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U.S. Bishops to Meet November 16-19 in Baltimore; Assembly to Be Livestreamed

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WASHINGTON - The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) will gather for the 2026 Fall Plenary Assembly in Baltimore, Maryland, November 16-19. The public sessions on November 17 and 18 will be livestreamed on the USCCB website.Throughout the week they are together, the bishops will have multiple opportunities to spend time in prayer and fraternal dialogue with one another. The public portion of the assembly will begin with an address by Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, president of the USCCB. The bishops will also hear from Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, the Papal Nuncio to the United States. Among the first items of business for the bishops during the plenary will be to vote for a Conference secretary. The position is up for election as Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend was elected last November to complete the term left vacant when Archbishop Coakley was elected Conference president. The bishops will also elect chairmen of six USCCB committees; the

New online courses help Catholics comfort those struggling with mental health

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VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- A U.S.-based Catholic association dedicated to mental health ministry released two new online resources to help lay Catholics understand the signs of mental health struggles and how to better accompany those seeking help.Sometimes a loved one or acquaintance seems "irritable, emotional or just absent from things they used to love. But you're not sure what's wrong. Most of us don't. We weren't trained to recognize mental illness," a trailer for the free video courses said."We want to help. But we're afraid of saying the wrong thing, making it worse," it said, especially by offering the usual platitudes: "Time heals all wounds"; "God has a plan"; and "God never gives us more than we can handle."Different members of the International Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers presented the trailer for the courses at Vatican News headquarters Oct. 10, World Mental Health Day. The news conference was part of its in

Church must listen to families, young people hesitant to marry, bishops say

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VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Bishops will go home from a weeklong meeting on marriage and family life, with a renewed commitment to listen to the realities of modern families as well as to reach young people and their hesitancy to marry."In a world increasingly shaped by robots, anonymity and isolation, the family has a prophetic role to play not only in society but in the future of humanity," Archbishop Charles Scicluna of Malta said at the conclusion of a Vatican gathering on marriage and family life.Speaking at an Oct. 14 briefing marking the end of a weeklong meeting Pope Leo XIV called to discuss what has been done in local churches to implement Pope Francis' 2016 document, "Amoris laetitia," on love in the family. Archbishop Scicluna and other participants said the text remains as relevant today as it was a decade ago, challenging the Church to listen to families before passing judgment and to meet people where they are.The gathering, held Oct. 7-14, brought to

Pope grateful for people's prayers, intends to resume duties 'gradually'

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VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- During his first full day back at the Vatican after lung cancer surgery, Pope Leo XIV thanked everyone who prayed for him and said he would "gradually" resume his duties."I would like to thank everyone who has prayed for me these past few days. I have truly felt your support. Thank you," he said to applause after praying the Angelus with those gathered in St. Peter's Square Oct. 18."I am especially grateful to the doctors, nurses and all the staff" at Rome's Gemelli hospital, where doctors removed the lower lobe of his right lung Oct. 13 after medical tests detected a suspicious growth that was later confirmed to be cancerous.Speaking in his usual forceful and clear voice, the 71-year-old pope said, "This experience has made me feel a special closeness to all those who are facing illness and infirmity.""Now that I have gotten through this delicate phase, as you know, I will gradually resume my activities, always with Go

Pope Leo leaves hospital four days after lung cancer surgery

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ROME (CNS) -- Just four days after undergoing surgery for lung cancer, Pope Leo XIV has left Rome's Gemelli hospital Oct. 17, days ahead of initial projections, and return to the Vatican in time for his Sunday Angelus prayer.Doctors cleared the pope for discharge after reviewing blood tests, a chest X-ray and his overall clinical condition, according to a Vatican communique released Oct. 17.A second announcement confirmed that Pope Leo would leave the hospital in the early afternoon and return to the Vatican. He is scheduled to recite the Angelus prayer Oct. 18 from the window of the papal apartment.Pope Leo has been hospitalized since Oct. 13, when he underwent surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung after medical tests detected a suspicious growth that was later confirmed to be cancerous. The removed tissue was diagnosed as adenocarcinoma, a type of cancer that develops in glandular cells.Throughout his hospitalization, the Vatican issued daily updates on his condition, re

Temporary protections for Ukrainians in US set to expire, trigger deportation, archbishop says

