying mystery it celebrates and from its placement at the very end of the solar year,” he said.Recalling that the Church is at the end of the Jubilee Year 2025, he added that the “Te Deum” prayer, to be sung at the end of the liturgy, “seems to expand so as to give voice to all the hearts and faces that have passed beneath these vaults and through the streets of this city.”Pope Leo XIV visits the Nativity scene in St. Peter’s Square on Dec. 31, 2025. | Credit: Vatican Media“We thank God for the gift of the jubilee, which has been a great sign of his plan of hope for humanity and for the world. And we thank all those who, during the months and days of 2025, have worked in service to the pilgrims and to make Rome more welcoming,” he said.“What can we wish for Rome?” he continued. “That it may be worthy of its smallest ones: of children, of elderly people who are alone and frail, of families who struggle most to make ends meet, of men and women who have come from afar hoping for a dignified life.”After the prayer service, Pope Leo visited the Nativity scene in St. Peter’s Square, a papal custom, while the Swiss Guard Band gave its annual Christmas concert.He then personally greeted the band and some of the people gathered in the square.    
        Pope Leo celebrates First Vespers of the Feast of Saint Mary, Most Holy Mother of God and Te Deum of Thanksgiving on New Year’s Eve in St. Peter’s Basilica, emphasizing in his homily the paradox of “a God born of a virgin, blessing the passing of one year to the next with Him,… pic.twitter.com/nKFQuNCDgh— EWTN Vatican (@EWTNVatican) December 31, 2025 ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 01 Jan 2026 16:01:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, New, Year’s, Eve:, The, future, God’s, hands</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV ends 2025 urging Catholics to examine conscience and entrust new year to God</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-ends-2025-urging-catholics-to-examine-conscience-and-entrust-new-year-to-god</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-ends-2025-urging-catholics-to-examine-conscience-and-entrust-new-year-to-god</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV greets pilgrims gathered for his Wednesday general audience on Dec. 31, 2025, in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican. | Credit: Vatican Media

Dec 31, 2025 / 08:08 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV used the Vatican’s final general audience of 2025 on Wednesday to invite Catholics to look back on the past year with gratitude and repentance, and to place what lies ahead in God’s hands.In St. Peter’s Square on Dec. 31, the pope said 2025 brought both joy and sorrow, citing the jubilee pilgrimage of the faithful as well as “the passing of the late Pope Francis” and “the scenarios of war that continue to convulse the planet.”“At its end,” Leo said, “the Church invites us to place everything before the Lord, entrusting ourselves to his providence, and asking him to renew, in us and around us, in the coming days, the wonders of his grace and mercy.”Pope Leo XIV waves from the popemobile to pilgrims gathered for his Wednesday general audience on Dec. 31, 2025, in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican. | Credit: Vatican MediaHe tied that end-of-year spiritual “dynamic” to the Church’s Te Deum observance, saying the hymn of praise and thanksgiving helps believers recognize God’s gifts and renew hope. Leo noted that the prayer includes lines such as: “You are God: We praise you,” “In you, Lord, is our hope,” and “Have mercy on us.”According to the Vatican’s published schedule, Leo was set to celebrate first vespers for the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, at 5 p.m. in St. Peter’s Basilica, followed by the Te Deum.In his     catechesis, the pope encouraged an honest examination of conscience, calling the faithful to reflect on God’s action over the past year, to evaluate their response to his gifts, and to ask forgiveness for times they failed to follow his inspirations or invest well the talents entrusted to them.Leo also returned to a core jubilee image, describing life as a pilgrimage. “This reminds us that our whole life is a journey,” he said, one that reaches its true fulfillment in “the encounter with God and in full and eternal communion with him.”Pope Leo XIV greets a young pilgrim during his Wednesday general audience on Dec. 31, 2025, in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican. | Credit: Vatican MediaThe pope pointed to another emblematic jubilee practice, the passage through the Holy Door, describing it as a concrete sign of conversion and of the believer’s yes to God, who “invites us to cross the threshold of a new life, animated by grace, modeled on the Gospel.”Looking to Christmas, Leo recalled St. Leo the Great’s preaching on the universal joy of Christ’s birth: “Let the saint rejoice … let the sinner rejoice … let the pagan take courage.” The pope said that invitation extends to all, including those who feel weak or fragile, because Christ has taken human frailty upon himself and redeemed it.To close, Leo cited St. Paul VI’s reflection at the end of the 1975 Jubilee, saying its core message can be summed up in a single word: “love.” He then repeated Paul VI’s emphatic profession of faith, including: “God is love! … God is mercy! God is forgiveness! … God, yes, God is life!”This story was     first published by ACI Stampa, CNA’s Italian-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 01 Jan 2026 16:01:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
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<title>Pope Leo XIV sends 3 truckloads of humanitarian aid to Ukraine</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-sends-3-truckloads-of-humanitarian-aid-to-ukraine</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-sends-3-truckloads-of-humanitarian-aid-to-ukraine</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV addresses pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican for recitation of the Angelus on Dec. 28, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Dec 28, 2025 / 10:00 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV has sent three trucks carrying humanitarian aid to parts of Ukraine hit hardest by bombardments, where residents are facing severe shortages of electricity, water, and heat.Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, the pope’s almoner, disclosed the delivery to Vatican media on Dec. 27, saying the convoy carried special food that can be dissolved in a small amount of water to produce energy-rich soups with chicken and vegetables.Krajewski described the shipment as a small gesture of closeness from the pope to Ukrainian families on the feast of the Holy Family, celebrated Dec. 28.The trucks, he said, arrived in the Vatican shortly before Christmas loaded with supplies donated by South Korean food company Samyang Foods. As had happened on previous occasions, including during the pontificate of Pope Francis, the aid was then redirected to war zones most severely affected by strikes, where basic utilities are often unavailable.Krajewski said the delivery underscores that the pope not only prays for peace but also wants to be concretely present with families who are suffering.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 29 Dec 2025 16:01:09 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, sends, truckloads, humanitarian, aid, Ukraine</media:keywords>
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<title>Pope Leo XIV: Christians have no enemies, only brothers and sisters</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-christians-have-no-enemies-only-brothers-and-sisters</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-christians-have-no-enemies-only-brothers-and-sisters</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV addresses pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican for the recitation of the Angelus on Dec. 26, 2025. | Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Dec 26, 2025 / 02:17 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV on Friday urged Christians to resist the temptation to treat others as enemies, saying the mystery of Christmas calls believers to recognize the God-given dignity of every person, even in their adversaries.“Christians, however, have no enemies, but brothers and sisters, who remain so even when they do not understand each other,” the pope said Dec. 26 during his     Angelus address from the Apostolic Palace on the feast of St. Stephen, the Church’s first martyr.Leo acknowledged that “those who believe in peace and have chosen the unarmed path of Jesus and the martyrs are often ridiculed, excluded from public discourse,” and sometimes even “accused of favoring adversaries and enemies.” Yet, he said Christian joy is sustained by “the tenacity of those who already live in fraternity.”Reflecting on St. Stephen’s martyrdom, the pope noted that early Christians spoke of the saint’s “birthday,” convinced “that we are not born just once” and that “martyrdom is a birth into heaven.”Citing the Acts of the Apostles, Leo recalled that those who witnessed Stephen’s trial and death “saw that his face was like the face of an angel” (Acts 6:15), calling it “the face of one who does not leave history indifferently but responds to it with love.”The pope linked Stephen’s witness to the meaning of Christmas, saying “the birth of the Son of God among us calls us to live as children of God,” drawing believers through the humility of Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds of Bethlehem.At the same time, he said, the beauty of Christ and of those who imitate him can be rejected because it exposes injustice and threatens those “who struggle for power.”“To this day, however, no power can prevail over the work of God,” Leo said, pointing to people around the world who choose justice “even at great cost,” who “put peace before their fears,” and who serve the poor.“In the current conditions of uncertainty and suffering in the world, joy might seem impossible,” he added, but insisted hope still “sprouts” and “it makes sense to celebrate despite everything.”The pope said Stephen’s final act of forgiveness mirrors Jesus’ own, flowing from “a force more real than that of weapons,” a “gratuitous force” rekindled when people learn to look at their neighbor with “attention and recognition.”“Yes, this is what it means to be reborn, to come once more into the light, this is our ‘Christmas!’” he said.After the Angelus, Leo renewed his Christmas wishes “for peace and serenity,” greeted pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square, and asked St. Stephen’s intercession for persecuted Christians and communities suffering for their faith. He also encouraged those working amid conflict to pursue “dialogue, reconciliation, and peace.”This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 29 Dec 2025 16:01:09 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV:, Christians, have, enemies, only, brothers, and, sisters</media:keywords>
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<title>Pope Leo XIV urges families to keep the flame of love alive</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-urges-families-to-keep-the-flame-of-love-alive</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-urges-families-to-keep-the-flame-of-love-alive</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV greets pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican for the recitation of the Angelus on Dec. 28, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Dec 28, 2025 / 09:49 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV on Sunday urged Christian families to “cherish the values of the Gospel” and protect the “flame of love” in their homes against modern myths of success, power, and comfort that he said often leave people isolated and divided.Speaking to pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square before the Angelus on Dec. 28, the feast of the Holy Family of Nazareth, the pope reflected on the Gospel account of the family’s flight into Egypt and contrasted the trust of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph with what he called the fear-driven cruelty of King Herod.“It is a moment of trial for Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,” Leo said, adding that “the bright image of Christmas is suddenly almost eclipsed by the disturbing shadow of a deadly threat.”The pope described Herod as “a cruel and bloodthirsty man” who is “deeply lonely and gripped with the fear of being deposed.” After hearing from the Magi that the “king of the Jews” had been born, Herod “decrees that all children of the same age as Jesus should be killed,” the pope said.“In Bethlehem there is light and joy,” Leo noted, recalling the shepherds who “have glorified God before the manger,” but he said “none of this can penetrate the armored defenses of the royal palace, except as a distorted echo of a threat to be stifled with blind violence.”Against that backdrop, the pope said the Holy Family reveals “the only possible answer of salvation,” namely, “God who, in total gratuitousness, gives himself to men without reserve and without pretension.”Leo pointed to St. Joseph’s obedience in protecting Mary and Jesus, saying that “the gesture of Joseph is revealed in all its redemptive significance.” He added: “In Egypt, the flame of domestic love, to which the Lord has entrusted his presence in the world, grows and gains strength in order to bring light to the whole world.”Turning to families today, the pope warned that “the world always has its ‘Herods,’ its myths of success at any cost, of unscrupulous power, of empty and superficial well-being” and said societies often “pay the price in the form of loneliness, despair, divisions, and conflicts.”“Let us not allow these mirages to suffocate the flame of love in Christian families,” he said.Instead, Leo urged families to cultivate “prayer, frequent reception of the sacraments, especially confession and Communion, healthy affections, sincere dialogue, fidelity, and the simple and beautiful concreteness of everyday words and gestures.” He said such family life can make homes “a light of hope for the places in which we live; a school of love and an instrument of salvation in God’s hands.”After the Angelus, the pope greeted pilgrims from several Italian parishes and groups. He also renewed his appeal for peace, asking Catholics to remember those suffering because of conflict.“In the light of the Nativity of the Lord, let us continue to pray for peace,” he said. “Today, in particular, let us pray for families suffering because of war, especially for children, elderly, and the most vulnerable.”This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 29 Dec 2025 16:01:09 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, urges, families, keep, the, flame, love, alive</media:keywords>
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<title>Pope Leo XIV on Christmas night: Make room for others</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-on-christmas-night-make-room-for-others</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-on-christmas-night-make-room-for-others</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV celebrates Christmas Mass during the Night in a packed St. Peter’s Basilica on Dec. 24, 2025. / Credit: Daniel Ibanez/CNA

Vatican City, Dec 24, 2025 / 17:30 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV, at Christmas Mass during the Night, said Christ’s birth brings light into the world’s darkness — and where the human person is welcomed, God is welcomed too.“To enlighten our blindness, the Lord chose to reveal himself as a man to man, his true image, according to a plan of love that began with the creation of the world,” the pope said in his homily in St. Peter’s Basilica on Dec. 24.“As long as the night of error obscures this providential truth, then ‘there is no room for others either, for children, for the poor, for the stranger,’” he added, quoting Pope Benedict XVI’s homily at Christmas Mass on Dec. 24, 2012.“These words of Pope Benedict XVI remain a timely reminder that on earth, there is no room for God if there is no room for the human person,” the pontiff said.Leo celebrated the Christmas Mass, also known as midnight Mass, for a packed Vatican basilica at 10 p.m. The Vatican said an estimated 6,000 people were inside the basilica for the Mass, while another 5,000 people followed the papal Mass via jumbo screens in St. Peter’s Square.In a surprise before the Mass, the pope stepped outside St. Peter’s Basilica to greet those who were forced to stay in the rainy square because there was no more room inside.“The basilica of St. Peter’s is very large, but unfortunately it is not large enough to receive all of you,” Leo said, thanking everyone for their presence, wishing them a merry Christmas, and bestowing his apostolic blessing.Just now: Pope Leo surprised and blessed the crowd that could not get into St. Peter’s Basilica for tonight’s Christmas Eve Mass. “The basilica of St. Peter is very large, but unfortunately, it is not large enough to receive all of you. Tante grazie per venire qui questa sera.” pic.twitter.com/vMK1Zmibl8— EWTN Vatican (@EWTNVatican) December 24, 2025 The preparatory readings and the sung Proclamation of the Birth of Christ — also called the Kalenda Proclamation — preceded the Mass. The pontiff removed a cloth to reveal a wooden sculpture of the Christ Child, placed in front of the main altar of the basilica, after the chanting of the Kalenda Proclamation. A group of 10 children dressed in traditional clothing from different parts of the world brought flowers to the figure of baby Jesus.In his homily, the pope recalled that, “for millennia, across the earth, peoples have gazed up at the sky” attempting to read the future in the stars. Yet, they remained lost and in the dark, he said. “On this night, however, ‘the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light’ (Is 9:2).”“Born in the night is the One who redeems us from the night,” Leo said. “The hint of the dawning day is no longer to be sought in the distant reaches of the cosmos, but by bending low, in the stable nearby.Pope Leo invited Christians to marvel at the wisdom of Christmas, through which “God gives the world a new life: his own, offered for all.”“He does not give us a clever solution to every problem but a love story that draws us in. In response to the expectations of peoples, he sends a child to be a word of hope. In the face of the suffering of the poor, he sends one who is defenseless to be the strength to rise again. Before violence and oppression, he kindles a gentle light that illumines with salvation all the children of this world,” he said.The pontiff quoted a sermon of St. Augustine, who said “human pride weighed you down so heavily that only divine humility could raise you up again.”“While a distorted economy leads us to treat human beings as mere merchandise, God becomes like us, revealing the infinite dignity of every person,” Leo said. “While humanity seeks to become ‘god’ in order to dominate others, God chooses to become man in order to free us from every form of slavery. Will this love be enough to change our history?” ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 26 Dec 2025 16:01:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, Christmas, night:, Make, room, for, others</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Full text: Pope Leo XIV’s Christmas night homily</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/full-text-pope-leo-xivs-christmas-night-homily</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/full-text-pope-leo-xivs-christmas-night-homily</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV venerates a statue of the child Jesus during the celebration of Christmas Mass during the Night in St. Peter’s Basilica on Dec. 24, 2025. / Credit: Daniel Ibanez/CNA

Vatican City, Dec 24, 2025 / 17:31 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV celebrated Christmas Mass during the Night in St. Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday. The Mass was attended by an estimated 6,000 people inside the basilica, while around 5,000 people gathered outside in St. Peter&#039;s Square, according to the Vatican.Below is the full text of the pope’s Christmas night homily:Dear brothers and sisters,For millennia, across the earth, peoples have gazed up at the sky, giving names to the silent stars, and seeing images therein. In their imaginative yearning, they tried to read the future in the heavens, seeking on high for a truth that was absent below amidst their homes. Yet, as if grasping in the dark, they remained lost, confounded by their own oracles. On this night, however, “the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined” (Is 9:2).Behold the star that astonishes the world, a spark newly lit and blazing with life: “To you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord” (Lk 2:11). Into time and space — in our midst — comes the One without whom we would not exist. He who gives his life for us lives among us, illuminating the night with his light of salvation. There is no darkness that this star does not illumine, for by its light all humanity beholds the dawn of a new and eternal life.It is the birth of Jesus, Emmanuel. In the Son made man, God gives us nothing less than his very self, in order to “redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own” (Titus 2:14). Born in the night is the One who redeems us from the night. The hint of the dawning day is no longer to be sought in the distant reaches of the cosmos, but by bending low, in the stable nearby.The clear sign given to a darkened world is indeed “a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger” (Lk 2:12). To find the Savior, one must not gaze upward, but look below: The omnipotence of God shines forth in the powerlessness of a newborn; the eloquence of the eternal Word resounds in an infant’s first cry; the holiness of the Spirit gleams in that small body, freshly washed and wrapped in swaddling clothes. The need for care and warmth becomes divine since the Son of the Father shares in history with all his brothers and sisters. The divine light radiating from this Child helps us to recognize humanity in every new life.To heal our blindness, the Lord chooses to reveal himself in each human being, who reflect his true image, according to a plan of love begun at the creation of the world. As long as the night of error obscures this providential truth, then “there is no room for others either, for children, for the poor, for the stranger” (Benedict XVI, Homily, Christmas Mass during the Night, 24 December 2012).These words of Pope Benedict XVI remain a timely reminder that on earth, there is no room for God if there is no room for the human person. To refuse one is to refuse the other. Yet, where there is room for the human person, there is room for God; even a stable can become more sacred than a temple, and the womb of the Virgin Mary become the Ark of the New Covenant.Let us marvel, dear brothers and sisters, at the wisdom of Christmas. In the Child Jesus, God gives the world a new life: his own, offered for all. He does not give us a clever solution to every problem, but a love story that draws us in. In response to the expectations of peoples, he sends a child to be a word of hope. In the face of the suffering of the poor, he sends one who is defenseless to be the strength to rise again. Before violence and oppression, he kindles a gentle light that illumines with salvation all the children of this world. As St. Augustine observed, “human pride weighed you down so heavily that only divine humility could raise you up again” (St. Augustine, Sermon 188, III, 3). While a distorted economy leads us to treat human beings as mere merchandise, God becomes like us, revealing the infinite dignity of every person. While humanity seeks to become “god” in order to dominate others, God chooses to become man in order to free us from every form of slavery. Will this love be enough to change our history?The answer will come as soon as we wake up from a deadly night into the light of new life, and, like the shepherds, contemplate the child Jesus. Above the stable of Bethlehem, where Mary and Joseph watch over the newborn Child with hearts full of wonder, the starry sky is transformed into “a multitude of the heavenly host” (Lk 2:13). These are unarmed and disarming hosts, for they sing of the glory of God, of which peace on earth is the true manifestation (cf. v. 14). Indeed, in the heart of Christ beats the bond of love that unites heaven and earth, Creator and creatures.For this reason, exactly one year ago, Pope Francis affirmed that the Nativity of Jesus rekindles in us the “gift and task of bringing hope wherever hope has been lost,” because “with him, joy flourishes; with him, life changes; with him, hope does not disappoint” (Homily, Christmas Mass during the Night, 24 December 2024). With these words, the holy year began. Now, as the jubilee draws to a close, Christmas becomes for us a time of gratitude and mission; gratitude for the gift received, and mission to bear witness to it before the world. As the Psalmist sings: “Tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all the peoples” (Ps 96:2–3).Brothers and sisters, contemplation of the Word made flesh awakens in the whole Church a new and true proclamation. Let us therefore announce the joy of Christmas, which is a feast of faith, charity, and hope. It is a feast of faith, because God becomes man, born of the Virgin. It is a feast of charity, because the gift of the redeeming Son is realized in fraternal self-giving. It is a feast of hope, because the child Jesus kindles it within us, making us messengers of peace. With these virtues in our hearts, unafraid of the night, we can go forth to meet the dawn of a new day. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 26 Dec 2025 16:01:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Full, text:, Pope, Leo, XIV’s, Christmas, night, homily</media:keywords>
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<title>Pope, at Christmas Day Mass, says wars fed by falsehoods send young people to their deaths</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-at-christmas-day-mass-says-wars-fed-by-falsehoods-send-young-people-to-their-deaths</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-at-christmas-day-mass-says-wars-fed-by-falsehoods-send-young-people-to-their-deaths</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass in St. Peter&#039;s Basilica at the Vatican on December 25, 2025. / Daniel Ibañez/ EWTN News

Vatican City, Dec 25, 2025 / 06:35 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV on Christmas Day deplored the “falsehoods” used to justify wars that leave young people “forced to take up arms” and “sent to their deaths,” while also drawing attention to the humanitarian suffering of displaced people, including families living in tents in Gaza.In his first Christmas as pope, Leo celebrated Christmas Day Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica, reviving a practice not seen since 1994 during the pontificate of St. John Paul II. Reflecting on the prologue of St. John’s Gospel, the pope said in his homily that the Christmas liturgy highlights a striking contrast: God’s Word, which acts with power, comes into the world in utter weakness.“The ‘Word’ is a word that acts,” Leo said. Yet, he added, “the Word of God appears but cannot speak. He comes to us as a newborn baby who can only cry and babble.”Leo said the mystery Christians celebrate at Christmas cannot be separated from the vulnerability of those whose dignity is assaulted by war, displacement, and poverty. He urged Catholics to let Christ’s birth pierce complacency and move them toward tenderness and solidarity.“‘Flesh’ is the radical nakedness that, in Bethlehem as on Calvary, remains even without words – just as so many brothers and sisters, stripped of their dignity and reduced to silence, have no words today,” he said.In one of the homily’s most striking passages, Leo connected the Gospel image of the Word “pitching” his tent among humanity with the reality faced by families living in makeshift shelters amid conflict.“Dear brothers and sisters, since the Word was made flesh, humanity now speaks, crying out with God’s own desire to encounter us. The Word has pitched his fragile tent among us,” he said, before asking: “How, then, can we not think of the tents in Gaza, exposed for weeks to rain, wind and cold; and of those of so many other refugees and displaced persons on every continent; or of the makeshift shelters of thousands of homeless people in our own cities?”The pope also described the toll of war in terms of both shattered communities and wounded consciences.“Fragile is the flesh of defenseless populations, tried by so many wars, ongoing or concluded, leaving behind rubble and open wounds,” he said. “Fragile are the minds and lives of young people forced to take up arms, who on the front lines feel the senselessness of what is asked of them and the falsehoods that fill the pompous speeches of those who send them to their deaths.”Leo framed Christmas as a proclamation that peace is not merely a hope for the future but a gift already present in Christ, even when few recognize it. Quoting Jesus’ words to the disciples, he said: “‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you’ (Jn 14:27).”That peace, he said, begins not in rhetoric but in concrete compassion that listens, stays close, and responds to suffering.“When the fragility of others penetrates our hearts, when their pain shatters our rigid certainties, then peace has already begun,” he said. “The peace of God is born from a newborn’s cry that is welcomed, from weeping that is heard. It is born amidst ruins that call out for new forms of solidarity.”The pope warned that believers can bury what the Gospel calls “the power to become children of God” by keeping their distance from the vulnerable.“Becoming children of God is a true power – one that remains buried so long as we keep our distance from the cry of children and the frailty of the elderly, from the helpless silence of victims and the resigned melancholy of those who do the evil they do not want,” he said.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 26 Dec 2025 16:01:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Christmas, Day, Mass, says, wars, fed, falsehoods, send, young, people, their, deaths</media:keywords>
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<title>PHOTOS: Pope Leo meets the tiniest members of the flock — babies</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/photos-pope-leo-meets-the-tiniest-members-of-the-flock-babies</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/photos-pope-leo-meets-the-tiniest-members-of-the-flock-babies</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV blesses a baby on All Saints Day’ 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Dec 25, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV has welcomed and greeted a plethora of babies at the Vatican since his election on May 8. As Christians everywhere celebrate the birth of Jesus, who came into this world as a baby, it’s a perfect time to highlight many of these sweet “pontiff meets babies” moments.Pope Leo XIV holds a baby during an audience at the Vatican. Credit: Vatican MediaPope Leo XIV blesses a baby during his general audience  in St. Peter’s Square on June 18, 2025, at the Vatican. Credit: Vatican MediaPope Leo XIV greets a young attendee at a Pentecost prayer vigil in St. Peter’s Square, Saturday, June 7, 2025. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNAPope Leo XIV blesses a baby during his Wednesday general audience on Aug. 6, 2025, in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican. Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNAPope Leo XIV blesses a baby during his Wednesday general audience in St. Peter’s Basilica on Aug. 13, 2025, at the Vatican. Due to the heat, the pope gave his address in Paul VI Audience Hall but also greeted pilgrims in other locations. Credit: Vatican MediaPope Leo meets a family at the general audience on Aug. 27, 2025. Credit: Vatican MediaPope Leo embraces a crying baby in St. Peter&#039;s Square on Sept. 6, 2025. Credit: Vatican MediaPope Leo ambraces a baby at his general audience on Aug. 27, 2025. Credit: Vatican MediaPope Leo XIV blesses a baby during the general audience on Sept. 3, 2025, in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican. Credit: Vatican MediaPope Leo XIV blesses a baby during his general audience on Sept. 24, 2025, in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican. Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNAPope Leo XIV blesses a baby during his general audience on Sept. 24, 2025, in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican. Credit: Vatican MediaPope Leo XIV greets a baby during his general audience on Sept. 24, 2025, in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican. Credit: Vatican MediaPope Leo XIV blesses a baby during his jubilee audience on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican. Credit: Vatican MediaPope Leo XIV greets a family in Rome. Credit: Vatican MediaPope Leo XIV greets a baby at his general audience in St. Peter&#039;s Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNAPope Leo XIV pauses to embrace a baby in the crowd during Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square on Oct. 12, 2025. Credit: Vatican MediaPope Leo greets young children and families in St. Peter&#039;s Basilica Credit: Vatican MediaPope Leo XIV greets a baby during his general audience in St. Peter&#039;s Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025. Credit: Vatican MediaPope Leo blesses a baby on All Saints&#039; Day 2025. Credit: Vatican Media ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 26 Dec 2025 16:01:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>PHOTOS:, Pope, Leo, meets, the, tiniest, members, the, flock, —, babies</media:keywords>
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<title>Pope Leo XIV highlights Gaza, Yemen, migrants in first Christmas Urbi et Orbi message</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-highlights-gaza-yemen-migrants-in-first-christmas-urbi-et-orbi-message</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-highlights-gaza-yemen-migrants-in-first-christmas-urbi-et-orbi-message</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV delivers his Christmas &quot;Urbi et Orbi&quot; message at the Vatican on December 25, 2025. / Daniel Ibañez/ EWTN News

Vatican City, Dec 25, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).
In his first Christmas “Urbi et Orbi” message as pope, Leo XIV urged the world to embrace “responsibility” as the sure way to peace, while pointing in particular to the suffering of people in Gaza, Yemen, and those fleeing war and poverty as refugees and migrants.Before an estimated 26,000 people gathered in St. Peter’s Square on Dec. 25, the pope appeared at the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to deliver the traditional Christmas blessing “to the city and to the world,” eight months after his May 8 election.In one of the most evocative passages of the message, the pope cited at length from “Wildpeace,” a poem by Israeli poet Yehuda Amichai, contrasting “the peace of a cease-fire” with a deeper peace that arrives unexpectedly — “like wildflowers” — after exhaustion and conflict.“Responsibility is the sure way to peace,” Leo said. “If all of us, at every level, would stop accusing others and instead acknowledge our own faults, asking God for forgiveness, and if we would truly enter into the suffering of others and stand in solidarity with the weak and the oppressed, then the world would change.”The pope framed his appeal around the Christian proclamation that Christ “is our peace,” adding: “Without a heart freed from sin, a heart that has been forgiven, we cannot be men and women of peace or builders of peace.”Turning to concrete “faces” of contemporary pain, Leo said that in becoming man, Jesus “took upon himself our fragility, identifying with each one of us: with those who have nothing left and have lost everything, like the inhabitants of Gaza; with those who are prey to hunger and poverty, like the Yemeni people; with those who are fleeing their homeland to seek a future elsewhere, like the many refugees and migrants who cross the Mediterranean or traverse the American continent.”He also named those who have lost jobs, underpaid workers who are exploited, and prisoners “who often live in inhumane conditions.”Leo offered “a warm and fatherly greeting” to Christians, “especially those living in the Middle East,” recalling his recent trip to Turkey and Lebanon. “I listened to them as they expressed their fears and know well their sense of powerlessness before the power dynamics that overwhelm them,” he said.“From God let us ask for justice, peace and stability for Lebanon, Palestine, Israel and Syria,” the pope continued, as he invoked Scripture on righteousness and peace.He also prayed “in a particular way for the tormented people of Ukraine,” asking that “the clamor of weapons cease,” and that the parties involved — “with the support and commitment of the international community” — find “the courage to engage in sincere, direct and respectful dialogue.”In a wider survey of global crises, the pope said: “From the Child of Bethlehem, we implore peace and consolation for the victims of all current wars in the world, especially those that are forgotten, and for those who suffer due to injustice, political instability, religious persecution and terrorism,” naming Sudan, South Sudan, Mali, Burkina Faso, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. He prayed as well for Haiti, asking that “all forms of violence in the country will cease,” and called for a future of reconciliation for Myanmar.Leo also included a specific appeal for Latin America, asking that “the Child Jesus inspire those in Latin America who hold political responsibilities,” so that amid the region’s challenges “space may be given to dialogue for the common good, rather than to ideological and partisan prejudices.”He concluded by urging the faithful to open their hearts to those in need: “On this holy day, let us open our hearts to our brothers and sisters who are in need or in pain,” before offering “heartfelt good wishes for a peaceful and holy Christmas!”This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 26 Dec 2025 16:01:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, highlights, Gaza, Yemen, migrants, first, Christmas, Urbi, Orbi, message</media:keywords>
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<title>Pope Leo in apostolic letter calls for renewed priestly formation, fraternity, and mission</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-inapostolic-letter-callsfor-renewed-priestly-formation-fraternity-and-mission</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-inapostolic-letter-callsfor-renewed-priestly-formation-fraternity-and-mission</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV greets pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square on Dec. 20, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

ACI Prensa Staff, Dec 22, 2025 / 12:07 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV calls for renewed priestly formation, stronger priestly fraternity, and a more missionary focus in pastoral ministry in an apostolic letter released by the Vatican on Monday.The document, “A Fidelity That Generates the Future,” reflects on two decrees of the Second Vatican Council: Optatam Totius — on priestly formation — and Presbyterorum Ordinis — on the ministry and life of priests — both promulgated in 1965. Leo urges Catholics to keep reading the two conciliar texts in Christian communities and to study them “particularly in seminaries and in all places of preparation and formation for ordained ministry.”An apostolic letter is a formal papal document, typically addressed to the Church, meant to teach, encourage, or direct pastoral priorities on a specific theme.In his new letter, Leo says the Church is not simply marking an anniversary. He writes that the council’s “desired renewal” remains closely tied to priestly ministry, quoting the council’s assessment that “the desired renewal of the whole Church depends to a great extent on a priestly ministry animated by the spirit of Christ.”The pope presents fidelity as both a grace and “a constant journey of conversion,” and he thanks priests worldwide for their ministry — from celebrating the Eucharist and proclaiming the Word to caring for those who suffer.Formation and the abuse crisisLeo writes that every vocation begins with an encounter with Christ and recalls the Lord’s call, “Follow me” (Mk 1:17). He says fidelity in “times of trial and temptation” is strengthened by remembering “the sound of the voice of the Lord who loves, chooses, and calls us,” and by seeking the accompaniment of those experienced in the spiritual life. Addressing what he calls “the crisis of trust in the Church caused by abuses committed by members of the clergy,” the pope says the scandal “has filled us with shame and called us to humility” and underscores “the urgent need for a comprehensive formation” that fosters human maturity alongside “a rich and solid spiritual life.” He urges seminarians to examine their motivations and includes a pointed line on formation of the heart: “The seminary is meant to be a training ground to help a seminarian attend to his own heart… we need to learn how to love and how to do so as Jesus did.” Priestly fraternity and lonelinessLeo describes priestly fraternity as a gift rooted in ordination itself and warns against individualism. He encourages practical steps to strengthen bonds among priests, including support for those who are isolated, sick, or elderly.The pope also flags disparities that can undermine communion, saying more remains to be done — including “economic equalization between those who serve poor parishes and those who carry out their ministry in wealthy communities.”Synodality and shared leadershipLeo calls synodality “particularly close to my heart,” arguing that the Church still has work to do in fostering healthy relationships between priests and bishops, among priests themselves, and with the lay faithful. He encourages priests to engage the Synod on Synodality’s final document and says priestly ministry should move away from “exclusive leadership” that centralizes parish life and places every responsibility on the priest alone. Instead, he points to more collegial leadership and cooperation among priests, deacons, and the whole people of God. Mission and the temptations of activism and withdrawalThe pope links priestly identity to mission and warns against two temptations: an efficiency-driven mindset that measures worth by performance, and a “quietism” that retreats from evangelization. He writes that media exposure and social networks require discernment and recalls St. Paul’s warning: “‘All things are lawful for me,’ but not all things are beneficial” (1 Cor 6:12). The letter closes with a focus on vocations and the need for both prayer and renewed pastoral creativity. Leo entrusts seminarians, deacons, and priests to the intercession of the Immaculate Virgin, Mother of Good Counsel, and St. John Mary Vianney. This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.  ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 23 Dec 2025 16:01:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, in apostolic, letter, calls for, renewed, priestly, formation, fraternity, and, mission</media:keywords>
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<title>Pope Leo XIV tells Vatican employees doing work well gives glory to God</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-tells-vatican-employees-doing-work-well-gives-glory-to-god</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-tells-vatican-employees-doing-work-well-gives-glory-to-god</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV addresses employees of the Vatican on Dec. 22, 2025, in the Paul VI Audience Hall at the Vatican. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Dec 22, 2025 / 12:37 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV told Vatican and Holy See employees to see their daily work as part of the Church’s mission, saying that doing one’s job well “gives glory to the Lord.”Meeting the workers for a Christmas greeting on Dec. 22, the pope said he is still getting to know the Vatican and experiences it as “a great mosaic” made up of many offices and services. He said he hopes, with God’s help, to meet employees as he visits different workplaces.Reflecting on the Nativity scene, Pope Leo pointed to the many figures shown at work — each carrying out a task — as a reminder that everyday activities find their full meaning in God’s plan centered on Jesus Christ. He said it is as if the Christ Child blesses everyone from the manger, giving purpose and unity to the work of each person.Even when some figures in the Nativity seem distant from the central event, he said, they participate precisely by being themselves, staying in their place and doing what they are called to do. The pope applied that image to Vatican life, saying each person can praise God by carrying out his or her responsibilities with commitment and care.The pope also linked professional dedication to family life, telling lay employees that striving to do one’s best at work — and loving one’s family and children — honors God.He urged Vatican workers to make that spirit a hallmark of the Church “in every expression,” and he asked them to convey his greetings to their relatives at home, telling them that the pope is praying for them.After giving his blessing, Pope Leo greeted some of those present individually.This story was first published by ACI Stampa, CNA’s Italian-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 23 Dec 2025 16:01:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, tells, Vatican, employees, doing, work, well, gives, glory, God</media:keywords>
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<title>Pope Leo XIV highlights key virtues for final days of Advent</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-highlights-key-virtues-for-final-days-of-advent</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-highlights-key-virtues-for-final-days-of-advent</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV greets pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican for the recitation of the Angelus on Dec. 21, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

ACI Prensa Staff, Dec 21, 2025 / 09:15 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV on Sunday highlighted four virtues of St. Joseph — “piety and charity, mercy and trust” — as guides for Catholics in the final days of Advent leading up to Christmas.Speaking during his Angelus address from the window of the Apostolic Palace on the Fourth Sunday of Advent, the pope said the day’s liturgy invited the faithful to reflect on St. Joseph, especially “at the moment when God reveals his mission to him in a dream.”Calling the Gospel episode “a very beautiful page in salvation history,” Leo described Joseph as a man who is “fragile and fallible — like us — and at the same time courageous and strong in faith.”Referring to the Gospel of Matthew, the pontiff recalled that Joseph of Nazareth was a “just man,” a devout Israelite who observed the law and frequented the synagogue, while also being “extremely sensitive and human.”In the face of Mary’s mysterious pregnancy — a situation that was difficult to understand and accept — the pope noted that Joseph did not choose “the way of scandal” or public condemnation. Instead, he opted for the discreet and benevolent path of planning to divorce her quietly.In doing so, Leo said, Joseph demonstrated he had grasped the deepest meaning of religious observance: mercy.The pope added that Joseph’s purity and nobility became even clearer when the Lord revealed his plan of salvation in a dream, showing Joseph the unexpected role he would assume as the husband of the Virgin Mother of the Messiah.Leo pointed to Joseph’s “great act of faith,” saying the saint left behind the last of his certainties and set out into a future fully in God’s hands.Referring to St. Augustine, the pope said that from Joseph’s piety and charity, “a son was born of the Virgin Mary — Son at the same time of God.”“Piety and charity, mercy and trust,” Leo said, are the virtues the liturgy proposes for the faithful today so that they may accompany Christians through these final Advent days toward “holy Christmas.”The pope emphasized that these attitudes “educate the heart” for encountering Christ and one another and can help believers become for each other “a welcoming manger, a comfortable home, a sign of God’s presence.”He urged Catholics not to miss opportunities during this season of grace to put the virtues into practice — forgiving, encouraging, offering hope to those they live with and meet — and renewing in prayer a childlike trust in the Lord and in his providence.Leo concluded by entrusting the faithful to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph, who were the first to welcome Jesus, the Savior of the world, “with great faith and love.”This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 23 Dec 2025 16:01:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, highlights, key, virtues, for, final, days, Advent</media:keywords>
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<title>These are Pope Leo XIV’s prayer intentions for 2026</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/these-are-pope-leo-xivs-prayer-intentions-for-2026</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/these-are-pope-leo-xivs-prayer-intentions-for-2026</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV prays during his Wednesday general audience on Aug. 13, 2025, in the Paul VI Audience Hall at the Vatican. / Credit: Vatican Media

CNA Staff, Dec 22, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).
The pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network has released Pope Leo XIV’s list of prayer intentions for the year 2026.Every month, Pope Leo asks Catholics around the world to pray for a particular intention. This initiative is accompanied by a video in which the pontiff expresses the reasons why he has chosen that particular intention.Below is the complete list of Pope Leo’s prayer intentions for 2026.January: For prayer with the word of GodLet us pray that praying with the word of God be nourishment for our lives and a source of hope in our communities, helping us to build a more fraternal and missionary Church.February: For children with incurable diseasesLet us pray that children suffering from incurable diseases and their families receive the necessary medical care and support, never losing strength and hope.March: For disarmament and peaceLet us pray that nations move toward effective disarmament, particularly nuclear disarmament, and that world leaders choose the path of dialogue and diplomacy instead of violence.April: For priests in crisisLet us pray for priests going through moments of crisis in their vocation, that they may find the accompaniment they need and that communities may support them with understanding and prayer.May: That everyone might have foodLet us pray that everyone, from large producers to small consumers, be committed to avoid wasting food and to ensure that everyone has access to quality food.June: For the values of sportsLet us pray that sports be an instrument of peace, encounter, and dialogue among cultures and nations, and that they promote values such as respect, solidarity, and personal growth.July: For respect for human lifeLet us pray for the respect and protection of human life in all its stages, recognizing it as a gift from God.August: For evangelization in the cityLet us pray that in large cities often marked by anonymity and loneliness we find new ways to proclaim the Gospel, discovering creative paths to build community.September: For the care of waterLet us pray for a just and sustainable management of water, a vital resource, so that everyone may have equal access to it.October: For mental health ministryLet us pray that mental health ministry be established throughout the Church, helping to overcome the stigma and discrimination of persons with mental illnesses.November: For the proper use of wealthLet us pray for the proper use of wealth, that not succumbing to the temptation of selfishness, it may always be put at the service of the common good and solidarity of those who have less.December: For single-parent familiesLet us pray for families experiencing the absence of a mother or father, that they may find support and accompaniment in the Church, and help and strength in the faith during difficult times. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 23 Dec 2025 16:01:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>These, are, Pope, Leo, XIV’s, prayer, intentions, for, 2026</media:keywords>
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<title>Pope Leo XIV urges a ‘more missionary’ Roman Curia and warns against internal divisions</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-urges-a-more-missionary-roman-curia-and-warns-against-internal-divisions</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-urges-a-more-missionary-roman-curia-and-warns-against-internal-divisions</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV addresses officials of the Roman Curia at the Vatican on Dec. 22, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Dec 22, 2025 / 06:25 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV on Monday called on officials of the Roman Curia to deepen both mission and communion, urging Vatican offices to be “more mission-oriented” and cautioning against the “forces of division” that can take root even “beneath an apparent calm.”Speaking during his annual Christmas greetings with personnel of the Church’s central administration, the pope also paid tribute to Pope Francis, whom he described as his “beloved predecessor” who “this year concluded his earthly life.”Leo said Francis’ “prophetic voice, pastoral style, and rich magisterium” encouraged the Church “to place God’s mercy at the center, to give renewed impetus to evangelization, and to be a joyful Church, welcoming to all and attentive to the poorest.”Drawing on Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, Leo focused his address on what he called “two fundamental aspects of the Church’s life: mission and communion.”“By her very nature, the Church is outward-looking, turned toward the world, missionary,” the pope said, adding that the Church exists to invite people into “the good news of God’s love.”He insisted that ecclesial structures should serve evangelization rather than slow it down. “Structures must not weigh down or slow the progress of the Gospel or hinder the dynamism of evangelization; instead, we must ‘make them more mission-oriented,’” he said.Applying that principle directly to Vatican governance, the pope said: “We need an ever more missionary Roman Curia in which institutions, offices, and tasks are conceived in light of today’s major ecclesial, pastoral, and social challenges, and not merely to ensure ordinary administration.”Leo said the mystery of Christmas highlights not only the mission of the Son of God but also the purpose of that mission: reconciliation and a new kind of fraternity. “Christmas reminds us that Jesus came to reveal the true face of God as Father, so that we might all become his children and therefore brothers and sisters to one another,” he said.Pope Leo XIV addresses officials of the Roman Curia at the Vatican on Dec. 22, 2025. Credit: Vatican MediaThe pope warned that communion within the Church requires ongoing conversion, especially when tensions arise in workplaces and debates about doctrine and practice.“At times, beneath an apparent calm, forces of division may be at play,” he said. He cautioned against “swinging between two opposite extremes: uniformity that fails to value differences, or the exacerbation of differences and viewpoints instead of seeking communion.”Such patterns, he said, can lead to “rigidity or ideology” and the conflicts that follow.Yet, he continued, Christians are united in Christ even amid real diversity. “And in Christ, though many and diverse, we are one: ‘In Illo uno unum,’” he said.Leo called Curia officials in particular to be “builders of Christ’s communion,” emphasizing a synodal Church in which “all cooperate in the same mission, each according to his or her charism and role.”The pope acknowledged that long years of service can leave some Vatican employees disheartened by workplace dynamics, including “the exercise of power,” “the desire to prevail,” or “the pursuit of personal interests.”He posed the question directly: “Is it possible to be friends in the Roman Curia? To have relationships of genuine fraternal friendship?” He said it is “a grace to find trustworthy friends, where masks fall away,” where “no one is used or sidelined,” and where each person’s “worth and competence are respected.”Such relationships, he said, require personal conversion so that “Christ’s love” can be visible.The pope also linked internal communion to the Church’s public witness in a world marked by violence and polarization. He said this conversion becomes a sign “ad extra” in “a world wounded by discord, violence, and conflict,” where there is “a growth in aggression and anger,” often “exploited by both the digital sphere and politics.”“Dear brothers and sisters, mission and communion are possible if we place Christ at the center,” Leo said.He also pointed to the significance of the Church’s current jubilee year, saying it underscores that Christ “alone is the hope that does not disappoint.”The pope referenced two major anniversaries marked this year: the Council of Nicaea, which he said returns the Church “to the roots of our faith,” and the Second Vatican Council, which “strengthened the Church and sent her forth to engage the modern world.”Leo closed by recalling the 50th anniversary of St. Paul VI’s apostolic exhortation Evangelii Nuntiandi, highlighting its emphasis that evangelization belongs to the whole Church and that the first means of evangelization is the witness of an authentically Christian life.“Let us remember this also in our curial service: The work of each is important for the whole, and the witness of a Christian life, expressed in communion, is the first and greatest service we can offer,” he said.Quoting Lutheran pastor and theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer on the humility of God revealed at Christmas, Leo prayed that the Lord would grant the Curia “his own humility, his compassion, and his love,” and he concluded by wishing all present “a holy Christmas” and asking God to “grant peace to the world.”At the close of the exchange of greetings, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals, offered Christmas wishes on behalf of Curia offices, the Vatican City State Governorate, and the Diocese of Rome, and the pope presented curial personnel with a copy of “The Practice of the Presence of God,” the spiritual classic he has recently recommended.This story was first published by ACI Stampa, CNA’s Italian-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 23 Dec 2025 16:01:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, urges, ‘more, missionary’, Roman, Curia, and, warns, against, internal, divisions</media:keywords>
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<title>Pope Leo XIV strengthens legal protections for employees of the Vatican and Holy See</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-strengthens-legal-protections-for-employees-of-the-vatican-and-holy-see</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-strengthens-legal-protections-for-employees-of-the-vatican-and-holy-see</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ A new Vatican labor regulations decree was issued after an audience granted to Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, pictured here with Pope Leo XIV. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Dec 19, 2025 / 16:22 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV approved new labor regulations at the Office of Labor of the Apostolic See (ULSA, by its Italian acronym), the Holy See’s body responsible for managing labor relations for personnel working in the Roman Curia, the Governorate of Vatican City State, and other entities directly administered by the Apostolic See.The reform, established through a pontifical rescript signed on Nov. 25, introduces significant changes that strengthen institutional representation, improve internal coordination, and underscore the pontiff’s care for employees and the application of the Church’s social doctrine.The document that has been released — corresponding to the ULSA’s new statute — details, in precise legal language, how labor disputes should be handled in the Vatican, reinforcing protections, procedures, and deadlines for both current and former employees of the Holy See.Specifically, the text regulates the chapter dedicated to labor disputes, clearly establishing who can appeal, to which authorities, and within what time frames.The document indicates that anyone who believes they have been harmed by an administrative act in labor matters — unless it has been expressly approved by the pope — may file a complaint with ULSA or take it to the Vatican judicial authority.However, it is emphasized that attempting conciliation with the ULSA director is a mandatory condition, an indispensable requirement before pursuing any other course of action.The text also specifies that, when required by the internal regulations of each administration, the employee must first exhaust all internal remedies, failing which his or her claim will be deemed inadmissible. Only after completing this process can the procedure before ULSA or the courts of Vatican City State be initiated.Solutions through dialogue before resorting to legal actionLabor disputes — whether individual or collective — will be resolved preferably through conciliation mechanisms, and only in case of failure will they be referred to the ULSA Conciliation and Arbitration Board or the Vatican court. In this way, the system prioritizes solutions through dialogue before resorting to legal action.The document also establishes a five-year statute of limitations for rights arising from the employment relationship, although it clarifies that filing a request for conciliation interrupts this period until official notification of the document that concludes this phase.Matters falling under the jurisdiction of the Disciplinary Commissions established in the general regulations of the various Vatican administrations are expressly excluded from this procedure.Regarding deadlines, the statute stipulates that the appeal must be filed within 30 days of notification — or actual knowledge — of the contested act. The same deadline applies after a negative decision on an internal appeal or in the case of administrative silence, if the administration fails to respond within the prescribed time.Finally, the text details the formal requirements of the claim, which must include the claimant’s personal data, the identification of the administration involved,and the act being challenged, as well as the necessary elements to allow for the proper processing of the case.The decree was issued after an audience granted to Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and coincides with the approval of the new general regulations of the Roman Curia.Overall, the document reflects an effort to provide greater legal certainty, transparency, and procedural order to labor relations within the Vatican, in line with the recent reform initiated by Pope Leo XIV to strengthen the protection of workers and promote a culture of conciliation before resorting to legal conflict.A more representative councilAnother major innovation of the new statute is the expansion of the ULSA Council, the advisory body responsible for developing regulatory proposals. For the first time, it will include a representative from the Secretariat of State as well as from the Vicariate of Rome, the Pension Fund, and the Healthcare Fund (FAS) used by employees of the Vatican and the Holy See. This addition brings the number of newly represented entities to four and aims to strengthen the technical expertise and effective protection of workers.The council — whose members serve a five-year term — already included representatives from various Vatican dicasteries and bodies, such as the Dicastery for Evangelization, the Secretariat for the Economy, the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See, and the Governorate of Vatican City State.A more ‘synodal’ working styleThe new statute also introduces a more participatory way of working. From now on, each council member will be able to propose topics for the agenda directly, a power that previously required the support of at least four members. According to Vatican sources, this measure emphasizes a more “synodal” working style and promotes the creative involvement of the various departments and staff representatives.Leo XIV has confirmed the historical responsibilities of ULSA, an organization established by St. John Paul II in 1988 and operational since 1989, and which was further updated during the pontificates of Benedict XVI and Francis.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 21 Dec 2025 16:01:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, strengthens, legal, protections, for, employees, the, Vatican, and, Holy, See</media:keywords>
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<title>Countdown to the closing of the jubilee: When, who will close the Holy Doors in Rome?</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/countdown-to-the-closing-of-the-jubilee-when-who-will-close-the-holy-doors-in-rome</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/countdown-to-the-closing-of-the-jubilee-when-who-will-close-the-holy-doors-in-rome</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV passes through the Holy Door carrying the jubilee cross as he leads the pilgrimage of the Holy See on June 9, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Dec 18, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).
Just a few weeks remain until the closing of the holy year, which was inaugurated by Pope Francis on Dec. 24, 2024. On Jan. 6, 2026, Pope Leo XIV will be the one to close the enormous bronze door of St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, through which nearly 30 million pilgrims have passed during the last 12 months seeking a plenary indulgence. This Holy Door is slated to be reopened in 2033, when the Church celebrates the Extraordinary Holy Year of the Redemption.The schedule for closing rites of the Holy Doors of the main papal basilicas in Rome is as follows:The first Holy Door to be closed — and which will remain walled up until the next jubilee — is that of St. Mary Major Basilica. The rite will take place on Dec. 25, as reported by the Holy See Press Office. The ceremony will be begin at 6 p.m. local time, followed by Mass celebrated by the cardinal archpriest of the basilica, Rolandas Makrickas.Lithuanian Cardinal Rolandas Makrickas, archpriest of the Basilica of St. Mary Major, celebrates Mass on Aug. 5, 2025, to mark the anniversary of the dedication of the Marian basilica. Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNATwo days later, on Dec. 27 at 11 a.m. local time, the closing ceremony at St. John Lateran Basilica will be presided over by the cardinal vicar of Rome, Baldassare Reina, who will celebrate the Eucharist, and will feature the participation of the diocesan choir, directed by Monsignor Marco Frisina.On Dec. 28 at 10 a.m. local time, the Holy Door of St. Paul Outside the Walls Basilica will be closed. The solemn event will be presided over by Cardinal Archpriest James Michael Harvey.Finally, on Jan. 6, 2026, the solemnity of the Epiphany, Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to close the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica before celebrating the Mass that will mark the concluding act of the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope. On that occasion, the pontiff will invite pilgrims to return to Rome in 2033 for the Extraordinary Holy Year of Redemption.Detail of the bronze panels on the Holy Door of St. Peter&#039;s Basilica, highlighted during the nocturnal opening for the Jubilee of Artists, Feb. 16, 2025. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNAThe Holy Doors, as is tradition, have been solely those of the four papal basilicas of Rome: St. Peter’s in the Vatican, St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major, and St. Paul Outside the Walls. However, on Dec. 26, two days after officially inaugurating the holy year, Pope Francis made an exception by traveling to the Rebibbia prison in Rome to repeat this gesture at another door as a symbol of hope.The late pope wanted to extend this gesture of grace to prisoners by opening the door of this correctional facility in the Italian capital.The date on which the closing ceremony for this fifth Holy Door will take place has yet to be announced.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 21 Dec 2025 16:01:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Countdown, the, closing, the, jubilee:, When, who, will, close, the, Holy, Doors, Rome</media:keywords>
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<title>Pope Leo XIV warns against destructive spiral of autonomous weapons and escalation</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-warns-against-destructive-spiral-of-autonomous-weapons-and-escalation</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-warns-against-destructive-spiral-of-autonomous-weapons-and-escalation</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV speaks to patients and caregivers at the De La Croix Hospital in Jal el Dib, Lebanon, on Dec. 2, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Dec 18, 2025 / 18:28 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV warned against the destructive spiral fueled by the arms race and the development of autonomous weapons, and called for an “unarmed and disarming” peace — one that springs from the resurrection of Christ — as the only answer to the world’s challenges.“The peace of the risen Jesus is unarmed, because his was an unarmed struggle in the midst of concrete historical, political, and social circumstances,” the pontiff wrote in his message for the 59th World Day of Peace, which will be celebrated on Jan. 1, 2026. Its text was released Dec. 18 by the Holy See Press Office.The four-page document is titled “Peace Be with You All: Towards an Unarmed and Disarming Peace,” an expression that directly echoes the first words spoken by Leo XIV after his election as the successor of Peter on May 8, when he appeared on the balcony of the Apostolic Palace to greet the faithful for the first time.In the text, the pope lamented that, in the face of global challenges, the predominant response is an “enormous economic investment in rearmament.” In this regard, he noted that in 2024, global military spending increased by 9.4% compared with the previous year, confirming “the trend of the last 10 years.” According to the data cited, total spending reached $2.718 trillion, equivalent to 2.5% of the world’s gross domestic product.Beyond the statistics, the pope warned of the cultural and educational consequences of this logic. He criticized the fact that schools and universities are not adequately preserving “a culture of memory” that remembers the “millions of victims” of wars ​​and lamented that, instead, educational programs are being promoted that are based on the “perception of threats,” promoting “only an armed notion of defense and security.”The Holy Father also emphasized how technological advancements and the incorporation of artificial intelligence in the military sphere have “worsened the tragedy” of armed conflicts. He therefore warned of the risk of a growing tendency to “shirk responsibility” by political and military leaders such that “decisions about life and death are increasingly “‘delegated’ to machines.” In his view, this is an “unprecedented destructive betrayal” of the “legal and philosophical principles of humanism” upon which any civilization is based and safeguarded.The pontiff did not shy away from denouncing “the enormous concentrations of private economic and financial interests” that are driving states in this direction, but emphasized that just criticizing this would not be enough “unless we also awakened conscience and critical thought” throughout society.In his reflection, Leo XIV included an explicit warning against the religious instrumentalization of violence. The pope observed that it is part of the contemporary landscape to “to drag the language of faith into political battles, to bless nationalism, and to justify violence and armed struggle in the name of religion.” In response, he urged believers to “actively refute this, above all by the witness of their lives,” because “these forms of blasphemy profane the holy name of God.”Therefore, he emphasized that, alongside concrete actions for peace, it is increasingly necessary to cultivate “prayer, spirituality, and ecumenical and interreligious dialogue” as authentic paths to peace and as languages ​​of encounter between traditions and cultures.The Holy Father also warned of the risk of treating peace as a “distant ideal” and “disconnected from the concrete experience of people and the political life of nations.”When peace is presented as something unattainable, the pope noted in the text, “we cease to be scandalized when it is denied, or even when war is waged in its name.”According to the pontiff, there is a real risk that this logic will end up seeping into both private and public life, fueling the perception that it is almost “a fault” not to be sufficiently prepared for war, “not to react to attacks,” even going “far beyond the principle of legitimate defense.”“It is no coincidence that repeated calls to increase military spending, and the choices that follow, are presented by many government leaders as a justified response to external threats,” Leo XIV lamented.Indeed, he continued, “the deterrent power of military might, especially nuclear deterrence, is based on the irrationality of relations between nations, built not on law, justice, and trust but on fear and domination by force.”Faced with this scenario, the pope proposed a different understanding of peace that “wants to dwell within us” and has the “gentle power to enlighten and expand our understanding; it resists and overcomes violence.”‘Peace is a breath of the eternal’“Peace is a breath of the eternal: while to evil we cry out ‘Enough,’ to peace we whisper ‘Forever,’” the pope emphasized.The reflection included a cultural critique of the modern world, which he called “realistic” in its narratives but “devoid of hope, blind to the beauty of others,” and that forgets that “God’s grace is always at work in human hearts, even those wounded by sin.”In this regard, the pope recalled that the path proposed by Jesus was already perplexing even for his own disciples: “The Gospels do not hide the fact that what troubled the disciples was his nonviolent response,” a path that everyone, starting with Peter, opposed, “yet the Master asked them to follow this path to the end. The way of Jesus continues to cause unease and fear.” The Holy Father acknowledged the discouragement experienced by people of goodwill who “have hearts ready for peace” and are overwhelmed by a feeling of “powerlessness” in the face of the increasingly uncertain course of events.The World Day of Peace was instituted by St. Paul VI, who proposed it on Dec. 8, 1967, the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. It was celebrated for the first time on Jan. 1, 1968, coinciding with the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, and since then it has become an annual occasion for the Church to reflect on the great challenges of human coexistence.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 21 Dec 2025 16:01:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, warns, against, destructive, spiral, autonomous, weapons, and, escalation</media:keywords>
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<title>Pope Leo XIV writes preface to book that shaped his spiritual life</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-writes-preface-to-book-that-shaped-his-spiritual-life</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-writes-preface-to-book-that-shaped-his-spiritual-life</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass for the Jubilee of Prisoners in St. Peter’s Basilica on Dec. 14, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Dec 19, 2025 / 11:05 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV has written the preface to a new Vatican edition of the book “The Practice of the Presence of God,” a spiritual work he says is “one of the texts that has most shaped my spiritual life.”“The Practice of the Presence of God” is a 17th-century spiritual classic written by the Carmelite friar Lawrence of the Resurrection.The pontiff shared the personal importance of this work during the return flight to Rome at the end of his first international trip to Turkey and Lebanon earlier this month.“It’s a very simple book, by someone who doesn’t even give his last name — Brother Lawrence — written many years ago,” he said at the time.“But it describes, if you will, a type of prayer and spirituality where one simply gives his life to the Lord and allows the Lord to lead.”The book that has ‘shaped my spiritual life’In a preface to “The Practice of the Presence of God,” published by the Vatican Publishing House (LEV) in Italian, the pope goes deeper into this personal experience and places the work within his own journey of faith.“As I have had occasion to say, together with the writings of St. Augustine and other books, this is one of the texts that has most shaped my spiritual life and has formed me in what the path for knowing and loving the Lord can be,” he writes.Leo emphasizes that the small book by Brother Lawrence places at the center not merely the experience but a true “practice” of the presence of God, lived in everyday life.It is, he explains, a path that is “simple and arduous at the same time. Simple, because it requires nothing other than “constantly calling God to mind, with small, continual acts of praise, prayer, supplication, adoration, in every action and in every thought, with him alone as our horizon, source, and end.”It is demanding because it requires “a journey of purification, of ascetic discipline, of renunciation and conversion of the most intimate part of ourselves — of our mind and our thoughts, even more than of our actions,” he explains.In this context, the pontiff cites St. Paul’s exhortation to the Philippians: “Have in you the same sentiments as Christ Jesus” — to underscore that “it is not only our attitudes and behaviors that must be conformed to God, but our very sentiments, our very way of feeling.”Making daily tasks ‘easy and light’In the preface, Leo underscores that this spiritual path, in which the presence of God becomes “familiar and occupies our inner space,” is where “graces and spiritual riches blossom, and even daily tasks become easy and light.”The pope situates Brother Lawrence’s message in the context of today’s world. The writings of this Carmelite, who lived with luminous faith through a century marked by conflicts and violence — “certainly no less violent than our own” — can, he affirms, “also be an inspiration and a help for the lives of us men and women of the third millennium.”Beyond ‘moralism’The writing of Brother Lawrence shows us “that there is no circumstance that can separate us from God, that each of our actions, each of our occupations, and even each of our mistakes acquires infinite value if lived in the presence of God, continually offered to him,” the Holy Father says.The pope adds that the whole of Christian ethics “can truly be summed up in this continual calling to mind of the fact that God is present: He is here.”“This remembrance, which is more than a simple memory because it involves our feelings and affections, overcomes all moralism and every reduction of the Gospel to a mere set of rules, and shows us that truly, as Jesus promised us, the experience of entrusting ourselves to God the Father already gives us a hundredfold here on earth,” he explains. “Entrusting ourselves to the presence of God means tasting a foretaste of paradise,” Leo writes.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA&#039;s Spanish-language partner agency. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 21 Dec 2025 16:01:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
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<title>Pope Leo XIV: The person and families must be at center of labor system</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xivthe-person-and-families-must-be-at-center-of-labor-system</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xivthe-person-and-families-must-be-at-center-of-labor-system</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV addresses employment consultants on Dec. 18, 2025, at the Vatican. / Credit: Vatican Media

