The Church in the Czechia

The Church celebrated the feast of St. Januarius, the bishop and martyr who serves as the patron of Naples, on September 19. During a solemn liturgy at the Naples Cathedral, the reliquary ampoules containing his blood were displayed for the faithful.

The liquefaction of the blood relic occurred at 10:04 a.m. This tradition, which has continued for centuries, draws pilgrims and local citizens to the cathedral to honor the saint.

Januarius lived between the third and fourth centuries and served as a bishop in Benevento. He was martyred near Pozzuoli alongside companions including the deacon Sosio during the persecutions of Christians.

Pope Leo XIV met with approximately 50 members of the Pope Leo XIV International Study Center at the Vatican Apostolic Palace on Friday, September 18, 2026. The center, which is based in Florence, was established in October 2025 by the Augustinian Order to research and promote the life and teachings of the Pope.

During the audience in the Consistory Hall, the Pope encouraged the members to promote training for public and political life as a way to serve the common good. He urged the group to be experts in the ways God works rather than focusing on rapid or superficial news. He also noted that Augustinian thought can offer insights into using love as a principle for renewal in personal, economic, and political life.

The center intends to engage in dialogue with universities, academic institutions, civil society organizations, and various ecclesial bodies. To support these efforts, the center collaborates with the Theological Faculty of Central Italy and the Augustinianum Pontifical Patristic Institute.

Father Gabriel Romanelli, the parish priest of Holy Family in Gaza, reopened Holy Family School on September 15 for approximately 1,000 students. The school had been closed for nearly three years due to the ongoing war.

While the majority of the students are Muslim, the school also serves about 130 Christian children. For the first time, all Christian students in Gaza will attend the same school, as the territory previously operated three Catholic, one Orthodox, and one Evangelical Christian school. George Akroush, director of the project development office of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, stated that this unification creates a sense of community and demonstrates the Church's presence.

Father Romanelli told a delegation from the charity Aid to the Church in Need that the school was prepared to provide a clean and safe environment despite the widespread destruction in the territory. He noted that the reopening aims to bring a sense of normality to students and families who have experienced significant suffering. During the conflict, the school facility served as a shelter for more than 450 people.

Archbishop Joseph Arshad of the Archdiocese of Islamabad-Rawalpindi is encouraging Christian children in Pakistan to act as small apostles and missionaries. He urged them to serve others through prayer, helping their neighbors, and setting a good example.

The Archbishop's encouragement comes as many Christian children in the country face poverty, child labor, and limited access to education. These children also deal with discrimination and exclusion in schools, particularly in disadvantaged areas.

The Catholic Church is working to address these challenges by focusing on child protection, education, and involving children more deeply in the life of the Church.

Theologian Robert Svatoň spoke at a European theological symposium regarding the connection between the synodal process and ecumenical dialogue.

In an interview with Vatican News, Svatoň, from the Cyrilometodějské teologické fakulty Univerzity Palackého, explained that spirituality serves as the core of both processes. He stated that conversion acts as the soul of the entire ecumenical movement and noted that a sense of shared responsibility for the Church is gradually emerging in parishes.

Father Zbigniew Cybulski, MS, describes the Our Lady of La Salette shrine as a location for peace and reconciliation. Speaking to Vatican media, the chaplain noted that while many visitors arrive as tourists, they often leave as pilgrims.

Cybulski stated that a world that has pushed God away still longs for God. These comments come ahead of the 180th anniversary of the apparitions, which occurred on September 19, 1846, when the Virgin Mary appeared to two young shepherds.

Archbishop Éric de Moulins Beaufort of Reims said the Pope's words are accurate and reach the heart of faith. He noted that the Pope will meet a Church that recognizes its poverty but also experiences grace and joy through the reception of newly baptized people.

Beaufort identified a declining number of priests as a problem. He noted that a strength is young people who have a strong sense of the presence of Christ, particularly in the liturgy and sacraments.

The Church commemorates Saint John Chrysostom on September 13, honoring the bishop of Constantinople and Doctor of the Church. As one of the most significant preachers of the early Christian era, he is remembered for using his rhetorical skills to proclaim the gospel, defend the poor, and criticize the abuse of power and luxury.

Chrysostom sought to reform the clergy and lived an austere life. His refusal to back down from confronting powerful figures led to his exile, and he died in 407.