Saint Joseph Catholic Church

Pope Leo XIV, in a March 13 audience, expressed his “gratitude to the Fondazione Cattolica and the Società Cattolica di Assicurazione (Catholic Insurance Society) for their constant commitment to fostering an active Catholic presence in Italian society.”

The Pope said that the Catholic Insurance Society was founded in 1896 with “broad popular participation” and “subsequently developed alongside the country, helping communities to overcome the traumas of the two world wars.”

“Twenty years ago, in a very different context but building on those same foundations, the Fondazione Cattolica was established, recognizing the fundamental role of the third sector in supporting communities, individuals and families living in conditions of greater vulnerability and social marginalization,” the Pope added.

“The fact that the Sacrament can be received repeatedly is not always matched by a willingness on the part of the baptized to make use of it: it is as though the infinite treasure of the Church’s mercy remained ‘unused,’ due to a widespread distraction among Christians who, not infrequently, remain in a state of sin for a long time, rather than approaching the confessional with simplicity of faith and heart to receive the gift of the Risen Lord,” the Pope said on March 13 to participants in an annual course on the internal forum offered by the Apostolic Penitentiary.

Pope Leo also spoke of the sacrament as a “workshop of unity,” explaining:

It restores unity with God through the forgiveness of sins and the infusion of sanctifying grace. This fosters the inner unity of the individual and unity with the Church; consequently, it also promotes peace and unity within the human family. One might well ask: do those Christians who bear grave responsibility in armed conflicts have the humility and courage to make a serious examination of conscience and to go to confession?

“This dynamism of unity with God, with the Church and within ourselves is a prerequisite for peace among people and nations: only a reconciled person is capable of living in an unarmed and disarming way,” the Pope added. “Those who lay down the weapons of pride and allow themselves to be continually renewed by God’s forgiveness become agents of reconciliation in everyday life. In him or her are fulfilled the words attributed to Saint Francis of Assisi: ‘Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.’”

Archbishop Paolo Borgia, the apostolic nuncio to Lebanon, brought food to Christian villages in southern Lebanon that have been affected by the current war between Israel and Hezbollah.

The Vatican newspaper warned that the Iran war has disrupted the education of 52 million children.

Deacon John Zak’s death “is a great shock to his family and to our parish,” said Father John Broheimer of St. Peter’s Parish, as he paid tribute to the deacon’s 25 years of ministry there.