Pope Leo XIV sends message after surgery to Vatican conference, asks for prayers
Pope Leo XIV, recovering from lung cancer surgery in Rome, sent a request for prayers to participants in a Vatican conference.
“As you know, I have been unable to be among you during these days,” Pope Leo wrote in the Oct. 14 message to clergy members and Catholics. “I thank you warmly for your prayers and for the work you have done together. Your sharing of experiences and attentive listening are indeed a gift to the whole Church.”
The pope’s message was read at the conclusion of the conference “10 Years After Amoris Laetitia: Proclaiming the Gospel with Families Today,” a meeting examining the legacy of the apostolic exhortation and how to strengthen family participation in the churchʼs mission.
“Entrusting each of you to the protection of the Holy Family of Nazareth, I ask you please to pray for me, as I pray for you,” he wrote.
The pope encouraged participants to bring the meetingʼs insights back to their bishops' conferences and dioceses, continue proclaiming the Gospel with families, and ensure families remain active participants in the life and mission of local churches.
Leo’s homily delivered
At the closing Mass for the conference “10 Years After Amoris Laetitia: Proclaiming the Gospel with Families Today,” Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, dean of the College of Cardinals, delivered a homily prepared by Pope Leo XIV, saying, “the world has no future without strong families open to the gift of children and attentive to their education and growth.”
Families and faith communities should accompany people facing hardship with compassion rather than condemnation, the pope’s homily said.
“Those who are more vulnerable, or who are experiencing difficult circumstances and moments of crisis, will also find support and encouragement, surrounded by affection and shielded from judgment and prejudice. Let us remember that ‘as wounded as the family may be, it can always grow beginning with love,’” Tagle said, delivering the homily prepared by Pope Leo.
U.S. Catholic bishops, National Association of Evangelicals issue joint declaration on immigration
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) have teamed up in calling for “compassion” in immigration policy amid U.S. President Donald Trump’s ongoing crackdown.
Bishop Brendan Cahill, who chairs the USCCB Committee on Migration, signed onto the five-page document along with NAE President Walter Kim, as part of a joint effort called the Evangelical-Catholic Dialogue on Immigration (ECDI).
“We write as Christian leaders who love our country and our immigrant neighbors,” they wrote in an Oct. 13 statement titled “A Call for Christian Compassion and Wisdom in the Immigration Debate.”
“As Catholic and evangelical Christians, we have doctrinal differences, but we are united in our conviction that God calls us to stand both with our fellow Americans who are experiencing economic and cultural anxieties and with our immigrant neighbors who are facing existential challenges,” they indicated.
According to a USCCB news release, ECDI timed the statement to correspond with an increase in reported detentions and deportations, as well as the ending of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for nationals of several countries, including Haitians and Syrians.
The document puts a “special focus” on children and families, citing Matt. 18:5, in which Christ says, “whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.”
Cahill and Kim emphasized all people, regardless of where they are born or their immigration status, are made in the image of God, adding: “This dignity comes from God, not government, and no earthly power may erase it.”
“The stranger is not merely a burden to bear,” they wrote. “Again and again, God has blessed his people through the outsider. From Ruth the Moabite to the present day, immigrants can bring renewal to congregations and communities that welcome them. We lament approaches that pit citizens against noncitizens.”
Both leaders said that they recognize the government’s responsibility to secure and manage borders, but that governments must also uphold religious liberty, protect the persecuted, and facilitate pathways for legal immigration.
Cahill and Kim encouraged “a better path forward,” which they argued would be consistent with all of those obligations.
“Catholic and evangelical Christians make up a large portion of our American citizenry,” the letter added. “Majorities of evangelicals and Catholics support immigration reform that would provide meaningful opportunities for longtime residents to regularize their status.”
According to the document, one element is secure borders and targeted immigration enforcement that protects family unity and prioritizes action against people who are a threat to public safety.
Other elements include limiting detentions of non-violent people, access to chaplains, and more legal pathways to permanent status for workers, family members, and humanitarian populations.
Cahill and Kim asked Christians to pray for their leaders as commanded in 1 Tim. 2:1-2, which reads: “First of all, then, I ask that supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone, for kings and for all in authority, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity.”
“Our promise of prayer extends to our law enforcement officers, our policymakers, our judges, and all in our communities who play an essential role in building up the common good,” they wrote.
