Pope Leo XIV thanks faithful for support of Peter's Pence Collection
Pope during Angelus (@VATICAN MEDIA)
Speaking after the Angelus prayer on Sunday, 29 June, Pope Leo XIV highlighted the spiritual and ecclesial significance of the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul by thanking the faithful worldwide for their participation in the Peter's Pence collection and extending heartfelt greetings to pilgrims in Rome for the feast of the city's patron saints.
'Today also marks the celebration of the Peter's Pence collection, a sign of communion with the Pope and participation in his apostolic ministry,' the Pope said. 'I warmly thank all those who, with their offering, support my first steps as the Successor of Peter.'
Observed annually, the collection enables the Pope to fund charitable works, provide disaster relief, and support vulnerable communities around the world.
Feast of Rome's patron saints
Greeting pilgrims and citizens of Rome, Pope Leo also extended a special message to the priests who serve in its parishes, offering gratitude and encouragement for their pastoral work.
'I want to send a heartfelt thought to the parish priests and all the priests working in the Roman parishes, with gratitude and encouragement for their service,' he said.
Metropolitan Archbishops
The Pope also had words of welcome for pilgrims from various countries accompanying the Metropolitan Archbishops who received the Pallium during the morning Mass in St. Peter's Basilica.
In particular, he said to those from war-struck Ukraine: 'I always pray for your people.'
The Pallium, a liturgical vestment conferred on the new Archbishops, signifies their communion with the Bishop of Rome and their pastoral responsibility as shepherds within the Church's hierarchy.
Quo Vadis initiative
Pope Leo also praised the Quo Vadis initiative, a spiritual pilgrimage through key sites in Rome connected to Saints Peter and Paul, as an opportunity to deepen knowledge of the Church's foundations and grow in devotion to the Apostles.
'I bless all those participating in the event called 'Quo Vadis', through the Roman sites linked to the memory of Saints Peter and Paul,' he said. 'I thank those who have worked with dedication to organise this initiative.'--Vatican News
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Herald Malaysia
13 hours ago
- Herald Malaysia
Called to build a better world
As the Malaysian Catholic Church continues its journey toward the Malaysian Pastoral Convention (MPC) 2026, parish communities, ministries, and Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs) are being called to deepen their engagement in four key pastoral focus areas: Family, Church, Ecology, and Society. Aug 01, 2025 KUALA LUMPUR: As the Malaysian Catholic Church continues its journey toward the Malaysian Pastoral Convention (MPC) 2026, parish communities, ministries, and Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs) are being called to deepen their engagement in four key pastoral focus areas: Family, Church, Ecology, and Society. For 2025, the Church placed particular emphasis on Ecology and Society. In line with this direction, the Malaysian Catechetical Commission (MCC) announced the theme for Catechetical Sunday 2025: We can make the world a better place. The theme chosen for this year's celebration was announced earlier by Bishop Joseph Hii Teck Kwong, pic, Episcopal President of the Malaysian Catechetical Commission (MCC). Rooted in St Paul's exhortation to the Philippians (Phil 2:4) and Jesus' commandment to 'love one another' (Jn 13:34), the theme serves as a powerful invitation for Catholics to live out their faith in ways that impact both people and the planet. The theme reflects a growing emphasis within the Church on promoting social justice and environmental stewardship through catechesis and formation at all levels. 'As Christians, we are called to do our part to make the world a better place,' said Bishop Joseph in his message to the faithful. 'This involves addressing root causes of poverty, inequality, and violence, and promoting systemic change through political engagement, fair labour practices, and care for the environment.' Bishop Joseph also underscored the urgency of environmental stewardship, citing Pope Francis' Laudato Si' as a rallying call for collective action to address climate change and ecological degradation. Education and catechesis, he emphasised, play a vital role in shaping individuals who will rise to meet these challenges. 'Education begins at home,' Bishop Joseph said. 'Parents are the first catechists to their children, and they, along with parishes, BECs, Catholic institutions, and organisations, must help equip the next generation to face the challenges of our times.' To assist parishes in celebrating Catechetical Sunday, the MCC has distributed a range of resources, including the Catechetical Sunday Message, Rite of Commissioning for Catechists, e-Poster, and a Catechetical Sunday Kit. These materials are designed not only for use today but also throughout the month of August to promote deeper reflection and engagement. This year's celebration also marks a shift in the Church's liturgical calendar: Catechetical Sunday has officially moved from the fourth Sunday of January to the first Sunday of August, following a directive issued by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Malaysia on October 7, 2024. Bishop Joseph concluded his message with a note of gratitude to all those involved in the ministry of catechesis: 'On behalf of the Bishops of Malaysia, I extend my deepest gratitude to parish priests, catechetical coordinators, catechists, parents, guardians, and all involved in this ministry. May Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, lead and guide us.' As the Church in Malaysia observes Catechetical Sunday 2025, it does so with renewed purpose — to form disciples who not only know the faith, but live it courageously and compassionately, for the good of the Church, society, and creation.
