"The bishop is the father of the entire community": Iannone explains how new bishops are chosen

The Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, Archbishop Filippo Iannone, has granted his first major interview since Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected Pope and he assumed leadership of the Vatican body responsible for preparing a large part of the episcopal appointments worldwide. 

In a conversation with the Croatian weekly Glas Koncila, the prelate offers a broad explanation of how the Dicastery operates, the criteria guiding the selection of new bishops, and some of the challenges facing the episcopal ministry today.

He also reveals that Rome receives letters from the faithful denouncing problems in dioceses and admits that an increasing number of priests are declining appointments as bishops.

“We continue the line set by Cardinal Prevost at the time”

One of the most striking aspects of the interview is Iannone’s reference to his relationship with Leo XIV. 

The Prefect recalls that he has succeeded precisely the man who now occupies the Chair of Peter and acknowledges that this continuity makes his work easier.

“I have succeeded the Holy Father in this task. He carried out this service for some years before me. That means he gave the Dicastery a certain orientation, and I feel favored in the sense that, by continuing the line that Cardinal Prevost, as Prefect, had indicated at the time, I can move forward with greater ease.” He also adds that he holds regular meetings with the Pope to deal with the Dicastery’s affairs.

The body that prepares episcopal appointments

Iannone explains that the Dicastery’s work goes far beyond drawing up shortlists of candidates that the Pontiff later examines.

“The Dicastery for Bishops handles everything concerning the erection, life, and activity of dioceses, the identification of candidates for the episcopate who will be presented to the Pope for appointment, and also the ministry of bishops in their dioceses,” he notes.

The Prefect stresses that this work is never carried out in isolation but in close collaboration with other dicasteries of the Roman Curia and, especially, with the apostolic nuncios, “who know the reality of the local Churches well.”

“I receive many letters from the faithful around the world”

Far from the image of a Curia detached from the Church’s everyday life, Iannone assures that many of the faithful turn directly to the Dicastery when they believe serious problems exist in their dioceses.

“I receive many letters from ordinary faithful around the world pointing out problems in the life of a diocese. They address the Dicastery, and we assess whether what they say is well-founded or the result of misunderstandings. If it is well-founded, we try to address the problem in order to restore serenity to the life of the community.”

The Prefect recalls that the same supervisory work also existed in the Dicastery for Legislative Texts, which he headed before taking on his current responsibility, when the faithful appealed to Rome believing that certain provisions of their bishops did not conform to the universal law of the Church.

The profile of the bishop sought by Leo XIV

Asked about the model of bishop that currently inspires appointments, Iannone explains that Leo XIV personally conveys the Church’s pastoral priorities to the prelates.

“When he meets with bishops, the Pope points out the priorities the Church faces today: evangelization, care for creation… On other occasions he recalls the fundamental characteristics a bishop must have: care for the interior life, prayer, welcoming others, availability for collaboration, and attention to the least.”

Nevertheless, he sums up this entire ideal in a simple phrase: “The figure, the essential model for the bishop, is always and at all times Christ, the Good Shepherd.”

“The bishop is father of the entire community”

One of the Prefect’s most insistent messages revolves around the bishop’s responsibility as a principle of unity within the particular Church.

Recalling Leo XIV’s words to ecclesial movements, he warns that “every group, every movement in the Church must see itself not as the whole, but as part of a body that is the diocesan community and then the universal community.”

For Iannone, the plurality of charisms is fruitful only when it remains united to communion.

“Within the diocesan community, different people and groups can act, and that diversity is a richness when it is joined to concern for unity. If diversity closes in on itself, it becomes an evil and harms the Church.”

That is why he concludes: “The one who must foster these relationships and, when necessary, correct those who depart from this model is the bishop. The bishop is father of the entire community. The capacity to be so is certainly one of the most important requirements for a candidate to the episcopal ministry.”

“There are priests who do not accept”

The interview also leaves a significant observation about the current reality of the episcopate.

Asked about priests who decline an appointment when Rome proposes a diocese to them, Iannone responds clearly: “Yes; I had heard about it before, today I can say I experience it.”

Far from attributing this phenomenon solely to the abuse crisis, he considers it a response to a much deeper transformation.

“The responsibilities of a bishop have increased. Life has become much more complex: the life of dioceses, the life and ministry of the priests for whom a bishop is responsible, the lack of vocations… There are priests who do not accept, and that is a fact.”

He then invites people to abandon the idea that the episcopate is simply an honor.

“Sometimes little thought is given to the fact that the bishop is also a human being; he has his limits like any of us. He can go through moments of discouragement and difficulties in relationships. If someone makes a mistake or holds debatable positions, it is legitimate to criticize him; but we must not stop at criticism alone—we must be willing to help and, above all, to pray for bishops.”

“Applying political categories to the Church is misleading”

Iannone also devotes part of the interview to the relationship between authority, participation, and synodality.

To those who interpret the Church’s life with categories proper to politics, he responds unambiguously: “Applying to the Church categories that belong to the world of politics is misleading. The Church has a different nature.”

That does not mean, he clarifies, excluding the co-responsibility of the faithful. On the contrary, he recalls the teaching of the Second Vatican Council according to which every baptized person participates in the Church’s mission and has the right—and in some cases even the duty—to express concerns to pastors through the bodies provided for by canon law.

“Synodality is not a demand”

In the final part of the interview, the Prefect also offers a concise definition of synodality.

“Synodality is not a demand,” he states. “It means feeling part of a whole and assuming the responsibility that entails.”

He adds that “it is not only the bishop who must bear the weight of the diocese; all the faithful must feel responsible for it.” 

In his view, the more deeply a person lives their faith and participates in the life of the Church, the more authority their voice acquires, because they speak “from within” the community and not as a mere external observer.

“In necessary things, unity”

Finally, addressing the relationship between the universal Church and the particular Churches, Iannone returns to the teaching of the Second Vatican Council to recall that a local Church can only be called fully Church when it remains in communion with the others and with the Successor of Peter.

As a permanent criterion he proposes the well-known maxim attributed to Saint Augustine: “In necessary things, unity; in doubtful things, freedom; in all things, charity.” 

A principle which, he maintains, makes it possible to harmonize respect for local traditions with the unity of faith, Church discipline, and sacramental life.

Chilean court orders the Salesian Congregation to compensate eight abuse victims

Chilean justice has ordered the Salesian Congregation in the first instance to pay compensation of 325 million Chilean pesos to eight victims of sexual abuse, after finding that the institution was responsible for omissions, cover-ups, and silencing of crimes committed by some of its priests between 1973 and 2009.

The ruling, issued by a civil court in Santiago, partially upholds the lawsuit filed by nine former students of institutions linked to the congregation, although it only recognizes the right to compensation for eight of them. The decision is not final and may still be appealed by the Salesian Congregation.

The court attributes responsibility to the congregation

The judgment concludes that the sexual abuses continued for more than three decades and that the congregation did not act appropriately to prevent them or respond properly once the facts were known.

