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Hello, I'm Gina Christian, and you're listening to our OSV Newscast for Wednesday, July 8th, 2026. Let's catch you up on the Catholic news of the day. Here we go. Catholic leaders and organizations in the U.S. continue to aid Venezuela as that nation recovers from two deadly earthquakes that struck just seconds apart on June 24th. At least 3,500 have been killed, and the search for additional victims continues. Catholic Relief Services spokesperson Brittany Wichtendahl confirmed today her agency's earthquake response support team is now fully deployed in Venezuela. She told OSV News that CRS, which is the U.S. Catholic Church's overseas relief and development agency, is working extremely closely with its in-country partner, Caritas Venezuela. The two agencies have distributed thousands of emergency food kits, liters of water, hygiene kits, and medical supplies. A day after the earthquakes, Bishop A. Elias Saidan, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on International Justice and Peace, urged the international community to mobilize in support of the Venezuelan people and to send the necessary humanitarian assistance to alleviate their suffering. He pointed to the significant loss of life and severe destruction resulting from the disaster. Bishop Zidane urged the faithful to pray for divine assistance in helping Venezuelans. CRS has organized a donation effort through its website. Contributions are being accepted by phone, mail, and multiple online payment platforms. And you can learn more at CRS.org. Cardinal Robert McElroy of Washington said his decision to remove a high-profile priest as an archdiocesan exorcist was driven by the public way he exercised his ministry and not by his specific beliefs about UFOs. Following comments on social media linking UFOs to demonic activity, Monsignor Stephen Rossetti was removed in early June as an exorcist for the Archdiocese of Washington. In one of his first interviews since that decision, Cardinal McElroy told Catholic News Service in Rome the move should not be interpreted as a judgment on UFOs or extraterrestrial life. Instead, it regards what he sees as the proper role of an exorcist within the Catholic Church. In that June 29th interview with Catholic News Service Rome, the Cardinal said his decision wasn't touching on the question of UFOs. My major objection is that I think the traditional role of an exorcist is a very private one. It's a sacred one. As the U.S. marked its 250th anniversary, Ukrainian Catholic bishops urged Americans to reflect on the true meaning of freedom through Ukraine's ongoing fight against Russia's full-scale invasion. In a pastoral letter titled On Dignity and Freedom, the bishop said liberty is not simply inherited, but must be defended by every generation. They emphasized that human dignity and rights come from God, not governments, echoing the principles of the Declaration of Independence. The letter also recalled the history of Ukrainian immigrants in the United States, describing generations of Ukrainians who arrived with hopes of building a new life while contributing to their adopted country. Speaking from Ukraine, Metropolitan Archbishop Uriskuziak of the Archeparchy of Philadelphia said democracy depends on trust, responsibility, and solidarity. He added that freedom is not free, and he noted that Ukrainians are paying a heavy price today in their homeland. The pastoral letters release coincided with intensified Russian attacks on Cave, which church leaders said killed civilians and underscored Ukraine's continuing sacrifice. Archbishop Gutziak called on Catholics to pray, advocate for Ukraine, and support both humanitarian and defense efforts, while encouraging Americans to renew their commitment to civic responsibility and freedom. Father Mike Schmitz, one of the most popular priest influencers on social media, brought his signature warmth and energy to a sold-out stop in Fort Lauderdale as part of his Parables Tour. He encouraged the audience to rediscover the timeless message of Christ's gospel through the parables. Father Mike is a priest of the Diocese of Duluth, Minnesota. He also serves as director of youth and young adult ministry and chaplain of the Newman Center at the University of Minnesota's Duluth campus. Speaking about the challenges facing young people, he said many are searching for authenticity, looking for individuals and communities that truly live what they profess. He pointed to widespread struggles with loneliness, anxiety, and broken trust, saying the remedy is an overarching sense of Christian hope, which is knowing that I can trust in God. Father Mike also reflected on the rise of artificial intelligence, echoing themes raised by Pope Leo XIV in his first encyclical. While acknowledging AI's growing capabilities, Father Mike said some of life's deepest questions can never be answered by technology alone, underscoring the enduring value of human dignity, faith, and relationships. And finally, Pope Leo XIV marked the 250th anniversary of the U.S. with a relaxed July 4th dinner at the Rome residence of the U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See, Brian Birch. The gathering offered a rare glimpse of the first U.S.-born Pope in an informal setting. According to Birch's interview with Italian newspaper La Stampa, the evening featured American favorites, including Chicago-style hot dogs, ribs, and blueberry pie, along with conversations about Chicago, baseball, and the World Cup. The Pope also blessed religious items, sang God Bless America, and signed baseballs dated 7-4-26. Birch said the dinner was intended as a gesture of friendship, not a forum for political discussions. He described Pope Leo as deeply American in his background while committed to serving the universal church without appearing aligned with U.S. interests. Birch said, broadly speaking, the Pope has deep respect for our country, and where differences remain, desires greater cooperation. Birch also said that despite public tensions between President Donald Trump and the Pope, the Holy See and the U.S. continue to cooperate on shared priorities, including peace, migration, and nuclear non-proliferation. And Birch expressed hope for closer collaboration in the future. And that's your OSV Newscast for today. I'm Gina Christian. Check out the show notes for a link to our website where you can find the stories in this episode. As always, please make sure to subscribe to this podcast, follow us on social media, and bookmark osvnews.com. Shout out to our listeners in the U.S., Canada, and all over the world. I'm having trouble keeping up with you, but here we go. Ireland, Trinidad, and Tobago, the UK, Germany, Spain, New Zealand, the Philippines, Sweden, Norway, Kazakhstan. We're glad to have you all on board. Drop us a line and let us know what you think. Thanks so much for listening and God bless.

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