‘Laudate Deum’: Pope Francis’ next environmental document 

Pope Francis’ new document on the environment will be called Laudate Deum, which means “Praise God” in Latin.  It will be, he said, “a look at what has happened and say what needs to be done”. The Holy Father announced last month he would be releasing a follow-up document to the 2015 encyclical Laudato Si’ and that it would be published on Oct. 4, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi.   

Two Chinese bishops to participate in Synod on Synodality 

The Vatican announced that two bishops from mainland China have been added as official delegates in the upcoming Synod on Synodality assembly.  Bishop Antonio Yao Shun of Jining and Bishop Joseph Yang Yongqiang of Zhoucun will travel from China to Rome to participate as full members of the Oct. 4–28 Synod. 

Pope Francis appeals for peace in Nagorno-Karabakh 

One day after Azerbaijan launched a new military operation against Nagorno-Karabakh, Pope Francis made a public appeal for both sides to “silence the weapons.”  The pontiff said that he was troubled by the news he received September 19th from Nagorno Karabakh, where – and I QUOTE – “the already critical humanitarian situation is now aggravated by further armed clashes.” Nagorno-Karabakh is a disputed region in Azerbaijan that is home to about 120,000 Armenian Christians. Since the attack thousands of them have fled their ancestral homeland in the region of Nagorno-Karabakh and more are expected. 

Pope Francis: Child sexual abuse concerns the entire society 

Pope Francis has called for abuse crimes to be examined in the larger context as well. In a meeting with a delegation from the Latin American Research and Training Commission for the Protection of Minors (CEPROME), he said: “The abuses that have affected the Church are but a pale reflection of a sad reality that involves all of humanity and to which the necessary attention is not paid.” Concluding his address, Pope Francis invited everyone to pray through the intercession of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, so that those who commit these crimes may be converted and see in their victims “the eyes of Jesus.” 

First co-cathedral in history of British Isles 

Pope Francis has awarded a U.K. church “co-cathedral status,” making it the first of its kind in the history of the British Isles. The Church of St. Mary of the Isle, located in Douglas on the Isle of Man, has achieved this rare status after Douglas was formally recognized as a city during the late Queen Elizabeth II’s platinum jubilee celebrations in June 2022. St. Mary of the Isle will be co-cathedral along with Liverpool’s Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King.