ACI Prensa Staff, Dec 19, 2025 / 14:30 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV advocated for a labor system that serves individuals and families so that the dignity of each employee is recognized and his or her real needs are met.During a Dec. 18 audience at the Vatican with members of the Order of Employment Consultants, the Holy Father highlighted three aspects that he considers particularly important in the business world: the dignity of the person, mediation, and the promotion of safety.At the beginning of his address in the Apostolic Palace, the pontiff emphasized that at the heart of any work dynamic “should neither be capital, nor the laws of the market, nor profit, but the person, the family, and their well-being, to which everything else is secondary.”Consequently, he stated that workers must “be recognized in their dignity” and receive concrete responses to their real needs, such as the needs of young families, of parents with small children, “as well as the importance of helping those who, even while working, must care for elderly and sick family members.”“These are needs,” he pointed out, “that no truly civilized society can afford to forget or neglect.” This is especially true today, when artificial intelligence and technology “increasingly manage and influence our activities.” Therefore, he emphasized the urgent need to ensure that companies are characterized “as humane and fraternal communities.”He also urged the establishment of fair mediation between managers and employees, avoiding “excessive bureaucratization of relationships” and “distance and detachment and distance from reality.”Thus, he invited employment consultants to pay close attention “to the people in front of you, especially those who are in difficulty and have fewer opportunities to express their needs and assert their interests.” Finally, he emphasized the importance of promoting workplace safety and lamented the numerous accidents that occur at work. “Prevention is better than remediating,” he remarked.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 21 Dec 2025 16:01:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV: The, person, and, families, must, center, labor, system</media:keywords>
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<title>Swedish choir honors St. Lucy with songs in St. Peter’s Basilica</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/swedish-choir-honors-st-lucy-with-songs-in-st-peters-basilica</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/swedish-choir-honors-st-lucy-with-songs-in-st-peters-basilica</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Students from Nordiska Musikgymnasiet — The Nordic Music High School — in Stockholm perform traditional Swedish “Lucia songs” during an afternoon Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica on Dec. 11, 2025. / Credit: Bénédicte Cedergren/EWTN News

Rome Newsroom, Dec 13, 2025 / 09:00 am (CNA).
A Swedish youth choir marked the feast of St. Lucy by singing at a Mass at the Vatican on Thursday, Dec. 11.Students from Nordiska Musikgymnasiet — The Nordic Music High School — in Stockholm performed traditional Swedish “Lucia songs” during an afternoon Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica ahead of the Italian saint’s Dec. 13 feast day.Students from Nordiska Musikgymnasiet — The Nordic Music High School — in Stockholm perform traditional Swedish “Lucia songs” during an afternoon Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica on Dec. 11, 2025. Credit: Bénédicte Cedergren/EWTN News“It was just really amazing” singing in St. Peter’s Basilica, choir member Alfio Tota told EWTN News after the Dec. 11 Mass. “It’s so enormous … And the acoustics are very interesting.”The student recalled that though Sweden is a very secular country, the tradition of St. Lucia, as they call her, is quite strong.Students from Nordiska Musikgymnasiet — The Nordic Music High School — in Stockholm perform traditional Swedish “Lucia songs” during an afternoon Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica on Dec. 11, 2025. Credit: Bénédicte Cedergren/EWTN News“I think everyone feels quite a lot of joy and nostalgia in singing” the St. Lucy hymns, he said.Choir member Fabienne Glader told EWTN News that she always spends the feast of St. Lucy with her family.Students from Nordiska Musikgymnasiet — The Nordic Music High School — in Stockholm perform traditional Swedish “Lucia songs” during an afternoon Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica on Dec. 11, 2025. Credit: Bénédicte Cedergren/EWTN NewsSt. Lucy “shows courage and patience and just to never [give up] on yourself,” Glader said. “Even if you’re not really religious in any way, you can look up to her as just a wonderful person.”The choir’s conductor, Casimir Käfling, said as a Christian, the tradition of St. Lucy was always part of Christmas for his family.Students from Nordiska Musikgymnasiet — The Nordic Music High School — in Stockholm perform traditional Swedish “Lucia songs” during an afternoon Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica on Dec. 11, 2025. Credit: Bénédicte Cedergren/EWTN NewsHe called it “an incredible honor to be able to sing and conduct” her songs in St. Peter’s Basilica.Käfling also recalled the darkness Sweden experiences during the winter, especially in the month of December, and said St. Lucy brings light into that darkness.“The story of St. Lucy really plays with these contrasts of light and dark, and most importantly, hope and despair,” Tota said. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 14 Dec 2025 16:01:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Swedish, choir, honors, St., Lucy, with, songs, St., Peter’s, Basilica</media:keywords>
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<title>Pope warns about risks to Church when intelligence agencies ‘act for nefarious purposes’</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-warns-about-risks-to-church-when-intelligence-agencies-act-for-nefarious-purposes</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-warns-about-risks-to-church-when-intelligence-agencies-act-for-nefarious-purposes</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV speaks to people who work in Italy’s intelligence sector in the Vatican’s Hall of Blessings on Dec. 12, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Dec 12, 2025 / 09:11 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV warned that intelligence agencies in some countries work against the Catholic Church, “oppressing its freedom” by using confidential information for “nefarious purposes.”In an audience at the Vatican on Friday with people who work in Italy’s intelligence sector, the pope recalled the importance of conducting their jobs both ethically and morally.“We must be vigilant to ensure that confidential information is not used to intimidate, manipulate, blackmail, or discredit politicians, journalists, or other actors in civil society. All of this also applies to the ecclesial sphere,” he said on Dec. 12.Speaking in the Hall of Blessings, Leo urged those engaged in national security intelligence work to act with professionalism, to have respect for human dignity, and to engage in ethical communication.“Security agencies often have to collect information on individuals and therefore have a strong impact on individual rights,” he noted. “It is therefore necessary that limits be established, according to the criterion of human dignity, and that we remain vigilant against the temptations to which a job like yours exposes you.”The pope urged them to ensure that the protection of national security “always and in all cases guarantees people’s rights, their private and family life, freedom of conscience and information, and the right to a fair trial.”Leo recalled the massive changes to digital communications in recent decades and warned that the arrival of new and increasingly advanced technologies “offers us greater possibilities but, at the same time, exposes us to constant dangers.”“The massive and continuous exchange of information requires us to be critically vigilant about certain issues of vital importance: the distinction between truth and fake news, the undue exposure of private life, the manipulation of the most vulnerable, the logic of blackmail, and incitement to hatred and violence,” he said. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 14 Dec 2025 16:01:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, warns, about, risks, Church, when, intelligence, agencies, ‘act, for, nefarious, purposes’</media:keywords>
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<title>Pope Leo praises Christian archaeology, capable of ‘bringing to light anonymous holiness’</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-praises-christian-archaeology-capable-of-bringing-to-light-anonymous-holiness</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-praises-christian-archaeology-capable-of-bringing-to-light-anonymous-holiness</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV waves to pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square during his Wednesday general audience on Dec. 10, 2025. / Credit: Daniel Ibañez/EWTN News

Vatican City, Dec 12, 2025 / 11:42 am (CNA).
On the centenary of the founding of the Pontifical Institute of Christian Archaeology, Pope Leo XIV published a new apostolic letter in which he praised Christian archaeology as a work capable of “giving a voice to the silence of history” and of “bringing to light the anonymous holiness of many faithful who have contributed to building up the Church.”“In today’s fast-paced world, there is a tendency to forget and to consume images and words without reflecting on their meaning. The Church, on the other hand, is called to educate people in memory, and Christian archaeology is one of its most noble tools for doing so — not in order to take refuge in the past, but consciously to live in the present and work towards an enduring future,” the pope stated in the document, published on Dec. 11.This is the third magisterial publication of this kind by Leo XIV in his eight months as pontiff, following “Drawing New Maps of Hope,” a document focused on education, and In Unitate Fidei on the Ecumenical Council of Nicaea, in which he explored the unity of Christians.For Leo XIV, Christian archaeology allows the Church to “remember its origins” and “recount the history of salvation not only through words but also through images, forms, and spaces.” In a time that “often loses sight of its roots,” it is “a valuable instrument of evangelization.”Thus, he emphasized that archaeology speaks to believers and nonbelievers, young people, scholars, and pilgrims, because it illuminates the meaning of the journey and evokes an “echo of eternity.”‘Christianity is not an abstract concept’Each archaeological discovery, he explained, demonstrates that “Christianity is not an abstract concept but rather a body that has lived, celebrated, and inhabited space and time.”For the Holy Father, archaeology shows that faith “has already survived difficult times and resisted persecution, crises, and changes. Faith has been renewed and regenerated,” and has “flourished in new forms.” Hence, he described it as “a ministry of hope.”The pope said the discipline allows people to intuit the “power of an existence that transcends time,” to read in burials the “expectation of the Resurrection” and in apses “the orientation toward Christ.”The pope emphasized that archaeology also plays a decisive role in the theology of revelation, since God “has in time spoken through events and people.” Therefore, understanding revelation requires knowing its historical contexts: Archaeology “illuminates the texts,” he affirmed, and also “completes written sources.”In the document, the pope distanced himself from any idealization of the past and called for understanding the true history of the Church — made up of “greatness and limitation, holiness and fragility, continuity and rupture” — which will allow for a more authentic theology.‘Living memory,’ not ‘a cult of the past’Leo XIV warned against a merely conservationist vision of archaeology. “True Christian archaeology is not a matter of sterile conservation but of living memory,” he emphasized after pointing out that Christian archaeology must foster a “reconciled memory” and promote spaces for dialogue.Likewise, the pope recalled the value of academic communion and cooperation among archaeological institutions, describing this field as “a resource for everyone.”In affirming the fundamental role of Christian archaeology, the pope underscored that “theological studies that disregard archaeology run the risk of becoming disembodied, abstract, or even ideological.”According to the pontiff, archaeology not only provides historical data but also allows theology to remain rooted in the concrete reality of the people of God. Thus, he affirmed that a theology that “embraces archaeology ... listens to the body of the Church, assesses its wounds, reads its signs, and is touched by its history.”In his reflection, Leo XIV highlighted the human and pastoral dimension of archaeological work. He described it as an essentially “hands-on” profession in which researchers “are the first to handle buried material that conserves its vitality even after centuries.”But the contribution of the Christian archaeologist, Leo XIV added, goes beyond material recovery: “They study not only the artifacts but also the hands that forged them, the minds that conceived them, and the hearts that loved them.”God has truly entered history, and faith is not a philosophyThe pope recalled that from its origins, the Christian faith was transmitted through the memory of places and signs. “Christian communities safeguarded not only Jesus’ words but also the places, objects, and signs of his presence,” he stated.Places such as the empty tomb, Peter’s house in Capernaum, and the Roman catacombs not only served as historical testimony but also “all testify that God has truly entered history and that faith is not a mere philosophy but a tangible path within the reality of the world,” the Holy Father wrote.The pope affirmed that the Church needs to “search for a profound wisdom capable of preserving and passing on to future generations what is truly essential” and emphasized that archaeology has “an essential role in understanding Christianity and, consequently, its application within catechetical and theological formation.”Citing Pope Francis’ apostolic constitution Veritatis Gaudium, Leo recalled that archaeology is part of the fundamental disciplines of theological formation, because “it does not merely tell us about artifacts but about people: their homes, tombs, churches, and prayers” and about “how faith shaped their spaces, cities, landscapes, and mentalities.”The pope also emphasized that archaeology “is not just a specialized discipline reserved to a few experts” but rather a path accessible “to anyone who wishes to understand how faith is embodied in time, place, and culture.”Archaeology as a ‘school of hope’In his view, studying and narrating history helps to keep “the flame of collective conscience” alive. Otherwise, he warned, “all that remains is the personal memory of facts bound to our own interests or sensibilities, with no real connection to the human and ecclesial community in which we live.”Leo XIV recalled that the Pontifical Institute of Christian Archaeology was established by Pius XI’s motu proprio Primitivi Cemeteri (“Primitive Cemeteries”) of Dec. 11, 1925, with the task “of directing studies on the monuments of ancient Christianity with the utmost scientific rigor” in order to “reconstruct the lives of the early communities.”The institute has participated in crucial excavations, such as that of the tomb of the apostle Peter beneath the Altar of the Confession in St. Peter’s Basilica, and in recent investigations at St. Paul Outside the Walls.The pope asked: “How fruitful can the role of Christian archaeology still be for society and the Church in an age marked by artificial intelligence and by the exploration of the innumerable galaxies of the universe?”He himself offered the answer: Contemporary methods “enable us to glean new information from findings once considered insignificant,” reminding us that “nothing is truly useless or lost.” Even the marginal, he affirmed, can “reveal profound meaning in the light of new questions and methods. In this respect, archaeology is also a school of hope.”This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 14 Dec 2025 16:01:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
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<title>Pope Leo XIV, in meeting with award committee, calls for concrete acts of charity</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-in-meeting-with-award-committee-calls-for-concrete-acts-of-charity</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-in-meeting-with-award-committee-calls-for-concrete-acts-of-charity</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV meets with the committee that chooses recipients of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity at the Vatican on Dec. 11, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Dec 12, 2025 / 06:52 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV urged concrete acts of charity and solidarity in a world marked by conflict as he met with the committee that chooses recipients of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity.“In a time marked by increased conflict and division, we need authentic testimonies of human kindness and charity to remind us that we are all brothers and sisters. Words are not enough,” the pope told the delegation at the Vatican on Dec. 11.Leo praised the committee for continuing the legacy of Pope Francis and Grand Imam Ahmad Al-Tayyeb in promoting compassion and fraternity, calling their work a “noble service of human fraternity.”The Zayed Award for Human Fraternity, named after the late United Arab Emirates president Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, was established following the signing of the Document on Human Fraternity by Pope Francis and Al-Tayyeb during Francis’ 2019 apostolic journey to Abu Dhabi.“This prize not only embodies the legacy of Sheikh Zayed and these other leaders, it also emphasizes that every human being and every religion is called to promote fraternity,” Leo said.The pope stressed that ideals must be matched by action, telling the committee that building a society founded on love and respect requires “concrete actions.”“Remaining in the realm of ideas and theories, while failing to give them expression through frequent and practical acts of charity, will eventually cause even our most cherished hopes and aspirations to weaken and fade away,” he said, quoting his apostolic exhortation Dilexi Te.Leo encouraged the committee to persevere in its work, expressing confidence that its efforts would “continue to bear fruit for the good of the human family.”The Zayed Award association has received nominations from individuals and institutions worldwide whose work aims to foster solidarity and human connection across national, ethnic, and religious lines. For its 2026 edition, the award received more than 350 nominations from over 75 countries, with winners to be announced in January.Award recipients will be honored at a ceremony in Abu Dhabi on Feb. 4, coinciding with the anniversary of the Document on Human Fraternity and the U.N. International Day of Human Fraternity. A $1 million prize will be divided among the winners.Earlier this week, the Zayed Award delegation met with Grand Imam Ahmad Al-Tayyeb in Cairo. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 14 Dec 2025 16:01:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, meeting, with, award, committee, calls, for, concrete, acts, charity</media:keywords>
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<title>Former Hungarian ambassador reflects on 10&#45;year term at the Vatican</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/former-hungarian-ambassador-reflects-on-10-year-term-at-the-vatican</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/former-hungarian-ambassador-reflects-on-10-year-term-at-the-vatican</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Eduard Habsburg, Hungary&#039;s ambassador to the Holy See from 2015 to 2025, takes his leave during a farewell visit to Pope Leo XIV on Nov. 21, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media.

Vatican City, Dec 9, 2025 / 10:30 am (CNA).
Archduke of Austria Eduard Habsburg, who served as Hungary’s ambassador to the Holy See since 2015, described his post at the Vatican as “the greatest 10 years of my life.”Shortly before his farewell meeting with Pope Leo XIV on Nov. 21, Habsburg told EWTN News reporter Colm Flynn that after a decade on the job, he has “seen it all” and now wants to dedicate more time to his family, particularly his parents.“I felt that 10 years is a good term. It’s far longer than ambassadors usually have here,” he said in the exclusive interview.“I think I’ve seen everything you can see here, including a conclave, visits by my prime minister, exciting moments,” he added. “In a way, I’m going to miss it but also family is important.” The former ambassador, whose term at the Vatican ended on Nov. 30, said he will likely continue to represent Hungary at future international events organized by the Church and pro-family groups.  “I’ll keep a foot in that world, so to speak, so I’m not going to totally give it up,” he said.Reflecting on his initial surprise at being asked to be Hungary’s ambassador to the Holy See, Habsburg, who belongs to the prominent 850-year-old European Catholic dynasty, said he “hit the floor running” when he arrived in Rome for his first post.On Pope Francis and his love for HungaryDescribing his relationship with Pope Francis as “incredibly positive,” the former ambassador said the Argentine pontiff had a warm affection for the Central European nation and its people.“I saw it every time he met a Hungarian,” he said. “He would use Hungarian expressions. He would smile. He would be happy. He would take his time with them.”Though Pope Francis had not visited Hungary until 2021 for the 52nd International Eucharistic Conference, he told Habsburg that he “learned everything” about Hungary through three religious sisters who fled their country in 1956, during the Soviet occupation, to a monastery in Buenos Aires, Argentina.   “They have shaped Pope Francis’ outlook on Hungary and that made my work very easy,” he quipped. “He was incredibly generous.”Pope Francis visited Hungary a second time in 2023 for his apostolic journey to the country’s capital of Budapest from April 28–30.   On Pope Benedict XVI and his humorDuring the 1990s, Pope Benedict XVI, then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, read Habsburg’s doctoral thesis on the topic of Thomas Aquinas and Vatican II and told him “he liked it” and that he wanted him to either make a documentary or a thriller about Thomism.After first meeting with Pope Francis, the former ambassador said he later met with Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in the Vatican Gardens.  “He looked at me and said, ‘So you’re ambassador now?’” Habsburg recalled. “And then he said, ‘You know you still owe me a documentary or a thriller about Thomism.” “That was the first thing he said. I was so blown away,” he said. “I still haven’t written it.”“That’s the one thing many people don’t realize about Pope Benedict XVI was the sense of humor that he had that we never got to see publicly,” he said.  Habsburg earned a doctorate in philosophy from the University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt in 1999. On Pope Leo XIV The archduke told EWTN News he had briefly met Pope Leo XIV four times prior to his farewell visit to the pontiff on Nov. 21.  “I’m very impressed by him. I feel [he is] a very balanced and just man who is trying to do good,” he said of the first U.S.-born pope. Noting Pope Leo’s fluency in many languages, including English, Italian, Spanish, and Latin, Habsburg commented that he believes the universal Church’s new leader “has several cultures in his heart and in his mind.”“And yes, we will see the things that he’ll do. We pray for him every day,” he said.Watch the full interview with Eduard Habsburg on the EWTN News YouTube channel. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 11 Dec 2025 16:01:09 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
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<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV criticizes transhumanism: ‘Death is not opposed to life’</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-criticizes-transhumanism-death-is-not-opposed-to-life</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-criticizes-transhumanism-death-is-not-opposed-to-life</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV greets pilgrims in St. Peter&#039;s Square during a Jubilee audience on Nov. 22, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media.

Vatican City, Dec 10, 2025 / 11:21 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday rejected technological promises to indefinitely prolong human existence — such as those proposed by “transhumanism”— and said the resurrection of Christ “reveals to us that death is not opposed to life.”Speaking on a cold morning in St. Peter’s Square Dec. 10, the pontiff warned that numerous current anthropological visions “promise immanent immortality [and] theorize the prolongation of earthly life through technology.”That outlook, he said, is characteristic of “the transhumance scenario,” a phenomenon that “is making its way into the horizon of the challenges of our time.”In response, Leo urged people to consider two central questions: “Could death really be defeated by science? But then, could science itself guarantee us that a life without death is also a happy life?”The Holy Father explained that death and life are not opposed, and that in the Christian meaning, death is “a constitutive part of [life], as the passage to eternal life.”“The Pasch of Jesus gives us a foretaste, in this time still full of suffering and trials, of the fullness of what will happen after death,” he added.Thailand-Cambodia border clashesAt the end of his audience, Pope Leo spoke out against violent clashes at the border of Thailand and Cambodia, saying he was “deeply saddened by the news of the escalation of the conflict.”The hostilities have injured more than 100 people and displaced thousands of people in both countries. An estimated 13 people, including civilians, have been killed as the fighting entered the third day on Wednesday.“I express my closeness in prayer to these beloved populations and I ask the parties to immediately cease fire and resume dialogue,” the pope said.Death, ‘a great teacher of life’In his catechesis for the general audience, Leo XIV noted that throughout history, “many ancient peoples developed rites and customs linked to the cult of the dead, to accompany and to recall those who journeyed towards the supreme mystery.” But today, death “seems to be a sort of taboo” and “something to be spoken of in hushed tones, to avoid disturbing our sensibilities and our tranquility.”The pope lamented that this attitude often leads people to avoid visiting cemeteries.He also evoked the teachings of St. Alphonsus Liguori, recalling the enduring relevance of the saint’s work, “Preparation for Death.” The pontiff emphasized that, for the saint, death is “a great teacher of life,” capable of guiding the believer toward what is essential.As the pope explained, St. Alphonsus invited people to “to know that [death] exists, and above all to reflect on it” as a way to discern what is truly important in life.Leo also recalled that, in Alphonsian spirituality, prayer holds a central place “to understand what is beneficial in view of the kingdom of heaven, and letting go of the superfluous that instead binds us to ephemeral things.”From this perspective, he asserted that only the resurrection of Christ “is capable of illuminating the mystery of death to its full extent.”“In this light, and only in this, what our heart desires and hopes  becomes true: that death is not the end, but the passage towards full light, towards a happy eternity,” he said.The pope explained that the risen Christ “has gone before us in the great trial of death, emerging victorious thanks to the power of divine Love.”“He has prepared for us the place of eternal rest, the home where we are awaited; he has given us the fullness of life in which there are no longer any shadows and contradictions,” Leo said.This story was originally published by ACI Prensa, CNA&#039;s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 11 Dec 2025 16:01:09 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
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<title>Pontifical Yearbook goes digital: What is it and what does it contain?</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pontifical-yearbook-goes-digital-what-is-it-and-what-does-it-contain</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pontifical-yearbook-goes-digital-what-is-it-and-what-does-it-contain</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV uses a tablet to navigate the website of the new digital version of the Vatican&#039;s Pontifical Yearbook, known as the &quot;Annuario Pontificio&quot; in Italian. / Credit: Vatican Media.

Vatican City, Dec 10, 2025 / 11:00 am (CNA).
The Vatican this week launched the first-ever digital version of its annual directory, creating an easier way to find reliable and up-to-date information about the Church’s structures and members all around the world.The red-covered Pontifical Yearbook — known in Italian as the “Annuario Pontificio” — is an important reference updated every year with Church statistics, the names and contacts of bishops, information about the departments of the Holy See, and more.The Pontifical Yearbook, in its current form, started in the early 20th century, though other versions of a book with information about the Catholic hierarchy and the Roman Curia can be traced to the 18th century or earlier.The 2025 edition of the Annuario Pontificio, also called the Pontifical Yearbook. Credit: EWTN News.The biggest benefits to users are the ability to easily search for information and the possibility for updates to be reflected in real time.Before now, to keep the directory current, one would have to cut out and glue periodic updates from the Vatican into the hardback book.The directory includes global data that is frequently changing, including statistics about Catholic dioceses and missions, and information about bishops, the members of the Church, the number of priests and religious, and the Holy See’s diplomatic representation.It also contains information about the pope and cardinals, and lists the people who lead the many different entities that make up the Roman Curia and the Vatican.Screenshot of the homepage of the digital version of the Pontifical Yearbook.On Dec. 8, the Vatican’s Secretariat of State, which is responsible for publishing the Pontifical Yearbook, unveiled the digital version, available in both web and app versions for an annual subscription of 68,10 euros ($79.20), around the same price as a printed version, which is still being published.The Vatican said in time it intends to offer the directory in languages other than Italian, “making it more accessible to a growing number of users around the world.”At a presentation of the project, Pope Leo XIV had a chance to receive a first lesson in how the digital yearbook works. He thanked those involved, calling it “a wonderful service which will be of great help.” ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 11 Dec 2025 16:01:09 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
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<title>On solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, pope encourages renewing our ‘yes’ to God</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/on-solemnity-of-the-immaculate-conception-pope-encourages-renewing-our-yes-to-god</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/on-solemnity-of-the-immaculate-conception-pope-encourages-renewing-our-yes-to-god</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV prays the Angelus prayer on the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception on Dec. 8, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

ACI Prensa Staff, Dec 8, 2025 / 13:30 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV led the Angelus prayer Dec. 8 from the window of the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican on the occasion of the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.Addressing the faithful and pilgrims in attendance in St. Peter’s Square, the pontiff commented that on Dec. 8 we express our joy because the Father of heaven wanted her to be “preserved immune from all stain of original sin.”“The Lord has granted to Mary the extraordinary grace of a completely pure heart, in view of an even greater miracle: the coming of Christ the Savior,” he added.The pope also noted that the gift of the fullness of grace in the young woman of Nazareth “was able to bear fruit because she in her freedom welcomed it, embracing the plan of God.”He emphasized that “the Lord always acts in this way: He gives us great gifts, but he leaves us free to accept them or not.”For the Holy Father, this feast also invites us to “believe as she believed, giving our generous assent to the mission to which the Lord calls us.”In this way, he pointed out that the miracle that happened for Mary at her conception was “renewed for us in baptism: Cleansed from original sin, we have become children of God, his dwelling place and the temple of the Holy Spirit.”“The ‘yes’ of the mother of the Lord is wonderful, but so also can ours be, renewed faithfully each day, with gratitude, humility, and perseverance, in prayer and in concrete acts of love, from the most extraordinary gestures to the most mundane and ordinary efforts and acts of service. In this way, Christ can be known, welcomed, and loved everywhere and salvation can come to everyone,” he emphasized.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 11 Dec 2025 16:01:09 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
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<title>Vatican commission rejects female diaconate, although without a ‘definitive judgment’</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/vatican-commission-rejects-female-diaconate-although-without-a-definitive-judgment</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/vatican-commission-rejects-female-diaconate-although-without-a-definitive-judgment</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. / Credit: Xosema (CC BY-SA 4.0)

ACI Prensa Staff, Dec 4, 2025 / 13:37 pm (CNA).
The Vatican published on Dec. 4 the summary of the work carried out by the commissions studying the possibility of admitting women to the diaconate, presented to Pope Leo XIV by Cardinal Giuseppe Petrocchi.Petrocchi, the president of the Study Commission on the Female Diaconate created by Pope Francis, stated that — with seven votes in favor and one against — the possibility of admitting women to the diaconate as a degree of the sacrament of holy orders is ruled out.However, he emphasized that for the moment it is not possible “to formulate a definitive judgment, as in the case of priestly ordination.”Historical investigation into so-called ‘deaconesses’This second working session — following the one held in 2021 — ended last February, and the conclusions were presented on Sept. 18 to Pope Leo XIV, who ordered that they be made public on Dec. 4.In a seven-page document, the cardinal stated that, based on a historical investigation, the commissions agree that the so-called “deaconesses” existed in the history of the Church but with diverse functions and not equivalent to the male diaconate.Petrocchi emphasized that this question cannot be resolved solely with historical data and that, ultimately, it is up to the magisterium to issue a doctrinal judgment.Following the Synod on Synodality, everyone who wished to do so was invited to submit their contributions on the topic. The cardinal revealed that “although numerous submissions were received, the individuals or groups who sent their work numbered only 22 and represented only a few countries.”“Therefore, although the material is abundant and, in some cases, skillfully argued, it cannot be considered the voice of the synod, much less of the people of God as a whole,” he noted.Christ is male and the sex of those who receive ordinationAlthough there is not enough consensus to admit women to the diaconate, the votes show divided positions, with a clear tendency to maintain caution in this regard.On the one hand, those who support the female diaconate argue for “the equal status of men and women as images of God,” while those who are against it recall “the fact that Christ is male, and therefore that those who receive ordination are male is not accidental but is an integral part of the sacramental identity, preserving the divine order of salvation in Christ.”For those who oppose it, “altering this reality would not be a simple adjustment of the ministry but a rupture of the nuptial meaning of salvation.”Despite the lack of consensus surrounding the diaconate, there is unanimity on the need to expand the ministries instituted for women, further exploring the “baptismal diaconate” (every baptized person’s call to serve) and promoting greater female co-responsibility in the life of the Church. Petrocchi concluded by recommending that Pope Leo XIV follow a line of doctrinal prudence in his discernment as well as continue the theological study of the diaconate and, at the same time, open new ministerial spaces for women without resorting to sacramental ordination.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 05 Dec 2025 16:01:09 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
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<item>
<title>Leo XIV eliminates commission for donations to Holy See created by Pope Francis</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/leo-xiv-eliminates-commission-for-donations-to-holy-see-created-by-pope-francis</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/leo-xiv-eliminates-commission-for-donations-to-holy-see-created-by-pope-francis</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ null / Credit: Yury Dmitrienko/Shutterstock

ACI Prensa Staff, Dec 4, 2025 / 16:07 pm (CNA).
The Vatican announced on Dec. 4 a new decision by Pope Leo XIV regarding fundraising for the Holy See.Through the new chirograph Vinculum Unitatis et Caritatis, the Holy Father is eliminating the current Commissio de Donationibus (Donations Commission) structure created in February by Pope Francis to raise funds, which was approved “ad experimentum” (for temporary or provisional use) for three years.This commission was tasked with encouraging donations through specific campaigns among the faithful, bishops’ conferences, and other potential benefactors.The pontiff thus repealed the rules in force until now and established that they will no longer have “any canonical or legal force,” as well as any acts adopted up to this point. Furthermore, Pope Leo XIV decreed that all the commission’s assets must be transferred to the Holy See.By means of this decree, the members of the commission are immediately dismissed. The commission was composed of Monsignor Roberto Campisi, adviser for general affairs of the Secretariat of State, who chaired it; Archbishop Flavio Pace, secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity; Alessandra Smerilli, secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development; Sister Silvana Piro, undersecretary of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See; and Giuseppe Puglisi-Alibrandi, deputy secretary-general of the Governorate of Vatican City State.The decision of Leo XIV comes after consulting with experts in the field and following the recommendations of the Council for the Economy, with the aim of strengthening administrative efficiency in the financial management of the Holy See.The liquidation of the former commission will be managed by the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See, while the Secretariat for the Economy will resolve any outstanding issues and must keep the Council for the Economy informed of all actions taken in this regard.The Holy Father also ordered the creation of a new working group tasked with designing a renewed and more suitable model for fundraising, whose members will be proposed by the Council for the Economy. This measure takes effect immediately upon its publication in L’Osservatore Romano.On Nov. 26, Pope Leo XIV also made an adjustment to the reforms undertaken by his predecessor with a new decree to revise the financial and administrative rules governing the basilicas of St. Peter and St. Mary Major.The pontiff placed both institutions under the ordinary supervision of the Vatican’s Council for the Economy, emphasizing that the economic and financial reform of the Holy See requires a “periodic reevaluation and redefinition” of the regulatory framework.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 05 Dec 2025 16:01:09 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
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<title>Powerful moments from Pope Leo XIV’s trip to Turkey and Lebanon</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/powerful-moments-from-pope-leo-xivs-trip-to-turkey-and-lebanon</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/powerful-moments-from-pope-leo-xivs-trip-to-turkey-and-lebanon</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV interacts with a baby before celebrating Mass in Beirut, Lebanon, on Dec. 2, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

CNA Staff, Dec 2, 2025 / 17:34 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV’s first official papal trip from Nov. 27–Dec. 2 to Turkey and Lebanon has just ended. The wide-ranging international visit included historic ecumenical encounters, deeply symbolic gestures of prayer, and pastoral visits to Christian communities under pressure. Pope Leo highlighted the importance of unity, peace, and fraternity, and brought encouragement to a region marked by ancient faith and present suffering.Here are some of the most powerful moments from Pope Leo’s trip:TurkeyUpon landing at the Esenboğa International Airport in Ankara, Turkey, Pope Leo was greeted by Turkish authorities and members of the military. Outside of the Presidential Palace, the pontiff  was welcomed by a cavalry escort, the playing of the national anthems, and 21 cannon shots.null The pope commemorated the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea on Nov. 28 alongside Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople and other Christian leaders in the Turkish city of Iznik, southeast of Istanbul, the site of the Council of Nicaea, historically known as the birthplace of the Nicene Creed.The ecumenical prayer service took place at the archaeological excavations of the ancient Basilica of St. Neophytus, built in 380 at the site of the first Christian ecumenical council, which was convened by Emperor Constantine I in 325.null While in Istanbul, Pope Leo visited the Nursing Home of the Little Sisters of the Poor, telling the community that Christian charity begins not with doing but with being — i.e., living a real communion with those one serves.Pope Leo XIV visits a care home for the elderly run by a community of the Little Sisters of the Poor in Istanbul, Turkey, on Nov. 28, 2025. Credit: Vatican MediaLater that day, Pope Leo met the “little flock” of Catholics at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Istanbul. Catholics in Turkey make up roughly just 0.05% of the country’s 85 million people. The pope encouraged them to rediscover what he called the Gospel’s “logic of littleness” and not to be discouraged by their tiny numbers but to recognize in them the strength of authentic Christian witness.null In another touching moment at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Istanbul, a young child eagerly awaited and received the blessing of the Holy Father:null Pope Leo and Patriarch Bartholomew I gave a joint ecumenical blessing from the balcony of the patriarchate following the Orthodox Divine Liturgy on Nov. 30. The joint blessing recalls the fraternity and communion between the Church of Rome and the Church of Constantinople.Pope Leo XIV and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I give a joint blessing from the balcony of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul, Turkey, following an Orthodox Divine Liturgy on Nov. 30, 2025. Credit: Elias Turk/EWTN NewsLebanonAhead of his second day in Lebanon, a stunning rainbow appeared over the Port of Beirut, the site of the explosion that devastated the area in 2020.This morning, a stunning rainbow over the Port of Beirut opened the second day of Pope Leo’s visit to Lebanon. The pope will pray at the site of the explosion that devastated this area in 2020. What a beautiful sign of peace and hope.?Magdalena Wolińska-Riedi / EWTN News pic.twitter.com/DKqS9pclSg— EWTN News (@EWTNews) December 1, 2025 Pope Leo XIV became the first pope in history to visit the tomb of St. Charbel Makhlouf when he arrived at the Monastery of St. Maron in Annaya on the second day of his apostolic journey to Lebanon.Pope Leo XIV reflects on the enduring message of St. Charbel Makhlouf at the hermit&#039;s tomb at the Monastery of St. Maron, in Annaya, Lebanon, on Dec. 1, 2025. Credit: Vatican Medianull In another beautiful moment, Pope Leo gave a Golden Rose to the Virgin Mary during his visit to the Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa, Lebanon.Pope Leo XIV presents a Golden Rose to Mary at the Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa, Lebanon, on Dec. 1, 2025. Credit: Vatican MediaA little girl proudly showed off a rosary given to her by Pope Leo during the pope’s meeting with bishops, clergy, and religious at the Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa.null On the final morning of his trip to Lebanon, Pope Leo XIV paused before the ruins of the Beirut port explosion, praying in silence and placing a wreath in memory of the victims. In one of the most emotional moments of his trip, he also met family members of those killed and survivors still carrying the wounds of the Aug. 4, 2020, blast.Five years after the explosion, one of the largest nonnuclear blasts in history, families of the 236 people killed and more than 7,000 wounded say they are still waiting for truth and accountability.Pope Leo XIV prays in silence at the site of the 2020 port explosion in Beirut, Lebanon, on Dec. 2, 2025. Credit: AIGAV PoolPope Leo XIV greets a young child at the site of the Aug. 4, 2020, blast at the Port of Beirut on Dec. 2, 2025. Credit: Vatican MediaPope Leo XIV prayed in silence at the Port of Beirut, where an explosion in 2020 left hundreds of victims. He stopped before the monument honoring the dead, amid the debris that still remains, to lay a wreath of flowers and light a candle. pic.twitter.com/asEbtchn7R— EWTN Vatican (@EWTNVatican) December 2, 2025 After visiting the site of the explosion, Pope Leo celebrated Mass for an estimated 150,000 people at the Beirut Waterfront. Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass for an estimated 150,000 people at Beirut&#039;s Waterfront in Lebanon, on Dec. 2, 2025. Credit: Vatican MediaWhile visiting the De La Croix Hospital in Jal el Dib, north of Beirut, Pope Leo also spent time in the Saint-Dominique wing, where children with severe physical and mental disabilities are cared for, and blessed the children.Pope Leo XIV blesses a child at the De La Croix Hospital for the mentally disabled in Jal el Dib, north of Beirut, Lebanon, on Dec. 2, 2025. Credit: Vatican MediaFrom there, Pope Leo boarded the papal plane for Rome, telling the Lebanese people: “Leaving this land means carrying you in my heart.”Pope Leo XIV waves goodbye to those in attendance at a farewell ceremony at the International Airport of Beirut in Lebanon on Dec. 2, 2025. Credit: Vatican Media ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 05 Dec 2025 16:01:09 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
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<item>
<title>The kitchen friar’s book that inspires Pope Leo’s spirituality</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/the-kitchen-friars-book-that-inspires-pope-leos-spirituality</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/the-kitchen-friars-book-that-inspires-pope-leos-spirituality</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV speaks with reporters on his flight from Beirut to Rome on Dec. 2, 2025. / Credit: Elias Turk/EWTN

CNA Staff, Dec 3, 2025 / 18:21 pm (CNA).
On the papal plane on the way home from his first international trip, Pope Leo XIV referenced a book that has greatly influenced his spirituality after being asked by a journalist about the conclave and what it’s been like becoming the pope.“Besides St. Augustine,” Pope Leo said that “The Practice of the Presence of God” by a 17th-century Carmelite friar named Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection is a book that can help anyone to understand his spirituality.“It’s a very simple book by someone who doesn’t even give his last name,” the pope told journalists on the papal plane Dec. 2. “I read it many years ago, but it describes a type of prayer and spirituality where one simply gives his life to the Lord and allows the Lord to lead.”“And if you want to know something about me, that’s been my spirituality for many years, in midst of great challenges — living in Peru, during years of terrorism, being called to service in places where I never thought I would be called to serve to — I trust in God, and that message is something that I share with all people,” he continued. After being asked what it was like for him during the conclave, Pope Leo mentioned the book and said: “I resigned myself to the fact, when I saw how things were going, [that] this could be a reality.” “I took a deep breath. I said, here we go. Lord, you’re in charge, and you lead the way,” he said. Who was Brother Lawrence?“The Practice of the Presence of God” is a collection of Brother Lawrence’s teachings — memorialized in about 30 pages of letters and records of his conversations. Though Brother Lawrence was virtually unknown in life, Father Joseph de Beaufort compiled his wisdom into a pamphlet published soon after his death in 1691. The book is now beloved by Catholics and Protestants alike. In his writings, Brother Lawrence presents a spirituality that involves being constantly in contact with God, being accompanied by him in all things — from cooking to shoe repair. Before he was Brother Lawrence, Nicholas Herman was a soldier during the Thirty Years’ War. Because of a wartime injury, his leg impaired his movement and caused him constant pain for life. But as a young adult, he had a vision of Christ that would inspire him for the rest of his life; or, as de Beaufort recalled: “which has never since been effaced from his soul.”He went on to join the Discalced Carmelite Prior in Paris, doing humble work as a cook, and eventually working in the sandal repair shop as well.  Brother Lawrence believed that little things could please God just as much as great things. “We ought not to be weary of doing little things for the love of God, who regards not the greatness of the work but the love with which it is performed,” he taught.Amid the busy environment of a kitchen serving about 100 people, he still connected with God. In one recorded conversation, de Beaufort recalled Brother Lawrence saying that “the time of business … does not with me differ from the time of prayer.”“And in the noise and clutter of my kitchen, while several persons are at the same time calling for different things, I possess GOD in as great tranquillity as if I were upon my knees at the Blessed Sacrament,” he continued. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 05 Dec 2025 16:01:09 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>The, kitchen, friar’s, book, that, inspires, Pope, Leo’s, spirituality</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Pope Leo reveals Mideast peace talks with Trump, Netanyahu, other regional players</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-reveals-mideast-peace-talks-with-trump-netanyahu-other-regional-players</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-reveals-mideast-peace-talks-with-trump-netanyahu-other-regional-players</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV speaks with reporters on his flight from Beirut to Rome on Dec. 2, 2025. / Credit: Elias Turk/EWTN

