Edition of Tuesday, September 29

Pope Leo XIV said he is not in panic mode regarding the potential for artificial intelligence to pose catastrophic risks to humanity. Speaking to journalists during a press conference on the papal flight from Metz, France, to Rome on Sept. 28, the pope stated that while he is not losing sleep over the prospect of an AI apocalypse, the concerns raised by specialists should be taken seriously.

The pope rejected claims that these safety warnings are fake news intended to provide financial or other benefits. He noted that the issue requires discussion, stating that leaders cannot simply pretend nothing will happen. These comments follow the publication of his encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, which calls for ethical guardrails and regulation of the technology.

The remarks come amid varying warnings from technology leaders. Evan Hubinger, a safety researcher at Anthropic, recently suggested there is a greater than 10% chance of AI-powered human extinction within 10 years. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has also called for a slower pace of development to address risks, a position that contrasts with comments from Donald Trump, who has dismissed such scenarios.

Pope Leo XIV celebrated Mass at the Place de la Concorde in Paris on September 26, 2026, addressing a crowd of approximately 800,000 people. Attendees lined the Champs Elysees from the Arc de Triomphe to the square to participate in the liturgy.

During his homily, the pope urged the people of France to find true happiness and peace by following Jesus, whom he described as the source of living water. He explained that human thirst is not merely material but represents a deep desire for meaning, truth, fulfillment, and communion with God. He encouraged families, young people, and the wider Christian community to share the Gospel in places experiencing loneliness or spiritual dryness.

Six altar servers with Down syndrome assisted during the Mass. Attendees waited for several hours, sometimes in drizzling rain, to attend the event.

An icon of Blessed Fulton J. Sheen was introduced and enthroned to honor his biritual status and his connection to Eastern Catholic churches. The image was unveiled following the September 24 beatification Mass of the archbishop.

The icon depicts Sheen holding a piece of chalk and writing that people must become saints during troubled times on a chalkboard. To represent his affinity for both traditions, the image includes a bishop's miter from the Roman Church and an episcopal crown used by bishops of the Byzantine rite.

Bishop Robert M. Pipta of the Ruthenian Eparchy of Parma in Ohio celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception in Peoria on September 26. Bishop Pipta said that Sheen continues his mission work and care through heavenly intercession. He added that the archbishop recognizes the turbulence of modern times and calls people to embrace their baptismal vocation to be holy.

Father Adrian Mantykiewicz returned to celebrate Mass at the Benedictine sisters’ abbey in Jaroslaw on Sept. 26, two days after a knife attack at the abbey left five people wounded. During the homily, Father Mantykiewicz offered forgiveness on behalf of himself and his fellow priests, Father Marek Pienkowski and the late Father Stanislaw Zbojniewicz.

The Sept. 24 attack resulted in the death of Father Stanislaw Zbojniewicz. Father Marek Pienkowski remained in serious but stable condition in the hospital as of Sept. 25, while Father Mantykiewicz was treated and released the same day as the attack.

Father Mantykiewicz asked the community to pray for the attacker, a 31-year-old Ukrainian citizen, specifically requesting prayers for his conversion. He also urged people not to blame the Ukrainian people for the actions of one individual, noting that the abbey had previously provided support to many Ukrainians following the outbreak of war in their country.

Cardinal Robert W. McElroy called on Americans to support undocumented immigrants suffering under government mass deportation policies during a Mass for the 112th World Day of Migrants and Refugees on Sept. 27. Speaking at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle in Washington, the cardinal said the nation must stop ignoring these actions and fight every dimension of the perceived evil being carried out in the country's name.

McElroy urged the public to seek to replace or convert political representatives who tolerate these policies. He criticized recent immigration enforcement, including raids on schools, nursing homes, and parking lots, describing them as a war on undocumented immigrants who have contributed to the nation's economy and culture. He also noted the suffering of children who have been detained and separated from their families.

The Mass, sponsored by the Archdiocese of Washington's Office of Cultural Diversity and Outreach, included a multilingual rosary prayed in English, Spanish, Tagalog, Amharic, and Haitian Creole. Concelebrants included 18 priests and Auxiliary Bishops Juan R. Esposito and Robert P. Boxie III, along with retired Auxiliary Bishop Roy E. Campbell Jr.

Pope Leo XIV will address the risks of the attention economy for the 2027 World Communications Day. The Dicastery for Communication announced the theme, "A New Gaze: Paying Attention in the Age of Clickbait," on September 29.

The Vatican and most dioceses will celebrate the day on May 9, the Sunday before Pentecost. The full papal message is traditionally released on January 24, the feast of St. Francis de Sales.

