Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

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


By
Catholic News Service Filed Under: News, Vatican, World News

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.

Vatican’s top diplomat begins visit to Russia as European leaders flock to Kyiv

jQuery(document).ready(function($) {
$(‘#facebook-before-296079’).sharrre({
share: {
facebook: true
},
enableHover: false,
enableTracking: true,
disableCount: true,
buttons: { },
click: function(api, options){
api.simulateClick();
api.openPopup(‘facebook’);
}
});
$(‘#twitter-before-296079’).sharrre({
share: {
twitter: true
},
enableHover: false,
enableTracking: true,
disableCount: true,
buttons: { twitter: { via: ‘CatholicReview’ } },
click: function(api, options){
api.simulateClick();
api.openPopup(‘twitter’);
}
});
$(‘#pinterest-before-296079’).sharrre({
share: {
pinterest: true
},
enableHover: false,
enableTracking: true,
disableCount: true,
buttons: { pinterest: { media: ‘https://catholicreview.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/20260824T1258-GALLAGHER-IN-RUSSIA-1825174-scaled-e1787669637834.jpg’, description: ‘Vatican’s top diplomat begins visit to Russia as European leaders flock to Kyiv’ } },
click: function(api, options){
api.simulateClick();
api.openPopup(‘pinterest’);
}
});
$(‘#linkedin-before-296079’).sharrre({
share: {
linkedin: true
},
enableHover: false,
enableTracking: true,
disableCount: true,
buttons: { },
click: function(api, options){
api.simulateClick();
api.openPopup(‘linkedin’);
}
});

});

Archbishop Paul R. Gallagher, the Vatican’s secretary for relations with states and international organizations, arrived in Moscow Aug. 24 for a four-day visit, with meetings scheduled with Russian government, Orthodox and Catholic leaders.

jQuery(document).ready(function($) {
$(‘#facebook-after-296079’).sharrre({
share: {
facebook: true
},
enableHover: false,
enableTracking: true,
disableCount: true,
buttons: { },
click: function(api, options){
api.simulateClick();
api.openPopup(‘facebook’);
}
});
$(‘#twitter-after-296079’).sharrre({
share: {
twitter: true
},
enableHover: false,
enableTracking: true,
disableCount: true,
buttons: { twitter: { via: ‘CatholicReview’ } },
click: function(api, options){
api.simulateClick();
api.openPopup(‘twitter’);
}
});
$(‘#pinterest-after-296079’).sharrre({
share: {
pinterest: true
},
enableHover: false,
enableTracking: true,
disableCount: true,
buttons: { pinterest: { media: ‘https://catholicreview.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/20260824T1258-GALLAGHER-IN-RUSSIA-1825174-scaled-e1787669637834.jpg’, description: ‘Vatican’s top diplomat begins visit to Russia as European leaders flock to Kyiv’ } },
click: function(api, options){
api.simulateClick();
api.openPopup(‘pinterest’);
}
});
$(‘#linkedin-after-296079’).sharrre({
share: {
linkedin: true
},
enableHover: false,
enableTracking: true,
disableCount: true,
buttons: { },
click: function(api, options){
api.simulateClick();
api.openPopup(‘linkedin’);
}
});

});

Continue Reading Vatican’s top diplomat begins visit to Russia as European leaders flock to Kyiv

Pope Leo XIV: See Jesus in the face of every person with disabilities

jQuery(document).ready(function($) {
$(‘#facebook-before-296029’).sharrre({
share: {
facebook: true
},
enableHover: false,
enableTracking: true,
disableCount: true,
buttons: { },
click: function(api, options){
api.simulateClick();
api.openPopup(‘facebook’);
}
});
$(‘#twitter-before-296029’).sharrre({
share: {
twitter: true
},
enableHover: false,
enableTracking: true,
disableCount: true,
buttons: { twitter: { via: ‘CatholicReview’ } },
click: function(api, options){
api.simulateClick();
api.openPopup(‘twitter’);
}
});
$(‘#pinterest-before-296029’).sharrre({
share: {
pinterest: true
},
enableHover: false,
enableTracking: true,
disableCount: true,
buttons: { pinterest: { media: ‘https://catholicreview.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/20260824T1025-POPE-CEREBRAL-PALSY-NGO-1825159-scaled.jpg’, description: ‘Pope Leo XIV: See Jesus in the face of every person with disabilities’ } },
click: function(api, options){
api.simulateClick();
api.openPopup(‘pinterest’);
}
});
$(‘#linkedin-before-296029’).sharrre({
share: {
linkedin: true
},
enableHover: false,
enableTracking: true,
disableCount: true,
buttons: { },
click: function(api, options){
api.simulateClick();
api.openPopup(‘linkedin’);
}
});

