St. Mary's of the Lake Roman Catholic Church

WASHINGTON – “It is deeply troubling and inexcusable that measures intended to ensure the basic safety of pregnant mothers and their young children while in government custody could be rescinded with such indifference toward the vulnerability of those involved,” said Bishop Mark J. Seitz of El Paso, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Migration, and Bishop Daniel E. Thomas of Toledo, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Pro-Life Activities. The bishops were responding to the Trump Administration’s recent rescission of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) guidance for addressing the heightened needs of pregnant and postpartum women and their newborn children while in CBP custody. 

The rescinded policy established minimum standards of care, including that mothers and their babies receive food, water, formula, safe places to sleep, and regular monitoring, as well as that they be placed in the least restrictive setting possible. The rationale given for the rescission was that the guidance was “obsolete or misaligned with current Agency guidance and immigration enforcement priorities.” Related guidance pertaining to custodial considerations for medically at-risk individuals was also rescinded. No new guidance was promulgated in their place. 

The bishops’ full statement follows: 

“The U.S. bishops have spoken plainly and clearly about the proven harms that immigration detention is known to inflict on families and especially on young children, opposing its use for these populations unless absolutely necessary. It is deeply troubling and inexcusable that measures intended to ensure the basic safety of pregnant mothers and their young children while in government custody could be rescinded with such indifference toward the vulnerability of those involved. As a result, instances of neglect and abuse, even if inadvertent, will be more likely to occur, putting the lives of pregnant mothers and their children at risk. This decision is all the more concerning as the Administration simultaneously ramps up family detention in place of safer, more cost-effective alternatives to detention. 

“Let us be clear: protecting pregnant mothers and their children can never be considered ‘obsolete.’ This principle irrefutably extends to noncitizens in immigration detention, each of whom possesses an inviolable, God-given dignity that must be respected. We urge the Administration to reissue guidance that adequately reflects and affirms the increased standard of care due to this vulnerable population while in government custody.”

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WASHINGTON – “Americans should not be forced to subsidize abortions and ‘gender transition’ services with their tax dollars,” said Bishop Daniel E. Thomas, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Pro-Life Activities, and Bishop Robert E. Barron, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life, and Youth. In recognition of last week's committee markups of the U.S. House of Representatives’ budget reconciliation bill, and in anticipation of its being voted on in the House in the days ahead, the bishops also urged Congress to support authentic health care for vulnerable women and children.

“For decades, Planned Parenthood has received government money and offered low-income women one terrible option: to end the lives of their babies. More recently, they have used the same taxpayer funds to expand their destructive offerings, by promoting gender ideology and providing puberty blockers and hormones to minors, turning them into lifelong patients in the process. Americans should not be forced to subsidize abortions and ‘gender transition’ services with their tax dollars, and we applaud measures that will finally help to defund Planned Parenthood. We encourage greater support for authentic, life-affirming health care providers that serve mothers and their children in need. We urge all members of Congress and the Administration to work in good faith to protect vulnerable women and children from mutilating ‘gender transition’ services and the scourge of abortion.”

Since January, several USCCB bishop chairmen wrote addressing multiple anticipated issues in the budget reconciliation process, calling for protection of the dignity of life and the poor and vulnerable. Archbishop Borys Gudziak, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development also expressed the importance of preserving Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Child Tax Credit, and other programs for those in need, in the reconciliation legislation. Bishop Thomas and Bishop Barron also urged members of Congress to defund the abortion and “gender transition” industries. The bishops continue to encourage the public to contact their members of Congress on these issues.

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VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The day after his inauguration Mass, Pope Leo XIV had a closed-door meeting at the Vatican with U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who gave him a Chicago Bears jersey and a letter from U.S. President Donald Trump.

Vance delivered the letter from President Trump and his wife Melania before the start of the meeting, according to a video edited and released by Vatican Media. The short video clip showed Vance handing a large envelope to the pope, telling him it was a letter "from the president and first lady inviting you to come …". The rest of the sentence was cut.

The vice president also met May 19 with Archbishop Paul R. Gallagher, Vatican foreign minister, after meeting with the pope, a Vatican statement said. 

The Vatican press office released a communique outlining only what general themes were discussed during the "cordial talks held at the Secretariat of State" with Archbishop Gallagher. The two parties expressed their satisfaction with the "good bilateral relations" between them, and "the collaboration between church and state was discussed, as well as some matters of special relevance to ecclesial life and religious freedom."