The dicastery stated that the attention economy, where media platforms compete for and monetize limited human attention, transforms cognitive abilities and the depth of interpersonal communication. Digital culture has encouraged rapid reactions, superficial relationships, and the tendency to label or reject others. The dicastery noted that attention should be treated as a precious resource for relationships rather than something to be captured or sold.

Cardinal Marcello Semeraro presided over the beatification of three priests killed during the Monte Sole massacre in 1944. The ceremony took place at the Basilica of San Petronio in Bologna for Ubaldo Marchioni, Elia Comini, and Martino Capelli.

The three men died during a period when German troops attacked the local population in retaliation for support of partisans, an event that killed more than 770 people. Marchioni, a diocesan priest, was killed by a gunshot to the head in front of an altar after attempting to protect women and children in a church. Comini was a Salesian, and Capelli was a Dehonian priest who stayed to provide pastoral care and comfort to the dying during the occupation.

During the homily, Semeraro, the prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, said the priests could have saved themselves but chose to remain with their communities. He described their decision as an expression of pastoral love and faithfulness, noting that their lives were not broken by evil but brought to fullness through love.

Cardinal Luis Tagle received a first-class relic of Blessed Fulton Sheen during the beatification Mass in St. Louis. James Fulton Engstrom, the teenager whose 2010 miraculous healing led to Sheen's beatification, presented the relic to Tagle, who served as the main celebrant.

The relic is the mandible, or jawbone, of Sheen. Bishop Louis Tylka of the Diocese of Peoria, Sheen's home diocese, noted that the jawbone is significant because of Sheen's ability to preach, teach, and communicate the faith. Engstrom was reportedly dead for 61 minutes after birth before being healed through Sheen's intercession, an event the Church officially proclaimed as a miracle.

Evangelization Lab provides parishes, dioceses, and Catholic organizations with tools to reach people through digital spaces and encourage them to participate in the sacramental life of the Church. Founded by José Manuel de Urquidi in Dallas, the organization conducts research, experiments, and missionary training to help religious groups turn an online presence into active interpersonal communication.

The organization responds to calls from popes to use the internet for proclaiming the Gospel, including Pope Leo XIV’s instruction in the encyclical Magnifica Humanitas to use technology humanely as an evangelization tool. Digital missionary Katie Ruvalcaba said the goal is to use the internet to move people into a sacramental relationship with Christ and the Church.

One initiative involves training diocesan staff and parish members to use digital platforms to foster local, personal encounters. Urquidi said the lab works with dioceses to implement practical methods and form additional missionaries.

The Catholic Church celebrates the feast of the archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael on Monday, September 29.

The liturgical celebration for these three figures was established on September 29 during the 1969 liturgical reform. The Church honors the archangels according to ancient tradition, noting their roles in salvation history and the spiritual lives of Christians.

Scripture identifies each archangel with specific roles. Michael, whose name means "Who is like God," is described as a prince who defends the children of the people of God. Gabriel, meaning "Strength of God," was chosen to announce a mystery to Mary. Raphael, meaning "Medicine of God," is recognized as a healer and a companion to Tobias.

Pope Leo XIV held a press conference on his flight back to Rome on September 28, 2026, following a four-day apostolic journey to France. During the meeting with accompanying journalists, the pope discussed his experiences during the trip and addressed various global and Church issues.

The pope described the four-day program as intense and filled with blessings. He highlighted his time in Lourdes, where he accompanied sick and suffering people, noting that the experience helped restore dignity to the elderly and those often discarded by society. He also spoke about meeting 80,000 young people at a stadium, observing their search for meaning and their sense of hope.

During the session, the pope answered questions regarding several topics, including the situation of the Church in Germany, the ethical challenges of artificial intelligence, and the war in Ukraine alongside rising military spending. Other subjects of discussion included the housing crisis, end-of-life care, the protection of life, and accompanying victims of abuse.

Bishop Ricardo Hoepers opened the National Seminar for the 2027 Fraternity Campaign in Brasília, which concluded on September 27. The four-day event gathered pastoral agents and representatives from various dioceses, regional groups, movements, and Church organizations to study the theme "Fraternity and the Care of Children."

The seminar used the biblical motto "Whoever receives a child in my name receives me" to prepare participants to bring a proposal of conversion to families, communities, and Church structures across Brazil. Bishop Hoepers, who serves as an auxiliary bishop of Brasília and secretary-general of the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB), stated that the Church is assuming a mission to make child care a permanent way of relating to children rather than a series of isolated actions. He urged participants to transform care into a culture.

During the meeting, the bishop presented four dimensions of conversion regarding children: looking, relationships, bonds, and processes. The seminar followed a methodology of seeing, judging, and acting to address the different realities of childhood.

