Catholic news today

Cardinal Ernest Simoni said in an interview with EWTN News In Depth that his faith sustained him after he received a death sentence from the communist government of Albania. In 1963, the government sentenced Simoni to death for celebrating a Mass for the soul of the late U.S. President John F. Kennedy.

Simoni stated that his death sentence was eventually commuted to forced labor. During his imprisonment, he experienced torture and was forced to march for 16 hours without food or water. He continued to celebrate Mass in secret despite the risk of being hanged if discovered by the authorities. After the Party of Labor of Albania dissolved in 1991, Simoni was released from manual labor and state surveillance.

Pope Francis named Simoni a cardinal in 2016, describing him as a living martyr. Simoni now travels to share his experiences and the Gospel.

The Catholic Church celebrates the Solemnity of All Saints on November 1, 2026.

Father Agustin Opalalic noted that the feast day highlights the communion of saints, a reality expressed in the Creed. This communion includes all faithful belonging to Christ and consists of the Church on earth, the Church in purgatory, and the Church in heaven. This spiritual union is founded in Jesus Christ.

The celebration also encompasses the canonized saints who receive veneration within the Church.

The Rev. Pete McCormick, chaplain for the University of Notre Dame, and the Rev. Rob Hagan, chaplain for Villanova University, will observe a college basketball season-opener in Rome this Sunday.

McCormick, who is known for leading postgame masses during Notre Dame football games, described the upcoming matchup against Villanova as an opportunity to combine his clerical duties with his interest in basketball. The game takes place in Italy.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops expressed gratitude for pregnancy resource centers in a statement released Oct. 27. The bishops are marking Pregnancy Help Appreciation Week, which is scheduled for Nov. 9–13.

Bishop Daniel Thomas, chair of the Committee on Pro-Life Activities, said the centers, maternity homes, and adoption agencies provide services to women, babies, and families. He noted that many centers offer free medical services such as ultrasounds, prenatal and postnatal care, and referrals for childbirth. These organizations also provide material goods like diapers and clothing, as well as childcare, career services, and housing referrals.

Pregnancy Help Appreciation Week was established by Heartbeat International, a network of pregnancy centers. According to a November report from the Charlotte Lozier Institute, pro-life pregnancy resource centers provided more than $452 million in medical care, education, and material support to women in crisis pregnancies and mothers with young children in 2024. The bishops' statement noted there are approximately 2,750 such centers.

St John Vianney Major Seminary in the Archdiocese of Pretoria held a farewell for three formators and 11 final-year theology seminarians.

Bishop Roberto Gaa attributed the decrease in priestly and religious vocations to a decline in family prayer. Speaking at the Manila Cathedral on Oct. 31, 2026, the Bishop of Novaliches said that families must create a culture of prayer to help children listen to God and discern their callings. He noted that less frequent family prayer results in fewer discovered vocations and encouraged parents to establish steadfast prayer habits with children from an early age.

The Mass presided over by Gaa opened the 3rd National Vocations Month. Gaa serves as the chairman of the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Vocations. The gathering included seminarians, consecrated persons, and vocation directors from various dioceses.

Participants held a Walk for Vocations through Intramuros to promote awareness of religious and priestly life. National Vocations Month is observed every November.

Bishop James T. Schuerman noted that the upcoming liturgical celebrations of All Saints Day on Nov. 1 and All Souls Day on Nov. 2 serve as reminders of the communion between the living and the dead.

The Mass readings through the end of the liturgical year will focus on the last things, including death, resurrection, the Second Coming of Christ, the final judgment, and eternal life. On All Saints Day, the Church honors holy people who serve as examples and intercessors. On All Souls Day, the faithful pray for those who have died, asking God to bring them into the heavenly kingdom.

Pope Leo XIV met with representatives from municipalities in central Italy on Saturday to urge a renewed effort to rebuild areas affected by a series of earthquakes ten years ago.

During the audience at the Vatican, the Pope encouraged the delegates to pursue a reconstruction process that is unified and forward-looking. He noted the hundreds of victims and the extensive destruction that continues to affect these communities.

