- Synod, October 3: Working groups discuss 'Foundations'; 'nothing new,' says Cardinal Hollerich (CWN)
On October 3—the second day of the second and final session of the synod on synodality—356 out of the 365 participants gathered in Paul VI Audience Hall to discuss “Foundations,” a section of the session’s instrumentum laboris, or working document (synod agenda). - Maronite bishops deplore Israel's attacks in Lebanon (Fides)
The bishops of the Maronite Catholic Church (CNEWA profile) have decried “the prolonged Israeli aggression” against Lebanon, “which has caused hundreds of martyrs and victims.”The bishops expressed “their pain in the face of the horror of the disaster that has hit Lebanon, from the coast to the mountains, with destruction that has often affected innocent civilians.” Israel recently began a ground operation in Lebanon, as part of the Israel–Hezbollah conflict. Recent Israeli airstrikes on predominantly Christian villages have claimed the life of an Orthodox priest. - Cardinal Grech: Every Catholic is invited to weigh in on synod study groups' deliberations (CWN)
The Vatican newspaper has reported that Cardinal Mario Grech, the Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops, said that every group in the Church—and every individual Catholic—may offer “contributions, observations and proposals” to the ten synod study groups created by Pope Francis in February. - Pope, in book preface, discusses his life of prayer (Vatican News)
Pope Francis discusses his life of prayer in his preface to Come Gesù ci ha insegnato: La preghiera dei pellegrini di speranza [As Jesus Taught Us: The Prayer of Pilgrims of Hope], a forthcoming collection of his writings on prayer, some previously unpublished.“Even as Pope, nothing has changed: I pray as I always have, with the same rhythm,” the Pope wrote in his preface. “Sometimes I say vocal prayers, sometimes before the Blessed Sacrament, I endure moments of dryness. My prayer continues through beautiful things and not-so-beautiful things. Sometimes I think I need to pray more, that’s true. There’s no time, but I need to pray more.”“I always stick to the Liturgy of the Hours; I never abandon it: in the afternoon, Vespers; later, the Office of Readings; in the morning, Lauds; and then Mass,” he continued. “And then there’s mental prayer, the prayer of meditation; when I have a little time, I try to have a conversation and ask the Lord something, but I fear He might respond.”The Pope also discussed his praying of the Our Father (“the great prayer”) and his prayers to the Blessed Virgin Mary (“I also have great trust in the Madonna; I always pray the Rosary”).“If the Church doesn’t support you with prayer, you’re done,” the Pope mused. “The community must support its bishop, and the bishop must pray for the community.” - Synod, October 2: Pope defends inclusion of non-bishops; Cardinal Fernández: 'no' to women deacons (CWN)
The second and final session of the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops opened on October 2 with Mass in St. Peter’s Square (video). - USCCB president calls for 'fervent prayer' for peace in Holy Land, return of hostages (USCCB)
The president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has asked his brother bishops to invite the faithful of their dioceses “to join the Christians of the Holy Land, together with the Holy Father, Pope Francis” on October 7 “in fervent prayer for an end to the violence in the Holy Land, for the safe and prompt return of all hostages, and for the conversion of hearts so that hatred may be overcome, opening a pathway to reconciliation and peace.”Archbishop Timothy Broglio wrote that October 7 “will mark the first anniversary of the horrific attack by Hamas on Israel in which some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed ... the deadliest for the Jewish people since the Holocaust.”He added that “in the ensuing war against Hamas in Gaza, over 40,000 people, the majority of whom are civilians, are estimated to have been killed. In the West Bank, attacks on civilian Palestinians have also increased ... And in recent days, along the Israeli-Lebanese border, the conflict between Hezbollah and Israel has tragically intensified to armed conflict.”Noting the rise of anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim incidents, Archbishop Broglio stated that “compassion is not a zero-sum game,” adding: As this anniversary approaches, in a time of anguish and trauma, let us seek ways to express our solidarity with our Jewish and Muslim brothers and sisters. Let us also commit ourselves to combat all forms of hatred directed towards Jews and Muslims, and to work for a lasting peace in the land of the Lord Jesus’ birth. - The environment is a 'gift from heaven,' Pope tweets (@Pontifex)
“The environment in which we live is a gift from heaven,” Pope Francis tweeted on October 3. “Amid the trials of history and life, it reminds us of the beauty of our earthly dwelling. It must be safeguarded from the greed of money and speculation, which jeopardizes our future. #SeasonOfCreation”The Season of Creation, an ecumenical initiative, begins on September 1—the World Day of Prayer for Creation in the Orthodox churches (since 1989) and the Catholic Church (since 2015)—and concludes on October 4, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. In 2019, the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development and Pope Francis lent their support to observance of the season. - 'Share the meaning, hope, and joy of faith with everyone,' Pope tells German Catholics, Lutherans (Vatican Press Office)
