For Immediate Release From Vatican News!
(A 15-Minute Read)
Pontiff Releases Prayer Intentions For 2027
Human dignity, art, life, migrants, the elderly, young people, and artificial intelligence: these are some of the themes of the prayer intentions that Pope Leo has entrusted to his Worldwide Prayer Network for next year. By Vatican News
Pontiff Leo XIV has released his prayer intentions for 2027.
For each month of that year, the Pope will invite the Church to pray for a specific intention, touching on both global challenges and issues within the life of the Church.
The 2027 prayer intentions were entrusted to the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, which was received in audience by Pope Leo on Friday morning.
Speaking to Vatican News after the audience, the International Director of the Network, Fr. Cristóbal Fones, said that "we live in a world which is running all the time, very fast." The job of the Prayer Network, he emphasised, is to speak to the need we all have for "deep connection with the Lord, with ourselves, with others."
Pontiff Leo's prayer intentions for 2027 can be found below:
JANUARY
That the power of prayer might be discovered. Let us pray that everyone in the Church might discover the power of prayer as a personal encounter with the Lord that transforms our hearts and the world.
FEBRUARY
That those who care for others might receive care. Let us pray that those who care for the holistic health of others might receive the support they need, and that with patience, wisdom, and fortitude, they might open avenues of inner healing and hope.
MARCH
That the dignity of human life might be respected. Let us pray that in a culture focused on productivity and instant results, we might be capable of discovering and appreciating the unique dignity of each person, both our own and that of others.
APRIL
That art might be a gift that humanizes. Let us pray that art might be perceived as a true gift that humanizes us, lifts up the spirit, and helps us contemplate God’s beauty in creation.
MAY
That there be job opportunities for everyone. Let us pray that technological development might open dignified work opportunities, and that intergenerational collaboration might bring a future in which every person can put their talents at the service of the common good.
JUNE
For the good use of artificial intelligence. Let us pray that artificial intelligence might always be developed to serve human dignity and that we might know how to use it wisely.
JULY
For grandparents and the elderly. Let us pray that members of the Church might always appreciate the treasure of faith and wisdom offered to us by grandparents and the elderly, and be willing to learn from their experience.
AUGUST
For the vocation of young people. Let us pray that young people in search of their own vocation might recognize in Jesus Christ a companion on the way to whom they can open their hearts.
SEPTEMBER
For integral ecological conversion. Let us pray that we might learn how to live in a new relationship with creation, protecting it with justice, and that, in contemplating creation, we might find the path toward a more harmonious and grateful existence.
OCTOBER
For Christian communities. Let us pray that each parish, community, or Christian group might be a center of missionary outreach that forms new disciples at the service of the Gospel.
NOVEMBER
For the integration of migrants. Let us pray that, accompanied and comforted by the Holy Family on their own journey of being uprooted, migrants and displaced persons might find communities that welcome them with dignity, solidarity, and true integration.
DECEMBER
For the Christian vocation of the family. Let us pray that Christian families might be living witnesses of the Gospel in society, and that they might learn more and more how to be hearths where faith, hope, and love are cultivated.
Read and Listen HERE:
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/20... ********
Pontiff Leo urges Olympic Athletes To Foster Respect, Team Spirit, Sacrifice
Pontiff Leo XIV sends his encouragement to athletes competing in the 25th Winter Olympic Games, held in Milan and Cortina, inviting them to embrace the true values of sport. By Devin Watkins
Olympic athletes, volunteers, and sporting associations attended Mass in the northern Italian city of Como on Friday, as they prepared for the 2026 Milano Cortina Games.
The XXV Winter Olympic Games kick off next week and run from February 6 to 22 at sites across Lombardy and Northeast Italy.
Pope Leo XIV sent a telegram signed by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin to Cardinal Oscar Cantoni, Bishop of Como, which was read at Mass on Friday.
The Pope sent his “cordial and best-wishing greeting” to the people of the Vicariate of Bormio and everyone involved in preparing the Milano Cortina Olympics.
