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This morning, the Holy Father Leo XIV received in audience, in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, His Excellency Mr. José Ulisses Correia e Silva, Prime Minister of the Republic of Cabo Verde, who subsequently met with His Eminence Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of His Holiness, accompanied by the Reverend Monsignor Mihăiţă Blaj, Undersecretary for Relations with States.

During the cordial talks, held at the Secretariat of State, the positive state of relations between the Holy See and the Republic of Cabo Verde was emphasized, with particular reference to the contribution of the Catholic Church in the country and the implementation of the bilateral Agreement ratified in 2014. The parties also addressed some aspects of the national social and economic situation.

The conversation continued with an exchange of views on current regional affairs, particularly matters of security in the region of West Africa.

From the Vatican, 14 February 2026

This morning, in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father Leo XIV received in audience the members of the National Confederation of the Misericordie d’Italia , to whom he delivered the following address:

 

Address of the Holy Father

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

Peace be with you!

Good morning to you all, and welcome!

I am pleased to meet you all here in such large numbers, from various parts of Italy. I greet His Excellency Monsignor Franco Agostinelli, General Corrector, the other Bishops present, Dr. Domenico Giani, National President of the Confederation, the Correctors and representatives of the various offices in Italy and abroad.

The Misericordie have a centuries-old history, rooted in the Middle Ages, which embodies three important dimensions of lay Christian life: spirituality, charity and attention to contemporary needs.

First of all, let us consider spirituality. Since its inception, your association has drawn strength and inspiration primarily from the life of faith and the sacramental practice of its members. This was the case when, in thirteenth-century Florence, in a climate of war and internal strife within civil and ecclesial communities, thanks to the work of luminous figures such as Saint Peter the Martyr and Piero di Luca Borsi, some lay faithful decided to embark on a different path of devotion and service. Their example, perhaps precisely because of its genuine simplicity, quickly spread to many people, first on the peninsula and then to other countries, reaching Portugal and from there the Americas.

The seed from which the great tree of which you are a part germinated is therefore sacramental in nature – it is based on Baptism – and therefore moral and ascetic. This implies that, in order for the plant to continue to grow, you must first and foremost cultivate the Christian formation of your members with great commitment, through prayer, catechesis, fidelity to the Sacraments – especially Sunday Mass and Confession – and moral consistency in your choices and lifestyles, according to the values of the Gospel and the associative tradition witnessed by your Statutes. Saint John Paul II reminded the members of your Confederation of this when he said: “Through assiduous participation in the sacraments, you will become joyful witnesses of authentic Christian existence and you will be sustained in your steps in following the Lord of life, who through you wants to reveal to today's world, to the people of this astonishing and restless age, the true face of God, ‘rich in mercy’ (Eph 2:4)” ( Address to the members of the Confederation of Misericordie d'Italia , 14 June 1986).

From this perspective, the introduction of the figure of the Custodians of Mercy, laypeople who inspire laypeople, is significant, as is the name “corrector” which you use to designate spiritual assistants, seen not as guides external to the community, but as “co-rectors”, helpers, facilitators and travelling companions, whose ministry is exercised and welcomed in an atmosphere of co-responsibility, emotional belonging, and communion, in which everyone is an active agent in the joint effort of growth in Christian perfection.

And so we come to the second dimension: charity. Your history bears witness to the fact that an authentic life of faith cannot be reduced to a disembodied spiritualism, but necessarily gives rise to sensitivity to the needs of others and to generous service, without reserve. I think of so many of your brothers and sisters who have paid dearly for their fidelity to the task assigned to them: to them we offer our heartfelt thanks and our prayers.

Where there is need, the Misericordie are present, in extraordinary emergency situations, in war zones, as in the thousand hidden services of everyday solidarity “to witness the Gospel of charity”, as Pope Francis said, “among people who are sick, elderly, disabled; among minors, immigrants and the poor” ( Address to the Groups of the Misericordie e Fratres d’Italia , 14 June 2014). Through the Case di Noi , the Empori solidali , food banks, home care, listening and accompaniment services, you establish relationships of trust and paths of social reintegration with people, which extend far beyond the simple provision of services, however qualified. You do not limit yourselves to “doing for”, but you commit yourselves to “walking with”, recognizing others as brothers and sisters, each with their own dignity and history, to be encountered with gratitude for mutual giving and with whom to walk the path of holiness together.

And there is a final aspect to focus on: attention to contemporary needs, which also characterizes you. Indeed, thanks to a solid spiritual and community base and zeal for the good of others, the Misericordie have for centuries been witnesses of the capacity to adapt and renew, showing that to act “together” and to do “out of love” also helps to act in a free and creative way (cf. Francis, Address to members of Italian Caritas on the 50 th anniversary of its founding , 26 June 2021). They are signs of the many and varied activities you have embraced for hundreds of years, according to the needs of others; as well as the presence in this room, addition to your brothers and sisters, of the fratres , who were recently established to promote the culture of giving through the donation of blood, organs and tissues; and also of the “ Piccola misericordia ” (“Little Mercy”), where children learn to practise charity immediately, from an early age.

Dear friends, I encourage you to continue your commitment as a community in which faith is lived intensely and charity is practised. Aim to grow in spirit and to serve with joy and simplicity, extraneous to any logic of power, devoted to the praise of God and the good of those whom the Lord places on your path. Always be messengers of hope, charity and peace, as symbolized by the Jubilee Icon, which, after a long journey, has visited many communities and is now being handed over to our brothers and sisters in Ukraine.

I thank you for what you do, I remember you in my prayers and I cordially impart my apostolic blessing to you and your families. Thank you.

Press Conference of 16 February 2026

Press Conference of 17 February 2026

 

Press Conference of 16 February 2026

On  Monday 16 February 2026 , at  11.30 , a press conference will be held at the Holy See Press Office, Via della Conciliazione 54, to present the  initiatives for the fourth Centenary of the Dedication of the Basilica of Saint Peter in the Vatican  (1626-2026).

The speaker will be:  His Eminence Cardinal Mauro Gambetti , O.F.M. Conv., archpriest of the Papal Basilica of Saint Peter, vicar general of His Holiness for Vatican City State and president of the Fabric of Saint Peter.

On the occasion, several activities of a spiritual and cultural nature will be announced, as well as the new services which will be made available to pilgrims and visitors. In addition, the project  “Oltre il visibile” (“Beyond the Visible”), organized jointly with Eni , for the integrated study and monitoring of the Basilica, will be illustrated. The project is particularly significant given that cutting-edge technologies will enable visitors from all over the world to learn about and interact with the Basilica and its digital ecosystem. In this regard, there will be a  press tour of  the immersive installation dedicated to the story of the construction of Saint Peter's Basilica.

To this end, the following will speak:

-  Claudio Granata , director for Stakeholder Relations & Services of Eni;

-  Alberto Capitanucci , senior advisor for Special Projects of the Fabric of Saint Peter;

-  Annalisa Muccioli , head of Research and Development and technical functions of Eni;

-  Jacopo Veneziani , art historian.

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

Remote participation

Journalists and media operators who wish to participate remotely in the press conference must apply, no later than two hours before the event, via the Holy See Press Office online accreditation system, at  https://press.vatican.va/accreditamenti , selecting the event:  CS Quarto Centenario Dedicazione Basilica di San Pietro in Vaticano.

During the request phase, please select the option “Sì” in the box “Partecipazione da remoto”.

Journalists and media operators who are admitted will receive confirmation of participation via the online accreditation system and, at the same time, the link to access the virtual platform and participate actively in the press conference, with the possibility to ask questions.

Participation in person

Journalists and media operators who wish to participate in the press conference in person must apply, no later than 24 hours before the event, via the Holy See Press Office online accreditation system, at  https://press.vatican.va/accreditamenti , selecting the event:  CS Quarto Centenario Dedicazione Basilica di San Pietro in Vaticano.

Journalists and media operators who are admitted will receive confirmation of participation via the online accreditation system.

* * *

Journalists and media operators accredited for the press conference are advised to arrive 30 minutes before the start time.

 

Press Conference of 17 February 2026

On  Tuesday 17 February 2026 , at  11.30 , a press conference will be held at the Holy See Press Office, Via della Conciliazione 54, to present the  “Healthcare for all. Sustainability and equity” International Workshop  organized by the Pontifical Academy for Life, to be held in Rome from 16 to 17 February 2026, at the Patristic Institute  Augustinianum , Via Paolo VI, 25.

