Daily Catholic News:
Pope Leo XIV continued his visit to France, making stops at the Maison Bakhita Center and celebrating an open-air Mass at Place de la Concorde in Paris. He concluded his day at the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes. The Pope’s visit attracted an estimated crowd of 800,000 people to the open-air Mass, where he emphasized the individual worth of each person, stating that no one ‘is merely a number’.
In Illinois, a historic announcement was made by the local bishop regarding the first-ever parish to be named after Blessed Fulton Sheen. The new parish is a combination of St. Mary in El Paso, Illinois, and St. John in Benson, Illinois. This marks the first time a parish has been named after the newly blessed Fulton Sheen.
Among the many pilgrims visiting Lourdes during Pope Leo XIV’s visit was a 27-year-old woman who left her job to embrace monastic life. She joined a group of Cistercian nuns in the hope that the visit would confirm her call to a contemplative life. Her journey from foster care to Lourdes is a testament to her faith and commitment.
Finally, the Knights of Columbus highlighted their role in engaging young men at a Symposium on Young American Men. Joseph McInerney, a representative of the organization, noted that men under 35 are currently the fastest-growing membership segment. He emphasized that young men are the lifeblood of the Knights, indicating the organization’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of Catholic leaders.