Edition of Friday, October 30

Pope Leo XIV sent a telegram to Archbishop Francisco Cerro Chaves of Toledo to express condolences following a train collision near Urda, Spain. The telegram, signed by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, stated the pope was deeply saddened by the accident and offered prayers for the deceased.

The pontiff extended his condolences to the families of the victims and expressed wishes for the recovery of the injured. He also encouraged rescue teams to persevere in their relief efforts and granted an apostolic blessing to all involved as a sign of hope.

The collision occurred on the morning of Wednesday, October 28, 2026, between Urda and Los Yébenes. Reports indicated 69 deaths and noted that 107 people required medical treatment at local hospitals. The Spanish Episcopal Conference also expressed its condolences and invited Christian communities to remember the victims in their prayers.

Pope Leo XIV sent a telegram to Archbishop Francisco Cerro Chaves of Toledo to express condolences for the victims of a train accident in Urda, Spain. The message, signed by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, was released by the Holy See Press Office on October 29, 2026.

The accident occurred on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, in the province of Toledo and resulted in numerous deaths and injuries. In the telegram, the Pope offered prayers for the deceased and extended sympathy to their families. He also expressed wishes for the speedy recovery of those injured and encouraged rescue teams to persist in their relief and assistance work. The Pope concluded by imparting an apostolic blessing to those affected.

Pope Leo XIV sent a video message to participants of the international meeting "Unarmed and Disarming Peace" in Assisi, held from October 25 to 27, 2026. The Pope was unable to attend the meeting in person to prioritize recovery following surgery to remove lung adenocarcinoma on October 13.

In his message, the Pope addressed religious leaders, Patriarchs, Bishop Felice Accrocca of Assisi, and the Franciscan families. He noted that the gathering took place forty years after the World Day of Prayer for Peace initiated by Saint John Paul II in 1986. He thanked the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue and the Community of Sant’Egidio for their work in continuing the path established by his predecessors.

The Pope called for a deepening of the "spirit of Assisi," which he defined as the rejection of religious justifications for war, a spirit of mediation and dialogue, and creative action for a peaceful future. He noted that while some argued globalization would ensure peace, his encyclical, *Magnifica humanitas*, observed that globalization instead triggered fundamentalist and nationalist reactions. He warned that many still view the accumulation of weapons as a means to guarantee peace, a trend he described as a culture of power.

The French Bishops' Conference published a letter to young Catholics on October 22, 2026, in response to recent protests by high school and university students. The letter, titled "Our only weapon is that of love that gives itself," addresses the concerns and search for meaning expressed by youth during a period of widespread social contestation in France.

The bishops noted that while the demonstrations were legitimate, they were accompanied by violence, looting, and clashes. The text references a prayer vigil held three weeks prior at the Stade de France with Pope Leo XIV. During that gathering, the Pope told young people they are the saints of France and encouraged them to be actors in a history that moves from confusion toward the truth.

The bishops urge young people to follow three principles shared by the Pope: to avoid pride, violence, and greed; to strive toward justice, piety, faith, and charity; and to engage in a mission of service. The letter invites young Catholics to reflect on these calls and to share their reflections.

Pope Leo XIV called for dialogue and peace during the Angelus on Sunday, October 25. His appeal coincided with the start of the international meeting "Disarmed and Disarming Peace" in Assisi, organized by the Community of Sant'Egidio.

The meeting, which runs until Tuesday, October 27, brings together representatives from major religions, civil society, and various institutions. This gathering follows the historic day of prayer convened by Pope John Paul II on October 27, 1986.

Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi, president of the Italian Episcopal Conference, spoke to Vatican media during the event. He noted that the challenges have changed and emphasized the need for religions to offer signals of peace. He described the role of religions as disarming hearts and credited the work of Pope John Paul II for enabling such encounters.

Pope Leo XIV met with participants of a conference on the future of artificial intelligence at the Vatican Apostolic Palace on October 30, 2026. The meeting, organized by the Pontifical Academy for Life and the Future of Life Institute, focused on a dialogue between the Vatican and the scientific community regarding the developments and applications of intelligent technologies.

During his address, the Pope noted a shared sense of unease among participants regarding the development of artificial intelligence. He stated that while the necessary direction is recognized, insufficient progress is being made to address the technology. He described the gathering as a transdisciplinary approach required to manage the complex challenges of the current era.

The Pope noted that the Pontifical Academy for Life monitors challenges where human dignity is threatened. In his remarks, he referenced a previous statement by Pope Francis to G7 leaders, in which the former described artificial intelligence as both an exciting and fearsome tool and maintained that no machine should be permitted to make decisions regarding the taking of a human life.