Catholic News

• Consider impact of AI on young people, Pope urges (Vatican Press Office)
  In a December 5 address to participants in a Vatican conference on artificial intelligence (AI), Pope Leo XIV asked the key question: “How can we ensure that the development of artificial intelligence truly serves the common good, and is not just used to accumulate wealth and power in the hands of a few?” The Pontiff called for special attention to “the freedom and inner life of our children and young people, and the possible impact of technology on their intellectual and neurological development.” He added: “The ability to access vast amounts of data and information should not be confused with the ability to derive meaning and value from it.”
• Vatican commission says No to female deacons (Vatican News)
  A top-level Vatican commission ordered by Pope Francis to study the possibility of ordaining female deacons has issued a report that “excludes the possibility” of diaconal ordination for women. But the commission cautions that its conclusion “is not a definitive judgment” on the idea of a female diaconate. The commission, chaired by Cardinal Giuseppe Petrocchi, concluded that Catholic doctrine bars women from priestly ministry, and “if the admission of women to the first degree of Holy Orders were approved, exclusion from the others would become inexplicable.” The group called for the development of new ministries which “could contribute to synergy between men and women.” The commission—one of three studies of the female diaconate formed by Pope Francis—acknowledged that at times in Church history women have been identified as deacons. But in those cases, the commission concluded after study of the history that these female “deacons” served in charitable work rather than priestly ministry: a distinction that is crucial to the theology of Holy Orders. The commission’s report—which was presented to Pope Leo in September, but made public on December 4—quotes an earlier study’s conclude: “The status quaestionis of historical research and theological investigation, as well as their mutual implications, rules out the possibility of moving in the direction of admitting women to the diaconate understood as a degree of the sacrament of Holy Orders.”
• Pope Leo asks Slovakia to uphold the traditional family and build bridges, not walls (@PellegriniP_)
  Pope Leo XIV asked Slovakia to “cherish and uphold the traditional family” and to “build bridges instead of walls,” President Peter Pellegrini said following a papal audience yesterday. “To our young people, his message shines with clarity and hope: Seek faith with courage, take an active role in shaping our society, and prepare yourselves to shoulder the future of our beloved homeland,” Pellegrini continued. “Pope Leo XIV also expressed his sincere desire to visit Slovakia soon. As President, I welcome this hope with open arms.” President Pellegrini subsequently met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State of His Holiness, and Msgr. Mihăiță Blaj, the recently appointed Undersecretary for Relations with States. The parties discussed Church-state relations, the international situation, and “strengthening social cohesion, promoting justice and protecting the family,” according to a Vatican statement. Slovakia, a Central European nation of 5.6 million (map), is 84% Christian (73% Catholic). Pope Francis made an apostolic journey there in 2021.
• Archbishop Broglio rips Trump campaign against Venezuelan drug trade (America)
  Archbishop Timothy Broglio, who heads the Archdiocese of the Military Services, has criticized the Trump administration’s attacks on Venezuelan drug traffickers at sea. “In the fight against drugs, the end never justifies the means, which must be moral, in accord with the principles of just-war theory, and always respectful of the dignity of each human person,” said the archbishop, who is a past president of the US bishops’ conference. Reacting to reports that US forces had killed survivors after an assault on a boat engaged in the drug trade, the archbishop said that a moral prohibition “forbidding the intentional killing of noncombatants is inviolable.” He urged US military leaders to respect the consciences of their subordinates “by not asking them to engage in immoral actions.”
• Vatican foreign minister prods European security organization on peace, religious freedom (Vatican News)
  Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Holy See’s Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, called on the leaders of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) to work to foster peace in Ukraine. In his remarks, made yesterday in Vienna, Archbishop Gallagher “welcomed OSCE guidance on combating hate crimes against Christians and called for even-handed approaches to all forms of intolerance,” Vatican News reported. “He also noted that freedom of religion or belief is the only fundamental freedom explicitly affirmed in the Helsinki Final Act, adding that tolerance alone does not constitute genuine freedom.” Archbishop Gallagher also called for respect for the dignity of migrants and refugee, praised the OSCE for its efforts against human trafficking, and called for a ban on surrogate motherhood.
• Ukrainian bishops, in pastoral letter, call for prayer, fasting, almsgiving for nation's sake (Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church)
  The bishops of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church issued a pastoral letter, “In Unity Lies the Strength of the People,” in which they called for prayer, fasting, and almsgiving during the Nativity Fast for the nation’s sake. “The only certain path to victory is to pursue the way of Christ,” they wrote. “True victory for Ukraine will not come from the intervention of allies or diplomatic efforts. It will come when each of us makes a sacrifice—of time, energy, abilities, conveniences, and, if necessary, life.”
