In an interview broadcast in connection with the Canticle for Peace event at Castel Gandolfo, Pope Leo XIV has tonight said that his family history contains both ‘slaves’ and ‘slaveowners’.
'My family were both slaves and slave owners'
— Catholic Arena (@CatholicArena) July 29, 2026
Pope Leo XIV pic.twitter.com/lWxOLVoAlV
Carlo Acutis Youth Ireland have shared an amazing story about Glen Hansard and his interest in Saint Anthony and Saint Carlo Acutis. Hansard died tragically this morning in a motorbike accident.
Pope Leo XIV has promoted Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone to the Vatican's highest court.
Cordileone famously DENIED Communion to Nancy Pelosi over her pro abortion politics in a very public spat.
The Archbishop of San Francisco cited Canon 915 to say that Nancy Pelosi, then Speaker of the House, should not be admitted to Communion.
In May 2022, he made his instruction public.
Such a measure is only enforced in a diocese, Pelosi was able to receive Communion at high profile events in Washington DC and Rome on other occasions.
Cordileone has been appointed now to the Apostolic Signatora, the Vatican’s highest court.
The Vatican has announced another episcopal ordination under the agreement with the Chinese Communist Party.
The stated on their website:
Today, Wednesday 29 July 2026, the episcopal ordination of the Reverend Francis Xavier Duan Yongkun took place. On 15 June 2026, the Holy Father appointed him coadjutor bishop of Bameng (Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China), having approved his candidacy within the framework of the Provisional Agreement between the Holy See and the People’s Republic of China.
Curriculum vitae
The Reverend Francis Xavier Duan Yongkun was born on 6 December 1980 in Hangjin Houqi, Inner Mongolia. From 2000 to 2007 he attended the Hebei Theological Seminary. From 2008 to 2013, he studied at Peking University and Beijing Foreign Studies University. Meanwhile, on 1 January 2011, he was ordained a priest for the diocese of Bameng. From 2013 to 2016, he continued his studies at Fujen Catholic University in Taiwan. Upon returning to his circumscription, he served as director of the local formation centre from 2016 to 2020. He was subsequently appointed vicar general of the diocese of Bameng and parish priest of the diocesan cathedral.
One of Ireland’s most famous singers, Glen Hansard, has died tragically aged 56.
His death occurred in a motorcycle accident in Dublin in the early hours of this morning.
Hansard starred in famous Irish film The Commitments early in his career before finding success with The Frames. He became a global star with his Oscar winning song ‘Falling Slowly’ from the film Once, which he also starred in.
In recent years, Hansard was also known for his activism, particularly towards Dublin’s homeless, busking in the city every Christmas Eve to raise money.
In the 2010s, he took part in a documentary retracing the medieval route to the Camino Santiago de Compostela in Spain.
He had earlier covered U2’s song 40, which was composed of the words of Psalm 40.
Hansard was baptised and raised Catholic and even served as an altar boy. He later became interested in the Hare Krishna movement.
In 2018, after his Camino journey, he was asked about his relationship with faith.
‘We are drawn to the monastic life without necessarily following the teachings of the church. Getting the opportunities to sleep in churches, living a very simple life, is very attractive. Walking with only what you can carry’
When asked if he had faith, he replied ‘Absolutely. I definitely have a belief. I have a relationship with some spiritual thing. I like churches, but I don’t like the Church. I like the peace and quiet that’s in them’.
Hansard represents his generation of Irish people’s attitude to Catholicism, they were raised around it and cannot get away from it and are even attracted to its ancient pilgrimages, they raise money for its charitable endeavours, but there is some obvious relational barrier, one that is surely not impossible to overcome and it definitely falls to us in the church to try harder to do so.
He is survived by his partner and 4 year old son. Pray for his soul and for them.
Both France and Spain have been hit by horrific wildfires this summer, causing extensive damage to wildlife and even threatening major cities like Bordeaux.
One sign of hope however has emerged in Gironde.
Amidst the wreckage and destruction, a wooden Cross surviving the destruction in an image that has gone viral.
Pope Leo XIV and Andrea Bocelli will host a concert together this evening entitled ‘Canticle for Peace’.
The event will take place at Castel Gandolfo and is part of the celebrations for the 800th anniversary of the death of Saint Francis of Assisi.
Children from 164 countries will sing at the event.
Just Sayin’ #26 CA3 by George Knight
“Where There’s Life There’s Hope”
Dear Friends,
Faithful Christians find little difficulty with this old saying. Yet its roots are older than Christianity. The ancient Greek poet Theocritus (3rd century BCE) expressed something very similar: “While there’s breath in a man, there’s Hope.”