"Finally, there was an exchange of views on some current international issues, calling for respect for humanitarian law and international law in areas of conflict and for a negotiated solution between the parties involved," the Vatican said.

The two U.S. leaders were then joined by their spouses and the larger U.S. delegation for photos and an exchange of gifts.

One of the gifts from the U.S. delegation was a navy blue and orange jersey from the Chicago Bears football team with "Pope Leo XIV" written on the back. The new pope, who was born in Chicago, responded with, "Good choice," when the vice president showed him the jersey, according to the Vatican Media clips. 

Vance's office said he also gave the pope the books, "The City of God" and "On Christian Doctrine," both written by St. Augustine, the founder of the religious order the pope joined when he was 21.

Among the gifts Pope Leo presented was a bronze bas-relief of a flower blossoming with an inscription, which the pope read out loud to Vance, "Peace is a fragile flower," according to the Vatican Media video.

As the pope presented a large book of colored photographs he was giving Vance, the pope was explaining one photo of the apostolic palace saying, "Pope Francis did not live (here) and I may live (there), which is right upstairs from here."

Vance also told the pope, "The United States people are extremely excited about you," to which the pope responded with an "oh," a smile and a nod.

According to the office of Vice President Vance, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was present for a portion of the closed-door meeting with the pope after Vance's one-on-one.

The papal audience lasted 45 minutes, according to the vice president's office. 

Vance and Rubio were in Rome to represent the United States at Pope Leo's inaugural Mass in St. Peter's Square May 18. They were accompanied by their spouses and senior White House aides at the Mass, which drew more than 200,000 people.

Later May 18 Vance and Rubio also met with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who also was in Rome for the pope's inaugural Mass.

In a post on X, Vance said, "Our countries share the goal of ending unnecessary bloodshed in Ukraine, and we discussed updates on the ongoing negotiations for a ceasefire and lasting peace."

WASHINGTON - On the weekend of May 31-June 1, many Catholic dioceses in the United States will take the annual collection for the U.S. bishops’ Catholic Communication Campaign in their parishes. The collection helps the Church spread the Gospel message using modern media tools to inform, inspire, and enlighten.

“While the timeless message of the Gospel remains unchanged, the ways we share it must keep pace with a rapidly evolving media landscape. Your generosity to this collection makes that possible. When you give at Mass, half of your gift remains in your own diocese for local communications efforts while the other half supports nationwide efforts of the bishops of the United States,” said Bishop William D. Byrne of Springfield in Massachusetts, chairman of the bishops’ Committee on Communications. 

Last year, more than $3.7 million supported national and international communications, while an equivalent amount underwrote local Catholic efforts ranging from podcasts to print magazines to websites. Examples of how dioceses used their share of the collection include:

• The Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee, which produced a print magazine and two podcasts focusing on the power of faith and the work of the Holy Spirit in the diocese.
• The Diocese of Tucson, which purchased equipment to produce high quality podcasts and YouTube videos in both English and Spanish that can better reach and include the diocese’s growing Spanish-speaking population.
• The Diocese of Raleigh, which built digital platforms that seamlessly integrate news of the diocese, its parishes and the worldwide church across diocesan and parish websites and social media.

The largest portion of the national share of the collection supports Catholic News Service Rome, which produces accurate, professional, and thorough coverage of the Pope, his global ministry and the Vatican offices that serve him

The national campaign also supports efforts of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to share the work of the bishops, such as through its “5 Minutes with a Bishop” videos, which feature individual bishops speaking about their pastoral work and their daily lives as pastoral leaders.

“The Church is called to testify to the power and love of Jesus, and the Catholic Communication Campaign provides resources for bringing that timeless truth to people in new and traditional ways,” Bishop Byrne said.

Some dioceses take this collection on other dates. Those who wish to give but are unable to do so at Mass may give online at #iGiveCatholicTogether to support the bishops’ national communications programs.

For more information on the Catholic Communication Campaign visit https://www.usccb.org/committees/catholic-communication-campaign

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VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Launching his papacy with a call for reconciliation and communion, Pope Leo XIV formally began his ministry as the successor of St. Peter by calling for "a united church, a sign of unity and communion, which becomes a leaven for a reconciled world."

