Daily Catholic News:
Pope Leo XIV has expressed his intention to visit Sydney, Australia in 2028. The purpose of his visit is to preside over the International Eucharistic Congress, an event that will commemorate the 100th anniversary of Australia’s first such gathering. This visit will be a significant milestone in the history of the Catholic Church in Australia.
In other news, Pope Leo XIV has given his approval to the new statutes of the Pontifical International Marian Academy. The Academy was established with the aim of promoting and coordinating Mariological and Marian studies across the globe. The Pope’s approval signifies his support for the Academy’s mission and its ongoing work.
In the United States, Catholic leaders have voiced their disapproval of a social media post by President Trump, which they have deemed racist. U.S. Catholic Bishops Garcia and Weisenburger, along with Cardinal Cupich, have condemned the post and are demanding an apology. President Trump, however, has denied that the post was intentionally offensive and has refused to apologize.
In international news, Secretary Rubio and other leaders have denounced the 20-year sentence handed down to Jimmy Lai, a Catholic entrepreneur and media tycoon. Chinese officials have sentenced Lai on the grounds of alleged national security violations. This sentence has been described as ‘tragic’ by those who support Lai.
Lastly, despite opposition from Catholic bishops and patient advocate groups, Governor Kathy Hochul of New York has signed into law a bill legalizing physician-assisted suicide. Critics of the bill, including patient advocates, are calling on lawmakers to ‘reexamine their consciences’ in light of this controversial decision.