VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- In separate videos recorded in English, Spanish and Italian, Pope Leo XIV urged every Catholic parish around the globe to observe World Mission Sunday Oct. 19 and take up the annual collection that supports Catholic missionary work.

"When I served as a missionary priest and then bishop in Peru, I saw first-hand how the faith, the prayer and the generosity shown on World Mission Sunday can transform entire communities," said the Chicago-born pope. As an Augustinian priest, he served in the missions in Peru from 1985 to 1999 and then as apostolic administrator and later bishop of Chiclayo from 2014 to 2023. 

In the video message, released Oct. 13, Pope Leo encouraged all Catholics to pray on World Mission Sunday "particularly for missionaries and the fruitfulness of their apostolic labors."

"Your prayers, your support will help spread the Gospel, provide for pastoral and catechetical programs, help to build new churches, and care for the health and educational needs of our brothers and sisters in mission territories," the pope said.

According to the Pontifical Mission Societies USA, funds collected on World Mission Sunday support: "82,498 seminarians in formation; 258,540 religious sisters providing care and catechesis; (and) 844,000 catechists sharing the faith at the grassroots."

The funds also help sustain "12,000 health care centers; 8,750 orphanages and homes for the elderly" and have helped with the construction of 570 new churches, it said.

In the video, Pope Leo asked Catholics to "reflect together on our baptismal call to be 'missionaries of hope among the peoples,'" and to commit themselves again "to the sweet and joyful task of bringing Christ Jesus our hope to the ends of the earth."

The annual papal message for World Mission Sunday is released in February. Pope Francis had chosen "Missionaries of Hope Among All Peoples" as the theme for the 2025 celebration.
 

CNA Staff, Oct 13, 2025 / 04:00 am (CNA).

Oct. 13, 1917, marked the last Marian apparition in Fátima, a day on which thousands of people bore witness to the Miracle of the Sun.

CNA Staff, Oct 13, 2025 / 04:00 am (CNA).

Oct. 13, 1917, marked the last Marian apparition in Fátima and the day on which thousands of people bore witness to the miracle of the dancing sun — a miracle that shattered the prevalent belief at the time that God was no longer relevant.

Marco Daniel Duarte, a theologian and director of the Fátima Shrine museums, shared with CNA the impact that the miracle of the sun made during those days in Portugal.

If one were to open philosophy books during that period, he or she would likely read something akin to the concept conceived by German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, who boldly asserted in the late 1800s that “God is dead.”

Also, in 1917 Portugal, the majority of the world was embroiled in war. As World War I raged throughout Europe, Portugal found itself unable to maintain its initial neutrality and joined forces with the Allies. More than 220,000 Portuguese civilians died during the war, thousands due to food shortages and thousands more from the Spanish flu.

A few years before, a revolution had led to the establishment of the First Portuguese Republic in 1910 and a new liberal constitution was drafted under the influence of Freemasonry, which sought to suppress the faith from public life. Catholic churches and schools were seized by the government, and the wearing of clerics in public, the ringing of church bells, and the celebration of public religious festivals were banned. Between 1911 and 1916, nearly 2,000 priests, monks, and nuns were killed by anti-Christian groups.

This was the backdrop against which, in 1917, a lady believed to be the Virgin Mary appeared to three shepherd children — Lucia dos Santos, 10, and her cousins Francisco and Jacinta Marto, 9 and 7 — in a field in Fátima, Portugal, bringing with her requests for the recitation of the rosary, for sacrifices on behalf of sinners, and a secret regarding the fate of the world.

To prove that the apparitions were true, the lady promised the children that during the last of her six appearances, she would provide a sign so people would believe in the apparitions and in her message. What happened on that day — Oct. 13, 1917 — has come to be known as the “Miracle of the Sun,” or “the day the sun danced.”

According to various accounts, a crowd of some 70,000 people — believers and skeptics alike —gathered to see the miracle that was promised: The rainy sky cleared up, the clouds dispersed, and the ground, which had been wet and muddy from the rain, dried up. A transparent veil came over the sun, making it easy to look at, and multicolored lights were strewn across the landscape. The sun then began to spin, twirling in the sky, and at one point appeared to veer toward the earth before jumping back to its place in the sky.

