FEED Validator

for Atom and RSS and KML

Congratulations!

This is a valid RSS feed.

Recommendations

This feed is valid, but interoperability with the widest range of feed readers could be improved by implementing the following recommendations.

line 2, column 0: The prefix "dc" generally is associated with the namespace "http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" [help]
```
<rss version="2.0" xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" xmlns:dc="htt ...
```

line 13, column 16: Image title doesn't match channel title [help]

      <title>CNA</title> 
                ^

line 23, column 0: style attribute contains potentially dangerous content: max-width (71 occurrences) [help]
```
  <img src="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/ivf101625.jpg?w=800&jp ...
```
line 57, column 0: description should not contain script tag (4 occurrences) [help]
```
Bishops and priests from several dioceses in the United States and Mexico ...
```
line 57, column 0: description should not contain data-drag-handle attribute (4 occurrences) [help]
```
Bishops and priests from several dioceses in the United States and Mexico ...
```

line 274, column 106: title should not contain HTML: ' [help]

... and meditations as Augustinian prior ]]></title>
                                             ^

line 702, column 0: description should not contain iframe tag [help]

<p>Pope Leo XIV called on Catholics to support missionaries on World Mission ...

line 767, column 6: Missing atom:link with rel="self" [help]
```
      </channel>
      ^
```

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/catholicnewsagency/dailynews