According to the ruling, the institution’s civil liability stems from the omissions, cover-up, and silencing of the abuses committed by priests belonging to the order, circumstances that justify the order to pay compensation of 325 million Chilean pesos.

The incidents are said to have occurred in different regions of the country

The abuses confirmed by the court took place between 1973 and 2009 in various establishments and facilities linked to the Salesian Congregation, although the lawsuit claims that some also occurred in vacation homes and private residences used by members of the order.

The locations mentioned in the proceedings include Valdivia and Coñaripe, in the Los Ríos region; Concepción, in the Biobío region; Talca and Molina, in the Maule region; Putaendo, in the Valparaíso region; and the Santiago communes of La Cisterna and La Florida.

The ruling can still be appealed

The judgment is a first-instance decision, so the Salesian Congregation may appeal it before a higher court.

If an appeal is filed, the Chilean justice system will determine whether to uphold, modify, or overturn the conviction imposed in this initial ruling.

Five closures in three months reflect the retreat of the Society of Jesus in Spain due to the lack of vocations

The Society of Jesus is undergoing a new process of reorganization in Spain marked by the decrease in the number of religious and the scarcity of vocations. 

In just three months, the Jesuits have announced the closure of five communities and stable works in different parts of the country, a decision that the order itself attributes to the impossibility of maintaining its presence with the current personnel.

The most symbolic case has been that of Murcia, where on June 16 an uninterrupted presence of almost five centuries came to an end. 

According to El Debate, the provincial of Spain, Father Enric Puiggròs SJ, signed together with the bishop of Cartagena, Mons. José Manuel Lorca Planes, the agreement that ends the stable Jesuit community in the city, acknowledging that “for now” it is no longer possible to maintain a religious community there.

Murcia ends almost 500 years of Jesuit presence

The first Jesuits arrived in Murcia in 1555, barely fifteen years after the founding of the Society of Jesus by St. Ignatius of Loyola and still during the lifetime of its founder. The closure of this community constitutes one of the most significant decisions within the current reorganization process of the Jesuit province of Spain.

At the farewell event, Puiggròs explained that the decision responds to the reorganization process that the order has been developing for years as a consequence of the reduction in the number of available religious.

Five closures in a few months

The closure of Murcia has not been an isolated event. In recent weeks, the stable presence of the Jesuits has also ceased in the parish of San Esteban del Mar, in Gijón, entrusted to the Society for 59 years; in the residence of the Colegio del Salvador in Zaragoza; and in the community of the Clot neighborhood, in Barcelona.

The Jesuit community of Santiago de Compostela will soon be added to these closures, with its closure scheduled for next August.

The succession of these announcements reflects a process of concentration of communities that the Society considers necessary to adapt its presence in Spain to the current vocational reality.

A crisis affecting religious life

Although the situation of the Jesuits is especially significant due to the historical weight of the order in the Spanish Church, the phenomenon is not exclusive to the Society of Jesus.

In recent years, numerous religious congregations, both male and female, have reduced their territorial presence due to the aging of their members and the scarcity of new vocations, a trend that affects Spain and other countries in Western Europe in a generalized way.

In their communications, the Jesuits present these closures as a new stage in their apostolic mission and emphasize that Ignatian spirituality will continue to be present through schools, institutions, apostolic works, and numerous lay people linked to the tradition of St. Ignatius. 

However, the progressive closure of religious communities also reflects the vocational crisis affecting a large part of consecrated life in the West.

Priest who argued for freedom of belief over gender identity reaches settlement with school

A PRIEST who preached a sermon arguing for freedom of belief over gender identity has secured a legal agreement with the school that dismissed him six years ago.

The Revd Dr Bernard Randall was the chaplain of Trent College, Long Eaton, in Derbyshire. In 2019, the campaign group Educate & Celebrate, with a mission to “smash heteronormativity” and “queer the education system”, visited the school.

Dr Randall told students that they did not have to accept “LGBT stuff” and dismissed Educate & Celebrate as “Marxist, revolutionary and atheist”. He also upheld traditional church teaching on sex and marriage.

The school — where fees are £40,000 a year — referred him to Prevent, the national anti-extremism programme, but no evidence of “counter-terrorism risk or risk of radicalisation” was found. He was made redundant during the pandemic in 2020 and lost his case for unfair dismissal in 2023. That tribunal decision was thrown out last year due to the “appearance of bias” in the panel, with a new hearing to be convened.

Following that ruling, a confidential legal settlement was reached between the college and Dr Randall.

Educate & Celebrate closed in 2024. Dr Randall was denied a licence or “safe to receive” status by the diocese of Derby after his departure from the school. As part of the legal settlement, he is no longer deemed to be a safeguarding risk and can now return to public ministry.

“Seven years have been taken from me for doing my duty as a C of E chaplain in a school with a C of E ethos,” Dr Randall said. “I encouraged pupils to think, to debate, and to love their neighbours whatever they believed. No minister, teacher, or chaplain should be punished for upholding Christian teaching in a Christian setting.”

A spokesperson for the diocese of Derby said: “The diocese is happy to continue supporting Dr Randall’s potential return to ministry as he decides whether and where to apply for a role.

“Over the past few months, through our ongoing contact with him, he has been signposted to current vacancies in the diocese of Derby, Pathways, the Church of England’s recruitment portal, and to the Church’s Clergy Transitions Service, which has confirmed that they are also available to provide further assistance.”

KCK archdiocese pulls priest from public ministry amid misconduct investigation

The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas has temporarily pulled a priest from public ministry while an investigation is underway into an allegation of misconduct with a minor more than 20 years ago. 

The allegation involves the Rev. Eric Flood, according to an announcement posted Monday on the archdiocese’s website. 

Flood, who is with the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter, has been serving as the chaplain of the St. John Vianney Latin Mass Community in Maple Hill, which is about 20 miles west of Topeka. 

The St. John Vianney Latin Mass Community and its ministry are under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas and administered by the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter. 

FSSP priests serve around the world and celebrate the Traditional Latin Mass and Sacraments. Monday’s announcement said the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter notified the KCK archdiocese that the Archdiocese of Omaha had recently received the allegation regarding Flood. 

“This allegation was immediately reported to law enforcement, in accordance with mandatory reporting requirements,” it said. “Consistent with the Archdiocese’s commitment to the protection of children and persons in vulnerable situations, and pending the outcome of investigations by civil authorities and the Archdiocese of Omaha, Father Flood has been temporarily withdrawn from the public exercise of priestly ministry, including celebrating Mass and other public ministerial duties.” 

The action, the announcement said, was an administrative measure “intended to protect all parties, including Father Flood, and should not be interpreted as a determination regarding the allegation.” 

“No conclusion has been reached, and Father Flood is entitled to the presumption of innocence and to a fair and impartial process,” it said. “Father Flood is cooperating fully with the investigation and adamantly denies the accusation.” 

