Bulletins, Newsletters, and Flocknotes

Tomorrow,  Wednesday 22 October 2025 , at  12.00 , a press conference will be held at the Holy See Press Office, Via della Conciliazione 54, to present the  Jubilee of the World of Education , to be held from 27 October to 1 November 2025.

The speakers will be:

-  His Eminence Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça , prefect of the Dicastery for Culture and Education;

-  His Eminence Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson , chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences;

-  Monsignor Carlo Maria Polvani , secretary of the Dicastery for Culture and Education;

-  Professor Elena Beccalli , rector of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, president of the European Federation of Catholic Universities (EFCU);

-  Fr. Ezio Lorenzo Bono , representative for the Global Educational Compact.

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 Giubileo del Mondo Educativo.

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

Journalists and media operators who are admitted will receive confirmation of participation via the online accreditation system and, at the same time, a link to access the virtual platform and to 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 Giubileo del Mondo Educativo.

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

Appointment of bishop of Plymouth, England

The Holy Father has appointed Bishop Nicholas Hudson, until now auxiliary of Westminster, as bishop of Plymouth, England.

Curriculum vitae

Msgr. Nicholas Gilbert Hudson was born on 14 February 1959 in Wimbledon, London. He carried out his secondary studies at the Jesuit Fathers’ Wimbledon College, and his university studies at Jesus College, University of Cambridge, obtaining a Master of Art in history. He subsequently attended the Venerable English College and the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, where he was awarded a bachelor’s degree and licentiate in dogmatic theology.

He was ordained a priest on 19 July 1986 for the archdiocese of Southwark.

After ordination, he held the role of deputy parish priest of Saint Thomas of Canterbury (1987-1991). He continued his studies as the Catholic University of Louvain, and went on to serve as director of the Christian Education Centre in the archdiocese of Southwark (1993-2000), vice rector (2000-2004) and rector (2004-2013) of the Venerable English College in Rome, and parish priest of The Sacred Heart in Wimbledon, archdiocese of Southwark.

On 31 March 2014 he was appointed auxiliary bishop of Westminster and titular bishop of Sanctus Germanus, receiving episcopal consecration the following 4 June.

In addition, he was a member of the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, episcopal secretary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, president of the Department for International Affairs, moderator of the Coordination for the Holy Land; and observer at the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of Europe.

This morning, 20 October 2025, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV received in Audience, in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, His Excellency Nikol Pashinyan, Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, who subsequently met with His Eminence Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State, accompanied by Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations.

During the cordial talks at the Secretariat of State, satisfaction was expressed for the good relations between the Holy See and Armenia, a country with an ancient Christian tradition. Certain aspects of the life of the Catholic Church in the country were also highlighted.

At the same time, attention was also given to other issues of common interest, in particular the need for a stable and lasting peace in the South Caucasus.

From the Vatican, 20 October 2025

This morning, in the Paul VI Hall, the Holy Father Leo XIV received in audience the pilgrims present for the Canonizations, to whom the Pope delivered the following address:

 

Address of the Holy Father

[In Italian]

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

Peace be with you!

Dear brothers and sisters,

I am pleased to meet you in the wake of the canonization of seven new saints to whom you are, for various reasons, very attached. I greet each one of you, especially the cardinals, bishops, religious superiors and civil authorities present here. The joyful and solemn event we celebrated yesterday reminds us that the communion of the Church involves all the faithful, in space and time, in every language and culture, uniting us as the people of God, the body of Christ and the living temple of the Holy Spirit.

The men and women we proclaimed saints yesterday are for all of us shining signs of hope, because they offered their lives in love for Christ and their brothers and sisters.

[In English]

We all share in the joy of the beloved Armenian people as we look to the holiness of the martyred Bishop Ignatius Maloyan. He was a pastor after Christ’s own heart, and in times of heavy difficulties, he did not abandon his flock, rather he encouraged them in order to strengthen their faith. When he was asked to renounce his faith in exchange for freedom, he did not hesitate to choose his Lord, even to the point of shedding his own blood for God.  This makes me think fondly of the Armenian people, who carve the cross into stones as a sign of their firm and rock-solid faith. May the intercession of the new Saint renew the fervor of believers and bring fruits of reconciliation and peace for all.