He expressed his appreciation for the ancient sporting event that gathers professional and amateur athletes from across the globe every four years to compete in numerous sports.
Pope Leo said he hopes the Games may be “a favorable occasion to foster the true values of sport: fair play, respect, team spirit, and sacrifice, as well as social inclusion and the joy of encounter.”
He invited the parish communities of northern Italy to offer “generous Christian witness, so that they may be a luminous sign of the presence of Christ, who calls everyone to fraternity.”
Pope Leo XIV wrapped up his telegram assuring all involved in the 2026 Milano Cortina Games of his prayers and imparting his Apostolic Blessing, “a pledge of abundant heavenly favors.”
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Pope to Peruvian Bishops: Live Like The Apostles
Pope Leo XIV urges the bishops of Peru to renew their commitment to unity, fidelity to the Gospel, and pastoral closeness, as they face the challenges of evangelisation in today’s world. He also recalls his personal pastoral experience in the nation and admits that Peru has “a special place in my heart.” By Linda Bordoni
Welcoming the bishops of Peru to the Vatican for their ad limina visit, Pope Leo XIV called them to live ad instar Apostolorum - “in the manner of the Apostles”.
Placing their pilgrimage within the wider context of the 300th anniversary of the canonisation of Saint Toribio de Mogrovejo, patron saint of the Latin American episcopate, the Pope reminded those present that they are “the fruit of the evangelical seed that this holy bishop sowed in those lands.”
Communion As The Heart of Credibility
At the heart of the Pope’s address was a strong call to unity and communion. “Today,” he said, “the credibility of our announcement passes through real and heartfelt communion among pastors, and between them and the People of God, overcoming divisions, personal ambitions, and every form of isolation.”
Recalling the example of the early Church and the witness of Saint Toribio, he noted that authentic communion is not merely structural but deeply spiritual, rooted in a shared faith and mission.
Fidelity to the Gospel
Turning to the challenges facing the Church in Peru today, the Pope pointed to the need for a renewed fidelity to the Gospel, proclaimed in its fullness and integrity.
“Saint Toribio did not proclaim a word of his own, but a Word received, trusting in its transforming power,” he said, adding that the Church today is called to “a clear, courageous, and joyful proclamation, capable of engaging in dialogue with culture without losing Christian identity.”
Pastoral Closeness and Missionary Dedication
Pontiff Leo also highlighted the importance of pastoral closeness, urging bishops to model their ministry on that of the Apostles and Saint Paul, who “became all things to all people” for the sake of the Gospel.
“To live ad instar Apostolorum means to become close to all those entrusted to us, taking an interest in them, sharing in their lives and their journey,” he said, highlighting the importance of concern for the most fragile and vulnerable.
A Personal bond with Peru
Delving into personal experience, Pontiff Leo XIV recalled his own pastoral life in Peru, describing the country as holding “a special place in my heart.”
“There I shared with you joys and hardships, learned from the simple faith of your people, and experienced the strength of a Church that knows how to hope even amid trials,” he said.
A Blessing For the Whole Nation
Concluding his address, the Pope entrusted the bishops, clergy, religious, and all the faithful of Peru to the maternal intercession of Our Lady of Mercy, imparting his Apostolic Blessing in a special way to “those most in need of strength and consolation.”
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US Bishops Urge Trump Administration To Extend Protection For Haitians
As Haitians residing in the United States face the end of temporary protected status, US Bishops call on the Trump Administration to act in a “just and merciful way” by extending their temporary residency permits. By Devin Watkins
Over 300,000 Haitians are currently facing the termination of their Temporary Protected Status (TPS) on February 3, which would remove their protections as legal US residents.
The Bishops of the United States issued a statement on January 29, urging the Trump Administration to “do the right thing” regarding Haitian immigrants.
“There is simply no realistic opportunity for the safe and orderly return of people to Haiti at this time,” they wrote.
The statement was signed by Bishop Brendan Cahill, chairman of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Migration, and Bishop A. Elias Zaidan, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on International Justice and Peace.
