Bulletins, Newsletters, and Flocknotes

Appointment of apostolic nuncio in Ecuador

Resignation of auxiliary bishop of Washington, U.S.A.

Resignation and appointment of bishop of Wheeling-Charleston, U.S.A.

Appointment of auxiliary bishops of Washington, U.S.A.

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

Resignation and appointment of bishop of Timmins, Canada

 

Appointment of apostolic nuncio in Ecuador

The Holy Father has appointed Archbishop Dagoberto Campos Salas, titular of Forotoniana, until now apostolic nuncio in Panama, as apostolic nuncio in Ecuador.

 

Resignation of auxiliary bishop of Washington, U.S.A.

The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the office of auxiliary of the metropolitan archdiocese of Washington, United States of America, presented by Bishop Roy Edward Campbell.

 

Resignation and appointment of bishop of Wheeling-Charleston, U.S.A.

The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, United States of America, presented by Bishop Mark E. Brennan.

The Holy Father has appointed Bishop Evelio Menjivar-Ayala, until now titular of Aeto and auxiliary of the metropolitan archdiocese of Washington, as bishop of the diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, United States of America.

Curriculum vitae

Bishop Evelio Menjivar-Ayala was born on 14 August 1970 in Chalatenango, El Salvador. After studying philosophy at Saint John Vianney College Seminary in Miami and theology at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Rome, he was awarded a licentiate from the Pontifical Scalabrini Institute of Pastoral Theology for Human Mobility in Rome.

He was ordained a priest on 29 May 2004 for the metropolitan archdiocese of Washington.

He has held the following offices: parish vicar of Mother Seton in Germantown (2004-2008), of Saint Bartholomew in Bethesda (2009), and of the Cathedral of Saint Matthew the Apostle in Washington D.C. (2009-2013); parish priest of Our Lady Queen of the Americas in Washington D.C. (2013-2017) and of Saint Mary in Landover Hills (2017-2023).

He was appointed titular bishop of Aeto and auxiliary of Washington on 19 December 2022, receiving episcopal ordination on 14 February 2023.

 

Appointment of auxiliary bishops of Washington, U.S.A.

The Holy Father has appointed the following as auxiliary bishops of the metropolitan archdiocese of Washington, United States of America: the Reverend Gary R. Studniewski , of the clergy of the same archdiocese, until now parish priest of the Shrine of the Blessed Sacrament , assigning him the titular see of Jamestown; and the Reverend Robert P. Boxie , of the clergy of the same archdiocese, until now chaplain at Howard University, assigning him the titular see of Cataquas.

 

Curriculum vitae of the Reverend Gary R. Studniewski

Msgr. Gary R. Studniewski was born on 8 May 1957 in Toledo, Ohio, in the diocese of the same name. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Toledo and a licentiate in theology from the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Rome.

He was ordained a priest on 24 June 1995 for the metropolitan archdiocese of Washington.

After ordination, he first held the role of military chaplain (1995-2016). He was awarded a master’s degree in strategic studies from the United States Army War College (2014), and went on to serve as administrator of Saint Xavier in Newtowne (2016-2017), administrator (2017-2018) and parish priest (2018-2022) of Saint Peter , and parish priest of the Shrine of the Blessed Sacrament (since 2022).

 

Curriculum vitae of the Reverend Robert P. Boxie

Msgr. Robert P. Boxie was born on 12 September 1980 in Lake Charles, Louisiana, in the diocese of the same name. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, and a Juris Doctor from Harvard University, Cambridge.

He was ordained a priest on 25 June 2016 for the metropolitan archdiocese of Washington.

After ordination, he first held the role of assistant to the vocational director (since 2016). He was awarded a licentiate in theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University of Rome, and went on to serve as parish vicar of Saint Joseph in Largo (2017-2020) and chaplain at Harvard University (since 2020).

 

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

The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Laredo, United States of America, presented by Bishop James A. Tamayo.

The Holy Father has appointed the Reverend John Gomez, of the clergy of the diocese of Tyler, until now vicar general of the same see, as bishop of the diocese of Laredo, United States of America.

Curriculum vitae

Msgr. John Gomez was born on 15 December 1975 in Colombia. He obtained a Master of Divinity from Saint Mary Seminary in Houston, and a licentiate in canon law from the Pontifical Gregorian University of Rome.

He was ordained a priest on 23 May 2009 for the diocese of Tyler.

He has held the following offices: parish priest of Holy Cross in Pittsburgh, Texas (2012-2017), judicial vicar (2014-2015), vicar general (2015-2023), parish priest of Christ the King in Kilgore (2017-2018) and of Saint Charles in Frankston (2018-2020); delegate of the apostolic administrator (2023-2025); vicar general and Moderator Curiae (since 2025).

