Catholic News

VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday called for "unmasking the contradictions" of the contemporary world and said that believers are called to take on "the burdens of their brothers and sisters, especially those who are crushed by injustice, discrimination, and violence."

The pontiff made this appeal during his general audience in St. Peter's Square on Sept. 2, during which he inaugurated a new series of catecheses dedicated to the pastoral constitution Gaudium et Spes, one of the Church's most significant responses to the challenges and expectations of the modern world.

The document of the Second Vatican Council, approved and promulgated on Dec. 7, 1965, highlights, as Leo explained, the essentially pastoral nature of the Church, born of "a renewed fidelity to the mystery of Christ who, by becoming incarnate, chooses to share our life."

For this reason, he recalled that the conciliar constitution Gaudium et Spes opens with the famous statement that the Church makes her own "the joys and the hopes, the griefs and the anxieties of the men of this age, especially those who are poor or in any way afflicted."

This commitment, the pontiff added, calls Christians "to leave behind all passivity and indifference in the face of current events, history, and people's lives, especially in the face of the rapid and profound changes we are experiencing today."

He emphasized that closeness to humanity allows for a deeper understanding both of historical events and of revelation itself. From that perspective, he noted that Gaudium et Spes recalls that "the Church has always had the duty of scrutinizing the signs of the times and of interpreting them in the light of the Gospel."

The Holy Father clarified that this attitude does not stem solely from a "merely moral imperative." To explain this, he cited the apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, considered the roadmap of Pope Francis' pontificate, which reminds us that for the Church "the option for the poor is primarily a theological category rather than a cultural, sociological, political, or philosophical one."

"Christian solidarity commits us to engaging with reality and also to unmasking the contradictions that characterize personal and social life in the contemporary world," the pope said.

He then listed some examples of those contradictions. On the one hand, he pointed to "scientific and technological progress, which constantly offers new possibilities, but only to some"; on the other, a clearer understanding of the "laws of society," accompanied, however, by uncertainties "about the direction to give" them.

He also highlighted the paradox of possessing "wealth, resources, and economic power" while, at the same time, "a huge proportion of the world's citizens are still tormented by hunger and poverty." Likewise, he lamented that there is growing awareness that the future of the planet is at stake and yet a persistent inability to renounce "selfish consumption" and "the illusion that war is an effective means of building peace."

"In a time marked by profound changes, giving rise to worrying imbalances, the Church is called to serve the human person, listening to and welcoming the deepest questions of their heart and the longings that dwell within them," the Holy Father said.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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India's Maharashtra state enacted a sweeping anti-conversion law on Aug. 28, prompting Catholic leaders to call for prayer and a legal challenge. Nearby Goa shelved a similar bill days after its cabinet approved it.

The Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Act, passed by the state assembly in March under the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led coalition government, took effect four days after 20 civil rights, secular, and Christian groups made a final plea for its repeal at a press conference in Mumbai, the state capital.

Archbishop Elias Gonsalves of Nagpur, the winter capital of Maharashtra, responded by mandating recitation of the Memorare prayer after every Eucharistic celebration across his archdiocese beginning Aug. 31.

"Yes, the prayers are going on. We look forward to the judiciary since we in Maharashtra cannot expect a U-turn like in Goa," Gonsalves told EWTN News on Sept. 2.

Goa backtracks

In neighboring Goa, the BJP government's cabinet approved an anti-conversion bill on Aug. 26 — making it the 14th Indian state to propose such legislation — but reversed course within a week and chose not to introduce the measure in the 40-member Goa Assembly.

The Indian Express reported that the government shelved the bill after strong protests by the Catholic Church and internal opposition from seven Catholic legislators within the BJP-led government, which holds 26 seats.

Christians, the vast majority of them Catholic, account for about a quarter of Goa's roughly 1.5 million people. The former Portuguese colony has a distinctive Catholic cultural identity dating back centuries.

The proposed bill "risks irreparably damaging that precious inheritance by replacing mutual trust with suspicion and social harmony with surveillance and fear," said a joint statement by the Council for Social Justice and Peace of the Catholic Church and the Catholic Association of Goa, a lay forum.

