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Vatican cardinal says new 'Chapel of Liberation' exhibit is not about liberation theology (L'Osservatore Romano (Italian))

The prefect of the Dicastery for Culture and Education said that “Chapel of Liberation,” a new exhibit in his dicastery’s contemporary art museum, is not about liberation theology.

In a December 10 speech introducing two exhibits by Brazilian artist Jonathas De Andrade, Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça said that the artist shows “strength of prophetic aspiration,” as well as “the opportunity and complexity of the Church-World dialogue, religion and secularization, mystical dimension, and political commitment.”

“Jonathan de Andrade’s aim in ‘The Chapel of Liberation’ is not to validate a particular aesthetic or create a monument to a specific theological movement—namely, liberation theology, because monumentalizing is freezing time in an image—but rather to make us reflect on the social responsibility of Christians today, which will have different expressions than those of yesterday,” the cardinal added.

Christian archaeology can contribute to ecumenism and evangelization, Pope tells pontifical institute (CWN)

Pope Leo XIV received faculty and students of the Pontifical Institute of Christian Archaeology on December 11, the 100th anniversary of its establishment by Pope Pius XI, and said that Christian archaeology is its own specific discipline that can contribute to ecumenism, diplomacy, and evangelization.

Leading Polish bishops meet with Pope, say papal visit is needed (Polish Episcopal Conference)

During a papal audience that took place yesterday, the officers of the Polish Episcopal Conference invited Pope Leo XIV to visit Poland—a visit that the bishops described as “eagerly awaited and needed.”

The Pope, in turn, said that “he already has a lot of things on his calendar in 2026 and 2027, but that he will take [the invitation] into consideration,” according to the episcopal conference.

The Pope and the prelates also discussed Church-state relations, the sexual abuse crisis, and the current activities of the Polish episcopate.

Papal praise for Kazakhstan's contribution to building peace, interreligious dialogue (The Astana Times)

Pope Leo XIV received Mäulen Äşimbaev, president of the Senate of Kazakhstan and head of the Secretariat of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, in an audience yesterday.

Pope Leo XIV “commended Kazakhstan’s contribution to global peacebuilding,” The Astana Times reported. “According to him, Kazakhstan’s initiatives in interreligious dialogue reflect an important ‘commitment to peace and global well-being,’ and he reaffirmed the Holy See’s support for the congress and its mission.”

Äşimbaev also delivered an official invitation from the nation’s president to visit the central Asian nation.

Vatican publishes 82 homilies of Benedict XVI (Vatican News (Italian))

Libreria Editrice Vaticana, the Vatican publishing house, has published Dio è la vera realtà [God Is the True Reality], a collection of 82 previously unpublished homilies by Pope Benedict XVI.

The Pontiff delivered the homilies both before and after his resignation, between 2005 and 2017; all were delivered during Ordinary Time.

Archbishop Georg Gänswein, Pope Benedict’s private secretary and current apostolic nuncio to three Baltic nations, spoke at yesterday’s presentation of the book.

Pope, leading Italian rabbis discuss need to combat anti-Semitism (Comunità Ebraica di Roma)

Pope Leo XIV received Riccardo Di Segni, the chief rabbi of Rome, and Rav Alfonso Arbib, chief rabbi of Milan and president of the Assembly of Rabbis of Italy, in an audience yesterday.

Pope Leo and the rabbis discussed the urgent need to combat anti-Semitism, according to the Jewish Community of Rome. The community described the “reciprocal respect” during the meeting as “profound.”

Vatican newspaper warns of 'culpable' mass starvation, hypothermia in Gaza (CWN)

The Vatican newspaper warned that “over two million people across the [Gaza] Strip are now at risk not only of starvation but also of freezing.”

Filioque clause 'no longer an obstacle,' says Vatican cardinal (DOM Radio (German))

Cardinal Kurt Koch, the prefect of the Dicastery for Christian Unity, believes that two theological issues that have blocked ecumenical progress with the Orthodox churches can now be overcome.

Debates over the filioque clause and papal infallibility “can be resolved in such a way that they no longer represent an obstacle” to union with the Orthodox churches, the German cardinal said, in an interview with Die Tagespost.

Cardinal Koch said that in pursuing ecumenical efforts, it is crucial to ask: “What unity do we actually want?” He said that some Protestant denominations hope for an accord in which all Christian communities recognize each other. “This,” he said, “is a completely different idea, which is incompatible with the Catholic view.”

Dec. 12 Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe (USA), Feast

In the USA the Church celebrates the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, elsewhere it is an Optional Memorial. Our Lady appeared to an Indian convert named Juan Diego on December 9, 1531. She left a marvelous portrait of herself on the mantle of Juan Diego. This miraculous image has proved to be ageless and is kept in the shrine built in her honor, the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe. In 1910, Our Lady of Guadalupe was declared Patroness of Latin America, and in 1945 Pope Pius XII declared Her to be the Empress of all the Americas.