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ROME (CNS) -- "The clock is ticking" for more than 100,000 Ukrainians whose temporary protections allowing them to live and work in the United States are set to expire Oct. 19, the head of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia said.Without a policy change, people who relied on just temporary measures, including the Uniting for Ukraine humanitarian parole program, may be "constrained to leave the country; but many of them have no home to go back to," Archbishop Borys Gudziak told Catholic News Service during a visit to Rome and the Vatican Oct. 13.If they fail to apply to other legal channels to stay, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, known as "ICE, might subject them to deportation," he said.According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the temporary protected status (TPS) designation of Ukraine and related benefits were set to terminate Oct. 19. A bipartisan bill introduced in the House of Representatives Oct. 5 would ex

Members and Consultants for U.S. Bishops’ Task Force on Artificial Intelligence Announced

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WASHINGTON – The Administrative Committee of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) recently established the bishops’ Task Force on Preserving Human Dignity in the Age of Artificial Intelligence. Bishop Oscar Cantù of San José was appointed as its chairman who is joined by seven bishop members and three consultants. Bishop Members of the Task Force:Most Reverend Oscar Cantú, Chairman, Bishop of San JoséHis Eminence Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, Archbishop of ChicagoMost Reverend Paul D. Etienne, Archbishop of SeattleMost Reverend Shelton J. Fabre, Archbishop of LouisvilleMost Reverend Barry C. Knestout, Bishop of RichmondMost Reverend James Massa, Auxiliary Bishop of BrooklynMost Reverend Michael F. Olson, Bishop of Fort WorthMost Reverend Slawomir Szkredka, Auxiliary Bishop of Los AngelesConsultants to the Task Force:Charles Camosy, Ph.D., The Catholic University of America; Associate Professor of Moral Theology/EthicsKim Daniels,

Pope's recovery on track after lung cancer surgery, clergy praise his resolve

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VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Leo XIV is recovering as expected after undergoing surgery for lung cancer, the Vatican said Oct. 14, as U.S. Catholic leaders and longtime friends of the pope expressed concern for his health but confidence that his illness would not deter him from carrying out his mission.Pope Leo underwent surgery Oct. 13 at Rome's Gemelli hospital to remove the lower lobe of his right lung after medical tests detected a suspicious growth that was later confirmed to be cancerous. The removed tissue was diagnosed as adenocarcinoma, a type of cancer that develops in specialized glandular cells.His first night in the hospital passed peacefully, and doctors conducted blood tests and a chest X-ray as scheduled on his first day of recovery, according to Vatican communiques released Oct. 14."The results confirm a normal post-operative course: the values are within the expected range for the type of procedure performed," the Vatican said in an afternoon announcement rela

For Citizens in a Representative Democracy, Voting Is Both a Right and a Responsibility, Says Archbishop Coakley

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WASHINGTON – “For citizens in a representative democracy such as our own, participation in public life—including voting—is both a right and a responsibility,” said Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in a message leading up to Election Day in the United States on Tuesday, November 3. Archbishop Coakley’s full message follows:“In a time of deep political division, the temptation is to be discouraged and to not participate in the election process. But discouragement is not a Christian virtue. For citizens in a representative democracy such as our own, participation in public life—including voting—is both a right and a responsibility.“In honoring this civic duty, it is important to ensure that citizens not face unnecessary delays or complications in registering or exercising their right to vote. Together, we can contribute to the common good of our nation as faithful citizens

Cancerous tumor removed from Pope Leo's lung, Vatican says

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VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Doctors removed a cancerous tumor from Pope Leo XIV's lower lobe of his right lung, after pre-operative medical tests raised suspicions, according to a medical report released by the Vatican.The removed lung tissue was diagnosed as adenocarcinoma, a type of cancer that develops in the specialized cells lining certain internal organs."The Holy Father was in the operating room for about three hours; the surgery itself lasted approximately 90 minutes. The surgery was successful, and there were no complications," the Vatican press office said in a communique released late Oct. 13.With the assistance of a tiny video camera or thoracoscope, doctors at Rome's Gemelli hospital performed a "radical surgery" in which they removed the entire lower lobe of the right lung to ensure that the entire tumor and surrounding tissues were removed, it said. A priest prays before a statue of St. John Paul II outside of Rome's Gemelli hospital where Pope

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