For Immediate Release From Vatican News!
Pope Leo To Young People: Be Agents of Peace In A Divided World
Pope Leo XIV addresses young people gathered in his hometown – Chicago – and urges them to build community, embrace God’s love, and become “beacons of hope” in today’s world. By Linda Bordoni
Thousands of young people gathered at Rate Field, home of the Chicago White Sox Major League Baseball team, on Saturday, June 14, for a joyful celebration organised by the Archdiocese of Chicago to honour the recent election of their native son, Pope Leo XIV.
In a video message, the newly elected Pope, formerly Archbishop of Chiclayo, Peru, expressed gratitude and encouragement to the young people of his hometown and the world.
The event, held on the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity, was attended by Cardinal Blase Cupich, auxiliary bishops, clergy, families, and youth from across the Archdiocese.
In his message, the Pope began by reflecting on the significance of the Trinity as a model of divine love and unity. “Three persons in one God live united in the depth of love, in community, sharing that communion with all of us,” he said, inviting his young listeners to reflect on their own relationships and communities in that same spirit of love.
The power of faith and community
The Pope acknowledged the challenges young people face today, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“You may realize (…) the context of your life has not given you the opportunity to live the faith,” he said, encouraging them to open their hearts to God’s presence, “to that longing for love in our lives, for … searching, a true searching, for finding the ways that we may be able to do something with our own lives to serve others.”
He highlighted the healing power of faith and community, and encouraged young people to seek friendship, support, and shared mission in their parishes and neighbourhoods.
“Coming together as friends (…) we can find that the Lord’s grace, that the love of God can truly heal us,” he said, and he called on those present to become “beacons of hope” in a world often burdened by division and despair.
God works through our lives
And referring to Saint Augustine’s reflections on the “restless heart,” he reminded young people that their longing for meaning is a sign of spiritual vitality rather than something to suppress.
“We shouldn’t look for ways to put out the fire,” he said, “but to recognise that God can work through our lives.”
Young people, the Pope reiterated, are called to be agents of peace and unity. “The world looks to you to announce a message of true hope and to promote peace,” he said.
Quoting both Saint Paul and Saint Augustine, he anchored his message in the Church’s tradition while encouraging youth to embrace their unique role in shaping the future.
Concluding, Pope Leo XIV invoked God’s blessing upon those gathered: “May the Lord’s love and peace come upon each and every one of you (…) so that you might always be beacons of hope, a sign of hope and peace throughout our world.”
********
‘You Are My Hope’: Pope Leo XIV’s Message for 9th World Day of the Poor
As the Church prepares to mark the Ninth World Day of the Poor on Sunday, 16 November 2025, Pope Leo XIV issues a message centered on the theme: “You are my hope”, and expresses his hope that this Jubilee Year may encourage the development of policies aimed at combatting forms of poverty both old and new. By Linda Bordoni
Drawing from the Psalms and the lived experience of those suffering poverty, Pope Leo XIV urges Christians to recognise the poor not as objects of charity but as protagonists of hope. He also expresses his hope that the Jubilee Year may be an occasion to implement "new initiatives to support and assist the poorest of the poor," and notes that "Labour, education, housing and health are the foundations of a security that will never be attained by the use of arms."
The Pope’s message, released on the Feast Day of Saint Anthony of Padua, patron of the poor, calls on the faithful to rediscover Christian hope as a response to the instability that pervades our world.
“Hope in God never disappoints,” the Pope affirms, recalling Saint Paul’s assurance that “we have our hope set on the living God”.
Witnesses To Hope Amid Hardship
Pope Leo notes how the poor, though deprived of material security, often embody a hope that is deep and enduring. “They cannot rely on the security of power and possessions... their hope must necessarily be sought elsewhere,” he writes. It is precisely in this vulnerability, the Pope explains, that “we too pass from fleeting hopes to a lasting hope.”
“The gravest form of poverty,” he continues, “is not to know God.” Citing Pope Francis’s Evangelii Gaudium, he highlights the fact that spiritual care must not be denied to the poor, who “have a special openness to the faith.”
