Edition of Sunday, September 20

Pope Leo XIV sent a letter to the bishops of Latin America and the Caribbean to mark the 300th anniversary of the canonization of their patron, Saint Toribio of Mogrovejo.

In the letter, the Pope reflects on episcopal ministry by looking at the rite used to welcome a bishop into his cathedral church. He warns bishops against the danger of abandoning their flock and encourages them to nurture their spiritual lives through the Eucharist and prayer. He also urges them to imitate the examples of the saints of the region.

Vatican News reports that the Pope described the service of a bishop as having a heart in heaven and feet on the road, emphasizing that ministry must be rooted in closeness to the people, faithfulness to the cross, and unity within the Church.

Pope Leo XIV has approved the start of a diocesan investigation into the life, virtues, and reputation for holiness of Luigi Di Liegro. The announcement was made during a diocesan assembly at the Basilica of Saint John Lateran.

Di Liegro, who died in 1997, was a priest in the Diocese of Rome and the founder of Caritas Rome. He dedicated his ministry to supporting marginalized people, including migrants, the homeless, and those living with AIDS.

Bishop Guerino Di Tora, an auxiliary bishop emeritus of Rome who succeeded Di Liegro as director of Caritas Rome in 1997, said the start of the beatification and canonization process is a great joy for the Caritas community. Di Tora described Di Liegro as a man who taught others to get their hands dirty through his dedication to those in society's peripheries.

The Mexican Bishops' Conference is demanding a thorough investigation after Father Román de la Cruz Hernández was shot to death in the state of Hidalgo. The 48-year-old priest, who served as the pastor of Santa Cruz in the Diocese of Huejutla, was found dead on September 15 along the Tolago-Tetlapaya highway in the Lolotla district.

Police discovered Father Román's body with several gunshot wounds near a burgundy Toyota Tacoma pick-up truck with Baja California license plates. Authorities also found a cardboard sign containing what appeared to be an intimidating message, though the contents have not been released. While a motive has not been established, reports indicate the Huejutla region is an area where criminal organizations operate and compete over fuel trafficking routes.

In a statement, the Mexican Bishops' Conference expressed sadness and indignation, calling for authorities to clarify the circumstances of the murder. Bishop Ramón Castro Castro, President of the conference, and Auxiliary Bishop Héctor M. Pérez Villarreal signed the appeal for justice. Bishop José Hiraís Acosta Beltrán of Huejutla also urged officials to ensure the crime does not go unpunished. The Attorney General’s Office has reportedly begun an investigation.

Professor Francesca Romana Stasolla presented the first volume of a book regarding archaeological excavations at the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem on September 17 at La Sapienza University in Rome.

Stasolla, a professor of Christian and medieval history who leads the research, told Vatican News that the project works in close cooperation with local communities to reconstruct a shared history.

Three Vatican dicasteries cited a 2006 speech by Benedict XVI in a note celebrating the 60th anniversary of the declaration Nostra aetate. The note references the speech in its 24th section but does not explicitly name the Regensburg location or include the specific phrase that caused international controversy with the Islamic world in 2006.

The document uses the official title of the event, "Speech on the occasion of the meeting with representatives of the scientific world," in its critical apparatus. The text states that in a well-known speech, the former pope argued that spreading faith through violence is irrational and contradicts the nature of God and the soul. The note uses this reference to suggest that persistent interreligious dialogue demonstrates that fundamentalism is a falsification of religion.

Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu presided over a Mass on September 19 to mark 125 years of the Catholic Church in Malawi. The jubilee celebration took place at St. Mary’s Dzama Parish in the Diocese of Dedza, which is the country's first Catholic parish.

Nwachukwu, who serves as the Secretary of the Holy See's Dicastery for Evangelisation and acted as the special delegate for the event, honored the missionaries who established the faith in the nation. He specifically recognized the Missionaries of Africa and the Missionaries of the Company of Mary as pioneers of evangelization.

The Archbishop described the missionaries as heroes of the faith, noting that many died in their 20s and 30s after leaving their homes and families to serve in Malawi. He expressed gratitude to these individuals and others who helped build the Church and share the Gospel.

More than 400 representatives from over 100 countries completed a four-day international preparatory meeting for World Youth Day 2027 in Seoul, South Korea. The meeting, which concluded on September 17, provided delegates with practical guidance, tools, and contacts to begin preparing young pilgrims for the event.

The gathering was organized by the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life in coordination with the local organizing committee. Participants included representatives from more than 160 dioceses, religious orders, and Church movements.

During a Mass at Myeongdong Cathedral on September 16, Archbishop Peter Soon-taick Chung of the Archdiocese of Seoul encouraged delegates to look beyond simple registration lists. He stated that inviting a young person to the event should be a call to encounter Christ rather than just adding a name to a list. Archbishop Chung noted that while today's youth face uncertainty and competition, they continue to seek hope.

The Lourdes sanctuary has fully covered the mosaics created by Father Marko Rupnik on the facade of the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary. Sanctuary spokesperson David Torchala said the coverings were installed by September 18 and will remain in place after Pope Leo XIV visits the shrine on September 26 and 27. Torchala described the move as a long-term measure while officials continue to consult with the bishop and a committee established in 2024 to find a permanent solution.

Bishop Jean-Marc Micas of Tarbes and Lourdes previously ordered a partial covering of the artwork in March 2025. The bishop stated that concern for abuse survivors guided the decision, noting that some victims felt the mosaics created a barrier to seeking healing at the sanctuary. Father Rupnik, a former Jesuit artist, faces accusations of spiritual and sexual abuse from more than 20 women and is currently the subject of a canonical trial.

The mosaics were commissioned in 2008 to mark the 150th anniversary of the apparitions at Lourdes and depict the luminous mysteries of the rosary. Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to arrive in Lourdes on the evening of September 26 and will concelebrate Mass on September 27 on the meadow facing the grotto.

Pope Leo XIV led the Angelus prayer for thousands of pilgrims and faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square on Sunday, September 20.

During his address before the prayer, the Pope spoke about the 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time. He noted that the prophet Isaiah offers hope by stating that God's thoughts and ways differ from human ones. He described God's plans as much larger and more human than those conceived by people. He encouraged listeners to leave crooked paths and return to the Lord, whom he described as mercy and forgiveness.

Commenting on the Gospel, the Pope said the parables of Jesus show the novelty of what God has prepared for people. He noted that these stories often reveal a human tendency to resist more generous justice and greater love. He specifically referenced the parable of the workers in the vineyard to illustrate these points.