Bulletins, Newsletters, and Flocknotes

This morning, in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father Leo XIV received in audience the participants in the Colloquium organized by the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue and the Royal Institute for Inter-Faith Studies.

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

 

Address of the Holy Father

Peace be with you.

Welcome.

Your Royal Highness Prince Hasan bin Talal, Dear brothers and sisters,

I am pleased to greet all of you and I am grateful for your presence here on the occasion of this eighth colloquium, jointly organized by the  Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue  and the Royal Institute for Inter-Faith Studies.

The theme that you have chosen this year, “Human Compassion and Empathy in Modern Times,” is particularly timely for our world today. Indeed, these are not marginal sentiments, but rather are essential attitudes of both of our religious traditions and important aspects of what it means to live a truly human life.

The Muslim tradition associates compassion, ra’fa, with mercy as a gift bestowed by God in the hearts of believers, and one of the divine names, al-Ra’uf, reminds us that compassion always has its origin in God himself.

Similarly, in the Christian tradition, Sacred Scripture reveals a God who does not remain indifferent to suffering, but says to Moses, “I have seen the misery of my people… I have heard their cry” ( Ex  3:7).  In Jesus Christ, this divine compassion becomes visible and tangible.  God goes beyond seeing and hearing by taking on our human nature in order to become the living embodiment of compassion.  Following the example of Jesus, Christian compassion becomes a sharing in or “suffering with” others, particularly the most disadvantaged.  For this reason, “love for the poor — whatever form their poverty may take — is the evangelical hallmark of a Church faithful to the heart of God” ( Dilexi Te , 103).

For our traditions, human compassion and empathy are not something additional or optional, but are a call from God to reflect his goodness in our daily lives.

This belief, therefore, has social implications.   Pope Leo XIII  taught that the poor and marginalized are worthy of special attention and help from society and the State (cf.  Rerum Novarum , 37).  In this regard, I wish to express appreciation for the generous efforts of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in welcoming refugees and assisting those in need in difficult circumstances.

Dear friends, compassion and empathy are sadly in danger of disappearing today.  Technological advances have made us more connected than ever before, but they can also lead to indifference.  The constant flow of images and videos of the hardships of others can dull our hearts rather than stir them.  Pope Francis  warned us that “we have become used to the suffering of others [thinking]: it does not affect me, it does not interest me, it is none of my business” ( Homily , Lampedusa, 8 July 2013).  This type of apathy is becoming one of the most serious spiritual challenges of our time.

In such a context, Christians and Muslims, drawing from the richness of our respective traditions, are called to a common mission: to revive humanity where it has grown cold, to give voice to those who suffer and to transform indifference into solidarity.  Compassion and empathy can be our instruments as they have the power to restore the dignity of the other.

It is my hope that Jordan will continue to be a living witness to this kind of compassion, as well as a sign of dialogue, solidarity and hope, in a region that is marked by trials.

May our collaboration bear fruit in concrete gestures of peace, empathy and fraternity.

Thank you!

And, as in our traditions we seek peace as one of the most important blessings of God, I ask the blessing of God upon all of you.  

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

Thank you very much.

This morning, in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father Leo XIV received in audience the members of the Board of the Vatican Observatory Foundation, to whom he delivered the following address:

 

Address of the Holy Father

In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Peace be with you.

Your Eminence, President of Governatorato, Dear friends, Dear brothers and sisters,

I am deeply grateful to be meeting with you, the members of the Vatican Observatory Foundation, and I thank you for your faithful and generous support of the work of the  Vatican Observatory  – a cherished institution of the  Vatican City State  at the service of the Holy See and of the Universal Church.

One hundred and thirty-five years ago, my predecessor  Pope Leo XIII  re-founded the  Vatican Observatory  so that “everyone might see clearly that the Church and her Pastors are not opposed to true and solid science, whether human or divine, but that they embrace it, encourage it, and promote it with the fullest possible devotion” ( Ut Mysticam , 14 March 1891). In that era, science was increasingly being presented as a rival source of truth to religion so that the Church felt an urgent need to counter the growing perception that faith and science were enemies.

Yet today, both science and religion face a different and perhaps more insidious threat: those who deny the very existence of objective truth. Too many in our world refuse to acknowledge what both science and the Church plainly teach – that we bear a solemn responsibility for the stewardship of our planet and for the welfare of those who dwell upon it, especially the most vulnerable, whose lives are imperilled by the reckless exploitation of both people and the natural world. This is precisely why the Church’s embrace of rigorous, honest science remains not merely valuable, but essential.

Astronomy holds a particular place in this mission. The capacity to gaze with wonder at the sun, the moon, and stars is a gift given to every human being, regardless of station or circumstance. It awakens in us both awe and a saving sense of proportion. Contemplating the heavens invites us to see our fears and our failings in the light of God’s immensity. The night sky is a treasury of beauty open to all – rich and poor alike – and in a world so painfully divided, it remains one of the last truly universal sources of joy.

Tragically, even this gift is now under threat. To paraphrase  Pope Benedict , we have filled our skies with man-made light that blinds us to the lights God has placed there – a fitting image, he suggested, of sin itself (cf.  Homily , 7 April 2012).

It is in this context that I express my profound gratitude for the work of the Foundation. Your commitment enables the Vatican's scientists to engage meaningfully with the wider public and with the global scientific community. Your generosity makes it possible for the Vatican Observatory to share the wonder of astronomy with students from across the world, and to offer workshops and summer schools to those serving in Catholic schools and parishes. And it is ultimately your dedication that keeps the Observatory’s telescopes and laboratories what they were always meant to be: places where the glory of God’s creation is encountered with reverence, with depth, and joy.

We must never lose sight of the theological vision that animates all of this. Ours is a religion of the Incarnation. Scripture teaches us that from the very beginning, God has made himself known through the things he has created (cf.  Rom  1:20), and that God so loved this creation that he sent his own Son to enter into it and redeem it (cf.  Jn  3:16). It is therefore no surprise that people of deep faith feel drawn to explore the origins and workings of the Universe. The hunger to understand creation more fully is nothing less than a reflection of that restless longing for God which lies at the heart of every soul.

In expressing once again my gratitude for your support, I willingly invoke upon you and your families the abundant blessings of Almighty God. Thank you!

On the occasion of the Buddhist Feast of Vesak, which commemorates the main events in the life of Buddha, the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue has sent a message to Buddhists around the world, entitled “Buddhists and Christians for an ‘Unarmed and Disarming’ Peace”.

The following is the text of the Message, signed by the prefect of the Dicastery, His Eminence Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad, and the secretary of the same Dicastery, Msgr. Indunil Janakaratne Kodithuwakku Kankanamalage:

 

Message

Buddhists and Christians for an “Unarmed and Disarming” Peace

Dear Buddhist Friends,

As in years past, we are pleased to extend our heartfelt greetings and good wishes on the joyful celebration of Vesak. This momentous festival—commemorating the birth, enlightenment, and passing of the Buddha—serves as an invitation to renew the path of wisdom, compassion, and peace.

Peace is not merely the absence of war, but a gift that seeks to dwell within the human heart: a quiet yet powerful presence that enlightens and transforms. Indeed, as Pope Leo XIV noted, “Peace exists; it wants to dwell within us. It has the gentle power to enlighten and expand our understanding; it resists and overcomes violence. Peace is a breath of the eternal: while to evil we cry out ‘Enough,’ to peace we whisper ‘Forever’” ( Message for the LIX World Day of Peace,  1 January 2026). Even when it appears fragile—like a small flame threatened by the storms of hatred and fear—peace must be protected and nurtured. This is the peace to which we are called: an unarmed and disarming peace that does not rely on force, but flows from truth, compassion, and mutual trust.

In our time, however, we cannot ignore the shadows weighing upon the world. Wars, violence, rising ethno-religious nationalism, and the manipulation of religion continue to wound our common humanity. In a world that appears increasingly fragile and at times marked by a troubling sense of regression, the call to peace becomes ever more urgent. It is here that our spiritual traditions can offer a vital contribution. Goodness is truly disarming; it breaks the cycle of suspicion and opens paths where none seemed possible. At their best, our traditions invite us to purify our hearts of hostility, to transcend boundaries, and to recognize one another as members of a single human family.

In this light, the sayings of the Buddha offer an insightful path. The Buddha teaches: “Hatred is never appeased by hatred; by non-hatred alone is hatred appeased. This is an eternal law” ( Dhammapada 5 ). And again: “Let none deceive another or despise any being… Let none through anger or ill will wish harm upon another” ( Sutta Nipata  1.8 -  Metta Sutta ). For Christians, Jesus calls his disciples to  “ love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” ( Matthew  5:44) and proclaims, “Blessed are the peacemakers” ( Matthew  5:9). Both traditions converge in pointing toward a peace that is lived—one that disarms hearts before it disarms hands.

