Fides News - English

VATICAN - The online missiology course in Spanish promoted by the Pontifical Mission Societies begins in October

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 16:27:29 +0200

Vatican City – In the context of the Jubilee Year and the Jubilee of the Missionary World, scheduled for October 4 and 5, 2025,the International Secretariat of the Pontifical Missionary Union, in collaboration with the National Directions of the Pontifical Mission Societies of Spain and Costa Rica, is promoting and organizing a 100% online missiological refresher course in Spanish.
The course will run from October 2025 to June 2026, with a total of 25 sessions divided into three blocks. Each session will last approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes and will be held on Tuesdays at 8:00 p.m. in Spain .
The first block, scheduled from October 28 to December 16, 2025, will address the foundations of missiology, as well as the biblical and theological aspects of the Lord's missionary mandate. The second block, from February 10 to April 14, 2026, will be dedicated to the study of the history of evangelization and current issues related to the Church's missionary approach. Finally, the third block, which will take place from April 21 to June 30, 2026, will focus on missionary pastoral care and spirituality, structures and tools of an ecclesial nature used in mission territories, and Marian spirituality, with an emphasis on the Virgin Mary as Queen of the Missions.
The subjects taught include: fundamental, biblical, historical, and exegetical missiology; mission on the different continents; contemporary missiology; emerging challenges in the field of missiology; missiological and ecumenical pastoral care; Missionary spirituality and contemporary missionary catechesis.
At the end of the course, participants will receive a certificate of participation issued by the International Secretariat of the Pontifical Missionary Union.
For more information and registration details, please visit the following link: https://omp.es/curso-de-actualizacion-en-misionologia/

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ASIA/SOUTH KOREA - “One life is more precious than the whole world”. The Korean work of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd for women in need

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 14:40:28 +0200

by Pascale Rizk

Chuncheon - For more than 50 years, the Sisters of Our Lady of the Good Shepherd in Chuncheon, Seoul, and Jeju, South Korea, have prayed and worked for women and girls in difficulty: single mothers, immigrants, pregnant women, and girls abused within the family. In recent months, they inaugurated a new facility for women in need at their provincial house of the International Congregation of Religious in Chuncheon.
Founded in 1995 with the help of donations, the sisters' house in Chuncheon continues to grow today with the support of old and new benefactors who value the sisters' work on behalf of women and girls from all over the country.
At the inauguration ceremony last April, Bishop Simon Kim Ju-young of Chuncheon addressed the benefactors, saying: "You must be the happiest of all. You should know that while we priests sometimes neglect prayer, the nuns, on the contrary, always pray diligently." It was he himself who, a year earlier, had invited the parishes of the diocese to support the fundraising campaign launched by the sisters. "Since 1993," reports Sister Marie Jean Bae, who served as Provincial Superior from 2014 to 2019, "the sisters of Chuncheon had used the land on which the new building stands free of charge. Then, in 2022, the owner put the land up for sale. If it had been sold and another building had been built on the site, the nuns would have had to abandon their project." "We and the sisters of the contemplative branch prayed together out of desperation. The merciful God heard our prayers, and just two days after we intensified our prayers, the owner of the land changed his mind and decided to donate it to the convent, apologizing for not having done so sooner," the nun continued. "What is even more surprising is that he also thanked us for accepting the donation," summarizes Sister Marie Jean, who has since become the South Korean coordinator of "Talita khum," the international network of consecrated women against human trafficking.

This year, the Congregation celebrates the bicentenary of its contemplative branch, whose history dates back to the works and spiritual insights of Saint John Eudes in the 17th century, when prostitution was a social scourge punishable by imprisonment. Faced with the misery and injustice that prevailed during a time of spiritual and moral decline, Eudes was urged by the young Madeleine Lamy in Caen, Normandy, to found the first house of refuge, a true "hospital for these souls." From papal approval until the revolution of 1789, 150 years passed, during which the religious were dispersed and their houses closed. It was not until 1825 that the houses were reopened thanks to the courage of a young superior, Maria Eufrasia, the foundress of the Sisters of St. Magdalene, now the Sisters of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd.

Religious Sisters at the Side of Women in need

Between the 1960s and 1970s—immediately after the Second Vatican Council—changes in the lives of the sisters in Korea also began to emerge. In 1966, at the invitation of Bishop Peter Han Kong-ryel of the Diocese of Gwangju, four American nuns came to Korea to establish the spirituality of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd. Han was shocked by the sexual exploitation of young girls and women by the US military in his diocese and, in the charism of their foundress, Saint Mary Eufrasia, asked the sisters to help these victims of oppression. Thus, in 1968, the sisters established a dormitory and vocational school near the US Air Force base in Gunsan. This facility remained in operation until 1976. Inspired by the motto "One life is more precious than the whole world," their commitment to supporting single pregnant women clearly demonstrated how important it was for the Catholic Church to create appropriate facilities for these women. Thus, at the invitation of Bishop Park Thomas Stewart, the sisters began with a small house in Seoul and opened "Mary's Home" for single mothers in Chuncheon Province in 1979, before moving to the current provincial house complex and the counseling and support centers for women in 1985. With the entry into force in South Korea of the law against prostitution in 2004 and the significant increase in international marriages – mainly due to the establishment of diplomatic relations with China in 1992 – forms of support for women in distress have been strengthened to meet the urgent need for counselling for women who are victims of domestic violence and to improve communication between spouses of different nationalities, which is often hampered by language and cultural barriers.

Healing wounds of body and soul

Increased awareness of justice and the denunciation of abuse against women led to the adoption of the "Basic Law for the Development of Women" in South Korea in 1995. In centers for pregnant women such as "Mary's Home," women are prepared for a safe birth and can then decide whether to keep their child or place it in foster care. The work of the sisters is crucial in this area, as they advocate for anti-abortion policies in favor of the dignity of life. By welcoming women into these homes, they also aim to protect them from social prejudice. Mothers who have been victims of various forms of violence can also come from outside to seek refuge in the facilities run by the sisters, for example, at the "House of Friends" in Seoul or at another women's shelter in Jeju. Support can be short-term – renewable – or long-term . To facilitate their return to normalcy, programs are developed to help them heal their emotional and physical wounds. The women are guided through their personal and professional development and receive support in the form of free room and lodging, medical care, vocational training to achieve economic independence, and preparation for the GED, an exam equivalent to a high school diploma. The center in Chuncheon, which is operated in cooperation with Caritas, offers special legal support and advice, for example, in filing lawsuits against the perpetrator or drafting a statement in civil proceedings. The sisters also run homes for girls who have been victims of domestic violence and family problems. In these facilities, such as the "House of the Good Shepherd", they receive support from their families. At organizations such as the "Good Shepherd House" in Seoul, efforts are being made to give young girls back the warmth of family, the feeling of love and acceptance in a safe and comfortable place, where they are given a sense of normality. "There is no greater pain than being abused at home by one's parents. It is a long road to achieve healthy independence and psycho-emotional recovery, but they do it," says Mariana Inea Young, a ‘Sand Play’ therapist and social worker. "So many come back to share their stories of recovery," adds Sister Damiana Ham.

