AGP Executive Report

Papal Visit to France: Pope Leo XIV is set to begin his first trip to France as pontiff, with Paris crowds expected to swell to around 250,000 along his route and 600,000 registered for an outdoor Mass near the Champs-Élysées, as he also plans stops in Lourdes and Metz and speaks on issues including end-of-life questions, immigration, and AI. Abuse Crisis Pressure: Ahead of the visit, French abuse-survivor advocates criticized the plan to meet only seven individuals rather than survivor groups, calling it a missed opportunity for a more systemic response. Beatification Spotlight: Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen will be beatified in St. Louis on Sept. 24, with Masses and prayer events leading up to the ceremony and major Catholic media coverage. Theology & Culture: Notre Dame theologian John Cavadini has been named the 2026 Ratzinger Prize recipient, to be presented by Pope Leo XIV on Dec. 19. Vatican Lifestyle & Arts: The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art opens in Los Angeles, celebrating storytelling across painting, illustration, comics, and film—an arts milestone that echoes the Vatican’s own interest in culture as a bridge. Global Prayer Initiative: Pope Leo XIV will join Aid to the Church in Need’s Rosary campaign for peace, hosting up to 1,000 children at the Lourdes Grotto in the Vatican Gardens on Oct. 1. Church Milestones in India: Annai Velankanni Shrine in Besant Nagar was elevated to a minor Basilica, becoming India’s 30th basilica.

Papal Visit to France: Pope Leo XIV heads to France for the first papal trip in nearly 20 years, aiming to rebuild trust after the 2021 clerical abuse report; he will meet abuse survivors in Lourdes and address French, UN and European leaders, with crowds expected to pack a major outdoor Mass near the Champs-Élysées. Abuse Survivors’ Demand for Action: Survivors say dialogue must not replace reparations, as France reckons with decades of abuse affecting hundreds of thousands of minors. UN General Assembly Focus: The UNGA high-level debate opens in New York, with leaders turning to conflicts, climate, and the growing fear around AI. Vatican on AI and Human Dignity: As Pope Leo prepares to speak at UNESCO, Vatican-linked efforts like the Borgo Dialogues push for global safeguards and a moral framework for technology. Curia Pay and Stability: The Holy See reverses parts of earlier Vatican salary cuts, restoring seniority bonuses and inflation adjustments while raising pay for senior roles. Latin America Itinerary Released: Vatican details Leo’s November tour—Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru—covering major Masses, stadium prayer vigils, and high-profile meetings. Beatification Culture Moment: Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen’s Sept. 24 beatification in St. Louis is drawing major attention, with a week of prayer events and livestreams. Local Church Life: In Brooklyn, NYPD is investigating vandalism at a Catholic church tied to hate-crime concerns.

Papal Travel Watch: Pope Leo XIV’s 12-day South America journey is set for Nov. 6–17, with the Vatican releasing a full itinerary covering Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru—14 flights and more than 19,000 miles, plus stadium vigils and multiple Masses. Pastoral Leadership: In a letter marking St. Turibius of Mogrovejo’s canonization centenary, Leo urges Latin American bishops to lead by going out to their people, not “behind a desk.” Church, Diversity & Voice: At the Sisters in the Spirit’s 25th anniversary, keynote speaker Dr. Cynthia Bailey Manns pressed Black Catholic women to use their voices, insisting “what comes from the Holy Spirit cannot be stopped.” AI & Human Dignity: The Vatican is convening world leaders at the UN General Assembly for the “Borgo Dialogues,” focused on what we’re building—and for whom—grounded in Catholic social teaching. Prayer for Peace: Aid to the Church in Need’s “One Million Children Praying the Rosary” begins Oct. 1 in the Vatican Gardens, with 700–1,000 children joining Pope Leo at Lourdes Grotto. Liturgical Tensions: A Toronto parish bulletin claims Latin Masses will be replaced by Novus Ordo monthly under Vatican and archdiocesan direction. Interfaith Bonds: US bishops marked Yom Kippur with a call for dialogue and shared reflection between Catholics and Jewish neighbors.

