Pope Francis

[grace-land]

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

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-07/pope-at-angelus-slow-down-reflect-pray-to-be-more-caring.html
Pope at Angelus: Slow down, reflect, pray to be more caring
21 July 2024, 12:22

At the Sunday Angelus, Pope Francis says that to be more caring and compassionate, we need to slow down from the rush and worries of daily life by spending time in contemplation and prayer to recharge our physical and spiritual energies.
By Thaddeus Jones

Addressing the crowds gathered for the Sunday Angelus in Saint Peter's Square, Pope Francis reflected on the Gospel of the day, which recounts the apostles telling Jesus all about what they accomplished in the mission He entrusted them. The Lord then suggests they take some rest, but the crowds await them always, and the Lord expresses his compassion for them. The Pope explained how the Lord's invitation to rest and His compassion for the crowds are not mutually exclusive responses, but actually a combination of both we need to have.
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-07/pope-francis-appeal-angelus-olympic-truce-wars-prayers.html
Pope appeals for Olympic Truce for war-torn nations
21 July 2024, 12:43

https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/angelus/2024.index.html
Angelus - Regina Cæli 2024
Angelus, 21 July 2024

[grace-land]

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-07/pope-francis-mourns-former-president-of-vietnam.html

Pope Francis mourns former President of Vietnam
23 July 2024, 12:24

Pope Francis sends a message of condolences and prayers for the death of the former President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Nguyễn Phú Trọng, the General Secretary of the Communist Party.
By Deborah Castellano Lubov

Pope Francis has expressed his condolences for the death of Nguyễn Phú Trọng,  and the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the country's former President.

In a telegram sent on his behalf by the Holy See's Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, to the country's current President, General Tô Lâm, the Holy Father expressed his closeness to all who mourn the long-serving leader of the Asian country, who died at age 80 last week, after battling an illness.

"Having learned of the death of His Excellency Nguyễn Phú Trọng, General Secretary of the Communist Party and former President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam," the telegram began, "His Holiness Pope Francis sends condolences to all who mourn his loss, especially his family, together with the assurance of his prayers for their consolation and peace."
 

[grace-land]

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-07/papal-envoys-present-world-mission-sunday-2024-materials-at-nec.html

Papal Envoys reveal World Mission Sunday 2024 Materials
23 July 2024, 10:08

During a special reception on the sidelines of the 10th National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, Indiana, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle and Cardinal Christophe Pierre underline the impact of supporting World Mission Sunday, which will be observed on October 20th, for more than 1,100 territories around the world that are struggling.
By Deborah Castellano Lubov

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, the Pro-Prefect for the Section of First Evangelization of the Vatican's Dicastery for Evangelization, and Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, are calling for a rekindling of missionary spirit to help those faithful around the world who are really in need.

During the 10th National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, Indiana, on July 20th, at a special reception, the Cardinals presented the materials that will be used this year in most Dioceses of the United States to promote the 98th World Mission Sunday on October 20.

Pope Francis chose as this year's theme for the Day, "Go and Invite Everyone to
 
https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/missions/documents/20240125-giornata-missionaria.html
MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS
FOR WORLD MISSION DAY 2024
20 October 2024
Go and invite everyone to the banquet (cf. Mt 22:9)

[grace-land]

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/258381/vatican-secretary-of-state-meets-ukrainian-president-zelensky

Vatican secretary of state meets Ukrainian president Zelenskyy
By Hannah Brockhaus
Vatican City, Jul 23, 2024 / 13:23 pm

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (left) and Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin. | Credit: Pier Marco Tacca/Getty Images; Horacio Villalobos Corbis/Getty Images

Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin met with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday at the end of a diplomatic visit to the country.

Zelenskyy wrote in a post on X that he had “a meaningful meeting” with Parolin and is “grateful for [the] cardinal’s support of our country and people.”
 

[grace-land]

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/258385/knights-of-columbus-covers-rupnik-art-at-john-paul-ii-shrine-pending-sex-abuse-investigation

Knights of Columbus covers Rupnik art at John Paul II Shrine pending sex abuse investigation
By Tyler Arnold
Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Jul 23, 2024 / 16:38 pm

The Knights of Columbus used a paper cover to temporarily cloak artwork created by Father Marko Rupnik at the St. John Paul II National Shrine in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, July 23, 2024. | Credit: Christina Herrera/EWTN News

The Knights of Columbus used a paper cover to temporarily cloak artwork created by Father Marko Rupnik at the St. John Paul II National Shrine in Washington, D.C., pending the outcome of a Vatican investigation into sexual abuse allegations against the Slovenian artist and priest.

