reflections, updates and homilies from Deacon Mike Talbot inspired by the following words from my ordination: Receive the Gospel of Christ whose herald you have become. Believe what you read, teach what you believe and practice what you teach...
Pope Leo urges Catholics to pray and fast for vocations
As he meets with Uruguay's Bishops, clergy, and religious, Pope Leo XIV urges Catholics in dioceses around the world to pray and fast for vocations to the priesthood and religious life.
By Edoardo Giribaldi
"From Montevideo’s cathedral, I invite my brother Bishops around the world to encourage their dioceses to observe days of prayer and fasting for an increase in vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life."
During Vespers with Bishops, priests, deacons, men and women religious, and seminarians at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and Saints Philip and James in Montevideo, Uruguay, Pope Leo XIV encouraged dioceses worldwide to follow the example of the local faithful, who came together for days of prayer and fasting for vocations.
"May parishes, families, and religious communities join in this prayer, and may this country’s example encourage many others to pray with the same trust!" he appealed.
How the Uruguayan initiative began
The Pope recalled that the initiative in Uruguay began in 2024, when the interdiClergy ocesan seminary received no new candidates. That prompted the faithful to gather “to ask the Lord to send laborers into His harvest.”
They have persevered in prayer ever since. “Today we give thanks,” he said, “that several young people have begun their journey in the seminary and in consecrated life and are here with us.”
"What a joy to know that people continue to respond generously to Christ’s love!" he said. "I thank with all my heart those who have sustained this prayer, and I encourage them to persevere. Recognize these fruits as proof that our God hears his people’s prayers."
An earlier appeal to abstain from hurtful words
The appeal came at the end of the first day of the Pope’s Apostolic Journey to Latin America. Pope Leo had previously urged the faithful to set aside time to fast from food and to pray, both individually and together.
In his message for Lent 2026, the Bishop of Rome called for a practical and often overlooked form of abstinence by “refraining from words that offend and hurt our neighbor.”
In the same message, he said fasting must always be practiced “in faith and humility” if it is to remain true to the Gospel.
Fasting and prayer for peace
At the end of his General Audience on August 20, 2025, Pope Leo XIV also invited the faithful to observe August 22, the memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary, as a day of “fasting and prayer.”
He asked Catholics to implore the Lord to “grant us peace and justice” and to “dry the tears of those who suffer” because of ongoing armed conflicts.
Pope at Mass in Uruguay: ‘Carry forward evangelizing mission with enthusiasm’
Celebrating Mass in Paysandu, Pope Leo XIV recalls the many people of faith who came to the Rio de la Plata region and encourages Uruguayans to "continue the legacy left to us by these sowers of the Gospel."
By Christopher Wells
“Today, the Liturgy of the Word invites us to recall the presence of so many people of faith who came to the Río de la Plata region,” Pope Leo XIV said on Saturday during Mass in the Paysandu, Uruguay.
In a homily dedicated to the theme of mission, the Holy Father said, “From the earliest days of evangelization on this continent, they arrived in the name of the Lord to proclaim the great joy they themselves had experienced in encountering Christ.”
Continuing the legacy of mission
He remembered in particular the first Bishop of Montevideo, Blessed Jacinto Vera, “who bore faithful witness to the faith through generous charity and total dedication to the apostolic mission.”
After recalling Blessed Jacinto’s missionary labors, Pope Leo said, “Today it is our turn to continue the legacy left to us by these Sowers of the Gospel,” with “justice, honesty, and faithfulness, recognizing that the message we proclaim does not belong to us. It is a treasure we have received from the Lord, and we carry it in earthen vessels.”
Pope Leo celebrates Mass in Paysandú (VATICAN MEDIA)
Symbols of faith and mission
The Pope offered three symbols from the region to reflect “on the treasure of faith we have received, and the mission now entrusted to us”: the nearby General Artigas International Bridge, the palm groves of the area, and the mate drink.
The bridge demonstrates the values of openness, communication, and exchange, highlighting “the vocation to which we are called: to build bridges, strengthen bonds, unite, communicate, and share the joy of faith.”
Palm trees are “a beautiful image of our origin and the destiny to which we are called," he said.
At the same time, they do not stand alone but form groves; “likewise, the Church is a community of brothers and sisters that sinks its roots and draws from a common spring: the word of God, the sacraments, prayer, and charitable works.”
Finally, mate, the characteristic South American drink, is a sign of “familiarity, friendship and encounter” that “teaches us to share and to be together, strengthening the bonds that unite us as brothers and sisters.”
Pope Leo noted that “the symbols we share… speak to us of our origins and point us to the future.”
‘Christ is counting on you!’