“Every Christian deserves to know that he or she has been made a new creation in Christ and is a member of his Body — no matter what the particular circumstances of duty or residence,” the document points out.
More than two million people participate in procession in Brazil
The 234th Círio de Nazaré, a traditional pilgrimage honoring Our Lady of Nazareth, drew approximately 2.3 million people to the streets of Belém in Pará state, Brazil, on Sunday, Oct. 11 for a procession that according to organizers is the largest in Brazil and one of the largest in the world.
The procession took about five hours for participants to cover the 3.6-kilometer (about 2.25 miles) route from the Belém Metropolitan Cathedral to Sanctuary Square located in front of the Basilica of Our Lady of Nazareth.
The Círio’s Sunday program began at 6:00 a.m. with a Mass celebrated by the Archbishop of Belém, Julio Akamine Endi, in front of the metropolitan cathedral. In his homily, he highlighted the significance of the procession as an expression of a shared journey toward Christ.
“The procession is very slow and takes a long time, but the pace is because we don’t want to leave anyone behind; we don’t want to abandon anyone along the way. We want everyone to reach Jesus Christ, to reach eternal life together,” he said.
“What kind of salvation is it where we leave others behind? We want to walk together, and this must also be reflected in our evangelizing and missionary work,” the archbishop continued.
In closing, he invoked the intercession of Our Lady of Nazareth so that the faithful might persevere on this journey: “May Our Lady of Nazareth, in whose honor we hold this most beautiful procession, help us to walk together toward the definitive Kingdom.”
Akamine also urged the faithful to care for others and to look after the salvation of their brothers and sisters, following Mary’s example.
“Let us ask Our Lady of Nazareth that we may know how to be submissive to God, just as she was, and that we may also care more, having zeal for the salvation of our brothers and sisters. We do not achieve this by seeking to claim a leading role that is not ours. The leading role always belongs to God. He is the Savior. He is the Savior of all. He is our Savior. And it is by obeying God that we actively collaborate in the salvation of humanity,” he noted.
Devotees fulfilling vows express their faith on the streets of Belém
After Mass, the image of Our Lady of Nazareth was placed on the “berlinda” (a ceremonial carriage) and taken in procession through the streets of Belém, pulled by a rope, one of the symbols of the Círio festival, that devotees strive to hold onto.
Along the route, devotees fulfilled their vows in various ways: walking on their knees, carrying heavy crosses or images of Our Lady, performing ballet, and even while blindfolded.
Among those fulfilling vows was 28-year-old Fabrício Corrêa, who traversed the route on his knees to honor a promise made for his motherʼs recovery. She was facing complications resulting from diabetes and was at risk of having one of her feet amputated.
“I am an Evangelical and asked God to heal her, but I also went to the basilica and asked Our Lady to intercede with Jesus so that he would grant this healing to my mother,” Corrêa told the website O Liberal.
According to him, a week later, the family received the news that the amputation would not be necessary. His mother lost only one of her toes, and Fabrício fulfilled the vow during this year’s Círio.
“I promised that if she interceded, I would fulfill that vow. I kept that to myself,” he said. His mother, a Catholic, did not know her son had made the vow and only learned of his participation in the Círio after the video went viral on social media.
Along the route, individuals and institutions also paid tribute to Our Lady of Nazareth. To help alleviate the heat, the fire department used water trucks, while volunteers distributed water to the pilgrims.
After the image arrived at Sanctuary Square, the program for the procession concluded with a Mass celebrated by the auxiliary bishop of Belém, Paulo Andreolli.
The Círio schedule of events continues throughout October with other pilgrimages and religious activities, leading up to the “Recírio”, which marks the conclusion of the festivities in honor of Our Lady of Nazareth.
This story was first published by ACI Digital, the Portuguese-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
PHOTOS: Thousands follow Blessed Sacrament in annual New York City procession
St. Patrick’s Cathedral erupted in laughter. The oil of annointing dripped down from now Bishop Joseph Espillat’s hairless head onto his smiling face as Cardinal Timothy Dolan joyfully handied a towel to him to clear his eyes.
At that time, Espillat would become the youngest bishop in the United States. And he brought with him a passion for evangelization and the Blessed Sacrament the likes of which would join an ever-growing movement, the Eucharistic Revival, that was in its infancy.
