Lord we pray "Help me to continually increase parish vitality and reflect the presence of Christ in the world."

Browsing News Entries

Browsing News Entries

Father Juan Ochagavía, theological advisor at Vatican II, dies at 97 (L'Osservatore Romano (Italian))

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).

Founder of Little Brothers of Jesus Caritas dies at 91 (Servizio Informazione Religiosa)

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.

Vatican official says digital missionaries should be rooted in prayer, Scripture (Vatican News (Italian))

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.

Vatican City appeals court finds partial mistrial in 'trial of the century' (Vatican News)

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.

Pope Leo to receive Liberty Medal, deliver livestream talk to Americans on July 3 (National Constitution Center)

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.

In election statement, Peru's bishops warn against polarization (Conferencia Episcopal Peruana)

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.”

Pope, in audience on Vatican II, reflects on Church as a priestly and prophetic people (CWN)

Continuing his series of Wednesday general audiences on the Second Vatican Council and its documents, Pope Leo XIV devoted his audience today to the Church as a priestly and prophetic people.

Vatican newspaper rues hospital airstrike in Afghanistan-Pakistan conflict (L'Osservatore Romano (Italian))

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.”

Scottish lawmakers reject assisted suicide (Bishops' Conference of Scotland)

The Bishops’ Conference of Scotland welcomed the Scottish Parliament’s 69-57 vote against assisted suicide legislation.

“As a society, our responsibility is not to address suffering by eliminating the sufferer, but to surround each person with care, respect, and dignity until their natural end,” said Bishop John Keenan, president of the episcopal conference. “Today’s decision moves Scotland further in that direction.”

Proclaim the Gospel and safeguard life, Pope tells leaders of Church in the Amazon (Dicastery for Communication (Spanish))

In a video message to participants in the 6th Assembly of the Ecclesial Conference of the Amazon (CEAMA), which is taking place in Bogotá (Colombia), Pope Leo XIV said that “the current context calls for an adequate response to the many social, environmental, cultural and ecclesial challenges that persist in the Amazon, which is threatened by situations of abuse and exploitation.”

“In this context, the passion flower, whose peculiar shape makes an impressive allusion to the Passion of Christ and which you have chosen as the symbol of the Assembly, represents the prophetic role of the Church and of all its members, each according to his or her mission: to proclaim the kerygma and new life in Christ, to accompany those who suffer, to safeguard creation and respect for life in all its forms, especially human life,” Pope Leo said.