Bulletins, Newsletters, and Flocknotes

Today, the Court of Cassation issued two rulings on the appeals lodged by the Prosecutor, in one case taking note of Professor Alessandro Diddi's declaration of abstention from the proceedings and in the other confirming the inadmissibility of the Prosecutor’s appeal as ruled by the Court of Appeal. The Court of Appeal will hold its next hearing on 3 February.

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

- Their Excellencies Messrs.  Matteo Rossi and Lorenzo Bugli, Captain Regents of the Republic of San Marino, and entourage;

- Archbishop Mario Enrico Delpini, metropolitan of Milan, Italy;

- Mr. Davide Prosperi, president of the Fraternity of Communion and Liberation;

- His Eminence Cardinal Rolandas Makrickas, archpriest of the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major;

- Msgr. Jain Mendez, Holy See Permanent Observer at the World Tourism Organization;

- Dr. Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA);

- Fr. Pascal Ahodegnon, O.H., prior general of the Hospitaller Order of the Brothers of Saint John of God (Fate Bene Fratelli);

- Members of the “Commissão Episcopal Pastoral para Ação Missionária e Cooperação Intereclesial”, Brazil;

- Ms. María Corina Machado.

The Holy Father Leo XIV received in Audience today, in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Captains Regent of the Most Serene Republic of San Marino, Their Excellencies Messrs. Matteo Rossi and Lorenzo Bugli, who subsequently met with His Eminence Cardinal Parolin, Secretary of State of His Holiness, accompanied by His Excellency Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations.

During the cordial talks, held at the Secretariat of State, the excellent existing bilateral relations were evoked, as well as the contribution of the Church to San Marino society.

The conversation then turned to the ongoing international crises, with particular reference to the conflict in Ukraine, collaboration in the sphere of multilateral diplomacy, and the importance of interreligious dialogue in promoting peace.

From the Vatican, 12 January 2026

This morning, in the Paul VI Hall, the Holy Father Leo XIV received in audience the representatives of the organizations that collaborated on the Jubilee.

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

 

Address of the Holy Father

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

Peace be with you!

Dear brothers and sisters, welcome!

“How much good there is in the world!”. I am taking these words of His Excellency Archbishop Fisichella, because you are the proof: how much good there is in the world! Thank you! Thank you, truly!

I greet His Excellency Archbishop Rino Fisichella, the authorities present and the representatives of civil and ecclesiastical bodies which in various ways contributed to the Jubilee of Hope, which came to an end four days ago. Special mention goes to the Government of the Italian Republic, the Government Commissioner, the Municipality of Rome – in particular the Mayor and his organizational structure – and the Lazio Region; as well as to the Security Forces, the Prefecture, which coordinated the work, the Civil Protection and the numerous voluntary associations, and the “Jubilee 2000” Agency. I express special gratitude to the Dicastery for Evangelization – Section for Fundamental Questions regarding Evangelization in the World, and to the other Dicasteries involved, the Vatican Gendarmerie, the Pontifical Swiss Guard, the Governorate of Vatican City State, the Prefecture of the Papal Household, the various Commissions – pastoral, cultural, communication, ecumenical, technical, economic –, to the Confessor Priests, to the representatives of the Dioceses and Episcopal Conferences, to the experts of various categories who participated in the individual events, and to the five thousand “Jubilee Volunteers” of all ages and backgrounds.

I express to all of you my heartfelt gratitude for your work, both during the demanding preparatory stages and throughout the Jubilee Year. You have made a multifaceted contribution, often hidden, always demanding and full of responsibility, thanks to which more than thirty million pilgrims were able to make the Jubilee journey and participate in the celebrations and events, in an atmosphere of festivity and at the same time of composure, recollection, order and organization. Thanks to you, Rome has offered everyone its welcoming face, that of an open, cheerful and at the same time discreet and respectful community, helping everyone to live this great moment of faith fruitfully.

The visit to the tombs of Peter and Paul, of the other Apostles and Martyrs, the journey towards the Holy Door, the experience of forgiveness and of God’s mercy, were for many people moments of fruitful encounter with the Lord Jesus, in which they were able to experience first-hand that “hope does not disappoint” ( Rm 5:5), because He is living and walks in us and with us – in the salent moments of existence as in everyday normality – and because, with him, we can arrive at our destination. Saint Augustine writes, in this regard, that “Hope is very necessary for us in our exile … When the traveller, after all, finds it wearisome walking along, he puts up with the fatigue precisely because he hopes to arrive. Rob him of any hope of arriving, and straightaway his strength is broken for walking” ( Sermon 158, 8). With your work, you helped many people to find and rediscover hope, and to resume the journey of life with renewed faith and intentions of charity (cf. 1Ts 1:2-3).