Rome, Italy, Dec 2, 2025 / 11:30 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV has begun conversations with U.S. President Donald Trump and Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the need to halt violence and seek solutions in the Middle East, the pope told journalists on his Tuesday flight from Beirut to Rome.The wide-ranging news conference also touched on Ukraine, the Catholic Church in Germany, and Leo’s own election as pope, among other topics.In response to a question referring to Hezbollah, an Iran-backed political party and militia that holds significant influence in Lebanon, the pope said that during the trip he also held personal meetings with representatives of unnamed political groups involved in regional conflicts. “Our work is not something we announce publicly,” he said. “We try to convince the parties to put down the arms and violence and come together to the table of dialogue.” Leo also addressed concerns about Islam in Europe, saying fear is often “generated by people who are against immigration.” He said the Middle East offers an alternative model. “One of the great lessons that Lebanon can teach to the world,” he said, “is showing a land where Islam and Christianity are both present and respected, and where there is a possibility to live together.”On Ukraine, Leo repeated his appeal for a ceasefire. He acknowledged that the United States is seeking to promote a peace plan, but “the presence of Europe is important,” noting that the administration in Washington modified its first proposal after European concerns. He suggested that Italy could play “a very important role” as an intermediary.Asked about his own election, he said he had once imagined retiring. He affirmed his commitment to conclave secrecy but recalled telling a reporter the day before his election that “everything is in the hands of God.” When the reality of the vote became clear, he said, “I took a deep breath. I said, here we go, Lord, you are in charge.” Leo added that he is often amused by journalists’ interpretations of his expressions. “You think you can read my mind or my face,” he joked, “and you are not always correct.”Leo said he hopes his next trip will be to somewhere in Africa and said he wants eventually to go to Algeria to visit sites associated with St. Augustine and continue building bridges with Muslims. He said he would also like to visit Argentina and Uruguay, which have been waiting for a papal visit. He added that other Latin American countries, including Peru, are being considered, but “nothing is confirmed.”On Venezuela, Leo said the Holy See is working with the national bishops’ conference and the nuncio to calm tensions after recent threats from the United States. “We are looking for ways to calm the situation,” he said, “seeking above all the good of the people, because so often those who suffer are the people, not the authorities.”Responding to a question about the German Church’s Synodal Way, a controversial series of meetings of bishops and laity that have proposed major changes to Catholic doctrine and governance, Leo noted concerns among many German Catholics that “certain aspects of the Synodal Way … do not represent their own hope for the Church.” He stressed the need for “dialogue and listening … so that the voice of those who are more powerful does not silence or stifle” others. “I suspect there will be some adjustments made on both sides in Germany, but I’m certainly hopeful that things will work out positively,” Leo said. He added that the ongoing meetings between German bishops and the Roman Curia aim “to try and make sure that the German Synodal Way does not, if you will, break away from what needs to be considered as the pathway of the universal Church.”Asked what the Middle Eastern Church can offer the West, Leo reflected on the value of unity in an individualistic age. “Young people ask, why should I want to be one?” he said. “But unity, friendship, human relationships, communion are extremely important and extremely valuable.” Recalling the testimony of Christians and Muslims who helped one another after their villages were destroyed, he said such gestures show how “authentic peace and justice” can take root when people overcome distrust.In response to a question about how he is learning to be pope, Leo recommended a book that he said has shaped his own life by the 17th-century Carmelite friar known as Brother Lawrence. “If you want to know something about me,” he said, “read ‘The Practice of the Presence of God.’ It describes a way of prayer where one simply gives his life to the Lord and allows the Lord to lead. That has been my spirituality for many years.” ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 05 Dec 2025 16:01:09 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, reveals, Mideast, peace, talks, with, Trump, Netanyahu, other, regional, players</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>The Holy See closed the 2024 fiscal year with a surplus of $1.86 million</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/the-holy-see-closed-the-2024-fiscal-year-with-a-surplus-of-186-million</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/the-holy-see-closed-the-2024-fiscal-year-with-a-surplus-of-186-million</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ St. Peter’s Square during the declaration of St. John Henry Newman a doctor of the Church in November 2025. / Credit: Daniel Ibañez/EWTN News

Vatican City, Dec 1, 2025 / 16:51 pm (CNA).
The Holy See closed the 2024 fiscal year with a surplus of 1.6 million euros ($1.86 million), according to the 2024 Consolidated Financial Statement published Nov. 26 by the Vatican Secretariat for the Economy. This result represents a substantial change compared with the deficit of 51.2 million euros ($59.5 million) recorded in 2023, according to the Vatican.The last public report from the Holy See was from 2020 — published in 2021 — and showed a deficit of 66.3 million euros ($77 million).The current report indicates that the financial improvement is based on a reduction in the operating deficit, which decreased by almost 50%, from 83 million to 44 million euros, ($96.4 to $51.1 million) driven by a 79-million-euro ($91.8 million) increase in revenue, mainly from donations and hospital management, and by strict cost control that partially offset inflation and rising personnel costs.The report also highlights the performance of financial management with positive results of 46 million euros ($53.4 million), higher than the previous year thanks to capital gains obtained from the sale of historical investments and the start of operations of the Investment Committee.Surplus excluding hospitalsExcluding hospital entities, the Holy See recorded a surplus of 18.7 million euros ($21.7 million), although the secretariat warns that this figure reflects extraordinary accounting effects and a one-time increase in donations, so its sustainability will depend on future fiscal years.The Holy See’s balance sheet reveals a total allocation of 393.29 million euros ($457 million) destined for the apostolic mission and the pontifical funds, not including the financing of hospitals. This budget reflects the priority of supporting the Church’s core activities worldwide and shows how resources are distributed to guarantee the continuity of the apostolic mission.Approximately 83% of the funds are concentrated in five strategic areas that underpin the pastoral and social work of the Holy See. The most significant allocation, amounting to 146.4 million euros ($170.1 million) — equivalent to 37% of the total — is dedicated to supporting local Churches in difficult situations and for evangelization, recognizing the importance of strengthening the most vulnerable communities and supporting the spread of the faith in territories where the mission faces greater challenges.Worship and evangelization constitute the second most significant category, representing 14% of the resources. This allocation supports liturgical activities, religious formation, and initiatives for spreading Church teachings worldwide. A ​​further 12% is specifically dedicated to communicating the pope’s message, ensuring that his teachings, exhortations, and statements effectively reach the faithful and the international community.Ten percent of the budget is allocated to charitable servicesLikewise, 10% of the budget is dedicated to maintaining the international presence of the Holy See through the apostolic nunciatures, which play an essential diplomatic and pastoral role in relations with states and local Churches. Another 10% is allocated to charitable services, reinforcing humanitarian and assistance initiatives that respond to the most urgent needs of the poor and marginalized.The remaining 17% finances activities such as the organization of ecclesial life, management of historical heritage, and support for academic institutions. The secretariat emphasized that these allocations reflect consistency between the Church’s pastoral mission and its financial management.The report concludes that, although the result is encouraging, the full financial sustainability of the Holy See will continue to depend on its performance in the coming fiscal years, marking 2024 as a year of economic recovery after years of deficits.Maximino Caballero Ledo, prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy, gave a comprehensive explanation of the results in an interview with Vatican media, highlighting both the achievements and the need for prudence and continuity in management.“The data reflect remarkable progress in consolidating the economic situation of the Holy See,” Caballero said. “It is not only about maintaining a balanced budget but also about strengthening our ability to make the best use of every contribution received, making the service to the mission of the universal Church more solid and sustainable.”The financial document presented by the Vatican shows that the structural operating deficit was reduced by almost half, from 83.5 million euros to 44.4 million euros ($97 million to $51.6 million). This is mainly due to an increase in revenue, which amounted to almost 79 million euros ($91.8 million) compared with the previous year, driven by greater donor participation, positive results from hospital activities, and progress in real estate and commercial management.Caballero emphasized that these “favorable dynamics,” combined with prudent spending control and a constant effort to improve operational efficiency, offer a positive outlook for the Vatican’s finances. However, he recalled that “the deficit of 44.4 million euros [$51.6 million] indicates that there is still a long way to go. Financial sustainability is not only a possible objective but a necessary condition to guarantee the continuity of our apostolic mission.”Growth in donations and the trust of the faithfulThe prefect noted that contributions from the faithful experienced a rebound in 2024 after years of slowdown. “This increase represents an encouraging sign of renewed participation by the faithful and local Churches in the mission of the Holy See. However, these dynamics are variable and always require prudence and realism in their interpretation,” he emphasized.The analysis of expenditures confirms, according to Caballero, that most resources continue to be allocated directly to apostolic activities, “reflecting the consistency between the priorities of the mission and the financial decisions that make it possible. This allows for the strengthening of pastoral initiatives and support for the most vulnerable communities, consolidating a balanced and responsible management of resources.”Financial management and future prospectsThe 2024 balance sheet also shows positive results of 46 million euros ($53.4 million) from financial activities, including extraordinary transactions related to the restructuring of the investment portfolio in accordance with the new policy approved by the Investment Committee. Caballero warned that “these capital gains are not repeatable with the same intensity in future years and reflect the natural volatility of financial activity.”Therefore, he emphasized that “along with prudence in spending, it is essential to continue working on the revenue side: donations, fundraising, asset valuation, and consistent investment management. The goal is not to pit these dimensions against each other but to consolidate progress and gradually strengthen a more stable economic foundation.”Toward full financial sustainabilityThe prefect concluded by highlighting that the 2024 fiscal year closed with a small surplus of 1.6 million euros ($1.86 million), an encouraging sign that, according to him, “demonstrates that the direction taken is positive. Now we must consolidate this progress, aware that some of the results come from nonrecurring elements. Financial sustainability is essential to ensure the continuity of the Holy See’s mission, which by its nature requires a stable economic foundation.”Caballero emphasized that “it is not simply a matter of balancing the budget but of strengthening our ability to optimally utilize every contribution received, making the Holy See’s service to the entire universal Church more solid and sustainable.”This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 02 Dec 2025 16:01:08 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
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<title>Pope Leo offers Lebanon a way to hope ‘even when surrounded by the sound of weapons’</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-offers-lebanon-a-way-to-hope-even-when-surrounded-by-the-sound-of-weapons</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-offers-lebanon-a-way-to-hope-even-when-surrounded-by-the-sound-of-weapons</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV addressed Lebanon’s bishops, clergy, and pastoral workers at Harissa, Lebanon, on Dec. 1, 2025. / Credit: Elias Turk/EWTN

Harissa, Lebanon, Dec 1, 2025 / 05:32 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV told Lebanon’s bishops, clergy, and pastoral workers on Monday that Christians can remain steadfast in hope “even when surrounded by the sound of weapons,” urging them to look to the Virgin Mary as a model of faith in dark and uncertain times.Meeting them at the Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa on the second day of his apostolic visit, the pope said that Mary teaches believers how to persevere when daily life becomes a struggle. “It is in being with Mary at the foot of Jesus’ cross that our prayer, that invisible bridge which unites hearts, gives us the strength to continue to hope and work,” he said.Leo recalled St. John Paul II’s words to the Lebanese — “In the Lebanon of today, you are the ones responsible for hope” — and urged believers to nurture a climate of fraternity wherever they live and work. He stressed the need to trust one another so that “the regenerative power of forgiveness and mercy may triumph,” adding that the fruits of this message are visible in Lebanon’s resilience.The pope compared faith to an anchor that holds firm in turbulence. “Our faith is an anchor in heaven,” he said. “Hold fast to the rope.” He reminded those present that peace requires loving without fear and giving without measure. Quoting Pope Benedict XVI, Leo said Christians are called to celebrate “the victory of love over hate… forgiveness over revenge,” a message he said continues to guide the Church’s mission.During the gathering, Pope Leo was welcomed by clergy and the shrine’s rector before processing to the presbytery, where Armenian Catholic Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian greeted him. The celebration included prayers, testimonies, Arabic chants, the Gospel reading (John 19:25–27), the Magnificat, the Our Father, a blessing, Marian hymns, and the exchange of gifts.Pope Leo also presented a Golden Rose to the Virgin Mary, a traditional papal gift to major Marian shrines. The ornament, a gold branch of roses set in a silver vase and mounted on white marble, bears the papal coat of arms and symbolizes the pope’s devotion to the Mother of God. Leo said the rose’s fragrance calls Christians to be “the fragrance of Christ,” drawing a parallel to the richness and diversity of Lebanese family tables and encouraging the faithful to live that spirit of shared love each day.The pope also highlighted testimonies shared during the meeting. Father Youhanna spoke of Debbabiyé, where Christians, Muslims, and refugees live together in mutual trust. Loren, a migrant worker, appealed to all communities to welcome those forced from their homes, telling them, “Welcome home!” Sister Dima described keeping a school open during violence, teaching children to share “bread, fear, and hope.”The pope noted that the shrine itself remains “a symbol of unity for the entire Lebanese people.” Rising about 2,130 feet above sea level and roughly 16 miles north of Beirut, the sanctuary offers sweeping views of Jounieh Bay and stands not far from Bkerke, the seat of the Maronite patriarch. Its white-painted bronze statue of Our Lady of Lebanon, 28 feet tall and weighing about 33,000 pounds, was cast in France and placed atop a 66-foot stone pedestal shaped like a tree trunk. The adjacent basilica, designed to evoke both a cedar tree and a Phoenician ship, seats around 3,500 people and opens toward the Marian statue through its glass façade. The site is entrusted to the Lebanese Maronite Missionaries.Later at the apostolic nunciature, Pope Leo was scheduled to welcome the Council of Eastern Catholic Patriarchs together with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state, and Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches. He was then set to share lunch with them and with the country’s Orthodox patriarchs, joined by Cardinal Kurt Koch, prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, in a gesture underscoring the ecumenical dimension of his visit. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 02 Dec 2025 16:01:08 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, offers, Lebanon, way, hope, ‘even, when, surrounded, the, sound, weapons’</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Pope Leo tells Lebanese religious leaders unity and peace are possible</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-tells-lebanese-religious-leaders-unity-and-peace-are-possible</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-tells-lebanese-religious-leaders-unity-and-peace-are-possible</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV in Harissa, Lebanon, on Dec. 1, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

Beirut, Lebanon, Dec 1, 2025 / 10:35 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV told Lebanon’s religious leaders on Monday that their country remains a sign to the world that fear and prejudice do not have the final word. At an ecumenical and interreligious meeting in Beirut’s Martyrs’ Square, the pope said Lebanon shows that unity, reconciliation, and peace can take root even amid profound differences.In his address, the Holy Father recalled Pope Benedict XVI, who wrote in 2012 that the Church’s mission is to dialogue with followers of other religions, guided not by political interests but by theological truths rooted in faith. Pope Leo said Lebanon proves this kind of dialogue is possible, where minarets and bell towers stand side by side and bear witness to belief in the one God.The pope said the world often watches the Middle East with trepidation, yet hope emerges when the focus turns to what unites people — their shared humanity and belief in a God of mercy. Lebanon, he said, “remains a sign that unity and peace can be achieved.” He also cited the Second Vatican Council’s declaration Nostra Aetate, on the Church’s relation to non-Christian religions, which opened a new horizon for encounter, rejected prejudice, and affirmed the dignity of every person. Leo concluded by calling the Lebanese “builders of peace,” both within their borders and throughout the world.Before the address, Pope Leo was welcomed at the entrance of the meeting tent by the Syriac Catholic patriarch, the Maronite patriarch, the Grand Sunni imam, and a Shia representative. The program included chanting from the Gospel, a moment of silence, and chanting from the Quran. Leaders from Sunni, Greek Orthodox, Shia, Syriac Orthodox, Druze, Armenian Orthodox, Protestant, and Alawite communities offered brief remarks, interspersed with chants. After Leo spoke, participants planted an olive tree and ended with a final prayer for peace.Martyrs’ Square in central Beirut is widely regarded as the symbolic heart of the capital. It takes its name from Lebanese and Arab nationalists executed there by Ottoman authorities in 1916 and has long served as the city’s civic center. The square has been the site of major demonstrations that crossed sectarian lines, including the 2005 Cedar Revolution following the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, the nationwide 2019 protests against corruption and economic collapse, and the public outcry after the 2020 Beirut port explosion. These movements expressed frustration with Lebanon’s entrenched sectarian political system and highlighted the square’s enduring role as a gathering place where citizens of all faiths call for reform. Pope Leo’s meeting with religious leaders reinforced that symbolic role.The Holy Father’s message was directed to leaders of a society shaped by a complex sectarian power-sharing structure, where political figures influenced by regional powers often block national decision-making. Lebanon does not publish official religious statistics, but most estimates hold that roughly 70% of the population is Muslim and about 30% Christian, the highest Christian proportion of any Arab country. Maronite Catholics form the largest Christian community. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 02 Dec 2025 16:01:08 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
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<title>Pope Leo to Lebanese youth: Love, not retaliation, is the real answer to evil</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-to-lebanese-youth-love-not-retaliation-is-the-real-answer-to-evil</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-to-lebanese-youth-love-not-retaliation-is-the-real-answer-to-evil</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV greets a young mother and her child outside of the Monastery of St. Maron in Annaya, Lebanon, on Dec. 1, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

Bkerke, Lebanon, Dec 1, 2025 / 12:34 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV told thousands of young people in Lebanon on Monday that love, not retaliation, is the real force capable of transforming their country as it continues to grapple with the wounds of conflict and social instability. “The true opposition to evil is not evil, but love,” he said, calling the nation’s youth to rebuild their homeland through reconciliation, service, and a renewed rooting in faith.The gathering took place in the square before the Maronite Patriarchate of Antioch, in Bkerké, where the pope was welcomed by Patriarch Cardinal Béchara Boutros Raï. After greeting the crowd in a brief tour, Pope Leo opened his address with the Arabic words “assalamu alaykum,” meaning “peace be with you,” telling the young people that this greeting of the risen Christ “sustains the joy of our meeting.”Lebanon’s young generation has endured some of the nation’s hardest years. A devastating financial collapse, the 2020 Beirut port explosion, and the 2023–2024 border war between Hezbollah and Israel have left deep physical and social scars, contributing to widespread emigration and a sense of exhaustion among the country’s youth.The pope spoke directly to their anxieties, acknowledging that many feel they have inherited “a world torn apart by wars and disfigured by social injustice,” yet insisted that hope lives within them. “You have time to dream, to plan, and to do good. You are the present, and the future is already taking shape in your hands.”Pointing to Lebanon’s national symbol, he said the country “will flourish once again, beautiful and vigorous like the cedar,” explaining that its strength lies in deep roots. In the same way, he told them, the foundation of renewal cannot rest only on ideas or agreements. “The true principle of new life is the hope that comes from above. It is Christ himself. He, the Living One, is the foundation of our trust.”Peace, he continued, cannot grow out of factional interests. “It is only genuinely sincere when I do to others what I would like them to do to me. Forgiveness leads to justice, which is the foundation of peace.”Calling them to works of charity, he reminded them that nothing reveals God’s presence more clearly than love. Renewal begins in daily choices, he said, such as welcoming “those near and far” and offering concrete help “to friends and refugees and enemies.”The pope held up several saints as companions for the journey: Carlo Acutis, Pier Giorgio Frassati, St. Rafqa, Blessed Yakub El-Haddad, and St. Charbel, whose hidden life “shines a powerful light.” He urged the youth to pray, to read Scripture, and attend Mass and adoration. “Be contemplatives like St. Charbel,” he told them.Pope Leo ended with the prayer attributed to St. Francis of Assisi, “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,” and assured the young people that “the Lord will always be with you, and you can be assured of the support of the whole Church.” He entrusted them to the Mother of God, Our Lady. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 02 Dec 2025 16:01:08 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, Lebanese, youth:, Love, not, retaliation, the, real, answer, evil</media:keywords>
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<title>Aid to the Church in Need welcomes appointment of Cardinal Koch as its new president</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/aid-to-the-church-in-need-welcomes-appointment-of-cardinal-koch-as-its-new-president</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/aid-to-the-church-in-need-welcomes-appointment-of-cardinal-koch-as-its-new-president</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Cardinal Kurt Koch during an interview with EWTN News. / Credit: EWTN News

ACI Prensa Staff, Dec 1, 2025 / 16:21 pm (CNA).
The executive director of Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), Regina Lynch, thanked Pope Leo XIV for appointing Cardinal Kurt Koch as the new president of the pontifical foundation.“We very much look forward to having Cardinal Koch as our president and for the guidance he can bring to our mission to persecuted and suffering Christians all over the world. We are grateful to Pope Leo XIV for this appointment and for his interest in our work,” Lynch said.Koch is 75 years old and replaces Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, who is 81 years old and has led the institution since 2011.Piacenza was the first president of ACN since the organization received the title of pontifical foundation.In a Nov. 27 statement published on the ACN website, Lynch highlighted the work carried out by Piacenza, in whom the international institution “has always had a steady and trusted mentor and president.”Furthermore, Piacenza “was always a great supporter of ACN initiatives, such as the One Million Children Praying the Rosary and the Middle East campaigns, and we are very grateful for his service to suffering and persecuted Christians.”Koch is the prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity and has headed the Commission for Religious Relations with Judaism since 2010. He has also closely collaborated with the Catholic charity over the years, ACN reported.The organization highlighted its new president’s experience in ecumenical and interreligious relations, as these are an essential part of the pontifical foundation’s mission, “especially in countries where Christians, or Catholics, are a minority.”This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 02 Dec 2025 16:01:08 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Aid, the, Church, Need, welcomes, appointment, Cardinal, Koch, its, new, president</media:keywords>
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<title>Pope Leo XIV marks Nicaea anniversary, urges Christians to overcome divisions</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-marks-nicaea-anniversary-urges-christians-to-overcome-divisions</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-marks-nicaea-anniversary-urges-christians-to-overcome-divisions</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople at an ecumenical event marking the 1,700th anniversary of Nicene Creed, in Iznik, Turkey, on November 28th, 2025. / Screenshot: Vatican Media

Iznik, Turkey, Nov 28, 2025 / 08:05 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV commemorated the 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea on Friday in the Turkish city historically known as the birthplace of the Nicene Creed, calling Christians to overcome “the scandal of divisions” and to renew their commitment to unity.The pope spoke during an ecumenical prayer service held at the archaeological site of the ancient Basilica of Saint Neophytos on the shore of Lake Iznik, southeast of Istanbul. The gathering marked one of the most symbolic moments of his apostolic visit to Turkey, which has focused heavily on ecumenical and interreligious outreach.“We are all invited to overcome the scandal of divisions,” he said, urging Christians to nurture “the desire for unity for which the Lord Jesus prayed and gave his life.”Pope Leo and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, considered first among equals among Eastern Orthodox bishops,  were welcomed by two senior Orthodox bishops before proceeding to a platform beside the submerged ruins of the basilica. The two leaders stood before icons of Christ and of the council and lit candles together.Iznik, formerly Nicaea, is located about 130 kilometers southeast of Istanbul. The remains of an early Christian basilica dedicated to Saint Neophytos, a young martyr killed in 303 during the persecutions of Diocletian, were first identified in 2014 after aerial photographs revealed the outline of a submerged church. The basilica collapsed during an earthquake in 740, and its ruins are now visible from the lakeshore.In his homily, Leo said the anniversary was “a precious opportunity to ask ourselves who Jesus Christ is in the lives of men and women today, and who he is for each one of us personally.” He cautioned against reducing Christ to “a kind of charismatic leader or superman,” recalling Arius’ denial of Christ’s divinity and the council’s defense of the full humanity and full divinity of Jesus.“If God did not become man, how can mortal creatures participate in his immortal life?” the pope asked, emphasizing what was at stake in the fourth-century debate.Leo said the Nicene confession of faith remains a foundation for unity among Christians worldwide. Quoting the creed, he underlined the proclamation of Christ as “consubstantial with the Father,” describing it as “a profound bond already uniting all Christians.” Citing St. Augustine, he added: “Although we Christians are many, in the one Christ we are one.”A reconciled Christianity, he continued, can “bear credible witness to the Gospel” and offer “a proclamation of hope for all.”The pope also extended his appeal for fraternity beyond the Christian world, insisting that authentic recognition of God as Father requires honoring all people as brothers and sisters. He warned against using religion “to justify war, violence, or any form of fundamentalism or fanaticism,” and called instead for “fraternal encounter, dialogue, and cooperation.”Pope Leo’s schedule in Turkey includes a series of ecumenical events, among them the signing of a joint declaration with Patriarch Bartholomew I on Nov. 29 at the Patriarchal Palace. His trip also carries an interreligious dimension. Earlier on Friday he met the Chief Rabbi of Turkey, discussing the visit as a sign of peace and support for all religious communities. On Saturday, Nov. 29, he will visit the Sultan Ahmed Mosque. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 29 Nov 2025 16:00:10 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, marks, Nicaea, anniversary, urges, Christians, overcome, divisions</media:keywords>
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<title>Vatican&amp;amp;amp;#039;s 2025 Christmas tree installed in St. Peter&amp;amp;amp;#039;s Square</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/vatican039s-2025-christmas-tree-installed-in-st-peter039s-square</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/vatican039s-2025-christmas-tree-installed-in-st-peter039s-square</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Workers erect the Vatican&#039;s 2025 Christmas tree in St. Peter&#039;s Square on Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025 / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Nov 27, 2025 / 14:30 pm (CNA).
A towering Christmas tree now stands in the center of St. Peter’s Square, after the spruce arrived at the Vatican on Thursday morning. The 88-foot-tall spruce tree from Italy’s Bolzano province was erected next to the ancient Egyptian obelisk which stands in the middle of the 17th century Baroque square designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini.This year, the northern Italian municipalities of Lagundo and Ultimo gifted the Christmas tree to the Vatican. The tree was harvested in the alpine valley of Ultimo.In an Oct. 20 interview published on the Vatican State website, Bishop Ivo Muser of the Diocese of Bolzano-Bressanone said the tree reaffirms the local church’s “spiritual and emotional bond” with the pope. “It is a way of saying: ‘We are with you, Pope Leo; we wish to pray with you and share the joy of Christmas with you,” he said.“The tree thus becomes an ‘ambassador’ of our territory, our culture, and our faith — a way of bringing a small piece of our local Church into the heart of the universal Church,” he added.The Vatican’s large-scale nativity display — donated by the Italian Diocese of Nocera Inferiore-Sarno — is currently under construction behind covered fencing in St. Peter’s Square.The highly-awaited 2025 nativity scene will honor St. Alphonus Maria de Liguori, whose remains lay in the southern Italian diocese. In Italy, St. Alponsus is famous for composing the famous Italian Christmas carol “Tu scendi dalle stelle” (“From starry skies descending”).Bishop Giuseppe Giudice of the Diocese of Nocera Inferiore-Sarno said the nativity project for the Vatican, which involved a “long period of preparation,” will also showcase local Neapolitan Christmas traditions.  “I am happy to say that everyone working on the project is from our wonderful region, and the Nativity scene will be rich in elements typical of our local Agro nocerino-sarnese area,” he said in an Oct. 24 interview published by Vatican City State.  The Vatican will hold a special ceremony on Dec. 7 at 6:30 pm local time to present  the Christmas tree and nativity scene to the public. The display will be open to the public until mid-January 2026. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 29 Nov 2025 16:00:10 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Vatican&amp;amp039s, 2025, Christmas, tree, installed, St., Peter&amp;amp039s, Square</media:keywords>
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<title>Pope Leo shares ‘secret of Christian charity’ with Little Sisters of the Poor</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-shares-secret-of-christian-charity-with-little-sisters-of-the-poor</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-shares-secret-of-christian-charity-with-little-sisters-of-the-poor</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV visits a care home for the elderly run by a community of the Little Sisters of the Poor in Istanbul, Turkey, on Nov. 28, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media.

Istanbul, Turkey, Nov 28, 2025 / 03:00 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV visited the Nursing Home of the Little Sisters of the Poor in Istanbul on Friday, telling the community that Christian charity begins not with doing, but with being, i.e., living a real communion with those one serves.“The secret of Christian charity is that before being for others, we must first be with others in a communion based on fraternity,” he said during the encounter on Nov. 28, the second day of his apostolic trip to Turkey, where he is marking the 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea. A papal stop at a charitable institution has become customary during international journeys, and Pope Leo chose to spend time with the elderly as a sign of closeness to those often marginalized in modern societies.Founded in France in 1839 by St. Jeanne Jugan, the Little Sisters of the Poor serve elderly people in need around the world, including in Turkey, where they welcome residents of different religious backgrounds. The pope was greeted at the residence by the mother superior, former superior, and provincial leader before proceeding to the chapel to meet residents, staff, and benefactors.Pope Leo XIV visits a care home for the elderly run by a community of the Little Sisters of the Poor in Istanbul, Turkey, on Nov. 28, 2025. Credit: Vatican Media.Reflecting on the congregation’s name, the pope told the Sisters that their mission mirrors the life of Christ himself. “The Lord has called you not only to assist or help the poor, but has also called you to be their ‘sisters.’ You are to be like Jesus, whom the Father sent to us not only to help and serve us, but also to be our brother.” Turning to the residents, he warned that the word “elderly” risks losing its meaning in cultures driven by efficiency and materialism. Such attitudes, he said, lead societies to forget the dignity and value of older persons. Scripture and tradition, by contrast, present the elderly as bearers of memory and wisdom.“As Pope Francis loved to repeat – the elderly are the wisdom of a people, a treasure for their grandchildren, families and society as a whole,” he said. Pope Leo concluded by thanking the community for its patient, prayerful witness and prayed that the Lord would strengthen all who live and serve in the home. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 29 Nov 2025 16:00:10 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, shares, ‘secret, Christian, charity’, with, Little, Sisters, the, Poor</media:keywords>
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<title>Pope Leo reminds Turkish Catholic minority of the ‘logic of littleness’</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-reminds-turkish-catholic-minority-of-the-logic-of-littleness</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-reminds-turkish-catholic-minority-of-the-logic-of-littleness</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV encourages Catholic clergy, religious brothers and sisters, and lay pastoral workers to see the Catholic community’s small size as a strength during an encounter at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Istanbul, Turkey, on Nov. 28, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media.

Istanbul, Turkey, Nov 28, 2025 / 01:55 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV encouraged Turkey’s small Catholic community Friday to rediscover what he called the Gospel’s “logic of littleness,” urging them not to be discouraged by their tiny numbers but to recognize in them the strength of authentic Christian witness.The pope addressed bishops, priests, religious, pastoral workers, and laypeople at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Istanbul on his second day in the country. Catholics in Turkey make up roughly 0.05% of the nation’s 85 million people.Calling Turkey a “holy land” where the Old and New Testaments meet, the pope recalled the deep Christian roots of the region: Abraham’s journey through Harran, the early Christian communities in Antioch and Ephesus, and the long and influential history of Byzantine Christianity. He noted in particular that the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, currently led by Patriarch Bartholomew I,  remains “a point of reference” both for its Greek faithful and for other Orthodox Churches.The pope warned Christians not to treat this heritage merely as a memory of past greatness. Instead, he urged them to adopt “an evangelical vision” that sees their present reality through the Holy Spirit’s light.“When we look with God’s eyes, we discover that he has chosen the way of littleness,” he said, pointing to the mustard seed, the little ones praised by Jesus, and the quiet growth of the kingdom of God. The Church’s true strength, he explained, “does not lie in her resources or structures,” nor in numbers or influence, but in remaining gathered around Christ and sent by the Holy Spirit.Quoting Jesus’ words, “Do not be afraid, little flock,” the pope encouraged Christians in Turkey to cultivate hope. He pointed to the growing number of young people approaching the Catholic Church as a sign of promise and asked communities to continue welcoming and accompanying them.He urged particular dedication to ecumenical and interreligious dialogue, the transmission of the faith to local communities, and pastoral service to refugees and migrants—many of whom are among the most vulnerable people in the country. The pope also noted that many Catholics in Turkey come from abroad, a reality that calls for a deeper process of inculturation so that the language and culture of the country become “more and more your own.”The pope highlighted Turkey’s unique role in the history of the Church, recalling that the first eight ecumenical councils were held on its soil. Marking the 1700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea, he said the council continues to pose three questions to Christians today: What is the essence of the faith? Who is Jesus for us? And how should doctrine be expressed in ways that speak to contemporary culture?He warned against what he described as a “new Arianism,” a version of the heresy that divided Christianity in its early centuries, that reduces Jesus to a moral teacher or heroic figure while denying his divinity and lordship over history.Before concluding, the pope invoked the memory of St. John XXIII, who served in Turkey and wrote affectionately of its people. Reflecting on the saint’s image of Bosporus fishermen laboring through the night, he encouraged Turkish Catholics to persevere in the same spirit: working faithfully, joyfully, and courageously “in the Lord’s boat.”The Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, where the meeting took place, was built in 1846 and houses relics of early popes, including St. Linus. A statue of Pope Benedict XV stands in its courtyard, erected in gratitude for his efforts to help victims of the 1915–1918 war. The inscription honors him as a “benefactor of peoples, without distinction of nationality or religion.”Watch Pope Leo XIV&#039;s full homily here. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 29 Nov 2025 16:00:10 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, reminds, Turkish, Catholic, minority, the, ‘logic, littleness’</media:keywords>
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<title>Pope to give 2025 Ratzinger Prize to conductor Riccardo Muti at Christmas concert</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-to-give-2025-ratzinger-prize-to-conductor-riccardo-muti-at-christmas-concert</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-to-give-2025-ratzinger-prize-to-conductor-riccardo-muti-at-christmas-concert</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Conductor Riccardo Muti has been awarded the 2025 Ratzinger Prize. / Credit: Riccardo Muti Italian Opera Academy

Vatican City, Nov 25, 2025 / 08:00 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV will present the 2025 Ratzinger Prize to the renowned Italian conductor Riccardo Muti, one of the most influential and respected figures in international music, during a concert in the pope’s honor on Dec. 12.The Joseph Ratzinger-Benedict XVI Vatican Foundation announced that the prize will be awarded to Muti at a Christmas concert directed by the Italian conductor in the Paul VI Audience Hall at the Vatican, in the presence of the pope.Recognized for the expressive depth with which he interprets musical scores, Muti was also admired by Benedict XVI, who, beyond his profound theological erudition, was a great lover and connoisseur of classical music. The German pontiff was an ardent admirer of Muti’s talent, to which he attributed exceptional spiritual and cultural value.The maestro reciprocated this esteem with repeated expressions of affection, even after Benedict XVI resigned from the papacy in February 2013, when he moved to the “Mater Ecclesiae” Monastery for a life of prayer and seclusion.Upon learning of the award, Muti expressed his emotion with these words: “I have always followed and deeply admired Pope Benedict XVI, whose thoughts, reflections, and meditations have been and will continue to be a source of [spiritual] nourishment for men and women of goodwill.”The presentation of the 2025 Ratzinger Prize will not only celebrate the maestro’s artistic achievements but will also be a tribute to the relationship of mutual admiration and profound respect he had for Benedict.The concert will include the “Mass for the Coronation of Charles X,“ composed by Luigi Cherubini in 1885, performed by the Luigi Cherubini Youth Orchestra and the Guidi Chigi Saracini Choir of the Cathedral of Siena.Muti, born in 1941 in Naples, began his musical career as a pianist and choirmaster, eventually becoming one of the world’s most renowned conductors.He has conducted some of the foremost orchestras, such as the New York Philharmonic, the Vienna Philharmonic, and the Teatro alla Scala in Milan, where he has left an indelible mark thanks to his commitment to the faithful interpretation of classical music. Throughout his career, he has received numerous international awards, solidifying his reputation as a master of the symphonic and operatic repertoire.The Ratzinger Prize, established in 2011, is awarded annually upon the recommendation of the foundation’s scientific committee and with the approval of the pope, recognizing outstanding figures in Christian-inspired culture and art. Previous recipients include theologians, biblical scholars, philosophers, jurists, and artists from various continents and religious denominations.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 26 Nov 2025 16:00:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, give, 2025, Ratzinger, Prize, conductor, Riccardo, Muti, Christmas, concert</media:keywords>
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<title>New EWTN docuseries commemorates 100th anniversary of Christ the King</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/new-ewtn-docuseries-commemorates-100th-anniversary-of-christ-the-king</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/new-ewtn-docuseries-commemorates-100th-anniversary-of-christ-the-king</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Aidan Gallagher, director of EWTN Ireland, speaks at the premiere of “The Kingship of Christ” at the Vatican on Nov. 18, 2025. / Credit: Daniel Ibañez/EWTN News

CNA Staff, Nov 23, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).
Marking the 100th anniversary of the feast of Christ the King, which this year falls on Nov. 23, EWTN has released “The Kingship of Christ,” a four-part docuseries that explores some of the core aspects of the kingship of Christ. The four 30-minute episodes look at the origin of kingship in the Old and New Testaments, what type of kingship is that of Christ’s, the growth in interest and devotion to kingship in the 1800s and 1900s, and how Christ’s kingship is being realized today. Currently airing on EWTN, the docuseries features Father Bernard McGuckian, SJ; Father Dominic Holtz, OP; and Father Mark Lewis, SJ.The four-part series was filmed across five principal locations in Rome that are highly relevant to Christ’s kingship, namely St. Peter’s Basilica, the Gesù (the main Jesuit Church in Rome), the Scala Santa, the Basilica of Santa Croce Gerusalemme, and the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Christ the King. Additionally, many other churches, basilicas, and monuments are featured across many countries throughout the world that were built in honor of the kingship of Christ.Aidan Gallagher, director of EWTN Ireland, who co-produced the series alongside EWTN Studios and EWTN Vatican, told CNA in an interview that he was approached by McGuckian 18 months ago to see if he was interested in making a series on the kingship of Christ to “commemorate and celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the establishment of feast of Christ the King in 1925, which had followed Pope Pius XI’s papal encyclical Quas Primas.”From there, they worked to create a comprehensive series looking into this devotion and its importance. “At the heart of this work lies the desire that the kingship of Christ is recognized, realized, and accepted by individuals, peoples, societies, countries across the entire world so that Christ can reign in all hearts and thus be truly king of the world, leading us to peace,” he said. He explained that extensive work “has been put into researching and evidencing the fact that Jesus Christ is King, where we highlighted relevant Scripture across thousands of years from the Old Testament and New Testament. So, for thousands of years it has been there, and we hope that people will take away this fact from watching the series.”The premiere of &quot;The Kingship of Christ&quot; at the Vatican on Nov. 18, 2025. Credit: Daniel Ibañez/EWTN NewsThe film premiered at the Filmoteca Vaticano, a screening room in the Vatican, on Nov. 18. Ambassadors to the Holy See, journalists, and dignitaries were present for the screening. Gallagher shared that it was “very well received” and “there was excitement about watching the full series online.”After watching the series, he said he hopes that “people will understand the type of kingship which Christ presents and that recognition and allegiance to his kingship can ultimately lead us to peace, holiness, and the betterment of human existence — both in this life and the next.”“The Kingship of Christ” can also be viewed on EWTN Ireland’s website. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 26 Nov 2025 16:00:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>New, EWTN, docuseries, commemorates, 100th, anniversary, Christ, the, King</media:keywords>
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<title>Pope Leo XIV urges Christians to move beyond outdated theological disputes</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-urges-christians-to-move-beyond-outdated-theological-disputes</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-urges-christians-to-move-beyond-outdated-theological-disputes</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV receives Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople at the Vatican on May 30, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Nov 23, 2025 / 12:29 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV has called on Christians to move beyond “theological controversies” that no longer serve the cause of unity and to rediscover together the faith professed at the Council of Nicaea 1,700 years ago.In a new apostolic letter, In Unitate Fidei (“In the Unity of Faith”), released Nov. 23, the solemnity of Christ the King, the pope links the anniversary of the first ecumenical council to the holy year of 2025 and to his upcoming apostolic journey to Turkey, where he will commemorate Nicaea’s 1,700th anniversary and take part in an ecumenical event with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew on Nov. 30 before traveling on to Lebanon.“I would like this letter to encourage the whole Church to renew her enthusiasm for the profession of faith,” the pope writes, stressing that the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed “for centuries … has been the common heritage of Christians, and it deserves to be professed and understood in ever new and relevant ways.”In a strong ecumenical appeal, Leo XIV says the Nicene Creed “can be the basis and reference point” for a renewed journey toward full communion among Christians. “It offers us a model of true unity in legitimate diversity. Unity in the Trinity, Trinity in unity, because unity without multiplicity is tyranny, multiplicity without unity is fragmentation,” he writes.“We must therefore leave behind theological controversies that have lost their ‘raison d’être’ in order to develop a common understanding and even more, a common prayer to the Holy Spirit, so that he may gather us all together in one faith and one love,” the pope continues.“The restoration of unity among Christians does not make us poorer; on the contrary, it enriches us,” he adds, calling the goal of full visible unity “a theological challenge and, even more so, a spiritual challenge, which requires repentance and conversion on the part of all.”‘This Creed gives us hope’Linking Nicaea to today’s crises, Leo XIV notes that the holy year is dedicated to the theme “Christ Our Hope” and that the Nicene Creed remains a source of confidence amid war, injustice, and suffering.“In this holy year, dedicated to the theme of ‘Christ Our Hope,’ it is a providential coincidence that we are also celebrating the 1,700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea,” he writes. That council, he recalls, “proclaimed the profession of faith in Jesus Christ, Son of God. This is the heart of the Christian faith.”“In these difficult times we are living, amid so many concerns and fears, threats of war and violence, natural disasters, grave injustices and imbalances, and the hunger and misery suffered by millions of our brothers and sisters, this Creed gives us hope,” the pope says.Leo XIV presents the letter as an invitation for all Christians “to walk in harmony, guarding and transmitting the gift they have received with love and joy,” especially through the words of the Creed: “I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God … for our salvation he came down from heaven.”Nicaea and the heart of the Christian faithThe pope devotes much of In Unitate Fidei to explaining the historical and theological context of the Council of Nicaea, which met in 325 to address the Arian controversy over the divinity of Christ.The dispute, he notes, “concerned the essence of the Christian faith,” namely the answer to Jesus’ question in the Gospel: “Who do you say that I am?” In response, the Nicene Fathers confessed that Jesus is the Son of God “in as much as he is of the substance (ousia) of the Father … ‘begotten, not made, consubstantial (homooúsios) with the Father.’”“The Fathers of Nicaea were firm in their resolution to remain faithful to biblical monotheism and the authenticity of the Incarnation,” Leo XIV writes. By adopting terms such as “substance” and “consubstantial,” which are not found in Scripture, the council “did not … replace biblical statements with Greek philosophy,” he explains. Rather, it sought “to affirm biblical faith with clarity and to distinguish it from Arius’ error, which was deeply influenced by Hellenism.”“The Nicene Creed does not depict a distant, inaccessible, and immovable God who rests in himself but a God who is close to us and accompanies us on our journey in the world, even in the darkest places on earth,” the pope writes. “His immensity is revealed when he makes himself small, laying aside his infinite majesty to become our neighbor in the little ones and in the poor. This revolutionizes pagan and philosophical conceptions of God.”Leo XIV also highlights the Nicene emphasis on the full humanity of Christ, noting the clarification that the Word “became man.” Against teachings that suggested the Logos only assumed a body, he recalls that later councils made explicit that “in Christ, God assumed and redeemed the whole human being, body and soul.”Quoting St. Athanasius and the patristic tradition, the pope writes: “Divinization, then, is true humanization (becoming fully human). This is why human existence points beyond itself, seeks beyond itself, desires beyond itself, and is restless until it rests in God.” Only God, he adds, “in his infinity, can satisfy the infinite desire of the human heart, and for this reason the Son of God chose to become our brother and redeemer.”A call to examine conscienceBeyond doctrine, Leo XIV insists that the Creed must shape Christian life.“Both the liturgy and the Christian life are thus firmly anchored in the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed: What we profess with our mouths must come from the heart so that we may bear witness to it with our lives,” he writes. “We must therefore ask ourselves: What about our interior reception of the Creed today? Do we experience that it also affects our current situation? Do we understand and live out what we say every Sunday? What do these words mean for our lives?”“In this sense, the Nicene Creed invites us to examine our conscience,” the pope continues. “What does God mean to me and how do I bear witness to my faith in him? Is the one and only God truly the Lord of my life, or do I have idols that I place before God and his commandments?”He ties this examination to care for creation and social justice, asking: “How do I treat creation, the work of his hands? Do I exploit and destroy it, or do I use it with reverence and gratitude, caring for and cultivating it as the common home of humanity?”Echoing the Second Vatican Council, Leo XIV notes that “for many people today, however, God and the question of God have almost no meaning in their lives” and that Christians themselves bear some responsibility, since “they do not bear witness to the true faith; they hide the true face of God with lifestyles and actions that diverge from the Gospel.”Instead of proclaiming a merciful God, he laments, “a vengeful God has been presented who instils terror and punishes.”Following Christ and loving one anotherAt the center of the Creed, the pope writes, is the confession of Jesus Christ as Lord and God.“The profession of faith in Jesus Christ, Our Lord and God, is the center of the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed. This is the heart of our Christian life,” he says. “For this reason, we commit to follow Jesus as our master, companion, brother, and friend.”Following Christ, he continues, “is not a wide and comfortable path,” but “this often demanding or even painful path always leads to life and salvation.”“If God loves us with all his being, then we too must love one another,” Leo XIV writes. “We cannot love God whom we do not see without loving our brother and sister whom we do see. Love for God without love for neighbor is hypocrisy; radical love for our neighbor, especially love for our enemies, without love for God, requires a ‘heroism’ that would overwhelm and oppress us.”“In the face of disasters, wars, and misery, we bear witness to God’s mercy to those who doubt him only when they experience his mercy through us,” he adds.Ecumenism as ‘sign of peace and instrument of reconciliation’Recalling the teaching of Vatican II and St. John Paul II’s 1995 encyclical Ut Unum Sint, the pope says that in a divided world “the one universal Christian community can be a sign of peace and an instrument of reconciliation, playing a decisive role in the global commitment to peace.”He notes that, while full visible unity with Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and communities born of the Reformation has not yet been achieved, ecumenical dialogue “founded on one baptism and the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed” has already helped Christians recognize each other as brothers and sisters in Christ and rediscover “the one universal community of Christ’s disciples throughout the world.”“We share the same faith in the one and only God, the Father of all people; we confess together the one Lord and true Son of God, Jesus Christ, and the one Holy Spirit, who inspires us and impels us towards full unity and the common witness to the Gospel,” he writes. “Truly, what unites us is much greater than what divides us!”‘Come, divine Comforter’The letter concludes with a prayer to the Holy Spirit for the renewal of faith and the healing of divisions among Christians.“Holy Spirit of God, you guide believers along the path of history,” Leo XIV prays. “We thank you for inspiring the symbols of faith and for stirring in our hearts the joy of professing our salvation in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, consubstantial with the Father. Without him, we can do nothing.”“Come, divine Comforter, source of harmony, unite the hearts and minds of believers. Come and grant us to taste the beauty of communion,” he continues. “Come, Love of the Father and the Son, gather us into the one flock of Christ. Show us the ways to follow, so that with your wisdom, we become once again what we are in Christ: one, so that the world may believe.” ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 26 Nov 2025 16:00:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, urges, Christians, move, beyond, outdated, theological, disputes</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Vatican defends monogamy against polygamy, polyamory</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/vatican-defends-monogamy-against-polygamy-polyamory</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/vatican-defends-monogamy-against-polygamy-polyamory</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ null / Credit: Alex Studio/Shutterstock

