South Sudan’s Diocese of Tombura Yambio has officially declared a mi-ssing priest, Fr Luke Yugue Mbokusa, and his driver, Mr Michael Gbeko, formally dead. “It is with deep sadness and heavy hearts that we inform you of official Funeral Prayers for our priest and colleague, Rev. Father Luke Yugue, and his driver, Michael Gbeko, who went missing on 27 April 2024, when on their way from Nagero County to Tombura County. The funeral prayers will start on Thursday, 23rd– 25th May 2024, and end with a funeral Holy Mass on Saturday (25 May 2024) at St Mary, Mother of God Catholic Parish,” said the local Ordinary. He urged parishes in the diocese to observe the days of the funeral as announced.
Bp Kussala continued, “From that darkest Saturday, 27 April, when Fr Luke Yugue and Michael Gbeko went missing, we have made so many enquiries to find them alive or dead, but sadly to no avail. As we go into this funeral peri-od, our quest for Search, Truth, and Jus-tice will not stop,” he assured. Bp Kussala was quick to appeal for calm and took time to dissuade any unilateral violent acts of revenge. He told the faithful of the diocese, friends and family that despite their pain and loss, they needed to hold fast to the tenets of the Gospel, their faith and let the law take its course.

A synthesis of feedback received from 35,000 U.S. Catholics as part of the ongoing Synod on Synodality reveals that amid political and theological polarization, many lay Catholics desire unity, both among themselves and among the clergy.
“This document reflects the sense that there exists among Catholics in the United States a deep desire to rebuild and strengthen our communion as the body of Christ,” Bishop Daniel Flores of Brownsville, Texas, chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) doctrine committee, wrote in the report’s introduction. “Rebuilding trust where it is frayed involves practicing the humanly graceful art of listening to each other and speaking together. The more we do this, the more we realize that it is the Lord who never fails us. He responds to us and knows well how to accomplish his will through the communion of his imperfect and often wounded servants.”
As synthesized in the May 28 report, many of the reports from the listening sessions expressed a wish for an “increased focus on formation for evangelization… a need for stronger catechesis and formation, focusing specifically on programs for evangelization, Catholic social teaching, and the role of the family.”
Also emphasized was the importance of clerical and lay Catholics working together. “It is important for laypeople to rely on their pastors and help their pastors, and it is important for pastors to rely on their laypeople.”
Participants noted that parishes with “numerous small faith communities, Bible studies, and prayer groups prove most successful in welcoming and integrating people from diverse backgrounds” in a manner “beyond superficial welcoming.” The role of Catholic schools in evangelizing the community was also widely recognized.

A “moment of joy,” reaffirming the need for our “personal” commitment. This is how Card. Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State, described to Vatican Media the Eucharistic celebration he presided over Monday afternoon, 27 May, in Rome’s Marian Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore on the occasion of the 61st Africa Day.
In his homily, Card. Parolin cited the words about Africa from Benedict XVI and, before him, St.John Paul II in the post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation Ecclesia in Africa in 1995, highlighting the continent’s challenges, difficulties, and “contrasts” but also its aspects of hope.
“This celebration has a personal aspect for me because I feel close to Africa,” the Cardinal told to Vatican Media on the sidelines of the celebration, recalling, “I have been able to visit several countries over the years and have had contact with both the Church and governments and authorities.” “For me,” he shared, “it is a moment of joy to be here and share in the joy and prayer.”
“I believe,” added the Secretary of State, “that Africa must succeed on its own; it has the strength, it has the resources, it has wealth of all kinds, but it also needs sincere friends from the international community who work for the people, for peace, for reconciliation, and for development.” International community support, Card. Parolin emphasized, is necessary because the continent “finds itself in very difficult situations” amid many “very violent conflicts that cause much suffering to many people.” “Just think of the East of Congo,” he said.
While the Cardinal expressed his conviction “that there is a possibility to emerge,” he recognized that “the principle is always the same: the people and their well-being must be put first.” “If material interests are prioritized, then certainly people are sacrificed, and there is no chance for peace,” he said. “However, if there is justice, if there is access for everyone to even material wealth-and this is the task of both local authorities and the inter-national community,” he added, “then things can improve.”
From its part, Card. Parolin reassured, “The Holy See helps at the level of the African Church because we are one family, and also through the Nunciatures and through the direct interest that the Pope shows towards Africa.” “Where we can,” he insisted, “we try to lend a hand.”