});

Pope Leo XIV said Aug. 24 that recognizing Jesus in the face of each person with disabilities helps to advance society.

jQuery(document).ready(function($) {
$(‘#facebook-after-296029’).sharrre({
share: {
facebook: true
},
enableHover: false,
enableTracking: true,
disableCount: true,
buttons: { },
click: function(api, options){
api.simulateClick();
api.openPopup(‘facebook’);
}
});
$(‘#twitter-after-296029’).sharrre({
share: {
twitter: true
},
enableHover: false,
enableTracking: true,
disableCount: true,
buttons: { twitter: { via: ‘CatholicReview’ } },
click: function(api, options){
api.simulateClick();
api.openPopup(‘twitter’);
}
});
$(‘#pinterest-after-296029’).sharrre({
share: {
pinterest: true
},
enableHover: false,
enableTracking: true,
disableCount: true,
buttons: { pinterest: { media: ‘https://catholicreview.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/20260824T1025-POPE-CEREBRAL-PALSY-NGO-1825159-scaled.jpg’, description: ‘Pope Leo XIV: See Jesus in the face of every person with disabilities’ } },
click: function(api, options){
api.simulateClick();
api.openPopup(‘pinterest’);
}
});
$(‘#linkedin-after-296029’).sharrre({
share: {
linkedin: true
},
enableHover: false,
enableTracking: true,
disableCount: true,
buttons: { },
click: function(api, options){
api.simulateClick();
api.openPopup(‘linkedin’);
}
});

});

Continue Reading Pope Leo XIV: See Jesus in the face of every person with disabilities

Pope Leo meets Lebanese president; Vatican concerned over border deal implementation

jQuery(document).ready(function($) {
$(‘#facebook-before-295935’).sharrre({
share: {
facebook: true
},
enableHover: false,
enableTracking: true,
disableCount: true,
buttons: { },
click: function(api, options){
api.simulateClick();
api.openPopup(‘facebook’);
}
});
$(‘#twitter-before-295935’).sharrre({
share: {
twitter: true
},
enableHover: false,
enableTracking: true,
disableCount: true,
buttons: { twitter: { via: ‘CatholicReview’ } },
click: function(api, options){
api.simulateClick();
api.openPopup(‘twitter’);
}
});
$(‘#pinterest-before-295935’).sharrre({
share: {
pinterest: true
},
enableHover: false,
enableTracking: true,
disableCount: true,
buttons: { pinterest: { media: ‘https://catholicreview.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/20260820T1323-POPE-LEO-LEBANESE-PRESIDENT-1825041.jpg’, description: ‘Pope Leo meets Lebanese president; Vatican concerned over border deal implementation’ } },
click: function(api, options){
api.simulateClick();
api.openPopup(‘pinterest’);
}
});
$(‘#linkedin-before-295935’).sharrre({
share: {
linkedin: true
},
enableHover: false,
enableTracking: true,
disableCount: true,
buttons: { },
click: function(api, options){
api.simulateClick();
api.openPopup(‘linkedin’);
}
});

});

Pope Leo XIV met with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun as the Vatican expressed concerns over stalled efforts to implement a U.S.-backed border agreement between Lebanon and Israel.

jQuery(document).ready(function($) {
$(‘#facebook-after-295935’).sharrre({
share: {
facebook: true
},
enableHover: false,
enableTracking: true,
disableCount: true,
buttons: { },
click: function(api, options){
api.simulateClick();
api.openPopup(‘facebook’);
}
});
$(‘#twitter-after-295935’).sharrre({
share: {
twitter: true
},
enableHover: false,
enableTracking: true,
disableCount: true,
buttons: { twitter: { via: ‘CatholicReview’ } },
click: function(api, options){
api.simulateClick();
api.openPopup(‘twitter’);
}
});
$(‘#pinterest-after-295935’).sharrre({
share: {
pinterest: true
},
enableHover: false,
enableTracking: true,
disableCount: true,
buttons: { pinterest: { media: ‘https://catholicreview.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/20260820T1323-POPE-LEO-LEBANESE-PRESIDENT-1825041.jpg’, description: ‘Pope Leo meets Lebanese president; Vatican concerned over border deal implementation’ } },
click: function(api, options){
api.simulateClick();
api.openPopup(‘pinterest’);
}
});
$(‘#linkedin-after-295935’).sharrre({
share: {
linkedin: true
},
enableHover: false,
enableTracking: true,
disableCount: true,
buttons: { },
click: function(api, options){
api.simulateClick();
api.openPopup(‘linkedin’);
}
});

});

Continue Reading Pope Leo meets Lebanese president; Vatican concerned over border deal implementation