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<rss version="2.0" xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" xmlns:dc="http://dublincore.org/documents/dcmi-namespace/">
<channel>
<title>Catholic News Agency</title>
<link>https://www.catholicnewsagency.com</link>
<description>ACI Prensa's latest initiative is the Catholic News Agency (CNA), aimed at serving
the English-speaking Catholic audience. ACI Prensa (www.aciprensa.com)
is currently the largest provider of Catholic news in Spanish and Portuguese.</description>
<language>en</language>
<copyright>Copyright © 2006-2025, CNA</copyright>
<ttl>60</ttl>
<image>
<title>CNA</title>
<url>https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/assets/images/branding/CNA_LOGOredblk.png</url>
<link>https://www.catholicnewsagency.com</link>
</image>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[ Trump administration expands IVF and other fertility treatment coverage ]]></title>
<link>https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267211/trump-administration-expands-ivf-and-other-fertility-treatment-coverage</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267211/trump-administration-expands-ivf-and-other-fertility-treatment-coverage</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ <div style="width: 100%; margin-bottom: 25px;">
<img src="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/ivf101625.jpg?w=800&jpg" style="display: block; margin: auto; max-width: 100%" />
The Trump administration will expand access to in vitro fertilization drugs and procedures. / Credit: sejianni/Shutterstock
</div>
CNA Staff, Oct 16, 2025 / 18:53 pm (CNA).
President Donald Trump is expanding access to in vitro fertilization and other fertility treatments by partnering with pharmaceutical companies and expanding insurance options. According to <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/10/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-announces-actions-to-lower-costs-and-expand-access-to-in-vitro-fertilization-ivf-and-high-quality-fertility-care/" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">a White House announcement on Oct. 16</a>, the Trump administration is working with major pharmaceutical companies to bring IVF drugs to the U.S. at lower prices. The administration is also expanding insurance coverage for fertility care.The agreement with leading pharmaceutical group EMD Serono will make IVF drugs available “at very, very heavily reduced prices — prices that you won’t even believe,” Trump said on Thursday in a livestream from the Oval Office. According to the announcement, women who buy directly from <a href="http://trumprx.gov" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">TrumpRx.gov</a>, a website that will launch in January 2026, will get a discount equivalent to 796% of the negotiated price for GONAL-F, a widely used fertility drug.The FDA will also be expediting its review of an IVF drug that is not yet available in the U.S., which Trump said “would directly compete against a much more expensive option that currently has a monopoly in the American market, and this will bring down costs very significantly.”In addition, the Trump administration will enable employers to offer separate plans for fertility issues, comparable to the standard life, dental, and vision plans typically available from employers.“This will make all fertility care, including IVF, far more affordable and accessible,” Trump said. “And by providing coverage at every step of the way, it will reduce the number of people who ultimately need to resort to IVF, because couples will be able to identify and address problems early.” “The result will be healthier pregnancies, healthier babies, and many more beautiful American children,” Trump continued. These fertility benefits will include both IVF and other fertility treatments “that address the root causes of infertility,” according to the Oct. 16 announcement. “There’s no deeper happiness and joy [than] raising children, and now millions of Americans struggling with infertility will have a new chance to share the greatest experience of them all,” Trump said. IVF is a fertility treatment <a href="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256946/what-is-the-catholic-church-s-position-on-ivf" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">opposed by the Catholic Church</a> in which doctors fuse sperm and eggs in a laboratory to create human embryos and implant them in the mother’s womb. To maximize efficiency, doctors create excess human embryos and freeze them. Undesired embryos are <a href="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256975/experts-warn-of-inhumane-treatment-of-embryos-evil-circumstances-surrounding-ivf" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">routinely destroyed or used in scientific research</a>.Lila Rose, a devout Catholic and founder of the pro-life group Live Action, condemned the administration’s action, noting that “IVF kills more babies than abortion.”“Millions of embryos are frozen, discarded, or destroyed,” Rose said in a <a href="https://x.com/LilaGraceRose/status/1978901163530453222" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">post</a> on X on Oct. 16.“Only 7% of embryos created survive to birth,” she said. IVF is “not a solution to fertility struggles.”      In response to Trump’s announcement, the March for Life celebrated the White House’s focus on children and fertility, while cautioning the administration to protect human life at all its stages, even as embryos. “March for Life appreciates that President Trump has heard and is responding to so many Americans who dream of becoming parents,” the March for Life said in a statement shared with CNA. “The desire for parenthood is natural and good. Children are a blessing. Life is a gift. The White House’s announcement today is rooted in these core truths.” The March for Life noted that “every human life is precious — no matter the circumstances” and urged policymakers to protect human life. “We continue to encourage any federal government policymaking surrounding IVF to prioritize protecting human life in its earliest stages and to fully align with basic standards of medical ethics,” the statement read. The group also welcomed “the administration’s commitment to making groundbreaking advancements in restorative reproductive medicine more accessible and available to American women.”  Catholic institutes such as the <a href="https://saintpaulvi.com" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Saint Paul VI Institute</a> have pioneered a form of restorative reproductive medicine called NaProTechnology. “Naprotech” aims to discover and address the root cause of fertility issues via treatment and surgery if necessary. Some conditions that can affect fertility include endometriosis — which affects <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949838424000239" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">nearly 1 in 10 women</a> — and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), the <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/polycystic-ovary-syndrome" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">leading cause</a> of infertility.“RRM aims to resolve rather than ignore underlying medical issues, increasing health and wellness while also restoring fertility, and responding to the beautiful desire for children while avoiding any collateral loss of human life,” March for Life stated.
]]></description>
<category>US</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 16 Oct 2025 18:53:00 -0400</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[ Senator introduces bill to ban Obamacare-funded abortions ]]></title>
<link>https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267209/senator-introduces-bill-to-ban-obamacare-funded-abortions</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267209/senator-introduces-bill-to-ban-obamacare-funded-abortions</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ <div style="width: 100%; margin-bottom: 25px;">
<img src="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/joshhawley101625.jpg?w=800&jpg" style="display: block; margin: auto; max-width: 100%" />
U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Missouri. / Credit: Office of Senator Josh Hawley, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
</div>
CNA Staff, Oct 16, 2025 / 18:12 pm (CNA).
Here is a roundup of recent pro-life and abortion-related news.<h2>Senator introduces bill to ban Obamacare-funded abortions</h2>U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Missouri, on Oct. 15 introduced a bill to protect unborn children from abortion and minors from so-called gender transition.The bill would prevent taxpayer dollars from going toward abortions or transgender procedures for minors via Obamacare. While the Hyde Amendment already prohibits federal funding of abortion, Hawley’s bill would “write Hyde language directly into the federal coverage terms of health plans,” according to a <a href="https://www.hawley.senate.gov/hawley-introduces-bill-banning-abortion-and-gender-transitions-for-minors-on-the-healthcare-exchanges/" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">press release </a>from Hawley’s office.Jamie Dangers, director of federal affairs at Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, expressed gratitude “to Sen. Hawley for recognizing that Obamacare funds abortion and must be fixed.”“This bill would do what should have been done 15 years ago by applying the Hyde Amendment to Obamacare so that health care plans don’t pay for elective abortions with taxpayer dollars,” Dangers said. “Until a bill like this becomes law, however, Republicans must make Hyde protections nonnegotiable in any funding for Obamacare, which currently uses taxpayer dollars to fund abortion on demand,” Dangers concluded.<h2>Louisiana woman sues FDA after boyfriend pressured her into a chemical abortion </h2>A Louisiana woman who was pressured into abortion by her then-boyfriend is joining the state of Louisiana in a lawsuit against the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).In October 2023, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyC1_msah9U" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Rosalie Markezich</a>, out of fear for her safety, took abortion drugs that her boyfriend at the time had obtained via mail from a doctor in California.An in-person visit used to be a baseline requirement for obtaining abortion drugs, but under the Biden administration, the FDA removed the safeguard in 2023. “If the Biden FDA had not removed in-person dispensing, my then-boyfriend would not have been able to obtain abortion drugs and pressure me to take them against my will,” Rosalie said in a <a href="https://adfmedia.org/case/the-state-of-louisiana-v-u-s-food-and-drug-administration/#photos" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">statement</a>.Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said the “FDA’s reckless actions also opened wide the door for women to suffer reproductive coercion and assault.”“We are simply asking the FDA to restore this basic safety standard for women’s health,” Murrill said in a <a href="https://adfmedia.org/case/the-state-of-louisiana-v-u-s-food-and-drug-administration/#photos" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">statement</a>. <figure class="mx-auto" style="width:100%"><img src="https://admin.catholicnewsagency.com/images/rosaliemarkezich11-scaled.png" class="img-fluid" style="null" alt="Rosalie Markezich, a Louisiana woman coerced into taking abortion drugs that her then-boyfriend obtained via mail from a doctor in California. Credit: Alliance Defending Freedom"><figcaption class="caption text-muted">Rosalie Markezich, a Louisiana woman coerced into taking abortion drugs that her then-boyfriend obtained via mail from a doctor in California. Credit: Alliance Defending Freedom</figcaption></figure><h2>Florida bill would allow for wrongful-death lawsuits for unborn children<a href="https://floridaphoenix.com/2025/10/13/wrongful-death-for-fetuses-elimination-of-pregnancy-crisis-centers-on-tap-for-2026-session/" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"> </a></h2>A Florida bill could allow parents to file wrongful-death lawsuits for the death of an unborn child. Proposed by Vero Beach Republican Sen. Erin Grall, the <a href="https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/164/BillText/Filed/PDF" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">bill</a> defines an unborn child as “a member of the species Homo sapiens, at any stage of development, who is carried in the womb.” The bill wouldn’t allow civil suits to be brought against medical personnel, such as in cases related to in vitro fertilization (IVF). In addition, Boca Raton House Democrat Kelly Skidmore filed a <a href="https://www.flhouse.gov/Sections/Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=82543&SessionId=113" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">bill</a> that would nix a Florida program that provides funding for crisis pregnancy centers.Abortions are illegal in Florida after six weeks of pregnancy, a time when many women do not yet know they are pregnant.Referring to the crisis pregnancy centers, Skidmore <a href="https://floridaphoenix.com/2025/10/13/wrongful-death-for-fetuses-elimination-of-pregnancy-crisis-centers-on-tap-for-2026-session/" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">asked</a>: “What crisis pregnancies are they helping with?”“When we live in a state that has a six-week ban, how many crisis pregnancies do you think there are that we still need to fund $29.5 million for these centers?”The Florida Pregnancy Support Services Program <a href="https://floridaphoenix.com/2025/10/13/wrongful-death-for-fetuses-elimination-of-pregnancy-crisis-centers-on-tap-for-2026-session/" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">reportedly</a> helped provide more than 20,000 women with more than 130,000 counseling services and more than 18,000 pregnancy tests, according to recent data.
]]></description>
<category>US</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 16 Oct 2025 18:12:00 -0400</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[ U.S., Mexico bishops call for a vigil for migrants ]]></title>
<link>https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267205/us-mexico-bishops-call-for-a-vigil-for-migrants</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267205/us-mexico-bishops-call-for-a-vigil-for-migrants</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ <div style="width: 100%; margin-bottom: 25px;">
<img src="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/iglesia-inmaculada-concepcion-slrc.jpeg?w=800&jpg" style="display: block; margin: auto; max-width: 100%" />
The bishops issued their appeal in San Luis Río Colorado, in the Mexican state of Sonora, pictured here. / Credit: AyuntamientoSLRC, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
</div>
ACI Prensa Staff, Oct 16, 2025 / 17:13 pm (CNA).
Bishops and priests from several dioceses in the United States and Mexico have invited people to organize a Catholic vigil for migrants on Oct. 22 or another possible date as a way to express solidarity and call for adequate immigration policies.San Bernardino, California, Bishop Alberto Rojas joined Bishop Gerald Kicanas of the Diocese of Tucson, Arizona, and other bishops Oct. 12 at the Arizona-Sonora border for a binational pilgrimage and Mass.<div class="twitter-wrapper"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Bishop Rojas joined Bishop Kicanas of the Diocese of Tucson and other bishops at the Arizona–Sonora border for a binational pilgrimage and Mass, standing in solidarity with our migrant brothers and sisters. 🙏 Read more: <a href="https://t.co/dTQ9H0h25H">https://t.co/dTQ9H0h25H</a> <a href="https://t.co/9Gj6gssHlI">pic.twitter.com/9Gj6gssHlI</a>— Diocese of San Bernardino (@sbdiocese) <a href="https://twitter.com/sbdiocese/status/1978228306190237860?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2025</a></blockquote><script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><div class="drag-handle" data-drag-handle="true"> </div></div>The appeal for a vigil was made in the final message of the “Binational Encounter: Migrants, Pilgrims of Hope in Christ,” held in San Luis Río Colorado in the Mexican state of Sonora. The encounter included a pilgrimage and a Mass in the Mexican city.In addition to San Bernardino and Tuscon, participants included representatives from the dioceses of Las Vegas, Mexicali, Matamoros-Reynosa, and Nogales, among others. In their<a href="https://news.diocesetucson.org/news/bishops-call-for-migrants-and-refugees-to-be-treated-with-dignity-and-respect" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"> final declaration</a>, the signatories recalled that “in the Church, no one is a stranger, and the Church is not foreign to anyone, anywhere.”In this regard, they expressed their closeness to those “who are living in fear, faced with dehumanizing rhetoric, policies designed to intimidate, and impossible choices.”“The broken immigration systems of both countries deny us the chance to welcome them as new members of our community since there are few legal pathways for migration,” they stated.Given this situation, they said: “This is not a moment for complacency or conformity, it is a moment to be all the more proactive in our pastoral and prophetic work of encounter and welcome with those forced to live in the shadows.”<h2>Recognition of right to regulate immigration</h2>The signatories recognized the right of nations to regulate immigration “consistent with the common good and respect for the dignity of all” as well as the right of people to migrate when conditions in their places of origin are not conducive to a decent life, while respecting the communities that host them.The declaration recognizes “the inherent and inviolable dignity” of migrants “that no earthly authority can deny.”In this regard, the signatories called for “resisting the temptation of apathy and instead, with courage and hope, acting to truly live out Christ’s love that transcends borders.”<h2>Call for vigils</h2>To this end, they called for “a Catholic vigil for migrants.” The declaration proposes “Oct. 22 [as] a Catholic day of action, or in the following weeks and months on a symbolic date.”They also encouraged meetings between people with experience in migration and those “who are more distant from these realities,” reaching out to migrants and praying for authorities, asking them for “laws and policies that promote safety for people fleeing violence, respect the dignity of migrants and refugees, and uphold the sacredness of family unity.”The text points out that “whatever our country of birth, we endeavor toward the same horizon, yearning for our true homeland.”“At times, the obstacles before us may seem too great to overcome. But our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, points to a source of inspiration living within our midst: ‘Even when all seems lost, migrants and refugees stand as messengers of hope,’” the statement affirms.This story <a href="https://www.aciprensa.com/noticias/118199/obispos-de-mexico-y-eeuu-convocan-a-una-vigilia-por-los-migrantes" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">was first published</a> by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.
]]></description>
<category>Americas</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 16 Oct 2025 17:13:00 -0400</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[ USCIRF, lawmakers, advocates discuss the ‘severe’ threats to religious freedom in China ]]></title>
<link>https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267201/religious-freedom-commission-lawmakers-advocates-discuss-severe-threats-to-religious-freedom-in-china</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267201/religious-freedom-commission-lawmakers-advocates-discuss-severe-threats-to-religious-freedom-in-china</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ <div style="width: 100%; margin-bottom: 25px;">
<img src="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/Chinese_Flag_Credit_esfera_via_wwwshutterstockcom_CNA.jpeg?w=800&jpg" style="display: block; margin: auto; max-width: 100%" />
null / Credit: esfera/Shutterstock
</div>
Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Oct 16, 2025 / 16:11 pm (CNA).
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) at an Oct. 16 hearing heard recommendations from lawmakers and advocates for addressing “severe violations of religious freedom” by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).“For decades the U.S. government has been a leader for combating China’s religious freedom violations,” said Asif Mahmood, vice chair of the commission. He said it “has sanctioned Chinese government officials” and “supported independent media and nongovernment organizations denouncing violations.”USCIRF “urges the U.S. government to continue prioritizing religious freedom by designating China as a country of particular concern, raising religious freedom issues with Chinese officials, and supporting independent civil society,” Mahmood continued. He said the U.S. “cannot afford to sit on the sidelines on this issue” because “the lives and well-being of millions are at stake.”Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, chair of the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, said under the leadership of Chinese President Xi Jinping, the CCP imposed mandates that “reflect socialist core values and push to harmonize religion with party-approved Chinese culture.” “For a religious organization to even exist in China, that organization must apply for and obtain a permit from the government,” Risch said. But the government has “forcibly eradicated religious elements that are not in line with the CCP’s agenda.” This includes “destroying access [to] churches and replacing images of Jesus Christ with Xi Jinping,” Risch said. “China jails thousands of practicing Muslims, Buddhists, and Christians each year for their religious beliefs, with many subjected to forced indoctrination and torture.”Risch said the aftermath of the country’s “phony” national security law meant “Hong Kong authorities targeted pro-democracy religious groups and activists like <a href="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/266123/cna-explains-who-is-jimmy-lai" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Jimmy Lai </a>— a devout Catholic who has tragically been denied holy Communion in prison.”Sen. Ted Budd, R-North Carolina, said American leadership must continue to be “critical in denouncing persecution of Christians and other religious groups around the world.” It is crucial because the CCP “has no interest in protecting freedom of religion … it continues to restrict religious practice, destroy churches, and imprison religious minorities,” Budd said.“Every day, they torture and target Uyghurs, Thibetans, Catholics, Protestants, and Falun Gong practitioners. The spirit of religious persecution is evidence of the CCP’s disregard for human life and natural law,” Budd said.“Until China changes course, it should be the policy of the United States to hold them accountable for their severe violations of religious freedom,” Budd said. The U.S. should continue to designate China as a country of particular concern, he said.Other speakers, including Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Massachusetts, said the U.S. must protect religious liberty within its own nation as it works to help other countries. He asked: “How can Americans expect to be taken seriously on the world stage if our leaders are failing to defend religious freedom here at home?” Rep. John Moolenaar, R-Michigan, chair of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, said: “The CCP doesn’t just threaten American interests. It threatens the very idea that human beings are born free, the truth exists beyond the reach of the state, and that no government can claim ownership of the soul.”“Under Xi Jinping, the CCP has declared war on faith itself. Across China today, the party is carrying out the most systematic campaign of religious persecution since the Cultural Revolution,” Moolenaar said. “They call it sinicization of religion, but what it really means is subjugation.”<h2>Panelists and suggestions</h2>Annie Boyajian, speaking on behalf of <a href="https://freedomhouse.org/" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Freedom House,</a> an organization dedicated to fighting for democracy and human rights, told the commission that “first and foremost,” Freedom House agrees that China should be redesignated as a country of particular concern when it comes to religious freedom threats.“Individuals can face up to 14 years in prison for knowing that someone has committed so-called treason … meaning that priests could be forced to choose between going to jail or divulging information shared with them by parishioners during confession,” Boyajian said.Freedom House maintains “a global database that documents direct physical incidents of transnational repression, and 22% of the cases … documented since 2014 were committed by the Chinese government,” Boyajian said. These instances include “unlawful deportations, assaults, and harassment in 30 countries as well as surveillance, intimidation, coercion of family members, mobility controls, detention, and interval abuse,” Boyajian said. “Religious and ethnic minorities are prime targets for transnational repression.”“The U.S. government should work to expose transnational oppression by coordinating with allies to monitor, document, and counter China’s unlawful deportations, harassment of diaspora communities, and abuse of Interpol red notices, and take special care to not facilitate the perpetration of transnational repression,” Boyajian said.Boyajian offered a number of other recommendations to the committee, including that the U.S. “work to enforce accountability” by “imposing targeted sanctions on officials and entities responsible for a severe religious persecution.” She also suggested that policymakers “strengthen asylum protections and humanitarian pathways” for those facing religious persecution.Corey Jackson, a Presbyterian pastor from Kerry, North Carolina, who previously lived in China, recounted his experience: “The CCP attempts to control every aspect of life, including the freedom of religion of Christians.”He explained that for Christians, “building or renting spaces for churches is prohibited, and Bibles cannot be sold in bookstores or made publicly available.” Leaders within unregistered churches “are particularly vulnerable,” he said, and are often placed under house arrest or imprisoned on broad national security charges such as subversion of power.Jackson asked the commission and the U.S. government to “exert pressure on the CCP” to release political prisoners arrested for their faith including Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri and the other 21 prisoners arrested last week at an underground church. He also recommended that Congress impose religious freedom tariffs on China alongside other economic tariffs. Boyajian said that “despite China’s religious persecution, millions of believers continue to practice their faith, often at immense personal risk.” She added: “Their resilience reminds us that religious freedom is not a secondary concern. It is central to human dignity, to civil society, and to the defense of democracy worldwide.”
]]></description>
<category>US</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 16 Oct 2025 16:11:00 -0400</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[ 1,300-year-old possible Communion loaf bearing image of Christ is found in Turkey ]]></title>
<link>https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267199/1300-year-old-possible-communion-loaf-bearing-image-of-christ-found-in-turkey</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267199/1300-year-old-possible-communion-loaf-bearing-image-of-christ-found-in-turkey</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ <div style="width: 100%; margin-bottom: 25px;">
<img src="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/excavation.site.turkey.jpg?w=800&jpg" style="display: block; margin: auto; max-width: 100%" />
