The Dialog

A nun holds an image of Pope Leo XIV while praying with rosary as Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, celebrates a Mass in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Oct. 14, 2026, on the final day of the meeting in which the presidents of bishops' conferences are marking the 10th anniversary of "Amoris Laetitia" ("The Joy of Love").

“One of Us” is a brief snapshot of people who support the Catholic church in various ways in the Diocese of Wilmington. We regularly feature people who may be recognizable within their parish or school communities. NAME: Dana Shanklin PARISH: St. Joseph, Middletown High School: Saint Mark’s High School What is the most important part of your spirituality? “The ability to share it with everyone I encounter. I just think it’s so awesome.

A nun holds an image of Pope Leo XIV as Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, celebrates a Mass in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Oct. 14, 2026, on the final day of a meeting in which the presidents of bishops' conferences are marking the 10th anniversary of "Amoris Laetitia" ("The Joy of Love"). The Mass also included special prayers for the health of Pope Leo XIV, following his lung surgery the previous day and diagnosis of cancer.

A man prays in front of a statue of the St. John Paul II outside Gemelli Hospital in Rome Oct. 13, 2026, where Pope Leo XIV had surgery that afternoon to remove a lung nodule. The Vatican confirmed that evening that Pope Leo has lung cancer. (OSV News photo/Matteo Minnella, Reuters) Pope Leo XIV has been diagnosed with lung cancer following a 90-minute surgery on Oct. 13 during which surgeons removed the lower lobe of the pope’s right lung.

The Jaguars' Trinity Jenkins attacks against Archmere's Ava Milewski (10) and Elise Shahan. Dialog photo/Mike Lang CLAYMONT – Archmere’s volleyball team put on a dominating performance for two and a half sets on Oct. 12 vs. Appoquinimink, but the other set and a half made the match quite interesting. The Auks improved to 8-3 with a 3-1 win over the Jaguars. Set scores were 25-13, 22-25, 17-25, and 25-13. Appo trailed the first set, 7-5, before the Auks gained control with a 9-2 run.

“As we celebrate this year, the 250th Anniversary of the founding of our country, I am very mindful that from our very beginning the education of children was of prime importance. As Alexis de Tocqueville observed, ‘The founders gave America its laws, but it is the formation of children that gives America its future.’” — Bishop William E.

Pope Leo XIV smiles as a person takes a cellphone photo as the pontiff arrives at Rome's Gemelli Hospital Oct. 13, 2026, ahead of his surgery that afternoon to remove a lung nodule. (OSV News photo/Ciro De Luca, Reuters) Pope Leo XIV’s surgery to remove a lung nodule on Oct. 13 was completed successfully, the Vatican announced that night. The pope underwent the surgery in the late afternoon after being admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital at 1 p.m. Rome time.

Nate Blessington of the Auks follows the block of Kevin Kozickiin Archmere's win over Wilmington Friends. Dialog photo/Mike Lang Boys Football Friday, Oct. 16 St. Elizabeth (2-3) at Brandywine (1-4), 6 p.m. Saint Mark’s (1-5) at Polytech (4-1), 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17 Salesianum (4-1) vs. Hodgson (1-5), 11 a.m. at St. Georges Technical High School Archmere (4-1) at Mount Pleasant (1-4), noon Soccer Tuesday, Oct. 13 Severn at SS.

Franke Morda of Archmere (66) eyes a loose football and would recover a fumble on the play. Dialog photo/Mike Lang CLAYMONT – Archmere and Wilmington Friends normally play entertaining football games, and this year’s was no different. The Auks and Quakers were neck and neck throughout the game, and the final result was in doubt until the final minute in a 21-13 Archmere win.

Most Rev. William E. Koenig, Bishop of Wilmington, offered the following statement upon the announcement of Pope Leo XIV’s upcoming surgery: “I join with Abp. Paul Coakley and the bishops of the United States in offering my prayers for our Holy Father Pope Leo XIV and the team in charge of his care and ask the faithful of the Diocese of Wilmington to do the same. May Jesus Christ the Divine Physician be with Pope Leo and all in need of healing.”