Edition of Thursday, September 24

The High Court of Sri Lanka sentenced 15 men to prison terms ranging from 200 to 260 years on September 22 for their roles in the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings. The three-judge panel in Colombo also ordered the confiscation of the defendants' assets and property.

The sentences follow a trial involving more than 23,000 charges, including murder and conspiracy to commit terrorism. Among those convicted is Mohamed Naufar, an Islamist preacher identified by prosecutors as a ringleader; he received 220 years. The specific sentences included one defendant receiving 260 years, four receiving 240 years, five receiving 220 years, and five receiving 200 years. Nine other defendants were acquitted due to insufficient evidence.

The April 21, 2019, attacks targeted three churches and three luxury hotels, killing 279 people, including 45 foreigners. While the individuals who physically carried out the bombings are deceased, the trial addressed those accused of planning or inspiring the attacks.

Father Jude Chrysantha Fernando, director of the communications and media office for the Archdiocese of Colombo, said the verdict moves the country toward truth and justice. He noted that the convictions represent only one part of the case and urged authorities to investigate whether individuals facilitated the massacre to gain political power or if security officials had enough information to prevent the attacks.

Pope Leo XIV will venerate the Holy Tunic of Argenteuil during his visit to France from Sept. 25 to 28. The pontiff is scheduled to venerate the relic, which is believed to be the seamless robe worn by Christ during his Passion, during a prayer vigil at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis on the evening of Sept. 25.

The vigil will include 80,000 young people between the ages of 17 and 35. Before the event at the stadium, the pope will visit Notre Dame Cathedral to pray before the crown of thorns. To facilitate the veneration, the tunic will be transported approximately 6.5 kilometers from its home at the basilica in Argenteuil to the stadium.

The Argenteuil official website stated that the tunic has not been officially moved from the basilica in modern times, making this a major first for both the relic and the pope. The tunic has been venerated in France for over 1,200 years. Historical records indicate Emperor Charlemagne received the relic around the year 800 from Empress Irene of Constantinople and gave it to his daughter, Theodrada, the abbess of the Abbey of Argenteuil.

Pope Leo XIV will travel more than 19,000 miles on 14 flights during a trip to Peru, Argentina, and Uruguay from Nov. 6 to 17, according to a Vatican schedule released Sept. 21. This visit marks the first trip to Latin America of his pontificate and his longest international journey to date.

During the 12-day trip, the pope will celebrate nine public Masses, visit seven cathedrals, and preside over two prayer vigils in stadiums. The journey begins Nov. 6 with a 14-hour, 6,900-mile flight from Rome to Montevideo, Uruguay. He will visit Uruguay from Nov. 6 to 8, marking the first papal visit to the country since 1988.

The itinerary includes a 2,200-mile flight from Buenos Aires to Lima and a military helicopter flight on Nov. 14 to the Andes mountain town of Santa Cruz de Succhabamba, Peru. The trip concludes in Chiclayo, Peru, where the pope served as bishop from 2015 to 2023. The final flight from Lima to Rome will cover 6,700 miles.

Five women who allege they were sexually and spiritually abused by Slovenian Father Marko Rupnik have sent an open letter to Pope Leo XIV requesting transparency regarding his canonical trial. In the letter, shared by their lawyer Laura Sgro, the women describe the Vatican's lack of information as a form of ongoing violence and abandonment by the justice system.

The signatories include Gloria Branciani, Mirjam Kovac, Sister Samuelle, Vida Bernard, and an anonymous victim using the pseudonym Pia. They report receiving no information about the proceedings initiated by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith beyond what has been published in the media. The women are asking the Pope to ensure a fair trial that includes impartiality, independence, and the opportunity for both sides to be heard.

The group expressed that the current secrecy could discourage other victims from reporting abuse to Church authorities. They also noted they have faced defamation, including being called liars and accused of being paid to make their claims.

The appeal comes ahead of Pope Leo XIV's scheduled arrival in Lourdes on September 26. In March 2025, Bishop Jean-Marc Micas of Tarbes and Lourdes ordered that mosaics created by Rupnik be covered at the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary.

President Donald Trump told the United Nations General Assembly on Sept. 22 that he must decide whether to reach a deal with Iran or to annihilate the Islamic Republic. During his speech, Trump stated he might choose to destroy the nation quickly to prevent it from killing or destroying other countries and people, adding that he could drive them into hell without hope for future generations.