Rupnik’s mosaics line the walls of the Luminous Mysteries Chapel, which contains a first-class relic of St. John Paul II’s blood at the front of the altar, and the larger Redemptor Hominis Chapel, both of which sit inside the shrine near the entrance. The shrine is sponsored and managed by the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic fraternal organization.

The paper cover will eventually be replaced with a fabric canvas while the Vatican continues to investigate allegations that Rupnik spiritually, psychologically, and sexually abused between 20 and 40 adult women, including religious sisters.
 

[grace-land]

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2024-07/ddf-recognizes-trinity-fount-of-mercy-messages.html

Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith recognizes ‘Trinity Fount of Mercy’ messages
24 July 2024, 10:37

The Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith sends a letter, approved by the Pope, to the cardinal bishop of Como granting the ‘nulla osta’ regarding spiritual experiences at the Sanctuary of Maccio.
Vatican News

The entry into force of the new Norms for discerning alleged supernatural phenomena has allowed a new “green light” from the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, this time with regard to spiritual experiences at the Shrine of Maccio in Villa Guardia, near Como in northern Italy.

In 2000, Gioacchino Genovese, a music teacher and choir director, married and the father of two daughters, began to perceive through “intellectual visions,” a “living presence of the mystery of the Holy Trinity.” A serious, discreet person who never sought the limelight, five years later he invited more people to be involved with adoration, supplications, and novenas.

After an initial examination of Genovese’s writings and of the phenomenon more generally, in 2010 the then Bishop of Como, Diego Coletti gave the parish church the status of a Sanctuary with the title Santissima Trinità Misericorida (“Most Holy Trinity Mercy”).

The prefect's letter

Today, Wednesday, 24 July, a letter addressed to Cardinal Oscar Cantoni, bishop of Como, by the Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández, was made public.
 
https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_ddf_doc_20240715_lettera-santuario-maccio_en.html
DICASTERY FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH
July 15, 2024
“Trinity Mercy”
Letter to the Bishop of Como
on the Spiritual Experience Connected with the Sanctuary of Maccio (Villa Guardia)

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/258394/vatican-approves-spiritual-experience-connected-to-trinity-shrine-of-maccio-in-italy
Vatican approves ‘spiritual experience’ connected to Trinity shrine of Maccio in Italy
By Kristina Millare
Vatican City, Jul 24, 2024 / 17:15 pm

[grace-land]

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2024-07/pope-appoints-concetta-brescia-morra-member-of-the-asif-council.html

Pope appoints Concetta Brescia Morra member of the ASIF Council
25 July 2024, 10:34

Pope Francis has appointed Dr. Concetta Brescia Morra, a leading economics expert, as a Council member of the Vatican’s Supervisory and Financial Information Authority (ASIF), replacing Dr. Antonella Sciarrone Alibrandi, who has been appointed as a judge of the Italian Constitutional Court.
Vatican News

Pope Francis has appointed Dr. Concetta Brescia Morra as a member of the ASIF Council, replacing Dr. Antonella Sciarrone Alibrandi, who has been appointed as a judge of the Italian Constitutional Court.

The Vatican’s Supervisory and Financial Information Authority (known by its Italian initials ASIF) was established in 2010 by Benedict XVI to work toward financial transparency, and to combat money laundering and financing of terrorism
 

[grace-land]

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/258402/pope-francis-appoints-new-auxiliary-bishop-known-for-priestly-heart-to-st-paul-minneapolis

Pope Francis appoints new auxiliary bishop known for ‘priestly heart’ to St. Paul-Minneapolis
By Kristina Millare
Vatican City, Jul 25, 2024 / 15:30 pm

Pope Francis on Thursday appointed Father Kevin Kenney as auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

The bishop-elect, born and raised in Minneapolis, currently serves as parish priest of St. Olaf Parish as well as administrator of Sts. Cyril and Methodius Parish within the archdiocese.

