Renewed dialogue toward a peaceful resolution to war in Iran and in Ukraine remained the call of Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin.
Peace remains elusive in these and other zones of conflict including in Gaza, where civilians continue to be killed nine months into a ceasefire with Israel and the humanitarian crisis in the enclave continues.
The legacy of war in Southeast Asia more than 50 years ago continues to haunt Laos, which was the most heavily bombed country in the world. Millions of unexploded munitions from more than 2 million bombs dropped by the United States still threaten daily life for Laotians.
Forgiveness, Rebirth of the Church in Ukraine
In Ukraine, which is marking 35 years since the rebirth of the Latin Rite Catholic Church, forgiveness and healing the historical memory of European people was the focus of an interview with His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk, head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.
Diversity of Church in Asia Focus of Assembly
More than 120 Catholic bishops in Asia are gathering for a synodal assembly to pray and reflect on the Church’s mission across the continent.
The cardinal archbishop of Tokyo explained that the Church in Asia “exists in the diverse realities of culture, language, politics and economy, but one thing is common among most of us: we are an absolute minority in society, except in the Philippines.”
Bishop Joseph Chang Yanfeng, appointed by Pope Leo XIV last month to lead the Province of Inner Mongolia in China, was ordained a bishop July 22. The pope approved the bishop’s candidacy under the terms of the Provisional Agreement between the Holy See and the People’s Republic of China.
Villanova U Sets New Award for Green Sustainability Named for Pope Leo
Villanova University and its Office for Sustainability have established the Pope Leo XIV Sustainability Medal, a new international honor recognizing individuals whose leadership has advanced sustainability, ecological responsibility, and integral human development.
Pope Leo will award the medal himself at Castel Gandolfo during the Villanova International Sustainability Conference in October.
Don’t Forget the Needy in Summertime, Pope Urges
Pope Leo made unexpected visits this week to a shrine to the Holy Trinity and two monasteries in Italian towns near his summer retreat at Castel Gandolfo. He also urged the faithful in a letter not to forget people most in need during summertime.
In a letter to the Major Conference of Superiors of Men in the United States, the Holy Father praised religious community life as a place of sanctification.
Immigration Enforcement Must Reject Dehumanization, Racial Profiling, US Bishops Say
In a new statement, the Catholic bishops of the U.S. called for immigration enforcement that respects the God-given dignity of every person and rejecting the dehumanization of immigrants as well as racial profiling.
Such immigration profiling “not only violates God-given dignity, but also inflicts profound harm on individuals, families, and communities by fostering fear, eroding trust, and increasing the risk of unjust and even tragic outcomes,” said Bishops Daniel E. Garcia and Brendan J. Cahill in the statement.
Florida Bishops Appeal for Stay of Two Executions
The Catholic bishops of Florida petitioned Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to call off two executions set for July 28, stressing that their crimes “are gravely evil” yet “it is possible both to uphold justice and to exercise mercy.”
Half-Billion People Went Hungry Last Year; Iran War Threatens More
According to a new United Nations report, 645 million people around the world faced hunger in 2025. Food security has improved since 2022, but disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for energy and agriculture, are among the greatest concerns because they drive up prices for fuel, fertilizers and transportation, increasing food production costs worldwide.
Reconstruction from Earthquakes in Venezuela Begins; School Set to Reopen
Following severe earthquakes that left more than 5,000 people dead and thousands displaced, Venezuelan bishops appealed for reconstruction efforts free from negligence and corruption.
Meanwhile, religious sisters in the capital of Caracas are hard at work to reopen their school in September. They plan to teach in double-shifts: in the morning, up to 600 enrolled students of the school, and in the afternoon, students of other schools destroyed by the quakes.
Pope Leo: God’s Kingdom Grows Via Love, not Force
Pope Leo XIV said in his weekly Angelus address that the Kingdom of God grows quietly through humility, patience and love, not force.
The Holy Father urged Christians to reject the temptation to seek spectacular displays of God’s power, reminding the faithful that the Kingdom of God grows like a tiny seed or a little yeast working unseen.
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