The discovery in southern Turkey of five small round loaves — probably intended for the Eucharist — more than 1,300 years old, one of which features an image of Jesus Christ, took place in Topraktepe, an ancient Roman and Byzantine center known as Irenopolis, located in the present-day Turkish province of Karaman. / Credit: Photo courtesy of Karaman Governorship
</div>
ACI Prensa Staff, Oct 16, 2025 / 15:41 pm (CNA).
A team of archaeologists has discovered at a site in southern Turkey five small round loaves —  probably intended for the Eucharist — more than 1,300 years old, one of which features an image of Jesus Christ. The discovery took place in Topraktepe, an ancient Roman and Byzantine center known as Irenopolis — the “City of Peace” — located in present-day Karaman province in the historical region of Anatolia.The loaves, made with barley and dating from the sixth to eighth centuries, have been exceptionally well preserved thanks to their carbonization and the oxygen-free environment where they were found. According to researchers, they are the best-preserved examples of their type found to date in Anatolia.One of the loaves depicts the figure of Jesus Christ accompanied by the Greek inscription “With our gratitude to the Blessed Jesus.” Others feature reliefs in the shape of a Greek cross.<figure class="mx-auto" style="width:100%"><img src="https://admin.catholicnewsagency.com/images/eucharistic.loaf.turkey.2.jpg" class="img-fluid" style="null" alt="One of the loaves depicts the figure of Jesus Christ accompanied by the Greek inscription "With our gratitude to the Blessed Jesus." Credit: Photo courtesy of Karaman Governorship"><figcaption class="caption text-muted">One of the loaves depicts the figure of Jesus Christ accompanied by the Greek inscription "With our gratitude to the Blessed Jesus." Credit: Photo courtesy of Karaman Governorship</figcaption></figure>According to the official statement from the Karaman government, the figure depicted corresponds to “Jesus the Sower” or “Jesus the Farmer,” a different image from the traditional Christ Pantocrator (Ruler of All), depicted in a majestic pose, holding the Gospel in one hand and the other raised in a gesture of blessing.<div class="twitter-wrapper"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">📌Ermenek’te M.S. 7.–8. Yüzyıla Ait “Kominyon Ekmeği” Gün Yüzüne Çıkarıldı Ermenek ilçesinde yer alan Topraktepe (Eirenopolis Antik Kenti) kazılarında, M.S. 7.–8. yüzyıla tarihlenen karbonlaşmış beş ekmek tespit edilmiştir. Bu ekmeklerden birinin üzerinde Hz. İsa tasviri ve… <a href="https://t.co/LPvtX0snA3">pic.twitter.com/LPvtX0snA3</a>— Karaman Valiliği (@KaramanValiligi) <a href="https://twitter.com/KaramanValiligi/status/1975953004718182795?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 2025</a></blockquote><script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><div class="drag-handle" data-drag-handle="true"> </div></div>Giovanni Collamati, a professor of history at <a href="https://investigacionusp.ceu.es/es/ipublic/researcher/336543" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">CEU San Pablo University</a> in Madrid, Spain, who specializes in the Middle Ages, explained in conversation with ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner, the significance of this discovery, pointing out that the iconography of Christ changes over time.<figure class="mx-auto" style="width:100%"><img src="https://admin.catholicnewsagency.com/images/eucharistic.loaf.turkey.1.jpg" class="img-fluid" style="null" alt="The exceptionally well-preserved loaves are also embossed with the cross. Credit: Photo courtesy of Karaman Governorship"><figcaption class="caption text-muted">The exceptionally well-preserved loaves are also embossed with the cross. Credit: Photo courtesy of Karaman Governorship</figcaption></figure>Collamati emphasized that the discovery took place in a city that was not important within the empire — such as Constantinople — so it may provide clues to a historically unknown form of liturgical worship of Christ, a “much more local liturgical worship that originates from people who do not belong to the elite but is a devotion much more of the common people.” The excavations were carried out under the direction of the Karaman Museum and the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Experts will continue analyzing the loaves to further their study and gain more insight into their origin and use. This story <a href="https://www.aciprensa.com/noticias/118177/hallan-panes-de-comunion-de-hace-1300-anos-en-turquia" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">was first published</a> by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.
]]></description>
<category>Middle East - Africa</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 16 Oct 2025 15:41:00 -0400</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[ Religious sister in Kenya detained as probe into colleague’s death continues ]]></title>
<link>https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267197/religious-sister-in-kenya-detained-as-probe-into-colleague-s-death-continues</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267197/religious-sister-in-kenya-detained-as-probe-into-colleague-s-death-continues</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ <div style="width: 100%; margin-bottom: 25px;">
<img src="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/aci-africa-photo-edit-11-1760526307.jpg.webp?w=800&jpg" style="display: block; margin: auto; max-width: 100%" />
Sister Anselimina Karimi was found dead on Oct. 12, 2025, in the Meru Diocese in Kenya. / Credit: Radio 47 Digital
</div>
ACI Africa, Oct 16, 2025 / 15:11 pm (CNA).
A judge in Kenya has ordered the continued detention of a Catholic religious sister accused of involvement in the death of her colleague in the country’s<a href="https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dmeru.html" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"> Diocese of Meru</a>, citing the seriousness of the alleged offense, the need to complete investigations, and concerns for her personal safety. According to <a href="https://www.radio47.fm/2025/10/14/nun-detained-for-14-days-over-suspected-murder-of-fellow-nun-in-meru/" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Kenyan media</a> reports, Senior Resident Magistrate Evalyne Ndegwa ruled on Oct. 14 that Sister Caroline Kanjiru of the <a href="https://www.nazarethsisters.com/aboutus" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Nazareth Sisters of the Annunciation</a> will remain in custody for two weeks to allow investigators to conduct DNA testing and other forensic procedures related to the death of her colleague, Sister Anselmina Karimi, who was found dead on Oct. 12.“In my opinion, it is necessary for the suspect’s own safety and protection and to prevent public outrage and retaliation to have her detained at this stage,” Ndegwa said.The Kenyan Meru-based magistrate added that the extended detention would enable law enforcement officials “to escort the suspect to the government chemist for DNA analysis” and facilitate the completion of other critical investigative steps.”“I therefore find merit in the application and direct that the suspect be detained for 14 days,” she said in response to a prosecution request to hold Kanjiru for two weeks pending further inquiry.Sources told ACI Africa, CNA’s news partner in Africa, that Kanjiru had recently succeeded the late Karimi as head of Nkabune Children’s Home, an orphanage under the Diocese of Meru.“The deceased had faithfully served for many years, running a children’s home. She was requested to transfer to allow another sister to take over, but she declined. [She had] shared a lot of personal and institutional information with her family,” according to a note ACI Africa obtained, suggesting the sister’s family was possibly involved in the apostolate, making her reluctant to hand over the project. According to ACI Africa, the family of the late sister is claiming that the detained sister was involved in the death of their kinswoman. The same note obtained by ACI Africa indicated that the late sister had “collapsed and passed away while alone,” adding that the suspect in custody “does not reside near her room.”“Nonetheless, a postmortem will be conducted to establish the true cause of death,” the note said.During the Oct. 14 hearing, the prosecution argued that the suspect faced “hostility from the public, poses a flight risk, and may interfere with witnesses.” The defense team, however, opposed the application, noting that Kanjiru had “voluntarily surrendered to authorities” and was “ready to comply with court conditions.”Kanjiru’s lawyer further told the court that, contrary to the prosecution’s claim, “the area is not hostile.” He added that the Catholic Church was “willing to provide security” for the accused.In her ruling, Ndegwa directed that Kanjiru, who has been in police custody since Oct. 12, remain detained at the Meru Police Station as investigations continue.“Once the investigations are completed, either the suspect will be charged with the offense or she will be exonerated from custody,” the magistrate stated, expressing optimism that by the end of 14 days, “the society’s anger would have been quelled.”The autopsy for Karimi was scheduled for Oct. 16.The Religious Institute of the <a href="https://www.nazarethsisters.com/aboutus" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Nazareth Sisters of the Annunciation</a> recently expressed deep sorrow about the loss of one its members. <a href="https://www.aciafrica.org/news/18131/double-tragedy-superior-general-of-religious-institute-in-kenya-speaks-on-death-arrest-of-its-members" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">In a statement on Wednesday</a>, the institute’s superior general, Sister Adelina M. Muguna, said the congregation “is also greatly saddened by the arrest and detention of their member, Sister Caroline Kanjiru Paul, on suspicion that she is connected with the Oct. 12 incident.” This story <a href="https://www.aciafrica.org/news/18109/catholic-sister-in-kenya-detained-for-own-safety-as-probe-into-colleagues-death-continues-judge" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">was first published</a> by ACI Africa, CNA’s news partner in Africa, and has been adapted by CNA.
]]></description>
<category>Middle East - Africa</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 16 Oct 2025 15:11:00 -0400</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[ Uruguay legalizes euthanasia ]]></title>
<link>https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267193/uruguay-legalizes-euthanasia</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267193/uruguay-legalizes-euthanasia</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ <div style="width: 100%; margin-bottom: 25px;">
<img src="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/palacio-legislativo-uruguay.jpeg?w=800&jpg" style="display: block; margin: auto; max-width: 100%" />
The Legislative Palace of Uruguay. / Credit: Coquimbo58, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
</div>
ACI Prensa Staff, Oct 16, 2025 / 14:41 pm (CNA).
On Wednesday, Oct. 15, Uruguay’s Senate passed the Death with Dignity bill, which opens the door to euthanasia in the country.Following a favorable vote by 20 senators (out of 31 present), the bill, which had previously been approved in August <a href="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/265933/uruguays-lower-house-passes-euthanasia-bill-which-now-heads-to-senate" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">by Uruguay’s lower house</a>, will go to the office of President Yamandú Orsi, a member of the Broad Front, the political coalition that promoted the legislative initiative.Orsi can sign the bill into law or veto it, either entirely or partially. The measure approved by the Senate would allow any person over the age of 18 in Uruguay who “suffers from one or more chronic, incurable, and irreversible pathologies or health conditions that seriously impair their quality of life, causing unbearable suffering” to have access to euthanasia.With this outcome, Uruguay would become the first country in South America to legalize euthanasia through a legislative process. Countries such as <a href="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/251234/colombian-bishops-lament-courts-approval-of-assisted-suicide" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Colombia</a> and <a href="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256777/ecuador-s-constitutional-court-decriminalizes-euthanasia" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Ecuador </a>have opened the door to this practice through judicial mechanisms.<h2>Bishops lament law that promotes ‘culture of death’</h2>In <a href="https://iglesiacatolica.org.uy/comunicado-ante-la-aprobacion-de-la-ley-de-eutanasia/" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">a statement</a> released after the Senate vote, the Uruguayan Bishops’ Conference said that “this law promotes the ‘culture of death.’”“In a country with a high suicide rate, with serious difficulties in addressing the issue of mental health, this law goes against the value and dignity of human life and puts us on a risky path of normalizing the search for death as a solution to life situations that can be addressed in other ways,” the Uruguayan bishops pointed out.Reiterating a message released in June of this year, the bishops asserted that “every human life appears before us as something unique, unrepeatable, and irreplaceable; its value is independent of health status, ethnicity, sex, culture, socioeconomic status, or any other circumstance.”“Dying with dignity means dying without pain or other poorly controlled symptoms; dying in one’s natural time, without life being unnecessarily shortened or prolonged; dying surrounded by the love of family and friends; dying with the opportunity to have been adequately informed, choosing, if possible, the place (hospital or home) and participating in all important decisions that affect one; dying with the spiritual support one needs,” they emphasized.The prelates said that “as the Church on pilgrimage in Uruguay, we want to continue working to protect life and its dignity, as is also recognized by our Constitution and the several international treaties our country has signed.”“We are convinced that sharing our moments of greatest human weakness can become a great opportunity to discover together the transcendent and profound meaning of our lives,” the bishops noted.This story<a href="https://www.aciprensa.com/noticias/118225/senado-de-uruguay-aprueba-legalizar-la-eutanasia" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"> was first published</a> by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.
]]></description>
<category>Americas</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 16 Oct 2025 14:41:00 -0400</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[ Study finds decline in young Americans identifying as ‘transgender,’ ‘queer’ ]]></title>
<link>https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267191/study-finds-decline-in-young-americans-identifying-as-transgender-queer</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267191/study-finds-decline-in-young-americans-identifying-as-transgender-queer</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ <div style="width: 100%; margin-bottom: 25px;">
<img src="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/sexual-orientation.jpg?w=800&jpg" style="display: block; margin: auto; max-width: 100%" />
The number of young Americans who are self-identifying as transgender or nonheterosexual declined in 2024 and 2025, according to an Oct. 10, 2025, report. / Credit: Andrii Yalanskyi/Shutterstock
</div>
Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Oct 16, 2025 / 14:11 pm (CNA).
The number of young Americans who self-identify as transgender or nonheterosexual declined in 2024 and 2025, <a href="https://www.heterodoxcentre.com/research/chss-report-no-5/" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">according to a report</a> from the Centre for Heterodox Social Science (CHSS), which compiled data from undergraduate student surveys and broader surveys of young people.The Oct. 10 report, titled “The Decline of Trans and Queer Identity Among Young Americans,” found an overall decline in people who identify with the broader “LGBTQ+” community, with a bulk of the decline in those who identify as bisexual, transgender, and queer.Eric Kaufmann, director of CHSS and a politics professor at the University of Buckingham, led the study.The report noted a surge in young people identifying with those segments in the 2010s and the 2020s, which peaked in 2023. Since then, the report concluded that “trans, queer, and bisexual identities are in rapid decline among young educated Americans.”It found that the number of young people identifying as “nonbinary” — neither male nor female — dropped significantly in three of five data sources reviewed in the report. Both of the other surveys, however, showed stability in “nonbinary” identification.According to the report, the Andover Phillips Academy survey saw the total number of students identifying as “nonbinary” drop from 9% to 3% from 2023 to 2025. A much larger sample from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) saw a decline from 6.8% to 3.6% in the same time period. The Brown University student survey showed a drop from 5% to 2.6%.The other data sources — the Higher Education Research Institute (HERI) and the Cooperative Election Study (CCES) — alternatively found “nonbinary” identification to be stable.According to the report, the number of students identifying as “gay” and “lesbian” was stable in the time period measured, but researchers found a decrease in other nonheterosexual identification, such as “questioning,” “asexual,” “pansexual,” and “other.”The report noted the Andover survey showed nonheterosexual identification peak in 2023, when 63.5% of the student body identified as heterosexual.In that survey, identification as bisexual peaked in 2023 at 17% of the student body and decreased to 12% by 2025. “Queer” and “other” identifications also peaked in 2023 to 17%, dropped to 9% in 2024, and went back up to 12% in 2025. According to the FIRE data, identification as heterosexual was at 68% in 2023 and increased to 77% in 2025, with strong decreases in the “queer” and “other” categories of sexual orientation.The HERI data showed heterosexual identification drop to 77% in 2023 and increase to 82% in 2024, which is the most recent year data is available. The Brown survey found that heterosexual identification reached its low point of 60% in its 2022-2023 data and increased to 68% in fall 2025.The General Social Survey saw heterosexual identification drop to its low point of 71% in 2022 and rise to 81% in 2024. The CCES survey alternatively showed a stable increase in nonheterosexual identification through 2024.“To the extent that the youngest represent the leading edge of new trends, this suggests that trans, bisexual, and queer identities are declining in popularity with each new cohort,” the report noted.The report concluded the decline is not likely related to political, cultural, or religious beliefs, but suggested a correlation with improved mental health, which “appears to be part of the explanation for the decline of BTQ+ identification.”“Only time will tell if the substantial decline of BTQ+ identification will continue among young Americans,” the report’s conclusion read. “If so, this represents a momentous and unanticipated post-progressive cultural shift in American society.” Mary Rice Hasson, director of the Person and Identity Project at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, told CNA the research “is interesting and somewhat encouraging, but I wouldn’t pop the champagne corks and celebrate a victory yet.”Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed a “troubling rise” in transgender identification among high schoolers, Hasson said.“Even with a possible decrease, young Americans are still self-identifying as ‘trans’ in radically higher numbers than in past generations, when only a fraction of a fraction of a percent self-identified as ‘trans,’” she added. Even with the decrease in nonheterosexuality among college students, Hasson said “the ‘improvement’ still leaves nearly a quarter of our youngest generation as self-identified ‘nonheterosexuals’ … which means they reject the nature and truth of the body and human sexuality.”“The overall concern remains — too many young people do not know the truth of ‘who they are’ and don’t accept the sexual identity God has given to them,” Hasson added. “So, it doesn’t change the work we do — we continue to pray and speak the truth, to reach those who are lost and searching for the truth and love that only God can give.”
]]></description>
<category>US</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 16 Oct 2025 14:11:00 -0400</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[ Ecumenical coalition urges Trump to crack down on Nigeria ]]></title>
<link>https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267185/ecumenical-coalition-asks-trump-to-crack-down-on-nigeria</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267185/ecumenical-coalition-asks-trump-to-crack-down-on-nigeria</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ <div style="width: 100%; margin-bottom: 25px;">
<img src="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/nigeria92625.jpg?w=800&jpg" style="display: block; margin: auto; max-width: 100%" />
Nigerian security officers during a military operation ahead of the gubernatorial elections in Benin City, Edo, Nigeria, on Sept. 17, 2020. / Credit: Oluwafemi Dawodu/Shutterstock
</div>
Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Oct 16, 2025 / 13:18 pm (CNA).
Christian leaders delivered a letter to President Donald Trump on Oct. 15 urging him to redesignate Nigeria as a country of particular concern on the U.S. government’s international religious freedom watch list. “We fervently urge you to redesignate Nigeria as a ‘country of particular concern’ (CPC) under the International Religious Freedom [IRF] Act, as you did in your first term,” the letter states. “The last several years have seen a burgeoning of violent attacks specifically targeting rural Christians in the country’s Middle Belt, while the government in Abuja barely lifts a finger to protect them.” The letter’s signatories included San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone; Nina Shea, Hudson Institute senior fellow and director for the Center for Religious Freedom; Kelsey Reinhardt, CatholicVote president and CEO; Robert Royal, editor-in-chief of The Catholic Thing; and Luke Moon, executive director of the Philos Project. “The Nigerian government is directly violating religious freedom by enforcing Islamic blasphemy laws that carry the death penalty and harsh prison sentences against citizens of various religions,” the letter continued. “It also demonstrably tolerates relentless aggression uniquely against Christian farming families by militant Fulani Muslim herders, who appear intent on forcibly Islamizing the Middle Belt.”In a statement to CNA on Monday, Shea said the Nigerian government “refuses to enforce the law against Fulani militants who are relentlessly and systematically invading rural Christian areas in the Middle Belt and massacring and driving out the civilians while crying the jihadi war cry “Allahu Akbar.” “Many Middle Belt Christian leaders are reporting that this is a concerted land grab from Christian communities in order to forcibly Islamicize Nigeria,” she added. The letter describes the Fulani herdsmen as “the biggest threat facing Nigeria’s Christians.” The letter called attention to “innocent Muslims and Christians alike” who have been “brutally victimized by Boko Haram and other Islamic State and al-Qaeda-linked terror groups seeking religious and political domination within that country.” Citing research from various groups, the letter noted that 52,000 Christians have been killed and over 20,000 churches attacked and destroyed since 2009. In addition, it said, thousands of Christians have been murdered and raped in 2025, and “over 100 Christian pastors and Catholic priests have been taken hostage for ransom.”“We are concerned that your administration may be considering listing Nigeria on the IRF Act’s ‘Special Watch List’ instead of designating it as a CPC,” the letter said, noting the decision, likely influenced by the “misconception” that a CPC designation requires the U.S. to sanction Nigeria, would be a mistake. “In fact, the IRF Act does not mandate automatic sanctions and, moreover, provides for a sanctions waiver and cites a range of other possible policy responses,” it stated.“We believe that, after nearly five years of simply ‘watching’ the arrest of individuals on harsh blasphemy charges and the relentless massacre and persecution of defenseless Christians solely for their faith, assigning only Special Watch List status would be a weak and legally inadequate response,” the letter concluded. “Such a move would dishonor religious freedom as a core pillar of U.S. foreign policy and further reinforce the previous administration’s downgrade and sidelining of the targeted killing of Christians.”In November 2021, the Biden administration, through then-Secretary of State Antony Blinken, removed Nigeria from the list of countries of particular concern.
]]></description>
<category>US</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 16 Oct 2025 13:18:00 -0400</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[ Jimmy Lai’s wife, daughter meet Pope Leo XIV in Rome ahead of trial verdict ]]></title>
<link>https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267175/jimmy-lais-wife-daughter-meet-pope-leo-in-rome-ahead-of-trial-verdict</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267175/jimmy-lais-wife-daughter-meet-pope-leo-in-rome-ahead-of-trial-verdict</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ <div style="width: 100%; margin-bottom: 25px;">
<img src="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/teresalaileo.jpeg?w=800&jpg" style="display: block; margin: auto; max-width: 100%" />
Teresa Lai greets Pope Leo XIV after the general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media
</div>
CNA Staff, Oct 16, 2025 / 12:48 pm (CNA).
The wife and daughter of imprisoned democracy activist and Catholic Jimmy Lai met Pope Leo XIV in Rome on Oct. 15, greeting the Holy Father ahead of the expected verdict in Lai’s yearslong trial in Hong Kong. Teresa and Claire Lai spoke to Leo after the general audience on Wednesday, appearing in the formal black attire traditionally worn by women greeting the pope.<figure class="mx-auto" style="width:100%"><img src="https://admin.catholicnewsagency.com/images/laisleo.jpeg" class="img-fluid" style="null" alt="Teresa (left) and Claire Lai greet Pope Leo XIV after the general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025. Credit: Vatican Media"><figcaption class="caption text-muted">Teresa (left) and Claire Lai greet Pope Leo XIV after the general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025. Credit: Vatican Media</figcaption></figure>The 77-year-old Lai has been <a href="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/266123/cna-explains-who-is-jimmy-lai" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">imprisoned in Hong Kong for years</a> on what advocates have argued are political charges including fraud and participation in unauthorized protests. A longtime free speech activist and human rights advocate, Lai — who converted to Catholicism in 1997 and who has spoken publicly about his faith on numerous occasions — was first arrested just over five years ago, in August 2020, on charges related to Hong Kong’s then-new national security law.The former media mogul’s national security trial commenced in December 2023. Closing arguments in the trial occurred in August, but Lai’s son Sebastian <a href="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/262697/catholic-democracy-advocate-jimmy-lai-fighting-for-his-beliefs-during-long-trial" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">said earlier this year</a> that Lai was “not going to get sentenced until either [the] end of this year or the start of next year.”Lai’s imprisonment has drawn criticism and rebuke from advocates around the world, including U.S. President Donald Trump, who e<a href="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/265999/trump-vows-to-do-everything-to-save-jimmy-lai-amid-trial-delays" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">arlier this year vowed</a> to do “everything [he] can” to “save” the activist. “[Lai’s] name has already entered the circle of things that we’re talking about,” Trump said in August. Lai has also been the recipient of numerous accolades and awards since his imprisonment. In April the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation <a href="https://www.bradleyfdn.org/explore/2025-bradley-prize-winner-jimmy-lai#:~:text=The%20Lynde%20and%20Harry%20Bradley%20Foundation%20has%20announced,freedom%2C%20is%20an%20Honorary%202025%20Bradley%20Prize%20winner." target="_blank" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">announced </a>that he would be an honorary recipient of a 2025 Bradley Prize for being an “inspiration to all who value freedom.”On Oct. 14, meanwhile, the International Press Institute <a href="https://ipi.media/spotlight-hong-kong-publisher-jimmy-lai-named-2025-ipi-ims-world-press-freedom-hero/" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">named Lai</a> a recipient of its 2025 World Press Freedom Hero award.
