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Guayaquil: Cabrera celebrates memorial Mass at the same altar where Sánchez Molinari died
Guayaquil, Ecuador: Luis Cabrera, Cardinal Archbishop of Guayaquil, celebrated a Mass for the repose of Patricio Alfredo Sánchez Molinari at the same altar where the Redemptorist died on 17 October, struck by a falling crucifix during Mass. According to Ugochukwu Ugwoke on X, the celebration — with parishioners of Perpetual Help Parish — was attended by auxiliary bishops, priests and members of the Redemptorist community. Our earlier report on his death. #Ecuador #Guayaquil
Messa in suffragio a Guayaquil / Memorial Mass in Guayaquil Ecuador: priest dies after a cross falls on him during Mass in Guayaquil
Ecuador: priest dies after a cross falls on him during Mass. Patricio Alfredo Sánchez Molinari, a Redemptorist and parish priest of Perpetuo Socorro church in Guayaquil, died on Saturday, October 17. A wooden cross set into the wall behind the altar came loose and fell on him while he was celebrating daily Mass, as the livestream he was broadcasting from his own profile shows. The Archdiocese of Guayaquil, whose official note does not state the cause of death, expressed its closeness to the Redemptorist family, his relatives and friends. According to social media posts citing the livestream, minutes earlier in his homily he had said: "Un día todos los que estamos aquí también vamos a morir" ("One day all of us here will also die", our translation). #Ecuador #Guayaquil #Church
Il necrologio dell'Arcidiocesi di Guayaquil. Foto: Arquidiócesis de Guayaquil / The Archdiocese of Guayaquil's death notice. Photo: Arquidiócesis de Guayaquil Rome prays for Pope Leo XIV
Rome gathers in prayer for Pope Leo XIV. Today at 3 pm a Mass for peace and for the Pope's health will be celebrated at the Basilica of Santa Maria in via Lata. At 7 pm Pietro Parolin will lead a Marian vigil at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. #LeoXIV #PopeLeo #Vatican #Rome
Amoris laetitia: “heated debate” on Communion for divorced and remarried
The head of the German bishops' conference says there was a “heated debate” about Communion for the divorced and remarried at the Amoris laetitia conference: “Differing views on the relationship between canon law and the pastoral perspectives of Amoris laetitia became apparent. These questions remain a challenge.” #Vatican #AmorisLaetitia
Support for the Pope from around the world
Support for the Pope is coming from around the world. In Argentina, Luján has declared a holiday ahead of a possible papal visit. In Madrid, José Cobo urged people not to assume the worst. COMECE, the EU bishops' body, sent a message of prayer. #LeoXIV #Vatican
Fides: for the first time Africa has more Catholics than Europe
Agenzia Fides has released the Church's 2026 statistics ahead of the 100th World Mission Day this Sunday, 18 October. As of 30 June 2024 there were 1.422 billion Catholics worldwide, up 16.7 million in a year and 17.8% of the world's population. For the first time, Africa has more Catholics than Europe: 288.3 million against 287.2 million. Priest numbers are rising slightly for the first time in five years, while women religious and seminarians continue to decline. #Church #WorldMissionDay
Bulletin: bishop ordained in China, appointment in Brazil
Holy See Press Office Bulletin: Ignatius Ding Zuyao ordained bishop of Haimen (Jiangsu), appointed by the Pope on 24 August under the Holy See-China Provisional Agreement. Msgr. Paolo Andreolli, a Xaverian from Noventa Vicentina, appointed bishop of Ponta de Pedras (Brazil). Cluj-Gherla united «in persona Episcopi» to the Archeparchy of Făgăraș and Alba Iulia (Romania). #LeoXIV