Saint Joseph Catholic Church

Anglican Archbishop Stephen Cottrell of York, the Primate of England, presided at the midday service alongside the Roman Pontiff. Cardinal Vincent Nichols of Westminster, the president of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, also particiapated, as did Archbishop Leo Cushley of Edinburgh, Scotland.

“The very fact that we are here before you today is a miracle. We were all on Russian execution lists,” Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk said on October 21. “If Ukraine had been occupied, we would no longer be here—we would not be sitting in front of you now, but would be in torture chambers.”

The Major Archbishop added, “14 million people have fled their homes—that is almost three times the entire population of Norway. Almost 170,000 square kilometers were mined—that is half the territory of Norway. Four million homes were destroyed—that is almost all the homes of Norwegians.”

“Your contribution to the construction of a monument in Minago—the site of his assassination—as well as your involvement in the project to build a health center, your daily charitable works towards the poor, and so many other initiatives, transmit a powerful message to the Church in your country,” Pope Leo said.

“Millions of people are denied the basic right to religious freedom, a denial that fuels violent conflict and hinders human development,” said Bishops A. Elias Zaidan and Kevin Rhoades. “In recent years, for example, thousands of Christians and Muslims in Nigeria have been kidnapped and killed by Islamist extremists, while the government has imprisoned members of both religious groups for blasphemy.”

The prelates added, “We must stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters who are suffering, and resolve to do our part to promote religious freedom for all people around the world.”

Addressing Polish-speaking pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square for yesterday’s general audience, Pope Leo XIV said, “Today we celebrate the liturgical memorial of St. John Paul II. Exactly 47 years ago, in this Square, he exhorted the world to open itself to Christ. This appeal is still valid today: we are all called to make it our own.”

Daniel Epstein, described by Vatican News as “a Jewish marketing expert and photographer who has traveled the world between work and faith,” compiled the stories over a 25-year period and also took part in the press conference.

Cardinal Koovakad said that the photographs “speak to us of a common humanity, because the ‘other’ is part of a brotherhood that unites us.” Ruffini said that the images “take us back to the origins of who we are, brothers and sisters created in the image of God. They remind us that in dialogue, in the rediscovery of others, we find the essence of our faith.”

“This is certainly a very complex issue,” he said, “but we fail to understand why these Christians, who are simply living their normal lives, should be subjected to such hostility.”

Cardinal Parolin also lamented recent violence against journalists and said that the Holy See remained “full of hope” about the Gaza peace plan, despite recent violence.