Legal challenge in Maharashtra

In Maharashtra, civil society groups have signaled that the courts are the remaining avenue of redress after the law took effect.

"The government does not bother about our concerns," Dolphy D'Souza, one of the coordinators of the Joint Civil Society network, told EWTN News.

"The only option before us now is to approach the judiciary as the Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Act infringes fundamental freedom of faith guaranteed under the constitution," said D'Souza, a spokesperson for the Bombay Catholic Sabha, a lay council using the city's former name.

The joint civil society coalition said the act "creates an unparalleled intrusive system of state surveillance over matters of personal faith, marriage, and individual choice."

The Western Region Bishops Council had warned ahead of the bill's passage that the law, "far from safeguarding religious freedom … effectively undermines the very right it claims to protect, i.e., the freedom to choose and profess one's religion, as guaranteed under Articles 19, 21, and 25 of the Constitution of India."

The bishops' council said sections of the legislation "amount to a direct and unjustified interference in the legitimate religious practices of the Catholic Church, particularly its Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults program."

The law mandates that anyone intending to convert submit notice to a designated authority 60 days in advance — a provision the bishops said "intrudes deeply into the personal domain of conscience and belief, opening the door to scrutiny, suspicion, and harassment."

'Consent forms'

Meanwhile, some Christian groups in Maharashtra have made headlines by asking congregation members to sign "consent forms" when attending church services, apparently in response to the new law's requirements.

"The Catholic Church is not doing anything of this sort anywhere in Maharashtra," D'Souza said.

Christians number less than 1% of Maharashtra's population of more than 120 million.

The constitutional validity of similar anti-conversion laws enacted in other Indian states is under challenge before the Supreme Court of India, according to the press note from the civil society press conference.

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Silvio Báez, the exiled auxiliary bishop of Managua, Nicaragua, stated that "worn-out dictatorships" that profane the name of Jesus by attributing the dominion they exercise to him "never speak of the cross."

"Whenever we try to place ourselves ahead of Jesus, instead of following behind him, we cease to be his disciples and lose our way. That is why worn-out dictatorships that hypocritically hide behind religion profane the name of Jesus when they invoke him from their position of power and attribute to him the dominion they exercise over the people, yet never speak of the cross," the prelate said during an Aug. 30 Mass he celebrated at St. Agatha Parish in Miami.

In view of his past statements, the bishop would appear to be including in that category the Ortega-Murillo dictatorship that controls his country. Indeed, the pro-government news media El 19 Digital proclaims the country is governed in a Christian manner. 

These dictatorships, the prelate continued, "appropriate the name of Jesus to legitimize their authoritarianism while silencing the Crucified One, because a messiah who humbles himself, who serves, and who lays down his life for others unmasks their arrogance and condemns their aspirations to remain in power forever."

"One cannot profess Jesus as Messiah and Son of God without following him along the path of the cross," Báez pointed out.

Auxiliary bishop of Managua since 2009, Báez was forced to leave Nicaragua in April 2019 due to his defense of protesters opposing the regime of President Daniel Ortega and his wife and vice president, Rosario Murillo, a crackdown that left more than 350 people dead in 2018, according to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.

Since 2018, the Nicaraguan dictatorship has relentlessly persecuted the Catholic Church in the country, controlling priests, expelling religious sisters, confiscating church funds and property, banning ordinations, and exiling bishops — such as Bishop Carlos Enrique Herrera Gutiérrez of Jinotega, president of the Nicaraguan Bishops' Conference, who was expelled in 2025. 

Báez himself had to leave Nicaragua at the request of Pope Francis in 2019 due to serious concerns for his personal safety and now resides in Miami. In August 2025, Pope Leo XIV confirmed him in his role as auxiliary bishop of Managua, albeit in exile.

The bishop celebrates Mass every Sunday at St. Agatha Parish, where the pastor and the parochial vicar, Fathers Marcos Antonio Somarriba and Edwing Román, are also exiled Nicaraguans.

