Edition of Wednesday, September 30

An icon of Blessed Fulton J. Sheen was introduced and enthroned to honor his biritual status and his connection to Eastern Catholic churches. The icon depicts the archbishop holding chalk and writing that people must become saints during troubled times on a chalkboard.

The image includes both a Roman Catholic bishop’s miter and an episcopal crown used by bishops of the Byzantine rite. Bishop Robert M. Pipta of the Ruthenian Eparchy of Parma in Ohio said the icon witnesses to Sheen's affinity for Eastern Catholic peoples. During a Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception in Peoria on Sept. 26, Bishop Pipta said Sheen continues to pray and care for others through heavenly intercession.

The enthronement followed seven thanksgiving Masses for Sheen's beatification held at the Peoria cathedral on Sept. 25 and 26. Bishop Pipta stated that Sheen recognizes the turbulence of modern times and calls the faithful to embrace their baptismal vocation and be holy.

Cardinal Marcello Semeraro presided over the beatification of three priests on Sept. 27 at the Basilica of San Petronio in Bologna, Italy. The ceremony honored Martino Capelli, a Dehonian missionary, Elia Comini, a Salesian, and Ubaldo Marchioni, a diocesan priest.

The three men were killed by Nazi forces during the 1944 Monte Sole massacres in northern Italy. During the Mass, which was attended by approximately 2,500 people, Semeraro, the prefect of the Vatican Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, described the priests as examples of a Church that does not flee. He stated that they could have saved themselves but chose to remain with their communities, an act he characterized as an expression of pastoral love and faithfulness.

Semeraro added that their lives were not broken by evil but were brought to fulfillment through love, noting that their blood proclaims Christ rather than seeking vengeance. Father Nino Etulle, superior of the Dehonian Philippine Region, said Capelli’s life serves as a model for missionaries to remain present with communities facing violence and suffering.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state, told the United Nations on Sept. 25 that universal health care is a moral imperative. Speaking at a high-level meeting on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response during the 81st UN General Assembly in New York, the cardinal urged leaders to make medical progress accessible to citizens in the most vulnerable countries.

Parolin cited Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical *Magnifica Humanitas*, which notes that scientific and medical advances are often not easily accessible to most people, a fact demonstrated during recent pandemics. The cardinal warned that failing to close this gap will make it more difficult to prevent and respond to future pandemics effectively. He stated that efforts must begin by addressing poverty, poor living conditions, and the lack of healthcare, which increase the risk of severe illness and death.

The UN meeting focused on developing a multilateral and intergenerational approach to public health emergencies based on equity and solidarity. Parolin also called for greater solidarity and increased attention to the mental health of young people.

Pope Leo XIV addressed the issues of sexual abuse and euthanasia following a visit to France. During his trip, the pope met with seven survivors of abuse in Lourdes. Following the meeting, one survivor told reporters that while he had previously lost his faith, the encounter changed his view of the pope and the Church.

The pope noted that while sexual abuse is a human problem, it carries an additional dimension when it occurs within the Church because it wounds the lives of faith. He acknowledged that certain organizations within the Church have acted abusively as a system.

The pope also commented on the recent legalization of euthanasia in France. He stated that what is legal is not always moral and noted that many countries in Europe and elsewhere are debating end-of-life issues. He clarified that his comments were intended to defend the Church's teaching on the sanctity of life rather than to engage in politics.

Pope Leo XIV told European leaders on Monday to return to the continent's Christian heritage and engage in dialogue with people from other cultures. Speaking at the Robert Schuman Conference Center in Metz, France, the pope described the current presence of immigrants as an unprecedented encounter between different peoples and cultures.

During the interreligious meeting titled "To the Roots of Europe for Peace and Unity," the pope encouraged Europe to help migrants enter the continent safely and legally. He said communities should integrate newcomers as if they were part of a family. He noted that Europe's founding values allow for a dialogue that can build a foundation for peace and a reconciled world.

The event took place on the final day of the pope's visit to France. The conference center is located near the burial site of Robert Schuman, a Catholic statesman and founding father of the European Union.

Canadian bishops discussed the development of a synodal Church during their annual plenary meeting in Montreal from Sept. 21 to 25. During the meeting, Lizardo Estrada Herrera, coadjutor archbishop of Cusco and secretary general of the Latin American and Caribbean Episcopal Council (CELAM), gave a 55-minute keynote on Sept. 22. He traced the history of synodality in his region back 70 years to the 1955 founding of CELAM.

In contrast to the Latin American experience, Bishop Alain Faubert of Quebec provided a 17-minute 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 that while synodality grew organically from existing Church culture in Latin America and the Caribbean, the concept in Canada arrived from the Vatican. Archbishop Bolen told the Peruvian archbishop that the process in Canada feels like something coming from the outside, whereas in Latin America, it appears to be an outgrowth of local traditions.

Pope Leo XIV stated that the Church does not engage in politics when it defends life or addresses social doctrine, but instead applies the Gospel to human life. Speaking during a press conference on a flight from France to Rome, the Pope responded to questions regarding his recent visit to France and his comments on end-of-life care, which contrasted with recent French legislation.

The Pope explained that his intention during his apostolic journey was to preach the Gospel and teach Church beliefs rather than to interfere in French politics. He noted that while some may view his stance as political, he was affirming the values the Church holds regarding the sanctity of life. He specifically referenced the experience at Lourdes to show that human life maintains meaning even amidst suffering, illness, or disability.

Regarding the separation of Church and State, the Pope said he did not cross that boundary. He directed those seeking clarification to the document Magnifica Humanitas, noting that the first chapters of the text discuss the Social Doctrine of the Church.

A U.S. appeals court ruled on September 29 that a cross and Nativity display can remain in El Pueblo de Los Angeles, the historic center of the city. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit issued the ruling against Jack Gerritsen, a Los Angeles resident and nonbeliever who sued the city government to have the monuments removed.

Gerritsen argued that the displays violate the establishment clause of the U.S. Constitution and make him feel excluded from the public space. The court noted that Gerritsen failed to meet the requirements to justify removing the monuments, specifically failing to show he would suffer irreparable harm or that their removal would serve the public interest. This decision follows a previous ruling by a U.S. district court that also went against Gerritsen.

Local merchants near the monuments on Olvera Street joined the legal defense of the displays. Edward Flores, a cafe owner, stated that the cultural displays help people of all faiths and ethnicities take pride in their contributions. The monuments are located in the plaza marking the 1781 founding of Los Angeles.

Pope Leo XIV appealed to warring parties in the Tigray region of Ethiopia to choose dialogue following the resumption of hostilities. During a general audience on September 30, the pope expressed deep concern regarding fighting in Tigray and the neighboring regions of Amhara and Afar.

The pope stated that armed conflict only worsens problems by causing death, destruction, and resentment. He noted that only sincere commitment can create the foundation for lasting peace. Additionally, the pope expressed hope that the international community will provide timely and generous assistance to ensure humanitarian aid reaches those in need.

To support peace efforts, the pope encouraged the faithful to dedicate the month of October to praying the Rosary for peace in the world.