France Visit Focus: Pope Leo XIV begins a four-day trip to France (Sept. 25–28) expected to spotlight Catholic teaching on protecting every human life amid France’s constitutional abortion right and new assisted-dying rules. Life & Mercy Message: At the Angelus, he urged trust in God’s “infinitely greater” plans and called for a return to mercy and forgiveness. UN Diplomacy on Hate Speech: In New York, the Holy See’s UN envoy Archbishop Christophe el-Kassis said hate speech “cannot claim the protection of liberty,” warning it poisons public life and prepares the ground for violence. Sports as Education: Meeting Special Olympics athletes, the pope called sport a “universal language” that teaches noble values and helps people “remind everyone of the true values of life.” WYD Seoul Prep: World Youth Day Seoul 2027 planning stresses inviting young people to “encounter the Lord,” not just attend. Culture & Faith: The Lucas Museum of Narrative Arts opens in Los Angeles, using global storytelling art—from manga to film—to frame how cultures pass on meaning. Vatican Social Teaching: Pope Leo highlighted lay and religious contributions to Catholic social doctrine at the Leo XIV International Study Centre.

Sport as a universal language: Pope Leo XIV told Special Olympics athletes that sport teaches “noble and authentic values” and calls people to loyalty, trust, openness, team spirit, and courage. Vatican culture & faith in everyday life: A devotion tied to Padre Pio’s reported appearances has found a striking new setting—an Acura turned into a moving place of prayer. Life issues in Slovakia: Thousands gathered in Bratislava for the National March for Life, with bishops calling for protection of life from conception to natural death and urging a complete ban on surrogacy. Eastern Catholic diversity: A Vatican-focused explainer highlights the 23 Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with Rome, each with its own liturgy, spirituality, and governance. Pope Leo’s France agenda: Coverage previews his first France visit in 18 years, with major flashpoints including clerical abuse and France’s assisted-dying law. Vatican arts & heritage: A look at the Sistine Chapel spotlights how women’s images shape Michelangelo’s world. Church, health, and global recognition: Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital ranks among the world’s top pediatric centers, praised for both care and patient experience.

Vatican Film & Culture: The Holy See will submit its first-ever documentary for Oscar consideration—Green Lava—a 39-minute story of Giacomo Mattivi and Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, premiering in Los Angeles this week. Pope Leo XIV in France: Ahead of his Sept. 25–28 Paris visit, AFP reports the trip’s major flashpoints: how the Vatican will address clerical sexual abuse and France’s new assisted-dying law, with security involving about 15,000 personnel. Interfaith & Anti-hate: U.S. bishops mark Yom Kippur by stressing “deep spiritual bonds” between Catholics and Jews and urging rejection of antisemitism. Church Leadership & Women: Coverage highlights women appointed to top Holy See roles, including a historic Vatican leadership shift. Vatican Education & Public Life: Pope Leo XIV backs the new Leo XIV International Study Center, calling participants to be “experts in God’s newness” for the common good. Sports & Holiness: Pope tells Special Olympics athletes that sport has “great educational value” and can shape a “holy life.” Liturgy & Heritage: Ad Laudem expands practical and spiritual liturgy education online, aiming to help people care for Mass in every dimension.

AI and Human Dignity: Pope Leo XIV’s warnings about growing reliance on algorithms hit the same nerve as theologians and ethicists react to Donald Trump’s plan for an “AI Force,” with concerns that technology must serve human dignity, not reshape it. Women in Vatican Leadership: New reporting highlights women appointed to top Holy See roles, including historic executive governance in Vatican City State. Culture and Sacred Art: Vatican Museums’ framing of the Sistine Chapel spotlights women’s presence in Michelangelo’s imagery, while Fatima’s shrine says Rupnik mosaics will remain uncovered despite controversy. Interfaith at Yom Kippur: U.S. bishops urged Catholics to reject antisemitism and deepen “deep spiritual bonds” with Jews ahead of Yom Kippur. Papal Life and Vatican Culture: Pope Leo XIV’s birthday week included financial reversals for Vatican employees and a push for study and public life through the Leo XIV Center. Sports as Formation: Pope to Special Olympics athletes: sport can teach “noble and authentic values” on the path to holiness. Vatican in Film: The Holy See will submit its first-ever documentary for Oscar consideration, “Green Lava.”