Taking up the cross

Báez explained that "taking up the cross" does not merely mean "accepting setbacks and suffering. The cross is the price of all authentic love"; rather, it also refers to "choosing a life like Jesus', overcoming the fear of loving, loving without limits, and becoming weak and vulnerable out of love."

"Taking up the cross means humbling ourselves to enter the world of the poor and the victims in order to stand with them, share in their anguish, and restore the dignity and hope that God desires for them," he added.

"Taking up the cross means accepting the consequences, almost always painful, of striving to eliminate the suffering of those whom society crucifies, just as Jesus did," the Nicaraguan bishop emphasized.

The prelate further highlighted that "in a world built on lies, those who speak the truth are persecuted and silenced; in a society rife with injustice, the righteous are shunned and even condemned to death; in a system where the powerful exalt themselves as gods and turn their whims into law, anyone who is critical and refuses to live in submission becomes a target of slander, insults, and persecution."

'Thinking like Peter'

Báez also referred to certain situations where one might "think like Peter," failing to grasp Jesus' announcement regarding the sacrifice he had to make to save humanity.

"We think like Peter when we do not accept that there are moments in life when the only way to set things right is to go unnoticed, forget about ourselves, be the last, and sacrifice what we cherish most," he said.

"We also think like Peter when we are unwilling to be inconvenienced for the good of others, to make sacrifices so that others may fare better, or to fight for a society built on justice," he pointed out.

"We think it's better not to complicate our lives," the bishop remarked.

"Many consider it imprudent to speak out against the abuses of the powerful, preferring instead to remain silent or strike a deal with them. Others believe that the world's problems can only be solved with money, power, or miracles. Jesus, however, teaches us that things change only when we choose the path of littleness and self-forgetfulness; only when we sacrifice ourselves to put God and others first," Báez explained.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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TORIT, South Sudan — Two members of the Order of Discalced Carmelites serving in South Sudan's Diocese of Torit have survived an ambush by armed bandits along the Juba-Torit highway five years after two sisters of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus were killed by armed men on the same route.

According to local Catholic media, the sisters, identified as Sister Helen and Sister Ansa, were traveling from Torit toward Juba on Aug. 30 when their vehicle came under attack near Jebel Gutun in the Lirya area.

Radio Emmanuel 89 FM reported that the two Carmelite members had departed Torit after morning Mass and were on their way to Juba when they encountered the attackers.

One of the attackers reportedly struck Sister Helen on the head during the incident. The report did not provide further information about the extent of any of her injuries. The sisters and other passengers were reportedly robbed of all their belongings.

Preliminary reports also indicated that two children were abducted during the incident. There was no further information on their whereabouts.

Upon receiving the information about the attack, Bishop Emmanuel Bernardino Lowi Napeta of the Torit Diocese is said to have immediately arranged for assistance from Juba. According to Radio Emmanuel, the sisters were transported to Juba, where Sister Helen was to receive further medical attention.

The circumstances surrounding the attack, including the number and identity of the assailants and their motive, remain unclear.

The incident has renewed concern about security along the Juba-Torit highway, where attacks and ambushes have previously been reported, particularly around the Jebel Gutun area. Local reports have described the stretch as a security concern for travelers.

Previous attack on Catholic sisters

Catholic religious were among five people who died Aug. 16, 2021, in a bus ambush along the highway that links South Sudan and Uganda.

Armed men ambushed a vehicle carrying seven religious sisters and five other people after they had attended centenary celebrations at Our Lady of the Assumption Parish in Loa in the Diocese of Torit.

Sister Mary Daniel, the immediate former superior general of the Sacred Heart Sisters of the Juba Archdiocese who was serving as the head teacher of Usratuna Primary School in Juba, and Sister Regina, a tutor and administrator at the Catholic Health Training Institute in South Sudan's Wau Diocese, were among those killed.

The late Pope Francis was among those who expressed his condolences to the families and the members of the Sacred Heart of Jesus of the Juba Archdiocese.

The pope expressed the hope that the sacrifice of the two Catholic sisters "will advance the cause of peace, reconciliation, and security in the region" and implored God for "their eternal rest and the comfort of those who grieve their loss."

