U.S.
Chicago Archdiocese, White Sox team up to celebrate Pope Leo and his ‘message of peace’
CHICAGO — The Archdiocese of Chicago has scheduled a Mass and a special program June 14 to celebrate the election and installment inauguration of Pope Leo XIV, a native son of the Windy City. The archdiocese said in an announcement the events including the Mass, preceded by music, a film, speakers and prayer will all take place at Rate Field, the ballpark of the Chicago White Sox. In its announcement the archdiocese said, “Pope Leo XIV’s message of peace, unity and the key to a meaningful life have touched hearts across the globe. This celebration is an extraordinary opportunity for people from the city and beyond to come together in shared pride for one of our own.” The archdiocese posted a short YouTube video of Chicago Cardinal Blase J. Cupich inviting the public to the celebration, recorded during a short visit home after the conclave in Rome and before returning there for the pontiff’s inauguration Mass. (OSV News)
Biden diagnosed with prostate cancer
WILMINGTON, Del. — Former U.S. President Joe Biden, the nation’s second Catholic president and a Wilmington resident, revealed May 18 that he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer and it has metastasized to his bones. He and his family are reviewing treatment options, his office said. “As Catholics, we are called to carry out Christ’s charge to ‘heal the sick’ by caring for those who are ill and accompanying them in their time of suffering through prayers of intercession,” said Robert G. Krebs, communications director for the Diocese of Wilmington. “The Church believes in the life-giving presence of Christ, the physician of souls and bodies, and wishes the former president a rapid return to health.” “Last week, President Joe Biden was seen for a new finding of a prostate nodule after experiencing increasing urinary symptoms. On Friday, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, characterized by a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) with metastasis to the bone,” a statement from Biden’s personal office said. (OSV News)
Senate blocks confirmation of nominee for ambassador to the Holy See
WASHINGTON — The confirmation of Brian Burch, President Donald Trump’s nominee for U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, was blocked May 13 amid a hold by a Senate Democrat on State Department nominees in protest of the Trump administration’s closure of the U.S. Agency for International Development. Through a procedure called unanimous consent, the Senate considers a matter agreed to if no senator objects, which can expedite certain procedures such as confirmations to government posts. Any one senator can block that process, a tactic senators in the minority party typically use to delay or prevent moves by the majority party to which they object. Since Burch’s confirmation was denied unanimous consent, the chamber will likely consider it within a few weeks. Cuts to funding for the government’s now-shuttered humanitarian aid agency in countries all over the globe include funding for efforts by Catholic and other faith-based humanitarian groups such as Catholic Relief Services. (OSV News)
WORLD
Vatican offers to host Ukraine-Russia talks after ‘tragic’ Istanbul meeting
ROME — The Vatican’s Secretary of State has offered to make the Vatican available for a meeting between Ukraine and Russia, as talks between those nations in Istanbul May 16 ended after just two hours, with little result except for a mutual prisoner exchange. Cardinal Pietro Parolin was quoted by the Italian news outlet La Stampa May 16 as saying “the outcome of the Istanbul summit is tragic.” The Istanbul meeting, hosted by Turkey’s government with the U.S. urging the two sides to participate, was aimed at securing a 30-day unconditional ceasefire. Cardinal Parolin said that Pope Leo XIV intends “to eventually make the Vatican, the Holy See, available for a direct meeting between the two parties.” (OSV News)
Pope names new chancellor of institute for marriage, family sciences
VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV has named Cardinal Baldassare Reina grand chancellor of the John Paul II Pontifical Theological Institute for Marriage and Family Sciences. The cardinal succeeds Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, who turned 80, the Vatican’s mandatory retirement age, April 20. The archbishop had served as grand chancellor since 2016. Cardinal Reina, as papal vicar for Rome, is automatically the grand chancellor of the Pontifical Lateran University, where the institute is based. The institute for studies on marriage and the family was established by St. John Paul II in 1982. (CNS)