Centuries later, the Catholic poet Alexander Pope wrote, “Hope springs eternal in the human breast.”
In 2007, Pope Benedict XVI explored this theme deeply in his encyclical Spe Salvi (“Saved in Hope”). Reflecting on St Paul’s words “In Hope we were saved” (Romans 8:24), Benedict showed that the whole Christian message is contained in this proclamation of Hope — indeed, of “Hope beyond hope.”
Two great insights emerge.
First, there are two kinds of Hope: the Great Hope and the smaller, everyday hopes.
Second, for the Christian, Faith and Hope are inseparable. To believe in Jesus Christ is to Hope.
The Great Hope is that there is a life beyond this earthly one — a life where justice, mercy, peace and love reign forever. Christ taught us that Heaven is real. It is not a pious wish but a reality to be sought and hoped for with all our hearts.
Because this Hope rests entirely on Faith in the Word of God made flesh, and on the Revelation entrusted to the Church, Christian Faith and Christian Hope are one and the same.
For believers, therefore, the saying “Where there’s life, there’s Hope” rests on firm ground.
For others, however, it is far less certain. Whether life brings Hope depends on what we choose to believe, how we choose to live, and which God — or which idol — we ultimately follow.
In the end, every human being faces the same fundamental choice: life or death, “to be or not to be.” We should therefore choose deliberately, choose wisely, and choose well.
Until next Thursday — in friendship and Prayer,
God bless,
George K.
Restore God’s Kingdom
www.restoregodskingdom.ie
The 3rd Annual Dublin Eucharistic & Marian Procession will take place on August 16th.
Catholics from across Ireland will publicly witness to Christ through the streets of Dublin City Centre.
1️⃣6️⃣ *August (Sunday)*, 2026
⛪ *Start: 2:30pm – St Nicholas of Myra Church, Francis Street (D08 C7W7)*
✝️ *Finish: Holy Mass at 5:00pm – St Andrew's Church, Westland Row (DO2W274)*
*Everyone is welcome – individuals, families, young and old. Come and Walk with Christ in Dublin!*
🌐 More information: croiiosa.com
There has been huge controversy in Seville over the past number of weeks over plans to build a Mosque in Seville.
Fundación Mezquita de Sevilla is hoping to build a large Mega Mosque for long term use.
This design includes a large prayer hall, a 30-meter minaret, classrooms, a library, and public spaces.
Controversially, it has been slated for being built in Polígono Sur, an economically deprived area.
Vox have been leading the efforts to have the project stopped, organising rallies and opposition in legislation to the move.
Vox have threatened to remove local support for the PP party in retaliation for their advocacy of the Mosque.
Polígono SurEl PP pidió el voto para cambiar Sevilla. A la primera decisión importante, hace exactamente lo que habría hecho la izquierda y se escuda en que “es un terreno privado”.
— Santi Perdomo (@sperdomoloma) July 28, 2026
Gobernar no es buscar excusas. Es defender a tus vecinos cuando más importa.
Los sevillanos tomarán nota. pic.twitter.com/4ObGar3KQF
‼️ El gobierno del PP se ha posicionado de espaldas a los vecinos del Polígono Sur y ha terminado aprobando la licencia de obras para la mezquita, que no es legal y se salta a la torera el PGOU.
— VOX Sevilla capital (@VOX_SevCapital) July 28, 2026
👉 Vamos a presentar un recurso de alzada y llamaremos a las puertas de los… pic.twitter.com/cWNvbddETh
El pueblo sevillano ha hablado alto y claro en la manifestación de hoy por la futura mezquita.
— Santi Perdomo (@sperdomoloma) July 27, 2026
Cientos de vecinos han dicho NO al Islam en su barrio. pic.twitter.com/B8Zg5PgOjJ
In the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination last September, many videos and reports emerged claiming that Charlie Kirk was thinking of converting to Catholicism.
Bishop Joseph Brennan states in a video that Charlie Kirk told him that he was ‘very close’ to converting, not long before his death.
Bishop Joseph Brennan on Charlie Kirk pic.twitter.com/smDBJY8DGS
— Angel (@MediaVita33) July 27, 2026
On Sunday, Mayo broke a 75 year ‘curse’ to become All Ireland Football champions for the first time since 1951.
The curse was allegedly placed on the team that had just won that title, with a priest apparently stating that they would not win again until all members of the team had died after they were said to have disrespected a funeral that they passed on the way.
