Bulletins, Newsletters, and Flocknotes

This morning’s General Audience took place at 10.00 in Saint Peter’s Square, where the Holy Father Leo XIV met with groups of pilgrims and faithful from Italy and all over the world.

In his address in Italian, the Pope resumed his cycle of catechesis on “The Documents of the Second Vatican Council”, focusing on the theme: Dogmatic Constitution Lumen gentium. The Virgin Mary, model of the Church (Reading: Acts 1:13-14).

After summarizing his catechesis in various languages, the Holy Father addressed special greetings to the faithful present.

The General Audience concluded with the recitation of the Pater Noster and the Apostolic Blessing.

 

The Documents of the Second Vatican Council. II. Dogmatic Constitution Lumen gentium. 9. The Virgin Mary, model of the Church

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning and welcome!

The Second Vatican Council  chose to dedicate the last chapter of the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church to the Virgin Mary (cf.  Lumen gentium , 52-69). She “is hailed as a pre-eminent and singular member of the Church, and as its type and excellent example in faith and charity” ( LG , 53). These words invite us to understand how in Mary, who under the action of the Holy Spirit welcomed and brought forth the Son of God made flesh, we can recognize both the  model  and the pre-eminent  member  and  mother  of the entire ecclesial community.

By allowing Herself to be shaped by the work of Grace, which came to fulfilment in Her, and by welcoming the gift of the Most High with Her faith and Her virginal love, Mary is the perfect  model  of what the whole Church is called to be: a creature of the Word of the Lord and mother of the children of God, begotten in docility to the action of the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, as She is the believer  par excellence , in whom we are offered the perfect form of unconditional openness to the divine mystery within the communion of God’s holy people, Mary is an  excellent  member of the ecclesial community. Finally, inasmuch as She brings forth children in the Son, loved in the eternal Beloved who came among us, Mary is the mother of the whole Church, which can turn to her with filial confidence, in the certainty of being heard, protected and loved.

On might express the sum of these characteristics of the Virgin Mary by referring to Her as a  woman who is the icon of the Mystery.  The word  woman  highlights the historical reality of this young daughter of Israel, to whom it was granted to live the extraordinary experience of becoming the mother of the Messiah. The expression  icon  emphasizes that, in Her, the twofold movement of descent and ascent is fulfilled: in Her, both God’s gratuitous election and Her free consent of faith in Him shine forth. Mary is therefore the woman who is the icon of the Mystery, that is, of the divine plan of salvation, once hidden and now revealed in its fullness in Jesus Christ.

The Council has left us clear teaching on the unique place reserved to the Virgin Mary in the work of Redemption (cf.  Lumen gentium , 60-62). It recalls that the sole Mediator of salvation is Jesus Christ (cf.  1 Tm  2:5-6), and that his Mother Most Holy “in no way impedes, but rather fosters the immediate union of the faithful with Christ (cf.  LG , 60). At the same time, “predestined from eternity by that decree of divine providence which determined the incarnation of the Word to be the Mother of God, the Blessed Virgin … in this singular way … cooperated by Her obedience, faith, hope and burning charity in the work of the Saviour in giving back supernatural life to souls. Wherefore She is our mother in the order of grace” ( ibid. , 61).

The mystery of the Church is also reflected in the Virgin Mary: in Her, the people of God find the representation of their origin, their model and their homeland. In the Mother of the Lord, the Church contemplates her own mystery, not only because she finds in Her the model of virginal faith, maternal charity and the spousal covenant to which she is called, but also and above all because in Her she recognizes her own archetype, the ideal figure of what she is called to be.

As we can see, the reflections on the Virgin Mother collected in  Lumen gentium  teach us to love the Church and to serve within her the fulfilment of the Kingdom of God, which is coming and which will be fully realized in glory.

Let us then allow ourselves to be questioned by the sublime model given to us by Mary, Virgin and Mother, and let us ask Her to help us, through Her intercession, to respond to what is asked of us through Her example: do I live my participation of the Church with humble and active faith? Do I recognize in her the community of the covenant that God has given me to respond to His infinite love? Do I feel that I am a living part of the Church, in obedience to the pastors given by God? Do I look to Mary as a model, an outstanding member and Mother of the Church, and ask Her to help me be a faithful disciple of her Son?

Sisters and brothers, may the Holy Spirit, who descended upon Mary and is invoked by us humbly and trustfully, grant us the grace to live these wonderful realities to the full. And, having reflected deeply on the Constitution  Lumen gentium , let us ask the Virgin to obtain this gift for us: that love for the Holy Mother Church may grow in all of us. So be it!

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Greeting in English

I greet the English speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in today’s audience, in particular the groups from England, Ireland, Tanzania, India, Indonesia, Canada and the United States of America. Today we remember the memorial of Our Lady of Fatima. On this day, forty-five years ago, an attempt was made on the life of  Pope John Paul II , and for these reasons, I dedicated my catechesis today to the Blessed Virgin Mary. At the same time, we will soon celebrate the Lord’s Ascension, which marks the entrance of his humanity into heaven. As we await Jesus’ second coming in glory, may we, like the Apostles, entrust ourselves to the Blessed Virgin. Upon you and your families, I willingly invoke the joy and peace of Christ the Lord. God bless you!

