Cardinal Grech acknowledged that his audience was awaiting from him a comment on the decisions made by Germany’s Synodal Way.

After comparing synodality to an orchestra, Cardinal Grech said that “what constitutes the distinctive nature of a synod, therefore, is not its infallibility, but rather the actual presence of Christ and His Spirit, a presence that emerges within the symphony, within the harmony among the participants.”

He added:

I am here for this very reason: to undertake with you the synodal exercise of tuning our instruments. The symphony, harmony and communion as a collective work, comes into being precisely through this continuous choice to play together, to be all tuned to the same note. Then, each instrument will interpret its own score, contributing richness and beauty to the single symphonic work.

This means having no fear of differences; rather than allowing them to become sources of conflict and opposition, we make them grounds for discernment, for mutual listening, and for a shared desire to follow the Risen One and to recognize the signs of the times.

“We stand with Chief Imam Taha Hassane, the entire Muslim community, and all who mourn in the wake of this senseless violence, affirming our shared commitment to the dignity of every human life and the rejection of hatred in all its forms,” said Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City.

Archbishop Coakley added:

In moments such as these, we are reminded of the call to be instruments of peace; as Pope Leo XIV has said, ‘Where violence wounds the human family, compassion and unity must be our steadfast reply.’ May God console the grieving, strengthen the injured, and guide us all toward greater understanding, justice, and peace.

Among other items—including the consecration of the nation to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus—the bishops will discuss proposed revisions to their Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, the conference’s document addressing the sexual abuse of minors.

The proposed revisions, according to the USCCB, seek to balance “care of and sensitivity to victim-survivors” with “an awareness of due-process, the rights of the accused,” while taking into account Vatican documents of recent years.

Continuing his series of Wednesday general audiences on the Second Vatican Council and its documents, Pope Leo XIV reflected today on Sacrosanctum Concilium, the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy.

Auxiliary Bishop Paul McAleenan of Westminster, the episcopal conference’s Lead Bishop for Migrants and Refugees, paid tribute to the witness of Catholics born in Hong Kong to their fellow immigrants.

“An outstanding feature of the Hong Kong Catholic community who have settled in England and Wales in recent years is their attachment to their faith,” said Bishop McAleenan. “Their joy, fervor and enthusiasm are an inspiration. I thank them for their witness, and I welcome those from Hong Kong who were received and baptized into the Catholic Church at Easter.”

The academy’s president, Bishop Antonio Staglianò, said at a May 18 press conference that “an ethical approach to artificial intelligence and digital technologies is not sufficient. We must adopt a theological approach, and this is possible only if we re-found the underlying anthropology and reaffirm the dignity of the human being who utilizes the technology.”

The observatory, according to a PATH press release, will focus on several concerns:

the exploitation of natural resources and its environmental and social consequences; the growing energy demands of digital infrastructure; the new ‘human ecology’, spanning the digital environment and social relations; the impact of technology on young people—including addiction, misleading content and the erosion of social relationships—in a context that still lacks adequate regulation; and the development of proposals aimed at tech giants for a sustained commitment to reducing emissions and massive energy consumption globally

Referring to the Christian values that helped shape the continent’s history, Cardinal Parolin said that “among these is first and foremost the affirmation of human dignity, which is inviolable and must always be protected at every stage of life.”

The prelate made his remarks at the European Parliament’s headquarters in Strasbourg, France, as he received the European Order of Merit award.

A community-organizing coalition announced that it had reached an agreement with the Trump administration to permit daily pastoral care at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Broadview, Illinois.

Pietro discussed his anxiety upon leaving high school, as well as his dream to start “a family united in the love of Christ.”

“I would like to say to you, first and foremost, a word that comes before all others: you are loved by Jesus,” Pope Leo responded. “Not in an abstract way, but personally, just as you are today, with your questions and your dreams, your fears and your desires. This love precedes you and will always accompany you; it does not depend on the choices you make or the paths you take.”

“Daily prayer, even if simple and few in words, listening to the Word of God, the celebration of the Sacraments and dialogue with wise people will help you to recognize which bonds to cherish and nurture, and which, without judgement, to prune,” the Pope continued. “Your dream of a family based on Christ’s love is a precious gift for the Church too; cherish it with confidence. The Lord does not disappoint the desires that He Himself has kindled in the heart.”

Pope Leo concluded, “I assure you of my prayers. I ask for you the grace of inner peace, of trust and of a clear vision of your life. I entrust you to Mary, who as a young woman learnt to trust despite harboring in her heart questions greater than herself.”

The Suffolk County Police Hate Crimes Unit is investigating the crime.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has documented over 400 acts of vandalism, arson, and other destruction at parishes and other Catholic sites in the United States since 2020. A tracker at CatholicVote.org lists additional attacks.