In 2022, an estimated 258 million people in 58 countries experienced crisis-level acute hunger, according to the World Food Programme (WFP), the global humanitarian organization addressing food security. Russia’s recent decision no longer to allow Ukraine to export tons of grain means more people are likely to go hungry. In response to the rising concern, Bishop David J. Malloy of Rockford, chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on International Justice and Peace, called on global leaders to do more to ensure food security for all. Read Bishop Malloy’s full statement. Pope Francis asked the 1.5 million young people who attended World Youth Day to take "what God has sown into your hearts" back to their home countries and build a joyful church that is open to all. Look back at the significant moments and messages of Pope Francis' Aug. 2-6 trip to Portugal. • Watch: Huge crowds gather for WYD vigil, papal Mass • Watch: U.S. pilgrims celebrate WYD The next WYD has been announced. Taking place in Seoul, South Korea, WYD 2027 will be the first to take place in on mainland Asia. Korea has a growing Catholic population of about 11 percent, or 6 million believers. Pope Francis has also announced the Jubilee of Youth in Rome 2025 for the interim. See you in Seoul in 2027!

Upon the anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Bishop David J. Malloy of Rockford, chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace, issued a statement in remembrance and support of nuclear arms control. Visit www.usccb.org/nuclear for more information and resources on the bishops’ teachings related to nuclear disarmament.

Pope Francis spoke about the observance of World Day Against Trafficking in Persons on July 30th. The USCCB’s Anti-Trafficking Program aims to educate on the scourge of human trafficking as an offense against the fundamental dignity of the human person, to advocate for its end, and to provide training and technical assistance to support survivors. Learn more and get involved at https://www.usccb.org/topics/anti-trafficking-program.

More than 28,600 young people and 60 bishops travelled from the United States to Lisbon, Portugal for World Youth Day. Follow the latest stories from the global celebration at https://www.usccb.org/newsroom.

The fourth African National Eucharistic Congress was held in Washington, DC on July 19-23. It brought together African Catholics from across the United States for worship, fellowship, and workshops. Learn more at https://anec-us.org.

 The National Black Catholic Congress, which meets every five years, also gathered on July 20-23. An estimated 3,000 Black Catholics from 80 dioceses renewed their mission and worked on a pastoral plan for local implementation. https://nbccongress.org/

 Bishop Robert Barron, chairman of the Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth, offers his thoughts on Natural Family Planning Awareness Week, which is an annual educational campaign. https://www.usccb.org/topics/natural-family-planning/national-nfp-awareness-week

 At the recitation of the Angelus on July 23 following a Mass in commemoration of the Day of Grandparents and the Elderly, Pope Francis was joined at the papal balcony by a young person and his grandmother. The young man will attend World Youth Day in Lisbon next week, and the Holy Father noted the significance of the proximity of these two days, seeing it as an invitation to promote an alliance between generations.  

On July 14, 2023, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Secretariat of Child and Youth Protection released the 2022 Annual Report – Findings and Recommendations on the Implementation of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. This is the twentieth such report since 2002 when the U.S. bishops established and adopted the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, a comprehensive framework of procedures to address allegations of sexual abuse of minors by Catholic clergy and establish protocols to protect children and young people.

The international World Youth Day celebration takes place every 2-3 years, typically in the summer months and on a major scale. The next one of these will take place soon, from Tuesday to Sunday, August 1 to 6, 2023, in Lisbon, Portugal with millions of people and the Holy Father.  The U.S. Bishops invite all young people across the United States to be a part of this global event - in person, digitally, or stateside. Learn more at https://www.usccb.org/topics/world-youth-day/international-celebration.

On July 7, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the implementation of new family reunification parole (FRP) processes for nationals of Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. Read the statement from Bishop Seitz, chair of the Committee on Migration, and the press release: https://www.usccb.org/news/2023/us-bishops-migration-chairman-responds-new-family-reunification-programs 

On July 9, Pope Francis named twenty-one new cardinals, including two with deep ties to the United States: U.S.-born Archbishop Robert Prevost, Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, and Archbishop Christophe Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States. The cardinals-designate will be installed during a consistory in Rome on September 30. 

The Vatican has released names of several hundred participants in the upcoming Synod on Synodality in October. Along with bishops and cardinals from around the world, the Holy Father personally appointed other participants, including some non-bishop voting members. Catholic Current spoke with Archbishop Paul Etienne of Seattle, one of delegates appointed by Pope Francis. 