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Summary of the Holy Father's words

Dear brothers and sisters, in our catechesis today we contemplate Mary, whom the final chapter of the Dogmatic Constitution  Lumen gentium  recognizes as  model , perfect  member , and as  mother . Docile to the Father’s will, her son’s work of redemption and the promptings of the Holy Spirit, Mary is the  model  of what the Church is meant to be. Her unconditional “yes” shows us how to be  members  of the Church. As our  mother  by grace, she is the one to whom we can turn with filial trust, in the certainty of being heard, protected, and loved. In a special way, Mary cooperated in the work of salvation, through obedience, faith, hope, and ardent charity, to restore through her Son, the supernatural life of souls. Let us be challenged by Mary’s example of humility, active faith and obedience. Let us generously respond in love, magnifying God in our hearts, and receiving strength from the sacraments. Let ask Mary to help us be faithful disciples of her Son.

 

With regard to the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X, we reiterate what has already been communicated. The episcopal ordinations announced by the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X do not have the requisite papal mandate. This act will constitute “a schismatic act” (John Paul II , Ecclesia Dei , no. 3) and “formal adherence to the schism constitutes a grave offence against God and entails the excommunication established under Church law” ( ibid ., 5c; cf. Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, Explanatory Note , 24 August 1996).

The Holy Father continues in his prayers to ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten those responsible for the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X so that they may reconsider the extremely grave decision they have taken.

From the Vatican, 13 May 2026

Appointment of metropolitan archbishop of Benevento, Italy

Resignation and appointment of bishop of Venice, U.S.A.

Appointment of bishop of Guarabira, Brazil

Appointment of bishop of Wote, Kenya

Appointment of bishop of Ecatepec, Mexico

Appointment of auxiliary bishop of Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire

 

Appointment of metropolitan archbishop of Benevento, Italy

The Holy Father has appointed Bishop Michele Autuoro as metropolitan archbishop of Benevento, Italy, transferring him from the titular see of Passo Corese and the office of auxiliary bishop of the metropolitan archdiocese of Naples.

Curriculum vitae

Archbishop-elect Michele Autuoro was born on 27 December 1966 in Procida, in the province and archdiocese of Naples. He attended the Archiepiscopal Seminary of Naples in Capodimonte.

He was ordained a priest on 19 May 1991 for the metropolitan archdiocese of Naples.

He has held the following offices: diocesan assistant for Catholic Action Youth (1991-1994), animator at the Seminary in Capodimonte (1993-2000), parish priest of Santa Maria delle Grazie and San Leonardo in Procida (2000-2009), director of the Diocesan Missions Office (2007), parish priest of Santa Maria della Mercede in Chiaia (2009-2012), director of the Missions Office of the Italian Episcopal Conference and of the Missio Foundation (2013-2018), parish administrator of San Marco di Palazzo e Immacolata in Pizzofalcone (since 2018), and rector of the Archiepiscopal Seminary of Naples in Capodimonte (since 2019).

On 27 September 2021 he was appointed titular bishop of Passo Corese and auxiliary of Naples, Italy, receiving episcopal consecration the following 31 October.

Within the Italian Episcopal Conference, he has served as chair of the Episcopal Commission for the Evangelization of Peoples and Cooperation between Churches, president of the Missio Foundation, and assistant to the delegate for Seminaries in Italy.

Within the Regional Episcopal Conference, he is the delegate for Missionary Cooperation between Churches.

 

Resignation and appointment of bishop of Venice, U.S.A.

The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Venice, United States of America, presented by Bishop Frank J. Dewane.

The Holy Father has appointed the Reverend Emilio Biosca Agüero, O.F.M. Cap., until now parish priest of the Shrine of the Sacred Heart in Washington, as bishop of Venice, United States of America.

Curriculum vitae

Msgr. Emilio Biosca Agüero, O.F.M. Cap., was born on 15 December 1964 in Fairfax, Virginia, United States of America. He obtained a licentiate in theology from the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family in Washington.

He was ordained a priest on 21 May 1994 for the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin.

He has held the following offices: missionary in Papua New Guinea (1994-2006), missionary in Cuba (2007-2018), and since 2018, parish priest of the Shrine of the Sacred Heart in Washington.

 

Appointment of bishop of Guarabira, Brazil

The Holy Father has appointed Bishop Edilson Soares Nobre as bishop of Guarabira, Brazil, transferring him from the diocese of Oeiras.

Curriculum vitae

Msgr. Edilson Soares Nobre was born on 9 May 1965 in Touros, metropolitan archdiocese of Natal, State of Rio Grande do Norte. He studied philosophy at the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte and philosophy and theology at the São Pedro Major Seminary in Natal.

He was ordained a priest on 6 April 1991.

