Saint Joseph Catholic Church

Pope Leo XIV decried violence against women, in a reply to a letter whose author implored him, “Pope Leo, help us to stop violence against women.”

Women “are a sign of contradiction in this confused, uncertain and violent society, because they point us towards values of faith, freedom, equality, generativity, hope, solidarity and justice,” the Pope wrote in his reply. “Violence, any violence, is the line that divides civilization from barbarism.”

“We must never underestimate an act of violence, and we must not be afraid to denounce violence, including the climate of justification that mitigates or denies responsibility,” he continued. “Walking together in mutual respect for our humanity is not a dream, but the only possible reality for building a world of light for all.”

The exchange was published in Piazza San Pietro, a magazine published under the Vatican basilica’s auspices. Pope Leo has continued his predecessor’s custom of answering one letter in each issue.

In a 48-6 vote, Luxembourg’s legislature enshrined the “freedom to abort” in the nation’s constitution. Abortion has been legal there since 1978.

Located in Western Europe, the nation of 690,000 (map) is 72% Christian (70% Catholic) and 4% Muslim.

The three members of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina met with Pope Leo XIV on March 9.

The nation’s leaders then met with Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations.

According to a Vatican statement, the parties discussed the “need for inclusive and constructive dialogue in order to ensure the stability of the country and the juridical and social equality of all its constituent peoples,” as well as “peace and security in the Western Balkans and the repercussions of the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.”

Bosnia and Herzegovina, a Balkan nation of 3.7 million (map), is 50% Christian (40% Orthodox, 10% Catholic) and 46% Muslim. Pope Francis made an apostolic journey to Sarajevo, the nation’s capital, in 2015.

Pope Leo XIV presided over a meeting of the heads of the dicasteries of the Roman Curia in the Apostolic Palace on March 9. The Vatican did not release a list of the topics on the agenda.

The Pontiff chaired a similar meeting on November 10.

Between 2013 and 2024, Pope Francis met regularly with the members of the nine-member advisory Council of Cardinals that he established shortly after becoming Pope. In contrast, Pope Leo has planned regular meetings with the entire College of Cardinals.

In a message to International Encounter for Peace and Reconciliation at Loyola University Chicago, Pope Leo XIV offered three “principles to keep in mind as you move forward with this noble initiative”:

• “First, true peace is not simply the absence of conflict, but rather is God’s gift.”
• “Second, if we wish to promote concord on a global level, it is necessary to seek the engagement and commitment of the international community for the sake of the common good, which transcends borders, faith traditions and cultures.”
• “Third, true harmony is rooted in the reconciliation that God has brought to us through his only Son, Jesus Christ, by his death and resurrection.”

The international encounter was organized in collaboration with the Pontifical Commission for Latin America as part of the Building Bridges Initiative, launched by Pope Francis in 2022. Pope Leo’s message, dated March 2, was released on March 7.

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commentary

Cardinal Dominique Mathieu, OFM Conv, the Belgian missionary cardinal archbishop of Tehran, left Iran with Italian embassy staff and arrived in Rome on March 8.

“I arrived in Rome yesterday, not without regret and sorrow for our brothers and sisters in Iran, as part of the complete evacuation of the Italian embassy, ​​[where] the archdiocese [is located],” Cardinal Mathieu told a Belgian news agency on March 9. “Until I return there, pray for the conversion of hearts to inner peace.”

The point at which we most quickly become Pharisees is in refusing forgiveness. Failing often in greater or lesser ways, everyone must constantly ask forgiveness of God and men. Besides, the duty of forgiveness is binding upon all souls, and in regard to all. Only when fraternal correction fails and the common good requires, does authority step in to heal the damage of scandal by corrective action. Everyone else must forgive and love and keep strong the bond of brotherhood. United in love and in worship, especially at Mass and Holy Communion, we are one in Christ and sure to be heard by his Father when we pray.

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