Edition of Sunday, October 4

Pope Leo XIV completed a four-day apostolic journey to France, visiting Paris, Lourdes, and Metz to advocate for the dignity of human life. During his trip, which began on September 25, the pope addressed social and ethical issues, including challenging French lawmakers regarding the approval of assisted dying and condemning abortion and surrogacy.

In Paris, the pope attended a vigil with young people and celebrated Mass at Notre-Dame with 700,000 faithful. He also met with students at the Catholic University of Paris. During his pilgrimage to Lourdes, he met with the sick and disabled, emphasizing that suffering does not diminish a person's worth.

The visit concluded in Metz, where the pope preached at the city's 12th-century cathedral. He spoke about the importance of choosing mercy and forgiveness over violence and suggested that a peace plan for Europe remains possible. Throughout the journey, the pope called on the French Church to nurture new faith and encouraged seminarians to deepen their prayer lives.

Pope Leo XIV met with artists and curators of the meeting "The Art of Possibility: Weaving Together" at the Vatican Apostolic Palace. The meeting was organized by the Dicastery for Culture and Education.

During the audience, the Pope thanked the participants for their recent collaboration with the Holy See. He specifically noted their work on contemporary art projects and the organization of the Venice Biennale Pavilion. He referenced a previous installation in a women's prison on the island of Giudecca, noting that such projects allow the reality of prison life to teach something to the world of art.

Bishop Daniel E. Thomas, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, has called on the faithful to engage in prayer and action to stop the spread of abortion pills during Respect Life Month this October. The theme for this year's observance is Mary, Mother of Life.

Bishop Thomas stated that easier access to abortion pills has led to rising abortion rates and increased health risks. He noted that many women undergo abortions alone at home without medical supervision due to misinformation regarding the drug's nature and risks. He also warned that this trend creates opportunities for exploitation by human traffickers or violent partners.

The Committee on Pro-Life Activities is encouraging Catholics to learn about the dangers of the abortion pill and to take action by sending messages to pharmaceutical companies and pharmacies. Bishop Thomas specifically criticized the Food and Drug Administration for enabling a nationwide mail-order abortion industry by allowing the pill to be prescribed through telehealth appointments and sold online or at local pharmacies, which he said circumvents state laws.

Pope Leo XIV has appointed Cardinal Mauro Gambetti as the archbishop of the Archdiocese of Chieti-Vasto in Italy. Gambetti will succeed Bruno Forte, who is retiring from the position.

Gambetti will leave his current role as the archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica, a post he has held since 2021. According to reports, he may begin his new duties following the celebrations for the 400th anniversary of the basilica on November 18.

Forte, who has led the archdiocese since 2004, is retiring due to age. He turned 77 in August, which is two years past the customary retirement age for bishops. Forte stated that Gambetti's academic and pastoral background will bring new energy to the care of the faithful and evangelization. He plans to retire to his hometown of Naples.

The Archdiocese of Chieti-Vasto serves nearly 300,000 Catholics. Gambetti, a member of the Order of Friars Minor Conventual, was ordained a priest in 2000 and created a cardinal in 2020.

Pope Leo XIV proclaimed a Jubilee Year to mark the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi. The yearlong celebration began on January 10, 2026, and will continue until January 10, 2027. According to a decree, this jubilee serves as the culmination of previous 800th anniversaries of milestones in the saint's life, such as his composition of the Canticle of the Creatures and the receiving of the stigmata.

The Diocese of Assisi–Nocera Umbra–Gualdo Tadino scheduled celebrations for October 3 and 4 to commemorate the feast of St. Francis. The events include a procession and the Transitus, a traditional Franciscan prayer service marking the saint's transition into eternal life. This service will be held at the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels, which contains the chapel where St. Francis died.

A walking pilgrimage through Assisi will conclude at the Basilica of St. Francis, where bells are scheduled to ring at 11:59 p.m. to herald the feast day. Franciscan Friar Giulio Cesareo, spokesman for the Basilica of St. Francis, invited parish priests and rectors of churches and shrines worldwide to ring their bells at the same time to honor the saint.

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, expressed profound sorrow following an Israeli strike on a residential building in western Gaza City that killed two Christian women. The victims, identified as Maysa Khader Ibrahim Abu Dawoud and Mary Hafez Michel al-Najjar, were a mother and daughter from the local Christian community.

The strike occurred early on October 3 at the Al-Asala building in the Institutions area. According to Palestinian health and civil defense services, the attack killed a total of five civilians, including Dr. Yasmin al-Boubou and Bilal Awda, and left several others injured. The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the strike, which reportedly targeted Ali al-Amoudi, a figure identified by Israeli media as a Hamas representative.

George Anton, the director of operations for the Latin Patriarchate in Gaza, stated that the two women had spent much of the war sheltering at Holy Family Catholic Church. They had recently moved into the rented apartment in an attempt to establish a more stable life after months of displacement.

Cardinal Pizzaballa offered condolences to the families and the Christian community in Gaza, praying for their strength and consolation. A funeral for the women was held at the Greek Orthodox Church of St. Porphyrius in Gaza on Saturday at noon.

Pope Leo XIV met with the community of the Pontifical Teutonic College of Santa Maria in Campo Santo on October 3 to mark the 150th anniversary of its foundation. The Pope received a group of 87 people, including the college directors, priest students, and staff, at the Apostolic Palace.

During the meeting, the Pope described the college as a place for priests from German-speaking regions to deepen their intellectual and spiritual lives. He noted that the institution served as a refuge and study center for these priests during the Kulturkampf, when ecclesiastical activities were heavily restricted.

