The Message of Pope Francis—announced Wednesday morning at the General Audience—begins with a word of encouragement for Chinese Catholics, who, he says, “are daily present” in his prayers. He recalls the words of Jesus, earlier quoted by Benedict XVI in his Letter to the Chinese faithful: “Fear not, little flock” (Lk, 12:32).

Confusion from a flurry of opinions

The Pope immediately goes to the heart of the question:

Of late, many conflicting reports have circulated about the present and, in particular, the future of the Catholic communities in China…

Changing the definition of marriage as provided in the Constitution: it’s the purpose of a constitutional referendum that will take place in Romania on October 6-7 on an initiative of the Coalition for Families, an umbrella organization representing 30 NGOs in Romania, including Catholic organizations such as Catholic Action and the Family Association in Romania. The Catholic bishops of Romania have also expressed their full support to the initiative with an Exhortation to priests and Catholic faithful, which is also addressed to all people of good will, with an invitation to back the referendum…

“Volunteer work involves millions of Christians in Europe and is a remarkable and pervasive activity, that can reach many poor and marginalized people living in our opulent societies, with a peculiar dynamism of love. […] We wish to express our closeness, encouraging support and gratitude to the Christians who engage in volunteer work, whether it is organized or spontaneous, structured or occasional.”

It is with this feeling of gratitude for the army of volunteers who daily bear witness to Christian love, which was included in the Plenary Assembly’s Final Message, that the Presidents of European Catholic Bishops’ Conferences wrapped up their annual gathering…

Pope Francis celebrated Mass on Saturday during his pastoral visit in the Italian city of Palermo, saying Christians must choose either love or selfishness, victory or defeat.

“You cannot believe in God and be a member of the mafia,” the Pope declared. “Those belonging to the mafia are not living as Christians, because with their life they blaspheme the name of God who is love.”

Don Puglisi: victory in defeat

Pope Francis’ visit to the Sicilian city coincided with the liturgical memorial of Blessed Pino Puglisi, a local priest killed by the mafia 25 years ago…

Fr Martin Michalíček is the new Secretary General of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE). Friday morning the Presidents of Europe’s Bishops’ Conferences, gathered Poznań for their annual Plenary Assembly (13-16 September), elected him for a five-year term (with immediate effect).

Fr Martin Michalíček succeeds Duarte da Cunha, who concluded a second five-year term. The CCEE President, Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, Archbishop of Genoa, along with the Vice-presidents, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster, his Grace Mgr Stanisław Gądecki, Archbishop of Poznań, and the Presidents of Europe’s Bishops’ Conferences, thanked Fr Duarte da Cunha for his dedication to leading the CCEE Secretariat and Fr Martin Michalíček for his readiness to serve the Church in Europe…