Father Carmelo De Palma (1876-1961), a diocesan priest known as the “hero of the confessional,” was beatified in Bari, Italy, on November 15.

“In the many and varied duties of his priestly life, he always aimed to sanctify himself and others, practicing a constant asceticism of conformity to Christ, who for him was truly the way, the truth, and the life,” wrote Father Romano Gambalunga, the postulator of his cause.

Blessed Carmelo De Palma “was a diocesan priest who died in 1961 after a life generously spent in the ministry of Confession and spiritual accompaniment,” Pope Leo said the day after his beatification. “May his witness inspire priests to give themselves unreservedly to the service of God’s holy people.”

Pope Leo XIV celebrated Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica yesterday, the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time and 9th World Day of the Poor.

“So many forms of poverty oppress our world! First and foremost are material forms of poverty, but there are also many moral and spiritual situations of poverty, which often affect young people in a particular way,” he preached. “The tragedy that cuts across them all is loneliness. It challenges us to look at poverty in an integral way, because while it is certainly necessary at times to respond to urgent needs, we also must develop a culture of attention, precisely in order to break down the walls of loneliness.”

“In this Jubilee of the Poor, let us be inspired by the witness of the saints who served Christ in the most needy and followed him on the path of humility and self-denial,” the Pope added, citing St. Benedict Joseph Labre. (Yesterday was the final day of the three-day Jubilee of the Poor.)

Following the Mass and his Sunday Angelus address, the Pope shared lunch with 1,300 impoverished people in Paul VI Audience Hall.

Reflecting on the day’s Gospel reading of the day (Lk. 21:5-19) during his November 16 Sunday Angelus address, Pope Leo XIV spoke about the persecution of Christians.

“Christians today are still suffering from discrimination and persecution in various parts of the world,” he said to pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square. “In particular, I think of Bangladesh, Nigeria, Mozambique, Sudan and other countries from which we often hear news of attacks on communities and places of worship.”

Pope Leo also lamented attacks on civilians in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and in Ukraine, expressed his closeness to Ukrainians, and called for prayers for a “just and lasting peace” there.

Pope Leo XIV met in a private audience on November 15 with Bishop Fernando Areas Rifan, whose work in Brazil is dedicated to the Traditional Latin Mass.

The Apostolic Administration of St. John Vianney, which Bishop Rifan heads, was created in 2002 to bring peace to the Diocese of Campos, providing an alternative structure for the many Catholics devoted to the ancient liturgy.

“We asked him to continue supporting us,” Bishop Rifan said after his meeting with the Pontiff. “He was very pleased.”

Pope Leo faces a decision about the leadership of the traditionalist community in Campos, since Bishop Rifan, who celebrated his 75th birthday in October, is due for retirement.

Catholic priests in New York are reportedly a sharp increase in the number of adult converts, the New York Post reports.

At St. Vincent Ferrer church on the Upper East Side, the pastor reports a tripling of the number of adults in classes for the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults. At St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral, Father Daniel Roy reports: “We’re running out of space and exploring adding new Masses.”

Converts who spoke to the Post cited a wide variety of reasons for turning to Catholicism, generally mentioning a need for spiritual solidity.

The special ‘study groups’ set up by Pope Francis have released interim reports on their work, as have two new group established later by Pope Leo.

The study groups, commissioned after the Synod meeting of October 2024, were originally asked to submit their reports by June. Pope Leo extended the deadline for final reports to the end of December.

Although most of the interim reports focused on the collection of different perspectives and opinions, one noteworthy facet of the report from the study group assigned to discuss controversial issues expressed a preference to instead describe these issues as “emerging,” naming “homosexuality, conflicts and non-violent practice of the Gospel, and violence against women in situations of armed conflict.”

The study groups formed by Pope Francis are discussing: the Eastern churches, poverty, the digital environment, priestly formation, the role of women in the Church, bishops, consecrated life, papal nuncios, ecumenism, and “emerging” issues. Pope Leo added two groups, to reflect on the liturgy and polygamy.

Pope Leo XIV has sent a message of encouragement to participants in a conference being held in Rome this week, under the auspices of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, about providing safeguards against abuse in religious orders.

The Pope’s message stressed the need for community life that protects the dignity of everyone, especially the most vulnerable.

Pope Leo XIV met on November 17 with members of the Catholic Biblical Foundation, and told them that “your mission and vision should always be inspired by the conviction that the Church draws life not from herself but from the Gospel.”

The Pontiff reminded the group of the teaching of the Vatican document Dei Verbum, citing the need to “hear the Word of God with reverence and to proclaim it with faith,” and to offer “easy access to Sacred Scripture.” He remarked that the latter goal, easy access to Scripture, takes on new meaning in the digital age, when the internet offers instant access.

The Church celebrates the Memorial of St. Elizabeth of Hungary (1207-1231), religious. She was the daughter of Andrew II, King of Hungary, and wife of Duke Louis IV of Thuringia. She is famous for her great kindness and inexhaustible charity towards the poor and the sick.

cna