After ordination, he first held the roles of parish vicar of São Paulo Apóstolo in São Paulo do Potengi (1991-1992), and parish priest of Nossa Senhora da Conceição in Lajes (1992-1998) and in Macau (1998-2005). He was awarded a bachelor’s degree in communication sciences from the Salesian Pontifical University of Rome (2005-2007), and went on to serve as parish administrator of Nossa Senhora da Conceição in Nova Cruz (2008-2012), coordinator of pastoral care of priests and of communication, episcopal vicar for the clergy, and vicar general.

He was appointed bishop of Oeiras on 11 January 2017, receiving episcopal ordination the following 20 March.

Within the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (NCBB), he is a member of the Episcopal Commission for Social Communication and, within the Region Nord-est 4 , he is representative for communication and secretary for the Regional Episcopal Commission.

 

Appointment of bishop of Wote, Kenya

The Holy Father has appointed Bishop Simon Peter Kamomoe, until now auxiliary bishop and apostolic administrator sede vacante of the diocese of Wote, Kenya, as bishop of the same see.

Curriculum vitae

Bishop Simon Peter Kamomoe was born on 26 November 1962 in Gatundu, and was ordained a priest on 18 June 1994.

He was appointed titular bishop of Thubunae in Numidia and auxiliary of Nairobi on 13 February 2024, receiving episcopal consecration on 6 April 2024. Subsequently, on 5 July 2025, he was appointed auxiliary bishop of Wote and, on 16 September 2025, he was appointed apostolic administrator sede plena of the same diocese. Since 25 March 2026 he has served as apostolic administrator sede vacante of the diocese of Wote.

 

Appointment of bishop of Ecatepec, Mexico

The Holy Father has appointed Bishop José Guadalupe Torres Campos, until now bishop of Ciudad Juárez, as bishop of the diocese of Ecatepec, Mexico.

Curriculum vitae

Bishop José Guadalupe Torres Campos was born in León on 19 January 1960. He was awarded a licentiate in Church history from the Pontifical Gregorian University of Rome.

He was ordained a priest on 2 June 1984, and incardinated into the diocese of Irapuato, Mexico.

On 10 December he was appointed titular bishop of Quiza and auxiliary of Ciudad Juárez, receiving episcopal ordination on 22 February 2006.

On 25 November 2008 he was appointed as first bishop of Gómez Palacio. Subsequently, on 20 December 2014, he was appointed bishop of Ciudad Juárez.

 

Appointment of auxiliary bishop of Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire

The Holy Father has appointed the Reverend Aguia Jean Martial Arnaud Kouamé, until now parish priest of Saint Ambroise Ma vigne, Ma Vie , as auxiliary bishop of the metropolitan archdiocese of Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, assigning him the titular see of Sutunurca.

Curriculum vitae

Msgr. Aguia Jean Martial Arnaud Kouamé was born on 26 March 1977 in Abidjan. He obtained a licentiate in philosophy and a bachelor’s degree in theology from the Saint Paul VI University Seminary.

He was ordained a priest on 15 January 2005 for the metropolitan archdiocese of Abidjan.

After ordination, he first held the office of parish vicar of Saint Paul’s Cathedral in Abidjan (2005-2008) and of Saint François d’Assise de la Zinsel in Strasbourg (2008-2010). He obtained a licentiate in canon law and a master’s degree in philosophy and in history and philosophy of science at the University of Strasbourg, and went on to serve as parish vicar of Bonne Nouvelle in Hem (2010-2011) and Saint Fiacre in Dunkerque (2011-2013). He was awarded a licentiate in moral theology at the University of Lille (2012-2013) and a doctorate in Ethique, Option Ethique et Religion at the University of Strasbourg (2013-2018), and held the offices of parish vicar of Notre Dame du Chêne du Pays de Fleckenstein in Strasbourg (2013-2018), parish priest of Saint François Xavier d’Abobo , Abidjan (2018-2022), and parish priest of Saint Ambroise Ma vigne Ma Vie , Abidjan (since 2022).

This morning, the Holy Father received in audience:

- Bishop Damián Nannini of San Miguel, Argentina.

NOTIFICATION FOR THE FUNERAL OF CARDINAL EMIL PAUL TSCHERRIG

On Friday 15 May 2026, at 16.00, at the Altar of the Confessio of Saint Peter’s Basilica, the funeral of Cardinal Emil Paul Tscherrig, dean of San Giuseppe in Via Trionfale , apostolic nuncio, will be held.

The funeral will be celebrated by the Holy Father Leo XIV, together with Their Eminences the Cardinals and Their Excellencies the Archbishops and Bishops.

The Cardinals, Archbishops and Bishops who wish to concelebrate are invited to be present by 15.30 in the sacristy of Saint Peter’s Basilica in order to put on their liturgical vestments, bringing with them: the Cardinals, their white damask mitre; the Archbishops and bishops, their simple white mitre.

* * *

In accordance with the Motu Proprio Pontificalis Domus , all the members of the Papal Chapel who wish to participate in the liturgical celebration are required to wear their own choral habit and to be present at the Altar of the Cathedra by 15.30, in order to take the seat that will be indicated to them by the Pontifical Masters of Ceremonies.

Vatican City, 13 May 2026

By mandate of the Holy Father

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