Faith, too, he said, “has been a part of the life of the Uruguayan people since their earliest days, and it must be passed on to future generations with creative courage.”
Pope Leo XIV encouraged the faithful “to carry forward the mission of evangelization with enthusiasm,” encouraging them to be bridges so that others may encounter Jesus; a fraternal community “that shares life, projects, dreams, and hopes, especially those in need”; and “a community of prayer that maintains an ongoing dialogue with the Lord.”
Christ, he said, “is counting on all of you! Christ is counting on you!”
The Holy Father concluded his homily with a prayer that Our Lady of the Thirty-Three, the patroness of Uruguay, might “protect you on their journey through life, and always guide you to an encounter with her Son, Jesus.”
Feast Day: November 7 Patron: of convulsions; epilepsy; epileptics; Luxembourg; Netherlands; archdiocese of Utrecht, Netherlands Birth: 658 Death: 739
Apostle of the Frisians, missionary bishop, and founder of Echternach. St. Willibrord was born in Northumbria around 658. As a young man he entered the monastery of Ripon under St. Wilfrid, and later traveled to Ireland, where he spent twelve formative years at Rath Melsigi, an important Anglo-Saxon monastic settlement, located in what is now the townland of Clonmelsh, County Carlow. There he trained under Sts. Egbert and Wigbert and received a thorough spiritual and missionary education.
Around 690, Willibrord set out with twelve companions to evangelize the Frisians in what is now the Netherlands. Wishing to ground his work in ecclesial authority, he journeyed to Rome, where Pope Sergius I approved his mission. On a second visit in 695, the pope consecrated him archbishop to the Frisians, establishing his see at Utrecht.
Willibrord carried out his mission with strong support from the Frankish leader Pepin of Heristal, whose patronage gave him access and protection throughout the region. In 698, Willibrord founded the great monastery of Echternach (in present-day Luxembourg), which became the center of his missionary operations and a major cultural and spiritual hub.
His ministry extended beyond Frisia, reaching into Denmark and northern Germany, and he often faced violent opposition from pagan groups. One well-known episode describes an attempt on his life after he destroyed a pagan idol.
The mission suffered a major setback after Pepin’s death in 714, when King Radbod of Frisia reclaimed lost territories and drove out Christian missionaries. Many of Willibrord’s gains were temporarily undone. After Radbod’s death in 719, Willibrord resumed his work with renewed vigor, assisted by St. Boniface, who regarded him as a mentor.
St. Willibrord spent his final years at Echternach, where he died on November 7, 739. He is honored throughout the Low Countries and Luxembourg as the "Apostle of the Frisians."
Pope in Uruguay: Church offers Jesus Christ and hope proclaimed by Gospel
Pope Leo XIV begins his Apostolic Journey to South America with a discourse on the common good, reflecting on democracy, our duties toward future generations, care for human dignity and for those most in need, and peaceful coexistence.
By Christopher Wells
“I have come” to Uruguay, Pope Leo XIV said on Friday, “as the Successor of Peter and as a shepherd, with the desire to meet the pilgrim Church in this land and to draw near, with affection, to all her people.”
In the first major address of his Apostolic Journey to Uruguay, Pope Leo took inspiration from La Redota, the foundational event in the history of Uruguay, to reflect on the meaning of the common good.
Local authorities estimate that Pope Leo was welcomed by approximately 30,000 people along the route and in Plaza Independencia (VATICAN MEDIA)
Quoting José Artigas, the Father of Uruguay, the Pope said governing authority comes from “a specific community and is accountable to that community.”
Public authority, he continued, “finds its raison d’être (reason for being) in service to the common good and is called to exercise it within the framework of law, with respect for the freedom and responsibility of the citizenry.”
The Pope emphasized the value “of structures that allow participation in public life, define powers of institutions, and provide for elections for those who govern.”
Concern for the future
At the same time, he insisted on “the duty to pass on to future generations the goods we have received,” highlighting Uruguay’s “remarkable” efforts to promote renewable energy.
“Concern for the future,” Pope Leo said, also includes caring for the unborn, being attentive to the education of children, and preserving the human dignity of the elderly.
He went on to express concern for those with “hidden burdens,” such as loneliness, anxiety, and the loss of hope. Noting the “painful reality of suicide,” Pope Leo said, “adequate health care, family ties, and the closeness of the community are inseparable,” adding, “no one should ever feel like a stranger among their own, or think that their absence matters less than their presence.”
Mentioning his own recent experience of illness – a bout with cancer that involved the surgical removal of part of one of his lungs – Pope Leo lamented the many people who lack the means for “a timely diagnosis or the treatment they need.”
“Ensuring that health care is accessible to everyone,” he said, “regardless of their resources, is a duty that confronts every society.” For the Church, this commitment is based on Christ’s commandment to “serve Him in those most in need.”