A hotline for women in need

Every Thursday, Sister Rufina Hwa Jung Shim—66 years old and now retired after seven years as head of the "hotline" in Jeju—went to the neighborhoods to help women on the streets. Her zeal, the fourth vow of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, allows her to transcend the boundaries of space and time to continue her mission. "We begin every morning with a Bible reading, and even though the staff includes women from all Korean denominations, the Gospel remains the heart of the mission."
At the "1366 Center," the sisters are commissioned by the diocese to manage the "Catholic Women's Line" telephone counseling service, established in 1998 by the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Depending on the case, women are supported locally or placed in women's shelters and connected with the police, hospitals, or other facilities established for their protection. In recent years, increased awareness of women’s issues in South Korea has led to a substantial change in government-sponsored social welfare services. Social service agencies working in the field are consulted by the government before defining the most appropriate policies. Appropriate professional qualifications are also required.

Meanwhile, on July 1, the Ministry of Equal Opportunities and Family Affairs passed a law implementing the "Advance Family Allowance System." The system provides for the advance payment of family allowances and contributions even if one parent evades their child support obligations. The unpaid contributions of the insolvent parent remain with the parent as a debt to public institutions, which must be settled by paying contributions to the social security institutions. The law provides for monthly maintenance of 200,000 KRW for each child until they reach adulthood. This is a form of support that also alleviates the economic difficulties of single mothers and women abandoned by their spouses.

ASIA/INDIA - Chemical factory explosion: Catholic Church calls for transparency and protection of workers' dignity

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 14:08:34 +0200

Hyderabad - "The explosion at a chemical factory in the state of Telangana once again raises the serious problem of exploitation and disregard for the dignity of workers. The victims are mostly poor people, members of tribal communities, migrant workers, and daily laborers, who are the most vulnerable. It will be necessary to examine whether there was negligence and whether the authorities and the company that owns the factory complied with all labor protection measures," said Fr. Stephen Alathara, Deputy Secretary General and Spokesperson of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India , in an interview with Fides following the explosion on June 30 in the Sangareddy district, north of Hyderabad, the capital of the Indian state of Telangana, which killed at least 40 workers and injured more than 35, many of them still in critical condition.
The explosion caused the collapse of a three-story building managed by the pharmaceutical company Sigachi Industries Private Limited. In response to public outrage, the Telangana state government has promised 10 million rupees in compensation to the families of the deceased workers and 1 million rupees in compensation to the injured. Furthermore, a commission of inquiry, composed of experts and scientists, will be established today, July 3, to investigate the explosion. The commission will determine the causes and establish the sequence of events that led to the disaster.
"The Indian Church has united in all communities to express its solidarity and to pray for the victims during daily Masses, as requested by the bishops," Father Alathara told Fides. In an official statement, the Inter-Ritual Bishops' Conference of India also expressed its "deep sadness and sorrow over the tragic explosion at a chemical factory in Telangana." "Our condolences go out to the families who lost their loved ones in this sudden and devastating tragedy. We also pray for the speedy and full recovery of all those injured, and that the Lord grants strength and courage to their families and caregivers," the Indian bishops said in a statement. Many of the victims, the bishops said, originally came from other states and were internal migrants who had come to Telangana to care for their families. The CBCI statement called for "a thorough and transparent investigation to shed light on the causes of the explosion and any deficiencies identified," and pointed out that "the dignity of every human life and the right to a safe and secure working environment must be upheld as a moral and constitutional responsibility." "It is necessary to review the labor laws that allow companies to exploit workers," Father Alathara concluded. "And we must ensure that all the rules established by law were observed. Those who suffer are always the poorest, the defenseless, those who cannot even go to court, the migrants, the tribal people, the weakest. The Church is at their side to help them with all means and in every way."

AFRICA/ZIMBABWE - "Training seminar" for judges and prosecutors canceled

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 12:54:23 +0200

Harare - Under pressure from legal experts, lawyers, and members of civil society, an order requiring Zimbabwean judges to participate in a series of training courses at the Herbert Chitepo School of Ideology of the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union - Patriotic Front party has been canceled. According to a government decree, the training courses, scheduled to take place from July 4 to 5, were to be delivered by Fulton Mangwanya, head of the Central Intelligence Organization, and Martin Rushwaya, Chief Secretary to President Emmerson Mnangagwa's Cabinet, as well as by Ishmael Mada, Dean of the party's Ideology School.
The mandatory attendance of judges and prosecutors at a seminar at the ruling party's school and the intervention of the head of the state intelligence agency caused widespread consternation in the country, as there were fears of an undermining of the independence of the judiciary and its politicization.
Among the organizations that have intervened against the order is the Catholic Lawyers Association of Zimbabwe, which, in a statement released yesterday, July 2, expressed "deep concerns about the propriety of this so-called induction, which appears to be outside contemporary, salient, established legal and judicial principles in Zimbabwe and the region."
The statement states that it condemns "the politicization of judges' training and call on all arms of the government to respect the principle of separation of powers and the rule of law, which are embedded in the supreme law of the country." The Association of Catholic Jurists recalls the articles of the Constitution stating that "independence of the judiciary is not a cosmetic design but a deeply entrenched principle that forms the core of the justice system in Zimbabwe." "Subjecting judges who must at all times be independent and be seen to be independent to an ideology of one party to the exclusion of others not only compromises the judiciary but attacks its independence and impartiality," the statement continues. "We note that this is all happening at a time when the public confidence in the judiciary is low, given the widely held public perception that the Judiciary is captured by the Executive." In this context, the Harare High Court yesterday ordered the arrest of Faith Zaba, editor of the Zimbabwe Independent, for publishing an article harshly critical of the president. The content of the article was described by Public Prosecutor Takudzwa Jambawu as "factually inaccurate and calculated to incite hostility toward the president among Zimbabweans."

AFRICA/TOGO - The Bishops: "disproportionate" violence

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 12:35:00 +0200

Lomé - "We condemn in the strongest possible terms the unacceptable and disproportionate violence, regardless of its origin, perpetrators, or justification," the bishops of Togo issued a joint statement on last week's clashes, which resulted in the deaths of at least seven people. The statement, published on June 30 and signed by Benoît Alowonou, President of the Togolese Bishops' Conference and Bishop of Kpalimé, states that "such a disproportionate use of force to repress a demonstration, albeit an unauthorized one, is simply unacceptable."
On June 27, 28, and 29, thousands of people took to the streets in Lomé to protest the constitutional reform that transformed Togo from a presidential to a parliamentary republic . This allowed Faure Gnassingbé, who has been in office since 2005 following the death of his father and predecessor in the presidency, Gnassingbé Eyadéma, to remain in power as Prime Minister rather than as Head of State. Faure Gnassingbé was sworn in as Prime Minister in May. There is no official term limit for this office, meaning that Faure Gnassingbé can be re-elected by Parliament for an indefinite term. "We bow with respect to the memory of all our compatriots who lost their lives in connection with this violence and express our sincere condolences to their families," the bishops said, calling on "political actors, the defense and security forces, and opinion leaders to show responsibility, moderation, and sincere commitment in building our country."