About a year later, after photographing a priestly ordination at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, a photographer friend of mine nudged me and asked if I was going to the Eucharistic procession in Times Square. To which I glanced him and asked, “What procession?”
I was sitting on 51st Street with a sandwich and a cold cup of coffee, sorting photos and writing down a few thoughts. The procession wasn’t until late afternoon, and I was already pretty tired. I wasn’t planning to go. So I left it in God’s hands, which, once again, proved to be the best idea.
Hours later, I found myself in Father Duffy Square, surrounded by thousands of people praying before the Blessed Sacrament. And there at the center of it all was Bishop Espaillat, his energy and joy unmistakable. The atmosphere was electric.
In a place the world knows for its lights and spectacle, people had gathered to adore Christ. I’d nearly missed it because I was “tired.” Now I was standing in the middle of Times Square, trying to take in something utterly breathtaking.
And now, another invitation to follow Him into the streets.
On Oct. 13, 2026, the Napa Institute returned to St. Patrick’s Cathedral for its annual Eucharistic procession.
And that same bishop, whose anointing filled the cathedral with laughter, and whose joy I encountered in Father Duffy Square, celebrated the 4 p.m. Mass and preached the homily. He was joined by Dominican Father Gregory Pine and Father John Burns who led Eucharistic meditations before Mass. After Mass, the Eucharistic procession spilled from the cathedral onto the crowded city streets to bring the Presence of Christ and the witness of faith of countless thousands made through Midtown.
Napa’s New York procession began in 2021. Its invitation simple: accompany Christ in the Blessed Sacrament through the city. It takes a faith nourished at the altar into the streets, where anyone passing by might encounter it.
Since then it’s been the inspiration of countless Eucharistic Processions around the world. Even the National Eucharistic Revival that launched in June 2022 carried that same desire to renew Catholics’ relationship with Christ in the Eucharist.
In his homily, Espaillat preached about the people we too easily pass by. His homily was grounded in the day’s readings: Jesus at the Pharisee’s table and the cup polished outside while something remained wrong within. The remedy was almsgiving, a heart learning to give. He spoke of mercy made concrete, turning us toward the needs of another.
Near the end, he recalled Archbishop Charles C. Thompson of Indianapolis telling young people that they were a mystery to be encountered. Then he extended that invitation to babies, immigrants, people experiencing homelessness, and inmates on death row.
“Young people are not a problem to be figured out. They are a mystery to be encountered!” he said.
And then came the challenge.
The bishop was asking us to look honestly at our own hearts, and he gave us somewhere to begin. Support a food pantry. Walk with someone who is lonely or anxious. Sit down with someone whose views differ from our own and have a Christ-like conversation. Give quietly, without announcing it on social media.
“Be kind. Give out of love, not out of obligation.”
The cathedral was standing room only. The Sisters of Life, the Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal and Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, the Dominicans, and dozens of other religious filled the cathedral.
And above it all was an absolutely breathtaking sky, with New York’s rush hour below.
The afternoon concluded with Benediction, led by Espaillat.
Once dismissed as “Hughes’ Folly” for standing too far outside the city, St. Patrick’s now stands at its heart.
And the invitation reaches beyond its doors, into the places where we work, the people we pass, and the lives we too easily overlook.
In a city that stands as the worldʼs cultural capital, a new culture is emerging: the Culture of Christ.
New generations of Catholics are forming new communities. Churches once quiet are now filled to capacity. And it’s no surprise when you realize that by bringing His Presence to the streets, grace overflows.
Christ is here. His love is for every person on these streets.
The culture of Christ begins there.
And, by His Grace, it can begin again in us again.
This article was first published by the National Catholic Register, EWTN News’ sister publication, and has been adapted by EWTN News English.
New archbishop appointed in Archdiocese of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Santo Domingo has a new archbishop: Carlos Tomás Morel Diplán. He succeeds Francisco Ozoria Acosta, whose resignation was accepted by Pope Leo XIV after he reached the episcopal retirement age of 75.
Morel Diplán had been appointed by Pope Leo as coadjutor archbishop of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, on Oct. 18, 2025, with the automatic right of succession.
As reported by the Vatican Press Office on Oct. 12 and by mandate of the Holy Father, the new archbishop of Santo Domingo also assumes the office of Military Ordinary of the Dominican Republic, a role previously held by Ozoria.