He is also a member of the Presbyteral Council (since 2014) and of the College of Consultors (since 2015).

 

Resignation and appointment of bishop of Timmins, Canada

The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Timmins, Canada, presented by Bishop Serge Poitras.

The Holy Father has appointed the Reverend Msgr. Roch Martin, of the clergy of the diocese of Sault Sainte Marie, until now vicar general, as bishop of Timmins, Canada.

Curriculum vitae

Msgr. Roch Martin was born on 26 September 1964 in Sturgeon Falls, Ontario. He attended the University of Sudbury and Saint Paul University in Ottawa, obtaining a bachelor’s degree in education. After several years of work as a teacher in Catholic schools, he entered the seminary and was awarded a master’s degree in theology from Saint Paul University.

He was ordained a priest on 10 November 1995 for the diocese of Sault Sainte Marie.

He has held the following offices: parish priest of Notre-Dame de la Merci , of St-Marc and Notre-Dame de la Rivière (1997-2000), of Annonciation and St-Dominique (2000-2001), of Saint-Jacques (2001), of Ste-Anne-des-Pins (2012), of St-Joseph (2014) and St-Jean-de-Brébeuf (2017); he is currently vicar general and Moderator Curiae of the diocese of Sault Sainte Marie (since 2021).

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 focused on the theme: “ The Apostolic Journey to Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea (Reading: Mt 28: 16-20).

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 Apostolic Journey to Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning and welcome!

Today I would like to talk about the Apostolic Journey I made from 13 to 23 April, visiting four African countries: Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea.

Since the very beginning of my Pontificate, I have thought about a journey in Africa. I thank the Lord for granting me the opportunity to undertake it, as Shepherd, to meet and encourage the people of God; and also to experience it as a message of peace at a moment in history marked by conflicts and serious and frequent violations of international law. And I express my heartfelt thanks to the Bishops and Civil Authorities who welcomed me, and to all those who helped organize the visit.

Providence would have it that the first stop should be the very country where the sites of Saint Augustine are found, namely Algeria. Thus, I found myself, on the one hand, revisiting the roots of my spiritual identity and, on the other, crossing and strengthening bridges that are very important for the world and the Church today: the bridge with the very fruitful age of the Fathers of the Church; the bridge with the Islamic world; and the bridge with the African continent.

In Algeria I received a welcome that was not only respectful but warm, and we were able to experience first-hand and show the world that it is possible to live together as brothers and sisters, even of different religions, when we recognize ourselves as children of the same merciful Father. Furthermore, it was a timely opportunity to learn from the example of Saint Augustine: through his life experience, his writings and his spirituality, he is a teacher in the search for God and for truth. A testimony that is more important than ever today for Christians and for every person.

In the next three countries I visited, the population is instead predominantly Christian, and I therefore found myself immersed in an atmosphere of celebration of the faith and warm welcome, enhanced also by the characteristic traits of the African people. Like my Predecessors, I too experienced something of what happened to Jesus with the crowds in Galilee: He saw them thirsting and hungry for justice, and proclaimed to them: “Blessed are the poor, blessed are the meek, blessed are the peacemakers”, and, recognizing their faith, said, “You are the salt of the earth and the light of the world” (cf. Mt 5:1-16).

The visit to Cameroon allowed me to reinforce the call to work together for reconciliation and peace, for that country too is, unfortunately, marked by tensions and violence. I am glad to have travelled to Bamenda, in the Anglophone region, where I encouraged people to work together for peace. Cameroon is known as “Africa in miniature”, because of the variety and richness of its natural environment and its resources, but we can also interpret this expression to mean that the great needs of the entire continent are found in Cameroon: the need for a fair distribution of wealth; the need to provide space for the young, overcoming endemic corruption, that of promoting integral and sustainable development, countering the various forms of neo-colonialism with far-sighted international cooperation. I thank the Church in Cameroon and all the Cameroonian people, who welcomed me with such love, and I pray that the spirit of unity which was evident during my visit may be kept alive and guide future choices and actions.

The third leg of the trip was in Angola, a large country south of the equator, with a centuries-long Christian tradition, linked to Portuguese colonization. Like many African countries, after achieving independence, Angola went through a troubled period, which in its case was marked by a long and bloody civil war. In the crucible of this history, God has guided and purified the Church, increasingly converting her in the service of the Gospel, human promotion, reconciliation and peace. A free Church for a free people! In the Marian Sanctuary of Mamã Muxima — which means “Mother of the heart” — I felt the beating heart of the Angolan people. And in the various meetings I rejoiced to see so many men and women religious of every age, a prophecy of the Kingdom of heaven in the midst of their people; I saw catechists who dedicate themselves fully to the good of the community; I saw the faces of elderly people weathered by toil and suffering yet radiant with the joy of the Gospel; I saw women and men dancing to the rhythm of songs of praise to the Risen Lord, the foundation of a hope that withstands the disappointments caused by ideologies and the empty promises of the powerful.