• Chinese bishop installed with papal approval (Vatican Press Office)
  Bishop Francis Li Jianlin was ordained on December 5 to head the prefecture of Xinxiang, in Henan province, with the approval of Pope Leo XIV, the Vatican has announced. The Vatican announcement said that the new bishop was appointed by Pope Leo in August, “in accordance with the Provisional Agreement between the Holy See and the People’s Republic of China.” In fact the Chinese government announced the bishop’s appointment in April, after the death of Pope Francis and before Pope Leo’s election. The Vatican reported that the Pope had accepted the resignation of Bishop Joseph Zhang Weizhu, whose leadership of the Xinxiang prefecture had never been recognized by the Chinese regime. Bishop Zhang Weizhu—who at the age of 67 is still well short of retirement age—was arrested by authorities in 2021 and held for over a year; it is not clear whether he is now free.
• Vatican bank publishes sustainability report (Institute for the Works of Religion)
  The Institute for the Works of Religion (Institutum pro Operibus Religionis, or IOR), colloquially known as the Vatican bank, published its first sustainability report yesterday. “In 2024, the Institute continued to focus its activities on optimizing returns in full compliance with Catholic ethical principles, excluding any investment in companies involved in activities harmful to human life, the environment, or society,” the Institute stated, adding: With net profit amounting to €31 million [$36.1M], the IOR generated a total economic value of €50 million [$58.3M], distributed among the Holy Father (27%), employees (30%), and suppliers (18%), retaining the remainder to ensure long-term sustainability. Through the management of its clients’ assets, the Institute also created €157 million [$183M] in value, thereby reinforcing its dual social and financial vocation: supporting the Universal Church and increasing the value of entrusted assets.
• Pope welcomes performers for Concert for the Poor (Vatican Press Office)
  Pope Leo XIV met on December 5 with musicians who will perform in the Concert for the Poor, to be held at the Vatican’s Paul VI auditorium on Saturday, and with organizers of the event. The Pope remarked that the annual concert is “not merely a performance by talented artists or a simple musical review, as beautiful as it may be; nor is it a moment of solidarity to ease our conscience in the face of social injustices.” It is an expression of love, he said, and “it is when we love that we truly fulfil ourselves.”
• 'Rethink trade,' Holy See urges UN trade organization (Holy See Mission)
  Addressing a recent meeting of UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva called for a rethinking of international trade. After discussing international financial debt, “the concept of ‘ecological debt,’” and the digital divide, the Holy See mission stated: In pursuit of diversified economies that contribute to integral development, my Delegation would like to emphasize the need to rethink trade. It is necessary to adopt a development-driven approach to trade that prioritizes using trade rules and market access to build productive capacities, reduce poverty, and foster inclusive economic diversification in developing countries.
• USCCB: Black Catholic young adults are concerned about gerontocracy, 'LGBTQ+ issues' (USCCB)
  The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has published “Advancing the Needs of Black Catholic Young Adults,” a 16-page report that resulted from listening sessions with black Catholic young adults. The report, posted on the US bishops’ website on December 3, identifies ten “issues within the national Catholic Church” and ten “issues within the black community.” The first three national Catholic issues listed in the report are “no representation,” “too much focus on charity, not enough on social justice,” and “not talking about racism and white supremacy.” The first three issues within the black community are “gerontocracy,” “LGBTQ+ issues,” and “cliques / bullying / ostracizing.”
• Theme of papal preacher's Advent sermons: 'Awaiting and hastening the coming of the day of God'' (Vatican News (Italian))
  The Vatican has announced the theme of the Preacher of the Papal Household’s Advent sermons: “Awaiting and hastening the coming of the day of God: Jubilee hope between waiting for the Lord and the universality of salvation.” Father Roberto Pasolini, OFM Cap, will preach the sermons on the three Fridays of Advent in Paul VI Audience Hall, in the presence of Pope Leo, the Roman Curia, employees of the Vatican City State and the Vicariate of Rome. The papal preacher customarily preaches his sermons on the Fridays of Advent and Lent.
• Bangladesh: Muslim group threatens violent attack on Catholic colleges (UCANews)
  Archbishop Bejoy D’Cruze of Dhaka, Bangladesh reports that threats of a violent attack against two local Catholic colleges are “a grave concern for the Catholic Church.” A militant Islamic group has vowed to destroy the Catholic institutions, charging that they are dedicated to the conversion of Muslims—a charge that the colleges deny. “The priests and nuns who run these institutions are living in fear and anxiety,” said the archbishop.
• Minnesota court rules Church can dismiss 'transgender' employee (CatholicVote)
  The Minnesota Court of Appeals has affirmed a lower court ruling that the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis had the freedom to dismiss an employee who announced plans to “transition” from female to male. The court ruled that since the archdiocese based its employment decision on religious grounds, the First Amendment barred government interference.
