Bulletins, Newsletters, and Flocknotes

The annual meeting between the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue (DID) and the Office of Interreligious Dialogue and Cooperation (IRDC) of the World Council of Churches (WCC) was held at the Dicastery’s office from 17 to 20 February 2025.  This year’s gathering reviewed the impact of past joint initiatives, took note of interreligious activities by the respective entities, explored future joint-projects and laid the groundwork for the 50th anniversary of cooperation between the two offices to take place in 2027.

Since 1977, the DID and the WCC have fostered interreligious dialogue in ecumenical cooperation, producing key documents such as Interreligious Prayer (1994), Reflection on Interreligious Marriage (1997), Christian Witness in a Multi-Religious World: Recommendations for Conduct (2011), Education for Peace in a Multi-Religious World: A Christian Perspective (2019), and Serving a Wounded World in Interreligious Solidarity: A Christian Call to Reflection and Action During COVID-19 (2020).

Both delegations expressed their satisfaction at the deepening friendship and cooperation between the two institutions.  Recognizing religious diversity as an increasingly global reality, they reaffirmed their commitment to engagement in interreligious dialogue.  In a world fractured by conflict, they emphasized the vital role of religions – when guided by dialogue – in contributing to healing divisions, fostering fraternity, and cultivating peace and reconciliation.

Appointment of auxiliary bishop of the military ordinariate for the United States

The Holy Father has appointed the Reverend Gregg M. Caggianelli, of the clergy of the diocese of Venice, Florida, vice rector of the Saint Vincent de Paul Seminary in Boynton Beach, FL, as auxiliary bishop of the military ordinariate for the United States, assigning him the titular see of Gemellae in Byzacena.

Curriculum vitae

Msgr. Gregg M. Caggianelli was born on 2 August 1968 in Kingston, New York. He studied aerospace engineering in Michigan and mechanical engineering in Ohio. He transferred to Florida, entered the seminary of the diocese of Venice, and carried out his studies in philosophy and theology at Saint Vincent de Paul Seminary in Boynton Beach.

He was awarded a doctorate in homiletics at the Aquinas Institute of Theology of Saint Louis in Missouri.

He received priestly ordination on 25 October 2002, and was incardinated in the diocese of Venice in Florida.

He served in the Air Force (1991-1996), and subsequently served the Corps as military chaplain (2002).

He is currently vice rector and dean of Human Formation in the Saint Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach, Florida, United States of America.

Today,  Thursday 20 February 2025 , at  13.30 , a press conference will be held at the Holy See Press Office, Via della Conciliazione 54, to present the  MED 25 Odyssey – Bel Espoir initiative  which, from 1 March until the end of October 2025, will feature 200 young people, of all nationalities, cultures and religions, taking turns on board a three-masted schooner, the Bel Espoir, participating in training sessions on peace, organizing conferences and festivals in each port of call and living an experience of encounter and fraternity.

The speakers will be:

-  His Eminence Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline , archbishop of Marseille;

-  His Eminence Juan José Omella Omella , archbishop of Barcelona;

-  Archbishop Giuseppe Satriano  of Bari-Bitonto;

-  Fr. Alexis Leproux , episcopal vicar of Marseille, in charge of relations with the Mediterranean.

The press conference will be livestreamed in the original language on the Vatican News YouTube channel, at  https://www.youtube.com/c/VaticanNews .

Appointment of bishop of Saint-Dié, France

The Holy Father has appointed the Reverend Francçois Gourdon, of the clergy of the diocese of Angers, until now parish priest of the Cathedral of Angers and dean of Angers-Centre.

Curriculum vitae

Msgr. François Gourdon was born on 24 August 1968 in Chanzeaux, Maine-et-Loire. He carried out his studies in philosophy and theology at the seminaries of Angers and Nantes.

He was ordained a priest on 29 June 1997, and incardinated in the diocese of Angers.

After ordination, he first served as parish vicar of Sainte-Marthe-et-Marie in Baugeois, parish vicar of Saint-Martin-du-Noyantais , parish priest in solidum of Cholet, chaplain of school pastoral care and dean. He was awarded a licentiate at the Faculty of Theology of Brussels, and went on to serve as parish priest of Notre-Dame-du-Loir and Saint-Paul in Baugeois, episcopal vicar for the zones of Baugeois and Saumurois, parish priest of the Saint-Maurice Cathedral, Notre-Dame of Angers, episcopal vicar of Angers, and dean of Angers-Centre.