Such a path calls for more than words; it requires a conversion of attitudes and a commitment to concrete action. Religious leaders are called to be authentic partners in dialogue and true agents of reconciliation .  Together with all believers, we are invited to become artisans of peace—not passive observers, but courageous witnesses capable of fostering encounter, healing wounds, and rebuilding trust.

As citizens and believers, we share a responsibility to promote peace, challenge injustice, and urge those in positions of authority not to inflame division but to pursue dialogue over confrontation. We must also guard against becoming complicit through silence or fear. Each community is thus called to grow as a place where hostility is overcome through encounter, where justice is practiced, and where forgiveness is cherished.

To foster an unarmed and disarming peace also means nurturing its deepest sources: prayer, contemplation, and inner transformation. It is a peace lived daily—in gestures of kindness, in patience, in the refusal of hatred and vengeance, and in the courage to hope. For peace is not an illusion or a distant ideal; it is a real possibility already placed within our reach, waiting to be welcomed and shared.

In this spirit, we renew our hope that, through our common commitment, Buddhists and Christians may increasingly become witnesses of this disarming peace—one that heals wounds, restores relationships, and opens new horizons for humanity.

May your celebration of Vesak be filled with serenity and joy, and may it inspire all of us to walk together on this path. We wish you a blessed and fruitful celebration of Vesak!

From the Vatican, 1 May 2026

George Jacob Card. Koovakad Prefect

Msgr. Indunil Janakaratne Kodithuwakku Kankanamalage Secretary

Appointment of vicar apostolic of Rundu, Namibia

Conclusion of the mandate of apostolic administrator ad nutum Sanctae Sedis of the personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of the Southern Cross , Australia, and appointment of apostolic administrator sede vacante et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis of the Ordinariate

 

Conclusion of the mandate of apostolic administrator ad nutum Sanctae Sedis of the personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of the Southern Cross , Australia, and appointment of apostolic administrator sede vacante et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis of the Ordinariate

The Holy Father has determined the conclusion of the mandate of Bishop Anthony Randazzo as apostolic administrator ad nutum Sanctae Sedis of the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of the Southern Cross, Australia, following the appointment of the latter as prefect of the Dicastery for Legislative Texts.

The Holy Father has appointed Bishop Steven Joseph Lopes, ordinary bishop of the personal ordinariate of The Chair of Saint Peter , United States and Canada, as apostolic administrator sede vacante et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis of the personal ordinariate of Our Lady of the Southern Cross , Australia.

 

Appointment of vicar apostolic of Rundu, Namibia

The Holy Father has appointed the Reverend Linus Ngenomesho, O.M.I., until now apostolic administrator of the apostolic vicariate of Rundu, Namibia, as vicar apostolic of the same circumscription.

Curriculum vitae

Msgr. Linus Ngenomesho, O.M.I., was born on 22 August 1969 in Omatando, archdiocese of Windhoek, Namibia. He studied philosophy and theology at Saint Joseph’s Oblates Scholasticate in Cedera, South Africa.

He was ordained a priest on 26 January 2002 for the Congregation of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (O.M.I.).

He has held the following offices: parish vicar in Gobabis, archdiocese of Windhoek, and assistant master of novices at the O.M.I. Formation House in Dabra (2002-2004); provincial counsellor of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate of the Province of Namibia (2003-2009); director of the O.M.I. Formation House and parish priest of Saint Boniface in Windhoek (2004-2008); dean of the deanery of Windhoek (2004-2008); member of the College of Consultors of the archdiocese of Windhoek (2004-2020); parish priest of Saint Peter Claver in Ukahandja (2009-2010); provincial superior of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate of the Province of Namibia and president of the O.M.I. Region for Africa and Madagascar (2010-2016); secretary general of the Namibian Catholic Bishops’ Conference (2016-2020); and to date, apostolic administrator of the apostolic vicariate of Rundu (since 2020).

This morning, the Holy Father received in audience:

- His Eminence Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith;

- His Excellency Mr. Kamil El-Tayeb Idris, Prime Minister of Sudan, and entourage;

- Archbishop Josef Grünwidl, metropolitan of Wien, Austria;

- Archbishop Henryk Mieczysław Jagodziński, titular of Limosano, apostolic nuncio in South Africa, Lesotho, Namibia, eSwatini and Botswana;

- Archbishop Luis Mariano Montemayor, titular of Illici, apostolic nuncio in Ireland;

- Bishop Petar Palić of Mostar-Duvno, Bosnia and Herzegovina, apostolic administrator of Trebinje-Mrkan;

- Participants in the Colloquium organized by the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue and the Royal Institute for Inter-Faith Studies;

- Members of the Board of the Vatican Observatory Foundation.