Ozoria offers Mass of Thanksgiving
On Sunday, Oct. 11, Ozoria, now archbishop emeritus of Santo Domingo, offered a Mass of Thanksgiving for his years of episcopal service. He spent 10 of those years serving the primatial see of the Americas, the Archdiocese of Santo Domingo, erected in 1546, the first in the Western Hemisphere.
“I do not cease to be a bishop; I do not cease to be a priest; I am resigning from pastoral governance,” the prelate stated during the Mass in the Santo Domingo cathedral, concelebrated by Morel Diplán and other Dominican prelates, according to the Archdiocese of Santo Domingo.
“Every Eucharist is an act of thanksgiving to the Lord,” the archbishop emeritus said, highlighting that “the way to exercise the priesthood is in the manner of Jesus Christ, who gives life to the world through his death on the cross.”
New archbishop of Santo Domingo
Morel Diplán was born on Nov. 2, 1969, in Monte de la Jagua, Moca, in Espaillat Province. He was ordained a priest on June 24, 2000, for the Archdiocese of Santiago de los Caballeros in the Dominican Republic.
He has served as rector, vice-rector, and professor at the seminary; vocations director; parish priest, vicar, and parish administrator; collaborator with various diocesan curia bodies; and professor and director of the School for the Permanent Diaconate in Santiago de los Caballeros.
On Dec. 14, 2016, he was appointed auxiliary bishop of Santiago de los Caballeros. On Dec. 2, 2023, he was appointed apostolic administrator of the Diocese of La Vega, and on Oct. 18, 2024, he was named bishop of the same diocese.
On Oct. 18, 2025, he was appointed coadjutor archbishop of Santo Domingo.
This story was first published by EWTN News Español, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
What is pulmonary adenocarcinoma? An oncologist explains and talks about Pope Leo XIV’s recovery
After a surgery on Tuesday in which the lower lobe of his right lung was removed, Pope Leo XIV was diagnosed with lung cancer. Dr. Luis Ráez, a prominent oncologist, explained in an interview with EWTN News what pulmonary adenocarcinoma is and what factors will determine the Holy Father’s next medical steps.
Ráez, who is not treating the pope, serves as the medical director and head of the Thoracic Oncology Program at the Memorial Cancer Institute in Florida.
The Vatican reported that the pope had “the lower lobe of the right lung removed using a video-assisted technique. The intraoperative histological examination has confirmed the diagnosis of pulmonary adenocarcinoma, as was suspected from the preoperative tests.”
The most common lung tumor
“The Holy Father remained in the operating room for approximately 3 hours; the duration of the surgery was approximately 90 minutes. The surgery was a success and there were no complications,” the Holy See added.
Ráez explained that adenocarcinoma “is the most common tumor in the lung” and noted that “in general, lung cancers are more aggressive than those of the prostate or breast.”
However, he clarified that seriousness is not defined solely by the type of cancer, but that “the prognosis depends on the stage, that is, the size of the tumor and how far it has spread.”
‘Stage one or stage two’
The pope said during the Angelus prayer on Sunday, Oct. 11, that a nodule on his lung was detected “at a very early stage” and was “well localized.” Ráez speculated that the decision to operate could confirm that the cancer is not at an advanced stage.
“We assume that is the case because they subjected him to surgery. If it were metastatic, for example, stage three or stage four, which are advanced, most likely they would not have operated on him. An operation usually implies stage one or stage two,” he said.
Asked what will determine whether removal of part of the lung is sufficient or whether additional treatment will be required, Ráez highlighted the importance of the tumor size and the absence of metastases.
“If the tumor is larger than four centimeters, the surgery will not be enough and chemotherapy will be necessary. If the tumor is smaller than four centimeters, the surgery is sufficient and nothing else is done. A patient then moves to an observation phase with check-ups every six months,” he explained.
The recovery process
Regarding the chances of a cure, Ráez noted that, under optimal conditions and with a tumor smaller than four centimeters, the figures are favorable: “The chance of cure for early-stage lung cancer is 80 to 90%; it is not total because the cancer can come back.”
Regarding the physical recovery of Pope Leo XIV, who is 71 years old, Ráez expressed a favorable short-term prognosis. “Since he is a healthy man, the most likely thing is that he will be fine” in a few weeks, he stated.