Marissa Easter, spokesperson for the archdiocese, said the priests of the Fraternity of St. Peter “are subject to the Archbishop’s authority while they serve in our territory.” 

“But as a religious community, they have missions throughout the world, their own formation, and their own superiors who cooperate with local dioceses and diocesan bishops,” she told The Star in an email. St. John Vianney is one of two Latin Mass communities within the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, Easter said. 

The other, she said, is St. Rose Duchesne Catholic Church in Mission Woods, which also is under the care of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter. The archdiocese said Flood has relocated outside the state of Kansas during the investigation. 

“The archdiocese is cooperating fully with civil authorities, the Archdiocese of Omaha, and the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter,” the announcement said. “Upon completion of this investigation, the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas’ Independent Review Board will conduct a review and provide recommendations to the Archbishop, who will determine any appropriate action.” 

Those with information about the issue are encouraged to contact the Douglas County, Nebraska, District Attorney at (402) 444-7040, the archdiocese said. 

The archdiocese urged anyone with knowledge of any misconduct by a church volunteer, staff or clergy member, regardless of when the incident occurred, to first contact civil authorities, then call or text the archdiocese’s confidential report line at 913-276-8703 or online at www.archkck.org/reportabuse. 

“We ask all to refrain from rumor and speculation and instead entrust this matter to prayer and the proper processes of law enforcement and the Church,” the archdiocese said. 

Other misconduct allegations 

The case is among several involving allegations of misconduct that the archdiocese has been dealing with in recent months. On July 2, the archdiocese announced it had substantiated an allegation of sexual abuse of a minor against a former teacher who worked at two area high schools. 

Archbishop Shawn McKnight determined the allegation against James Zimmer to be credible following an investigation by the Independent Review Board, the archdiocese said in a statement posted on its website. 

Zimmer taught at Bishop Miege Catholic High School in Roeland Park from 1969 to 1984, the archdiocese said. 

The allegation was reported to have occurred during that time. Zimmer also taught at Rockhurst High School in Kansas City from 1987 to 1993, according to the announcement. He died on June 1, 2000. 

The archdiocese also continues to investigate former Bishop Miege President Phil Baniewicz, who was ousted last August after allegations surfaced about inappropriate behavior with a minor. 

And the archdiocese is in the midst of a criminal case involving a former Leawood priest. 

The Rev. Richard Storey, who resigned last September as pastor of Curé of Ars Catholic Church in Leawood amid an investigation into a separate issue, was charged in Johnson County District Court on May 13 with felony theft. 

The total suspected unauthorized spending by Storey was $159,326.92, according to court documents. The alleged theft included $77,000 for cruises, a nearly $24,000 “casino cash withdraw” and $27,000 for travel to several international destinations. 

The theft is alleged to have occurred between Jan. 1, 2021, and Dec. 31, 2025. 

Storey pleaded not guilty on June 2 and is out on $25,000 bond. His next court appearance is scheduled for Wednesday.

Kenya bishop suspends 7 priests, announces new clergy accountability measures

Bishop Hieronymus Emusugut Joya of Kenyaʼs Catholic Diocese of Maralal announced in a pastoral letter a series of clergy accountability measures and suspended seven priests, saying the decisions follow an assessment of the diocese and “credible information” concerning clergy conduct and the administration of Church property.

In the letter, Joya reflected on his nearly four years of episcopal ministry since taking charge of the Maralal Diocese in October 2022, outlining financial, administrative, and pastoral challenges he said he encountered upon his arrival and the reforms he has since undertaken.

“It is painful to state that I found the diocese with multiple problems but no one was willing to tell me the cause of the problems and how to get the solution,” he wrote in the four-page letter dated July 12.

The Kenyan-born member of the Institute of the Consolata Missionaries wrote that, alongside seeking donations and grants to support the diocese, he initiated assessments, financial audits, restructuring, and debt repayment.

“That helped me to conduct assessment of the diocese, carry out audits in all parishes, institutions, offices; set up systems and structures; do restructuring; and pay debts and some loans,” Joya said in the letter.

He went on to respond to the criticism that he had frequently appealed for financial support and failed to act against priests alleged to be living contrary to their vocation or possessing property whose acquisition could not be explained.

Addressing concerns over fundraising, he wrote: “I want everyone to know that I have mobilized hundreds of millions of shillings in the time I have been [here] — more than all the money all Christians of this diocese have done for their Church without counting on the major projects that have been done directly in various parishes and institutions.”

Turning to the issue of clergy discipline, the bishop said he had acted only after obtaining sufficient information.

“I never suspect or hold any priest accountable for any wrongdoing without credible information. Since I now have some information and identified such priests, I announce here two things,” he said.

The first, he wrote, is the introduction of new obligations for priests in the Diocese of Maralal under Canon 277 §3 of the Code of Canon Law.

The measures require priests to be in their presbyteries before 7 p.m. for evening prayers and prohibit them from spending the night away from the priests' residence without the bishop’s permission.

The measures also state that no layperson is to sleep or stay in a priest’s house or a religious sister’s convent without the bishopʼs authorization.

The norms further prohibit priests from drinking alcohol in bars or presenting themselves for liturgical celebrations “drunk or with the hangover of alcohol.”

The new rules also prohibit priests from engaging in private business outside “the business of the Church,” acquiring property they cannot explain, or cohabiting or engaging in relationships “with a person of the opposite sex or same sex.”

Additional measures concern the administration of parish and institutional finances, the functioning of finance councils and parish councils, annual budgets and audits, the authorized use of diocesan vehicles, and adherence to both Church and civil law.

In another measure, Joya announced the suspension of seven priests under Canons 1336 §§1–4 and 1281 §3 of the Code of Canon Law. He said the suspensions will remain in force “until the issues of abuse of ecclesiastical power, negligence of administration, and mismanagement of the temporal goods of the Church are resolved.”

The suspended priests are Fathers Paul Maina, Peter Musau, Stephen Lekasuyan, Peter Nderitu, Christopher Letikirich, John Dida, and Jonathan Namoni, whom Joya noted had already been suspended on July 10.

The pastoral letter did not specify the particular allegations against the priests or indicate whether the suspensions arise from the same circumstances. The letter also did not detail the specific canonical restrictions imposed on each priest beyond citing the relevant provisions of Church law.

Additionally, the letter also did not indicate whether the priests received individual canonical decrees explaining the reasons for their suspension, the scope of the disciplinary measures, or the conditions each would be required to meet before the suspension is lifted.

Inviting the faithful to accompany the suspended priests in prayer, Joya wrote: “Pray for these priests of ours at this moment they are starting a life of deep reflection on the value of their vocation and the importance of working for the common good of the Church.”

Alongside the disciplinary measures, the bishop announced five new priestly appointments in his diocese, including parish, pastoral center, and media apostolate assignments.