‘Prayer is our number one weapon’ against Russian aggression, says papal nuncio to Ukraine

jQuery(document).ready(function($) {
$(‘#facebook-before-295930’).sharrre({
share: {
facebook: true
},
enableHover: false,
enableTracking: true,
disableCount: true,
buttons: { },
click: function(api, options){
api.simulateClick();
api.openPopup(‘facebook’);
}
});
$(‘#twitter-before-295930’).sharrre({
share: {
twitter: true
},
enableHover: false,
enableTracking: true,
disableCount: true,
buttons: { twitter: { via: ‘CatholicReview’ } },
click: function(api, options){
api.simulateClick();
api.openPopup(‘twitter’);
}
});
$(‘#pinterest-before-295930’).sharrre({
share: {
pinterest: true
},
enableHover: false,
enableTracking: true,
disableCount: true,
buttons: { pinterest: { media: ‘https://catholicreview.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/20260820T1434-UKRAINE-NUNCIO-QA-INTERVIEW-2026-1825049.jpg’, description: ‘‘Prayer is our number one weapon’ against Russian aggression, says papal nuncio to Ukraine’ } },
click: function(api, options){
api.simulateClick();
api.openPopup(‘pinterest’);
}
});
$(‘#linkedin-before-295930’).sharrre({
share: {
linkedin: true
},
enableHover: false,
enableTracking: true,
disableCount: true,
buttons: { },
click: function(api, options){
api.simulateClick();
api.openPopup(‘linkedin’);
}
});

});

As Russia’s full-scale war on Ukraine — which continues attacks launched in 2014 — nears its fifth year, OSV News sat down Aug. 12 with Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas, papal nuncio to Ukraine, for a reflection on faith and prayer amid relentless conflict.

jQuery(document).ready(function($) {
$(‘#facebook-after-295930’).sharrre({
share: {
facebook: true
},
enableHover: false,
enableTracking: true,
disableCount: true,
buttons: { },
click: function(api, options){
api.simulateClick();
api.openPopup(‘facebook’);
}
});
$(‘#twitter-after-295930’).sharrre({
share: {
twitter: true
},
enableHover: false,
enableTracking: true,
disableCount: true,
buttons: { twitter: { via: ‘CatholicReview’ } },
click: function(api, options){
api.simulateClick();
api.openPopup(‘twitter’);
}
});
$(‘#pinterest-after-295930’).sharrre({
share: {
pinterest: true
},
enableHover: false,
enableTracking: true,
disableCount: true,
buttons: { pinterest: { media: ‘https://catholicreview.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/20260820T1434-UKRAINE-NUNCIO-QA-INTERVIEW-2026-1825049.jpg’, description: ‘‘Prayer is our number one weapon’ against Russian aggression, says papal nuncio to Ukraine’ } },
click: function(api, options){
api.simulateClick();
api.openPopup(‘pinterest’);
}
});
$(‘#linkedin-after-295930’).sharrre({
share: {
linkedin: true
},
enableHover: false,
enableTracking: true,
disableCount: true,
buttons: { },
click: function(api, options){
api.simulateClick();
api.openPopup(‘linkedin’);
}
});

});

Continue Reading ‘Prayer is our number one weapon’ against Russian aggression, says papal nuncio to Ukraine

Conversion of heart needed to end wars, heal Earth, pope says

jQuery(document).ready(function($) {
$(‘#facebook-before-295910’).sharrre({
share: {
facebook: true
},
enableHover: false,
enableTracking: true,
disableCount: true,
buttons: { },
click: function(api, options){
api.simulateClick();
api.openPopup(‘facebook’);
}
});
$(‘#twitter-before-295910’).sharrre({
share: {
twitter: true
},
enableHover: false,
enableTracking: true,
disableCount: true,
buttons: { twitter: { via: ‘CatholicReview’ } },
click: function(api, options){
api.simulateClick();
api.openPopup(‘twitter’);
}
});
$(‘#pinterest-before-295910’).sharrre({
share: {
pinterest: true
},
enableHover: false,
enableTracking: true,
disableCount: true,
buttons: { pinterest: { media: ‘https://catholicreview.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/20260820T1130-POPE-MESSAGE-CREATION-1825001.jpg’, description: ‘Conversion of heart needed to end wars, heal Earth, pope says’ } },
click: function(api, options){
api.simulateClick();
api.openPopup(‘pinterest’);
}
});
$(‘#linkedin-before-295910’).sharrre({
share: {
linkedin: true
},
enableHover: false,
enableTracking: true,
disableCount: true,
buttons: { },
click: function(api, options){
api.simulateClick();
api.openPopup(‘linkedin’);
}
});

