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Find room in your heart for everyone, pope tells new bishops

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VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Everyone needs to feel there is room for them in their bishop's heart, Pope Leo XIV said."Love the people that the Lord has entrusted to you" and boldly bring the Good News of salvation to everyone, the pope told about 147 bishops from five continents attending a course for bishops ordained in the past year."We live in an era of rapid change," the pope told them Sept. 10 in the Vatican Synod Hall. "Advances in communication technologies and artificial intelligence have opened up possibilities," but "they certainly cannot free humanity from sin and its consequences: the crises we are currently facing tragically demonstrate this."Nonetheless, the Church celebrated the Jubilee of Hope last year, not because she "lives apart from the world" but because "she is sent by Christ, who died and rose again, to proclaim the Gospel of salvation to all," he said."We bishops are the first recipients of this mandate

Black Catholics need stronger voice in Catholic Church, Bishop Boxie says

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(ROME) CNS -- If Bishop Robert Paul Boxie was selected to become a bishop just because he is Black, he said he is comfortable with that."Some people may believe I've been selected, picked, because I'm Black," he said in an interview with Catholic News Service's 'Vatican Access.' "I've thought about this, I’ve reflected on it, and you know what, I'm actually okay with that."One of the newest bishops Pope Leo XIV appointed in the U.S. said racism remains an undercurrent in the Catholic Church, recounting his own encounters with it in the seminary and calling for greater Black representation in the hierarchy, parish life and the church's understanding of holiness.Bishop Boxie, who was named auxiliary bishop of Washington, said some critics have labeled him a "DEI bishop," a phrase he dismissed as a "dog whistle" suggesting that a Black person was elevated as part of a diversity, equity and inclusion program at the expense of someone more quali

Marking September 11 Anniversary, Archbishop Coakley Offers Prayers and Encourages Continued Commitment to be Instruments of Peace

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WASHINGTON - “As conflicts intensify around the world, let us renew our commitment to be Christ’s instruments of peace in an increasingly fractured and divided world,” said Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, in a statement marking the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Archbishop Coakley’s statement follows: “As we prayerfully remember the tragedy of September 11, 2001, I invite all Catholics to join me in prayer for the victims taken from us in acts of unjustifiable violence 25 years ago at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and in rural Pennsylvania. In a special way, we lovingly embrace in prayer the victims’ families and friends, who still mourn the irretrievable loss of their loved ones on that day. We also remember the first responders and emergency workers, so many who gave their lives in selfless acts of courage. “Amid that terrible

Pope calls for promoting, protecting human dignity

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VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Christians can help overcome the many distortions and lies about the true dignity of every human person and, in doing so, promote and defend human life, Pope Leo XIV said."Created in God's image, through Christ and for His sake, we have received a unique and indelible dignity. Let us commit ourselves to promoting and defending it always, with the light and strength of the Gospel," he said during his weekly general audience talk in St. Peter's Square Sept. 9."This dignity is entrusted to the responsibility of each person: at the same time, it also demands solidarity and mutual care, overcoming the many falsifications and manipulations that still disfigure our perception of it and hinder its realization," he said, continuing his series of talks on documents from the Second Vatican Council.The first chapter of the conciliar constitution, "Gaudium et Spes," underlined that the foundation and condition for the world's most cherished values

“Three Nations, One Church, One People Walking in Communion”

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WASHINGTON – A delegation of bishops representing the episcopal conferences of Mexico, Canada, and the United States met this week with a spirit of fraternity, prayer and dialogue. Bishop Daniel E. Flores, vice president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and Bishop Oscar Cantú, chairman of the USCCB’s Subcommittee for Latin American Affairs were in attendance as delegates. The joint communique released after their meeting stated, “During these days, the social, political, economic and ecclesial realities of their respective countries were shared, and some of the main issues that today challenge the Church in the region of North America were addressed: in a particular way, human mobility and the question of migration, the dignity of the human person in the age of artificial intelligence, evangelization, and the possibilities of pastoral collaboration among the Churches in Mexico, in the United States and in Canada.”Read the full commu

