In Ukraine, the NGO Ya Dopomozhu, led by Oleksandr Zlatin in Odessa, has evolved from a local social initiative into a major humanitarian response since the February 2022 invasion. The organization currently assists approximately 2,500 families and over 360 bedridden individuals with food, hygiene products, and mobility aids. Zlatin highlights that while donations exist abroad, high transport costs often make local procurement more efficient. The group also supports veterans and prepares winter supplies in advance to ensure survival during potential power outages, emphasizing that logistical barriers frequently hinder effective aid delivery.
Pope Leo will visit the Maison Bakhita in Paris, a facility run by the local diocese to support exiles. Valerie Moniod, the association's president, explains that the center offers unconditional welcome, language courses, and job training to migrants who often arrive without documents. The shelter has assisted thousands of people from Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East over five years. During the visit, the Pope will meet volunteers and hear testimonies from partner organizations. Moniod hopes the Pontiff will reaffirm the dignity of migrants and urge France to recognize immigration as a source of social richness rather than just a problem.
Don Michele Porcelluzzi, a lawyer for the Archdiocese of Milan, argues that church freedom safeguards general liberties in a pending EU court case. The dispute involves the Diocese of Ghent in Belgium, which added marginal notes to baptism records instead of deleting them after individuals requested the right to be forgotten. Porcelluzzi explains that deleting these records would compromise sacramental validity and historical memory. He asserts that civil authorities cannot erase ecclesiastical facts. The European Commission of Bishops' Conferences warns the ruling will deeply impact church life across EU member states. Several governments, including Italy, support the diocese's approach to data protection.
Haakon Gjerløw, acting director of the Peace Research Institute Oslo (Prio) in Norway, commented on a campaign to nominate Gaza children for the Nobel Peace Prize. Initiated by Italian professor Domenico Mazzarella, the proposal seeks to highlight the impact of armed conflict on minors. Gjerløw explained that Alfred Nobel’s will requires the prize to go to those who prevent conflict, not victims. However, he noted that recognizing organizations like Save the Children would send a strong signal. The Prio included Save the Children and Mykola Kuleba in its 2026 shortlist. The winner will be announced in Oslo on October 9, 2026.
Andrzej Poczobut, a Polish-Belarusian journalist, says his faith helped him endure five years in a Navapolack prison. Arrested in March 2021 alongside members of the Union of Poles, he was sentenced to eight years in 2023 for allegedly threatening national security. The European Parliament condemned the conviction as political repression. Recently released, Poczobut received the Sakharov Prize in 2025. He met Pope Leo XIV in September, asking for blessings for Belarus. Despite fear of re-arrest, he plans to return to Belarus to support Polish schools and defend human rights, stating he cannot abandon the community he feels responsible for.
Archbishop Laurent Ulrich of Paris stated that Pope Leo XIV arrives in France with disarming words rather than a political agenda. The Pope’s four-day trip, scheduled from September 25 to 28, includes stops in Paris, Lourdes, and Metz. This visit occurs shortly before presidential elections in a polarized political climate. Ulrich emphasized that the Pope seeks to foster national unity and reconciliation, not to resolve pre-electoral tensions. Security forces have mobilized 15,000 agents for the event. A recent survey indicates that French citizens primarily expect the Pope to address global peace and church abuse prevention, viewing him as a moral guide rather than a political influencer.
Pope Leo XIV is visiting Paris, France, with 15,000 security personnel and 2,500 accredited journalists. Preparations are underway at Place de la Concorde for a mass on September 26, potentially drawing up to one million attendees. The visit aims to address a polarized society and highlight a resurgence of faith, with over 21,000 new catechumens reported this year. According to Loup Besmond de Senneville of La Croix, the Pope seeks to reduce tensions and promote peace. The pontiff will also meet abuse victims at Lourdes, emphasizing internal Church transparency and a renewed engagement with French society.
Translated from ItalianoAlso reported by 2 outlets
Devastating floods in Nepal have killed at least 1,400 people and left over 5,500 missing, according to Agenzia SIR. The disaster struck several districts. Among the missing are seven to ten Catholics, despite the local church having only about 10,000 faithful. Father Silas Bogati, administrator apostolic of the Vicariate of Nepal, described the event as the worst tragedy in the country's history. While no church buildings were damaged, Caritas Nepal is distributing food and hygiene kits to survivors. Bogati linked the catastrophe to climate change, noting Nepal's minimal carbon emissions compared to the severe impact it faces.
A senior Catholic archbishop in the Democratic Republic of Congo describes the nation as a wounded heart of Africa. He notes that decades of conflict in the eastern provinces, exacerbated by recent territorial losses, have caused mass displacement and human rights abuses. The crisis is worsened by illegal resource exploitation, corruption, and the return of Ebola. The Catholic Church shares these sufferings but remains a vital service provider and peace advocate. Alongside regional church bodies, it promotes dialogue to address conflict roots. The archbishop urges stronger international attention on human rights and transparent resource management to support Congolese resilience and hope for a peaceful future.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, a local diocese faces armed conflict, poverty, and health crises. Caritas and church communities support vulnerable populations, especially women and children, through reconciliation and development programs. A bishop and local activists highlight efforts to protect civilians and promote dignity. Initiatives include psychological support, vocational training, and health education to combat HIV/AIDS and Ebola stigma. Testimonies from beneficiaries illustrate how economic empowerment and community dialogue foster resilience. These actions aim to build lasting peace and hope in a region isolated by borders with neighboring countries.
