“Worth your weight in walnuts”
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Our Sunday Visitor
World, religious leaders unite in prayer for Pope Leo
By Junno Arocho Esteves, October 12, 2026
Prominent political and religious leaders from around the world expressed well wishes and prayers for Pope Leo XIV after he announced he would undergo surgery to remove a lung nodule. The pope made the surprise announcement on Oct. 11 while addressing pilgrims during his Sunday Angelus. After doctors detected “a small, localized nodule” in his lung, Pope Leo said he would follow their advice and “undergo surgery to remove it.” “The operation is already scheduled to take place in the coming days,” he said. ” I thank you for your spiritual closeness and entrust myself to your prayers.” The surgery announcement came as Pope Leo prepares to embark on his longest international trip to date: a 12-day apostolic visit to Latin America, including stops in Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru. About the first stop on the pope’s Nov. 6-17 apostolic trip, Cardinal Daniel Sturla of Montevideo told journalists Oct. 11 that although the announcement “was a surprise,” the pope’s greetings to the Peruvian pilgrims showed that “the plans remain the same.”
Related: Pope Leo XIV to Be Admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on Tuesday - Ishmael Adibuah/EWTN News, October 12, 2026
Related: Leo keeping regular schedule in lead-up to surgery - Kathleen N. Hattrup - I.Media, Aleteia, 10/12/26
National Catholic Register
Thank God we venerate the saints
By Victoria Arruda, October 6, 2026
Each saint is different, with unique qualities and struggles, yet they point us in the same direction. That is why praying before their bodies — as Masaccio shows us — is like praying before a mirror. The saints look at us as if to say, “Take courage; I have been where you are, and this cross will be worth it,” while we look at them, filled with hope, and say, “I, too, will be like you.” St. Peter is a relatable apostle; he said and did wrong many times. He doubted, failed, fled, and betrayed. Still, Jesus was willing to love and welcome him back, entrusting him even more. His life echoes the hope that we can fall, but it’s never too late to be forgiven and start again. Thank God for St. Peter; thank God for the saints. Through this beautiful practice of praying before them, the Church invites us to see not only our future (“For dust you are and to dust you shall return”), but also how our choices today have eternal consequences for our souls.
EWTN News
Leo XIV calls death penalty ‘inadmissible’: Public execution in US
By Victoria Cardiel October 12, 2026
Pope Leo XIV described the death penalty as “inadmissible” in a message posted on social media on the occasion of the World Day Against the Death Penalty on Saturday, Oct. 10. “The death penalty is inadmissible because it attacks the inviolability and dignity of the person.” He emphasized that society's protection and justice can be guaranteed without resorting to capital punishment. He said, “The common good can be protected, and the requirements of justice can be safeguarded without resorting to capital punishment: effective penitentiary systems have already been developed that protect citizens and, at the same time, do not entirely deprive the guilty of the possibility of redemption.” Cardinal Pietro Parolin criticized the planned public execution. “It is truly incomprehensible that anyone would want to resort to this method in this day and age.”
PIMA Asia News
Turkey’s Christians: Names denied and properties demolished
By Turkey, October 12, 2026
Homes expropriated, properties and buildings demolished before a court ruling on the legality of the measure, and families being denied recognition of their ancestral family name linked to their Assyrian-Chaldean ethnicity. The situation of Christians in Turkey has recently seen worrying incidents of religiously motivated abuse and persecution, often perpetrated with the endorsement of local and central authorities. Last week, in the province of Şırnak in the country's south-east, the mayor of Azekh (better known as Idile) was also involved. Four Christian citizens affected by the measures have taken legal action. However, authorities demolished their buildings before the court could rule on the objections. Authorities also took action against a guesthouse belonging to the Syriac Orthodox Church of the Virgin Mary. The families involved say this is an attempt to “intimidate” the Assyrian-Chaldean community and to weaken its ties with its homeland, as some of the demolished properties belonged to families who had emigrated to Europe.
The Pillar
Museum mix-up: Fulton Sheen and the ‘Patronal Medal’
By Michelle La Rosa, October 9, 2026
The Catholic University of America created the Patronal Medal in 1974. It later became a joint honor from the university and the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, which sits adjacent to it. The medal — which bears a simple blue and white design — acknowledges efforts to further theology or devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is awarded at Mass at the basilica on or around December 8, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Blessed Fulton J. Sheen became the first recipient of the Patronal Medal on April 16, 1975, a few weeks before he turned 80. Though initially envisioned as an annual award, the Patronal Medal was awarded periodically beginning in the 1990s. The award was last bestowed in 2016, to Robert Comstock and Sandra Andreas McMurtrie. At the Fulton Sheen Museum in Peoria, Ill., a placard says the medal is “a yearly Catholic honor awarded for excellence in broadcasting.” That’s not quite true, it turns out. The museum said the mistake may have been introduced accidentally during a collections reorganization and will be corrected.