AMERICA/MEXICO - Shots fired at dawn in the streets of Villahermosa: Priest seriously injured

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 11:52:37 +0200

Villahermosa – The parish priest of the Church of St. Francis of Assisi, Father Héctor Alejandro Pérez, remains in critical condition at the Rovirosa Hospital in Villahermosa. The priest was shot several times in the abdomen while on his way to visit a sick person in the Gaviotas Sur colony.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Monday, June 30, when, according to the Diocese of Tabasco, the priest was on his way to visit a sick parishioner shortly before 6 a.m. Unknown assailants fired several shots, hitting Father Pérez.

The priest was taken to the hospital and underwent a lengthy surgery . Doctors described the clinical situation as very serious from the outset due to the blood loss and the complexity of the internal injuries.

The matter is currently being investigated by the police. In a statement, the Diocese of Tabasco referred to a "case of mistaken identity," which investigators neither confirmed nor denied. The diocese strongly condemns this barbaric act and asks God to touch the hearts of the attackers so that they may convert, while inviting "the faithful and people of good will" to "unite in the search for peace."

The Mexican Bishops' Conference also expressed its closeness to the priest, who, according to a new medical bulletin also issued by the Diocese of Tabasco, is "in critical but stable condition." The Mexican bishops express their "deep shock and fraternal solidarity at the cowardly armed attack on Father Hector Pérez. We unite in prayer to the Lord of life for Father Hector's speedy recovery and entrust him to the protection of the Virgin Mary. Our support goes out to the Diocese of Tabasco, the parish of St. Francis of Assisi, his family, and his friends. May Christ, the Prince of Peace, inspire and sustain our efforts to build a society where justice, reconciliation, and respect for life prevail."

ASIA/INDONESIA - Catholics on the island of Sulawesi: inspired by "Nostra Aetate" and the visit of Pope Francis

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 11:35:57 +0200

Vatican City - "We walk together with the Muslim population on the paths of dialogue and mercy. As Catholics, we live in an area of Indonesia where we are a small minority in society. This does not discourage or frighten us. There is a deep faith that is clearly visible in the participation of the people and that continually calls us to a relationship with others, with people of different faiths with whom there are generally no problems in coexistence," said Archbishop of Makassar, Franciskus Nipa who was the only Indonesian Metropolitan Archbishop to receive the pallium from Pope Leo XIV on June 29. "It was a touching moment of strong solidarity with the Successor of Peter. Pope Leo XIV is a Pope who was a missionary and therefore understands our lives very well," he says.

The Archbishop recounts his mission on the island of Sulawesi, the third largest island in the Indonesian archipelago, whose territory is divided into two Catholic dioceses: Manado in the north, Makassar in the south, which includes three Indonesian provinces. Archbishop Franciskus Nipa's episcopal motto is "Misericodiam volo" and expresses his deep desire "to always and completely be at the service of the people God has entrusted to me." Archbishop Nipa previously served as Secretary General of the Archdiocese for twelve years, a fundamental role that requires direct and specific knowledge of the territory, the parishes, the problems, issues, and needs of the Catholic faithful of the diocese, approximately 250,000 in a population of over 13 million, divided into 56 parishes. Archbishop Nipa begins with the context in which Catholics live: "In Sulawesi, we generally have good relations with the predominantly Muslim population. A valuable source of inspiration for our daily life is 'Nostra Aetate,' the conciliar decree on relations between the Catholic Church and non-Christian religions.
We maintain good relations at the level of ordinary people, but also with Islamic leaders and civil authorities," he explains. "Sometimes, in certain areas of a province, the state authorities put us on the back burner when it comes to obtaining a permit to build a new church. This waiting period can drag on for years, up to 30 or 40 years, effectively denying the permit," he reports. In the past, the presence of Islamist extremists has undermined coexistence and left wounds: On March 28, 2021, Palm Sunday, there was a bomb attack at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Makassar, killing two attackers and injuring at least 20 people. "But we always try to overcome obstacles and find the good that the Lord places in every event," he says. "A very positive impulse," he notes, "was Pope Francis's visit to Indonesia last year. It was important for our Islamic-Christian relations. Indeed, during the preparation, we had the opportunity to meet with Muslim leaders and believers through a series of monthly meetings, held alternately in the church and the mosque, which strengthened the good relations." "Muslims are responding positively to this commitment to dialogue, and we are encouraged. We are now all trying to put the affirmations of goodwill that emerged from these meetings into practice, into daily life," the archbishop said. As part of his pastoral ministry in the vast territory, the Archbishop also visits parishes in more remote areas, including the Tana Toraja Regency, an area where Archbishop Nipa comes from, characterized by landscapes of rice fields, hills, mountains, and villages, and inhabited by indigenous Torajan communities who practice animist worship. The inauguration of the characteristic Church of the Holy Family, carved into the mountain rock, last January was an important moment for the Torajan people: it attracted attention for its original structure and its significance as "a church characterized by a unique integration into the natural landscape, with Christ at its center."

VATICAN - Climate crisis and ecological debt, the Bishops of Asia, Africa and Latin America: the “green Economy” risks being reduced to “modernization of capitalism”

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 11:18:26 +0200

Vatican City – Saying “enough” to “false solutions” and calling on rich countries to settle “with urgent action” the ecological debt owed to the poorest nations. This is the meaning of the document “A call for climate justice and the common home: Ecological conversion, transformation, and resistance to false solutions,” the result of collaboration between the continental episcopal organizations of Latin America and the Caribbean , Asia , and Africa , coordinated by the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. The document, divided into three chapters and 12 paragraphs, takes up various aspects of the climate crisis already analyzed in the encyclical Laudato Si’ and analyzes its social and moral implications at the global level, calling on States to intervene not with “false solutions,” as until now, but with concrete measures.

Ecological Debt and Green Economy

The text begins by denouncing the "contradiction" of financing an alleged "energy transition" with profits from oil production without any real commitment to abandoning fossil fuels. Hence the criticism of the so-called "greenwashing" of environmental policies: the green economy, even if presented as a sustainable model, risks being nothing more than a "modernization of capitalism" that continues to concentrate power and wealth in the hands of a few, excludes the poorest, and exacerbates existing inequalities.

The current system, the text emphasizes, tends not to protect the Planet, but rather to "commodify" nature, transforming it into an "asset that can only be traded by a few," without questioning the actions and processes that have led to the climate crisis.

The bishops therefore call for "building a truly sustainable, supportive, and inclusive economic system" that also takes ecological debt into account. Pope Francis, quoted in the document, already recalled that ecological debt and foreign debt are "two sides of the same coin".