Haiti has seen a spiral of violence and lawlessness in recent years, as organized crime gangs have taken over vast swaths of the capital, Port-au-Prince.
“We are deeply concerned about the plight of our Haitian brothers and sisters living in the United States who will soon have their legal status and work authorization revoked due to the Administration’s termination of TPS for Haiti,” they said.
The Bishops pointed out that the US Department of State currently has a Level 4 travel advisory for Haiti due to “life-threatening risks,” including kidnapping, civil unrest, and terrorist activity.
The Federal Aviation Administration, the US regulatory body overseeing flight control and safety, prohibits flights from any US city to the Haitian capital.
Call For justice And Mercy
In their statement, the US Bishops acknowledged that temporary protected status is indeed temporary, but renewed their calls for Congress to legislate “viable opportunities for longtime residents with TPS, regardless of nationality, to request durable legal status.”
However, they added, Congress has failed to pass such legislation, leaving the executive branch with the responsibility to “act in a just and merciful way.”
“The Trump Administration still has the opportunity to do the right thing—to safeguard human life, to uphold the law, and to promote greater stability for people in this country and beyond,” said the Bishops. “We urge the Administration to act accordingly by extending this vital relief for Haitians.”
In conclusion, the Bishops reaffirmed the US Church’s solidarity with all Haitians, both those residing in Haiti and those in the United States or elsewhere.
“We turn to Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Patroness of Haiti, for her intercession,” they prayed. “May she always be a source of strength and comfort for the Haitian people.”
Spike in s*xual Violence Over Past Four Years
Doctors Without Borders warned recently that Haitians face an overwhelming level of s*xual and gender-based violence.
The health charity said the number of people receiving treatment for s*xual abuse in Port-au-Prince has tripled in the past four years.
According to a new report, the spike in s*xual violence, and its severity, is shocking.
“Over 100 individuals were attacked by 10 or more perpetrators at a time,” said the report, noting an average of three perpetrators per case.
Gangs control around 90 percent of Haiti’s capital, and experts say they resort to s*xual violence to instill fear and maintain control.
Read and listen HERE:
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/... ********
Holy See and Diplomats Echo Pope Leo’s Call For An ‘Unarmed’ Peace
An interreligious service hosted by the Holy See’s Mission to the UN in Geneva gathers diplomats and religious leaders to reflect on Pope Leo XIV’s 2026 World Day of Peace Message amid escalating global conflicts. Cardinal Pizzaballa and the ICRC stress the urgent need for justice, humanitarian law, and a “demanding hope” grounded in dialogue and human dignity. By Linda Bordoni
Against a backdrop of escalating conflict and a renewed reliance on the “logic of brute force,” the Holy See’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Geneva, led by Archbishop Ettore Balestrero, Apostolic Nuncio and Permanent Observer of the Holy See, hosted its 17th Annual Interreligious Service for Peace on Wednesday, bringing together around 300 diplomats, ambassadors, and religious leaders.
Held at the Church of St. Nicolas de Flüe and co-organised with the Diocese of Lausanne, Geneva, and Fribourg, the service centred on Pope Leo XIV’s 2026 World Day of Peace Message, “Peace be with you all: Towards an ‘unarmed and disarming’ peace.”
Conquering Without Conquest
In his welcoming remarks, Archbishop Balestrero described the service as a counter-narrative to the logic of violence and conflict.
“An ‘unarmed and disarming’ peace conquers without conquest, and trains not for battle, but for reconciliation and cooperation,” he said, urging diplomats to resist the “weaponisation” of thoughts and words and calling believers to “refute these forms of blasphemy” in which faith is manipulated to justify violence.
A Demanding Hope
Arriving from Jerusalem, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, urged the international community to resist resignation in the face of violence.
“Giving up on peace would mean accepting war as the ‘normal language’ in human and international relations,” he said. “To welcome Pope Leo XIV’s message is not naïve optimism, but a demanding hope.”
Reflecting on the Holy Land, he stressed that ceasefires alone are insufficient: “There is no lasting peace without justice, but there is no real justice unless the other is recognised as a person, not a tool or an obstacle.”
