U.S.
Regional events will set stage for 2029 National Eucharistic Congress
NAPLES, Fla. — The next National Eucharistic Congress will be held in 2029 following regional events across the U.S. from 2026-2028. Jason Shanks, CEO of National Eucharistic Congress Inc., announced the plans Feb. 7, noting the event will likely take place in a large, family-friendly city. The 2024 congress in Indianapolis, part of the National Eucharistic Revival, marked the first national U.S. eucharistic congress since 1941 and drew over 60,000 attendees. Shanks said lessons learned will help improve future gatherings, with more space needed for anticipated participation. Regional events in the years before the 2029 congress will aim to expand engagement in dioceses nationwide and support the revival’s mission to inspire eucharistic faith. Meanwhile, another national eucharistic pilgrimage is scheduled this year to go from Indianapolis to Los Angeles from May 18 to June 22. (OSV News)
Trump at National Prayer Breakfast announces new order to investigate ‘anti-Christian’ bias
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said in Feb. 6 remarks to the National Prayer Breakfast he would create a task force led by Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate “anti-Christian” bias in the federal government. In dual remarks at the event, first at the U.S. Capitol and then across town at the Washington Hilton, Trump also said he would establish a presidential commission on religious liberty that “will work tirelessly to uphold this most fundamental right.” Trump has long taken aim at some Biden administration policies he argued “weaponized” the Justice Department. The president’s comments came as his administration has sparred with some faith groups over subjects including immigration policy and has faced pushback from Christian groups involved in U.S. foreign aid work. (OSV News)
Caritas Internationalis criticizes U.S. foreign aid freeze
VATICAN CITY — The decision of the Trump administration to freeze U.S. humanitarian and development aid “threatens the lives and dignity of millions” of people around the world, said Caritas Internationalis. Stopping programs funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development and recalling overseas staff “will jeopardize essential services for hundreds of millions of people, undermine decades of progress in humanitarian and development assistance, destabilize regions that rely on this critical support, and condemn millions to dehumanizing poverty or even death,” Caritas said in a statement Feb. 10. Caritas Internationalis is the Vatican-based confederation of 162 national Catholic relief, development and social service agencies that operate in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. The U.S. bishops’ Catholic Relief Services and Catholic Charities USA are members of the confederation. (CNS)
Bishop: Attack on priest during liturgy points to mental health needs
SPOKANE, Wash. — A man attacked the parochial vicar of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes during a Feb. 4 healing liturgy. The incident occurred on the second night of the cathedral’s Lourdes Novena for Healing. The attacker rushed from the pews and swung at Father David Gaines, who remained calm, saying, “You’ll be OK.” Parishioners, a deacon and security subdued the man, who was later arrested. Bishop Thomas Daly, who witnessed the event from a few feet away, resumed the prayer service after the man was escorted out. Bishop Daly said he was grateful for the quick security response and that no one was hurt. He said the attack raises questions about mental illness and possible demonic affliction, and the importance of the Church’s role in outreach and healing. (OSV News)
Pope names new bishops for Detroit, Cincinnati, Sioux Falls and Norwich
WASHINGTON — Pope Francis made several appointments. He accepted the resignation of Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron, 76, from the pastoral governance of the Archdiocese of Detroit and has appointed Bishop Edward J. Weisenburger of Tucson, Arizona, as his successor. The pope also accepted the resignation of Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr, 76, from the pastoral governance of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, and has appointed Auxiliary Bishop Robert G. Casey of Chicago as his successor. The pope has also accepted the resignation of Bishop R. Walker Nickless, 77, from the pastoral governance of the Diocese of Sioux City, Iowa, and appointed Father John E. Keehner Jr., pastor of four parishes, to succeed him. In a fourth appointment, the pope named Msgr. Richard F. Reidy, vicar general and moderator of the curia of the Diocese of Worcester, Massachusetts, to head the Diocese of Norwich, Connecticut. The appointments were publicized in Washington Feb. 11 and 12 by Cardinal Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States. (OSV News)
WORLD
Pope: Vocation of military and police is to defend life, peace, justice
VATICAN CITY — Thanking members of the military and the police for their service, Pope Francis asked them to be on guard against seeing other people as enemies and instead dedicate their lives to defending life, peace and justice. “Be vigilant lest you be poisoned by propaganda that instills hatred (and) divides the world into friends to be defended and foes to fight,” the pope wrote in his homily for the Mass Feb. 9 for the Jubilee of the Armed Services, Police and Security Personnel. The Vatican said some 30,000 active and retired members of the military and police from 100 countries — including U.S. military and members of the New York Police Department — registered as pilgrims for the jubilee celebration. (CNS)
Pope extends terms of dean, subdean of College of Cardinals
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis has extended the terms of Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re as dean of the College of Cardinals and Cardinal Leonardo Sandri as subdean, the Vatican press office announced. The five-year term of Cardinal Re, 91, had been set to end Jan. 18. And the term of Cardinal Sandri, 81, was to expire Jan. 24. Both were eligible to be elected to a second five-year term. The Vatican press office Feb. 6 announced that in early January Pope Francis had “extended the approval he granted to the election” of both cardinals in 2020. The press office did not say if the extension was for a fixed term or if a date had been set for an election. (CNS)
Congolese bishops say Goma situation remains grave; full scale of human toll still emerging
GOMA, Congo — Following a unilateral ceasefire declared by the rebels in Goma, the city began to mourn the dead, counted in the hundreds, and care for the displaced in the aftermath of intense fighting. The Congolese bishops, offering support to local pastors and victims’ families, continue to push for peace in the region, urging all to prioritize living together in peace. The M23 rebels agreed to halt their advance toward Bukavu and allow humanitarian aid to reach those affected by the violence, which has claimed at least 900 lives, with up to 2,000 believed to have died in total. The displaced, many of whom are women and children, seek shelter in churches and schools, as conditions in Goma worsen. Pope Francis called for the protection of civilians and an end to the violence, while the Congolese bishops’ peace initiative aims to foster dialogue and resolve long-standing tensions. (OSV News)