Herald Malaysia
2 days ago
- Herald Malaysia
UN human rights lawyer appeals for humanitarian action to save dying in Gaza
A UN human rights lawyer speaks to Vatican News about the famine emergency in Gaza and the need for nations to act immediately to save the population, including 320,000 children, before it is too late. Jul 31, 2025 Palestinian baby Zainab Abu Haleeb, dies due to malnutrition, in Khan Younis By Thaddeus JonesThe latest information from the United Nations shows that more than one third of the residents of Gaza are going without food for days, and more than half a million people are enduring famine-like conditions. All others are facing emergency levels of hunger. The UN agencies providing emergency food aid, helping babies and children with nutrition and medicine have appealed to the international community to act immediately as famine conditions spread. They say without an immediate full-scale humanitarian response, thousands will die very soon, since less than five percent of what is needed to prevent mass starvation is being allowed to enter Gaza. The Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization, QU Dongyu, has warned that, 'Gaza is now on the brink of a full-scale famine. People are starving not because food is unavailable, but because access is blocked, local agrifood systems have collapsed, and families can no longer sustain even the most basic livelihoods.' He has appealed for 'safe and sustained humanitarian access and immediate support to restore local food production and livelihoods," the only way to prevent further deaths. "The right to food is a basic human right.' Focusing on the human rights questions regarding Palestine is Australian lawyer Chris Sidoti, who is a commissioner of the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem and Israel . In an interview with Vatican News / Vatican Radio, he appealed for full-scale emergency food aid to be allowed in immediately, as time is running out very quickly to save thousands from dying. This action is essential in the short term, he underscores, while a durable ceasefire is also needed to stop the killing. He also looks at the long-term prospects for a two-state solution that would allow a Palestinian state and Israel to live side by side in peace and security. Vatican Radio interview with Chris Sidoti, a commissioner with the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem and Israel. Q: About the humanitarian situation in Gaza, there's been a bit of a change with some airdrops, a little more aid being allowed in. But overall, how do you see the situation there? How would you describe it? 'A little more aid getting in' is an accurate description. It is a very small amount at this stage. Airdrops are good, but no substitute in terms of quantity for the provision of aid by trucks. We have to get trucks into Gaza if we are to relieve the desperate situation there. Before this war, before October 2023, there were up to 2,000 trucks a day going into Gaza, and that was still under a situation of very tight Israeli control of the kinds of goods that were able to enter. After October 2023, the supplies were curtailed dramatically. And even during the brief ceasefire this year, from January into late March, there were only 600 trucks a day going into Gaza. Now, the UN agencies and international non-government organisations estimate that at least 2,000 trucks a day are required simply to maintain a very basic level of food supply. Now, during that period that that ceasefire period, it was 600 trucks a day. (On 28 July), under the loosened conditions that the Israeli Prime Minister proclaimed, 90 trucks went in. So that's less than a sixth of the number that went in during the ceasefire, and less than 5% of the number that is required to simply sustain the basic quantity of food and water for the people of Gaza. So it's clearly totally inadequate. It is literally a sop to opinion coming from countries all over the world that are saying that this Israeli imposed mass starvation is a most serious war crime. Do you think, finally, countries speaking up that there's a positive effect this can have and that's led to what is this slight improvement? Certainly this speaking up has led to this very slight improvement, but that's not adequate. As I say this, this is a sop to international pressure. What is really required is not speaking up, but serious action. Action that will place real pressure on the Israeli government and not simply the pressure of words. So, there is certainly a requirement, a desperate need, but also a legal obligation on other states to do everything in their power, short of invading Gaza, to force the Israeli government to allow adequate food supplies to enter Gaza. There are thousands of trucks, in fact, outside the borders of Gaza, waiting to enter if the Israeli authorities will let them in. They need to be allowed in. It's as simple as that. What else needs to happen? Obviously, we're at a critical point from the humanitarian point of view because the time is really running out. But what else needs to happen here, would you say, for the situation to improve even a little bit? Well, the most important thing that needs to happen is adequate quantities of food and water and medical supplies need to be allowed in. Now that is desperate. Some of the UN agencies are saying that the red line has already been crossed, that retrieving the situation without thousands or even tens of thousands of people dying is already too late. I hope that's not the case. I'm not an expert on humanitarian assistance and what people need to eat and how much is required. But I hope against hope, that it is not too late to stop mass starvation in Gaza. But that's the first and most immediate need food, water, and proper medical supplies and fuel to enable hospitals to operate. Power to be provided so that incubators for babies can