The Humanitarian Imperative
A statement delivered on behalf of ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric, read by Vice-President Giles Carbonnier, cited the existence of 130 active armed conflicts worldwide and warned of weakening respect for international humanitarian law.
“If there are 100 steps to peace, the first are humanitarian,” the statement said. “Respect for humanitarian law saves lives and preserves pathways back to peace.”
A Universal Call
Reflections from Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and Buddhist leaders, interwoven with music from the parish’s Filipino and African choirs, highlighted the universality of the Geneva international community and of the Church. The service concluded with the Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi, led by Bishop Charles Morerod of the Diocese of Lausanne, Geneva, and Fribourg.
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Pope: Even Amid Crises, Church In Africa 'Is A Living, Strong, Dynamic Reality’
In a message to the Bishops of Central Africa, Pope Leo XIV recognizes the great challenges the pastors in their region face, and emphasizes that “faced with the evils that undermine society," including tribalism, interethnic conflicts, wars, and family divisions, "the Gospel calls for reconciliation and the pacification of hearts.” By Deborah Castellano Lubov
“As pastors, you face urgent issues that present themselves with particular intensity in your pastoral ministry.”
Pope Leo XIV made this remark in his message to the bishops of Central Africa, sent on his behalf by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin.
The message, sent for the 13th General Assembly of the Association of Episcopal Conferences of the Central African Region (ACERAC), which includes Cameroon, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, the Central African Republic, the Republic of Congo, and Chad, was read by the Apostolic Nuncio in Chad, Archbishop Giuseppe Laterza, at the start of the meeting.
The Jan. 25 - Feb. 1 meeting is taking place in Chad with the theme “The challenges of the Church, Family of God in Central Africa: thirty years after the publication of the post-synodal apostolic exhortation Ecclesia in Africa.”
Addressed to ACERAC President Bishop Martin Waïngue Bani of Chad, the Pope’s message expressed his spiritual closeness, reassuring the bishops of his “full awareness” of the zeal with which they work daily in the service of the communities entrusted to their pastoral care.
Pope Leo Never Ceases To Give Thanks
Pope Leo said he “never ceases to give thanks” as he prays for them, along with “the priests, collaborators, deacons, men and women religious, and lay faithful who share in your joy and your responsibility as witnesses of Christ in all areas of ecclesial life.”
The Pope praised their efforts, nourished by their regular meetings: to increase faith, hope, and charity in the hearts of Christians; to develop relations with other religious communities and with civil authorities; to make the Gospel present within culture and the social fabric; to protect human life; to promote peace and justice; to care for vulnerable persons who are victims of conflict; and to defend creation.
He noted that their open exchanges and fraternity give strength and vitality to the common commitment to the one Church of Christ.
Ecclesia in Africa
In a special way, the Pope recalled that in the year 2026, the Church commemorates the 31st anniversary of Ecclesia in Africa, which affirms: “The Lord has visited His people who are in Africa. Indeed, this continent is today experiencing what can be called signs of the times, a favorable moment, a day of salvation for Africa.”
With this in mind, Pope Leo marveled, “The Church in Africa is indeed a living, strong, and dynamic reality.” Pope Leo said that the document, thirty‑one years later, remains fully relevant.
Do Not Adapt The Gospel To The World
The Pope went on to acknowledge the difficulties they regularly face in serving their faithful, noting that one important area is that of the inculturation of the faith. “This does not mean,” he clarified, “adapting the Gospel to the world, but rather finding within each culture the appropriate forms for proclaiming the Word that does not pass away, a Word that gives life and serves human existence.”
“Faced with the evils that undermine society — such as tribalism, interethnic conflicts, wars, family divisions, and the like,” Pope Leo observed, “the Gospel calls for reconciliation and the pacification of hearts.”
Shaken By Crises
While reiterating that the Church’s synodal journey calls pastors to draw close to the people entrusted to them in a spirit of listening, compassion, and kindness, he said, “May you hear the voices of the many young people who risk their lives for better conditions, so that they may take an active part in the life of their nation and of the Church.”
Lamenting that the bishops’ “communities are also shaken by the crisis of refugees and displaced persons,” Pope Leo said, “Be for them the Christ who bends over their painful situations in order to heal them and to give them the bread of consolation.”
Finally, Pope Leo XIV entrusted their work to the maternal care of the Virgin Mary, Star of Evangelization, and imparted the Apostolic Blessing upon them and all who serve the Church in various ways throughout the Central African region.
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President of USCCB Calls For Holy Hour For The United States
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, issues a call to pray for renewal in the United States and in people’s hearts in the midst of the “current climate of fear and polarization”. By Kielce Gussie
The president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, is asking people to dedicate time to pray for a renewal in their hearts and in the nation as a whole.
In his invitation, the archbishop highlighted how many may feel powerless in the midst of the social and political unrest, injustice, and violence sweeping the country. His response is clear: “Your faithfulness matters. Your prayers matter. Your acts of love and works of justice matter.”
No Act Of Mercy Is Too Small
In a message, the USCCB president expressed his gratitude for the innumerable ways Catholics and people of goodwill have continued to care for one another and work towards peace and justice.
Whether those actions have come in the form of feeding those who hunger, welcoming the stranger, caring for those who are ill, etc., Archbishop Coakley stressed that God sees every act of mercy, justice and love—no matter how big or small.
As a number of protests have occurred and are taking place throughout the U.S., the archbishop pointed out that “works of mercy, peacefully assembling, and caring for those in your community are signs of hope, and they build peace more surely than anger or despair ever could.” Yet, he also underlined that proper laws must be respected.
A Climate Of Injustice
Archbishop Coakley then turned to the recent killings of two people (Renee Good on January 7 and Alex Pretti on January 24) by immigration enforcement officers in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and the case of a man detained in Texas. He called these events “tragic examples of the violence that represent failures in our society to respect the dignity of every human life.”
This loss of life is mourned, and the injustice and indifference it represents are condemned. The current climate of “fear and polarization”, the USCCB president continued, “which thrives when human dignity is disregarded, does not meet the standard set by Christ in the Gospel.”
A Holy Hour For Renewal
Taking a step towards healing, Archbishop Coakley invited all bishops and priests around the U.S. to offer a Holy Hour for Peace in the coming days. He called for this opportunity to pray for reconciliation where there is division, for justice where fundamental rights are violated, and for consolation for those overwhelmed by fear or loss.
This call to prayer is for all Catholics, as the archbishop noted, “whether in parishes, chapels, or before the Lord present in the quiet of their hearts for healing in our nation and communities.”
He expressed his hope that this Holy Hour be a time of “renewal for our hearts and for our nation.” Closing his message, the USCCB president encouraged everyone to entrust their hopes and fears to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and to ask Him to make everyone instruments of His peace and witnesses “to the inherent dignity of every person.”
“Let us pray together, confident that God hears the cry of his people and remains close to all who seek him.”
Listen HERE:
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/... ********
Consecrated People: A Constant Presence In Time Of ‘Fragility And Trial'
A letter by the heads of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life stresses how consecrated life is “as a ‘presence that remains’, particularly in the areas of the world marked by conflict, violence, division, and instability. By Kielce Gussie
The Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life sent a letter reaching out to all the consecrated men and women “in every part of the world, in the places where you live and carry out your mission”.
Signed by the Prefect, Sr. Simona Brambilla; Pro-Prefect, Cardinal Ángel F. Card. Artime; and Secretary of the Dicastery, Sr. Tiziana Merletti, the message begins by expressing their gratitude for fidelity to the Gospel and the gift of life consecrated women and men have given. “A life sometimes marked by trials, but always lived as a sign of hope”, as the letter describes.
We Remain In Complex Situations
Reflecting on the past year, the heads of the Dicastery note the gift of making pastoral visits and traveling to meet “the faces of many consecrated persons called to share complex situations”. These are people living in places marked by conflict, poverty, forced migration, religious minority status, social and political instability, among other factors.
These challenges showcase, as the letter highlights, how consecrated life is “as a ‘presence that remains’ alongside wounded peoples and individuals, in places where the Gospel is often lived in conditions of fragility and trial.”
How this presence looks depends on the situation and society, which differ from place to place. The letter stresses that it is precisely where the “political and social situation tests trust and erodes hope”, the consecrated people’s “faithful, humble, creative, and discreet presence becomes a sign that God does not abandon his people.”
To Remain With Love
“Evangelical ‘remaining’ is never immobility or resignation”, the letter points out, “It is active hope that generates attitudes and gestures of peace”. This can take the form of disarming words in the midst of conflict, relationships that push for dialogue, choices dedicated to protecting “the little ones”, etc.
This choice to remain is not a personal or communal one. Rather it transforms into a prophetic word for the Church and the whole world.
Apostolic life helps make evident an “active closeness that supports wounded dignity; contemplative life safeguards, through intercession and fidelity, hope when faith is tested; Secular institutes bear witness to the Gospel as a discreet leaven in social and professional realities; the Ordo virginum manifests the power of gratuitousness and fidelity that opens to the future; eremitic life recalls the primacy of God and the essential that disarms the heart.”
In these various forms of life, one aspect or, as the letter describes it, a prophecy emerges: “to remain with love, without abandoning, without remaining silent, making one’s life the Word for this time in history.”
In this prophecy, the witness of peace grows. As Pope Leo XIV has repeatedly explained, peace is not an abstract idea, but a “demanding and daily journey” which calls for listening, patience, dialogue, conversion of heart and mind, and the refusal of the mentality of the strong prevailing over the weak.
“Peace is not born from opposition”, the letter furthers, “but from encounter, from shared responsibility”. When one listens with love, dialogue and peace can develop. That is why consecrated life, when it chooses to stay close to those in need without turning to conflict, can become “an artisan of peace.”
The letter concludes with an exhortation to persevere in the mission of consecrated life, in light of the Jubilee of Consecrated Life in 2025. During that experience, all who are consecrated were called to become pilgrims of hope on the road to peace. This is the evangelical style the letter calls all consecrated men and women “to embody every day, wherever dignity is wounded and faith is tested.”
The heads of the Dicastery entrust all consecrated people to the Lord to be in their mission “a prophecy of presence and a seed of peace.”
Read the full article HERE:
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/20... ********
Pope: Engage In Dialogue Without Being Absorbed Or Homogenized
In an address to Regnum Christi's Societies of Apostolic Life, Pope Leo XIV reflects on the importance of charism, government, and communion. By Isabella H. de Carvalho
Pontiff Leo XIV encouraged Regnum Christi's Societies of Apostolic Life in their mission, reflecting with them on “charism, government, and communion,” in an address at the Vatican on Thursday, January 29, to those who participated in the entity's General Assembly.
“Today more than ever, it is necessary to know who we are if we want to engage in authentic dialogue with society without being absorbed or homogenized,” Pope Leo XIV said.
Regnum Christi is an international Catholic federation made up of three components: the Legionaries of Christ, a religious congregation, and two Societies of Apostolic Life, one for Consecrated Women and one for Lay Consecrated Men.
The Pope highlighted how in their General Assembly the members of the Societies were able to “reflect and discuss” on the charism of the different entities within Regnum Christi. He explained that the gift of the Holy Spirit, “while generating life and vitality in the Institute, also gives it a specific identity,” which makes their “presence in the Church and in the world recognizable.”
“In order to evangelize the contexts in which you live—the specific purpose of your vocation—it is therefore essential that you define your identity with ever greater clarity", Pope Leo said.
He underlined that “every sister and brother who receives the charism,” is called to make it a vital force, so that it may animate their mission and inspire future generations, “who are in turn called to fall in love with it and make it the source of their service.”