He added that this surgery usually requires a hospital stay of two or three days in the United States and considered that, in the pontiff’s case, more days of hospitalization may have been planned as a precaution.
Regarding medical follow-up after discharge, the specialist stressed that the protocol does not end when one leaves the hospital. “For the next five years, control CT scans must be done every six months, until one is sure that the cancer has not returned and that he has been cured,” said Ráez, who has more than two decades of experience in hematology and medical oncology.
This story was first published by EWTN News Español, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
LIVE UPDATES: Pope Leo XIV shares message after lung cancer surgery
Pope Leo XIV recovering after lung cancer surgery; Vatican says he intends to make South America trip
ROME — Pope Leo XIV is recovering well after undergoing surgery Tuesday to remove the lower lobe of his right lung, which was affected by pulmonary adenocarcinoma, the most common type of lung cancer.
The medical report released by the Vatican was signed by his personal physician, Dr. Luigi Carbone, and Dr. Stefano Margaritora, the surgeon who led the operation.
The bulletin said the Holy Father underwent scheduled “blood tests and a chest X-ray” Wednesday morning.
“The results confirm a normal postoperative course: The values are within the expected range for the type of surgery performed,” the doctors said.
The bulletin also highlighted progress in his physical recovery.
“The Holy Father underwent respiratory physiotherapy and began walking around his room,” the doctors reported, referring to an activity considered essential to recovery after lung surgery.
The physicians also said the pontiff had resumed his normal diet.
“Recovery is proceeding as expected,” they said in the bulletin released by the Holy See, easing concerns that arose late Tuesday when the Vatican confirmed the cancer diagnosis.
A histological examination confirmed that the pope had pulmonary adenocarcinoma.
The first encouraging news came early Wednesday morning, following an anxious night. In a brief statement, the Vatican confirmed that the pope had spent a “peaceful night” and was continuing to recover from anesthesia in his room on the 10th floor of Romeʼs Gemelli Hospital.
A few hours later came confirmation that, despite his hospitalization, Leo remains able to carry out his responsibilities governing the Church.
At noon, the Holy See announced that the pontiff had accepted the resignation of Archbishop Bernard Bober from the pastoral governance of the Archdiocese of Košice, Slovakia, and appointed Auxiliary Bishop Marek Forgáč of the same archdiocese as his successor.
He also appointed Bishop Wellington de Queiroz Vieira as the new metropolitan archbishop of Cuiabá, Brazil, transferring him from the Diocese of Cristalândia.
The popeʼs clinical progress will determine the course of his treatment over the coming weeks. Doctors continue to monitor his postoperative recovery closely before making decisions about the next stages of treatment and his schedule in the coming days.
For now, all his scheduled engagements remain canceled through next Tuesday.
Among the upcoming events awaiting confirmation is the Angelus on Sunday, Oct. 18. If his medical condition permits, the pope could lead the prayer from the hospital, a gesture that would be seen as an encouraging sign of his recovery.
Members of the popeʼs closest entourage, known in Vatican terminology as the papal household, remain at his side. They include his two personal secretaries, Peruvian Father Edgard Iván Rimaycuna Inga and Italian Father Marco Billeri.
A blessing from heaven
Meanwhile, Gemelli Hospital continues to receive expressions of affection and solidarity from faithful who have come from around the world.
Among them is Gina, a native of Lima, Peru, who was praying before the imposing statue of St. John Paul II in the courtyard of the Rome hospital.
For the past two years, she has cared for her husband, who has Parkinsonʼs disease. He is currently hospitalized at Gemelli after developing an infection.
For Gina, being in the same hospital as the pope is more than a coincidence. She considers it a “blessing from heaven” that helps her endure her suffering.
“It gives me strength to think that my husband is suffering as a patient just a few yards from the Holy Father. I know his suffering is not in vain because we offer it to God,” she told EWTN News.
For Gina, the circumstances have strengthened her faith and hope.
“That has given me more strength and more hope. Knowing that the pope is here helps me keep going,” she said.
She happened to return from Peru, where she had traveled to visit family, on Oct. 11, after leaving Rome on Aug. 28. Her return coincided with the news of the pontiffʼs impending surgery.
“My mother called me the next day and asked how my husband was doing. When I told her that the pope was in the same hospital, she burst into tears: ‘Blessed be God, blessed be God,’” Gina recalled.