work, oxygen can be provided, and so forth. The Israeli authorities are showing no sign whatsoever of permitting this. The concession that was given yesterday (27 July), and that has started to be implemented today (28 July), is very, very small and far from adequate to ensure that starvation is adequately addressed. So that's what needs to happen immediately. But it's about time that other states took seriously their obligations under international law that were laid out very clearly by the International Court of Justice last July. The International Court of Justice said unequivocally, any actions by states that aid or assist in any way the unlawful actions of the Israeli government must cease. Now, that should have led governments around the world last July to undertake an urgent examination of all aspects of their relationship with the State of Israel to determine what aspects of the relationship were in any way aiding and abetting Israel's illegality. So it's about time that other states took seriously the legal obligations that the International Court of Justice has identified, and respond by ending all relationships with Israel, that in any way aid or assist Israel's illegalities. How can this be done today, especially at a time when more and more people are questioning the legitimacy of international institutions, and even the whole idea of multilateralism and approaching serious crises like this is under threat? Well, the criticisms of the institutions are coming from two directions. Firstly, there is the small number of states and political leaders who are out to destroy international law and international institutions. The great majority are simply frustrated that the international legal system is not delivering what it promised to deliver. And so there is a crisis in international law. There is a crisis in the multilateral system, in the system of the United Nations itself. And that crisis can only be addressed by the international system demonstrating that it is capable of responding to the most serious violations of international law. And the sad truth is that to date, they have not responded. It's true that there is a crisis in the international system now. I think that this is the most serious crises that the international legal system has faced in the 80 years since World War Two when the steps were taken to establish the system that we now have. Do you see this obviously complicating the whole idea of a two-state solution, which is being discussed in New York today and tomorrow (28-29 July)? How do you see the whole process there, even short-term ending the conflict, long term a two-state solution? It certainly complicates that process. Unless states are prepared to move from rhetoric to action, we will see no progress on the two state solution. It's quite clear that international action is required. It's quite clear that there needs to be pressure placed on the Israeli government in particular, and on the Palestinian authorities as well, to actually implement what has been seen as the necessary response to the situation in the Middle East for the last almost 80 years, 75 years. The United Nations General Assembly passed its resolution on a two-state approach to the Middle East in 1947. And everything that has been done since then, or at least almost everything, perhaps excluding the Oslo Accords of the early 1990s, everything that has been done has been a step, and then another step and then another step away from that decision taken in 1947. And so the problem is not the law. The problem is not the rhetoric. The problem is the failure to act.--Vatican News
Herald Malaysia
4 days ago
- Herald Malaysia
Catholic digital media at a crossroads
The Church's digital presence reveals a deeper call to communion, truth, and reform Jul 29, 2025 The Jubilee of Digital Missionaries and Catholic Influencers, underway in Rome July 28-29, is a milestone for online evangelization.(Photo: By Jess Agustin This week in Rome, Catholic content creators from around the world are gathering for the Church's first-ever Jubilee of Digital Missionaries and Influencers. The event signals recognition from the Vatican that the internet is now a mission field. As the Church affirms its growing digital presence, it must also confront a sobering reality, one many Catholics face daily online: the spread of disinformation, polarization, and conspiracy-driven content across platforms. These narratives are pushed by individuals, as well as influential websites and media outlets posturing as Catholic voices, and yet often distort Church teaching and undermine the very Gospel the Jubilee seeks to uphold. In recent years, the Catholic media landscape has undergone a troubling transformation. What once served to inform the faithful, foster prayerful discernment, and strengthen the Church's global communion has, in many corners, become a battleground, no longer a space for faith and dialogue, but of accusation. A doctrinal gatekeeping has emerged. To deviate even slightly from the 'correct' view on contested issues is to be labeled a heretic or outcast. This atmosphere of distrust has impacted bishops, priests, theologians, lay personnel, and entire Catholic institutions. Those who promote dialogue on issues like ecology, synodality, human rights, social justice, or pastoral care for marginalized groups are often accused of 'watering down the faith' or pursuing a hidden agenda. This is not limited to obscure websites. Some of the loudest and most influential platforms are well-funded and boast large audiences, leveraging partial truths and inflammatory rhetoric to trigger suspicion and fear. The harm extends far beyond North America and Europe. In the Global South — where faith pervades daily life and the Church is a vital social pillar — these narratives have far-reaching consequences. Grassroots Catholic organizations in