In the Bull of Proclamation for the 2025 Jubilee, "Spes non confundit," and in the Message for the 2025 World Day of Peace, the Argentine Pope described foreign debt as an "instrument of control" by governments and financial institutions over poor countries.

The document takes up these words and the invitation - expressed several times by Pope Francis - to rich countries so that they "recognize and pay their ecological debt, resulting from decades of emissions and the exploitation of natural resources to the detriment of poor countries." Estimates suggest that the climate debt of the global North could reach $192 trillion over the next 25 years. For this reason, the text calls for "not only financial but also moral justice," requiring transparency and concrete commitments to support the most vulnerable populations without further exacerbating their indebtedness.

Responsibility and Equality

Among the measures proposed in the document is an appeal for responsibility: According to the bishops, the countries that have contributed most to polluting emissions in the past must assume the greatest burden of mitigation and adaptation, without further burdening poorer countries.

To achieve this, the text proposes the creation of a "new coalition" bringing together the Church, governments, indigenous peoples, scientists and humanitarian organizations in the South, and "allies in the North" to "study and promote ambitious measures that address social and ecological debt" and thus guarantee "a just and sustainable future for future generations."

The Ecclesiastical Observatory on Climate Justice was recently established, promoted by the Ecclesiastical Conference of the Amazon . This Observatory will monitor the implementation of the agreements reached at the last Climate Conferences , recording any non-compliance, and monitor the fulfillment of the commitments made.

ASIA/SOUTH KOREA - On the 100th anniversary of the beatification of the Korean martyrs, a report on the persecutions of Gihae and Byeong-o

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 14:16:07 +0200

Seoul – A report to learn about the data of the persecutions that struck Catholics on the Korean peninsula in the 19th century. The centenary of the Eucharistic liturgy celebrated on July 5, 1925, in St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, during which the first Korean martyrs were proclaimed blesseds, will also be commemorated, through the publication of documents and official records useful for reconstructing this period of witness and martyrdom.

These were 79 Catholics who were killed "in odium fidei" for their faith during the persecutions of Gihae and Byeong-o . In the 19th century , the Korean Church estimates that approximately 16,000 Catholics were killed.

To commemorate this event, the Committee for Honoring the Martyrs of the Archdiocese of Seoul has organized a series of events, beginning with a Eucharistic celebration on July 5. At 3 p.m., Archbishop Jeong Sun-taek will preside over Mass at the Shrine of the Martyrs of Seosomun, the church built on the site where executions were carried out during the Joseon Dynasty. A total of 41 of the 79 martyrs beatified in the Vatican on July 5, 1925, died at this site, which is considered "the greatest place of martyrdom in the Korean Church."

At the end of the mass, the "Data on the persecution of Gihae and Byeong-o" will be presented. This report contains official data and documents on the persecution of Gihae and Byeong-o. These are official documents from the "Annals of the Joseon Dynasty," the "Diary of the Royal Secretariat," and the "Declaration of the Office of Military Affairs."
The entire report was compiled based on communications and reports exchanged between the Ministry of Justice and the Police Office, which differentiates it from existing historical materials, as it focuses almost exclusively on the testimonies of those who lived through that time. Furthermore, in addition to the original texts, the study also includes translations into contemporary Korean, making the collection easy to consult for researchers.

To conclude the initiatives, an exhibition entitled "Anima Mundi" will open on the evening of July 5. "Anima Mundi" is also the name of the section of the Vatican Museums that collects the legacy of the World Missionary Expo that Pope Pius XI wanted to create in the Vatican Gardens on the occasion of the Jubilee of 1925 . The Korean Church also participated in this event and presented itself to the world for the first time. The exhibition, modeled on the pavilion erected in the Vatican Gardens one hundred years ago, traces the situation of the Korean Church at that time.

AFRICA/SUDAN - Insecurity and lack of services worsen the situation in the capital: teachers disagree in the reopening of schools

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 13:58:12 +0200

Khartoum - Most areas of Khartoum are without electricity and water, exacerbating the country's already precarious security situation and the lack of other services such as internet and telecommunications.

Recently, the humanitarian organization LIZENFO raised the alarm which reported that a large number of people in the Sudanese capital have been forced to return to displacement areas, with the exception of areas of Omdurman. According to the director of the organization, several civilians from Khartoum have returned to the United States after facing great difficulties during the conflict in the capital.

Against a backdrop of general insecurity, the Sudanese Teachers' Committee has voiced its disagreement with a decision by the Khartoum state government's decision to reopen schools, saying that the move ignores the deteriorating security, health, and economic reality, and post a direct threat to the lives of education workers and their families. Furthermore, telecommunications networks are fluctuating, and the internet is not available most of the time. The teachers pointed out that they are forced to charge their phones, at great expense, at shops that rely on solar energy, and warned of a terrible deterioration in the humanitarian situation, and the high cost of food.

Furthermore, civilians in the south and west of Khartoum are being detained and taken to unknown locations without giving reasons. Most neighborhood markets remain closed, and the public are forced to go to the central market, in addition to traveling long distances to get drinking water.

VATICAN - 14 priests ordained by Pope Leo from the Pontifical Urban College "de Propaganda Fide"

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 13:17:49 +0200

Vatican City – On the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and on the occasion of the XXIX World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests, instituted by John Paul II in 1995, Pope Leo XIV ordained 32 new priests in the Vatican Basilica, 14 of whom come from the Pontifical Urban College "de Propaganda Fide." Among them Andige Channindu , Gbatar Emmanuel , Ham Francesco , Joseph Abishek , Lakew Deribe , Lee Angelo , Llamango Ndouloukoli Eusèbe Marius , Maria James Ajith , Menounga Ngonoi Claude , Mombai De-Kpilima Christ Friedrich , Ngalo Felicien , Ngo Giovanni Battista , Santos Daniel and Tika Gilbert .
"The priests recently ordained by Pope Leo XIV come from ten different countries in Africa and Asia," Armando Nugnes, rector of the Pontifical Urban College "de Propaganda Fide," explained to Fides. "They have experienced this opportunity with profound gratitude toward God and the Church, feeling the responsibility to bear witness to the richness of Catholicism in their countries through the generosity of the service that will be asked of them."
This year, the Pontifical Urban College welcomed 168 students, including seminarians and deacons, along with nearly 300 priests from the Colleges of Saints Peter and Paul, as well as about 100 nuns from the Mater Ecclesiae College in Castel Gandolfo. "This gift has been great," emphasizes Rector Nugnes, "not only for the candidates who received the grace of the ministerial priesthood from the Holy Father in the context of the Jubilee Year, but also for the entire community that was able to accompany these brothers, exceptionally, until the day of their ordination, with prayer and sharing in the joy. Normally, the Urban College's formative plan provides that deacons, after completing their licentiate studies, return to their dioceses of origin to receive priestly ordination and begin their missionary ministry."