It is incumbent on everyone, he continued, “to ensure that each person can live with dignity, receive the care they need, and be accompanied until the natural end of his or her life.”
The Pope stressed that ensuring that everyone has access to healthcare “regardless of their resources, is a duty that confronts every society.” (VATICAN MEDIA)
For her part, in cooperating with all those who work “to alleviate suffering,” the Church “contributes what is unique to her: a hope that does not fade when human resources reach their limits and which reminds those undergoing trials that their lives always retain meaning and value, that they are not alone, and that even in dark times they do not cease to be loved by God.”
Peaceful coexistence in diversity
Pope Leo XIV then went on to highlight the diversity of Uruguay’s population, and the significance of peaceful coexistence, even among people of different backgrounds and unequal resources.
The Holy Father spoke strongly about the obligation for states to ensure that “believers and non-believers can live together in respect and freedom.” This does not mean that religion must be “confined to the private sphere,” however.
Citing the Second Vatican Council, he insisted that no one can be compelled to act against their conscience, or prevented from acting on it, privately and publicly, individually or in groups, within due limits.
“On the basis of this freedom, individuals and religious communities can contribute to the common good while respecting the autonomy of civil institutions.”
Expanding on this theme, the Pope argued that this respect and “harmonious coexistence” must extend to relations with other countries. “Persevering in respect for law, negotiation, and the patient search for agreements is a service Uruguay can continue to offer its neighbors.”
Pope Leo said the monument to Artigas and the Redota—the backdrop to his address—revealed an “enduring element of the life of Uruguay: the responsibility of each person to another, which has allowed people of different generations to persevere in building a shared history.”
Offering Christ and His Gospel
Finally, after recalling how the ties that bind the Holy See to Uruguay go back to the earliest years of the nation’s independence, Pope Leo said, “with her history of faith and service dating back centuries, the Church wishes to continue offering the Uruguayan people what she herself has received — Jesus Christ and the hope proclaimed by his Gospel — and to cooperate, through her own mission, with all those who work to promote the common good and the dignity of every person.”
Pope Leo XIV was ‘confident South America trip would go ahead’
Aboard the flight to Uruguay, Pope Leo XIV expresses his happiness at making the visit, introduces the new Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication, Montserrat Alvarado, and says he is “proud to be American and to exercise the right to vote.”
By Salvatore Cernuzio – Aboard papal plane
After Pope Leo XIV underwent lung surgery at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, many doubted whether he would be able to travel to Latin America. The Pope, however, said he “was convinced that this trip had to go forward.”
On board the ITA Airways flight at the start of his visit to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru, he repeatedly expressed his happiness at being able to make the journey.
The itinerary spans 12 days, more than 30,000 kilometers, and 14 locations, with travel by car, plane, and helicopter, more than 50 engagements, and around 40 speeches.
An American Pope with a Latin American pastor’s heart, Pope Leo spoke proudly of his nationality and his right to vote in the US midterm elections.
He was happy to undertake this mission, he told the 82 journalists accompanying him from around the world, including ten from the countries he will visit.
He described it as the “mission of the Bishop of Rome, of the Pope,” “sharing the joy of the Gospel,” “announcing the Good News,” and “walking together with people, expressing that closeness, which is so important for people, whether it be in their moments of joy or in their moments of sorrow.”
About an hour and a half after takeoff from Rome’s Fiumicino Airport, the Pope greeted the reporters, correspondents, and camera operators with a smile as they stood ready with their smartphones and equipment.
He began in three languages: “Buongiorno a tutti, buenos dias, good morning, everyone.” He then thanked them “for your service, for the work that you do,” which is “so important” in helping to spread “God’s message of peace and goodwill for all people.”
“I know some people were doubtful about this trip taking place,” Pope Leo said, reiterating his conviction that the journey should go ahead. He praised the Lord and thanked the medical staff accompanying him, saying he was in “fairly good shape.”
“So, you’re the witnesses of that,” he told the journalists. “And I’m happy that you’re joining us.”
The Pope also took the opportunity to formally introduce the new Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication, Maria Montserrat “Montse” Alvarado, someone “that many of you already know.” She had “joined the Vatican team of the Holy See” on November 1 to take on “this challenging role as Prefect of Communications,” succeeding Paolo Ruffini, “who has completed his term of service.” He praised her “wonderful experience,” “creativity,” “life and liveliness,” saying she would accompany them on the visit and help the Vatican and the Pope “in the very important dimension of communication.”