In an interview with The Catholic Spirit, the official news service of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, Kenney said he was only informed of the Holy Father’s desire to appoint him bishop late last month and is grateful to continue his work as a “missionary” of Jesus Christ.
 

[grace-land]

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2024-07/athletica-vaticana-sends-open-letter-to-olympic-athletes.html

Athletica Vaticana reminds Olympic athletes of their great responsibility
25 July 2024, 11:46

Ahead of the Opening Ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris, Athletica Vaticana encourages the athletes in fraternal friendship and reiterates Pope Francis' appeal for an Olympic Truce.
By Deborah Castellano Lubov

"The Olympics and Paralympics can be strategies for peace and antidotes to war games."

That was the message conveyed by Athletica Vaticana, the Holy See's official sports association, in an open letter sent to the athletes participating in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

In the text published on the vigil of the Olympic Opening Ceremony, the Association encourages the athletes to go forward in their fair play and success with a spirit of fraternity and closeness.

"With the beauty and fairness of each person's sporting gesture, and without ever resorting to shortcuts," Athletica Vaticana affirmed, "the Games can be opportunities for hope".
 

[grace-land]

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2024-07/vatican-pavilion-at-the-venice-biennale-continues-its-journey.html

Vatican Pavilion at the Venice Biennale continues its journey
26 July 2024, 18:09

The Vatican Dicastery for Culture and Education illustrates the ongoing events and initiatives of the Holy See Pavilion at Venice’s Giudecca Women’s Prison including the publication of a catalogue and screening of a short film.
By Vatican News

The Holy See Pavilion at the 60th International Art Exhibition - La Biennale di Venezia continues its displays, workshops and visits in the in city’s Giudecca Women’s Prison with more events running until 24 November.

Entitled “With My Own Eyes”  the Pavilion is dedicated to the theme of human rights and people living on the margins of society, and seeks to draw the world’s attention to those people who are largely ignored while fostering a culture of encounter. The unique context allows artistic experiences to be intertwined with the daily lives of the inmates, offering a space for expression and dialogue through internal workshops and guided tours open to the public
 

[grace-land]

https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2024/07/after-mostly-negative-response-vatican-deletes-online-poll-on-synodality

After mostly negative response, Vatican deletes online poll on ‘synodality’
By Elise Ann Allen
Jul 27, 2024

BOSTON – After a strongly negative response from several thousand users, the Vatican quickly took down an online poll this week on the concept of “synodality,” which is at the heart of Pope Francis’s high-profile consultation process set to conclude in October with a Synod of Bishops in Rome.

Published the morning of July 25, the poll asked the question, “Do you believe that synodality as a path of conversion and reform can enhance the mission and participation of all the baptized?” It offered offered either “yes” or “no” as a response.

The poll was published by the official accounts for the Vatican’s Synod of Bishops office on both X, formerly known as Twitter, and Facebook.

These type of social media polls generally last for 24 hours, and as time went by, the answer “no” quickly began to rack up far more votes than the answer “yes.”

A screenshot taken by Spanish-language news site Info Vaticana, which followed participation in the online poll for the 24 hours it was up, at one point showed that 88 percent of participants in the poll on X had selected “no,” while just 12 percent had selected “yes” as their response.

According to Info Vaticana, the “no” option on X sat steadily between 85-90 percent for the entire 24 hours the poll was up. However, with around 10 minutes left to go, the poll had been removed from both X and Facebook, with comments and responses to it on both platforms largely negative.

With seven minutes left for the poll, 6,938 people had voted on X, while on Facebook less than 800 had cast a vote.

The Vatican’s office for the Synod of Bishops did not respond to a Crux request for comment on why the poll was taken down.

The potentially embarrassing response for the Vatican comes as the Church is gearing up for the final session of Pope Francis’s controversial Synod of Bishops on Synodality, a global multi-year process involving consultation at the local level which many believe is a legacy-defining event for Pope Francis.
 

[grace-land]

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

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-07/pope-at-angelus-28-july-2024-pope-francis.html
Pope at Angelus: Savour God's everyday miracles
28 July 2024, 12:05

During his Sunday Angelus address, Pope Francis reflects on the Day's Gospel which recounts the Lord's miracle of the loaves and the fishes, and invites all faithful to recognize and give thanks for all the ways the Lord blesses us with His daily graces.
By Deborah Castellano Lubov

Savour, every day, the 'miracles' of God's grace...