The speakers will be:

-  Msgr. Renzo Pegoraro , president of the Pontifical Academy for Life;

-  Msgr. Robert J. Vitillo , senior advisor of the Dicastery for Integral Human Development;

-  Mr. Ezekiel J. Emmanuel , vice provost of Global Initiatives;

-  Ms. Sheila Tlou , African Leaders Malaria Alliance.

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

Remote participation

Journalists and media operators who wish to participate remotely in the press conference must apply, no later than two hours before the event, via the Holy See Press Office online accreditation system, at  https://press.vatican.va/accreditamenti , selecting the event:  CS Healthcare for all. Sustainability and equity.

During the request phase, please select the option “Sì” in the box “Partecipazione da remoto”.

Journalists and media operators who are admitted will receive confirmation of participation via the online accreditation system and, at the same time, the link to access the virtual platform and participate actively in the press conference, with the possibility to ask questions.

Participation in person

Journalists and media operators who wish to participate in the press conference in person must apply, no later than 24 hours before the event, via the Holy See Press Office online accreditation system, at  https://press.vatican.va/accreditamenti , selecting the event:  CS Healthcare for all. Sustainability and equity.

* * *

Journalists and media operators accredited for the press conference are advised to arrive 30 minutes before the start time.

Simultaneous translation

Both by connecting to the respective  Vatican News  linguistic YouTube channels and by using the virtual participation platform indicated in the paragraph “Remote participation”, it will be possible to access the simultaneous translation channels and to listen to the press conference in  Italian  and  English .

Simultaneous translation will also be available to those present at the Holy See Press Office.

* * *

Journalists and media operators who are admitted will receive confirmation of participation via the online accreditation system.

Resignation of bishop of Amarillo, U.S.A., and appointment of apostolic administrator sede vacante

Appointment and confirmation of members of the Dicastery for Bishops

Appointment of bishop of Montería, Colombia

Appointment of bishop of Sindhudurg, India

Appointment of judicial vicar of the Court of First Instance for marriage annulment cases in the Lazio Region

 

Resignation of bishop of Amarillo, U.S.A., and appointment of apostolic administrator sede vacante

The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Amarillo, United States of America, presented by Bishop Patrick J. Zurek, and has appointed His Eminence Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo, archbishop emeritus of Galveston-Houston, as apostolic administrator sede vacante of the same diocese.

 

Appointment and confirmation of members of the Dicastery for Bishops

His Holiness Leo XIV has appointed the Reverend Sr. Simona Brambilla , M.C., prefect of the Dicastery for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Societies of Apostolic Life, as member of the Dicastery for Bishops.

In addition, the Holy Father has confirmed as members of the aforementioned Curial institution Their Eminences Cardinals: Pietro Parolin , Secretary of State; Kurt Koch , prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity; João Braz de Aviz , prefect emeritus of the Dicastery for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Societies of Apostolic Life; Sérgio da Rocha , metropolitan archbishop of São Salvador da Bahia, Brazil; Blase Joseph Cupich , metropolitan archbishop of Chicago, United States of America; Joseph William Tobin , C.SS.R., metropolitan archbishop of Newark, United States of America; Juan José Omella Omella , metropolitan archbishop of Barcelona, Spain; Anders Arborelius , O.C.D., bishop of Stockholm, Sweden; Jose F. Advincula , metropolitan archbishop of Manila, Philippines; Augusto Paolo Lojudice , metropolitan archbishop of Siena-Colle di Val d’Elsa-Montalcino and bishop of Montepulciano-Chiusi-Pienza, Italy; Jean-Marc Aveline , metropolitan archbishop of Marseille, France; Oscar Cantoni , bishop of Como, Italy; Grzegorz Ryś , metropolitan archbishop of Kraków, Poland; José Cobo Cano , metropolitan archbishop of Madrid, Spain; José Tolentino de Mendonça , prefect of the Dicastery for Culture and Education; Mario Grech , secretary general of the General Secretariat of the Synod; Arthur Roche , prefect of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments; Lazzaro You Heung-sik , prefect of the Dicastery for the Clergy; Claudio Gugerotti , prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches; Víctor Manuel Fernández , prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith; Paul Emil Tscherrig , apostolic nuncio; Rolandas Makrickas , archpriest of the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major; and their Excellencies: Archbishop Dražen Kutleša , metropolitan of Zagreb, Croatia; Archbishop Jorge Ignacio García Cuerva , metropolitan of Buenos Aires, Argentina; Bishop Felix Genn , emeritus of Münster, Germany; Bishop Paul Desmond Tighe , secretary of the Dicastery for Culture and Education; Bishop José Antonio Satué Huerto of Málaga, Spain; the Most Reverend Father Donato Ogliari , O.S.B., abbot of the Monastery of Saint Paul Outside-the-Walls; the Reverend Sr. Raffaella Petrini , F.S.E., president of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State; and Ms. María Lía Zervino , former president of the World Union of Catholic Women’s Organisations .

