Edition of Saturday, October 10

Pope Leo XIV appointed Archbishop Vittorio Francesco Viola as the archpriest of St. Peter's Basilica, vicar general of His Holiness for Vatican City, and president of the Fabric of Saint Peter on Oct. 10.

The 61-year-old Franciscan succeeds Cardinal Mauro Gambetti. Viola previously served as the secretary of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments and was the bishop of the Diocese of Tortona from 2014 to 2021.

Bishop Aurelio García Macías, who has worked in the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments since 2015, was appointed to succeed Viola as the new secretary of that dicastery.

The Pope also accepted the resignation of Bishop Alan Williams from the Diocese of Brentwood in England and appointed Bishop Timothy Francis Menezes as the new bishop of Brentwood. Bishop Menezes previously served as the auxiliary bishop of Birmingham and titular bishop of Thugga.

Pope Leo XIV wrote the foreword for a new edition of the book YOUCAT Love Forever, a publication from the Youcat Foundation designed to help young people reflect on love, relationships, and marriage through the lens of the Catholic faith.

In his prologue, the Pope described the book as preparation for a lifelong commitment rather than a temporary emotion. He characterized this commitment as a deep "yes" to another person that remains tireless and faithful, much like the love of God.

The international presentation of the book took place on October 6, 2026, at the San Lorenzo International Youth Center in Rome. The event included a mass presided over by John Joseph Kennedy and an audiovisual presentation of the Pope's prologue.

The Pontifical Swiss Guard is preparing a series of commemorative events for 2027 to mark the 500th anniversary of the Sack of Rome. The anniversary honors the guards who protected Pope Clement VII during the 1527 plunder of the city, an event in which some guards died while others escorted the pope to safety.

The commemorative year will begin in January with a conference in Brig, Switzerland, and will include the publication of a historical book and participation in the Spring Festival in Zurich. In May, celebrations at the Vatican will feature light-art performances, a pilgrimage, the premiere of a film about the Corps, and a ceremony for new guards to take their oaths.

Commander Graf stated that the goal of the commemorations is to demonstrate that the values of that era, such as loyalty, reliability, professionalism, and integrity, remain present today.

Jonathan Reyes will become the new CEO of the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) on Nov. 16, succeeding founder Curtis A. Martin. The organization announced the selection on Oct. 7. Reyes succeeds interim CEO Tim Toman.

Reyes previously served as the senior vice president of communications for the Knights of Columbus. His prior experience includes serving as the executive director of the justice, peace and development department for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, as well as the assistant general secretary for integral human development for the same organization. Reyes also served as the vice president of ministry and formation for FOCUS from 2004 to 2005.

Founded in 1998, FOCUS employs more than 1,000 missionaries serving on over 200 college campuses and in nearly 40 parishes across the United States. The organization's annual SEEK conference recently drew approximately 26,000 participants to locations in Denver, Columbus, and Fort Worth. Martin announced his retirement in December 2025.

Cardinal Marc Ouellet described the last four years as a nightmare following his recent acquittal in a Canadian civil court regarding sexual assault allegations. The retired prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops was cleared of claims made by a pastoral worker, Paméla Groleau, who had accused him of non-consensual physical contact.

The accusations surfaced in August 2022 as part of a class-action lawsuit against the Archdiocese of Quebec involving historical abuse of minors by priests. Ouellet told Rome Reports that he initially waited to take legal action to respect the class-action process, but he eventually sued for defamation after his case was grouped with allegations of pedophilia.

A civil court concluded that Ouellet was a victim of defamation. The court ordered Groleau to pay him 100,000 dollars, which Ouellet intends to donate entirely to victims of abuse in indigenous communities in Canada.

Ouellet noted that the allegations impacted his health, reputation, and moral authority. He stated that he felt a moral obligation to use all available means to restore the truth and protect the credibility of the Church.

Pope Leo XIV met with Mirjana Spoljaric Egger, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, for an audience on Friday, October 9. During the meeting, Spoljaric Egger also met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State.

Spoljaric Egger told Vatican News that respect for international law must be restored in conflict zones. She warned that dehumanizing language and autonomous weapon systems pose significant threats. She noted that increasing warfare combined with declining respect for international humanitarian law risks putting humanity on a dangerous path.

Spoljaric Egger stated that the way wars are fought in one region influences how they are fought in others. She said that decisions made before, during, and after conflicts to uphold or disregard the rules of war can either help or block the path to peace. She described the Pope's voice for dialogue as essential.