11 final defeats and their first final since the last member of the team died and many think that there was some merit to it.
On the evening of their win, Knock Shrine was lit up in their colours to celebrate their historic win.
Knock Shrine lit up in Green and Red to celebrate Mayo winning in the All Ireland Final for the first time in 75 years pic.twitter.com/0u3lnuovFE
— Catholic Arena (@CatholicArena) July 27, 2026
Since the start of this month, Pope Leo XIV has been enjoying his holiday time in Castel Gandolfo.
That period is now over as he has returned to the Apostolic Palace.
🚨 Pope Leo XIV has FINISHED his holiday and has returned to the Apostolic Palace pic.twitter.com/cLKW4qr4AP
— Catholic Arena (@CatholicArena) July 27, 2026
Former Sinn Fein MEP Martina Anderson has admitted have a baby destroyed by an abortionist.
Anderson said on RTE:
It was the hardest decision of my life. It was the most painful decision in my life. It didn’t strengthen me making that decision. In fact, it broke me but I was not for letting my comrades down
Evidently, her own Irish flesh and blood at their most vulnerable was not considered a ‘comrade’.
Her pain is contrasted with the excitement of her party’s leader Mary Lou McDonald, who was ecstatic last month after voting to remove the three day wait for abortion in Ireland, a move that will lead to thousands of more abortions per year.
The Parish of Medjugorje has released a statement on last night’s violent anti Catholic terrorist attack at the pilgrimage site.
It is with great sadness that we received the news of the act of vandalism that damaged the prayer areas in our parish. We immediately began cleaning and repairing the damage so that all areas would be properly prepared for the prayer again. We thank all those who, with their work and selfless help, participate in ensuring that the sanctuary remains a place of encounter with God, a place of peace, and a place where the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace, is honored.
In a special way, we invite all faithful to respond to this event in the way that Our Lady has been teaching us for over forty years in Medjugorje: with prayer, fasting, and forgiveness. We pray for the conversion of the hearts of those who committed this act, that the Lord may touch them with His grace and lead them on the path of goodness. We also pray for peace in the hearts of all people. Our Lady constantly invites us to be carriers of peace. May this event encourage us to take her invitation even more seriously: not to return evil for evil, but to witness love, forgiveness, and hope with our lives.
The shrine remains open to all pilgrims. The prayer program is taking place regularly, and all the spaces are being rapidly cleaned and prepared so that they can once again be a place of prayer and encounter with the Lord through the intercession of the Queen of Peace.
The annual Medjugorje Youth Festival, which takes place each year, will proceed later this week despite last night’s terrorist attack.
The youth festival regularly attracts tens of thousands of young people from all across the world and in recent years has featured high profile speakers such as Cardinal Sarah.
Repair works have started at Medjugorje after last night's terrorist attack. pic.twitter.com/nkqxtMYSfw
— Catholic Arena (@CatholicArena) July 28, 2026
Footage and images have emerged of the anti Catholic terrorist in Medjugorje being arrested for setting an altar on fire and covering statues of Our Lady in black paint.
He is believed to be Polish.
MEDJUGORJE
— Catholic Arena (@CatholicArena) July 28, 2026
The first images of the anti Catholic terrorist who set fire to an altar and covered statues in anti Catholic graffiti at Medjugorje last night pic.twitter.com/Kng3rTVzYi
MEDJUGORJE
— Catholic Arena (@CatholicArena) July 28, 2026
The DRAMATIC moment police arrested the anti Catholic TERRORIST who attacked MEDJUGORJE, setting an altar on fire and writing anti Catholic graffiti pic.twitter.com/XBhIjqlKqP
More shocking images from Medjugorje.
CCTV footage shows images of the terrorist attack on the Church of Saint James at the pilgrimage site.
MEDJUGORJE
— Catholic Arena (@CatholicArena) July 28, 2026
Footage of last night's anti Catholic terrorist attack in Medjugorje
In this clip you can see the altar being SET ON FIRE by the terrorist who also covered the area in black paint on statues and anti Catholic graffiti pic.twitter.com/P5ogY8ORbo
Medjugorje was targeted last night by anti Catholic vandals.
The vandals wrote slogans such as ‘Our Lady is the Devil. Only Jesus’.
They also painted the statue of Our Lady of Medjugorje with black paint.
The altar at the Church of Saint James was also set on fire.
Whatever one's views on the apparition, this was clearly intended as an attack on Catholics and on Our Lady.