The stunning event was a direct and very convincing contradiction to the atheistic regimes at the time, which is evidenced by the fact that the first newspaper to report on the miracle on a full front page was an anti-Catholic, Masonic newspaper in Lisbon called O Seculo.

The miracle of the sun was understood by the people to be “the seal, the guarantee, that in fact those three children were telling the truth,” Duarte said.

Even today, “Fátima makes people change their perception of God,” since “one of the most important messages of the apparitions is that even if someone has separated from God, God is present in human history and doesn’t abandon humanity.”

This story was first published on CNA on Oct. 12, 2017, and has been updated.

On October 13, 1917, as predicted by the three shepherd children in Fatima, a most extraordinary occurrence took place: the “Miracle of the Dancing Sun.”  The miracle would be so great that all would believe in the reality of the apparitions.  More than 70,000 people gathered to witness the event at the Cova da Iria ... Read more

In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus addresses the scholars of the law using hard-hitting words: “You cleanse the outside of cup and dish, but inside they are full of plunder and self-indulgence.” This leads us to ask ourselves, Is my life purely concerned with surface-level realities or superficial things? How many times in a day do we ... Read more

We are in the Jubilee Year of Hope, but do we really understand what hope is? When we “hope,” we wish for or desire something. We hope for good weather, or we hope that someone has a happy birthday. But a proper end necessarily belongs to the virtue of hope, for it always has an ... Read more

Vatican City, Oct 12, 2025 / 10:30 am (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV’s Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square was attended by 30,000 pilgrims in Rome for the Jubilee of Marian Spirituality and thousands more people who gathered in neighboring streets outside the Vatican for the liturgical celebration.

During the Mass, the Holy Father expressed his great appreciation and gratitude to the members of movements, confraternities, prayer groups, and shrines — dedicated to the Blessed Virgin — for coming to Rome to participate in the Church’s holy year dedicated to hope.  

Leo said their spirituality, anchored in sacred Scripture and Church tradition, reveals the profound beauty of God’s personal love for each person.

“Mary’s path follows that of Jesus, which leads us to encounter every human being, especially the poor, the wounded, and sinners,” he said in his Oct. 12 homily. “Because of this, authentic Marian spirituality brings God’s tenderness, his way of ‘being a mother,’ to light in the Church.”

According to the pontiff, devotion to the Mother of God has “changed the face of the earth forever” and should be revived through “popular devotion,” particularly in a world seeking peace and justice. 

“Let us use [Marian devotions] as a driving force for renewal and transformation,” he said on Sunday. “Indeed, the jubilee we are celebrating calls for a time of conversion and restitution, of reflection and liberation.”

Since becoming pope in May, Leo XIV has frequently spoken about the significance of the Canticle of Mary in the life of the Church throughout its 2,000-year history.  

“Some forms of worship do not foster communion with others and can numb our hearts … We fail to contribute, as Mary did, to changing the world, and to share in the joy of the Magnificat,” he said. 

“Let us take care to avoid any exploitation of the faith that could lead to labeling those who are different — often the poor — as enemies, ‘lepers’ to be avoided and rejected,” he added.

Through the example of Mary, the Holy Father said the Church can see the “revolutionary nature of love and tenderness” and its impact on the events of history as well as the everyday lives of each individual.

“In her, we see that humility and tenderness are not virtues of the weak but of the strong who need not treat others poorly in order to feel important themselves,” the pope said. 

“Contemplating Mary, we realize that she who praised God for ‘bringing down the mighty from their thrones’ and ‘sending the rich away empty’ is also the one who brings a homely warmth to our pursuit of justice,” he continued.

After delivering his homily, Leo XIV stood before the original statue of Our Lady of Fátima brought to St. Peter’s Square from Portugal and dedicated the Church and the world to the Blessed Virgin Mary. He prayed particularly for those “tormented by the scourges of war.”

“Obtain for us the gift of peace that we earnestly implore,” he prayed. “Mother of the Church, welcome us kindly so that under your mantle we may find refuge and be helped by your maternal aid in the trials of life.”

‘With the entire Church, I am close to your immense pain’    

Before leading the congregation in the Angelus prayer before the conclusion of Mass, the Holy Father delivered a brief Sunday address and asked the Church to especially pray for people in Israel and Palestine.

“In recent days, the agreement to begin the peace process has given a spark of hope in the Holy Land,” he said, referring to the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal brokered Friday. 

