Members of the Allied Democratic Forces, an Islamist rebel group, attacked a diocesan health clinic in North Kivu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The Islamists “massacred patients, and then set the entire facility ablaze, killing several women in the maternity ward,” according to Vatican News, the news agency of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication.

Father Giovanni Piumatti, an Italian missionary, said that “15 people were killed in the clinic and another five in the surrounding area. They set fire to the entire facility and 27 nearby homes. Before destroying everything, they looted all the medical supplies ... They killed mothers as they were breastfeeding their babies.”

In his most recent weekly message, Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, the head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, deplored corruption.

“Our law enforcement agencies have uncovered a criminal corruption scheme that was destroying Ukraine’s energy system,” he said. “We share the pain of our society and, fulfilling the prophetic role of the Church, we consistently denounce and condemn the phenomenon we call corruption.”

Ukrainian officials face accusations of embezzling $100 million from the nation’s state-owned energy companies.

The Roman Martyrology commemorates St. Mechtilde (1241-1298), who was born to a noble family in Heifta, Saxony, and was placed in a Benedictine convent at age seven. Mechtilde was a mystic, and aided St. Gertrude with her Book of Special Graces or The Revelation of St. Mechtilde.

“K-culture is not contrary to God or our faith,” the seminarian says. In fact, he thinks it offers us fresh opportunities to collaborate and discover “even ​greater ​beauty in ​our ​faith."

Pope Leo XIV urged American Catholics to heed the US bishops’ statement on immigration, in remarks to reporters at Castel Gandolfo on November 18.

While acknowledging a country’s right to control its own borders, the Pope said: “If someone is in the United States illegally, there are ways to address this. There are courts. There is a judicial system.” But he criticized the “extremely disrespectful” treatment of illegal immigrants, especially those who have been leading a “good life” in the US for years.

The Pope made his remarks during an informal exchange in which he also answered questions about conflicts in Ukraine and Nigeria, his future travel plans, and his regular use of the papal summer residence at Castel Gandolfo. (See today’s separate CWN headline.)

During a question-and-answer session with reporters on November 19, Pope Leo XIV spoke on conflicts in Ukraine in Nigeria; his possible travel plans; his regular use of the papal summer residence; and the case of a Spanish prelate charged with abuse.

[During the same session the Pontiff also offered his support to the US bishops in their criticism of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. See today’s separate CWN headline.]

Questioned about the prospects for a peace accord in Ukraine, the Pope said: “The problem is that there is no ceasefire.” Regarding terror attacks in Nigeria he observed that “there is indeed a danger for Christians—and for everyone, Christian and Muslim.”

The Pope disclosed that he is considering travel to several places in coming months, listing the Marian shrines at Fatima and Guadalupe, and South American countries including Uruguay, Argentina, and “of course” Peru, where he had served as diocesan bishop.

Answering questions about his regular Tuesday trips to Castel Gandolfo, the Pope said that he uses his “day off” for reading, correspondence, and “a bit of tennis, a bit of swimming.”

Questioned about the case of Bishop Rafael Zornoza of Cadiz and Cueta, Spain, who has been charged with sexual abuse, the Pontiff reminded reporters that the bishop has maintained his innocence, and an investigation is underway. “Depending on the results, there will be consequences,” he said, urging patience with the judicial process.

At his weekly public audience on November 19, Pope Leo XIV said that “the death and resurrection of Jesus are the foundation of a spirituality of integral ecology.”

Continuing his series of talks on the Resurrection, the Pope remarked that St. Mary Magdalene encountered the Risen Christ in the garden where He had been buried. He reminded his audience: “Cultivating and keeping the garden is the original task that Jesus brought to fulfillment.”

Quoting from Laudato Si’, the encyclical of Pope Francis, the Pontiff said that the Resurrection is an invitation to “ecological conversion.” He added: “There are also many people who desire, through a more direct relationship with creation, a new harmony that will lead them beyond so many divisions.”

How can you tell if your relationship is on a healthy path—the kind God desires for you? This priest offers five signs to look for.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- While "creation is crying out" and millions of people suffer the effects of climate change and pollution, politicians are failing to act, Pope Leo XIV said.

As the U.N. Climate Conference, COP30, began its final week of meetings Nov. 17, the pope sent a video message to Christian representatives and activists from the global south who were holding a side event to the conference in Belem, Brazil.

The Paris Agreement adopted in 2015 at COP21 "has driven real progress and remains our strongest tool for protecting people and the planet," Pope Leo said in the video.

"But we must be honest: it is not the agreement that is failing, we are failing in our response," he said. "What is failing is the political will of some." 

While Pope Leo did not specify which nations were at fault, the U.S. government was not represented at COP30 because U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew the country from the Paris Agreement.

"True leadership means service, and support at a scale that will truly make a difference," the pope said. "Stronger climate actions will create stronger and fairer economic systems. Strong climate actions and policies -- both are an investment in a more just and stable world."

"Creation is crying out in floods, droughts, storms and relentless heat," Pope Leo said.

"One in three people live in great vulnerability because of these climate changes," he added. "To them, climate change is not a distant threat, and to ignore these people is to deny our shared humanity."

As government representatives from most of the world's countries -- more than 190 nations registered delegations -- struggled to finalize agreements on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and reducing reliance on fossil fuels, Pope Leo told the Christian activists he believed "there is still time to keep the rise in global temperature below 1.5 degrees Celsius, but the window is closing."

"As stewards of God's creation, we are called to act swiftly, with faith and prophecy, to protect the gift he entrusted to us," the pope said.

In safeguarding creation as a gift of God, he said, "we walk alongside scientists, leaders and pastors of every nation and creed."

"We are guardians of creation, not rivals for its spoils," the pope said. "Let us send a clear global signal together: nations standing in unwavering solidarity behind the Paris Agreement and behind climate cooperation."

Despite the challenges, Pope Leo told the activists, "you chose hope and action over despair, building a global community that works together."

The efforts have made a difference, he said, "but not enough. Hope and determination must be renewed, not only in words and aspirations, but also in concrete actions."
 

Today is the Optional Memorial of the Dedication of the Basilicas of Sts. Peter and Paul. The whole Church celebrates the dedication of the two great Roman basilicas of St. Peter at the Vatican and of St. Paul-Outside-the-Walls. The Basilica of St. Peter stands on the site of the tomb of the Prince of the Apostles, where Nero's Circus stood. It was here that St. Peter was executed. Recent excavations have shown that the present basilica which, in the seventeenth century replaced the ancient Constantinian basilica, was built over the tomb of St. Peter, just as the previous basilica. It was consecrated by Urban VIII on November 18, 1626. St. Paul-Outside-the-Walls, situated at the other end of the city on the Ostian Way, is built near the place St. Paul was martyred. It was almost completely destroyed by fire in 1823 and was rebuilt in sumptuous fashion by Gregory XVI and Pius IX and consecrated by the latter on December 10, 1854. The celebration of the anniversary of these two dedications has been kept, nevertheless, on November 18.