The pastoral letter concluded by asking the faithful to continue praying for him as he “endeavors to save the diocese from the difficult challenges it is undergoing.”

Diocese issues statement on priest accused of child porn, explaining Nowak’s status

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo has issued a statement explaining why a priest now federally charged with child porn possession has remained on their payroll since his initial suspension in 2019.

Jeffrey Nowak was charged last week with receipt and possession of child pornography after investigators say Scottish law enforcers linked him to an online group exchanging such images. Nowak had been placed on administrative leave by the Diocese years before in response to allegations of inappropriate contact with children and harassment of a seminarian.

In addition to still collecting a paycheck, Nowak also remained a priest though he was forbidden from ministry. The Diocese explains in a statement released July 15 that these circumstances were required by canon law. They could not effectively fire Nowak on accusations alone. Now, with the federal child porn charges, they will ask the Vatican to remove Nowak's priestly status.

The following is the statement by the Diocese of Buffalo in its entirety:

“In the spirit of transparency and full cooperation with law enforcement authorities, the Diocese of Buffalo wishes to provide the following background concerning the status of Jeffrey Nowak as a suspended priest of the Diocese and further details relating to his removal from active ministry:

“In 2019, the Diocese was advised of numerous complaints about Rev. Nowak.  None of the complaints included any allegation of inappropriate sexual contact, possession of child pornography or sexual abuse of a minor.  However, given clear evidence of inappropriate conduct of Jeffrey Nowak with adults, then-Bishop Richard Malone removed him indefinitely from active ministry in 2019.  

The Diocese further required Rev. Nowak to engage in professional counseling which he repeatedly failed to do. In 2020, then-Apostolic Administrator Bishop Edward Scharfenberger reviewed Rev. Nowak’s circumstances and decided to remove him from the Office of Pastor of Our Lady Help of Christians through a process required by canon law, despite the fact that he was on indefinite leave.

“For a brief period, Rev. Nowak resided at the Bishop Head residence for retired priests, however, Rev. Nowak was not a “retired” priest but a priest whose faculties to function as a priest had been indefinitely suspended. Rev. Nowak subsequently moved to his parents’ home in Lackawanna.

“Following Bishop Michael Fisher’s appointment to the Diocese of Buffalo in January 2021, Bishop Fisher personally met with Rev. Nowak, having reviewed details of his removal from active ministry, and informed Rev. Nowak that he would not consider reappointing him to a parish, nor allow him to function as a priest within the Diocese.  Bishop Fisher further made clear that he would advise against any other bishop or diocese accepting Rev. Nowak as a priest in their diocese, should he pursue that route.  Bishop Fisher encouraged Rev. Nowak to personally seek voluntary removal from the clerical state by the Vatican, a process known as “laicization.”  

As there was no allegation of child sexual abuse or other criminal allegation, the Diocese had no grounds to petition the Vatican to remove Rev. Nowak from the clerical state against his will.

“As required by canon law, the Diocese must provide some level of financial sustenance to priests of the Diocese, even if they have been removed from active ministry, though not formally removed from the clerical state.  As such, Rev. Nowak was provided a modest monthly stipend, considerably less than what an active priest receives, and also less than what a retired priest receives. 

“In light of the abhorrent criminal conduct recently alleged by federal investigators, the Diocese is no longer providing any financial support to Rev. Nowak, who remains incarcerated pending his trial.  Moreover, Bishop Fisher has now instructed the Diocese’s Judicial Vicar to gather the necessary documentation based on these latest allegations to petition the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith to dismiss Jeffrey Nowak from the clerical state.”

Case against Derry priest charged with child sex offences adjourned due to technical issue

A technical issue prevented progress in the case against a suspended Londonderry priest charged with child sex offences when it came before court Thursday.

Edward Gallagher (59) is currently in custody at Maghaberry Prison.

Gallagher was arrested and charged after he was confronted by a group of people outside a hotel in Derry on April 17 last year.

The former parish priest and curate in the Diocese of Derry currently faces a number of charges alleged to have been committed between April 2 and April 17, 2025.

He is charged with attempting to sexually communicate with a male he believed to be under the age of 16.

He also faces charges of possessing an indecent image of a child; possessing an extreme pornographic image; making and distributing or showing indecent images of a child; causing unknown children to watch a third person engaging in sexual activity; and sexually communicating with unknown children.

Gallagher appeared before Derry Magistrates’ Court via videolink for a planned preliminary enquiry (PE), which is held to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to send a case forward to trial.

However, the court was told that the relevant papers were unavailable because of technical issues.

Addressing Gallagher, the judge said he was “going to make an investigation” into the matter.

The case was adjourned until Thursday, July 23.

Gallagher previously served as parish priest in Donegal and Tyrone.

He also served as curate in Limavady, Cappagh in Co Tyrone, and Holy Family Parish in Derry.

Before his suspension, Gallagher was administrator of Long Tower Parish in Derry and had also served as associate pastor and pastor at Sacred Heart Parish in the city.

Pope names Michael Router as new Bishop of Derry

Pope Leo has named Bishop Michael Router as the new Catholic Bishop of Derry.

He moves from the Diocese of Armagh, where he has been Auxiliary Bishop for the last seven years, to succeed Bishop Donal Mckeown who has been in post since 2014.

Earlier this year, Bishop McKeown submitted his resignation to the Pope, having reached the age of 75.

Bishop-elect Router's installation is due to take place in September.

Speaking to BBC News NI, Bishop Router said his appointment was "an immense honour" but had come as "a bit of a shock and quite a surprise".

"We had just organised a major congress in Armagh, so my thoughts were far from moving from there," he said.

"But I am absolutely delighted.

"I've heard so much good about the Diocese of Derry and everyone I've talked to in the last 24 hours or so has told me that I'm a very lucky man to be coming here."

Earlier around 100 people attended a service in St Eugene's Cathedral to welcome the Bishop-elect to the diocese.

A native of County Cavan and a priest for almost four decades, Bishop Router told parishioners the Church holds a very different position on the island of Ireland than it did a generation ago and "no longer occupies the centre of public life".

"Many people, particularly younger generations, no longer identify naturally with the institutional Church," he said.

"The wounds caused by abuse and failures of leadership continue to cause severe pain and upset for many and we must never cease asking forgiveness, listening with humility and working patiently towards healing and reconciliation.

"Alongside these realities we face declining numbers of clergy, changing parish structures and the onerous task of passing on the faith in an increasingly secular culture."

He said those realities could not simply be ignored or be solved by "nostalgia for a past that cannot return".

He said as Bishop he would "minister among you not with all the answers but with a willingness to listen, especially to those who have become distant from the Church."

He also paid tribute to the "courage and generosity" of his predecessor, who had guided the Diocese through "a period of significant social, cultural and ecclesial change".

'Gifted preacher'

The leader of the Catholic Church in Ireland Archbishop Eamon Martin, who is from Derry, said the new bishop could expect "a warm welcome from the people" of the city.

