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Pope Leo XIV Has Nominated Reverend Milad Yaghi as Bishop of the Maronite Eparchy of Our Lady of the Martyrs of Lebanon in Mexico

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WASHINGTON – Pope Leo XIV has nominated Reverend Milad Yaghi, MLM, as the Bishop of the Nuestra Señora de los Mártires del Líbano en México Eparchy of the Maronites (Maronite Eparchy of Our Lady of the Martyrs of Lebanon in Mexico). Father Yaghi currently serves as pastor of Our Lady of the Cedars Maronite Catholic Church in Houston, Texas.The announcement was publicized in Washington, D.C. on October 12, 2026, by Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, apostolic nuncio to the United States.Bishop-elect Yaghi’s biography may be found here.###

Archbishop Coakley Offers Prayers for Pope Leo XIV on His Upcoming Surgery

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WASHINGTON – Pope Leo XIV announced to those gathered for the Sunday Angelus this morning that he would soon undergo surgery to remove a localized nodule in his lung. Upon hearing the news, Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, offered his prayers for the Holy Father and to those caring for him:“This morning, the Holy Father announced he will undergo surgery for a lung nodule in the coming days. The bishops of the United States join with the faithful and all people of good will in praying for his good health. May the hand of Pope Leo’s surgeons be guided by the divine physician Jesus Christ. Please find a moment today, as I will, to offer a prayer for Pope Leo and his care team.”###

Pope announces he will undergo surgery to remove a small lung nodule

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VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Leo XIV announced that doctors recently found "a small, localized nodule" in his lung and that he will have it treated surgically sometime this week.He made the announcement in Italian after praying the Sunday Angelus with visitors and pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square, Oct. 11:"Dear friends, during some recent medical examinations, the doctors found a small, localized nodule in my lung. It was detected at a very early stage and is well-localized. The doctors believe that it is best to intervene, so, following their advice, I have decided to undergo surgery to remove it. The operation is already scheduled to take place in the coming days. I thank you for your spiritual closeness and entrust myself to your prayers. Thank you, and happy Sunday!" Pope Leo XIV greets pilgrims and visitors gathered in St. Peter's Square for the Sunday Angelus at the Vatican Oct. 11, 2026. (CNS photo/Vatican Media) Matteo Bruni, the director

Action for Mental Health is an “Urgent Pastoral Challenge” for the Global Church

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WASHINGTON – World Mental Health Day is observed each year on October 10. This year, the Holy See’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development issued a message recognizing mental health as an “urgent pastoral challenge,” and invited the Church to engage with people struggling with their mental health. In his monthly prayer intention, Pope Leo XIV prayed for mental health ministry to be established throughout the Church and encouraged overcoming the stigma and discrimination often shown towards people with mental illnesses. Each October, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) renews its commitment to a pastoral response to the mental health crisis in the United States through its National Catholic Mental Health Campaign. Resources to promote education and awareness are accompanied by a call to prayer and action through a Novena for Mental Health that runs from October 10-18. The novena is an invitation for parishes to participate in Mental H

USCCB President Condemns Plans for Livestream of Fort Hood Shooter's Execution as ‘a Barbaric Promotion of a Culture of Death’

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WASHINGTON – Yesterday, the U.S. Department of War announced that the firing squad execution of Nidal Hasan, the man convicted of killing 13 people and injuring 32 at Fort Hood, Texas in 2009, would be publicly livestreamed. Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops issued the following statement sharply condemning the decision of the U.S. government:“It is with shock and great sorrow that I have learned of the Department of War’s decision to publicly livestream the execution of Nidal Hasan. Our God is the God of life. In no way can Hassan’s actions be condoned but this decision is a barbaric promotion of a culture of death and must be reconsidered. The word of God exhorts us: ‘do not repay anyone evil for evil' (Romans 12:17). The public execution even of one who has done grave harm will only further undermine the moral fabric of our nation and be a blight on the conscience of its people.“I pray for the interce

Fostering critical thinking at Catholic universities can counter 'false teachers,' pope says

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VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pursuing a higher education that values human intelligence can help counter the many "false teachers" exploiting people's deep yearning for truth, faith and meaning, Pope Leo XIV said.Reason, memory and critical thinking are "fundamental for both faith and mission," the pope told students from the pontifical universities of Rome during an evening Mass in St. Peter's Basilica Oct. 8."Reason, posing questions in light of God's word and the Church's Tradition, is an essential part of the journey of faith in following Jesus Christ," he said. Pope Leo XIV gives his homily as he celebrates Mass with students from the pontifical universities in Rome in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican, Oct. 8, 2026. (CNS photo/Vatican Media) The pontifical universities and institutes in Rome enroll more than 15,000 students from some 125 nations; they study theology and philosophy, but also liturgy, sacred music, communications, canon

U.S. Bishops to Vote for Conference Secretary and for Chairmen of Six Standing Committees at Plenary Assembly in Baltimore

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WASHINGTON – When the U.S. bishops gather in November for their Fall Plenary Assembly (November 16-19), they will vote for a Conference secretary, as well as chairmen for six standing committees for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). The position of USCCB secretary is up for a vote due to the fact that Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend was elected during the bishops’ 2025 Fall Plenary Assembly to complete the term left vacant when Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City, who was serving as USCCB secretary, was elected as Conference president. Each bishop elected will serve for one year as the chairman-elect of the respective committee before beginning a three-year term at the conclusion of the bishops’ 2027 Fall Plenary Assembly. The following bishops were nominated (listed under committee in alphabetical order):USCCB SECRETARY-ELECT / CHAIRMAN-ELECT, COMMITTEE ON PRIORITIES AND PLANSBishop Earl K. Fernandes, Diocese of

Faithful cannot accept oppression, injustice, pope says

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VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Christians "cannot accept the oppression of the weak and the poor, nor the unjust structures that perpetuate conditions of dependence and injustice," Pope Leo XIV said at his weekly general audience.By worshipping Christ, "the Righteous One who died for the unrighteous," the faithful are called to work for justice, peace and fraternity, the pope said Oct. 7 in St. Peter's Square."The Church, therefore, 'has no fiercer desire than that in pursuit of the welfare of all she may be able to develop herself freely under any kind of government which grants recognition to the basic rights of person and family, to the demands of the common good,'" he said, quoting from the conciliar constitution, "Gaudium et Spes," as he continued his series of talks on documents from the Second Vatican Council.Just as Christ was incarnated to reconcile the world with God, the Church exists within the world as a "sign of the incarnation of God,

Pope Leo XIV Accepts Resignation of Auxiliary Bishop Peter Byrne

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WASHINGTON - Pope Leo XIV has accepted the resignation of the Most Reverend Peter J. Byrne, 75, from the Office of Auxiliary Bishop of New York.The resignation was publicized in Washington, D.C. on October 5, 2026, by Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, apostolic nuncio to the United States. The Archdiocese of New York is comprised of 4,683 square miles in the State of New York.###

Federal Scholarship Tax Credit is a Transformative Opportunity for Children Across the Country, says Bishop O’Connell

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WASHINGTON – Yesterday, the U.S. Department of the Treasury released proposed regulations to implement the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit (FSTC), which provides a nonrefundable Federal tax credit for contributions to scholarship granting organizations. States must formally elect to opt-in to the program in order for the children in that state to be eligible for scholarships funded by the program. In a brief message, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Catholic Education, called the scholarship program a transformative opportunity for children across the country:“The Catholic Church teaches that parents are the first and primary educators of our children, and that parents have the obligation of educating their children in the manner best suited for their development and needs. The Federal Scholarship Tax Credit will create opportunities for families to access much-needed resources to expand their

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