Pope Leo XIV will visit Metz, France, on September 28, as part of his apostolic journey from September 25 to 28. Archbishop Philippe Ballot stated that the city symbolizes peace arising from war due to its history of Franco-German reconciliation. The Pope will attend an interreligious meeting and a conference on European unity at the Robert Schuman Congress Center. He will also celebrate Mass at Saint-Étienne Cathedral. Ballot emphasized that the visit highlights dialogue and solidarity, reflecting the legacy of Robert Schuman and other European founders who promoted peace through Christian faith and concrete cooperation rather than conflict.
A new TMA 5.0 center dedicated to autism and neurodevelopmental disorders is set to open in Arezzo, Italy, on September 12. The facility aims to improve the quality of life for patients and their families by addressing behavioral, emotional, and social challenges. Matteo Colella, the TMA supervisor, explains that the center uses the Caputo-Ippolito method to work on relational, cognitive, and motor aspects. It serves individuals aged two to forty, offering individualized therapies with a one-to-one or one-to-two tutor ratio. This expansion allows for non-aquatic therapy, complementing existing services and providing comprehensive support across Italy.
A manager of a care center in the Democratic Republic of Congo highlights the growing challenges facing street children. The facility supports minors affected by poverty, armed conflict, and the Ebola epidemic, which has caused thousands of deaths. The manager notes that while the Church plays a vital role in providing safety and education, state efforts remain insufficient. The center aims to reintegrate vulnerable youth into society. This work coincides with national peace celebrations, emphasizing the need for international support and stronger child protection policies to ensure a stable future for the country's youngest citizens.
Monsignor José Mazuelos Pérez expressed deep sorrow following a shipwreck near the Canary Islands, Spain. The vessel departed from The Gambia 27 days ago. The Spanish NGO Caminando Fronteras reported that 83 people, including a woman and a child, died. Maritime rescue saved 44 men. Survivors stated 128 migrants were on board. The bishop urged Europe and Spain to stop using migration for political narratives. He called for an end to Atlantic deaths, emphasizing the dignity of every person. This tragedy follows Pope Leo's recent visit to Arguineguín, where he also condemned human trafficking and highlighted the human cost of migration routes.
Vasyl Toropov, a Ukrainian psychologist and former combat medic, founded the 'Silence Speaks' initiative in the Odesa region to help veterans and their families. After serving near Soledar, Toropov struggled with severe post-traumatic stress and suicidal thoughts upon returning home. According to the article, he established the project in Holma to provide psychological support and therapeutic activities. Although the center recently burned down, Toropov rebuilt it, stating that helping others gave him the will to continue living. The outlet reports that his work addresses the difficult process of reintegration while the war continues. (Agenzia SIR)
The Ukrainian network Superhumans treats war injury consequences through prosthetics, surgery, and psychological support. Founded in 2022, it opened centers in Vynnyky, Dnipro, and Odessa. The World Health Organization reports over 100,000 amputations since the invasion. Ukraine increased funding to 155 million euros for 2026. A new law guarantees veteran care. The Kyiv National War Trauma Hospital is a 69 million dollar project. Nearly half of veterans cannot return to work. Reconstruction costs for health and social protection reach 66.3 billion dollars by 2035. Landmines remain a threat. The conflict creates lasting needs for decades of care and rehabilitation.
In Odessa, Ukraine, young adults like Bohdan Fefilov, Taisia Chorna, and Valeriia navigate life amid ongoing conflict. Fefilov volunteers for the military while Chorna studies medicine and engages in civic activism. Valeriia provides psychological support to victims of gender-based violence. The city observes a daily minute of silence at 9 a.m., halting traffic to honor fallen soldiers. Despite drone strikes and explosions, these individuals continue their education and work, aiming for a future where Ukraine joins the European Union. They adapt to the war's disruptions without waiting for peace to begin living, highlighting the resilience of Odessa's youth as reported by Agenzia SIR.
Missionary Maddalena Boschetti reports that Haiti is effectively at war, citing a massacre in Kenskoff near Port-au-Prince that killed at least 47 people. She states that between April and June, bandits killed 1,408 individuals, with many deaths going unreported internationally. Boschetti, who has lived in Mare-Rouge for 25 years, describes widespread violence, including arson and kidnappings by gangs led by figures like Izo. The UN and local sources confirm high casualty numbers in regions such as Mirebalais and Port-au-Prince. Meanwhile, the US government is repatriating Haitian refugees despite the ongoing conflict, a move Boschetti criticizes as ignoring the reality on the ground.
Ratko Mladic, the former Bosnian Serb commander convicted of genocide for the 1995 Srebrenica massacre, died on August 27 at age 84 in a Dutch detention center. His death has reignited deep divisions in the Balkans. While many Serbs view him as a hero, the European Union condemned any state honors, stating they contradict foundational principles. The International Criminal Tribunal sentenced him to life imprisonment for crimes against humanity, including the killing of thousands of Bosniak men and boys. The tragedy remains a painful symbol of the Yugoslav wars, with the UN now commemorating the event annually.
Translated from Italiano
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