Bulletins, Newsletters, and Flocknotes

This morning’s General Audience took place at 10.00 in the Vatican Basilica, 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: Constitution Sacrosanctum Concilium. The prayer of the Church (Reading: Eph 6: 18-19).

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. Constitution Sacrosanctum Concilium . 5. The prayer of the Church

Brothers and sisters, good morning and welcome!

In this catechism, we will resume our reflection on the Conciliar Constitution on the liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium ( SC ). Today we will look at the ecclesial dimension of liturgical prayer.

As the Apostle Paul suggests, it is the Holy Spirit who teaches us to pray. From the day of Pentecost, the Spirit dwells in the Church, inspiring every one of her activities and, in particular, prayer. The life of the first community, born in Jerusalem after the Pasch of Jesus, is life in the Spirit given by the risen Lord. “From that time onwards the Church has never failed to come together to celebrate the paschal mystery: reading those things ‘which were in all the scriptures concerning him’ ( Lk 24:27), celebrating the Eucharist in which ‘the victory and triumph of his death are again made present’, and at the same time giving thanks ‘to God for his unspeakable gift’ ( 2 Cor 9:15) in Christ Jesus, ‘in praise of his glory’ ( Eph . 1:12), through the power of the Holy Spirit” ( SC , 6).

In our time, in contexts dominated by an efficiency-driven and consumerist mindset, prayer may seem pointless and trivial. In a world where science and technology claim to provide all the answers, praying may appear to be a form of escapism. Furthermore, even in many Christian families, the tradition of prayer is no longer passed on, whilst many people risk confusing it with just another technique, of a psychological nature aimed at personal well-being. Prayer, however, as a fundamental dimension of our humanity, is worth rediscovering in its true form.

The Constitution Sacrosanctum Concilium took this need seriously. This greatly pleased Pope Saint Paul VI , who, on promulgating this first document approved by the Second Vatican Council , stated: “God comes first; prayer is our primary duty; the liturgy is the primary source of the divine life communicated to us, the primary school of our spiritual life” ( Address, Saint Peter’s Basilica, 4 December 1963).

Indeed, in the Constitution, the term “prayer” designates the liturgy as a whole. This perspective is decisive, for it guided the liturgical reform, making the active participation of the faithful its central pillar. The liturgy is presented first and foremost as the place of encounter, of God’s initiative in drawing near to humanity in his Son, “the Word made flesh, anointed by the Holy Spirit” ( SC , 5), to whom we may respond “through Christ, with Christ and in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit”, that is to say, thanks to “the very prayer which Christ Himself, together with His Body, addresses to the Father” ( SC , 84).

For this reason, Saint Paul VI ardently desired that the Liturgy of the Hours, the Church’s daily public prayer, inseparable from the Eucharist, might deeply permeate, enliven, guide and express all Christian prayer, and effectively nourish the spiritual life of the People of God (cf. Apostolic Constitution Laudis canticum ).

For this desire to be fulfilled, the Liturgy of the Hours needs to be more fully embraced and lived out in the daily lives of the baptized and of the communities. To the many people who wish to learn to pray, especially catechumens, it can offer the path and the school of Christian prayer.

Every week and every day, the Eucharist and the Liturgy of the Hours are the breath of the life of the Church, which makes the Holy Spirit circulate through her Body. In this prayer, Christ “joins the entire community of mankind to Himself, associating it with His own singing of this canticle of divine praise” ( SC , 83). In this way, day by day, we are ever more united with the Paschal Mystery and conformed to him.

Saint Augustine affirms that “When we speak to God in prayer for mercy, we do not separate the Son from Him; and when the Body of the Son prays, it separates not its Head from itself: and it is one Saviour of His Body, our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who both prays for us, and prays in us, and is prayed to by us. He prays for us, as our Priest; He prays in us, as our Head; He is prayed to by us, as our God. Let us therefore recognize in Him our words, and His words in us” ( Enarr. in psalmum LXXXVI: PL 37, 1081).

Bound to the Eucharist, whose light it prolongs, the Liturgy of the Hours sanctifies the time of our daily lives: in the morning, we begin the day with faith and gratitude; at midday, we ask for the strength to remain faithful amidst our labours; in the evening, once our work is done, Vespers accompany the moment of sunset; at night, we fall asleep entrusting ourselves to God’s peace. Each Hour is an act of hope: during our earthly pilgrimage, we keep watch, awaiting with the whole Church the glorious return of the Lord.

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Greeting in English

I extend a warm welcome to all the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in today’s Audience, especially those from England, Malta and the United States of America. Upon you and your families, I invoke the joy and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ. God bless you all!

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Summary of the Holy Father's words

Dear brothers and sisters,

In our continuing series of catecheses on the Second Vatican Council 's Constitution on the liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium , today we turn our attention to the ecclesial dimension of the Church’s liturgical prayer. Far from avoiding the world and its needs, all prayer, especially in the entire liturgy, is the essential dimension of our humanity. In our prayer we unite ourselves with Jesus to offer praise and thanksgiving to God the Father, through the power of the Holy Spirit. In a particular way, Saint Paul VI expressed a longing that the Liturgy of the Hours, the daily public prayer of the Church, would be prayed by all the members of Christ’s Body. In this way, we will allow the Holy Spirit to breathe into each thought and action, inspiring a deeper experience of the Paschal Mystery. My brothers and sisters, may we find the spiritual nourishment necessary on our earthly pilgrimage by joining with the whole Church in her liturgical prayer as we await the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Having accepted the invitation of the Heads of State and ecclesiastical Authorities of the respective countries, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV will undertake an Apostolic Journey to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru, from 6 to 17 November 2026.  His Holiness will visit Montevideo, Paysandú and Florida, from 6 to 8 November; Buenos Aires, Córdoba and Luján, from 8 to 11 November; and Lima, Chiclayo, Cusco and Pucallpa, from 11 to 17 November.