The Diocese of Torit has previously spoken out against violence affecting Church personnel and communities.

In April 2025, Napeta, the local ordinary of Torit, condemned an attack on Our Lady of Assumption Parish in Loa, Magwi County, in which a civilian was killed and another person injured.

The bishop described the assault as creating a "climate of fear and anxiety" and called for an impartial investigation.

He said the attack involved personnel of the South Sudan People's Defence Forces and that Church personnel, workers, and residents were subjected to intimidation and questioning. He called on the country's armed forces to uphold professionalism, justice, human rights, and respect for religious institutions.

The bishop has also repeatedly emphasized the Church's commitment to peace and service despite insecurity affecting communities in his episcopal see.

Church continues mission amid insecurity

Despite the security challenges, the Diocese of Torit continues its pastoral and social mission across eastern Equatoria.

In January, Napeta described Holy Family Palotaka Parish, which was celebrating its centenary, as a "refuge of hope" and a center of peace-building for local communities.

He highlighted the Church's role in evangelization, charity, and service to people affected by decades of conflict.

This story was first published by ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, and has been adapted by EWTN News.

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The first Catholic parish in the world founded under the patronage of Ghanaian martyr and saint Matthew Ayariga will open in Arlington, Texas, in January 2027.

Bishop Michael Olson of the Diocese of Fort Worth announced on Aug. 28 the opening of the church.

Ayariga was one of 21 Christian migrant workers in Libya kidnapped and then beheaded by the terrorist group ISIS on a beach near Sirte, Libya, on Feb. 15, 2015.

Originally from Ghana, Ayariga was the only Black African among the 21 men. The others were all Coptic Orthodox Christians from Egypt. When questioned about his faith by his kidnappers, he reportedly replied: "Their God is my God."

The Coptic Orthodox Church canonized all 21 men as saints and martyrs on Feb. 21, 2015, under Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II.

In an ecumenical sign of communion between the two churches, Pope Francis announced that the 21 martyrs would be inscribed in the Roman Martyrology on May 11, 2023, during a meeting at the Vatican with Pope Tawadros II. Francis described the men as baptized "not only in water and the Spirit, but also in blood."

As the authority to create saints lies with the Apostolic See, the saints did not have to go through the usual multistep canonization process involving the opening of a cause, beatification, and confirmed miracles.

The martyrs' feast day in both churches is Feb. 15.

Another first

The parish will also be the first Ghanaian Catholic parish in the U.S. and will serve the Ghanaian community in north Texas, which has met since 2007 at St. Joseph Church in Arlington.

"Saint Matthew Ayariga Catholic Church will provide a place for Ghanaian Catholics to come together in Christ as the Church to worship God, to assist their maintaining bonds with the Church in Ghana, and to strengthen their children sacramentally to grow as part of the local church here," Olson told EWTN News in a statement.

He also said the church would serve as a place that would aid immigrants in their transition "to life as citizens and productive contributors to the common good of Texas and the United States."

"We've had a growing Ghanaian presence in our diocese for a long time," a spokesperson for the diocese told EWTN News. "Their community long envisioned having a parish to call their own."

The community has been raising funds to establish its own parish for nearly 20 years, according to the spokesperson. "When they began raising funds, there was no name attached to the nonexistent parish. The name was only settled on recently, although I would guess that after his martyrdom, Matthew Ayariga's name began to rise to the top of the list of parish names."

Three Masses to dedicate the new church, a former Methodist church being renovated in south Arlington, are planned for the weekend of Jan. 29–31, 2027. The archbishop of Kumasi, Ghana, Gabriel Anokye, is expected to attend, along with dignitaries and other representatives of the Ghanaian community, bishops and cardinals from Texas and around the U.S., and other local officials.

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Pope Leo XIV invited people to take time out from the daily bustle of their lives to listen to "the melodious voice of creation," through which God speaks, as the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation is observed on Sept. 1.

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The Holy Father noted that this day also marks the beginning of the "Season of Creation," a five-week period dedicated "to prayer and commitment to caring for our 'common home'" that extends until Oct. 4, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, coinciding with the 800th anniversary of his death.