When Saint Francis made his renowned journey to Egypt in 1219, he was wearing the humble tunic which went on to become characteristic of his followers. Now, 800 years later, that tunic – or part of it – has made a return to the country. A piece of the garment – which counts as a second-class relic of the saint – arrived in Cairo on the 23rd May. It then made its way to Alexandria, and will also visit Minya, Assiut, Qena and Luxor before returning to Italy on the 2nd June.
The relic belongs to Francis-can friars from the Italian region of Tuscany, who are bringing it to various countries in celebration of the 800th anniversary of St. Francis’ stigmata.
Speaking to Vatican News, Anthony Amen, a youth representative for the Egyptian Francis-cans, said that the event aimed to “bring back the spirituality of Saint Francis.” He added that he hoped the encounter with the relics would inspire the Church in Egypt to “follow in St Francis’ steps.”
St.Francis’ visit to Egypt is now best remembered for his encounter with Sultan al-Kamel, who was at the time the ruler of Egypt. In the midst of the Crusades, the saint travelled behind enemy lines to meet with the Muslim leader, and remained with him for several days.
Amen said that the visit of the relic was “always a reminder for us to take the initiative to sustain dialogue between us and the other.” He said that relations between Christians and Muslims in Egypt had taken a “huge step forward” in the past ten years, during the leadership of President al-Sisi. And, he said, much progress had also been made just in the past couple of years precisely because of the 800th anniversary of Francis’ encounter with the Sultan.

The Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, has issued a clarification on May 28 regarding alleged statements made by Pope Francis during a private meeting with the Italian episcopate. The clarification comes in response to reports claiming that the Pope made a definitive «no» to homosexuals in seminaries and used derogatory language in the process.
“Pope Francis is aware of the recent articles regarding a closed-door conversation with the bishops of the CEI [Italian Bishops’ Conference]. As he has stated on many occasions, ‘There is room for everyone in the Church, for everyone! No one is useless; no one is superfluous; there is room for everyone. Just as we are, everyone.’ The Pope never intended to offend or express himself in homophobic terms, and he apologizes to those who felt offended by the use of a term, as reported by others.”

Speaking to the Primates of the Anglican Communion, Pope Francis says that even the very earliest Christians had their disagreements. On 2 May, participants, including the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, met with Pope Francis in the Vatican.
Pope Francis began his address by thanking Archbishop Welby for his presence, noting that he “began his service as Archbishop of Canterbury around the same time that I began mine as Bishop of Rome.” “Since then,” the Pope added, “we have had many occasions to meet, to pray together and to testify to our faith in the Lord. Dear brother Justin, thank you for this fraternal cooperation on behalf of the Gospel!” He stressed in particular the pair’s joint trip to Sudan in 2023, which, he said, was “really beautiful.”
Pope Francis went on to thank the gathered bishops for having chosen Rome, the “City of the Apostles Peter and Paul”, as the location for their meeting this year. “I realise”, the Pope said, “that the role of the Bishop of Rome is still a controversial and divisive issue among Christians.” He quoted Pope Gregory the Great’s definition of the Bishop of Rome as servus servorum Dei, or ‘servant of the servants of God’, suggesting that it accurately captures the reality that the Pope’s authority can never be detached from his service to the Christian community. “For this reason,” Pope Francis stressed, “it is necessary to engage in ‘a patient and fraternal dialogue on this subject, a dialogue which, leaving useless controversies behind’, strives to understand how the Petrine ministry can develop as a service of love for all.” Thankfully, the Pope noted, “positive results have been achieved in the various ecumenical dialogues on the question of primacy as a ‘gift to be shared’.”

