Saint Joseph Catholic Church

The Oregon board imposed a fine of nearly $90,000 on the counselor. After the counselor filed a lawsuit, the board cited a recent Supreme Court decision as it withdrew its imposition of the fine and continuing education.

Seven Polish dioceses will have no ordinations this year.

“Poland’s fertility rate fell to a new low of 1.068 in 2025, well below the replacement level of 2.1,” The Pillar added in its report. “The country’s state statistics agency has projected that the population could fall from around 37.3 million currently to 29.4 million by 2060, a decline of more than 20% over the next 35 years.”

In his June 20 homily, Cardinal McElroy said that he found hope in a Synod study group report on doctrinal issues, as well as in Pope Leo’s remark in a press conference that “the unity or division of the Church should not revolve around sexual matters.” (The Pope went on to say that “the Holy See has made it clear that we do not agree with the formalized blessing of couples, in this case, homosexual couples, as you asked, or couples in irregular situations.”)

“The visit expresses the pastoral responsibility of the Churches of Jerusalem toward the local churches and toward the whole population of Gaza, where families continue to endure grave humanitarian suffering, fear, loss and uncertainty,” the Latin Patriarchate said in a statement.

The prelates’ presence “carries the prayer of Jerusalem to Gaza’s wounded faithful and to all who suffer, in a ministry of consolation, mercy and steadfast Christian witness rooted in the Gospel and in the sacred vocation of the Holy City,” the statement added.

Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, the retired president of the Pontifical Academy for Life (2016-2025) and grand chancellor of John Paul II Pontifical Theological Institute for Marriage and Family Sciences (2017-2025), offered strong criticism of the two institutions before he assumed leadership.

The ordination Mass took place at a Marian shrine in Padua, where, as a seminarian, the future prelate provided voluntary medical care to persons with disabilities. (Pegoraro studied medicine before entering seminary.)

Courage “does not spring spontaneously from our own fearless spirit; rather, it is anchored in the unshakable certainty that the lives of Jesus’ disciples are guarded by the Father’s unfailing faithfulness,” Cardinal Parolin preached. “Jesus is certain that God is the jealous guardian of human life and knows that no human force can tear it away from His care.”

Born in 1959 and ordained a priest of the Diocese of Padua in 1989, Pegoraro was named chancellor of the pontifical academy in 2011 and its president in May 2025, shortly after Pope Leo’s election.

Pope Leo XIV marked the centenary of the birth of Venerable Jérôme Lejeune (1926-1994) by receiving staff of the Jerome Lejeune Foundaton, members of his family, and persons with Down syndrome.

The implementation phase culminates in an ecclesial assembly in Rome in October 2028. Prior to that, diocesan assemblies are scheduled to take place during the first half of 2027; national assemblies, during the second half of 2027; and continental assemblies, during the first four months of 2028 (Towards the Assemblies 2027-2028, p. 5).

The theme of the congress, held in Tagaytay City, was “Called to Unity: Grow in Mission.” Members of ten Christian traditions were present.

Located in Southeast Asia, the Philippines (map) is the 13th most populous nation in the world. The nation of 120.1 million is 90% Christian (69% Catholic), 6% Muslim, and 2% ethnic religionist.