She also described the excitement building in Peru ahead of Leoʼs planned visit.
“Choirs, folk groups, and many local residents are organizing to celebrate his arrival. Heʼs going to see the children he baptized, the children who have grown up and are now adults. People adore him,” she said.
Gina said she cannot imagine the pontiff having to cancel his planned trip to Latin America.
For now, however, the messages coming from the Vatican have been encouraging.
Holy See Press Office director Matteo Bruni emphasized that the tumor was “at an early stage” and that the nodule removed was “circumscribed and localized.”
The statement released after the operation used the term “radicality” to indicate that doctors believe the lesion was completely removed.
Specialists also believe that the loss of a lung lobe should not have significant consequences for the daily life of a patient in Leoʼs physical condition.
Speaking to reporters Wednesday, Oct. 14, Bruni referred to the popeʼs “desire” to proceed with his trip scheduled for early November.
“We have heard the popeʼs words about the trip, and therefore his intention, his desire, and also the fact that ... he wants to go,” the Vatican spokesman said.
This story was first published by EWTN News Español, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
Nigeria Catholic parish, hospital and 3 schools suspend activities indefinitely amid insecurity
GBOKA, Nigeria — The Catholic Diocese of Gboko in Nigeria has suspended operations at three schools, a parish, and a hospital amid persistent insecurity in the area, expressing regret that the unavoidable suspension will affect communities.
The institutions listed in a pastoral letter and decree issued Oct. 12, include St. Winifred Secondary School, St. Winifred Nursery and Primary School, St. Thomas Hospital, the hospital chaplaincy, Subin Mind Care Center, and St. Winifred Parish, all located in Ihugh within the diocese.
The decree, which took effect immediately provides for the withdrawal of all diocesan personnel serving in the affected institutions, including priests, consecrated persons, catechists, pastoral workers, teachers, medical personnel, and administrative staff.
In the decree, Bishop William Amove Avenya directs that the personnel be reassigned or redeployed, adding that no one would be permitted to resume duties or exercise ministry on behalf of the diocese in Ihugh without his written authorization.
The decree states that the closure is “temporary in intent, though indefinite in duration,” and will remain in force until the bishop, in consultation with his advisers, determines that conditions for a safe return have been met.
According to the decree that he co-signed with the diocese’s chancellor, Father Marcellinus Wende, the decision to reopen the institutions will be communicated through a further decree.
The pastoral letter indicates that the closures follow repeated attacks, destruction of property, and other security incidents affecting Catholic institutions in Ihugh.
Among the incidents cited are the burning of student hostels at St. Winifred Secondary School on Oct. 28, and on OCt. 11, May 10 ,and May 15 of this year.
The diocese also cites repeated burglaries at St. Winifred Parish and criminal incidents at St. Thomas Hospital.
The letter further recalls disturbances during the hospital’s reopening on June 21, 2024, when members of the local community displayed placards and chanted slogans declaring that they no longer wanted Catholic religious sisters to work in Ihugh.
“These acts are identified as part of a systemic pattern of hostility and destruction directed at Church-owned properties,” Avenya says, adding that the incidents had left fear, loss, and uncertainty among those serving in and depending on the institutions.
The bishop said the diocese had pursued dialogue and reconciliation before deciding to suspend operations.
According to the letter, diocesan representatives met with members of the host community, engaged traditional rulers and elders, and presented their concerns to civil and security authorities. However, these efforts had not secured the peace and guarantees of safety required for the institutions to continue operating.
“The Church cannot, in conscience, continue to expose her priests, consecrated persons, teachers, technical medical personnel, students and patients to danger,” the bishop said.
Despite the closures, the bishop outlined measures to support those affected. Students at the secondary, primary, and nursery schools will be assisted, as far as possible, to continue their education at other Catholic schools within the diocese, with further details to be provided by the director of Catholic Education Services.
Patients receiving care at St. Thomas Hospital will be referred to other health facilities, with arrangements made for the proper handover of those requiring urgent medical attention.
The diocese has also pledged to treat affected staff with justice and charity, in accordance with Church teaching on the dignity of labour.
In the pastoral letter, Avenya called on the people of Ihugh, traditional rulers, youth leaders, government officials, and law enforcement agencies to work towards restoring peace and ensuring the protection of lives and property. He also urged authorities to bring those responsible for the attacks to justice.