"On this day, therefore, and in the weeks ahead, let us set aside a few moments to pause from the frenzy of our daily lives in order to savor the profound harmony of which we ourselves are a part," the pope encouraged during the Mass celebrated in the Madonnina Garden of the Borgo Laudato Si' within the pontifical gardens of Castel Gandolfo.

"Let us place in 'silent mode' the many noises generated by human activity, so that we may hear the melodious voice of creation, through which God, the author of all things, speaks to us," the pontiff encouraged.

Referring to his message issued for this 11th World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, the pope highlighted that "this contemplative exercise" is a first step toward an "authentic ecological conversion, where the effects of our encounter with Jesus Christ become evident in our relationship with the world around us."

In his homily, the pope also highlighted that the readings for this Mass — Psalm 18, the passage from the Book of Wisdom (Wis 13:1–9), and the Gospel of Matthew (Mt 6:24–34) — recall the grandeur of creation and the "Creator of so many wonders," such as air and fire.

He noted that they allow us to renew the idea that "if the Lord does not fail to bestow such splendid beauty upon plants and animals and provide for all their needs, how much more attentive will he be to the needs of his beloved sons and daughters!"

The Holy Father also noted that "from contemplating creation and encountering its Creator, there arises an awareness of our particular place within God's wondrous plan, and of the responsibility that we bear both personally and collectively for preserving the original harmony. Thus, as we become conscious of our shortcomings and failures, we can renew our commitment to restoring the relationships among all creatures according to the will of their Creator."

"It is not yet too late, and the Season of Creation calls us to a profound conversion," he emphasized.

After explaining that Pope Francis drew inspiration from St. Francis of Assisi in writing his 2015 encyclical Laudato Si', which addresses the care of our common home, Leo XIV quoted the "Poverello of Assisi's" praises to God for the moon, stars, wind, earth, fire, and water, among other elements.

"With St. Francis, let us renew our commitment to living and promoting that universal fraternity which is inseparably bound to the task of caring for creation," the pope encouraged.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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A federal judge on Sunday agreed to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's request to pause a lawsuit over the safety of the mifepristone pill and the drug's mail-order distribution.

Judge Reed O'Connor of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas ordered that the lawsuit would be delayed until either Dec. 1 or the completion of the FDA's safety review of mifepristone, whichever comes first.

In the lawsuit, Texas and Florida asked the court to revoke the FDA's approval of the abortion-inducing pill, saying the agency didn't adequately evaluate its safety when it approved the drug in 2000. The lawsuit also challenged mail-order distribution of the pill.

The FDA first announced it would review mifepristone in September 2025.

Pro-life group Live Action called on the FDA to protect women and unborn children from the abortion pill, citing studies that show dangerous side effects of the drug.

"The Food and Drug Administration and Health and Human Services officials must do their job to protect women and children from the dangerous abortion pill, which now accounts for 65% of all abortions in the United States and has led to the deaths of 7.5 million preborn children since its release," Noah Brandt, spokesman for Live Action, told EWTN News.

"Both agencies have seen real-world data that show the harmful effects of the abortion pill," Brandt said. "Within 45 days of a chemical abortion, 1 in 10 women experience serious adverse events from mifepristone, the first drug in the abortion pill regimen, such as sepsis, infection, or hemorrhaging."

"This shift in timing for the lawsuit and their 'promised' review indicates that they are prioritizing politics over the safety of American women and children," Brandt said.

"While they continue to brush off these critical issues, the abortion pill is recklessly being mailed across state lines via telehealth distribution, enabling coercion and abuse," Brandt said. "It's time deadly mail-order abortion ended once and for all and this lethal pill be removed from the market completely."

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Pope Leo XIV's prayer intention for the month of September is for the care of water.

"Imagine a hot summer day, after hard work or a long walk, you finally take a sip of cool water. Feel how relief and energy flow through your body," the Holy Father said in a video released Sept. 1 on X.

He added: "Moments like these remind us what a blessing clean water is yet, 1 in 4 people worldwide still lack safe drinking water. Entire communities and nations need our action and our prayer for the care of water for the blessed relief."

In the full video shared on the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network website, Pope Leo recites an original prayer written specifically for this month's prayer intention:

Lord of Life,

You have given us the gift of water,

source of fruitfulness, freshness, and hope.

It quenches thirst, nourishes the earth, and heals wounds.

We thank you,

because it is also a symbol of your grace and love

that renews us through baptism.

Today we ask you to teach us to safeguard it

with gratitude, justice, and responsibility.

Forgive us for turning it into a commodity,

forgetting that it is a universal gift,

a right without borders, meant for all your children.

We see with pain so many brothers and sisters

who lack clean water,

who walk for miles to find it,

who become ill due to its scarcity.

May your Spirit make us pilgrims of the essential,

able to live with simplicity,

denouncing waste and pollution,

defending the right of every brother and sister

to drink without fear and without inequality.

May our care for water

be a sign of love for the Creator

and a commitment to the lives of the poor,

educating new generations to value

and protect the Earth's resources.

Amen."

"Pray with the Pope" is accessible on the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network website and its digital platforms.

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Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher said diplomacy remains a possible path toward ending the war in Ukraine after high-level talks in Moscow produced no concrete breakthrough.

Gallagher, the Vatican's secretary for relations with states and international organizations, met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and other officials during an Aug. 24–28 visit to Russia.

"We went to Moscow to speak of peace, to encourage souls troubled by war, and to say 'Have courage, embrace the path of peace, have the hope of believing in a better day," Gallagher said in an interview with Vatican News published Sunday. "And I believe that essentially this was our message."

Gallagher met with Lavrov during the first day of his visit, although he was not received by Russian President Vladimir Putin. After more than an hour of talks, the two appeared before reporters, with the Vatican diplomat reiterating Pope Leo XIV's appeal for an end to the war in Ukraine.

"The Holy See does not enter into the details of the negotiations, nor does it propose technical solutions, because this is the direct responsibility of the belligerent parties," Gallagher said in the subsequent Vatican News interview.

"The Holy See, instead, recalls this responsibility and invites them to show goodwill in order to seriously begin a dialogue," he continued. "And it does so by addressing both the Russian Federation and Ukraine, as well as other countries, asking that no effort be spared to create spaces for dialogue."

A 'difficult' dialogue

Gallagher acknowledged that discussing peace in Russia means engaging in "a difficult dialogue."

"The longer the war continues, the more difficult it will be to restore relations: There are many victims, many open wounds," he said. "But we know very well that, historically, all conflicts, all wars end with a negotiation, with an agreement, and then one begins to restore relations between the former belligerents."

"In this sense, diplomacy offers and promises a possible solution," Gallagher said. "This is also what we, as a Church, have the responsibility and the duty to proclaim."

Gallagher and Lavrov also discussed possible humanitarian initiatives and the situation of children affected by the war. The Holy See expressed its willingness to continue offering spiritual, diplomatic, and humanitarian assistance.

"This dimension is fundamental and, in this area, the Holy See is already offering its contribution, a commitment that so far has been greatly appreciated," Gallagher said.

"The Holy Father himself, before I left, told me: We must insist on the humanitarian dimension. And that is what we did," he added.

"We hope that Cardinal [Matteo] Zuppi's peace mission will continue and that he will be able to return promptly to Moscow, also in order to be a witness to what the local Church and the Catholic communities are doing."

Zuppi traveled to Moscow in 2023 and 2024 as Pope Francis' special envoy for peace. His mission included humanitarian efforts concerning Ukrainian children taken to Russia during the war.

Outreach to the Russian Orthodox Church

Gallagher also visited Moscow's Cathedral of Christ the Savior, one of the city's most prominent Orthodox landmarks.

There he was received by Igor Yakimchuk, deputy chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate's Department for External Church Relations. Gallagher also met with Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, who heads the department.

The talks covered issues of common concern and were intended to keep channels of communication open between the Holy See and the Russian Orthodox Church at a particularly sensitive moment for the region.

