From October 25 to 27, 2026, Asisi will host an international peace meeting to mark the 40th anniversary of Pope John Paul II's historic 1986 gathering. Organized by the Sant'Egidio Community, the event will bring together representatives from 53 countries, including religious leaders and civil society figures. The theme, 'Disarmed Peace,' focuses on dialogue regarding wars, disarmament, and migration. This initiative, which began in Asisi and later expanded to cities like Warsaw, Jerusalem, and Sarajevo, aims to demonstrate that interfaith cooperation remains possible despite global conflicts. The organizers emphasize that the return to Asisi serves as a reminder of the enduring power of shared efforts for peace.
Poland's Catholic bishops opposed two parliamentary bills that would ease abortion restrictions during their plenary assembly in Zakopane. They argued the measures weaken legal protections for unborn children and normalize abortion socially. The bills, passed by the Sejm, aim to restore abortion access for fetal impairment and shield medical staff from prosecution. Additionally, the bishops appointed historian Piotr Franaszek to chair the new commission investigating sexual abuse of minors since 1945. The commission awaits legal status from the Interior Ministry before beginning its work. President Karol Nawrocki has previously stated he would not sign laws restoring pre-2020 abortion rules.
Poland's Catholic bishops opposed two parliamentary bills that would ease abortion restrictions during their plenary assembly in Zakopane. They argued the measures weaken legal protections for unborn children and normalize abortion socially. The bills, passed by the Sejm, aim to restore abortion access for fetal impairment and shield medical staff from prosecution. Additionally, the bishops appointed historian Piotr Franaszek to chair the new commission investigating sexual abuse of minors since 1945. The commission awaits legal status from the Interior Ministry before beginning its work. President Karol Nawrocki has previously stated he would not sign laws restoring pre-2020 abortion rules.
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The Taizé Community is organizing its European meeting in Łódź, Poland, for New Year's Eve 2026. The event involves cooperation with local churches and the city authorities. The Hungarian Catholic Bishops' Conference Youth Committee, working with the Catholic Youth Movement, is arranging travel for Hungarian participants. Early registration offers a discount until October 31, with the final deadline on November 30. The gathering aims to foster solidarity and friendship through prayer, silence, and cultural exchange among young people from across Europe. Host families are preparing to welcome attendees, emphasizing mutual trust and shared life experiences as participants enter the new year together.
Translated from Magyar
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A religious congregation led by its superior operates across several nations, including Poland, Ukraine, Rwanda, and India. The sisters care for visually impaired children and support families, while praying for those experiencing spiritual blindness. Founded by a blessed figure, the order has served for over a century. Despite ongoing conflict in one region, members remain in specific areas to provide essential care. The group emphasizes that disability reveals divine works and offers empathy often missing in modern society, countering pressures for abortion or euthanasia.
Translated from Polski
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Polish pro-life organizations argue that protecting life requires tangible aid rather than just slogans. The Little Feet Foundation, led by Paulina Rylska, provides material, legal, and psychological support to pregnant women facing hardship. The Donum Vitae Foundation assists parents after miscarriage or stillbirth. The Polish Federation of Life Defense Movements issued an open letter on October 23, calling for accessible help for women under pressure to abort. The group states that protecting children and caring for mothers are not competing values, urging authorities to ensure no woman is left alone during crises.
Archbishop Filippo Iannone Filipazzi visited students of the Catholic University of Lublin (KUL) studying inside the Lublin Remand Centre. He conveyed greetings from Pope Leo XIV and emphasized that the Church has not forgotten the inmates. Rector Mirosław Kalinowski highlighted the program's 14-year history of providing higher education to prisoners. Forty new students, including four women, began the academic year. Since the program's inception, 63 graduates have completed their studies, aiming to foster inner freedom and community among those incarcerated.
Young students from Belarus and Poland, including Stanisław Rutkowski and Swietłana Krupenchyk, describe how a scholarship foundation in Lublin has changed their lives. Although they never met Pope John Paul II, the program inspired by his legacy provides academic support and a spiritual community. Participants like Katarzyna Danko and Roman Marian Vovk highlight the value of shared living, choir activities, and recent experiences in Rome. The foundation offers not only education but also emotional support and connections with benefactors who share similar migration experiences. According to the students, the initiative fosters personal growth and a sense of family among young people from different countries.
From October 25 to 27, 2026, Asisi will host an international peace meeting to mark the 40th anniversary of Pope John Paul II's historic 1986 gathering. Organized by the Sant'Egidio Community, the event will bring together representatives from 53 countries, including religious leaders and civil society figures. The theme, 'Disarmed Peace,' focuses on dialogue regarding wars, disarmament, and migration. This initiative, which began in Asisi and later expanded to cities like Warsaw, Jerusalem, and Sarajevo, aims to demonstrate that interfaith cooperation remains possible despite global conflicts. The organizers emphasize that the return to Asisi serves as a reminder of the enduring power of shared efforts for peace.
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