]]></description>
<category>Vatican</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 16 Oct 2025 12:48:00 -0400</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[ Judge rules against saints’ statues on Massachusetts government building ]]></title>
<link>https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267181/judge-rules-against-saints-statues-on-massachusetts-government-building</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267181/judge-rules-against-saints-statues-on-massachusetts-government-building</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ <div style="width: 100%; margin-bottom: 25px;">
<img src="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/statues.mass..jpg?w=800&jpg" style="display: block; margin: auto; max-width: 100%" />
Statues of St. Florian (at left) and St. Michael the Archangel (at right) are currently barred from appearing on the planned public safety building of Quincy, Massachusetts. / Credit: Courtesy of Office of Mayor Thomas Koch
</div>
Boston, Massachusetts, Oct 16, 2025 / 12:18 pm (CNA).
A Massachusetts trial court judge has issued an order blocking the installation of statues of two Catholic saints on a new public safety building in the city of Quincy, setting up a likely appeal that may determine how the state treats separation of church and state disputes going forward.The 10-foot-high bronze statues of St. Michael the Archangel and St. Florian, which were scheduled to be installed on the building’s façade this month, will instead await a higher court’s decision.The statues cost an estimated $850,000, part of the new, $175 million public safety building that will serve as police headquarters and administration offices for the Boston suburb’s fire department.Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch, a practicing Catholic, has said he chose St. Michael the Archangel because he is the patron of police officers and St. Florian because he is the patron of firefighters, not to send a message about religion.But the judge said the statues can’t be separated from the saints’ Catholic connections.“The complaint here plausibly alleges that the statues at issue convey a message endorsing one religion over others,” Norfolk County Superior Court Judge William Sullivan wrote in a 26-page <a href="https://www.aclum.org/sites/default/files/pi_mtd_order.pdf" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">ruling</a> Oct. 14.The judge noted that the statues “represent two Catholic saints.”“The statues, particularly when considered together, patently endorse Catholic beliefs,” the judge wrote.The plaintiffs who brought the lawsuit challenging the statues — 15 city residents represented by the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts — have amassed facts that “plausibly suggest that an objective observer would view these statues on the façade of the public safety building as primarily endorsing Catholicism/Christianity and conveying a distinctly religious message,” the judge wrote.Rachel Davidson, staff attorney at the ACLU of Massachusetts, who argued the case during a lengthy court hearing on Sept. 19, praised the judge’s decision.“This ruling affirms the bedrock principle that our government cannot favor one religion above others, or religious beliefs over nonreligious beliefs,” Davidson said in a <a href="https://www.aclum.org/en/press-releases/massachusetts-court-blocks-religious-statues-government-building-quincy" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">written statement</a>. “We are grateful to the court for acknowledging the immediate harm that the installation of these statues would cause and for ensuring that Quincy residents can continue to make their case for the proper separation of church and state, as the Massachusetts Constitution requires.”The mayor said the city will appeal.“We chose the statues of Michael and Florian to honor Quincy’s first responders, not to promote any religion,” Koch said in a written statement provided to the National Catholic Register, CNA’s sister news partner, by a spokesman. “These figures are recognized symbols of courage and sacrifice in police and fire communities across the world. We will appeal this ruling so our city can continue to celebrate and inspire the men and women who protect us.” The lawsuit, <a href="https://www.ncregister.com/news/quincy-mayor-patron-saint-statues-fire-police" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">which was filed May 27</a> in Norfolk County Superior Court in Dedham, relies on the Massachusetts Constitution, not the U.S. Constitution, but there is a tie-in.In 1979, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court adopted the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1971 three-pronged “Lemon test” when considering church and state cases — whether a law concerning religion has “a secular legislative purpose,” whether “its principal or primary effect … neither advances [n]or inhibits religion,” and whether it fosters “excessive entanglement between government and religion.” The state’s highest court also added a fourth standard — whether a “challenged practice” has “divisive political potential.”But in June 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court ditched the Lemon test in <a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/21pdf/21-418_i425.pdf" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Kennedy v. Bremerton School District</a>, a case involving <a href="https://www.ncregister.com/news/washington-football-coach-resigns-citing-retaliation-for-his-supreme-court-victory" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">prayers offered by a high school football coach</a> in Washington state.If the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, which is the ultimate interpreter of state law, takes the Quincy statues dispute, it would be the first time the court has considered a case on point since the U.S. Supreme Court’s Kennedy decision.This story <a href="https://www.ncregister.com/news/judge-bars-saints-statues-for-now" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">was first published</a> by the National Catholic Register, CNA’s sister news partner, and has been adapted by CNA.
]]></description>
<category>US</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 16 Oct 2025 12:18:00 -0400</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[ Missouri court says man can sue St. Louis Archdiocese over abuse he repressed for decades ]]></title>
<link>https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267179/missouri-court-says-man-can-sue-st-louis-archdiocese-over-abuse-he-repressed-for-decades</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267179/missouri-court-says-man-can-sue-st-louis-archdiocese-over-abuse-he-repressed-for-decades</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ <div style="width: 100%; margin-bottom: 25px;">
<img src="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/stlouisbasilica.jpg?w=800&jpg" style="display: block; margin: auto; max-width: 100%" />
The Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis. / Credit: legacy1995/Shutterstock
</div>
CNA Staff, Oct 16, 2025 / 11:48 am (CNA).
A Missouri appeals court has ordered that an alleged victim of clergy sexual abuse can sue the Archdiocese of St. Louis, ruling that an arcane aspect of bankruptcy law does not negate the archdiocese’s potential liability for abuse that the plaintiff allegedly repressed for decades.The case touches on both the complex character of U.S. bankruptcy statutes as well as the often-protracted nature of abuse allegations, which frequently only come to light years or decades after the abuse is alleged to have occurred. In its <a href="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/pdfs/2025-ed112916.pdf" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Oct. 14 ruling</a>, the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District, said the alleged victim, John Doe, claims to have been abused at the St. Joseph’s Home for Boys in the late 1980s. Doe alleges that Father Alexander Anderson, who was assigned as a counselor to the home, sexually abused him; the plaintiff said he “reported the abuse [but] no action was taken,” according to the court. Doe “alleged he repressed his memory of the abuse until 2016,” the court said. He ultimately filed suit against the archdiocese in August 2022. The archdiocese argued in response that Doe’s abuse claim was effectively negated by two bankruptcy claims he had filed in 2008 and 2009. U.S. law dictates that when debtors file for bankruptcy, they create “an estate that includes nearly all of the debtor’s legal or equitable interests in property,” including legal causes of action. The archdiocese claimed that since Doe did not list his abuse claims as “exempted assets” in his bankruptcy proceedings, they became part of that “estate” and can only be administered by the trustee that handled those proceedings. The appeals court rejected the archdiocese’s argument, reversing a lower court decision and holding that Doe’s “cause of action” only arose when he said he remembered the alleged abuse in 2016, “well after” his bankruptcy filings. Doe’s standing to sue “did not accrue [when] the sexual abuse was allegedly committed” but rather when it was “capable of ascertainment,” the court held. The court’s ruling cited Missouri Supreme Court precedent, which holds that, in some cases of abuse, “the victim may be so young, mentally incompetent, or otherwise innocent and lacking in understanding that the person could not reasonably have understood that substantial harm could have resulted from the wrong.”The St. Louis Archdiocese did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the ruling on Oct. 16. This is not the first instance in which the archdiocese has been held accountable for abuse allegations that an alleged victim claimed to have repressed for decades.In 2023 the archdiocese agreed to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jun/09/st-louis-catholic-archdiocese-sexual-abuse-lawsuit" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">pay a $1 million settlement</a> to a man who said he was abused by Father Gary Wolken in the mid-1990s but repressed the memories until he was an adult. Wolken was in prison from 2003 to 2015 for sexually abusing another boy in the St. Louis area from 1997 to 2000.
]]></description>
<category>US</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 16 Oct 2025 11:48:00 -0400</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[ In second report, Vatican minor commission urges listening, reparations for abuse victims ]]></title>
<link>https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267177/in-second-report-vatican-minor-commission-urges-listening-reparations-for-abuse-victims</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267177/in-second-report-vatican-minor-commission-urges-listening-reparations-for-abuse-victims</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ <div style="width: 100%; margin-bottom: 25px;">
<img src="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/251016-press-conference-annual-report-on-church-policies-and-procedures-for-safeguarding-daniel-ibanez-1.jpg?w=800&jpg" style="display: block; margin: auto; max-width: 100%" />
Bishop Luis Manuel Alí Herrera, the secretary of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, addresses media during a press conference releasing the commission’s second annual report on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, in Rome. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA
</div>
Vatican City, Oct 16, 2025 / 11:18 am (CNA).
The Vatican’s Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors on Thursday released its second annual report on the Church’s safeguarding policies and procedures, urging heightened awareness of abuse and the need to offer reparations to victims.The second annual report launched by the commission, instituted by Pope Francis in 2014 for the protection of minors and vulnerable adults, promotes “conversional justice” — founded on the pillars of truth, justice, reparations, and institutional reforms — to be adopted by the Church across the globe and at all levels of governance.<figure class="mx-auto" style="width:100%"><img src="https://admin.catholicnewsagency.com/images/251016-press-conference-annual-report-on-church-policies-and-procedures-for-safeguarding-daniel-ibanez-10.jpg" class="img-fluid" style="null" alt="Leaders of the Vatican’s Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors address media at a press conference releasing the commission's second annual report in Rome on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA"><figcaption class="caption text-muted">Leaders of the Vatican’s Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors address media at a press conference releasing the commission's second annual report in Rome on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA</figcaption></figure>Archbishop Thibault Verny of Chambéry, who was appointed by Pope Leo XIV in July to head the commission, spoke of the report’s efforts to emphasize the significance of “walking alongside victims and survivors” and including their voices in promoting positive change and institutional reform within the Church. “We have acquired the profound conviction that the road leading to a culture of protection is not simply for victims and survivors but with them,” Chambéry said at an Oct. 16 press conference. “This path of conversion requires that we be reached by what we hear,” he said.The 200-page report provides a snapshot of safeguarding challenges and recommendations in 18 episcopal conferences, mainly in Africa and Europe, and the positive trends and challenges on a regional level in Africa, the Americas, Asia/Oceania, and Europe.It also offers a review of the safeguarding policies, challenges, and recommendations of two religious institutions, the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa and the Brothers of Christian Instruction of St. Gabriel.Data for the report was collected from focus group consultations with 40 abuse survivors from Africa, the Americas, Asia/Oceania, and Europe, the commission’s Memorare Initiative centers in Global South countries, and questionnaires distributed to episcopal conferences and religious congregations.Information was also gathered from consultations with apostolic nuncios and bishops during ad limina visits and data published by external organizations, including U.N. agencies.In order to make reparations to abuse victims and their families, the report outlines six key recommendations for Church institutions to form the basis of their “operational vademecum,” including welcoming, listening, and caring for survivors; public and private communications and apologies; and spiritual and psychotherapeutic support.The report also urges financial support, institutional and disciplinary reforms, and safeguarding initiatives across the ecclesial community.The second annual report released by the pontifical commission also includes a brief section outlining the role and activities of the Roman Curia in supporting local Churches’ safeguarding activities, in line with Pope Francis’ “all-of-government” approach to promote an “ongoing conversion toward a culture of safeguarding.”   According to Maud de Boer-Buquicchio, a jurist and member of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors since 2022, the annual report is a handbook that can be used within the Church to address the “global data gap” on sexual violence and abuse against children.Noting the “alarming” gap in numerical abuse report data worldwide and further improvements for the commission’s future work, Boer-Buquicchio said the report emphasizes the significance of “listening” in the Church’s safeguarding ministries.“I want to highlight one of the most consistent points that emerged: Victims/survivors want to feel heard and validated in their experiences,” she said at the Thursday press conference.“Amidst these positive developments in our methodology, we recommit ourselves to continuous improvement, knowing that we still fall short of a fully mature reporting instrument,” she added.
]]></description>
<category>Vatican</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 16 Oct 2025 11:18:00 -0400</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[ Leo XIV recognizes ‘light and shadows’ in the Church’s treatment of Indigenous peoples ]]></title>
<link>https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267173/pope-leo-xiv-recognizes-light-and-shadows-in-the-churchs-treatment-of-indigenous-peoples</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267173/pope-leo-xiv-recognizes-light-and-shadows-in-the-churchs-treatment-of-indigenous-peoples</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ <div style="width: 100%; margin-bottom: 25px;">
<img src="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/251008-ga-daniel-ibanez-9.jpg?w=800&jpg" style="display: block; margin: auto; max-width: 100%" />
Pope Leo XIV greets pilgrims at his general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA
</div>
ACI Prensa Staff, Oct 16, 2025 / 10:48 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV invited Indigenous groups to forgive as he recognized both “the light and the wounds” in the history of the evangelization of their peoples.“The long history of evangelization that our Indigenous peoples have known, as the bishops of Latin America and the Caribbean have so often taught, is laden with light and shadows,” the pontiff said in an Oct. 16 message sent to the Networks of Indigenous Peoples and the Network of Indian Theology Theologians.Leo invited members of the network to “forgive our brothers and sisters from the heart, to reconcile ourselves with our own history, and to thank God for his mercy toward us.”He also encouraged them to recognize “both the light and the wounds of our past,” to understand “that we can only be a people if we truly abandon ourselves to the power of God, to his action in us.”“It is from this truth,” he added, “that we must reread our history and our reality, to face the future with the hope to which the holy year calls us, despite the hardships and tribulations.”Leo XIV explained that, through dialogue and encounter, “we learn from different ways of seeing the world, we value what is unique and original to each culture, and together we discover the abundant life that Christ offers to all peoples.” “This new life is given to us precisely because we share the fragility of the human condition marked by original sin, and because we have been reached by the grace of Christ,” he affirmed. He recalled that the Lord is the origin and goal of the universe as well as “the primary source of all that is good, including our peoples.” This, he emphasized, “is the goal of our hope; it is not only for some but for all, even those once considered enemies, the great occupying powers.”<h3>Jubilee of Hope </h3>In his message, the pontiff also emphasized the universality of the Church, “which welcomes, engages in dialogue with, and is enriched by the diversity of peoples,” particularly Indigenous peoples, “whose history, spirituality, and hope constitute an irreplaceable voice within ecclesial communion.” The pope invited the network to experience the Jubilee of Hope as “a moment of living and personal encounter with the Lord” as well as an occasion for “reconciliation, grateful memory, and shared hope, more than a mere external celebration.”Passing through the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica, he explained, means entering, through faith, “into the very source of divine love, the open side of the Crucified One,” which makes us a “people of brothers.”This story <a href="https://www.aciprensa.com/noticias/118223/leon-xiv-llama-a-los-pueblos-indigenas-a-la-reconciliacion" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">was first published</a> by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.
]]></description>
<category>Vatican</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 16 Oct 2025 10:48:00 -0400</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[ Nigerian Catholic leaders respond to call to label Nigeria ‘country of particular concern’ ]]></title>
<link>https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267171/nigerian-catholic-leaders-respond-to-us-congress-call-to-designate-nigeria-a-country-of-particular-concern</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267171/nigerian-catholic-leaders-respond-to-us-congress-call-to-designate-nigeria-a-country-of-particular-concern</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ <div style="width: 100%; margin-bottom: 25px;">
<img src="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/aci-africa-photo-edit-15-1760559653.jpg.webp?w=800&jpg" style="display: block; margin: auto; max-width: 100%" />
In interviews with ACI Africa, CNA’s news partner in Africa, Nigerian Catholic Church leaders shared their views on Christian persecution in the West African nation, expressing varied opinions on U.S. proposed legislation to change Nigeria's designation to a country of particular concern (CPC). / Credit: ACI Africa
</div>
ACI Africa, Oct 16, 2025 / 10:18 am (CNA).
Catholic leaders in Nigeria have weighed in on a <a href="https://www.aciafrica.org/news/17963/members-of-us-congress-uscirf-push-to-designate-nigeria-as-country-of-particular-concern" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">recent call</a> by the <a href="https://www.uscirf.gov/about-uscirf/about-us" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom</a> (USCIRF) for the Trump administration to redesignate Nigeria as a country of particular concern (CPC) over alleged Christian persecution.Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, introduced <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/2747" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">legislation</a> in September that would require the Trump administration to adopt the CPC designation in addition to imposing targeted sanctions against Nigerian government officials who facilitate or permit jihadist attacks against Christians and other religious minorities.In interviews with ACI Africa, CNA’s news partner in Africa, on Oct. 14, Nigerian Catholic Church leaders shared their views on the Christian persecution in the west African nation, expressing varied opinions on the U.S. proposed legislation.The curate of Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Nigeria’s <a href="https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dabuj.html" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Archdiocese of Abuja</a>, Father Maximilian Okpong Peter, supported Cruz’s concern, describing it as “a reflection of Nigeria’s reality.”“Persecution in Nigeria cannot be viewed in isolation. It is tied to deep sociopolitical divisions and bad governance. If people were well-educated and engaged, they would seek unity instead of division,” Okpong said. He added: “Those who are persecuted must have faith and hope. It is not about who is right or wrong but about what the Lord Jesus has instructed us — to be one, to be unified, and to express our unity through love for one another.” Okpong warned that religion is often exploited as a tool of division because it touches people’s deepest emotions. “People use religion as a basis for violence because it is the easiest way to divide people. But for us Christians, even as we struggle, we must believe that God is one. The only thing that binds us together is love,” Okpong said. The priest called on authorities in Nigeria to prioritize human life and dignity over politics and culture, urging the government to demonstrate “a sincere commitment to justice and equal protection.”ACI Africa also spoke on Oct. 14 to the national director of the <a href="https://www.pmsng.org/" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Pontifical Mission Societies</a> Nigeria, Father Solomon Patrick Zaku, who said Cruz’s statement reflects a complex reality that requires honest national introspection.“The insecurity in Nigeria affects all Christians, Muslims, and traditional believers. But it is true that Christians have suffered in unique ways,” Zaku said. He explained that the nature of persecution varies from one region to another.“In some places in Nigeria, Christians find it difficult to get land to build churches, even with their own money. In other places, they struggle to gain employment because they are Christians,” he said. “There are also places where Christians cannot freely practice their religion due to fear of persecution.”When asked about the accuracy of Cruz’s claim that over 52,000 Christians have been killed, Zaku noted that while the figures might not be up to date, they reflect years of widespread violence. “I’m not sure from which time to which time he started his research, but we know that since the Boko Haram insurgency began about 15 or 16 years ago, many people — both Christians and Muslims — have been killed. At the beginning, most of the affected communities were Christian-populated areas,” he said.The priest acknowledged that the situation has somewhat improved in recent years, saying: “Today, we can say there is improvement. People are still being killed, but not like before. His statement would have made more sense if it had come earlier, when persecution was really taking place. Though there are still cases of insecurity in different parts of the country, we can say the situation has improved to some extent.”Nigerian civil engineer and filmmaker Leo Okwesi agreed that the U.S. senator’s call is a wake-up call for Nigeria’s leaders.“Ordinarily, as a Nigerian, one would say, what’s the meaning of that? But the reality is that we can’t handle our security risks in this country,” Okwesi said. “Government is supposed to protect lives and citizens. That’s part of their duty.”He added: “I think we should be listed even more than once. Maybe when that listing begins to affect government officials’ ability to travel abroad, they will start to rethink. Right now, everyone in power does what is good in his own sight. They need a check, and I think this is a check.”Okwesi called for decisive international pressure, saying: “Heads must roll for things to get better. If my generation has lost it, then my children should have a better country.”He continued: “The government should sit up, or the international community should impose sanctions, so that we will look inwards. Maybe when there’s a restriction to this mass exodus abroad, we’ll be forced to fix things here,” he told ACI Africa.In a divergent opinion, the national director of mission and dialogue at the <a href="https://www.nigeriacatholicnetwork.com/about-csn/" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria</a>, Father Lawrence Emehel, questioned the timing of Cruz’s latest proposal, saying “the situation today is not as widespread or as dangerous as it used to be.”Emehel observed that the earlier removal of Nigeria from the CPC was wrong, especially when the killings were at their peak.“Christians were actually persecuted and suffered grave injustices in some parts of the country. Removing Nigeria from the list at that time was wrong because that was when the killing of Christians was at its peak,” Emehel said.“If this question had come eight or 10 years ago, I would have agreed. But now, things have changed. There are still pockets of violence, but not widespread persecution as it is being portrayed,” he noted.Emehel, a priest in Nigeria’s <a href="https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dsoko.html" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Sokoto Diocese</a>, cautioned against interpreting all violent attacks as religiously motivated, citing the recent killings in <a href="https://www.aciafrica.org/news/16433/it-was-horrible-catholic-priest-in-nigeria-recounts-june-13-deadly-attack-in-benue-state-appeals-for-security-action" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Yelewata</a>, Benue state, and other parts of the Middle Belt as examples of “pure criminality” rather than faith-based aggression.“Many of those involved are hired criminals with no religious agenda. We must be careful not to give these incidents a religious coloration because it makes resolution more difficult,” Emehel said.He also faulted government efforts to address insecurity, saying authorities “speak like politicians” and fail to admit their shortcomings.“The killings show that their efforts have failed. Nigerian lives no longer matter. People are now just statistics,” Emehel said.This story <a href="https://www.aciafrica.org/news/18119/nigerian-catholic-leaders-react-to-us-congress-call-to-redesignate-nigeria-as-country-of-particular-concern" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">was first published</a> by ACI Africa, CNA’s news partner in Africa, and has been adapted by CNA.