“I encourage the parties involved to continue courageously on the path they have chosen, towards a just and lasting peace that respects the legitimate aspirations of the Israeli and Palestinian peoples,” he said.

The Holy Father concluded his short address with petitions for prayer for the people of Ukraine, following recent fatal attacks in Kyiv; the people of Peru, who are undergoing a time of  “political transition”; and for victims of workplace accidents in Italy.

Vatican City, Oct 12, 2025 / 10:30 am (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV’s Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square was attended by 30,000 pilgrims in Rome for the Jubilee of Marian Spirituality and thousands more people who gathered in neighboring streets outside the Vatican for the liturgical celebration.

During the Mass, the Holy Father expressed his great appreciation and gratitude to the members of movements, confraternities, prayer groups, and shrines — dedicated to the Blessed Virgin — for coming to Rome to participate in the Church’s holy year dedicated to hope.  

Leo said their spirituality, anchored in sacred Scripture and Church tradition, reveals the profound beauty of God’s personal love for each person.

“Mary’s path follows that of Jesus, which leads us to encounter every human being, especially the poor, the wounded, and sinners,” he said in his Oct. 12 homily. “Because of this, authentic Marian spirituality brings God’s tenderness, his way of ‘being a mother,’ to light in the Church.”

According to the pontiff, devotion to the Mother of God has “changed the face of the earth forever” and should be revived through “popular devotion,” particularly in a world seeking peace and justice. 

“Let us use [Marian devotions] as a driving force for renewal and transformation,” he said on Sunday. “Indeed, the jubilee we are celebrating calls for a time of conversion and restitution, of reflection and liberation.”

Since becoming pope in May, Leo XIV has frequently spoken about the significance of the Canticle of Mary in the life of the Church throughout its 2,000-year history.  

“Some forms of worship do not foster communion with others and can numb our hearts … We fail to contribute, as Mary did, to changing the world, and to share in the joy of the Magnificat,” he said. 

“Let us take care to avoid any exploitation of the faith that could lead to labeling those who are different — often the poor — as enemies, ‘lepers’ to be avoided and rejected,” he added.

Through the example of Mary, the Holy Father said the Church can see the “revolutionary nature of love and tenderness” and its impact on the events of history as well as the everyday lives of each individual.

“In her, we see that humility and tenderness are not virtues of the weak but of the strong who need not treat others poorly in order to feel important themselves,” the pope said. 

“Contemplating Mary, we realize that she who praised God for ‘bringing down the mighty from their thrones’ and ‘sending the rich away empty’ is also the one who brings a homely warmth to our pursuit of justice,” he continued.

After delivering his homily, Leo XIV stood before the original statue of Our Lady of Fátima brought to St. Peter’s Square from Portugal and dedicated the Church and the world to the Blessed Virgin Mary. He prayed particularly for those “tormented by the scourges of war.”

“Obtain for us the gift of peace that we earnestly implore,” he prayed. “Mother of the Church, welcome us kindly so that under your mantle we may find refuge and be helped by your maternal aid in the trials of life.”

‘With the entire Church, I am close to your immense pain’    

Before leading the congregation in the Angelus prayer before the conclusion of Mass, the Holy Father delivered a brief Sunday address and asked the Church to especially pray for people in Israel and Palestine.

“In recent days, the agreement to begin the peace process has given a spark of hope in the Holy Land,” he said, referring to the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal brokered Friday. 

“I encourage the parties involved to continue courageously on the path they have chosen, towards a just and lasting peace that respects the legitimate aspirations of the Israeli and Palestinian peoples,” he said.

The Holy Father concluded his short address with petitions for prayer for the people of Ukraine, following recent fatal attacks in Kyiv; the people of Peru, who are undergoing a time of  “political transition”; and for victims of workplace accidents in Italy.

ACI Africa, Oct 12, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).

Wine for Mass in Kenya must now bear the “coat of arms” of the country’s bishops, the chairman of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) announced Oct. 4. 

Speaking at the 2025 National Prayer Day at the Subukia National Marian Shrine in Kenya’s Nakuru Diocese on the feast of St. Francis, KCCB chairman Archbishop Maurice Muhatia Makumba announced that bottles containing the altar wine must bear the coat of arms of the bishops, as well as an official signature, to certify their authenticity. 

