The bishops of France have requested a new overflow area for Pope Leo XIV’s outdoor Mass in Paris as registrations approached 600,000 people. Archbishop Laurent Ulrich said the Mass would be a “historic celebration”.
The Pope’s visit to France, which will take place from September 25 to 28, will include a visit to the Élysée Palace, Notre-Dame Cathedral, UNESCO headquarters and the shrine of Lourdes. The itinerary will also include a visit to Metz.
Justice & Peace Scotland, the human rights and social justice advocacy arm of the bishops’ conference, has welcomed the UK Government’s announcement that it will sanction imports from illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank. It said the move was a “much-needed step” to prevent the further expansion of settlements.
The sanctions imposed by the UK Government will ban goods produced in settlements as well as act against those who facilitate the expansion of settlements, such as individuals and companies.
The Caritas Social Action Network (CSAN) has said that the “challenge should not end here” following the defeat of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill on September 11. In a September 15 statement, it noted that Catholic organisations, as well as the bishops of England and Wales, had been “vocal in opposing iterations of the assisted dying Bill”.
The organisation urged the outcome to encourage the Government “towards the crucial step of drastically improving palliative and social care provisions”.
The Department of Education announced an investigation into a Massachusetts school district accused of socially transitioning a minor child without the permission or knowledge of her parents. The parents say they lost custody of their daughter after refusing to affirm her chosen gender identity.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops announced the creation of a task force on artificial intelligence earlier this week, citing the call from Pope Leo XIV in his recent encyclical. The bishops met with leaders in the AI industry and other specialists.
There were a handful of new bishop appointments in the United States this week, with Bishop Brendan Cahill moving from Victoria, Texas, to Joliet, Illinois, and Bishop Michael Saporito appointed bishop of Metuchen, New Jersey. Bishop Saporito is presently an auxiliary bishop with the Archdiocese of Newark. Pope Leo XIV also accepted the resignation of Bishop Francis Malone of Shreveport, who has reached the retirement age.
Virginia began early voting on September 18, and the state’s two bishops have been proactive in encouraging Catholics to vote “no” on two proposed constitutional amendments. One would expand abortion access and the other would repeal the state’s existing constitutional amendment defining marriage as between one man and one woman. The Diocese of Arlington has publicly urged Catholics to vote “no” on both amendments.
