Good morning and happy Saturday.
The Vatican announced this week that Cardinal Archbishop Blase Cupich (Chicago, Illinois) would be appointed to the Pontifical Commission for the Vatican City state. Essentially the Commission serves as a sort of “board of governors” to oversee the day to day operations of the world’s smallest country.
As is usual when any high-profile clergyman in the United States gets moved to a new position, the self-appointed Vaticanistas and theologians on X and the blogosphere spent time speculating for what this could possibly mean.
Some have argued that this is a promotion for Cardinal Cupich; others claim it is a way to get him out of leading a diocese. A few argued that this is a “clear and sure sign” that Pope Leo XIV wants to follow the legacy of Pope Francis, for better or for worse.
I would encourage you to not spend much time thinking about it. For the vast majority of us, we are not subject to the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of Chicago and decisions of the bishop there have no force on our day to day lives. These types of debates are distractions from what is truly important: a relationship with our Lord through his church.
When we waste time worrying about what this or that could mean for the future of the Church, we are ignoring, to our own peril, the needs of our own families, parish, and diocese. We should be asking ourselves: “what have I done this week to promote or participate in activities in my parish or diocese?”
Working to make my community a better, holier place is far more important than pondering every decision the pope or a bishop makes. After all, for centuries, communities had no idea what decisions the pope was making due to great distances that have since been closed by communication technology.
This week I hope that we will step back from online bickering and let the Holy Father do what he thinks he needs to do and leave the administration of other dioceses to the bishops appointed to lead them. At the same time, we ought to spend some time in prayer asking our Lord to take care of and guide all of our bishops so that their flocks, too, become holier communities.
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Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time
This Sunday at Mass, we will hear from Exodus 17:8-13, Psalm 121, 2 Timothy 3:14-4:2, and Luke 18:1-8.
Here is a calendar for the rest of the week:
Monday, 20 October - Memorial of St. Paul of the Cross, priest (optional)*
Wednesday, 22 October - Memorial of St. John Paul II, pope (optional)
Thursday, 23 October - Memorial of St. John of Capistrano, priest (optional)
Friday, 24 October - Memorial of St. Anthony Mary Claret, bishop (optional)
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12
In the news:
The United States
Leo XIV: Our Anti-Americanist Pope - Ken Craycraft in Catholic World Report
For those who need some red: Why Christ won’t let his church ordain women - Larry Chapp in the National Catholic Register
Pope Leo XIV’s Augustinian Order is gaining renewed interested in the United States - NPR
Jim Caviezel out, Jaako Ohtonen in as Jesus in sequel to Passion of the Christ - Variety
The Vatican
Pope boards Bel Espoir youth ship - Vatican News
Russian reset required in Rome - George Weigel in Denver Catholic
Pope Leo XIV to welcome King Charles and Queen Camilla to the Vatican next week - Vatican News
The World
Two thousand join Rosary march in London - National Catholic Register
For those who need some blue: A glimmer of hope—but what is needed for a just and lasting peace in Gaza? - The Editors of America Magazine
Italian bishops and Latin Patriarchate to build new hospital in Gaza - The Catholic Herald
Have a good weekend,
Matthew