I would like to recall, in particular, the presence in Rome, on the occasion of the Jubilee, of so many young people and adults from all nations. It was beautiful to experience their enthusiasm first-hand, to witness their joy, to see the seriousness with which they prayed, meditated and celebrated, to observe them, so numerous and diverse, yet united, orderly (thanks also to your valuable service!), eager to get to know one another and to experience together moments of grace, fraternity and peace. Let us reflect on what they showed us. We are all, at various levels, responsible for their future, in which lies the future of the world. Let us ask ourselves, then, in light of what we have seen: what do they really need? What truly helps them to mature and give the best of themselves? Where can they find true answers to the deepest questions they carry in their hearts? Young people need healthy role models who point them towards goodness, love and holiness, as shown to us by Saint Carlo Acutis and Saint Piergiorgio Frassati, who were canonized last September. Let us keep before us their clear and lively eyes, full of energy and at the same time so fragile: they can be of great help to us in discerning with wisdom and prudence the serious responsibilities that we have towards them.

In the Bull of Indiction of the Holy Year, Pope Francis concluded his powerful call to hope by saying: “Let us even now be drawn to this hope! Through our witness, may hope spread to all those who anxiously seek it. May the way we live our lives say to them in so many words: ‘Hope in the Lord! Hold firm, take heart and hope in the Lord!’” ( Ps 27:14)” ( Spes non confundit , 25). May this be the mandate we carry with us, as a fruitful continuation of the work accomplished, so that the many seeds of goodness that, thanks also to your help, the Lord has sown in so many hearts in recent months, may grow and develop.

At the end of this meeting, I am happy to be able to give each of you, as a small token of gratitude, the Jubilee Crucifix: a miniature of the cross with the glorious Christ that accompanied the pilgrims. May it remain with you as a reminder of this experience of collaboration. And so I bless you and wish you all the best for this new year. Thank you!

Resignation and appointment of bishop of Assisi-Nocera Umbra-Gualdo Tadino and Foligno, Italy, and union in persona Episcopi of the two sees

Appointment of coadjutor bishop of Kolda, Senegal

 

Resignation and appointment of bishop of Assisi-Nocera Umbra-Gualdo Tadino and Foligno, Italy, and union in persona Episcopi of the two sees

The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the dioceses of Assisi-Nocera Umbra-Gualdo Tadino and Foligno, united in persona Episcopi , presented by Archbishop Domenico Sorrentino.

The Holy Father has appointed Archbishop Felice Accrocca, until now metropolitan of Benevento, as bishop of the dioceses of Assisi-Nocera Umbra-Gualdo Tadino and Foligno, again uniting the two sees in persona Episcopi , maintaining his ad personam title of Archbishop.

Curriculum vitae

Archbishop Felice Accrocca was born on 2 December 1959 in Cori, in the province of Latina, in the diocese of Latina-Terracina-Sezze-Priverno. After studying theology at the Pontifical Leonian College of Anagni, he was awarded a degree in letters from the University of Rome “La Sapienza”, and a doctorate in Church history from the Pontifical Gregorian University of Rome.

He was ordained a priest on 12 July 1986, and incardinated in the diocese of Latina-Terracina-Sezze-Priverno.

He has held the following offices: deputy parish priest of Santa Maria Assunta in Cielo in Cisterna di Latina (1986-1989), parish priest of San Luca in Latina (1989-2004), director of the Paul VI Diocesan School of Theology (1994-2016), episcopal vicar for diocesan pastoral care (1999-2016), moderator of the Episcopal Curia (2001-2003), parish priest of San Pio X in Latina (2003-2012), diocesan assistant for Catholic Action (2003-2007), secretary of the diocesan Synod (2005-2012), parish priest of Sacro Cuore and parish administrator of San Pio X in Latina (2012-2016), coordinator of the diocesan Council of Lay Associations, and professor of Medieval Church history at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. He is a member of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. Within the Italian Episcopal Conference, he is a member of the Episcopal Commission for the Evangelization of Peoples and Cooperation between Churches. Within the Regional Episcopal Conference, he is the bishop delegate for education, schools and universities, the teaching of the Catholic religion, and culture.

He was elected to the metropolitan archepiscopal see of Benevento on 18 February 2016, and received episcopal ordination on the following 15 May.

 

Appointment of coadjutor bishop of Kolda, Senegal

The Holy Father has appointed the Reverend Joseph Francis Badji, of the clergy of the diocese of Ziguinchor, until now rector of the Interdiocesan Major Seminary of Saint Jean Marie Vianney in Brin, Ziguinchor, as coadjutor bishop of the diocese of Kolda, Senegal.

Curriculum vitae

Msgr. Joseph Francis Badji was born on 1 January 1966 in Ziguinchor. After studying philosophy at the Interdiocesan Major Seminary of Saint Jean Marie Vianney in Brin and theology at the Grand Séminaire François Libermann in Sebikhotane, he was awarded a master’s degree in philosophy from the Université Catholique de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (UCAO) in Abidjan.

He was ordained a priest on 28 December 1994.

He has held the following offices: vicar of the Cathédrale Notre-Dame des Victoires in Kolda (1994-1997), formator and professor of the philosophy cycle of the Interdiocesan Major Seminary of Saint Jean Marie Vianney in Brin (since 2001), head of the ongoing formation of priests (2011-2016), and rector of the Interdiocesan Major Seminary of Saint Jean Marie Vianney in Brin (since 2017).