Edition of Friday, September 25

The High Court of Sri Lanka sentenced 15 men to prison terms ranging from 200 to 260 years on September 22 for their roles in the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings. The three-judge panel in Colombo also ordered the confiscation of the defendants' assets and property.

The convictions follow a trial lasting nearly five years involving more than 23,000 charges, including murder and conspiracy to commit terrorism. Among those convicted is Mohamed Naufar, an Islamist preacher identified by prosecutors as a ringleader, who received a 220-year sentence. The sentencing breakdown included one defendant receiving 260 years, four receiving 240 years, five receiving 220 years, and five receiving 200 years. Nine other defendants were acquitted due to insufficient evidence.

The April 21, 2019, attacks targeted three churches and three luxury hotels, killing between 267 and 279 people, including 45 foreigners. While the individuals who physically carried out the suicide bombings are deceased, the defendants were charged with planning or inspiring the attacks.

Father Jude Chrysantha Fernando, director of communications for the Archdiocese of Colombo, said the verdict moves the country toward truth and justice but noted that the process of healing is ongoing. He stated that the trial addressed the perpetrators and co-organizers, but further investigation is needed to determine if any individuals facilitated the massacre for political advantage.

President Donald Trump issued a message on Sept. 24 marking the beatification of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen in St. Louis. The president noted that Sheen is the first American-born bishop to be beatified by the Catholic Church.

In the message, Trump and Melania Trump joined those celebrating the legacy of the priest, whom he described as a pioneer in using media to preach the Gospel. Trump stated that Sheen's television programs attracted an estimated 30 million weekly viewers and converted thousands of people, including politicians, celebrities, and communist leaders, to the Catholic faith.

The president added that Sheen used his platform to strengthen the nation and that his legacy continues through his books, broadcast recordings, and the Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Museum in Illinois.

Bishop Robert E. Barron described Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen as a pivotal figure who opened the door to world evangelization during a homily on September 23. The remarks were made at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis during evening prayer held the day before the archbishop's beatification.

Bishop Barron, who serves the Diocese of Winona-Rochester, called the 20th-century theologian and communications pioneer his model and inspiration. He noted that Sheen was a key player in the modern history of the Church during a mid-20th-century Catholic renaissance that included figures such as Dorothy Day.

Archbishop Mitchell T. Rozanski of St. Louis presided over the vespers service, which was attended by hundreds of clergy and lay faithful. While the Diocese of Peoria originally introduced the cause for Sheen's canonization in 2002, organizers chose St. Louis as the site for the beatification to accommodate the large number of attendees.

The Church celebrates the feast of Our Lady of Mercy on September 24. This Marian devotion originated in 13th-century Barcelona and is closely linked to the Mercedari religious order.

According to tradition, the devotion began after a vision of the Virgin Mary appeared to Peter Nolasco, a merchant from Mas-Saintes-Puelles. The vision encouraged Nolasco to found a religious order dedicated to freeing Christians held in slavery. While the Spanish National Historical Archive recognizes August 10, 1218, as the conventional date for the order's foundation in Barcelona, Pope Gregory IX officially approved the order on January 17, 1235.

Bishop Pierre Goudreault presented the President’s Annual Report to the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops during the opening of their annual Plenary Assembly in Montreal on Sept. 21, 2026. The report reviewed the activities and achievements of the conference since the 2025 meeting.

Key developments highlighted in the report include the transfer of 62 cultural artifacts from the Vatican Museums to the National Indigenous Organizations and the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation. This gift from Pope Leo XIV is part of efforts toward healing and reconciliation between the Catholic Church and Indigenous Peoples. Other highlighted achievements include the continued implementation of synodality in Canada, the creation of a national Service for Migrant and Refugee Ministry, and efforts to increase engagement with the federal government.

During the assembly, the bishops also approved a letter to Pope Leo XIV. Signed by Bishop Goudreault on behalf of the attending bishops, the letter asks for the Pope's prayers as the conference discerns its pastoral priorities for the upcoming year.

Archbishop Adam Szal has called for prayer following a knife attack at the Benedictine abbey complex in Jarosław, which resulted in the death of Father Stanisław. The attack occurred around 9:30 a.m. on September 24 before a scheduled Mass at the Church of St. Nicholas and St. Stanislaus the Bishop.

The Archbishop of Przemyśl requested that priests in all archdiocesan parishes gather the faithful for prayer on Saturday, September 26. These gatherings may include the Rosary, adoration, or Mass. Szal asked for prayers for the deceased priest, his grieving family, the 4 injured people – 2 priests and 2 laypeople, including 1 woman – and the attacker's conversion. He also requested prayers for the residents of Jarosław and for peace and unity.

Police arrested a 31-year-old Ukrainian man on suspicion of carrying out the attack, though his motive has not been established. Polish President Karol Nawrocki expressed sadness over the priest's death and called for a thorough investigation by state authorities to ensure citizen safety.

Pope Leo XIV held a prayer vigil with approximately 80,000 young people at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis on September 25, 2026. The event, which marked the conclusion of the first day of his visit to France, brought together participants between the ages of 17 and 35 to discuss major questions facing their generation.

During the gathering, the pope engaged in a dialogue with the attendees. Chloë, a 25-year-old pharmacy student and member of the La Cité Céleste Catholic youth group in the Île-de-France region, asked how young people can balance their missionary zeal with authentic brotherhood toward those who do not share their faith. Pope Leo XIV thanked the group for their courage and faith, calling the attendees the saints of France.