"In this our time, we still see too much discord, too many wounds caused by hatred, violence, prejudice, the fear of difference and an economic paradigm that exploits the Earth's resources and marginalizes the poorest," the new pope said in his homily during his inauguration Mass May 18. 

"For our part, we want to be a small leaven of unity, communion and fraternity within the world," he told the estimated 150,000 people gathered in and around St. Peter's Square. "We want to say to the world, with humility and joy: Look to Christ! Come closer to him! Welcome his word that enlightens and consoles! Listen to his offer of love and become his one family: 'In the one Christ, we are one.'"

A version of the quote from St. Augustine is the pope's episcopal motto and is featured on his coat of arms.

Ecumenical and interreligious guests and more than 100 government delegations joined the new pope for Mass in St. Peter's Square. The United States was represented by Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, accompanied by their spouses and senior White House aides. 

Vance and the second lady, Usha Vance, visited Pope Francis' tomb in the Basilica of St. Mary Major the evening before the Mass. "He was beloved by many Catholics around the world, and I hope you will join me in praying for the repose of his soul," he wrote in a post on X.

Among the Christian leaders present was Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, along with other delegations from the Orthodox churches, the Anglican Communion, the Lutheran World Federation, the World Methodist Council, the World Communion of Reformed Churches and various evangelical and Pentecostal communities. Representatives of the Jewish community as well as Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, Zoroastrian and Jain traditions also were in attendance.

Before the Mass began, Pope Leo rode through the square in the popemobile for the first time since his election May 8, greeting the faithful as cheers of "Viva il papa!" ("Long live the pope!') poured out from the crowd. He then entered the basilica to pray at the tomb of St. Peter, accompanied by patriarchs of the Eastern Catholic churches.

Following the Gospel reading, three cardinals from the different orders within the College of Cardinals took part in the formal beginning of the Petrine ministry: Italian Cardinal Mario Zenari placed the woolen pallium on the pope's shoulders, symbolizing his role as shepherd of the universal church; Filippino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle presented him with the fisherman's ring, evoking St. Peter's mission to draw people into Christ's net; and Congolese Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo offered a prayer invoking the strength of the Holy Spirit for the new pontificate.

Representing the universal church, 12 people -- clergy, religious and laity from around the world -- then came forward to offer their obedience to the new pope. 

Reflecting on the Gospel reading from St. John -- in which Jesus asks St. Peter three times to tend to his sheep -- Pope Leo said in his homily that the ministry of Peter is rooted not in authority for its own sake, but in love that serves and unites.

"Peter is thus entrusted with the task of 'loving more' and giving his life for the flock," he said. "The ministry of Peter is distinguished precisely by this self-sacrificing love, because the church of Rome presides in charity and its true authority is the charity of Christ."

The successor of St. Peter, he said, "must shepherd the flock without ever yielding to the temptation to be an autocrat, lording it over those entrusted to him." Instead, "he is called to serve the faith of his brothers and sisters, and to walk alongside them."

Pope Leo also recalled the period of mourning following the death of Pope Francis, and he said that the conclave that followed the late pope's death was "a moment of grace." 

"I was chosen, without any merit of my own, and now, with fear and trembling, I come to you as a brother, who desires to be the servant of your faith and your joy, walking with you on the path of God's love, for he wants us all to be united in one family," he said.

"With the light and the strength of the Holy Spirit, let us build a church founded on God's love, a sign of unity, a missionary church that opens its arms to the world," he said, calling for a church that "proclaims the word, allows itself to be made 'restless' by history and becomes a leaven of harmony for humanity."

At the end of Mass, the pope called for prayers for regions afflicted by war: Gaza, Myanmar and Ukraine, which "finally awaits negotiations for a just and lasting peace."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was present for the Mass and was to have a private meeting with the pope later in the day, the Vatican press office said.

Immediately after the Mass, Pope Leo met with several government representatives including Vance and Rubio, as well as Peruvian President Dina Boluarte. The pope had spent more than 20 years in Peru as a missionary priest and bishop and has Peruvian citizenship.

Pope Leo XIV's papacy formally begins

Pope Leo XIV formally began his ministry as pope on May 18, during a Mass that marked the public inauguration of his service as bishop of Rome and successor of St. Peter.

