Hello, I'm Maggie Murray of OSV News, and this is your OSV newscast for Wednesday, March
11th, 2026. Let's catch you up on the Catholic News of the day. Here we go.
At the Vatican, a new report from the Synod on Synodality is encouraging broader leadership
roles for women in the Catholic Church, while reaffirming that these roles do not involve
or dainty ministry. Released March 10th in both English and Italian, the 75-page document
comes from a Synod Study Group examining women's participation in the life and mission
of the Church. The report proposes what it calls a charismatic path for women, a way to
expand leadership opportunities rooted in the gifts or charisms given by God. The document
states that alongside the sacramental path linked to holy orders, the Church can pursue
new ways for laypeople, particularly women, to take part in decision-making and leadership.
It adds that lay women have the right to affirm their participation in the Church's
mission through the charisms they have received. The report calls on theologians and cannon
lawyers to explore new forms of authority based on the sacrament of baptism rather than
ordination. While the study does not address the question of the female deaconate, it
highlights biblical examples such as the Virgin Mary and St. Mary Magdalene, along with
recent Vatican appointments of women to leadership positions.
In Iraq, Pope Leo XIV has accepted the resignation of Cardinal Luis Saco, bringing an end to
his 13-year leadership of the Caldean Catholic Church. The Vatican announced March 10th that
the resignation was accepted according to the canon law governing patriarchs of Eastern
Catholic Churches. In a statement from the Caldean Patriarchate, Cardinal Saco said he
freely submitted his resignation March 9th so he could dedicate himself to prayer, writing,
and quiet service. The 77-year-old Cardinal had previously discussed stepping down after
turning 75 in 2024, though Pope Francis encouraged him at the time to continue serving. Reflecting
on his years as Patriarch since 2013, Cardinal Saco described leading the Church during
what he called extremely difficult circumstances for Christians in Iraq and across the Middle
East. His tenure also included political tensions within Iraq, as well as internal disputes
within the Church. In the same Vatican announcement, Pope Leo also accepted the resignation of Bishop
Emmanuel Shaleta of the Caldean Catholic Diocese of St. Peter the Apostle in San Diego. Authorities
in California arrested Bishop Shaleta March 5th and charged him with multiple counts, including
embezzlement and money laundering. Across the Middle East, escalating conflict is raising new fears
for Christian communities already struggling with instability and displacement. In Lebanon, nearly
700,000 people have been forced from their homes amid Israeli evacuation orders and heavy
airstrikes targeting Hezbollah positions, according to the United Nations. Many Christians from
southern villages are fleeing north to Beirut, while others are staying behind despite the risks
in order to protect their homes. Aid workers say the situation is becoming increasingly desperate.
Michael Constantine of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association told OSV News that some Christian
villages are now caught between Israeli forces and Hezbollah fighters. Families in those areas are
sheltering displaced neighbors while relying on humanitarian aid for essentials such as water,
fuel, and communication. The violence has also claimed lives, including a Maronite priest who
remained with his community. Meanwhile, in northern Iraq, drone attacks near Erbil are stirring
deep anxiety among Christians. Many still carry the trauma of the Islamic States' 2014 invasion,
raising fears that another wave of displacement could soon follow.
At a conference in Washington, DC, experts and policymakers gathered to discuss how the United
States can strengthen its efforts to prevent conflict and promote peace around the world.
The March 10th event titled American Peace Building at a Crossroads, Lessons,
Risks, and the Road ahead was hosted by the University of Notre Dame's
Keo School of Global Affairs and the Crock Institute for International Peace Studies
in partnership with the Alliance for Peace Building. Speakers said the discussion comes at a
critical moment as global conflicts intensify and U.S. foreign policy faces new challenges.
Retired Admiral Gary Ruffhead, former chief of naval operations for the U.S. Navy,
said the country faces both a strategic and moral responsibility to invest in peace building.
He described peace building as essential to national security, not secondary to it.
Ruffhead urged the United States to build broader coalitions and partnerships while
preparing a new generation of leaders capable of working across military and civilian sectors.
Liz Hume, executive director of the Alliance for Peace Building, said current global challenges
also present an opportunity to reshape international development efforts to prioritize
preventing conflict.
In Central Alabama, a Catholic aid program is helping small-scale farmers rebuild their
livelihoods through grants, training, and practical support. The initiative is run by Edmund
Dite missions, a Catholic social service organization based in Selma that has served the region
for about 90 years. On March 1, the program distributed grants to 19 farmers from a 78,000
dollar donation through the World Farmers Initiative. According to Alondis Curry,
senior agriculture director at Edmund Dite missions, the funds are helping farmers purchase
supplies such as seeds, irrigation piping, and cold storage equipment. The program also provides
training opportunities through partnerships with universities including Auburn University
and Tuskegee University. Farmers receive guidance on developing business plans,
a key step required to access assistance from U.S. Department of Agriculture programs.
For many participants, that support has been critical. Mary Olds, who operates a small 1.5 acre farm
near Selma with her husband, described years of struggling to qualify for federal assistance.
Their farm has since received $5,200 from the Edmund Dite program. Olds said finding the program
felt like nothing but God's grace. And that's your OSV newscast for today.
I'm Maggie Murray of OSV News. Check out the show notes for direct links to the stories in this
episode. Make sure to subscribe to this podcast, follow us on social media, and bookmark OSVNews.com.
Thanks so much for listening, and God Bless.