The Pope encouraged the community to remain faithful to the successor of Peter and to use their formation to address modern human problems and witness to Christian hope. He also highlighted the college's contributions to Christian archaeology, Church history, and the study of Christian origins. Today, the college hosts priest students from German-speaking countries who study at papal universities in Rome.

Bishop David M. O’Connell, chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Catholic Education, called the proposed Federal Scholarship Tax Credit a transformative opportunity for children following the release of new implementation regulations. The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the IRS announced the proposed rules on Oct. 1 for the program, which was enacted in 2025 and is scheduled to launch Jan. 1.

The tax credit, also known as the Education Freedom Tax Credit, provides a nonrefundable federal credit for private contributions to scholarship-granting organizations. These funds benefit students in public, charter, or private schools, including religious institutions. To make children in their state eligible for these scholarships, states must formally elect to opt in to the program. Federal agencies stated that approximately 96% of children in participating states would be eligible for the funds.

Steven F. Cheeseman, president and CEO of the National Catholic Educational Association, noted that the announcement clarifies that married couples filing jointly can claim up to $3,400 in tax credits for eligible contributions, doubling the previously understood $1,700 household limit. Individuals may claim up to $1,700 for qualifying contributions. O’Connell stated the credit will help families access resources to expand their options for choosing learning environments and tools for their children.

Pope Leo XIV has called on the faithful and Christian communities to pray the Rosary throughout October to seek an end to wars and the establishment of peace. During an apostolic visit to the Grotto of Lourdes, France, on September 27, the Pope asked for the intercession of the Virgin Mary to free nations from the scourge of war, specifically mentioning the Holy Land and innocent victims of violence.

The Pope encouraged people to accompany these prayers with acts of repentance, mercy, and efforts toward dialogue and reconciliation.

A Rosary for Peace was scheduled for October 1 at 17:00 in the Vatican. Pope Leo XIV joined children for this prayer, which is part of a global initiative titled "One Million Children Pray the Rosary" involving families, schools, and parishes from October 1 to 7.

A digital copy of a 1977 audio recording of a homily by Blessed Fulton J. Sheen was recently shared with Father Matthew Gonzalez, the rector of the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark. The recording captures a Lenten Mass Sheen celebrated on March 6, 1977, at the invitation of then-Archbishop Peter L. Gerety.

The discovery of the recording led Father Gonzalez to the archdiocesan archives, where he found photos and documentation of the event. He also located the chasuble Sheen wore during the Mass, which is considered a second-class relic. The vestment was on display at the cathedral from September 19 to October 4 to celebrate Sheen's beatification.

Father Bernard Poggi, rector of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem’s seminary in Beit Jala, warned that the Christian presence in the Holy Land is under threat due to increasing pressures. Speaking during a Day of Prayer for Christians in the Middle East in Augsburg on September 13, Poggi noted that the living space for these communities is shrinking.

Poggi identified several factors making it difficult for Christians to remain in their homeland, including economic hardship, lack of jobs, restrictions on movement, and intimidation. He specifically highlighted the cumulative effect of roadblocks, inaccessible farmland, and a lack of work permits. He stated that when families feel they must leave to secure a safe future for their children, emigration is no longer a truly free decision.

The rector also expressed concern regarding rising violence from Jewish settlers against Christians, mentioning attacks on homes, vehicles, churches, and fields. He cited Taybeh, the last entirely Christian village in the West Bank, as an example of the challenges faced. Despite these pressures, Poggi noted that hope remains strong and local communities continue to be vibrant.

A New Mexico court recognized an unborn child as a person in a wrongful death lawsuit, resulting in a $200,000 settlement for the child's estate. In the case of Wabbington v. Boyd, the settlement was reached following an abortion performed at 26 weeks of pregnancy without the mother's valid informed consent.

The lawsuit, argued by Albuquerque medical malpractice attorney Mike Seibel, stated that the mother was under the influence of methamphetamine when she arrived at the clinic in 2020, making her unable to provide legal consent. The legal action also alleged that the providers failed to inform the woman of available state support or refer her to the New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department.

During the proceedings, the unborn child was described as a person entitled to equal protection under the law. Lawyers representing the family and pro-life organizations noted that this is the first case in the United States where an abortion provider has been sued for the wrongful death of a baby.

Pope Leo XIV remembered the Polish martyrs of Pratulin during a General Audience on September 30. He honored Blessed Wincenty Lewoniuk and his 12 companions, Greek Catholic laypeople from the Podlasie region who were killed by soldiers of the Russian Empire in the 19th century.

The martyrs died after refusing to abandon their faith to maintain communion with the successor of Peter. Marking the 30th anniversary of their beatification, the Pope asked for their intercession regarding the unity of Christians and for Catholics who face persecution for their faith today.

Mother Angelica posthumously received the Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Lifetime Achievement Award during the inaugural Sheen Awards held on Sept. 25 in Peoria, Illinois. The award recognized the founder of Eternal Word Television Network for her service to the Church and her use of television to proclaim the Gospel. Peter Gagnon, president of EWTN Studios, accepted the honor on her behalf.

The event took place one day after the beatification of Archbishop Fulton Sheen in his hometown. Bishop Louis Tylka of the Diocese of Peoria noted that the awards recognize individuals who carry a missionary spirit into modern media, including film, television, digital platforms, writing, and music.

Seven awards were presented at the ceremony, including honors for impact in radio, podcasts, evangelization, mission and humanitarian work, innovation, digital creation, and television and streaming. Attendees included Bishop John Barres of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, Bishop Robert Barron of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester, and actor Jonathan Roumie.