Read the full article HERE:
https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/20... ********
ZCBC and Catholic University of Zimbabwe partner for Psycho-Spiritual Therapy Training
The Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference (ZCBC) and the Catholic University of Zimbabwe (CUZ) have formalised a partnership aimed at strengthening safeguarding and holistic formation in Zimbabwe’s education system through psycho-spiritual therapy and counselling training. Fr. Johnston Mlambo - Harare
The two institutions signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 29 January 2026 at the Africa Synod House in Harare, committing to the training of teachers in psycho-spiritual counselling as part of a broader response to the country’s social, emotional and spiritual challenges.
Creating Safe Environments
The MoU was signed by Fr Tryvis Moyo, ZCBC Secretary General, and Prof Ben Nyambo, Vice-Chancellor of the Catholic University of Zimbabwe.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Fr Moyo highlighted the importance of visible collaboration within Church institutions.
“This signing speaks of better things to come,” he said. “Safeguarding is something the Conference takes very seriously, and teachers are key in creating safe environments where children can grow into who they are meant to be.”
Prof Nyambo described the partnership as timely, noting that educators today carry responsibilities that go beyond academic instruction.
“Teachers are not only expected to impart knowledge, but also to serve as mentors, counsellors and guardians of learners’ holistic wellbeing,” he said. “This programme equips them with skills to nurture intellectual, emotional, moral and spiritual development.”
Teachers As Healed Healers
Sr Theresa Nyadombo, Coordinator of the ZCBC Education and Safeguarding Commissions, said the programme responds directly to challenges faced by teachers in schools.
“As we promote safe schools, we are also concerned about the emotional and social challenges teachers face,” she said. “This course will help teachers develop emotional intelligence and a positive approach to teaching.”
She added that teachers enrolled in the programme will also receive counselling as part of their formation.
“This will help them become healed healers,” Sr Nyadombo said. “We hope this programme will bring hope to teachers, children and families, some of whom are on the brink of despair.”
Academic Training With Community Service
The programme coordinator, Mr Antony Madongorere, said the initiative was mandated by the ZCBC and implemented by CUZ as part of the Church’s healing mission. He explained that the programme combines academic training with community service and is housed within the Faculty of Theology, Ethics, Religious Studies and Philosophy.
CUZ also operates a Psycho-Spiritual Social Support Centre, which provides free counselling services to the students and surrounding communities. Plans are underway to establish similar centres in dioceses across the country, with the Archdiocese of Harare serving as the pilot site.
The partnership marks a significant step in strengthening collaboration between the Church’s pastoral structures and academic institutions, with a shared focus on safeguarding, healing and the formation of the whole person.
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Pontiff Leo: 'No peace Is Possible While Humanity Wages War Against Itself'
Pontiff Leo XIV tells young participants in the Political Innovation Hackathon’s 'One Humanity, One Planet' Conference that 'there can be no peace while humanity wages war against itself,' and warns that 'no policy can genuinely serve the people if it denies the unborn the gift of life, or if it neglects to support those in need.' By Deborah Castellano Lubov
“There can be no peace while humanity wages war against itself,” Pope Leo XIV insisted on Saturday when addressing participants in the “Political Innovation Hackathon: One Humanity, One Planet” Conference.
In his discourse, Pope Leo expressed his joy to welcome young people committed to promoting the common good through political engagement.
Acknowledging that they come from different nations, cultures, and religious traditions, he commended the fact that their diversity does not cause division among them, but rather represents “an opportunity for collaboration and growth in a synodal style.”
In this context, he thanked them for their many initiatives, particularly the “Four Dreams” project promoted by the Pontifical Commission for Latin America and inspired by Pope Francis.
Recalling that the late Pope, in his Apostolic Exhortation Querida Amazonia, called for dreaming of an ecclesial, ecological, social, and cultural renewal, Pope Leo stressed, “It is urgent that we devote our best efforts to these dreams, particularly in times so marred by injustice, violence, and war!”
Times Marred By Injustice, Violence, And War
The Pope reminded those present that their role as leaders makes them responsible for promoting peacebuilding not only on a large scale, among nations, but also concretely in their daily lives, “where you live, where you study, and where you work.”
