Saint Joseph Catholic Church

commentary

Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, the new apostolic nuncio to the United States, spoke at a recent UN event commemorating the International Day to Combat Islamophobia.

Linking Islamophobia to lack of respect for other religions and for religious freedom, Archbishop Caccia said that “the growing instances of intolerance, discrimination and hostility targeting Muslims, Jews, Christians and followers of other traditional religions stem from a failure to recognize and defend the right to freedom of religion or belief.”

“The persistence of Islamophobia in the world is a clear reminder of how urgently religious freedom must be upheld,” he added. “Discrimination and violence against Muslims not only harm individuals, but also damages the spiritual, moral, and social fabric of societies at large, weakening the bonds of trust and solidarity that humanity particularly needs in the current international context.”

The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem deplored religious justifications for the conflicts in the Middle East.

“The abuse and manipulation of God’s name to justify this and any other war is the gravest sin we can commit at this time,” Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, OFM, said during a webinar. “War is first and foremost political and has very material interests, like most wars. We must do everything we can to leave no room for this pseudo-religious language, which speaks not of God, but of ourselves.”

Asked specifically about Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s recent reference to Psalm 144, Cardinal Pizzaballa said:

We need to say that no, there are no new crusades. If God is present in this war, He is among those who are dying, who are suffering, who are in pain, who are oppressed in various ways, throughout the Middle East—I am not saying on one side or the other.

This conflict has religious connotations, but they are manipulations: those who wish to bring religion into it exploit the name of God.

Father Juan Ochagavía Lorrain, a Chilean Jesuit who influenced the drafting of the Second Vatican Council’s Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, died on March 16 at the age of 97.

CELAM (the Episcopal Conference of Latin America) hailed Father Ochagavía, the theological advisor to Cardinal Raúl Silva Henríquez of Santiago, as “one of the most important Latin American figures” at the Second Vatican Council.

Father Ochagavía later served as Jesuit provincial in Chile (1972-1978) and assistant to the Superior General of the Society of Jesus (1982-1991).

Father Gian Carlo Sibilia, who founded the Little Brothers of Jesus Caritas in 1969 and led the institute until 2017, died on March 16 at the age of 91.

Inspired by the spirituality of St. Charles de Foucauld, the Little Brothers of Jesus Caritas engage in Eucharistic adoration, manual labor, and service in parishes.

Addressing a conference on March 17, a Vatican official said that digital missionaries, like other missionaries, should be rooted in prayer, Sacred Scripture, and the teaching of the Church.

“The digital missionary is no different from any other missionary: he or she must be a man or woman of the Church, with deep roots in prayer, Scripture, the Magisterium, and community life,” said Msgr. Lucio Adrian Ruiz, the secretary of the Dicastery for Communication.

He added:

Although the digital realm is a valuable tool for the initial proclamation, the mission cannot end there. Just as Jesus invited His disciples to ‘Come and see,’ so too must the digital mission lead beyond the screen—toward the community, the Eucharist, and a catechetical journey that enables one to discover the beauty of God’s presence within the Church.

The Court of Appeal of Vatican City State declared a partial mistrial in the December 2023 conviction of Cardinal Angelo Becciu and eight other defendants for financial crimes.

“The Court has directed the renewal of specific phases of the trial, including the re-examination of certain witnesses and evidentiary elements, and has identified procedural shortcomings that require remedy at the appellate level,” Vatican News reported. The Court upheld Pope Francis’s authority to issue rescripts that affected the case, but ruled that ‘lack of timely publication of one Rescript may have affected the validity of specific investigative measures adopted on its basis.”

The Court also ruled that “Vatican prosecutors made procedural errors that nullified the original indictment against Cardinal Angelo Becciu and the others and required a new trial,” according to Vatican News, the news agency of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication. “At the same time, the Court clarified that the partial mistrial does not invalidate the entirety of the first-instance proceedings. Both the trial and the judgment retain their juridical effects.”

The Associated Press described the appellate ruling as “a stunning blow to both Pope Francis’ legacy and Vatican prosecutors who had put a cardinal and several other people on trial over alleged financial crimes.”

“in ruling that Francis was effectively exercising legislative power under the heading of an administrative act, the judges made what appears to be an unprecedented ruling, effectively bringing the procedural legitimacy of papal legal acts under the court’s power of judicial review,” The Pillar reported.

The National Constitution Center, located at Independence Mall in Philadelphia, announced that Pope Leo XIV will receive its Liberty Medal in a public ceremony at the Vatican on July 3, the eve of the 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence.

The Pontiff will deliver a livestream virtual address to those in attendance at Independence Mall.

“The Holy Father is deeply grateful to the National Constitution Center for this prestigious award, in such a meaningful anniversary for the American People, as they are called to reflect on the 250 years of their history holding the Constitution of the United States and Liberty as hallmarks of their heritage for future generations,” said Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See Press Office.

Leaders of the Peruvian Episcopal Conference warned against polarization in a statement ahead of the April general election. The election follows the removal of President José Jerí from office on February 17.

“We are deeply concerned by the profound social fragmentation currently afflicting our country,” the conference’s Permanent Council stated. “Political polarization, distrust of institutions, the use of power for private interests, political instability that hinders the development of serious policies, ever-widening social gaps, and the weakening of the communal fabric all generate a climate of confrontation.”

“We invite citizens to evaluate whether the moral integrity, the ethical track record, and the proposals of those aspiring to govern the country are truly oriented toward the common good,” the bishops continued. “Our country needs leaders characterized by honesty, transparency, and consistency between their words and their actions—individuals capable of exercising power with responsibility, competence, and an authentic spirit of service.”

“An authentic democracy demands respect for the Rule of Law, for institutions, and for civic participation,” the bishops added. “From this same perspective, it is important to assess the candidates’ commitment to upholding human dignity, protecting individual rights, ensuring public safety, fostering social inclusion, and respecting the cultural diversity of our country.”

With the headline “Un’altra strage di civili” (Another massacre of civilians), L’Osservatore Romano devoted the most prominent article in its March 17 edition to the Kabul hospital airstrike in the Afghanistan–Pakistan conflict.

“Another war continues unabated: the conflict between Afghanistan and Pakistan,” the newspaper reported. ‘The toll from a raid on a hospital in Kabul is tragic: over 400 dead. The Taliban accuses Islamabad, which, however, denies all responsibility.”