By Matthew Trojacek with CNA Reports – Grzegorz Galazka and CNA photos
August
Wednesday 6
Pope Commemorates Atomic Bombing Anniversary
In a message on the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Pope Leo XIV called on the international community to renew its commitment to lasting peace and an end to nuclear weapons.
“True peace demands the courageous laying down of weapons—especially those with the power to cause an indescribable catastrophe,” Pope Leo said in a letter addressed to Bishop Alexis M. Shirahama of Hiroshima. “Nuclear arms offend our shared humanity and also betray the dignity of creation, whose harmony we are called to safeguard.”
Referencing the phrase “war is always a defeat for humanity,” coined by his predecessor, Pope Francis, Leo further stated that “in our time of mounting global tensions and conflicts,” the memory of Hiroshima and Nagasaki should “urge us to reject the illusion of security founded on mutually assured destruction.”
“It is thus my prayer that this solemn anniversary will serve as a call to the international community to renew its commitment to pursuing lasting peace for our whole human family,” the Holy Father concluded. (CNA)
Sunday 10
Vatican Publishes Regulations on Awarding Public Contracts
The Vatican issued an update to its public procurement regulations to streamline steps in the Holy See’s contracting processes while maintaining integrity and transparency.
The new general executive decree was signed on August 5 by the prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy, Maximino Caballero Ledo, and took effect on August 10.
The decree contains the implementing regulation from Pope Francis’ 2020 apostolic letter in the form of motu proprio regarding “Norms on Transparency, Control, and Competition in the Procedures for the Award of Public Contracts of the Holy See and the Vatican City State.” The apostolic letter was later amended by the subsequent 2024 motu proprio titled “To Better Harmonize,” which updated the Holy See’s code of contracts.
The decree reaffirms the Vatican’s mission to provide equal treatment to operators and to prevent discrimination among bidders. It also aims to promote cost effectiveness and to simplify bureaucratic steps to avoid delays. (CNA)
Monday 11
Pope Leo XIV Approves Measures for Families of Employees
Pope Leo XIV has approved a series of measures that benefit Vatican employees, expanding paternity leave, the rights of parents with disabled children, and granting family subsidies.
A document published August 11 and signed by Maximino Caballero, prefect of the secretariat for financial affairs of the Holy See, lists the “Provisions for the Family” approved by the Holy Father following an audience on July 28.
These resolutions were previously unanimously accepted by the council of the Labor Office of the Holy See, a body composed of representatives from various entities of the Holy See and the Vatican Governorate as well as their respective employees.
Regarding paternity leave, the pontiff established that a father is entitled to five days of 100% paid leave after the birth of a child.
Parents of children with proven severe disabilities will be entitled to three days of paid leave per month, which may be taken in a row as long as the child is not hospitalized full time.
In addition, a monthly subsidy was introduced for families with severely disabled or incapacitated members as well as for pensioners in the same situation. (CNA)
Thursday 21
Thousands Join SSPX Jubilee Pilgrimage to Rome
The Priestly Society of Saint Pius X processes to St. John Lateran Basilica on its pilgrimage on the occasion of the Jubilee Year 2025
Nearly 8,000 Catholics from 44 countries joined the 680 clergy and religious of the Priestly Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX) on its pilgrimage to Rome on the occasion of the Jubilee Year 2025. On three different days, August 19-21, the pilgrims entered the Holy Doors of first the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, then Saint John Lateran Basilica, and finally Saint Peter’s Basilica.
While the Society was not allowed to celebrate Mass at any of these major churches in Rome together with all the pilgrims, they were officially mentioned by the Vatican in the calendar of the Jubilee Year, and seating was provided for them in these different churches.
Priests of the SSPX told LifeSite that they were thrilled and joyful about the possibility to pray and sing at Saint Peter’s together with all their confreres and faithful. (LifeSite)
September
Saturday 13
New U.S. Ambassador Presents Credentials to Leo XIV
On September 13, Pope Leo XIV received Brian Burch, the new U.S. ambassador to the Holy See
On September 13, Pope Leo XIV received Brian Burch, the new U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, in the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace for the formal presentation of his letters of credence.
According to a U.S. embassy statement, the two men discussed the ongoing wars in Ukraine and Gaza as well as “protecting religious freedom, the Vatican’s relationship with China, and the AI revolution.”
Regarding the assassination of conservative Christian activist Charlie Kirk, “Pope Leo underscored that our political differences can never be resolved with violence and told Ambassador Burch that he was praying for the widow of Mr. Kirk and his children,” the embassy said.
The ambassador also presented the Pope, who turned 70 on September 14, with a personalized birthday cake.
Burch, 50, was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on August 2 in a 49-44 vote.
He was nominated by President Donald Trump in December 2024 and succeeds former ambassador Joe Donnelly, who served under the Biden administration. (CNA)
Thursday 18
Pope Leo on Vatican Finances: “I’m not losing sleep over it”
Pope Leo XIV downplayed concerns of the ongoing financial crisis at the Vatican in a recent interview, arguing that “things are going to be OK” regarding the Holy See’s finances even as more work is needed.
The Holy Father made the remarks as part of a wide-ranging interview with Crux senior correspondent Elise Ann Allen.
The interview appears in Allen’s biography on the pontiff, “Leo XIV: Citizen of the World, Missionary of the 21st Century,” published in Spanish on September 18. An English version of the book will be published in early 2026.
Allen asked Leo about the financial situation of the Vatican, noting that the Pope has previously indicated that the crisis is “not as bad as it’s sometimes been made out to be.”
The Holy See’s pension fund has been facing a major shortfall after years of budget deficits.
Admitting that the Vatican has to “continue to work” to address the issue, Leo told Allen: “I’m not losing sleep over it.” (CNA)
October
Monday 6
Pope: Vatican Can Use Outside Banks
Pope Leo XIV has permitted the Holy See’s main financial body to use financial institutions outside the Vatican for its investment activities, reversing Pope Francis’ 2022 instruction to move all funds to the so-called Vatican bank in the wake of Vatican investment controversies.
In the legal order, Leo said the Vatican’s asset management body, the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See (APSA), should generally use the Institute for the Works of Religion (IOR) — better known as the Vatican bank — for its investment activities, unless the competent bodies “deem it more efficient or convenient to use financial intermediaries established in other countries.”
The Pope said he consulted experts and evaluated recommendations from the Council for the Economy for the rescript, called Coniuncta Cura (“Shared Responsibility”). (CNA)
Tuesday 7
Pope Leo’s First International Trip will be to Lebanon
Pope Leo XIV in conversation with Joseph Khalil Aoun, President of Lebanon, in the Vatican on June 13, 2025.
Pope Leo XIV is planning to visit Lebanon November 30-December 2 on his first foreign visit, the Vatican announced — a trip that would give history’s first American Pope a chance to speak in broad terms about peace in the Middle East and the plight of Christians there.
A visit to Lebanon is the second leg of a planned visit to Turkey November 27-30 to commemorate the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea with the Orthodox Church.
Speaking to Vatican News’ Olivier Bonnel, the Apostolic Vicar of Beirut, Bishop César Essayan, said that the Pope’s visit to Lebanon would be “a great sign of hope” in a war-torn region.
“We sincerely hope,” he added, “that his visit will bring a breath of peace and be a moment of renewal for us all, and that we will recognize that there is no path for humanity other than that of peace through dialogue, justice and respect for the dignity of every human being.”
Leo, like his predecessor Pope Francis, has consistently called for peace and dialogue in the Middle East, especially as Israel’s offensive has raged on in Gaza.
The last Pope to visit Lebanon was Pope Benedict XVI in September 2012. (Vatican News)
