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Hello, I'm Gina Christian, and you're listening to our OSV Newscast for Monday, November 2nd, 2026. Today is All Souls Day, dedicated to praying for those who've died, especially the souls in purgatory. And November for Catholics is traditionally a month of remembrance for the dead. Today's feast has a long history, and above all, it reminds us of eternal life, thanks to Jesus' triumph over sin and death. Now let's catch you up on the Catholic news of the day. Here we go. As the nation heads to the ballot box at the midterm elections, Catholics are working to ensure peace at the polls. Those efforts come as the U.S. Catholic bishops call on the faithful to prayerfully discern their election choices and exercise their right and responsibility to vote, while prioritizing their faith over politics and seeking the common good. Robert Christian, Director of Strategy for the Franciscan Action Network, told me, There's a lot of anxiety in the lead-up to the election, and fears that our free and fair elections could be undermined. And that's why he said his network organizes a poll chaplain campaign. This year, some 375 participating individuals from several dozen states will bring what Christian called a peaceful presence to the polls, a de-escalating presence, so that people feel good about voting on Election Day. In Detroit, Archbishop Edward Weisenberger teamed up with other faith leaders for an October 21st Vigil for Voting, which focused on interceding for voters' rights and poll worker safety. In San Diego, Jesuit father Scott Santorosa, pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, said Catholics have partnered with other faith communities to just be present at the polls. The parish conducted a Eucharistic procession to the ballot box. Looking beyond the November 3rd elections, Christian told OSV News that overcoming the nation's deep political polarization is a long-term issue, and it requires listening, dialogue, and putting, as he said, a loving relationship before political victory. Poland's political crisis deepened October 30th and 31st, as a dispute over control of the Constitutional Tribunal sparked protests, police intervention, and an emergency return by President Karol Nefraki to the country. The confrontation erupted after a notice appeared on the tribunal's website announcing the suspension of its president and vice president. Anna Korvin Piotrowska, a judge elected by the current parliament, said she'd assumed responsibility for the court's administration. Tribunal leaders rejected the move, saying the website had been unlawfully taken over and questioning her legitimacy. Protesters gathered outside the tribunal in Warsaw, and police detained three people after demonstrators breached offense. As tensions mounted, Poland's Catholic bishops appealed for calm. In an October 31st statement, the Bishops' Conference warned the dispute is leading to a profound crisis of the state. The bishops called for dialogue, peaceful solutions, and national reconciliation. Church leaders across the country echoed that message. Cardinal Konrad Krojewski urged prayer, fasting, and sacrifice, saying, Many Poles did not sleep last night. Please, I ask you to pray for our homeland, for those who govern, for wisdom, for good judgment, so that they bring peace, not division. Other bishops called for reconciliation, respect for the rule of law, and prayers for social peace. Well, just days before Pope Leo XIV's arrival in Peru, two Catholic bishops in the South American country died following illnesses. Archbishop Richard Daniel Alarcón Urutia of Cusco, whose archdiocese is preparing to welcome the Pope on November 15th, died on October 30th at age 74 after a long illness. A day later, Bishop Jorge Pedro Carrion Pavlic of Puno died at age 76, according to church and media reports. In a November 1st telegram, Pope Leo praised Archbishop Alarcon as a self-sacrificing shepherd, who for years and with great faithfulness dedicated his life to the service of God and the Church. The Pope said, I offer prayers for the eternal repose of his soul, that the Lord Jesus may grant him the crown of glory that does not fade. The Pope named Archbishop Lisardo Estrada Herrera coadjutor Archbishop of Cusco in August, positioning him to succeed Archbishop Alarcon. A Franciscan born in Lima, Archbishop Alarcon served as Archbishop of Cusco since 2014. He was known for visiting remote mountain and jungle communities, and he championed the Church's synodal vision and encouraged greater participation by indigenous and Quechua speaking Catholics. Pope Leo is scheduled to visit Cusco during his November 6th through 17th South American trip. Well, as I'd mentioned at the top of this podcast, today is All Souls Day, and Pope Leo XIV marked the feast by celebrating Mass at Rome's Campo Verano Cemetery, urging Catholics to pray for the dead and to remember that death does not break the bond between the faithful and Christ. Surrounded by the tombs and monuments of the city's largest cemetery, the Pope said the bond between the living and the faithful departed is not broken by death but transformed. He said that through prayer, Catholics accompany their loved ones on the journey toward full communion with God, a reality already glimpsed in the Eucharist. In his homily, Pope Leo reflected on the Beatitudes, focusing on Christ's promise, Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. He offered special prayers for people grieving recent losses, particularly families devastated by war. He said, May the tears of so many mothers, so many children, and so many elderly people touch the consciences of those who have the power to silence the weapons. The Pope is scheduled to celebrate another memorial mass on November 5th for cardinals and bishops who died during the past year. And finally, in Rome, Augustinian friars watched anxiously courtside, Vatican officials cheered from the stands, fans in costume bishops miters sang, That's amore. All as Notre Dame defeated Villanova on November 1st in the Eternal City tip-off. It was a basketball season opener unlike any other, inspired by the first U.S.-born Pope. During a papal audience with 6,000 fans, alumni, and athletes ahead of game day, Pope Leo dribbled a golden basketball in the Vatican's Paul VI Hall, and he joked about which team he'd be rooting for. Especially since, as Robert Francis Prevost, he studied at and graduated from Villanova University. Pope Leo said, growing up on the south side of Chicago, we oftentimes heard, go Irish. But as you know, Prevost graduated from Villanova, so the Pope doesn't take sides. Prevost has another opinion, but we won't do that now. On the court, Notre Dame's men rallied late to edge Villanova 74-72, while the fighting Irish women won 99 to 75. Pope Leo did not attend the basketball games, but he reflected on the spiritual value of athletics in his meeting with the athletes, saying sports teach cooperation and bring people together. Fans at the games told OSV News that the audience with the Pope was the weekend's highlight. 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. As always, please make sure to subscribe to this podcast. Give us a follow on social media and bookmark osvnews.com. Hello, as always, to our listeners around the world. We do love seeing you check in. Please keep it up. And Pope Leo, we continue to pray for you as you get ready for your trip to South America. Thanks so much for listening and God bless.

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