Bulletins, Newsletters, and Flocknotes

This morning, in the Paul VI Hall, the Holy Father Leo XIV received in audience the representatives of the organizations that collaborated on the Jubilee.

The following is the address delivered by the Pope to those present:

 

Address of the Holy Father

In the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Peace be with you!

Dear brothers and sisters, welcome!

“How much good there is in the world!”. I am taking these words of His Excellency Archbishop Fisichella, because you are the proof: how much good there is in the world! Thank you! Thank you, truly!

I greet His Excellency Archbishop Rino Fisichella, the authorities present and the representatives of civil and ecclesiastical bodies which in various ways contributed to the Jubilee of Hope, which came to an end four days ago. Special mention goes to the Government of the Italian Republic, the Government Commissioner, the Municipality of Rome – in particular the Mayor and his organizational structure – and the Lazio Region; as well as to the Security Forces, the Prefecture, which coordinated the work, the Civil Protection and the numerous voluntary associations, and the “Jubilee 2000” Agency. I express special gratitude to the Dicastery for Evangelization – Section for Fundamental Questions regarding Evangelization in the World, and to the other Dicasteries involved, the Vatican Gendarmerie, the Pontifical Swiss Guard, the Governorate of Vatican City State, the Prefecture of the Papal Household, the various Commissions – pastoral, cultural, communication, ecumenical, technical, economic –, to the Confessor Priests, to the representatives of the Dioceses and Episcopal Conferences, to the experts of various categories who participated in the individual events, and to the five thousand “Jubilee Volunteers” of all ages and backgrounds.

I express to all of you my heartfelt gratitude for your work, both during the demanding preparatory stages and throughout the Jubilee Year. You have made a multifaceted contribution, often hidden, always demanding and full of responsibility, thanks to which more than thirty million pilgrims were able to make the Jubilee journey and participate in the celebrations and events, in an atmosphere of festivity and at the same time of composure, recollection, order and organization. Thanks to you, Rome has offered everyone its welcoming face, that of an open, cheerful and at the same time discreet and respectful community, helping everyone to live this great moment of faith fruitfully.

The visit to the tombs of Peter and Paul, of the other Apostles and Martyrs, the journey towards the Holy Door, the experience of forgiveness and of God’s mercy, were for many people moments of fruitful encounter with the Lord Jesus, in which they were able to experience first-hand that “hope does not disappoint” ( Rm 5:5), because He is living and walks in us and with us – in the salent moments of existence as in everyday normality – and because, with him, we can arrive at our destination. Saint Augustine writes, in this regard, that “Hope is very necessary for us in our exile … When the traveller, after all, finds it wearisome walking along, he puts up with the fatigue precisely because he hopes to arrive. Rob him of any hope of arriving, and straightaway his strength is broken for walking” ( Sermon 158, 8). With your work, you helped many people to find and rediscover hope, and to resume the journey of life with renewed faith and intentions of charity (cf. 1Ts 1:2-3).

I would like to recall, in particular, the presence in Rome, on the occasion of the Jubilee, of so many young people and adults from all nations. It was beautiful to experience their enthusiasm first-hand, to witness their joy, to see the seriousness with which they prayed, meditated and celebrated, to observe them, so numerous and diverse, yet united, orderly (thanks also to your valuable service!), eager to get to know one another and to experience together moments of grace, fraternity and peace. Let us reflect on what they showed us. We are all, at various levels, responsible for their future, in which lies the future of the world. Let us ask ourselves, then, in light of what we have seen: what do they really need? What truly helps them to mature and give the best of themselves? Where can they find true answers to the deepest questions they carry in their hearts? Young people need healthy role models who point them towards goodness, love and holiness, as shown to us by Saint Carlo Acutis and Saint Piergiorgio Frassati, who were canonized last September. Let us keep before us their clear and lively eyes, full of energy and at the same time so fragile: they can be of great help to us in discerning with wisdom and prudence the serious responsibilities that we have towards them.

In the Bull of Indiction of the Holy Year, Pope Francis concluded his powerful call to hope by saying: “Let us even now be drawn to this hope! Through our witness, may hope spread to all those who anxiously seek it. May the way we live our lives say to them in so many words: ‘Hope in the Lord! Hold firm, take heart and hope in the Lord!’” ( Ps 27:14)” ( Spes non confundit , 25). May this be the mandate we carry with us, as a fruitful continuation of the work accomplished, so that the many seeds of goodness that, thanks also to your help, the Lord has sown in so many hearts in recent months, may grow and develop.

