Pope Francis

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-05/pope-francis-international-congress-youth-ministry-discernment.html

Pope Francis invites young people to ‘joy and authenticity’
25 May 2024, 13:08

Speaking to participants in the Vatican’s International Congress on Youth Ministry, Pope Francis says that “discernment is about being ‘real’ before oneself, before others, and before God.”
By Delphine Allaire

On Saturday, May 25th, Pope Francis received participants in the International Congress of Youth Ministry, organised by the Vatican’s Dicastery for Laity, Family, and Life.

The meeting brought together young people and delegates from episcopal conferences, associations, and various ecclesial movements.

Thinking about the Youth Jubilee in July 2025 and the World Youth Day (WYD) in Seoul scheduled for three years later, the Pope expressed his hope that these two universally significant events might “help many of the young, including those who are not ordinarily churchgoers, to encounter Jesus."
 
https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2024/may.index.html
Speeches 2024 May
To Participants in the International Congress on Youth Ministry of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life (25 May 2024)

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-05/pope-francis-world-childrens-day-ukraine-palestine-war.html

Pope meets with Ukrainian and Palestinian children
25 May 2024, 14:31

On Saturday, Father Marcin Schmidt accompanied a group of children, predominantly from war zones, to the Vatican. Despite everything, they brought a message of hope.
By Alessandro De Carolis

Children missing limbs sit calmly before the Pope, happy for once to be in a place where they can marvel at a beautiful building rather than live in fear of bombs.

About thirty children from Ukraine, Palestine, Belarus, and Indonesia met with Pope Francis.

Father Marcin Schmidt, who arranged this visit as part of World Children's Day, spoke to Vatican News about their experiences.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-05/pope-celebrates-peace-with-children-gathered-in-rome-for-wcd.html

Pope celebrates peace with children gathered in Rome for first WCD
25 May 2024, 20:01

Pope Francis asks children gathered in Rome’s stadium for the first World Children's Day (WCD) to pray for their peers who are suffering from war and injustice and encourages them to continue dreaming for a better future.
By Lisa Zengarini

Some 50,000 children hailing from several countries around the globe gathered in Rome's Olympic Stadium on Saturday afternoon to meet Pope Francis and reflect with him on their importance in the world's future, as part of the first ever World Children's Day (WCD). Peace was the main theme of the event.

The Pope arrived at 4.40 p.m. on his popemobile and was greeted with applause and by the hymn “A Beautiful World,” sung by the Choir of the Diocese of Rome.
 
Mass for the first WCD to be celebrated on Sunday in St. Peter's Square

The dialogue was interspersed by music, a short video and even a brief soccer match with Italian footballers in a festive atmosphere, and concluded with the children offering the Pope their drawings. They will see him again on Sundayin St. Peter’s Square, where he will preside over Mass for this first World Day of Children on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity.

>>>Text of speech and video at "[Multimedia]" link--
https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2024/may.index.html
Speeches 2024 May
Meeting at the Olympic Stadium - World Children's Day (25 May 2024)

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-05/pope-at-mass-with-children-the-trinity-is-a-family-of-love.html

Pope at Mass with children: 'The Holy Spirit accompanies us in life'
26 May 2024, 11:44

At a Mass in St Peter’s Square for the first World Children’s Day, Pope Francis says that "God created us, Jesus saved us, and the Holy Spirit accompanies us throughout our life."
By Francesca Merlo

The final event of the first World Children’s Day – an event held at the request of Pope Francis, which yesterday brought together around 50,000 young people in Rome’s Olympic Stadium – was a Mass held in St Peter’s Square.The day was Trinity Sunday, and the Pope reflected on the feast in his homily.

Addressing the children gathered, Pope Francis emphasised the profound unity and love within the Holy Trinity, describing it as a family. "We pray to God, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. How many 'gods' are there? One in three persons," he explained.
 
https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/homilies/2024.index.html
Homilies 2024
Trinity Sunday - Holy Mass (26 May 2024)

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-05/roberto-benigni-world-children-s-day-pope-dream-war-fairytales.html
Roberto Benigni at World Children’s Day: ‘Open your eyes and dream'
26 May 2024, 13:51

Video at the link below--
https://www.youtube.com/user/vatican
Holy Mass 26 May 2024, Pope Francis

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/257817/world-childrens-day-pope-francis-instills-key-lesson-on-holy-spirit-in-mass-with-children
World Children's Day: Pope Francis instills key lesson on Holy Spirit at Mass with children
By Rachel Thomas
Vatican City, May 26, 2024 / 13:15 pm

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https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/257783/12-things-to-know-and-share-about-the-holy-trinity

12 things to know and share about the Holy Trinity
By Jimmy Akin
National Catholic Register, May 26, 2024 / 04:00 am

The Catholic Church teaches that the Holy Trinity is the central mystery of the Christian faith. But how much do we know about this mystery? What is its history? What does it mean? And how can it be proved?

