Vatican Report | Saturday midday, 31 October 2026

Ten years after the 2016 earthquakes, Pope Leo XIV calls for "tangible and urgent responses" for central Italy (our translation). Today's Bulletin brings a change at the helm of the apostolic visitation in Medjugorje, a new bishop for Soissons and the theme of World Mission Day 2027. 🏚️ Earthquake: "rebuild as quickly as possible" Meeting delegations from the towns struck by the earthquakes in central Italy, the Pope urged "every effort so that material reconstruction happens as quickly as possible, safely and transparently" (our translation). He pointed to the saints of those lands, from Rita of Cascia to Benedict and Francis of Assisi, and invited them to "build together", Vatican News reports. 🎖️ Appointments The Pope accepted the resignation of Aldo Cavalli as Apostolic Visitor with a special character for the Parish of Medjugorje. In his place, for an indefinite period and "ad nutum Sanctae Sedis", he appointed Francesco Cavina, bishop emeritus of Carpi. The new bishop of Soissons, France, is Martial Bernard, 48, until now Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia of the diocese of Évry-Corbeil-Essonnes. 🌍 World Mission Day 2027 "The love of Christ sends us forth" (cf. 2 Cor 5:14) is the theme chosen by the Pope for the 101st World Mission Day, Sunday 24 October 2027. The Dicastery for Evangelization announced it; the Pope's Message will be published at the start of next year. 🗓️ Audiences The Pope received Filippo Iannone, Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, Kevin Joseph Farrell, Prefect of the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life, Archbishops Dimas Lara Barbosa (Campo Grande, Brazil) and Nelson Jesus Perez (Philadelphia), and delegations from Villanova University and the University of Notre Dame. 📌 To watch • Sunday 1 November, 12 p.m.: All Saints' Day Angelus • Monday 2 November, 4 p.m.: Mass for the faithful departed at Verano cemetery • Tuesday 3 November, 1 p.m.: Matteo Bruni briefs the press on the journey to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru (6-17 November) • Wednesday 4 November, 12 p.m.: press conference on the 5th Report of the Laudato Si' Action Platform Sources: Holy See Press Office Bulletin, 31 October 2026 (B0857, B0858); Vatican News.