The Pope stated that all efforts should be directed toward completing physical reconstruction as quickly, safely, and transparently as possible. He called for the residents of these regions to rely on shared responsibility and long-term vision for the common good.

Pope Leo XIV appointed Father Martial Bernard as the new bishop of the Diocese of Soissons in northeastern France on Saturday, October 31, 2026. Bernard previously served as vicar general for the Diocese of Évry-Corbeil-Essonnes.

Father Edward Kolla described a child's definition of sainthood during a tour of Saint Mary Church in Gloucester City. While viewing 19th-century stained-glass windows depicting apostles and doctors of the Church, a student defined a saint as a person through whom light shines.

Father Kolla noted that the sunlight passing through the windows serves as a symbol for the light of Christ animating the minds and hearts of the saints.

Bishop Crispin Varquez of Tagbilaran urged Catholic families to pray the Rosary together and attend Sunday Mass to strengthen household bonds. During a homily on Oct. 31 at the patronal fiesta of Holy Rosary Parish in Antequera, Bohol, the bishop said excessive use of electronic devices by both parents and children is eroding family unity.

Varquez noted that family prayer is becoming less frequent because people spend more time on gadgets than on shared religious activities. He encouraged parents to set aside time to gather their children for prayer, stating that these practices help preserve love and unity within the home. The celebration also marked the conclusion of the Month of the Holy Rosary.

Archbishop Victor Bendico of Capiz issued a pastoral letter for All Saints’ Day on Nov. 1, advising families to teach children to embrace holiness rather than glorify evil. He cautioned against Halloween activities that portray Satan or occult practices, noting that such celebrations can influence the values and habits of children and the community.

While acknowledging that many Halloween activities are innocent recreation, the archbishop warned that some celebrations may obscure the Christian meaning of the solemnity. He encouraged parishes, Catholic schools, and religious communities to organize a Parade of Saints instead. This allows children to portray holy men and women and share their stories.

Bendico stated that these celebrations should include prayer, catechesis, and family participation. He noted that the purpose of such events is not to replace one costume party with another, but to teach children that they are called to become saints.

Word on Fire has published a list of 22 films about the lives of saints to serve as inspiration for viewers. The collection includes various biographical depictions of canonized figures.

The list features the 2024 film Cabrini, which depicts the life of St. Frances Cabrini and her work in nineteenth-century New York. It also includes Triumph of the Heart, a 2025 film written and directed by Anthony D’Ambrosio that portrays the martyrdom of St. Maximilian Kolbe. Additionally, the list highlights the 2007 film St. Giuseppe Moscati: Doctor to the Poor, which follows the life of the physician who died in 1927 and dedicated his practice to the sick and the poor.

Henry T. Edmondson III writes that the writings of the Inklings, a group of writers based at Oxford University during the first half of the twentieth century, offer principles regarding spiritual warfare.

In an article for Word on Fire, Edmondson notes that while the group did not provide systematic teaching on the subject, their prose and fiction help explain and defend the Christian life. He suggests that revisiting their publications at the end of October provides an opportunity to examine their perspectives on spiritual malevolence. Edmondson observes that the tensions between the various members' contributions can also be instructive for understanding these themes.

EWTN Studios is releasing a three-part documentary series titled In Jesus’ Name to examine the Catholic Church's rite of exorcism. The series features theologians, exorcists, and individuals who have experienced demonic oppression.

The program intends to provide an accurate view of how exorcisms are conducted and why the Church established the rite. According to Peter Gagnon, president of EWTN Studios, the series seeks to demystify the practice and show how the Church responds to evil with authority and compassion.

Viewers will see how evil operates and how it enters human lives, alongside biblical teachings on spiritual warfare. The series also offers guidance for the faithful on matters to avoid for spiritual safety.

Cardinal Gerald Cyprien Lacroix reported that the Church in Quebec has shown signs of growth over the past two years.

The Salesian Cooperators, a Catholic association dedicated to evangelizing young people, is celebrating its 150th anniversary. The association's 90 Canadian members are using the milestone to plan for the future of their work.

Scholars and acquaintances of St. John Paul II mark the 80th anniversary of his priestly ordination by noting his example of combining deep prayer with the accompaniment of others.