The itinerary for the Journey will be announced in due course.

The following is the telegram of condolence sent by the Holy Father Leo XIV to Archbishop Francisco Chimoio, O.F.M. Cap., apostolic administrator of Xai-Xai, Mozambique, on the death on Monday 3 August of His Eminence Cardinal Júlio Duarte Langa, bishop emeritus of Xai-Xai, of the Title of San Gabriele dell’Addolorata :

 

Telegram of the Holy Father

HIS MOST REVEREND EXCELLENCY ARCHBISHOP FRANCISCO CHIMOIO, O.F.M. CAP. APOSTOLIC ADMINISTRATOR OF XAI-XAI

UPON LEARNING OF THE DEATH OF CARDINAL JÚLIO DUARTE LANGA, BISHOP EMERITUS OF XAI-XAI, I WISH TO EXPRESS AT THIS TIME MY SPIRITUAL SOLIDARITY AND MY CONDOLENCES TO THE EPISCOPATE OF MOZAMBIQUE, TO THE FAMILY OF THIS BELOVED BROTHER, TO THE DIOCESE HE DEVOTEDLY SERVED, AND TO THE ENTIRE COUNTRY, WHICH MOURNS THE LOSS OF SUCH A DISTINGUISHED SHEPHERD. FAITHFUL TO JESUS, MASTER AND LORD, HE LEARNED FROM HIM THE ART OF CLOSENESS IN THE SHEPHERDING OF SOULS, DEVOTING HIMSELF WITH SIMPLICITY, ZEAL AND PERSEVERANCE TO THE FLOCK ENTRUSTED TO HIM, WITHOUT ALLOWING HIMSELF TO BE DISCOURAGED BY DIFFICULTIES, INSTEAD SEEING THEM AS PLACES IN NEED OF THE GOOD NEWS,

ESPECIALLY WHEN IT WAS NECESSARY TO PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL OF PEACE AND RECONCILIATION FOR A FUTURE OF FRATERNITY AMONG ALL MOZAMBICANS. AT THIS TIME, ONE OF LOSS BUT ABOVE ALL OF HOPE IN THE RESURRECTION, AS WE PRAISE GOD FOR THE LONG LIFE OF BISHOP JÚLIO AND FOR THE GRACE OF HIS PRIESTHOOD FOR MOZAMBIQUE AND FOR THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH, I IMPART THE COMFORT OF THE APOSTOLIC BLESSING UPON ALL THOSE PARTICIPATING IN HIS FUNERAL CELEBRATIONS.

LEO PP. XIV

The following is the text of the Video Message sent by the Holy Father Leo XIV to participants in the 144th Supreme Convention of the Knights of Columbus, taking place in Denver, United States of America, from 4 to 6 August 2026:

 

Video Message of the Holy Father

Dear friends ,

I am pleased to greet all of you who are attending the 144th Supreme Convention of the Knights of Columbus, taking place in Denver, Colorado. I also offer the assurance of my spiritual closeness to those who are participating virtually in the opening ceremonies.

As you gather for these days of discussion, fraternity and prayer, under the theme of "In The One, We Are One," I would like to reflect briefly with you on the importance of promoting the virtues of unity and charity, two foundational principles of your Order.

First, unity. At the Last Supper, Jesus prayed for his Apostles, that they all would be one (cf. Jn 17:21). Yet our Lord asked that this gift of unity be given not only to them, but also to those who would believe in him through their word throughout the centuries (cf. Jn 17:20). However, the preservation of unity is often not easy, and it cannot be taken for granted. It must be actively cultivated through honest and humble dialogue.

In this regard, I encourage all of you to continue bearing witness to that concord which Jesus so ardently desires in your families, your parishes and in the wider communities where you live and serve. In an age all too often marked by division and pointed rhetoric, there is a great need for prophets of harmony who seek to build bridges and strive to reconcile opposing positions wherever possible.

Works of charity, the second virtue, can often be a way to promote unity. As many of you have likely experienced, when we reach out to help those in need, there frequently develops a certain concord between those who give and those who receive, as well as among those who work together to assist their brothers and sisters. Thus, charity becomes not only a response to human suffering but also a powerful means of fostering fraternity and strengthening the communion that is at the heart of the Christian life.

Your own history bears eloquent testimony to this truth. Building upon the efforts begun by your noble founder, Blessed Michael McGivney, the Knights of Columbus have worked together for well over a century to show Christ's love to the unborn, expectant mothers, persecuted Christians, victims of war and human trafficking, the poor and vulnerable, and those who live on the margins of society. Through the initiatives undertaken by your local Councils as well as at the national and international levels, countless people have benefitted from your kindness. For my part, I express deep gratitude for your Order's continued generosity to the less fortunate, and trust that your endeavors will continue to bear fruit for many years to come.

With these brief thoughts, I offer cordial good wishes for the work of the Supreme Convention, which I entrust to the intercession of Mary, Mother of the Church, and to that of Blessed Michael McGivney. I now impart to you my Apostolic Blessing, which I willingly extend to all the members of the Knights of Columbus and to your families.

May the blessing of Almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, come down upon you and remain with you forever. Amen.

Resignation of bishop of Dindigul, India

The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Dindigul, India, presented by Bishop Thomas Paulsamy.