Pope Leo XIV recalled a message from Mary to St. Bernadette Soubirous during a Mass on Sept. 27 at the Prairie of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes. Speaking during a four-day apostolic visit to France, the pope highlighted the words of the Blessed Mother to the young girl during the 18 apparitions in 1858.

The pope noted that Mary told Bernadette she did not promise happiness in this world, but in the next. Pope Leo XIV said that while worldly happiness is fleeting and sometimes out of reach, true happiness is promised to everyone through hope, which should be the primary focus of all human efforts and choices.

The pope also addressed the holiness of St. Bernadette, who was canonized in 1933 for her life of heroic virtue. He noted her bravery in enduring questioning and harsh treatment following the apparitions. After the events at the grotto, Bernadette sought a simpler life away from fame by entering the convent of the Sisters of Charity in Nevers, France.

Bishop Daniel E. Thomas is calling on the faithful to pray and take action against the use of abortion pills during Respect Life Month this October. As chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, Thomas released a statement inviting Catholics to reflect on the dignity of human life under this year's theme, Mary, Mother of Life.

Thomas stated that easier access to abortion pills is causing abortion rates to rise and increasing health risks. He noted that many women undergo these procedures alone at home without medical supervision, often while being misinformed about the risks. He also warned that the availability of these pills creates opportunities for exploitation by human traffickers or violent partners.

The Committee on Pro-Life Activities encourages people to learn about the dangers of the medication and to send messages to pharmaceutical companies and pharmacies to help stop its spread.

Pope Leo XIV said during his flight that his recent trip to France was filled with blessings and nearly included miracles.

The Pope made these comments while traveling following his visit, which included celebrating three masses in France. During his time in Lourdes, he spoke about the importance of ensuring that the suffering endured by others does not happen to anyone else.

The 28th Congress of Catholics and Public Life will focus on Hispanic heritage and the figure of Isabella I of Castile from November 13 to 15. Organized by the Association of Catholic Propagandists and the San Pablo CEU Foundation, the event intends to reclaim the concept of Hispanidad, described as a civilization based on the faith that connects Spain and the Americas.

Pablo Velasco, the national communications secretary for the Association of Catholic Propagandists, stated that the congress will highlight the faith that unites these regions. Organizers also view the references to Isabella I of Castile during the event as an explicit support for her cause of beatification.

Canadian bishops heard presentations on the progress of building a synodal or listening Church during their annual plenary meeting in Montreal from Sept. 21 to 25.

During a keynote on Sept. 22, Coadjutor Archbishop Lizardo Estrada Herrera of Cusco, Peru, traced the development of synodality in the Latin American and Caribbean regions back 70 years to the 1955 founding of the Latin American and Caribbean Episcopal Council (CELAM). Bishop Alain Faubert of Quebec provided a brief update on the work of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Implementation of Synodality in the Church in Canada, which has been active since 2021.

Bishop Faubert and Archbishop Donald J. Bolen of Regina noted a difference in how synodality is being experienced in their respective regions. They observed that while the concept originated in the existing Church culture of Latin America and the Caribbean, it has arrived in Canada as an instruction from the Vatican. Archbishop Bolen remarked that the process in Latin America appears to have grown organically.

Pope Leo XIV urged European leaders to return to the continent's Christian heritage and engage in dialogue with people from other cultures. Speaking on September 28 at the Robert Schuman Conference Center in Metz, France, the pope described the current presence of immigrants as an unprecedented encounter between peoples that requires Europe to rediscover its roots in creative ways.

During the final day of his visit to France, the pope encouraged Europe to facilitate the safe and legal entry of migrants. He suggested that communities should integrate these individuals as if they were members of their own families. He stated that the universal nature of Europe's founding values makes dialogue possible and can create a foundation for peace and a reconciled world.

The event, titled "To the Roots of Europe for Peace and Unity," took place in Metz, a city near the borders of France, Germany, and Luxembourg. The location is associated with Robert Schuman, a Catholic statesman and founding father of the European Union.

Pope Leo XIV will preside over a Mass to inaugurate the academic year for the Pontifical Universities on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in Saint Peter's Basilica.

The Office for Liturgical Celebrations issued instructions for clergy participating in the liturgy. Patriarchs and cardinals who wish to concelebrate must gather in the Chapel of Saint Sebastian by 5:15 p.m. wearing white damask mitres. Archbishops and bishops are asked to arrive at the same time wearing simple white mitres.

Priests and deacons wishing to concelebrate must obtain tickets through the Office for Liturgical Celebrations website by October 6, subject to availability. These participants are instructed to meet at the Braccio di Costantino by 5:00 p.m. and must bring an amice, alb, cincture, and red stole.