Each year on the second Sunday of July, Christian Churches around the world mark Sea Sunday-a day dedicated to praying for maritime workers and their families. In 2026, the day falls on July 12 and the theme is “Harbours of Hope: The Church alongside Seafarers”. Cardinal Michael Czerny, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, wrote a message for Sea Sunday with the title, “Beyond Cargo and Commerce: The Human Face of the Sea”.

In his message for Sea Sunday 2026, Cardinal Michael Czerny highlights the complex challenges maritime workers face today as the sea today is “increasingly marked by tension, insecurity, war, and fear.”

In his message, the Prefect highlighted how the world continues to rely on seas, lakes, rivers, and waterways. However, he made sure to place the emphasis on the faces behind the maritime businesses: the more than 1.8 million people whose work is tied to waterways. So many livelihoods, communities, and families rely on these men and women. “The crisis of the Strait of Hormuz has reminded the world of how deeply humanity depends on the sea and those who work upon it,” Cardinal Czerny explained.

Cardinal Czerny pointed out that maritime workers still face uncertainty as the sea, “which has long connected peoples and nations, is increasingly marked by tension, insecurity, war, and fear.” Not only do crews have to confront the dangers of the water, but now they also face the consequences of conflict—food shortages, their confinement, and fear for their own lives.

Cardinal Czerny highlighted how the sea can teach humanity that “we belong to one another. Oceans do not divide people; they connect them.” The Catholic Church is working to remind every maritime worker that they are never alone or forgotten.

Cardinal Prefect stressed, “When the oceans suffer, humanity suffers with them.” It is the responsibility of all to protect marine life, promote ethical and sustainable practices, defend dignity and safety of maritime workers, and develop spirit of global responsibility to care for our seas

The Extraordinary Consistory convened by Pope Leo XIV began on Friday, June 26, with the celebration of the Eucharist in St. Peter’s Basilcia. In his homily, the Pope reminded the Cardinals that the life-giving source of the Consistory is Christ Himself, as proclaimed in the Gospel: “I am the true vine” (Jn 15:1).

He explained that “the Gospel itself prepares the ground for it to bear fruit: ‘Remain in me, and I in you’ (Jn 15:4).” He then reflected on three guiding principles for discernment during these days: sharing in the true freedom of faith, asking for the gift of peace in unity, and embracing harmony through obedience.

He explained that “it is precisely our relationship with the Lord Jesus that frees us from sin and fear. The living Church is the Church that believes through the gift of the Holy Spirit poured into our hearts. And this Church bears much fruit”.  Pope Leo invited the Cardinals to ask for “the gift of peace in unity.”

Reflecting on the many conflicts affecting humanity, he stressed that “war is never worthy of humanity, and it is never blessed by God, because, even if we are equipped with high-tech weapons, the Creator has endowed us with intelligence and free will to resolve conflicts as human beings and not as beasts.”

“Peace is a duty of justice because we are one human family, that finds its head and redeemer in Christ.”

Pope Leo invited the Cardinals also to embrace “harmony through obedience,” describing it as “a listening that recognizes the gift of the Word made flesh for us.” Through this attentive listening, he said, “the Holy Spirit guides us, pointing out pastoral challenges and opportunities, purifying our intentions, and correcting whatever strays from our shared path.”

In the Paul VI Hall, the second session of the Extraordinary Consistory centred on peace, emphasizing the need to work toward building peace and a “civilization of love.” Many groups also emphasize the need to move beyond the logic of the “just war” doctrine and instead speak of the right to proportionate self-defence.

The afternoon session opened with prayers for the “painful situation in Venezuela” and for the many victims of the recent earthquake.

The session, entitled “The Culture of Power and the Civilization of Love,” was devoted to reflection on Chapter Five of the encyclical Magnifica Humanitas. Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, delivered the introductory address. Pope Leo XIV attended the opening of the session and returned later for the plenary meeting.

The discussions then got underway. Eleven groups reported back to the assembly. All addressed the challenges of the present time, highlighting “the dehumanizing force of the culture of power, its universal reach, the temptation to conform to the logic of the powerful, and the normalization of war and polarization, which lower society’s tolerance for violence and encourage dangerously simplistic approaches to resolving conflicts.”

Against this backdrop, the participants stressed the responsibility to build peace and a civilization of love. They also emphasized the importance of offering a credible witness through a language centred on people: one of listening, forgiveness, reconciliation, restorative justice, and concrete gestures. Such a language, is capable of touching the hearts of those caught up in conflict, acknowledging the wounds caused by war, and fostering the search for unity within the Church.

It emphasised that the unity within the Church is essential to its credibility, as is dialogue with other faiths and religions. At a time when the globalization of indifference makes people increasingly insensitive to the suffering of others, every individual is called to take responsibility for building peace.

The discussion also addressed the role of political authority, calling for it to be freed from what was described as its toxic link with economic power. Other topics included the family, education, the difficulty of moving beyond the demand for immediate solutions, and the need for bold evangelization. Many participants stressed the need to move beyond the logic of just war, since the Gospel cannot be imposed by force, and instead to speak of the right to proportionate self-defence.

Deep gratitude was expressed to Pope Leo for the encyclical, for his condemnation of armed conflicts, and for his repeated appeals for peace. The cardinals also emphasized that the encyclical itself is a call to the College of Cardinals to assume responsibility for building peace.

Pope Leo XIV meets with leaders of the Synod continental bodies as they reflect on the implementation of the Synod on Synodality and the path toward the 2028 Ecclesial Assembly.

Pope Leo XIV met privately with the heads of the Synod continental bodies at the conclusion of three days of work. The meeting brought together representatives from Latin America, Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania, the Middle East, and North America, accompanied by the coordinators of the continental synodal teams. Cardinal Mario Grech, Secretary General of the Synod, described the encounter with the Pope as “a strong sign of support and encouragement” for participants as they continue their work “for the synodal conversion of the Church.”

Opening the meeting, Cardinal Grech offered a brief assessment of the journey toward the 2028 Ecclesial Assembly. The Cardinal noted the many initiatives already undertaken by local Churches to involve the faithful, including schools of synodality, formation programmes, symposia, conferences, and processes of listening and discernment.

The following days were dedicated to listening and discernment in this “new” synodal time. The implementation phase, centred on the Final Document of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, is not a simple repetition of the pre-assembly process rather, it is a new process in which local communities are called to translate the recommendations of the synodal document into their own contexts.

Participants shared the main developments in the implementation of the Final Document across the continents, including significant experiences, difficulties, open questions, and pastoral priorities.

At the heart of the meeting was a reflection on the document presented by Fr. Giacomo Costa, SJ, Consultor of the General Secretariat of the Synod. The text outlines the path toward the Ecclesial Assembly of October 2028 in four progressive stages. The first stage, “Remembering,” with evaluation assemblies in dioceses and eparchies. The second, “Interpreting,” through assemblies of national or regional Bishops’ Conferences. The third, “Orienting,” will take with continental assemblies that will produce a perspective report. The final stage, “Celebrating,” with an Ecclesial Assembly of the whole Church in the Vatican, together with the Holy Father. Participants stressed that the role of continental bodies and their teams is above all one of accompaniment, not supervision.