ROME (CNS) -- Under a strong spring sun, hundreds of men processed past ancient Roman ruins carrying statues of the crucified Christ and his sorrowful mother on heavy wood bases.

They were accompanied May 17 by tens of thousands of members of Catholic confraternities from Spain, Italy, Portugal, France and dozens of other countries.

The Jubilee of Confraternities featured two processions -- one from near the third-century Baths of Caracalla and the other from near Rome's Colosseum -- that met at the Circus Maximus, the ancient chariot-racing stadium that is now a grass-covered basin that hosts concerts and large public gatherings.

The main attractions of the processions, which lasted more than four hours, were the 2-ton statue "Virgen de la Esperanza" (Our Lady of Hope) of Málaga, Spain -- carried by 270 men -- and the statue of the crucified Christ, called "the Most Holy Christ of the Expiration," also known as "El Cachorro," from Seville, Spain. That statue was carried by 40 men, who all were hidden from view as they bore the statue under drapery.

The statues had been on display May 16 in St. Peter's Basilica where the pilgrims celebrated Mass. But as they were carried through Rome, throngs of residents and tourists lining the streets applauded.

Many of the confraternities trace their origins to the Middle Ages. While they are most known for their penitential processions in Holy Week in Spain or on Marian feast days in other countries, they also continue to be engaged in works of charity and keep ancient forms of popular piety alive in villages and cities throughout Europe.
 

A team of 270 men carry the 2-ton statue "Virgen de la Esperanza" (Our Lady of Hope) of Málaga, Spain, in procession past Rome's Colosseum as part of the Jubilee of Confraternities May 17, 2025. (CNS photo/Pablo Esparza)

A team of 270 men carry the 2-ton statue "Virgen de la Esperanza" (Our Lady of Hope) of Málaga, Spain, in procession through Rome as part of the Jubilee of Confraternities May 17, 2025. (CNS photo/Pablo Esparza)

A tattooed member of a confraternity from Málaga, Spain, places his hand on the shoulder of another member of a team of 270 men carrying a 2-ton statue of Mary, "Virgen de la Esperanza" (Our Lady of Hope), in procession through Rome as part of the Jubilee of Confraternities May 17, 2025. (CNS photo/Pablo Esparza)

A man shows his exertion as part of a team of 270 men carrying the 2-ton statue "Virgen de la Esperanza" (Our Lady of Hope) of Málaga, Spain, in procession through Rome as part of the Jubilee of Confraternities May 17, 2025. (CNS photo/Pablo Esparza)

With the Arch of Constantine in the background, a woman walks in procession through Rome during the Jubilee of Confraternities May 17, 2025. (CNS photo/Pablo Esparza)

Onlookers applaud a procession of religious statues carried through Rome by members of confraternities from Spain, Italy, Portugal and France taking part in the Jubilee of Confraternities May 17, 2025. (CNS photo/Pablo Esparza)

Members of a confraternity from Sicily carry a statue of the crucified Christ in a procession through Rome as part of the Jubilee of Confraternities May 17, 2025. (CNS photo/Pablo Esparza)

The statue of the crucified Christ, "the Most Holy Christ of the Expiration," also known as "El Cachorro," from Seville, Spain, is carried through Rome as part of the Jubilee of Confraternities May 17, 2025. (CNS photo/Pablo Esparza)

A woman takes part in a procession through Rome by members of confraternities from Spain, Italy, Portugal and France taking part in the Jubilee of Confraternities May 17, 2025. (CNS photo/Pablo Esparza)

Members of a confraternity from León, Spain, carry a statue of Christ carrying his cross in procession through Rome as part of the Jubilee of Confraternities May 17, 2025. (CNS photo/Pablo Esparza)

A little girl looks back as she takes part in a procession through Rome as part of the Jubilee of Confraternities May 17, 2025. (CNS photo/Pablo Esparza)

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Leo XIV will formally begin his ministry as bishop of Rome with a liturgy steeped in tradition and rich in symbolism May 18. 

The "Mass for the Inauguration of the Petrine Ministry," to be held in St. Peter's Square, will mark the visible and public start of his pontificate while grounding it in the Catholic Church's apostolic continuity.

Although the pope's canonical authority began the moment he accepted his election in the Sistine Chapel May 8, the installation Mass offers the universal church a moment of shared prayer and liturgical celebration to begin the pontificate. 