We can see the deep faith of the people of Papua New Guinea reflected in Saint Peter To Rot, who offers us an inspiring example of steadfastness and fortitude in preaching the truths of the Gospel when confronted by difficulties and challenges, even threats to our lives.  Although he was an ordinary catechist, he showed extraordinary courage by risking his life to carry out his apostolate in secret, because his pastoral work was prohibited by the occupying forces during the Second World War.  At the same time, when these authorities permitted the practice of polygamy, Saint Peter To Rot firmly defended the sanctity of marriage and even confronted some powerful people.  Let us listen to his words in the face of hostility, “This is a very bad time for us and we are all afraid. But God our Father is with us and looking after us. We must pray and ask him to stay with us always.” Dear brothers and sisters, may the example of Saint Peter To Rot encourage us to defend the truths of the faith, even at the cost of personal sacrifice, and to rely always on God in our trials.

[In Spanish]

Dear brothers and sisters: on 7 October, the bishops of Venezuela published a letter on the joyful occasion of seeing two sons of their beloved land raised to the altars: Saint José Gregorio Hernández and Saint Carmen Rendiles. They asked the Lord that this be a strong incentive for all Venezuelans to come together and recognize themselves as children and brothers and sisters of the same homeland, reflecting on the present and the future in the light of the virtues that these saints lived in a heroic manner.

We might ask ourselves, what are these virtues that should motivate us? Certainly faith . God was present in their lives and transformed them, turning the simple existence of a normal person, like any one of us, into a lamp that illuminated everyone with a new light in their daily lives. Undoubtedly, the virtue of hope is also present: if God is our eternal reward, our work and our struggles cannot end in goals that are not only unworthy and degrading, but also ephemeral. Finally, charity , which is born of welcoming and sharing the gift received; which makes us find the true meaning of life and asks us to build it through service, whether to the sick, the poor, or the little ones.

Now, how can reflection on these virtues help us at the present time? It can do so if, when we look at these two great figures, we see in them above all people very similar to ourselves, who lived confronting problems that are not unfamiliar to us, and which we ourselves can face as they did, following their example. On the other hand, assuming that those who live alongside me — like me, like them — are called to the same holiness, I must therefore see them, above all, as brothers and sisters to be respected and loved, sharing the journey of life, supporting each other in difficulties and building the kingdom of God together with joy.

[In Italian] We also praise the Lord for Sister Maria Troncatti, a Salesian saint who dedicated her life to serving the indigenous peoples of Ecuador. Combining medical expertise with a passion for Christ, this generous missionary cared for the bodies and hearts of those she assisted with the love and strength she drew from faith and prayer. Her truly tireless work is an example for us of a charity that does not give up in the face of difficulties, but rather transforms them into opportunities for free and total self-giving.

In his providence, God gave the Church Sister Vincenza Maria Poloni, founder of the Sisters of Mercy. Her charism bears witness to Jesus’ compassion towards the sick and the marginalized. Nurturing social commitment with a profound Eucharistic spirituality and with Marian devotion, Saint Vincenza encourages us to persist in daily service to the most fragile: it is precisely there that holiness of life flourishes!

This transformation, which the grace of God works in the heart, finds an example of particular intensity in Bartolo Longo. Converting from a life far from God, he devoted all his energy to works of corporal and spiritual mercy, promoting faith in Christ and affection for Mary through charity towards orphans, the poor, the desperate. Grateful to its founder, may the Shrine of Pompeii preserve and spread the fervour of Saint Bartolo, apostle of the Rosary. I wholeheartedly recommend this prayer to everyone, to priests, religious, families and young people. Contemplating the mysteries of Christ with Mary's gaze, day by day we assimilate the Gospel and learn to practise it.

Dear pilgrims, I hope you return to your homes with hearts full of gratitude and with an ardent desire to imitate the new saints. May their intercession accompany you and their example inspire you. With affection, I impart my apostolic blessing to you all.

This morning, in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father Leo XIV received in audience the community of the Pontifical Portuguese College in Rome.

The following is the address delivered by the Pope to those present at the meeting:

 

Address of the Holy Father

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

Peace be with you!

Your Eminence, Your Excellency, Monsignor Rector and Spiritual Fathers, dear brothers and … a few sisters,

Good morning! Bom dia! Bem-vindos!

I am pleased to welcome you on this day that, 125 years ago, marked the birth of the Pontifical Portuguese College. Indeed, Pope Leo XIII, moved by the spiritual good that the Portuguese bishops, with the formation of their clergy in Rome, foresaw for their dioceses, founded it at the end of a process in which the Visconti of São João da Pesqueira played an important role. Looking back, therefore, and thinking about the foundation of your College, we find clerics and lay people together, united on the same path, committed to the same goals, so as to foster better the proclamation of the Gospel.