Hope As An Anchor
The Holy Father goes on to recall how early Christians viewed hope as an anchor: “Christian hope is like an anchor that grounds our hearts in the promise of the Lord Jesus.” In a world plagued by war, displacement, and environmental degradation, he insists that this hope remains the anchor holding human dignity fast.
“Charity is not just a promise,” the Pope reminds us. “It is a present reality to be embraced with joy and responsibility.”
From The City Of Man To The City Of God
Drawing a direct line between faith and social responsibility, the Pope recalls the Church’s long-standing teaching that poverty must be addressed at its structural roots.
“Poverty has structural causes that must be addressed and eliminated,” he writes, calling for policies that reflect the Church’s commitment to labour, education, housing and healthcare as universal rights.
And decrying a culture of indifference, he points to the many “quiet signs of hope” - care homes, soup kitchens, and low-income schools – that, he says, are too often overlooked.
“The poor are not a distraction for the Church,” the Pope reiterates, “They are our beloved brothers and sisters... they put us in contact with the truth of the Gospel.”
A Jubilee Of Responsibility
Making his invitation all the more urgent, he reminds Christians that this year’s World Day of the Poor is closely linked to the ongoing Jubilee celebration: “Once the Holy Door is closed, we are to cherish and share with others the divine gifts granted us.”
Thus, he urges believers to view the poor not merely as recipients of care, but as “creative subjects who challenge us to find novel ways of living out the Gospel today.”
Pope Leo also echoes the wisdom of Saint Augustine, urging justice over mere generosity: “You give bread to a hungry person; but it would be better if none were hungry,” he quotes.
Concluding his message, the Pope entrusts all to Mary, Comforter of the Afflicted, inviting the Church and the world to raise a “song of hope” with the words of the Te Deum: “In you, O Lord, is our hope, and we shall never hope in vain.”
World Day Of The Poor
Pope Francis instituted the World Day of the Poor in 2017 to encourage the Church to actively address poverty in its various forms. It is time for Christians and all men and women of goodwill to reflect and take action, encouraging people to connect with those experiencing poverty and work towards ending cycles of poverty. The occurrence is celebrated on the 33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time.
********
LA Archbishop: God Loves Us ‘No Matter What Country We Come From'
At a Mass for Peace and Unity held in Los Angeles following widespread protests against mass deportations, Archbishop José Gomez says that Jesus loves us “no matter what countries we come from, or the language that we speak”. By Joseph Tulloch
For nearly a week, the US city of Los Angeles has been gripped by widespread protests against the Trump administration’s policy of mass deportations.
The demonstrations, which have now spread to other cities, began on 6 June in response to raids carried out in L.A. by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials.
These protests were the context for an 11 June ‘Mass for Peace and Unity’ celebrated by Archbishop José Gomez of Los Angeles.
The Archbishop began his homily by decrying the “tension, … uncertainty, and violence” on the streets of Los Angeles. He also offered prayers for “our neighbours who are hurting - good hard working men and women, people of faith”, as well as for “the police and for all those who put their lives on the line to keep our communities safe”.
“That’s what ‘Catholic’ means: ‘Universal’, ‘international’, ‘worldwide’. It means no-one is left behind or left out.”
“God,” Archbishop Gomez said, “has a plan for his creation, a dream of love for the whole human race.”
“Jesus loves us so much that he gave his life for us,” the Archbishop said, “not just for some of us, but every man and woman who was ever born or ever will be born. No matter what countries we come from, or the language that we speak”
“That’s what ‘Catholic’ means,” Gomez explained: “It means ‘universal’, ‘international’, ‘worldwide’. It means no-one is left behind or left out. It means all of us are children of God, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters of our Father in heaven. This is the beautiful vision of the Gospel.”
Mexican bishops: ‘We are all brothers and sisters’
In a separate statement released on the 10th June, the Episcopal Conference of Mexico said that they were following the “complicated situation” in Los Angeles with “pain and concern”.
Referencing an earlier statement by LA’s Archbishop Gomez, the Mexican bishops said that “although some undocumented migrants commit criminal acts, not all undocumented migrants are criminals”.
“Furthermore,” the bishops said, “the vast majority of undocumented migrants contribute to the good of the communities in which they live and work”.