Pope Francis gave this comforting recommendation during his Angelus address on Sunday in the Vatican, as he took his cue from Sunday's Gospel reading according to Saint John, which recounts the miracle of the loaves and the fishes.

The Pope pointed out that the protagonists of the episode performed three gestures that Jesus would repeat at the Last Supper, namely offering, giving thanks, and sharing, which, before reflecting on each, reminded are all actions carried out in the Eucharistic Celebration.
 
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-07/pope-francis-an-applause-for-all-grandparents.html
Pope Francis: 'an applause for all grandparents!'
28 July 2024, 12:08

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-07/pope-prays-victims-ethiopia-landslides-recalls-war-a-defeat.html
Pope prays for victims of Ethiopia landslides, recalls war always a defeat
28 July 2024, 12:50

https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/angelus/2024.index.html
Angelus - Regina Cæli 2024
Angelus, 28 July 2024

[grace-land]

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2024-07/french-bishops-lament-scenes-mocking-christianity-at-olympics.html

French Bishops lament 'scenes mocking Christianity' at Olympic Ceremony
28 July 2024, 10:07

In a statement released the day after the Olympic Games' opening ceremony, the French Bishops' Conference praised the "wonderful moments of beauty, joy, and rich emotions," but expressed their thoughts "to Christians worldwide who were hurt by the excess, and provocation of certain scenes."
By Jean-Benoît Harel

It was a ceremony of superlatives. The first-ever Olympic opening ceremony on the Seine River featured a parade of sports delegations on 85 boats, numerous artistic tableaux, and performances by global artists, such as Canadian Céline Dion and American Lady Gaga.

"The opening ceremony," the French Bishops' Conference acknowledged, "offered the world last wonderful moments of beauty, joy, rich emotions, and universal acclaim," but "included scenes of derision and mockery of Christianity, which we deeply deplore."

At the forefront of the criticism across was a reenactment of Leonardo da Vinci's "The Last Supper" by ten men in drag.

Solidarity from Other Religious Denominations
 

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/258431/words-cannot-describe-it-bishop-cozzens-responds-to-heinous-last-supper-mockery-at-olympics
'Words cannot describe it': Bishop urges 'renewed zeal' in face of 'heinous' Last Supper mockery at Olympics
By Daniel Payne
CNA Newsroom, Jul 28, 2024 / 10:51 am

https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/god-is-not-mocked-blasphemous-depiction-of-last-supper-at-olympic-ceremony-sparks-outrage/
‘God is not mocked’: Blasphemous depiction of Last Supper at Olympic ceremony sparks outrage

Catholics and prominent public figures are rebuking the opening ceremonies of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris for featuring drag queens and demonic-looking figures that carried out a grotesque parody of the Last Supper.
Stephen Kokx
Sat Jul 27, 2024 - 12:33 pm EDT

https://cruxnow.com/church-in-europe/2024/07/bishops-around-the-world-blast-last-supper-parody-at-paris-olympics
Bishops around the world blast Last Supper parody at Paris Olympics
By Elise Ann Allen
Jul 28, 2024

[grace-land]

Re: Last Supper drag parody

https://cruxnow.com/church-in-europe/2024/07/paris-olympic-committee-makes-soft-apology-for-last-supper-drag-parody
Paris Olympic Committee makes soft apology for Last Supper drag parody
By Elise Ann Allen
Jul 29, 2024

ROME – Representatives of the Paris 2024 Olympics Committee have apologized to anyone offended by a drag parody of the Last Supper during the opening ceremony, insisting that their intention was to foster inclusion and celebrate diversity.

Paris 2024 spokesperson Anne Descamps was asked about the outcry during an International Olympic Committee news conference Sunday, saying in response, “Clearly there was never an intention to show disrespect to any religious group.”

“On the contrary, I think (with) Thomas Jolly, we really did try to celebrate community tolerance,” she said, adding, “Looking at the result of the polls that we shared, we believe that this ambition was achieved. If people have taken any offense we are, of course, really, really sorry.”

Thomas Jolly, the ceremony’s artistic director, in his own remarks to the Associated Press about the event said it was meant to celebrate diversity and pay tribute to feasting and French gastronomy.
 