• Vatican newspaper spotlights world's 'culpable silence' on Haiti (L'Osservatore Romano (Italian))
  With the headline “Nel silenzio colpevole del mondo” [In the culpable silence of the world], L’Osservatore Romano devoted the most prominent front-page article in its December 4 edition to the plight of Haiti. “Chaos ‘governs’ Haiti,” began the article, in which staff journalist Roberto Paglialonga interviewed Gabriele Regio, regional manager of the charitable organization AVSI.
• Roberto Benigni, Pope Leo meet ahead of actor's St. Peter monologue broadcast (Vatican News)
  Italian actor and director Roberto Benigni, best known for his 1997 film Life Is Beautiful, met yesterday with Pope Leo XIV. Together, they watched excerpts of Peter: A Man in the Wind, a monologue on St. Peter the Apostle produced in collaboration with Vatican media. The monologue will air on Italian state TV. Before the screening, Pope Leo and Benigni discussed movies, St. Augustine, and Dante.
• Mongolian president meets with Pontiff (Vatican Press Office)
  Pope Leo XIV received Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh in an audience yesterday. President Khürelsükh subsequently met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State of His Holiness, and Msgr. Mihăiță Blaj, the recently appointed Undersecretary for Relations with States. The parties discussed Church-state relations and their “shared desire to further develop cooperation, including in the cultural sphere,” according to a Vatican statement. Mongolia, an East Asian nation of 3.3 million (map), is 59% Buddhist, 18% ethnic religionist, 5% Muslim, and 2% Christian. Pope Francis made an apostolic journey there in 2023.
• Prayer for peace is main theme of Pope's 2nd day in Lebanon (Vatican News)
  On December 2, the 2nd day of his visit to Lebanon, Pope Leo XIV prayed at the tomb of St. Charbel, spoke to bishops and clergy, presided at an ecumenical meeting at Martyrs’ Square in Beirut, and spoke to young people at the headquarters of the Maronite patriarchate. Pope Leo became the first Pontiff to visit the tomb of St. Charbel Maklouf, a Maronite monk who is credited with numerous miracles, and whose tomb is visited by thousands of pilgrims each year. In his meeting with Lebanese bishops, religious, and pastoral workers, the Pope stressed the theme of peacemaking, which has been his main message to the people of Lebanon. “There are personal and collective wounds that take many years, sometimes entire generations, to heal,” he said. But he urged the clerics to recognize the power of prayer, “the invisible bridge which unites hearts.” At the ecumenical meeting in Beirut the Pope returned to that theme, reflecting on the difficulties that Lebanon has endured, and saying: “In the midst of these struggles, a sense of hopefulness and encouragement can be found when we focus on what unites us: our common humanity and our belief in a God of love and mercy.”
• Pope concludes Lebanon visit with prayers for peace (Vatican News)
  “Departing is often more difficult than arriving,” Pope Leo XIV said as he prepared to leave Lebanon on December 2, concluding the first international trip of his pontificate. On his final day in Lebanon the Pope visited a hospital, prayed silently at the site of the devastating explosion at the port of Beirut, and celebrated Mass at the city’s waterfront for a congregation estimated at 150,000. “The beauty of your country is also overshadowed by the many problems that afflict you,” the Pope told his Lebanese congregation. Among those problems he listed “the fragile and often unstable political context, the dramatic economic crisis that weighs heavily upon you and the violence and conflicts that have reawakened ancient fears.” He encouraged them to respond with “a transformation of the heart, a conversion of life and a realization that God has made us precisely to live in the light of faith, the promise of hope, and the joy of charity.” Pope Leo said that he had traveled to Lebanon as “a pilgrim of hope, imploring God for the gift of peace.” He urged the nation’s people to work and pray for peace, saying that “the Middle East needs new approaches, in order to reject the mindset of revenge and violence.” Later in the afternoon the Pontiff traveled to the Beirut airport, where Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun joined him for a farewell ceremony before the return flight to Rome.
• Papal airplane interview touches on conclave, secret peace talks, travel plans (AP)
  In an informal question-and-answer session with reporters who accompanied him on his return flight to Rome from Beirut on December 2, Pope Leo XIV: Told about his reaction when, during the papal conclave, he realized that he would be elected: “I took a deep breath. I said, ‘Here we go, Lord. You’re in charge and you lead the way.” Hinted that the Vatican is engaged in secret talks with Hezbollah, hoping to promote peace in Lebanon. “Our work is not something we announce publicly,” he said. Discouraged US military intervention in Venezuela. “I believe it’s better to look for ways of dialogue, perhaps pressure—including economic pressure,” he recommended. Disclosed that he hopes to visit Africa in 2026, with a particular interest in traveling to Algeria, where St. Augustine served as Bishop of Hippo. He also expressed interest in traveling to South America, possibly visiting Peru, where he had served as bishop, and Argentina. (Oddly, Pope Francis, a native of Argentina, never visited that country as Pontiff.) Urged the people of Europe and North America to be “a little less fearful” of Muslim immigration.
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