Zeale
Polling predictions conflict with other voter metrics
By Zeale News Team, October 10, 2026
While numerous polls suggest a “blue wave” threatening even Republican congressional seats considered “safe” — and dead heats in Senate races like Texas’ — some data point to a potential “undertow” that may boost or bolster Republican candidates. According to CNN’s chief data analyst Harry Enten, Republicans are in a significantly better position in swing states in terms of voter registration than they have been in years. “So when you take a look at how people are actually registering — this is not polling data — compared to where we were eight years ago, Republicans are doing considerably better in what are the swing states, at least normally, in presidential elections,” Enten said. While most Republican voters are, according to polls, less enthusiastic to vote this year than their Democratic counterparts, there “is another definite wave we are seeing … Voters 65 and over are the most enthusiastic to vote of all demographics. And they have moved back to the GOP in big numbers,” said pollster and political analyst Matt Towery.
Aleteia
Jesus the ‘Great Persuader’ knew marketing
By Tom Hoopes, October 11, 2026
From one angle, Jesus was radical and demanding, commanding people to change themselves and spelling out the dire consequences for those who didn’t. He didn’t mince words or pull his punches, but we don’t think of him as a severe, strict taskmaster because he knew the art of persuasion. In fact, when Jesus says, “Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ Anything more is from the evil one,” he seems to disallow modern marketing altogether. He proposed radical change to the woman at the well, confronting her with her sins — but used “positive messaging” about getting a drink in the heat of the day. While his call to action was “Repent!”, he framed repentance as being rescued like a lost sheep, recovered like a lost coin, or feasting like a returning son. He sold his “product,” the Gospel, using pre-existing categories in his audience’s minds—finding buried treasure, obtaining a costly pearl, or catching a lucrative haul of fish.
Zenit
Death threat: Mexican Bishop exposes risks facing Church leaders
By ZENIT Staff, October 11, 2026
An offer of 40,000 Mexican pesos to anyone willing to attack Bishop Juan Espinoza Jiménez of Aguascalientes has prompted condemnation from Mexico’s Catholic hierarchy, calls for protection from state legislators and a criminal investigation into online threats. The episode has also revived a wider question confronting the Church in Mexico: whether its bishops and priests can speak publicly about violence, disappearances and government accountability without becoming targets themselves. The controversy escalated after a message attributed to social media personality José Lápiz offered the money in exchange for an assault on Espinoza. The post included insults directed at priests. After criticism mounted, Lápiz reportedly questioned whether his words should be taken literally, but continued making hostile remarks against members of the Church and referred to offering money for their heads. The message was subsequently removed.
Keep informed - 10/12/26 news for Catholics:
Snippets: EWTN News, Aleteia, & Catholic World News
EWTN News
EWTN’s top headlines — October 12, 2026
EWTN News provides reliable, free, up-to-the-minute news affecting the Universal Church, with updates on the Holy Father's words and the Holy See.
Breaking the stigma: Rome conference highlights Catholic mental health ministry - By Ishmael Adibuah - A conference in Rome last week brought together clergy, pastoral workers, and mental health professionals to discuss how to overcome the stigma surrounding mental health in the Church. The conference, “A Healing Presence: The Church’s Call to Mental Health Ministry,” was held in Rome from Oct. 9–10.
St. Carlo Acutis’ doctors recall his last days in the hospital - By Courtney Mares - Fifteen-year-old Carlo Acutis died within a week of being diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia. Following his beatification, his doctors and hospital chaplain recalled their memories of his final days.
Many Australian Catholics who skip Mass still keep the faith, bishops’ study finds - By EWTN News Staff - Many Catholics in Australia who do not regularly go to Sunday Mass still pray, believe Jesus is the Son of God, and say their faith matters, according to a study released Oct. 7 by the countryʼs bishops. “Despite their irregular attendance, most participants remained deeply connected to their faith.”
Aleteia
Aleteia’s free access to Catholic news
Launched in 2013, Aleteia is a free online daily news publication. The site is available in six languages (French, English, Portuguese, Spanish, Polish, and Slovenian). Aleteia reaches nearly 50 million people worldwide, making it one of the leading online Catholic media outlets.
Vatican scholarships to keep Christians in the Middle East - Daniel Esparza - The Apostolic See is ensuring scholarships are available for the faithful in Syria, Lebanon, and Iraq to receive a Catholic education. Our goal is to support young people, so that Christian families will have the assistance required to remain in the Middle East and maintain a Christian presence.”
The Vatican’s long, ongoing conversation with Silicon Valley - Daniel Esparza - Silicon Valley does not normally lobby the papacy. The fact that it is doing so now says something about what the Vatican is perceived to represent: a moral authority with 1.4 billion followers, a long philosophical tradition, and no corporate stake in the outcome.
Bishops of suffering Nicaragua will visit Rome this week - Cyprien Viet - The ad limina visit of Nicaragua’s bishops to Rome, during the week of October 12, comes against a backdrop of continued persecution of the Catholic Church by Daniel Ortega’s regime.