“We bear no ill will toward our brothers and sisters,” the bishop said, while condemning violence, arson, and destruction as contrary to the Gospel and the common good.
Avenya said a return to Ihugh would remain possible if there were genuine repentance, restitution, a firm commitment to peace and credible, lasting assurances of safety for Church personnel and property.
As part of its response, the bishop called on the faithful to pray for peace and reconciliation, further directing parishes to offer the Prayer of the Faithful and celebrate Holy Mass for peace. He also encouraged families to pray the rosary, and designated Friday, Oct. 23, as a day of prayer and fasting for reconciliation.
Avenya has been vocal about unprovoked attacks and the killing of innocent people in the country’s Benue State within his diocese.
In June last year, he painted a grim picture of nearly two decades of relentless violence, displacements, and suffering in one of Nigeria’s most troubled regions.
“For about 20 years, Benue State has witnessed serial killings, maiming, and ejection of thousands of indigenous people from their ancestral homelands, with their means of livelihood destroyed in the process,” the Nigerian bishop lamented in his statement titled, “A Cry of Anguish from the Benue Valley.”
He added, “Many of those forced out of their homes are living in the camps for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) under gravely dehumanizing conditions and are predominantly cared for by charities, while others are living with other people (mostly their relatives).”
Despite the grim picture, Avenya said, “What we need is peace, and this is not too much to ask for. The blame game has gone on for too long. It is time to act.”
This article was first published by ACI Africa, EWTN News’ sister service in Africa, and has been adapted for EWTN News English.
Ohio’s University of Dayton names first woman president
The University of Dayton announced that Darlene Weaver, the university’s provost and executive vice president, will serve as the Ohio university’s 20th president.
Weaver’s appointment makes her the first woman president in the universityʼs history, according to an Oct. 12 press release. She succeeds University of Dayton President Eric Spina and is set to begin the role on July 1, 2027.
“Darlene has an innate understanding of the University of Dayton, a deep belief in our Catholic, Marianist mission and a demonstrated ability to move important work forward,” Deborah Tobias, chair of the University of Dayton Board of Trustees and the presidential search advisory committee, said in the release.
“UD’s mission has never been more important,” Weaver said. “In a world shaped by technological change, social division and questions about the value of higher education, the University of Dayton has a distinctive role to play in serving the common good. We educate students not only for professional success, but for lives of meaning, responsibility and service. That is the promise of a Catholic, Marianist education, and it will guide the work ahead.”
Cleveland diocesan school launches ‘Pathways’ initiative for young men
Benedictine High School in Cleveland announced the start of Pathways, an initiative aimed at empowering young men to explore their passions while preparing for college.
“Rather than following a one-size-fits-all educational model, Pathways allows students to engage in meaningful, hands-on learning experiences aligned with their interests and future aspirations with concentrations in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), business-entrepreneurship, fine and performing arts and vocations,” the diocese said in an Oct. 6 press release.
Students will have the opportunity to continue exploring courses in fields already offered by the school, including STEM, business, entrepreneurship, and fine arts. “Launching with electives in computer repair, media production, construction and manufacturing, the vocations pathway will provide students with hands-on experiences, opportunities to earn industry-recognized credentials and meaningful exposure to technical careers,” the release said.
Omaha Archdiocese announces pilot program for career, technical training
Archbishop Michael McGovern is launching a pilot program for technical vocational training at six Catholic schools across the Archdiocese of Omaha, Nebraska.
“Archbishop Michael McGovern is proud to announce this initiative to expand opportunities in Career and Technical Education in Catholic schools across Northeast Nebraska,” according to the program’s website. “This multi-year initiative is the first such effort by a diocesan school system in the United States and will begin with a pilot at six schools in 2027-2028.”
The program will feature “trade bootcamps” in fields such as auto repair, construction, and HVAC; career exploration days; and a “Lunch and Learn” series for women in technical areas.
Participating schools include Norfolk Catholic Junior and High School, St. Joseph Elementary School, Christ the King Catholic School, Skutt Catholic High School, All Saints Catholic School, and Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic School.
“Career & Technical Education expands the ways students in Archdiocese of Omaha schools can discover their gifts, apply their knowledge in hands-on lessons, explore meaningful careers and prepare for life beyond high school,” the website said.