 

Appointment of bishop of Montería, Colombia

The Holy Father has appointed Bishop Rubén Darío Jaramillo Montoya as bishop of the diocese of Montería, Colombia, transferring him from the diocese of Buenaventura, Colombia.

Curriculum vitae

Bishop Rubén Darío Jaramillo Montoya was born on 15 August 1966 in Santa Rosa de Cabal, in the diocese of Pereira. After attending the Seminario Mayor “María Inmaculada” of the diocese of Pereira, he obtained a licentiate in education from the Universidad Católica de Pereira , and a specialization in Gerencia de Instituciones de Educación Superior at the Universidad Santo Tomás in Bogotá.

He was ordained a priest on 4 October 1992, and incardinated in the diocese of Pereira.

He has held the following offices: parish vicar in Santuario and in Apía, parish priest in Villa Santana, director of the Diocesan Secretariat for Social Pastoral Care, director of diocesan Caritas, rector of the Colegio Católico Baltasar Álvarez Restrepo , parish priest of Santa Teresita del Niño Jesús in Dosquebradas, bursar of the diocese of Pereira, rector of the Seminario Mayor “María Inmaculada” of Pereira, and rector of the Universidad Católica de Pereira.

He was appointed bishop of Buenaventura on 30 June 2017, receiving episcopal ordination the following 28 July.

 

Appointment of bishop of Sindhudurg, India

The Holy Father has appointed the Reverend Francisco Antonio Agnelo Jacinto Pinheiro, of the metropolitan archdiocesan clergy of Goa and Damão, until now professor of philosophy at the Patriarchal Seminar of Rachol and responsible for the Apostolate of Interreligious Dialogue of the metropolitan archdiocesan clergy of Goa and Damão, as bishop of the diocese of Sindhudurg, India.

Curriculum vitae

Msgr. Francisco Antonio Agnelo Jacinto Pinheiro was born on 6 July 1972 in Raia, India. After studying philosophy and theology at the Patriarchal Seminary of Rachol, he was awarded a degree in psychology from Goa University, a master’s degree in philosophy from the Jnana Deepa Institute of Philosophy and Theology in Pune, and a doctorate in philosophy from the Pontifical Gregorian University of Rome.

He was ordained a priest on 28 October 2000 for the metropolitan archdiocese of Goa and Damão.

He has held the following offices: deputy parish priest of Saint Alex in Calangute (2000-2001), professor of philosophy at the Patriarchal Seminary of Rachol (2004-2013 and since 2017), responsible for the Apostolate of Interreligious Dialogue of the metropolitan archdiocesan clergy of Goa and Damão (since 2018), and administrator of the parish of Saint Joseph in Dramapur (2022-2023).

 

Appointment of judicial vicar of the Court of First Instance for marriage annulment cases in the Lazio Region

The Holy Father has appointed the Reverend Emanuele Albanese, currently director of the Office for Marriage and Sacraments of the Vicariate of Rome, as judicial vicar of the Interdiocesan Court of First Instance for marriage annulment cases in the Lazio Region.

This morning, the Holy Father Leo XIV received in audience:

- Archbishop Filippo Iannone, O. Carm., prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops;

- Archbishop Franco Coppola, titular of Vinda, apostolic nuncio in Belgium and Luxembourg;

- Professor Joachim von Braun, president of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences; with the Reverend Sr. Helen Alford, O.P., president of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences;

- His Excellency Mr. José Ulisses Correia e Silva, Prime Minister of Cabo Verde, with his wife and entourage;

- Bishop Jesús Fernández González of Córdoba, Spain;

- Members of the National Confederation of the Misericordie of Italy.