Church of the Holy Spirit

Caritas Internationalis draws attention to the devastating humanitarian crisis in Sudan amidst the ongoing conflict, urging the international community “to act now to prevent further catastrophe in Sudan.”

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“Facts In, Facts Out”: An international campaign urges major AI companies to prioritize the credibility of information in their decision-making. Increasingly, people are using AI tools to access news, but these often come distorted or decontextualized compared to their original sources. Therefore, the media are calling for AI giants to take responsibility for their role in the digital revolution.

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On Friday, 9 January, Catholics from across Jordan made their annual pilgrimage to Bethany Beyond the Jordan (Al-Maghtas) to celebrate Holy Mass for the Baptism of the Lord.

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In this week’s news from the Eastern Churches, produced in collaboration with L’Œuvre d’Orient, we go to Syria, where violence struck Aleppo on the night of 6–7 January.

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Pope Leo XIV has appointed Bishop Sithembele Anton Sipuka as the new Archbishop of Cape Town, marking a significant moment for the Catholic Church in Southern Africa. The appointment was announced in a communiqué issued by the Vatican Press Office on Friday, 9 January 2026.

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The Office for the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff has released Pope Leo’s calendar for January and February, with the Pope scheduled to preside at liturgies for the Conversion of St Paul, the Presentation of the Lord, and Ash Wednesday.

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Bishop Hanna Jallouf, Vicar Apostolic of Aleppo, laments escalating clashes between the Syrian army and the Syrian Democratic Forces in Kurdish-majority areas.

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Meeting members of the Diplomatic Corps, Pope Leo XIV warns that human rights and freedoms are under strain as diplomacy gives way to the logic of power and war.

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Beginning on 6 January, Pope Leo XIV has made use of a new pastoral staff which, as explained by the Office for the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff, “stands in continuity” with those used by his predecessors, uniting the mission of proclaiming the mystery of Christ on the Cross with the glorious manifestation of the Resurrection.

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At the end of the second day of the Extraordinary Consistory, Pope Leo XIV expressed his desire to continue along this path, “in continuity” with what was requested in the pre-Conclave general congregations, and confirmed the Ecclesial Assembly of October 2028. Cardinal Brislin of South Africa, Cardinal David of the Philippines, and Cardinal Rueda Aparicio of Colombia describe the morning and afternoon proceedings, noting there was a sense of unity, even if not uniformity.

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