Here are 12 things to know and to share.

1. Where does the word “Trinity” come from?

It comes from the Latin word “trinitas,” which means “three” or “triad.” The Greek equivalent is “triados.”

2. When was the word first used?

The first surviving use of the term (there may have been earlier uses that are now lost) was about 170 A.D. by Theophilus of Antioch, who wrote:

“In like manner also the three days which were before the luminaries are types of the Trinity [Τριάδος], of God, and His Word, and His wisdom. And the fourth is the type of man, who needs light, that so there may be God, the Word, wisdom, man” (“To Autolycus,” 2:15).

3. What is the Trinity?

The Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church explains it this way:

“The Church expresses her trinitarian faith by professing a belief in the oneness of God in whom there are three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The three divine Persons are only one God because each of them equally possesses the fullness of the one and indivisible divine nature. They are really distinct from each other by reason of the relations which place them in correspondence to each other. The Father generates the Son; the Son is generated by the Father; the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son” (No. 48).
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-05/pope-francis-unicef-head-catherine-russell-promote-children.html

Pope Francis meets with UNICEF Chief Catherine Russell
27 May 2024, 10:35

Amid the World Children's Day events, Pope Francis and Catherine Russell, the Executive Director of UNICEF, meet and reflect together on protecting children who suffer most from conflicts and disasters worldwide.
By Deborah Castellano Lubov

Pope Francis met with UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell on Sunday.

UNICEF is the United Nations Children's Fund and works in more than 190 countries and territories to save and protect the rights of the world's most needy children and young people.

The same day, according to a statement from UNICEF, Russell ended her three-day visit to Rome, which included her participating in the Vatican's first-ever World Children's Day, organized by the Holy See's Dicastery for Culture and Education, which gathered tens of thousands of children from around the world.

Over the weekend, Russell had joined Pope Francis and tens of thousands of children from all over the world - including from war-torn countries - along with parents, local celebrities and hundreds of UNICEF volunteers at Rome’s Olympic Stadium. During the event, the Executive Director urged children in the stadium and those watching from around the world, to help create a more peaceful, equitable, and livable world.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-05/pope-to-buddhists-let-s-work-together-for-a-more-inclusive-world.html

Pope to Buddhists: 'Let’s work together for a more inclusive world'
27 May 2024, 11:38

Pope Francis receives a delegation of Buddhist monks from the Wat Phra Cetuphon temple (also known as the Wat Pho) of Bangkok, one of the most important Buddhist temples in Thailand, and encourages them to continue fostering dialogue and cooperation for a better world.
By Lisa Zengarini

Pope Francis on Monday reiterated the importance of a closer collaboration between the Church and Buddhists to address the pressing challenges facing our broken world today.

Welcoming a delegation of some 100 Buddhist monks from the Wat Phra Cetuphon temple of Bangkok, in Thailand, he expressed his deep gratitude and appreciation for their “enduring friendship” and willingness to work together “to bring a ray of hope” to our wounded humanity.
 
https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2024/may.index.html
Speeches 2024 May
To the Delegation of Buddhist Monks from Thailand (27 May 2024)

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-05/pope-francis-meets-with-dominican-president.html

Pope Francis meets with Dominican President
27 May 2024, 14:57

Pope Francis receives Mr. Luis Rodolfo Abinader Corona, President of the Republic of the Dominican Republic.
By Vatican News

Pope Francis received in audience the President of the Republic of the Dominican Republic, Mr. Luis Rodolfo Abinader Corona in the Vatican on Monday.