These comments repeat a threat that Pope Leo, Catholic bishops, and other world leaders have denounced as morally unjustifiable. Trump suggested a deal might be reached after the election. He also noted that while the Republican Party is running in the midterm election, he is not running, having previously won in a landslide.

The president's remarks come as his approval rating for foreign affairs reached 29% in a CNN/SSRS survey, a decline pollsters attribute to the Iran war. Following the speech, Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi met with U.S. envoys Witkoff and Kushner for three hours, though reports indicate deep distrust remains.

Pope Leo XIV expressed his hope that the example of Archbishop Fulton Sheen will inspire people to find new ways of spreading the Gospel with joy and enthusiasm. The Pope made these remarks during a general audience on September 23, the day before the beatification of the American bishop.

The beatification ceremony is scheduled for September 24 in St. Louis, Missouri. Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, the papal legate and Pro-Prefect of the Section for First Evangelization and New Particular Churches, will preside at the Mass.

Archbishop Sheen was a media pioneer known for his 1950s television program, "Life is Worth Living." He served as the bishop of Rochester, New York, from 1966 to 1969 before his death in 1979.

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle declared Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen blessed during a Mass in St. Louis, Missouri, on September 24, 2026.

During his homily, Cardinal Tagle highlighted the piety and missionary zeal of the American evangelizer. He noted that Sheen represented values such as humility, solidarity with the poor and sick, and a living connection to Christ. Sheen was a 20th-century theologian, teacher, preacher, and pioneer in Catholic communications.

The Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations appealed to Pope Leo XIV and other global faith leaders to help save Ukrainian civilians facing starvation due to a Russian blockade. In a Sept. 19 appeal, the council called for urgent action to address a humanitarian catastrophe in Oleshky, a city in Ukraine’s southern Kherson region.

The council reported that more than 6,000 people, including approximately 200 children, are trapped in a gray zone near the front line under temporary Russian occupation. According to the council, Russian forces have imposed a humanitarian blockade, with the last food supplies delivered to the area at the end of May. The Institute for the Study of War confirmed in a Sept. 17 assessment that Oleshky has not received food deliveries since May 26.

The Institute for the Study of War stated that Russia has used deprivation and bureaucratic mismanagement as weapons, leaving thousands at risk of starvation, disease, and abuse. Drone attacks, mines, and occupation forces have prevented residents from fleeing the area. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha noted in a Sept. 21 post that Russian officials have repeatedly refused to allow humanitarian aid or evacuations.

The Permanent Council of the Italian Episcopal Conference met in Rome from September 21 to 23 to discuss ways to transmit faith in a modern context. Led by President Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, the bishops addressed an invitation from Pope Leo XIV for Church communities to be more free to announce Christ.

The council emphasized the importance of critical thinking to help believers engage with cultural changes. The bishops noted that faith can no longer be assumed as a given, even for those active in parishes. To address this, the council suggested focusing on adult formation, the role of schools in protecting the capacity to think, and the revision of Church structures.

The final communiqué also highlighted the role of the laity in bringing Christian thought into public spaces where collective decisions are made. This discussion included reflections on the 50th anniversary of the ecclesial conference on evangelization and human promotion, referencing the contributions of Monsignor Enrico Bartoletti.

Pope Leo XIV has appointed Silvio Pereira de Castro as the new auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of São Miguel Paulista in Brazil. The appointment, which fulfills a request from Bishop Algacir Munhak for pastoral assistance, also assigns de Castro the titular see of Mauriana.

A member of the local clergy, de Castro has served as the rector of the diocesan seminary since 2010. He was ordained a priest on February 18, 2006, and has held several roles within the diocese, including cathedral vicar, diocesan bursar from 2012 to 2025, and parish vicar for the São Benedito pastoral area. Born in Cianorte, he studied philosophy in São Paulo and theology at the Pontifical Faculty of Theology Nossa Senhora da Assunção.

His episcopal ordination is scheduled for December 19 at the diocesan cathedral. De Castro indicated that his motto will be "With Mary to serve."

Bishop Robert Barron preached a homily during evening prayer on Sept. 23 at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis to prepare for the beatification of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen. Archbishop Mitchell T. Rozanski of St. Louis presided over the service, which was attended by between 1,000 and 1,500 people, including cardinals, bishops, priests, religious, and lay faithful.

