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Mozambique Bishop appeals for solidarity after church set on fire by jihadists

Jihadists have attacked another parish in Mozambique, in the province of Cabo Delgado. Bishop Juliasse Ferreira Sandramo calls for international solidarity, saying that "for nine years churches and chapels have been destroyed and burned.”

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Pope ordains four bishops for Rome: Be men of peace and unity

Pope Leo XIV, Bishop of the Diocese of Rome, ordains four priests as auxiliary bishops, urging them to remain available to all, to proclaim God’s closeness, and to rekindle hope.

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Iran talks still no closer

President Donald Trump said Friday that Iran “wants to make a deal,” but added he was not satisfied with the latest proposal.

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Pope: In times of change, we must give ourselves generously

Pope Leo receives employees of the Italian Bishops' Conference, telling them that in an era of “profound changes” the Lord asks us to “not to withdraw into ourselves or to be afraid, but rather to give of ourselves generously”.

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St. Athanasius: Saint of the Day for Saturday, May 02, 2026

St. Athanasius, also known as Athanasius the Great and Athanasius the Confessor, was a bishop and doctor of the church. He is called the "Father of Orthodoxy," the "Pillar of the Church" and "Champion of Christ's Divinity." Athanasius became one of the most dedicated opponents of the heresy of Arianism. Much of his life was a testimony to the divinity of Jesus Christ. Born in either 296 or 298 in Alexandria, Egypt to a prominent Christian family, Athanasius received a wonderful education in ...

Lord's Day Reflection: 'The Way Through Anxiety'

As the Church celebrates the Fifth Sunday of Easter, Fr. Marion Nguyen, OSB, offers his thoughts on the day’s liturgical readings under the theme: “The Way Through Anxiety".

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Holy See: Disarmament the only true way to achieve secure peace

The address of the Holy See’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York at the 11th Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons underscores how the "total elimination of nuclear weapons" is "a necessary responsibility that calls for concrete and credible steps."

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Pope Leo: The Papal Foundation’s generosity shows goodness of God

Pope Leo XIV meets with a delegation from The Papal Foundation, and expresses his support for their charitable activities that have helped many in the Church.

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The Papal Foundation reveals record-setting grants for Church-run projects

As it meets with Pope Leo XIV, The Papal Foundation announces it has approved over $15 million in grant allocations for 2026, a record in its 38-year history.

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Pope Leo XIV Accepts Resignation of Bishop James Tamayo of the Diocese of Laredo; Appoints Reverend John Gomez as Successor

WASHINGTON – Pope Leo XIV has accepted the resignation of Bishop James A. Tamayo, 76, from the pastoral governance of the Diocese of Laredo, and has appointed Reverend John Jairo Gomez, as Bishop-elect of Laredo. Father Gomez is a priest of the Diocese of Tyler and currently serves as the vicar general of the diocese. The resignation and appointment were publicized in Washington, D.C., on May 1, 2026, by Cardinal Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States.

The following biographical information for Bishop-elect Gomez was drawn from preliminary materials provided to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops:

Father Gomez was born on December 15, 1975, in Colombia. He received his master of divinity from the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas (2009), and a licentiate in canon law from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome (2012). He was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Tyler on May 23, 2009.

His parish assignments after ordination include: pastor at Holy Cross parish in Pittsburgh, Texas (2012-2017); pastor at Christ the King parish in Kilgore (2017-2018); and pastor at St. Charles in Frankston (2018-2020). His assignments for the Diocese of Tyler include: judicial vicar (2014-2015); member of the diocesan presbyteral council (2014 to present);; member of the diocesan college of consultors (2015 to present); member of the board of directors for Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Tyler (2015 to present); member of the diocesan review board (2017 to present); member of the East Texas Catholic Foundation Board of Directors (2017 to present); member of the board of directors for the diocesan priest retirement plan (2017-2022); diocesan director of the Pontifical Mission Societies (2017 to present); member if the Catholic Association of Diocesan Directors of Hispanic Ministry (2022 to present); delegate of the apostolic administrator (2023-2025). He served as vicar general and moderator of the curia for the Diocese of Tyler from 2015 to 2023 and has also been serving in the role again from 2025 to present. 

Bishop-elect Gomez is a native speaker of Spanish.

The Diocese of Laredo is comprised of 10,905 square miles in the State of Texas.

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