WASHINGTON – News of a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah was received with “profound hope” by Bishop A. Elias Zaidan of the Maronite Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace.

“It is in a spirit of profound hope that I welcome news that, after more than a year of fighting and thousands of deaths, a ceasefire has been agreed upon by Israel and Hezbollah, beginning today, Wednesday, November 27. I am grateful for the crucial, peacebuilding role that the United States has played in this development in Lebanon and Israel. As we rejoice in this opportunity for peace to take root, I urge all parties, as well as the broader international community, to remain vigilant and to continue working toward the consolidation of peace in the region through the disarmament of Hezbollah and the full implementation of the UN resolutions concerning Lebanon; this will lead to Lebanon regaining its full sovereignty and independence.

“I pray that this ceasefire proves to be a beacon of real hope, and that it inspires greater ambitions for a lasting peace in the Middle East on all fronts, especially in the dire situation in Gaza. I join in solidarity with Pope Francis, who, in October, called for a ceasefire, saying: ‘Let us pursue the paths of diplomacy and dialogue to achieve peace.’”

###

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Not every Christian is called to be an apostle, prophet or evangelist, Pope Francis said, but all Christians can cultivate the fruits of the Holy Spirit by becoming "charitable, patient, humble, peacemakers."

Continuing his series of audience talks on the Holy Spirit, the pope explained that the fruits of the Spirit are different from charisms, which are given spontaneously by the Spirit for the good of the church. Instead, the fruits of the Spirit represent a "collaboration between grace and freedom," he said.

"These fruits always express the creativity of the person, in whom faith works through charity, sometimes in surprising and joyful ways," he told visitors gathered for his general audience Nov. 27 in St. Peter's Square.

Before the audience, Pope Francis met privately with U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, who was in Italy for a meeting of G7 foreign ministers. While at the Vatican, Blinken also met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, and Archbishop Paul R. Gallagher, Vatican foreign minister.

After riding around St. Peter's Square in the popemobile, Pope Francis was accompanied to his seat by a group of children, who then sat on the steps of the stage throughout the audience.

In his main talk on the fruits of the Spirit, the pope singled out joy as central to the Christian life.

Spiritual joy, like other forms of joy, includes "a certain feeling of fullness and fulfillment, which makes one wish it would last forever," he said.

"We know from experience, however, that this does happen, because everything down here passes quickly: youth, health, strength, wealth, friendship, loves," Pope Francis said, and "even if these things did not pass, soon, after a while they are no longer enough or even become boring" since the heart can only find fulfillment in God.

The joy of the Gospel, on the other hand, "can be renewed each day and become contagious," he said. Quoting his 2013 exhortation, "Evangelii Gaudium" ("The Joy of the Gospel"), the pope said that it is an encounter with God that saves people from isolation and which is the "source of evangelizing action."

"This is the twofold characteristic of the joy that is the fruit of the Spirit: not only does it not go subject to the inevitable wear and tear of time, but it is multiplied by sharing it with others," he said.

As an example of living the joy of the Gospel, Pope Francis highlighted the life of St. Philip Neri, the 16th-century founder of the Oratorian order, who the pope said, "had such a love for God that at times it seemed as if his heart would burst in his chest." The Italian saint is known for his work with poor children and marginalized communities as well as initiating a walking pilgrimage to seven of Rome's most significant basilicas.

Recalling that the Gospel means "good news" in Greek, the pope said that its contents cannot be communicated "with long and dark faces, but only with the joy of one who has found a hidden treasure and a precious pearl."

Pope Francis announced at the audience that beginning the following week, summaries of his audience talk will be translated into Chinese. Currently, the pope gives his catechesis in Italian, and aides read summaries in English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Polish and Arabic. 

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- To help people who cannot travel to Rome but want to pray at the tomb of St. Peter and cross the threshold of the Holy Door, St. Peter's Basilica is installing new webcams.

Franciscan Father Enzo Fortunato, communications director for the basilica, told reporters Nov. 25 that Pope Francis will inaugurate the new webcams at the tomb of St. Peter and on the Holy Door Dec. 2.