The Pope formally introduced the new Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication, Maria Montserrat Alvarado (Vatican Media)
Before making his customary way down the aisle to greet the journalists individually, Pope Leo reiterated the priority of his sixth Apostolic Journey, namely, to encounter the peoples and cultures of three Latin American countries and bring them “the message of hope in today’s world.”
Each country, he said, has “a very particular history,” with “many things in common” and “many differences.”
The longest part of the visit will be in Peru, a homecoming to the country where he spent more than 20 years as a missionary. It will include Chiclayo, the northern diocese where he served as Bishop.
Peru, he said, is “one of my many homes,” adding, “I’m very happy to be going back there.”
As he moved among the journalists, the Pope received books, letters, and gifts of all kinds, from a traditional Andean hat from Chulucanas, where his mission in Peru began, to a Chicago White Sox baseball.
As he signed the ball, he joked with the journalist who handed him the marker: “Careful, I’ve ruined other cassocks that way.” Asked where he found the strength to make the journey, he replied, “In faith. The Lord is very generous to me.” He attributed his health to “good doctors and a healthy lifestyle.”
Responding to correspondents from US news outlets who asked about the ballot he had mailed in for the midterm elections, Pope Leo said, “I have already made a statement about this. I am proud to be American and to exercise the right to vote.”
He explained that he had not voted in Peru, where he also holds citizenship, because there was no way for him to vote remotely. Had it been possible, however, he would have done so. “It is a good thing,” he said.
The Pope answered a number of questions from the journalists on the plane (Vatican Media)
Many of the questions concerned his health. One journalist asked if had he prayed about his illness at Lourdes during his visit to France. “At that point there was no sign of any problems,” Pope Leo responded. “Surprisingly, in all the essential respects, everything was fine. I was much more concerned about the health of the people who were there.”
Asked what he now saw as an urgent priority for his pontificate following the operation, he replied, “A sense of commitment to continuing to be close to those who are ill, but I would also like to tell people that health care should be a right for everyone.”
He had a particular message for people with cancer: “Do not be afraid. Early diagnosis is the best approach, so regular checkups are a blessing.”
Pope Leo also said he had spent his stay at Gemelli reading “the breviary, the prayer book, and the newspapers.” He said he has not yet returned to playing tennis: “Not yet, but I will.”
Turning to Ukraine, he commented on the truce in Oleshky that he had called for and worked to promote: “Thank God for what has been achieved, but there is still much work to be done to achieve peace.”
Regarding the Argentine leg of the journey, the Pope described it as “a tribute” to Pope Francis, “in the sense that I am visiting his country, which he was unable to visit,” while emphasizing that the priority is to visit this important country.
Asked whether he felt different, perhaps more at ease, when speaking Spanish, the language he learned during his missionary years, Pope Leo replied: “Wait and see. Some people say there are significant differences.”
One of the more unusual gifts came from Eva Fernández, the Spanish correspondent for Radio COPE: a plaque for an imagined aircraft that could take him to the Camino de Santiago during the Año Jacobeo, the Holy Year of Santiago de Compostela, in 2027.
Pope Leo previously traveled the route by car before he was elected Pope. Spanish Catholics now hope he will return by plane, and as Pope.
Asked whether he would, he replied: “I would like to. What you want to do is one thing; what you can do is another.”
Pope Leo departs for Apostolic Journey to Latin America
Pope Leo XIV departs for his 12-day Apostolic Journey to Latin America, marking his sixth international journey since the start of the papacy, which will see him visit Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru.
By Deborah Castellano Lubov
The ITA Airways aircraft carrying Pope Leo XIV and the journalists accompanying him departed from Rome’s Fiumicino International Airport at 7:05 AM on Friday, beginning his Apostolic Journey to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru.
The Holy Father is scheduled to arrive at Montevideo-Carrasco International Airport at about 4:30 PM, where an official welcome will take place.
Pope Leo’s program in Montevideo begins with a welcome ceremony at 5:30 PM in Independence Square, after which he will meet with representatives of the authorities, civil society, and the diplomatic corps.
Afterwards, the Holy Father will visit the President of the Republic of Uruguay.
After the visit, Pope Leo will celebrate Vespers with bishops, priests, deacons, consecrated men and women, and seminarians at the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and Saints Philip and James.
After his time in Uruguay, the Holy Father will travel to Argentina, visiting Buenos Aires, Córdoba, and Luján.
He will then continue to Peru, where he will visit Lima, Chiclayo, Cusco, and Pucallpa.
The Apostolic Journey will run from 6 to 17 November, spanning 12 days.
During the visit, Pope Leo is expected to make approximately a dozen flights and visit ten cities.
The Holy Father is also expected to deliver nearly 40 addresses in Spanish.
Pope Leo XIV boards ITA Airways flight to Latin America (Vatican Media) (VATICAN MEDIA)
