Minneapolis Victim Lourdes Blessing, Irish Missionary Freed, Pope Leo Birthday Gift (You Can Be a Part!), and More

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Gina Christian of OSV News catches you up on the Catholic news of the day for Sept. 3, 2025. Tune in and visit us online at osvnews.com.

In this episode:

• Blessing her forehead and both hands with holy water from Lourdes, France, as she lay unconscious in a hospital bed in Minneapolis, Auxiliary Bishop Michael J. Izen of St. Paul and Minneapolis prayed for 12-year-old Sophia Forchas, left in critical condition with head injuries when bullets tore through Annunciation's church in Minneapolis one week before. 
  
  
• Law enforcement officials arrested an Alabama man after he allegedly made criminal threats against a Catholic church in Orange County, California, and a cache of ammunition and body armor was found in his vehicle, authorities said.
  
  
• An Irish missionary held hostage in Haiti has been freed after nearly a month in captivity. 
  
  
• Pope Leo XIV publicly called on the leaders of Sudan's warring factions to negotiate an end to the violence and to ensure aid can reach desperate civilians.
  
  
• Pope Leo XIV turns 70 on Sept. 14, and OSV News is celebrating by gathering a host of prayers into a very special "spiritual birthday bouquet" for the Holy Father. The best part? Everyone can participate.