]]></description>
<category>Middle East - Africa</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 16 Oct 2025 10:18:00 -0400</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[ Pope to UN Food and Agriculture Organization: ‘Slogans do not lift people out of poverty’ ]]></title>
<link>https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267169/pope-leo-xiv-to-un-food-and-agriculture-organization-slogans-do-not-lift-people-out-of-poverty</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267169/pope-leo-xiv-to-un-food-and-agriculture-organization-slogans-do-not-lift-people-out-of-poverty</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ <div style="width: 100%; margin-bottom: 25px;">
<img src="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/251016-pope-to-fao-daniel-ibanez-16.jpg?w=800&jpg" style="display: block; margin: auto; max-width: 100%" />
Pope Leo XIV speaks at the Rome headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) on Oct. 16, 2025. / Credit: Daniel Ibanez/CNA
</div>
ACI Prensa Staff, Oct 16, 2025 / 09:26 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV called for shared responsibility in the face of world hunger during a visit to the Rome headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) on Thursday.“The pope’s heart, which belongs not to himself but to the Church and, in a certain sense, to all humanity, maintains the confidence that, if hunger is defeated, peace will be the fertile ground from which the common good of all nations will be born,” Leo said Oct. 16.After listening to remarks from the FAO’s director general, Qu Dongyu, the Holy Father spoke in both Spanish and English to participants in the World Food Day event, including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Queen Letizia of Spain, King Letsie III of Lesotho, Princess Basma bint Talal of Jordan, and former U.N. secretary-general Ban Ki-moon.<h3>‘My brothers and sisters’</h3>On the 80th anniversary of the founding of the FAO, the pope emphasized that our consciences must challenge us to resolve the tragedy of hunger, and he appealed to the responsibility of everyone.“Those who suffer from hunger are not strangers; they are my brothers and sisters, and I must help them without delay,” he said.Leo also warned that the world needs a real commitment on this issue, not just “solemn declarations,” so that no one lacks the necessary food.He also claimed that allowing millions of human beings to die from hunger is a “collective failure, an ethical aberration, a historical sin.”Condemning world conflicts as “macabre spectacles,” the Holy Father condemned the use of food as a weapon of war, calling it a “cruel strategy” that denies the right to life.“The silence of those dying of hunger cries out in everyone’s conscience, even though it is often ignored, silenced, or distorted. We cannot continue like this, since hunger is not man’s destiny but his downfall,” he asserted.“It seems that we have become apathetic witnesses to heartbreaking violence,” the pontiff continued.The pope said: “Do future generations deserve a world that is incapable of eradicating hunger and poverty once and for all? Is it possible that we cannot put an end to so many lacerating arbitrary acts that negatively impact the human family? Can political and social leaders continue to be polarized, wasting time and resources on useless and virulent arguments, while those they should serve continue to be forgotten and exploited for partisan interests?”“We cannot limit ourselves to proclaiming values” but rather “we must embody them,” since “slogans do not lift people out of poverty,” he said.He condemned a political paradigm and ethical vision that “replaces the person with profit.”<h3>Real solutions, not ‘eye-catching posters’</h3>We must not “be content with filling walls with large, eye-catching posters” but embrace a unified commitment, Leo said.He also stressed the importance of multilateralism and international cooperation, so that the shortcomings of poor countries can be truly understood in order to solve their problems, “without imposing solutions concocted in distant offices, in meetings dominated by ideologies that frequently ignore ancestral cultures, religious traditions, or customs deeply rooted in the wisdom of the elders.”Pope Leo XIV insisted that the plight of those who suffer from hunger invites us to reconsider our lifestyles, and that it is necessary to share their pain, since, by failing to live up to our commitments, we become complicit in the promotion of injustice. In the face of war, he emphasized that the international community “cannot look the other way.”“We cannot aspire to a more just social life if we are not willing to rid ourselves of the apathy that justifies hunger as if it were background music we have grown accustomed to, an unsolvable problem, or simply someone else’s responsibility,” he stated.The Holy Father concluded his message by recalling that there is also “a hunger for faith, hope, and love,” and he encouraged his listeners not to tire of asking God for the strength to serve those most in need.“As you continue your efforts, you will always be able to count on the solidarity and engagement, the commitment of the Holy See and the institutions of the Catholic Church that stand ready to go out and serve the poorest and the most disadvantaged throughout the world,” he said.This story <a href="https://www.aciprensa.com/noticias/118217/el-papa-leon-xiv-urge-soluciones-reales-contra-el-hambre" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">was first published </a>by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.
]]></description>
<category>Vatican</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 16 Oct 2025 09:26:00 -0400</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[ Catholic nonprofit’s global religious freedom report to be released Oct. 21 ]]></title>
<link>https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267167/catholic-nonprofit-aid-to-the-church-in-need-s-religious-freedom-report-to-be-released-oct-21</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267167/catholic-nonprofit-aid-to-the-church-in-need-s-religious-freedom-report-to-be-released-oct-21</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ <div style="width: 100%; margin-bottom: 25px;">
<img src="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/Cardinal_Pietro_Parolin_at_an_Aid_to_the_Church_in_Need_press_conference_in_Rome_Italy_on_Sept_28_2017_Credit_Daniel_Ibanez_CNA.jpeg?w=800&jpg" style="display: block; margin: auto; max-width: 100%" />
Cardinal Pietro Parolin speaks at an Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) press conference in Rome, Italy, on Sept 28, 2017. / Daniel Ibáñez/CNA.
</div>
Vatican City, Oct 16, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).
International Catholic nonprofit Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) will release its global religious freedom report in Rome next week with an Oct. 21 conference featuring the Vatican’s secretary of state and victims of religious persecution.Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin will introduce the “Religious Freedom in the World Report 2025” with a speech at the Pontifical Patristic Institute Augustinianum conference center near the Vatican. The report, released every two years since 1999, is a global study of religious freedom and persecution across all countries and faith groups.“Since the first edition of the RFR, the situation has steadily worsened, and unfortunately, this negative trend is expected to continue,” Marta Petrosillo, the report’s editor-in-chief, said in a press release published ahead of the report’s launch.According to ACN, this year’s report highlights the continent of Africa, particularly the spread of jihadist violence into the countries of Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of Congo.The daylong conference will feature the voices of religious freedom experts and persecuted Christians from Nigeria, Syria, India, Sudan, and Pakistan.The second half of the day will also include a panel of speakers on the increasing restrictions to religious freedom in democratic societies in the West, including legal and cultural pressure, secularist intolerance, and challenges to public witness.In 2024, ACN spent more than $150 million on thousands of projects in 137 countries.In an audience with members of the nonprofit at the Vatican on Oct. 10, <a href="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267081/pope-leo-xiv-right-to-religious-freedom-is-not-optional-but-essential" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Pope Leo XIV emphasized</a> the importance of their work, especially in a world that continues to “witness growing hostility and violence against those who hold different beliefs, including many Christians.”
]]></description>
<category>Europe</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 16 Oct 2025 07:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[ Book to feature Pope Leo's writings and meditations as Augustinian prior ]]></title>
<link>https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267157/writings-of-leo-xiv-from-his-time-as-augustinian-prior-compiled-in-new-book</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267157/writings-of-leo-xiv-from-his-time-as-augustinian-prior-compiled-in-new-book</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ <div style="width: 100%; margin-bottom: 25px;">
<img src="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/leo.augustinians.jpg?w=800&jpg" style="display: block; margin: auto; max-width: 100%" />
Pope Leo XIV is shown here at the Holy Mass for the opening of the general chapter of the Order of Saint Augustine on Sept. 1, 2025 . / Credit: Vatican Media
</div>
ACI Prensa Staff, Oct 16, 2025 / 06:03 am (CNA).
The Order of St. Augustine and the Vatican Publishing House announced the publication of a new book by Pope Leo XIV, Robert Francis Prevost O.S.A., titled “Free Under Grace: Writings and Meditations 2001-2013.” The book will be presented at the Frankfurt Book Fair in Germany, which opened Wednesday.The tome will include, for the first time, the writings of the current pontiff during his term as prior general of the Augustinian Order, offering readers a "closer look at his spirituality," according to a statement from the Vatican Publishing House. It will include reflections, meditations, homilies, and addresses, all imbued with the characteristic Augustinian spirituality of the reigning pontiff.The book will be published in Italian in the Spring of 2026. Spanish and English versions will also be available, the Vatican Publishing House confirmed to ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner.Fr. Joseph Lawrence Farrell, O.S.A., current prior general of the Augustinian Order, commented: “This book, which compiles many of the communications of the then prior general, Robert Francis Prevost, O.S.A., offers an overview of some of the important themes developed during his years at the head of the Order of Saint Augustine.”Lorenzo Fazzini, editorial director of the Vatican Publishing House, said that “We are truly delighted to participate in the Frankfurt Book Fair by presenting this previously unpublished book by Robert Francis Prevost O.S.A. — Leo XIV — to publishers around the world.” Fazzini noted that “This text will allow readers to delve into the pope's writings during his time as an Augustinian religious and superior of his order. It is a highly anticipated volume for readers around the world.”This story <a href="https://www.aciprensa.com/noticias/118175/papa-leon-xiv-explica-por-que-el-optimismo-decepciona-y-la-esperanza-cristiana-cumple" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">was first published</a> by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.
]]></description>
<category>Europe</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 16 Oct 2025 06:03:00 -0400</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[ ‘The Chosen Adventures’ is a new animated series made with families in mind ]]></title>
<link>https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267153/the-chosen-adventures-new-animated-series-made-with-families-in-mind</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267153/the-chosen-adventures-new-animated-series-made-with-families-in-mind</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ <div style="width: 100%; margin-bottom: 25px;">
<img src="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/thechosenadventures4.jpg?w=800&jpg" style="display: block; margin: auto; max-width: 100%" />
Abigail, Joshua, Jesus, Sheep, and Pigeon in "The Chosen Adventures," which comes out on Prime Video on Oct. 17. / Credit: David Griffin
</div>
CNA Staff, Oct 16, 2025 / 05:11 am (CNA).
5&2 Studios, the production company behind the hit series “The Chosen,” is releasing its new animated series called “The Chosen Adventures” on Prime Video on Oct. 17. The new series follows 9-year-old Abby and her best friend Joshua as they navigate life in the city of Capernaum. When the two children meet a wise carpenter — Jesus of Nazareth — he changes the way they see the world. “The Chosen Adventures” consists of 14 11-minute episodes and features several of the original cast members, including Jonathan Roumie as Jesus, Elizabeth Tabish as Mary Magdalene, Paras Patel as Matthew, and George Xanthis as John, among others. Joining the cast is Paul Walter Hauser as Sheep, Yvonne Orji as Pigeon, Romy Fay as Abby, Jude Zarzaur as Joshua, Danny Nucci as Abba, and Zehra Fazal as Eema.Dallas Jenkins, writer, director, and creator of “The Chosen,” serves as an executive producer for the new animated series. He told CNA in an interview that the inspiration for the new show came from episode three of Season 1 of “The Chosen,” in which Jesus is seen interacting with children throughout the episode. “Not only did kids love it, but adults loved it because seeing Jesus with the eyes of a child is actually how Jesus often wants you to see him,” he told CNA. “And that episode resonated so strongly that we thought, ‘Okay, well, this is an opportunity. What if we did an animated series where Abigail and Joshua, the two main characters from that episode, were featured and it really allows us to explore a whimsy and a playfulness that you can really dig into with animation in a fresh way.”Jenkins emphasized that while children will enjoy the show, it is also something adults can enjoy. “It's still grounded in truth,” he said. “And I still think that you'll watch this show and it will still feel real even though yes, there's a pigeon and a sheep that talk to each other, we always want to ground it in ‘The Chosen’ way.”He added, “Yes, younger kids are going to appreciate it. But I think it's going to still feel like ‘The Chosen.’ It's not going to feel like it's a departure from who we are.”<figure class="mx-auto" style="width:100%"><img src="https://admin.catholicnewsagency.com/images/thechosenadventures1.jpg" class="img-fluid" style="null" alt="Abigail and Jesus in "The Chosen Adventures," which comes out on Prime Video on Oct. 17. Credit: David Griffin"><figcaption class="caption text-muted">Abigail and Jesus in "The Chosen Adventures," which comes out on Prime Video on Oct. 17. Credit: David Griffin</figcaption></figure>As a huge fan of “The Chosen,” Hauser, who will voice the character of Sheep, told CNA that “the idea of doing a faith-based program that I was really proud of” was a major factor in what drew him to the role. He hopes the series will leave both children and adults feeling “encouraged or inspired to deepen their relationship with God.”“You don't have to come to God with fancy big words and sound like someone you're not,” he added. “God is not impressed with us trying to dress up our faith in some way. I think it has more to do with authenticity and with the readiness to want to approach God and ask questions and engage with that.”Jenkins added that he hopes viewers will be left inspired to be “curious.”“Abigail sets an example for all of us with curiosity. She's asking questions. She never wants to stop learning. And I think God loves that,” he said. “I turned 50 this year. I never want to stop being curious. I never want to stop learning more, seeing things from a different perspective. I think we need that more than ever in society.”He added: “Yes, we are grounded on foundational, Biblical truths that won't change but our perspective, the way we interact with others, the way we see the world, the way we see politics, the way we see other people, the empathy that we can find for other people that I think children are capable of, that we adults sometimes don't do, is something that is really important.”
]]></description>
<category>US</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 16 Oct 2025 05:11:00 -0400</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[ St. Margaret Mary Alacoque and the story behind devotion to the Sacred Heart ]]></title>
<link>https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252549/st-margaret-mary-alacoque-and-devotion-to-the-sacred-heart-of-jesus</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252549/st-margaret-mary-alacoque-and-devotion-to-the-sacred-heart-of-jesus</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ <div style="width: 100%; margin-bottom: 25px;">
<img src="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/storage/image/apparizione-a-marguerite-marie-alacoque.jpg?w=800&jpg" style="display: block; margin: auto; max-width: 100%" />
Apparition of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. / Credit: Alacoque, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
</div>
CNA Staff, Oct 16, 2025 / 05:00 am (CNA).
St. Margaret Mary Alacoque — whose feast day is celebrated in the Catholic Church on Oct. 16 — was a French nun responsible for spreading the devotion of the Sacred Heart throughout the Western Church.Born in July 1647, Margaret had a great love for God from a young age. Her father, Claude, passed away when she was 8 years old. From ages 9 to 13 she suffered a paralyzing illness. This, in addition to a struggle over her family’s property, made life difficult for Margaret and her mother. However, it was during her time suffering with the illness that she made the promise to enter religious life.For some time during her adolescence, however, Margaret forgot about her vow and lived an ordinary life. It wasn’t until she had a vision one evening at age 22 that her life changed.In the vision, Margaret saw Christ being scourged. She believed this meant that she had betrayed Jesus by living a worldly life instead of a religious one. It was then that she entered the convent.In 1673, Margaret experienced Christ’s presence in a way she never had while praying. She heard Jesus tell her that he wanted to show his love for people by encouraging a special devotion to his Sacred Heart.Christ revealed ways to venerate his Sacred Heart and explained the immense love he has for humanity, appearing with his heart visible outside his chest, on fire, and surrounded by a crown of thorns.Christ told Sister Margaret Mary: “My Sacred Heart is so intense in its love for men, and for you in particular, that not being able to contain within it the flames of its ardent charity, they must be transmitted through all means.”These visions continued for 18 months. When Margaret told her superior, she did not believe her.On June 16, 1675, Jesus told Sister Margaret Mary to promote a feast that honored his Sacred Heart. He also gave Sister Margaret Mary <a href="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/resource/55295/promises-of-the-sacred-heart-of-jesus-made-to-saint-margaret-mary-alacoque" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">12 promises</a> made to all who venerated and promoted the devotion of the Sacred Heart. Soon after, Father Claude La Colombiere, a Jesuit, became Margaret’s spiritual director. He believed what she had to say and began to write down her revelations. Colombiere has since been canonized, and many have read his writings on the Sacred Heart.Thanks to Colombiere, Margaret had found inner peace about her revelations being doubted by others. However, her writings and the accounts of others faced a thorough examination by Church officials.Margaret died in 1690 and was canonized by Benedict XV on May 13, 1920.The Vatican was at first hesitant to declare a feast to the Sacred Heart. But as the devotion spread throughout France, the Vatican granted the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to France in 1765.In 1856, Blessed Pius IX designated the Friday after the octave of Corpus Christi as the feast of the Sacred Heart for the universal Church.This article was first published on Oct. 16, 2022, and has been updated.
]]></description>
<category>Europe</category>
<pubDate>Thu, 16 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[ Georgetown University taps Eduardo Peñalver as new president ]]></title>
<link>https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267165/georgetown-university-taps-leader-of-seattle-university-to-serve-as-president</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267165/georgetown-university-taps-leader-of-seattle-university-to-serve-as-president</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ <div style="width: 100%; margin-bottom: 25px;">
<img src="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/eduardo.p.jpg?w=800&jpg" style="display: block; margin: auto; max-width: 100%" />
Eduardo Peñalver will begin his role as the 49th president of Georgetown on July 1, 2026. / Credit: Georgetown University
</div>
Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Oct 15, 2025 / 18:22 pm (CNA).
The oldest Catholic and Jesuit institution of higher learning in the United States, Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., has named Eduardo Peñalver, current president of Seattle University and former dean of Cornell Law School, as its 49th president. “We are pleased to welcome Eduardo Peñalver to Georgetown University,” Thomas A. Reynolds, chair of the board of directors, said in <a href="https://www.georgetown.edu/news/49th-president-penalver/" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">a press release</a> announcing the decision. “President Peñalver is an exceptional leader steeped in the Catholic and Jesuit tradition who brings a wealth of experience in higher education, a global mindset, a commitment to social justice and academic excellence, and a bold vision for Georgetown’s future.”Peñalver will assume his new role on July 1, 2026.  He has served as the 22nd president of Seattle University, also a Jesuit institution, since 2021. He succeeds Georgetown’s interim president, Robert Groves. “I’m deeply honored to have the privilege of serving as Georgetown’s next president,” Peñalver said in the release. “I would like to thank the Presidential Search Committee and Georgetown’s board of directors for entrusting this role to me at such a pivotal time for Georgetown and for higher education.” In the university’s announcement, Peñalver said he would apply his experience as leader of a Jesuit institution to his role at Georgetown. “At the center of our work, [Jesuit universities] share an interest in students as whole persons, focusing on their experiences both inside and outside the classroom,” he said.He continued: “We share an aspiration to do more than teach a skill or impart knowledge, but to get students to grapple with the deeper questions, to pursue more ambitious goals like wisdom and understanding and meaning, in their academic work and in their lives.”The incoming president said today “is an exciting moment in Georgetown's history,” citing the expansion of the University’s Capitol Campus, as well as the establishment of interdisciplinary programs, and increased efforts to make attendance more affordable for students. “I look forward to working with the students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends of Georgetown to deepen the university’s impact on our country and on our world,” he said. Peñalver was raised in a Catholic family in Puyallup, Washington. He graduated magna cum laude from Cornell University in 1994, before earning his law degree in 1999. He then clerked for Judge Guido Calabresi of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, and for Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, according to the release. He later taught at Fordham Law School, the University of Chicago Law School, and Cornell Law School, where he was appointed dean in 2014.
]]></description>
<category>US</category>
<pubDate>Wed, 15 Oct 2025 18:22:00 -0400</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[ Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem speaks out after first phase of peace deal completed ]]></title>
<link>https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267163/latin-patriarch-of-jerusalem-speaks-about-first-phase-of-peace-deal</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267163/latin-patriarch-of-jerusalem-speaks-about-first-phase-of-peace-deal</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ <div style="width: 100%; margin-bottom: 25px;">
<img src="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/gettyimages-2224934610.jpg?w=800&jpg" style="display: block; margin: auto; max-width: 100%" />
Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa (L) and a members of a Christian visit the Saint Porphyrius Church in Gaza City on July 18, 2025. / Credit: OMAR AL-QATTAA/AFP via Getty Images
</div>
Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Oct 15, 2025 / 17:51 pm (CNA).