});

The social and ecological devastation wrought by war represents not just a political failure, but a moral crisis rooted in a divided heart in need of conversion, Pope Leo XIV said.

jQuery(document).ready(function($) {
$(‘#facebook-after-295910’).sharrre({
share: {
facebook: true
},
enableHover: false,
enableTracking: true,
disableCount: true,
buttons: { },
click: function(api, options){
api.simulateClick();
api.openPopup(‘facebook’);
}
});
$(‘#twitter-after-295910’).sharrre({
share: {
twitter: true
},
enableHover: false,
enableTracking: true,
disableCount: true,
buttons: { twitter: { via: ‘CatholicReview’ } },
click: function(api, options){
api.simulateClick();
api.openPopup(‘twitter’);
}
});
$(‘#pinterest-after-295910’).sharrre({
share: {
pinterest: true
},
enableHover: false,
enableTracking: true,
disableCount: true,
buttons: { pinterest: { media: ‘https://catholicreview.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/20260820T1130-POPE-MESSAGE-CREATION-1825001.jpg’, description: ‘Conversion of heart needed to end wars, heal Earth, pope says’ } },
click: function(api, options){
api.simulateClick();
api.openPopup(‘pinterest’);
}
});
$(‘#linkedin-after-295910’).sharrre({
share: {
linkedin: true
},
enableHover: false,
enableTracking: true,
disableCount: true,
buttons: { },
click: function(api, options){
api.simulateClick();
api.openPopup(‘linkedin’);
}
});

});

Continue Reading Conversion of heart needed to end wars, heal Earth, pope says

Sacred music must be ‘dignified,’ reflecting the mystery being celebrated, pope says

jQuery(document).ready(function($) {
$(‘#facebook-before-295842’).sharrre({
share: {
facebook: true
},
enableHover: false,
enableTracking: true,
disableCount: true,
buttons: { },
click: function(api, options){
api.simulateClick();
api.openPopup(‘facebook’);
}
});
$(‘#twitter-before-295842’).sharrre({
share: {
twitter: true
},
enableHover: false,
enableTracking: true,
disableCount: true,
buttons: { twitter: { via: ‘CatholicReview’ } },
click: function(api, options){
api.simulateClick();
api.openPopup(‘twitter’);
}
});
$(‘#pinterest-before-295842’).sharrre({
share: {
pinterest: true
},
enableHover: false,
enableTracking: true,
disableCount: true,
buttons: { pinterest: { media: ‘https://catholicreview.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/20260819T0925-POPE-AUDIENCE-0819-1824943.jpg’, description: ‘Sacred music must be ‘dignified,’ reflecting the mystery being celebrated, pope says’ } },
click: function(api, options){
api.simulateClick();
api.openPopup(‘pinterest’);
}
});
$(‘#linkedin-before-295842’).sharrre({
share: {
linkedin: true
},
enableHover: false,
enableTracking: true,
disableCount: true,
buttons: { },
click: function(api, options){
api.simulateClick();
api.openPopup(‘linkedin’);
}
});

});

Singing and playing music during the liturgy is an integral and necessary part of the celebration, which means it is much more than something “decorative,” Pope Leo XIV said.

jQuery(document).ready(function($) {
$(‘#facebook-after-295842’).sharrre({
share: {
facebook: true
},
enableHover: false,
enableTracking: true,
disableCount: true,
buttons: { },
click: function(api, options){
api.simulateClick();
api.openPopup(‘facebook’);
}
});
$(‘#twitter-after-295842’).sharrre({
share: {
twitter: true
},
enableHover: false,
enableTracking: true,
disableCount: true,
buttons: { twitter: { via: ‘CatholicReview’ } },
click: function(api, options){
api.simulateClick();
api.openPopup(‘twitter’);
}
});
$(‘#pinterest-after-295842’).sharrre({
share: {
pinterest: true
},
enableHover: false,
enableTracking: true,
disableCount: true,
buttons: { pinterest: { media: ‘https://catholicreview.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/20260819T0925-POPE-AUDIENCE-0819-1824943.jpg’, description: ‘Sacred music must be ‘dignified,’ reflecting the mystery being celebrated, pope says’ } },
click: function(api, options){
api.simulateClick();
api.openPopup(‘pinterest’);
}
});
$(‘#linkedin-after-295842’).sharrre({
share: {
linkedin: true
},
enableHover: false,
enableTracking: true,
disableCount: true,
buttons: { },
click: function(api, options){
api.simulateClick();
api.openPopup(‘linkedin’);
}
});

});

Continue Reading Sacred music must be ‘dignified,’ reflecting the mystery being celebrated, pope says

Copyright © 2024 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

Print Print