Vatican City, Nov 25, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).
A new Vatican document defends marriage as a monogamous relationship amid the growing popularity of polyamory and addresses the pastoral challenges caused by conversion to Catholicism of people in polygamous situations.“One Flesh: In Praise of Monogamy” was published in Italian by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith on Nov. 25.“Polygamy, adultery, or polyamory are based on the illusion that the intensity of the relationship can be found in the succession of partners,” the Vatican says.To illustrate this metaphorically, the text cites the myth of Don Juan, an unbridled seducer whose womanizing leads him to hell, which demonstrates that “multiplying partners in a supposed total union means fragmenting the meaning of marital love.”The text also draws on the writing of poets Walt Whitman, Pablo Neruda, Rabindranath Tagore, and Emily Dickinson, as well as philosophers such as the Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard.The document, signed by Pope Leo XIV, does not address the indissolubility of marriage or the purpose of procreation but focuses on the unitive aspect of marriage: “A communion of love and life shared by both spouses, a communion that is not oriented solely toward procreation but also toward the integral good of both.”The text originated from a request made during the Synod on Synodality for African bishops to prepare a statement on polygamy. African bishops themselves asked the Holy See for guidance on the issue, the doctrine dicastery said earlier this month.In the Nov. 25 document, the dicastery says it also wanted to provide a deeper reflection on monogamy in the face of growing “public forms of nonmonogamous unions — sometimes called ‘polyamory’” — in the West.The Vatican’s doctrinal note emphasizes that “properly understood, monogamy is not simply the opposite of polygamy.”Drawing from the teachings of St. John Paul II, the Vatican affirms that “only monogamy guarantees that sexuality develops within a framework of recognizing the other as a subject with whom one shares one’s life entirely, a subject who is an end in himself and never a means to one’s own needs. Sexual union, which involves the whole person, can treat the other as a person, that is, as a co-subject of love and not an object of use, only if it develops within the framework of a unique and exclusive belonging.”“Those who give themselves fully and completely to the other can only be two,” the text states, after noting that in nonmonogamous relationships everyone “would be treated as means and not as persons.”Sexuality: Total and open to lifeThe text makes it clear that placing sexuality within the framework of a love that “unites spouses in a single friendship” does not imply a “devaluation of sexual pleasure.” Rather, “by orienting it toward self-giving, it is not only enriched but also enhanced.”Thus, “sexuality is no longer the release of an immediate need but a personal choice that expresses the totality of the person.”The Vatican criticizes contemporary culture that reduces sexuality to consumption: “Various problems have arisen from an excessive and uncontrolled pursuit of sex, or from the simple denial of its procreative purpose.”Therefore, the Vatican defends openness to life in sexual union as a form of expression of “conjugal charity” without requiring that every act explicitly have that purpose.On an anthropological level, the document insists that “the defense of monogamy is also a defense of the dignity of women,” since “the unity of marriage implies, therefore, a free choice on the part of the woman, who has the right to demand exclusive reciprocity.”The document also addresses sexual violence, which it says proliferates on social media, and invites Catholics to provide education on “faithful and monogamous love.”“Education in monogamy is not a moral restriction but rather an initiation into the grandeur of a love that transcends immediacy,” it says.Theological foundations and spiritual traditionThe text offers a broad overview of the Christian tradition that has upheld and reflected upon marital unity. It quotes popes and Church fathers, including St. John Chrysostom, who saw in marital unity an antidote to “unbridled sexual abandon, without love or fidelity.”Citing the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the text also considers the challenges for those who, desiring to convert to the Catholic faith, must navigate complex family situations. In addition to Africa, the document cites Asia, specifically India, where “monogamy has generally been the norm and has been considered an ideal in married life,” but polygamous relationships have also been present.Africa’s Catholic bishops issued a document earlier this year with six pastoral guidelines for how to welcome people in polygamous situations into the Church, both while upholding Church teaching on marriage and not leaving women and children vulnerable to abandonment and poverty.At the Aug. 4 assembly of the Symposium of Episcopal Conference of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) in Kigali, Rwanda, Archbishop Andrew Nkea Fuanya of Cameroon’s Bamenda Catholic Archdiocese clarified that during the deliberations at the Synod on Synodality, “polygamy was not brought up as an African concept to be approved. It was brought up as a challenge to Christian marriage in Africa.”This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. Hannah Brockhaus contributed to this report. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 26 Nov 2025 16:00:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Vatican, defends, monogamy, against, polygamy, polyamory</media:keywords>
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<title>Pope Leo XIV visits Augustinian nuns he has known for years</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-visits-augustinian-nuns-he-has-known-for-years</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-visits-augustinian-nuns-he-has-known-for-years</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV meets with the Augustinian nuns of Montefalco on Nov. 20, 2025, in Italy. / Credit: Vatican Media

ACI Prensa Staff, Nov 22, 2025 / 09:00 am (CNA).
“A moment of great familiarity” is how Abbess Maria Cristina Daguati of the Augustinian convent in Montefalco, Italy, described Pope Leo XIV’s visit on Thursday.After visiting the tomb of St. Francis in Assisi and meeting with the Italian bishops on Nov. 20, the pope traveled to the Italian city of Montefalco to celebrate Mass at the monastery of the Augustinian nuns, erected in the 13th century and one of the oldest and most significant spiritual centers in the Umbria region.After meeting with the Italian bishops in Assisi, Pope Leo XIV traveled to the Augustinian monastery of St. Clare of Montefalco, where he wished to spend some time with the cloistered nuns. The Holy Father spoke informally with the community, celebrated Mass, and shared lunch with the nuns.The pope arrived by helicopter in the city, known for its medieval architecture, and landed in the sports field, where he was greeted by Mayor Alfredo Gentili and Deputy Mayor Daniele Morici.At the gates of the monastery — where 13 nuns currently live — residents of this small region of Perugia gathered, awaiting his arrival with great anticipation.“We have known him for years; it was a moment of familiarity. He has a very peaceful personality,” Mother Maria Cristina explained in a statement to Vatican News.Leo XIV had already been to the convent when he served as superior of the Order of St. Augustine, and on Nov. 20, he returned as pope, becoming the first pontiff to do so.The pope spoke with the Augustinian nuns on Nov. 20, 2025, then celebrated Mass and shared lunch with them. Credit: Vatican MediaThis convent is intrinsically linked to the figure of St. Clare of Montefalco (1268–1308), also known as St. Clare of the Cross, an Augustinian mystic whose contemplative life left a profound mark on the spiritual tradition of the Catholic Church.“It’s a great friendship, because obviously we’ve known him for many years, so I would say that everything unfolded in an atmosphere of great familiarity,” the abbess said.The pope spoke with the Augustinian nuns, then celebrated Mass and shared lunch with them. For the nuns, the day was characterized by “great simplicity” spent with “a disarmed and disarming man” with a personality that sets you at ease. “Pope Leo XIV brings with him a great atmosphere of prayer. So it wasn’t that he inconvenienced us too much; it was truly beautiful,” Daguati added. Before lunch, the pope celebrated Mass in the convent church, built in the 17th century and designed by the Peruvian architect Valentino Martelli.Before returning to the Vatican, the nuns presented the pope with a 2026 calendar titled “Toward an Unarmed and Disarming Peace,” featuring texts from his speeches and homilies as well as from St. Augustine.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 23 Nov 2025 16:00:12 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, visits, Augustinian, nuns, has, known, for, years</media:keywords>
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<title>Pope Leo XIV warns against ‘false mercy’ in marriage annulment proceedings</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-warns-against-false-mercy-in-marriage-annulment-proceedings</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-warns-against-false-mercy-in-marriage-annulment-proceedings</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV holds an audience with the Roman Rota on Nov. 21, 2025, at the Vatican. / Credit: Vatican Media

ACI Prensa Staff, Nov 22, 2025 / 10:00 am (CNA).
In a firm call to avoid “false mercy” in marriage annulment proceedings, Pope Leo XIV reminded that compassion cannot disregard the truth.During a Friday audience with participants in the legal-pastoral training course of the Roman Rota, the Holy See’s court of appeals, the Holy Father read a lengthy speech in which he recalled the importance of the reform of marriage annulment processes initiated by Pope Francis 10 years ago.The pontiff emphasized that theology, law, and pastoral care must be understood in a harmonious way, not as separate or opposing areas, and pointed out that annulment proceedings are not merely technical procedures to obtain the “free status of persons” but rather an ecclesial service based on the search for truth and on family pastoral care.Judicial processes at the service of truthIn this context, Pope Leo stressed that ecclesial judicial processes must be “at the service of the truth” and also reiterated that “the mystery of the conjugal covenant” must be kept in mind.“A fundamental aspect of pastoral service operates in judicial authority: the diaconia [ministry] of truth. Every faithful person, every family, every community needs truth about their ecclesial situation in order to walk well the path of faith and charity. The truth about personal and community rights is situated in this context: the juridical truth declared in ecclesiastical processes is an aspect of existential truth within the Church,” he stated.Consequently, the Holy Father pointed out that “the sacred authority is participation in the authority of Christ, and its service to truth is a way of knowing and embracing the ultimate truth, which is Christ himself.”A manifestation of justice and mercyHe then recalled that in God’s judgment on salvation, “his forgiveness of the repentant sinner is always at work, but human judgment on the nullity of marriage cannot however be manipulated by false mercy.”“Any activity contrary to the service of the process of truth must certainly be deemed unjust. However, it is precisely in the proper exercise of judicial authority that true mercy must be practiced,” he emphasized.In this regard, Pope Leo XIV insisted that the process of matrimonial nullity can be seen as “a contribution by legal practitioners to satisfy the need for justice that is so deeply rooted in the conscience of the faithful, and thus to accomplish a just work motivated by true mercy.”“The aim of the reform,” he added, “which is to make the process more accessible and expeditious, but never at the expense of truth, thus appears as a manifestation of justice and mercy.”The pontiff also emphasized the urgency of ensuring realism in annulment cases and appealed to the responsibility of the judges of the Roman Rota. He thus encouraged them to view the institution of the judicial process “as an instrument of justice” in which there is “an impartial judge” and the aim is to seek “a great benefit for all concerned and for the Church herself.”He stressed the importance of making “efforts to promote reconciliation between spouses are very important, including, where possible, through the validation of the marriage.”“Behind the procedural technicalities, with the faithful application of the current legislation, the ecclesiological presuppositions of the matrimonial process are therefore at stake: the search for truth and the ‘salus animarum’ itself [the salvation of souls],” he noted.Synergy between justice and pastoral carePope Leo recalled in this regard that, in recent years, there has been “a growing awareness of the inclusion of the Church’s judicial activity in the field of marriage within the overall pastoral care of the family.”“This pastoral care,” he pointed out, “cannot ignore or underestimate the work of ecclesiastical tribunals, and the latter must not forget that their specific contribution to justice is a piece in the task of promoting the good of families, with particular reference to those in difficulty.”Thus, he emphasized that “the synergy between pastoral attention to critical situations and the judicial sphere has found significant expression in the implementation of preliminary investigations aimed at ascertaining the existence of grounds for initiating a case of nullity.”This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 23 Nov 2025 16:00:12 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, warns, against, ‘false, mercy’, marriage, annulment, proceedings</media:keywords>
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<title>New book by Pope Leo XIV: Human fraternity is ‘the antidote against all extremism’</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/new-book-by-pope-leo-xiv-human-fraternity-is-the-antidote-against-all-extremism</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/new-book-by-pope-leo-xiv-human-fraternity-is-the-antidote-against-all-extremism</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Holy Father in a new Italian-language book states that faith “unites us beyond our personalities, our cultural and geographical origins.” / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News

Vatican City, Nov 22, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).
The Vatican Publishing House published Nov. 20 a new Italian-language book by Pope Leo XIV titled “The Power of the Gospel: The Christian Faith in 10 Words,” a compilation of the pontiff’s speeches and addresses that also includes a previously unpublished text in which he invites readers to dream of a “reconciled, peaceful, and harmonious humanity.”The Holy Father affirms that faith “unites us beyond our personalities, our cultural and geographical origins, our language, and our histories” and presents the Church as “a plurality that strives for unity and that does not fall into the disorder of confusion.”In today’s world, “marked by so many wars,” the pope asks Christians “to be witnesses of this harmony, this fraternity, this closeness.”“We must look our world squarely in the face: We cannot continue to tolerate structural injustices by which those who have the most receive even more, and those who have the least become increasingly impoverished,” the pontiff says.Similarly, he warns of the risk that hatred and violence will cause “misery to spread among peoples.” “Peace is not the fruit of oppression or violence; it is not related to hatred or revenge,” he says, noting that the saints have taught that “only goodness disarms perfidy and that nonviolence can annihilate oppression.”“Precisely the desire for communion, the recognition of ourselves as brothers and sisters, is an antidote against all extremism,” he says.‘We are not condemned to live in perpetual conflict’For the pope, this model of fraternity is replicable in other areas. He thus affirms that the Church, “a home for diverse peoples, can become a sign that we are not condemned to live in perpetual conflict” and can “embody the dream of a reconciled, peaceful, and harmonious humanity.”“It is a dream that has a foundation: Jesus, his prayer to the Father for the unity of his followers. And if Jesus prayed to the Father, all the more reason we should ask him to grant us the gift of a peaceful world,” the pope writes.In this way, he emphasizes the centrality of Christ and says that faith has nothing to do with “the titanic effort to reach a supernatural God” but rather with the discovery that “the face of God is not far from our hearts.”Leo XIV recalls that Christ’s entire existence was marked by the “will” to be a bridge.“The Church is this communion of Christ that continues in history. And it is a community that, in unity, lives diversity,” he explains after using the metaphorical image of a garden that St. Augustine used to illustrate the beauty of a community of believers.In the text, the pope includes the words of the prior of the monastery of Tibhirine in Algeria, Christian de Chergé, who was kidnapped by Islamic terrorists in March 1996 and executed two months later. He was beatified along with 18 other men and women religious who were martyred.“Speaking of [the terrorist] who had violently broken into the monastery, he wrote: ‘Do I have the right to ask [God]: Disarm him, if I don’t first ask; disarm me and disarm us, as a community? This is my daily prayer,’” the pope recalls, noting that in that same land of North Africa, some 1,600 years earlier, St. Augustine remarked: “Let us live well and the times will be good. We are the times.”“We can have an impact on our time ourselves, with our witness, with our prayer to the Holy Spirit that he would make us men and women with a peace that is contagious, welcoming the grace of Christ and spreading in the world the fragrance of his charity and mercy,” the pontiff emphasizes in the new book.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 23 Nov 2025 16:00:12 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>New, book, Pope, Leo, XIV:, Human, fraternity, ‘the, antidote, against, all, extremism’</media:keywords>
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<title>PHOTOS: St. Cecilia, martyr and patron saint of music, rests in Roman basilica named for her</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/photos-st-cecilia-martyr-and-patron-saint-of-music-rests-in-roman-basilica-named-for-her</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/photos-st-cecilia-martyr-and-patron-saint-of-music-rests-in-roman-basilica-named-for-her</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ A close-up of the tomb of St. Ceclia at the basilica dedicated to her in Trastevere, Rome, Italy. / Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNA

Vatican City, Nov 22, 2025 / 04:00 am (CNA).
St. Cecilia, widely known as the patron saint of music and musicians, is buried in the Basilica of St. Cecilia in the Roman neighborhood of Trastevere where a famous Baroque sculpture of her still puzzles scholars.According to popular belief, Cecilia was a Roman noblewoman who lived in the third century. Despite being forced by her family to marry, she remained a virgin, as she had vowed to do as a young girl. Her pagan husband, Valerian, converted to Christianity after their marriage, and Valerian’s brother, Tiburtius, was also baptized a Christian. Both men were martyred. St. Cecilia, too, would later be tortured and martyred. It is said she took three days to die after the executioner hit her three times on the neck with a sword.The Basilica of St. Cecilia in Trastevere in Rome, Italy. St. Cecilia is the patron saint of musicians and poets because of this sentiment and her alleged singing within the oven during her martyrdom. Her fortitude may inspire the modern Catholic in the trials of life and inspire one to find God within music. Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNAAfter her martyrdom, St. Cecilia was buried in the Catacomb of St. Callixtus. The underground burial place of early Christians was created around the turn of the first century A.D. by Callixtus, a deacon who later became pope.Located under the Appian Way, an ancient Roman road connecting the city to southeast Italy, the Catacomb of St. Callixtus once held the bodies of more than 50 martyrs, including St. Cecilia, and popes from the second to the fourth centuries.The Basilica of St. Cecilia is a fifth-century church in Rome, Italy, in the Trastevere neighborhood. It is dedicated to the Roman martyr St. Cecilia (early third century A.D.) and serves as the conventual church for the adjacent abbey of Benedictine nuns. Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNAAfter the end of Christian persecution, the relics of the Christians buried in the city’s many catacombs were moved to churches for veneration. St. Cecilia’s remains were transferred in the early 800s to a church built on the ruins of her former home.It is said that hundreds of years later, during a restoration of the church in 1599, her tomb was opened, revealing her body to be, miraculously, incorrupt. Artist Stefano Maderno was commissioned to create a marble sculpture of the saint.The main altar and crypt in the church of St. Cecilia in Trastevere. The church was built on the site of the house where the saint lived. St. Cecilia is known for “singing in her heart to the Lord” on her wedding day, despite her consecration to God. Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNASources disagree about whether the Baroque artwork, still on display today at Cecilia’s tomb in the Basilica of St. Cecilia in Trastevere, is a depiction of how the saint’s body was found in 1599 or an invention of Maderno. Either way, the sculpture — which depicts Cecilia lying on her right side, her hands tied, her face turned toward the ground, and the wound of her martyrdom visible upon her neck — is considered a masterpiece.A close-up of the statue at the tomb of St. Cecilia at the church dedicated to her in Rome, Italy. Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNAThere are several widely-told legends about St. Cecilia and her husband. One of the oft-repeated beliefs, dating to the fifth century, is that she sang to God “in her heart” as musicians played at her wedding feast.A statue in the Basilica of St. Cecilia in Trastevere in Rome, Italy. Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNAThis story about the saint comes from a Latin antiphon, but there is a competing interpretation, however.“Cantantibus organis, Caecilia virgo in corde suo soli Domino decantabat dicens: fiat Domine cor meum et corpus meum immaculatum ut non confundar,” the Latin antiphon says. In English it means: “While the instruments played, the virgin Cecilia sang in her heart to the Lord alone, saying, ‘Let my heart and my body be made pure, that I may not be confounded.’”An altar at the Basilica of St. Cecilia in Rome, Italy. Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNAAnother version of the antiphon gives a slightly different opening word, “candentibus,” instead of “cantantibus,” which would change the translation from musical instruments playing to “glowing” instruments of torture.An icon of St. Cecilia in the church dedicated to her in Trastevere in Rome Italy. According to the cultural custom of the time, Cecilia’s family betrothed her to a pagan nobleman named Valerian despite St. Cecilia’s consecration to God. On their wedding night, Cecilia told Valerian that she had sworn to remain a virgin before God and that an angel guarded her body, protecting her virginity from violation. She told Valerian that he would be able to see this angel if he went to the third milestone along the Via Appia and was baptized by Pope Urban I. Valerian went to the milestone as Cecilia had instructed and was baptized. She later converted his brother as well. Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNAScholars continue to disagree about which Latin version is the correct one and which may be a copy error. What is without dispute, however, is St. Cecilia’s selfless example of faithfulness to God, even to the point of the sacrifice of her own life. St. Cecilia’s feast day in the Church is celebrated Nov. 22.This story was first published on Nov. 22, 2024, and has been updated. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 23 Nov 2025 16:00:12 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>PHOTOS:, St., Cecilia, martyr, and, patron, saint, music, rests, Roman, basilica, named, for, her</media:keywords>
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<title>Outgoing Hungarian ambassador reflects on 10&#45;year term at the Vatican</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/outgoing-hungarian-ambassador-reflects-on-10-year-term-at-the-vatican</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/outgoing-hungarian-ambassador-reflects-on-10-year-term-at-the-vatican</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Hungary’s ambassador to the Holy See Eduard Habsburg speaks to EWTN News in 2023. / Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNA

Vatican City, Nov 19, 2025 / 15:53 pm (CNA).
Archduke of Austria Eduard Habsburg has served as Hungary’s ambassador to the Holy See since 2015 and described his post at the Vatican as “the greatest 10 years of my life.”First presenting his credentials to Pope Francis on Dec. 8, 2015, Habsburg told EWTN News reporter Colm Flynn that after a decade on the job, he has “seen it all” and now wants to dedicate more time to his family, particularly his parents.“I felt that 10 years is a good term. It’s far longer than ambassadors usually have here,” he said in the exclusive interview.“I think I’ve seen everything you can see here, including a conclave, visits by my prime minister, exciting moments,” he added. “In a way, I’m going to miss it but also family is important.” Though his term at the Vatican is drawing to a close, the outgoing ambassador said he will likely continue to represent Hungary at future international events organized by the Church and pro-family groups.  “I’ll keep a foot in that world, so to speak, so I’m not going to totally give it up,” he said.Reflecting on his initial surprise at being asked to be Hungary’s ambassador to the Holy See, Habsburg, who belongs to the prominent 850-year-old European Catholic dynasty, said he “hit the floor running” when he arrived in Rome for his first post.On Pope Francis and his love for HungaryDescribing his relationship with Pope Francis as “incredibly positive,” the outgoing ambassador said the Argentine pontiff had a warm affection for the Central European nation and its people.“I saw it every time he met a Hungarian,” he said. “He would use Hungarian expressions. He would smile. He would be happy. He would take his time with them.”Though Pope Francis had not visited Hungary until 2021 for the 52nd International Eucharistic Conference, he told Habsburg that he “learned everything” about Hungary through three religious sisters who fled their country in 1956, during the Soviet occupation, to a monastery in Buenos Aires, Argentina.   “They have shaped Pope Francis’ outlook on Hungary and that made my work very easy,” he quipped. “He was incredibly generous.”Pope Francis visited Hungary a second time in 2023 for his apostolic journey to the country’s capital of Budapest from April 28–30.   On Pope Benedict XVI and his humorDuring the 1990s, Pope Benedict XVI, then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, read Habsburg’s doctoral thesis on the topic of Thomas Aquinas and Vatican II and told him “he liked it” and that he wanted him to either make a documentary or a thriller about Thomism.After first meeting with Pope Francis, the ambassador said he later met with Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in the Vatican Gardens.  “He looked at me and said, ‘So you’re ambassador now?’” Habsburg recalled. “And then he said, ‘You know you still owe me a documentary or a thriller about Thomism.” “That was the first thing he said. I was so blown away,” he said. “I still haven’t written it.”“That’s the one thing many people don’t realize about Pope Benedict XVI was the sense of humor that he had that we never got to see publicly,” he said.  Habsburg earned a doctorate in philosophy from the University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt in 1999. On Pope Leo XIV The archduke and ambassador told EWTN News he has briefly met Pope Leo XIV four times this year since his papal election in May.  “I’m very impressed by him. I feel [he is] a very balanced and just man who is trying to do good,” he said of the first U.S.-born pope. Noting Pope Leo’s fluency in many languages, including English, Italian, Spanish, and Latin, Habsburg commented that he believes the universal Church’s new leader “has several cultures in his heart and in his mind.”“And yes, we will see the things that he’ll do. We pray for him every day,” he said. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 20 Nov 2025 16:00:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Outgoing, Hungarian, ambassador, reflects, 10-year, term, the, Vatican</media:keywords>
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<title>Synod on Synodality reports reveal continued study on women, but not female diaconate</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/synod-on-synodality-reports-reveal-continued-study-on-women-but-not-female-diaconate</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/synod-on-synodality-reports-reveal-continued-study-on-women-but-not-female-diaconate</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV listens to reports from seven representatives around the world about the implementation of synodality on their continents during the jubilee of synodal teams and participatory bodies at the Vatican on Oct. 24, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Nov 19, 2025 / 13:53 pm (CNA).
Reports from the Synod on Synodality published this week reveal that expert groups continue to discuss women’s participation in the Church but not the specific question of a possible female diaconate, which has been turned over to a newly-revived 2020 commission.The reports also show that a new group on the liturgy, requested by Pope Leo XIV, is not addressing the Vatican’s controversial restrictions on the Traditional Latin Mass.According to a report published Nov. 17, during the second session of the Synod on Synodality in October 2024, Pope Francis “reactivated the work” of a papal commission on the female diaconate first created in 2020.“All synodal contributions related to this subject have been forwarded to that commission for its consideration,” a one-page report from a study group on Church ministries says.The interim report on the group’s progress, published ahead of full reports, which are due at the end of the year, was signed by Father Armando Matteo, secretary of the doctrinal section of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, which is overseeing the highly-watched expert panel.Matteo confirmed to CNA that the synod is no longer examining a possible female diaconate and the question is in the hands of the now-revived 2020 commission, whose members “respond to the Holy Father.”In April 2020, Pope Francis created a 10-person theological commission to study the question of a female diaconate, the second commission he formed on the topic during his pontificate.An original member of the 2020 commission, permanent deacon and seminary professor James Keating, told CNA that “the commission still exists ‘until Pope Leo discerns its dissolution.’”The 12 synod study groups, 10 of which were formed by Pope Francis, were established to examine topics Francis took off the table for discussion at the second session of the Synod on Synodality, held in October 2024.The committees, made up of cardinals, bishops, priests, and lay experts from both in and outside of the Vatican, have until Dec. 31 to submit the final results of their studies to Pope Leo.The brief reports published this week give a few insights into what to expect in some of the final reports next year, should they be made public.While not considering women deacons, the highly-watched study group on Church ministries is drafting a report on “the participation of women in the life and leadership of the Church,” including the personal accounts of women in Church leadership, theological perspectives on men’s and women’s roles, and the contributions of Pope Leo XIV and Pope Francis on the topic.Another group, focused on Church law, is also discussing what roles women, and the laity in general, can hold in particular Church offices, including liturgical functions and in Church tribunals.An update from an expert panel on “controversial doctrinal, pastoral, and ethical issues” said its final document will clarify the current paradigm shift in the Church following the Second Vatican Council and the “emerging synodal experience.” It will include “procedural” proposals for the paradigm shift, such as how to conduct conversation in the Spirit, and how to manage cognitive, emotional, and cultural “resistance” to the shift.The document will also address homosexuality, which the report says it prefers to call an “emerging issue” rather than controversial.Another potentially fraught topic being examined by the study group on ecumenical practices is intercommunion, also known as Eucharistic hospitality — the idea to allow the reception of holy Communion to people in non-Catholic Christian denominations. The topic is tied to ecumenism, the relationship between Christian churches, and is especially relevant in couples and families with members of both Catholic and non-Catholic Christian faiths.The study group on ecumenism said its mandate includes “deepening the question of Eucharistic hospitality from theological, canonical, and pastoral perspectives.”A new group on liturgy in synodal perspective, requested by Pope Leo, gave insight into what it says are the first questions it intends to address, which focus on how to make the liturgy more synodal and the Mass “better configured as the source and summit of the synodal missionary life of the Church.”Other questions the group intends to study is the increased participation of all baptized Catholics in the liturgy, liturgical formation, “the role of women in the history of salvation,” the reinterpretation of liturgical preaching in a synodal perspective, and a “healthy decentralization of liturgical authority … also with a view to the inculturation of the rites.”The report said other “relevant issues” may be added later. The study group is overseen by the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.Victoria Cardiel, Vatican reporter for ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner, contributed to this report. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 20 Nov 2025 16:00:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Synod, Synodality, reports, reveal, continued, study, women, but, not, female, diaconate</media:keywords>
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<title>Pope Leo appoints Nigerian priest assessor for general affairs of the Secretariat of State</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-appoints-nigerian-priest-assessor-for-general-affairs-of-the-secretariat-of-state</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-appoints-nigerian-priest-assessor-for-general-affairs-of-the-secretariat-of-state</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Father Anthony Onyemuche Ekpo. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Nov 19, 2025 / 14:53 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday appointed Nigerian priest Father Anthony Onyemuche Ekpo as assessor for general affairs of the Vatican Secretariat of State.Ekpo, 44, succeeds Father Roberto Campisi, who was appointed permanent observer of the Holy See to UNESCO in September. In his new role, he will be responsible for overseeing the activities of Catholic international organizations connected to the Vatican.The Nigeria-born priest first began his service with the Holy See in 2016. He worked with the Vatican’s Section for General Affairs for six years between 2016 and 2023.In 2023, Pope Francis appointed him undersecretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development to assist the work of its prefect Cardinal Michael Czerny. Epko thanked his colleagues at the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development “for their friendship and shared work over these years” and prayed for ​​the grace to carry out his new role with the Secretariat of State with “joy, passion, and dedication,” Vatican News reported on Wednesday.“My desire is to be able to collaborate with the superiors and employees of the dicastery, to advance the vision of the dicastery and the mission of the Church,” Ekpo told Vatican News.Ordained a priest for the Diocese of Umuahia, Nigeria, in 2011, Epko continued his theological training abroad. In 2013, he obtained a doctorate in systematic theology from the Australian Catholic University as well as a doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome in 2021.He is fluent in English, Italian, French, and the Nigerian language Igbo.Earlier this month, Pope Leo appointed Nigerian priest Father Edward Daniang Daleng as vice regent of the Papal Household, the second-highest position in the Vatican office that organizes audiences with the pope. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 20 Nov 2025 16:00:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, appoints, Nigerian, priest, assessor, for, general, affairs, the, Secretariat, State</media:keywords>
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<title>How Pope Leo XIV typically spends his day off</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/how-pope-leo-xiv-typically-spends-his-day-off</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/how-pope-leo-xiv-typically-spends-his-day-off</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News

ACI Prensa Staff, Nov 19, 2025 / 15:23 pm (CNA).
In reply to journalists’ questions last night as he left Castel Gandolfo, which he now regularly visits, Pope Leo XIV described what his typical Tuesday day off is like.The pontiff shared that he does “a little reading, a little work. Every day there is correspondence, phone calls; there are some matters that are perhaps more important, more recent. A little tennis, a little swimming.”A passionate tennis fan since childhood, the Holy Father in May received at the Vatican Italian tennis player Jannik Sinner, currently ranked second in the world (behind Carlos Alcaraz) and at that time was ranked first.When asked why he needs these moments of rest, Leo XIV emphasized on Nov. 19 that “to take good care of yourself, human beings… everyone, should do some activity for the body, the soul, all together.”“I think it does me a lot of good. So it’s a time, a break during the week that helps a lot,” he said.The Holy Father also addressed other topics with the journalists, such as the situation in Ukraine; his possible travel destinations, which include Peru, Portugal, and Mexico; the situation of migrants in the United States and the American bishops’ call to respect them; the massacres of Christians and Muslims in Nigeria; and the abuse allegations against a Spanish bishop, who insists on his innocence.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 20 Nov 2025 16:00:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>How, Pope, Leo, XIV, typically, spends, his, day, off</media:keywords>
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<title>UPDATE: Pope Leo XIV meets with his home state’s governor</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/update-pope-leo-xiv-meets-with-his-home-states-governor</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/update-pope-leo-xiv-meets-with-his-home-states-governor</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Vatican did not release any details about what was discussed during the Nov. 19, 2025, meeting Pope Leo XIV held with Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker. / Credit: Photo courtesy of the Office of Gov. JB Pritzker

CNA Newsroom, Nov 19, 2025 / 14:23 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV met with the governor of his native Illinois, JB Pritzker, on Wednesday at the Vatican. The first lady of the U.S. state known as “The Land of Lincoln,” MK Pritzker, accompanied the governor during his visit.“It was an honor for MK and me to meet with @Pontifex — a son of Illinois — to express the pride and reverence of the people of this great state,” Pritzker, who is Jewish, said following the meeting in a social media post. A statement from the governor’s office said: “As the first American pope, a native Illinoisan, and an advocate for the poor and less fortunate, Pope Leo XIV serves as a true inspiration to people of all faiths. His message of hope, unity, compassion, and peace resonates in his home state of Illinois and across the globe.”Invitation to return to hometownIn an interview with NBC Chicago following his audience, Gov. Pritzker said that during the meeting he presented Pope Leo with an invitation to return to his hometown of Chicago. While the pope didn’t express a timetable for the prospective visit, Pritzker said the pope “was optimistic that he would be coming to Chicago.”“We share a great love of the state and the city,” Pritzker said, adding that the pope “seems like he carries his heart on his sleeve and of course he carries Chicago on his sleeve, too.”Immigration discussionDuring the 40-minute meeting, which Pritzker said was arranged by Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago, the governor said that he and the pontiff also discussed the immigration enforcement actions that have been taking place in the city, with Pritzker saying that he expressed his gratitude for the pope’s “moral leadership on this issue.”Pritzker offered the pope several gifts including a framed piece of art made from an incarcerated woman at Logan Correctional Facility, the book “Lincoln: The Life and Legacy that Defined a Nation” by Ian Hunt, the book “A House That Made History: The Illinois Governor’s Mansion, Legacy of an Architectural Treasure” written by Illinois First Lady MK Pritzker, and a pack of Burning Bush Breweries’ “Da Pope” American mild ale. The Vatican itself did not release any details about what was discussed during the visit. The Democratic governor currently has before his desk the decision on whether to either sign into law or veto assisted suicide legislation that was recently approved the Illinois Legislature. The Illinois Catholic Conference is urging Gov. Pritzker to veto the bill. In an Oct. 31 statement, the conference said that “rather than signing this bill, we ask the governor to expand and improve on palliative care programs.” Such programs, the conference maintains, “represent a compassionate and morally acceptable alternative to assisted suicide.”This story was updated on Nov. 19, 2025, at 4:30 p.m. ET with additional details of the conversation provided by Gov. Pritzker. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 20 Nov 2025 16:00:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>UPDATE:, Pope, Leo, XIV, meets, with, his, home, state’s, governor</media:keywords>
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<title>Pope Leo XIV visits new health clinic for the poor under St. Peter’s colonnade</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-visits-new-health-clinic-for-the-poor-under-st-peters-colonnade</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-visits-new-health-clinic-for-the-poor-under-st-peters-colonnade</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ New outpatient clinic for people in need in St. Peter’s Square. / Credit: Vatican Media

ACI Prensa Staff, Nov 14, 2025 / 16:50 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV on Nov. 14 visited a new outpatient clinic in the Vatican, built beneath the colonnade of St. Peter’s Square, in the lead-up to the ninth World Day of the Poor, which will be celebrated on Sunday, Nov. 16.The new health center aims to strengthen assistance and increase health care services for those in need, according to a statement from the Office of the Papal Almoner, also known as the Dicastery for the Service of Charity. The center was made possible through the collaboration of the Health and Hygiene Directorate of the Governorate of Vatican City State and features two new medical consultation rooms equipped with state-of-the-art instruments and a new radiology service.This equipment, including a cutting-edge X-ray machine, will allow for the rapid and accurate diagnosis of pneumonia, bone fractures, tumors, degenerative diseases, kidney stones, and intestinal obstructions — conditions often overlooked by those living in poverty.“Early diagnosis of these conditions will make it possible to start appropriate treatments in a timely manner, contributing to improving the quality of life of those who have nothing,” the statement reads.At the Office of the Papal Almoner’s other outpatient clinic, more than 2,000 health care services are offered completely free of charge each month thanks to the work of 120 volunteers, including doctors, nurses, and health care technicians.Thanks to the two clinics located beneath Bernini’s colonnade, general and specialized medical consultations, dental visits, blood tests, and X-rays will continue to be available to the poor. In addition, removable dentures, eyeglasses, and hearing aids will be donated.Finally, the necessary medications will be delivered directly to the poor person, always completely free of charge. Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, prefect of the Dicastery for the Service of Charity and papal almoner, emphasized that in these places dignity is restored to the poor, “in whom we see not a homeless person or a poor person, but the face of Jesus.”This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 17 Nov 2025 16:02:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, visits, new, health, clinic, for, the, poor, under, St., Peter’s, colonnade</media:keywords>
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<title>Pope Leo XIV: Where the world sees threats, the Church sees children</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-where-the-world-sees-threats-the-church-sees-children</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-where-the-world-sees-threats-the-church-sees-children</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass in St. Peter&#039;s Basilica at the Vatican on November 16, 2025. / Daniel Ibáñez

Vatican City, Nov 16, 2025 / 08:00 am (CNA).
Celebrating Mass for the Jubilee of the Poor on the Ninth World Day of the Poor, Pope Leo XIV urged Christians not to retreat into a closed or “religious” world of their own, but to help make human society “a space of fraternity and dignity for all, without exception.”Presiding in St. Peter’s Basilica on Sunday, the pope reflected on the “day of the Lord” and the upheavals of history, saying that Christ’s promise remains secure even amid war, violence, and deep social wounds.Quoting the prophet Malachi, he described the “day of the Lord” as the dawn of a new era in which “the hopes of the poor and the humble will receive a final and definitive answer from the Lord,” and recalled that Jesus himself is the “sun of righteousness” who comes close to every person. In the Gospel, he said, Christ assures his disciples that “Not a hair of your head will perish” (Lk 21:18), anchoring Christian hope even “when all human hope seems to be extinguished.”“In the midst of persecution, suffering, struggles, and oppression in our personal lives and in society, God does not abandon us,” the pope said, pointing to the “golden thread” of Scripture, in which God always takes the side of “the little ones, orphans, strangers and widows.”World Day of the Poor: ‘Dilexi te — I have loved you’Marking his first World Day of the Poor as pope, Leo XIV addressed his homily in a special way to those experiencing poverty and exclusion.“While the entire Church rejoices and exults, it is especially to you, dear brothers and sisters, that I want to proclaim the irrevocable words of the Lord Jesus himself: ‘Dilexi te, I have loved you,’” he said, citing the title of his recent apostolic exhortation on love for the poor. “Yes, before our smallness and poverty, God looks at us like no one else and loves us with eternal love.”In that spirit, he said, the Church today seeks to be “mother of the poor, a place of welcome and justice,” even as it continues to be “wounded by old and new forms of poverty.”The pope warned against living as “distracted wanderers,” withdrawn into “a life closed in on ourselves, in a religious seclusion that isolates us from others and from history.” Seeking God’s Kingdom, he insisted, “implies the desire to transform human coexistence into a space of fraternity and dignity for all, without exception.”Many forms of poverty, one wound of lonelinessLeo XIV noted that “so many forms of poverty oppress our world,” from material deprivation to moral and spiritual poverty that “often affect young people in a particular way.”“The tragedy that cuts across them all is loneliness,” he said. This tragedy, he continued, “challenges us to look at poverty in an integral way,” not limiting ourselves to emergency aid but developing “a culture of attention, precisely in order to break down the walls of loneliness.”“Let us, then, be attentive to others, to each person, wherever we are, wherever we live,” the pope said, inviting Christians to become “witnesses of God’s tenderness” in families, workplaces, schools, communities, and even the digital world.‘There can be no peace without justice’Looking to current conflicts, Leo XIV said that the proliferation of war “seems especially to confirm that we are in a state of helplessness,” but stressed that this resignation is rooted in a lie.“The globalization of helplessness arises from a lie, from believing that history has always been this way and cannot change,” he said. “The Gospel, on the other hand, reminds us that it is precisely in the upheavals of history that the Lord comes to save us. And today, as a Christian community, together with the poor, we must become a living sign of this salvation.”Poverty, he added, “challenges Christians, but it also challenges all those who have positions of responsibility in society.” Addressing world leaders, he said: “I urge Heads of State and the leaders of nations to listen to the cry of the poorest. There can be no peace without justice, and the poor remind us of this in many ways, through migration as well as through their cries, which are often stifled by the myth of well-being and progress that does not take everyone into account, and indeed forgets many individuals, leaving them to their fate.”He thanked charity workers and volunteers who serve those in need and encouraged them “to continue to be the critical conscience of society.”“You know well that the question of the poor leads back to the essence of our faith, for they are the very flesh of Christ and not just a sociological category,” he said, again citing Dilexi Te. “This is why, ‘the Church, like a mother, accompanies those who are walking. Where the world sees threats, she sees children; where walls are built, she builds bridges.’”The pope also invited the faithful to take inspiration from the saints who served Christ in the poor, highlighting Saint Benedict Joseph Labre, whose life as a “vagabond of God” makes him “the patron saint of the homeless.”Poor at the center of the celebrationSeveral thousand people in situations of poverty or social exclusion, accompanied by Catholic organizations, were present for the Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica and in St. Peter’s Square, where others followed the liturgy on large screens.Among them, according to organizers, were some 1,500 people from France who have experienced life on the streets, prostitution, prison, or other forms of marginalization, and who traveled to Rome with volunteers and pastoral workers for the Jubilee of the Poor. Before Mass, the pope greeted those gathered in the square from the popemobile.Angelus: Persecuted Christians as witnesses of truth, justice, and hopeLater, appearing at the window of the Apostolic Palace to pray the Angelus with pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square, Leo XIV returned to the day’s Gospel from Luke 21, which speaks of wars, uprisings, and persecutions.“As the liturgical year draws to a close, today’s Gospel (Lk 21:5-19) invites us to reflect on the travails of history and the end times,” he said. In the face of these upheavals, Jesus’ appeal “is very timely,” the pope said: “When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified” (v. 9).“Jesus’ words proclaim that the attack of evil cannot destroy the hope of those who trust in him. The darker the hour, the more faith shines like the sun,” he said.Twice in the Gospel, Christ says that “because of my name” many will suffer violence and betrayal, the pope continued, “but precisely then they will have the opportunity to bear witness.” That witness, he stressed, belongs not only to those who face physical violence.“Indeed, the persecution of Christians does not only happen through mistreatment and weapons, but also with words, that is, through lies and ideological manipulation,” he said. “Especially when we are oppressed by these evils, both physical and moral, we are called to bear witness to the truth that saves the world; to the justice that redeems peoples from oppression; to the hope that shows everyone the way to peace.”Quoting Jesus’ promise, “By your endurance you will gain your souls” (Lk 21:19), the pope said this assurance “gives us the strength to resist the threatening events of history and every offense,” because Christ himself gives believers “words and a wisdom” to persevere in doing good.He pointed to the martyrs as a sign that “God’s grace is capable of transforming even violence into a sign of redemption,” and entrusted persecuted Christians throughout the world to the intercession of Mary, Help of Christians.Appeals for persecuted Christians, Ukraine, and Peru crash victimsAfter praying the Angelus, Leo XIV turned to current situations of suffering, beginning with Christians who face discrimination and persecution.“Christians today are still suffering from discrimination and persecution in various parts of the world,” he said, mentioning in particular Bangladesh, Nigeria, Mozambique, Sudan, and other countries “from which we often hear news of attacks on communities and places of worship.” “God is a merciful Father, and he desires peace among all his children!” the pope added, praying especially for families in Kivu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where a recent terrorist attack killed at least 20 civilians.He said he is following “with sorrow” the reports of continuing attacks on numerous Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, which have caused deaths and injuries — “children among them” — and widespread damage to civilian infrastructure, leaving families homeless as winter approaches. “We must not become accustomed to war and destruction!” he said, urging prayer “for a just and lasting peace in war-torn Ukraine.”The pope also prayed for the victims of a serious bus accident in southern Peru’s Arequipa region, in which at least 37 people died and many others were injured after a bus plunged into a ravine in the rural district of Ocoña.“I would also like to offer my prayers for the victims of the serious road accident that occurred last Wednesday in southern Peru,” he said. “May the Lord welcome the deceased, sustain the injured and comfort the bereaved families.&quot;Road safety, new blessed, the poor, and abuse survivorsIn a wider appeal for road safety, Leo XIV noted that the Church was also remembering “all those who have died in road accidents, too often caused by irresponsible behavior. Let each of us examine our conscience on this matter,” he said.The pope recalled the beatification on Saturday in Bari of Italian diocesan priest Carmelo De Palma, who died in 1961 after a life “generously spent in the ministry of Confession and spiritual accompaniment,” and prayed that his example would inspire priests to give themselves “unreservedly” in service to God’s people.Marking the World Day of the Poor once more, Leo XIV thanked dioceses and parishes that organized initiatives of solidarity with those most in need, and invited the faithful to rediscover his exhortation Dilexi Te on love for the poor, “a document that Pope Francis was preparing in the last months of his life and which I completed with great joy.”Finally, he joined the Church in Italy in observing a day of prayer for victims and survivors of abuse, calling for “a culture of respect” that safeguards the dignity of every person, “especially minors and the most vulnerable.”This story was first published in three parts by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 17 Nov 2025 16:02:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV:, Where, the, world, sees, threats, the, Church, sees, children</media:keywords>
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<title>Pope Leo XIV shares lunch with more than 1,300 people in need at the Vatican</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-shares-lunch-with-more-than-1300-people-in-need-at-the-vatican</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-shares-lunch-with-more-than-1300-people-in-need-at-the-vatican</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV shares lunch with people in need at the Vatican on November 16, 2025. / Daniel Ibáñez

Vatican City, Nov 16, 2025 / 11:15 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV had lunch on Sunday with more than 1,300 people experiencing poverty and social exclusion, gathering with them in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall for a festive meal marking the World Day of the Poor.The hall was transformed into a vast dining room for the occasion. The event was organized by the Congregation of the Mission on behalf of Vincentian missionaries worldwide, who this year celebrate the 400th anniversary of the founding of their congregation and of the Daughters of Charity. Volunteers served lasagna, breaded chicken with potatoes, and the traditional Italian dessert babà.As on similar occasions in past years, the Vatican, through the papal almoner Polish Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, invited a group of transgender people from the Roman seaside town of Torvaianica. Father Andrea Conocchia, a parish priest in Torvaianica, told ACI Prensa that he had accompanied about 50 transgender people from his community to the event.In a special effort to highlight dignity and respect, the Vatican provided full table service with proper dishes, flatware, and table linens—avoiding plastic or disposable materials. Organizers said the aim was not only to offer a meal but to create an experience of welcome and care for each guest.After the meal, the pope thanked the Vincentian family for its service to the most vulnerable. “This lunch that we now receive is offered by Providence and by the great generosity of the Vincentian Community, to whom we wish to express our gratitude,” he said.The pope also shared his joy at spending time with the poor on a day instituted by his predecessor. “With great joy we gather this afternoon for this lunch on the World Day of the Poor, which was so desired by my beloved predecessor, Pope Francis,” he said.He expressed gratitude for all who dedicate themselves to those in need: “So many priests, religious sisters, and lay volunteers devote their lives to helping people who experience various needs. We are filled with gratitude for them.”Before the meal, he prayed: “May the Lord bless the gifts we are about to receive, bless the life of each one of us, our loved ones, and all those who have accompanied us on our journey.” He also remembered those suffering around the world: “Let us invoke the Lord’s blessing upon those who suffer from violence, war, and hunger, and may we celebrate this feast today in a spirit of fraternity.”He concluded with a final blessing: “Bless our life, our fraternity. Help us always to walk united in your love. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. Warm greetings and enjoy your meal!”Music added to the joyful atmosphere, with performances of classical and traditional Neapolitan pieces by 100 young people from Naples’ Rione Sanità neighborhood involved in the Sanitansamble and Tornà a Cantà educational programs of the Nova Opera ETS Foundation.At the end of the lunch, the Vincentian Family of Italy gave each participant a “St. Vincent’s Backpack” containing food and hygiene products as a sign of continued accompaniment.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 17 Nov 2025 16:02:05 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, shares, lunch, with, more, than, 1, 300, people, need, the, Vatican</media:keywords>
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<title>Vatican bank reinstates couple fired for violating prohibition on married employees</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/vatican-bank-reinstates-couple-fired-for-violating-prohibition-on-married-employees</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/vatican-bank-reinstates-couple-fired-for-violating-prohibition-on-married-employees</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The Institute for the Works of Religion, commonly known as the Vatican bank. / Credit: Andrea Gagliarducci/CNA

Vatican City, Nov 13, 2025 / 11:00 am (CNA).
The Vatican bank has rehired a married couple fired last year for breaking the financial institution’s internal regulations forbidding workplace marriages.The Institute for the Works of Religion (IOR) — which manages financial assets entrusted to it by the Holy See, the Vatican City State, and Catholic institutions globally — rehired the couple in a negotiated settlement following the couple’s filing of a wrongful termination lawsuit in January, a union for Vatican lay employees announced Wednesday.Silvia Carlucci and Domenico Fabiani married on Aug. 31, 2024. The IOR fired the couple a month later, on Oct. 2, citing a rule introduced by the financial institution in September 2024 that explicitly forbids the employment of spouses or other close family members.The Association of Lay Employees of the Vatican (ADLV) celebrated the outcome of the case — the couple was dubbed by the Italian media as the “Romeo and Juliet of the Vatican” for defying a rule they considered unjust and outdated — as a victory for justice and good sense.“In the end, justice prevailed, guided by reason: Silvia and Domenico, dismissed from the IOR after marrying, will be reinstated in the Vatican,” the ADLV stated in a press release. According to the Associated Press, before firing the couple, the Vatican bank had suggested one of the two quit, but the couple said they were not in a financial position to do so due to obligations to former spouses, children, and a new mortgage.The lay employees’ union expressed its gratitude to those who helped reach the settlement: “We thank all those who made this agreement possible … It has been a victory for common sense, discernment, and the wise will to protect a family.”The group also stressed that the case highlights the need for “stronger foundations for the application of labor law in the Vatican” and raised questions about the current IOR regulations, which “would clearly be unconstitutional in Italy.”“In the Vatican there are no social safety nets,” the statement added, calling it “problematic when facing crises of various kinds.”This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 14 Nov 2025 16:01:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
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<title>Pope Leo calls for ‘prudent’ evaluation of supernatural phenomena to avoid superstition</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-calls-for-prudent-evaluation-of-supernatural-phenomena-to-avoid-superstition</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-calls-for-prudent-evaluation-of-supernatural-phenomena-to-avoid-superstition</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV gives his apostolic blessing at the end of the general audience in St. Peter’s Square on Nov. 12, 2025. / Credit: Daniel Ibanez/CNA

Vatican City, Nov 13, 2025 / 15:54 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV during an address at the Vatican on Thursday called for the “prudent” evaluation of supernatural phenomena to avoid falling into superstition.“To avoid falling into superstitious illusion, it is necessary to evaluate such events prudently, through humble discernment and in accordance with the teachings of the Church,” the Holy Father said to participants in a Nov. 13 meeting organized by the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints that reflected on the relationship between mystical phenomena and holiness of life.The conference focused on the theme “Mysticism, Mystical Phenomena, and Holiness.” Upon receiving the participants at the Vatican, the pope noted that, through constant commitment, the magisterium, theology, and spiritual writers have provided “criteria for distinguishing authentic spiritual phenomena, which can occur in an atmosphere of prayer and a sincere search for God, from manifestations that may be deceptive.”For the pope, mysticism and spiritual phenomena are “one of the most beautiful dimensions of the experience of faith,” and he expressed his gratitude for the participants’ collaboration in shedding light on certain aspects that require discernment.The mystical life: Intimate union with God“Through theological reflection as well as preaching and catechesis, the Church has recognized for centuries that at the heart of the mystical life lies the awareness of the intimate union of love with God,” the pope noted.The pontiff explained that mysticism is therefore characterized “as an experience that transcends mere rational knowledge, not through the merit of the one who experiences it, but through a spiritual gift, which can manifest itself in diverse ways, even with opposing phenomena, such as luminous visions or dense darkness, afflictions, or ecstasies.” However, he continued, these exceptional events “are secondary and not essential with respect to mysticism and holiness itself.”The Holy Father said they can be “signs” of holiness insofar as they are “unique charisms,” although the true goal is and always remains “communion with God.”“Extraordinary phenomena that may connote mystical experience are not indispensable conditions for recognizing the holiness of a member of the faithful,” he emphasized.Leo pointed out that, if they are present, “they strengthen their virtues not as individual privileges, but insofar as they are ordered to the edification of the whole Church, the mystical body of Christ.”Maintaining ‘balance’“What matters most and what must be emphasized in the examination of candidates for sainthood is their full and constant conformity with the will of God, revealed in Scripture and in the living apostolic tradition,” he said. For this reason, he urged the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints to maintain “balance.”He added: “Just as causes for canonization should not be promoted solely in the presence of exceptional phenomena, neither should those same phenomena [be looked upon negatively] if they characterize the lives of the servants of God.”“At the heart of discernment regarding a member of the faithful is listening to their reputation for holiness and examining their perfect virtue, as expressions of ecclesial communion and intimate union with God,” the pope noted.At another meeting held this week at the Pontifical Urban University, the prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández, gave a presentation on the dicastery’s norms on the discernment of supernatural phenomena, which were approved last year. The prelate addressed the complexity and challenges the Church faces in recognizing these types of manifestations.The cardinal noted that, despite approximately 3,500 cases of beatification and canonization in the last 50 years, only three or four declarations of phenomena of supernatural origin have been issued, underscoring the difficulty of obtaining official recognition of this kind. “It is difficult to recognize them,” he stated, according to Vatican News.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 14 Nov 2025 16:01:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, calls, for, ‘prudent’, evaluation, supernatural, phenomena, avoid, superstition</media:keywords>
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<title>Pope Leo XIV to open academic year at Lateran University: ‘This is his home,’ rector says</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-to-open-academic-year-at-lateran-university-this-is-his-home-rector-says</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-to-open-academic-year-at-lateran-university-this-is-his-home-rector-says</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Rome’s Pontifical Lateran University, where the John Paul II Pontifical Theological Institute for Marriage and Family Sciences is located. / Credit: calu777/flickr (CC BY 2.0)