"Bishop Michael brings many gifts to his new role," Martin said, adding that as Auxiliary Bishop in Armagh he was a source of "tremendous support" who would be greatly missed there.

He described the Bishop-elect as "a gifted preacher and communicator", who would bring a "natural pastoral instinct" to the role.

Martin also paid tribute to outgoing Bishop McKeown, who he said is a "a person of genuine empathy, kindness and compassion".

"He is a true 'son of encouragement' and a caring pastor," Martin said.

Church of Ireland Bishop of Derry and Raphoe Andrew Forster also paid tribute to the outgoing Bishop, saying it had been "a joy and a privilege to serve alongside Donal".

He said he now looked forward to "walking alongside" his successor "as we seek to share the light of Christ in our Dioceses."

Diocesan Changes 2026 - Cork & Ross

The diocese has published the details of the new appointments which will be effective on July 25th 2026.

Bishop Fintan has said that he is grateful to the priests who are undertaking new appointments this year and to those who retire from a fulltime appointment.

"I continue to be grateful to all of you for your ministry and your commitment to serve the people of the diocese.

I also extend a warm welcome to the priests who are coming from abroad to minister in our diocese. We are deeply appreciative of their generosity in responding to the needs of our local Church here in Cork and Ross and we look forward to the gifts, experience and richness they will bring to our faith communities."

Retirement

Fr Pat Nugent CC in the Family of Parishes of Carrig na bhFear, Glanmire, Glounthane, Watergrasshill and Glenville retires from this full-time appointment, though his priestly ministry will continue.

Appointments:

Canon Robert Brophy, Co-PP in the Family of Parishes of Ballineaspaig, Curraheen Road, Sacred Heart and Wilton will continue in this role as Co-PP and Moderator while also fulfilling the role of Assistant Director of Vocations for the Diocese.

Canon Teddy O’Sullivan Co-PP and Moderator in the Family of Parishes of Douglas and Rochestown, Frankfield/Grange and Turner’s Cross continues to be Co-PP in the same Family of Parishes.

Canon John Paul Hegarty Co-PP in the Family of Parishes of Ballyphehane, The Lough and Togher to be Assistant Priest (AP) in the same Family of Parishes.

Fr Patrick A. McCarthy, returning from sabbatical leave to be Co-PP and Moderator in the Family of Parishes of Douglas and Rochestown, Frankfield/Grange and Turner’s Cross.

Fr Bernard Cotter returns from Sabbatical leave as Co-PP in the Family of Parishes of Aughadown, Castlehaven and Myross, Kilmacabea, Rath and the Islands and Skibbereen.

Fr Daniel Pyburn, Co-PP in the Family of Parishes of Ballinhassig, Clontead, Courceys and Kinsale to be Co-PP in the Family of Parishes of Ballyphehane, The Lough and Togher.

Fr Cian O’Sullivan Co-PP in the Family of Parishes of Clogheen and Kerry Pike, Farranree, Gurranabraher and Knocknaheeny and Hollyhill and Director of Vocations for the Diocese will begin a period of sabbatical leave taking up a new appointment in the Summer of 2027.

Fr Anthony O’Mahony Co-PP in the Family of Parishes of Drimoleague, Dunmanway, Kilmichael and Uibh Laoire to be Co-PP in the Family of Parishes of Ardfield/Rathbarry, Barryroe, Clonakilty, Kilmeen and Castleventry, Rosscarbery and Lisavaird, and Timoleague.

Fr Michael Anthony Buckley CC in the Family of Parishes of Bantry, Caheragh, Goleen, Muintir Bháire and Schull to be Co-PP in the Family of Parishes of Drimoleague, Dunmanway, Kilmichael and Uibh Laoire.

Fr Sean Crowley CC in the Family of Parishes of Blackpool, The Glen and Ballyvolane, South Parish, Ss Peter and Paul’s, St. Patrick’s, Sunday’s Well, and The Cathedral to be Co-PP in the Family of Parishes of Ballinhassig, Clontead, Courceys and Kinsale.

Fr Marius O’Reilly CC in the Family of Parishes of Blackpool and The Glen and Ballyvolane, South Parish, Ss Peter and Paul’s, St. Patrick’s, Sunday’s Well and The Cathedral to be Director of Vocations for the Diocese and Parish Chaplain in the same Family of Parishes.

Fr Pat O’Mahony SMA CC in the Family of Parishes of Douglas and Rochestown, Frankfield and Grange and Turner’s Cross to be CC in the Family of Parishes of St. Joseph’s Mayfield, Upper Mayfield and Pastoral Care of Holy Family Church, Military Hill. 

Fr Kenneth Cooney SMA to be CC in the Family of Parishes of Blackpool and The Glen and Ballyvolane, South Parish, Ss Peter and Paul’s, St. Patrick’s, Sunday’s Well and The Cathedral.

Fr Jilson Kokkandathail CC in the Family of Parishes of Blackpool and The Glen and Ballyvolane, South Parish, Ss Peter and Paul’s, St. Patrick’s, Sunday’s Well and The Cathedral and Chaplain to the Syro Malabar Community to be CC in the Family of Parishes of Bantry, Caheragh, Goleen, Muintir Bháire and Schull.

Fr Mathew Jacob (Archdiocese of Changanacherry, India) to be CC in the Family of Parishes of Blackpool and The Glen and Ballyvolane, South Parish, Ss Peter and Paul’s, St. Patrick’s, Sunday’s Well and The Cathedral. Fr Mathew will also fulfil the role of Chaplain to the Syro Malabar Community.

Fr Fergus Ryan OP CC in the Family of Parishes of Ardfield and Rathbarry, Barryroe, Clonakilty, Kilmeen and Castleventry, Rosscarbery and Lisavaird, and Timoleague to be CC in the Family of Parishes of Blackpool and The Glen and Ballyvolane, South Parish, Ss Peter and Paul’s, St. Patrick’s, Sunday’s Well and The Cathedral.

Fr Prasad Rao Chinthakunta MSC (Indian Province) to be CC in the Family of Parishes of Clogheen and Kerry Pike, Farranree, Gurranabraher and Knocknaheeny and Hollyhill.

Fr Tijo John MSC (Indian Province) to be CC in the Family of Parishes of Clogheen and Kerry Pike, Farranree, Gurranabraher and Knocknaheeny and Hollyhill.

Fr Alex Kulandaisamy MSC (Indian Province) to be CC in the Family of Parishes of Ballineaspaig, Curraheen Road, Sacred Heart and Wilton. Fr Alex will also serve as Part-time Chaplain (2 Days per week) to the Mercy University Hospital.

Fr Raphael Ssemmanda (Diocese of Masaka, Uganda) to be CC in the in the Family of Parishes of Douglas & Rochestown, Frankfield/Grange and Turner’s Cross.

Fr Jaison Mathew CMI, Chaplain in Cork University Hospital has returned to his order.