Catholic World News
CatholicCulture.org from Trinity Communications
Catholic World News (CWN) is an independent Catholic news service staffed by lay Catholic journalists, dedicated to providing accurate global news from a distinctly Catholic perspective.
Archbishop Viola has been appointed Archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica - Pope Leo XIV named Archbishop Francesco Viola, O.F.M., secretary of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, as the new Archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica on Oct. 10. Archbishop Viola succeeds Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, O.F.M. Conv., whom Pope Leo transferred last week to a small Italian archdiocese.
The dangerous myth of ‘conscious’ AI - No, Claude is not conscious, and never will be. No, an AI system cannot be a morally responsible actor. The fact that the creators of these systems are (or claim to be) uncertain about these issues is profoundly unsettling. They are offering us a very powerful tool—that much is unquestioned—and yet they are not sure whether in the long run we will use the tool or the tool will use us.
The New Right’s Antisemitism Problem Is Real. So Is the Old Right’s Agenda - In fact, Oct. 7th—the biggest mass slaughter of Jews since the Holocaust—was the moment a lot of people around the world decided, “Hey, Hamas has a point. I’m ticked at the Jews too.” That this would be the catalyst for an uptick in global Jew-hatred is one of the strangest phenomena I have ever witnessed.
October 12, 2026 - USCCB Daily Mass Readings
You can listen HERE — or read HERE:
Monday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time
Today’s Catholic commentary:
First Things
Armenia’s unbroken courage
By Gerald McDermott, October 12, 2025
In mid-September, I joined a lunch with the leaders of a village in Syunik, southern Armenia. The president of neighboring Azerbaijan has been threatening for several years to “return” this region to its “ancient” mother. (Azerbaijan was founded in 1918.) In practice, this would mean doing what Azerbaijan has already done to multiple regions of historic Armenia: expelling their Christian residents, bulldozing their churches and cemeteries, and filling them with Muslims and mosques. During lunch, I asked the wiry sixty-year-old village leader of Svarants what he and his fellow Armenians would do if the Azeris attacked. Without hesitation, he smiled and said, “We will fight.” I had no idea that for 96% of Armenians in the land today, Christianity is integral to their personal and national identity. They are proud that their country was the first Christian nation (A.D. 301). Ethnic cleansing is ongoing. Islamic Azerbaijan has seized piece after piece of Armenian territory, killing over ten thousand Armenians in several wars and attacks and erasing Christian culture.
Zenit
The Vatican clarifies its position on ‘chivalric orders’
By ZENIT Staff, October 11, 2026
After numerous requests for information about the Holy See’s position on chivalric orders dedicated to saints or bearing sacred titles, the Secretariat of State reiterates what it has published in the past. To avoid misunderstandings that are unfortunately possible due in part to the unlawful issuance of documents and the improper use of sacred places, and to prevent the continuation of abuses that ultimately harm many people acting in good faith, the Holy See reaffirms that it attaches no value to knighthood diplomas and related insignia issued by unrecognized organizations and does not consider the use of churches and chapels for so-called “investiture ceremonies” to be appropriate. The Holy See recognizes and protects only the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.
Catholic Weekly
Holy obedience leads to trust and communion
By Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP, October 9, 2026
Amid dramatic cultural and ecclesiastical change in the post-conciliar period, many experiments to renew religious life failed, yielding not only invisibility but also disorientation, hemorrhaging, and diminishment. Particular congregations entered terminal decline, and some people questioned whether religious life had a future. Can we expect young people to commit their whole life to it? What would be their relevance, identity, mission? What is still essential about consecrated life and what is merely accidental? This year we mark three decades since St John Paul the Great’s apostolic exhortation, Vita Consecrata. Rather than reinvent the wheel of consecrated life, he began with Christ and His Gospel and then mined the riches of Christian tradition. He noted that religious life is not primarily about vows, habits, structures, or works, important as these are, but about consecration to Christ and, through Him, to the Father.
The Catholic Thing
Why are America’s indigenous seen as peaceful environmentalists?
By Robert Royal, October 12, 2026
Christopher Columbus was partly motivated by the desire to “preach the Gospel to all nations.’ He was right to do so. You don’t have to turn to the Mayan, Aztec, and Incan cultures built on human sacrifice to understand that. Anyone who looks, for instance, at how the North American Martyrs (Catholics and others used to, and should again) were brutally tortured and killed — the way all prisoners, native and European, were treated by several Northeastern tribes — may wonder why Europeans are regarded as brutal villains and Indigenous as peaceful environmentalists. Columbus didn’t bring slavery to the Americas. It was already here and widespread. Indigenous forms of imperialism and colonialism were, too. As for the acknowledgment of “stolen lands,” the history of the place tells a melancholy tale; in fact, several.
Image of Coconut by Celio Nicoli from Pixabay
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