Vatican City, Nov 13, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).
The Pontifical Lateran University, the historic institution founded in 1773 by Pope Clement XIV, will inaugurate the academic year on Nov. 14.The ceremony — the traditional “Dies Academicus” (“Academic Day”) in university parlance — is held every autumn as the official opening of university activities, but this year it will have a very special guest: Pope Leo XIV.The rector of the Lateran University, Archbishop Alfonso Amarante — the only rector of all the pontifical universities directly appointed by the pope — emphasized that the Holy Father’s visit not only evokes the long tradition of the bond between the popes and the university but also highlights his “pastoral care for the formation of the future of the Church and society.”“The pope is very clear that formation is the future of the Church. His visit will be a very important moment for the entire university community and also a sign of the pontiff’s commitment to education as a path to peace and hope,” Amarante told ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner.Archbishop Alfonso Amarante is rector of the Pontifical Lateran University. Credit: Photo courtesy of Archbishop Alfonso AmaranteThe rector said Pope Leo’s presence at the Pontifical Lateran University, which boasts over two and a half centuries of intellectual work, “is as if he were visiting all the pontifical universities.”“Certainly, he will also visit others in the future, but starting from here means recalling this special bond with his university and, at the same time, sending a message of hope to the world of education, as he did during the Jubilee of the World of Education,” the rector noted.‘This is his home’“This is his home, according to the statutes,” the Italian archbishop pointed out, noting that the Pontifical Lateran University is the only university with a special title indicating that it is the pope’s university.It was founded after the closure of the historic Roman College, where priests were initially formed. “The aim was to ensure continuity to the formation of the Roman clergy,” he explained. “At first, it was spread out across various parts of Rome, but since the beginning of the 20th century, it has been located here.”The bond between this pontifical university and the Apostolic See of the Vatican was strengthened above all by Pope Pius XI. On Nov. 3, 1937, he inaugurated the new headquarters for the Athenaeum, which had been built under his papacy. Furthermore, “he wanted this to be the first university to implement the new norms for the reform of Catholic universities,” he noted. “With John XXIII, this relationship intensified even further,” he pointed out. The rector also recalled that before being elected successor of Peter, Pope Paul VI taught here. “It has always been the place of formation for the Petrine magisterium,” he emphasized.A living papal traditionThe rector remarked that all the popes of the modern era have visited the Lateran University, but Leo XIV’s presence at the opening of the academic year is a first. “All the popes I can recall have come to the university. But the pontiff’s presence at the opening of the academic year is a gesture full of meaning. It makes us understand how important the formation is to him, not only for future priests but also for the laity. Because this university has a dual soul: Here philosophy, theology, and canon law are studied but also civil law and a new discipline called peace studies, a kind of degree in politics with a focus on the subject of peace,” he explained.Enthusiasm and hope in the academic communityIn the days leading up to the pope’s visit, anticipation and joy fill the Lateran University. “There is a great deal of enthusiasm here,” Amarante noted. “There is joy and hope. We trust that we will hear his words at the beginning of the academic year, not only to be encouraged in our work but also to receive guidance on where he wants us to make progress, on what we should focus on more,” he emphasized.Currently, the Pontifical Lateran University has around 1,100 students, of whom more than 40% are laypeople, according to the rector. This diversity, he noted, reflects the current mission of the pontifical university: a place for formation at the service of the universal Church and society.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 14 Nov 2025 16:01:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, open, academic, year, Lateran, University:, ‘This, his, home, ’, rector, says</media:keywords>
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<title>Pope Leo XIV highlights example of Argentine businessman Enrique Shaw</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-highlights-example-of-argentine-businessman-enrique-shaw</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-highlights-example-of-argentine-businessman-enrique-shaw</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Servant of God Enrique Shaw. / Credit: Acdeano, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Vatican City, Nov 13, 2025 / 10:00 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV honored the late Argentine businessman Enrique Shaw as one whose life demonstrates that “one can be both an entrepreneur and a saint” and that “economic efficiency and fidelity to the Gospel are not mutually exclusive.”In a message to participants of the 31st Industrial Conference of Argentina, taking place Thursday in Buenos Aires, Leo emphasized the harmony between Shaw’s Christian faith and his business practices, which he said showed that Catholic social teaching “is not an abstract theory or an unworkable utopia but a possible path that transforms the lives of individuals and institutions by placing Christ at the center of all human activity.”Support for just wages, worker formationShaw was born in 1921 at the Ritz Hotel in Paris into an elite Argentine family. Despite the comfort his upbringing could have afforded him, he chose a path of generosity, service, and deep humanity. He died at age 41 and was declared venerable by Pope Francis in 2021. His cause for beatification is now at an advanced stage in the Vatican.During his short life, Shaw promoted fair wages, expanded formation programs, cared for workers’ health, and supported their families in concrete ways.The pope noted that Shaw “did not conceive profitability as an absolute but as an important aspect to sustain a human, just, and solidarity-based company.”Recalling that Pope Leo XIII’s 1891 encyclical Rerum Novarum was the “foundational act” of modern Catholic social teaching, he said it is evident that Shaw’s writings and decisions were shaped by that text. In Rerum Novarum, he explained, the Church denounced unjust labor conditions and affirmed strongly that “neither justice nor humanity can tolerate the requirement of such labor that the spirit is dulled by excessive work and the body overwhelmed by fatigue.”‘The dignity of the worker continues to be violated’The pope stressed that the encyclical’s insights — born in a time of major industrial transformation — retain “striking relevance in the globalized world we inhabit, where the dignity of the worker continues all too often to be violated.”He also recalled that Shaw “knew the misunderstanding and persecution foretold by Christ for those who work for justice,” noting that he was imprisoned under the government of Juan Domingo Perón in May 1955.“Later he faced illness, but he never stopped working or encouraging those around him. He offered his suffering to God as an act of love and, even amid pain, remained close to his workers,” the pope said.For this reason, he proposed Shaw as a “model for our time” for all who work in the economic and labor sectors, insisting that holiness “must flourish precisely where decisions are made that affect the lives of thousands of families.”“The world urgently needs entrepreneurs and leaders who, out of love for God and neighbor, work for an economy at the service of the common good,” he concluded.A pioneer of Catholic social teaching in businessShaw was a pioneer in applying Catholic social teaching in the corporate world, anticipating what is now known as corporate social responsibility. He held leadership positions in major companies, but his greatest legacy was the founding in 1952 of the Christian Association of Business Leaders (ACDE), which sought to promote an ethical business culture rooted in Christian values.He maintained a respectful and close relationship with his employees, whom he regarded not as resources but as collaborators.In 1957, Shaw was diagnosed with an aggressive and incurable cancer. He faced the illness with unshakable faith and serenity, continuing his work and apostolic commitments until his death on Aug. 27, 1962.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 14 Nov 2025 16:01:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, highlights, example, Argentine, businessman, Enrique, Shaw</media:keywords>
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<title>‘The Sound of Music’ and ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ among Pope Leo XIV’s favorite films</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/the-sound-of-music-and-its-a-wonderful-life-among-pope-leo-xivs-favorite-films</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/the-sound-of-music-and-its-a-wonderful-life-among-pope-leo-xivs-favorite-films</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV blesses a baby in St. Peter’s Square during his general audience on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025, at the Vatican. / Credit: Vatican Media

ACI Prensa Staff, Nov 10, 2025 / 18:32 pm (CNA).
The Vatican has revealed the names of Pope Leo XIV’s favorite films, including “The Sound of Music” and “It’s a Wonderful Life,” upon announcing the Holy Father’s upcoming meeting with the world of cinema on Saturday, Nov. 15.In total, the Vatican shared four titles of the “most significant films” for Leo XIV:‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ (1946) by Frank CapraThe Christmas classic stars James Stewart as George Bailey, a man who has sacrificed his dreams because of his sense of responsibility and generosity but feeling like a failure, he contemplates suicide on Christmas Eve. This prompts the intervention of his guardian angel (Henry Travers), who shows him all the good he has done for many people. ‘The Sound of Music’ (1965) by Robert WiseThe film tells the story of a postulant at a convent in Austria in 1938.  After discerning out, the postulant (Julie Andrews) is sent to the home of Captain Von Trapp, a widowed retired naval officer (Christopher Plummer) to be the governess of his seven children. After bringing love and music to the Von Trapp family, she eventually marries the captain. As Von Tapp refuses to accept a commission in the Nazi navy, the family is forced to leave Austria in a dramatic escape. ‘Ordinary People’ (1980) by Robert RedfordThe film tells the story of the breakdown of a wealthy Illinois family after the death of one son in an accident and the suicide attempt of the other. It stars Donald Sutherland, Mary Tyler Moore, Judd Hirsch, and Timothy Hutton.‘Life Is Beautiful’ (1997) by Roberto BenigniIn this film, Benigni — whose father spent two years in a prisoner-of-war camp — plays Guido Orefice, an Italian Jewish bookstore owner who uses his imagination to protect his young son from the horrors of a Nazi concentration camp during World War II.Nov. 15 meeting with the world of cinema The meeting will take place on Saturday, Nov. 15, at 11 a.m. Rome time in the Apostolic Palace of Vatican City, according to a statement from the Dicastery for Culture and Education, in collaboration with the Vatican Museums.The event follows previous meetings with the world of visual arts (June 2023), comedy (June 2024), and the Jubilee of Artists and the World of Culture in February of this year.The Vatican statement highlights that Pope Leo XIV “has expressed his desire to deepen the dialogue with the world of cinema, and in particular with actors and directors, exploring the possibilities that artistic creativity offers to the mission of the Church and the promotion of human values.”Actors and directors the pope will meetAmong those who have already confirmed their participation are the Italian actresses Monica Bellucci, famous for her role as Mary Magdalene in Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ,” and Maria Grazia Cucinotta (“Il Postino” and “The World Is Not Enough.”)Also joining the Holy Father will be, among others, American actress Cate Blanchett (“The Lord of the Rings,” “The Aviator”), the African-American director Spike Lee, the director Gus Van Sant (“Good Will Hunting,” “Elephant”), the Australian director George Miller, creator of the Mad Max saga, and the Italian Giuseppe Tornatore, director of “Cinema Paradiso,” for which he won the Oscar for best foreign film in 1989.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 11 Nov 2025 16:01:08 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>‘The, Sound, Music’, and, ‘It’s, Wonderful, Life’, among, Pope, Leo, XIV’s, favorite, films</media:keywords>
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<title>Pope Leo XIV appoints Augustinian from Nigeria as official of Papal Household</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-appoints-augustinian-from-nigeria-as-official-of-papal-household</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-appoints-augustinian-from-nigeria-as-official-of-papal-household</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV speaks during Mass for the opening of the general chapter of the Order of St. Augustine on Sept. 1, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

ACI Prensa Staff, Nov 10, 2025 / 12:08 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV has appointed a longtime confrere and friend, Nigerian priest Edward Daniang Daleng, OSA, as vice regent of the Prefecture of the Papal Household, the second-highest position in the Vatican office that organizes audiences with the pope. The prefecture also takes care of the preparations related to papal ceremonies, the spiritual exercises of the Holy Father, and gatherings of the College of Cardinals and the Roman Curia. Furthermore, it handles the necessary arrangements whenever the Holy Father leaves the Apostolic Palace to visit places within Rome or Italy.Daniang has been a general councilor and, most recently, procurator general of the Order of St. Augustine — Pope Leo’s religious order. As procurator general, the priest was responsible for preparing and carrying out the order’s business with the Holy See.Born on April 4, 1977, in Yitla’ar, Kwalla, Plateau state, in Nigeria, Daniang made his first profession in the Order of St. Augustine on Nov. 9, 2001, and his solemn vows on Nov. 13, 2004, at the age of 47.He was ordained a priest on Sept. 10, 2005, and was awarded a doctorate in moral theology from the Pontifical Alphonsian Academy in Rome in 2012, with a thesis on “Respect for the Dignity and Care of Patients with Incurable and Terminal Illnesses.”Daniang first met Pope Leo in 2001, when Father Robert Prevost, then prior general of the Augustinians, visited Nigeria. After moving to Rome in 2002, Daniang got to know Prevost even better.He told Valentina Di Donato of EWTN News in August that he and Prevost have had many occasions to meet and speak over the ensuing decades.“Something that struck me was his simplicity, his humility,” Daniang said. “That is how he was, how he is.”Speaking to Vatican News after the election of Pope Leo XIV, Daniang also said that “Africa is in [Leo’s] heart” and that when he was prior general of the Augustinians, then-Father Prevost visited Nigeria at least 10 times.“To understand how much my country mattered to him,” the priest continued, “just remember that after becoming prior general on his 46th birthday, Sept. 14, he was already with us in Nigeria by November.”Valentina Di Donato, a producer in the Vatican Bureau of EWTN News, contributed to this report.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 11 Nov 2025 16:01:08 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, appoints, Augustinian, from, Nigeria, official, Papal, Household</media:keywords>
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<title>Vatican releases ‘Leo from Chicago’ biopic</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/vatican-releases-leo-from-chicago-biopic</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/vatican-releases-leo-from-chicago-biopic</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Image from trailer of the documentary biopic “Leo from Chicago.” / Credit: Vatican Media

ACI Prensa Staff, Nov 10, 2025 / 17:26 pm (CNA).
The Vatican has officially released the documentary “Leo from Chicago” about the life of Pope Leo XIV in the United States, coinciding with the sixth month of the pontificate of the first American and Peruvian pope in the history of the Catholic Church.The documentary premiered Nov. 10 at 4 p.m. Rome time and was screened at the Vatican Film Library for journalists accredited to the Holy See Press Office. At 6 p.m. Rome time it was published on the Vatican News YouTube channels in English, Italian, and Spanish, according to a statement from the Dicastery for Communication.The documentary was produced by the Dicastery for Communication in collaboration with the Archdiocese of Chicago and the Apostolado El Sembrador Nueva Evangelización (The Sower New Evangelization Apostolate.)The project was led by journalists Deborah Castellano Lubov, Salvatore Cernuzio, and Felipe Herrera-Espaliat, with editing by Jaime Vizcaíno Haro. It shows various locations, including the Dolton neighborhood in suburban Chicago where the pope lived with his family, and features the memories and stories of the Holy Father’s brothers, Louis Martin and John Prevost.Also featured are the offices, schools, and parishes run by the Augustinians, the Catholic Theological Union study center, and places frequented by Robert Prevost, such as Aurelio’s Pizza and Rate Field, the White Sox baseball stadium.The overview includes scenes from Villanova University near Philadelphia and Port Charlotte, Florida, where the pope’s older brother lives.The documentary features some 30 testimonies from people who knew Leo XIV in his childhood and youth; for example, when he marched in Washington, D.C., to support the pro-life cause. “Leo from Chicago” is the documentary that follows “Leo from Peru,” released in June, about the pope’s years in the South American country.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 11 Nov 2025 16:01:08 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Vatican, releases, ‘Leo, from, Chicago’, biopic</media:keywords>
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<title>Pope Leo XIV warns AI could fuel ‘antihuman ideologies’ in medicine</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-warns-ai-could-fuel-antihuman-ideologies-in-medicine</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-warns-ai-could-fuel-antihuman-ideologies-in-medicine</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV addresses pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square for his Sunday Angelus on Nov. 9, 2025, at the Vatican. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Nov 10, 2025 / 16:06 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV warned Monday that artificial intelligence could exacerbate “antihuman ideologies” in medicine as Catholic doctors and moral theologians raise alarms about the future of AI in health care.In a message on Nov. 10 to an international congress on “Artificial Intelligence and Medicine: The Challenge of Human Dignity,” hosted by the Pontifical Academy for Life, the pope said that ensuring “true progress” in medicine depends on keeping the dignity of every human at the forefront.“It is easy to recognize the destructive potential of technology and even medical research when they are placed at the service of antihuman ideologies,” Leo XIV said.Leo added that those responsible for integrating AI into medicine must remember that “health care professionals have the vocation and responsibility to be guardians and servants of human life, especially in its most vulnerable stages.”“Indeed, the greater the fragility of human life, the greater the nobility required of those entrusted with its care,” he said.The pope’s message came a day after another of his statements on the ethics of AI led to controversy on the social media platform X. Tech billionaire Marc Andreessen posted a mocking reference to Leo’s call on the AI industry “to develop systems that reflect justice, solidarity, and a genuine reverence for life.” After a pileup of critical replies, Andreessen apparently deleted his own post.Pro-life concerns over AI billing in medical insurance  The pope’s remarks on Monday come amid growing concern among Catholic doctors about how artificial intelligence could shape access to care and respect for human dignity in health care systems worldwide.Dr. Kathleen Berchelmann, a pediatrician and founder of My Catholic Doctor, a telehealth network that connects families seeking Catholic care with like-minded providers, told CNA she is alarmed by how insurance companies are deploying AI in the U.S.She said AI-driven billing systems are “further pushing pro-life health care providers out of the insurance market to the self-pay market, reducing access to pro-life health care in America.”“What I see in AI and health care is a technology arms race,” Berchelmann said. “And unfortunately, the people with the big money have higher tech, and … that’s the insurance companies. That’s United Health Care, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Elevance Health, Aetna, Cigna. … These are the companies that are putting billions into utilization management, which means denials.”On Oct. 1, Aetna and Cigna implemented AI-automated payments nationwide, a move that has led to what critics call “downcoding,” where insurers automatically downgrade doctors’ claims to lower reimbursement levels without reviewing visit details.“In particular, in pro-life health care, we’re seeing automatic downcoding because restorative reproductive medicine, which is health care that finds root cause of infertility and treats the root cause, takes more time than a brief workup and a referral to IVF,” Berchelmann said.“That extended time requires a higher coding. But if I do a real quick workup, I can build a lower code for that. So the predictive AI doesn’t recognize that I’m doing a better job in finding root cause of disease,” she added.Berchelmann said she sees “tremendous potential for AI in terms of diagnostic capacity and clinical use” and hopes predictive models will demonstrate that “pro-life health care is so much cheaper than IVF.” But for now, she said, “insurance companies, employers paying for health care, and pharmaceutical companies with insurance, are all heavily using AI to not pay for your care.” In his message, Pope Leo acknowledged the influence of economic interests in health care and technology. “Given the vast economic interests often at stake in the fields of medicine and technology, and the subsequent fight for control, it is essential to promote a broad collaboration among all those working in health care and politics that extends well beyond national borders,” the pope said.  AI not a substitute for ‘human encounter’ in medicine Pope Leo underlined that “technological devices must never detract from the personal relationship between patients and health care providers.”“If AI is to serve human dignity and the effective provision of health care, we must ensure that it truly enhances both interpersonal relationships and the care provided,” he said.Leo described the new technological advancements brought by AI as “more pervasive” than those brought by the industrial revolution, noting their potential to alter “our understanding of situations and how we perceive ourselves and others.”“We currently interact with machines as if they were interlocutors, and thus become almost an extension of them,” he said. “In this sense, we not only run the risk of losing sight of the faces of the people around us but of forgetting how to recognize and cherish all that is truly human.” The three-day Vatican conference on AI and medicine, running Nov. 10–12, is one of several in recent months addressing the ethics of AI — an issue Pope Leo XIV has signaled will be a priority in his pontificate.At the Builders AI Forum in Rome last week, which addressed the challenge of AI for Catholics and Catholic institutions in a variety of fields, medical school professors, health care company executives, insurance company directors, medical chaplains, and entrepreneurs in the field came together to discuss and debate the future of AI in Catholic health care. Louis Kim, the former vice president of personal systems and AI at HP, shared that the consensus among these professionals at the end of the forum was that “AI may assist but must never substitute for human encounter [in Catholic health care] and must remain clearly identifiable as non-human so that the pastoral and sacramental integrity of care is preserved.” Daniel J. Daly, executive director of the Center for Theology and Ethics in Catholic Health and an associate professor of moral theology at Boston College, told CNA he is concerned that if AI models used in Catholic hospitals are only trained to maximize “efficiency and profit” it could lead to “a massive failure for Catholic health care.” “What I worry about is that what could happen in health care is that AI replaces that embodied witness to the kingdom of God,” Daly said. “That can never happen in Catholic health care, because Catholic health care is not just about medicine. It’s also about Jesus Christ and witnessing to his healing ministry that we see in the Scripture.” “I think the most important thing is that whatever the AI does, that it frees us to do the works of mercy, it doesn’t free us from the works of mercy,” he added. “That is, it doesn’t replace the embodied care and ministerial care that we provide through medicine.”  ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 11 Nov 2025 16:01:08 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, warns, could, fuel, ‘antihuman, ideologies’, medicine</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>New book recounts anecdotes from Pope Leo XIV’s life, including the day he was reported dead</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/new-book-recounts-anecdotes-from-pope-leo-xivs-life-including-the-day-he-was-reported-dead</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/new-book-recounts-anecdotes-from-pope-leo-xivs-life-including-the-day-he-was-reported-dead</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Armando Lovera presents Pope Leo XIV with his book “From Robert to Leo.” / Credit: Photo courtesy of Armando Lovera

Vatican City, Nov 10, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).
His voice reveals, above all, the gratitude he feels toward his friend, Pope Leo XIV. From this friendship, forged over more than three decades, comes the Spanish-language book “From Robert to Leo,” published by Mensajero, in which Armando Lovera, originally from Iquitos, Peru, recounts various little-known episodes from the pontiff’s life, like the day many parishioners in Trujillo, Peru, thought that Father Robert Prevost had died.“In reality, it was a young man, an aspiring Augustinian, who died in a bus accident while traveling to Lima for the new year,” Lovera explained in an interview with ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner.The young man’s parents, who were from a rural area north of Trujillo, didn’t have the means to retrieve their son’s body and asked “Father Roberto” to bring it back to their village.Armando Lovera and then-Father Robert Prevost in Iquitos, Peru. Credit: Photo courtesy of Armando Lovera“He drove over 2,000 kilometers [1,240 miles] round trip to do them a favor,” the author explained. But when making the arrangements [to return the body], he continued, “they wrote down his name incorrectly and included him on the list of victims,” which ended up being published in a local Trujillo newspaper.“When people found out, especially the poorest people in the parish, they went to the Augustinian house in tears, newspaper in hand, to offer their condolences,” Lovera recounted. But to their surprise, it was Prevost himself who opened the door.“What impresses me most about this story is the availability he has always shown to his friends, and, on the other hand, the affection of the people,” he commented.Lovera vividly remembers the first time he met the future pope in 1991 in Colombia. “At that time, in my parish, the young people were quite boisterous and informal, and when I was told he was a canon lawyer, I thought, ‘Here comes a very formal, rule-bound gentleman.’ But as soon as he introduced himself and we talked, he disarmed us. Our prejudices vanished instantly because he was a very approachable person,” the author related.Father Robert Prevost and Armando Lovera in Trujillo, Peru, where the future Pope Leo XIV was a parish priest in the 1990s. Credit: Photo courtesy of Armando LoveraThe following year, in 1992, Lovera arrived at the Augustinian formation house in Trujillo, under the direction of Prevost. For seven years they shared community life and pastoral experiences, which gave rise to a deep friendship that has withstood the passage of time and distance. “I found in him a dazzling warmth. From that day on, he became simply Roberto, or Father Roberto,” Lovera recalled.Prevost was the parish priest at Our Lady of Monserrate in Trujillo from 1992 to 1998. Lovera vividly remembers that community in its early days: “My wife was from that parish. We witnessed [its construction] when it was still just a sandy area, and on Sundays we would bring our own chairs to attend Mass, which had a very simple altar.”Given the presence of armed subversive groups in the regions where Prevost and other missionaries carried out their ministry in the 1990s, “they were advised to leave, but he and his community decided to stay. And that witness deeply impacted me. I was moved by his courage, his sense of mission,” Lovera recounted. “Besides, he was a mathematician. And I love mathematics. That also brought us together.”The friendship between the two also grew around music, a shared passion. “Roberto loved music. We started singing Peruvian music together, as well as Augustinian hymns. He had a very good voice and enjoyed singing with people,” he recalled.Prevost’s mother, Mildred, was a prominent contralto in ChicagoThe pope’s musical inclination has deep roots. As Lovera recounted in the book, Prevost’s mother, Mildred, played the organ and was a prominent contralto (the lowest female vocal range) in Chicago, participating in the 1941 Chicagoland Music Festival. She also sang with devotion the “Ave Maria” at Sunday Mass.Many years later, Lovera recounted, Mildred’s electric organ ended up at the Augustinian formation house that Prevost founded in Trujillo. Hearing about that “made an impression on me. There was something of his mother, of her faith, that continued to resonate there. It was as if her prayer continued among us,” he explained.When Prevost was assigned to Chicago in 1999, their friendship remained alive thanks to technology. “We exchanged emails. He is a very approachable person. That familiarity was never lost,” Lovera related.Armando with his wife and Father Robert Prevost in Valladolid. Credit: Photo courtesy of Armando LoveraOver the years, Lovera came to understand that Prevost’s simplicity concealed a profound vocation for service. “He never sought positions within the Church. That touched me deeply. I used to say then, ‘This person is someone who reveals God to me.’ He stood out for his generosity, his ability, and his command of languages.”He recalled with humor his own reactions to his friend’s rise to the papacy: “I honestly would have preferred that he had remained a bishop, so as not to lose touch so much. Then, in 2021, some friends were saying that Father Roberto would be the next pope, although I thought they were exaggerating.”However, in the days leading up to the conclave, Prevost’s name began circulating on lists of papal candidates published by the media, and Lovera began to consider that possibility. “I supposed that if they discovered what kind of person he was, they would elect him. And that’s what happened,” explained Lovera, who currently coordinates the editing of religious texts at the Loyola Communication Group.Armando Lovera and Father Robert Prevost in Orlando, Florida. Credit: Photo courtesy of Armando Lovera“The goal of the book,” Lovera explained, “is to show [the reader] a friend who offers his friendship and, with it, the friendship of the one who gives meaning to life: Jesus. Roberto always wanted the doors of the diocese to remain open to everyone. He never acted like a distant sovereign or a bureaucrat. He always behaved like a brother among brothers, with the responsibility of leading and making decisions, but always with reasoning.”For Lovera, that is the defining characteristic of the current pontiff: “Pope Leo XIV has not changed in his essence. He is the same approachable, joyful, and brotherly priest I met in 1991. Only now that approachability carries the weight and grace of guiding the entire Church.”This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 11 Nov 2025 16:01:08 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>New, book, recounts, anecdotes, from, Pope, Leo, XIV’s, life, including, the, day, was, reported, dead</media:keywords>
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<title>Pope Leo XIV plans to hold major meeting of cardinals in January</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-plans-to-hold-major-meeting-of-cardinals-in-january</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-plans-to-hold-major-meeting-of-cardinals-in-january</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Cardinals follow the ceremony during the ordinary public consistory for the creation of new cardinals at St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City, Dec. 7, 2024. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

National Catholic Register, Nov 7, 2025 / 17:10 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV is planning to convene an extraordinary consistory of cardinals in early January, the theme of which is not yet known. In a brief communication sent to cardinals on Nov. 6 and obtained by the National Catholic Register, CNA’s sister news partner, on Friday, the Vatican Secretariat of State said that “Holy Father Leo XIV has in mind to convene an extraordinary consistory for the days of Jan. 7 and 8, 2026.”“In due course, the dean of the College of Cardinals will send to Your Eminence the relevant letter with further details,” the note continued, before ending: “With profound reverence, coordinating office of the Secretariat of State.” When the Register asked Holy See Press Office Director Matteo Bruni about the communication on Friday, he said the press office had not yet publicly “confirmed its existence” and that he did not think an announcement of such an event would be made “that far ahead.”As well as the topic remaining unknown, it is also not yet certain if all cardinals have been notified of the planned gathering. Extraordinary consistories are usually special gatherings of all cardinals, convened by the pope to discuss matters of “particular needs of the Church” or highly important issues requiring broad consultation among the world’s cardinals. News of the meeting comes after cardinals at this year’s conclave complained about a lack of meetings and collegiality under Pope Francis. Held behind closed doors, the last extraordinary consistory at the Vatican took place on Aug. 29-30, 2022, under Pope Francis. Its purpose was to bring all the cardinals together to discuss the implementation and meaning of the new apostolic constitution for the Roman Curia, titled Praedicate Evangelium. The meeting also focused on the reforms of Church governance and the Roman Curia. During that consistory, cardinals received an official report on the curial reform and then broke into language groups to debate the practical consequences and underlying principles of the new constitution before reuniting for a concluding summary discussion. The format was a departure from previous consistories, modeled instead on synodality. Pope Francis also used the opportunity to hold a consistory of new cardinals at the same time, although it is unlikely that will be Pope Leo’s intention, as the College of Cardinals already has 128 cardinal-electors, well over the advised limit of 120.Prior to that extraordinary consistory, a more famous one was held on Feb. 20-21, 2014, also under Pope Francis. That gathering brought together all the cardinals to reflect on the theme of the family and was intended to provide guidance and theological foundations for a Synod on the Family, which was held later in 2014 and again in 2015.That extraordinary consistory notably featured a controversial address by Cardinal Walter Kasper in which the German theologian launched what became known as the “Kasper Proposal” that would open the door to a “pastoral solution” for some civilly remarried divorcees to be able to receive holy Communion. The proposal, which attracted considerable criticism and controversy, significantly influenced the synod proceedings, and a form of the Kasper Proposal was included in Pope Francis’ 2016 postsynodal apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia. A number of cardinals rose to criticize Kasper’s intervention, according to reports.That was the only extraordinary consistory of the College of Cardinals under Francis at which members were permitted to speak freely on any topic they wished. At subsequent such consistories, in February 2015 and the later one in August 2022, interventions were limited to certain subjects.Prior to Francis, Pope John Paul II convened six extraordinary consistories, three of which discussed issues pertaining to curial reform and the Holy See’s financial situation. The other three gatherings covered present-day threats to life, the proclamation of Christ as sole savior, and the threat of sects (1991); preparation for the 2000 Jubilee (1994); and the Church’s prospects in the third millennium in light of Novo Millennio Ineunte (2001), John Paul II’s apostolic letter outlining the Church’s priorities for the millennium.Benedict XVI held no formal extraordinary consistories during his pontificate, instead choosing to hold all-day meetings the day before consistories of new cardinals.This story was first published by the National Catholic Register, CNA’s sister news partner, and has been adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 08 Nov 2025 16:01:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, plans, hold, major, meeting, cardinals, January</media:keywords>
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<title>Pope Leo XIV: We should allow ‘ourselves to be challenged’ by those who suffer</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-we-should-allow-ourselves-to-be-challenged-by-those-who-suffer</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-we-should-allow-ourselves-to-be-challenged-by-those-who-suffer</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV receives members of the Religious of Jesus and Mary, founded by St. Claudine Thévenet, and the Missionary Sisters of St. Charles Borromeo, known as the Scalabrinians, in the consistory hall at the Vatican on Nov. 6, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Nov 7, 2025 / 08:00 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV said we should “allow ourselves to be challenged” by the presence of those who suffer “without fear of abandoning our own security” during an audience this week with the general chapters of two women’s religious congregations with strong missionary outreaches.The two orders present were the Religious of Jesus and Mary, founded by St. Claudine Thévenet, and the Missionary Sisters of St. Charles Borromeo, known as the Scalabrinians, who are dedicated to the pastoral care of migrants and refugees.During his Nov. 6 address at the Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father noted that both congregations, though they originated in different circumstances, were founded “out of the same love for the poor.”Specifically, he noted that St. Claudine Thévenet and the Religious of Jesus and Mary served “young women in difficult situations,” while St. Giovanni Battista Scalabrini, Blessed Assunta Marchetti, and Venerable Don Giuseppe Marchetti, founders of the Scalabrinians, served migrants. The pope urged the sisters to spend these days “humbly listening to God and in courageous attention to the needs of others.”“This requires courage, so as to let ourselves be challenged by the presence of those who suffer, without fear of abandoning our own security, and to venture, if the Lord asks it, onto new paths,” he noted.The pope also highlighted the profound harmony between the guiding themes chosen by both congregations for their chapters: “Jesus himself drew near” (Lk 24:15) for the Religious of Jesus and Mary, and “Wherever you go, I will go” (Ruth 1:16) for the Scalabrinian missionaries.“These are complementary themes,” the pope affirmed, “because they express the dynamics of your foundations. Indeed, they bring together God’s initiative and our response.”‘The most important insights are gained on our knees’“During these days,” the pope said, “may he always be at the center. Give plenty of space, then, to prayer and silence throughout the course of your work … the most important insights are gained ‘on our knees,’ and what matures in the meeting rooms of the chapter needs to be sown and sifted before the tabernacle and in listening to the word.”The Holy Father emphasized that listening to God and listening to one another are inseparable. “Only by listening to the Lord,” he affirmed, “do we learn to truly listen to one another.”Pope Leo also recalled the difficult circumstances in which both institutes were founded: the French Revolution for the Religious of Jesus and Mary, and an era of mass emigration for the Scalabrinians.“None of them backed down or became discouraged,” the pontiff emphasized, “even in the face of the difficulties that arose after their foundations.”He pointed out that the secret of such fidelity lies precisely in the “encounter with the risen Jesus. That is where it all began for them and also for you. That is where we begin and from where we start again, when necessary, in order to carry on with courage and tenacity in spending ourselves in charity,” he encouraged.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 08 Nov 2025 16:01:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV:, should, allow, ‘ourselves, challenged’, those, who, suffer</media:keywords>
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<title>Pope Leo XIV calls on Catholics to lead in ethical AI development</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-calls-on-catholics-to-lead-in-ethical-ai-development</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-calls-on-catholics-to-lead-in-ethical-ai-development</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV greets pilgrims during his general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025 / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

Vatican City, Nov 7, 2025 / 14:41 pm (CNA).
The story of a mother whose son committed suicide after interacting with a chatbot moved participants at an AI conference in Rome on Friday, underscoring what Pope Leo XIV described earlier in the day as Catholics’ moral and spiritual responsibility for the development of artificial intelligence (AI).An MIT researcher nearly broke down in tears as he recounted the experience of the woman, Megan Garcia, who herself took part in the conference and spoke there to experts in robotics and AI.“I apologize for being so emotional because it is so emotional,” said Jose J. Pacheco, co-director of the MIT Advanced Manufacturing and Design Program, speaking at the Builders AI Forum at the Pontifical Gregorian University on Nov. 7. He said Garcia&#039;s story illustrated “how urgent this conversation needs to be, how urgent this conversation is, and how much responsibility we have.”In a message to the conference, which was read aloud to participants on Friday morning, Leo said the development of AI “cannot be confined to research labs or investment portfolios. It must be a profoundly ecclesial endeavor.”He urged all AI creators to “cultivate moral discernment” and put technology at the service of every human person.AI, the pope wrote, “carries an ethical and spiritual weight” because “every design choice expresses a vision of humanity.” He called on builders of AI “to develop systems that reflect justice, solidarity, and a genuine reverence for life.”The Builders Artificial Intelligence Forum met on Nov. 7, 2025 in the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, Italy. Credit: Courtney Mares / CNA“Whether designing algorithms for Catholic education, tools for compassionate health care, or creative platforms that tell the Christian story with truth and beauty, each participant contributes to a shared mission: to place technology at the service of evangelization and the integral development of every person,” Leo XIV said.The two-day Builders AI Forum brought together Catholic ethicists, entrepreneurs, educators, technology experts, and health care professionals from more than 160 organizations across the United States, Europe, Latin America, Asia, and the Vatican. Hosted by the Pontifical Gregorian University and sponsored by Longbeard, the company behind the Catholic chatbot Magisterium AI, the event aimed to form an interdisciplinary community to guide AI innovation through the lens of Catholic social teaching.In small working groups, participants discussed AI’s impact on education, health care, and business. Educators debated how much children should interact with chatbots, while health care experts questioned what the “essential role of a human” in medicine could be in an increasingly automated system.On the sidelines of the conference, young Catholic entrepreneurs pitched new AI tools and applications to potential investors, and professors exchanged ideas with practitioners over cappuccinos. Despite differences in opinion, participants broadly agreed that Catholics — with their intellectual and ethical tradition and focus on human dignity — must help shape AI’s future.Josh Thomason, CEO of TrekAI, an Atlanta-based Catholic tutoring startup, said he attended to “come together with like-minded believers to think together about where we are today and how we iterate towards what that future is.” He added that “it is critical that people of faith are ultimately working in this space to shape it.”John Johnson, CEO of Patmos Hosting and the Albertus Magnus Institute in California, urged participants to offer a “human alternative” to the commodification of people by technology.“Every tech company that invented this technology … has the same exact product and that’s you, and that’s me,” Johnson said. “The Church … is called to stand up and very aggressively, even triumphantly, pronounce … the transcendent alternative to the commodification of the human person.”Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope and a former mathematics major, has made ethical technology one of the key priorities of his papacy. He said he chose his papal name in part to honor Pope Leo XIII, who addressed the challenges of the industrial revolution in his encyclical Rerum Novarum.“In our own day,” Leo said shortly after his election in May, “the Church offers to everyone the treasury of her social teaching in response to another industrial revolution and to developments in the field of artificial intelligence that pose new challenges for the defense of human dignity, justice, and labor.”Leo XIV praised the Builders AI Forum for fostering “dialogue between faith and reason renewed in the digital epoch,” saying that “intelligence — whether artificial or human — finds its fullest meaning in love, freedom, and relationship with God.” ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 08 Nov 2025 16:01:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, calls, Catholics, lead, ethical, development</media:keywords>
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<title>Pope Leo XIV highlights role of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Blessed Juan de Palafox in Mexico</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-highlights-role-of-our-lady-of-guadalupe-blessed-juan-de-palafox-in-mexico</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-highlights-role-of-our-lady-of-guadalupe-blessed-juan-de-palafox-in-mexico</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Blessed Juan de Palafox y Mendoza and Our Lady of Guadalupe. / Credit: Public domain

ACI Prensa Staff, Nov 7, 2025 / 15:11 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV praised the missionary work of the Church in Mexico throughout history, inspired by the message of Our Lady of Guadalupe and the example of Blessed Juan de Palafox y Mendoza.In a message addressed to the participants of the 17th National Missionary Congress of Mexico, being held in Puebla Nov. 7–9, the Holy Father noted that the greatest privilege and duty of missionaries is “to bring Christ to the heart of every person.”Taking a closer look at missionary work, the pope offered the parable of the yeast from the Gospel of Matthew: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch was leavened” (Mt 13:33).In light of this verse, the pope explained that the “leaven of the Gospel” arrived in Mexico in the hands of a few missionaries: “These were the hands of the Church, which began to knead the leaven they carried with them — the deposit of faith — with the new flour of a continent that did not yet know the name of Christ.”The Holy Father noted that the Gospel “did not erase what it found but transformed it,” until it “took root in their hearts and blossomed into works of unique holiness and beauty.”Legacy of Our Lady of Guadalupe and Blessed Juan de Palafox y MendozaThe pope referred to the message of the Virgin Mary on Tepeyac Hill as “a sign of perfect inculturation” that God bestowed upon the Church, and noted that the message of Guadalupe provided “missionary momentum” for the first evangelizers, who “faithfully took up the task of doing what Christ commanded.”He also highlighted the figure of Blessed Juan de Palafox y Mendoza, whom he described as a “pastor and missionary who understood his ministry as service and leaven.”The Holy Father recalled his visit to Puebla as prior general of the Order of St. Augustine, where, he stated, the figure of Blessed Juan “remained alive in the memory of the people of Puebla; his [spiritual] fatherhood had left such a profound mark that it is still felt today in the simple faith of the faithful.”Palafox served as bishop of Puebla in the mid-1600s. For the pontiff, the example of the bishop challenges pastors today, “for it teaches that to govern is to serve, that to provide serious formation is to evangelize, and that all authority, when exercised according to the criteria of Christ, becomes a source of communion and hope.”Furthermore, as the pope pointed out, in his life and writings Palafox “shows that the true missionary does not dominate but loves; does not impose but serves; and does not exploit faith for personal gain.”Looking at the present, he lamented that “social divisions, the challenges of new technologies, and sincere desires for peace continue to be ground together like new flours that risk being fermented with bad yeast.”Therefore, he emphasized that today’s missionaries are called to be “the hands of the Church that place the leaven of the risen Lord in the dough of history, so that hope may be fermented anew.”“We must be willing to put our hands into the dough of the world! It is not enough to talk about the flour without getting our hands messed up; we must touch it,” he emphasized. He added: “This is how the kingdom will grow — not by force or numbers but by the patience of those who, with faith and love, continue kneading alongside God.”At the end of his message, the pope noted that the Catholic Church in Mexico “strives to live this call of Christ fully” and thus thanked the missionaries for their dedication.“May the Lord Jesus make all your initiatives fruitful and may Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Star of Evangelization, always accompany you with her motherly tenderness, showing you the way that leads to God,” he prayed.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 08 Nov 2025 16:01:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, highlights, role, Our, Lady, Guadalupe, Blessed, Juan, Palafox, Mexico</media:keywords>
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<title>Pope Leo XIV warns about new addictions: pornography and internet abuse</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-warns-about-new-addictions-pornography-and-internet-abuse</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-warns-about-new-addictions-pornography-and-internet-abuse</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ null / Credit: sitthiphong/Shutterstock

ACI Prensa Staff, Nov 7, 2025 / 16:11 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV on Friday warned about new addictions of recent times such as compulsive gambling, betting, and pornography as consequences of excessive internet use.The Holy Father issued his warning in a video message addressed to participants in the seventh National Conference on Addictions, organized in Rome by Italy’s Presidency of the Council of Ministers.In his Nov. 7 message, the pontiff emphasized that in recent times, in addition to addictions such as drugs and alcohol — which continue to be the most prevalent — “new forms have emerged, since the growing use of the internet, computers, and smartphones is associated not only with clear benefits but also an excessive use that often leads to addictions with negative consequences for health.”These addictions, the pope explained, are related “to compulsive gambling and betting, pornography, and almost constant presence on digital platforms. The object of addiction becomes an obsession, conditioning behavior and daily life.”He emphasized that these phenomena are “a symptom of the mental or inner distress of the individual and a social decline in positive values and references, particularly in teenagers and young people.”In this context, he stressed that this time of youth “is a time of trials and questions, of the search for meaning in life,” sometimes marked by drug use, the pursuit of easy money through slot machines, or internet addiction, which demonstrates “that we live in a world without hope, where there is a lack of vigorous human and spiritual proposals.”Consequently, he lamented that many young people “think that all forms of behavior are equal, as they are unable to distinguish good from evil and do not have a sense of moral limits.”For this reason, the Holy Father urged everyone to value and encourage “the efforts of parents and various educational agencies, such as schools, parishes, and oratories, aimed at inspiring spiritual and moral values in the younger generation so that they behave responsibly.”Furthermore, he emphasized that young people “need to form their consciences, develop their inner lives, and establish positive relationships with their peers and constructive dialogue with adults in order to become free and responsible architects of their own lives.”Pope Leo made a powerful appeal to institutions, the Church, and all of society “to perceive among these young people a cry for help and a deep thirst for life, to offer an attentive and supportive presence that invites them to make an intellectual and moral effort, and helps them to forge their will.”He thus called for a commitment to prevention efforts “that translates into action by the community as a whole.” He also emphasized the urgency of “boosting the self-esteem of the younger generation in order to combat the sense of insecurity and emotional instability fostered both by social pressures and by the very nature of adolescence.”Finally, he encouraged the formulation of “practical proposals aimed at promoting a culture of solidarity and subsidiarity; a culture that opposes selfishness and utilitarian and economic logic but which reaches out to others, listening to them, on a journey of encounter and relationship with our neighbors, especially when they are most vulnerable and fragile.”This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 08 Nov 2025 16:01:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, warns, about, new, addictions:, pornography, and, internet, abuse</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>This is Pope Leo XIV’s prayer intention for the month of November</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/this-is-pope-leo-xivs-prayer-intention-for-the-month-of-november</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/this-is-pope-leo-xivs-prayer-intention-for-the-month-of-november</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV prays during his general audience on Sept. 24, 2025, in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican. / Credit: Vatican Media

CNA Staff, Nov 4, 2025 / 14:34 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV’s prayer intention for the month of November is for the prevention of suicide. “Let us pray that those who are struggling with suicidal thoughts might find the support, care, and love they need in their community and be open to the beauty of life,” the pope said in a video released Nov. 4. According to a press release, this month’s video was made in collaboration with the Diocese of Phoenix.  In the video, Pope Leo recites an original prayer written specifically for this month’s prayer intention. Here is his full prayer:Lord Jesus,You who invite the weary and burdenedto come to you and rest in your heart,we ask you this month for all the peoplewho live in darkness and despair,especially for those strugglingwith suicidal thoughts.May they always find a communitythat welcomes them, listens to them, and accompanies them.Give all of us an attentive and compassionate heart,capable of offering comfort and support,also with the necessary professional help.May we know how to be close with respect and tenderness,helping to heal wounds, build bonds, and open horizons.Together may we rediscover that life is a gift,that there is still beauty and meaning,even in the midst of pain and suffering.We are well aware that those who follow youare also vulnerable to sadness without hope.We ask you to always make us feel your loveso that, through your closeness to us,we can recognize and proclaim to all the infinite love of the Fatherwho leads us by the hand to renew our trust in the life you give us.Amen.The video prayer intention is promoted by the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, which raises awareness of monthly papal prayer intentions. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 05 Nov 2025 16:01:09 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>This, Pope, Leo, XIV’s, prayer, intention, for, the, month, November</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV urges dialogue on Venezuela tensions</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-urges-dialogue-on-venezuela-tensions</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-urges-dialogue-on-venezuela-tensions</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo answers questions from journalists as he leaves Castel Gandolfo to return to the Vatican on Nov. 4, 2025. / Credit: EWTN News

Rome Newsroom, Nov 4, 2025 / 17:17 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV said dialogue is the solution to rising tensions with Venezuela.There have been more than a dozen U.S. strikes on vessels in the Caribbean, often of Venezuelan origin. Dozens of deaths have been reported as a result, and the U.S. has increased its military presence in the Caribbean in recent months.“A country has the right to have its own military to defend peace, to build peace,” Pope Leo XIV said Nov. 4 outside Castel Gandolfo. “In this case, however, it seems a bit different, with the tension increasing… Just five minutes ago I read some news saying that they are getting closer and closer to the coast of Venezuela. I think that with violence we do not win. The thing to do is to seek dialogue, to look for a just way to find solutions to the problems that may exist in a country. A country has the right to have its own military to defend peace, to build peace.”The Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns joined 61 other civil society organizations in sending a letter to Congress on Nov. 4 to express alarm at “illegal military strikes and extrajudicial killings of civilians on boats off of the coast of Venezuela.”“The Trump administration has not provided any valid legal justification for these strikes or any evidence to substantiate its claims that the victims were an imminent threat to the security of the United States,” the letter said. “We fear that, barring decisive action by members of Congress, there will be more strikes, more extrajudicial killings, and potentially a full-blown limitless war with one or more countries in the region, with likely devastating humanitarian and geopolitical consequences.”President Donald Trump called for mobilizing U.S. military assets against drug-trafficking organizations during the 2024 campaign. The administration began classifying regional drug cartels and criminal organizations as “foreign terrorist organizations” in 2025. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 05 Nov 2025 16:01:09 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, urges, dialogue, Venezuela, tensions</media:keywords>
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<title>Pope Leo XIV asks Rupnik accusers to be patient</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-asks-rupnik-accusers-to-be-patient</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-asks-rupnik-accusers-to-be-patient</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Father Marko Rupnik, SJ, in an interview with EWTN in 2020. / Credit: EWTN