Some 30 million pilgrims and visitors are expected to pass through the Holy Door during the Jubilee Year that opens on Christmas Eve and closes Jan. 6, 2026, Father Fortunato said.

The pilgrimage, he said, will be an experience "that billions of people will be able to share remotely through a webcam positioned at the tomb of St. Peter to approach the mystery of the fisherman who had himself crucified upside down to be able to stand with his head held high before his Lord, giving rise to a pilgrimage that has continued uninterrupted for two millennia." 

Vatican Media operates a webcam on the top of the colonnade surrounding St. Peter's Square. The governing office of Vatican City state also had webcams on the top of the dome of St. Peter's Basilica and one focused on the tomb of St. John Paul II, but they no longer function. 

Meeting reporters Nov. 25, Father Fortunato also presented the first edition of Piazza San Pietro, a new magazine he is directing on behalf of the basilica. It is named after St. Peter's Square, he said, because the magazine hopes to be a place of welcome and encounter like the square is.

A unique feature of the magazine, which will be available in Italian, Spanish and English, is that Pope Francis will respond to a letter from a reader each month, Father Fortunato said.

Letters can be sent to lettere@piazzasanpietro.va for consideration, he said.

In the December issue, Pope Francis responds to Olivia, a grandmother in Bergamo, Italy, who wonders what she should do about her 5-year-old granddaughter who has not been baptized. 

"Baptism is a great gift that we can give little ones because it is the first of the sacraments; it is the door that allows Christ the Lord and the Holy Spirit to live, to make a dwelling place in us," the pope responded. "But baptism cannot be imposed on parents who do not want it for their children."

Pope Francis recommended that Olivia and her husband, "with hope, meekness and charity," talk to their daughter and her husband, but not push the idea of having their daughter baptized.

"Gratuitous love is more persuasive than many words," the pope responded. "Love for God plants seeds for the future, for friendship, for searching for him, and it is not for us to know the timing."

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Doubling down on the centrality of synodality in the Catholic Church, Pope Francis said that it is now up to local churches to accept and implement proposals from the final document approved the Synod of Bishops on synodality.

Approved by the pope, the synod's final document "participates in the ordinary magisterium of the successor of Peter, and as such, I ask that it be accepted," the pope wrote in a note published by the Vatican Nov. 25.

"Local churches and groupings of churches are now called upon to implement, in different contexts, the authoritative indications contained in the document, through the processes of discernment and decision-making provided by law and by the document itself," he wrote nearly a month after the synod's close.

The final document outlined key priorities for the church, including increased participation of laity through new ministries and adjusted governing structures, greater transparency and accountability among church leadership and creating space for previously marginalized groups.

After synod members voted to approve the final document, Pope Francis announced that he would not write the customary apostolic exhortation after the synod but would instead offer the document to the entire church for implementation.

With the exceptions of the first synods convoked by St. Paul VI in 1967 and 1971, all ordinary assemblies of the Synod of Bishops have been followed by an exhortation on the synod's themes and discussions by the pope.

In his note, Pope Francis clarified that while the document is "not strictly normative" and must be adapted to contexts where it is applied, it still obligates "local churches to make choices consistent with what was indicated" in the document.

He also underscored the need for time to address broader churchwide issues, such as those assigned to the 10 study groups he set up in the spring to explore issues raised during the synod, including women's ministry, seminary education, relationships between bishops and religious communities, and the role of nuncios. More groups may be created, the pope said.

The conclusion of the general assembly of the Synod of Bishops "does not end the synodal process," he wrote.

Quoting his 2016 exhortation, "Amoris Laetitia" on marriage and family life, the pope wrote that "not all doctrinal, moral or pastoral discussions must be resolved by interventions of the magisterium," rather the bishops of each country or region can seek "more encultured solutions" to issues involving local traditions and challenges.

He added that the final synod document contains recommendations which "can already now be implemented in the local churches and groupings of churches, taking into account different contexts, what has already been done and what remains to be done in order to learn and develop ever better the style proper to the missionary synodal church."

"In many cases it is a matter of effectively implementing what is already provided for in existing law, Latin and Eastern," while in other contexts local churches can proceed with the creation of "new forms of ministry and missionary action" through a process of synodal discernment and experimentation.