After the audience, Mr. Abinader Corona met with the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, accompanied by the Vatican Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-05/pope-francis-telegram-condolences-papua-new-guines-landslide.html

Pope sends condolences to victims of Papua New Guinea landslide
27 May 2024, 13:32

Pope Francis conveys his deep sorrow and prayers for the victims of the recent landslide in Papua New Guinea, which has left thousands feared buried.
By Francesca Merlo

Pope Francis has expressed his sorrow and sent prayers for the victims of a landslide that struck Papua New Guinea, burying an entire village and leaving thousands feared dead.

In a telegram sent by the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Pope conveyed his heartfelt condolences and solidarity with the grieving families and all those affected by this tragedy.

The Holy Father emphasised his spiritual closeness to everyone affected by the disaster, praying especially for the deceased, those who mourn their loss, and for the rescue of the many still missing. "His Holiness offers encouragement to the civil authorities and emergency personnel as they continue their relief efforts," says the telegram, adding that he "willingly invokes upon all the divine blessings of consolation and strength."
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-05/pope-francis-apology-italian-bishops-conference.html

Pope Francis never intended to offend: 'Room for everyone in the Church'
28 May 2024, 15:07

The Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, tells reporters that Pope Francis is "aware" of the articles about a closed-door conversation with Italian Bishops, and affirms that the Pope "never intended to offend or express himself in homophobic terms, and he apologizes to those who felt offended".
By Vatican News

"The Pope never intended to offend or express himself in homophobic terms, and he apologizes to those who felt offended by the use of a term, as reported by others."

The Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, made that statement on Tuesday in response to questions from journalists about the use of a term regarding the admission of homosexual people to the seminary.

"Pope Francis is aware of the recent articles regarding a closed-door conversation with the bishops of the CEI [Italian Bishops' Conference]. As he has stated on many occasions, 'There is room for everyone in the Church, for everyone! No one is useless; no one is superfluous; there is room for everyone. Just as we are, everyone.' The Pope never intended to offend or express himself in homophobic terms, and he apologizes to those who felt offended by the use of a term, as reported by others."
 

https://www.christianpost.com/news/pope-says-gay-men-barred-from-seminary-uses-derogatory-word.html
Pope says gay men should be barred from seminary, accused of using derogatory word
By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Tuesday, May 28, 2024

https://catholicreview.org/italian-outlets-report-pope-discourages-allowing-gay-men-into-seminaries/#:~:text=Leading%20Italian%20newspapers%20La%20Repubblica,being%20aware%20of%20the%20nuances.%E2%80%9D
Pope apologizes for using ‘homophobic’ slang
May 28, 2024
By Cindy Wooden
Catholic News Service

https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2024/05/pope-apologizes-for-any-offence-caused-by-anti-gay-slur
Pope apologizes for any offence caused by anti-gay slur
By Elise Ann Allen
May 28, 2024

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2024-05/holy-see-vatican-city-moneyval-report-money-laundering-transpare.html

Holy See receives positive evaluation in Moneyval follow-up report
28 May 2024, 14:19

The Holy See receives a positive assessment in the First "Regular Follow-up Report" by the MONEYVAL Committee of the Council of Europe, focussed on combatting money laundering and the financing of terrorism.
By Vatican News

According to a statement by the Holy See Press Office released on Tuesday, the First "Regular Follow-up Report" by the MONEYVAL Committee of the Council of Europe, marks a significant milestone in the Holy See's efforts to comply with international financial standards.

The report was based upon the evaluation conducted during the 67th Plenary Meeting, held in Strasbourg from May 20 to 24, 2024.

The statement points out that “The Holy See, including Vatican City State has received a positive assessment in the First "Regular Follow-up Report" by the MONEYVAL Committee,” and says it marks a significant milestone in the Holy See's efforts to comply with international financial standards.
 

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Video, with English commentary, at the link...

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-05/pope-at-audience-holy-spirit-transforms-chaos-to-cosmos.html
Pope at Audience: Holy Spirit transforms chaos into cosmos
29 May 2024, 09:15

At the General Audience, Pope Francis begins a new cycle of catechesis on “The Spirit and the Bride: The Holy Spirit guides the people of God towards Jesus our hope.”
By Christopher Wells

Pope Francis launched a new catechetical cycle on Wednesday, beginning a series of teachings on “The Spirit and the Bride: The Holy Spirit guides the people of God towards Jesus our hope.”