Rome Newsroom, Nov 4, 2025 / 16:02 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV asked accusers of Father Marko Rupnik to have patience as a trial on the priest’s alleged abuse begins at the Vatican.“A new trial has recently begun, judges were appointed. And processes for justice take a long time. I know it’s very difficult for the victims to ask that they be patient, but the Church needs to respect the rights of all people,” the pope said, addressing a question from Magdalena Wolinska-Reidi of EWTN News just outside his Castel Gandolfo residence, Villa Barberini, on Nov. 4.“The principle of innocent until proven guilty is also true in the Church,” he added. “Hopefully, this trial that is just beginning will be able to give some clarity to all those involved.”Leo answered questions from journalists as he left Castel Gandolfo to return to the Vatican. He has spent almost every Tuesday at the papal retreat, located 18 miles south of Rome, since early September.The Vatican’s doctrine office announced last month that a panel of five judges had been nominated to decide the disciplinary case against Rupnik, accused of the sexual and psychological abuse of consecrated women under his spiritual care.Rupnik — a well-known artist with mosaics and paintings in hundreds of Catholic shrines and churches around the world — is accused of having committed sexual, psychological, and spiritual abuse against dozens of women religious in the 1980s and early 1990s.The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith began to investigate the abuse accusations against Rupnik in October 2023 after Pope Francis lifted the statute of limitations.In May 2019, the then-Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith launched a criminal administrative process against Rupnik after the Society of Jesus reported credible complaints of abuse by the priest to the Vatican.One year later, the Vatican declared Rupnik to be in a state of “latae sententiae” excommunication for absolving an accomplice in a sin against the Sixth Commandment. His excommunication was lifted by Pope Francis after two weeks.The Society of Jesus expelled Rupnik from the religious congregation in June 2023 for his “stubborn refusal to observe the vow of obedience.”ArtLeo also told journalists Nov. 4 he is aware of calls to remove or cover up Rupnik’s artwork by some abuse survivors and their advocates.“Certainly in many places, precisely because of the need to be sensitive to those who have presented cases of being victims, the artwork has been covered up. Artwork has been removed from websites. That issue is certainly something that we’re aware of,” he said.According to the Rome-based Centro Aletti, the art and theology school founded in 1993 and previously directed by Rupnik, the workshop has 232 completed mosaic and other art projects around the world — including in some of the most prominent international Catholic shrines, such as the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida in the state of São Paulo in Brazil and the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in France.The Vatican has at least three original mosaics by Rupnik, including in the Redemptoris Mater chapel in the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City, in the chapel of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, and in the San Calisto Building in Rome’s Trastevere neighborhood.Some calling for the art’s removal or concealment say that seeing the works in places of worship can have a traumatic effect on abuse victims, particularly since Rupnik’s accusers say he sexually abused them as they assisted him in the process of making his art.The bishop of Lourdes, Jean-Marc Micas, announced earlier this year that the shrine would cover mosaics by Rupnik on the entrances to the shrine’s main church.In June, the official Vatican News outlet removed images of the priest’s distinctive works, inspired by artistic traditions from Eastern Christianity, from its website, after years of criticism for its use of them to illustrate pages dedicated to saints and feast days.Centro Aletti last year called the pressure to remove works of art by the studio part of “cancel culture” and the “criminalization of art.”The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors sent a letter to top Vatican officials last year urging them not to display artwork, like Rupnik’s, “that could imply either exoneration or a subtle defense” of those accused of abuse. In an interview with Crux in July, Pope Leo said how to respond to the Church’s abuse crisis is “one of the many challenges that I’m trying to find a way to deal with.”And while it remains unresolved, it cannot be the Church’s sole focus, he said. He also drew attention to the difficulty of striking a balance between providing help and justice for victims with respect for the rights of the accused. “We’re in kind of a bind there.”Leo put the issue of clerical sexual abuse into the context of his views on the wider role of the Church in the world: “We can’t make the whole Church focus exclusively on this issue, because that would not be an authentic response to what the world is looking for in terms of the need for the mission of the Church.” ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 05 Nov 2025 16:01:09 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, asks, Rupnik, accusers, patient</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV says spiritual needs of detained migrants deserve attention</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-says-spiritual-needs-of-detained-migrants-deserve-attention</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-says-spiritual-needs-of-detained-migrants-deserve-attention</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Auxiliary Bishop Jose María García-Maldonado with eight spiritual leaders including Sister JoAnn Persch attempt to bring Communion to detainees at the Broadview, Illinois, facility and were not admitted Nov. 1, 2025. / Credit: Bryan Sebastian, courtesy of Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leadership

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Nov 4, 2025 / 16:52 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV on Tuesday said the spiritual rights of migrants in detention must be considered.“Many people who’ve lived for years and years and years, never causing problems, have been deeply affected by what’s going on right now,” he said Nov. 4 outside Castel Gandolfo. “I would certainly invite the authorities to allow pastoral workers to attend to the needs of those people. Many times they’ve been separated from their families for a good amount of time. No one knows what’s happening, but their own spiritual needs should be attended to.”Catholic leaders in Chicago sought to bring holy Communion to detainees Nov. 1 at a Chicago-area building that holds people detained in the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. Auxiliary Bishop Jose María García-Maldonado and others were not admitted despite requesting access weeks in advance and attempting to follow U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s guidelines.A federal judge heard testimony Nov. 4 about conditions at the building, the Broadview facility operated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Immigration advocates say conditions are inhumane, with people being kept at the Broadview facility for days, sleeping on floors, having medications withheld, with no showers. ICE has not responded to a request for comment.The pope said the situation of migrants in detention warrants attention.“I think in the first place, the role of the Church is to preach the Gospel. And just a couple days ago, we heard Matthew’s Gospel chapter 25, which says Jesus is very clearly, at the end of the world, we’re going to be asked, ‘How did you receive the foreigner? Did you receive him and welcome him or not?’” Leo said.  “There’s a deep reflection that needs to be made in terms of what’s happening” regarding migrants in detention, the pope said. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 05 Nov 2025 16:01:09 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, says, spiritual, needs, detained, migrants, deserve, attention</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Vatican to release new document on polygamy at end of November</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/vatican-to-release-new-document-on-polygamy-at-end-of-november</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/vatican-to-release-new-document-on-polygamy-at-end-of-november</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ null / Credit: Tekke via Flickr (CC BY-ND 2.0)

Vatican City, Nov 4, 2025 / 14:04 pm (CNA).
The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith will publish a new document on marriage in the context of ongoing discussions about polygamy in Africa.The document, titled “We Two: In Praise of Monogamy. Doctrinal Note on the Value of Marriage, Exclusive Communion, and Mutual Belonging,” will be released at the end of November, the dicastery’s secretary, Father Armando Matteo, said Tuesday.Matteo said the work is connected to a request made during the Synod on Synodality for African bishops to prepare a statement on polygamy. African bishops themselves, he noted, asked the Holy See for guidance on the issue.The Synods on the Family in 2014 and 2015 — though largely dominated by questions of divorce and remarriage — also saw significant interventions from African bishops on the pastoral challenges of polygamous marriages.A press conference will be held at the Holy See Press Office when the document is released later this month. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 05 Nov 2025 16:01:09 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Vatican, release, new, document, polygamy, end, November</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>CNA explains: The step&#45;by&#45;step process the Church uses to declare someone a saint</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/cna-explains-the-step-by-step-process-the-church-uses-to-declare-someone-a-saint</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/cna-explains-the-step-by-step-process-the-church-uses-to-declare-someone-a-saint</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Detail of a mural showing Blessed Stanley Rother being welcomed into heaven at the new Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine in Oklahoma City. / Credit: Joe Holdren/EWTN News

CNA Staff, Nov 1, 2025 / 04:00 am (CNA).
Nov. 1 is the solemnity of All Saints — known more popularly as All Saints’ Day — the day on which the Catholic Church celebrates all who have attained eternal life with God in heaven. The Catholic Church formally recognizes thousands and thousands of saints. But how exactly does the Church come to declare someone a saint in heaven? The process has been developed and refined throughout the centuries, starting from the earliest days of Christendom to the present day. Early Church’s canonization was local, bishop-ledThe Christian communities of early centuries were nascent, decentralized, and often persecuted. The formal procedures of the Church in these years often developed in relative isolation.The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) says on its website that in the first 500 years of the Catholic Church, there was “no formal canonical process as understood by today’s standards.” “Beginning in the sixth century and continuing into the 12th century, the intervention of the local bishop was required before someone could be canonized,” the bishops’ website says. Local Christians often requested for their bishop’s intervention to determine the sainthood of a faithful departed. The bishop would study both the request and the biography of the candidate in question; if deeming the request “favorable,” he would “typically issue a decree, legitimize the liturgical cult, and thereby canonize the person.”As the decades and centuries went on, the process became more formalized. In addition to the earlier modes of review, starting in the 10th century, the bishop would “collect eyewitness testimony of those who knew the person and who had witnessed miracles” associated with the candidate. The entire petition would be provided to the pope, who would rule on the matter himself. This process led to the first official papal canonization, that of Swiss bishop St. Ulric in 993, by Pope John XV.This process remained the same for several more centuries; in the late 1500s, Pope Sixtus V established the Congregation for Sacred Rites, one of the functions of which was to “assist the pope with reviewing causes.”The process remained largely unchanged from then until 1917 with the promulgation of the universal Code of Canon Law. A new promulgation in 1983 gave the Church the code still in effect today. Modern 3-stage processThe present process for canonization by the Catholic Church plays out across three stages.First, in stage 1, Church authorities examine “the life of a candidate for sainthood.” The process, which generally may only begin five years after a candidate’s death, is first enacted at the diocesan or eparchial level. After receiving a petition, consulting with the episcopal conference and the local faithful, and permission from the Holy See, the bishop will convene a tribunal, which will investigate the life of the candidate (or his/her potential martyrdom). “Witnesses will be called and documents written by and about the candidate must be gathered and examined,” the USCCB notes. The diocese subsequently sends its report on to the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints; nine theologians subsequently “vote on whether or not the candidate lived a heroic life or suffered martyrdom.” If they vote favorably, and after an examination by cardinals and bishops who are members of the dicastery, the prefect of the dicastery “presents the results of the entire course of the cause to the pope,” who gives his approval and directs the congregation to draft a decree declaring the candidate either ”venerable” (if ”they have lived a virtuous life”) or ”blessed” (“if they have been martyred”). In stage 2, a venerable is beatified when he or she has “a miracle attributed to [his or her] intercession.” The miracle “must be proven through the appropriate canonical investigation.” Upon beautification, a venerable is given the title blessed (that title is automatically granted to a martyr upon determination of his or her martyrdom). In stage 3, a blessed is officially canonized with the determination of another miracle “attributed to the intercession of the blessed and having occurred after his or her beatification.”Canonization “allows for the public veneration of the saint by the universal Church,” the USCCB notes.The first saints to be canonized by Pope Leo XIV were St. Carlo Acutis and St. Pier Giorgio Frassati on Sept. 7. This story was first published on Nov. 1, 2023, and has been updated. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 02 Nov 2025 16:01:08 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>CNA, explains:, The, step-by-step, process, the, Church, uses, declare, someone, saint</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Drawing inspiration from Newman: &amp;amp;amp;#039;Without his legacy, perhaps I would not be Catholic today&amp;amp;amp;#039;</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/drawing-inspiration-from-newman-039without-his-legacy-perhaps-i-would-not-be-catholic-today039</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/drawing-inspiration-from-newman-039without-his-legacy-perhaps-i-would-not-be-catholic-today039</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Ryan Marr is an expert on the English saint and is a former associate editor of the Newman Studies Journal. / Credit: Courtesy of Ryan Marr

Vatican City, Nov 1, 2025 / 11:50 am (CNA).
St. John Henry Newman, the Anglican clergyman who converted to Catholicism but whom many in both London and Rome distrusted for years, stands today as a beacon that continues to inspire many to embrace the Catholic faith as he did.“I am personally grateful for the testimony of Newman’s life, because without his legacy I might not be Catholic today,” confesses Ryan “Bud” Marr, a renowned scholar of the English saint, upon whom Pope Leo XIV conferred Saturday the title of doctor of the Church.Newman&#039;s memorable quote — &quot;to be deep in history is to cease to be Protestant&quot; — was pivotal in Marr’s personal conversion. When he first read it, &quot;I was studying to be a Protestant pastor,&quot; he revealed in a conversation with ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner.&quot;I immediately understood that I had to read the rest of Newman&#039;s essay to put to the test the truth of his statement. I couldn&#039;t simply ignore that challenge and continue on the path I was on,&quot; he explained.The expert, a former associate editor of the Newman Studies Journal, added that &quot;there are countless similar testimonies&quot; to his and that they will continue to grow in the coming years in light of Newman’s designation as the 38th doctor of the Church.For Marr, Newman possessed a singular gift: “Expressing fundamental truths in brief and memorable phrases,” capable of transcending time and touching consciences. This is why so many people, over more than a century, have found in his writings a path to conversion.Development of doctrine, a decisive contributionFor Marr, Newman’s most significant contribution to contemporary Catholic theology is on the subject of the development of doctrine. “It’s not that Newman wrote something entirely new,” he explained.“Other Catholic theologians, especially St. Vincent of Lérins, had already addressed the topic of doctrinal development. But Newman synthesized diverse ideas into a unified and compelling theory, so that any subsequent theologian has had to start from his “Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine” when addressing this topic,” he pointed out.This vision, he added, was decisive for 20th-century thought. Newman showed that “the Church’s understanding of revealed truths deepens over time.” “In some cases, the Church offers new formulations — as happened with the Nicene Creed — but these developments always affirm and clarify what has been handed down,” he emphasized.“The deposit of faith is immutable, but our understanding of that deposit actually expands,” he added. Each generation, Marr emphasized, must “proclaim the truth of the faith within its own linguistic categories,” but always preserving the “essential while facing the challenges of its time.”Conscience and the sensus fidei as means of Christian discernmentWhen it was announced that Newman would be proclaimed a doctor of the Church, Marr recalled, “some observers predicted that Pope Leo XIV might bestow upon him the title of Doctor of Conscience.” This is no coincidence. Newman, he noted, dedicated some of his most influential writings to the “centrality of conscience in the journey to God,” both during his Anglican period and in his new life as a Catholic.Like St. Thomas Aquinas, Marr explained, “Newman believed that a person should never act against the dictates of their conscience,” because doing so “would undermine the very coherence of the moral life.”However, the former champion of Anglicanism, who converted to Catholicism at the age of 45, also warned about the human tendency toward “self-deception,” Marr explained. The scholar noted that Newman insisted on the need to “form the conscience according to divine and natural law.”In his 1874 “Letter to the Duke of Norfolk,” one of his most celebrated essays, Newman cautioned against a “false notion of conscience,” identified with the right to one’s own will, an idea that, according to Marr, “reflects the modern mindset” that values ​​subjective independence over objective truth.He therefore pointed out that “as Catholics, we must work to restore the true vision of conscience, in line with the teaching of theological giants like Aquinas and Newman.”The sensus fidei is not ‘a populist counterweight to the hierarchy’This theme is intertwined with the concept of the sensus fidei, the supernatural sense of the faith bestowed upon the baptized: “Newman was ahead of his time in recognizing that the lay faithful have an essential role in the defense and transmission of tradition. The priesthood of all believers means, in part, that the baptized possess a special sense of the faith, a capacity that we must strengthen through devotion and study.”Marr noted that, for Newman, this sense also had a communal dimension, the sensus fidelium, or sense of the faithful. “He did not understand it as a populist counterweight to the hierarchy,” he clarified. “He knew that the pope and the bishops exercise a divinely instituted authority, but he remembered that there have been times in history — such as during the Arian controversy — when the laity defended the faith, even when some pastors wavered.”A prophet in the face of modern apostasyWith prophetic clarity, the expert noted, Newman “foresaw the growing irreligion of the modern world.” In his 1873 sermon “The Infidelity of the Future,” Newman warned that the trials of the future would be so great “that they would shake even hearts as valiant as those of St. Athanasius or St. Gregory the Great,” Marr said.Newman, he explained, perceived that the greatest danger of modernity would be precisely the spread of unbelief, a society that is “simply irreligious.”However, faced with this bleak outlook, “Newman neither called for retreat nor proposed authoritarian strategies.” He courageously confronted the philosophical ideas of his time and offered a compelling explanation of the “reasonableness of the Christian faith,” deeply rooted in Catholic tradition and in dialogue with modern philosophy, he noted.Newman and the intellectual mission of the laityNewman, the expert continued, understood the life of the Catholic Church as something “dynamic,” where “all members of the Body of Christ have an active role in the proclamation of the truth.”The fathers of the Second Vatican Council took up this vision, presenting it as an urgent call to contemporary Catholics. The expert warned that it is important to understand this call well: “The laity do not fulfill their vocation by becoming more clerical, but by sanctifying the world according to their own specific mission, bringing the Gospel to education, law, medicine, and culture.”This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/newman.convert.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 02 Nov 2025 16:01:08 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Drawing, inspiration, from, Newman:, &amp;amp039Without, his, legacy, perhaps, would, not, Catholic, today&amp;amp039</media:keywords>
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<title>Pope Leo XIV declares St. John Henry Newman a doctor of the Church</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-declares-st-john-henry-newman-a-doctor-of-the-church</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-declares-st-john-henry-newman-a-doctor-of-the-church</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ On All Saints Day 2025, St. John Henry Newman was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church by Pope Leo XIV. / Credit: Vatican Media

ACI Prensa Staff, Nov 1, 2025 / 08:45 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV has declared St. John Henry Newman a doctor of the Church, recognizing the English cardinal and theologian — one of the most influential converts from Anglicanism — as a towering figure of faith and intellect in modern Catholicism.The declaration took place at the beginning of Mass for the solemnity of All Saints on Nov. 1, celebrated in St. Peter’s Basilica as part of the Jubilee of Education. Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, read Newman’s biography and formally requested that the pope proclaim the saint a doctor of the Church.Pope Leo then read in Latin the solemn formula declaring Newman the 38th doctor of the universal Church. The pope also named Newman co-patron of Catholic education, putting him alongside St. Thomas Aquinas in that role.‘An inspiration to new generations’“Newman’s impressive spiritual and cultural stature will surely serve as an inspiration to new generations whose hearts thirst for the infinite and who, through research and knowledge, are willing to undertake that journey which, as the ancients said, takes us ‘per aspera ad astra,’ through difficulties to the stars,” the pope said in his homily.On Nov. 1, 2025 St. John Henry Newman was proclaimed the 38th Doctor of the Church. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News“The lives of the saints teach us that it is possible to live passionately amidst the complexity of the present, without neglecting the apostolic mandate to ‘shine like stars in the world,’” the pope continued, quoting St. Paul’s Letter to the Philippians. “On this solemn occasion, I wish to say to teachers and educational institutions: ‘Shine today like stars in the world’ through your authentic commitment to the collective search for truth and to sharing it with generosity and integrity.”Referring to Newman’s famous hymn “Lead, Kindly Light,” Leo added: “The task of education is precisely to offer this Kindly Light to those who might otherwise remain imprisoned by the particularly insidious shadows of pessimism and fear. For this reason, I would like to say to you: let us disarm the false reasons for resignation and powerlessness, and let us share the great reasons for hope in today’s world.”Pope Leo also emphasized that “life shines brightly not because we are rich, beautiful, or powerful. Instead, it shines when we discover within ourselves the truth that we are called by God, have a vocation, have a mission, that our lives serve something greater than ourselves.”Finally, he recalled Pope Benedict XVI’s words to young people: “‘What God wants most of all for each one of you is that you should become holy. He loves you much more than you could ever begin to imagine.’ This is the universal call to holiness that the Second Vatican Council made an essential part of its message. And holiness is intended for everyone, without exception, as a personal and communal journey marked out by the beatitudes.”“I pray that Catholic education will help each person to discover their own call to holiness,” the pope said.What is a doctor of the Church?The title “doctor of the Church” is given to saints recognized for their eminent learning, deep holiness, and significant contribution to Catholic theology.To receive the title, a saint must have demonstrated outstanding sanctity confirmed by canonization, excellence in doctrine through writings of lasting influence, and a formal declaration by the pope.The most recent doctor of the Church before Newman was St. Irenaeus of Lyon, proclaimed by Pope Francis in 2022 as the “Doctor of Unity.”Other doctors of the Church include St. Augustine, St. Ambrose, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Teresa of Ávila, St. Catherine of Siena, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, St. Anthony of Padua, and St. Francis de Sales.Who is St. John Henry Newman?St. John Henry Newman was born in London on Feb. 21, 1801. Originally an Anglican priest, he became one of the leading figures of the Oxford Movement, which sought to return the Church of England to its ancient roots. His theological reflections led him ever closer to Catholicism, and in 1845 he entered the Catholic Church.In remarks after Saturday’s Mass, Pope Leo welcomed an official delegation of the Church of England, led by Archbishop Stephen Cottrell of York, and prayed that Newman might “accompany Christians on their journey towards full union.”Ordained a Catholic priest in 1847, Newman founded the Oratory of St. Philip Neri in England and went on to produce an immense body of work — more than 40 books and some 20,000 letters — spanning theology, philosophy, and education.Pope Leo XIII made him a cardinal in 1879. Newman chose as his motto “Cor ad cor loquitur” (“Heart speaks to heart”), reflecting his conviction that true conversion is a return to the innermost dwelling of God in the heart.He died in Edgbaston, England, in 1890. Pope Benedict XVI beatified him in 2010, and Pope Francis canonized him in 2019. His remains rest in the Catholic cemetery of Rednal, Birmingham.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 02 Nov 2025 16:01:08 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, declares, St., John, Henry, Newman, doctor, the, Church</media:keywords>
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<title>The lifesaving miracle that led to St. John Henry Newman’s canonization</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/the-lifesaving-miracle-that-led-to-st-john-henry-newmans-canonization</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/the-lifesaving-miracle-that-led-to-st-john-henry-newmans-canonization</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Melissa Villalobos suffered severe bleeding while pregnant. St. John Henry Newman interceded and saved her and her daughter Gemma, now 11 years old. / Credit: Photo courtesy of the Villalobos family

ACI Prensa Staff, Oct 31, 2025 / 10:00 am (CNA).
The sainthood of John Henry Newman, who will be declared a doctor of the Church on Nov. 1, rested on two inexplicable healings that the Catholic Church officially recognized as miracles that paved the way for his beatification in 2010 and his canonization in 2019.The second and most recent of these miracles was lifesaving. During her fifth pregnancy, Melissa Villalobos, a lawyer from Chicago, suffered severe internal bleeding caused by a partial placental abruption, a condition that seriously endangered both her life and that of her unborn child.The day it happened, Villalobos, alone at home and without the strength to call for help, turned to prayer. “Please, Cardinal Newman, stop the bleeding,” she said with difficulty. As she later recounted: “Just as I finished those words, the bleeding stopped, and I noticed in the bathroom the strongest scent of roses in my life. When it stopped, I asked, ‘Cardinal Newman, did you do this?’ and the scent returned a second time. I knew it was him.”St. John Henry Newman is very present in the daily life of this American family. Credit: Photo courtesy of the Villalobos familyThat same afternoon, the doctors confirmed what they could not explain: The tear in the placenta had disappeared. Months later, Villalobos gave birth to a perfectly healthy baby girl, whom she named Gemma.Five years later, Gemma and her entire family participated in the canonization ceremony for Newman officiated by Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square on Oct. 13, 2019.For Sister Kathleen Dietz, FSO, a renowned specialist on St. John Henry Newman, the healing of the pregnant woman should be seen as a “sign of the times” when “the culture of death permeates everything.”“He performed this miracle for the sake of life, not only the life of the young mother but also that of her child. It’s very significant,” she told ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner.Unexplained healing of a debilitating spinal disorderThe first miracle attributed to Newman’s intercession was on behalf of American deacon Jack Sullivan, who was suffering from a severe degenerative spinal cord disease that had left him almost paralyzed.In great pain and with little hope of recovery, he prayed for Newman’s intercession. According to his own testimony, on Aug. 15, 2001, he experienced a sudden and complete recovery, which allowed him to walk unaided and shortly afterward to be ordained a permanent deacon.The Congregation for the Causes of Saints officially recognized the healing as scientifically inexplicable, and on July 3, 2009, Pope Benedict XVI officially announced that it constituted a genuine miracle. It led to Newman’s beatification on Sept. 19, 2010, in Birmingham, England, the city where the saint lived for much of his ministry.Deacon Jack Sullivan was cured of a debilitating spinal disorder after praying for the intercession of Cardinal John Henry Newman. Credit: Photo courtesy of Deacon Jack SullivanSullivan served as deacon and read the Gospel at the Mass celebrated by Benedict in Rednal, England, very near Newman’s burial site.Sullivan, who has the only first-class relic of Newman outside the Oratory of St. Philip Neri in England, has given numerous presentations with it and has held healing prayer services. Dietz — who has collaborated on various studies on the spirituality and legacy of St. John Henry Newman — emphasized that miracles authenticate Newman’s holiness and reflect his ongoing mission within the Church.“Miracles show that Newman continues to have a role as an example and intercessor. He will soon be named a doctor of the Church and thus will also be a teacher of truth,” she noted.Inspiration for daily lifeFor the religious, Newman can inspire the faithful in their daily lives with a faith “lived in everyday circumstances.”Dietz cited Newman’s 1856 work “A Short Road to Perfection” in which he points out that to be saints, “we need nothing more than to fulfill the ordinary duties of the day well.”“It’s not a matter of heroic or extraordinary feats but of performing the actions of each day with rectitude and consistency: getting up on time, dedicating one’s first thoughts to God, visiting the Blessed Sacrament, praying the Angelus and the rosary, keeping one’s thoughts in order, examining oneself daily, and going to bed at a reasonable hour. If this is done consistently, one is already on the path to perfection,” the saint counseled.Joy: An essential Christian virtueDietz emphasized that Newman saw joy as an essential Christian virtue, even in the midst of sadness, and that his example can guide believers to live their faith in a “practical, tangible, and consistent” way in daily life.For Dietz, Newman’s life and miracles remind us that holiness is not an unattainable ideal but a “reality accessible to all” through faithfulness to small daily acts and trust in God’s providence.“His teaching combines theological depth with pastoral application, showing how a saint can be a model and guide for the contemporary Church and for every believer in their daily life,” she explained.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 02 Nov 2025 16:01:08 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
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<title>Pope Leo XIV: ‘The Church does not tolerate antisemitism’</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-the-church-does-not-tolerate-antisemitism</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-the-church-does-not-tolerate-antisemitism</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV arrives in St. Peter’s Square for his weekly general audience on Oct. 29, 2025. / Credit: Daniel Ibanez/EWTN News

Vatican City, Oct 29, 2025 / 08:55 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday strongly condemned antisemitism during his general audience in St. Peter’s Square marking the 60th anniversary of Nostra Aetate, the Second Vatican Council document on the Church’s relations with other religions.The pope underlined that since the publication of Nostra Aetate, “all of my predecessors have condemned antisemitism with clear words.” “And so I too confirm that the Church does not tolerate antisemitism and fights against it, on the basis of the Gospel itself,” Leo said on Oct. 29.The pope expressed thanks for what has been achieved in the past 60 years of Jewish-Catholic dialogue while acknowledging the challenges that have arisen along the way. “We cannot deny that there have been misunderstandings, difficulties, and conflicts in this period, but these have never prevented the dialogue from continuing,” he said. “Even today, we must not allow political circumstances and the injustices of some to divert us from friendship, especially since we have achieved so much so far.”Pope Leo was joined by Jewish rabbis, Muslim imams, Buddhist monks, and other religious leaders for the general audience. He called on them to act together to alleviate human suffering, care for the planet, and restore hope.Pope Leo XIV was joined by leaders of other religions at his general audience in St. Peter&#039;s Square on Oct. 29, 2025. Credit: Daniel Ibanez/EWTN News“More than ever, our world needs our unity, our friendship, and our collaboration,” he said. “Each one of our religions can contribute to alleviating human suffering and taking care of our common home, our planet Earth.”Those present included representatives of Hinduism, Sikhism, Zoroastrianism, and Taoism, along with Christian leaders. Many had participated the previous evening in a peace ceremony at the Colosseum organized by the Community of Sant’Egidio, which brought together about 300 representatives of world religions and cultures.Pope Leo also prayed for those affected by Hurricane Melissa, which hit Jamaica on Tuesday as the strongest Category 5 storms on record to hit the Caribbean island before sweeping across Cuba.“Thousands of people have been displaced, while homes, infrastructure, and several hospitals have been damaged,” he said. “I assure everyone of my closeness, praying for those who have lost their lives, for those who are fleeing, and for those populations who, awaiting the storm’s developments, are experiencing hours of anxiety and concern.”Pope Leo XIV greets pilgrims in St. Peter&#039;s Square from the popemobile at the general audience on Oct. 29, 2025. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTNThe pope’s catechesis centered on Nostra Aetate, issued Oct. 28, 1965, during the Second Vatican Council, which opened what Leo called “a new horizon of encounter, respect, and spiritual hospitality.”“This luminous document teaches us to meet the followers of other religions not as outsiders but as traveling companions on the path of truth; to honor differences affirming our common humanity,” he said.Recalling the document’s historical importance, Leo noted that Nostra Aetate offered for the first time “a doctrinal treatise on the Jewish roots of Christianity … which on a biblical and theological level would represent a point of no return.”Quoting the council text, he added: “The Church, ‘mindful of the patrimony she shares with the Jews and moved not by political reasons but by the Gospel’s spiritual love, decries hatred, persecutions, displays of antisemitism, directed against Jews at any time and by anyone.’”The pope warned against religious extremism and fundamentalism. He told the leaders of different religions present: “Our respective traditions teach truth, compassion, reconciliation, justice, and peace.”“Together, we must be vigilant against the abuse of the name of God, of religion, and of dialogue itself, as well as against the dangers posed by religious fundamentalism and extremism.”Pope Leo XIV greets pilgrims in St. Peter&#039;s Square from the popemobile at the general audience on Oct. 29, 2025. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTNHe also called on religious leaders to work together on the challenges posed by artificial intelligence. “We must also face the responsible development of artificial intelligence because, if conceived as an alternative to humans, it can gravely violate their infinite dignity and neutralize their fundamental responsibilities,” he said.Leo underlined that religion can play a fundamental role in promoting peace and restoring hope to the world. “This hope is based on our religious convictions, on the conviction that a new world is possible,” he said. “Sixty years ago, Nostra Aetate brought hope to the world after the Second World War. Today we are called upon to rekindle that hope in our world, devastated by war and our degraded natural environment.”At the end of the audience, Leo led those gathered in a moment of silent prayer. “Prayer has the power to transform our attitudes, our thoughts, our words, and our actions,” he said. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 30 Oct 2025 16:00:10 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV:, ‘The, Church, does, not, tolerate, antisemitism’</media:keywords>
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<title>Mar Awa III gives Pope Leo XIV a Chicago Cubs jersey, rivals of the pope’s White Sox</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/mar-awa-iii-gives-pope-leo-xiv-a-chicago-cubs-jersey-rivals-of-the-popes-white-sox</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/mar-awa-iii-gives-pope-leo-xiv-a-chicago-cubs-jersey-rivals-of-the-popes-white-sox</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Mar Awa III presents a Chicago Cubs jersey to Pope Leo XIV on Oct. 27, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

ACI Prensa Staff, Oct 29, 2025 / 16:29 pm (CNA).
His Holiness Mar Awa III, Catholicos-patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East, traveled to Rome this week to participate in a ceremony commemorating the 60th anniversary of Nostra Aetate, the Church’s declaration on building relations with non-Christian religions.During his stay in the Eternal City, Mar Awa III, born David Royel to Assyrian immigrant parents, met Oct. 27 with Pope Leo XIV in a private audience. The two share the same hometown of Chicago.During the meeting, the pope urged the two churches to seek “full communion,” proposing synodality as the path to achieving it.However, it seems that this communion does not extend to the realm of sports.The leader of the Assyrian Church is a fan of the Chicago Cubs, while the Roman pontiff supports their eternal rivals, the White Sox.In his luggage, Mar Awa III made sure to include a Cubs jersey, which he presented to Pope Leo XIV as a gift at the end of his audience at the Vatican.During the gift exchange, the Cubs fan wore a satisfied smile, while the Holy Father, with an expression of resignation, held up the dark blue jersey with the name “Leo” and the number 14 printed in red. Mar Awa III posted a photo of the moment on his Instagram profile, where he wrote: “During the exchange of gifts, I presented the pope with a customized Cubs jersey and hat (in honor of all our North Side Chicagoans). Needless to say, the pope loved the gift,“ he recounted with evident irony.null Pope Leo XIV has demonstrated his love for baseball on several occasions. During one of his usual tours through St. Peter’s Square in the popemobile before a general audience, he surprised onlookers by spontaneously joining a group of pilgrims in chanting “White Sox!”, making it clear which team he supports.Chicago’s North Side Cubs have annually played the city’s South Side White Sox in the interleague “Crosstown Classic.” As of July of this year, the Cubs have an all-time edge of 77-75 over the White Sox since the series began, Yahoo News reported.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 30 Oct 2025 16:00:10 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Mar, Awa, III, gives, Pope, Leo, XIV, Chicago, Cubs, jersey, rivals, the, pope’s, White, Sox</media:keywords>
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<title>Why is St. Jude the patron saint of lost causes?</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/why-is-st-jude-the-patron-saint-of-lost-causes</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/why-is-st-jude-the-patron-saint-of-lost-causes</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ A candle of St. Jude. / Credit: Francesca Pollio/CNA

CNA Staff, Oct 28, 2025 / 04:00 am (CNA).
On Oct. 28, the Catholic Church celebrates the feast of St. Jude, also known as Thaddeus, one of Jesus’ 12 apostles.He is believed to have written the Letter of Jude, one of the shortest books of the Bible, and is thought to have been martyred in Beirut around 65 A.D. He is typically depicted with a club or axe, symbolizing the way he died, as well as with a flame above his head, which refers to Pentecost.Although Jude is not mentioned much in the Bible and only had one quote attributed to him in the Gospel of John (14:22), this quiet apostle is extremely popular among Catholics today. His popularity probably stems from his patronage of lost causes. An experience Jude had while in the city of Edessa is said to be the reason why he is associated with “impossible” situations.According to the ancient Church historian Eusebius, while Jesus was still alive, the ruler Abgar V of Edessa was afflicted with an incurable and painful disease. He had heard of the miracles of Jesus and wrote him a letter requesting a visit. Jesus responded that he would send one of his disciples.After Jesus’ ascension into heaven, Jude went to evangelize near the city of Edessa and went to visit Abgar. Jude laid his hands on the sick ruler, and he was reportedly instantly healed.Many people choose to carry the image of St. Jude on a medal or as a pendant on a necklace for comfort and call on him in their time of need and healing.His feast is shared with St. Simon, who was also said to be a cousin of Jesus and is believed to have traveled to Persia with Jude, where they were both martyred.Prayer to St. JudeThe following prayer can be prayed on the feast of St. Jude or at any time when his intercession is needed:Most holy Apostle St. Jude, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the Church honors and invokes you universally as the patron of difficult cases, of things almost despaired of. Pray for me; I am so helpless and alone.Intercede to God for me that he brings visible and speedy help where help is almost despaired of. Come to my assistance in this great need, that I may receive the consolation and help of heaven in all my necessities, tribulations, and sufferings, particularly [make your request here], and that I may praise God with you and all the saints forever.I promise, O Blessed St. Jude, to be ever mindful of this great favor granted me by God and to always honor you as my special and powerful patron, and to gratefully encourage devotion to you. Amen.This story was first published on Oct. 27, 2021, and has been updated. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 30 Oct 2025 16:00:10 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Why, St., Jude, the, patron, saint, lost, causes</media:keywords>
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<title>Pope calls for renewal of Catholic education amid challenges of modern society, technology</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-calls-for-renewal-of-catholic-education-amid-challenges-of-modern-society-technology</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-calls-for-renewal-of-catholic-education-amid-challenges-of-modern-society-technology</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV signs his apostolic letter on Catholic education, “Drawing New Maps of Hope,” at the end of a Mass for Rome university students in St. Peter’s Basilica on Oct. 27, 2025. The document was published on Oct. 28, 2025, to mark the 60th anniversary of Gravissimum Educationis, the Second Vatican Council’s declaration on Christian education. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Oct 28, 2025 / 10:21 am (CNA).
Amid contemporary challenges to schools and universities — hyper-digitalization, social insecurity, and the crisis of relationships —  a Catholic education should courageously teach the whole human person, Pope Leo XIV writes in a new apostolic letter.In “Drawing New Maps of Hope,” Leo reflects on the role of a Catholic education 60 years after the Oct. 28, 1965, proclamation of Gravissimum Educationis, the Second Vatican Council’s declaration on Christian education.“The Church celebrates a fruitful educational history but also faces the imperative to update its proposals in light of the signs of the times,” the pope writes in the letter, published in Italian on Oct. 28.“We are aware of the difficulties: hyper-digitalization can fragment attention; the crisis of relationships can wound the psyche; social insecurity and inequalities can extinguish desire,” he says. “Yet, it is precisely here that Catholic education can be a beacon: not a nostalgic refuge but a laboratory of discernment, pedagogical innovation, and prophetic witness.”In the eight-page document, the pontiff identifies three priorities for the educational community: cultivation of an interior life through space for silence, discernment, and dialogue with one’s conscience and with God; formation in a wise use of technology and artificial intelligence that puts the human person first; and education in language that is peace-building, nonviolent, and open to others.He also notes the importance of making Catholic education financially accessible.“Where access to education remains a privilege, the Church must push open doors and invent new paths, because ‘losing the poor’ is equivalent to losing the school itself,” he writes.Digital challengesPope Leo in his letter draws attention to the digital environment and its impact on education, underlining that “technologies must serve the person, not replace them. They must enrich the learning process, not impoverish relationships and communities.”“A Catholic university and school without vision risks soulless efficiency, the standardization of knowledge, which then becomes spiritual impoverishment,” he says.He urges schools to avoid “technophobia” while strengthening teachers’ training in the digital sphere and promoting service-learning and responsible citizenship.“No algorithm can replace what makes education human: poetry, irony, love, art, imagination, the joy of discovery, and even education in error as an opportunity for growth. The decisive point is not technology but the use we make of it,” the pope writes.What is Christian education?The pontiff’s document also provides a vision of Christian education that “embraces the whole person: spiritual, intellectual, emotional, social, and physical. … [Education] measures [its value] on the basis of dignity, justice, and the ability to serve the common good.”He opposes this Catholic vision to a “purely mercantilistic approach” that measures education in terms of functionality and practical utility, he writes.Leo said forming the whole person means avoiding compartmentalization, because “when faith is true, it is not an added ‘subject’ but a breath that oxygenates every other subject. Thus, Catholic education becomes leaven in the human community.”Influence of St. John Henry NewmanThe pope cites St. John Henry Newman, whom he will declare a new co-patron saint of the Church’s educational mission, throughout his letter. Quoting the saint and soon-to-be doctor of the Church, the pontiff writes that “religious truth is not only a part but a condition of general knowledge.”These words, he explains, “are an invitation to renew our commitment to knowledge that is as intellectually responsible and rigorous as it is deeply human. We must also be careful not to fall into the enlightenment of a ‘fides’ [faith] that is exclusively paired with ‘ratio’ [reason].”He says this means Catholic universities and schools should be places where questions and doubt are accompanied, not silenced.“There, the heart dialogues with the heart, and the method is that of listening, which recognizes the other as a good, not as a threat,” he says, pointing out that “cor ad cor loquitur” (“heart speaks to heart”) was St. John Henry Newman’s motto as a cardinal, taken from a letter of St. Francis de Sales: “Sincerity of heart, not abundance of words, touches the hearts of men.”Leo points out that schools are communities of families, teachers, students, administrative and service staff, pastors, and civil society, founded on God.The family remains the primary place of education, and “Catholic schools collaborate with parents, they do not replace them,” he affirms.Ecological responsibilityThe pontiff also touches briefly on Catholic schools’ responsibility in the social and ecological spheres.“Forgetting our common humanity has led to divisions and violence; and when the earth suffers, the poor suffer most,” he writes. “Catholic education cannot remain silent: It must combine social justice and environmental justice, promote sobriety and sustainable lifestyles, and form consciences capable of choosing not only what is convenient but what is right.” ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 30 Oct 2025 16:00:10 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
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<title>Pope Leo XIV commemorates Nostra Aetate anniversary with interfaith celebrations</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-commemorates-nostra-aetate-anniversary-with-interfaith-celebrations</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-commemorates-nostra-aetate-anniversary-with-interfaith-celebrations</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Approximately 300 representatives of world religions and cultures joined the Holy Father for an evening ecumenical prayer service for peace, organized by the Community of Sant’Egidio, on Oct. 28, 2025, at the Colosseum in Rome. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Oct 29, 2025 / 05:00 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV joined faith leaders on Tuesday to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Nostra Aetate, the Church’s declaration on building relationships with non-Christian religions. Approximately 300 representatives of world religions and cultures joined the Holy Father for an evening ecumenical prayer service for peace organized by the Community of Sant’Egidio and held at the Colosseum in Rome.“Peace is a constant journey of reconciliation,” the Holy Father said at the Oct. 28 event. Thanking religious leaders for coming together in Rome, he said their interfaith meeting expressed their shared “conviction that prayer is a powerful force for reconciliation.”“This is our witness: offering the immense treasures of ancient spiritualities to contemporary humanity,” he said.“We need a true and sound era of reconciliation that puts an end to the abuse of power, displays of force, and indifference to the rule of law,” he added. “Enough of war, with all the pain it causes through death, destruction, and exile!”  In his remarks, the pope urged people not to be indifferent to the “cry of the poor and the cry of the earth” in their pursuits for peace in countries scarred by ongoing conflict and injustice.“In the power of prayer, with hands raised to heaven and open to others, we must ensure that this period of history, marked by war and the arrogance of power, soon comes to an end, giving rise to a new era,” he said.“We cannot allow this period to continue. It shapes the minds of people who grow accustomed to war as a normal part of human history,” he continued.Pope Leo and other religious leaders lit candles to symbolize their shared prayer and renewed commitment to engage in interfaith dialogue. Credit: Vatican MediaSeveral people waved small blue banners with the word “peace” in different languages while Pope Leo and the other religious leaders lit candles to symbolize their shared prayer and renewed commitment to engage in interfaith dialogue.After the prayer gathering at Rome’s iconic landmark, the Holy Father returned to the Vatican to join colorful celebrations jointly organized by the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue and the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity. To mark the 60th anniversary of Nostra Aetate, several multicultural music and dance performances were held inside the Vatican’s Paul VI Audience Hall as well as a presentation highlighting papal initiatives to promote the Church’s dialogue with other religions since the pontificate of Pope Paul VI.     Pope Leo’s appearance and special address toward the end of the two-hour gathering highlighted the Church’s reverence for all people and its desire to collaborate with others for the common good. “We belong to one human family, one in origin, and one also in our final goal,” he said. “Religions everywhere try to respond to the restlessness of the human heart.” “Each in its own way offers teachings, ways of life, and sacred rites that help guide their followers to peace and meaning,” he said. Emphasizing the common mission shared among people of different religions to “reawaken” the sense of the sacred in the world today, the Holy Father encouraged people to “keep love alive.”“We have come together in this place bearing the great responsibility as religious leaders to bring hope to a humanity that is often tempted by despair,” Leo said.“Let us remember that prayer has the power to transform our hearts, our words, our actions, and our world,” he said. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 30 Oct 2025 16:00:10 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, commemorates, Nostra, Aetate, anniversary, with, interfaith, celebrations</media:keywords>
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<title>Pope Leo XIV: There’s no template for synodality across all countries</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-theres-no-template-for-synodality-across-all-countries</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-theres-no-template-for-synodality-across-all-countries</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV sits next to Cardinal Mario Grech, general secretary of the Vatican&#039;s synod office, during the jubilee of synod teams and participatory bodies in the Vatican&#039;s Paul VI Hall on Oct. 24, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Oct 25, 2025 / 12:00 pm (CNA).
There is no single model for what synodality should look like in all countries and cultures, Pope Leo XIV said in a discussion with synod leaders from around the globe, held at the Vatican on Friday.“We have to be very clear, we’re not looking for a uniform model. And synodality will not come with a template where everybody and every country will say this is how you do it,” the pope said in the Paul VI Hall Oct. 24. “It is, rather, a conversion to a spirit of being Church, and being missionary, and building up, in that sense, the family of God.”Leo spoke about synodality in unscripted remarks in English, Spanish, and Italian during the opening session of a meeting for the jubilee of synodal teams and participatory bodies, taking place in Rome Oct. 24-26, part of the Church’s wider 2025 Jubilee of Hope.Around 2,000 people are attending the synod-focused jubilee, which includes a two-day meeting “aimed at translating the orientations of the [Synod on Synodality’s] Final Document into pastoral and structural choices consistent with the synodal nature of the Church,” according to the Vatican’s synod office.Pope Leo XIV listens to reports from seven representatives around the world about the implementation of synodality on their continents during the jubilee of synodal teams and participatory bodies at the Vatican on Oct. 24, 2025. Credit: Vatican Media.The pope joined part of the program on Friday evening to listen to representatives from different regions give reports on the implementation of synodality in their parts of the world, and to answer their questions about the synodal process. Synodality, Leo said, “is to help the Church fulfill its primary role in the world, which is to be missionary, to announce the Gospel.”He added that synodality “is not a campaign. It’s a way of being and a way of being Church. It’s a way of promoting an attitude, which begins with learning to listen to one another.”The pope recalled the value of listening, “beginning with listening to the Word of God, listening to one another, listening to the wisdom we find in men and in women, in members of the Church, and those who are searching who might not yet be members of the Church.”He also addressed resistance to the synodal process, such as worry by some that it is an attempt to weaken the authority of the bishop.“I would like to invite all of you … to reflect upon what synodality is about and to invite the priests particularly, even more than the bishops, to somehow open their hearts and take part in these processes,” Leo said. “Often the resistance comes out of fear and lack of knowledge.”He emphasized the need to prioritize formation and preparation at every educational level.“Sometimes ready answers are given without the proper, necessary preparation to arrive at the conclusion that maybe some of us have already drawn, but others are not ready for or capable to understand,” he said.“We have to understand that we do not all run at the same speed. And sometimes we have to be patient with one another,” Leo said. “And rather than a few people running ahead and leaving a lot behind, which could cause even a break in an ecclesial experience, we need to look for ways, very concrete ways at times, of understanding what’s happening in each place, where the resistances are or where they come from, and what we can do to encourage more and more the experience of communion in this Church which is synodal.”Asked if groupings of churches, such as regional bishops’ conferences, will continue to grow in the life of the Church, Leo said, “the brief answer is yes, I do expect that, and I hope that the different groupings of churches can continue to grow as expressions of communion in the Church using the gifts we are all receiving through this exercise if you will, this life, this expression of synodality.”The pontiff also weighed in on the topic of women and their participation in the Church, though he set aside the most controversial questions, which he said are being examined in a separate study group.“So leaving aside the most difficult themes,” he said, “there are cultural obstacles, there are opportunities, but there are cultural obstacles. And this has to be recognized, because women could play a key role in the Church, but in some cultures women are considered second-class citizens and in some realities they do not enjoy the same rights as men.”“In these cases, there is a challenge for the Church, for all of us, because we need to understand how we can promote the respect for the rights of everyone, men and women,” he encouraged.The Church can promote a culture in which there is co-participation of every member of society, each according to their vocation, Leo continued. “We have to understand how the Church can be a strength to transform cultures according to the values of the Gospel.” ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 27 Oct 2025 16:00:08 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV:, There’s, template, for, synodality, across, all, countries</media:keywords>
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<title>Pope Leo XIV gives advice for living with hope in a ‘troubled era’</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-gives-advice-for-living-with-hope-in-a-troubled-era</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-gives-advice-for-living-with-hope-in-a-troubled-era</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV claps with pilgrims during an audience for the Jubilee of Hope in St. Peter&#039;s Square on Oct. 25, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media.

Vatican City, Oct 25, 2025 / 13:00 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV on Saturday said the key to living in a difficult time, when the Church’s teachings are often challenged, is to embrace the hope that is “not knowing.” “As pilgrims of hope, we must view our troubled times in the light of the resurrection,” the pope said in an audience with jubilee pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square Oct. 25.Leo brought attention to Nicholas of Cusa — a Catholic cardinal and theologian from Germany, who lived in the 15th century — as a model for how to live one’s faith “during a turbulent era that involved serious spiritual divisions.”The pope described Nicholas of Cusa as “a great thinker and servant of unity” who “can teach us that hoping is also ‘not knowing.’”“As St. Paul writes, ‘How can one hope for what one already sees?’” Leo said. “Nicholas of Cusa could not see the unity of the Church, shaken by opposing currents and divided between East and West. He could not see peace in the world and among religions, at a time when Christianity felt threatened from outside.”But instead of living in fear like many of his contemporaries, Nicholas chose to associate with those who had hope, the pontiff explained.Nicholas, Leo said, “understood that there are opposites to be held together, that God is a mystery in which what is in tension finds unity. Nicholas knew that he did not know, and so he understood reality better and better. What a great gift for the Church! What a call to renewal of the heart! Here are his teachings: make space, hold opposites together, hope for what is not yet seen.”Pope Leo said the Church is experiencing the same thing today: questions challenging the Church’s teaching, from young people, from the poor, from women, from those without a voice or who are different from the majority.“We are in a blessed time: so many questions!” he said. “The Church becomes an expert in humanity if it walks with humanity and has the echo of its questions in its heart.”“To hope is not to know,” Leo underlined. “We do not already have the answers to all the questions. But we have Jesus. We follow Jesus. And so we hope for what we do not yet see.” ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 27 Oct 2025 16:00:08 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, gives, advice, for, living, with, hope, ‘troubled, era’</media:keywords>
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<title>Pope Leo: Don’t let tension between tradition, novelty become ‘harmful polarizations’</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-dont-let-tension-between-tradition-novelty-become-harmful-polarizations</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-dont-let-tension-between-tradition-novelty-become-harmful-polarizations</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica for the Jubilee of Synodal Teams and Participatory Bodies on the 30th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Oct. 26, 2025. / Credit: Daniel Ibanez/CNA

Vatican City, Oct 26, 2025 / 08:10 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV said at a Mass on Sunday that no one in the Church “should impose his or her own ideas” and asked that tensions between tradition and novelty not become “ideological contrapositions and harmful polarizations.”“The supreme rule in the Church is love. No one is called to dominate; all are called to serve,” Leo said in St. Peter’s Basilica on Oct. 26.“No one should impose his or her own ideas; we must all listen to one another,” he continued. “No one is excluded; we are all called to participate. No one possesses the whole truth; we must all humbly seek it and seek it together.”The pontiff celebrated Mass on the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time for the closing of the Jubilee of Synodal Teams and Participatory Bodies, part of the Church’s wider Jubilee of Hope in 2025. In a call for communion, Pope Leo addressed all the participants in the synodality meeting and asked for their help to expand “the ecclesial space” and make it “collegial and welcoming.”Leo also spoke about synodality with the jubilee pilgrims during an Oct. 24 event at the Vatican.The Holy Spirit transforms ‘harmful polarizations’“Being a synodal Church means recognizing that truth is not possessed but sought together, allowing ourselves to be guided by a restless heart in love with Love,” he emphasized.The pontiff called on Christians to live “with confidence and a new spirit amid the tensions that run through the life of the Church: between unity and diversity, tradition and novelty, authority and participation. We must allow the Spirit to transform them, so that they do not become ideological contrapositions and harmful polarizations.” It is not a question of resolving these tensions “by reducing one to the other, but of allowing them to be purified by the Spirit, so that they may be harmonized and oriented toward a common discernment,” he said.He also made it clear that, “prior to any difference, we are called in the Church to walk together in the pursuit of God, clothing ourselves with the sentiments of Christ.”Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass in St. Peter&#039;s Basilica on Oct. 26, 2025. Credit: Daniel Ibanez/CNAResolving tensions in the ChurchIn his homily on the day’s Gospel passage, the parable of the pharisee and the tax collector, the pope warned of the danger of spiritual pride displayed by the pharisee: “The pharisee is obsessed with his own ego, and in this way, ends up focused on himself without having a relationship with either God or others.”Leo pointed out that this can also occur in the Christian community.For example, “when the ego prevails over the collective, causing an individualism that prevents authentic and fraternal relationships,” he said.He also criticized “the claim to be better than others, as the pharisee does with the tax collector, [because it] creates division and turns the community into a judgmental and exclusionary place; and when one leverages one’s role to exert power rather than to serve.”The pope highlighted the tax collector’s humility as an example for the entire Christian community: “We too must recognize within the Church that we are all in need of God and of one another, which leads us to practice reciprocal love, listen to each other, and enjoy walking together.”Leo urged Catholics to dream of and build a more humble Church, capable of reflecting the Gospel in its way of living and relating.“A Church that does not stand upright like the pharisee, triumphant and inflated with pride, but bends down to wash the feet of humanity; a Church that does not judge like the pharisee does the tax collector but becomes a welcoming place for all,” he said.He also invited the entire ecclesial community to commit itself to building a Church that is “entirely synodal, ministerial, and attracted to Christ,” dedicated to serving the world and open to listening to God and to all the men and women of our time.AngelusAfter the Mass on Oct. 26, Pope Leo led the Angelus prayer in Latin from a window of the Apostolic Palace, which overlooks St. Peter’s Square.In his message following the Marian prayer, he expressed his closeness to the people of eastern Mexico, who were hit earlier this month by devastating floods and landslides, leaving 72 dead and dozens still missing.“I pray for the families and for all those who are suffering as a result of this calamity, and I entrust the souls of the deceased to the Lord, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin,” the pope said.Leo also renewed his call to “unceasingly” pray for peace, especially through the communal recitation of the rosary. “Contemplating the mysteries of Christ together with the Virgin Mary, we make our own the suffering and hope of children, mothers, fathers, and elderly people who are victims of war,” he said. “And from this intercession of the heart arise many gestures of evangelical charity, of concrete closeness, of solidarity. To all those who, every day, with confident perseverance carry on this commitment, I repeat: ‘Blessed are the peacemakers!’”This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 27 Oct 2025 16:00:08 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo:, Don’t, let, tension, between, tradition, novelty, become, ‘harmful, polarizations’</media:keywords>
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<title>Pope Leo XIV: The first lesson for every bishop is humility</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-the-first-lesson-for-every-bishop-is-humility</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-the-first-lesson-for-every-bishop-is-humility</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV celebrates a Mass of episcopal consecration at the Altar of the Chair in St. Peter&#039;s Basilica on Oct. 26, 2025. / Credit: Daniel Ibanez/CNA.

