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Canonist, in L'Osservatore Romano, calls for wholesale 'synodal' revision of canon law (CWN)

Writing in the Vatican newspaper, a canon law professor argued for a wholesale “synodal” revision of the Code of Canon Law.

Sarajevo archbishop laments Srebrenica genocide on 30th anniversary (CWN)

Archbishop Tomo Vukšić of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina (map), lamented the Srebrenica genocide on its thirtieth anniversary.

Vatican newspaper deplores killing of children in Gaza (CWN)

In the most prominent front-page article in its July 11 edition, L’Osservatore Romano deplored the killing of children in Deir al-Balah, Gaza, by an Israeli airstrike, as the children waited in line at a clinic for nutritional supplies.

Martyred Marist brother beatified in Barcelona (CWN)

Brother Lycarión May (1870-1909), a member of the Marists of Champagnat (Marist Brothers of the Schools), was beatified at St. Francis de Sales Parish in Barcelona, Spain, on July 12.

Peruvian cardinal under fire for handling of abuse cases (Pillar)

Cardinal Carlos Castillo of Lima, Peru, who has come under heavy criticism for his handling of sex-abuse cases, has indicated that he has no intention of stepping down.

Cardinal Castillo has been charged with a failure to pursue complaints against clerics who are close to him. The most serious recent complaints have centered on Father Nilton Zarate Rengifo, who has asked to be laicized after reports that he solicited sexual favors from a woman religious in the confessional. The cardinal’s critics question why a canonical case was not brought against Father Zarate for that alleged crime.

Cardinal Turkson questions Ghana's political leadership (Crux)

Cardinal Peter Turkson questioned the political direction of his native Ghana, during a television interview on the country’s First National Day of Prayer.

Cardinal Turkson—once the prefect of the Vatican Dicastery for Integral Human Development, now the chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Social Science—said that after achieving independence, Ghana’s political leaders made the nation’s development its top priority. But in more recent years, he remarked, government officials seemed more interested in maintaining their power and enriching themselves.

The cardinal also questioned whether the African country could maintain political stability while honoring leaders who came to power through coups.

Pope signs jersey for former White Sox slugger (Guardian)

Pope Leo XIV has sent a signed uniform jersey to former White Sox baseball star Paul Konerko.

The jersey, bearing Konerko’s name and number, with “Pope Leo” signed above, was presented to the former player by Chicago’s Cardinal Blase Cupich before a game. The presentation was part of a ceremony honoring the 20th anniversary of the World Series championship won by the White Sox in 2005, with Konerko as the club’s leading hitter. Pope Leo is a lifetime White Sox fan.

Castel Gandolfo welcomes Pontiff after years of absence (Vatican News)

The people of Castel Gandolfo gave Pope Leo XIV an enthusiastic welcome this weekend, as the Pontiff made his first public appearances in the little town where the papal summer residence is located.

Castel Gandolfo, a community that relies heavily on the tourism drawn by the Pope’s annual visits, suffered economically during the years that Pope Francis chose to remain in Rome during the summer months.

New Syrian regime hostile to Christians, archbishop says (Fides)

Archbishop Jacques Mourad of Homs has cast doubt on promises by the new Syrian government regime that Christians will be protected.

“Every time I hear about ‘protecting’ Christians, I feel like we’re begin accused, that we’re being threatened,” the archbishop told the Fides new agency. He said that “this government is doing the same things the Assad regime did against the population.”

Papal message calls for local and global governance of AI (Holy See Mission)

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Secretary of State of His Holiness, has written a message on behalf of Pope Leo XIV to participants in the AI for Good Summit, which is taking place in Geneva, Switzerland.

“Humanity is at a crossroads, facing the immense potential generated by the digital revolution driven by Artificial Intelligence,” Cardinal Parolin wrote in his July 10 message, adding:

On behalf of Pope Leo XIV, I would like to take this opportunity to encourage you to seek ethical clarity and to establish a coordinated local and global governance of AI, based on the shared recognition of the inherent dignity and fundamental freedoms of the human person.