Pope Leo says 'It is not yet too late' to care for creation

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VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Leo XIV began the five-week Season of Creation by calling on the faithful to step away from the frenzy of daily life to "hear the melodious voice of creation," stressing that "it is not yet too late" to repair humanity's relationship with the environment.Celebrating Mass on the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation in the gardens of the papal villa and the Borgo Laudato Si' ecology project in Castel Gandolfo, Sept. 1, the pope said contemplating creation and its Creator should lead people to recognize their responsibility for protecting it."Thus, as we become conscious of our shortcomings and failures, we can renew our commitment to restoring the relationships among all creatures according to the will of their Creator," he said.The theme chosen for the 2026 World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation echoes the biblical call to "beat swords into plowshares" and connects armed conflict with environmental destruct

Catholics cannot be 'unengaged spectators' amid current events, pope says

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VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The faithful are called to leave behind "all passivity and indifference" toward current events and the lives of others, especially amid the "rapid and profound changes we are experiencing today," Pope Leo XIV said at his weekly general audience."We cannot remain as unengaged spectators; rather, we must listen with our hearts, allow ourselves to be challenged, and become involved," the pope said Sept. 2 in St. Peter’s Square."With Christ and sustained by the power of His Spirit, believers are called to take on the burdens of their brothers and sisters, especially those who are crushed by injustice, discrimination and violence," he said.Pope Leo began a new series of reflections on the Second Vatican Council's pastoral constitution "Gaudium et Spes," which examines the relationship between the Church and the modern world.Recalling St. John XXIII's warning against the "prophets of doom," who regarded t

Archbishop Fabre Encourages All To Be ‘Builders of Communion’ and Ensure That Innovation and Development Benefit All

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WASHINGTON – This Labor Day, “let us foster an economy that values the God given dignity of each person,” said Archbishop Shelton J. Fabre, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, in a statement released ahead of Labor Day (Sept. 7).Echoing Pope Leo XIV in Magnifica humanitas, Archbishop Fabre offers the Catholic Church’s fundamental commitment to sacred human dignity as a hopeful vision amidst a challenging economy, further threatened by artificial intelligence which is already impacting the job market. We must build a just economy for all and “listen to the experiences of workers, families, young people and communities of color as they struggle to find stability,” he says. He offers encouragement saying, “As new technology reshapes our economy and our work, let us be ‘builders of communion,’ ensuring that innovation and development is for the benefit of a

Never let injustice, evil in the world corrupt your heart, pope tells faithful

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CASTEL GANDOLFO (CNS) -- Whatever the injustice or injury, do not revert to hatred or violence, Pope Leo XIV told the faithful, because only love, hope, forgiveness and respect will protect and promote human dignity."We are in such need of life, hope, serenity and peace -- within ourselves, in our cities and among people and nations. For this reason, whatever the wound, whatever the offense, let us not allow evil to disfigure our humanity or corrupt our hearts!" he said in his homily at a Mass Aug. 29, marking the feast of Our Lady of the Lake in the town of Castel Gandolfo."Let us not conform to the mindset of this world" and not get discouraged, he said. "Let us continue to love, to give and to forgive, offering ourselves 'as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God,' so that we may preserve and nurture -- in ourselves and in others -- the infinite dignity of the divine image we bear in our souls." Pope Leo XIV rides in a boat in Lake Al

Bishop Zaidan Encourages Robust International Humanitarian Response Following Devastating Floods in Nepal

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WASHINGTON – “I exhort the international community to mobilize greater humanitarian assistance support for vulnerable families and communities in Nepal,” said Bishop A. Elias Zaidan, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace, commenting on the deadly flashfloods in Nepal. Bishop Zaidan’s statement follows: “As we learn more about the devastating flashfloods in Nepal, I offer the prayers and solidarity of the Catholic community in the United States for our brothers and sisters impacted by this disaster. I exhort the international community to mobilize greater humanitarian assistance support for vulnerable families and communities in Nepal. I also encourage long-term efforts to help affected communities rebuild their homes, livelihoods, and critical infrastructure. “Catholic Relief Services, the international relief agency of the Church in the United States, is clos

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