From the Holy See

Syrian minister Hind Kabawat told Vatican News that the government must listen to people from all ethnic and religious backgrounds to help the country recover from civil war.

Pope Leo XIV spoke about the nature of faith during the Angelus on Sunday, August 23.

According to a parish newsletter from the Archdiocese of Avignon, the Pope invited people to personally answer the question Jesus asked his disciples: Who do you say that I am? He described this question as one that involves a person's entire existence and noted that Christian faith requires a response.

Vatican Radio hosted a concert by Ensemble Bella Musica featuring the music of Mozart on September 2, 2026.

Brother Maciej from the Taizé community has asked residents of Łódź to open their homes to thousands of young pilgrims attending the 49th European Youth Meeting at the end of the year. Eighteen international volunteers have already arrived in the city to begin preparations.

More than 200 scholarship recipients from the Dzieło Nowego Tysiąclecia Foundation gathered in Myczkowce for a camp held from September 3 to 11. The group, consisting of high school graduates, participated in the event under the theme "Life – an unfinished project."

The camp included prayer, formation, mountain hiking, discussions, and games to help participants build relationships. For some students, this was their first trip with the foundation, while others had visited the location previously.

Young musicians from the Mozarteum's Bella Musica orchestra performed a concert in the Vatican featuring the works of Mozart. The performance included the use of two violins that once belonged to the composer.

Vatican Radio broadcast the concert on September 12 as part of its musical segment, Scrigno musicale. The program traced the creative development of the composer, moving from his early virtuoso works to his more mature compositions.

Pope Leo XIV addressed more than 100 participants of the Communio Internationalis Benedictinarum symposium during an audience in the Clementine Hall on Saturday, September 12.

The Pope described the efforts of the group to remain deeply rooted in Christ and to act as living, praying witnesses throughout the world as a prophetic gift. He spoke to the attendees during a time characterized by a thirst for authentic life and peace.

Pope Leo XIV has appointed Cardinal Mario Grech as a special envoy to Slovakia to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the canonical establishment of the Diocese of Spiš.

The celebration is scheduled for Saturday, September 26, at St. Martin's Cathedral in Spišská Kapitula. Cardinal Grech serves as the general secretary of the General Secretariat of the Synod.

Pope Leo XIV held a private audience with the bishops of El Salvador on Friday, September 11, marking the conclusion of their ad limina visit.

Cardinal Gregorio Rosa Chávez said after the meeting that the Pope understands his country incredibly well. The cardinal expressed hope that the visit would help bring a message of hope, dialogue, and a future to El Salvador.

Pope Leo XIV met with participants of the Communio Internationalis Benedictinarum symposium on Saturday, September 12. The gathering brought together representatives of Benedictine monastic life from around the world.

During the meeting, the Pope praised the monks for their service through prayer, community, and formation. He stated that the Benedictine charism serves as a prophetic sign for a world seeking peace, unity, and authentic life.

Pope Leo XIV received representatives from North and South America during an audience on September 12, 2026. The group attended a conference organized by CELAM, USCCB, and the Popiežiškoji Lotynų Amerikos komisija to discuss the relationships between the continents and their communities.

More than 3,000 young people from 16 West African countries attended the first West African Days of Youth in Accra, Ghana. The event took place from September 7 to September 12, according to Vatican News.

Participants concluded the gathering with a renewed faith and new friendships. The event encouraged the youth to act as agents of peace and hope within their home countries.

Pope Leo XIV appointed Cardinal Grech, the general secretary of the Synod, as a special envoy to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Spiš Diocese. The jubilee celebration will take place on Saturday, September 26, at St. Martin's Cathedral in Spišská Kapitula.

Pope Leo XIV told Benedictine nuns to serve as a prophetic sign of peace during the Communio Internationalis Benedictinarum symposium. He stated that the world seeks authentic life, communion, and peace.

The Pope suggested that the Benedictine witness of people rooted deeply in Christ can answer this global longing. He thanked both monks and nuns for their quiet, humble presence and their daily, hidden sacrifices.

Pope Leo XIV met with participants of the Communio Internationalis Benedictinarum symposium at the Vatican this Saturday. The meeting included representatives of Benedictine monasticism from around the world.

The organization has brought together Benedictine representatives for 25 years. According to Vatican News, the group continues a process of coordination that began under Pope Leo XIII and was continued by the Second Vatican Council.

Pope Leo XIV met with bishops associated with the Focolare movement on September 9, 2026, according to Vatican News.

At least 26 students died on Thursday during fires at two elementary schools in Bukavu, according to UNICEF.

Olivia Vieweg has published a new graphic novel exploring the world of pilgrimage. Although she does not believe in God, Vieweg examines religious rituals, pilgrimage sites, and what spirituality means for atheists.

Jenny Kraska shared reflections on the liturgical readings for the Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, using the theme that the Cross does not keep receipts.

Bishop Pavlo Honcharuk invited Pope Leo XIV to visit Ukraine following an audience with the Pope on Friday.

The Giuria Cattolica Mondiale awarded the 2026 Premio SIGNIS to the film Look Back at the Mostra Venezia. Vatican News reported the award recognizes the film's messages of human solidarity, professional dedication, and spiritual healing.

Bishop Joshy George Pottackal, an auxiliary bishop, met with Pope Leo XIV.

Bishop Pottackal has lived in Germany for 22 years and became the first auxiliary bishop in the country with non-European roots this year.

During the meeting, Bishop Pottackal said the Pope is a good listener and was well informed about the situation in Germany.

