Bulletins, Newsletters, and Flocknotes

At midday today, 17 th Sunday of Ordinary Time, the Holy Father Leo XIV appeared in Piazza della Libertà in Castel Gandolfo to pray the Angelus with the faithful and pilgrims gathered in front of the Apostolic Palace of the Pontifical Villas.

The following are the Pope’s words of introduction to the Marian prayer:

 

Dear brothers and sisters, happy Sunday!

At the heart of Jesus’ teachings lies the mystery of the Kingdom of God, which today’s Gospel likens to treasure and a pearl (cf. Mt 13:44–52). The parables convey the surprise of those who find something far beyond what they could have hoped for, so much so that selling or leaving everything behind no longer seems a sacrifice, but a gain. Indeed, from the very beginning, the evangelists portray Jesus’ call to follow him as irresistible. It is a free choice, yet also urgent and capable of eliciting a ready and wholehearted response. This is a first important aspect of how God is near and makes himself known: encountering his Kingdom marks a turning point that does not limit life but enlarges it. If anything must change on our part, it is only so that our lives may be opened to greater possibilities, not fewer.

There is a second aspect that Jesus seems to attach great importance to: the one who finds the treasure hidden in the field is likely a peasant, while the pearl is recognized as precious by a merchant, perhaps a traveler. Two more parables follow, in which the protagonists are fishermen and a scribe well-versed in both the old and the new. Other parables compare the Kingdom to a woman kneading dough or tidying her house, to a king planning for war, a man designing a tower, administrators managing payments or investments, and to shepherds and farmers. In short, the Kingdom of God reveals its inestimable beauty in different ways, but calls everyone — men and women, young and old, rich and poor — to a profound renewal. Everyone is capable of understanding it and is drawn to it.

Today, too, the Church is a communion of people who differ in origin, culture, abilities and responsibilities. Yet all are called to recognize themselves as “one” in Jesus Christ: he is the hidden treasure, the pearl of great price, the net that gathers those who are scattered. From the beginning, Jesus called and gathered around himself people who would otherwise never have come to know one another. In this way, he demonstrated that God has no favorites, but instead offers his love freely, especially to the little ones or those cast aside.

Brothers and sisters, all we have to do is ask for this gift, the very same one sought by the young King Solomon (cf. 1 Kings 3:5, 7–12). It is the gift of recognizing the pearl of great price, of discerning the treasure for which it is worth selling everything. While the consumer culture influences our tastes, constantly creating new needs only to sell us solutions that never satisfy, and that sometimes even poison the heart, we must learn to grasp what truly matters: the treasure of a relationship with God that opens us to joy and helps us to live our relationships with one another more fully.

May the intercession of Mary, Seat of Wisdom, direct our desire for life toward Jesus, so that in him it may find its complete fulfilment.

_____________________

After the Angelus

Dear brothers and sisters,

Yesterday, in Lebanon, Elias Hoayek, Maronite Patriarch of Antioch from 1899 to 1931 and Founder of the Congregation of the Maronite Sisters of the Holy Family, was beatified. For more than thirty years, he led the Maronite Church with great dedication and pastoral sensitivity. A man of dialogue and hope, he was an outstanding ecclesial, social and political leader, so much so that he came to be known as the “Father of Greater Lebanon.” May the prayers and intercession of the new blessed always accompany the Maronite faithful throughout the world, and obtain the gift of peace for all the people of Lebanon, a country dear to my heart.

I continue to follow with deep concern the ongoing and escalating violence in the Holy Land, where, in recent days, many civilians, both in the West Bank and in Gaza, have once again fallen victim. I make a heartfelt appeal for a return to negotiations to achieve a just political solution, founded on the equal dignity and equal rights of every human person. At the same time, I urge the rejection of further military actions and unilateral decisions, especially those that violate the respect for and the status quo of the holy places of every religion.