At the end of this meeting, I am happy to be able to give each of you, as a small token of gratitude, the Jubilee Crucifix: a miniature of the cross with the glorious Christ that accompanied the pilgrims. May it remain with you as a reminder of this experience of collaboration. And so I bless you and wish you all the best for this new year. Thank you!

Resignation and appointment of bishop of Assisi-Nocera Umbra-Gualdo Tadino and Foligno, Italy, and union in persona Episcopi of the two sees

Appointment of coadjutor bishop of Kolda, Senegal

 

Resignation and appointment of bishop of Assisi-Nocera Umbra-Gualdo Tadino and Foligno, Italy, and union in persona Episcopi of the two sees

The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the dioceses of Assisi-Nocera Umbra-Gualdo Tadino and Foligno, united in persona Episcopi , presented by Archbishop Domenico Sorrentino.

The Holy Father has appointed Archbishop Felice Accrocca, until now metropolitan of Benevento, as bishop of the dioceses of Assisi-Nocera Umbra-Gualdo Tadino and Foligno, again uniting the two sees in persona Episcopi , maintaining his ad personam title of Archbishop.

Curriculum vitae

Archbishop Felice Accrocca was born on 2 December 1959 in Cori, in the province of Latina, in the diocese of Latina-Terracina-Sezze-Priverno. After studying theology at the Pontifical Leonian College of Anagni, he was awarded a degree in letters from the University of Rome “La Sapienza”, and a doctorate in Church history from the Pontifical Gregorian University of Rome.

He was ordained a priest on 12 July 1986, and incardinated in the diocese of Latina-Terracina-Sezze-Priverno.

He has held the following offices: deputy parish priest of Santa Maria Assunta in Cielo in Cisterna di Latina (1986-1989), parish priest of San Luca in Latina (1989-2004), director of the Paul VI Diocesan School of Theology (1994-2016), episcopal vicar for diocesan pastoral care (1999-2016), moderator of the Episcopal Curia (2001-2003), parish priest of San Pio X in Latina (2003-2012), diocesan assistant for Catholic Action (2003-2007), secretary of the diocesan Synod (2005-2012), parish priest of Sacro Cuore and parish administrator of San Pio X in Latina (2012-2016), coordinator of the diocesan Council of Lay Associations, and professor of Medieval Church history at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. He is a member of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. Within the Italian Episcopal Conference, he is a member of the Episcopal Commission for the Evangelization of Peoples and Cooperation between Churches. Within the Regional Episcopal Conference, he is the bishop delegate for education, schools and universities, the teaching of the Catholic religion, and culture.

He was elected to the metropolitan archepiscopal see of Benevento on 18 February 2016, and received episcopal ordination on the following 15 May.

 

Appointment of coadjutor bishop of Kolda, Senegal

The Holy Father has appointed the Reverend Joseph Francis Badji, of the clergy of the diocese of Ziguinchor, until now rector of the Interdiocesan Major Seminary of Saint Jean Marie Vianney in Brin, Ziguinchor, as coadjutor bishop of the diocese of Kolda, Senegal.

Curriculum vitae

Msgr. Joseph Francis Badji was born on 1 January 1966 in Ziguinchor. After studying philosophy at the Interdiocesan Major Seminary of Saint Jean Marie Vianney in Brin and theology at the Grand Séminaire François Libermann in Sebikhotane, he was awarded a master’s degree in philosophy from the Université Catholique de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (UCAO) in Abidjan.

He was ordained a priest on 28 December 1994.

He has held the following offices: vicar of the Cathédrale Notre-Dame des Victoires in Kolda (1994-1997), formator and professor of the philosophy cycle of the Interdiocesan Major Seminary of Saint Jean Marie Vianney in Brin (since 2001), head of the ongoing formation of priests (2011-2016), and rector of the Interdiocesan Major Seminary of Saint Jean Marie Vianney in Brin (since 2017).

This morning, the Holy Father received in audience:

- Bishop Rudolf Voderholzer of Regensburg, Federal Republic of Germany;

- The Honourable Séamus Boland, President of the “European Economic and Social Committee”, with his wife and entourage;

- Archbishop Adolfo Tito Yllana, titular of Montecorvino, Apostolic Nuncio in Israel, Apostolic Delegate in Jerusalem and Palestine, with family members;

- Dr. Cindy H. McCain, Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP);

- The Honourable Adrián Barbón Rodríguez, President of the Principality of Asturia;

- Jubilee Collaborators and Volunteers;

- Archbishop Héctor Miguel Cabrejos Vidarte, emeritus of Trujillo, Peru.

