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In secular Uruguay, Pope Leo urges Catholics to find strength in being few

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MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (CNS) -- In Latin America's most secular country, Pope Leo XIV received a welcome that surprised even longtime Vatican observers: Tens of thousands of people were eager to see the pope, as tickets for a prayer vigil at the country's largest stadium were snapped up within hours of going online.The roughly 70,000 free tickets for the Nov. 7 vigil at Montevideo's Centenary Stadium were quickly claimed in less than three hours, mirroring an unexpected display of enthusiasm in a country where only about 35% of the population identifies as Catholic and more than 50% declare having no religious affiliation at all, in a 2024 survey by Latinobarómetro.Local media outlets reported that this demand broke records."I have never seen it in this country!" said Guzmán Carriquiry Lecour, a former secretary of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America and former Uruguayan ambassador to the Holy See, speaking to journalists Nov. 3, detailing that he said he h

USCCB and CRS Call on World Leaders to Act Decisively at COP 31 to Protect Our Common Home

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WASHINGTON - As world leaders gather for the 31st annual United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31), the bishops who chair committees of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) that address climate policy were joined by the president and CEO of Catholic Relief Services (CRS) to call on world leaders to decisively act to protect life on our common home.Archbishop Shelton J. Fabre, Bishop A. Elias Zaidan, and Mr. Sean Callahan’s statement follows:“As leaders gather at COP31, we recognize the need for decisive action that will protect and promote human flourishing and our common home. The global Church continues to witness the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor. We accompany those most impacted by a changing climate and the resulting extreme weather, rising seas, and biodiversity loss. Young people in particular are leading this response, demanding climate justice for their generation and generations to come. Their witness is our hope: proof that our faith

Notre Dame sweeps Villanova in first NCAA games played in Rome

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By Griffin WhiteROME (CNS) -- The University of Notre Dame walked away the victors in the first NCAA regular season basketball games ever played in Rome, sweeping a doubleheader against Villanova University on Nov. 1.The Eternal City Tipoff brought together two Catholic universities to Palazzo dello Sport, an arena built for the 1960 Olympics, and marked the first time an NCAA college basketball game was broadcast live from Rome.The crowd was a mix of students studying abroad, alumni and fans who made the trip for the weekend. Many of them said the atmosphere was the best part.“The atmosphere of the game was electric,” one Notre Dame student told Catholic News Service after the game. “I’ve been a fan all my life, and I’m just so happy to be here today.”Villanova fans felt it too, even after the loss. “It went down to the wire. No complaints today,” said Danté, a student studying abroad. Villanova fans attend a season-o

Catholics Invited to Support U.S. Bishops’ Anti-Poverty Efforts on World Day of the Poor

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WASHINGTON - At Masses on the weekend of November 14-15 – the World Day of the Poor – Catholics in dioceses across the United States will be invited to give to the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD), the domestic anti-poverty program of the U.S. bishops.“Created in the image of God, every person has inherent dignity and the capacity to contribute to the flourishing of their families and communities. Our faith calls us to stand in solidarity with people experiencing poverty, supporting their leadership as they work to address the root causes of poverty and build a better future,” said Bishop Timothy C. Senior of Harrisburg, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Subcommittee on the Catholic Campaign for Human Development. “Through CCHD, the Church puts this commitment into action, accompanying communities as they work toward a future in which all people can flourish,” he continued.The U.S. bishops launched CCHD in 1969

It takes courage to stand for -- not against -- something, pope tells young people

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VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- In a world full of possibilities, yet still marked by injustice and fear, Pope Leo XIV said young Christians are called to transform the world with love."Many regard love as a form of weakness, but Christ shows us that it is a source of freedom and strength," he said in his message to young people ahead of the local celebrations of World Youth Day Nov. 22, the solemnity of Christ the King.In a world created good but still wounded by injustice, conflict, fear, violence and loneliness, he wrote, "everything is transformed by love." "Christians are called to follow Christ in his gentle courage: the courage to show love when harshness seems easier and more effective; the courage to seek peace when confrontation appears more advantageous; and the courage to hold fast, to hope when cynicism seems more convincing," the pope wrote in the message released by the Vatican Nov. 3. In this file photo from Aug. 6, 2023, a young man from