This hope demands concrete commitment, and the Church has the responsibility, with the witness and courageous proclamation of the Word of God, to recognize the rights of all and to promote their actual respect. With the Angolan civil authorities, but also with those of other countries, I was able to assure them of the Catholic Church’s willingness to continue making this contribution, particularly in the fields of healthcare and education.

The last country I visited was Equatorial Guinea, 170 years after its first evangelization. With the wisdom of tradition and the light of Christ, the Guinean people have weathered the vicissitudes of their history and, in recent days, in the presence of the Pope, have renewed with great enthusiasm their determination to walk together towards a future of hope.

I cannot forget what happened in the prison in Bata, in Equatorial Guinea: the prisoners sang at the top of their voices a song of thanksgiving to God and to the Pope, asking him to pray “for their sins and their freedom”. I had never seen anything like it. And then they prayed the “Our Father” with me in the pouring rain. A genuine sign of the Kingdom of God! And still in the rain, the great meeting with the young people began in the stadium in Bata. A celebration of Christian joy, with moving testimonies from young people who have found in the Gospel the path to free and responsible growth. This celebration culminated in the Eucharistic celebration the following day, which fittingly concluded the visit to Equatorial Guinea, as well as to the entire Apostolic Journey.

Dear brothers and sisters, the Pope’s visit is, for the African peoples, a chance to make their voices heard, to express the joy of being God’s people and the hope for a better future, of dignity for each and every one. I am happy to have given them this opportunity, and at the same time I thank the Lord for what they have given me, an immeasurable treasure for my heart and my ministry.

_____________________________

Greeting in English

I greet all the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in today’s Audience, particularly the groups from Ireland, Malta, Norway, Nigeria, India, the Philippines, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United States of America.  Upon all of you, and upon your families, I invoke the joy and peace of the risen Jesus!  May God bless you!  

_____________________________

Summary of the Holy Father's words

Dear brothers and sisters, today I’d like to speak about my recent  Apostolic Journey to four countries: Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea . I had desired to embark on this journey since the beginning of my pontificate, and I now express my heartfelt gratitude to the Lord for granting me the occasion to meet with the people of God in Africa and confirm them in their faith as the Successor of Saint Peter.  My time there was meant to offer the world a message of peace at a moment marked by conflicts and frequent violations of international law.  Along with the call for peace, I also denounced the grave injustices that exist in those countries that are so rich in natural resources, urging the international community to overcome neo-colonial attitudes and engage in authentic collaboration. At the same time, the  Apostolic Journey  gave people in Africa a chance to make their voices heard and to express the joy of being God’s people.  In this regard, I thank the Lord for what they have given me: an immeasurable gift of faith, hope and charity, which has greatly enriched my life and ministry.

This morning, the Holy Father received in audience:

- Archbishop Salvatore Joseph Cordileone of San Francisco, United States of America;

- Bishop Horacio del Carmen Valenzuela Abarca, emeritus of Talca, Chile;

- Bishop Frédéric Pierre Rossignol, C.S.Sp., of Tournai, Belgium.

The Holy Father Leo XIV, on 24 April 2026, granted the Ecclesiastica Communio requested of him in accordance with Can. 76 § 2 of the CCEO by His Beatitude Polis III Nona, canonically elected Patriarch of Baghdad of the Chaldeans on 12 April 2026 by the Synod of Bishops of his sui iuris Church, celebrated in Rome.

The following is the text of the Letter addressed by His Holiness Leo XIV to the Patriarch of Baghdad of the Chaldeans granting of the Ecclesiastica Communio :

His Beatitude

POLIS III NONA

Patriarch of Baghdad of the Chaldeans

I have received your esteemed letter in which Your Beatitude, having been canonically elected Patriarch of Baghdad of the Chaldeans on 12 April 2026 by the Synod of Bishops of the same Church, held in Rome, requested, in accordance with Canon 76 § 2 of the Codex Canonum Ecclesiarum Orientalium , the granting of Ecclesiastical Communion.

It is, therefore, with a heart filled with joy that I grant you the Ecclesiastica Communio , as an expression and bond of full communion with the Apostolic See, in the common service to unity in the Church and to the edification of the Body of Christ.