Vatican Culture & Dialogue: Pope Leo XIV met members of the International Center for Pope Leo XIV Studies, praising research and education for “the common good” and urging broad, “always walking together” collaboration with universities and public life. Interfaith & Anti-Hate: On Yom Kippur, a U.S. bishop urged Catholics to reject antisemitism and remember “deep spiritual bonds” with Jews; at the UN, the Holy See’s top diplomat said hate speech “cannot claim” liberty and poisons public life. Liturgy & Identity Debate: In an exclusive interview, Abp. Carlo Maria Viganò argued that changing worship reshapes belief, tying liturgical reform and Traditionis Custodes to a wider post-conciliar crisis. Art, Accountability & Fatima: Allegations against Fr. Marko Rupnik are again in focus as Fatima reportedly plans no removal or covering of his mosaics despite a possible 2027 papal visit. Sheen Beatification Build-Up: Prayer events and livestream plans continue ahead of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen’s Sept. 24 beatification, with local watch parties in places tied to his early life. Vatican Finances: Vatican reporting shows Peter’s Pence and Obolus funding trends for 2025, alongside ongoing support projects worldwide. Humanitarian Focus: UNICEF warns winter will worsen dangers for children in Gaza and the West Bank, urging urgent aid.

Pastoral Renewal in Rome: Pope Leo XIV told clergy and lay leaders in the Diocese of Rome that pastoral evaluation “gives you permission to do less—and to do it better,” urging a multiyear discernment rooted in the Church’s real needs. Peter’s Pence Update: The Vatican says Peter’s Pence was balanced in 2025, with spending discipline and stable aid projects across dozens of countries. Beatification Spotlight: Fulton J. Sheen will be beatified Sept. 24 in St. Louis, with an El Paso parish watch party marking his local roots. Hate Speech at the UN: The Holy See’s UN diplomat said hate speech “cannot claim the protection of liberty,” warning it poisons public life and prepares the ground for violence. France’s Catholic Collapse: Vatican statistics show a steep decline in France’s priests, parishes, and sacraments since 1980. AI and Youth: A Vatican moral theologian warned that AI manipulation could harm young minds worse than drug addiction, calling for stronger safeguards. Church Governance Tension: Debate continues over Vatican authority and Germany’s Synodal Conference statutes. Vatican Finances: Pope Leo XIV repealed COVID-era salary cuts, framing it as a step toward long-term economic sustainability. Culture & Faith: A conference revisited exorcist Father Gabriele Amorth’s legacy, blending spirituality with communication.

Mary Magdalene in culture: A new look at how Mary Magdalene has been reinvented across centuries—from early Gospel witness to Renaissance penitent, Baroque sinner, and even modern pop icon—spotlights her enduring power in European art. Vatican interfaith push: The Holy See released “A Journey of Hope” marking 60 years since Nostra Aetate, urging “builders of bridges” to confront extremism, migration, secularization, and polarization. AI and human dignity: Pope Leo XIV warned that society is growing too used to delegating decisions to algorithms, while a Vatican-linked “Sphere of Humanity” gift points to a new “Codex Humanitatis” debate on what must remain human. UN hate-speech stance: The Holy See’s new UN Permanent Observer called hate speech an engine of division that prepares the ground for violence. Vatican energy plan: Despite its tiny territory, the Vatican is backing a major agrivoltaic solar project outside Rome to cut emissions and power key needs. Argentina visit tensions: Buenos Aires faces a dispute over Pride March timing as preparations for Pope Leo XIV’s arrival intensify. Vatican City holiday: 17 September will be an official Vatican holiday during Leo XIV’s pontificate, tied to St Robert Bellarmine’s feast and the pope’s name day. Church governance in focus: Pope Leo’s Sept. 16 teaching on Gaudium et Spes framed today’s tech and social fractures as a call to a single “human community.” Local Church life: Rome’s diocesan assembly at St John Lateran will stress communion and synodality, with Pope Leo presiding. Controversy watch: Fatima says it won’t cover a Rupnik mosaic despite the wider fallout from the disgraced artist’s abuse trial. Appointments: Pope Leo named Bishop Brendan Cahill to Joliet, Illinois, continuing a busy week of episcopal changes.