ASIA/THAILAND - National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies on the suspension of the Prime Minister: "We proceed according to the rule of law"

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 12:48:27 +0200

Bangkok - "The street protests lasted one day, and now calm has returned to Bangkok. I believe that the process of replacing the Prime Minister will continue in accordance with the rule of law and the rules of democracy. The hope of the Thai people is to quickly resolve the border issues with Cambodia and return the situation to the sphere of good relations between the two nations," said Fr. Peter Piyachart Makornkhanp, parish priest in Bangkok and National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Thailand, in an interview with Fides.
The country has been shaken by the recent ruling of the Constitutional Court suspending Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who was accused of "ethical violations" in managing relations with Cambodia. The suspension, it was announced, is in effect "until the decision of the Constitutional Court," which could take several weeks or months. The court responded to a petition from 36 senators after a telephone conversation between the head of government and former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen was made public, in which Shinawatra referred to the Thai army chief as an "enemy." At a political level, the 38-year-old prime minister – daughter of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra – was already weakened after the main party in the governing coalition, Bhumjaithai , withdrew its support two weeks ago. A government reshuffle followed. Recently, the territorial dispute with Cambodia resurfaced, leading to cross-border clashes in which a Cambodian soldier was killed . The Prime Minister is now accused of weakening the army and violating constitutional provisions requiring "integrity" and "ethical standards." Fr. Piyachart Makornkhanp told Fides: "In relations between Thailand and Cambodia, very old mutual prejudices sometimes surface. But in the lives and minds of ordinary people, there are no problems today; good relations are maintained, generating strong economic and social ties, especially in the border areas. Some of the hostilities are about the relationship between some political leaders, not about the people." The National Director further reports that "at the ecclesial level, there are excellent relations and fruitful pastoral cooperation between the Churches of Cambodia and Thailand: we currently have several Thai priests and religious living and working in Cambodia. We hope that tensions will subside and the situation will normalize with the reopening of the borders." The Bangkok priest also points out that "many Thai people and organizations, including Caritas, are doing their best to care for the Cambodians stranded in Thailand as displaced persons and unable to return to Cambodia due to the border closure. This is a very beautiful sign of solidarity that expresses the essence of the relationship between the two peoples," he concludes.

AFRICA/DR CONGO - Peace agreement between the Democratic Party and Rwanda: another mockery

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 12:17:52 +0200

Kinshasa - "The impression created by the people of Bukavu, exhausted by more than four months of occupation, is one of perplexity and the feeling of being deceived again and again, even if they do not give up hope that something will change on the ground. But what? New reports of killings by the M23 are coming from the city and the province," said a Church source in Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu, occupied by Rwandan troops and the M23 movement since mid-February , commenting on the peace agreement signed on June 27 in Washington by Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo under the auspices of the Trump administration .
The agreement provides for the "lifting of Rwandan defense measures" within three months, with the withdrawal of Rwandan soldiers from the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the neutralization of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda , founded by former Hutu leaders, linked to the 1994 Rwandan genocide, and viewed by Kigali as an existential threat.
The agreement also contains an economic aspect, which has not yet been specified, but which is said to provide for the exploitation of Congolese natural resources by American companies.
"Many people were even willing to lose the country's natural resources to regain peace, but this remains in question," the Fides source reports. "Because Rwanda, which occupies and exploits the provinces of North and South Kivu under the guise of the M23, does not seem to be affected by the agreement.
So, at the moment, nothing is moving forward. Precisely where change is most needed." "There is one fundamental change that everyone, except those who have changed their colors, is waiting for: the withdrawal of all Rwandan soldiers, who are to return to their homeland. This is not explicitly stated in the agreement; it only speaks of a cessation of hostilities. Even though it cites UN Resolution 2773, which calls for such a return".
"Upon reading, the text seems to me to be full of pitfalls. Another obvious pitfall is the fact that it mentions six times that the FDLR is to be neutralized. As if this were the real problem. It is a pretext, perhaps to avoid having to say out loud to Rwanda: The king is naked and he attacked an independent country. The FDLR are few in number, are repeatedly repatriated, and are completely unsuitable for an attack on Rwanda. But they are suitable to justify the presence of the Rwandan army in Congo." "And they demand the disarmament of all militias: including this militia, which is of course often disorganized, sometimes infiltrated by bandits, but which, alone or with the few remaining Congolese soldiers, is blocking the advance of the M23. Meanwhile, the occupying forces continue to murder, rape, and humiliate a population that is now starving. You have to experience these things to feel the humiliation of those who ask why they do not know how to feed their children and the helplessness of those who respond: 'I'm sorry, but we have no money to give you because the banks are closed,'" the source said. "Another pitfall is the return of refugees. There are hardly any Congolese refugees in Rwanda. Rather, there are hordes of self-proclaimed Rwandan refugees just waiting to enter Congo to settle there and continue to nurture the dream of a Greater Rwanda. It is true that reference is made to traditional institutions: they will have to say whether the person is truly from a particular place or not. We shall see," the report continues. "And what about economic cooperation with a country that continues to plunder everything it can, crossing the borders of the occupied territories? The prospect, as some say, is that Congo will remain the great mine where people suffer and even die for little money, while Rwanda will be the site of refineries, and the large multinationals and the States that support them will be the big winners. With the blessing of their opportunistic friends, the United States. Is it a coincidence that the word 'justice' is not mentioned in the document? What about the millions of victims, the dead and the traumatized survivors, the children deprived of schooling, the young people robbed of their youth, the adults deprived of the vital minimum that makes a person’s dignity?
None of this would have happened without the pressure from the Congolese authorities, who create the impression that they betrayed their country and their people in order to stay in power," the source emphasizes. "Congolese civil society, especially in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, had prepared several clarifying documents and addressed them to the highest authorities, expressing their concerns. This was ignored. Nobel laureate Mukwege had raised his voice with a speech that was initially humanitarian and then political, tackling the root causes of the problems. Yet it was as if no one had said anything. The overall impression is therefore a mockery. It is bad to oppress a people. It is even worse to make them believe that you are helping them," the source concludes.

ASIA/SYRIA - A new time of uncertainty and martyrdom: Archbishop Tobji on the present situation of Syrian Christians

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 11:09:17 +0200

by Gianni Valente

Aleppo - Nine days have passed since the massacre of at least 25 Christians who were killed while attending Mass at the Greek Orthodox Church of St. Elias, in Damascus. This massacre will forever be associated with the stigma of martyrdom of Syrian Christians in Syria after the fall of the Assad regime. "After the massacre," Joseph Tobji, the Maronite Archbishop of Aleppo, confirmed to Fides, "they wrote on the wall of a church in the Hama district the words 'your turn will come too." Someone wants to make it seem as if this is just the beginning. "People send me photos of leaflets posted on Christian homes saying 'Syria must be cleansed,' with drawings of bombs and Kalashnikov rifles. An intimidation reminiscent of the inscriptions on Christian homes in Mosul. These are the things circulating among Christians. Perhaps they are not even real photos, but someone generated them with artificial intelligence and posted them online. But the fear they unleash is not a "fake".

