“We cannot remain silent while funds meant for the poor are being stolen,” Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo of Kidapawan said on June 28. “We cannot remain silent while the people’s treasury is being turned into the personal wealth of a few. We cannot remain silent while corruption continues to destroy the future of our children.”

“It is not enough to pray for change,” Bishop Bagaforo added. “We must also stand up for change. It is not enough to ask for good governance. We must also demand accountability.”

Pope Leo XIV received President Gustavo Petro of Colombia on July 2, a month before a new Colombian president is scheduled to take office.

Police detained Bishop Abelardo Mata, 80, on June 29, released him, and detained him again the following day. The prelate is the retired bishop of Estelí.

“Lithuania and the Holy See enjoy a long-standing warm relationship built on mutual respect,” said Kęstutis Budrys. “Lithuania highly appreciates the role of the Holy See in our country’s resistance against the Soviet occupation and in the restoration of an independent state of Lithuania, and, in the context of today’s realities, its support for Ukraine.”

“We stand ready to work together to increase pressure on Russia and achieve a sustainable, just peace in Ukraine,” Budrys added.

“Catechist Victor Paul succumbed to severe torture, preventable illness, and starvation, while the others were brutally murdered by their captors,” according to the archdiocesan announcement. Two dozen other captives, including Paul’s son and pregnant wife, regained their freedom in a series of releases.

The Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network released the video associated with Pope Leo’s prayer intention for July.

“In its words and formal statements, the Fraternity says it recognizes the legitimacy and authority of the Successor of Peter, Pope Leo XIV; that it loves him and prays for him,” said Tornielli. In its deeds, however—and deeds always count more than words—it completely disregarded his clearly expressed will, his repeated appeals, and his request not to proceed with schismatic consecrations without pontifical mandate; or rather, with schismatic consecrations explicitly forbidden by the Pope.”

Tornielli added:

There is room in the Church for the faithful attached to the ancient liturgy; there is room in the Church for discussion, for reading and rereading documents and interpreting them.

However, there is no room for judging the Pope and disobeying him by carrying out acts that tear the unity of the “Mystical Body” of Christ, which is the Church. Nor is there room for creating a parallel hierarchy against the explicit prohibition of the one to whom Jesus said: “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church.”

“It is a troubled history, marked by generous attempts, doors kept open, and opportunities offered,” Tornielli began. “It is a painful story, characterized by two grave ruptures that led the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X, founded by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, to separate itself from the Pope and from communion with the Church of Rome by committing the schismatic act of consecrating bishops without the pontifical mandate and against the will of the Vicar of Christ.”

The overview has six sections:

• Lefebvre’s decisions
• The doctrinal agreement signed by Lefebvre
• The first schismatic act
• The pilgrimage of 2000 and Pope Benedict’s concessions
• The 2011 doctrinal preamble and Pope Francis’ faculties
• New schism, invalid confessions and marriages

“People who pride themselves on their orthodoxy should know that schism is a grave sin against the Church and against charity,” said Archbishop Anthony Fisher, O.P., who recently wrote a pastoral letter on Eucharistic adoration. The prelate asked the faithful to “pray for the unity of the Church at this time and for the repentance of these schismatics.”

Bishop George Pallipparambil of Miao described the act as a “two-way educational effort.”

“It teaches children to love, respect, and serve their parents, recognizing that their lives are built upon their parents’ sacrifices and hard work,” he said. “At the same time, it reminds parents that their children love them, are willing to listen to them, and possess unique gifts that deserve to be recognized and nurtured.”