October 11, 2023

A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Pope Francis has spoken by telephone with a Catholic priest serving in Gaza, according to the news agency of the Italian bishops’ conference. The pope called Father Gabriel Romanelli, pastor of Holy Family Church, the only Catholic Church in Gaza City and in the Gaza Strip, on October 9. Romanelli said Francis shared “his closeness and prayers for the entire Church community of Gaza and all the parishioners and inhabitants” and imparted his blessing on them. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255630/pope-francis-calls-gaza-priest-as-israel-announces-blockade In a message to Vancouver’s Jewish community, Vancouver Archbishop J Michael Miller “unequivocally condemned” Saturday’s attack on Israel, calling it an offense against moral and international law. Commenting from Rome where he is attending the Synod on Synodality, the archbishop said Monday the news about “the Hamas incursion into Israel is devastating.” The nature of the attack and the taking of women and children as hostages was “a serious violation not only of international law but, even more importantly, of the moral law that is written in the conscience of every human being,” he said. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255640/archbishop-of-vancouver-calls-attack-on-israel-contrary-to-moral-and-international-law Two 12-year-olds were identified by police Sunday as suspects in the vandalism of a Massachusetts Catholic church, which included a fire being set to an altar cloth, a tabernacle cloth, and the lectionary. The two juveniles, a boy and a girl, will not face any charges at this time, police said. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255635/two-12-year-olds-identified-as-vandals-in-massachusetts-church-fire An Oklahoma school authority on Monday gave the thumbs-up to a contract for the nation’s first religious charter school, a virtual Catholic institution that is facing challenges from advocates who claim the school would violate state law. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255634/oklahoma-board-approves-catholic-charter-school-contract Today the Church celebrates Saint John the 23rd. Born Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli at Sotto il Monte, Italy on November 25, 1881, Pope John XXIII was elected on October 28, 1958. He died June 3, 1963 in Rome and was beatified by Pope John Paul II on September 3, 2000. Elected Pope on the death of Pope Pius XII, he was an example of a ‘pastoral’ Pope, a good shepherd who cared deeply for his sheep. He manifested this concern in his social enyclicals, especially Pacem in Terris, “On peace in the World.” His greatest act as Pope however was undoubtedly the inspiration to convoke the Second Vatican Council, which he opened on October 11, 1962. Pope John’s spirit of humble simplicity, profound goodness, and deep life of prayer radiated in all that he did, and inspired people to affectionately call him “Good Pope John.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/pope-saint-john-xxiii-390 The Church also celebrates Saint Firminus, a fifth and sixth century bishop of bishop of Uzès. In 538, he signed the fourth and fifth Councils of Orléans in 541 and 549, respectively. In 551, he assisted at the second council of Paris. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-firminus-of-uzes-10