In the afternoon:

- Young people of the diocese of Rome.

25 January Conversion of Saint Paul the Apostle, Solemnity Basilica of Saint Paul Outside-the-Walls, 17.30 Second Vespers 59th Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

2 February Presentation of the Lord, feast Saint Peter’s Basilica, 17.00 Holy Mass 30th World Day of Consecrated Life

18 February Ash Wednesday Church of Saint Anselm, 16.30 Statio and penitential procession Basilica of Saint Sabina, 17.00 Holy Mass with the blessing and imposition of the ashes

22 February Apostolic Palace Beginning of the Spiritual Exercises of the Holy Father and the Roman Curia

27 February Apostolic Palace Conclusion of the Spiritual Exercises of the Holy Father and the Roman Curia

Vatican City, 9 January 2026

✠ Diego Ravelli Titular Archbishop of Recanati Master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations

Resignation and appointment of bishop of Molfetta-Ruvo-Giovinazzo-Terlizzi, Italy

Appointment of metropolitan archbishop of Cape Town, South Africa

 

Resignation and appointment of bishop of Molfetta-Ruvo-Giovinazzo-Terlizzi, Italy

The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Molfetta-Ruvo-Giovinazzo-Terlizzi, Italy, presented by Bishop Domenico Cornacchia.

The Holy Father has appointed the Reverend Domenico Basile, of the clergy of the diocese of Andria, until now vicar general, as bishop of the diocese of Molfetta-Ruvo-Giovinazzo-Terlizzi, Italy.

Curriculum vitae

Msgr. Domenico Basile was born on 3 June 1966 in Andria, in the diocese of the same name, in the present-day province of Barletta-Andria-Trani. He studied philosophy and theology at the Episcopal Seminary of Andria and then at the Pontifical Regional Seminary of Apulia “Pius XI” in Molfetta.

He was ordained a priest on 14 September 1991 for the diocese of Andria.

He was awarded a licentiate in pastoral theology at the Pontifical Lateran University of Rome.

He has held the following offices: parish vicar of San Giuseppe Artigiano in Andria (1991-1993), educator at the Pontifical Regional Seminary of Apulia “Pius XI” (1993-2000), director of the diocesan youth pastoral service (1996-2000), parish priest of Cuore Immacolato di Maria in Andria (2000-2017), director of diocesan library and archive (since 2015), spiritual father at the Pontifical Regional Seminary of Apulia “Pius XI” (2017-2021), and director of the Office for Ecclesiastical Cultural Heritage and Religious Buildings (since 2019).

Since 2021 he has served as vicar general of the diocese of Andria.

 

Appointment of metropolitan archbishop of Cape Town, South Africa

The Holy Father has appointed Bishop Sithembele Anton Sipuka, until now bishop of the diocese of Mthatha, as metropolitan archbishop of Cape Town, South Africa.

Curriculum vitae

Archbishop-elect Sithembele Anton Sipuka was born on 27 April 1960, in Idutywa, Eastern Cape Province, in the diocese of Queenstown. After work experience, he entered the Saint John Vianney Major Seminary.

He was ordained a priest on 17 December 1988, and incardinated in the diocese of Queenstown.

After ordination, he first held the role of parish vicar of Qoqodala and of Lady Frere, and then of parish priest in Cofimvaba (1989-1991). He studied for a licentiate in systematic theology at the Pontifical Urbaniana University of Rome (1992-1994), and went on to teach philosophy of religion and liturgy and Saint Peter’s Major Seminary of Philosophy in Pretora, and at the same time, fundamental and Eucharistic theology at the Saint John Vianney Major Seminary of Theology (1994-1995). He served as vice rector and subsequently acting rector of Saint Peter’s Seminary (1996-1999), and rector of the Saint John Vianney Major Seminary (2000-2008).

On 8 February 2008 he was appointed bishop of the diocese of Mthatha, receiving episcopal ordination on the following 3 May.

From 2019 to 2024 he held the office of president of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) for two terms.

From 2019 to 2022 he was vice president of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM). Long committed to ecumenical dialogue, he is a member of the South African Council of Churches, of which he was subsequently elected President. On 4 July 2025, the Holy Father appointed him as a member of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue.