Catholic News

South Korean Catholic organizers have announced the principal venues for World Youth Day Seoul 2027. Seoul World Cup Stadium will host the opening Mass, papal welcome ceremony, and Way of the Cross, while Seoul Airport in Seongnam, just outside the capital, will host the vigil and closing Mass.

Organizers expect about 500,000 registered pilgrims, including 400,000 international participants from approximately 190 countries, with up to 1 million people attending the closing Mass. The main events will take place Aug. 3–8, 2027. Archbishop Peter Chung Soon-taick of Seoul said the gathering would encourage young people to rediscover their dignity and encounter others across their differences.

On Oct. 31, the government of South Korea, the parliament, and the Catholic Church signed a joint declaration at the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Seoul, pledging nationwide support for World Youth Day 2027, "including measures on security, immigration, transportation, legislation, and funding," according to LiCAS News.

Ethiopia's Catholic bishops decry killing of Christians

Members of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Ethiopia (CBCE) have condemned the killing of Christians and destruction of property in the country, calling on the relevant authorities to take necessary law enforcement measures to protect lives, safeguard property, and restore peace and security, according to a report by ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa.

In a statement of condolence issued on Nov. 2, GBCE members referred to the tragic killing of Christians and the destruction of property that occurred in Merti and Shirka areas of Arsi Zone, South-East Oromia Region, during the month of October.

"We also wish to express our deep sorrow over additional conflicts and killings of innocent people that have taken place," the bishops said, according to ACI Africa. The Catholic leaders expressed sadness that such incidents continue to occur repeatedly in different parts of the country, strongly condemning what they described as "inhumane actions."

Australia Catholics mark Prison Sunday 2026

On Sunday, Nov. 8, Catholics in Australia mark Prison Sunday, an annual day to remember and pray for prisoners, their loved ones, and those who care for and minister to them, including prison chaplains.

Bishop Tim Norton, SVD, Australian Catholic Bishops' Conference delegate for prisons, said in a press release that prisoners, released prisoners, and their family members often find themselves stigmatized. "But all people are deserving of dignity and respect which can be shown through personal connection," he said.

Norton expressed gratitude in advance of the day for all those who minister to people in prison across Australia.

Maronite prayer hall vandalized in northern Israel

The Maronite prayer hall of Sts. Peter and Paul in Nahariya, northern Israel, was vandalized by unidentified individuals on Nov. 1, the solemnity of All Saints, Vatican News reported. The Maronite Archeparchy of Haifa firmly condemned the action, saying "such acts can neither be justified nor tolerated" and called for a formal investigation.

Archbishop Moussa El-Hage of the Maronite Archeparchy of Haifa said in his statement: "This is a grave and unacceptable attack, not only against Church property" but "above all against the sacred character of a place dedicated to worship and against the right of the faithful to practice their religion freely, safely, and with dignity."

There are approximately 60,000 people living in the Christian community in Nahariya, which is located near the border with Lebanon.

Macau Church commemorates 450 years of faith and mission

The Church in Macau in China marked 450 years of missionary heritage at an event with thousands of lay faithful, clergy, and Catholic leaders on Oct. 31 in conjunction with a continental assembly of Asian bishops and communicators who gathered for the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences Office of Social Communication.

According to LICAS News, the two events converged in a solemn pontifical Mass at the Forum de Macau, which was presided over by Cardinal Luis Antonio G. Tagle, pro-prefect of the Vatican's Dicastery for Evangelization and dean of the College of Cardinals.

For the anniversary, Bishop Stephen Lee Bun-sang of Macau issued a pastoral letter "honoring those who preserved and transmitted the apostolic faith across generations" and recalling Macau's historical role as a "Gateway of Faith" in the region. Established in 1576, the Macau Diocese was the first modern diocese created in Asia.

Christian youth festival in Holy Land draws hundreds

Over 300 young Catholics gathered the weekend of Oct. 31 with other young people from parishes across the Holy Land for an annual festival, according to Vatican News. The Hebrew- and Arabic-speaking participants "celebrated hope and unity."

Father Piotr Zelazko, patriarchal vicar for Hebrew-speaking Catholics in Israel, drew "attention to the wounds and difficulties that mark the daily lives and hearts of young people in the Holy Land" and said that every young person there bears "wounds inflicted by wars, suffering, and each person's individual experiences — all the burdens they carry in their hearts."

Zelazko said he hopes the festival, which was organized by the St. James Vicariate, a community of Hebrew-speaking Catholics associated with the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, will continue as an annual event and eventually welcome young people from other countries as well.

Lebanese priest's court summons sparks anger

The summons of Father Najib Al-Amil, a priest in the southern Lebanese village of Rmeish, has sparked protests among Christians already facing the hardships of war and isolation, according to ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News.

According to Nidaa Al-Watan, the case stems from a construction dispute in which the priest requested a delay to prevent tensions. A judge reportedly interpreted his remarks as a threat involving Israeli forces.

Residents gathered in solidarity with the priest, who remained with his community throughout the conflict. He has agreed to appear for questioning once safe travel is possible, as the incident raises broader concerns about the state's treatment of vulnerable Christian border communities.

Iraqi Christian lawmaker warns electoral system threatens community's political voice

Iraqi Christian parliamentarian Kaldo Ramzi Oghanna is calling for electoral reforms to protect the political representation of Christians, warning that the current system allows voters outside the community to influence seats reserved for Christian candidates.

Speaking to ACI MENA, Oghanna, who heads the Sowayana-Al-Irada parliamentary bloc, proposed creating a dedicated Christian electoral register. He argued that the existing arrangement undermines independent representation and benefits political groups with support beyond the Christian community.

His concerns extend beyond elections. Decades of persecution, displacement, and emigration have significantly weakened Iraq's Christian presence, raising fears about the community's long-term survival.

Oghanna urged Iraqi authorities to address these challenges through stronger security protections, property rights, employment opportunities, and investment in Christian areas. He also called for initiatives encouraging emigrants to return, stressing that political representation should serve the community's security, rights, and future in Iraq.

First Christian elected as deputy speaker of Kurdistan Parliament

Rami Noori Syawish has become the first Christian elected deputy speaker of Iraq's Kurdistan Regional Parliament since its establishment in 1992, securing 52 votes in the 100-seat legislature, ACI MENA reported Nov. 5.

His election marks a milestone for Christian political participation amid continuing concerns over emigration, security, and the reduction of Christian quota seats from six to three.

A.C. Wimmer contributed to this report.

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MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay — Pope Leo XIV arrived in South America on Nov. 6, kicking off an 11-day trip that will take him from the continent's Southern Cone to the highlands of the Andes and Amazon rainforest.

The papal flight landed in Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay, at 4:17 p.m. local time (2:17 p.m. ET). Leo was scheduled later in the day to address President Yamandú Orsi and other dignitaries, and then to lead a vespers service in the city's cathedral with Uruguay's bishops, clergy, and religious.

It is Leo's first visit to the continent since his election as pope in May 2025, and one filled with personal significance for him. After stops in Uruguay and Argentina, the trip will culminate in Peru, where the man then known as Robert Prevost spent about 20 years as a missionary and a bishop.

Leo is making the demanding journey, which features over 40 public and private events in 14 cities and towns — including Cusco, over 11,000 feet above sea level — despite having undergone surgery for lung cancer less than a month ago, when doctors removed part of his right lung.

The pope's packed schedule includes many of the usual elements of an international papal visit, including open-air Masses; meetings with the local hierarchy; prayer vigils with youth; and visits to Church-affiliated charitable institutions.

Leo also will address local political leaders, when he is likely to speak about the Church's social teaching and in some cases to highlight where that teaching conflicts with government policies.

Argentina and Peru are among a majority of Latin American countries led by right-wing governments, and Leo may voice concerns there about cuts to social spending, immigration enforcement, and the need to respect human rights and the rule of law amid campaigns against drug trafficking and other forms of crime that plague the region.

In Uruguay, one of Latin America's most secular countries, currently under a center-left government, Leo may criticize last year's legalization of euthanasia.

The Argentina visit will prominently feature a tribute to Leo's immediate predecessor, Pope Francis, a former archbishop of Buenos Aires, who never returned to his native land as pope.

The longest portion of the visit, and its emotional core, will be Leo's five days in Peru, two of them in his former diocese of Chiclayo, where the U.S.-born pontiff will celebrate his return to his adopted home.

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ABOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT — Pope Leo came to the back of the plane on Friday to greet approximately 80 journalists traveling with him to South America. He got a bunch of questions in return, most of which he answered.

The pope usually pays a visit to the journalists' section on the outbound flight of an international trip. This is not supposed to be a press conference, which typically happens on the flight home, but reporters naturally spring at the chance to pose quick questions, and Leo is generally obliging.

Many of the questions this time were, unsurprisingly, about the pope's health. He is making the 12-day trip less than a month after undergoing surgery for lung cancer.

In brief remarks to the whole cabin, Leo acknowledged that "some people were doubtful about this trip taking place," but he said he "had no doubt and was convinced that this trip had to go forward."

Later, a reporter wanted to know the pope's secret for springing back so quickly from surgery. The answer: "Faith in God, good doctors, and a healthy lifestyle." Leo had advice for cancer patients: "Not to be afraid. Early detection is obviously the best way to go, and so regular checkups are a blessing. And take care of yourselves."

Asked if his surgery, which removed part of his right lung, had given him a new sense of urgency about his agenda, Leo replied that the experience had strengthened his desire to be close to the sick, and his conviction that "healthcare should be a right of all people" — a point he said he planned to make later in the day in a speech to Uruguay's president and other dignitaries.

The pope revealed that his reading in the hospital had consisted of his breviary, prayer book, and unspecified newspapers, and that he has not resumed his tennis game but intends to do so.

Leo said that, at the time of his September visit to the French shrine of Lourdes, where he prayed with the sick, "there were no signs of any difficulties" with his own health, and he was "much more concerned about the health of those there."

The pope was also asked about the recent news that he had voted in this month's election in Illinois by absentee ballot. "I'm proud to be an American and to exercise the right," he said. He declined to comment on election results.

The U.S.-born Leo, who is a naturalized citizen of Peru, said he would have voted earlier this year in that country's elections if he had been able to do so from Rome: "I didn't vote because it wasn't possible, but I would've done it, it's a good thing."

The pope also introduced the press to the new prefect of the Vatican's Dicastery for Communication, Montse Alvarado, who took office Nov. 1 and is accompanying the pope on his trip to South America. Leo praised Alvarado, who until this month was president and chief operating office of EWTN News, for her "wonderful experience, creativity, and liveliness."

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An annual forum on artificial intelligence held in Rome this week aimed to foster a new interdisciplinary community dedicated to supporting the development of AI products that serve the Church's mission.

The Builders AI Forum, held Nov. 5–6 at the Pontifical Gregorian University, was centered on Pope Leo XIV's encyclical Magnifica Humanitas and brought together companies leading in Catholic AI, venture capital, and angel investors as well as prominent AI thought leaders and researchers.

In his opening remarks, Cardinal Michael Czerny, a founder of the Vatican's inter-dicastery commission on artificial intelligence, drew on his work with the commission to remind participants that we "cannot treat learning as an isolated, transactional process but rather a communal, dialogue form." He went on to say that "we are all impacted by AI but nobody's listening [to one another]."

Vincent Higgins, CEO of the Builders AI Forum, said the event aims to cover four areas: AI in evangelization, in healthcare, in education, and in building and scaling AI for responsible development in creating critical safeguards online.

The prefect of the Vatican's Dicastery for Communication, Maria Montserrat "Montse" Alvarado, echoed the importance of collaboration — not only with those in the AI community — but also with the Holy Father. She asked the forum participants to ask themselves, "Who are we supposed to be as we develop and shape this technology?", reminding them that they must not lose their interdependence but "leverage the network through the people in this room."

The future of AI policy

Over the course of the two-day summit, religious and industry leaders, as well as policy advocates, gave testimonies reflecting what was being discussed in the workshop groups.

One participant was Megan Garcia, who tragically lost her son, Sewell, by suicide after forming a romantic attachment with a chatbot. She told EWTN News the primary message she wants to advocate for is accountability — "Who is responsible when AI hurts a child?"

To make AI chatbots safe for children in the future, Garcia said that companies need to partake in third-party release testing and make sure that they cannot release, retain, or sell children's data. Speaking through her personal experience, Garcia highlighted that any policy that is designed to protect children against the dangers of AI would absolutely need to include a measure of accountability.

Repeated many times over the conference, many participants said AI in Catholic schools needs to be kept in line with our Church systems, teaching, and philosophies. Families are operating in their own bubbles, but they need to start having a larger conversation with the community so everyone can be in tune with what is available for families and what should be censored, people at the forum argued.

Speaking on the importance of aligning AI with Catholic morals and beliefs, Matthew Sanders, CEO of Longbeard, a company that organizes the Builders AI Forum, told EWTN News: "AI when it is designed today is designed to align with a billion people, which is an impossible task."

AI access to information

A common theme through every workshop group, especially among AI entrepreneurs, was the need to train their own models by making sure they have access to all the right information. This has been a main focus for Longbeard, particularly its product, Magisterium AI, which Bishop Stephen Wang of the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton in England mentioned when speaking about priestly formation and AI.

"The reality is that so many people are discovering the faith or seeking answers to their questions through the internet, through AI... this is the starting point," Wang said in comments to EWTN News, noting the importance of using AI as a tool.

Through his experience at the Venerable English College in Rome, Wang reflected that young men coming into seminary are already immersed in AI, so it is important to give them the tools for discernment. The process of priestly formation is very holistic, and it is important to acknowledge the presence and utility of AI in this formation, he said.

Communicating through AI

According to in-house statistics by Magisterium AI and Hallow, their AI tools have helped bring people to the faith and into the Church. Erich Kerekes, CEO and founder of the Hallow app, told EWTN News that "prayer is fundamentally a relationship... coming before God, bringing your needs before him... that is something AI will never be able to come up with." Alvarado reiterated this notion, saying: "The message can't be communicated by AI. It's communicated through AI. AI is not a person, AI is a tool."

"The first thing AI builders need to hear from the Church is that [we're] listening... if they feel accompanied, we'll find a way together," said Czerny, as Sanders said builders should "start from the world and what you want to build and work backwards."

Jeffrey Quesnelle, co-founder and CTO of Nous Research, said in comments to EWTN News that "humans in our messiness and our incompleteness are a source of friction in a lot of instances in life." Ultimately, he added, "AI should make you better today than yesterday, better tomorrow than today."

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A long-running dispute between the Greek Orthodox Church and the Egyptian government over St. Catherine's Monastery in the Sinai Peninsula and its surrounding lands appears to be nearing resolution after more than a year of negotiations.

The development follows an agreement by Archbishop Symeon Papadopoulos, the monastery's abbot, to sign a contract regulating its legal status. The proposed settlement is expected to be signed in December and to "ensure the continuation of monastic life at the monastery under Egyptian sovereignty" and bring ongoing legal proceedings to an end.

However, some provisions remain unclear, and opposition persists within certain Church circles.

Egypt's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty had received a letter from Papadopoulos confirming his willingness to sign the agreement concerning the monastery and its surrounding lands.

Abdelatty welcomed the move, reaffirming Egypt's commitment to preserving the monastery and its religious significance as a historic landmark embodying the values of tolerance and coexistence among religions and civilizations.

Speaking to ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News, Nader Shukry, a researcher specializing in citizenship issues and Coptic affairs, said an agreement was close to being finalized following lengthy negotiations.

According to Shukry, the proposed settlement has been welcomed by Greece and the three Greek Orthodox patriarchates of Jerusalem, under whose jurisdiction the monastery falls, Constantinople (the Ecumenical Patriarchate), and Alexandria.

Shukry explained that the agreement's full provisions have not yet been officially disclosed. However, information circulating about the negotiations suggests that the settlement will address the status of 72 plots of land surrounding the monastery, some of which have been cultivated by its monks.

In 2015, the South Sinai Governorate filed a lawsuit concerning the properties. In May 2025, an appeals court ruled that the monastery had no legal entitlement to the disputed lands, imposed a fine of 10 million Egyptian pounds, and ordered the monks to vacate the properties.

According to the reported terms of the proposed agreement, the monks would be allowed to continue using the lands they cultivate under a lease arrangement involving a nominal rent. However, the fate of all 72 plots remains uncertain, including whether the monks will be required to vacate some of them.

Shukry also noted that a hearing before Egypt's Court of Cassation, originally scheduled for October, has been postponed until Dec. 27 to allow sufficient time for the agreement to be signed before the court issues its ruling.

He attributed the delay in finalizing the agreement to Papadopoulos' health condition, noting that the archbishop is currently in Greece.

The settlement is also expected to address the residency status of the monastery's monks, all of whom are foreign nationals, by facilitating the renewal of their residence permits.

Following the agreement, a presidential decree is also expected to formally recognize Papadopoulos as head of the monastery, enabling him to conduct banking transactions and complete official administrative procedures.

Shukry pointed to the precedent of Papadopoulos' predecessor, Archbishop Damianos, whose position was formally recognized by a similar decree issued by the late Egyptian President Anwar Sadat. Damianos was also granted Egyptian citizenship.

Shukry believes the settlement will bring greater stability to the monastery while allowing the Egyptian government to proceed with its Great Transfiguration project, an initiative aimed at transforming the St. Catherine area into an international religious tourism destination.

He emphasized that the development project does not affect the monastery itself, rejecting reports suggesting that Egyptian authorities intend to expel the monks or take control of the historic religious site.

Shukry said he expects the agreement to be signed before the Dec. 27 court hearing.

Nevertheless, opposition remains among some monks and clergy, including former abbot Damianos, who reject any agreement recognizing Egyptian state ownership of the monastery and its surrounding lands.

Those opposing the proposed settlement maintain that historical documents preserved at the monastery establish the Church's ownership rights over the property.

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

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MAKURDI, Nigeria — Bishop Wilfred Chikpa Anagbe of Nigeria's Diocese of Makurdi has faulted the government over persistent attacks in Benue state and other parts of the country, saying authorities have the capacity to end the violence but lack the political will.

In a Nov. 3 interview with ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, Anagbe alleged that repeated warnings before the deadly attack on the Yelwata community went unheeded.

"If the government wants this problem to stop, it can stop. Nigeria is capable of handling this issue, but they are not willing to do so. It is not that they lack the capacity; they lack the willingness," he said.

The bishop spoke while attending a national workshop for lay leaders of various Church groups organized by the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN).

Referring to the attack on the Yelwata community, he said warnings were issued about a month and three weeks before the violence, and again 24 hours before the attack.

According to Anagbe, local vigilantes responsible for alerting the people issued the warnings, but no preventive action followed.

He said the attack lasted about four hours, which he believed provided sufficient time for security personnel to intervene.

"But no help came," he lamented.

The Nigerian member of the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (CMF/Claretian Missionaries) maintained that local vigilante groups could contribute to addressing the violence if the government demonstrated sufficient commitment.

"If the government wants, even the vigilantes in the villages can handle this issue. I am not even talking about the police," he said.

The bishop also expressed concern about the government's approach to former insurgents described as repentant fighters, warning of the possibility of such individuals infiltrating security structures.

Remembering the victims of Yelwata

Anagbe assured families affected by the violence that the Church had not forgotten their suffering.