Read the full article HERE:
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/... ********
Sisters Serving Migrants And Refugees At Ghana's Border
As West African migration routes shift, Sisters of Mary Mother of the Church (SMMC) are delivering frontline support to displaced communities in the Aflao Ghetto, one of the most overburdened informal settlements in Ghana. By Sr. Agnes Mercy Nyatsoe, SMMC
Sr. Mary-Consolata Serwah Ntenye's journey began with a calling to serve the marginalized and vulnerable. It brought her to Aflao, a border town in southern Ghana and a key entry point for migrants and refugees. There, the Sisters of Mary Mother of the Church (SMMC) launched the Migrants and Refugees Outreach Program.
Located near the Togo-Ghana border, Aflao hosts a growing number of refugees from countries including Côte d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso, and Togo. The Aflao Ghetto has become both a place of refuge and hardship, marked by limited access to healthcare, education, and basic services.
The SMMC program addresses these needs with practical support. As coordinator, Sr. Mary-Consolata has led initiatives focusing on healthcare, education, and livelihoods for displaced people.
Healthcare Access Is A Key Priority
"Many refugees and migrants lack medical care, a problem worsened by unstable living conditions," she said.
She works with local clinics and volunteers to provide free consultations, essential medications, and education on preventive health and early childhood care.
Education As Empowerment
Sr. Mary-Consolata has helped establish learning programs for children, adolescents, and adults in refugee and migrant communities. These aim to prepare children for formal education and equip adults with employable skills.
She also collaborates with local schools to ensure refugee children are not excluded from the education system.
Read the full article HERE:
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/... ********
Pope Prays For Victims Of ‘Terrible Massacre’ In Benue State, Nigeria
At the Sunday Angelus, Pope Leo prays for victims of conflicts in Nigeria, Sudan, Myanmar, Ukraine, and the Middle East. By Joseph Tulloch
Pope Leo prayed on Sunday for the victims of a “terrible massacre” in Benue State, Nigeria.
Around 200 people were “brutally killed” in Yelwata, in the Guma Local Government Area on the night of the 13th/14th June – most of them internally displaced persons “sheltered by the local Catholic mission”.
Speaking just before delivering the Sunday Angelus prayer, the Pope prayed for “security, justice, and peace” in Nigeria, adding that he was thinking in particular of the “rural Christian communities of the Benue State who have been relentless victims of violence”.
Responding to the attack, Amnesty International Nigeria on Saturday called on Nigerian authorities to “immediately end the almost daily bloodshed in Benue State and bring the actual perpetrators to justice”.
The Pope’s thoughts then turned to Sudan, which has been in the grip of a civil war for over two years.
Pope Leo said he had been informed of the death of the Rev. Luke Jumu, parish priest of El Fasher in the country’s southwest, who is reported to have been killed in a recent bombing.
“While I offer my prayers for him and for all the victims,” the Pope said, “I renew my appeal to the combatants to stop, to protect civilians, and to embark on a path of dialogue for peace.” He then urged the international community to “intensify” its efforts to provide humanitarian aid to a population which is “severely affected” by the ongoing crisis.
Pope Leo also extended his prayers for peace to the Middle East – where a major conflict has broken out between Israel and Iran – and also to Ukraine and Myanmar.
Noting that conflict has continued in Myanmar despite the recent temporary ceasefire, the Pope called for combatants to take “the path of inclusive dialogue” – the only one, he said, “that can lead to a peaceful and stable resolution”.
Read the full article HERE:
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/20... ********
The Risks of Global Conflict
Amid the escalation of hostilities between Iran and Israel, the possibility of a spillover of war beyond regional borders raises fears of disastrous consequences. By Roberto Cetera
The risk that the “piecemeal world war” denounced by Pope Francis could evolve into a full-scale global conflict has rarely felt more real. Israel’s strike on Iran during the night of June 13 marks the most serious escalation in the Middle East since October 7, 2023, and the profound reshaping of the region’s geopolitical landscape that followed.
It is beyond doubt that Tehran, under the leadership of the Ayatollahs, has long been a source of regional destabilisation and a genuine threat to Israel’s security. Recent reports from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have pointed to increasingly advanced developments in Iran’s nuclear program. Yet the critical question now is whether Israel’s military action will contain the threat or dangerously widen the conflict, potentially beyond the region.