The morning Mass will begin with a ride through St. Peter's Square in the popemobile. But then the pope will enter the St. Peter's Basilica and proceed to the tomb of St. Peter, where, joined by the patriarchs of the Eastern Catholic churches, he will pause for prayer.

The symbols of the papal office -- the pallium, the fisherman's ring and the Book of the Gospels -- will have been placed there in advance, close to the remains of the apostle whose faith and martyrdom consecrated the church of Rome. Deacons then carry the objects into the square as part of the procession.

After the moment of prayer, the pope will join the main procession outside, and the liturgical celebration will begin at the altar set up on the steps of the basilica. The Mass will feature the singing of the "Laudes Regiae," an ancient litany invoking the assistance of Christ and the saints. The chant, together with the readings and prayers, frame the new pope's ministry within the communion of the church and the continuity of faith.

The Liturgy of the Word will include readings that recall St. Peter's call and mission, culminating in the account from St. John's Gospel in which the risen Christ tells St. Peter three times to tend to his sheep. 

After the proclamation of the Gospel and before the pope's homily are the formal rites of installation, which take place in full view of the gathered faithful. 

The rites include the imposition of the pallium, conferred by a cardinal deacon, and the presentation of the fisherman's ring, given to the new pope by a cardinal bishop. A third cardinal, from the order of cardinal priests, will offer a solemn prayer invoking the Holy Spirit's strength for the pope's mission.

The pallium, a white woolen band embroidered with black crosses, represents the Good Shepherd who carries his sheep. It is worn by metropolitan archbishops and, in a particular way, by the bishop of Rome as a sign of his pastoral responsibility over the universal church. The fisherman's ring, bearing the image of St. Peter casting his nets, symbolizes the pope's role as successor to St. Peter and herald of the Gospel.

Following these rites, the pope will receive the gesture of obedience from 12 representatives of the people of God -- both clergy and laypeople -- from various parts of the world who reflect the diversity and unity of the church.

According to the liturgical program for the Mass released by the Vatican, the rites specific to the Petrine office have been carefully structured to precede the Eucharistic prayer, in keeping with reforms introduced under Pope Benedict XVI in 2013. This structure allows the distinctive symbols of the papal office to be celebrated in a dedicated moment, without interrupting the central structure of the Mass.

The Eucharistic prayer will follow, and the faithful will offer intercessions in multiple languages for the pope, the church, civil authorities, the suffering and the entire world. The Mass will conclude with the "Regina Coeli," prayed publicly in the square.

After the liturgy, Pope Leo XIV is expected to return inside the basilica to greet the heads of state and religious delegations assembled for the occasion. This greeting, conducted in the nave of the basilica in front of the Altar of the Confession, is not part of the liturgy but is an act of diplomatic and ecumenical respect. No bilateral meetings are expected to follow. The pope is not expected to pass among the faithful in the popemobile after the Mass.

While the specific guests and delegations had not all been announced as of May 16, representatives of Christian churches, other religions and government leaders were expected to attend the Mass.

In the days following the installation Mass, Pope Leo will visit the major papal basilicas of Rome. He is scheduled to take possession of the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls May 20; on May 25 he will take possession of the Basilica of St. Mary Major and the Basilica of St. John Lateran, the cathedral of the Diocese of Rome.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The Catholic Church wants to reach out and embrace all people who need and yearn for truth, justice and peace, Pope Leo XIV said in his first meeting with the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See.

"The church can never be exempted from speaking the truth about humanity and the world, resorting whenever necessary to blunt language that may initially create misunderstanding," he said. "Yet truth can never be separated from charity, which always has at its root a concern for the life and well-being of every man and woman."

Because truth is an encounter with the person of Christ who is "alive in the midst of the community of believers," he said, "truth then, does not create division, but rather enables us to confront all the more resolutely the challenges of our time, such as migration, the ethical use of artificial intelligence and the protection of our beloved planet Earth."

In his May 16 speech to diplomats in the Clementine Hall, Pope Leo said, "Religions and interreligious dialogue can make a fundamental contribution to fostering a climate of peace." 

Therefore, "full respect for religious freedom in every country" is necessary since "it is difficult, if not impossible, to bring about the purification of the heart necessary for building peaceful relationships" without religious experience, he said.

Every person is called to "begin to eliminate the root causes of all conflicts and every destructive urge for conquest," he said. "It demands a genuine willingness to engage in dialogue, inspired by the desire to communicate rather than clash."

So, "new life" must be given to multilateral diplomacy and international institutions tasked with remedying disputes within the international community, he said. There must also be a move to stop the production of "instruments of destruction and death."

The pope highlighted the purpose of "papal diplomacy," saying, "The Holy See is inspired by a pastoral outreach that leads it not to seek privileges but to strengthen its evangelical mission at the service of humanity."

"Resisting all forms of indifference, it appeals to consciences, as witnessed by the constant efforts of my venerable predecessor, ever attentive to the cry of the poor, the needy and the marginalized, as well as to contemporary challenges, ranging from the protection of creation to artificial intelligence," he said.

"The pillars of the church's missionary activity and the aim of the Holy See's diplomacy," he said, are peace, justice and truth. 

Peace is "an active and demanding gift" that "engages and challenges each of us," starting with working on oneself, he said.

"Peace is built in the heart and from the heart, by eliminating pride and vindictiveness and carefully choosing our words. For words too, not only weapons, can wound and even kill," Pope Leo said.

"Working for peace requires acting justly," he said, and the Vatican will not fail "to make its voice heard in the face of the many imbalances and injustices that lead, not least, to unworthy working conditions and increasingly fragmented and conflict-ridden societies."

"It is the responsibility of government leaders to work to build harmonious and peaceful civil societies," he said. "This can be achieved above all by investing in the family, founded upon the stable union between a man and a woman."

Also, he said, "no one is exempted from striving to ensure respect for the dignity of every person, especially the most frail and vulnerable, from the unborn to the elderly, from the sick to the unemployed, citizens and immigrants alike."

Pope Leo, the first pope from the United States, said he is "a citizen, the descendant of immigrants, who in turn chose to emigrate." Anyone can end up being "healthy or sick, employed or unemployed, living in our native land or in a foreign country" in life, and yet their human dignity always remains unchanged.

The third "pillar" of the church's mission, he said, is truth.

"Truly peaceful relationships cannot be built, also within the international community, apart from truth," he said. Where "ambiguous and ambivalent" words and "the virtual world, with its altered perception of reality, takes over unchecked, it is difficult to build authentic relationships, since the objective and real premises of communication are lacking." 

The Catholic Church will always seek to speak the truth and dedicate itself to lovingly serving others and protecting the life and well-being of everyone, he said.

Currently, 184 countries have full diplomatic relations with the Holy See.

Pope Leo said it was "a gift" to see representatives from so many different nations attending the audience, demonstrating "a visible sign of your countries' respect for the Apostolic See."

"It allows me to renew the church's aspiration -- and my own -- to reach out and embrace all individuals and peoples on the Earth, who need and yearn for truth, justice and peace!" he said.

"I intend to strengthen understanding and dialogue with you and with your countries, many of which I have already had the grace to visit, especially during my time as prior general of the Augustinians," Pope Leo said.

He said he hoped there would be more occasions to get to know their countries and "to confirm in the faith our many brothers and sisters throughout the world and to build new bridges with all people of goodwill." 

The Jubilee Year dedicated to hope, he said, "is a time of conversion and renewal and, above all, an opportunity to leave conflicts behind and embark on a new path, confident that, by working together," each person can help "build a world in which everyone can lead an authentically human life in truth, justice and peace."

"It is my hope that this will be the case everywhere, starting with those places that suffer most grievously, like Ukraine and the Holy Land," he said, thanking the diplomats for the work they do "to build bridges between your countries and the Holy See."

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- During a meeting with Eastern Catholics, many of whom come from war-torn regions of the world, Pope Leo XIV pledged the Vatican's full commitment to promoting peace and reconciliation.

"The peoples of our world desire peace, and to their leaders I appeal with all my heart: Let us meet, let us talk, let us negotiate!" the pope said May 14 during an audience in the Paul VI Hall with thousands of Eastern Catholics participating in their Jubilee pilgrimage to Rome.

"War is never inevitable," the pope told them. "Weapons can and must be silenced, for they do not resolve problems but only increase them."

The audience was the culmination of a multi-day Jubilee celebration that included liturgies in the diverse rites of the Eastern Catholic Churches -- from the Syro-Malabar and Armenian traditions to the Byzantine and Coptic rites -- held in Rome's major basilicas. 

Before the pope's arrival, a vibrant atmosphere filled the hall as pilgrims waved flags from Ukraine, India, Iran, Lebanon and other nations; many were dressed in traditional attire -- vividly expressing the Eastern churches' global presence and the deep pride in the faith despite centuries of hardship and persecution.

"Who, better than you, can sing a song of hope even amid the abyss of violence?" Pope Leo asked them, citing the lived experience of communities from the Holy Land to Ukraine, from Syria and Lebanon to Tigray and the Caucasus.

On the stage alongside the pope were leaders of the Eastern Catholic churches, including: Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk of Kyiv-Halych, head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church; Cardinal Louis Sako, the Iraq-based patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church; Indian Cardinal Baselios Cleemis Thottunkal, major archbishop of Trivandrum and head of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church; as well as Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, prefect of the Dicastery for Eastern Churches. 

Pope Leo offered strong support for peacebuilding efforts across the globe and reiterated the Vatican's role as a neutral ground for diplomacy.

"The Holy See is always ready to help bring enemies together, face to face, to talk to one another, so that peoples everywhere may once more find hope and recover the dignity they deserve -- the dignity of peace," he said.

The pope also thanked Eastern Catholics for their perseverance and witness, referring to their churches as "martyr churches," and affirming their importance to the universal church.

"You are precious in God's eyes," he said. "Truly, you have a unique and privileged role as the original setting where the church was born."

The pope warned that war and migration have placed many Eastern Catholics at risk of losing not only their homes, but their identity, calling on the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches to work with Latin-rite bishops to support the faithful in the diaspora. 

"There is a need to promote greater awareness among Latin Christians" of the Eastern Catholic communities, he said, asking bishops to help Eastern Catholics preserve their traditions and "enrich the communities in which they live."

He also asked Eastern Catholic leaders to remain rooted in Gospel values and resist worldly temptations.

"Continue to be outstanding for your faith, hope and charity, and nothing else," he urged them.

The universal church, the pope said, needs the traditions, liturgies and spiritualities of the Eastern Christians.

"We have great need to recover the sense of mystery that remains alive in your liturgies, liturgies that engage the human person in his or her entirety, that sing of the beauty of salvation and evoke a sense of wonder at how God's majesty embraces our human frailty!"

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Reporting by CNS Rome is made possible by the Catholic Communication Campaign. Give to the CCC special collection in your diocese May 31-June 1 or any time at: https://bit.ly/CCC-give

WASHINGTON – With pornography continuing to hurt American families at an alarming rate, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) just released the second edition of the bishops’ landmark pastoral response Create in Me a Pure Heart. “The need for us to help those trapped in this addiction is even more urgent today than it was ten years ago when the first edition was published,” said Bishop Robert Barron, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth. 

“We hope Create in Me a Pure Heart will renew the commitment to chastity in the life of the Church and society. Polls show the moral acceptance of pornography has increased significantly in recent years.* This jump underscores the reason we need to address this crisis. We also hope that the document will bring healing to victims and instill in all who hold positions of responsibility the courage to protect the vulnerable,” Bishop Barron continued.

This tenth anniversary edition received a new preface written by the USCCB Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life, and Youth, and has been published by Ascension Press. A downloadable version is also available on the USCCB website at usccb.org/pureheart.

The new preface contains recommendations for various groups, including parents and educators, to safeguard against the ever-increasing reach of hazardous technology. The omnipresence of smart devices has offered some benefits, but it has had a negative impact on mental health and increased the risk of exposure to pornography, especially among minors.

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*In 2022, 41% of Americans deemed pornography morally acceptable, up from 34% in 2015. Andrew Dugan, “More Americans Say Pornography Is Morally Acceptable,” Gallup, June 5, 2018, https://news.gallup.com/poll/235280/americans-say-pornography-morally-acceptable.aspx (accessed May 1, 2024). Megan Brenan, “Americans Say Birth Control, Divorce Most ‘Morally Acceptable’,” Gallup, June 9, 2022, https://news.gallup.com/poll/393515/americans-say-birth-control-divorce-morally-acceptable.aspx (accessed May 1, 2024).