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Pope Francis speaks to staff and students from St. Paul Theological School in Catania, Italy, during an audience at the Vatican Dec. 6, 2024. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)

Studying theology in Sicily means fighting Mafia, pope says

December 7, 2024
By Cindy Wooden
Catholic News Service
Filed Under: News, Vatican, World News

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VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The study of theology must include reference to the context in which its students live and will minister, Pope Francis said, so in Sicily that means it must have something to say about the Mafia.

“The mission of a theological school cannot ignore the territory in which it is located,” the pope said Dec. 6 during a meeting with staff and students from St. Paul Theological School in Catania, an ancient port city on the Italian island of Sicily.

“Your land has wonderful natural and artistic beauty,” the pope told them, but it also is “unfortunately threatened by Mafia speculation and corruption, which hold back development and impoverish resources,” often leading young people to flee the island or to join criminal gangs.

“The Mafia always impoverishes, always,” he said.

“Sicily needs men and women who can look to the future with hope and train the new generations to be free and transparent in caring for the common good, to eradicate old and new poverty,” the pope said, urging the students to work to build “in this world the kingdom of love and justice” promised by Christ.

The theological school, the pope said, must be a place that trains academics and pastoral workers to serve the people of Sicily, especially the poor and the many migrants who land on the island from North Africa.

Sicily “has always been a crossroads of peoples,” he said. “I urge you to be welcoming, to be creative in fraternity.”

“Please,” the pope told them, “let us not extinguish the hope of the poor, of those poor who are migrants.”

Pope Francis also urged the students and staff to value the diversity found at the theology school, recognizing the gifts that each person brings to the school community and to the local church.

“Over the years, there has been an increasing number of female students, who now have tasks of pastoral responsibility or religious or academic teaching in your ecclesial communities,” the pope noted. “This, too, is a sign of the times in an area where women have often been devalued in their social role. But let us not forget that Sicily is the homeland of the martyr saints Agatha and Lucia, who were ‘seeds’ of robust faith, capable of renewal and of generating ever new witnesses” for Christ.

May 12, 2025

New pope to celebrate three public Masses in May

Catholic News Service

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Pope Leo XIV’s schedule of public liturgies in May includes events revolving around the inauguration of his ministry, visits to Rome’s major basilicas and a celebration of priestly ordinations.

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May 12, 2025

Pope Leo’s motto, coat of arms pay homage to St. Augustine

Catholic News Service

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Pope Leo XIV’s devotion to St. Augustine, his life and ministry as a member of the Augustinian order and his focus on the unity of the church are reflected in his episcopal motto and coat of arms.

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Continue Reading Pope Leo’s motto, coat of arms pay homage to St. Augustine

May 12, 2025

Chiclayo, Peru — where Leo XIV was bishop — celebrates one of own becoming pope

David Agren

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Peruvians have greeted the election of Pope Leo with elation, pride and even disbelief that an adopted prelate whose pastoral formation came as a Augustinian missionary in poor and undeveloped parts of Peru could become pope and represent the country on the world stage.

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May 12, 2025

Ukrainian president speaks with Pope Leo, invites him to Ukraine

Carol Glatz

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Pope Leo XIV for his support of a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, and he invited the newly-elected pontiff to visit the war-torn nation.

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May 12, 2025

Our unexpected pope

Greg Erlandson

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It is a reminder, as always, that when it comes to scoring papabile, usually those who know don’t say, and those who say don’t know.

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Continue Reading Our unexpected pope

May 12, 2025

Besides Leo XIII, 12 other popes have shared that name with new pontiff; 5 are saints

Michael R. Heinlein

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Aside from Leo XIII, himself not canonized, there have been 12 others who share a name with the new pope, and five of those predecessors attained the heights of sanctity and have been proclaimed saints.

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Cindy Wooden

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