“We will make this journey,” he said at the General Audience, “through the three great stages of salvation history: the Old Testament, the New Testament, and the time of the Church, always keeping our gaze fixed on Jesus our hope.”
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-05/pope-francis-renews-his-closeness-to-papua-new-guinea.html
Pope renews closeness to disaster-struck Papua New Guinea
29 May 2024, 10:04

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-05/pope-children-suffer-from-wars-in-ukraine-myanmar-holy-land.html
Pope: Children suffer from wars in Ukraine, Myanmar, Holy Land
29 May 2024, 11:17

https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/audiences/2024.index.html
Audiences 2024
General Audience of 29 May 2024 - Cycle of Catechesis. The Spirit and the Bride. The Holy Spirit guides. the people of God towards Jesus our hope. 1. The Spirit of God was hovering over the waters

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-05/pope-young-priests-rome-do-good.html

Pope meets with young Roman priests: “Do not tire of doing good”
29 May 2024, 18:47

Pope Francis continues his series of meetings with the clergy of his diocese, speaking with a group of recently-ordained priests about pastoral issues.
By Salvatore Cernuzio

This was the Pope’s second meeting with clergy from Rome, after the one on May 14 with priests who have been in ministry for 40 years and more.

Today, the Pope met with newly ordained priests, those who have been serving for less than ten years.

The encounter was hosted by the Pious Disciples of the Divine Master, an order of religious sisters, and the Pope received an affectionate welcome from the nuns, amidst greetings, gifts, and blessings.

Then, a closed-door dialogue with the priests on pastoral issues, which began with a prayer written by Pope Paul VI.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-05/pope-to-katholikentag-work-for-peace-through-prayer-and-dialogue.html

Pope to Katholikentag: 'Work for peace through prayer and dialogue'
29 May 2024, 17:12

As the 103nd German Katholikentag (Catholic Days) kicks off on Wednesday, Pope Francis encourages participants to promote peace and justice through faith, dialogue, and action, thus counteracting extremist ideologies.
By Lisa Zengarini

Pope Francis has sent a message to participants at the 103nd edition of the Katholikentag (Catholic Day), the national meeting of German Catholics which opened on Wednesday evening in the city of Erfurt.

“The man of peace has a future”

The five-day celebration, held every other year in alternate cities, marks a unique tradition in Germany dating back to 1848. It is among the largest and most important social events in the country gathering lay Catholics, but also political and religious leaders from Germany and abroad, to celebrate faith, and discuss topics that have an impact on German society. The motto chosen for this year’s edition is: “The man of peace has a future”.

In his message, Pope Francis explained that these words from Psalm 37 tell us that peace is promised to those who are just, please the Lord, and trust in Him. However, humanity's historical mistrust in God has led to disharmony and suffering.

“Man no longer uses creation according to the Creator's intentions, but abuses and mistreats it for his selfish ambitions for power and gain. Thus suffering and death came into the world.”
 
https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/pont-messages/2024.index.html
Messages Pontifical Messages 2024
Message of the Holy Father for the 103rd German Catholic Convention (Katholikentag) [Erfurt, 29 May-2 June 2024] (29 May 2024)

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-05/pope-calls-for-strong-alliance-between-parents-and-schools.html

Pope calls for ‘strong alliance’ between parents and schools
31 May 2024, 16:30

Pope Francis sends a message to the Association des Parents d’Élèves de l’Enseignement Libre (Association of Parents for Free Education), saying parents are the primary educators of children while reminding them that “this task requires the help of the of the whole society, beginning with the school.”
By Christopher Wells

Parents are “indeed the protagonists and primary architects of [their] children’s education,” the Pope told members of the French Association des Parents d’Élèves de l’Enseignement Libre (Association of Parents for Free Education), while reminding them of the need to work in collaboration with all of society.

“A strong alliance between schools and families enables knowledge to be passed on at the same time as human and spiritual values,” he wrote in a Message on the occasion of the group’s 23rd National Congress.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-05/pope-to-commemorate-2014-invocation-for-peace-in-holy-land.html

Pope to commemorate 2014 invocation for peace in Holy Land
31 May 2024, 13:56

Ten years after the invocation for peace by Pope Francis, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, and the leaders of Israel and Palestine, the Pope is to commemorate the historic anniversary and issue yet another appeal for peace as the war in the Holy Land continues.
By Deborah Castellano Lubov

Ten years ago, Pope Francis organized a historic invocation for peace in the Holy Land in the Vatican Gardens. Ten years on, as war devastates the region, he is set to renew his appeal with a momentous gesture.