He said the victims were initially denied a proper burial. The Church later gave them a Christian burial and inscribed their individual names on a memorial in Yelwata.

"The message is simple: The people must know that the Church has not forgotten them. We remember what they went through, how they died, and the fact that they did not have a proper burial," he said.

The bishop, who began his episcopal ministry in October 2014 as coadjutor bishop of Makurdi Diocese, said the memorial would preserve the victims' identities for future generations.

"By putting their names on the memorial, we ensure that their memory is preserved for generations. These are not fictitious names; each victim's name is recorded there," he said.

Catholic faith in public service

Anagbe, who chairs the Episcopal Commission for Laity at the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), also urged lay Catholics to translate their faith into action through political leadership, education, economic development, and the promotion of justice.

Describing the laity as the backbone of the Church, he said they have many apostolates in which they must participate fully. Their presence in different professions and institutions, he added, gives them significant opportunities to influence society.

"They are the salt of the earth and the light of the world," he said.

"Let them truly be the salt that enlivens, refreshes, and gives taste and meaning to life and society. When you eat food without salt, it becomes tasteless. And without light, you can easily stumble and fall," he added.

Anagbe said baptism and confirmation call lay Catholics to bear witness to Christ beyond their participation in Church activities. He identified politics, socioeconomic development, sports, and education as areas in which they should demonstrate their commitment to the Gospel.

Their professional roles and positions of authority, he said, give them greater opportunities than clergy to influence these sectors.

The bishop expressed concern that some Catholic politicians fail to reflect Christian values in public office, stressing that religious affiliation alone does not guarantee authentic Christian witness.

"We do not simply need politicians who identify as Catholics. Some may belong to the Church, but their actions show that they are not living the faith in their public responsibilities," he said.

He urged Catholic politicians to demonstrate consistency between their religious identity and the way they exercise public responsibility.

"You must be a genuine Catholic and a politician at the same time. It is not enough to attend Mass and worship God during election campaigns while failing to live the Christian life in your daily responsibilities," he said.

"Being a Catholic must be evident in both words and deeds. That is what it means to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world."

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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A newly-published book shares the stories of a veteran flight attendant who has traveled with popes St. John Paul II to Leo XIV.

The book "Stories in Flight: 80 Years of Air Transport in Italy" recounts stories of flying with the popes from the perspective of veteran ITA Airways flight attendant Rino Anastasio. Anastasio, 67, has served as a flight attendant coordinator for special flights — including those of the pope — for over 45 years.

Co-authored in Italian with Filippo Anastasi, the Amalfi Coast native shares personal anecdotes about caring for the popes on board, ranging from worries about insufficient fuel to an unexpected birthday surprise.

History of papal flights

The Vatican does not own airplanes or helicopters for the pope to use. Instead, it charters commercial airliners, using ITA Airways (Italy's national carrier) for flights departing from Rome and local carriers for the pope's return flights from abroad.

St. Paul VI was the first pope to travel by airplane when he visited Jordan and Israel in January 1964. He was also the first pope to leave the Italian peninsula since Pope Pius VII was captured and taken to France by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1809.

Since Paul VI, papal travel has remained an important means of outreach for the popes. St. John Paul II completed 109 apostolic journeys outside Italy, visiting 129 countries worldwide during his 26-year pontificate.

Pope Benedict XVI completed 24 apostolic journeys, while Pope Francis completed 47.

Pope Leo XIV has also made travel a feature of his ministry, including visits to Africa, Turkey, Lebanon, Spain, and France, before traveling to South America from Nov. 6–17.

Jet escorts, fuel concerns, and a festive birthday flight

Speaking with Vatican News' Andrea Tornielli, Anastasio recounted his experiences with the popes, beginning with John Paul II.

"With John Paul II there was a very strict protocol," Anastasio said. "I remember one time there were two fighter jets escorting us towards Kazakhstan right after Sept. 11, 2001."

"John Paul II called me and asked: 'But what are those?' I replied: 'Holy Father, those are our guardian angels escorting us.'"