Pope Francis also specified that during bishops' "ad limina" visits to Rome, each bishop will be asked to discuss what choices have been made in his local church regarding what has been indicated in the final synod document, reflecting on the challenges and the fruits.

Meanwhile, he said, the General Secretariat of the Synod and the various dicasteries of the Roman Curia will be tasked with overseeing the synodal journey's "implementation phase." 

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- While world events can seem chaotic, violent and out of control, Christians can be certain that "everything is ultimately subject to the judgment of Christ, the just and merciful king," Pope Francis said at Mass.

"Those who destroy people, who make wars, what will their faces look like when they come before the Lord? 'Why did you make that war? Why did you kill?'" God will ask. "And they, how will they reply?" the pope said Nov. 24, the feast of Christ the King.

The Mass in St. Peter's Basilica also marked the local celebration of World Youth Day. Fifteen young people from Portugal, where the international celebration of World Youth Day was held in 2023, and 15 from South Korea, where the global gathering for World Youth Day will be held in 2027, joined the pope for the liturgy.

Cardinal Kevin J. Farrell, prefect of the Dicastery for Laity, the Family and Life, the Vatican office that organizes the youth gatherings, was the main celebrant at the altar. 

At the end of the liturgy, before the Portuguese young adults passed the World Youth Day cross and Marian icon to their peers from South Korea, Pope Francis offered a special prayer that the symbols would be a source of consolation and strength for young people living in situations of war and violence.

The pope prayed that wherever the cross and icon are taken "may there be a growth in certainty about the invincible love of God and fraternity among people."

In his homily, Pope Francis said that passing the symbols on "is an invitation to all of us to live out the Gospel and take it to every part of the world, without stopping, without being discouraged, getting up after every fall and never ceasing to hope." 

Urging the young people to keep their gaze "fixed on Jesus, on his cross and on Mary, our mother," the pope told them that Mary is the one who, "in moments of difficulty, is at the foot of our crosses to help us because she is our mother, our mom."

Frequently adding to his prepared homily, the pope encouraged the young people to never be ashamed of who they are and what they believe, but to follow Jesus' example of love, self-giving and service.

"God loves you just as you are," the pope told them. "Before him, the innocence of your dreams is worth more than success and fame -- it's worth more -- and the sincerity of your intentions are worth more than worldly approval."

"Do not settle for being 'stars for a day' on social media or in any other context," he said. "You are called to shine in a wider sky" and to do so through concrete acts of love and caring.

"In heaven, the infinite love of the Father is reflected in our countless little lights," Pope Francis said. "His love is revealed in us through the faithful affection between spouses, the innocent joy of children, the enthusiasm of young people, caring for the elderly, the generosity of consecrated persons, the charity shown toward the poor and the honesty upheld in work environments."

"No approval you receive can save the world or make you happy," he said. "Only the free gift of love can bring us happiness." 

The Gospel reading for the day was St. John's account of Pilate questioning Jesus about being a king and about his kingdom.

Addressing people gathered in St. Peter's Square for the recitation of the Angelus prayer after Mass, the pope told them that in Pilate's world "the strong triumph over the weak, the rich over the poor, the violent over the meek -- a world which we know well, unfortunately."

Affirming that Christ is king, Christians recognize that "his kingdom is not of this world. Jesus' world, indeed, is the new world, the eternal world, which God prepares for all by giving his life for our salvation."

Jesus "redeems creation ruined by evil with the power of love; with the power of divine love Jesus saves creation because Jesus liberates, Jesus forgives, Jesus brings peace and justice," the pope said.
 

KYIV, Ukraine (CNS) — Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, head of the U.S. Archdiocese for the...

PHILADELPHIA (CNS) — Everybody needs a hobby, as the saying goes, including seminarians. For Rob...

NAIROBI, Kenya (CNS) — Eritrean authorities have freed Catholic Bishop Fikremariam Hagos Tsalim after 75...

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis will soon pack his bags for his first foreign...

“The Spirit of Catholicism” by Father Vivian Boland, OP. Bloomsbury Continuum (New York, 2022). 272...