Pope warns economic inequality threatens peace, urges politicians to serve common good

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VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The threat to world peace stems from economic imbalances linked to development that is "neither equitable nor respectful of creation," Pope Leo XIV said at his weekly general audience."This is a far-sighted vision, which was unfortunately borne out towards the end of the last century and which we see even more clearly today," he said Nov. 4 in St. Peter's Square.Pope Leo said at the heart of the economy is work, which allows people to develop as individuals, provide for their families, express their talents, participate in society and build a better world.But the Catholic vision of economic development must always be at the service of humankind and under human control, he said, citing the Second Vatican Council's pastoral constitution, "Gaudium et Spes." The pope also emphasized the council's call to eliminate discrimination against vulnerable social groups and migrants."Work must never be distorted to the detriment of people, th

2026 Retirement Fund for Religious Collection Supports Nearly 19,000 Aging Women and Men Religious Nationwide

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WASHINGTON - On the weekend of Dec. 12–13, Catholics across the United States will have the opportunity to support aging sisters, brothers and religious order priests through the Retirement Fund for Religious. For decades, women and men religious have served in Catholic schools, hospitals, parishes and other ministries, often for little to no pay. Their communities have been facing rising eldercare costs and limited retirement resources. Coordinated by the National Religious Retirement Office (NRRO), this annual collection in participating (arch)dioceses provides financial assistance to eligible religious institutes caring for their retired members. Some (arch)dioceses may hold the collection on a different date.In 2026, only 6 percent of religious institutes providing data to the NRRO were adequately funded for retirement, and 69 percent had a median age of 70 or older. The 2025 appeal raised a record $37.1 million, and in June 2026, the NRRO distributed a record $40 million in

Pope Leo urges ban on lethal autonomous weapons, stronger AI oversight

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VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Leo XIV called on world leaders to take concrete steps toward banning lethal autonomous weapons, warning that decisions affecting human life and freedom must never be left to artificial intelligence."Decisions affecting human life, freedom and the use of force must always remain subject to effective, informed and responsible human oversight," the pope told scientific experts and Vatican representatives during an audience at the Vatican Oct 30. The experts were in Rome taking part in a meeting -- organized by the Pontifical Academy for Life and the nonprofit Future of Life Institute -- to discuss the future of AI, its development and application.Artificial intelligence must be "disarmed," Pope Leo said, encouraging leaders meeting in Geneva in November to take concrete steps toward prohibiting lethal autonomous weapons, because the future of artificial intelligence is "not pre-determined.""As a technology deve

Pope receives letters from ICE detainees, pastoral workers in Chicago

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VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Leo XIV received letters and messages from individuals detained in a United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) processing facility near Chicago and from Catholics active in providing immigrants and refugees with spiritual and pastoral support.Members of the Chicago-based Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leadership gave him an album containing the items when they met with the pope and at the end of the pope's weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square Oct. 28."The pope looked visibly moved" while listening to the testimony of Abigail Ortiz Valles, a Scalabrinian laywoman who takes part in the coalition's ministry at the Broadview ICE facility near Chicago, according to the group's Facebook page.The gift, the Oct. 29 post said, "was a handmade album of photos from our actions of the past year, showered with messages of love, support, and hope from members across our coalition and also from our siblings who are detained in Broad

USCCB Statement on Pope Leo XIV Voting in Midterm Elections in USA

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WASHINGTON – Earlier today, the Holy See Press Office announced that Pope Leo XIV had voted in the 2026 midterm elections with a mail-in ballot. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has offered the following statement from its spokesperson, Chieko Noguchi, executive director of public affairs:“As Catholics and Americans, we are blessed to be able to participate in our nation’s political and public life. With the midterm elections approaching in the United States, the Conference has been encouraging Catholics to exercise their right to vote and to do so in a way that places our faith before our politics. In voting, our Holy Father sets the example that encourages each citizen to exercise their civic responsibility. The U.S. bishops have emphasized that it is not “who” one is voting for, but rather on encouraging Catholics to inform their conscience as they prepare to vote and to uphold human dignity and the common good in doing so.&rdqu

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