Edition of Saturday, September 19

Pope Leo XIV has called for a shared pastoral evaluation process within the Diocese of Rome to help the Church focus on quality over quantity. Speaking at the opening of the new pastoral year on September 18 at the Basilica of Saint John Lateran, the Pope told representatives from all 134 Roman parishes that the goal is to do less, but better.

The Pope described this method as pastoral discernment, which involves seeking the truth and assessing whether current activities have drifted from the mission to facilitate encounters with Christ. He noted that while many parish communities, associations, and movements work in evangelization and charity, the multiplication of activities can sometimes cause the evangelical meaning of their work to be lost.

The evaluation process is intended to focus on encounters with Christ, community, and service to the city. Pope Leo XIV stated that this process does not require more work, but rather aims to improve the quality of existing efforts.

Pope Leo XIV presided over the Rome Diocesan Assembly at St. John Lateran Basilica on Friday, September 18, to officially open the new pastoral year. During the meeting, the Pope announced his approval of a diocesan inquiry into the life, virtues, and reputation for holiness of Luigi Di Liegro, the founder and first director of Caritas Roma.

Addressing the assembly, the Pope encouraged priests to avoid centralizing all parish responsibilities and instead promote the shared responsibility of laypeople. He introduced a method called "pastoral verification," which asks communities to systematically evaluate their activities to see what has been fruitful and why certain people remain on the margins. He instructed the diocese to focus less on "what" to do and more on "whom" to find, emphasizing that pastoral work must begin with an encounter with people.

Cardinal Baldassare Reina, the Vicar General for the Diocese of Rome, welcomed the Pope and noted that the assembly included representatives from parish communities and various participation organizations. The Pope described the city of Rome not as an indifferent backdrop, but as a place of mission to be inhabited and served.

Pope Leo XIV met with members of the Leo XIV International Study Center on September 18, 2026, to encourage the center to help build a civilization of love. The center, which bears the pope's name, was established in December 2025 as an initiative of the Augustinian Order.

Based in the Santo Spirito monastery in Florence, the center focuses on research, training, and culture, specifically regarding international relations and public life. The pope encouraged the center to promote training in politics and public life as a way to serve the common good and build peace. He also urged the center to engage in dialogue with universities, academic institutions, public bodies, civil society organizations, and ecclesial networks.

The center collaborates with the Theological Faculty of Central Italy and the Augustinianum Pontifical Patristic Institute. The pope noted that the choice of Florence as a home for the center serves as an invitation to draw inspiration from humanism. He emphasized that critical thinking and the social doctrine of the Church are essential for building a civilization based on peace rather than war.

Pope Leo XIV will meet with 80,000 young people during a vigil at the Stade de France on Friday, September 25. The event, which includes music, testimonies, and prayer, sold out online within 30 minutes. Gates are scheduled to open at 17.30.

Faustine Fayette, the delegate for the Archbishop of Paris for the pastoral care of young adults, said the vigil is designed to speak to diverse groups, including committed Catholics, those on the margins of religious practice, and those searching. The program includes an invitation to dream big.

Father Philippe Néouze is coordinating the event alongside a team of educators, pastoral leaders, and youth. Following the vigil, participants will attend a Mass with the Pope at Place de la Concorde the next day. Local parishes and communities are organizing to welcome the arriving youth.

Rome conference marks 10th anniversary of Father Gabriele Amorth's death

A conference held Sept. 16 at the Basilica of St. Mary Queen of Apostles in Rome commemorated the 10th anniversary of the death of Father Gabriele Amorth. The event, titled “Father Gabriele Amorth: The Living Legacy for the Church and Our Time,” was organized by the International Association of Exorcists, the Society of St. Paul, and the magazine Famiglia Cristiana.

Speakers discussed Amorth's life as an exorcist, his spirituality, and his work against occultism. Father Francesco Bamonte, vice president of the International Association of Exorcists, reviewed the main stages of Amorth's ministry. He noted that Cardinal Ugo Poletti appointed the Pauline priest as an exorcist for the Diocese of Rome in 1985 after Amorth trained under Father Candido Amantini.

Other presenters included Father Marcello Lanza, an exorcist from the Diocese of Acerra, Father Aldo Buonaiuto, a coordinator for the Pope John XXIII Community, and Father Stefano Stimamiglio, director of Famiglia Cristiana. The participants described Amorth as a spiritual guide who focused on alleviating suffering and communicating the faith.

Pope Leo XIV received a delegation from Special Olympics at the Apostolic Palace on September 19, 2026. During the audience, the pope expressed his personal fondness for sports and noted their educational value.

The pope encouraged the group to live holy lives by following the example of Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati, whom he described as someone who translated sporting values into a holy life through his love for Jesus.