During his reflection, Bishop Barron of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester described Sheen as a pivotal figure in modern Church history who used electronic media to open doors for global evangelization. Barron, who identified Sheen as his own model and inspiration, stated that the archbishop's holiness was rooted in a personal friendship with Jesus Christ. He noted that Sheen viewed Christianity as a relationship with a living person rather than an abstract philosophy.

Organizers chose St. Louis as the site for the beatification to accommodate the large number of expected attendees, though Sheen's canonization cause was originally introduced by the Diocese of Peoria. The vespers service took place on the memorial of St. Pius of Pietrelcina.

The Church celebrates the feast of Our Lady of Mercy on September 24. This Marian devotion originated in 13th-century Barcelona and is closely linked to the Mercedari order.

The order was founded by St. Peter Nolasco following a vision of the Virgin Mary. According to tradition, the Virgin encouraged Nolasco to establish a religious order dedicated to freeing Christians held in slavery. While the Spanish National Historical Archive recognizes August 10, 1218, as the conventional date of the order's foundation in Barcelona, Pope Gregory IX officially approved the order on January 17, 1235.

Franciscan friars from the Custody of the Holy Land have reopened two Christian schools in the Idlib governorate of Syria. The schools, located in the villages of Knaye and Yacoubieh, are returning to operation nearly 60 years after they were closed.

The friars renovated the educational institutions with help from Church organizations and other support groups. Brother Khukaz Mesrob described the reopening as a miracle for a region where the community had previously faced despair and near death.

Pope Leo XIV will meet privately with sexual abuse victims and address French bishops at the Lourdes shrine on September 27. This meeting occurs during his pastoral visit to France, which runs from September 25 to 28.

The visit comes as the Church in France manages the aftermath of a 2021 report by the Independent Commission on Sexual Abuse in the Church (CIASE). That commission estimated that hundreds of thousands of children may have been abused over the last 70 years. According to a survey conducted in France before the trip, 15% of respondents identified the fight against and prevention of clerical abuse as a top priority for the pope to address during his visit.

Bishop Daniel J. Felton of Duluth formally opened the canonization cause for Msgr. Joseph Francis Buh during a Mass on Sept. 22 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary. The opening of the cause grants Buh the title servant of God.

Buh was a Slovenian immigrant priest who served as a missionary in Minnesota from 1864 until his death in 1922 at age 88. During his ministry, he lived among Ojibwa people and immigrants, established up to 57 parishes, and mentored young priests. He was inspired by the work of Venerable Frederic Baraga, the first bishop of Marquette, Michigan.

Bishop Felton noted in a homily that Buh's life was defined by a desire to be a servant of God. Buh's remains were reinterred at the cathedral in 2025.

Pope Leo XIV appointed Francesco Cesareo to the Pontifical Committee for Historical Sciences, a Vatican commission tasked with preserving historical truth. The appointment, announced Aug. 25, adds the Philadelphia-based educator to the research-oriented group that advises the Pope and the Curia on matters of historical importance.

Cesareo serves as an adjunct professor of history at Villanova University and St. Charles Borromeo Seminary. He stated that the commission works to nurture and pass historical truth to future generations while ensuring that information remains accessible and is not distorted by ideological perspectives.

The committee was established by Pope Pius XII in 1954 following World War II to address the challenges of political propaganda and information control. Cesareo's appointment comes as the Pope warns that failing to understand history accurately could result in a more dangerous political and technological future.

Pope Leo XIV declared Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen blessed through an apostolic letter during a Mass on September 24, 2026. Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle read the decree at The Dome at America's Center in Saint Louis.

A new portrait of Sheen was displayed following the announcement.

Pope Leo XIV received Portuguese President António José Martins Seguro for an audience at the Apostolic Palace on September 24, 2026. Following the meeting with the Pope, the President met with Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, at the Secretariat of State.

During the discussions at the Secretariat of State, officials expressed satisfaction with the strong relations between the Holy See and Portugal. The talks covered socio-economic developments and the promotion of the common good.

The leaders also addressed regional and international issues, specifically the impact of global conflicts, migration, the importance of multilateralism, and respect for international law. They emphasized the urgent need for a constant commitment to supporting peace.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court to support Catholic preschools challenging Colorado's universal preschool program. The conference argued that the government cannot deny religious entities the right to join a public program simply because of their religious character or exercise.