The following is the text of the catechesis of the Holy Father, prepared for the General Audience today, Wednesday 19 February:

 

Catechesis of the Holy Father

Cycle of Catechesis – Jubilee 2025

Jesus Christ our hope

I. The childhood of Jesus

 

6. “They saw the child … They prostrated themselves and did him homage” (Mt 2:11).

The Visit of the Magi to the newborn King

 

Reading: Mt 2:9-11

Behold, the star that [the Magi] had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage.

 

Dear brothers and sisters,

In the Gospels of the childhood of Jesus there is an episode which is exclusive to Matthew’s narrative: the visit of the Magi. Attracted by the appearance of a star, which in many cultures is the harbinger of the birth of an exceptional person, some wise men set out on a journey from the east, without knowing exactly where they will go. They are the Magi, people who do not belong to the people of the covenant. The last time we spoke about the shepherds of Bethlehem, marginalized by Hebrew society because they were considered “impure”; today we encounter another category, the foreigners, who immediately arrive to pay homage to the Son of God who entered into history with an entirely precedented kingship. Hence, the Gospels tell us clearly that the poor and foreigners are invited among the first to meet God made child, the Saviour of the world.

The Magi were considered to be representatives both of the primordial races, generated by the three sons of Noah, and of the three continents known in antiquity, Asia, Africa and Europe, as well as the three phases of human life: youth, maturity and old age. Aside from all possible interpretations, they are men who do not stay still but, like the great chosen ones of biblical history, feel the need to move, to go forth. They are men who are able to look beyond themselves, who know how to look upwards.

The attraction for the star that appeared in the sky sets them on the move to the land of Judaea, to Jerusalem, where they meet King Herod. Their naivety and trust in asking for information about the newborn king of the Jews clashes with the shrewdness of Herod, who, troubled by the fear of losing his throne, immediately tries to obtain a better view, contacting the scribes and asking them to investigate.

The power of the earthly ruler thus shows all his weakness. The experts know the Scriptures and refer to the king the place where, according to Micah’s prophecy, the leader and shepherd of the people of Israel should be born ( Mi 5:1): little Bethlehem, and not great Jerusalem! Indeed, as Paul reminds the Corinthians, “God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong” ( 1 Cor 1:27).

However, the scribes, who are able to identify the Messiah’s birthplace exactly, show the way to others, but they themselves do not move! Indeed, it is not enough to know the prophetic texts to tune in to the divine frequencies; one must let them to enter within and allow the Word of God to revive the yearning to seek, the kindle to desire to see God.

At this point Herod, acting in secret, as do the deceitful and violent, asks the Magi the precise moment of the appearance of the star and incites them to continue their journey and then to return to bring him news, so that he too can go and adore the newborn. For those attached to power, Jesus is not the hope to be welcomed, but a threat to be eliminated!

When the Magi set off again, the star reappears and leads them to Jesus, the sign that creation and the prophetic word represent the alphabet with which God speaks and lets Himself be found. The sight of the star inspires an irrepressible joy in those men, because the Holy Spirit, who stirs the heart of whoever sincerely seeks God, also fills it with joy. Having entered the house, the Magi prostrate themselves, adore Jesus and offer Him precious gifts, worthy of a king, worthy of God. Why? What do they see? An ancient author writes: they see “a humble little body that the Word has assumed; but the glory of divinity is not hidden from them. They see an infant child; but they worship God” (CROMAZIO DI AQUILEIA, Comment on the Gospel of Matthew , 5:1). The Magi thus become the first believers among the pagans, the image of the Church drawn together from every language and nation.

Dear brothers and sisters, let us, too, follow in the footsteps of the Magi, these “pilgrims of hope” who, with great courage, turned their steps, hearts and goods towards the One who is the hope not only of Israel but of all peoples. Let us learn to adore God in His smallness, in His kingship that does not crush but rather sets us free and enables us to serve with dignity. And let us offer Him the most beautiful gifts, to express our faith and our love.