I likewise renew my plea regarding the situation throughout the Middle East, where the intensification of military operations has again wreaked violence and destruction, endangering the lives of countless civilians and further aggravating the shortages of drinking water and electricity. From the depths of my heart, I exhort all parties involved to suspend the attacks and urgently reopen paths of dialogue and diplomacy, so that the longed-for peace for the entire region may be achieved without delay.

Let us continue to pray for all those peoples throughout the world who are suffering because of war. May the Lord touch the hearts and enlighten the minds of those in power, so that reconciliation and peace may soon prevail.

As devastating wildfires affect the various regions of France and Spain, I express my closeness to all those who have been affected and invite everyone to pray for them and for the emergency personnel engaged in relief efforts.

Today we celebrate the Sixth World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, whose theme is taken from the words of the Prophet Isaiah: “I will never forget you” ( Is 49:15). Together, let us give thanks to the Lord for the gift that the elderly are to the Church and society. Let us also commit ourselves to respecting and valuing the precious role they play, and to ensuring that they always receive the care, attention and assistance they deserve.

I warmly greet all of you present here, as well as those who have come from various parts of Italy and from around the world!

I offer a special welcome to the pilgrims belonging to the Opera della Chiesa and to the bishops accompanying them; I welcome and greet the children from the House of Mercy in Chortkiv, Ukraine, who are guests of the parish of Saint Michael the Archangel in Nocera Superiore; to the young people from the Parish of Manerbio; to those taking part in the International Youth Gathering organized on the occasion of the bicentenary of the death of Saint Jeanne-Antide Thouret; to the young pilgrims of the Catholic student movement Ӧnze-Lieve-Vrouw Ster-Der-Zee of Maldegem, Belgium; and to the cadets of the Carabinieri Training School in Velletri, accompanied by their chaplain and commanding officers.

I also greet the members of the Catholic Men Association of Cameroon.

I extend a special greeting to those taking part in the Sagra delle Pesche festival of Castel Gandolfo, who have brought the fruits of their harvest to be blessed.

This evening, the traditional procession of the Madonna Fiumarola will take place on the River Tiber here in Rome. May Mary, the Mother of Jesus, obtain for all those participating in this beautiful tradition, and for each one of us, the grace to live every day according to the teachings of the Gospel.

And I wish all of you a happy Sunday!

 

The following is the text of the Video Message sent by the Holy Father Leo XIV to participants in the Halleluya Festival 2026 underway in Fortaleza, Brazil, from 22 to 26 July 2026:

 

Video Message of the Holy Father

Dear young people,

It is with great joy that I take part, albeit from a distance, in the Halleluya Festival 2026, an initiative which, year after year, through music, praise and worship, has touched the hearts of so many people, bearing good fruit for evangelization: confessions, conversions, and priestly and religious vocations.

Today, I would like to say once again how good it is to be with young people. Your enthusiasm is infectious and awakens in all of us a renewed apostolic zeal. During my recent journeys and at the Jubilee of Youth, I saw that each one of you possesses a missionary vigour that is essential for transforming this world, which is in such great need of the Gospel. Never lose this missionary zeal!

Indeed, it is this fervour that the Lord expects of all the baptized in proclaiming the Good News. In our day, there are still many people who need to know that it is Jesus who answers their deepest longings, revealing to human beings the truth about themselves. Therefore, proclaim with courage that a life without Christ is a life without grace! He is the Way, the Truth and the Life (cf. Jn 14:6); it is He who gives meaning to existence and to all things. This is the faith that moves us and that is worth sharing with those we love and with those who need it most.