Archbishop Tobji describes a situation that is full of uncertainty for Syrian Christians. "Those in power now keep telling us that Christians must not be touched, that they are an essential part of the country and of Syrian society," he emphasizes. "At Christmas and Easter, they sent their security escorts to protect masses in churches and during processions. The security services have already put protective measures and systems in place. When we call them, they come. But people do not believe in them. Fear and despair prevail." It is clear that "not all factions and armed groups listen to those who now form the government."

Current President Ahmed al-Sharaa, known under the name Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, led the "Hayat Tahrir al-Sham" , which participated in the offensive that led to the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's regime during the Syrian war. "In today's Syria," Archbishop Tobji admits, "not even a large portion of Syrian Muslims support the possible establishment of an Islamist regime. But the Islamist mentality is evident in the details. It affects daily life. With elevators reserved for men and those reserved for women, with government offices having counters for women and others for men, and so on." "A few days ago, a boy and a girl were walking down the street in the evening. A man stopped them and asked them why they were together. They replied that they were engaged, and he began to question them. He demanded that someone confirm this. He had them call the mother of one of them and began to question her as well, and she confirmed that the boy and girl were engaged... In such episodes, many people begin to say: This is no longer our country. So many young people are constantly looking for visas to go abroad to escape a situation they consider irreparable."

"The Catholic bishops," said Archbishop Joseph Tobji, "have reflected together on how they should behave during this time." "We share the idea that if the Lord is holding us here, in Syria in 2025, he wants something from us in this situation, that we should not hide or stand by: There is a call from the Lord that requires us to act," he emphasizes. For this reason, the Catholic bishops of Aleppo established a committee to promote dialogue with all parts of the country. A few weeks ago, the Committee organized a three-day conference to discuss Syria's present and future in the name of national reconciliation. "We also invited some of those who drafted the Constitutional Declaration. We spoke freely. There was also criticism of the current government, and others expressed their support. But that was only the beginning of a process. Now we are exploring how we can find ways to promote peace and reconciliation."

It is obvious that the current ruling group does not control all armed groups and territories. Large parts of the country are under the control of Kurds and Druze. "There is no police on the streets, the situation is deadlocked, and the new rulers are still inexperienced in politics and administration," says the Maronite Archbishop of Aleppo. "Sometimes they make decisions that ignore reality. They have dismissed thousands and thousands of officials, labeling them corrupt en masse or declaring them superfluous. And now the families of these former employees of the apparatus do not know how to make ends meet. Bread still costs ten times more than it used to, and people cannot survive without it. Everyone still complains about the lack of electricity and water, and has done so for many years. The worst thing is the high prices of medicines, surgery and rents."

Archbishop Tobji has already met with President al-Sharaa four times. "When he speaks to us," he told Fides, "he shows that he has progressive visions. But I do not know if he will succeed in doing what he says he wants to do. I hope so."

Meanwhile, the sanctions imposed on Syria during Assad's time have been lifted, but in the country, according to Tobji, "we have not yet seen any positive effects. There's talk of businessmen coming to invest. If the economy were to improve, everything would change. But so far, there are no reassuring signs."

Syria presents the unique scenario of a power structure led by jihadist groups that enjoys support and political recognition in the countries of the North Atlantic West. "Syria," said Archbishop Tobiji, "has made a U-turn. Previously, the regime was supported by Russia and Iran; now the al-Sharaa government is supported by the US and Europe. But I believe that in these scenarios and with these shifting fronts, there are no eternal allies, no eternal friendships. It is interests that drive things."

ASIA/VIETNAM - Forty new priests in Vietnam during the month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 15:04:16 +0200

Ho Chi Minh City – The Catholic Church in Vietnam continues to flourish in priestly vocations. In June 2025, the month dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and traditionally reserved for priestly ordinations, forty new priests were ordained, a precious gift for the Vietnamese Church: six in the Diocese of Da Nang, thirteen in the Diocese of Can Tho, in the Mekong Delta, and twenty-one in the Archdiocese of Ho Chi Minh City.
The Diocese of Da Nang joyfully welcomed six new priests, "consecrated to be each an Alter Christus, to become pastors of the People of God, not to live for themselves, but to be all things to all people," said Monsignor Joseph Dang Duc Ngan, Archbishop of Hue and Apostolic Administrator of Da Nang, during the solemn ordination of six priests, celebrated on June 24 in Da Nang Cathedral, attended by numerous faithful. Referring to the life of Saint John the Baptist, the Prelate recalled: "A priest does not become perfect from the day of his ordination. The priesthood is a journey of daily growth in Christ and constant strengthening in the Holy Spirit to fulfill the mission of God and the Church with joy and true love." The following day, June 25, in Soc Trang Cathedral, Diocese of Can Tho, Bishop Peter Le Tan Loi presided over the ordination of thirteen new priests. During the celebration, the bishop invited the community "to unite in prayer and accompany the new priests, so that they may always lead a life faithful to their pastoral identity: humble, holy, and dedicated to the flock."
On June 27, 2025, the Day of the Sanctification of the Priesthood, the diocese of Ho Chi Minh City celebrated the ordination of twenty-one new priests. In his homily, Archbishop Joseph Nguyen Nang, Archbishop of the archdiocese, emphasized: "The priest is not like a robot of the modern age. The priest, in his ministry, takes God's will seriously so that, in every action - liturgical, pastoral, and charitable - he may transmit the Good News."
At the Shrine of Our Lady of Bai Dau, in the Diocese of Ba Ria, Bishop Emmanuel Nguyen Hong Son presented six seminarians who received diaconal ordination during the Mass of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

ASIA/CHINA - The People of God in China accompany the priests in their “Jubilee of Hope”

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 14:55:15 +0200

Beijing – With a 24-hour Eucharistic adoration and prayers to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Chinese Catholics celebrated the days before and after the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the spirit of popular piety, accompanying Chinese seminarians, bishops, and priests from June 25 to 27, in communion with Pope Leo XIV and the universal Church, during their Jubilee of Hope. In the Cathedral of the Diocese of Wenzhou, Eucharistic adoration began at 8 p.m. on June 26 and ended at 8 p.m. on June 27. The faithful were invited to pray especially for the "sanctification of priests." The seminarians and priests themselves also addressed their prayers to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, asking for the gifts of health, holiness, and the practice of Christian virtues. Eucharistic adoration was characterized by the recitation of the Rosary, listening to the Word of God, and sacred music. At the end of each hour, the prayer intentions for the sanctification of priests, at service of the mission of the Church, were recalled. The practice of Eucharistic adoration reminds everyone that only through the gift of the Eucharist do priests and lay people move forward each day with the request to experience the miracle of their own holiness and the holiness of others in their daily lives.
In the Diocese of Taiyuan, Bishop Paul Meng Ningyou ordained two new priests on Saturday, June 28, on the occasion of the Jubilee. Bishop Meng recommended that they proclaim the Gospel, live it, and be an example to the faithful, as well as to ask for their own sanctification in light of Christ's teachings, administer the sacraments, and be active in serving the faithful, and live their priesthood joyfully and in communion with the bishop.

