Edition of Sunday, September 13

A federal district judge has temporarily exempted the Archdiocese of Chicago and two religious institutes from an Illinois assisted suicide law. The ruling stays the enforcement of the Illinois End-of-Life Options for Terminally Ill Patients Act while a lawsuit against the state continues.

Cardinal Blase Cupich, the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm, and the Little Sisters of the Poor filed the lawsuit last week alongside a pharmacist to block the law. Cardinal Cupich stated that the court decision protects constitutional rights to freedom of speech and religion. He noted that the Church is seeking to prevent the state from compelling Catholic healthcare providers to act against their conscience.

Pope Leo XIV will visit France from September 25 to 28, 2026, traveling to locations including Paris, Saint-Denis, Metz, and Lourdes. The trip includes a scheduled visit to the Place de la Concorde in Paris and a visit to Metz on September 28, where the Pope intends to highlight Europe and peace.

The bishops of France have requested donations to help cover the 27 million euro budget for the apostolic journey. Organizers expect at least one million participants.

Pope Leo XIV offered prayers for the victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks during the Angelus on Sunday, September 13, 2026.

Marking 25 years since the attacks, the Pope prayed for those who lost their lives and for those still carrying the wounds of that day. He invited the world to pray for peace, asking that the Lord grant the gift of peace to a world currently affected by conflict and violence. He called for a renewed commitment to working for peace.

Bishops of the Triveneto Episcopal Conference issued a unanimous statement regarding end-of-life care following a two-day meeting in Bibione, Venice. The bishops met on September 10 and 11, 2026, at the Santo Stefano Residence of the Diocese of Concordia-Pordenone to discuss recent legislation.

The bishops stated that there is no right to die, but rather a right to always be treated, assisted, accompanied, and never left alone.

During the gathering, the bishops held meetings with the new bishop of Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Pope Leo XIV sent a telegram to Rome's Chief Rabbi, Riccardo Di Segni, to offer greetings to the Jewish community for the autumn holidays of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot.

In his message, the Pope expressed hope that the celebrations would bring blessings from the Almighty and serve as a source of joy. He specifically wished for a peaceful and prosperous new beginning during Rosh Hashanah, inner peace and light during the silence of Yom Kippur, and joy and gratitude during the festival of Sukkot.

The Pope also expressed his respect and that of the Church, asking for continued growth in mutual friendship within Rome and throughout the world.

Catholic leaders said Sept. 11 that participating in elections and advocating for free and fair elections are key components of faithful citizenship for Catholics in the United States.

Study Group 7 of the Synod of Bishops has proposed changing the nature of ad limina visits to allow for greater involvement from the Catholic community. The group suggests that these periodic pilgrimages, where diocesan bishops visit the tombs of the apostles Peter and Paul to meet with the pope, should move away from being viewed primarily as administrative or canonical tasks.

The study group argues that these visits should serve as tools for missionary conversion, communal discernment, and increased co-responsibility within the Church. According to the group, the process should shift from routine administrative reporting toward a model of open exchange and mutual listening between local bishops and the Holy See.

This proposal is part of a broader examination by the group into the person and ministry of bishops, which includes the judicial functions of bishops and the criteria for selecting new candidates for the episcopate.

Bishops of the Puglia Episcopal Conference held an ordinary assembly on September 10 and 11 at the Pontifical Regional Seminary "Pio XI" in Molfetta. During the meeting, the bishops approved an exhortation titled "For a Culture of Care and Dignity Until the End," which addresses end-of-life issues and the protection of human dignity.

Giuseppe Satriano, the Archbishop of Bari-Bitonto and president of the conference, opened the proceedings following an initial prayer. In addition to discussing the exhortation on euthanasia and dignity, the bishops discussed a call for sports spaces within oratories.