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Hello, I'm Gina Christian, and you're listening to our OSV newscast for Monday, September 21st, 2026. And in the Roman Catholic calendar, today is the feast of St. Matthew, which Eastern Catholics mark on November 16th. Saint Matthew, of course, is one of the twelve apostles and one of the four evangelists. We actually don't know a whole lot about his life except for what the scriptures tell us. He's known as Matthew in both that Gospel and in Mark's, and as Levi in Luke's account. He was a tax collector called by Jesus to follow him, which he did. According to tradition, after Jesus' death, resurrection, and ascension, Matthew's mission focused on the East, and it's not certain if he died as a martyr, but Jesus' words in Matthew's Gospel continue to call all humanity to follow him. Saint Matthew, pray for us. Now let's take a look at some of the Catholic news of the day, and here we go. Pope Leo XIV praised the educational and unifying power of sport as he welcomed a delegation of Italian athletes from the Special Olympics to the Vatican on September 19th. And he encouraged the athletes to follow the example of St. Pier Giorgio Frassati in living holy lives. The delegation included competitors who took part in the 2025 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Turin. The Games were founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, and they promote sports for persons with intellectual disabilities. Millions of athletes worldwide now compete in the games. The Pope highlighted his own love of sports and their role in forming character, saying he's convinced sports have great educational value because it teaches people noble and authentic values. The Pope said participating in sports requires commitment, perseverance, loyalty, trust, openness, teamwork, and courage. And he said, Our world is greatly in need of people who, like you, remind everyone of the true values of life, of men and women who, through their example, showed that the path of sharing and love is the only path that truly leads to happiness and peace. Pope Leo XIV urged Latin American and Caribbean bishops to leave their desks and spend more time with their people, saying true shepherds must personally know and accompany their flock. On September 19th, the Vatican released a September 8th letter from the Pope, marking the 300th anniversary of the canonization of St. Taribius of Mogrovejo. Pope Leo highlighted the 16th-century missionary bishop's travels across Peru as a model of pastoral leadership, and the Pope said, certain aspects of a diocese are hard to grasp from behind a desk. He encouraged bishops to make pastoral visits, listen to communities, and seek out those rarely reached. Drawing lessons from the rite, welcoming a bishop to his cathedral, Pope Leo highlighted sacrifice, fidelity, and humility. He urged bishops to remain close to priests, defend the vulnerable, nurture their spiritual lives, and promote Eucharistic adoration. And he also stressed communion with the Church and with the successor of Peter. And ahead of Pope Leo's upcoming trip to France, the Marian Shrine at Lourdes has now fully covered the mosaics created by the disgraced former Jesuit artist Father Marco Rutnik. That's according to a sanctuary spokesperson. The coverings will remain in place after the papal visit as part of what officials describe as a long-term measure while discussions continue about a permanent solution. The mosaics on the facade of the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary were commissioned in 2008, years before allegations against Father Rupnik became public. The priest faces accusations from more than 20 women, and he's the subject of an ongoing canonical trial. Bishop Jean-Marc Mika of Tab and Lourdes, who initially ordered a partial covering of the mosaics in March of 2025, said concern for abuse survivors guided his decision. He told OSV News some victims felt the mosaics created a barrier to visiting the sanctuary and seeking healing at Lourdes, and the full covering of the mosaics has been welcomed by advocates. Pope Leo will celebrate Mass on September 27th near the Grotto at Lourdes, one of the world's most important Catholic pilgrimage sites. And finally, as the Jewish community marked the holiest day of its year, the head of the U.S. Catholic Bishop's Ecumenical and Interreligious Dialogue Committee extended his warmest wishes while urging Catholics to reject antisemitism and to recall the deep spiritual bonds between Jews and Catholics. Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, began this year at sunset on September 20th and ended at nightfall on September 21st. Bishop Joseph Bambera of Scranton, Pennsylvania, released a September 18th video message saying Yom Kippur invites a searching examination of the year that has passed and a commitment to the year ahead. The bishop noted that Jewish and Catholic faithful both seek to restore their connection to God and others. He also stressed that the Church's relationship with the Jewish people is not simply a matter of dialogue between two religious communities. Rather, he said, it is rooted in the deep spiritual bonds that unite us, including our shared patrimony and the scriptural heritage from which both our traditions draw. And the bishop added that as the Second Vatican Council teaches, Catholics are called to reject all forms of antisemitism and to deepen our understanding of Judaism and of the Jewish people. And that's your OSV Newscast for today. I'm Gina Christian. Check out the show notes for a link to our website. That's where you can find the stories in this episode, plus a whole lot more. As always, please do make sure to subscribe to this podcast, follow us on social media, and bookmark osvnews.com. A shout out to our listeners around the world. Keep on listening, keep on dropping us a line and letting us know what you think. And stay tuned this week for our coverage of the Beatification of Archbishop Fulton Sheen. Thanks so much for listening and God bless.

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