From June 23 to 26, priests from the Diocese of Sanyuan in the Chinese province of Shaanxi gathered to reflect on the "communal journey of the Holy Year" on the occasion of the Jubilee of Priests. During the four days of formation and sharing, the priests of the Diocese of Sanyuan meditated on their priestly ministry and the daily obligations of their pastoral experience in light of the testimonies and teachings of Saints and the Fathers of the Church. The four days spent together were a precious opportunity to renew their missionary zeal and continue their journey of conversion.

AFRICA/KENYA - "Let us continue the dialogue with young people instead of blaming the bishops"

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 14:44:52 +0200

Nairobi - “We want to ask everybody — the government, the leaders, and the political spheres — to look at the fact that we are taking care of the dignity of the young people,”
said Archbishop Philip Arnold Subira Anyolo of Nairobi yesterday, Sunday, June 29, in a statement regarding the accusations made by the Minister of the Interior Kipchumba Murkomen against Catholic and non-Catholic religious leaders, whom the minister accuses of siding with the "anarchists" and failing to condemn the violence during the "Generation Z" protests on June 25 in memory of the victims of last year's demonstrations against the Finance Bill .
At least 16 people were killed in clashes with police during this year's protests . In his statement, the Archbishop of Nairobi emphasized that the Church cares about the lives of all people: “Life is never to be sacrificed for anything else, but to be given the future, for the prosperity of the nation and for the prosperity of human beings.”
Archbishop Anyolo therefore reiterated his call to listen to young people: “we have to agree — all of us together — the leaders in government, the church, and the parents, all of us who take care of the young people, we need to listen to them and understand them and help them grow and mature”.
Members of the Anglican Church also responded to the Minister of the Interior. “Give top priority to the economic well-being of the people. The cost of living is unbearable for many families. Young people are unemployed. Parents cannot pay school fees. Businesses are struggling. These are not just statistics; they are stories of real suffering. Government must listen, act, and respond quickly,” emphasized the Anglican Bishop of Nyahururu, Samson Gachathi.
''I know that there will be no bishop or church member, neither Catholic nor Anglican, who will come out to defend the police. Nobody will speak about how the police were injured,''the Minister of the Interior declared, reiterating that nine police stations were attacked, five of which were set on fire. Dozens of police, government, and civilian vehicles were also damaged. The Ministry of Agriculture also claimed that more than 7,354 bags of fertilizer worth approximately $230,000 were stolen from a national warehouse in Meru County, about 200 kilometers east of Nairobi, taking advantage of the chaos of the demonstrations that turned violent. The theft was described by Kenyan authorities as a "direct attack on Kenya's food security."

ASIA/CAMBODIA - Coadjutor of the Apostolic Vicar of Phnom Penh: "An important step for the Catholic Church in Cambodia"

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 14:15:21 +0200

Phnom Penh - In 1975, the young Cambodian priest Joseph Chmar Salas was appointed coadjutor of the Apostolic Vicar of Phnom Penh by Pope Paul VI. He was the first Cambodian bishop in history. Cambodia and the Cambodian people were experiencing the darkest period in their history at that time: Chmar Salas became one of the victims of the Khmer Rouge regime and died in 1977 in Tangkok, far from his Vicariate. In the 1990s, after this sad period, marked by death and suffering, when religious freedom was reinstated in the country, the Holy See entrusted the local Church to the priests of the Paris Foreign Missions . The Apostolic Vicar of Phnom Penh was initially Yves Ramousse , then Émile Destombes , and finally, since 2010, the current Vicar, Olivier Schmitthaeusler. On June 28, 2025, fifty years after the appointment of the first Cambodian bishop, history repeated itself: Cambodian priest Pierre Suon Hang Ly was appointed Coadjutor Apostolic Vicar of Phnom Penh. The current Vicar, Bishop Schmitthaeusler, told Fides: "Leo XIV has given the Church of Cambodia a great gift by appointing a Cambodian as Coadjutor of the Vicariate of Phnom Penh. Priests, religious, and all the communities are full of joy and happiness and warmly welcome Pierre Suon Hang Ly to Phnom Penh." "This is a very important step for the Catholic Church in Cambodia," Bishop Olivier Schmitthaeusler continued. "I have been asking the Holy See for this for some time. Now the time is ripe." "The appointment of a Cambodian Apostolic Vicar is a sign of the maturity of our local Church and a strong signal to root the small Catholic Church even more deeply in the society, culture, and life of the country," he continues. "As for me, I will continue my service as Apostolic Vicar of Phnom Penh for some time, flanked by Bishop Ly. Together, as brothers in the episcopate, as successors of the Apostles, we will now be the shepherds of this part of the People of God, serving the Church with love, but also with greater readiness and renewed dynamism to proclaim the Good News in all parts of the Vicariate." "We will be on this journey together with our brother priests, our seminarians, all religious orders, diocesan offices, parishes, Catholic NGOs, and lay missionaries," assures Bishop Schmitthaeusler, who invokes the protection of the Virgin Mary: "We entrust ourselves to Our Lady of the Mekong to guide us in our mission during this Holy Year of Hope. Let us pray for one another in this historic moment for our Catholic Church in Cambodia." And he concludes: "We thank the Lord for the presence of Bishop Ly as Coadjutor of the Vicariate, and we thank him for having accepted this new task of serving the People of God in Phnom Penh with trust and dedication. Bishop Ly already knows the Vicariate of Phnom Penh very well, with its diversity, its dynamism, and its challenges in this new society that is being built". Pierre Suon Hang Ly was born on April 15, 1972, in Pho Thom, the hometown of Bishop Joseph Chmar Salas. He attended the major seminary first in Battambang and then in Phnom Penh. He was ordained a priest on December 9, 2001. From 2002 to 2007, he he carried out pastoral service in Kampot and Takeo, and then studied at the Catholic Institute in Paris until 2015. Upon his return to Phnom Penh, he was appointed parish priest of the new pastoral unit of Thmey and Vicar General. In July 2022, he was appointed Apostolic Prefect of Kompong Cham, a position he has held so far.

