Edition of Monday, September 21

Pope Leo XIV led the Angelus prayer with pilgrims and the faithful in St. Peter's Square on Sunday, September 20, 2026. Appearing from his window at the Apostolic Palace, the Pope shared reflections on the readings for the 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time.

The Pope noted that the Gospel parable of the workers in the vineyard reveals how people often resist God's generous justice and greater love. He pointed out that the landowner instructed the manager to pay workers starting with the last and ending with the first. According to the Pope, this intentional detail shows that God's goodness is intended for everyone rather than a select few.

He also referenced the prophet Isaiah to offer hope, stating that God's thoughts and ways differ from human ones. The Pope concluded by saying it is a grace to serve as collaborators with God by working in his vineyard to serve a kingdom of justice and peace.

The beatification of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen is scheduled for Sept. 24 in St. Louis at the Dome at America’s Center. Tickets for the beatification Mass remain available, and most related events will be livestreamed.

A series of evening Holy Hours is currently underway at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception in Peoria, Illinois, where Sheen was ordained and where his remains are entombed. This nine-day prayer series, organized as a novena, runs through Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. CDT. Catholic leaders from the Diocese of Peoria and other areas are participating in the sessions, which are also being archived on the diocese’s YouTube channel.

On Sept. 19, the Peoria cathedral hosted a family Holy Hour and tour from 10 a.m. to noon, featuring 45 minutes of Eucharistic adoration with Bishop Tylka. The schedule of speakers and reflections for the pilgrimage events can be found at celebratesheen.com/pilgrimage.

Bishop Louis Tylka presided over a Mass on September 20 to mark the anniversary of the priestly ordination of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen. The liturgy took place at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception in the Diocese of Peoria, where the remains of the late archbishop are entombed.

Father Peter James Alindogan, the pastor of St. Veronica in Howell, New Jersey, served as the homilist for the Mass. Father Alindogan, who also directs the Office of Missions for the Diocese of Trenton, was invited to preach by Msgr. Jason A. Gray, the cathedral rector and executive director of the Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Foundation.

During his homily, Father Alindogan said Archbishop Sheen knew Jesus Christ and understood that the Gospel directs people outward to share God's love. He described the late archbishop as a master communicator and a pioneer in Catholic media who used a blackboard and chalk to explain theology to the public.

Bishop Joseph C. Bambera released a video message on Sept. 18 to extend warm wishes to the Jewish community ahead of Yom Kippur. In the message, posted to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' YouTube channel, the bishop of Scranton, Pennsylvania, urged Catholics to reject antisemitism and recognize the deep spiritual bonds between Jews and Catholics.

Bambera, who chairs the USCCB Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, noted that the themes of repentance and reconciliation central to the Day of Atonement also resonate with Catholics. He stated that the observance invites a reflection on the past year and a commitment to the year ahead, emphasizing that relationships with God and others call for continuous renewal and more faithful living.

The bishop described the relationship between the two faiths as being rooted in shared scriptural texts and a common patrimony rather than being a simple matter of dialogue. He called for the building of genuine friendship and understanding, stating that Catholics are called to oppose all forms of hatred and deepen their understanding of Jewish people.

Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, was observed in 2026 from sunset on Sept. 20 to nightfall on Sept. 21. The holiday is marked by approximately 26 hours of prayer, fasting, and abstinence.

Nearly 600,000 people registered for the open-air Mass with Pope Leo XIV in Paris before registration closed on Sept. 16. Archbishop Laurent Ulrich of Paris announced the high turnout for the event, which is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Sept. 26 at the Place de la Concorde and the Champs-Élysées.

The large number of participants forced organizers to expand the security perimeter beyond its original size. To accommodate the crowd, the Archdiocese of Paris established an overflow zone stretching from the Place de l'Étoile along Avenue de la Grande-Armée toward Porte Maillot. General coordinator Hervé Wattecamps noted that registrations were increasing by 8,000 people daily during the final period before the deadline.