It is possible, however, that as time goes by, the enthusiasm experienced during the Festival may wane. To keep the flame of faith alight and to bear witness to the Resurrection to our friends and to those we meet, we must stay in God’s presence through prayer. An authentic relationship with the Lord requires constancy, perseverance and the steadfast certainty that the Heavenly Father never abandons us; on the contrary, He comes to meet us in His Son. Therefore, do not be afraid of Christ! He takes nothing away; He gives everything (cf. Benedict XVI, Holy Mass at the beginning of the Petrine Ministry , 24 April 2005). Those who entrust themselves to the Saviour receive a hundredfold (cf. Mk 10:29–30) and always emerge victorious. In sport, we see the joy of those who win, but also the sadness of those who lose. With Christ, we always triumph (cf. Rom 8:37)! The saints bear witness to this very fact.

Let us be inspired by the example of Saint Carlo Acutis: he shows us how to keep Christ at the centre at all times, even when using technology. Taking him as a model, I advise you to use social media and artificial intelligence well, employing these tools in a moderate and disciplined way, as they can plunge us into an unreal world, in which the ephemeral, mere appearances and deception end up taking the place of true values and what really matters.

Dear young people, let the Holy Spirit rekindle within you a greater love, capable of transforming your youth into a force for evangelization, making each of you a living stone in the building of the “city of peace” for which we yearn so much, or, as Saint Augustine said, the City of God present in the midst of the city of men. Praying to God that He may strengthen you in your trials and help you to live out your call to holiness faithfully, I impart my Apostolic Blessing to all the participants and organizers of the Halleluya Festival.

May God be with you always!

Appointment of Special Envoy to the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the canonical erection of the diocese of Spiš, Slovakia

Appointment of Holy See Permanent Observer at the United Nations (U.N.) in New York

Appointment of members of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura

 

Appointment of Special Envoy to the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the canonical erection of the diocese of Spiš, Slovakia

The Holy Father has appointed His Eminence Cardinal Mario Grech, secretary general of the General Secretariat of the Synod, as his Special Envoy to the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the canonical erection of the diocese of Spiš, Slovakia, taking place at Saint Martin’s Cathedral in Spišská Kapitula on 26 September 2026.

 

Appointment of Holy See Permanent Observer at the United Nations (U.N.) in New York

The Holy Father has appointed Archbishop Christophe-Zakhia El-Kassis, titular of Roselle, until now apostolic nuncio in the United Arab Emirates and in Yemen, and apostolic delegate in the Arabian Peninsular, as Holy See Permanent Observer at the United Nations (U.N.) in New York.

 

Appointment of members of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura

The Holy Father has appointed the following as members of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura: Their Excellencies Archbishop Salvatore Joseph Cordileone of San Francisco, United States of America; Bishop Krzysztof Nitkiewicz of  Sandomierz, Poland; Bishop Juan Ignacio Arrieta Ochoa de Chinchetru, former Secretary of the DIcastery for Legislative Texts; Bishop Edward M. Lohse of Kalamazoo, United States of America; the Reverend Eduardo Baura de la Peña, full professor at the Faculty of Canon Law of the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome, Italy; the Reverend Gianpaolo Montini, full professor at the Faculty of Canon Law of the Collegium Maximum of the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome; and the Reverend Father Ulrich Rhode, S.J., full professor at the Faculty of Canon Law of the Collegium Maximum of the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.

The following is the text of the Video Message sent by the Holy Father Leo XIV to bishops and members of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC), on the occasion of the Plenary Assembly taking place from 20 to 26 July 2026 in Jakarta, Indonesia:

 

Video Message of the Holy Father

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

I send cordial greetings to all of you participating in the Plenary Assembly of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences in Jakarta. As you gather to discuss the important issues affecting the life and future of the Catholic Church in Asia, I assure you of my spiritual closeness, praying that the Holy Spirit will inspire and guide your time together.

The theme chosen for your Plenary Assembly comes from the words of Jesus telling Nathanael: “You will see greater things” ( Jn 1:50). In calling Philip and Nathanael to follow him and become his disciples, our Lord alludes to himself as the unique mediator between God and humanity (cf. Jn 1:51). 

