Religious quotes and news – July 5, 2026
Snippets of religious statements and highlights of events from around the world
The following are quotes from some of the cardinals who addressed the extraordinary consistory held in late June 2026.
A credible witness
“Synodality is not an end in itself. It exists so that the Church may proclaim the Gospel more effectively and serve the men and women of our time more faithfully. We live in a world marked by profound transformations. Many people are searching for meaning, hope and authentic relationships. Many look to the Church for a credible witness to the Gospel. Faced with these challenges, synodality appears ever more clearly as a missionary resource. It helps the Church to listen more attentively to the questions of humanity, to recognise the signs of the times, to value the gifts of all and to discern together the steps to be taken” – Cardinal Mario Grech.
‘Just war’ outdated
“In terms of Catholic doctrine on war, the major innovation of Magnifica Humanitas is the call to recognise that ‘the ‘just war’ theory […] is outdated’ (MH 192). Two key points, in particular, are made explicit and help us understand the urgency of this call. The first is that our doctrine of ‘just war’ ‘has all too often been used to justify any kind of war’ (ibid). The second point made by the encyclical concerns the fact that legitimate defence can be invoked only if understood ‘in the strictest sense’ (ibid), that is, not in the broad and overly open sense of so-called ‘preemptive wars’” – Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández.
True happiness
“New technologies promise a more comfortable life, one less exposed to suffering. The encyclical [Magnifica Humanitas] takes this desire seriously, for such desire belongs to the very fabric of the human condition, so it deserves to be safeguarded in its truth. When happiness is reduced to performance or control, it impoverishes the person; when it is shaped by faith, it rediscovers its proper measure in our relationship with God, with others and with our common home” – Cardinal Stephen Brislin.
(Compiled by Fr Joe Borg)