The commemoration will take place in the same place and on the same date, however, amid a totally devastated and devastating scenario, confirmed the Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni.

On 8 June 2014, Pope Francis, the then-President of the State of Israel, Shimon Peres, the President of the State of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas, and the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, made history in an unprecedented event in which the leaders planted an olive tree for peace and addressed those present in the Vatican Gardens.
 

https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2014/june/documents/papa-francesco_20140608_invocazione-pace.html
INVOCATION FOR PEACE
WORDS OF POPE FRANCIS
Vatican Gardens
Sunday, 8 June 2014

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Video, with English text, at the link...

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-05/pope-june-intention-for-those-fleeing-their-own-countries.html
Pope's June prayer intention: 'For those fleeing their own countries'
28 May 2024, 16:01

Pope Francis releases his prayer intention for the month of June 2024, and invites everyone to pray for people who flee their home countries.
By Deborah Castellano Lubov

Pope Francis' monthly prayer intention this June is for "those fleeing their own countries."

The Pope invited the Church to pray for this intention in this month's The Pope Video, released on Tuesday. The prayer intention is entrusted to the entire Catholic Church through the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network during the month in which the United Nations commemorates World Refugee Day on 20 June.

Produced in collaboration with Tele VID and with the support of the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, the Pope Video for June is a story about the borders in various parts of the world.

In his video, the Pope reminds Christians that “whoever welcomes a migrant welcomes Christ,” and expresses how often this context is forgotten.
 

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-06/pope-to-christian-workers-associations-be-a-voice-of-peace.html

Pope to Christian Associations of Italian Workers: 'Be a voice of peace'
01 June 2024, 11:40

Meeting with members of the ACLI Pope Francis encourages them to continue to cultivate and practice the Christian values of social solidarity and peace that inspired their founders.
By Lisa Zengarini

Pope Francis on Saturday met with the Christian Associations of Italian Workers (ACLI) as they celebrate the 80th anniversary of their foundation in 1944.

Commitment to making a difference in society

Addressing some 6,000 members of the organization in the Paul VI Hall, the Pope warmly commended their decades-long commitment to solidarity in the service of workers, pensioners, young people, migrants and all the people in need, but also of the cause of peace.

“The ACLI ," he noted , "are a place where it is possible to meet the ‘saints of next door’, who don’t hit the frontpages but sometimes actually make a difference for the better.”

The Pope then focused his reflection on five distinctive features of their “style” of work . The first is their “popular” style, that is “not only being close to the people”, but also “feeling part of the people.”
 
https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2024/june.index.html
Speeches 2024 June
To members of the Christian Associations of Italian Workers (ACLI) (1st June 2024)

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https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-06/pope-francis-slovakia-president-caputova-audience-ukraine-eu.html

Pope and Slovakian President discuss war in Ukraine
01 June 2024, 12:50

Pope Francis receives the President of the Republic of Slovakia in audience in the Vatican.
By Vatican News

Pope Francis on Saturday received in audience Zuzana Čaputová, President of the Slovak Republic and her entourage.

President Čaputová subsequently met with Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, accompanied by the Reverend Msgr. Mirosław Wachowski, Under-Secretary for Relations with States.

According to a statement released by the Holy See Press Office, “As the conversation proceeded, particular attention was dedicated to the war in Ukraine.”

Fico assassination attempt and EU elections

The statement also added that “During the cordial talks, which took place at the Secretariat of State, the parties discussed the country’s prospects in the light of the sad event of the assassination attempt on the Prime Minister, the imminent change of presidency, and the approaching European elections, expressing the hope that concord and peace in the country may be strengthened.”
 

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https://cruxnow.com/church-in-the-usa/2024/06/u-s-ambassador-to-the-holy-see-to-step-down

U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See to step down
By John Lavenburg
Jun 1, 2024

NEW YORK – After two years serving as the U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See, Joseph Donnelly will soon step down from the post and return to his home state of Indiana, the U.S. Embassy to the Holy See announced in a May 30 social media post.

“It has been an honor and a privilege to serve my country in this unique way,” Donnelly, a pro-life Democrat who served in the U.S. House and Senate, said in a statement accompanying the post.

Donnelly will leave the post on July 8. The post doesn’t cite a reason for his departure, but states that the embassy “wishes him all the best in his future endeavors.”