In May, Pope Francis created the Ecclesiastical Province of Las Vegas, comprised of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Las Vegas, and the suffragan dioceses of Reno and Salt Lake City. At the same time, he named Most Reverend George Leo Thomas, as the first Metropolitan Archbishop of Las Vegas. On June 19th, the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, Archbishop Thomas received the pallium in Rome. Watch the CNS Rome video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L27V8k6tMqk&t=3s

The Vatican Observatory resumed its biennial summer school program for young scientists around the world. Read the CNS Rome story: Rising stars: Vatican hosts astronomers of tomorrow for summer school. Watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QnnUx_ymYk&t=28s

Beginning June 22, the feast of Sts. Thomas More and John Fisher, the USCCB invited Catholics to pray, reflect, and act to promote religious freedom. Visit the Religious Freedom Week website. Statement from the Chairman of the Committee on International Justice and Peace released a statement on religious persecution in Nicaragua in April. Read the statement.

https://www.usccb.org/news/2023/us-bishops-international-justice-and-peace-chairman-ongoing-religious-persecution

The working document for the Synod of Bishops in October was released by the Vatican on June 20th. The document will form the basis for the discernment and discussion for the participants of the first session of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops to be held in October 2023 in the Vatican.

Read the CNS story (https://www.usccb.org/news/2023/synod-document-asks-how-increase-unity-participation-mission-outreach).

Press release (https://www.usccb.org/news/2023/usccb-welcomes-release-instrumentum-laboris-first-session-xvi-ordinary-general-assembly).

The Archdiocese of St. Louis held its second annual ‘Forgive Us Our Trespasses’ Maafa and prayer service to remember enslaved persons and acknowledge the archdiocese’s involvement with the institution of slavery.

Read the story from the St. Louis Review (https://www.archstl.org/-forgive-us-our-trespasses-maafa-and-prayer-service-remembers-enslaved-persons-8740).

Learn about the USCCB Subcommittee on African American Affairs (https://www.usccb.org/committees/african-american-affairs) and the Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism (https://www.usccb.org/committees/ad-hoc-committee-against-racism).

Pope Francis blessed a four-foot-tall monstrance for the U.S. National Eucharistic Congress in 2024 and spoke about how at Mass that morning he was thinking about Jesus' great gift of himself in the Eucharist, a gift that nourishes and consoles believers. Read the CNS story. Learn more about the Eucharistic Revival at (https://www.eucharisticrevival.org/)

Archbishop Christophe Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, spoke with Catholic Current about the gifts and challenges of the Catholic Church in the United States.

Bishop Andrew Cozzens, chairman of the Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis, shares incredible stories of a pilot pilgrimage for the upcoming Eucharistic Congress.

Following the bishops’ overwhelming approval of the new national pastoral plan, Bishop Oscar Cantú talks with Catholic Current about strengthening Hispanic/Latino Ministry in parishes and dioceses.

The bishops have voted to begin a process of consultation and eventual revision of the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Ministry.

Forty-five years after the landmark pastoral letter on disabilities, the USCCB voted to begin drafting a new statement. Bishop Michael Burbidge, episcopal moderator of the National Catholic Partnership on Disability, shares his enthusiasm for the upcoming document.

In his opening address to the bishops, the apostolic nuncio Archbishop Christophe Pierre exhorts the baptized to be “ambassadors for Christ.” 

The bishops’ plenary assembly held its first public session on June 15th in Orlando, Florida, where the bishops have gathered for fraternal dialogue and listening.

Among the agenda items was the advancement of the local cause of beatification and canonization of the five Shreveport martyrs, who heroically ministered to victims of an 1873 yellow fever epidemic in Shreveport, LA. 

Several of the presenters spoke about the ongoing Synod on Synodality (https://www.usccb.org/synod) and the Eucharistic Revival (https://www.usccb.org/resources/welcome-national-eucharistic-revival).

The Catholic bishops of the United States are preparing to meet in Orlando, Florida for their spring plenary assembly. Agenda items include the upcoming Synod on Synodality, a new national pastoral plan for Hispanic ministry, a plan for the ongoing formation of priests, the 2025-2028 USCCB strategic plan, revisions to certain English liturgical texts, and more. Watch the plenary assembly either live or as video-on-demand at www.usccb.org.

The bishops of Florida have appealed a planned execution. Catholic Current spoke with Krisanne Vaillancourt Murphy of the Catholic Mobilizing Network about alternatives to the death penalty.

Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, president of the USCCB, asks for prayers as Pope Francis recovers from recent abdominal surgery.