“If we are unable to foster harmony within a university or a workplace, or among political parties and civic associations, how can we hope to build peace within an entire society, or between peoples and continents?” Pope Leo asked.
Urging young people to seek peace always, he said peace is first of all a gift, but it also binds us to one another, committing us “to safeguard it where it exists and to pursue it where it is absent,” and opening before us “the hope of a better world, a hope shared by all people of good will. Politics plays an indispensable role in this task.”
Important Role Of Citizens
For this reason, the Pope said he encouraged them “to work together in studying forms of participation that allow all citizens—men and women alike—to take part in the institutional life of their nations.”
Upon this foundation, he said, it becomes possible to build that universal fraternity “which is already taking shape among you young people, a sign of a new era.”
“Your commitment reaches its highest fulfillment when it serves a humanity that seeks and attains peace through justice.”
“With this in mind,” Pope Leo said, “I invite you to reflect on the fact that there can be no peace while humanity wages war against itself—by discarding the weak, excluding the poor, and remaining indifferent to refugees and the oppressed.”
“Only those who care for the least among us are capable of accomplishing what is truly great.”
‘Great Destroyer Of Peace Today’
Pontiff Leo cited the saint of the “poorest of the poor” and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta, recalling her words at the United States National Prayer Breakfast in 1994 that “the greatest destroyer of peace today is abortion,” adding that “her words remain prophetic.”
“No policy,” he stressed, “can genuinely serve the people if it denies the unborn the gift of life, or if it neglects to support those in need, whether in their material circumstances or in their spiritual distress.”
Yet, the Pontiff told them to take courage amid the many challenges, reassuring young people that they are not alone in seeking universal fraternity, for “the one God has entrusted the earth to us as a common home for all peoples.”
The theme of the conference, ‘One Humanity, One Planet,’ he said, "finds its fullest expression when completed by the words ‘One God.’”
Pontiff Leo concluded by inviting the participants to recognize in Him our loving and benevolent Creator, with each religious tradition contributing to the common good, and by imparting his Apostolic Blessing.
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Pope: Young People, Be Next Generation Of Intercessors For World’s Needs
Pope Leo XIV meets with the leadership and members of the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network and thanks them for their work. He encourages them to continue their mission and invite young people to take part. By Isabella H. de Carvalho
Pope Leo XIV thanked the leadership and members of the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network for their work and encouraged them to attract young people, so that they may get closer to God.
“It is especially important to invite young people to take part so that they may form the next generation of intercessors for the needs of the whole world,” the Pope said in his address to the group, which he met on Friday, January 30, at the Vatican.
Since many young people “are searching for a more profound and personal relationship with the Risen Jesus, your Eucharistic Youth Movement can be a particularly fruitful path to help them to grow in a deeper intimacy with our Lord," he underlined.
He urged the participants "to foster an even greater participation in this Network, which unites diverse cultures, languages, and charisms in the common mission."
The Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network is a Pontifical Work entrusted to the Society of Jesus. Every month the Network releases the Pope’s prayer intention, which focuses on challenges facing humanity and the Church. The Network is rooted in the spirituality of the Heart of Jesus, especially through the formation itinerary “The Way of the Heart.”
The Pope in fact highlighted how this spirituality allows the Network and its members “to know our Lord more intimately and to be more compassionate and empathetic” as they “offer prayerful support for those in need.”
“It is my hope that through your apostolate you will continue to help the baptized to understand that they are friends and apostles of Christ,” he emphasized.
Prayer Is An Integral Part Of The Church
The Pope then thanked all those present for their “efforts to disseminate” his prayer intentions “to the tens of millions of people in this worldwide network who each day present these needs before God.”
“Such prayer is not external to the evangelical work of the Body of Christ, but an integral part of it,” he continued.
He thanked in particular the International Director of the Network, Father Cristóbal Fones, as well as the Vice Directors, Bettina Raed and Father Miguel Melo, and all the members and partners who support this mission.
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Sunday, February 1st 2026 at 3:18PM
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