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Hello, I'm Gina Christian, and you're listening to our OSV newscast for Wednesday, August 5th, 2026. Today is the feast of the dedication of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome, one of four papal basilicas in that city, and home to the beloved image of Mary as Salus Populi Romani. The church is also the final resting place of Pope Francis, who had a special devotion to that Marian image, which was said to be painted by Saint Luke. As for how the basilica came about, tradition holds that in the middle of the fourth century, Mary appeared to a wealthy Roman couple and instructed them to build a church at the spot where snow would miraculously fall in summer. Pope Liberius was a witness to the sign, which is recalled each year when white rose petals are dropped from the ceiling of the church during Mass. Our Lady, pray for us. Now let's catch you up on the Catholic news of the day, and here we go. Pope Leo XIV will make his first apostolic journey to South America from November 6th through the 17th, visiting 10 cities across Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru. The Vatican announced today the trip will begin in Uruguay and continue to Argentina, the homeland of the late Pope Francis, concluding in Peru, where Pope Leo served for decades as an Augustinian missionary and later as Bishop of Chiclayo. Stops include Montevideo, Buenos Aires, Luján, Lima, and Chiclayo. The visit marks his first return to Peru since his election. Cardinal Daniel Storla has welcomed the visit, saying, Almost 40 years ago we experienced the unforgettable visit of St. John Paul II. Now we welcome Pope Leo with enormous anticipation. It is a joy for the Church, but also for all of Uruguay. Peru's diocese of Chiclayo said in a social media post, it will be a historic visit that will unite us as a people and as a church. The diocese added, with joy and hope, we prepare to welcome the successor of Peter and to experience this time of grace together. Today, Pope Leo returned to his weekly general audiences after a month-long summer break, and he urged Catholics to embrace the liturgy of the hours more fully in their daily lives, saying the Church's public prayer is an antidote to a world shaped by technology, consumerism, and an efficiency-driven mindset. The Liturgy of Hours, which is also known as the Divine Office, combines psalms, scripture readings, prayers, hymns, and reflections from the Church Fathers and Church Teaching, with set times, and along with the Mass, the Liturgy of the Hours makes each day and night an ongoing cycle of prayer. In his audience, Pope Leo said, Every week and every day, the Eucharist and the Liturgy of the Hours are the breath of the life of the Church, which makes the Holy Spirit circulate through her body. During the audience, which was held in St. Peter's Basilica due to Rome's intense summer heat, the Pope also continued his series on the documents of the Second Vatican Council. Pope Leo reflected on Sacrosanctum Concilium, the Constitution on the Liturgy. He said, It is the Holy Spirit who teaches us to pray, and the Pope added that Christians unite themselves with Christ in offering praise and thanksgiving to God through the power of the Holy Spirit. The Pope said, Faithful to Jesus, Master and Lord, he learned from him the art of closeness in the shepherding of souls. Cardinal Longa was the first Mozambican bishop of Shai Shai and the second cardinal in the country's history. He led the diocese for 28 years through independence, civil war, and national reconstruction, earning respect for his commitment to peace, reconciliation, social justice, evangelization, and the formation of clergy. Mozambique's bishops remembered him as a humble pastor whose legacy of faith and service endures. Tributes also came from South African bishops and President Daniel Chapo, who called Cardinal Longa a profound spiritual leader devoted to his people. Chapo also highlighted the cardinal's total dedication to the communities under his pastoral leadership. The letter was released on August 3rd under the title, We Will Come to You, United in Solidarity with Our Brothers and Sisters in Migration. The text draws on scripture, church teaching, human rights reports, history, and lived experience, underscoring the need to recognize migrants' God-given human dignity, which the Archbishop said does not hinge on a passport, a visa, or a work permit. The Archbishop stressed that the movement of peoples is not an interruption of God's plan, but part of the very fabric of salvation. The Archbishop's letter centered the issue of migration in God-given human dignity, and it outlined several ways in which parishes and the faithful can respond to those caught between dire conditions in their homelands and in the U.S. as they struggle to navigate a broken immigration system. The Archbishop reminded federal officials that laws must serve human dignity, and that immigration reform is a moral obligation. He called for reforms to include protecting sensitive locations from immigration enforcement, keeping families together, restoring asylum and due process, ending mass detention and mass deportation, and building just pathways to citizenship. Invoking Mary's intercession, the Archbishop emphasized that fear cannot yield to passivity, and he urged his readers, be bold and courageous in Christ. And finally, Jason Adkins, Executive Director and General Counsel of the Minnesota Catholic Conference, has been elected president of the National Association of State Catholic Conference Directors. He'll serve a two-year term through August 2028. Adkins discussed the new role during a July 31st episode of Practicing Catholic, a program produced by Relevant Radio and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. Adkins said the association plays a vital role by helping Catholic public policy leaders across the country share ideas, coordinate strategies, and respond to emerging legislative issues. He said, We only have limited knowledge, limited resources, and endless issues to cover. And he added that the collaboration with colleagues helps identify effective ways to represent the church's voice in the public square. The National Association brings together executive directors from 40 state Catholic conferences, which serve as the public policy arms of their state's Catholic bishops, along with leaders from nine affiliated diocesan public policy offices. As president, Adkins will coordinate the association's annual meetings, where members will gather to address key public policy challenges and opportunities facing both the church and the nation. Adkins is also the host of Catholic in America for OSV Podcasts. 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. Make sure to subscribe to this podcast, follow us on social media, and bookmark osvnews.com. As always, a shout out to our listeners in the U.S., Canada, and all over the world. Drop us a line and let us know what you think. Thanks so much for listening and God bless.

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