Pope Francis received German Catholic and Lutheran pilgrims on October 2 and encouraged them to “share the meaning, hope, and joy of faith with everyone.”“All the richness of our faith is a gift, a gift from God that we receive not only for ourselves, but always for others too, for the people around us, including those who seem to be far from faith, who have not yet heard talk of Christ, or who think He has nothing important to say to us,” the Pope told the pilgrims from the Catholic Diocese of Dresden-Meissen and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Saxony.“It seems to me that the life of many people today is lacking in the meaning, hope and joy that the world cannot give,” he continued. “Therefore, I urge you to share the meaning, hope and joy of faith with everyone, with confidence and humility.”The Pontiff also paid tribute to the Dresden Boys’ Choir.“Art in general, but music in particular, is a language that is understood by all and is able to challenge, inspire and uplift people,” the Pope said. “This is why we have this rich symbolism in churches, which makes the unsayable tangible and concrete: candles, incense, art and music!” - Pope venerates Chair of St. Peter (L'Osservatore Romano (Italian))
Prior to the opening Mass of the October 2024 session of the Synod of Bishops, Pope Francis venerated the Chair of St. Peter, a key symbol of papal authority.The Chair, a gift of the 9th-century Carolingian emperor Charles the Bald, is usually located in the apse of St. Peter’s Basilica. It is now, however, undergoing restoration work, and the Pope venerated it in the basilica’s Ottoboni sacristy. - USCCB committee chairman thanks Biden administration, Congress for welcoming refugees (USCCB)
Bishop Mark Seitz of El Paso, Texas, the chairman of the US bishops’ Committee on Migration, expressed gratitude for the resettlement of 100,000 refugees in the United States in the 2024 fiscal year, which concluded on September 30—the highest number since 1994.“Resettling 100,000 refugees is a significant achievement, given the all-time low number seen in 2021 and some of the challenges facing American communities at this time, including a nationwide shortage of affordable housing,” he said. “We appreciate the efforts undertaken by the Biden Administration in recent years to reassert and grow our nation’s proud tradition of welcoming refugees. This would not be possible without the bipartisan support of Congress.” - Courageous dialogue needed to overcome hatred, war, Pope writes in book foreword (Vatican News)
In a foreword to a new book by Andrea Riccardi, Pope Francis said that each religious leader “is called to be an artisan of peace, uniting and not dividing, extinguishing hatred and not preserving it, opening paths for dialogue and not erecting new walls!”Riccardi founded the Community of Sant’Egidio in 1968; the Vatican recognized it as an international lay association in 1986. Since 1987, the Community has continued the tradition of interreligious dialogue for peace begun by Pope St. John Paul II at Assisi in 1986.Riccardi’s new book, Le parole della pace: 1987-2023 [Words of Peace: 1987-2023], compiles Riccardi’s speeches at these annual gatherings.“There is a need for open, frank, and constant dialogue” among religious leaders, the Pope added in his foreword. “In the path undertaken in the Spirit of Assisi, with the impetus of the Community of Sant’Egidio, prayer has always been a central dimension. We indeed believe in the humble and gentle strength of prayer.” - Vatican bank employees fired for marrying; appeal underway (Crux)
The Institute for Religious Works (IOR), commonly known as the Vatican bank, has dismissed two employees who married in violation of a new IOR anti-nepotism rule. The couple immediately appealed the decision. Laura Sgro, a lawyer for the couple (who have been identified as “Romeo and Juliet” in Italian newspaper accounts), said that the firing of the couple is “null, illegitimate and gravely damaging to the fundamental rights of persons and workers.” When the IOR announced new rules that barred married couples from working together on its staff—a rule that brought the IOR into conformity with other banking institutions—“Romeo and Juliet” announced plans to marry before the rule took effect. They appealed to Pope Francis for a dispensation from the rule, but received no reply, Sgro says. The couple—who already had three children—were dismissed on October 1. - Vatican's expulsion of members of scandal-plagued group shocks Peru (Our Sunday Visitor)
A retired archbishop and a lay media figure were among the members expelled from the Sodality of Christian Life (SCV), a troubled Peruvian group. The Archdiocese of Denver subsequently expressed surprise and disappointment at the Vatican’s disciplinary action. - Pope calls for fasting, prayer on October 7 (Vatican News)
Pope Francis has issued a call for a special day of fasting and prayer on October 7, urging the faithful to unite in prayer for peace. The Pope made his appeal on October 2 as concluded his homily at the Mass opening the Synod on Synodality. [See today’s separate CWN headline.] He said that he would recite the Rosary “to invoke the intercession of Mary Most Holy for the gift of peace,” on the previous day—Sunday, October 6—at the basilica of St. Mary Major, and asked Synod participants to join him in that prayer. October 7 is also the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, which is also celebrated as the feast of Our Lady of Victory, in memory of the miraculous defeat of an aggressive Islamic force at the battle of Lepanto on that date in 1571. - Abuse scandal in spotlight as Pope visits Belgium (CWN)
The lingering damage of the sex-abuse scandal was painfully evident as Pope Francis spoke with civil leaders in Belgium on September 27, the first full day of his visit there.