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa has given an update on the status of Christians in Gaza after the first phase of the historic peace deal between Israel and Hamas began this week. “We are in daily contact with them,” the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem said of the Catholic community in Gaza in a <a href="https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2025-10/cardinal-pizzaballa-patriarch-jerusalem-interview-holy-land-peac.html" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Vatican News interview</a>. “They keep writing that they still cannot believe they were able to sleep through the night without hearing the sound of bombs.” Despite the promising outcome of the first phase of the peace deal, which saw the return of Israeli hostages and the strategic withdrawal of IDF troops from Gaza, Pizzaballa emphasized that the situation in Gaza “remains very fluid.” Amid de-escalation between Israel and Hamas forces, clashes among warring factions have broken out across Gaza. Furthermore, he said, “we still do not know if [the war] has truly ended,” and the way forward is not yet clear. “The situation remains dramatic because everything is destroyed,” he explained. “People are returning, but they are returning to the ruins. Hospitals are not functioning; schools do not exist. There is still the matter of the bodies of the deceased Israeli hostages that must be recovered.”“However, despite all this, there is a new atmosphere — still fragile, but we hope it will become more stable,” he continued.Throughout the conflict, Pizzaballa said Catholics in the region have “felt the closeness” of both Pope Leo XIV and Pope Francis. “They have different personalities, but both expressed their closeness in very concrete ways,” he said, noting both pontiffs had made a habit of frequent phone calls and contact with Father Gabriel Romanelli of Holy Family Parish in Gaza, in addition to concrete aid. Pope Leo sent <a href="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267123/pope-leo-xiv-sends-antibiotics-to-children-in-gaza" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">antibiotics into Gaza</a> this week. The cardinal said, “we must not confuse hope with a solution to the conflict,” while discussing how the region must move forward. “The end of the war is not the beginning of peace, nor is it the end of the conflict,” he said. Rather, fraternity must be built throughout the region, with new political and religious leadership “who can help rebuild a different narrative, one based on mutual respect.” While Pizzaballa said he did not know whether a two-state solution “is achievable in the short term," he emphasized the need for Palestinians to not only be helped and supported financially, but to be “recognized in their dignity as a people.” “One cannot tell the Palestinians that they have no right to be recognized as a people in their own land,” he said. “There have been declarations — often only theoretical — that must find concrete realization within the context of dialogue between the parties, which they themselves will have to reach, with the help and support of the international community.”
]]></description>
<category>Middle East - Africa</category>
<pubDate>Wed, 15 Oct 2025 17:51:00 -0400</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV appoints Cardinal Cupich to Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State ]]></title>
<link>https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267159/pope-leo-xiv-appoints-cardinal-cupich-to-pontifical-commission-for-vatican-city-state</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267159/pope-leo-xiv-appoints-cardinal-cupich-to-pontifical-commission-for-vatican-city-state</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ <div style="width: 100%; margin-bottom: 25px;">
<img src="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/leocupich10925.jpg?w=800&jpg" style="display: block; margin: auto; max-width: 100%" />
Pope Leo and Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich at the Vatican on Oct. 9, 2025. / Credit: Daniel Ibañez/EWTN News
</div>
CNA Staff, Oct 15, 2025 / 15:43 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV has appointed Chicago Archbishop Cardinal Blase Cupich to the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State, the Holy See said on Wednesday. The Vatican made the announcement <a href="https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2025/10/15/251015c.html" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">via a press release on Oct. 15</a>. The commission functions as the legislative body of Vatican City. In addition to managing the many functions and activities of the Vatican City government — including security and public order, public health and the environment, economic activities, postal and customs services, and numerous other internal concerns — the commission also oversees the artistic complex of the Vatican Museums and their assets.Laws proposed by the commission must be approved by the Holy Father. The Holy See said Leo also appointed to the commission Cardinal Baldassare Reina, the vicar general for the diocese of Rome. The pope on Oct. 15 further confirmed the commission’s existing membership for the current term.Still serving as the commission’s president is Sister Raffaella Petrini, FSE, whom Pope Francis <a href="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/262241/pope-names-franciscan-sister-to-head-vatican-city-governorate" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">appointed earlier this year</a> as the first woman to hold that role.
]]></description>
<category>Europe</category>
<pubDate>Wed, 15 Oct 2025 15:43:00 -0400</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[ Priest’s collection of ‘old, rare and unique’ papal artifacts coming to Mall of America ]]></title>
<link>https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267155/priest-s-collection-of-old-rare-and-unique-papal-artifacts-coming-to-mall-of-america</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267155/priest-s-collection-of-old-rare-and-unique-papal-artifacts-coming-to-mall-of-america</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ <div style="width: 100%; margin-bottom: 25px;">
<img src="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/vatican-unveiled-papal-ring.jpg?w=800&jpg" style="display: block; margin: auto; max-width: 100%" />
A papal ring, part of Father Richard Kunst’s “Vatican Unveiled” exhibit. / Credit: Courtesy of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis
</div>
CNA Staff, Oct 15, 2025 / 15:41 pm (CNA).
A priest with a passion for historical artifacts has curated the largest collection of papal memorabilia outside of Rome — and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis just announced it will be on display there this winter.This winter, Catholics can head to the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, where Father Richard Kunst’s collection will be available for viewing from Jan. 10 to Feb. 1, 2026, according to a recent archdiocesan announcement. Spanning 19,000 square feet, the “<a href="https://www.archspm.org/vaticanunveiled/" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Vatican Unveiled</a>” exhibit features “artistic items with old-world craftsmanship” as well as “papal artifacts that show the humanity behind the leaders,” according to an Oct. 13<a href="https://www.archspm.org/vatican-unveiled-coming-to-mall-of-america/" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"> press release</a> from the archdiocese. "Vatican Unveiled", according to Archbishop Bernard Hebda, will be a “very special celebration — the 175th anniversary of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.”“It is a special exhibit of the largest collection of papal and other artifacts outside of Vatican City, the home of the Catholic Church,” Hebda said in an Oct. 13 <a href="https://www.archspm.org/vaticanunveiled/" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">announcement</a>. The collection of about 300 items includes artifacts such as Pope Pius XII’s radio microphone and a papal ring, as well as an extremely rare historical Swiss Guard uniform. For Kunst, who caught the collector’s “bug” in high school, the display is the culmination of years of collecting.“The collection is always growing,” Kunst said in a <a href="https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:8f56d4b5-0046-45c6-8d99-ff71d999f375" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">press release.</a>He first began by collecting presidential autographs, but eventually sold his collection and turned to Catholic artifacts.“I continue my search for old, rare, and unique papal items, from documents to papal clothing,” Kunst said. Kunst hopes to eventually donate the collection to the Church, “where it may be enjoyed forever,” he said. “In the meantime, I am happy to share my collection with the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis as they celebrate their 175th anniversary, and I welcome everyone to come see some interesting artifacts at Mall of America,” he said. Kunst’s collection has also been displayed in Duluth, Minnesota, his hometown, in 2022. The archdiocese currently has a ticket presale <a href="https://www.archspm.org/vaticanunveiled/" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">waitlist</a> for the exhibit, where attendees “will experience interesting historical perspectives” and which “is open and welcoming to all,” the archdiocese said.
]]></description>
<category>US</category>
<pubDate>Wed, 15 Oct 2025 15:41:00 -0400</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV gifted with ‘Proton,’ a purebred Arabian horse ]]></title>
<link>https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267151/polish-horse-farm-gives-pope-leo-a-thoroughbred-arabian-horse-named-proton</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267151/polish-horse-farm-gives-pope-leo-a-thoroughbred-arabian-horse-named-proton</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ <div style="width: 100%; margin-bottom: 25px;">
<img src="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/whitehorse.jpg?w=800&jpg" style="display: block; margin: auto; max-width: 100%" />
Pope Leo with ‘Proton’ / Credit: Vatican Media
</div>
ACI Prensa Staff, Oct 15, 2025 / 14:35 pm (CNA).
Before the general audience on Oct. 15, Pope Leo XIV was gifted with a 12-year-old purebred Arabian horse named Proton.The white horse is a gift from Michalski Stables in Kołobrzeg-Budzistowo, and will reside in Castel Gandolfo, home to the Vatican's equestrian center. Several purebred Spanish horses are also kept at the facility located within the papal complex.<div class="twitter-wrapper"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Pope Leo XIV has been gifted a white Arabian stallion, “Proton,” by Polish benefactor Andrzej Michalski. Michalski said he wished to offer “a beautiful Arabian horse — one worthy of him, and white, because white naturally corresponds to the Pope’s white cassock.” Follow:… <a href="https://t.co/Hbgi3iuist">pic.twitter.com/Hbgi3iuist</a>— AF Post (@AFpost) <a href="https://twitter.com/AFpost/status/1978489161016365420?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 15, 2025</a></blockquote><script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><div class="drag-handle" data-drag-handle="true"> </div></div>The horse belongs to one of the oldest and most esteemed equine breeds in the world, known for its elegance and endurance.According to the Vatican, the Pole Andrzej Michalski, president of the Michalski horse farm, offered the beautiful specimen to the Holy Father, recalling that <a href="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/263999/pope-leo-xivs-missionary-work-in-peru" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">during his time as a missionary </a>in Peru, Pope Leo XIV frequently rode horses."The pope was very pleased. Holding the reins, we led him off together, taking him for a short walk. He was very satisfied; we were very happy," Michalski told Vatican News.The Michalski horse farm is not only a place for horse breeding and equestrian competitions, but is also a center for hippotherapy (also known as equine-assisted therapy), especially useful for children with motor disabilities.Proton's lineage is notable. His sire, the stallion Kahil, was born at the American branch of a stud farm in Qatar, while his dam, Pradera, comes from the historic Janów Podlaski stud farm. Proton's maternal grandsire was the stallion Hlayyil, bred for Her Royal Highness Princess Alia Al Hussein of Jordan.This story <a href="https://www.aciprensa.com/noticias/118181/regalan-al-papa-leon-xiv-un-caballo-purasangre-arabe" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">was first published</a> by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.
]]></description>
<category>Europe</category>
<pubDate>Wed, 15 Oct 2025 14:35:00 -0400</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[ Cardinals, actor, and over 2,000 faithful bring the Eucharist to Times Square ]]></title>
<link>https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267143/cardinals-actor-and-2000-faithful-bring-the-eucharist-to-times-square</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267143/cardinals-actor-and-2000-faithful-bring-the-eucharist-to-times-square</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ <div style="width: 100%; margin-bottom: 25px;">
<img src="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/ni-nyc-procession-zf-15.jpg?w=800&jpg" style="display: block; margin: auto; max-width: 100%" />
The sixth annual Eucharistic procession took place in New York City on Oct. 14, 2025, a day after a Nor’easter soaked the tristate area. Organizers praised God for holding back the rain during the event and for allowing the procession to take place peacefully in Time Square during the 5 p.m. rush hour without incident. / Credit: Zach Fiedler/Napa Institute
</div>
New York City, New York, Oct 15, 2025 / 13:26 pm (CNA).
The sixth annual Eucharistic procession organized by the Napa Institute took place in New York City on Oct. 14, a day after a Nor’easter soaked the tristate area. Organizers praised God for holding back the rain during the event and for allowing the procession to take place peacefully in Times Square during the 5 p.m. rush hour.Organized by <a href="https://napa-institute.org/" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">the California-based institute</a>, a crowd of an estimated 2,000 people gathered in St. Patrick’s Cathedral for a Holy Hour and Mass followed by a procession.<figure class="mx-auto" style="width:100%"><img src="https://admin.catholicnewsagency.com/images/zf-02484.jpg" class="img-fluid" style="null" alt="Cardinal Giorgio Marengo of the Apostolic Prefect of Ulaanbaatar, a missionary jurisdiction that covers the entire country of Mongolia, speaks during the Holy Hour. Credit: Zach Fiedler/Napa Institute"><figcaption class="caption text-muted">Cardinal Giorgio Marengo of the Apostolic Prefect of Ulaanbaatar, a missionary jurisdiction that covers the entire country of Mongolia, speaks during the Holy Hour. Credit: Zach Fiedler/Napa Institute</figcaption></figure>During the Holy Hour, those in attendance listened to a talk by Cardinal Giorgio Marengo of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostolic_Prefecture_of_Ulaanbaatar" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Apostolic Prefect of Ulaanbaatar</a>, a missionary jurisdiction that covers the entire country of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mongolia" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Mongolia</a>. He told the story of a theft that took place in a “precarious hall” in Mongolia in 2003 because the church had not yet been constructed. “One night, someone managed to force open the front door and break into the wall-mounted tabernacle to steal a small monstrance,” the cardinal recounted.Marengo said the parish priest sent a catechist to report the theft to the police the next day. The catechist told them that thieves had stolen “the most precious thing we have.” When the police asked for a description of the object, wondering if it was gold or precious stones, the catechist said: “No, it is thin, unleavened bread.” The police sent him away, thinking the man practiced a strange religion.“But yes, that consecrated bread is the Church’s immeasurable treasure,” Marengo said. “It is the real presence of Christ, the Lord, among his people.”<figure class="mx-auto" style="width:100%"><img src="https://admin.catholicnewsagency.com/images/ni-nyc-procession-zf-23.jpg" class="img-fluid" style="null" alt="Organized by the California-based Napa Institute, a crowd of an estimated 2,000 people gathered in St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan for a Holy Hour, Mass, and procession on Oct. 14, 2025. Credit: Zach Fiedler/Napa Institute"><figcaption class="caption text-muted">Organized by the California-based Napa Institute, a crowd of an estimated 2,000 people gathered in St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan for a Holy Hour, Mass, and procession on Oct. 14, 2025. Credit: Zach Fiedler/Napa Institute</figcaption></figure>Father Ambrose Criste, a Norbertine priest from St. Michael’s Abbey in Orange County, California, then spoke on the theme of profit and gain, and how in 1626, a Dutch colonist purchased the Island of Manhattan from the Lenape Indians for $24.“Here in Manhattan, the property value — that excludes the parks, roads, and highways — was estimated back in 2014 at $1.74 trillion. When Mother Teresa of Calcutta visited here not too many decades ago, she didn’t observe how rich we are but rather how poor we are. In fact, far poorer than the lepers and those who were dying, whom she knew so well,” he said.Criste stated that the poverty in the West is a different kind of poverty; it is one of loneliness and of spirituality.“There is a hunger for love as there is a hunger for God,” he said. “There is nothing on this planet, nothing in the entire country, nothing in the entire universe that can surpass the value of the holy Eucharist. There is nothing that can give us life, nothing else that can satisfy our hunger for love,” he said.<figure class="mx-auto" style="width:100%"><img src="https://admin.catholicnewsagency.com/images/zf-02710.jpg" class="img-fluid" style="null" alt="Jonathan Roumie, the actor who plays Jesus in the series "The Chosen," speaks at the event. Credit: Zach Fiedler/Napa Institute"><figcaption class="caption text-muted">Jonathan Roumie, the actor who plays Jesus in the series "The Chosen," speaks at the event. Credit: Zach Fiedler/Napa Institute</figcaption></figure>Attendees expressed surprise when they found out that Jonathon Roumie, the actor who portrays Jesus in the TV series “The Chosen,” was there to speak. Roumie began by highlighting St. Carlo Acutis’ words that “the Eucharist is my highway to heaven.”“As a New Yorker, I too, have a similar kind of sentiment, that the Eucharist is my express train to heaven. Probably the 3 train, for obvious reasons. Unless it is the weekend, and there are closures. Then you have to take the 2, get on a shuttle to Grand Central, get the 4 and the 5, and see how that ends up,” Roumie said to the chuckles of New Yorkers.“Or if you haven’t been to confession, you should probably take the bus. It’s a whole other direction,” he said, to even more laughter.Roumie reminded the audience that “you don’t have to play Jesus on TV to be Jesus to the world around you. And that we can do this by making the Eucharist part of our daily life, like St. Carlo.”“This became my own endeavor in the last six months, filming the penultimate season of ‘The Chosen, Season 6,’ which we completed one month ago. It centers on the Crucifixion. It was by far the hardest thing I have ever done as an actor and as a Christian man. The intensity of portraying Christ’s passion, suffering, and death on the cross was one which challenged me and necessitated a level of strength that I, on my own, do not possess, but only Christ himself,” he said.The only way that Roumie could sustain himself, he said, was by partaking in the Eucharist as often as time would allow. “Confession, the Eucharist, and adoration became my very food and drink. Without these, I would surely have starved and perished: perished in the abyss of my own mental approximation of our Lord’s crucifixion and death. But by seeking the healing of the deep wounds of sin within myself through the sacrament of reconciliation, receiving the Eucharist almost daily, it was Christ who then took over and further fashioned my soul to reflect more of him within me,” he said. “It is Christ whose light shines within.”Roumie reminded the audience that Jesus made a promise 2,000 years ago not to leave us or forsake us.“For 2,000 years, he has kept his promise. He is with us,” he said.<figure class="mx-auto" style="width:100%"><img src="https://admin.catholicnewsagency.com/images/dscf7420.jpeg" class="img-fluid" style="null" alt="Cardinal Seán O’Malley, the recently retired cardinal of Boston, presided at the Mass and gave the homily before the Eucharistic procession began. Credit: Zach Fiedler/Napa Institute"><figcaption class="caption text-muted">Cardinal Seán O’Malley, the recently retired cardinal of Boston, presided at the Mass and gave the homily before the Eucharistic procession began. Credit: Zach Fiedler/Napa Institute</figcaption></figure>Cardinal Seán O’Malley, the recently retired cardinal of Boston, presided and the Mass and gave the homily, which continued with the theme of Jesus’ promise to stay with us always in the Eucharist. He recalled an event that happened when he had been a bishop in the West Indies. “I once had a friend, Father Fox from Washington, D.C., who had a magical personality and was a joy to be with. One morning, I was at my desk, and a call came in saying that Father Fox had died of a heart attack,” he said.O’Malley recalled that he had to go to the post office that same day to pick up the mail, and to his surprise, he found a letter from Father Fox.“It seemed he had sent me a letter from the grave,” the cardinal said.As he read the letter, he could almost hear his friend’s voice and laughter.“It occurred to me that this letter was like the Eucharist: a sign of love and friendship and desire to communicate. But in Jesus’ case, it was planned. The letter that he sends us is himself: the Word made flesh, made Eucharist. And God has been preparing that letter for all eternity,” he said.<figure class="mx-auto" style="width:100%"><img src="https://admin.catholicnewsagency.com/images/img-1734.jpeg" class="img-fluid" style="null" alt="After Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral, the Eucharistic procession spilled out onto Fifth Avenue. Credit: Zach Fiedler/Napa Institute"><figcaption class="caption text-muted">After Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral, the Eucharistic procession spilled out onto Fifth Avenue. Credit: Zach Fiedler/Napa Institute</figcaption></figure>After Mass, the Eucharistic procession spilled out onto Fifth Avenue, with the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal singing in English and Spanish. Tourists snapped pictures while some New Yorkers stopped and stared. University students from Fordham University waved Vatican flags. Missionaries of Charity nuns mixed with families, and drones hovered above the crowds.<figure class="mx-auto" style="width:100%"><img src="https://admin.catholicnewsagency.com/images/img-3283.jpeg" class="img-fluid" style="null" alt="A close-up of the monstrance during the sixth annual Eucharistic procession that took place in New York City on Oct. 14, 2025. Credit: Zach Fiedler/Napa Institute"><figcaption class="caption text-muted">A close-up of the monstrance during the sixth annual Eucharistic procession that took place in New York City on Oct. 14, 2025. Credit: Zach Fiedler/Napa Institute</figcaption></figure>The procession ended with benediction by New York’s Cardinal Timothy Dolan back at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated the crowd numbers at 5,000; it was about 2,000. Also, an earlier version incorrectly referred to Cardinal Marengo as the youngest cardinal; he is the second youngest cardinal. (Published Oct. 15, 2025)
]]></description>
<category>US</category>
<pubDate>Wed, 15 Oct 2025 13:26:00 -0400</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[ Florida bishop urges faithful to ‘welcome the foreigner’ amid immigrant family separations ]]></title>
<link>https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267149/florida-bishop-urges-faithful-to-welcome-the-foreigner-amid-immigrant-family-separations</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267149/florida-bishop-urges-faithful-to-welcome-the-foreigner-amid-immigrant-family-separations</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ <div style="width: 100%; margin-bottom: 25px;">
<img src="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/flagbarbed.jpg?w=800&jpg" style="display: block; margin: auto; max-width: 100%" />
null / Credit: Melnikov Dmitriy/Shutterstock
</div>
CNA Staff, Oct 15, 2025 / 12:45 pm (CNA).
Pensacola-Tallahassee Bishop William Wack this week called for immigration reform while urging the faithful to welcome immigrants amid ongoing deportations and detainments in Florida and throughout the country. The bishop told the faithful in his diocese in <a href="https://ptdiocese.org/news/bishop-wack-releases-letter-addressing-immigration-situation" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">an Oct. 14 letter</a> that he has “reflected with a heavy heart” on the trials of immigrants in the United States “suffering under the weight of a broken immigration system.”The Trump administration has continued to aggressively pursue enhanced immigration enforcement, <a href="https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/09/23/new-milestone-over-2-million-illegal-aliens-out-united-states-less-250-days" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">claiming</a> that more than two million immigrants have either been removed or self-deported in roughly the last eight months. In his letter, Wack acknowledged that law enforcement “has a responsibility to apprehend and detain individuals who commit crimes,” but he criticized what he described as “the dangerous narrative that every immigrant is a threat.” “At the same time, we must also advocate for reform — of immigration law, of due process, and of enforcement practices — so that justice and mercy are upheld together, and families are not needlessly torn apart,” he said. The bishop suggested that “a pro-life people” should not support “the separation of families with mixed immigration status.” “Can we, in good conscience, endorse policies that deport a working father — knowing the devastating impact it will have on his family — without also acknowledging his contributions to our communities?” he wrote. “Can we accept that more children are being pushed into the foster care system because both parents have been deported?”Wack said Catholics in his diocese should “set aside partisan talking points” and look to the messages of Christ and the Gospel. “We are called to care for our neighbor, to shelter the stranger, and to welcome the foreigner; for each of us has been lovingly created in the image and likeness of God,” he said. The Christian faith has always required the faithful to give “special care” to the poor and vulnerable, Wack said, including immigrants who come to the U.S. “in search of safety and a better life.” The prelate urged the faithful to “to employ all of your gifts and influence to join me in bringing about this needed change” to U.S. immigration policy. “Our nation has long been a beacon for those fleeing violence, persecution, and extreme poverty. As people of faith, may we choose hope and life —  not just for ourselves and our loved ones, but for every child of God,” he said. Earlier this year, Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski similarly <a href="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/265353/miami-archbishop-calls-for-administration-congress-to-change-course-on-immigration" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">urged the government</a> to expand legal pathways to citizenship for unlawfully present migrants who have committed no other crimes.“Rather than spending billions to deport people who are already contributing positively to our nation’s well-being, it would be more financially sensible and more morally acceptable for Congress, working with the administration, to expand legal pathways for noncriminal migrants to adjust to a permanent legal status,” the archbishop said at the time.In July, meanwhile, Venice, Florida, Bishop Frank Dewane <a href="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/265259/florida-bishop-no-problem-with-removing-criminals-but-alligator-alcatraz-is-troubling" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">criticized</a> the then-proposed “Alligator Alcatraz" immigrant detainment facility and said it was “alarming to see enforcement strategies which treat all unauthorized immigrants as dangerous criminals.”“Decency requires that we remember individuals being detained are fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters of distressed relatives,” he said.
]]></description>
<category>US</category>
<pubDate>Wed, 15 Oct 2025 12:45:00 -0400</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[ Spanish archbishop recounts encounter with gunmen during Mexico visit ]]></title>
<link>https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267147/spanish-archbishop-recounts-encounter-with-gunmen-during-mexico-visit</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267147/spanish-archbishop-recounts-encounter-with-gunmen-during-mexico-visit</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ <div style="width: 100%; margin-bottom: 25px;">