Interreligious Dialogue, 60 Years On: Vatican offices released “A Journey of Hope,” marking Nostra Aetate’s anniversary and urging a “fraternal society” built through dialogue—while critics like Bishop Joseph Strickland warn dialogue must not replace evangelization. Liturgy & Mission Debate: Strickland and Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò both frame the current crisis as a mission problem tied to post-conciliar reforms, with Viganò arguing liturgical change reshaped Catholic faith. AI & Human Dignity: King Charles met AI leaders and warned of “existential dangers” if systems fall into the wrong hands; Pope Leo XIV’s recent audience also stressed resisting algorithm-driven relationships. Vatican Culture & Public Life: France braces for Pope Leo’s Paris Mass after massive sign-ups, while Vatican City enters the Oscars race with the documentary “Green Lava.” Church Appointments: Pope Leo XIV named Newark auxiliary Bishop Michael Saporito to lead Metuchen, and appointed Bishop Brendan Cahill to Joliet. Faith in Action: Parishes and groups are mobilizing for Fulton Sheen’s beatification, including thousands of World Mission Rosaries made for the event.

Interreligious Dialogue, 60 Years On: Vatican dicasteries marked Nostra aetate’s anniversary with a new note, “A Journey of Hope,” urging a “new ethic of dialogue” that seeks peaceful coexistence while respecting irreducible differences. AI and Human Relationships: Pope Leo XIV warned at his general audience against delegating conscience and social life to algorithms, saying relationships risk becoming less personal and more virtual. WYD 2027 Mobilizes Locally: World Youth Day preparations for Seoul 2027 moved into dioceses and parishes after a Vatican-led international meeting, with bishops’ conferences and youth communities mapping the next steps. Nuclear Disarmament Call: Archbishop Gallagher marked Chernobyl’s 40th anniversary by urging governments to renounce nuclear weapons, stressing ethical responsibility in nuclear technology. Vatican Library Expansion: On his 71st birthday, Pope Leo XIV visited the Vatican Library and ordered a new modern building to house the library and Apostolic Archive. Vatican Salaries Reversed: He also repealed Pope Francis-era COVID salary cuts for cardinals and Vatican employees. Church, Martyrdom, and Witness: A Vatican conference on “new martyrs” highlighted contemporary Christian witness as everyday holiness, not ideology. US Visa Sanctions: The US extended visa sanctions on Palestinian Authority and PLO officials ahead of the UN General Assembly, while also denying visas to Palestinians. Culture and Craft: DePaul University announced a sustainability institute partnering with the Vatican’s Laudato Si’ Center, linking Catholic education to climate action.

AI and Human Dignity: Pope Leo XIV warned at his Sept. 16 general audience against delegating conscience and key decisions to algorithms, saying relationships risk becoming “less personal” and more virtual. Interfaith Dialogue, 60 Years On: The Vatican released “A Journey of Hope” marking Nostra aetate’s anniversary, urging Catholics to “esteem” other religions, reject Islamophobia and antisemitism, and pursue a “new ethic of dialogue” without erasing differences. Vatican Culture & Access: On his 71st birthday, Leo visited the Vatican Library and ordered a new modern building for the library and Apostolic Archive. Martyrs as Witness: At a Vatican conference on 21st-century martyrs, the pope praised everyday holiness as evangelizing power. Church in France Ahead of Visit: A French survey ahead of Leo’s Sept. 25–28 trip to Paris, Lourdes and Metz shows hopes for a “breath of new life,” especially on peace and sexual abuse. Vatican Film to Oscars: The Vatican plans to submit “Green Lava,” a documentary short on Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, for Oscar consideration. Monsignor Landry Step-Down: Monsignor Roger J. Landry took temporary leave from Pontifical Mission Societies amid misconduct allegations under investigation.