In a July 28 video published on social media platform X, previously known as Twitter, Bishop Robert Barron of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota, founder of the popular Word on Fire ministry which is a benefactor of Crux, criticized the apology.

Barron, who had previously published a video condemning the Last Supper parody, said Descamps’ words were “anything but an apology.”

“In fact, it’s kind of a masterpiece of woke duplicity … If they felt this is meant to mollify Christians, I would think again,” he said.

Pointing to Descamps’s assertion that they did not intend to offend any religious group, Barron said, “Give me a break.”

“We have a group of drag queens cavorting in a sexually provocative way clearly in imitation of Da Vinci’s Last Supper, which presents to the world the Last Supper of Jesus, and no disrespect was meant? Do you think anyone takes that seriously?” he said.

He also took issue with the statement that the intention was to celebrate community and tolerance, saying there is tolerance “except for those pesky 2.6 billion Christians on the planet.”

“Everyone’s welcome, everyone’s tolerated, all this lovely diversity, until you get to anyone that disagrees with your ideology, like these 2.6 billion people. So don’t give me this business about tolerance and diversity,” he said.

Referring to Descamps’s statement that their goal of celebrating tolerance was achieved, Barron asked rhetorically, “I wonder what planet they’re living on if they think that harmony and peace and all this was achieved by this clear affront to Christians.”

Barron also condemned the wording of the apology as condescending, saying the tone does not read apologetic, but rather says, “if you’re so simple minded and stupid to have been offended by this wonderful expression of French culture, well, we’re sorry about that.”

“Christians were offended because it was offensive. And it was intended to be offensive. So please don’t patronize us with this condescending remark of, ‘well, if you had any bad feelings, we’re awfully sorry about that,’” he said.

This apology will do little to satisfy Christians who were offended by the performance, he said, saying, “A real apology would be something like, ‘this was a mistake, it should never have been done, we’re sorry for it.’”

“I don’t think Christians should be mollified, I think we should keep raising our voices,” he said.
 

[grace-land]

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2024-07/apsa-gains-45-9-million-euros-in-profits-in-2023.html

APSA makes 45.9 million euros in profit in 2023
29 July 2024, 14:02

The Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See (APSA) publishes its balance sheet for 2023, noting that it contributed 37.9 million euros to the Pope's mission and increased assets by 7.9 million euros without affecting the Holy See's assets or the sale of institutional buildings.
By Vatican News

Reaching the objectives of improved management of assets and efficiency of services, the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See (APSA) presented its 2023 balance sheet, approved by the supervisory bodies.

The main information emerging from the report includes the outcome of 2023 activities, which showed a profit of 45.9 million euros. This made it possible for APSA to contribute 37.9 million euros to the Pope's mission by supporting the Roman Curia (compared to 32.27 million euros in 2022), and to increase its assets by 7.9 million euros.

“These results,” explained Archbishop Giordano Piccinotti, president of APSA, “have been achieved with the conviction that we have to work constantly to increase the income stream to cover expenses, but without affecting the Holy See's assets or requiring the sale of institutional properties.”
 

https://cruxnow.com/vatican/2024/07/new-report-suggests-long-term-worries-for-vatican-finances
New report suggests long-term worries for Vatican finances
By Crux Staff
Jul 29, 2024

[grace-land]

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-07/pope-to-altar-servers-share-your-being-with-jesus-with-others.html

Pope to altar servers: ‘Share Jesus with others’
30 July 2024, 16:47

Pope Francis encourages participants in the International Pilgrimage of Altar Servers to share Jesus’ Eucharistic love with those in need.
By Lisa Zengarini

In his address to nearly 50,000 altar servers gathered in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis highlighted the deep meaning of the motto chosen for the international event: “With you” (Isa 41:10).

This expression, he noted, “encapsulates the mystery of love”, which is the “mystery of our lives.”

The altar servers had gathered in the square with the Pope as part of their weeklong pilgrimage to Rome, now in its second day.
 

