Hello and welcome to this week’s Vaticano Updates – the most important news from the Holy Father and the Vatican.

Pope Francis met with Major Archbishop Raphael Thattil and members of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, urging obedience amidst a long-standing liturgical conflict and stressing the importance of unity in this ancient Eastern-rite church. In Rome, the Vatican hosted a three-day international climate change summit, bringing together global policymakers and researchers. Participants signed a new international protocol to be submitted to the United Nations. At a conference on birth rates, Pope Francis emphasized that selfishness, consumerism, and individualism are more significant issues than the birth rate itself, stating that birth rates reflect a people’s hope. In his message for the Fourth World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, scheduled for July 28, 2024, Pope Francis highlighted the foundational role of the elderly, with this year’s theme being “Do not cast me off in my old age.” Additionally, Pope Francis warned against the dangers of toxic information on social media, stressing the importance of inclusivity and support for marginalized individuals during a meeting with students and teachers from Vatican schools.