On a trip to France with Benedict XVI in 2008, Anastasio recalled that the pontiff was reading a newspaper with a headline about ITA Airways' (Alitalia at the time) bankruptcy troubles that year.

"In the newspaper, it was written in huge letters that Alitalia doesn't even have the money to pay for fuel. Pope Benedict, with his little glasses, looked up from the newspaper and said to me: 'But you did put fuel in the plane, right?'"

It was Anastasio's birthday when he accompanied Pope Francis to Marseille, France. He recounted how Francis surprised him on the return flight to Rome.

"It was my birthday. In the morning, the pope asked the gendarmes to buy six giant cakes and 12 bottles of champagne to celebrate my birthday, but I wasn't supposed to know anything," Anastasio said.

"When the curtain opened, and these cakes arrived, I was truly moved there. Perhaps it was one of the most beautiful joys of my life."

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Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state, expressed his hope this week that the results of the 2026 U.S. midterm elections will foster future collaboration.

The diplomat spoke on Nov. 5 on the sidelines of the conference "The Universal Face of the Church in China," held at the Pontifical Urban University in Rome. The elections saw major victories for the Democratic Party, which regained majorities in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Parolin, responding to a question about whether democracy had won in these U.S. elections, said that he hoped for collaboration for the good of the country.

"It is difficult to make such categorical statements as 'democracy has won,'" Parolin said. "Let's hope there is a capacity to collaborate."

"We will try to find ways of working together for the good of the country. This is important, and this is what we hope for."

Parolin also said he expected the Democratic Party's recent victories to bring changes to the U.S.

"This will surely bring changes; it's logical. Now we will see how they manage it. But let's hope that reason and common sense prevail," Parolin remarked.

He also noted the unprecedented nature of Pope Leo XIV voting in the U.S. election, the first of any pontiff in history.

"It never happened with Italian popes, nor with Polish popes, nor with German popes, but in the end at least he was a citizen. I believe he remains a U.S. citizen and therefore has every right to do so."

Parolin also expressed his hope that new leadership in the U.S. would advance peace in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia.

"Right now it's very difficult to predict who knows what changes. For a long time we have been hoping and trying to do everything possible to close the very painful chapter of Ukraine and many other conflicts around the world. But it's difficult to say right now what will happen. We live and wait."

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Catholic members of the U.S. military and their families are set to gather in northern Virginia Nov. 9–11 for the first conference of its kind hosted by the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA.

Archbishop Timothy Broglio, head of the archdiocese, spoke about the inaugural Catholic Military Conference in an interview with "EWTN News Nightly" anchor Veronica Dudo. He said the event, whose theme is "Living and Serving Justly," is intended to bring together the faithful of the archdiocese, which is one of the most geographically widespread in the world.

"We wanted to invite the faithful from this archdiocese to gather together in northern Virginia, suburban Washington … for a conference on living justly … and basically practicing the Catholic faith, but with an eye very much to military service," Broglio said.

"'Justly,'" he said, "means to live in accordance with the law of God, which is a basic tenet of our faith. It means allowing our conscience to dictate how we respond to the situations that we're called to face."

He said a central topic will be just war theory and its ramifications in the present day, saying it will be a "good opportunity to review" the Church's teachings on just war for "those who are on active duty" as well as to respond to any questions service members may have about the teachings.

Broglio noted that the gathering represents a shift from the archdiocese's usual practice: "Normally the auxiliary bishops and I visit the faithful where they are. This is one of the first times that we're inviting them to come and join us all together for an archdiocesan gathering."

The conference will also include a synodal exercise aimed at listening to the faithful about their concerns and needs.

Participants will have opportunities for daily Mass, confession, Eucharistic adoration, and breakout sessions on different aspects of military life and living the faith. He also said attendees will share meals, because to "break bread together" is "a happy part of human human encounters and human endeavors."

For Catholic service members deployed around the world who cannot attend in person, the archdiocese plans to record as much of the conference as possible, Broglio said.

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