Edition of Tuesday, October 6

Pope Leo XIV met with representatives of the Association of Lay Vatican Employees and the Association Donne in Vaticano on October 5 to discuss the dignity of work and the role of women in the Vatican.

During the audience, the Pope described the presence of women at the Vatican as a valuable asset that requires increasing recognition and appreciation. He noted that women contribute unique human, professional, and intellectual talents, including specialized expertise, discernment, creativity, and a practical approach that enriches the various Vatican agencies.

Addressing the challenges of the modern workplace, particularly developments in artificial intelligence, the Pope emphasized the irreplaceable centrality of the human person. Citing his document *Magnifica humanitas*, he stated that work is not merely a tool but a way to express and increase human dignity.

The Pope encouraged employees to follow a path of dialogue to build a working community where people are not used or ignored, but instead help one another. He highlighted community and unity as essential values for those working in different roles to support the Pope's ministry.

Pope Leo XIV led the Angelus prayer with pilgrims and the faithful in Saint Peter’s Square on Sunday, October 4, 2026.

During his introduction to the Marian prayer, the Pope spoke about the Gospel parable from the 27th Sunday of Ordinary Time. He noted that while Jesus was rejected by those he came to save, God transforms such evil into redemption. He described the Church as a vineyard that must be cultivated with justice, noting that individual choices either build up or damage the community.

Pope Leo XIV appointed Cardinal Mauro Gambetti as the archbishop of the Archdiocese of Chieti-Vasto. The Vatican announced the appointment on October 3, following the acceptance of the resignation of Archbishop Bruno Forte, 77.

Gambetti, a 60-year-old Conventual Franciscan from Bologna, has served as the archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica and the pope's vicar for Vatican City since February 2021. In these roles, he managed the daily administration of the basilica, presided over liturgies, and served as president of the Fabric of St. Peter, the office responsible for maintaining the basilica complex. Before this, he served as the general custos of the Sacred Convent of St. Francis of Assisi from 2013 to 2020.

The pope has not yet named a successor to serve as the archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica. Currently, Bishop Calogero La Piana serves as the vicar of the archpriest to help oversee the basilica.

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, expressed grief over the deaths of two Christian women killed during an Israeli airstrike in Gaza. Maysa Khader Ibrahim Abu Dawoud and Mary Hafez Michel al-Najjar died in the early hours of October 3 when an Israeli strike hit a residential building in western Gaza City.

The two women were members of the local Christian community and had been living as refugees at the Catholic Church of the Holy Family before moving to a rented home. According to reports from Palestinian medical and civil defense sources, the strike killed a total of 5 civilians and left many others injured. The Israeli military did not immediately release a public statement regarding the attack, which reportedly targeted Ali al-Amoudi, a figure identified by Israeli media as a Hamas leader.

A funeral for the women was held at a Christian sanctuary, attended by approximately 200 Christians and Muslims, including Catholic priest Gabriel Romanelli.

Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi told a congregation in Assisi that war is not an inevitable fate, calling for people to disarm their hands and hearts to achieve peace.

During a Mass on October 3 to mark the eighth centenary of the death of Saint Francis, the president of the Italian Episcopal Conference addressed a crowd that included Italian President Sergio Mattarella, various ambassadors, and state officials. Cardinal Zuppi said that in a time when people are seduced by a deceptive culture of power driven by nationalism and economic interests, peace must begin with individuals and remains the only possible future.

The celebration at the Basilica of Saint Francis was held alongside Bishop Felice Accrocca and Cardinal Ángel Fernandez Artime. During the liturgy, the mayor of Assisi, Valter Stoppini, offered oil and lit the votive lamp of the Italian municipalities. Cardinal Zuppi noted that Saint Francis wrote to world leaders to urge them to choose peace because of the immense suffering caused by conflict.

Pope Leo XIV met with Korean priests, men, and women religious living in Rome during an audience in the Clementine Hall of the Vatican Apostolic Palace on October 5. The Pope greeted the group of 170 attendees in Korean and highlighted their role in preparing for the 2027 World Youth Day in Seoul, scheduled for August 3 to 8.

During the meeting, the Pope marked the 25th anniversary of the inauguration of the Pontifical Korean College and thanked the community for its service to the universal Church. He described the history of the Korean Church as unique, noting that the faith grew spontaneously through individuals searching for Christian truths. He specifically referenced the example of Thomas Choe Yang-eop, the second priest in Korean history, whom he called the "martyr of sweat" for his intense evangelization work.

The Pope encouraged the religious community to witness to reconciliation despite existing divisions. He expressed his hope that the 2027 World Youth Day would serve as a significant encounter between the memory of the martyrs and the future of new generations.

Pope Leo XIV appointed Monsignor Grzegorz Piotr Bielaszka as the new apostolic nuncio to the United Arab Emirates. Bielaszka, a Polish priest from the Diocese of Tarnów, will also be ordained a bishop.

He succeeds Archbishop Christophe-Zakhia El-Kassis, who was appointed as the Holy See’s permanent observer to the United Nations in New York this past July. Bielaszka, 52, has served in the Holy See’s diplomatic service since 2006, with previous assignments in Panama, Iraq, Hungary, Peru, and Gabon. He holds a degree in canon law and speaks Italian, French, English, and Spanish.

Following the announcement on October 5, Bishop Paolo Martinelli, the apostolic vicar of Southern Arabia, and Bishop Emeritus Paul Hinder welcomed Bielaszka at the Apostolic Nunciature in Abu Dhabi.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Holy See's Secretary of State, said that ending wars requires rejecting the logic of domination and addressing inequality.

In an interview with the Italian newspaper La Repubblica following his return from the UN General Assembly in New York, Parolin noted that people are suffering in Gaza, Ukraine, and Iran. He stated that Kyiv has the right to defend itself but emphasized that peace requires a return to fundamental human values.

Regarding the conflict in Ukraine, Parolin said that while the country has a right to defense, it is necessary to seek an end to military operations and work toward a complete and genuine ceasefire.

The Supreme Court heard oral arguments Oct. 5 in a lawsuit brought by officials in Boulder, Colorado, against ExxonMobil and Suncor Energy regarding climate change. The case centers on whether the litigation should proceed in state courts or be moved to federal courts.

Boulder officials filed the lawsuit nearly a decade ago, alleging the energy companies are responsible for climate-related damages in Colorado, including rising temperatures and increased wildfire risks. The oil companies argue the case should be dismissed because it was filed in state rather than federal court. The Trump administration supports the companies, arguing the lawsuits are an attempt to impose emissions regulations through litigation.

Dan Misleh, executive director of the Catholic Climate Covenant, told OSV News the case is difficult because of the world's dependence on fossil fuels and the history of companies obscuring scientific knowledge about global warming. Misleh noted the legal arguments involve Catholic moral principles, including the common good, subsidiarity, solidarity, and the preferential option for the poor.

Pope Leo XIV and Catholic bishops in Ethiopia are calling for an end to fighting in the Tigray region and neighboring areas. The appeal follows the start of a full-scale war on 23 September between the Ethiopian national army and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front.

During a general audience on 30 September, the pope urged all parties to use dialogue instead of armed conflict, stating that violence only increases death and destruction. He noted that honest engagement is necessary to establish lasting peace.

In a statement released on 1 October, Ethiopian bishops joined the papal plea, expressing concern that the war is destroying communities and increasing the suffering of women, children, the elderly, and the sick. The bishops said that resolving disputes through genuine dialogue is necessary to heal the nation and protect human dignity.