Paul Ryan was ordained to the Permanent Diaconate on Sunday 21st June 2026 in the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Timoleague. Deacon Paul Ryan is appointed Deacon in the Family of Parishes of Ardfield and Rathbarry, Barryroe, Clonakilty, Kilmeen and Castleventry, Rosscarbery and Lisavaird, and Timoleague.

Saiz Meneses distances himself from the debate on the Seville mosque: "It is a matter of rights and freedoms"

The Archbishop of Seville, Monsignor José Ángel Saiz Meneses, has refrained from commenting on the project to build a mosque in the Polígono Sur and has placed the issue within the context of the right to religious freedom recognized by civil legislation and by the doctrine of the Church.

Asked about this matter last Friday, following the presentation of the Archdiocese’s financial information for the 2025 fiscal year, the prelate described the issue as a “sensitive matter” and stated that, in his view, “two elements must be taken into account: rights and freedoms.”

He then developed his response by drawing on three successive references. First, he cited Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which recognizes the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, as well as the possibility of publicly manifesting one’s beliefs. 

It is worth recalling that the Holy See did not participate in the approval of this text in 1948, as it was not then a member of the United Nations, although subsequent papal teaching has invoked it on various occasions as a reference in matters of human dignity and religious freedom.

The Archbishop then appealed to Article 16 of the Spanish Constitution, which guarantees “the ideological, religious, and worship freedom of individuals and communities, with no other limitation on their manifestations than what is necessary for the maintenance of public order protected by law.”

Finally, he cited the conciliar declaration Dignitatis humanae, from the Second Vatican Council, to recall that “the protection and promotion of the inviolable rights of man is an essential duty of every civil authority” and that it is the responsibility of public authorities to safeguard religious freedom through just laws and to facilitate the necessary conditions for its exercise.

In conclusion, Saiz Meneses specified that the exercise of these rights must be carried out “in accordance with state, regional, and local legislation and in accordance with the municipal regulations of each city.”

The Archbishop’s statements come as the administrative processing of the project promoted by the Fundación Mezquita de Sevilla to build an Islamic complex in the Polígono Sur continues. 

The City Council has postponed the granting of the building permit in order to obtain new technical and legal reports following the objections submitted by Vox.

The municipal group maintains that the primary intended use of the building would be as a place of worship rather than a sociocultural center, which, in its view, could have implications for its urban planning compatibility. 

The Fundación Mezquita de Sevilla rejects this interpretation, maintains that the project complies with current regulations, and argues that the permit should be granted in accordance with the law.

During his intervention, the Archbishop made no assessment of the specific project or of the objections raised in the urban planning procedure, limiting himself to outlining the legal and doctrinal framework that, in his view, should govern the exercise of religious freedom.

Basilica of Guadalupe changes rector after tensions in its governance

Cardinal Carlos Aguiar Retes, Primate Archbishop of Mexico, has appointed Mons. Daniel Víctor Villalobos Ortiz as the new rector of the Insigne and National Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe. 

The appointment, announced on July 12, brings to an end the tenure of Mons. Efraín Hernández Díaz and forms part of the institutional and pastoral renewal process initiated by the Primate Archdiocese of Mexico at the continent’s principal Marian shrine.

According to a statement issued by the Cardinal himself, the appointment was made after considering proposals presented by the Venerable Chapter of Guadalupe and the Permanent Council of the Mexican Episcopal Conference. 

The new rector has been entrusted with leading a “new stage of institutional and pastoral renewal,” in collaboration with the priests, deacons, consecrated persons, and lay faithful who serve at the Basilica.

The change comes after several months marked by tensions in the governance of the shrine. 

As reported by Sursum Corda, the departure of Mons. Efraín Hernández Díaz was preceded by complaints from members of the Chapter of Guadalupe regarding alleged irregularities in the administrative and financial management of the Basilica. 

His subsequent reinstatement as rector in May of this year sparked further controversy over the shrine’s governance.

In this context, the selection of Mons. Villalobos takes on special significance. 

The appointment ultimately fell to one of the Chapter’s own canons, a circumstance that reflects the procedure followed for the election and places the new rector at the head of an internal reorganization process in an institution that receives approximately 35 million pilgrims each year.

A priest with experience at the Basilica

Born in Mexico City on August 10, 1968, Mons. Daniel Víctor Villalobos Ortiz was ordained a priest on July 12, 1998, at the Basilica of Guadalupe itself by then-Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy, Cardinal Darío Castrillón Hoyos.

Between 1997 and 2008 he served as assistant to Cardinal Ernesto Corripio Ahumada and later held various pastoral ministries in parishes in Xochimilco, Tlalpan, Coyoacán, and Álvaro Obregón.

In August 2024 he was appointed a full canon of the Basilica of Guadalupe and episcopal vicar for the Clergy of the Primate Archdiocese of Mexico. Since February 2026 he has also served as exorcist of the Marian shrine.

His membership in the Chapter has given him firsthand knowledge of both the day-to-day operations of the Basilica and the difficulties that have arisen in recent months, an aspect that various observers consider relevant to the new stage now beginning.

Administrative and pastoral renewal

In the appointment statement, Cardinal Aguiar Retes explained that the Basilica of Guadalupe “occupies a privileged place in the life of our particular Church and in the hearts of millions of pilgrims,” and that decisions regarding its governance should be aimed at strengthening its evangelizing mission.

The Archbishop also reported that the Archdiocese has begun “a stage of updating and improving administrative, operational, and pastoral processes,” inspired by the reforms implemented during Pope Francis’s pontificate in the papal basilicas of St. Peter and St. Mary Major in Rome.

According to him, the goal is to differentiate more clearly between the pastoral mission and administrative management, to strengthen the shrine’s internal organization, and to improve service to the millions of faithful who visit each year.

He also noted that since last year various administrative and operational reviews have been carried out, with results communicated to the Mexican Episcopal Conference, the Apostolic Nunciature, and the Holy See. 

These evaluations, he indicated, have helped identify areas for improvement in organization and pastoral service.

The Basilica of Guadalupe, which houses the tilma of St. Juan Diego bearing the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, received nearly 35 million pilgrims in the past year. 

During the Guadalupe celebrations in December 2025 alone, approximately 13 million people visited the shrine, according to figures from Mexico City authorities.

Concluding his message, Cardinal Aguiar Retes invited everyone to live this new stage “in a spirit of communion and unity,” avoiding interpretations that could generate division and placing the process under the protection of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

CWI : Operation Ainmhian (18)

A chairde,

There will be a new posting relative to Ms KXXXX IXXXXX here in the next few days or so.....and will include pictures....evidence of what we have been claiming here for the last few years...we keep receipts too Ms IXXXXX, and lots of them...over 2 thousand at the moment....including text messages....all very very interesting indeed.

At least the pictures we publish contain truth Ms IXXXXX, unlike what you have been bandying around on your Facebook account in recent times....and we will be the ones doing the suing yet Ms IXXXXX, so you may start putting aside the money you spend on botox and get yourself a very good solicitor..... 