the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Cambodia have seen their funding frozen or partnerships quietly canceled, based on suspicion over 'forbidden' causes such as women's health or educational initiatives that merely mention reproductive topics. These programs, aligned with Church teaching and supported by local bishops, were derailed by accusations circulated online. The consequences were tangible: canceled anti-poverty programs, closed shelters for abused women and children, halted emergency responses, and fractured trust between local Churches and their northern partners. In one heartbreaking and well-documented case, funding was pulled from a shelter caring for young women, some with babies born from rape or incest. The shelter's implementing organization, funded by a Catholic agency, had signed a joint civil society statement that included a single reference to women's reproductive rights. The rest of the statement focused on discrimination, poverty, and domestic violence in Timor-Leste. A North American 'pro-life' website flagged the women's group, prompting an online search 'investigation' by the bishops' conference secretariat. The program was defunded despite full compliance with Church teaching and endorsement by local bishops. As Pope Francis warned, media that claim to defend the faith can end up advancing 'an ideology that divides, lacks love, and seeks to replace the true Gospel.' When Church leaders appear on such platforms — through interviews, statements, or alignments — they risk deepening polarization. Over the past two decades, this parallel media culture has grown more brazen, casting itself as a last bastion of orthodoxy. Some outlets, framed as defenders of 'tradition,' have become ideological echo chambers fueled by rage, conspiracy, and personal attacks. This model is potent because it works. Indignation drives clicks. Provocative headlines sell ads. Anger is monetized. Truth becomes optional. When faith is formed not by the Gospel but by a steady diet of fear and mockery, the result is not discernment but distortion. Things worsened in the later years of Pope Francis' papacy. The attacks turned vicious. Some bishops and cardinals used these platforms to the point of threatening schism. In a 2021 meeting with Jesuits in Slovakia, Pope Francis decried 'a large Catholic television channel' that consistently criticized him, calling such media 'the work of the devil.' Even financial mismanagement, defamation suits, and removal from major social media platforms for spreading disinformation failed to stem their influence. One major outlet eventually folded due to ethical lapses by its founder. Some US platforms even went so far as to endorse Donald Trump in 2024, disregarding his long record of deceit, immorality, and opposition to Catholic teaching. The result is a fragmented Catholic media environment. On one side are official channels, diocesan news outlets, and pastorally grounded media. On the other hand, partisan platforms backed by sympathetic clergy, rallying an 'ultraconservative' base that casts suspicion on the rest. This divide threatens the Church's unity and credibility. They name and shame bishops involved in social issues, discredit theologians, cast suspicion on the Vatican, and treat every word from the pope as a battle line. And it is not one-sided. Some Catholics denouncing toxicity fall into the same traps of mockery and condemnation. The cycle feeds itself. The harm isn't just rhetorical. These narratives break trust, stall necessary reforms, and make the Church less like a community of faith and more like a battlefield in a culture war. Do we believe in a Church that welcomes questions, wrestles with difference, and finds strength in naming its wounds? Or a Church that must always be defended and policed — where any deviation is stamped out? In a May 12 address to the Vatican press corps, shortly after the conclave, Pope Leo XIV declared: 'We must say 'no' to the war of words and images. We must reject the paradigm of war. Communication is not only the transmission of information, but it is also the creation of a culture.' Building on Pope Francis' critique of divisive media, he called on Catholic communicators to 'foster communion especially in an online world where suspicion moves faster than truth.' We may be on the cusp of a return to Catholic media's true calling: to illuminate, not inflame. That calling will be tested this week in Rome. The Jubilee of Digital Missionaries offers more than a celebration. It is a crossroads. The Church can either form faithful witnesses who understand the digital world as a space for communion, or continue ceding ground to influencers who claim to be custodians of doctrine but distort the Gospel. We need content creators who ask hard questions. We need reporting that amplifies the voices of the poor, not the power games of clerics and influencers who side with the powers that be. Not media controlled by watchdogs of orthodoxy, but created by voices grounded in Gospel courage, who name injustice when others look away. We don't need louder defenders of orthodoxy. We need missionary disciples in the digital world who see fidelity not as gatekeeping but as truthfulness, who know that Catholic unity is not born of doctrinal purity tests, but through courageous encounter with buried truths, excluded voices, and wounds the Church has yet to heal. It is not upheld by those obsessed with defending orthodoxy, but by those striving to live the Gospel amid the messiness of real lives, who embody the Beatitudes — in tone, in method, and mission. The future of Catholic media won't be saved by branding or algorithms. It hinges on choosing witness over outrage, communion over conquest, and truth over virality. At its best, Catholic media doesn't just inform. It helps people think clearly, act justly, and return to the all-embracing, transforming love of