<img src="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/mexico.visits.14.oct.2025.jpg?w=800&jpg" style="display: block; margin: auto; max-width: 100%" />
Archbishop Sanz Montes, with the Lumen Dei missionaries sent to the Diocese of Tlapa in Mexico. / Credit: Archdiocese of Oviedo
</div>
ACI Prensa Staff, Oct 15, 2025 / 12:34 pm (CNA).
The archbishop of Oviedo in Spain, Jesús Sanz, was momentarily held at gunpoint but was allowed to proceed unharmed by hooded men with machine guns in Mexico during a recent trip to support the establishment of a new mission in the Diocese of Tlapa in the state of Guerrero.Sanz visited the area to promote a new mission headed by two priests and a deacon belonging to the Lumen Dei (Light of God) Association.In <a href="https://iglesiadeasturias.org/si-perdemos-la-inquietud-misionera-perdemos-nuestra-identidad-como-cristianos/" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">an interview</a> released by the archdiocese, the prelate noted that "it’s perhaps one of the most violent areas in Mexico," with two aspects: one "very basic, very primal" as in personal vendettas and the other related to drug trafficking."A priest and I were going to celebrate Holy Mass in a small community on a Sunday. Then, on one of the curves [in the road], three hooded men with machine guns appeared. They stopped our vehicle and asked us who we were and where we were going. When we told them we were missionary priests, they said, 'Don't worry, go on ahead,' and that was that," the archbishop recounted.For the prelate "seeing people pointing guns at you whose faces you can't see" instills a certain feeling, "but beyond that understandable fear, it didn't have any major consequences, and the missionaries are always highly respected," he added.These types of traffic stops, known as checkpoints, are often linked to organized crime gangs that monitor access to highways and roads to prevent the presence of rival groups.The "<a href="https://www.milenio.com/policia/narcomapa-de-mexico-en-que-estados-se-ubican-los-carteles-de-droga" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Narcomap of Mexico</a>," prepared by the local newspaper Milenio, estimates that 24 crime gangs are fighting over territory in Guerrero.It was also in the state of Guerrero that <a href="https://www.aciprensa.com/noticias/118103/arrestan-a-presunto-implicado-en-asesinato-de-sacerdote-catolico-en-mexico" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">the murder of Father Bertoldo Pantaleón Estrada</a>, a member of the Diocese of Chilpancingo-Chilapa, took place earlier this month.<h2>New mission in San Pedro el Viejo</h2>The new missionaries are based in San Pedro el Viejo, a village with just over 150 inhabitants where almost all of the inhabitants speak Mixtec rather than Spanish.<a href="https://iglesiadeasturias.org/nueva-mision-en-mexico-con-sacerdotes-de-lumen-dei/" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">According to the Archdiocese of Oviedo</a>, launching this missionary effort is due to the prelate's friendship, dating back to seminary days, with a priest from the Archdiocese of Toledo who has been working in the area for some time and asked for his help, given the complexity of this task.The new mission will bring the Gospel to an area of very remote villages, with rugged mountainous terrain where the apostolic work must begin "from practically nothing," Father Dionisio Serrano Pascual, secretary general of Lumen Dei, told the archdiocese.Sanz explained that the missionaries will be in charge of 45 parishes and that they will not be the last ones to be sent, as the possibility of more diocesan priests from Oviedo coming to the area is already being considered.“The Church is missionary. And when Jesus departs from his disciples, he tells them: ‘Go into all the world and preach the Gospel, the Good News.’ To lose this missionary concern is to lose our identity as Christians,” the prelate pointed out.From his experience accompanying the missionaries in their new assignment, the archbishop of Oviedo emphasized, in addition to the fact that children and young people are a source of hope, that the older ones still bear "the legacy of that first evangelization, centuries ago, which took place through the presence of my Franciscan brothers. And since they haven't always been able to be supported by a priestly presence, they have passed on, through word of mouth, the faith they have received and the rudiments they learned in catechism."This story <a href="https://www.aciprensa.com/noticias/118113/arzobispo-espanol-fue-encanonado-con-ametralladoras-en-mexico-sin-consecuencias" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">was first published</a> by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.
]]></description>
<category>Americas</category>
<pubDate>Wed, 15 Oct 2025 12:34:00 -0400</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[ U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops will select new president in November ]]></title>
<link>https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267145/us-conference-of-catholic-bishops-will-select-new-president-in-november</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267145/us-conference-of-catholic-bishops-will-select-new-president-in-november</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ <div style="width: 100%; margin-bottom: 25px;">
<img src="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/storage/image/usccbfall24.jpeg?w=800&jpg" style="display: block; margin: auto; max-width: 100%" />
The U.S. bishops gather in Baltimore, Md., on Nov. 12, 2024 for their plenary assembly. / Credit: Madalaine Elhabbal/CNA
</div>
Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Oct 15, 2025 / 11:48 am (CNA).
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) will select a new president and vice president during its Fall Plenary Assembly, which is set for Nov. 10 to Nov. 13 in Baltimore, Maryland.In November, the three-year terms for the current president, Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, and vice president, Archbishop William E. Lori, are set to expire. The new conference leaders, who will be chosen from a slate of 10 candidates, will also serve three-year terms.The following slate of candidates was selected through nominations from the bishops:<ul><li>Bishop Robert E. Barron, Diocese of Winona-Rochester</li><li>Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, Archdiocese of Oklahoma City</li><li>Bishop Daniel E. Flores, Diocese of Brownsville</li><li>Archbishop Richard G. Henning, Archdiocese of Boston</li><li>Bishop David J. Malloy, Diocese of Rockford</li><li>Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez, Archdiocese of Philadelphia</li><li>Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades, Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend</li><li>Archbishop Alexander K. Sample, Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon</li><li>Archbishop Charles C. Thompson, Archdiocese of Indianapolis</li><li>Archbishop Edward J. Weisenburger, Archdiocese of Detroit</li></ul>According to a news release from the USCCB, both positions are selected by a majority vote of present voting members. If no bishop receives more than 50% of the vote, the bishops will hold a second vote. If there is still no bishop with a majority, the assembly will vote in a head-to-head race between the two bishops who received the most votes in the second round. The president is chosen first, and the vice president is chosen from the remaining nine candidates, according to the USCCB.At the gathering, bishops will also select new chairmen for six committees: the Committee on Canonical Affairs and Church Governance; the Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs; the Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis; the Committee on International Justice and Peace; the Committee on the Protection of Children and Young People; and the Committee on Religious Liberty. For those positions, the elected bishops will serve a single year as chairman-elect and then begin a three-year term at the end of the 2026 Fall Assembly.
]]></description>
<category>US</category>
<pubDate>Wed, 15 Oct 2025 11:48:00 -0400</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV explains why Christian hope is better than optimism ]]></title>
<link>https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267141/pope-leo-xiv-explains-why-christian-hope-is-better-than-optimism</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267141/pope-leo-xiv-explains-why-christian-hope-is-better-than-optimism</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ <div style="width: 100%; margin-bottom: 25px;">
<img src="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/251015-ga-daniel-ibanez-3.jpg?w=800&jpg" style="display: block; margin: auto; max-width: 100%" />
Pope Leo XIV waves from the popemobile during an Oct. 15, 2025 public audience in St. Peter's Square. / Credit: Daniel Ibanez/CNA.
</div>
Rome Newsroom, Oct 15, 2025 / 11:00 am (CNA).
Optimism can disappoint us, but Christian hope “promises and fulfills” our hearts’ desire for fullness, Pope Leo XIV said at his weekly audience on Wednesday.Addressing thousands of pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square on Oct. 15, the pope said, “This deep desire in our hearts can find its ultimate answer not in roles, not in power, not in having, but in the certainty that there is someone who guarantees this constitutive impulse of our humanity; in the awareness that this expectation will not be disappointed or thwarted. This certainty coincides with hope.”“This does not mean thinking in an optimistic way: often optimism lets us down, causing our expectations to implode, whereas hope promises and fulfills,” he added in his weekly message.The Holy Father continued his reflections on the mystery of Christ, which culminates in the Resurrection, but this time he linked it to “current human and historical reality, with its questions and challenges.”“From Christ’s Resurrection springs that hope that gives us a foretaste, despite the fatigue of living, of a deep and joyful calm: that peace that only he can give us in the end, without end,” the pope explained.Leo recalled that human existence is full of contrasts — joy, sadness, gratitude, and stress — but that only in the Risen Christ does the heart find the fullness it seeks.“We live busy lives, we concentrate on achieving results, and we even attain lofty, prestigious goals. Conversely, we remain suspended, precarious, awaiting success and recognition that are delayed or do not arrive at all,” he continued.The pope acknowledged that this tension between the desire for fulfillment and the experience of limitation defines much of the human condition: “We find ourselves experiencing a paradoxical situation: we would like to be happy, and yet it is very difficult to be happy in a continuous way, without any shadows. We come to terms with our limitations and, at the same time, with the irrepressible urge to try to overcome them. We feel deep down that we are always missing something.”However, the pontiff said, this feeling of “lack” is the call to find fulfillment in the Risen One.“In truth,” he said, “we were not created for lack, but for fullness, to rejoice in life, and life in abundance, according to Jesus’ expression in the Gospel of John [10:10],” which says, “A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.”Leo emphasized that the Risen Christ “is the wellspring that satisfies our thirst, the infinite thirst for fullness that the Holy Spirit imbues into our hearts. Indeed, the Resurrection of Christ is not a simple event of human history, but the event that transformed it from within.”The Holy Father noted that spiritual thirst is a permanent condition of the human heart, and only Jesus, who died and rose again, can answer our deepest questions, such as, “is there really a destination for us? Does our existence have any meaning? And the suffering of so many innocents, how can it be redeemed?”“The Risen Jesus does not bestow upon us an answer ‘from above,’ but becomes our companion on this often arduous, painful and mysterious journey. Only He can fill our empty flask when our thirst becomes unbearable,” he explained.“We are fragile creatures,” Leo added. “Mistakes are part of our humanity; it is the wound of sin that makes us fall, give up, despair. To rise again instead means to get up and stand on our feet.”
]]></description>
<category>Vatican</category>
<pubDate>Wed, 15 Oct 2025 11:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[ Vatican approves auxiliary bishop for Shanghai ]]></title>
<link>https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267139/pope-leo-approved-shanghai-auxiliary-bishop-appointment-in-august-vatican-reveals</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267139/pope-leo-approved-shanghai-auxiliary-bishop-appointment-in-august-vatican-reveals</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ <div style="width: 100%; margin-bottom: 25px;">
<img src="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/sim0894.jpg?w=800&jpg" style="display: block; margin: auto; max-width: 100%" />
Pope Leo gives an address in St. Peter's Basilica. 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media
</div>
EWTN News, Oct 15, 2025 / 09:45 am (CNA).
The Vatican announced Wednesday that Pope Leo XIV appointed Father Ignatius Wu Jianlin as auxiliary bishop of Shanghai on Aug. 11, with his episcopal ordination taking place today under the framework of the<a href="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/35283/full-text-joint-communique-on-vatican-china-agreement" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"> Provisional Agreement</a> between the Holy See and the People’s Republic of China.Father Wu Jianlin's<a href="https://www.chinacatholic.cn/ccic/report/2510/0080-1.htm" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"> consecration</a> at St. Ignatius Cathedral marks a further development in the complex relationship between Beijing and the Vatican.Chinese authorities had previously<a href="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/263795/2-priests-elected-as-catholic-bishops-in-china-after-death-of-pope-francis" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"> announced Wu’s “election”</a> by an assembly of priests and laypeople on April 28, during the <a href="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/263553/sede-vacante-and-interregnum-what-do-they-mean" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">sede vacante</a> period following the death of Pope Francis.The Vatican<a href="https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2025/10/15/0757/01341.html" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"> Bollettino</a>, published Wednesday, revealed that the Holy Father approved Wu’s candidacy on Aug. 11.While his appointment was not previously made public, the announcement suggests the move was made in accordance with the Vatican-China agreement.At the time of Wu's election, observers expressed concern that Beijing was exploiting the papal interregnum to assert control over episcopal appointments.Wednesday’s Vatican statement confirms the new appointment was approved by Pope Leo XIV.Bishop Wu, 55, was born on Jan. 27, 1970, and studied philosophy and theology at Sheshan Seminary in Shanghai from 1991 to 1996. He was ordained a priest in 1997, and served in a number of roles as cleric. Between 2013 and 2023, he helped administer the diocese during Shanghai’s prolonged sede vacante, and later served as vicar general.<h2>Agreement as ‘seed of hope’?</h2>The Provisional Agreement, first signed in 2018 and<a href="https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/letters/2024/documents/20241027-lettera-card-parolin.html" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"> renewed in 2024</a> for four more years, establishes a system in which Chinese authorities apparently propose candidates for episcopal office, who must then receive pontifical approval before being appointed.The exact terms of the <a href="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/tags/5230/china-vatican-deal" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">controversial agreement</a> remain unpublished, however, and the way the process is applied has repeatedly come under scrutiny.Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state, has long defended the agreement as an instrument of dialogue in an imperfect situation.In an Oct. 11<a href="https://www.fides.org/en/news/76904-Cardinal_Parolin_The_Council_of_Shanghai_and_the_present_of_the_Church_in_China" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"> address</a> commemorating the<a href="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/257760/pope-francis-praises-historic-council-in-china-as-an-authentic-synodal-journey" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"> 1924 Council of Shanghai</a>, Parolin described the agreement as a “seed of hope” which, despite setbacks, could bear fruit in the long term “in the proclamation of the Gospel, in communion with the universal Church and the Bishop of Rome, and in authentic Christian life.”At the same conference, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, <a href="https://www.fides.org/en/news/76900-Cardinal_Tagle_The_Concilium_Sinense_the_Mission_and_the_Church_in_China_today" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">affirmed</a> “the real life and ordinary daily routine of Catholic communities in China,” even if “attention is usually focused on issues of episcopal appointments, local incidents, relations between the Chinese political authorities and the Holy See, or problems related to the state's religious policy.”
]]></description>
<category>Asia - Pacific</category>
<pubDate>Wed, 15 Oct 2025 09:45:00 -0400</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV introduces significant reform to Holy See’s investments ]]></title>
<link>https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267137/pope-leo-xiv-introduces-significant-reform-to-holy-see-s-investments</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267137/pope-leo-xiv-introduces-significant-reform-to-holy-see-s-investments</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ <div style="width: 100%; margin-bottom: 25px;">
<img src="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/vaticanbank.jpg?w=800&jpg" style="display: block; margin: auto; max-width: 100%" />
The Institute for Works of Religion (IOR), popularly known as the Vatican Bank. / Credit: Vatican Media
</div>
Vatican City, Oct 15, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).
Last week, Pope Leo XIV introduced <a href="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/266993/pope-leo-xiv-allows-outside-banks-to-manage-holy-see-investments" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">a significant reform</a> to the financial architecture of the Holy See.With the motu proprio <a href="https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2025/10/06/0714/01271.html" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Coniuncta Cura</a>, (“Shared Responsibility”) the Holy Father revoked the exclusive right that the Institute for Works of Religion (IOR by its Italian acronym) — popularly known as the “Vatican Bank” — had until then for investment management, opening the door to the use of other foreign financial intermediaries if deemed more efficient or appropriate.The new regulations do not seek to remove investments from the Vatican purview but rather to open the possibility of management to accredited financial intermediaries. “If there is a sum to be invested, it was previously done only through the IOR; but now it can also be done through the APSA [Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See]. This does not mean that investments will be made outside [of the Vatican] but rather that external financial organizations can step in to assist the Vatican,” Mimmo Muolo, an expert on Holy See finances and a journalist for the Italian Bishops’ Conference’s newspaper, Avvenire, told ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner.Pope Leo XIV — who has practical experience in financial management as superior of the Order of St. Augustine — “wanted to apply the economic principle of diversification in the Vatican,” Muolo noted.<h2>Reactivating the Vatican’s other economic-financial lung</h2>This decision effectively means “reactivating the Vatican’s other economic-financial lung,” he explained. The APSA, in fact, is the body responsible for managing the Vatican’s real estate assets, which total some 2,400 apartments, most of them located in Rome and Castel Gandolfo. In addition, there are another 600 units rented to businesses or used as offices.The expert explained that, in reality, the IOR — a small financial institution with just over 100 employees — “is not a bank” but rather “a large investment fund that has made it possible to channel financial resources.”“The true Vatican bank is APSA, the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See, which manages both the real estate assets — the Vatican apartments and palaces — and the securities, shares, and financial resources,” he pointed out.The core of the reform, Muolo pointed out, is pragmatic: ensuring the economic sustainability of the Holy See, whose operation requires a significant staffing structure.“You have to keep in mind,” he explained, “that between the Holy See and the Vatican City State, which are legally distinct but connected, there are about 5,000 employees.”“Just guaranteeing the monthly salary of those 5,000 workers requires quite a large amount of resources. This amount also comes from the profits from the investments that have been made to date,” he noted.<h2>Reorganizing to improve performance</h2>Muolo interprets the pope’s decision as an attempt to reorganize management and is based on the “determination to maximize and improve performance.”“Previously, there was a monopoly regime, with the IOR as the sole actor doing everything. Now, however, the stimulus will also come from the outside because instead of being carried away by inertia, new avenues, new partners, and new solutions will be sought,” he explained.The expert believes this decision by Pope Leo will stimulate “a certain internal competition between APSA and the IOR to find the best solutions and increase revenue.”The measure, which repeals the Rescriptum ex Audientia promulgated by Pope Francis in August 2022, represents a change of direction in Vatican financial policy.The Argentine pontiff had centralized all fund and asset management in the IOR and APSA, forcing the Curia institutions to transfer their resources to accounts managed by these bodies: “We know well that the internal needs for the functioning of the Holy See have increased but resources have not. Moreover, during the COVID years, there was also a major crisis in revenues.”“That’s why I believe Pope Leo is moving in this direction: seeking new vehicles, new financial operators who can, while always respecting the Holy See’s rules on ethical investments, increase revenues,” he added.<h2>No scandal in reversing Pope Francis’ reform</h2>Finally, Muolo emphasized the realistic and evolving nature of the reform, which he considers a reasonable correction of the framework established by Francis: “Not all reforms that are implemented necessarily produce the expected results,” he said.“If a reform doesn’t work, it’s good to change it. And I think Pope Leo did not act solely out of his own personal will. He probably received reports, saw accounting records, consulted with experts in the field, and deemed it appropriate to slightly correct the course set by Pope Francis. I don’t see anything scandalous in this: It’s normal that over time, reforms are made to reforms,” he noted.This story <a href="https://www.aciprensa.com/noticias/118125/las-claves-de-la-primera-jugada-economica-del-papa-leon-xiv" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">was first published</a> by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.
]]></description>
<category>Vatican</category>
<pubDate>Wed, 15 Oct 2025 07:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[ Religious education experts: Bursary cut is ‘huge blow’ to Catholic schools in UK ]]></title>
<link>https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267135/religious-education-experts-bursary-cut-is-huge-blow-to-catholic-schools-in-uk</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267135/religious-education-experts-bursary-cut-is-huge-blow-to-catholic-schools-in-uk</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ <div style="width: 100%; margin-bottom: 25px;">
<img src="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/andy-lewis-b.jpg?w=800&jpg" style="display: block; margin: auto; max-width: 100%" />
Religious education teacher and author Andy Lewis, assistant principal at St. Bonaventure Catholic Secondary School in London, told CNA he believes the move to cut the bursary for religious education will have a “huge” impact on the ability of Catholic schools to recruit religious education teachers. / Credit: Photo courtesy of Andy Lewis
</div>
London, England, Oct 15, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).
A leading English Catholic religious education teacher has criticized the removal of a bursary for those training to become religious education teachers, warning that the cuts will affect both the mission and leadership of Catholic schools. Currently a person training to become a religious education teacher receives a bursary of 10,000 pounds (just over $13,000), but the U.K. government announced on Oct. 7 that the figure would be reduced to zero for the year 2026-2027.Religious education teacher and author Andy Lewis, assistant principal at St. Bonaventure Catholic Secondary School in London, told CNA he believes the move will have a “huge” impact on the ability of Catholic schools to recruit specialist religious education (RE) teachers.“There is huge concern about the impact of this decision,” Lewis said. “It now requires an even greater commitment to decide to train as an RE teacher — and for some, that will be a step too far financially. For Catholic RE, it further compounds the current issue that schools have: a lack of specialists in Catholic RE.”In the Catholic schools of England and Wales, religious education is prioritized by the Catholic Education Service (CES) as “the core of the core curriculum,” and at least 10% of the curriculum is dedicated to the subject. The CES represents the national education policy of the bishops of England and Wales for the 2,169 Catholic schools, colleges, academies, and universities in England and Wales.However, despite the high standards of teaching religious education, there are still some Catholic schools whose RE departments are not fully staffed and where the subject is taught by non-RE specialists.Lewis, who has authored religious education textbooks and helped develop a new religious education qualification with support from the CES, told CNA that “a lack of bursary when recruitment challenges remain significant is detrimental to the RE community as a whole.”“We are struggling to attract people into the teaching profession in general, and while there are real shortages in science and maths teachers, such disparity is a source of great frustration,” he said.The cuts are also expected to affect both the mission and the leadership of Catholic schools. <figure class="mx-auto" style="width:100%"><img src="https://admin.catholicnewsagency.com/images/andy-lewis-a.jpg" class="img-fluid" style="null" alt="Leading English Catholic religious education (RE) teacher Andy Lewis has criticized the removal of a bursary for those training to become RE teachers, warning that the cuts will affect both the mission and leadership of Catholic schools. Credit: Photo courtesy of Andy Lewis"><figcaption class="caption text-muted">Leading English Catholic religious education (RE) teacher Andy Lewis has criticized the removal of a bursary for those training to become RE teachers, warning that the cuts will affect both the mission and leadership of Catholic schools. Credit: Photo courtesy of Andy Lewis</figcaption></figure>CES has proposed a vision for students in Catholic educational environments “to flourish,” <a href="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/67165df208d9e689b4d32648/67bc2ef88f477966acd72043_Called%20to%20Flourish%20in%20Faith%20and%20Hope%20FINAL%20Copy.pdf" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">stating in November 2024</a>: “It is an understanding that we are all made in the image and likeness of God, gifted with an inherent dignity, and graced with a transcendent purpose to realize God’s love on earth. In the daily life of a school, this dignity and purpose is manifest in a pedagogical approach which seeks to engender a holistic formation of the person so we may realize life in all its fullness in mind, body, and spirit.”Lewis believes the bursary cuts will affect this mission. “This makes the job of delivering the Religious Education Directory (RED) and meeting standards of the Catholic School Inspectorate (CSI) even tougher — while just attempting to fulfill our mission as Catholic schools and ensuring every student gets an authentic and high quality standard of RE.”Meanwhile, Paul Barber, director of the Catholic Education Service, who blasted the government for its “failure to meet religious education teacher recruitment targets for most of the past decade” in an Oct. 10 statement, said he believes the cuts will harm leadership vacancies in Catholic schools. “Many Catholic school headteachers will have also begun their careers as RE teachers. Any national shortage of teachers, which would of course include in RE, therefore has a corresponding impact on the number of applicants for Catholic school leadership vacancies,” Barber said, adding: “This is a disheartening decision when there is a clear need for more RE teachers.”Looking forward, Lewis called upon the entire “Catholic community” to work together to explore ways of finding more RE teachers. “It does feel there needs real action in this area,” he said. “But it is clear there just isn’t the funding. It is a question for the Catholic community: How do we seek those who are able to teach Catholic RE and encourage them to come and work in our schools?”The CES is currently working to increase the number of religious education specialists by introducing a new postgraduate certificate in religious education — a collaboration between the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton and St. Mary’s University in Twickenham, London.
