By Matthew Trojacek with G. Galazka photos
Swiss Guards send supplies to Ukraine
The Pope’s charity has arrived once again at the epicenter of the conflict in Ukraine, extending his solidarity to the devastated region of Kharkiv, one of the areas most stricken by Russian bombings. On August 12, after an arduous four-day trip from Rome, trucks loaded with essential supplies, such as food, medicine, clothes, and hygiene products, reached their destination, giving respite to the population.
This humanitarian effort, organized by the Dicastery for Charity, under the direction of Polish Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, is a continuation of the aid that the Vatican has been carrying out since the beginning of the war.
On this occasion, young members of the Pontifical Swiss Guard, the Pope’s personal bodyguard, played a crucial role, dedicating hours to load the trucks manually in the Roman parish of Saint Sophia.
The aid, which was not only received by the local community but also shared with the Greek-Catholic Church of the region, was welcomed with profound gratitude.
In an emotive message captured on video, Greek-Catholic Bishop Vasyl Tuchapets, of the Kharkiv Eparchy, expressed his gratitude to Pope Francis and the Holy See for their constant support. (Zenit)
Pope Francis meets with Amazon founder Jeff Bezos
In an unexpected meeting, Pope Francis welcomed Amazon founder Jeff Bezos to Casa Santa Marta for a private audience on August 15.
Bezos, one of the world’s wealthiest individuals with a fortune estimated to exceed $200 billion, was accompanied by his fiancée, Lauren Sánchez.
The visit, unannounced by the Vatican and kept off the official agenda, has sparked curiosity and speculation about the topics discussed.
Sánchez offered a glimpse into the meeting through her social media, expressing the couple’s deep honor at being received by the pontiff.
She described the encounter as profoundly moving, highlighting Pope Francis’ wisdom, warmth, and humor.
According to Sánchez, one of the key subjects of discussion was the urgent need for climate action — a cause close to the hearts of both Bezos and the Pope. (Zenit)
Archbishop says Africa’s opposition to “LGBTQ+” rights not “cultural” but biblical
Archbishop Andrew Nkea Fuanya of Cameroon’s Bamenda archdiocese addressed this topic during the August 23 session of the ongoing weekly synodal discussions, organized by the Pan-African Catholic Theology and Pastoral Network (PACTPAN) in collaboration with the Conference of Major Superiors of Africa and Madagascar (COMSAM).
“When we went to the Synod, it was clear that Africa had to take responsibility for its own destiny,” Nkea said.
“We knew we had to make our voice heard in the first phase of the Synod.”
He explained that making Africa’s voice heard was “not talking purely from a cultural background.”
The archbishop said Africa was talking “from the background of the traditions of our fathers and from the background of the teachings of the Church.”
“In presenting our points at the Synod, therefore, we did not want to be seen as presenting points of Africa because of the culture from which we came.
“Our stand had nothing to do with culture; it was about fidelity to the truth; fidelity to what Christ taught; it was about fidelity to what the Apostles handed down to generations,” he said. (Crux)
Pope offers refuge to Myanmar’s jailed Suu Kyi
Pope Francis meets Aung San Suu Kyi in Myanmar (2017)
Pope Francis has offered to give refuge on Vatican territory to Myanmar’s detained former leader Aung San Suu Kyi, Italian media reported on September 24.
“I asked for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and I met her son in Rome. I have proposed to the Vatican to give her shelter on our territory,” the Pope said according to an account of meetings with Jesuits in Asia during his trip there earlier this month.
The Corriere della Sera daily published an article by Italian priest Antonio Spadaro giving extracts from these private meetings, which took place in Indonesia, East Timor, and Singapore between September 2 and 13.
Suu Kyi, 78, is serving a 27-year prison sentence on charges ranging from corruption to not respecting Covid pandemic restrictions. In 2015, her National League for Democracy won Myanmar’s first democratic election in 25 years.