Registration for the Mass opened on Aug. 10, with more than 200,000 people signing up within the first few hours. Additionally, all 80,000 available spots for a youth vigil at the Stade de France on Sept. 25 were claimed shortly after they became available. For the upcoming Mass, gates are scheduled to open at 9 a.m., and the Pope is expected to arrive at the Champs-Élysées at 1:45 p.m. local time.

Archbishop William Lori described women religious as often-overlooked architects of American freedom during the US national assembly of women religious major superiors.

Speaking at the assembly, Archbishop Lori said the holiness and service of these women remain essential for renewing both the Church and society.

The Laudato Si’ Center for Higher Education is meeting with world leaders in New York to discuss artificial intelligence, human dignity, and the common good. The invitation-only meetings, known as the Borgo Dialogues, began on Sept. 20 and will run through Sept. 23 alongside the United Nations General Assembly.

The gathering brings together leaders from business, finance, academia, healthcare, sports, civil society, and international institutions. Participants will address topics including the transformation of work due to AI, sustainable development, and healthcare. According to a news release, the discussions center on the question of what is being built, for whom, and who will inherit it.

Cardinal Fabio Baggio, the director general of the Laudato Si’ Center and founder of the Borgo Dialogues, said the meetings provide a space for leaders to engage in honest questions and build trust to uphold human dignity. The initiative began in June with a meeting at the Vatican and is inspired by the encyclicals Laudato Si’ and Fratelli Tutti by Pope Francis, as well as Magnifica Humanitas by Pope Leo XIV.

Advocates are urging President Donald Trump to address human rights during his upcoming meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The requested topics include religious freedom and the imprisonment of Jimmy Lai.

The planned summit in Washington, D.C., marks Xi's first visit to the city since 2015 and is expected to include a state dinner. While the meeting is expected to cover artificial intelligence, the war in Iran, and a potential U.S. arms deal with Taiwan, advocates want human rights to remain a priority.

Mary Ellen O'Connell, a professor at Notre Dame Law School specializing in international law and conflict resolution, noted that Xi is traveling to Washington for a state visit rather than attending high-level week at the United Nations in New York. O'Connell suggested that diplomats in New York would likely press him on the oppression of Roman Catholics and other people of faith, as well as Russia's oil sales that fuel the war in Ukraine.

The state dinner is expected to feature several technology leaders, including OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, and Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon.

Pope Leo XIV has urged bishops in Latin America and the Caribbean to engage directly with their communities rather than leading from behind desks. In a letter dated September 8, the pope encouraged bishops to conduct pastoral visits, listen to their people, and reach out to those who rarely interact with Church leadership.

The Vatican released the letter on September 19 to mark the 300th anniversary of the canonization of St. Turibius of Mogrovejo. The pope cited the 16th-century Spanish missionary bishop, who traveled throughout Peru, as a model for modern pastoral leadership. Pope Leo XIV noted that his own episcopal ministry in Peru helped him understand the importance of being a shepherd by experiencing the faith of the people firsthand.

The pope advised bishops to stay close to priests, protect the vulnerable, and support the spiritual lives of the faithful through practices like Eucharistic adoration. He also called for bishops to maintain communion with the Church and the Successor of Peter, emphasizing that their ministry requires both spiritual focus and active presence on the ground.

The Archdiocese of Monterrey is launching a mobile chapel to bring the Blessed Sacrament to neighborhoods where churches are far away or difficult to access. The van will travel to peripheral areas and locations with high foot traffic, such as parks and recreational centers.

The project, which is part of the celebrations for the 250th anniversary of the Archdiocese of Monterrey, is expected to begin operating by the end of September. Archbishop Rogelio Cabrera López assigned the project to Father Adrián Villagrán, the parish priest of the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, who helped adapt the vehicle. The idea originated from a lay couple motivated by their devotion to the Virgin of Guadalupe.

The van is equipped with an altar, two kneelers, and two seats. The design allows for the protection of the monstrance and provides space for a priest to hear confessions. According to Father Ignacio Pulido Mendiola, the archdiocese's communications director, the mobile chapel aims to provide Eucharistic presence, prayer, and confession in challenging territories used by migrants and affected by drug trafficking violence.