The Catholic faithful have welcomed the news as many believe the wine previously used “had lost its sanctity due to its widespread use outside the Church,” according to a BBC report. 

The wine formerly used is reportedly widely sold in liquor stores, bars, and supermarkets.

After exploring options, the bishops in Kenya chose a South African vintage for the newly approved Mass wine.

“Vigilance on the quality and standards of the wine and hosts used in the Mass is given to the Catholic bishops of the country. This is reviewed from time to time,” the archbishop added.

The new wine was officially introduced to worshippers during the National Prayer Day. 

Muhatia has directed that local Catholic communities and Catholic institutions abide by the directives and sourcing for the new altar wine.

“It is important that you acquaint yourself with your diocese and know what has been established as the outlets for this wine because different dioceses have different ways of distributing this wine,” he said at the National Prayer Day.

“Some dioceses allow only specific persons to buy this wine for Mass; others allow everybody. Depending on your diocese, please be aware of the regulations.”

This story was first published by ACI Africa, CNA’s news partner in Africa, and has been adapted by CNA.

CNA Staff, Oct 12, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).

Sierra Leone is a small, west African country located along the Atlantic Ocean known for its rich cultural heritage, diverse landscapes, and complex history. Despite enduring a brutal civil war from 1991 to 2002, Sierra Leone has made strides in rebuilding and development — in which the Catholic Church is also playing a major role.

Agnes Aineah, the author of a new book titled “Sent to Heal a Wounded Nation: The Story of Father Peter Konteh,” shares the powerful testimony of Konteh, a Catholic priest ordained at the height of the civil war in Sierra Leone who faced death several times on the front lines. 

Aineah, a Kenyan journalist who writes for ACI Africa, CNA’s news partner in Africa, told CNA in an interview that the inspiration for the book came from a trip she took to the country in 2022. While there, she witnessed firsthand the work of Caritas Freetown under the leadership of Konteh, who Aineah said is now a major figure in the Church there. 

In addition to serving as the executive director of Caritas Freetown, Konteh is the second vice president of the Regional Union of Diocesan Priests of West Africa and the president of Catholic priests in Sierra Leone. 

“When I finally got to sit down with Father Konteh, I decided to write this book because his story was so amazing,” she said.

On the day of his ordination in 1996, the archbishop sent him to serve among the IDPs — internally displaced persons — who, unlike refugees, remained within the borders of Sierra Leone but were forced to flee their homes to escape violence and human rights abuses. 

Konteh co-founded the Inter-Religious Council, playing a crucial role in the peace talks between the Sierra Leonean government and the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) during the civil war. 

Aineah told CNA she wrote the book because “there are so many people who are doing a lot of good things in the Catholic Church here in Africa — bringing healing to the wounded Church — and I feel that it is important that we tell their stories for the future generations.” 

“I was just so amazed by the kind of work the Catholic Church is doing in Sierra Leone through Caritas Freetown,” she recalled. “I went to the slums around Freetown, where Caritas works, and they are like a household name there and everyone appreciates the work they do.”

Aineah also sees Sierra Leone as an example to other African countries of how people of various religions can peacefully coexist. While Sierra Leone is primarily a Muslim country, Christians and Muslims live together peacefully there. The level of Christian persecution is low, unlike that seen in other African countries such as Nigeria and Burkina Faso. 

Aineah said that according to Konteh, “the Catholic Church is very respected” in Sierra Leone, in part because the schools are run by Catholics. Also, there is a high level of intermarriage between Muslims and Catholics. 

“He [Konteh] told me that it is very difficult to find a family in Sierra Leone that is just strictly Muslim or strictly Catholic,” she said. 

Among the Catholic priests in the country, 40% were Muslims who converted to Catholicism. One example is the bishop of the Diocese of Bo, Charles A.M. Campbell, whose parents are both Muslims.

Another aspect Aineah highlights in her book is that despite the country’s natural beauty, the country’s tragic history of war and disease, specifically ebola, has taken center stage. In addition, there are now growing concerns over environmental degradation, an issue Konteh and Caritas Freetown are working to address. 

Aineah called her work as a journalist in Africa “gratifying,” especially because she is “able to amplify the voices within the Catholic Church” on the continent.

“Despite all these wounds that Africans bear, there is resilience and there is resourcefulness in terms of people who are trying to heal,” she said, adding that she hopes to continue to communicate “the resilience of African countries.”