No doubt you will try and have this post taken down but be advised that when it disappears from here, it appears somewhere else....and remember

Truth is not defamation!!

Mise,

AODHÁN DE FAOITE

Eagarthóir / Editor

Pope to inaugurate exhibition cycle at Vatican Apostolic Library

The Vatican Apostolic Library announced on Sunday that the Pope will visit the Library on Monday, September 14, at 11 AM to inaugurate the exhibition cycle “AQVA. Catastrophe and Wonder.” 

The exhibition will be open to visitors on selected days of the week from September 25 through May 14, 2027.

Additional details on the exhibit curated by the Library's Vice-Prefect Father Giacomo Cardinali, Simona De Crescenzo, Francesca Giannetto, and Delio Proverbio, will be made available shortly.

'A  home where past and future can meet as friends'

The display brings together the works of three contemporary figures—French artist JR, American typographer Bill Moran, and the Italian chef Fulvio Pierangelini—in dialogue with the collections and spaces of the Pope’s Library, offering a reflection on water as both a threat and a resource.

Each of the three artistic collaborators reinterprets the Library’s historical collections through their own artistic practices.

The Librarian and Archivist of the Holy Roman Church, Monsignor Giovanni Cesare Pagazzi, expressed his delight to welcome the Holy Father, noting the exhibition "are intended to foster dialogue between contemporary art and the Library’s centuries-old heritage.

"On several occasions," Monsignor Pagazzi recalled, "the Pope has emphasized fidelity to the past and fidelity to the future. The present – including the present of this exhibition – can become a home where past and future meet as friends." 

Ancient institution belonging to the Pope

The Vatican Apostolic Library, an ancient institution dedicated to preservation and research, belongs to the Pope and is closely connected to the governance and ministry of the Holy See.

Its vast collections, comprising manuscripts, archival materials, printed volumes, both ancient and modern, coins and medals, prints and drawings, as well as cartographic and photographic materials, have long been accessible to qualified scholars from around the world, regardless of race, religion, origin, or culture.

The Library specializes primarily in philological and historical disciplines and, retrospectively, also in theology, law, and the sciences.

With historic ties to the papal Scrinium, whose existence is documented as early as the 4th century, the Library began its modern history with Pope Nicholas V, who in the mid-15th century decided to open the papal book collections to scholars, and with Pope Sixtus IV, who provided a more stable organizational structure through the Bull Ad decorem militantis Ecclesiae of June 15, 1475.

Jesuits will create 2 novitiates from 5 current US and Canada novitiates

The Society of Jesus — commonly known as the Jesuits — in the United States and Canada will bring together its five current novitiates spread throughout the continent into two new novitiates starting in 2028, with one of the new novitiates to be located in Detroit.

The Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States, which includes five Jesuit provinces in North America, announced the change in a letter sent July 9 to members of the religious community.

According to the letter, which was signed by the leaders of the five North American provinces, the Detroit-based novitiate will be located at Lansing-Reilly Hall, the Jesuit residence on the campus of the University of Detroit Mercy.

In addition to hosting the novices from the Midwest province — which is based in Chicago — the Detroit novitiate will also host novices from the U.S. Eastern Province and the Canada Province.

The other novitiate will be based in Culver City, California, at the current location of the novitiate for the Jesuits' West province, the Novitiate of the Three Companions. Besides hosting novices from the Jesuits West, it will host novices from the U.S. Central and Southern provinces.

The "multi-province" model, as the society's leadership calls it, would "allow us to maintain robust cohorts of novices and provide them with the best formators we could," the provincials said in the letter.

Both novitiates are expected to accommodate up to 30 novices, with the sites ready by summer 2028.

Jesuit Fr. Joseph Daoust, superior of the Detroit Jesuit community, said the rearrangement of novitiates will ensure each location has an adequate number of novices for a proper formation experience, and it will free up other members of the Jesuits for different works in the society.

"Running five novitiates takes an awful lot of Jesuit staff of very good people," Daoust told Detroit Catholic, the news outlet of the Archdiocese of Detroit. "You have to have three or four Jesuits in each of the novitiates, who usually are more senior Jesuits who serve as the formators of the novices. If we could put the novices in only two novitiates rather than five, we would save an awful lot of very valuable manpower for other works of the Society of Jesus."

Daoust added that the number of novices entering each of the five current novitiates fluctuates "quite a bit" from year to year, with anywhere from one to 12 new novices per year.

Consolidation will allow the Jesuits to maintain steady numbers in each of the two new novitiates, including the opportunity to move novices back and forth between novitiates as necessary.

Novitiates host novices for their first two years of religious formation "in the spirituality of St. Ignatius of Loyola," Daoust said.

"It takes two years of formation before they can make permanent vows of poverty, chastity and obedience," he explained. "So the men living here are not technically religious in the full sense; they haven’t taken vows, and they can leave at any time if they want. But they’re here to be trained in order to become vowed Jesuits, members of the Society of Jesus."

Novices go through various Jesuit experiences, including a 30-day silent retreat, apostolic immersion experiences at various Jesuit ministries throughout the country and the world, and extensive study of the Jesuit constitutions and Ignatian spirituality.

Lansing-Reilly Hall was built in 1926-27 as one of the first buildings on the now-University of Detroit Mercy's McNichols campus to serve as the primary residence for the Detroit Jesuit community.

Among the advantages for moving the novitiate to Detroit, Daoust cited the Jesuits' presence in Detroit — including at the University of Detroit Mercy, University of Detroit Jesuit High School, Loyola High School, Gesu Parish, SS. Peter and Paul (Jesuit) Parish, the Manresa Retreat Center and the Pope Francis Center and Bridge Housing Facility.

"It's a real gift to have all these Jesuit experiences nearby to show the novices what Jesuit ministry is like," Daoust said.

Some slight modifications to Lansing-Reilly Hall will be necessary to house up to 30 novices plus staff on a regular basis, including switching from double to single rooms and minor plumbing and electrical updates to the 100-year-old building. The 18 vowed Jesuits currently living at Lansing-Reilly Hall are making arrangements to relocate to other nearby Jesuit residences.

Moving the novitiate to Detroit also comes as the Society of Jesus prepares to celebrate its 150th anniversary in the city on July 31, the feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola, with a special Mass celebrated by Cardinal Joseph Tobin of Newark, New Jersey, a Detroit native, and Detroit Archbishop Edward  Weisenburger.

"I think it's going to make it a much richer experience for the novices in their first two years because it'll be a consistent large community of novices, and even the interchange between the different provinces is going to be enriching, too," Daoust said.

Bishop Gavin pays tribute to Friars at final Mass in Saint Augustine’s Church

At the beginning of the Mass, Bishop Fintan Gavin, Bishop of Cork and Ross, offered the following words of appreciation:

Today is a sad and historic day for Cork. It marks both the closing of this much-loved church and the conclusion of the Augustinian friars’ long ministry in Cork.

