This morning in the Vatican the Holy Father received superiors and seminarians from three Italian regional pontifical seminaries in Assisi, Catanzaro and Naples. All of these institutions, as the Pope remarked in his address to the group, are currently celebrating their first centenary having been founded as part of efforts towards the reformation of priestly education carried out under Popes Leo XIII and St. Pius X. "Bringing diocesan seminaries together into regional seminaries, and the reform of theological studies, produced a notable improvement in quality", Pope Benedict noted. "In this, an important role was played by the Society of Jesus", the Jesuits, to whom the new regional seminaries were entrusted.

Says Every Church Activity Should Have Mission Perspective

Benedict XVI says that every component of the Church should feel bound by Christ's mandate to preach the Gospel, so that He is proclaimed everywhere.

The Pope said this in a text for World Mission Day, which the Vatican released today. World Mission Day will be celebrated this year Oct. 21.

"All the components of the great mosaic of the Church must feel strongly drawn in by the Lord's mandate to preach the Gospel, so that Christ is proclaimed everywhere," the Holy Father affirmed.

Catholics in Sri Lanka are boycotting the government over the detention of four Missionaries of Charity who were accused of child trafficking by an anonymous caller.

“I asked the sisters about the accusations against them and they were clear in their response that they have never sold a child nor given a child up in adoption without following the appropriate legal procedures,” said Cardinal Malcom Ranjith, archbishop of Colombo.

HOUSTON (CNS) -- The first head of a new ordinariate created for former Anglican parishes and individuals is a one-time sportswriter and a pilot and Houston seminary instructor who was ordained a Catholic priest in 2009.

Pope Benedict XVI announced the creation of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter Jan. 1. It is intended to function like a diocese, but nationwide in scope, for former members of the Anglican Communion who have become Catholic.