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Pope Addresses UN World Food Program, Diocese Fights for Mount Cristo Rey, 50th Anniversary of Steubenville Conferences, and More

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Hello, I'm Maggie Murray of OSV News, and this is your OSV Newscast for Monday, June 22nd, 2026. Let's catch you up on the Catholic News of the Day. Here we go. Pope Leo XIV delivered a pointed challenge to the world's priorities this week, warning that conflicts are being fed more readily than human beings are nourished. Addressing the United Nations World Food Program in Rome, the Pope lamented that the distribution of weapons and bureaucratic red tape consistently takes precedence over humanitarian aid. He called access to food a fundamental human right and a cornerstone of global stability, pointing to the painful paradox of a world capable of unprecedented food production alongside expanding zones of extreme hunger. Following his address, Poplio connected via video call with frontline aid workers in conflict zones, including South Sudan and Lebanon, thanking them personally for risking their lives. He warned that global resources are being wasted on war rather than ending hunger, which he said continues to increase in some parts of the world. Before departing WFP headquarters, the Pope paused to greet dozens of employees gathered outside, telling them he was sincerely honored to be with them. Over the weekend, Pope Leo made a deeply personal and historically significant stop in northern Italy, visiting the hometown of St. Francis Xavier Cabrini to venerate a relic of her heart and honor her enduring mission to migrants. At the parish of Saints Anthony Abbott and Francis Cabrini in Sant'Angelo Lodigiano, the Pope paid tribute to Mother Cabrini, patroness of migrants and the first saint of the United States of America, who was born here in 1850 and died in Chicago in 1917. Earlier that day, Pope Leo had prayed at the tomb of St. Augustine in Pavia before traveling to Cabrini's hometown, where thousands gathered to welcome him. Reflecting on her life, the Pope recalled how Pope Leo XIII redirected her missionary ambitions from China to the United States to serve Italian immigrants. He asked, What could be more relevant today than a missionary charism dedicated to serving migrants? He concluded with a direct challenge to young people. You, young people, can change the world. We are waiting for you. Over the weekend, Pope Leo sent a direct message to young Americans gathered this summer for youth conferences in Ohio. In a video message released Saturday for the 50th anniversary of the Steubenville Youth Conferences, hosted by Franciscan University of Steubenville, the Pope told teens that true joy is not found spending hours in front of a screen or endlessly scrolling on social media. His message was simple and direct. Only the love of God can provide us with true and perfect joy. The Pope warned that hours spent on social media crowd out time better spent in prayer, building real friendships, being with family, studying, or playing sports. He went further, cautioning that drugs, alcohol, promiscuity, and fixations on image, wealth, fame, or beauty are equally empty paths. Drawing on the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi, the Pope reminded the young Catholics that even in life's hardest moments, those rooted in God's love will not be flustered or discouraged. The Diocese of Las Cruces filed an opposition response last week in U.S. District Court, pushing back against the Trump administration's effort to seize roughly 14 acres of land at Mount Cristo Rey in Sunland Park, New Mexico, through eminent domain, for construction of a sector of the U.S. Mexico border wall. The peak of the mountain is capped by a 29-foot limestone statue of Jesus Christ and has served as a place of prayer for nearly a century. This affront to religious liberty cannot stand, the diocese said in its filing. Bishop Peter Baldequino of Las Cruces, joined by bishops from El Paso and Albuquerque, filed court declarations in support of the challenge. Bishop Baldecino stressed that erecting what he called a physical symbol of division and dehumanization on the holy site of Mount Cristo Rey would shatter the sacredness of that cherished place, particularly when alternative means of border patrolling exist. In the Jordanian village of Anjara, a place tradition holds that Jesus stopped with his mother on a journey through the region, hundreds of Catholics gathered this week for their annual pilgrimage and mass. Cardinal Pier Batista Pizzabala, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, preached at the shrine of Our Lady of the Mount on Friday, praising Jordan's Catholic community for keeping the faith alive through challenging times. Drawing on the gospel account of Mary and her cousin Elizabeth, the Cardinal reminded pilgrims that nothing is impossible with God, and that no hardship can separate believers from God's love. Cardinal Pizzabala also turned attention toward a future milestone, the 2030 Jubilee, marking the 2000th anniversary of Jesus' baptism. He highlighted Jordan's own baptism site of Jesus at Al Magtas as a place of profound global spiritual significance, saying the upcoming celebration will matter not only for Jordan, but for the Universal Church. Pilgrims joined in prayers for peace and renewed hope at the beloved shrine. And that's your OSV Newscast for today. I'm Maggie Murray of OSV News. Check out the show notes for direct links to the stories in this episode. Make sure to subscribe to this podcast, follow us on social media, and bookmark osvnews.com. Thanks so much for listening and God bless. This has been an OSV News production. To learn more, visit osvnews.com.

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