Vatican Finance Reset: Pope Leo XIV has repealed Pope Francis’ COVID-era salary cuts for cardinals and senior Vatican officials, restoring pay levels and signaling a new approach to “economic sustainability.” Vatican Archives & Culture: On the same day, Leo also moved to overturn a Francis-era plan to expand the Vatican Apostolic Archive and Library into the Lateran seminary premises, replacing it with a different arrangement. Synodality & LGBTQ+ Ministry: Italy’s first national conference on Catholic pastoral ministry with LGBTQ+ people brought bishops and pastoral workers together to share “good practices” rooted in the synodal journey. Church, Abuse, and Communication: A new book, “Truth Heals,” argues that communications must be treated as core safeguarding during clergy sexual abuse crises, not a public-relations afterthought. Martyrs of the 21st Century: A Vatican-linked commission has recorded deaths of more than 1,700 martyrs this century, with a new international congress spotlighting their witness. Human Dignity & AI Ethics: Georgetown hosted a dialogue tying Pope Leo’s AI teaching to Catholic social thought, urging stakeholders to build the future together. Arts & Identity in Conflict: The Jerusalem Patriarchate condemned a diplomatic “presentation” at Gandzasar Monastery in Artsakh that it says tried to sever the site from its Armenian Christian identity. Abortion Politics in Catholic Europe: Andorra and Liechtenstein face sharply different abortion outcomes despite Catholic constitutional roles, with Andorra aiming to decriminalize and Liechtenstein’s prince signaling resistance.

Vatican Finances: Pope Leo XIV has repealed Pope Francis-era Covid salary cuts, restoring pay for cardinals and senior Vatican officials and signaling growing confidence in the Holy See’s financial stability. Sustainability & Culture: Villanova University’s first Pope Leo XIV Sustainability Medal will go to Cardinal Michael Czerny, with the award ceremony in Rome in October. Church Leadership Appointments: Pope Leo named Newark auxiliary bishop Michael A. Saporito as the next bishop of Metuchen, ending a long diocesan vacancy. Papal Life & Learning: On his 71st birthday, Leo visited the Vatican Apostolic Library, opened the water-themed AQVA exhibition, and ordered expansion of the Archive and Library to meet rising demand. Faith, Art & Memory: A medieval Bible of Aquileia facsimile project is bringing a 12th–13th century manuscript back to life in the Vatican. Abuse-Case Communication: A new book, “Truth Heals,” urges the Church to treat crisis communication as core safeguarding, not an afterthought. Global Church in Motion: Catholics and Orthodox leaders made a pilgrimage to Mount Athos, visiting 12 monasteries. Vatican II Witness: A Milwaukee reflection highlights how Vatican II’s “spirit of witness” continues to shape local mission.

Vatican Archives Expansion: Pope Leo XIV has ordered the Vatican Apostolic Archive and Library to grow, citing rising demand and documentary output, with a new building planned inside Vatican City on the Fontana dell’Autoparco area. Birthday Gift for Staff: On his 71st birthday, Leo repealed Pope Francis’ 2021 COVID-era salary cuts for cardinals and senior Vatican officials, restoring pay from Sept. 1. Art, Water, and Culture: To mark the day, the pope inaugurated the “AQVA: Catastrophe and Wonder” water-themed exhibit at the Vatican Library, calling the library a “beating heart” of Church memory and dialogue. AI and Human Dignity: At Georgetown, speakers discussed Pope Leo’s Magnifica Humanitas, urging moral guidance as AI races ahead; meanwhile, King Charles is set to host major AI leaders, with Vatican AI adviser Paolo Benanti among those involved. 9/11 and Peace: In the Angelus, Pope Leo renewed prayers for victims and those still “bearing the wounds” of Sept. 11, linking remembrance to a renewed commitment to peace. Philippine Bishops’ Formation: A Vatican course for newly appointed bishops strengthened Bishop Sean Mejia’s resolve to advocate peace in his region.