She was arrested by the military when it staged a coup in 2021 and is said by local media to be suffering health problems in detention. (UCANews)
Denver parish at heart of scandals involving Peru-based lay group
Ten key members of a controversial lay movement in Peru, the Sodalitium Christianae Vitae (SCV), have been expelled from the group as part of an ongoing Vatican investigation of charges of abuse and misconduct, including alleged financial irregularities.
The announcement comes after over a year of inquiry by the Vatican’s top investigating duo, Maltese Archbishop Charles Scicluna, an adjunct secretary to the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, and Spanish Monsignor Jordi Bertomeu, an official in the same department.
The expelled members include Eduardo Regal, superior of the SCV’s Denver-based community; Father Daniel Cardó, pastor of the SCV-run Holy Name parish in Denver; and Alejandro Bermúdez, a journalist and former head of the EWTN-owned ACI Group, an international media conglomerate that includes the English-language Catholic News Agency website.
He lives in the SCV Denver community house and now runs Tilma Strategies LLC and is a consultant for Catholic media, including the website Catholic Vote.
The expulsions, announced by the Peruvian Episcopal Conference (CEP), were personally approved by Pope Francis. (Crux)
Sister Agnes Sasagawa, Our Lady of Akita visionary, dies at 93
Sister Agnes Sasagawa, a Japanese nun of the Handmaids of the Holy Eucharist whose purported visions of the Virgin Mary under the title of Our Lady of Akita included stark warnings for humanity and instructions to pray the rosary and repent of sin, died August 15 at age 93.
She famously received a purported series of messages from Mary and witnessed other supernatural phenomena beginning 50 years ago.
Bishop John Shojiro Ito of Niigata, who founded Sasagawa’s order and died in 1993, gave the faithful in his diocese permission to venerate Our Lady of Akita in April 1984 after eight years of investigation, finding that her messages contain “nothing contrary to Catholic doctrine or morals.”
The Vatican, which earlier this year issued new norms mandating that the Vatican’s top doctrinal office “must always be consulted and give final approval” to alleged Marian apparitions, has not officially ruled on Our Lady of Akita. (CNA)
Churches shelter people escaping violence in Lebanon
Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon meant to target Hezbollah militants have led to over 550 deaths, including 50 children and 94 women, the Lebanese Health Ministry said. Christian churches in the country are sheltering people escaping violence.
“People are now living in church halls, so they will need food, sanitary products, mattresses, blankets, and if it continues, we will need heating for winter, though of course, we hope it will not last that long,” said Marielle Boutros, project coordinator in Lebanon for the pontifical charity Aid to the Church in Need.
According to The Associated Press, the Lebanese Health Ministry told journalists on September 24 that 16 paramedics and firefighters were among those killed, and 1,835 people had been wounded in the attacks.
Despite concerns by world leaders of escalating violence in the Middle East, Israel has expanded its attacks against Hamas by targeting its closest ally in Lebanon. (UCANews)
Japanese sculptor to receive prestigious Ratzinger Prize
For the first time, a native of Japan will be awarded the Ratzinger Prize, begun in 2011 to recognize scholars whose work demonstrates a significant contribution to theology in the spirit of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the Bavarian theologian who became Pope Benedict XVI.
When Etsurō Sotoo, born in 1953 in Fukuoka, Japan, visited Spain in 1978, his life changed. In Barcelona, impressed by the Sagrada Familia basilica then under construction, he asked to work on the project as a sculptor. 
Following instructions left by Antoni Gaudí, the renowned Spanish architect of the monument, Sotoo began his work on the basilica’s Nativity façade. During his stay in Barcelona, Sotoo converted to Catholicism and was baptized. Sotoo became an enthusiastic advocate of the cause of canonization of Gaudí, known as “God’s architect.” 
Sotoo’s handiwork is found in various parts of the Basilica of the Sagrada Familia and in other places in Spain as well as in Japan and Italy, in the Cathedral of Florence. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See, is scheduled to present the prize on Friday, November 22. (CNA)
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