Vatican City, Oct 26, 2025 / 18:24 pm (CNA).
Bishops should be humble servants and men of prayer — not possession, Pope Leo XIV said at a Mass to consecrate a new bishop on Sunday.“This is the first lesson for every bishop: humility. Not humility in words, but that which dwells in the heart of those who know they are servants, not masters; shepherds, not owners of the flock,” the pontiff said Oct. 26.The pontiff personally consecrated Mons. Mirosław Stanisław Wachowski a bishop during a Mass at the Altar of the Chair in St. Peter’s Basilica.Wachowski was appointed apostolic nuncio — the pope’s diplomatic representative — to Iraq in September. Nuncios are usually also archbishops.The 55-year-old Wachowski, originally from Poland, has been in the diplomatic service of the Holy See since 2004. He has also served in the Secretariat of State in the section for relations with states, and was appointed undersecretary for relations with states — similar to a deputy foreign minister — in October 2019.Reflecting on Wachowski’s background growing up in a farming family in the Polish countryside, the pope said, “From your contact with the earth, you have learned that fruitfulness comes from waiting and fidelity: two words that also define the episcopal ministry.”“The bishop is called to sow with patience, to cultivate with respect, to wait with hope,” Leo continued. “He is a guardian, not an owner; a man of prayer, not of possession. The Lord entrusts you with a mission so that you may care for it with the same dedication with which the farmer cares for his field: every day, with constancy, with faith.”Pope Leo XIV places the bishop&#039;s miter on Archbishop Mirosław Stanisław Wachowski, the new apostolic nuncio to Iraq, as part of his episcopal ordination during a Mass in St. Peter&#039;s Basilica on Oct. 26, 2025. Credit: Daniel Ibanez/CNA.The pontiff also reflected on the role of a nuncio, who, as the papal representative is “a sign of the concern of the Successor of Peter for all the Churches.”“He is sent to strengthen the bonds of communion, to promote dialogue with civil authorities, to safeguard the freedom of the Church, and to foster the good of the people,” he underlined.“The Apostolic Nuncio is not just any diplomat: he is the face of a Church that accompanies, consoles, and builds bridges,” he added. “His task is not to defend partisan interests, but to serve communion.”The pope said, Wachowski is being asked to be a father, a shepherd, and a witness of hope in Iraq, “a land marked by pain and the desire for rebirth.”“You are called to fight the good fight of faith, not against others, but against the temptation to tire, to close yourself off, to measure results, relying on the fidelity that is your hallmark: the fidelity of one who does not seek himself, but serves with professionalism, with respect, with a competence that enlightens and does not flaunt itself.”He remarked on the longstanding presence of Christianity in Mesopotamia, which, according to tradition, can trace its roots to St. Thomas the Apostle, and his disciples Addai and Mari.“In that region, people pray in the language that Jesus spoke: Aramaic. This apostolic root is a sign of continuity that the violence, which has manifested itself with ferocity in recent decades, has not been able to extinguish,” the pope said.“Indeed, the voice of those who have been brutally deprived of their lives in those lands does not fail,” he added. “Today they pray for you, for Iraq, for peace in the world.” ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 27 Oct 2025 16:00:08 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV:, The, first, lesson, for, every, bishop, humility</media:keywords>
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<title>Pope Leo XIV encourages Order of the Holy Sepulchre in its mission in the Holy Land</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-encourages-order-of-the-holy-sepulchre-in-its-mission-in-the-holy-land</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-encourages-order-of-the-holy-sepulchre-in-its-mission-in-the-holy-land</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV addresses the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre at the Vatican on Oct. 23, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

ACI Prensa Staff, Oct 23, 2025 / 17:34 pm (CNA).
In an audience with the Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, Pope Leo XIV thanked them for their humble service to the communities of the Holy Land, where they are called to bear witness “that life conquers death.”At the beginning of his address, the pope recalled the mission with which the order was established in 1098: to protect the Holy Sepulchre, care for pilgrims, and sustain the Church of Jerusalem.The Holy Father thanked the members of the order present for continuing the work they do “with the humility, dedication, and spirit of sacrifice that characterize chivalric orders,” especially for their witness and solidarity with the Christians of the Holy Land.In particular, the pontiff emphasized that even today they help the communities of the Holy Land “without any fanfare or seeking publicity” and support the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem in its various activities, such as charitable works and humanitarian projects.“You show that protecting the sepulchre of Christ does not simply mean preserving a historical, archaeological, or artistic heritage — no matter how important that may be — but rather sustaining a Church made of living stones, which was born around it and still lives today as an authentic sign of Easter hope,” he noted.Leo XIV then reflected on the order’s mission and affirmed that remaining at the sepulchre of the Lord “means renewing one’s faith in the God who keeps his promises, whose power no human force can overcome.”“In a world where arrogance and violence seem to prevail over charity,” he continued, “you are called to bear witness that life conquers death, that love conquers hatred, that forgiveness conquers revenge, and that mercy and grace conquer sin.”He also exhorted the members of the order to preside over the holy places with faith, thus helping the faithful “to pause with their hearts at Christ’s tomb, where pain finds its answer in trust.”To achieve this, he advised them to have an “intense sacramental life” as well as to listen to and meditate on the word of God through personal and liturgical prayer and spiritual formation.The pope also reflected on the hope embodied in the women who went to the tomb to seek Jesus, which he described as “the face of service,” reiterating his gratitude to the order “for the great good you do, following the ancient tradition of assistance that characterizes you.” “How often, thanks to your work, a ray of light opens for individuals, families, and entire communities who risk being overwhelmed by terrible tragedies, at every level, especially in the places where Jesus lived,” he noted.He also noted that the image of St. Peter and St. John rushing to the sepulcher and finding Jesus’ tomb empty represents “the gesture of pilgrimage, a symbol of the search for the ultimate meaning of life.”Pope Leo thus invited them to experience their pilgrimage to Rome “as a stage from which to resume the journey toward the only true and definitive goal: full and eternal communion with God in paradise.”The pontiff asked them to bear witness and to invite the faithful “to experience the things of this world with the freedom and joy of those who know they are on their way toward the infinite horizon of eternity.”This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 24 Oct 2025 16:00:09 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, encourages, Order, the, Holy, Sepulchre, its, mission, the, Holy, Land</media:keywords>
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<title>Pope Leo XIV criticizes pharmaceutical industry’s role in scourge of opioid addiction</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-criticizes-pharmaceutical-industrys-role-in-scourge-of-opioid-addiction</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-criticizes-pharmaceutical-industrys-role-in-scourge-of-opioid-addiction</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV meets with participants of the fifth World Meeting of Popular Movements on Oct. 23, 2025, in the Vatican’s Paul VI Audience Hall. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Oct 23, 2025 / 15:26 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV on Thursday decried the devastating impact of opioid addiction in the U.S., criticizing the pharmaceutical industry for its lack of “a global ethic” for the sake of profits.In an Oct. 23 meeting with participants of the fifth World Meeting of Popular Movements held inside the Vatican’s Paul VI Audience Hall, the pope directly spoke out against “unbridled consumerism” and its negative impacts on people living in both poor and wealthy nations.“In the current culture, with the help of advertising and publicity, a cult of physical well-being is being promoted, almost an idolatry of the body and, in this vision, the mystery of pain is reduced to something totally inhuman,” he said.“This can lead also to dependence on pain medications, the sale of which obviously goes to increasing the earnings of the same pharmaceutical companies,” he continued. “This also leads to dependence on opioids, as has been devastating particularly in the United States.” Describing fentanyl as the “drug of death” and the “second most common cause of death among the poor” in the U.S., the pope said the harm of such synthetic drugs extends beyond the country’s borders.“The spread of new synthetic drugs, ever more lethal, is not only a crime involving trafficking of drugs but really has to do with the production of pharmaceuticals and their profit, lacking a global ethic,” he said on Thursday.Besides the pharmaceutical industry, the Holy Father also criticized the influence of big tech in promoting unhealthy, consumerist behaviors among people of all ages.“How can a poor young person live with hope and without anxiety when the social media constantly exalt an unbridled consumerism and a totally unrealizable level of economic success?” he said.“Another problem not often recognized is represented by the dependency on digital gambling,” he continued. “The platforms are designed to create compulsive dependence and generate addictive habits that create addiction.” Throughout the Oct. 23 gathering, the Holy Father expressed his solidarity with social leaders who are “moved by the desire of love” in order to “find solutions in a society dominated by unjust systems” present in the world today.“Your many and creative initiatives can become new public policies and social rights. Yours is a legitimate and necessary effort,” he told those present at the audience.“This makes you champions of humanity, witnesses to justice, poets of solidarity,” he added. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 24 Oct 2025 16:00:09 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, criticizes, pharmaceutical, industry’s, role, scourge, opioid, addiction</media:keywords>
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<title>Pope Leo XIV and King Charles III make history with first joint prayer since Reformation</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-and-king-charles-iii-make-history-with-first-joint-prayer-since-reformation</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-and-king-charles-iii-make-history-with-first-joint-prayer-since-reformation</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV and King Charles III walk together in the Sistine Chapel during a historic meeting that included a prayer service at the Vatican, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Oct 23, 2025 / 09:34 am (CNA).
History was made in the Sistine Chapel on Thursday as Pope Leo XIV and King Charles III prayed side by side, marking the first time since the Protestant Reformation that a reigning British monarch and a pope have prayed together during a royal state visit to the Vatican.Pope Leo XIV led the midday prayer of the Divine Office, standing beneath Michelangelo’s fresco of “The Last Judgment” and flanked by Anglican Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell, King Charles, and Queen Camilla.Pope Leo XIV and King Charles III pray together in the Sistine Chapel during a historic meeting at the Vatican, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025. Credit: Vatican MediaThe ecumenical prayer service featured the Sistine Chapel Choir along with the choirs from St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle and His Majesty’s Chapel Royal.The choirs sang “Come, Holy Ghost, Who Ever One,” a hymn by St. Ambrose translated into English by St. John Henry Newman. Pope Leo will declare Newman, the 19th-century English cardinal and Anglican convert, a doctor of the Church on Nov. 1. King Charles attended Newman’s canonization in 2019 and recently became the first British monarch to visit the Birmingham Oratory, which Newman founded in 1848.King Charles III and Queen Camilla pray in the Sistine Chapel alongside Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025. Credit: Vatican MediaDuring the prayer, the choirs sang verses of Psalms 8 and 64 in Latin and English. A reading from St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans (8:22–27) was read aloud before Pope Leo and Cottrell offered the closing prayer together in English.Cardinals, bishops, and Anglican representatives attended the prayer service, which was the highlight of the king’s first state visit to the Holy See since his accession in 2022.As part of the state visit, Pope Leo approved the conferral of a new title on the monarch: “Royal Confrater” of the Papal Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls. Cardinal James Michael Harvey, the basilica’s archpriest, will formally bestow the honor during an afternoon ecumenical service at the tomb of St. Paul. In return, Pope Leo XIV was offered the title of “Papal Confrater” of St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle, an invitation Pope Leo accepted.“These mutual gifts of ‘confraternity’ are recognitions of spiritual fellowship and are deeply symbolic of the journey the Church of England (of which His Majesty is Supreme Governor) and the Roman Catholic Church have traveled over the past 500 years,” the British Embassy to the Holy See said in a statement. Pope Leo XIV greets King Charles III at the Vatican, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025. Credit: Vatican MediaBefore the prayer service, King Charles and Queen Camilla met privately with Pope Leo in the Apostolic Palace. The king also met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state, and Archbishop Paul Gallagher, the Vatican’s foreign minister. The Vatican said discussions focused on environmental protection, fighting poverty, and promoting ecumenical dialogue.“Particular attention was given to the shared commitment to promoting peace and security in the face of global challenges,” the Holy See Press Office said.King Charles also conferred on the pope the honor of Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Bath, while the pope conferred on the king the honor of Knight Grand Cross with the Collar of the Vatican Order of Pope Pius IX and on Queen Camilla the honor of Dame Grand Cross of the same order.The royal visit comes as King Charles continues treatment for cancer, first diagnosed in early 2024. Buckingham Palace said that the king’s state visit — postponed earlier this year due to the poor health of Pope Francis — celebrates both the Church’s 2025 Jubilee Year and “the ecumenical work between the Church of England and the Catholic Church, reflecting the jubilee year’s theme of walking together as ‘Pilgrims of Hope.’” Following the Sistine Chapel service, Pope Leo and King Charles met business and church leaders in the Apostolic Palace’s Sala Regia for a discussion on environmental sustainability and care for creation.After the Vatican meetings, King Charles is scheduled to visit the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, reviving the historic ties between England and the papal basilica. After the arrival in England of Roman monk-missionaries such as St. Augustine of Canterbury and St. Paulinus of York in the sixth and seventh centuries, Saxon rulers including Kings Offa and Æthelwulf contributed to the upkeep of the apostles’ tombs in Rome. By the late Middle Ages, the kings of England were recognized as “protectors” of the Basilica of St. Paul and abbey, and its heraldic shield came to include the insignia of the Order of the Garter. That tradition was interrupted by the Reformation and the ensuing centuries of estrangement. A newly commissioned chair bearing the royal coat of arms and the Latin phrase “Ut unum sint” (“That they may be one”) has been installed in the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls for King Charles and his successors to use during future visits.King Charles visited the Vatican several times as Prince of Wales, including for the funeral of John Paul II and for Newman’s canonization. His last papal audience was with Pope Francis in April, shortly before Francis’ death, though that was not an official state visit.Queen Elizabeth II, Charles’ mother, met five popes during her 70-year reign but never participated in a public prayer with any of them. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Fri, 24 Oct 2025 16:00:09 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, and, King, Charles, III, make, history, with, first, joint, prayer, since, Reformation</media:keywords>
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<title>Longtime Vatican official and Italian archbishop Cardinal Edoardo Menichelli dies at 86</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/longtime-vatican-official-and-italian-archbishop-cardinal-edoardo-menichelli-dies-at-86</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/longtime-vatican-official-and-italian-archbishop-cardinal-edoardo-menichelli-dies-at-86</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Cardinal Edoardo Menichelli, archbishop emeritus of Ancona-Osimo, in the northern Italian region of Marche, has died at the age of 86 after a long illness. / Credit: Daniel Ibanez/EWTN News

ACI Stampa, Oct 20, 2025 / 13:23 pm (CNA).
Cardinal Edoardo Menichelli, archbishop emeritus of Ancona-Osimo in the northern Italian region of Marche, has died at the age of 86 after a long illness.“It is with great sadness that I learned that our Cardinal Edoardo Menichelli has returned to the Father’s house. Let us raise our prayers to the good Lord, rich in mercy, that he may welcome his beautiful soul into paradise,” Archbishop Angelo Spina of Ancona-Osimo said on the archdiocese’s website.“Sick for some time, he faced his illness and heavy treatments with courage, revealing the indomitable spirit that characterized his temperament and his desire to live his consecration to the Lord with unshakeable faith until the end,” said Archbishop Francesco Massara of the nearby Diocese of Camerino-San Severino Marche.Menichelli was born in Serripola di San Severino Marche on Oct. 14, 1939.After studying at the Pius XI Regional Pontifical Seminary in Fano, he moved to Rome, where he obtained a licentiate in theology from the Pontifical Lateran University.Ordained a priest in 1965, he was called to Rome in 1968 to work at the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, the Church’s Supreme Court. He remained there until 1991, when he was transferred to the Congregation for Eastern Churches.On June 10, 1994, Pope John Paul II appointed him archbishop of Chieti-Vasto in the region of Abruzzo. He was consecrated by Cardinal Achille Silvestrini.On Jan. 8, 2004, Menichelli was named archbishop of Ancona-Osimo. Pope Francis appointed him a member of the two Synods of Bishops on the Family in 2014 and 2015.Pope Francis made Menichelli cardinal in the consistory of February 2015, assigning him the titular church of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary in Tor Fiorenza. Menichelli resigned in July 2017 upon reaching the age limit for bishops.The funeral service for the late cardinal will take place at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 22, in the Madonna dei Lumi Sanctuary in San Severino Marche and will be presided over by Bishop Nazzareno Marconi of Macerata, president of the episcopal conference of the Marche region. At the end of the funeral, the coffin will be taken to Ancona and, according to the cardinal’s will, he will be buried in the Cathedral of San Ciriaco. The funeral chapel has been set up at the Madonna dei Lumi Sanctuary and will remain open from 5 p.m. to midnight Oct. 20 and from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Oct. 21.This story was first published by ACI Stampa, CNA’s Italian-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 21 Oct 2025 16:00:10 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Longtime, Vatican, official, and, Italian, archbishop, Cardinal, Edoardo, Menichelli, dies</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV condemns usury, a grave sin that speaks to the corruption of the human heart</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-condemns-usury-a-grave-sin-that-speaks-to-the-corruption-of-the-human-heart</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-condemns-usury-a-grave-sin-that-speaks-to-the-corruption-of-the-human-heart</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV meets the president of the Italian Anti-Usury Council, Luciano Gualzetti, on Oct. 18, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

ACI Prensa Staff, Oct 20, 2025 / 15:53 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV on Saturday condemned usury, a practice that is sometimes an extremely grave sin that speaks to the corruption of the heart of those who see others only as “objects of exploitation.”Usury can be defined as charging too much interest on a loan, a practice that has existed since ancient times. Traditionally, the Catholic Church taught that the sin of usury was the act of demanding any benefit or profit for the sole purpose of lending. This understanding has evolved over time, and the Church no longer condemns the general practice of lending with interest, as long as it is moderate.On Oct. 18, the Holy Father received the National Anti-Usury Council of Italy in the Vatican Apostolic Palace. For 30 years, the council has been dedicated to “combating a problem that has a devastating impact on the lives of so many people and families,” according to the Vatican Press Office.In his address, the pontiff stated that “the phenomenon of usury points to the corruption of the human heart. It is a painful and ancient story, already attested to in the Bible. The prophets, in fact, denounced usury, along with exploitation and every form of injustice toward the poor.”“How far God is from the attitude that crushes people to the point of enslaving them! It is a grave sin, at times very grave, because it cannot be reduced to a mere accounting issue; usury can bring crisis to families, it can wear down the mind and heart to the point of leading people to think of suicide as the only way out,” the pope said.Although there are forms of usury that appear to be helpful to those in financial difficulties, in the end it reveals itself “for what it is. The consequences are paid especially by fragile people, such as those who are victims of gambling” or like those facing “difficult moments, such as for instance extraordinary medical treatment or unexpected expenses beyond their means or those of their families. What first presents itself as a helping hand in reality becomes, in the long run, a torment.”Leo XIV continued, saying “usurious financial systems can bring entire peoples to their knees. Similarly, we cannot overlook ‘those whose usurious and avaricious dealings lead to the hunger and death of their brethren in the human family’ (Catechism of the Catholic Church, No. 2269): their responsibilities are grave and they fuel structures of iniquitous sin.”After urging respect for the dignity of all, especially the weakest and most vulnerable, the Holy Father urged: “Either we regain our moral and spiritual dignity or we fall into a cesspool.”Jesus, Zacchaeus, and a path to conversion of usurersPope Leo then referred to the Gospel passage (Luke 19:1-10) in which Jesus meets Zacchaeus, the chief tax collector of Jericho, who “was accustomed to abuse, oppression, and bullying. It was normal for someone like him to take advantage of his position to exploit people and earn money by robbing the weakest.”“And so Jesus seeks out Zacchaeus: He calls him and tells him that he wants to stay at his house. And then the unthinkable happens: Jesus’ generosity completely takes the man aback and puts him with his back against the wall. Coming to his senses, Zacchaeus realizes that he has done wrong and decides to repay ‘with interest’!” Leo continued.“No one asked him for so much, not even the Mosaic law. But the fact is that his encounter with Christ transformed his heart, and then everything changed. Only generosity is so effective that it reveals to us the meaning of our humanity,” the pope emphasized.The pontiff pointed out that “when the pursuit of profit prevails, others are no longer people, they no longer have a face, they are just objects to be exploited; and so we end up losing ourselves and our souls. The conversion of those who engage in usury is just as important as closeness to those who suffer from usury.”This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 21 Oct 2025 16:00:10 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, condemns, usury, grave, sin, that, speaks, the, corruption, the, human, heart</media:keywords>
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<title>Political tensions surface amid celebrations honoring Venezuela’s 2 new saints</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/political-tensions-surface-amid-celebrations-honoring-venezuelas-2-new-saints</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/political-tensions-surface-amid-celebrations-honoring-venezuelas-2-new-saints</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Venezualans celebate their country’s two new saints during the canonization ceremony on Oct. 19, 2025, in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News

Vatican City, Oct 20, 2025 / 14:23 pm (CNA).
Underlying political tensions have surfaced among Venezuelans in Rome celebrating the recent canonization of the country’s first two saints, José Gregorio Hernández and Mother Carmen Rendiles Martínez.A Venezuelan government delegation led by Carmen Meléndez, mayor of Caracas, and hundreds of pilgrims from the Latin American nation were among the 70,000 people who attended the Oct. 19 canonization ceremony led by Pope Leo XIV in St. Peter’s Square.However, in the days prior to Venezuelans converging at the Vatican to celebrate their country’s newly-proclaimed saints, reports of evident discord between government officials and citizens regarding President Nicolás Maduro’s authoritarian regime have also emerged.Over the weekend, activists connected to the opposition political movement Vente Venezuela, led by 2025 Nobel Peace Prize winner María Corina Machado, shared posts on Instagram highlighting their cause to free hundreds of men and women political prisoners.The activists carried posters with photos of men and women detained by Maduro’s government with the slogan “Release All Political Prisoners” at an Oct. 18 protest in Piazza Venezia, a public square near the Vatican, and at the Oct. 19 canonization ceremony held in St. Peter’s Square. The Venezuelan government’s political agenda in Rome had also been called into question by the media in the days preceding the canonizations of the country’s first saints, with critics implying their presence at the Vatican is an attempt to project a positive image of national pride and unity under the Maduro regime.Last week, a scuffle broke out between Venezuelan Vatican journalist Edgar Beltrán and  Venezuelan businessman Ricardo Cisneros, a member of the Venezuelan government delegation present at the canonization, at an event held at the Lateran University of Rome to honor the two new saints.During the Oct. 17 event, Beltrán’s interview with the Vatican’s substitute for the Secretariat of State, Archbishop Edgar Robinson Peña Parra, was interrupted by Cisneros after the prelate was asked about the Maduro government’s “apparent politicization” of the canonizations, according to Catholic news outlet The Pillar.Undemocratic measures and human rights violations in Venezuela have continued to garner increasing international attention, particularly since January when Maduro was sworn in for a third term after contested presidential election results.Meanwhile, earlier this month opposition leader Machado was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her tireless work in “promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela” and for “her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.”   On Monday, Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin in a Mass of thanksgiving for the two saints held inside St. Peter’s Basilica urged Venezuelans to respect human rights and “create spaces for encounter and democratic coexistence.”“Only in this way, dear Venezuela, will you be able to respond to your calling for peace, if you build it on the foundations of justice, truth, freedom, and love,” the cardinal said in his Oct. 20 homily. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 21 Oct 2025 16:00:10 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Political, tensions, surface, amid, celebrations, honoring, Venezuela’s, new, saints</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV: Lives of the newly canonized saints are ‘luminous signs of hope’</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-lives-of-the-newly-canonized-saints-are-luminous-signs-of-hope</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-lives-of-the-newly-canonized-saints-are-luminous-signs-of-hope</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Seven new saints were canonized on Oct. 19, 2025. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News

ACI Prensa Staff, Oct 20, 2025 / 14:53 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV on Monday highlighted the life testimony of the saints canonized Sunday, Oct. 19, as “luminous signs of hope” for today’s Catholics.“The men and women we proclaimed saints yesterday are luminous signs of hope for all of us, because they offered their lives for love of Christ and their brothers and sisters,” the pontiff said in his address to the pilgrims, representatives of the clergy, and civil authorities who had traveled to Rome to participate in the canonization of the seven new saints.Leo XIV expressed his hope that the canonization of Venezuela’s first two saints, Carmen Rendiles and José Gregorio Hernández, would be “a strong incentive for all Venezuelans to come together and recognize themselves as children and brothers and sisters of the same homeland, reflecting on the present and the future in the light of the virtues that these saints lived in a heroic manner.”Pointing to the faith of both saints, the pope emphasized that “God was present in their lives and transformed them, turning the simple existence of a normal person, like any one of us, into a lamp that illuminated everyone with a new light in their daily lives.”The Holy Father emphasized that these two saints, whose lives can illuminate the present, were “people very similar to ourselves, who lived confronting problems that are not unfamiliar to us and which we ourselves can face as they did, following their example.”The Holy Father also indicated that “if God is our eternal reward, our work and our struggles cannot end in goals that are not only unworthy and degrading but also ephemeral.”He also invited his listeners to recognize that “those who live alongside me — like me, like them — are called to the same holiness; I must therefore see them, above all, as brothers and sisters to be respected and loved, sharing the journey of life, supporting each other in difficulties and building the kingdom of God together with joy.”St. Ignatius Maloyan, a pastor after the heart of ChristRegarding the Armenian Catholic archbishop St. Ignatius Maloyan, Pope Leo XIV emphasized that he was “a pastor after Christ’s own heart, and in times of heavy difficulties, he did not abandon his flock; rather he encouraged them in order to strengthen their faith.”He also noted that “when he was asked to renounce his faith in exchange for freedom, he did not hesitate to choose his Lord, even to the point of shedding his own blood for God.”The Holy Father therefore prayed for the intercession of this saint “to renew the fervor of believers and bring fruits of reconciliation and peace for all.”St. Peter To Rot, defender of truths of the faithFor Leo XIV, St. Peter To Rot, the first native Papuan saint, offers “an inspiring example of steadfastness and fortitude in preaching the truths of the Gospel when confronted by difficulties and challenges, even threats to our lives.”The pope prayed that the example of this saint from Papua New Guinea “would encourage us to defend the truths of the faith, even at the cost of personal sacrifice, and to rely always on God in our trials.”Murdered at the age of 33 in 1945 for defending the sanctity of marriage, he demonstrated, according to the pontiff, “extraordinary courage by risking his life to carry out his apostolate in secret, because his pastoral work was prohibited by the occupying forces during the Second World War.”St. Maria Troncatti, an example of charityRegarding the new Salesian saint who dedicated her life to serving the Indigenous peoples of Ecuador, Pope Leo noted that “she cared for the bodies and hearts of those she assisted with the love and strength she drew from faith and prayer.”“Her truly tireless work,” the pontiff continued, “is an example for us of a charity that does not give up in the face of difficulties but rather transforms them into opportunities for free and total self-giving.”St. Vicenta Maria Poloni: Perseverance in service to the weakPope Leo XIV highlighted St. Vicenta Maria Poloni, founder of the Sisters of Mercy, for her compassion toward the sick and marginalized.Her example, the Holy Father explained, “encourages us to persist in daily service to the most fragile: It is precisely there that holiness of life flourishes!” he exclaimed.St. Bartolo Longo and love of Mary in the rosaryFinally, he emphasized that the Italian St. Bartolo Longo “devoted all his energy to works of corporal and spiritual mercy, promoting faith in Christ and affection for Mary through charity toward orphans, the poor, the desperate.”“Grateful to its founder, may the Shrine of Pompeii preserve and spread the fervor of St. Bartolo, apostle of the rosary. I wholeheartedly recommend this prayer to everyone, to priests, religious, families, and young people,” the pontiff encouraged.With this prayer, the Holy Father said, “we assimilate the Gospel and learn to practice it.”This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 21 Oct 2025 16:00:10 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV:, Lives, the, newly, canonized, saints, are, ‘luminous, signs, hope’</media:keywords>
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<title>Pope Leo XIV meets clergy abuse survivors at Vatican</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-meets-clergy-abuse-survivors-at-vatican</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-meets-clergy-abuse-survivors-at-vatican</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Ending Clergy Abuse board members and survivors hold a press conference after meeting with Pope Leo XIV on Oct. 20, 2025 in Rome. / Credit: Simone Padovani/Getty Images

Vatican City, Oct 20, 2025 / 12:21 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV on Monday met with members of an international organization of clergy abuse survivors and advocates at the Vatican.Four victims and two advocates from Ending Clergy Abuse (ECA) — a coalition representing clergy sexual abuse survivors from more than 30 countries — had an hourlong conversation with Leo on Oct. 20. According to participants, it was the first time during his pontificate that the pope met with survivors of abuse.Gemma Hickey, ECA board president and survivor of clergy abuse, said that “this was a deeply meaningful conversation. Today we all felt heard.”The group said it was invited to the Vatican after sending a letter to the newly-elected pontiff. “We came not only to raise our concerns but also to explore how we might work together to ensure the protection of children and vulnerable adults around the world. We believe collaboration is possible — and necessary,” said Janet Aguti, the ECA board’s vice president.“The Church has a moral responsibility to support survivors and prevent future harm,” added Tim Law, ECA co-founder and board member from the U.S. “Our goal is not confrontation but accountability, transparency, and a willingness to walk together toward solutions.”The Vatican’s Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors last week released its second annual report on the Church’s safeguarding policies and procedures in which it urged heightened awareness of abuse and the need to offer reparations to victims.In an interview with Crux in July, Pope Leo said how to respond to the Church’s abuse crisis — including how to balance justice for victims with the rights of the accused — is “one of the many challenges that I’m trying to find a way to deal with.”“An authentic and deep sensitivity and compassion to the pain, the suffering that people have endured at the hands of Church ministers, whether that be priests or bishops, laity, religious men or women, catechists, etc. That’s an issue that is with us, and I think it needs to be treated with deep respect,” he said. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Tue, 21 Oct 2025 16:00:10 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, meets, clergy, abuse, survivors, Vatican</media:keywords>
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<title>King Charles and Pope Leo XIV to pray together in historic ecumenical moment at Vatican</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/king-charles-and-pope-leo-xiv-to-pray-together-in-historic-ecumenical-moment-at-vatican</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/king-charles-and-pope-leo-xiv-to-pray-together-in-historic-ecumenical-moment-at-vatican</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Britain’s King Charles III stands with Britain’s Princess Michael of Kent (left); Britain’s Prince Michael of Kent (second left); Britain’s Lord Frederick Windsor; Britain’s Prince William, Prince of Wales; Britain’s Catherine, Princess of Wales; Britain’s Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh; and Britain’s Princess Anne, Princess Royal, following a Requiem Mass for the late Katharine, Duchess of Kent, at Westminster Cathedral in London on Sept. 16, 2025. / Credit: JORDAN PETTITT/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Vatican City, Oct 17, 2025 / 09:58 am (CNA).
For the first time since the Protestant Reformation, a reigning British monarch and a pope will pray together publicly during a royal state visit to the Vatican.King Charles III will join in ecumenical prayer presided over by Pope Leo XIV for the care of creation inside the Sistine Chapel on Oct. 23, beneath Michelangelo’s frescoed ceiling, during the king’s first state visit to the Vatican with Queen Camila. The Sistine Chapel Choir will sing together with England’s Choir of St. George&#039;s Chapel and the Choir of His Majesty&#039;s Chapel Royal for the historic ecumenical prayer which will focus on praising God the Creator, Vatican officials said. Stephen Cottrell, the Anglican Archbishop of York, will also participate.The visit will mark the first meeting between King Charles and Pope Leo XIV. The two will first meet privately in the Apostolic Palace in the morning and will later be joined by business leaders in the palace’s Sala Regia for a discussion on care for creation and environmental sustainability. During the state visit, Cardinal James Michael Harvey, the archpriest of the basilica, will confer upon King Charles the title of “Royal Confrater” of the Papal Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls during an ecumenical service at the tomb of St. Paul in the basilica on the same day. The pope is not expected to attend. The title, granted with the approval of Pope Leo XIV, is a gesture of “hospitality and ecumenical welcome,” Archbishop Flavio Pace, the secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, said at a Vatican press briefing on Oct. 17. The Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls has a historic connection to England’s monarchy. After the arrival in England of Roman monk-missionaries such as St. Augustine of Canterbury and St. Paulinus of York in the 6th and 7th centuries, Saxon rulers including Kings Offa and Æthelwulf contributed to the upkeep of the apostles’ tombs in Rome. By the late Middle Ages, the kings of England were recognized as “protectors” of the Basilica of St. Paul and abbey, and its heraldic shield came to include the insignia of the Order of the Garter. That tradition was interrupted by the Reformation and the ensuing centuries of estrangement. It was King Charles’s mother, Queen Elizabeth II, who was the first British monarch since the Reformation to make an official visit to the Holy See, meeting with John XXIII in 1961. A few years later, Pope Paul VI met with Archbishop Michael Ramsey of Canterbury in 1966 in the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, launching formal dialogue between Catholics and Anglicans for the first time since the 16th century.“Without establishing a formal role for King Charles and his successors, the title of ‘Royal Confrater’ is to be understood as a gesture of hospitality and ecumenical welcome that bears witness to these historical ties and the progress that has been made since 1966,” Pace said. The basilica will also install a specially commissioned chair for the monarch, decorated with his coat of arms and a verse from the Gospel of John in Latin,  “Ut unum sint” (“That they may be one”). The chair will remain in the basilica for Charles and his heirs to use during future visits.The ecumenical service in the Basilica of St. Paul on Oct. 23 will be presided over by Father Donato Ogliari, the abbot of the basilica, with the participation of Anglican Archbishop Stephen Cottrell of York and the Rev. Rosie Frew, moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. ​​The service will conclude with a hymn composed to a text by St. John Henry Newman — the English cardinal and convert from Anglicanism whom Pope Leo XIV will declare a Doctor of the Church on Nov. 1. King Charles attended Newman’s canonization in 2019 and recently became the first monarch to visit the Birmingham Oratory, the priestly community founded by Newman in 1848. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 18 Oct 2025 16:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>King, Charles, and, Pope, Leo, XIV, pray, together, historic, ecumenical, moment, Vatican</media:keywords>
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<title>Pope Leo XIV asks Catholics in Russia to be an example of love, brotherhood, and respect</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-asks-catholics-in-russia-to-be-an-example-of-love-brotherhood-and-respect</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-asks-catholics-in-russia-to-be-an-example-of-love-brotherhood-and-respect</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV greets Catholic pilgrims from Russia during an audience in the Vatican&#039;s Apostolic Palace on Oct. 17, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media.

ACI Prensa Staff, Oct 17, 2025 / 12:42 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV on Friday asked a group of Catholic pilgrims from Russia, in Rome on a Jubilee pilgrimage, to be an example of love and brotherhood upon their return home.In his Oct. 17 address at the Vatican, the Holy Father emphasized that the presence of the Russian pilgrims “is part of the journey of so many generations” who have traveled to Rome. For the Holy Father, “this city can be a symbol of human existence, in which the ’ruins’ of past experiences, anguish, uncertainty, and anxiety are intertwined with the faith that grows every day and becomes active in charity.”“And with the hope that does not disappoint and encourages us, because even on the ruins, despite sin and enmity, the Lord can build a new world and renewed life,” he added.Bishop Joseph Werth of the Diocese of the Transfiguration in Novosibirsk, Russia, told EWTN News after the meeting that Pope Leo took the time to greet the entire group of around 100 pilgrims, despite being scheduled to only greet the people in the front rows. “It’s a sign that the pope wanted to dedicate time to us,” Werth said.Leo encouraged the Catholics from Russia to continue the path of Christian life upon returning home, appealing to their responsibility in their local Church.“From your families, from your parish and diocesan communities, may an example of love, fraternity, solidarity, and mutual respect emerge for all the people among whom you live, work, and study,” he urged them. In this way, he affirmed that “the fire of Christian love can be kindled, capable of warming the coldness of hearts, even the most hardened.”In Rome, the pontiff specified, “the heart of the Christian soul beats” and it is where “the events of the faith — received and transmitted since apostolic times, from which so many peoples and nations have drunk abundantly and from which they still live today — are intertwined with the concerns and commitments of daily life.”Leo XIV also pointed out the monuments scattered throughout the Eternal City, “tangible signs of living faith, rooted in the hearts of people, capable of transforming consciences and motivating them to do good.” He emphasized that every Catholic “is a living stone in the building of the Church” who, even if small, placed by the Lord in the right place, “plays an important role in the stability of the entire structure.”Alexey Gotovskiy of EWTN News contributed to this report. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 18 Oct 2025 16:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, asks, Catholics, Russia, example, love, brotherhood, and, respect</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV appoints Cardinal Schönborn’s successor to lead the Archdiocese of Vienna</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-appoints-cardinal-schoenborns-successor-to-lead-the-archdiocese-of-vienna</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-appoints-cardinal-schoenborns-successor-to-lead-the-archdiocese-of-vienna</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Cardinal Christoph Schönborn (left) shakes hands with now Archbishop-elect of Vienna Josef Grünwidl at the time of his appointment as apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Vienna on Jan. 22, 2025, and on Oct. 17, 2025. / Credit: Archdiocese of Vienna / Stephan Schönlaub

Rome Newsroom, Oct 17, 2025 / 06:02 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV on Friday appointed Father Josef Grünwidl to succeed Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, OP, as head of the Archdiocese of Vienna, Austria’s most populous archdiocese.Grünwidl has overseen the Vienna archdiocese on an interim basis since January, when the 80-year-old Schönborn concluded three decades at its helm following the acceptance of his resignation by Pope Francis.The 62-year-old Grünwidl, born in lower Austria, was chairman of the Vienna Priests’ Council and episcopal vicar of the Vienna archdiocese’s southern vicariate before being named apostolic administrator.A former concert organist, the archbishop-elect has served in numerous roles in the archdiocese since his ordination in 1988, including as a pastor and parish moderator. The priest was also secretary to Cardinal Schönborn from 1995 to 1998, at the beginning of Schönborn’s term as archbishop of Vienna.According to Austria’s public broadcasting service, ORF, Grünwidl is a former member of the controversial “Pastor’s Initiative,” a dissident Catholic group founded in Austria in 2006 on a call to “disobedience” on certain Church issues. The group advocates for the ordination of women, optional priestly celibacy, and Communion for the divorced-and-remarried and members of other Christian faiths.ORF reports that Grünwidl, who is not listed among current members of the “Pastor’s Initiative,” has “recently emphasized that celibacy is a consciously chosen way of life for him personally, but ‘not a matter of faith’ and should therefore not be a mandatory requirement for priests.”“On the subject of women in the Church, he identified an ‘urgent need for clarification,’” ORF continued. “The diaconate for women should be discussed further, and Grünwidl also considers the admission of women to the College of Cardinals to be conceivable.”Speaking on the broadcaster’s program “Orientation” early this year, Grünwidl said he left the “Pastor’s Initiative” because he felt that Pope Francis’ ideas had “overtaken” the group’s proposals, and he could no longer support a motto of “disobedience.” He emphasized “critical obedience,” and said he “can’t imagine an open opposition to the bishop in the Church.”The Catholic news agency Kathpress describes the archbishop-elect as a “pastorally grounded leader, valued preacher, and insightful conversationalist.”Archbishop emeritus Cardinal SchönbornSchönborn, a theologian who led the Archdiocese of Vienna for 30 years, helped write the Catechism of the Catholic Church and chaired the Austrian bishops’ conference for 22 years.The Church leader was born to a titled family in 1945 in Bohemia in what was then Nazi Germany and is now part of the Czech Republic.He grew up in western Austria, close to the border with Switzerland, and joined the Order of Preachers, also known as the Dominicans, in 1963. He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Vienna in 1970. He went on to study sacred theology in Paris and in Regensburg, Germany, under the then-Father Joseph Ratzinger — the future Pope Benedict XVI.Schönborn was awarded a doctorate in sacred theology in the 1970s and was later made a member of the prestigious International Theological Commission of the Vatican.He was editorial secretary of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and in 1991, Pope John Paul II named the theologian an auxiliary bishop of Vienna.After being appointed coadjutor archbishop of Vienna in April 1995, he succeeded Cardinal Hans Hermann Groër, OSB, as archbishop of Vienna on Sept. 14, 1995.Schönborn was made a cardinal by St. Pope John Paul II in 1998. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 18 Oct 2025 16:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, appoints, Cardinal, Schönborn’s, successor, lead, the, Archdiocese, Vienna</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Theologians, scholars who deny the virginity of Mary a ‘challenge’ for the Church</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/theologians-scholars-who-deny-the-virginity-of-mary-a-challenge-for-the-church</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/theologians-scholars-who-deny-the-virginity-of-mary-a-challenge-for-the-church</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The president of the Pontifical International Marian Academy (PAMI), Franciscan friar Stefano Cecchin, OFM. / Credit: Victoria Cardiel/EWTN News

Vatican City, Oct 17, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).
Father Stefano Cecchin, OFM, president of the Pontifical International Marian Academy, (PAMI by its Italian acronym), which reports directly to the Roman Curia, said in a recent interview that the Church faces persistent challenges regarding truths about the Virgin Mary. Cecchin told ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner, that PAMI encounters challenges every day from Protestants as well as certain groups within the Catholic Church, both openly and indirectly, who deny the dogma of the virginity of Mary established at the Council of Ephesus in A.D. 431 and the Lateran Council of 649.“There are theologians and biblical scholars who are saying that the virginity of Mary is a myth, and this is very dangerous because the … Fathers of the Church, and even the Quran, defend the virginity of Mary,” the priest stated.Devil is behind attacks on Immaculate ConceptionCecchin is an expert in Mariology and the dogma of the Immaculate Conception, which refers to Mary’s preservation from original sin from the moment of her conception in her mother’s womb and was officially defined by Pope Pius IX on Dec. 8, 1854.Mary has always been the target of attacks from the devil, Cecchin explained, especially because of her role in the economy of salvation.“The devil works hard; I’ve seen it a great deal, especially against the Immaculate Conception,” he said. “I see how he continues to attack the figure of Mary, and right now he’s attacking her within the Church with those who, for example, say that Mary is not a virgin.” “The first attack against Christ was an attack on the virginity of Mary, who [supposedly] had slept with a Roman soldier, so Jesus was not the true son of God. If we question Mary’s virginity, we put into doubt all of Christianity,” he pointed out.Cecchin recalled that, from a biblical and theological perspective, Mary occupies a unique place in the history of salvation as the mother of God and a figure of the Church. He explained that her role is not limited to the Incarnation in the past, but she continues to be active in the spiritual life of believers.“The point is that it is not we who seek God, but he who seeks us. And that is why, after Jesus ascended to heaven, the angels said [the apostles] would not see him again until he returned on the glorious day. But Jesus entrusts the Church to Mary: ‘Behold, your mother.’ That is why Mary continues to care for us and tries to bring us back to him,” he explained.‘God doesn’t want anyone to go to hell’The director of PAMI, which is charged with coordinating all Mariological scholars and societies around the world, emphasized that Marian apparitions and calls to conversion must be understood as expressions of divine mercy, not as manifestations of fear or punishment.“All the apparitions, the calls she makes regarding hell, are not to frighten us, but to convert us, because God doesn’t want to punish us; he wants to convert us. This is a fundamental point taught by the Catechism of the Catholic Church. God doesn’t want anyone to go to hell, but if you don’t behave well, you will go to hell, because hell exists and is not empty,” he explained.Cecchin also emphasized that the defense of Marian dogmas is not a secondary or devotional issue but a pillar of the Christian message. He recalled that, according to St. Ignatius of Antioch, a disciple of St. Peter and one of the earliest Fathers of the Church, denying the virginity of Mary means jeopardizing the truth about the incarnation of the Son of God.“St. Ignatius of Antioch speaks of Mary and of Mary’s virginity. That is why it is important to educate oneself,” Cecchin said, “and to see that our Franciscan vision, according to which God desires the salvation of all, compels us to evangelize. The evangelization we propose today is a Marian evangelization.”The friar noted that throughout the history of the Church, controversies and heresies have also been opportunities to delve deeper into the truth.“In the struggle for the Immaculate Conception, for example, there were those who thought one thing and those who thought another. The Church is always alive, and we normally see that, in history, heretics help us delve deeper into the truth. They are an incentive to delve deeper, but we must defend the truth,” he maintained.Shrines as a place of healingIn 2023, the Vatican established, within PAMI, the International Observatory on Apparitions and Mystical Phenomena, whose mission is to study and discern without issuing judgments.“Its only task is to study, not to give opinions,” emphasized the Italian Franciscan, who noted that apparitions have always existed throughout history. “All shrines have a story behind them, an experience of encounter with the divine.”Pilgrims in the iconic blue carts attend Mass in the grotto of the Lourdes Shrine in France. Credit: Photo courtesy of Ana Melgar“We want shrines to be not only a place of prayer but also of healing,” he added.Currently, the International Observatory on Apparitions and Mystical Phenomena is conducting a theological and historical analysis of Marian shrines.“We are conducting a study of the sanctuaries from Nazareth, which is the shrine that housed the relics of the Virgin, which were then taken to Constantinople, to Blacherne ... We have seen that in the Middle Ages there are always minor apparitions that are at the origin of the shrines we have around the world,” he explained.With Guadalupe, the great apparitions beginOver time, these manifestations of faith took on an increasingly universal dimension. The great apparition of the Virgin Mary to the Indian St. Juan Diego in 1531 begins a long series of great apparitions, according to Cecchin.“The first ones were a little more local, but with Guadalupe, the apparitions that interest nations, that interest continents, begin. Then come Lourdes, Fátima, Medjugorje, Kibeho… all these great apparitions that attract people because the shrine is always a special place where the Mother asks to see, as in all apparitions, the construction of a shrine,” he explained.Cecchin pointed out that shrines, from a biblical perspective, are always a place of encounter.“In the Old Testament, in the apparitions of God, there was always a place, a shrine. Therefore, the shrine becomes a moment of encounter with God through Mary, what Paul VI called the clinics of the spirit. That’s why we truly want shrines to be not only places of prayer but also of healing, of well-being, because Jesus told us: ‘Preach and heal,’” he emphasized.A pilgrim with the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe, who appeared to the Indian St. Juan Diego in 1531. Credit: Daniel Ibañez/EWTN NewsPAMI’s work extends to the creation of study centers and the promotion of interreligious and ecumenical dialogue.“Our task is to create centers and societies to study the figure of Mary in diverse cultures and also in dialogue with other Christian churches and other religions, because Mary plays this fundamental role in the history of the Church,” he explained.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sat, 18 Oct 2025 16:00:06 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Theologians, scholars, who, deny, the, virginity, Mary, ‘challenge’, for, the, Church</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Cardinal presides over act of reparation in St. Peter’s following desecration of altar</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/cardinal-presides-over-act-of-reparation-in-st-peters-following-desecration-of-altar</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/cardinal-presides-over-act-of-reparation-in-st-peters-following-desecration-of-altar</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ The main altar at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, which was desecrated on Oct. 10, 2025. / Credit: Jorge Royan (CC BY-SA 3.0)

ACI Prensa Staff, Oct 13, 2025 / 17:43 pm (CNA).
Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica and vicar general of the pope for Vatican City, presided Oct. 13 over a penitential rite of reparation at the main altar of the church following a serious act of desecration that had taken place on Oct. 10.After a penitential procession that began at 12:45 p.m. local time, Gambetti sprinkled the altar with holy water and incensed it to purify it.The rite, attended by members of the chapter of the Vatican basilica, emphasized asking God for “forgiveness” for the desecration, Father Enzo Fortunato, director of communications for St. Peter’s Basilica, told ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner.On Friday, Oct. 10, a man whose identity has not been revealed was arrested by security guards after he climbed onto the Altar of the Confession, located under Bernini’s baldachin, and urinated on it while tourists looked on in astonishment.Pope Leo XIV expressed his consternation upon learning of the incident and asked Gambetti to perform an act of reparation to restore the sanctity of the place and ask forgiveness for what had happened.This is the second instance of desecration in St. Peter’s Basilica in less than a year. In February, a man severely damaged part of the main altar, breaking several candelabras. In June 2023, an individual of Polish origin stripped naked in the same place as a form of protest against the war in Ukraine. This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/altarstpeter.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Wed, 15 Oct 2025 16:00:10 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Cardinal, presides, over, act, reparation, St., Peter’s, following, desecration, altar</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV sends antibiotics to children in Gaza</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-sends-antibiotics-to-children-in-gaza</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-sends-antibiotics-to-children-in-gaza</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV greets a baby at his general audience in St. Peter&#039;s Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