AFRICA/GUINEA BISSAU - New Bishop of Bafatà: Listening, dialogue, and walking with the people are among his priorities

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 13:19:19 +0200

Bafatà - "I want to be a pastor present in the villages, in our most remote communities, in our wounded hearts," said Victor Luís Quematcha in his homily at the first Holy Mass he celebrated as the new Bishop of Bafatà in the Cathedral on Sunday, June 29. The day before, a ceremony for the taking possession of the diocese took place, attended by bishops from Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, and Cape Verde, as well as ecclesiastics from Portugal and Brazil and a large number of local faithful, including a representative of the Pontifical Mission Societies.
In his homily at his first Mass as Bishop, Luis Quematcha emphasized the coincidence with the Solemnity of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul. He emphasized that he brings no fixed plans, ideas, or solutions, but that, above all, he wants to listen, engage in dialogue, and walk together with the people. "I come with an open heart to the Holy Spirit and the cries of the people," declared the new Bishop of Bafatá, whose diocese covers an area of more than 24,600 square kilometers and has played a fundamental role in the evangelization and social development of the eastern and southern regions of the country. Víctor Luís Quematcha , was born in Cúmura , Guinea Bissau , and succeeds Bishop Pedro Zilli , the first bishop of the diocese established in 2001, who died in 2021 due to Covid. The choice of the episcopal motto "You are all brothers" is intended as an invitation to fraternity and unity among the faithful and underlines the values of communion and solidarity in keeping with the Church's mission to promote peace and harmony, as the new bishop explained in an interview with Rádio Sol Mansi.

VATICAN - The unity of the Church "is nourished by forgiveness". Pope Leo celebrates the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, Patrons of Rome

Sun, 29 Jun 2025 12:57:47 +0200

Vatican City - The Church of Rome “was born of the witness of the Apostles Peter and Paul, and made fruitful by the outpouring of their blood and that of many martyrs.” They too were poor sinners, with their errors and contradictions. And what made them great was the forgiveness of Christ, who shaped them “from conversion to conversion” and, “more than once, reached out to them in orer to put them back on the right path.” Because “Jesus never calls just one time.” That is why “we can always hope. The Jubilee is itself a reminder of this.”
Thus, Pope Leo XIV united the past and the present, the glory of the Apostles with the witness of today's martyrs, and also with the fervor of pilgrims who come from all over the world to venerate their relics in the Eternal City, on the occasion of the Jubilee Year. He did so this Sunday, June 29, celebrating the great feast of Saints Peter and Paul, Patrons of Rome. First, with the solemn Eucharistic liturgy presided over in the Vatican Basilica, and then with the brief catechesis delivered before reciting the Angelus from the window of his study in the Apostolic Palace, with St. Peter's Square packed with Romans and pilgrims, despite the breathtaking heat.

The Bishop of Rome's Ministry of Unity

Also in our days, throughout the world—Pope Prevost emphasized, referring to the martyrdom of Peter, Paul, and the Holy Martyrs of Rome - "there continue to be Christians whom the Gospel inspires to be generous and courageous even to the sacrifice of their lives." As Pope Francis recalled, "we can speak of an ecumenism of blood, an unseen yet profound unity among Christian Churches that are not yet in full and visible communion."
“The episcopal ministry” of the Bishop of Rome - the Successor of Peter asserted - “is at the service of unity, and that the Church of Rome is committed by the blood shed by Saints Peter and Paul to serving in love the communion of all Churches.”
The rock on which the Church is founded - Pope Leo emphasized, justifying the martyrdom that marks the entire Christian story in world history - “is Christ himself.” “A rock rejected by the builders, whom God made the cornerstone.” The Papal Basilicas of St. Peter and St. Paul, built near the sites of the martyrdom of the two Apostles - the Pontiff indicated - “are a sign of how that reversal continues in our own day. They are located on the outskirts of the city, “Outside the Walls,” as we say even today. What appears great and glorious to us today, was originally rejected and excluded because it ran counter to the thinking of this world.” Likewise, “those who follow Jesus must tread the path of the Beatitudes, where poverty of spirit, meekness, mercy, hunger and thirst for justice, and peace-making are often met with opposition and even persecution. Yet God’s glory shines forth in his friends and continues to shape them along the way, passing from conversion to conversion.” And at the “tombs of the Apostles, which have been the object of pilgrimage for almost two thousand years, we come to realize that we too can pass from conversion to conversion.”

“Jesus never calls just one time”

The same path “from conversion to conversion,” Pope Francis affirmed, was experienced by the Apostles themselves. In the New Testament, “the errors, conflicts and sins of those whom we venerate as the greatest Apostles were not concealed,” the Pontiff said, but “in fact, their greatness was shaped by forgiveness. The risen Lord reached out to them more than once, to put them back on the right path.” Because “Jesus never calls just one time. That is why we can always hope. The Jubilee is itself a reminder of this.” And unity in the Church and among the Churches “is fostered by forgiveness and mutual trust, beginning with our families and communities. If Jesus can trust us, we can certainly trust one another in his name.”

The disputes between Paul and Peter

In the homily read during the solemn liturgy celebrated this morning in the Vatican Basilica, Pope Leo, recalling the lives of the two Patron Saints of Rome, recalled that ecclesial communion, a gift of the Holy Spirit, did not erase their different backgrounds or possible disagreements. “Simon was a fisherman from Galilee, while Saul was highly educated and a member of the party of the Pharisees. The former immediately left everything to follow the Lord, while Paul persecuted Christians before his life-changing encounter with the risen Christ. Peter preached mainly to the Jews, whereas Paul was driven to bring the Good News to the gentiles.” As we know “the two were at odds over the proper way to deal with gentile converts, so much so that Paul tells us that, “when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood self-condemned.” At the Council of Jerusalem, the two Apostles would once more debate the issue. Both “followed different paths, had different ideas and at times argued with one another with evangelical frankness. Yet this did not prevent them from living the concordia apostolorum, that is, a living communion in the Spirit, a fruitful harmony in diversity.” Precisely because ecclesial communion “is born from the impulse of the Spirit, unites differences and builds bridges of unity thanks to the rich variety of charisms, gifts and ministries.” And living communion in this way - the Pontiff continued - can guarantee that “the various gifts, united in the one confession of faith, may advance the preaching of the Gospel.” This is what “the Church needs”; what “the relationships, whether between lay people and priests, priests and bishops, bishops and the Pope need; fraternity is also needed in pastoral care, ecumenical dialogue and the friendly relations that the Church desires to maintain with the world.”

Jesus' questions and the vitality of faith

The events of Peter and Paul, Pope Leo said, "challenge us to think about the vitality of our faith."
At the heart of today’s Gospel lies the question that Jesus asked his disciples. Today he asks us that same question, challenging us to examine whether our faith life retains its energy and vitality, and whether the flame of our relationship with the Lord still burns bright: “Who do you say that I am?” Every day, at every moment in history, the Pontiff exhorted, “we must always take this question to heart. If we want to keep our identity as Christians from being reduced to a relic of the past, as Pope Francis often reminded us, it is important to move beyond a tired and stagnant faith."
During the liturgy celebrated on the Solemnity of the Patron Saints of Rome, Pope Leo also conferred the Pallium on 54 new Metropolitan Archbishops, a sign and gesture, he said, that "in recalling the pastoral responsibility entrusted to you also expresses your communion with the Bishop of Rome." Pope Leo XIII also greeted the members of the Synod of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church present at the Eucharistic liturgy, and the Delegation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, sent by Patriarch Bartholomew, “dearest brother,” and led by Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon .