St. Mary's of the Lake Roman Catholic Church

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- When anyone cries out to God for healing or help, God always listens, Pope Leo XIV said.

"There is no cry that God does not hear, even when we are not aware we are addressing him," the pope told thousands of people gathered under a hot sun in St. Peter's Square June 11.

At his weekly general audience, the pope spoke about the Gospel story of the healing of Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46-52) as he continued a series of talks about how the life and ministry of Jesus is a source of hope.

And, noting that June is the month devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Pope Leo invited people "to bring before the heart of Christ your most painful and fragile parts, those places in your life where you feel stuck and blocked. Let us trustfully ask the Lord to listen to our cry, and to heal us!" 

In the Gospel story, the pope said, Bartimaeus' cry, "Jesus, son of David, have pity on me," is an act of faith. And even though the crowds tried to silence the blind man, he continued to cry out to Jesus.

"He is a beggar, he knows how to ask, indeed, he can shout," the pope said. "If you truly want something, you do everything in order to be able to reach it, even when others reproach you, humiliate you and tell you to let it be."

"If you really desire it, you keep on shouting," he said. 

Pope Leo also said the Gospel story makes clear that Jesus does not go and lift Bartimaeus up, but encourages him to stand on his own, knowing that "he can rise from the throes of death."

"But in order to do this, he must perform a very meaningful gesture: he must throw away his cloak," the pope said. And "for a beggar, the cloak is everything: it is his safety, it is his house, it is the defense that protects him."

Christians today can learn from Bartimaeus, he said.

"Many times, it is precisely our apparent securities that stand in our way -- what we have put on to defend ourselves and which instead prevent us from walking," Pope Leo said. "To go to Jesus and let himself be healed, Bartimaeus must show himself to him in all his vulnerability. This is the fundamental step in any journey of healing."

"Let us trustfully bring our ailments before Jesus, and also those of our loved ones; let us bring the pain of those who feel lost and without a way out," the pope said. "Let us cry out for them too, and we will be certain that the Lord will hear us and stop."
 

Pope Leo: Experience God's healing power

A look at Pope Leo's general audience June 11.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Every papal diplomat around the world must let people know that the Catholic Church is always on the side of the marginalized and is ready to face everything "out of love," Pope Leo XIV said.

"I count on you so that everyone in the countries where you live may know that the church is always ready for everything out of love, that she is always on the side of the least, the poor and that she will always defend the sacrosanct right to believe in God, to believe that this life is not at the mercy of the powers of this world, but is permeated by a mysterious meaning," the pope said.

As part of the Jubilee of the Holy See, Pope Leo met at the Vatican June 10 with apostolic nuncios and other papal diplomats, mostly archbishops, who represent the pope to international institutions and national governments. There are more than 100 nunciatures around the world.

"Your role, your ministry, is irreplaceable," the pope told them, thanking them for their dedication and especially for their work in helping with the selection of candidates to become diocesan bishops. 

A diplomatic corps as universal and united "as ours does not exist in any other country in the world," he told the group of prelates who are chosen from around the world and usually sent to study at the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy in Rome.

"Your, our, communion is not merely functional, nor an idea; we are united in Christ, and we are united in the church," he said. "The diplomacy of the Holy See constitutes in its very personnel a model -- certainly not perfect, but very meaningful -- of the message it proposes: that of human fraternity and peace among all peoples."

As pope, "the ministry of Peter is to create relationships, bridges: and a representative of the pope, first and foremost, serves this invitation" to build relationships by looking at those they meet with the eyes of Peter, he said.

"Be men capable of building relationships where it is hardest to do," the pope told them. "But in doing so, preserve the same humility and the same realism of Peter, who is well aware that he does not have the solution to everything, but he knows he has what counts, namely Christ."

"To give Christ means to give love, to bear witness to the charity that is ready for everything," Pope Leo said.

"Only love is worthy of faith, in the face of the suffering of the innocent, the crucified of today, whom many of you know personally, as you serve peoples who are victims of war, violence and injustice, or even of the false well-being that deludes and disappoints," he said.

The pope described the importance of their work in helping him address various issues. "Because when a situation is presented to me that relates, for example, to the church in a given country, I can rely on the documentation, reflections and summaries prepared by you and your collaborators." 

Papal representatives are more than diplomats, he said; they should always be pastors, inspired by "the spirit of faith."

Through his representatives in different nations, the pope is able "to participate in the very life of his sons and daughters" and becomes aware of their needs and aspirations, he said.

Pope Leo told them to "feel that you are missionaries, sent by the pope to be tools of communion, unity, serving the dignity of the human person, promoting sincere and constructive relations everywhere with the authorities with whom you are required to cooperate."

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who as Vatican secretary of state, oversees the papal diplomatic corps, told Vatican News June 9 that a nuncio is "a bridge" between the pope and local churches, between the church and nations, "and between the wounds of the world and the hope offered by the Gospel."

A papal representative, he said, "must be a man of reconciliation" because "the mission of pontifical diplomacy is to support the Holy Father's efforts to build a world rooted in truth, justice and peace." 

A papal nuncio "is called to dedicate himself to mediation and dialogue. This is the only way to weave the fabric of international cooperation and discern even the faintest will for peace among divided parties," he said.

"We must respond to the Holy Father's call to be sowers of peace, recognizing that in diplomacy, the other is not primarily an adversary, but a fellow human being with whom we are called to engage," Cardinal Parolin said.

The nuncio's diplomatic missions, "engaging with civil authorities, working to heal divisions and promoting peace, justice and religious freedom," are not carried out to promote the Vatican's interests, but they are "guided by a Gospel-centered vision of the world and international relations," he said.

Indeed, they need to be "grounded in a true pastoral presence," Cardinal Parolin said. "A nuncio is, above all, a man of the church -- a pastor -- who is called to follow the example of Christ the Good Shepherd" and to be "close to bishops, priests, religious and the communities they are sent to serve."

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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 or any time at: https://bit.ly/CCC-give

WASHINGTON - With broad support from multiple committees of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), a number of bishop-chairmen have written a letter to the U.S. Congress offering ethical principles and policy recommendations on artificial intelligence. Grounded in the Church’s concern for human dignity and the common good, the letter outlines how AI development and uses should serve all of humanity.

“Artificial intelligence is rapidly shaping the future of our society,” said Bishop William D. Byrne, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Communications. “As pastors entrusted with the care of human life and dignity, we urge lawmakers to heed the call of our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, to help ensure that AI is developed with responsibility and discernment so that it may truly benefit every person.”

The bishops’ letter addresses a wide range of policy considerations, including the impact of AI on family life, labor and the economy, healthcare, education, political and civic life, warfare, energy, and the environment. The letter invites lawmakers to an ongoing dialogue about how to responsibly harness emerging technologies, in ways that uphold moral and social values.

The full text of the USCCB’s letter, Artificial Intelligence: Principles and Priorities, is available here.

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VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Those serving the Holy See can serve its mission best by striving to live a holy life in conformity to Christ, Pope Leo XIV said.

The fruitfulness of the church, he said, "is realized in the lives of her members to the extent that they relive, 'in miniature,' what the Mother lived, namely, they love according to the love of Jesus."

"All the fruitfulness of the church and of the Holy See depends on the cross of Christ. Otherwise, it is only appearance, if not worse," he said in his homily during Mass celebrating the Jubilee of the Holy See June 9, the feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church.

The Jubilee celebration included a morning meditation by Italian Sister Maria Gloria Riva, a member of the Perpetual Adoration Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, in the Paul VI Audience Hall. 

In the presence of Pope Leo and cardinals, bishops, priests and religious and lay men and women working in the Roman Curia or connected with the mission of the Holy See, she spoke about hope relying on having a healthy balance between the past and future.

It is dangerous to put too much emphasis on either the past or the future, she said. "The past, with its glory and sorrows, can represent a trampoline" with which one leaps toward "the great horizon" of eternal life.

After the meditation, Pope Leo took the wooden Jubilee cross and led those gathered in a procession into St. Peter's Square toward the basilica and through the Holy Door. He then celebrated Mass in St. Peter's Basilica. 

In his homily, the pope underlined the connection between the mission of the church and Mary as mother of the church.

"The fruitfulness of the church is the same fruitfulness as Mary's; it is realized in the lives of her members" to the extent that they love, like Mary, according to the love of Jesus, he said.

The fruitfulness of the church and the Holy See depends on the cross of Christ, he said. "In fact, the fruitfulness of Mary and of the church are inextricably linked to their holiness, which is their conformity to Christ."

"The Holy See is holy as the church is holy, in her original core, in the very fabric of her being," Pope Leo said. "The Apostolic See thus preserves the holiness of its roots while being preserved by them."

However, the Holy See also "lives in the holiness of each of its members. Therefore, the best way to serve the Holy See is to strive for holiness, each according to his or her particular state of life and the work entrusted to him or her," he said. 

"For example, a priest who personally carries a heavy cross because of his ministry, yet every day goes to the office and tries to do his job to the best of his ability with love and faith, this priest participates and contributes to the fruitfulness of the church," he said. "Similarly, a father or mother of a family who lives in a difficult situation at home, with a child who is cause for concern or a sick parent, and continues his or her work with commitment, that man or woman is fruitful with the fruitfulness of Mary and of the church."

Just as Mary supported the ministry of the Apostle Peter, "the mother church supports the ministry of Peter's successors with the Marian charism," he said. This Marian aspect, "with its motherhood, gift of Christ and of the Spirit," ensures the fruitfulness and holiness of the Petrine ministry, he said.

"Dear friends, let us praise God for his Word, the lamp that guides our steps, even in our daily life at the service of the Holy See," he said, praying that God's church, "sustained by the love of Christ, may be ever more fruitful in the Spirit, exult in the holiness of her children, and draw to her embrace all the whole human family."

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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 or any time at: https://bit.ly/CCC-give

Pope Leo celebrates Jubilee of the Holy See

Pope Leo XIV celebrated Mass for the Jubilee of the Holy See June 9, 2025. (CNS video/Robert Duncan)

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- In a world marked by wars and where people are disconnected and numb with indifference, Pope Leo XIV prayed that the Holy Spirit would "open borders, break down walls" and dissolve hatred so everyone can live as children of one human family.

"The Spirit breaks down barriers and tears down the walls of indifference and hatred" because he teaches and encourages "the commandment of love that the Lord has made the center and summit of everything," he said.

"Where there is love, there is no room for prejudice, for 'security' zones separating us from our neighbors, for the exclusionary mindset that, tragically, we now see emerging also in political nationalisms," Pope Leo said in his homily for Pentecost Mass in St. Peter's Square June 8. 

The pope also spoke out against "an unhealthy desire for domination" and violence in relationships as well as the "numerous recent cases of femicide" in Italy.

As of June 7, three women had been killed in 48 hours by a husband or partner. At least 22 women have been killed since the start of the year, 10 of whom were killed by a partner or ex-partner, the newspaper La Stampa reported June 6. An average of 100 women were killed between 2022 and 2024 in cases of voluntary manslaughter involving family members, according to the Italian government, and an average of 62 women were killed by their partner or ex-partner each year during the same timeframe.

"The Holy Spirit, on the other hand, brings to maturity within us the fruits that enable us to cultivate good and healthy relationships," Pope Leo said.

In his homily, the pope reflected on the Holy Spirit's gift of opening borders, building on an image of Pentecost described by Pope Benedict XVI in his homily on the feast day in 2005.

"The Spirit opens borders, first of all, in our hearts," then in one's relationships with others and, finally, between peoples, Pope Leo said.

"He is the gift that opens our lives to love" by breaking down "our hardness of heart, our narrowness of mind, our selfishness, the fears that enchain us and the narcissism that makes us think only of ourselves," the pope said.

"The Holy Spirit comes to challenge us, to make us confront the possibility that our lives are shriveling up, trapped in the vortex of individualism," he said. "Sadly, oddly enough, in a world of burgeoning 'social' media, we risk being ever more alone. Constantly connected, yet incapable of 'networking."' 

The Spirit "put us in touch with our inmost self, beneath all the masks we wear. He leads us to an encounter with the Lord by teaching us to experience the joy that is his gift" and to have one's life become a place "of welcome and refreshment."

The Holy Spirit also "broadens the borders of our relationships and opens us to the joy of fraternity," which is "also a critical yardstick for the church," he said.

To truly be a church of the Lord, he said, there must be "no borders or divisions among us." The faithful must be able to "dialogue and accept one another in the church and to reconcile our diversities," becoming "a welcoming and hospitable place for all."

The Holy Spirit "also opens borders between peoples," the pope said, by uniting people's hearts and making "us view others as our brothers and sisters." This is how "differences no longer become an occasion for division and conflict but rather a shared patrimony from which we can all draw."

Recalling Pope Francis' homily on Pentecost in 2023, Pope Leo lamented the continued discord and division in the world.

"The wars plaguing our world are a tragic sign of this. Let us invoke the Spirit of love and peace, that he may open borders, break down walls, dispel hatred and help us to live as children of our one Father who is in heaven," he said.

The pope also prayed for the gift of peace to dwell in people's hearts, before reciting the Regina Caeli after the Mass.

"For only a peaceful heart can spread peace in the family, society and international relations," he said. "May the Spirit of the risen Christ open paths of reconciliation wherever there is war; may he enlighten those who govern and give them the courage to make gestures of de-escalation and dialogue." 

The Mass marked the conclusion of the Jubilee of Ecclesial Movements, Associations and New Communities. The Jubilee included an evening prayer vigil in the square June 7 led by Pope Leo with an estimated 70,000 people.

Before praying the Regina Caeli June 8, the pope thanked all the representatives of Catholic lay associations, movements and communities who took part in the Jubilee, encouraging them to "set out renewed" with the strength of the Holy Spirit. "Go and bring the hope of the Lord Jesus to everyone!"

Pope Leo: Holy Spirit opens borders

On the Feast of Pentecost, Pope Leo said the Holy Spirit breaks down barriers—in our hearts, between people, and between nations. In his homily on June 8th, he repeatedly used the phrase “opens borders,” underscoring the Spirit’s power to unite what is...

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- On the eve of Pentecost, Pope Leo XIV prayed that the Holy Spirit would help Catholic lay associations, movements and communities live the Gospel before trying to preach it and would be a force for unity in the church and in the world.

"In a divided and troubled world, the Holy Spirit teaches us to walk together in unity," the pope said as he joined an estimated 70,000 people for an evening prayer vigil in St. Peter's Square June 7.

"Evangelization, dear brothers and sisters, is not our attempt to conquer the world, but the infinite grace that radiates from lives transformed by the Kingdom of God," he said. Evangelization requires walking together on "the way of the Beatitudes," being people who are "hungering and thirsting for justice, poor in spirit, merciful, meek, pure of heart, men and women of peace."

"Jesus himself chose this path," Pope Leo insisted. "To follow it, we have no need of powerful patrons, worldly compromises, or emotional strategies." 

The vigil was part of the Jubilee of Ecclesial Movements, Associations and New Communities. The program began about 90 minutes before Pope Leo arrived in the popemobile. The Focolare movement's international Gen Verde choir and band performed; and members of the Sant'Egidio Community, the Neocatechumenal Way, Nuovi Orizzonti and Communion and Liberation gave testimonies about how the groups helped them grow closer to Jesus and motivated them to help others.

The program was punctuated with video clips of St. John Paul II, Pope Benedict XIV and Pope Francis addressing similar Pentecost vigils with the groups.

The gifts of the Holy Spirit, given to build up the unity of the church and inspire its efforts to help others, was the common theme of the clips.

In his address, Pope Leo said "synodality" is "a word that aptly expresses how the Spirit shapes the Church." 

At Pentecost, Mary and the disciples "received a Spirit of unity, which forever grounded in the one Lord Jesus Christ all their diversity," he said. "Theirs were not multiple missions, but a single mission. They were no longer introverted and quarrelling with one another, but outgoing and radiant with joy."

"Dear friends, God created the world so that we might all live as one. 'Synodality' is the ecclesial name for this," the pope said. "It demands that we each recognize our own poverty and our riches, that we feel part of a greater whole, apart from which everything withers, even the most original and unique of charisms."

"Think about it," he told the crowd. "All creation exists solely in the form of coexistence, sometimes dangerous, yet always interconnected."

"The opposite is lethal, but sadly, we are witnessing this daily," the pope said. "May your meetings and your communities, then, be training grounds of fraternity and sharing, not merely meeting places, but centers of spirituality." 

The Holy Spirit can change the world because it can change human hearts, he said. "The Spirit inspires the contemplative dimension of life that rejects self-assertion, complaining, rivalry and the temptation to control consciences and resources."

Celebrating Pentecost during a Jubilee Year, he said, is a special time to recognize the importance of walking together and showing the world the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.

"The earth will rest, justice will prevail, the poor will rejoice, and peace will return, once we no longer act as predators but as pilgrims," the pope said. "No longer each of us for ourselves, but walking alongside one another. Not greedily exploiting this world, but cultivating it and protecting it, as the Encyclical Laudato Si' has taught us."

If the groups are united among themselves and with their local parishes and dioceses, he said, "all of us will then work together harmoniously as one. The challenges facing humanity will be less frightening, the future will be less dark, and discernment will be less complicated -- if together we obey the Holy Spirit!"
 

Pope Leo's vision of evangelization

Pope Leo XIV celebrated the Vigil of Pentecost with the Jubilee of Movements, Associations, and New Communities on June 7 in St. Peter’s Square. In his homily, the pope outlined his vision for the church’s mission of evangelization, emphasizing that it...

WASHINGTON – “We welcome the government’s decision to restore clarity to the federal law that ensures that all people, including both pregnant mothers and their preborn children, can receive necessary emergency care at hospitals,” said Bishop Daniel E. Thomas, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Pro-Life Activities, in response to Tuesday’s announcement that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) had rescinded guidance from 2022, which had attempted to require abortions in certain circumstances under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA).

Bishop Thomas continued, “The guidance that was imposed three years ago introduced unnecessary confusion into health care settings in the form of an abortion mandate. It is important to recognize that, when necessary, there are morally and legally permissible procedures to save the life of a mother in a health crisis, even when they may result in the terrible loss of her child. The government’s attempt to force doctors to perform direct abortions, however, defied the purpose of the long-standing EMTALA law, which is to help save the lives of vulnerable women who arrive at emergency rooms and, if they are pregnant, the lives of their babies as well. We are grateful for Tuesday’s rescission announcement and will continue to encourage policies that ensure high-quality and accessible health care to all people in need.” 

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WASHINGTON - The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Secretariat of Child and Youth Protection has released the 2024 Annual Report – Findings and Recommendations on the Implementation of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.

The report is based on the audit findings of StoneBridge Business Partners, a consulting firm which provides forensic, internal, and compliance audit services. A survey regarding allegations of abuse of minors and costs that is annually conducted by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) at Georgetown University is also included as a part of the report. 

This is the twenty-second such report since 2002 when the U.S. bishops established and adopted the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, a comprehensive framework of procedures to address allegations of sexual abuse of minors by Catholic clergy and establish protocols to protect children and young people.

The 2024 report covers July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024. During that period, 902 allegations were reported by 855 victims-survivors of child sexual abuse by clergy throughout 195 Catholic dioceses and eparchies that reported information. This is a decrease of 406 allegations reported in the previous audit year. Out of the 902 allegations, a total of 548, or 61%, were brought to the attention of the diocesan/eparchial representatives through an attorney, making this the principal reporting method during the 2024 audit period. Allegations made by spouses, relatives, or other representatives such as other dioceses/eparchies, religious orders, clergy members, or law enforcement officials on behalf of the victim-survivor were additional methods of reporting, totaling 118 allegations. The remaining 236 allegations were made by self-disclosure.

During the current audit period, dioceses and eparchies provided outreach and support services to 146 victim-survivors and their families who reported during this audit period. Continued support was provided to 1,434 victim-survivors and their families who reported abuse in prior audit periods. The report notes the ongoing work of the Catholic Church in continuing the call to ensure the safety of children and vulnerable adults. In 2024, the Church conducted 2,237,906 background checks on clergy, employees, and volunteers. In addition, in 2024, over 2.2 million adults and over 2.8 million children and youth were trained in how to identify the warning signs of abuse and how to report those signs.

For the 2024 audit year, 195 of 196 dioceses/eparchies fully participated in the 2024 data collection process and one diocese did not participate. StoneBridge physically visited 48 dioceses/eparchies and utilized remote technologies to perform 22 additional remote visits to dioceses and eparchies, for a total of 70 on-site audit visits and collected data from an additional 125 others. Of the 70 dioceses/eparchies that participated in the on-site audits that took place between February and December 2024, there were four findings of non-compliance with certain aspects of the Charter involving two locations. Compliance with the Charter was determined based on implementation efforts from the date of the last audit visit through 2024. 

CARA completed their data collection for the 2024 annual survey in January 2025. All but two of the 196 dioceses and eparchies of the USCCB completed the survey, for a response rate of 99%. The findings indicate that among 97 alleged perpetrators that were classified, more than four-fifths of the alleged offenders identified between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024, are deceased, already removed from ministry, already laicized, or missing (84%). Another 11 priests or deacons identified during fiscal year 2024 were permanently removed from ministry during that time (11%). Four alleged offenders were temporarily removed from ministry pending investigation of the allegations (4%). One alleged offender remained in active ministry during that fiscal year pending the investigation (1%).

For the 2024 audit period, there are four findings of non-compliance with certain articles of the Charter involving one eparchy and one diocese. The Diocese of Our Lady of Deliverance Syriac Catholic Church in the USA was found to be non-compliant with Article 12 of the Charter due to the absence of a safe environment training program for minors, in addition to, failure to provide safe environment training to the majority of their volunteers. They were also found non-compliant with Article 13 of the Charter for not completing background checks for the majority of their volunteers. The Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown was found non-compliant with Article 2 of the Charter due to not having a functioning Review Board throughout their audit period. The Diocese of St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands did not participate in either the on-site audit or data collection process, thus no information on this location could be included in this report.

The USCCB’s Committee on the Protection of Children and Young People and the National Review Board continue to emphasize that the audit and continued application of zero-tolerance policies are two important tools in the Catholic Church’s broader commitment to create a culture of protection and healing that exceeds the requirements of the Charter. 

This most recent annual report, and all previously published annual reports, may be found on the USCCB website: https://www.usccb.org/offices/child-and-youth-protection/audits. Additional information on diocesan requirements for the protection of children and young people may be found here. 

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VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors hopes to deliver a "Universal Guidelines Framework for Safeguarding" to Pope Leo XIV later this year, the commission said.

The guidelines "seek to inspire a true conversion of heart in every leader and pastoral agent in the church, ensuring that safeguarding becomes not merely a requirement, but a reflection of the Gospel's call to protect the least among us," the commission said in a press release June 5 after its first meeting with Pope Leo XIV.

Also, "a new 'vademecum' on reparations, informed by the lived experiences of victims and survivors, is in development to guide local churches in responding with justice and compassion," it added.

The commission updated the pope about its work and "reiterated its commitment to the unity and collegiality of its members," the press release said. 

Some 23 members, including Cardinal Seán P. O'Malley, commission president and retired archbishop of Boston, attended the hour-long audience at the Vatican. Bishop Luis Manuel Alí Herrera, the commission's secretary, and Teresa Kettelkamp, adjunct secretary of the commission, were also present.

"A letter signed by all members following the March 2025 plenary assembly underscored the need for continuity in our mandate, governance and working methods -- affirming the commission's independence and its role as a trusted advisor to the Holy Father," the commission press release said. Pope Francis established the commission in 2014 to advise the pope "in the development and promotion of universal safeguarding standards, and to accompany the church in building a culture of accountability, justice and compassion."

Members also informed Pope Leo about the commission's annual report, "a cornerstone of its mandate" that is "designed to evaluate the safeguarding capacity of local churches, offering practical recommendations grounded in the lived realities of each region," it said.

This year's annual report will explore "conversional justice through the lens of reparations. This includes a comprehensive pastoral-theological study and the collection of data on current reparations practices across the universal church," it said. 

The report expanded the input from its victim/survivor focus group "with direct contributions from survivors across all four commission regions. Country-level church data is also drawn from the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child's review process -- answering the growing call for greater transparency through external data," it added.

The new report will look at the church's safeguarding efforts in 22 countries and two religious congregations, and it will include "an institutional review of the Dicastery for Evangelization" as well as initial findings from a review of the Focolare Movement, it said.

"Our hope is to present the finalized universal guidelines framework to the Holy Father later this year," it said. The guidelines were developed over the past two years in close collaboration with "church leaders, safeguarding professionals, survivors of abuse and pastoral workers from across the globe," it added.

The draft framework, it said, "has been tested and refined through pilot programs in Tonga, Poland, Zimbabwe and Costa Rica," providing "invaluable insights into the practical, cultural, and theological dimensions of safeguarding."

The commission expressed its gratitude to the dicasteries of the Roman Curia "for their increasing collaboration, and we invite continued partnership in this vital ministry."

"We reaffirm our commitment to listening, walking with victims and survivors, and supporting every church community in their efforts to safeguard all of God's people with compassion," it said.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- With their specific forms of prayer, outreach or emphasis both the long-established groups of Catholic laypeople as well as the newer movements and communities are called to contribute to the unity and mission of the church, Pope Leo XIV said.

"Unity and mission are two essential aspects of the church's life and two priorities of the Petrine ministry," the pope said. "For this reason, I ask all ecclesial associations and movements to cooperate faithfully and generously with the pope, above all in these two areas."

The pope met June 6 with about 250 leaders of 115 international associations of the faithful, ecclesial movements and new communities recognized and supported by the Dicastery for Laity, the Family and Life. The groups included, for example, the Legion of Mary, the Neocatechumenal Way, Communion and Liberation, a variety of charismatic communities and various Catholic scouting groups. 

"Some were founded to carry out a common apostolic, charitable or liturgical project, or to support Christian witness in specific social settings," Pope Leo noted. "Others, however, originated with a charismatic inspiration, an initial charism that gave rise to a movement, a new form of spirituality and of evangelization."

All the groups, though, aim to help their members live the Christian life more deeply in service to God, to the church and to their brothers and sisters, he said.

"The desire to work together for a common purpose reflects an essential reality: no one is Christian alone," the pope told the leaders. "We are part of a people, a body established by the Lord." 

"The Christian life is not lived in isolation, as a kind of intellectual or sentimental experience, confined to the mind and the heart," he said. "It is lived with others, in a group and in community, because the risen Christ is present wherever disciples gather in his name."

But within the church, the pope said, those groups cannot live in isolation either.

"Seek to spread everywhere this unity that you yourselves experience in your groups and communities, always in communion with the church's pastors and in solidarity with other ecclesial realities," Pope Leo said.

"Draw close to all those whom you meet, so that your charisms may ever be at the service of the unity of the church, and be 'a leaven of unity, communion and fraternity' in our world, so torn by discord and violence," he said, quoting from his homily May 18 at the Mass inaugurating his papacy. 

The outward focus of the groups is also essential, he said, since the church is called to be missionary, sharing the love of God with the world.

"The church's mission has been an important part of my own pastoral experience and has shaped my spiritual life," said the pope, who spent decades as a missionary priest and bishop in Peru.

"You too have experienced this spiritual journey," he said. "Your encounter with the Lord and the new life that filled your hearts gave rise to your desire to make him known to others."

"Place your talents at the service of the church's mission, whether in places of first evangelization or in your parishes and local ecclesial communities, in order to reach those who, albeit distant, are often waiting, without being aware of it, to hear God's word of life," Pope Leo told the groups.