On May 7, Australia’s Catho-lic bishops officially approved a liturgy used in a remote Western Australian diocese that incor-porates elements of Abori-ginal language and culture. The liturgy has been celebrated for over 50 years in the Diocese of Broome, where some 13,000 Catholics live in nine parishes across an area about the size of Texas, with a total population of just over 50,000. The Mass of the Land of the Holy Spirit – in Latin, “Missa Terra Spiritus Sancti” – now awaits the Vatican’s official recognition after the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference passed the motion at its plenary meeting in Sydney on May 7.
Bishop Administrator Michael Morrissey of Broome said the decision was a milestone. “After a lengthy period of engagement, it’s a significant acknowledgment by the Australian bishops.” Two Indigenous elders, Maureen Yanawana and Madeleine Jadai, presented the Mass to the bishops and shared its impact on their community. “Singing at the top of our voices brings us peace,” Yanawana shared during the presentation at the bishops’ meeting in Sydney’s Mary Mac-Killop Place, highlighting the spiritual enrichment it brings.

“What dangers does arti-ficial intelligence (AI) present for the safety of children in digital environments?” was the topic addressed by a conference organized by the S.O.S Il Tele-fono Azzurro Foundation and the Italian Embassy at the Holy See as part of the National Day against Pedophilia and Child Pornography, which is observed in Italy every May 5.
According to its website, Il Telefono Azzuro (“The Blue Telephone”) “offers a hotline service, managed by 114 Children’s Emergency, through which it is possible to report illicit or potentially harmful content for children and adolescents.”
Disturbing statistics were reported at the event: In 2023 there were more than 275,000 child pornography websites on the internet with approximately 11,000 photos generated by AI in just one month.
However, these figures could be even higher, Vatican News noted, given that this new phenomenon “is difficult to quantify concretely.”

The Archbishop of Canter-bury, Justin Welby, has joined other illustrious leaders, ethicists, and university professors in signing the ”Rome Call” for the ethical development of artificial intelligence. Archbishop Welby, leader of the Anglican Communion, endorsed the initiative on 30 April at a ceremony in Rome at the headquarters of the Pontifical Academy for Life, according to a note from the Academy and its Renaissance Foundation. The Call for AI Ethics is a document that “aims to foster a shared sense of responsibility for human dignity amid rapid technological advancements.”
“I am delighted to support the Rome AI Call, which emphasises the dignity of every human being amid technological change,” Archbishop Welby said when signing the document on behalf of the Church of England. “While we can’t predict the future, we do know that there will continue to be rapid developments in science and technology and we need to be prepared,” he noted. While recognizing the enormous potential AI can offer “in improving human capability,” he emphasised that we must also strive “to protect, preserve and cherish the dignity of the human person.” The enormous advances made in AI, therefore, “cannot be the sole property of its developers, or any single part of the human race,” but benefit all in serving the common good, safe-guarding climate, and aiming at sustainable development.
“So much of how we under-stand Artificial Intelligence,” Archbishop Welby concluded, “comes down to how we under-stand the nature of being human” and our working together “to ensure that the dignity of every human being, created by God, not for profit or productivity, is central to all we do.”

Pope Francis received an official request from the superior general of the Discalced Carmelites, Fr Miguel Márquez Calle, on April 18 in a private audience at the Vatican to recognise the theological legacy of the saint who was martyred in Auschwitz. If accepted, Stein, also known by her religious name St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, could become the fifth woman to be declared a doctor of the Church, a title that recognises a substantial contribution to the Church’s theology and moral life.
With the petition, the Vatican Dicastery for the Causes of Saints can officially begin the required process to grant Stein the title. The Carmelites first launched an inter-national commission to gather the necessary documentation required by the Vatican in 2022, a year that marked both the 100th anniversary of Stein’s baptism and the 80th anniversary of her martyrdom. A title that was proposed for her at the time was “doctor veritatis” because of her relentless intellectual pursuit of truth, which after her conversion she recognised in the person of Jesus Christ.