Video at the link below...click on selected language then click "[Multimedia]"
https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2024/july.index.html
Speeches 2024 July
To Participants in the XIII International Pilgrimage of Altar Servers to Rome (30 July 2024)

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/258438/over-50000-altar-servers-gather-in-rome-for-pilgrimage
Over 50,000 altar servers gather in Rome for summer pilgrimage
By Kristina Millare
Vatican City, Jul 29, 2024 / 18:15 pm

[grace-land]

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-07/pope-thanks-circus-workers-for-the-smiles-they-bring-to-people.html

Pope thanks circus workers for the smiles they bring to people's faces
31 July 2024, 17:56

Pope Francis pays an afternoon visit to Luna Park in Ostia Lido (southwest of Rome) where he meets with carnival and circus workers who live there assisted by Sisters Geneviève Jeanningros and Anna Amelia who provide pastoral care to them.
By Salvatore Cernuzio

Pope Francis took a break from his July "summer vacation" to spend the afternoon of Wednesday 31 July visiting with workers and those who offer pastoral assistance to them at a historic amusement park just about an hour southwest of Rome. Travelling to the Luna Park of Ostia Lido, the Pope gave them his warm wishes and support, saying he wished to personally express his gratitude as they help bring smiles on the faces of people.

Blessing of the statue of Our Lady

The Pope stopped for a few moments on his arrival, making the sign of the cross, before the image of the Blessed Mother, where a sign read "We need Our Lady to be our protector."
 

[grace-land]

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/258452/pope-francis-names-2-officials-of-the-dicastery-for-the-doctrine-of-the-faith-as-bishops

Pope Francis names 2 officials of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith as bishops
By Almudena Martínez-Bordiú
ACI Prensa Staff, Jul 31, 2024 / 08:00 am

Pope Francis has appointed Monsignor John Joseph Kennedy, currently secretary of the disciplinary section of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, as titular bishop of Ossero, Croatia, conferring upon him the personal title of archbishop.

The Holy Father has also appointed Monsignor Philippe Curbelié, undersecretary of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, as titular bishop of Utica, Tunisia.

This dicastery, one of the most important in the Vatican, established by Pope Paul III in 1542 to preserve the deposit of faith and the magisterium, is currently headed by Argentine Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez.

Other members of the dicastery are the secretary of the doctrinal section, Monsignor Armando Matteo; the adjunct secretary, Archbishop Charles Jude Scicluna; and the promoter of justice, Father Robert Joseph Geisinger.
 

[grace-land]

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-08/pope-francis-letter-father-james-martin-lgbtq-outreach.html

Pope Francis sends greetings to participants in “Outreach” conference
01 August 2024, 15:05

Replying to a message from Fr. James Martin, who carries out his mission among the LGBTQ community in the United States, Pope Francis says he is spiritually united with those participating in the meeting at Georgetown University from August 2 to 4.
By Vatican News

Pope Francis greeted Jesuit Father James Martin on the occasion of the “Outreach” Conference for LGBTQ Catholics, taking place at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, on August 2–4. Cardinal Wilton Gregory, Archbishop of Washington, is due to celebrate Mass for participants.

Fr. Martin, who carries out his apostolate among the LGBTQ community, wrote to the Pope, asking if he would like to send his greetings to the conference.

Pope Francis sent a brief response, which was released on Thursday, saying he was pleased by the fact that Cardinal Gregory would be celebrating Mass for them.

The Pope said he is “united in prayer” with those participating in the conference: “May Jesus bless you and the Holy Virgin care for you.”

This is the fourth time that Pope Francis has sent his regards to an “Outreach” event.
 

[grace-land]

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2024-08/venezuela-holy-see-oas-*******-statement-carter-center.html

Venezuela: Holy See calls for dialogue and ‘democratic coexistence’
01 August 2024, 12:54

The Holy See has urged all political parties in Venezuela to engage in dialogue and “peaceful attitudes,” amid reports that around 20 people have died in protests in the wake of Sunday’s presidential election.
By Devin Watkins

Protests have engulfed Venezuelan cities since results were announced in Sunday’s presidential election. The government says voters handed the incumbent, President Nicolás Maduro, a third term in office.

At least 20 people have died in the ensuing protests, according to Human Rights Watch, as security forces and protesters continue to clash in various parts of the country.

The Holy See’s Permanent ******* to the Organization of American States (OAS) expressed support for the Venezuelan Bishops’ call on Tuesday for electoral transparency.

Msgr. Juan Antonio Cruz Serrano said the Holy See supports the “democratic vocation of the Venezuelan people, demonstrated in the ‘massive, active, and civic participation of all Venezuelans in the electoral process.’”