As his disciples today, we know that Jesus is not only the source of our communion with God, but also with one another. Indeed, in the recently published Encyclical Letter, Magnifica Humanitas , I wrote that Christian solidarity finds its source in the mystery of Christ and emerges from our communion in the sacraments, particularly the Eucharist (cf. n. 88 ). For this reason, I would like to encourage you to continue to promote a Eucharistic spirituality within your local Churches, that is, a spirituality of ecclesial unity grounded in the charity that flows from the gift of our Lord in the Eucharist. In this way, it is my hope that the bonds of communion within and between the local Churches will be strengthened and become an ever greater sign of God’s presence in your various countries, which in turn will help you be bridge-builders together throughout Asia.

Dear friends, in commending all of you and your deliberations to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, I gladly invoke upon you the Lord’s gifts of wisdom and fortitude.

And may the blessing of Almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit come down on you and remain with you for ever. Amen.

The following is the text of the Video Message sent by the Holy Father Leo XIV to the participants in the Second “Rejoice” Meeting, taking place in Lamego, Portugal, from 24 to 26 July 2026 on the occasion of the National Youth Day:

 

Video Message of the Holy Father

Dear young people,

“Rejoice in the Lord always!” ( Phil 4:4) – there in Lamego, and everywhere else: in your families, at school, in your parishes, in the movements and in the various youth groups to which you belong. Rejoice in the Lord together with your bishops and the leaders who accompany you and so many other young people in Portugal. Rejoice with them, as they help you to grow in faith and to open the doors of your hearts to Christ, the Way, the Truth and the Life.

I was delighted to hear that you are striving to keep the flame of World Youth Day 2023 burning. Those were splendid and joyful days, owing to the harmony amongst everyone; the harmony between different languages and cultures; but above all, thanks to the intense encounter with the Lord Jesus and the experience of the wonders that the Living Christ works when we gather in His name. He is with us and He is the reason for our joy! He is the source of our unity. In Illo uno unum : “we, though many, are one body in Christ” ( Rom 12:5).

I was able to relive what we experienced in Lisbon a year ago during the Jubilee and also, recently, on the Apostolic Journey to Spain. It is always special to be with young people, because the enthusiasm of your faith is infectious! The love you show for Christ is heartening! It is marvellous, in this day and age, to see young people – like you! – full of faith and unafraid to speak of it. It is beautiful to see that you have a deep thirst for the truth, and that you seek it with a sincere heart. It is beautiful to see that you hunger for justice and charity, and do not settle for fleeting values. It is wonderful to observe that you love beauty, especially that beauty which is so ancient and yet so new: our God, who awaits us in the very depths of our being.

I would therefore like, with this greeting, to encourage you to press on. One of the characteristics of young people is that they are restless. Do not be afraid of the restlessness within you! Make the most of its drive to draw even closer to Christ and to bear witness to the values of the Gospel. Firmly rooted in the Word of Jesus, reading the Gospel every day, never cease to dream of a land where there is peace and fraternity, nor to look upon the world with wonder, nor to face the future in the light of hope. Dear young people, do not let anything or anyone rob you of your hope!

I also encourage you to harness your restlessness so that, in moments of prayer and silence, in dialogue with God, you may ask him: “Lord, what do you want me to do in the Church and in the world? What is my vocation? Are you calling me to start a family through marriage? Or are you calling me instead to the priestly life? Or to the religious life? These are important questions to ask, without forgetting a certainty that gives unity to our inner life: God always calls us to be saintly, and saints are profoundly human. Be, then, human as Christ is, and you will certainly change this world for the better. May Our Lady of Fátima, the Mother of Good Counsel, help you!

Dear friends, I now invoke upon you, upon all the young people of Portugal, upon your pastors and upon those responsible for youth ministry, the abundance of Heaven’s graces. May God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, bless you. [Amen!].

I hope you continue to have a wonderful gathering here in Lamego! And I look forward to seeing you in August 2027 in Seoul. Thank you!