Saint Joseph Catholic Church

Pope Leo XIV today named Archbishop Paolo Rudelli, the apostolic nuncio to Colombia, as the new Sostituto. The Pontiff also named Archbishop Petar Rajič, the apostolic nuncio to Italy and San Marino, as the new Prefect of the Papal Household, and in doing so filled a position that has been vacant for three years.

The 13-year decline in the number of major seminarians worldwide accelerated during 2024, the last full year of Pope Francis’s pontificate, according to statistics published in the new editions of the Annuarium Statisticum Ecclesiae (2024 edition) and Annuario Pontificio (2026 edition).

Pope Leo XIV celebrated Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square this morning (booklet, video) and emphasized in his homily that Jesus is the King of Peace.

Bishop Aldo Berardi, O.SS.T., whose territory covers Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, told AsiaNews that Israel and the United States “said they wanted to reach a deal, then they bombed and killed (Iran’s) political and religious leader (Ali Khamenei). People understand that (Iran) is now trying to defend itself.”

Bishop Berardi said that residents of the Persian Gulf states “are wondering why, despite the money spent on protection, bases, and weapons, we have been attacked so hard” by Iran.

“At first, it was thought that (the war) could be over in a week,” the prelate continued; he said that Iran responded “violently,” albeit “legitimately.”