Archbishop John Sherrington thanked people who wrote to their MPs to stop the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill from progressing through Parliament.

The Archbishop of Liverpool, who also serves as the Lead Bishop for Life Issues for the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, expressed his gratitude to disability rights groups and legal experts for their efforts to defeat the bill.

The Archdiocese of Cartagena has sent more than 70 tons of humanitarian aid to earthquake victims in Colombia. The Archdiocese dispatched the supplies through its social ministry and the operations of its food bank.

This relief effort comes one month after the earthquake that occurred on August 10. The Archdiocese of Cartagena stated that the local Church community continues to provide assistance to the affected areas.

Singer, composer, and catechist Antonio Cardoso appears every Sunday on the Vatican Radio program A Canção e a Prece to share music and prayer.

Pope Leo XIV sent a telegram to the grand rabbi of Rome, Riccardo Di Segni, to offer greetings for the holidays of Roch Hachana, Yom Kippour, and Souccot. The Pope expressed wishes that these holidays bring blessings and joy.

Pope Leo XIV held a private audience with the bishops of El Salvador on Friday, September 11, to conclude their ad limina visit.

Cardinal Gregorio Rosa Chávez said the Pope understands the country very well. He expressed hope that the visit would help bring a message of hope, dialogue, and a vision for the future to El Salvador. According to the cardinal, the Pope invited the bishops to place the human person at the center of their work.

Vatican News held a press conference for the 4th Encuentro Fratelli Tutti to discuss a North-South dialogue on the socio-environmental crisis.

Participants emphasized the importance of creating dialogue spaces that build bridges and seek unity. They noted the need to give a voice to those who have little power or no voice in the world.

Pope Leo XIV sent a telegram to Rome's Chief Rabbi, Riccardo Di Segni, on September 11, 2026, for the holidays of Rosh Ha-Shanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot. The Pope expressed his hope for growing mutual friendship.

Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad urged participants at an interreligious meeting in Buenos Aires to work together to bring peace to a wounded world.

Speaking at the meeting on September 10, the prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue encouraged attendees to walk together across different traditions, cultures, religions, and continents. He described this cooperation as a way to act as bearers of peace and hope for the world.

Vatican Radio will broadcast a 45-minute Mozart concert by the Bella Musica ensemble this Saturday at 10:00 PM. The performance was directed by Stefan David Hummel.

Houthi rebels have seized the Bab el-Mandeb strait, forcing government forces to retreat along the Red Sea coast. Following the advance, Saudi Arabia launched heavy airstrikes on the Mocha airport, resulting in numerous injuries, according to Vatican News.

Pope Leo XIV sent a telegram to Rome's chief rabbi, Riccardo Di Segni, wishing the Jewish community blessings and joy during the celebrations of Rosh Ha-Shanah and Yom Kippur.

Pope Leo XIV sent a telegram to Riccardo Di Segni for Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Sucot, wishing the Jewish community in Rome blessings and joy.

Daniel Nigro told Vatican News that the September 11 anniversary should be an opportunity to do good in honor of those who died in the terrorist attacks.

Pope Leo XIV sent a telegram to Rome's chief rabbi, Riccardo Di Segni, to offer greetings for the Jewish holidays of Rosh Ha-Shanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot. The Pope expressed wishes for blessings and joy during these celebrations to foster mutual friendship.

Bishop Henry Velásquez of La Ceiba, Honduras, attended a training course for new bishops organized by the Holy See.

During the meeting, Velásquez received guidance on the episcopal mission. He also met with other bishops from various parts of the world to discuss the challenges and hopes found in pastoral ministry. Velásquez stated that a bishop must know, listen to, and remain close to his people.

Archbishop Ronald Hicks celebrated a memorial Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral on the evening of September 10 to remember the victims of the events from 25 years ago. Hicks stated that the nation suffered an unprecedented wound on September 11, 2001.

Pope Leo XIV sent a telegram to Rikardo di Seņji to congratulate the Jewish community of Rome on the upcoming Rosh Ha Shanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot holidays. Through the rabbi's representative, the Pope sent greetings to the entire community and expressed prayers for strengthening friendship between Christians and Jews.

Bishop Ettore Balestrero spoke at the 63rd session of the United Nations in Geneva to advocate for the marginalized.

During his address, Balestrero stated that power, knowledge, and cooperation are necessary to prevent people from being treated as disposable tools of labor. He emphasized that without these elements, individuals may only be used for their ability to work and provide assistance.

Vatican News reported that popes have reflected on the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, issuing repeated calls for peace and reconciliation to show that death and evil do not have the final word.

Pope Leo XIV called for an end to the violence in Ukraine, according to a report from L'Osservatore Romano.

Pope Leo XIV's encyclical on artificial intelligence, Magnifica humanitas, has sold more than 135,000 copies in France. The document currently holds the top position on bestseller lists in the reflective essay category.

The newspaper La Croix reports that the papal text has influenced how people outside the Church perceive artificial intelligence. Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to visit France in two weeks.

Archbishop Ronald Hicks of New York reflected on the faith that supported people during the terrorist attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people in New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C. 25 years ago.

In his remembrance of the anniversary, Archbishop Hicks highlighted the importance of memorials used to mark the event. He noted that even during tragedies, people are never alone.

Vatican News reported that popes have reflected on the September 11 attacks 25 years later, using their messages to call for peace and reconciliation.

Bishop Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi told young people at the first West Africa Youth Days in Accra that every conceived child is part of God's plan. Speaking to the gathered youth, the president of the Ghana Bishops' Conference stated that human life has a purpose and no child should be considered an accident.