We gather for the final celebration of the Eucharist in Saint Augustine’s Church, which for eighty-four years has stood at the heart of our city as a place of prayer, welcome and peace.

On behalf of the priests, deacons and people of the Diocese of Cork and Ross, and on my own behalf, I want to express deep gratitude to the Augustinian friars.

Your presence in Cork reaches back to 1272. Across so many generations, and through very different times in the history of this city, the Augustinian family has been part of Cork’s spiritual, cultural and human life.

That ministry was not confined to this church. The Augustinians also served the wider community through chaplaincy in education, in hospitals, and with religious communities such as St Marie’s of the Isle.

Here in Saint Augustine’s Washington Street, since 1942, generations of friars have preached the Gospel, celebrated the Mass, heard confessions, listened to people’s stories and welcomed all who came through these doors. They have offered a quiet space in which people could pray, seek forgiveness, bring their worries to God, or simply sit in his presence.

For many people, Saint Augustine’s has been a place to which they returned through the years: for daily Mass or confession, in times of grief or uncertainty, or simply for a moment of quiet prayer.  For many, it has become a spiritual home.

That is why the closing of this church brings a real and deep sense of loss to so many people.

No church can simply be replaced in the affection and memory of those who have prayed there over many years. Nor should we pretend that today is not painful.  It is.

As your Bishop, I am committed to listening to all those who feel this loss most keenly, and to responding pastorally to the needs which this closing leaves behind: the need for the celebration of Mass, for confession, for quiet prayer, for welcome, for companionship and for a place to encounter Jesus in the heart of our city.

Cork city centre continues to be blessed by the presence and ministry of the Franciscans, Capuchins and Dominicans. Nearby, Saint Peter and Paul’s is being renewed in recent years and is a place of daily Mass, 24-hour adoration, prayer, welcome and pastoral activity such as the Saint. 

Peter and Saint Paul’s Young Adult Community and the Emmaus Café as part of the Cathedral Family of Parishes.

I do not mention these things as substitutes for Saint Augustine’s, or to lessen the sadness of today, because that sadness is real.  But they do remind us that the life of faith in our city is continuing in different ways.

In recent weeks, we have seen signs of that life and hope in a very visible way. The visit of the relics of Saint Carlo Acutis brought people of all ages to prayer. Young people from across the diocese took part in a mission in our schools in the city centre, in parishes and on the streets.  For one hundred continuous hours, people came to Saints Peter and Paul’s to pray before the Blessed Sacrament. Then, despite the rain, thousands walked in faith through the streets of Cork for the centenary Eucharistic Procession.

These moments remind us that the Holy Spirit is still at work among us, inviting us to renew our faith and to find new ways of living it, sharing it and handing it on.

The Church in Cork is going through a time of change. Change can bring uncertainty and sadness. But it can also invite us to listen more attentively to where the Holy Spirit is leading us.

The seed of faith which has been sown here over generations will not be lost. The Eucharist celebrated here, the Word of God proclaimed here, the forgiveness received here, the tears shed here and candles lit and the prayers said here have not returned to God empty.

That faith lives on in the lives of those who have prayed here, served here, found healing here and encountered Christ here.

So today, with gratitude in our hearts and with real sadness too, we give thanks for the Augustinian friars, past and present. We ask the Lord to bless them in the years ahead. And we entrust to God all those for whom this church has been a spiritual home.

May Saint Augustine intercede for us, that in the midst of change our hearts may remain fixed on Christ. And may the Lord continue to guide the people of Cork and Ross, as together we seek to place him, his Church and his Gospel at the heart of our city.

Pope Leo XIV: Make time for prayer and silence in the summer

From the Apostolic Palace of Castel Gandolfo, where he moved on July 5 to enjoy a period of rest, Pope Leo XIV has invited the faithful to make time for “meaningful moments of silence and prayer” during the summer.

The pontiff’s remarks were made during his Sunday Angelus address on July 12 at Castel Gandolfo, where he will remain until July 27.

Reviving a summer papal tradition

This summer, Leo XIV decided to spend part of it on vacation at the Apostolic Palace of Castel Gandolfo, becoming the first pope to do so since 2012. The residence has been used by the popes as a countryside retreat for over 400 years, and was a preferred vacation spot of Benedict XVI and St. John Paul II.

Pope Francis, however, never left the Vatican during the summer of his 12-year papacy, choosing instead to remain at the Casa Santa Marta and repurpose the papal summer residence at Castel Gandolfo as a museum.

The palace itself is a 17th-century building on the shores of Lake Albano. Although it will be closed to the public during the pope’s vacation, the nearby papal gardens will remain open to visitors.

During Leo’s vacation, all private and public audiences, including the Wednesday general audience, are suspended. His only public audiences will be the Sunday Angelus, with the only exception so far being his lunch with the poor in the gardens on July 11.

The parable of the sower

Commenting on the Sunday Gospel for the day, which contains the parable of the sower, Leo XIV highlighted “the generosity and trust” with which God puts his word and power in the hearts of believers.

“Jesus himself, the Word made flesh, who gave his life for our salvation, is the seed that the Father continues to sow throughout the world so that, by dying, he may bear much fruit,” Leo said in his address.

The pope also explained that, just as in the parable where the seed is planted in different soils, the faithful do not each receive this gift in the same way.

“It is true that sometimes [God] finds in us hard and unresponsive soil, at other times distracted soil, like the beaten path, the rocky ground, or the thorny bushes. Yet there are also moments when he finds receptive and fertile ground, and then miracles of love are set in motion that have the power to transform everything — as we ourselves have no doubt experienced in our own lives.”

Leo also reminded the faithful present that God’s love “is stronger than our weakness” and that he never stops sowing and believing in them. He also invited them to take advantage of the summer holidays to experience God through silence and prayer.

“Let us therefore resolve, especially during these summer days of vacation, to make room for listening to, reading, and meditating on the Word of God, thereby fostering — together with rest and wholesome recreation— meaningful moments of silence and prayer,” Leo said.

A renewed appeal for peace

After praying the Angelus, Leo XIV renewed his appeal for peace in war-torn regions, lamenting that “the winds of war are blowing once again in the Middle East, in Ukraine and in many other parts of the world, sowing violence, terror and death.”

The pope also urged political leaders to resume dialogue and opt for diplomatic means to stop the escalation of conflicts.

Leoʼs words come at a time of rising international tension, after the United States and Iran once again became embroiled in a dangerous spiral of attacks. The United States launched new airstrikes against Iranian territory following the Revolutionary Guardʼs attack on a Cypriot-flagged cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz.

Finally, the pope, recalling that July 12 is “Sea Sunday,” gave a special greeting to sailors, fishermen, and port workers. He praised them for their work despite being “marked by separation from their loved ones and sometimes by fear of the conflicts [that] occur on the seas.”