Vatican City, Oct 14, 2025 / 08:41 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV has sent 5,000 doses of antibiotics to the Gaza Strip in a humanitarian gesture aimed primarily at children and made possible by the recent reopening of key border crossings allowing the entry of aid.According to Vatican News, the shipment of the medicines began this week, following the ceasefire and the start of the first phase of U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace deal.Israel is allowing the entry of up to 600 aid trucks per day, operated by the United Nations and authorized by international organizations, private sector actors, and donor countries. On Oct. 12, more than 170 trucks loaded with humanitarian aid crossed into Gaza, according to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).The shipment of antibiotics to Gaza was coordinated by the Office of the Papal Almoner, the Vatican dicastery charged with carrying out charitable works for the poor and those in need on behalf of the pope, and led by Cardinal Konrad Krajewski.“We are putting into practice the words of the apostolic exhortation Dilexi Te, dedicated to the poor,” Krajewski explained to Vatican News. “It is necessary to act, to pay attention to those in need.”Infant formula delivered to GazaCaritas Jerusalem has become one of the first humanitarian organizations to respond to the ceasefire in Gaza, quickly mobilizing to address the urgent needs of families and children throughout the Gaza Strip.Following the ceasefire, Caritas Jerusalem deployed its medical teams to deliver 10,000 bottles of infant formula to families with newborns and young children who had been deprived of basic nutrition during the months of conflict.The distribution was carried out through Caritas’ network of medical centers in Gaza, ensuring that the aid reached the most vulnerable communities quickly and safely, the Catholic organization reported.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 15 Oct 2025 16:00:10 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, sends, antibiotics, children, Gaza</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV meets Italian President Sergio Mattarella in first state visit to Italy</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-meets-italian-president-sergio-mattarella-in-first-state-visit-to-italy</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-meets-italian-president-sergio-mattarella-in-first-state-visit-to-italy</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV meets Italian President Sergio Mattarella during his first state visit to the country that surrounds Vatican City State on Oct. 14, 2025. / Credit: Daniel Ibanez/CNA

Rome Newsroom, Oct 14, 2025 / 12:06 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV met with Italian President Sergio Mattarella at the Quirinal Palace in Rome on Tuesday, highlighting the strong ties between the two states and the need to work toward lasting peace in every part of the world. Mattarella welcomed the Holy Father and his delegation, which included Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and President of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State Sister Raffaella Petrini, to his residence in Rome to strengthen the historic political ties between the Holy See and Italy.The Holy Father spoke of the “sincere friendship and fruitful mutual collaboration” between Italy and the popes and emphasized the need for the two states to contribute to multilateral peace processes in regions, including the Middle East and Europe.I “renew my heartfelt appeal that we continue to work to reestablish peace in every part of the world and that the principles of justice, equity, and cooperation among peoples — principles which form its irreplaceable foundation — be ever more cultivated and promoted,” he said in his Oct. 14 speech. Leo XIV commended the Italian government’s commitment to “alleviating situations of hardship caused by war and poverty,” particularly its efforts to support children in Gaza. “These are strong and effective contributions to building a dignified, peaceful, and prosperous coexistence for all members of the human family,” he said.Pope Leo XIV walks down a hall of the Quirinal Palace, the residence of Italian President Sergio Mattarella, during the pontiff&#039;s first state visit to Italy on Oct. 14, 2025. Credit: Vatican MediaOn Tuesday, the Holy Father donated 5,000 doses of antibiotics for children in Gaza following the opening of key humanitarian corridors into the city after the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal came into effect Monday.In light of the 800th anniversary of the death of Italy’s patron St. Francis of Assisi, in 2026, Leo also spoke about the “urgent issue of caring for our ‘common home.’”“St. Francis taught us to praise the Creator through respect for all creatures, proclaiming his message from the geographical heart of the [Italian] peninsula and transmitting it — through the beauty of his writings and the witness of his life and that of his brothers — across the generations down to us,” he said.“For this reason, I believe Italy has received, in a special way, the mission of transmitting to the nations a culture that recognizes the earth as ‘a sister with whom we share our life and a beautiful mother who opens her arms to embrace us,’” he continued, quoting Pope Francis’ encyclical letter Laudato Si’.Earlier this month, the Italian Senate approved a bill reinstating the Oct. 4 feast day of St. Francis of Assisi as a national holiday.Toward the end of his speech, the Holy Father noted Italy’s declining birth rate and called for a “concerted effort” to promote choices at all levels in favor of the family and to uphold and protect life “in all its phases.”“In particular, I wish to emphasize the importance of guaranteeing all families the indispensable support of dignified work, in fair conditions and with due attention to the needs related to motherhood and fatherhood,” he said.“Let us do everything possible to give confidence to families — especially young families —  so that they may look to the future with serenity and grow in harmony,” he continued.Italian President Sergio Mattarella spoke about the “unbreakable bond” between Italy and the Vatican in his welcome speech at the Quirinal Palace in Rome on Oct. 14, 2025. Credit: Vatican MediaIn his welcome speech, Mattarella spoke about the “unbreakable bond” between Italy and the Vatican and commended the work of the European Union’s founding fathers, “many of whom had a Christian background” and who rebuilt peace in the region after World War II. Recalling Pope Leo’s consistent messages of peace since his election, the Italian president said political leaders have the responsibility to “reject the glorification of conflict” and “foster dialogue and mutual understanding.”“This peace, as you emphasized, begins with each of us, and that is why it is so essential to disarm, unarm our hearts and disarm our words,” he said. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 15 Oct 2025 16:00:10 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
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<title>Vatican appoints judges to decide Rupnik sexual abuse case</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/vatican-appoints-judges-to-decide-rupnik-sexual-abuse-case</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/vatican-appoints-judges-to-decide-rupnik-sexual-abuse-case</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Father Marko Rupnik, SJ, in an interview with EWTN in 2020. / Credit: EWTN

Vatican City, Oct 13, 2025 / 12:23 pm (CNA).
The Vatican’s doctrine office announced Monday that a panel of five judges has been nominated to decide the disciplinary case against Father Marko Rupnik, accused of the sexual and psychological abuse of consecrated women under his spiritual care.The judges, appointed Oct. 9, do not hold any position in the Roman Curia — the Vatican’s governing body — to ensure their autonomy and independence in the penal judicial procedure, according to an Oct. 13 press release from the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF).Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández, the head of the DDF, told journalists in July that the judges for the Rupnik case had been selected. The panel of judges includes both women and clerics.Fernández had said in an interview at the end of January that the dicastery had finished gathering information in the disciplinary case, had conducted a first review, and was working to put together an independent tribunal for the penal judicial procedure.Rupnik — a well-known artist with mosaics and paintings in hundreds of Catholic shrines and churches around the world — is accused of having committed sexual, psychological, and spiritual abuse against dozens of women religious in the 1980s and early 1990s.In May 2019, the then-Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith launched a criminal administrative process against Rupnik after the Society of Jesus reported credible complaints of abuse by the priest to the Vatican.One year later, the Vatican declared Rupnik to be in a state of “latae sententiae” excommunication for absolving an accomplice in a sin against the Sixth Commandment. His excommunication was lifted by Pope Francis after two weeks.The Society of Jesus subsequently expelled Rupnik from the religious congregation in June 2023 for his “stubborn refusal to observe the vow of obedience.”The DDF began to investigate the abuse accusations against Rupnik in October 2023, after Pope Francis lifted the statute of limitations. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 15 Oct 2025 16:00:10 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Vatican, appoints, judges, decide, Rupnik, sexual, abuse, case</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>World Mission Day: Leo XIV calls for supporting those who bring Christ to ends of earth</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/world-mission-day-leo-xiv-calls-for-supporting-those-who-bring-christ-to-ends-of-earth</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/world-mission-day-leo-xiv-calls-for-supporting-those-who-bring-christ-to-ends-of-earth</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV waves to pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the Jubilee of Marian Spirituality on Oct. 12, 2025, at the Vatican. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Oct 13, 2025 / 14:12 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV called on Catholics to support missionaries on World Mission Day, which will be celebrated on Oct. 19.In a video message released Oct. 13, the Holy Father — who served as a missionary bishop in the Peruvian Diocese of Chiclayo — stated that this day is an opportunity for the entire Catholic Church to unite in prayer for missionaries “and for the fruitfulness of their apostolic labors.”He shared his experience as a missionary in Peru, where he saw firsthand “how the faith, the prayer, and the generosity shown on World Mission Sunday can transform entire communities.”The pope invited every Catholic parish in the world to participate in World Mission Sunday, emphasizing that their prayers and support help proclaim the Gospel, “provide for pastoral and catechetical programs, help to build new churches, and care for the health and educational needs of our brothers and sisters in mission territories.”The pontiff also urged the faithful to reflect on their baptismal call “to be missionaries of hope among the peoples” and to renew their commitment “to the sweet and joyful task of bringing Christ Jesus our hope to the ends of the earth.”Pope Leo concluded his message by thanking the faithful for their support for Catholic missionaries around the world.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Wed, 15 Oct 2025 16:00:10 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
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<title>Pope Leo XIV: Right to religious freedom is not optional but essential</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-right-to-religious-freedom-is-not-optional-but-essential</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-right-to-religious-freedom-is-not-optional-but-essential</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV meets with members of Aid to the Church in Need at the Vatican on Oct. 10, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Oct 10, 2025 / 13:21 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV on Friday received at the Vatican members of Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), a pontifical foundation that supports the Catholic Church in its evangelizing work in the world’s most needy, discriminated-against, and persecuted communities.In his initial greeting, the Holy Father emphasized the importance of their work, especially in a world that continues to “witness growing hostility and violence against those who hold different beliefs, including many Christians.”According to the pope, ACN’s mission — which funds more than 5,000 pastoral and humanitarian emergency projects in 137 countries — proclaims that, as one family in Christ, “we do not abandon our persecuted brothers and sisters.”Pope Leo XIV emphasized that “the suffering of any member of the body of Christ is shared by the entire Church.” ACN was founded in 1947, the Holy Father recalled, to defend religious freedom and as a response to the “immense suffering left behind by the war,” with the aim of promoting forgiveness and reconciliation.The Holy Father firmly stated that “the right to religious freedom is not optional but essential,” referring to it as “a cornerstone of every just society, as it safeguards the moral space in which conscience can be formed and exercised.”In this regard, he indicated that religious freedom “is not merely a legal right or a privilege granted by governments” but “a fundamental condition that makes authentic reconciliation possible.”Consequently, he clarified that when this freedom is denied, “the human person is deprived of the capacity to respond freely to the call of truth.” He warned: “What follows is a slow disintegration of the ethical and spiritual bonds that sustain communities; trust gives way to fear, suspicion replaces dialogue, and oppression breeds violence.”He then thanked the members of this foundation for their reports on Religious Freedom in the World, “a powerful tool for raising awareness.”“Wherever Aid to the Church in Need rebuilds a chapel, supports a religious sister, or provides a radio station or a vehicle, they strengthen the life of the Church, as well as the spiritual and moral fabric of society,” he continued.He also highlighted that their assistance helps “small and vulnerable minorities” such as those in the Central African Republic, Burkina Faso, and Mozambique.Concluding his remarks, he thanked each of them for this work of charity, as their service “bears fruit in countless lives and gives glory to our heavenly Father.” “Do not tire of doing good,” he concluded.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
<enclosure url="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/acn.oct.10.2025.jpg" length="49398" type="image/jpeg"/>
<pubDate>Sun, 12 Oct 2025 16:00:10 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV:, Right, religious, freedom, not, optional, but, essential</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Man desecrates altar of St. Peter&amp;amp;amp;#039;s Basilica</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/man-desecrates-altar-of-st-peter039s-basilica</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/man-desecrates-altar-of-st-peter039s-basilica</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ A view of St. Peter&#039;s Basilica during the Mass for the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, with Bernini&#039;s baldachin and the papal altar decorated with white flowers, Dec. 8, 2024. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

CNA Staff, Oct 11, 2025 / 16:28 pm (CNA).
A man urinated on the Altar of Confession of St. Peter&#039;s Basilica on Friday before being taken away by security officers in the famous basilica, according to news reports.The man climbed the altar and &quot;urinated under the stunned gaze of hundreds of tourists,&quot; according to the newspaper Corriere della Sera&#039;s Rome edition. Video of the desecration was widely shared on social media.Il Tempo reported that the man &quot;was promptly reached by plainclothes police officers present in the basilica&quot; and was escorted out of the church.The latter newspaper claimed Pope Leo XIV was &quot;shocked to learn of the news,&quot; though the Holy See Press Office had not released a statement about the incident as of Oct. 11.This is not the first time this year that a vandal has attacked the altar from which the pope says Mass.In February, a man desecrated the altar by climbing on top of it and throwing six candelabras that were on the altar to the ground.In June 2023, meanwhile, a Polish man approached the high altar as the basilica was about to close, undressed, and climbed onto the altar. Photos posted online showed the words &quot;Save children of Ukraine&quot; written in marker on his back. The Vatican performed a penitential rite after that act of desecration. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 12 Oct 2025 16:00:10 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Man, desecrates, altar, St., Peter&amp;amp039s, Basilica</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Thousands of pilgrims join Pope Leo XIV in St. Peter’s Square to pray the rosary for peace</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/thousands-of-pilgrims-join-pope-leo-xiv-in-st-peters-square-to-pray-the-rosary-for-peace</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/thousands-of-pilgrims-join-pope-leo-xiv-in-st-peters-square-to-pray-the-rosary-for-peace</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV stands before the original Our Lady of Fatima statue at a Marian vigil in St. Peter&#039;s Square, Rome, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025 / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

Vatican City, Oct 11, 2025 / 15:00 pm (CNA).
Tens of thousands of people joined Pope Leo XIV in St. Peter’s Square on Saturday to pray for peace in the world.Before the statue of Our Lady of Fatima, which was brought to Rome from Portugal for the Oct. 11–12 Jubilee of Marian Spiritualities, the pope entrusted believers to the Mother of God to guide the Church in its “pilgrimage of hope.”Pope Leo XIV stands near the original Our Lady of Fatima statue at a Marian vigil in St. Peter&#039;s Square, Rome, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNADuring the special prayer vigil, which included a contemplative recitation of the rosary and time for Eucharistic adoration, the Holy Father delivered a short address and encouraged those present to ask the Mother of God for the gift of a “listening heart.”“Our hope is guided by the gentle and persistent light of Mary’s words as recounted in the Gospel,” the pope said.“Her last words at the wedding feast in Cana [‘Do whatever he tells you’] are particularly precious,” he said. “These words, which almost seem to be a testament, must be treasured by her children, as any mother’s testament would be.”A pilgrim prays the rosary at a Marian vigil in St. Peter&#039;s Square, Rome, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNASharing reflections on the life of Christ, which are included in the rosary prayer, Leo said peace in the world is not achieved through “power and money” but through prayer, listening, and living the Gospel message.“Disarm your hands and, even more importantly, your hearts. As I have said before, peace is unarmed and disarming,” he said. “It is not deterrence, but fraternity; it is not an ultimatum, but dialogue,” he continued. “Peace will not come as the result of victories over the enemy, but as the fruit of sowing justice and courageous forgiveness.”The original Our Lady of Fatima statue is processed in during a Marian vigil in St. Peter&#039;s Square, Rome, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNAAddressing the “powerful of the world,” the pope said it is necessary to “lay down your sword” and have the “courage to disarm” to achieve peace.“At the same time, it is an invitation to each one of us to recognize that no idea, faith or policy justifies killing,” he added.Encouraging those who desire peace and the end of conflict and violence, the Holy Father said “take courage” and “never give up.”“Blessed are you: God gives joy to those who spread love in the world and to those who choose to make peace with their enemies rather than defeat them,” he said.Pope Leo XIV prays before the original Our Lady of Fatima statue at a Marian vigil in St. Peter&#039;s Square, Rome, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA“Peace is a journey, and God walks with you,” he continued. “The Lord creates and spreads peace through his friends who are at peace in their hearts, and they in turn become peacemakers and instruments of his peace.”Towards the end of the prayer vigil, the Holy Father turned to Mary, the “Queen of Peace” to whom the Church can turn in time of need.“Teach us to live and bear witness to Christian love, by welcoming everyone as brothers and sisters; to renounce the darkness of selfishness in order to follow Christ, the true light of humanity,” he said.“Virgin of peace, Gate of Sure Hope, accept the prayers of your children!” he prayed. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 12 Oct 2025 16:00:10 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Thousands, pilgrims, join, Pope, Leo, XIV, St., Peter’s, Square, pray, the, rosary, for, peace</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV urges consecrated persons to be ‘hungry for holiness’</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-urges-consecrated-persons-to-be-hungry-for-holiness</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-urges-consecrated-persons-to-be-hungry-for-holiness</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV greets those gathered for the Jubilee of Consecrated Life Mass in St. Peter’s Square on Oct. 9, 2025, at the Vatican. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Oct 9, 2025 / 15:01 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV on Thursday celebrated Mass in St. Peter’s Square on the occasion of the Jubilee of Consecrated Life.Since Wednesday, religious men and women, monks and contemplatives, members of secular institutes, consecrated virgins, hermits, and members of various institutes throughout the world have participated in the jubilee event, which concluded Thursday afternoon.‘Abandon yourself like children in the Father’s arms’After greeting all the jubilee participants, the Holy Father began his homily by reflecting on the phrase from the Gospel of St. Luke: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you” (Lk 11:9). With these words, he explained, “Jesus invites us to turn with confidence to the Father in all our needs.”Addressing consecrated persons in particular, the pontiff reminded them that “living one’s vows means abandoning oneself like children in the Father’s arms.”In this regard, he emphasized that “to ask” is to recognize, in poverty, “that everything is a gift from the Lord and to give thanks for everything”; “to seek” is to open oneself, “in obedience, to discover each day the path we must follow to attain holiness, according to God’s designs”; and “to call” is to ask and offer to the brothers “the gifts received with a pure heart, striving to love everyone with respect and gratuity.”Pope Leo XIV then exhorted them to remember the gratuitousness of their vocation, “beginning from the origins of the congregations to which they belong to the present moment, from the first steps of their personal journey to this moment.”Thus, he reminded them that God “has willed and chosen us from the beginning” and that it is essential “to look back on one’s own life, bringing to mind and heart all that the Lord has done over the years to multiply talents, to increase and purify faith, to make charity more generous and free.”He clarified that although this has sometimes happened in joyful circumstances, other times through paths more difficult to understand, “and even through the mysterious crucible of suffering,” it has always been “in the embrace of that paternal goodness that characterizes his action in us and through us, for the good of the Church.”‘The Lord is everything’In this context, he affirmed that God is the fullness and meaning of our lives: “The Lord is everything. He is everything in different ways, whether as creator and source of existence, as love that calls and challenges, as a force that impels and encourages self-giving.”Two religious sisters bring the gifts to the altar at the Mass for the Jubilee of Consecrated Life on Oct. 9, 2025. Credit: Vatican Media“Without him, nothing exists, nothing has meaning, nothing is worthwhile, and your ‘asking,’ ‘seeking,’ and ‘knocking,’ both in prayer and in life, refer to this truth,” he noted.As is customary in his homilies, Pope Leo XIV evoked St. Augustine to remind consecrated persons “of the need for the infinite that dwells in the heart of every man and woman in this world.”Precisely for this reason, he insisted that the Church entrusts them with the task of being, by stripping themselves of everything, “living witnesses to the primacy of God in their lives, also helping as much as they can the other brothers and sisters they will meet to cultivate their friendship with him.”He also affirmed that “history teaches us that generous impulses of charity always spring from an experience of God,” as has happened in the lives of its founders.In response to the current trend of those who claim that it is “useless to serve God,” the pope explained that it is “a way of thinking that leads to a true paralysis of the soul, whereby one is content with a life made up of fleeting moments, superficial and intermittent relationships, passing fads — all of which leave the heart empty.”“To be truly happy, man does not need these things, but rather consistent, lasting, and solid experiences of love,” he affirmed.Finally, the Holy Father reflected on the eschatological dimension of Christian life, “which wants us to be committed to the world but at the same time constantly oriented toward eternity.”Consecrated as witnesses of ‘future good things’In this regard, he cited the Second Vatican Council, which states that “consecrated persons are called in a particular way to be witnesses of ‘future good things.’”The pope noted that the Lord, to whom they have given everything, “has responded to them with such beauty and richness,” and he urged them to treasure and cultivate this, recalling the words of Paul VI: “Preserve the simplicity of the least of the Gospel.”“Know how to find it in the most intimate and cordial relationship with Christ or in direct contact with your brothers and sisters. You will then know ‘the overflowing of joy through the action of the Holy Spirit’ that belongs to those who are introduced to the secrets of the kingdom,” he said.Finally, he invited them to be “truly poor, meek, hungry for holiness, merciful, pure of heart; be those through whom the world will know the peace of God.”This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Sun, 12 Oct 2025 16:00:10 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, urges, consecrated, persons, ‘hungry, for, holiness’</media:keywords>
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<item>
<title>Pope Leo XIV: Joy does not have to be ‘free from suffering’</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-joy-does-not-have-to-be-free-from-suffering</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-joy-does-not-have-to-be-free-from-suffering</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV greets pilgrims at his general audience in St. Peter&#039;s Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025 / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

Vatican City, Oct 8, 2025 / 15:00 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday warned against the claim that true joy “must be without wounds” or “trials,” saying pain is not the denial of God’s promise of love for his people.During his Oct. 8 general audience at the Vatican, the Holy Father said “there is an obstacle that often prevents us from recognizing Christ’s presence in our daily lives: the assumption that joy must be free from suffering.”Pope Leo XIV greets a baby at his general audience in St. Peter&#039;s Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNAContinuing his catechesis on the resurrection of Christ, the pope emphasized that God does not “impose himself loudly” but “waits patiently for the moment when our eyes will open to see his friendly face” in order to “transform disappointment into confident expectation.”Before hundreds of faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square, he asked for the grace to be able to notice the “humble and discreet presence” of Christ and to discover that “very pain, if inhabited by love, can become a place of communion.”The Holy Father began his catechesis on the Resurrection with the image of the disciples of Emmaus, who walked “sadly because they hoped for a different ending” and “for a Messiah who did not know the cross.”Pope Leo XIV addresses pilgrims at his general audience in St. Peter&#039;s Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNADespite having heard that the tomb is empty, the pope said the two disciples were “unable to smile” because they were unable to recognize God’s close presence. “But Jesus walks alongside them and patiently helps them understand that pain is not the denial of the promise, but the way through which God has manifested the measure of his love,” Leo said in his Wednesday catechesis. “Brothers and sisters, Christ’s resurrection teaches us that no history is so marked by disappointment or sin that it cannot be visited by hope,” he added. “No fall is definitive, no night is eternal, no wound is destined to remain open forever.” “However distant, lost, or unworthy we may feel, there is no distance that can extinguish the unfailing power of God’s love,” he continued.In times of disappointment, Leo XIV invited people to not give into despair but “to discover that beneath the ashes of disenchantment and weariness there is always a living ember, waiting only to be rekindled.”Pilgrims listen to Pope Leo XIV at his general audience in St. Peter&#039;s Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA“Instead, the Risen One is close to us precisely in the darkest places: in our failures, in our frayed relationships, in the daily struggles that weigh on our shoulders, in the doubts that discourage us. Nothing that we are, no fragment of our existence, is foreign to him,” he said.“Today, the risen Lord walks alongside each of us as we travel our paths — those of work and commitment, but also those of suffering and loneliness — and with infinite delicacy asks us to let him warm our hearts,” he added. Toward the conclusion of his address, the Holy Father asked people to pray for the grace to recognize Christ “as our companion on the road” in daily life. “And so, like the disciples of Emmaus, we too return to our homes with hearts burning with joy. A simple joy that does not erase wounds but illuminates them,” he said. “A joy that comes from the certainty that the Lord is alive, walks with us, and gives us the possibility to start again at every moment.” ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 09 Oct 2025 16:00:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV:, Joy, does, not, have, ‘free, from, suffering’</media:keywords>
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<title>Pope Leo XIV joins Australian community in Rome for evening prayer</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-joins-australian-community-in-rome-for-evening-prayer</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-joins-australian-community-in-rome-for-evening-prayer</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV joins the Australian community for evening prayer at Domus Australia Catholic Chapel in Rome on Monday, Oct. 6, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Oct 6, 2025 / 16:43 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV joined the Australian community for evening prayer at Domus Australia Catholic Chapel in Rome on Monday.Before praying vespers with approximately 150 people, the Holy Father blessed a restored painting of Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeii that was gifted to the chapel by soon-to-be saint Bartolo Longo.“Indeed, this devotion to our Blessed Mother holds a special place in my heart, so I am also happy to share this occasion with the Australian community,” the Holy Father said in a short homily.“It is my hope that this image … will inspire an ever greater devotion to her among the residents of the Domus and those who visit as pilgrims, as well as the members of the local community,” he added.Pope Leo XIV joins the Australian community for evening prayer at Domus Australia Catholic Chapel in Rome on Oct. 6, 2025. Credit: Vatican MediaIn light of the Church’s jubilee year dedicated to the theological virtue of hope, Leo encouraged those praying with him on Monday to be inspired by the example of the Mother of God.“Mary embodied that virtue through her trust that God would fulfill his promises,” he said. “This hope, in turn, gave her the strength and courage to spend her life willingly for the sake of the Gospel and abandon herself entirely to God’s will.”In his homily, the Holy Father emphasized the significance for “daily fidelity” to God even though “we do not know what the future holds.”“God never delays; we are the ones who have to learn to trust, even if it requires patience and perseverance. God’s timing is always perfect,” he said.“God always comes to save and liberate us,” he added.Turning to the writings of St. Augustine, Leo said the early Church Father reminds Christians that God’s plan and purpose for each person is salvation and eternal life. “God created us without us, but he will not save us without us,” he said, quoting St. Augustine. “Thus, we are called to cooperate with him by living out a life of grace as his sons and daughters, making our own contribution to the plan of salvation.”Moreover, the Holy Father said God did not “come simply to redeem us from slavery to sin” but to become children of God and “free our hearts” to accept his love. “God our Father ‘chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world … he destined us in love to be his sons and daughters through Jesus Christ,’” he said, citing a passage of St. Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians.Before concluding vespers, Leo entrusted the Australian community living in Rome to the Blessed Virgin Mary.“As you venerate Our Lady of Pompeii at the Domus Australia, it is my prayer that you also will be strengthened by the Holy Spirit in your own service to the Lord and his Church, and that you may bear much fruit, fruit that will last,” he said. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 09 Oct 2025 16:00:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, joins, Australian, community, Rome, for, evening, prayer</media:keywords>
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<title>UPDATE: Pope Leo XIV recalls Palestinians killed since Oct. 7 Hamas attack</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/update-pope-leo-xiv-recalls-palestinians-killed-since-oct-7-hamas-attack</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/update-pope-leo-xiv-recalls-palestinians-killed-since-oct-7-hamas-attack</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV answers questions from the media outside Castel Gandolfo in Italy on Oct. 7, 2025. / Credit: Hannah Brockhaus/CNA

Castel Gandolfo, Italy, Oct 7, 2025 / 11:58 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV called Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, an act of terrorism that cannot be tolerated and lamented the large number of Palestinian lives lost during “a painful two years.”Addressing a group of journalists just outside his Castel Gandolfo residence, Villa Barberini, on Oct. 7, the pope said: “Two years ago it was a terroristic attack. ... more than 200 people killed.”“We really need to think hard about how much hatred there is in the world and start with ourselves, asking why it exists and what we can do about it,” he added. “Then, in two years, 60,000–67,000 Palestinians have been killed. It really makes you think about how much violence there is and how good it is to promote peace.”Leo answered questions from journalists as he left Castel Gandolfo to return to the Vatican. He has spent every Tuesday at the papal retreat, located 18 miles south of Rome, since Sept. 9.“It is certain that we cannot accept groups that cause terrorism; we must always reject this style of hatred in the world,” the pope said, noting as well that antisemitism is also on the rise.He pointed out that he has asked the Church to pray in a special way for peace during the month of October.“We must respect the dignity of everyone. This is the message of the Church,” he said.The pope declined to answer a question about ICE raids in Chicago. “I prefer not to comment at this time about choices made, about political choices, in the United States,” he said.In the three-and-a-half minute exchange with journalists, Leo also commented briefly on his first international trip to Turkey and Lebanon Nov. 27–Dec. 2, announced by the Vatican on Tuesday.The visit to the historic site of Nicaea in Turkey for the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea will be a “historic moment,” he said, “but it is not to look back, it is to move forward.”He called it a moment “of unity in the faith for all Christians” and pointed out that his predecessor, Francis, was hoping to make the trip to Turkey himself. In Lebanon, there will be “the opportunity to proclaim once again the message of peace in the Middle East, in a country that has suffered so much,” Leo said.“Pope Francis wanted to go there too,” the pontiff added, “he wanted to reach out to the people who are living after the explosion, after all they have suffered. We will try to bring this message of peace and hope.”Looking ahead to the Oct. 9 release of his first apostolic exhortation, Dilexi Te, which will be on the topic of poverty, Leo said, “that is the message of the Gospel.”“Ultimately, whatever the pope says or announces must always be rooted in the Gospel. That is what we want to try to do,” he said.This story was updated on Oct. 7, 2025, at 12:35 p.m. ET. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 09 Oct 2025 16:00:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>UPDATE:, Pope, Leo, XIV, recalls, Palestinians, killed, since, Oct., Hamas, attack</media:keywords>
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<title>UPDATE: Pope Leo XIV to make first international trip, to Turkey and Lebanon</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/update-pope-leo-xiv-to-make-first-international-trip-to-turkey-and-lebanon</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/update-pope-leo-xiv-to-make-first-international-trip-to-turkey-and-lebanon</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV waves to pilgrims gathered for the Mass for the Jubilee of Catechists on Sept. 28, 2025, in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Oct 7, 2025 / 07:08 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV will visit Turkey and Lebanon in the first apostolic journey of his pontificate, to take place from Nov. 27 to Dec. 2, the Vatican announced Tuesday.Holy See Press Office Director Matteo Bruni said the pope accepted the invitations of the “Head of State and Ecclesiastical Authorities” of both countries in an Oct. 7 statement released by the Vatican.During the six-day papal trip, the Holy Father will visit the Turkish city of Iznek to mark the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, an ecumenical milestone in Church history that led to the formulation of the Nicene Creed.According to a media release published by the Ecumenical Patriarchate on Tuesday, Pope Leo will undertake a joint pilgrimage with Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople to Nicaea on Nov. 28 before spending two days in the Phanar, the headquarters of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul, where he and Bartholomew will celebrate the feast day of St. Andrew the Apostle on Nov. 30.Leo will be the fifth pope to visit Turkey. Early in his pontificate, Pope Francis visited the Middle Eastern nation in 2014 to strengthen the Church’s interreligious dialogue with Orthodox and Muslim leaders.The last papal visit to Lebanon was made by Pope Benedict XVI from Sept. 14–16, 2012, more than one year after the outbreak of the Syrian civil war.The Assembly of the Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops in Lebanon issued a statement on Tuesday expressing their gratitude to Pope Leo for his “fatherly love and special concern” for the Lebanese people.“We receive this historic event with great joy and renewed hope, praying this apostolic visit may bring Lebanon peace and stability, and that it may be a sign of unity for all Lebanese Christians and Muslims alike, in this delicate phase of our nation’s history,” the statement read.Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said the pope’s visit will deepen the “unwavering trust” between Lebanon and the Vatican and a sign of peace in a country of diverse religions and cultures.“All Lebanese — Christians and Muslims alike, from every sect and community — are preparing to receive him with sincere joy and rare national unity that reflects the true image of Lebanon,” Aoun said on Tuesday.“Lebanon — its leadership and its people — looks to this visit with great hope at a time when challenges are growing on every level,” he added.According to a 2024 UNHCR (U.N. refugee agency) report, Lebanon hosts the largest number of refugees per capita and per square kilometer in the world, including approximately 1.5 million Syrian refugees.This story was updated on Oct. 7, 2025, at 9:19 a.m. ET. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 09 Oct 2025 16:00:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>UPDATE:, Pope, Leo, XIV, make, first, international, trip, Turkey, and, Lebanon</media:keywords>
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<title>Pope Leo thanks Knights of Columbus for generosity to Vatican, service to communities</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-thanks-knights-of-columbus-for-generosity-to-vatican-service-to-communities</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-thanks-knights-of-columbus-for-generosity-to-vatican-service-to-communities</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV shakes hands with Knights of Columbus Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly during an audience with Knights of Columbus leadership at the Vatican on Oct. 6, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

Vatican City, Oct 6, 2025 / 12:24 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV on Monday met with leaders of the Knights of Columbus, whom he thanked for their generosity to the Vatican and their dedicated service to local communities in the United States. He also expressed his “profound gratitude” for the Knights’ funding of the restorations of Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s baldacchino and monument of the Chair of St. Peter in St. Peter’s Basilica, completed last year. Such contributions are “a visible sign of your continued devotion to the vicar of Christ,” the pontiff said, addressing members of the board of directors and their families in the Apostolic Palace’s Hall of the Consistory. “Throughout its history, the order has supported the charitable work of the Roman pontiff in a variety of ways, including through the ‘Vicarius Christi’ Fund, which allows him to express solidarity with the poor and most vulnerable throughout the world,” Leo continued.  The pope noted that local Knights councils “seek to bring the compassion and love of the Lord into your local communities, including through your efforts to uphold the sanctity of human life in all of its stages, to assist victims of war and natural disasters, and also to support priestly vocations.”  The Knights of Columbus is a lay Catholic men’s organization with more than 2.1 million members worldwide. It was founded by Blessed Michael McGivney in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1882. The pope also sent a video greeting to the Knights of Columbus during their 143rd Supreme Convention in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 5. On July 4, Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly and Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore met Pope Leo for the first time in a private audience at the Vatican. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Thu, 09 Oct 2025 16:00:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, thanks, Knights, Columbus, for, generosity, Vatican, service, communities</media:keywords>
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<title>America’s ‘immigrants’ nun’ says many are afraid to even go to the supermarket</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/americas-immigrants-nun-says-many-are-afraid-to-even-go-to-the-supermarket</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/americas-immigrants-nun-says-many-are-afraid-to-even-go-to-the-supermarket</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Sister Norman Pimentel, “the immigrants’ nun,” participated in an Oct. 2, 2025, meeting with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican. / Credit: Victoria Cardiel/EWTN News

Vatican City, Oct 5, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).
Sister Norma Pimentel is known as “the immigrants’ nun.” For over a decade, she has directed the Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley (CCRGV) Humanitarian Respite Center, a humanitarian aid center located in McAllen, Texas, on the border with Mexico. From there, she has provided assistance to people who arrive in the United States seeking asylum.According to Pimentel, the increase in arrests by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to expel immigrants who lack legal status in the country has unleashed a climate of fear in communities.‘Raids are taking place everywhere’“People are extremely afraid ... they know that nowhere is safe, they pick you up anywhere, and you can’t even go to the supermarket because raids are taking place everywhere,” the religious explained.Last year, the center received a legal request from the Texas attorney general’s office to compel a CCRGV representative to sit for a deposition regarding its immigrant assistance efforts, although the case was subsequently dismissed by a judge.Pimentel said the sense of widespread fear has also spread to other residents of the Rio Grande Valley. Many now think: “If I help him, maybe something will happen to me too,” she told ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner, shortly after participating in the Oct. 2 “Refugees and Migrants in Our Common Home” conference with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican.Sister Norma Pimentel speaks with the Holy Father at an Oct. 2, 2025, meeting at the Vatican. Credit: Vatican MediaThe initiative, part of the Jubilee of Migrants, is the first global meeting promoted by the Vatican to bring together religious institutions, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and experts dedicated to addressing the challenges of migratory flows.At the meeting, the pontiff asked all of the participants to promote a culture of “reconciliation and hope” to address the “urgent challenges” of migration.‘You can’t say you’re pro-life if you don’t defend immigrants’“The Holy Father strongly affirms that immigrants are human beings who must be recognized and treated with dignity. Therefore, you can’t say you’re pro-life if you don’t defend the lives of human beings and immigrants,” Pimentel pointed out.Every so often, dozens of exhausted people knock on her door, their bodies reflecting the consequences of a hellish journey. Most travel hundreds of miles on foot to reach the U.S.-Mexico border.Pimentel, a sister of the Missionaries of Jesus, who works side by side with the bishop of Brownsville, Daniel Flores, always greets them with a warm welcome: “We are right on the border, there with the immigrants, with the migrant families, who are truly part of our Church.”“We are very versed in how to be present, how to speak and encourage people to be good neighbors, to help each other, to not feel afraid that the government won’t allow us to live our religion, our faith, and to be present to help people when they need it,” she explained.The most important thing is “that they don’t feel abandoned and alone” and that they realize that, despite the growing hostility, “they do matter in this life.”This total commitment is born from the conviction that every person who suffers bears the face of Christ. In any case, Pimentel doesn’t hide the fact that she sometimes feels overwhelmed. “We don’t have enough resources,” she lamented.She’s also convinced that giving these migrants a face and sharing the horror stories they endure is the best antidote to society being fed up with immigrants: “When I see a crying child who comes up to me and says, ‘Help me,’ with tears streaming down his face, [I want] to be able to share that with other people. That way, people can feel that pain, the cries of that child or that mother who is scared and afraid of how to protect her children.”That’s why she never misses an opportunity to make known the pain of these people because “when you get close to a human being who is suffering, your heart connects and you change.”This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 06 Oct 2025 16:00:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>America’s, ‘immigrants’, nun’, says, many, are, afraid, even, the, supermarket</media:keywords>
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<title>Pope decries rise of antisemitic hatred, urges ceasefire and hostage release amid Gaza talks</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-decries-rise-of-antisemitic-hatred-urges-ceasefire-and-hostage-release-amid-gaza-talks</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-decries-rise-of-antisemitic-hatred-urges-ceasefire-and-hostage-release-amid-gaza-talks</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass in St. Peter&#039;s Square at the Vatican on October 5, 2025. / Daniel Ibañez

Vatican City, Oct 5, 2025 / 07:50 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV on Sunday condemned the resurgence of antisemitic hatred and appealed for renewed commitment to peace in the Middle East, while also assuring prayers for victims of a devastating earthquake in the Philippines.“I express my concern about the rise of antisemitic hatred in the world, as unfortunately we saw with the terrorist attack in Manchester a few days ago,” the pope said from St. Peter’s Square, before leading the Angelus prayer. He added that he “continue[s] to be saddened by the immense suffering of the Palestinian people in Gaza.”The pope said that “in the dramatic situation in the Middle East, some significant steps forward have been taken in peace negotiations,” and urged all leaders “to commit themselves to this path, to bring about a ceasefire and to release the hostages.” He also invited the faithful “to remain united in prayer, so that the ongoing efforts may put an end to the war and lead us towards a just and lasting peace.”Turning to the Philippines, where a strong earthquake struck the central region on Sept. 30, Pope Leo expressed closeness “to the dear Filipino people,” and said he prays “for those who are most severely affected by the consequences of the earthquake.” “Faced with any danger,” he added, “let us remain united and supportive in our trust in God and in the intercession of our Blessed Mother.”Call to pray for peaceThe pope invited Catholics to join spiritually with those gathered at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary in Pompeii, for the traditional Supplication held each October. “In this month of October, as we contemplate with Mary the mysteries of Christ our Savior, let us deepen our prayer for peace: a prayer that becomes concrete solidarity with those people tormented by war,” he said. “Thank you to the many children around the world who have committed themselves to praying the Rosary for this intention. You have our heartfelt thanks!”Pope Leo also greeted participants in the Jubilee for missionaries and migrants, thanking them for their witness. “The Church is entirely missionary and is one great people journeying towards the Kingdom of God,” he said. “But no one should be forced to flee, nor exploited or mistreated because of their situation as foreigners or people in need! Human dignity must always come first.”‘A new missionary age opens in the Church’Earlier that morning, the pope celebrated Mass for the Jubilee of the Missionary World and the Jubilee of Migrants in St. Peter’s Square, inviting Catholics to renew their missionary vocation through compassion and welcome.“Today we celebrate the Jubilee of the Missions and of Migrants,” he began. “This is a wonderful opportunity to rekindle in ourselves the awareness of our missionary vocation, which arises from the desire to bring the joy and consolation of the Gospel to everyone, especially those who are experiencing difficult and painful situations.”Recalling the prophet Habakkuk’s lament — “O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear?” — the pope said that faith transforms lives and “makes of them an instrument of the salvation that even today God wishes to bring about in the world.” True faith, he said, “does not impose itself by means of power and in extraordinary ways,” but “carries within it the strength of God’s love that opens the way to salvation.”Pope Leo said the missionary calling today means responding to suffering close at hand as well as far away. “If for a long time we have associated with mission the word ‘depart’ … today the frontiers of the missions are no longer geographical, because poverty, suffering and the desire for a greater hope have made their way to us,” he said.“Those boats which hope to catch sight of a safe port, and those eyes filled with anguish and hope seeking to reach the shore, cannot and must not find the coldness of indifference or the stigma of discrimination!” he warned. “Mission is not so much about ‘departing’, but instead ‘remaining’ in order to proclaim Christ through hospitality and welcome, compassion and solidarity.”The pope encouraged renewed cooperation among Churches, noting that migration from the Global South can “renew the face of the Church and sustain a Christianity that is more open, more alive and more dynamic.” He also called for “new missionary effort by laity, religious and priests who will offer their service in missionary lands,” especially in Europe.Concluding, Pope Leo offered his blessing “to the local clergy of the particular Churches, to missionaries and those discerning a vocation,” and told migrants, “know that you are always welcome!”Throughout his homily and his Angelus address, Pope Leo returned to a single message: faith expressed in prayer, compassion, and hospitality remains the seed of peace — whether in war-torn regions, along migration routes, or in the hearts of those who choose to welcome others. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 06 Oct 2025 16:00:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, decries, rise, antisemitic, hatred, urges, ceasefire, and, hostage, release, amid, Gaza, talks</media:keywords>
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<title>Pope Leo: Old age a gift and challenge; requires response of missionary pastoral ministry</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-old-age-a-gift-and-challenge-requires-response-of-missionary-pastoral-ministry</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-old-age-a-gift-and-challenge-requires-response-of-missionary-pastoral-ministry</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV greets an elderly woman at the Vatican on Oct. 3, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

ACI Prensa Staff, Oct 3, 2025 / 15:08 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV on Friday said that old age is both a gift and a challenge, and in response the Catholic Church is called to develop missionary pastoral care that involves the elderly as witnesses of hope.On Oct. 3, the pontiff received at the Vatican Apostolic Palace participants in the Second International Congress on Pastoral Care of the Elderly, organized by the Dicastery for the Laity, the Family, and Life.In his address, Leo XIV emphasized that the theme of the meeting, “Your Elders Shall Dream Dreams,” taken from the book of the prophet Joel, contains words dear to his predecessor, Pope Francis, who often spoke “of the need for an alliance between young and old.”The pontiff explained that in this biblical passage, “the prophet announces the universal outpouring of the Holy Spirit, who creates unity among generations and distributes different gifts to each person.” He also lamented that today, “relationships between generations are often marked by divisions and conflicts that pit them against each other.”Specifically, he referred to two criticisms: that the elderly “do not leave room for young people in the workforce” or that they are “consuming too many economic and social resources to the detriment of other generations, as if longevity were a fault.”In this regard, Leo XIV expressed his conviction that “the elderly are a gift, a blessing to be welcomed,” and that longevity “is one of the signs of hope in our time, everywhere in the world.”At the same time, the pontiff emphasized that this is “a challenge, because the growing number of elderly people is an unprecedented historical phenomenon that calls us to discern and understand the reality in new ways.”In this sense, in the face of the current mentality that “tends to value existence if it produces wealth or success, if it exercises power or authority, forgetting that the human being is always a limited creature with needs,” Pope Leo XIV emphasized that the fragility that appears in the elderly is “hidden or removed by those who cultivate worldly illusions, so as not to have before their eyes the image of what we will inevitably become.”However, he added, “it is healthy to realize that aging is part of the marvel of creation,” as he expressed during the Jubilee of Youth last August.The pope invited people to stop being ashamed of human weakness so that “we will in fact be led to ask for help from our brothers and sisters and from God, who watches over all his creatures as a Father.”“The Church is called to offer times and tools for understanding old age, so that we can live it in a Christian way, without pretending to remain forever young and without letting ourselves be overcome by discouragement,” continued the pope, who recommended the catechesis Pope Francis dedicated to this topic as “very valuable.”Active participants in evangelizationPope Leo XIV valued the presence of older people who, once their working life is over, “have the opportunity to enjoy an increasingly long period of good health, economic well-being and more free time” and who are often “the ones who attend Mass assiduously and lead parish activities, such as catechesis and various forms of pastoral service.”“It is important to find an appropriate language and opportunities for them, involving them not as passive recipients of evangelization but as active subjects, and to respond together with them, and not in their place, to the questions that life and the Gospel pose to us,” he added.Coming from different life experiences and relationships with the faith, the pontiff noted: “For all of them, the pastoral care of the elderly must be evangelizing and missionary, because the Church is always called to proclaim Jesus Christ the Savior to every man and woman, at every age and stage of life.”This involves, first and foremost, bringing “them the good news of the Lord’s tenderness, to overcome, together with them, the darkness of loneliness, the great enemy of the lives of the elderly” in a missionary task that “challenges all of us, our parishes, and, in a particular way, young people, who can become witnesses of closeness and mutual listening to those who are further along in their lives.”“In other cases, missionary evangelization will help older people to encounter the Lord and his word. With advancing age, in fact, many people begin to question the meaning of existence, creating an opportunity to seek an authentic relationship with God and to deepen their vocation to holiness,” the pontiff noted.Finally, Leo XIV recalled that “proclaiming the Gospel is the primary task of our pastoral ministry: By involving older people in this missionary dynamic, they too will be witnesses of hope, especially through their wisdom, devotion, and experience.”This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 06 Oct 2025 16:00:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo:, Old, age, gift, and, challenge, requires, response, missionary, pastoral, ministry</media:keywords>
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<title>Pope Leo XIV attends swearing&#45;in of Swiss Guard, first for a pope in nearly 60 years</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-attends-swearing-in-of-swiss-guard-first-for-a-pope-in-nearly-60-years</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-attends-swearing-in-of-swiss-guard-first-for-a-pope-in-nearly-60-years</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV greets a member of the Swiss Guard during a swearing-in ceremony at the Vatican, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025 / Credit: Vatican Media

CNA Staff, Oct 4, 2025 / 13:05 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV on Saturday attended the swearing-in of the Swiss Guard at the Vatican, the first time a pope has attended the pomp-filled ceremony since the pontificate of Pope Paul VI in 1968.The event took place in the Vatican&#039;s San Damaso Courtyard. The Holy Father was joined by a crowd of spectators watching as the 27 new members were sworn into the ranks of the papal guard. The swearing-in ceremony, when the new guards promise to protect the pope, if necessary with their lives, was postponed from the traditional date of May 6 due to the conclave that saw Leo elected. Pope Leo XIV observes the Swiss Guard during a swearing-in ceremony at the Vatican, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025. Credit: Vatican MediaPope Leo XIV observes the Swiss Guard during a swearing-in ceremony at the Vatican, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025. Credit: Vatican MediaPope Leo XIV observes the Swiss Guard during a swearing-in ceremony at the Vatican, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNAA Swiss Guard takes the swearing-in oath during a ceremony at the Vatican, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNAThe pope met the recruits and their families at the Apostolic Palace on Oct. 3, ahead of the swearing-in ceremony.“From the first steps of my pontificate, dear Swiss Guards, I have been able to count on your faithful service,” the pope said on Oct. 3. Swiss Guards stand at attention during a swearing-in ceremony at the Vatican, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA“The successor of Peter can fulfill his mission in service to the Church and the world in the certainty that you are watching over his safety,&quot; he added.He encouraged the new guards to draw inspiration from the stories of the first Christian martyrs in Rome to deepen their relationships with Jesus and to cultivate their interior lives “amid the frenzy of our society.” ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 06 Oct 2025 16:00:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, attends, swearing-in, Swiss, Guard, first, for, pope, nearly, years</media:keywords>
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<title>Pope Leo XIV signs first apostolic exhortation, &amp;amp;amp;#039;Dilexi te&amp;amp;amp;#039;</title>
<link>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-signs-first-apostolic-exhortation-039dilexi-te039</link>
<guid>https://philippineexaminer.com/pope-leo-xiv-signs-first-apostolic-exhortation-039dilexi-te039</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV signs his first apostolic exhortation, &#039;Dilexi te&#039;, at the Vatican, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025 / Credit: Vatican Media

CNA Staff, Oct 4, 2025 / 14:39 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV on Oct. 4 signed the first apostolic exhortation of his pontificate, the text of which is expected to be released next week. The Vatican said in a press release that Leo signed the exhortation &quot;Dilexi te&quot; in the library of the Apostolic Palace. The Holy See did not reveal the text of the document, which it said will be presented on Oct. 9 by the Holy See Press Office. The focus of the document was also not officially announced, though it is reportedly expected to focus on the poor. It was signed on the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. On the morning of Saturday, October 4, the Holy See Press Office announced that Pope Leo XIV signed his first Apostolic Exhortation, Dilexi te, at 8:30 a.m. in the private library of the Apostolic Palace.The signing took place in the presence of Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra,… pic.twitter.com/gJnEkNrbRs— EWTN Vatican (@EWTNVatican) October 4, 2025 The signing of the document took place in the presence of Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, Substitute for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State, the Vatican said. ]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 06 Oct 2025 16:00:07 +0800</pubDate>
<dc:creator>Bro Jim C Salonoy - News Moderator</dc:creator>
<media:keywords>Pope, Leo, XIV, signs, first, apostolic, exhortation, &amp;amp039Dilexi, te&amp;amp039</media:keywords>
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