Relations between the two churches have been severely strained since Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill publicly supported Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Meeting Russia's Catholic minority

Gallagher devoted the final day of his visit to Russia's small Catholic community.

Catholics make up a tiny minority in the country, with roughly 800,000 faithful among a population of more than 146 million — about 0.5%. The Church is organized into four dioceses centered on the Archdiocese of the Mother of God at Moscow.

During his stay, Gallagher celebrated Mass at Moscow's Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and met with priests, religious men and women, and the country's Catholic bishops.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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The newly installed bishop of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston is expanding the availability of the Traditional Latin Mass (TLM) in West Virginia and appointed priests to help facilitate this initiative.

Bishop Evelio Menjivar-Ayala — who became the bishop of the diocese that covers the entirety of West Virginia in July — announced the changes in a message to the faithful issued Aug. 28. Menjivar succeeded Bishop Mark E. Brennan, who retired.

"This is an initiative of Bishop Evelio to ensure that the spiritual needs of every part of his flock are attended to by priests of our diocese," the announcement said.

According to the announcement, the bishop's purpose is to foster "greater unity among Catholic faithful" and attend to "their diverse spiritual needs."

Beginning Sept. 20, the TLM can be celebrated at the mission Our Lady of Seven Dolors in Triadelphia at 1:30 p.m. on Sundays. Previously, the mission only had a monthly celebration. Menjivar will add a TLM option in the Charleston area, but the location is yet to be determined.

The regular TLM will continue at St. John University Parish in Morgantown at 9 a.m. Saturdays and 1 p.m. Sundays.

Menjivar also attended a Latin Mass at the Priory of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Charles Town on Aug. 30. The priory offers the TLM daily, along with a Saturday vigil and three Sunday Masses. He delivered remarks to the congregation before the homily.

"In his mercy and providence, the Lord has sent me to serve as your shepherd," the bishop said. "I want to reiterate to you, today, my sincere desire to serve the Lord faithfully and to care for the salvation of every soul entrusted to my pastoral care. I'm also here today to assure you, you personally, [of] my deep affection and esteem for each of you and for this particular community."

Menjivar said: "Your fidelity to the sacred liturgy, your devotion, and your reverence for the mysteries of our faith enrich the life of the entire Church."

"My desire is that everyone — everyone — finds a home in the Church and that in everything we do, we remain deeply united in Christ and in communion with the Holy Father, always seeking what strengthens our faith, builds up the body of Christ, and leads us together toward holiness," he said.

Priestly appointments

The bishop appointed Father Timothy Grassi, pastor of St. James in Charles Town, to serve as the episcopal delegate for matters related to the "usus antiquior" for the diocese. The usus antiquior, which means "the ancient usage," refers to the TLM, which was the standard form of the Mass prior to reforms that came after the Second Vatican Council of the 1960s.

Grassi will oversee celebrations of the TLM to ensure that every Mass is celebrated lawfully in accordance with restrictions imposed in Pope Francis' motu proprio Traditionis Custodes, which remains in effect. He also will coordinate between the diocese and the four TLM congregations in West Virginia.

"In the exercise of his function, Father Grassi will ensure that these celebrations are legally authorized in accordance with the universal law of the Church and the dispositions of the Apostolic See," the announcement said.

When reached by email, Grassi told EWTN News that the bishop is "simply trying to be a good shepherd to all of the faithful." The greater availability ensures "those attracted to this form of the Mass have easier accessibility to it, just as he has concern for the Hispanics of the diocese to have a Spanish Mass," he said.

"He is following all the guidelines that the Vatican has given and is simply trying to let the faithful know of his care for them," Grassi added. "My role is to coordinate with the bishop in these matters and ensure that all of the guidelines are properly followed. Bishop Evelio is showing his deep pastoral care for the souls entrusted to him."

The bishop also appointed regional usus antiquior delegates.

Father Justin M. Golna, pastor at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Wellsburg, is the delegate for the Wheeling area. Father Brian Crenwelge, pastor at St. John University Parish in Morgantown, will continue as the Morgantown area delegate. Father Phillip Szabo will stay as the delegate for the Charleston area.

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