Always focused on the mission, the Church, today called upon to strengthen her synodal style, joyfully treasures these ecclesial experiences and, in preserving them as a spiritual heritage, finds in them an impetus to grow in communion. When, for human promotion and for the glory of God, we listen to one another and respect what the Holy Spirit inspires in each believer, we distinguish the signs of the times with greater clarity and confidence, working together to build the Kingdom of Christ. And the fact of being in Rome to further the study of theology or the human and social sciences implies training ourselves more and more in the art of listening, which is so important for unity between us, disciples of the Lord.

The founding of the College, precisely in the Jubilee of 1900, allows me to reflect with you on the two dimensions of your stay in Rome, to which the Holy Years make special reference: the dimension of the universality of the Church and that of divine mercy.

Jubilees allow us to witness the arrival of many pilgrims, thus intensifying our understanding of the universality of the Church, which you experience in this city in different ways, both by sharing the beauty of your cultures and by bearing witness to the richness of your local Churches and the pastoral experience you bring with you. Experiencing all this is a gift from the Lord, and the best way to thank him is to enter fearlessly into the vitality of this exchange, contributing to the polychromy of unity and the polyphony of communion.

Furthermore, we know that Jubilee years are an opportunity to attain a more intense awareness of the gift of mercy that flows from the Heart of Christ. And it is precisely the Sacred Heart that has marked of the history of the Portuguese College from the very beginning, even appearing in its coat of arms. In fact, the first students consecrated themselves to Him. Continue to do so! Continue to entrust your life to the Heart of the Lord; draw ever closer to Him and learn mercy from Him! A College consecrated to the Heart of Christ is a school of divine mercy, in which the students, imitating the beloved disciple (cf Jn 13:25), listen to the beating of God’s love and thus become true theologians. In truth, a priest, whatever the mission entrusted to him, always finds in it an opportunity to conform himself to the Good Shepherd: not only does he need a heart of flesh, a humane and wise heart, but he also feels the need for a heart like that of Jesus, always united to the Father, impassioned by the Church and full of compassion.

By pausing in the presence of the Lord after demanding days of work, you can find refreshment in Him and “mend” the unity of your life. Always ask Him for a heart capable of loving the Church as He does, He who “gave himself up for her” (Eph 5:25); present your bishops and your diocesan communities to Him and, from this moment, pray for the faithful whom you will serve in your countries. Hold fast to the Lord Jesus in listening to His Word, in the celebration of the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist, in Adoration, in spiritual discernment, and in fraternal kindness among yourselves.

Dear brothers and dear sisters, while you are in Rome, also make yourselves a “home”, that is, a homely environment where, when you return from your academic commitments, you can feel part of a family. I would like to remind you of what Saint Paul VI said to the students of the College of Saint Peter: “What is this house?”, he asked. “How can we define this College? Perhaps it is not easy to say. It is not a hotel, where strangers come and go; it is not a simple boarding house, where one finds lodgings for other reasons, that it cannot pursue. … It is something more intimate and more personal. It is a College, which aims to produce collegiality, or rather, communion, friendship, a fusion of spirits, begun and enjoyed here in unity; and then to be remembered and relived in future years, when you are scattered throughout the world, in Catholicism” ( Address to the College of St Peter the Apostle on the Janiculum Hill , 6 January 1970). Therefore, build a collegial home that is also welcoming, as the Church should be. We find this written in the history of the College, which received the title of ‘House of Life’ because of its welcome to Jews during the Second World War. This title is both a legacy and a responsibility in your daily construction of fraternity.

To achieve this, work together with the support of the Rector and the spiritual Fathers, and also with the valuable presence of the Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Victories. Thank you, dear sisters, for your devotion to the priesthood, for the prayer that you raise to Heaven for them and for your maternal attitude! No-one can substitute closeness in spiritual motherhood, and you have been giving and refining it for fifty years: although it is discreet, it is not hidden from God. Thank you! With you, I also greet and thank the collaborators who complete the family of the College.

I will conclude by asking for prayer from you all. During this month, praying the Rosary, ask for the intercession of Our Lady of Fatima, also for me, for the Church, and for peace. God bless you!