It is my pleasure to offer fervent prayers that Your Beatitude, as Father and Head of this beloved sui iuris Church, may exercise the ministry entrusted to you with pastoral care, guiding the People of God according to the Heart of Christ and confirming them in faith, hope and charity.

May the Holy Spirit sustain you in the fulfilment of the mission you have received, so that the Chaldean Church, rich in its ancient apostolic tradition and marked by the shining witness of numerous martyrs and confessors, may continue to bear fruit through the proclamation of the Gospel, as it did with a marvellous missionary spirit, strengthening ecclesial communion within its own territory and in those of the increasingly vast diaspora.

As I extend my paternal greetings to the Bishops of the Synod, the clergy, men and women religious, seminarians, candidates for consecrated life and all the lay faithful, I entrust Your Beatitude to the maternal intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, and to the protection of Saints Addai and Mari.

The election of Your Beatitude took place on the day on which the Chaldean liturgy commemorates the Risen Lord’s encounter with Saint Thomas, from whom the living tradition of this Church originates; May the Apostle, who recognized in the luminous wounds of Jesus the merciful manifestation of his Lord and God, accompany your patriarchal ministry in the name of faith, which demands so much courage and perseverance from many of the faithful in the Chaldean communities who, as true believers and the pride of the Church, face often arduous trials.

I cordially impart to Your Beatitude the Apostolic Blessing, as a pledge of consolation in the Lord.

From the Vatican, 24 April 2026

LEO PP. XIV

This morning, in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father Leo XIV blessed the first stone of the “Centro Cuore – Papa Francesco” of the “A. Gemelli” Hospital in Rome.

The following is the address delivered by the Pope to those present during the rite of blessing:

 

Address of the Holy Father

Dear friends, good morning and welcome!

I welcome with pleasure your desire for the Pope to bless the first stone of the “Centro Cuore”, the new great work of the Gemelli Hospital, dedicated to Pope Francis. The name Cuore (Heart), given to the new structure, offers me a starting point for the brief reflection I will share with you.

In its primary, let us say functional, meaning, it stands for Cardiovascular Unique Offer ReEngineered . In other words, it indicates, through an acronym that is effective in its immediacy, that part of the vast complex that is the “Gemelli” where the treatment of cardiovascular diseases will be concentrated. You describe it as a new person-centred organizational model. It is a demanding challenge, which I hope you will tackle with enthusiasm, collaboration and also prayer.

But the word cuore , heart, for your hospital, means much more, because it is part of the very name of the university to which it belongs: the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart.

In this regard, I would like to recall an important historical detail. When the long-awaited moment came to seek state recognition for the new university, many people advised Father Gemelli not to name it after the Sacred Heart, as that title would have been too devotional. And the founder honestly considered the issue. But Blessed Armida Barelli had no doubts: the University had to be “of the Sacred Heart”, because it was precisely to the Heart of Christ that the series of “miracles” which had made the undertaking possible was owed. Gemelli listened to his trusted collaborator, and the name was also approved by the government authorities.

Today, we can say that this choice, which was prophetic at the time, remains so today, given that Pope Francis chose to dedicate his last Encyclical, Dilexit nos – almost a testament – to “the human and divine love of the Heart of Jesus Christ”.

In its first part, it recalls Christian anthropology, which understands the heart as the centre and synthesis of the human person. I would like to quote just one passage: “This profound core, present in every man and woman, is not that of the soul, but of the entire person in his or her unique psychosomatic identity. Everything finds its unity in the heart, which can be the dwelling-place of love in all its spiritual, psychic and even physical dimensions. In a word, if love reigns in our heart, we become, in a complete and luminous way, the persons we are meant to be, for every human being is created above all else for love. In the deepest fibre of our being, we were made to love and to be loved” (no. 21). In this part of the Encyclical, you can find the framework of principles and values that underpin the formation at your hospital, a formation which, on this occasion, I simply wish to encourage: the more “Gemelli” grows, the greater the care that must be taken over the human and Christian formation of those who work there.

The central message of Dilexit nos is, however, theological and spiritual, centred on the mystery of love of the Heart of Christ, the primary source of inspiration and support for our life and our work. Like an everlasting flame, this love has inspired countless witnesses of charity within the Church, including in the fields of educational and social charity. Among these we may count Father Gemelli, Blessed Armida Barelli and the other founders of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart.

We know how much Gemelli had longed for the Faculty of Medicine, and we are certain that from above he continues to accompany its developments, especially this initiative of the Centro Cuore . With these sentiments, I bless you all and the first stone of the new building, invoking the intercession of Mary Most Holy, Seat of Wisdom and Health of the Sick. Thank you!