This concern is underscored by the ambivalent stance of the United States. Just over two months ago, Prime Minister Netanyahu, during a visit to Washington, proposed a similar operation but was met with resistance from the U.S. administration, which had instead begun diplomatic talks with Tehran. That moment marked a clear divergence between Israeli and American diplomatic strategies. Since then, meetings between former President Trump and moderate Gulf states were received coldly by Israel, as was U.S. encouragement toward Syria’s new leader, Al Sharaa, even as the IDF continued its strikes on Damascus. Most notably, President Trump has been urging an end to the war in Gaza—his latest appeal coming just three days ago in a phone call with Netanyahu.
This backdrop has led many analysts to suggest that Netanyahu’s airstrikes against Iran were designed to force Washington’s hand by presenting it with a fait accompli. The initial U.S. response has been mixed: Secretary of State Marco Rubio was quick to underline that the operation was unilateral and not coordinated with the U.S., while President Trump later posted full support on X, even threatening a more forceful escalation.
Beyond relations with the U.S., Netanyahu’s timing was likely influenced by several other considerations. Chief among them is the aim to divert global attention from the ongoing war in Gaza. Continued military operations and civilian casualties in the Strip have triggered international condemnation, isolating Israel even from its traditional allies in a way unseen in the nation’s nearly 80-year history.
Just three days from now, the United Nations was scheduled to hold a peace conference in New York, sponsored by France and Saudi Arabia, where President Macron was expected to
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/world/news/2... ********
Central African Republic Bishops Express Desire For Peace Amid Violence
Bishops Juan Josè Aguirre and Aurelio Gazzera, Bishop and Coadjutor Bishop of Bangassou, respectively, emphasize in a pastoral letter that they are “deeply concerned about the violence affecting the Central African Republic." By Emil Sandberg
While the Central African Republic has been dealing with violence and mourning for decades, two attacks, one in October 2024 and one in January 2025, seemed to tip the scales beyond the point of return for many people.
According to a report by the UN Human Rights Office and the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), these two waves of attacks in the Mbomou and Haut-Mbomou prefectures, resulted in at least 24 deaths—some of them victims of execution without trial.
We Cannot Accept This Violence
Among other documented violations and abuses, the attackers also committed acts of s*xual violence, including gang rape, torture, and other forms of cruel and degrading treatment against at least 14 women and 7 girls.
Two girls and one woman were also victims of forced labour, while another woman was forcibly married to an attacker.
According to the Vatican's Fides news agency, the two bishops wrote a pastoral letter on Sunday, June 8, reacting to the shocking events and the violence in the name of revenge that followed.
"We cannot accept that the southeast of our country, the Central African Republic, is the scene of violence of any kind, a land from which people are fleeing, a land of devastation."
"In recent weeks, we have mourned deaths: FACA (Central African Armed Forces) soldiers, but also civilians,” continued Bishops Aguirre and Gazzera. “Civilians have been shot, wounded, tortured, and executed—with complete impunity."
The two bishops recognized the thousands of civilians who have been forced to flee Zemio, Mboki, and Djema, including tens of thousands on their way to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“We think of villages that have been bombed, looted, and set on fire,” they added.
Dialogue Can End The Cycle
In recognizing these atrocities, Bishops Aguirre and Gazzera emphasized the importance of dialogue as a way to end this cycle of violence, offering the Catholic Church as neutral ground.
“The Catholic Church is always ready and willing to welcome all people of good will around the table to discuss and work on peace, reconciliation, and development in the region," they said.
The Central African Bishops ended their letter by saying, "This is not the time for war, but for dialogue! It is not the time for violence, but the time to listen! It is not the time for suspicion, resentment, accusations, and jealousies, but the time to listen to the poor, to hear their cry for peace!"
The two bishops expressed their hope that resolving the conflict will allow every person in the Central African Republic to live in peace, making the country one where anyone can look at life and to the future with hope.
Read the full article HERE:
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/world/news/2... VISIT:
https://www.facebook.com/vaticannews Have you check out the
www.levineoliverpublisher.com Shop lately?
Posted By: agnes levine
Sunday, June 15th 2025 at 1:55PM
You can also
click
here to view all posts by this author...
