U.S.
Justice Alito speaks at Vatican Jubilee of Justice
ROME — In a frescoed hall of a building housing the Catholic Church’s highest courts, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. spoke about faith, mercy, tradition and hope. The justice, a Catholic, was in Rome for the Sept. 20 celebration of the Jubilee of Justice, which brought together thousands of judges, lawyers, prosecuting attorneys, law professors and canon lawyers from some 100 nations. The celebration featured an audience with Pope Leo XIV, who holds a doctorate in canon law and spoke about justice as involving respect for the law and for the dignity of the person as well as promoting reconciliation and forgiveness. In the evening, in the Vatican’s Palazzo della Cancelleria, Alito sat down for a public conversation with Msgr. Laurence Spiteri, a priest of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and a judge on the Roman Rota, a Vatican court. (CNS)
Pope Leo names coadjutor for New Orleans, apostolic administrator for Monterey, Calif.
Pope Leo XIV has appointed Bishop James F. Checchio of Metuchen, New Jersey, as the coadjutor archbishop of New Orleans. The appointment was publicized Sept. 24 in Washington by Cardinal Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States. As coadjutor, Archbishop Checchio will assist Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond and automatically succeed him upon retirement. Ordained in 1992, Archbishop Checchio has led the Diocese of Metuchen since 2016.
The Diocese of Monterey announced Sept. 19 that Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishop Slawomir S. Szkredka has been appointed apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Monterey. Cardinal Christophe Pierre, papal nuncio to the United States, informed diocesan officials of the appointment, according to a news release. The diocese has been without a bishop since Bishop Daniel E. Garcia was appointed the new shepherd of the Diocese of Austin, Texas, in July.
WORLD
Nigerian priest killed; killings, kidnappings prompt fear of genocide of Christians
ENUGU, Nigeria — In Nigeria, the Church is mourning the killing of Father Mathew Eya, shot dead on Sept. 19 in what appeared to be an execution-style ambush near his parish in Enugu state. Gunmen on motorcycles forced his vehicle to stop before killing him at close range. Police have arrested 38 suspects, and a $6,700 reward has been offered for information. Just days earlier, Father Wilfred Ezeamba of Kogi state was freed after being kidnapped on Sept. 12. He and two parishioners were recovering after several days in captivity. These cases highlight the growing crisis of Christian persecution in Nigeria. According to Church and human rights groups, at least 145 Catholic priests have been kidnapped since 2015. A recent report says an average of 32 Christians are killed daily in Nigeria, and 7,000 were massacred in the first 220 days of 2025. Kidnappings in Nigeria have become what Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah of Sokoto called “a criminal industrial complex” that generates millions of dollars in revenue. Church leaders are calling for justice — and international attention — amid mounting fears that the kidnapping of clergy and lay Christians is part of a genocidal campaign to wipe out Christianity from Nigeria. (OSV News)
Four nuns, driver killed in Tanzania road crash after celebrating vows
MWANZA, Tanzania — In northern Tanzania, four members of the Missionary Sisters of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus and their driver were killed in a road crash on Sept. 15. The group was returning from a joyful religious celebration — the perpetual vows of three sisters — when their vehicle collided head-on with a truck while en route to Mwanza Airport. The deceased include Sister Lilian Kapongo, general superior of the congregation; Sister Maria De Simone, an Italian national; and two Kenyan sisters, Damaris Matheka and Stellamaris Muthini. A fifth sister, 20-year-old Pauline Mipata, survived the crash and remained hospitalized in critical condition at Bugando Zonal Referral Hospital in Mwanza. The truck driver was taken into custody for questioning, according to police. Archbishop Renatus Leonard Nkwande of Mwanza mourned the sisters as condolences poured in from across the region, including from Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan. The crash has reignited concerns over road safety in Tanzania, where fatal accidents remain common. (OSV News)
Pope sends Rosh Hashana wishes to Rome Jewish community
VATICAN CITY — As the Jewish community was about to mark the beginning of the year 5786 and the Jewish high holy days, Pope Leo XIV sent his best wishes to Rome’s chief rabbi. “On the occasion of the upcoming celebrations of Rosh Hashana 5786, Yom Kippur and Sukkot, I would like to extend my warmest greetings to you and to the entire Jewish community of Rome,” the pope said in a telegram to Rabbi Riccardo Di Segni, the chief rabbi. “May the Eternal One, in his infinite goodness, be near your community and accompany all our efforts to deepen the friendship between us, in the city of Rome and throughout the world,” the pope wrote. (CNS)