The case, St. Mary Catholic Parish v. Roy, follows a challenge from St. Bernadette in Lakewood and St. Mary in Littleton, two parishes within the Archdiocese of Denver. These schools alleged that Colorado excluded them from the program because of their religious beliefs. The state program provides up to approximately $6,000 to parents to send children to any public or private preschool.

Colorado officials argued the Catholic preschools violated a nondiscrimination rule in the program, which prohibits schools from refusing admission based on the sexual orientation or gender identity of a child or their family. In its brief, the USCCB stated that states and cities are using nondiscrimination requirements to suppress specific religious beliefs. The Supreme Court agreed to hear the case in April.

Bishop Pierre Goudreault presented the President’s Annual Report at the opening of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) Plenary Assembly in Montreal on Sept. 21, 2026. The report reviewed the activities and achievements of the conference since the 2025 meeting.

In the report, Bishop Goudreault highlighted several developments, including the transfer of 62 cultural artifacts from the Vatican Museums to the National Indigenous Organizations and the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation. These items were a gift from Pope Leo XIV to the CCCB to support healing and reconciliation between the Church and Indigenous Peoples. Other highlighted achievements include the ongoing implementation of synodality in Canada, the creation of a national Service for Migrant and Refugee Ministry, and efforts to increase engagement with the federal government.

During the assembly, which includes bishops from across Canada such as Bishop Mark Hagemoen, the participants approved a letter to Pope Leo XIV. Signed by Bishop Goudreault on behalf of the bishops, the letter asks for the Pope's prayers as the conference discerns pastoral priorities for the upcoming year. The Plenary Assembly is scheduled to continue through Sept. 25, 2026.

Archbishop Adam Szal of Przemyśl has called for prayer following a knife attack at the Jarosław Abbey on September 24 that killed a priest and wounded 4 others. The victims include 2 priests and 2 lay people, including 1 woman.

The attack occurred around 9:30 a.m. local time before a scheduled Mass at the Church of St. Nicholas and St. Stanislaus the Bishop. Police arrested a 31-year-old Ukrainian man on suspicion of carrying out the attack, though his motive has not been established. The deceased priest, Father Stanisław, died in the hospital.

Archbishop Szal asked priests in all parishes of the Archdiocese to gather the faithful for prayer on Saturday, September 26. He suggested various forms of prayer, such as the Rosary, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, or Mass with specific intentions. The Archbishop also requested prayers for the attacker's conversion and for peace, unity, and brotherhood.

Polish President Karol Nawrocki expressed sadness over the priest's death and called for a thorough investigation by state authorities to ensure citizen safety.

President Donald Trump issued a message on Sept. 24 marking the beatification of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen in St. Louis, Missouri. In the message, the president noted that Sheen is the first American-born bishop to be beatified by the Catholic Church.

Trump stated that Sheen pioneered the use of media to preach the Gospel and that his television programs reached an estimated 30 million weekly viewers. The president said Sheen's broadcasts converted thousands of people, including politicians, celebrities, and communist leaders, to the Catholic faith.

The presidential message also noted that Sheen's legacy continues through his books, broadcast recordings, and the Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Museum in Illinois.

Pope Leo XIV visited the UNESCO headquarters in Paris on September 25 during his apostolic journey to France.

UNESCO Deputy Director-General Åsa Regnér told Vatican News that the visit was timely and strategic given the Pope's global position. Regnér noted that the visit highlights how multilateral institutions can continue to assist in building peace.

Pope Leo XIV received an image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus the Good Shepherd from Archbishop Antonio Guido Filipazzi during an audience on September 24.

The Apostolic Nuncio presented the image, which comes from Milejczyce in the Diocese of Drohiczyńskiej. Archbishop Filipazzi also gave the Pope a book titled "Pensieri sul soprannaturale," which contains selected thoughts from Cardinal Giuseppe Siri.

Pope Leo XIV has released a message for the 112th World Day of Migrants and Refugees, scheduled for Sunday, September 27, 2026. The theme, "Even just one of these children," focuses on the vulnerability of minors who are forced to leave their homes due to war, poverty, violence, and environmental disasters.

The Pope notes that millions of children and adolescents are displaced annually and calls on the conscience of the faithful to recognize their unique stories and needs. The message serves as an invitation for parishes to celebrate the liturgy on Sunday with a focus on reflection and fraternity regarding migrants.