]]></description>
<category>Europe</category>
<pubDate>Wed, 15 Oct 2025 06:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[ St. Teresa of Ávila’s body remains incorrupt after almost 5 centuries ]]></title>
<link>https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/258989/st-teresa-of-avila-s-body-remains-incorrupt-after-almost-5-centuries</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/258989/st-teresa-of-avila-s-body-remains-incorrupt-after-almost-5-centuries</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ <div style="width: 100%; margin-bottom: 25px;">
<img src="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/storage/image/apertura-sepulcro-de-plata-de-santa-teresa-de-jesus-orden-del-carmelo-28082024.jpg?w=800&jpg" style="display: block; margin: auto; max-width: 100%" />
Opening of the silver tomb of St. Teresa of Ávila; portrait of St. Teresa of Ávila. / Credit: Order of Carmel
</div>
ACI Prensa Staff, Oct 15, 2025 / 04:00 am (CNA).
The Diocese of Ávila in Spain reported on Aug. 28, 2024, that the body of <a href="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-teresa-of-avila-625" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">St. Teresa of Ávila</a>, a doctor of the Church, was still incorrupt after her death on Oct. 4, 1582 — almost five centuries ago. “Today the tomb of St. Teresa was opened and we have verified that it is in the same condition as when it was last opened in 1914,” said the postulator general of the Discalced Carmelite order, Father Marco Chiesa of the Carmelite Monastery of Alba de Tormes, where the remains of the revered Spanish saint rest.Father Miguel Ángel González, the Carmelite prior of Alba de Tormes and Salamanca of the <a href="https://www.diocesisdeavila.com/2024/08/22/mas-de-un-siglo-despues-se-abre-el-sepulcro-de-santa-teresa-para-su-estudio-por-medicos-y-cientificos/" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Diocese of Ávila, explained</a> how the procedure was carried out: “The community of Discalced Carmelite mothers together with the postulator general of the order, the members of the ecclesiastical tribunal, and a small group of religious moved the reliquaries with stringency and solemnity to the place set up for study. We did it singing the Te Deum with our hearts full of emotion.”The diocese explained that the event took place as part of the canonical recognition of the remains of St. Teresa of Ávila, requested from the Vatican on July 1, 2024, by the bishop of Salamanca, Luis Retana, with authorization granted by Pope Francis through the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints.<figure class="mx-auto" style="width:100%"><img src="https://admin.catholicnewsagency.com/storage/image/apertura-del-sepulcro-de-santa-teresa.jpg" class="img-fluid" style="null" alt="Opening of the first tomb of St. Teresa of Ávila. Credit: Order of Carmel"><figcaption class="caption text-muted">Opening of the first tomb of St. Teresa of Ávila. Credit: Order of Carmel</figcaption></figure>The process of studying the body, the heart, an arm, and a hand, the latter of which is preserved in the Spanish town of Ronda and has been taken to Alba de Tormes for research, took place Aug. 28–31, 2024.The diocese said that, in order to get to the body of St. Teresa, the marble slab of the sepulcher was first removed. Then — in the room set up for the studies and now only in the presence of the scientific medical team and the members of the ecclesiastical court — the silver coffin was opened.The tribunal is made up of the Carmelite provincial of the Iberian Province of St. Teresa of Jesús in Spain, Father Francisco Sánchez Oreja; González; and the superior of the Daughters of Charity of Alba de Tormes, Sister Remigia Blázquez Martín.The silver coffin was opened with the help of the goldsmiths Ignacio Manzano Martín and Constantino Martín Jaén, who will also be present on the last day of the work.<figure class="mx-auto" style="width:100%"><img src="https://admin.catholicnewsagency.com/storage/image/apertura-2-santa-teresa-de-jesus.jpg" class="img-fluid" style="null" alt="Examination of the silver tomb of St. Teresa of Ávila. Credit: Order of Carmel"><figcaption class="caption text-muted">Examination of the silver tomb of St. Teresa of Ávila. Credit: Order of Carmel</figcaption></figure>The Diocese of Ávila also revealed that 10 keys were used to open the tomb: “The three that are kept in Alba de Tormes, the three that the Duke of Alba lent them, and the three that the father general [a Discalced Carmelite] keeps in Rome, in addition to the king’s key. Three of these keys are to open the outer grille, three are to open the marble tomb, and the other four are to open the silver coffin.”Chiesa pointed out that the images preserved from the 1914 examination are in black and white, so “it is difficult to make a comparison,” although “the parts uncovered, which are the face and the foot, are the same as they were in 1914.”“There is no color, there is no skin color, because the skin is mummified, but you can see it, especially the middle of the face,” he noted. “The expert doctors can see Teresa’s face almost clearly.”<h2>3 stages of the process </h2>The first stage was the opening and recognition which took place up until Aug. 31, 2024. In this phase, a team led by Dr. José Antonio Ruiz de Alegría from Madrid took photos and X-rays as well as properly cleaned the reliquaries.The second stage took place in laboratories in Italy for a few months and resulted in various scientific conclusions. Finally, as a third stage, some interventions were proposed to better preserve the remains.Before the final closure, a time was set aside so the relics of St. Teresa could be venerated.<h2>The 1914 opening</h2>The previous opening of the tomb of St. Teresa of Jesús took place from Aug. 16–23, 1914. At that time the Diocese of Ávila stated that the body remained “completely incorrupt,” as occurred at the opening in 1750.<figure class="mx-auto" style="width:100%"><img src="https://admin.catholicnewsagency.com/storage/image/personas-presentes-en-la-apertura-del-sepulcro-de-santa-teresa.jpg" class="img-fluid" style="null" alt="Religious men and women are present at the opening of the tomb of St. Teresa of Ávila. Credit: Order of Carmel"><figcaption class="caption text-muted">Religious men and women are present at the opening of the tomb of St. Teresa of Ávila. Credit: Order of Carmel</figcaption></figure>According to Carmelite Father Daniel de Pablo Maroto, the tomb was opened in 1914 because the superior general of the Discalced Carmelites, Father Clemente de los Santos, wanted to take advantage of his visit to Spain to see the bodies of the founding saints: St. John of the Cross in Segovia and St. Teresa in Alba de Tormes.The study conducted in 2024 with the remains of St. Teresa of Ávila was similar to that carried out in 1991 with those of St. John of the Cross in Segovia on the occasion of the fourth centenary of his death.<h2>Who was St. Teresa of Ávila?</h2>The<a href="https://www.carmelitaniscalzi.com/es/quienes-somos/historia/historia-del-carmelo-descalzo/" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"> website </a>of the general curia of the Discalced Carmelites explains that they recognize as their mother and founder St. Teresa of Jesús, also known as St. Teresa of Ávila, the first woman to become a doctor of the Church, who wanted to “preserve the continuity of Carmel” with the desire that “a new style of religious life would be born,” always “in fidelity to the Church.”Born in Spain in 1515, St. Teresa of Ávila was also a mystic and writer of Jewish descent, recognized both for her contribution to Catholic spirituality and to Spanish literature.A famous saying of hers is: “Let nothing trouble you, let nothing frighten you. Everything passes, God does not change. Patience achieves everything. Whoever has God lacks for nothing. God alone is enough.”This story <a href="https://www.aciprensa.com/noticias/106231/santa-teresa-de-jesus-o-de-avila-su-cuerpo-sigue-incorrupto-tras-casi-5-siglos" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">was first published</a> by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner, and was translated, adapted, and published by CNA on Aug. 29, 2024. It has since been updated.
]]></description>
<category>Europe</category>
<pubDate>Wed, 15 Oct 2025 04:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[ Priest who was attacked with acid in Nicaragua cathedral in 2018 dies ]]></title>
<link>https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267133/priest-who-was-attacked-with-acid-in-nicaragua-cathedral-in-2018-dies</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267133/priest-who-was-attacked-with-acid-in-nicaragua-cathedral-in-2018-dies</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ <div style="width: 100%; margin-bottom: 25px;">
<img src="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/fr.mario.nic.jpg?w=800&jpg" style="display: block; margin: auto; max-width: 100%" />
Father Mario de Jesús Guevara Calero. / Credit: Archdiocese of Managua
</div>
ACI Prensa Staff, Oct 14, 2025 / 16:05 pm (CNA).
Father Mario de Jesús Guevara Calero, 66, spiritual director of the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/seminario.managua/posts/pfbid02GyXh8KnK5vCf6zB7dNBejBSS5evtV1f8kcQUwqW4tzBtYEjBkcWa6NB4oVenxrcBl?locale=es_LA" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">La Purísima Archdiocesan Major Seminary</a> in Nicaragua, died on Sunday, Oct. 12, according to the Archdiocese of Managua.Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes, archbishop of Managua, and the priests of the Nicaraguan capital “send their condolences to his family, the seminary community, and the parishioners he served for years in various parishes of our archdiocese,” <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=861765953080224&set=a.185636837359809" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">a death notice</a> from the archdiocese said.On Dec. 5, 2018, while the priest was hearing confessions in the Managua cathedral, he <a href="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/40104/nicaraguan-priest-attacked-with-acid-during-confession" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">was splashed with acid on his face and body</a> by Russian citizen Elis Leonidovna Gonn, who was later arrested.The priest required various surgeries and treatments and, according to the newspaper <a href="https://confidencial.digital/nacion/muere-el-sacerdote-mario-guevara-que-fue-atacado-con-acido-en-la-catedral-de-managua/" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Confidencial</a>, forgave the woman who attacked him. The incident occurred in the year the dictatorship ramped up the repression against the Catholic Church in the country.In August 2019, the Nicaraguan dictatorship, led by President Daniel Ortega and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo, released Leonidovna Gonn, who was later expelled from the country.“May God our Lord grant Father Mario Guevara to be already enjoying holy heaven. I give thanks to the Almighty for his life and his ministry,” researcher Martha Patricia Molina, author of the report “Nicaragua: A Persecuted Church, stated on X.<div class="twitter-wrapper"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Que Dios nuestro Señor lo tenga ya gozando de su santo cielo padre Mario Guevara. Gracias le doy al Altísimo por su vida y su ministerio.😞😞😞 <a href="https://t.co/oHqSLXDJOW">pic.twitter.com/oHqSLXDJOW</a>— Martha Patricia M (@mpatricia_m) <a href="https://twitter.com/mpatricia_m/status/1977600531716882591?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 13, 2025</a></blockquote><script src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><div class="drag-handle" data-drag-handle="true"> </div></div>The latest edition of the report records more than 1,000 attacks by the dictatorship and that more than 16,500 processions and acts of piety have been prohibited by the Sandinista regime.<h2>‘A man of prayer’</h2>“It’s both interesting and a joy for me as a bishop to visit the parishes, and how beautiful it is when many of the faithful remember their priests,” Brenes said Oct. 13 in his homily for the funeral Mass he celebrated at the Immaculate Conception of Mary Parish in the Masaya pastoral area.“I have been in recent weeks, today in three or four parishes in San Rafael del Sur, and we remember how, in the most difficult situations, Father Mario was there, serving those communities with total generosity. In difficult situations, but it’s beautiful [he did so] without complaining, but with dedication,” the cardinal continued.Speaking of the illness from which the priest suffered at the end of his life, the cardinal commented that in “these last months, he was able to go through Calvary, his ailments like a street [paved with] bitterness, but when I had the opportunity to visit him in the hospital and sometimes at the seminary, at the end, he was smiling. And above all, I was struck by seeing near his bed, his Liturgy of the Hours, and the holy rosary in his hands.”“I think these were moments of strength; a man of prayer, he truly knew how to maintain that communication with God and also with our mother, the Blessed Virgin,” he added.The cardinal emphasized that Guevara “preached to us, not with grand words, but with his life, his simple life, but with tremendous power. And what was that power but the person of Jesus himself?”This story <a href="https://www.aciprensa.com/noticias/118139/iglesia-en-nicaragua-muere-sacerdote-atacado-con-acido-en-la-catedral-de-managua-en-2018" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">was first published</a> by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.
]]></description>
<category>Americas</category>
<pubDate>Tue, 14 Oct 2025 16:05:00 -0400</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[ Younger priests remain more conservative than older priests in U.S., survey says ]]></title>
<link>https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267131/younger-us-priests-remain-more-conservative-than-older-priests-survey-says</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267131/younger-us-priests-remain-more-conservative-than-older-priests-survey-says</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ <div style="width: 100%; margin-bottom: 25px;">
<img src="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/priest-ballot-shutterstock-2467175027.jpg?w=800&jpg" style="display: block; margin: auto; max-width: 100%" />
Younger U.S. priests say they are far more conservative than older priests in their voting patterns, according to a 2025 survey. / Credit: TSViPhoto/Shutterstock
</div>
Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Oct 14, 2025 / 15:35 pm (CNA).
Younger U.S. priests are far more conservative than older priests, reaffirming a generational divide in political views, according to a 2025 survey.The strong generational divide in political views among Catholic priests in the United States was reaffirmed in a 2025 survey that shows younger priests are far more conservative than older priests.The <a href="https://catholicproject.catholic.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/NSCPWave2FINAL.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">National Study of Catholic Priests</a>, published on Oct. 14, was commissioned by The Catholic Project at The Catholic University of America and conducted by Gallup. Researchers surveyed the same priests who were surveyed in <a href="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255935/major-survey-finds-conservative-and-orthodox-priests-on-the-rise-varying-levels-of-trust-in-bishops" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">The Catholic Project’s 2022 survey</a> to examine the U.S. priesthood.According to the report, the 2025 survey “closely mirrors” the findings in 2022 and shows “a clear generational shift away from liberal self-identification.”About 51% of priests ordained in 2010 or later said their political views are either conservative or very conservative. Another 37% said they were moderate and the remaining 12% were either liberal or very liberal.For priests ordained between 2000 and 2009, 44% were conservative or very conservative and 44% were moderate. Again, only 12% of priests ordained in these years said they were liberal or very liberal.Priests ordained between 1990 and 1999 leaned conservative, but to a lesser degree, with 38% saying they are somewhat conservative, 34% identifying as moderate, and 26% saying they are liberal or very liberal.For priests ordained in the prior decade, 1980 to 1989, conservatism declines to about 22%, and 36% call themselves moderate. About 40%, a plurality, identify as liberal or very liberal. Older priests are far more liberal. A majority of priests ordained between 1975 and 1979, about 53%, say they are either liberal or very liberal. About 34% are moderate and 11% conservative. About 61% of priests ordained before 1975 said they are liberal or very liberal, 25% are moderate, and 13% are conservative. The theological leanings of priests followed a similar pattern, with an even sharper decline in theological progressivism, according to the researchers. About 70% of priests ordained before 1975 called themselves theological progressives, and only 8% of priests ordained 2010 or later said the same.About 70% of the youngest priests self-report as conservative/orthodox or very conservative/orthodox on theological matters.<h2>Generational divide on pastoral priorities</h2>The political and theological shifts flow into generational divides about what issues the Church should be prioritizing as well, such as climate change, LGBTQ outreach, and synodality.Regarding climate change, 78% of priests ordained before 1980 said this should be a priority, as did 61% of priests ordained between 1980 and 1999. Just 35% of priests ordained in 2000 or later agreed.The trend is similar for outreach to the LGBTQ community with 66% of priests ordained before 1980 calling this a priority, but just 49% of priests ordained between 1980 and 1999 and 37% of priests ordained 2000 or later agree.Synodality is also popular among older priests, with 77% of those ordained before 1980 calling it a priority. About 57% of priests ordained between 1980 and 1999 say the same, but only 37% of priests ordained 2000 or later agree.<h2>Immigration </h2>Some issues show smaller generational divides. For example, 93% of priests ordained before 1980 see immigration and refugee assistance as a priority, as do 82% ordained between 1980 and 1999 and 74% ordained in 2000 or later. Also, 98% of priests ordained before 1980 believe poverty, homelessness, and food insecurity are priorities, as do 92% ordained between 1980 and 1999 and 79% ordained 2000 or later.There is a generational divide on whether Eucharistic devotion or access to the Traditional Latin Mass are priorities, with younger priests more focused on those issues. About 88% of priests ordained in 2000 or later see Eucharistic devotion as a priority, as do 66% of those ordained between 1980 and 1999 and 57% ordained before 1980. About 39% of priests ordained in 2000 or later see Latin Mass access as a priority, but only 20% of priests ordained between 1980 and 1999 and 11% of priests ordained before 1980 agree.
]]></description>
<category>US</category>
<pubDate>Tue, 14 Oct 2025 15:35:00 -0400</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[ Study: Biblical definition of marriage high among churchgoers, definition of family less so ]]></title>
<link>https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267129/biblical-definition-of-marriage-high-among-churchgoers-but-definition-of-family-less-so-study-says</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267129/biblical-definition-of-marriage-high-among-churchgoers-but-definition-of-family-less-so-study-says</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ <div style="width: 100%; margin-bottom: 25px;">
<img src="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/Marriage_Credit_Ivan_Galashchuk_via_wwwshutterstockcom_CNA_10_14_15.jpg?w=800&jpg" style="display: block; margin: auto; max-width: 100%" />
null / Credit: Ivan Galashchuk/Shutterstock
</div>
Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Oct 14, 2025 / 13:38 pm (CNA).
A recent study found that among adults who attend Christian worship at least monthly, 68% agreed marriage is between one man and one woman, but only 46% defined “family” in corresponding terms of a husband and wife, their children, and relatives.<a href="https://www.frc.org/#gsc.tab=0" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Family Research Council</a> in partnership with the <a href="https://www.arizonachristian.edu/culturalresearchcenter/" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University</a> released <a href="https://www.frc.org/newsroom/family-research-council-releases-new-study-showing-shifting-views-of-us-churchgoers#gsc.tab=0" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">findings</a> this week from a new national <a href="https://downloads.frc.org/EF/EF25J65.pdf?v=2" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">survey</a> of 1,003 churchgoing adults. The survey, “Social Issues and Worldview,” was conducted in July to build off a similar <a href="https://downloads.frc.org/EF/EF23H29.pdf" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">2023 study</a>. The research identified beliefs of the faithful in regard to social topics and family life.Of the 9 in 10 respondents identifying as Christian, 39% were Catholic, 20% mainline Protestant, 18% evangelical, 9% independent or nondenominational Christian, and 4% Pentecostal.Among the respondents, about 22% claimed the definition of family changes over time and across cultures. About 20% said family is any group of people who care for one another, 6% said family is any group of people who live together, and 6% said they did not know how to describe family.No demographic or Christian group was found to have a clear majority in support of the biblical definition of family, but the highest support came from theologically defined born-again Christians (59%) and Pentecostal churchgoers (56%). The majority of respondents did agree on a number of other family-related topics. Of churchgoing adults, 70% said it is important for society to facilitate families with a father, mother, and children living together and 68% said they believe marriage is only between a man and a woman.<h2>Christian stances on social issues and need for discipleship </h2>The report found churchgoers are open to more discipleship and teaching on a number of current social issues. A large majority reported that additional worldview training is desirable in areas regarding religious freedom (88%), social and political responsibility (76%), and abortion and the value of life (60%).The research revealed more specific Christian views on pro-life topics including abortion and euthanasia. About 25% of churchgoing respondents said they would prefer their church to preach or teach about abortion at worship services more often, while 18% said they would prefer teachings on the topic less often. Those interested in increasing preaching on the topic mostly attend either evangelical (31%) or Pentecostal churches (31%), while adults who align with independent and nondenominational churches were the least interested in increasing the number of sermons on abortion (19%). Interest among Catholics in increasing the frequency fell from 41% to 29% since 2023.Respondents were asked their beliefs in regard to the statement: “Euthanasia is morally wrong.” Less than half of churchgoers (43%) said they agreed, another 23% said they disagreed, and 35% said they were unsure and did not know whether euthanasia was right or wrong.Overwhelming majorities agreed that people should be able to practice “peaceful, genuinely held religious beliefs without being punished by the government, even if those beliefs are not culturally popular” (83%), that “every person is made in the likeness of God” (84%), and that “every human being has undeniable value and dignity” (83%).
]]></description>
<category>US</category>
<pubDate>Tue, 14 Oct 2025 13:38:00 -0400</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[ U.S. priests report high confidence in Pope Leo XIV, less trust in bishops ]]></title>
<link>https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267127/us-priests-report-high-confidence-in-pope-leo-xiv-less-trust-in-bishops</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267127/us-priests-report-high-confidence-in-pope-leo-xiv-less-trust-in-bishops</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ <div style="width: 100%; margin-bottom: 25px;">
<img src="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/sim2658.jpg?w=800&jpg" style="display: block; margin: auto; max-width: 100%" />
Pope Leo greets crowds in St. Peter’s Basilica. / Credit: Vatican Media
</div>
Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Oct 14, 2025 / 13:02 pm (CNA).
A 2025 survey of more than 1,100 American priests found high rates of self-reported personal flourishing, strong confidence in Pope Leo XIV, and a mixed level of trust in U.S. bishops.The <a href="https://catholicproject.catholic.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/NSCPWave2FINAL.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">National Study of Catholic Priests</a>, published on Oct. 14, was commissioned by the Catholic Project at The Catholic University of America and conducted by Gallup. Researchers surveyed the same priests who were surveyed in <a href="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252588/major-survey-of-catholic-priests-finds-trust-issues-burnout-fear-of-false-allegations" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">The Catholic Project’s 2022 survey</a> to examine the U.S. priesthood. The survey showed strong confidence in the first-ever American pope. About 43% of those surveyed expressed “a great deal” of confidence in Leo and another 43% reported “quite a lot” of confidence in the pontiff. About 13% said they have “some” confidence, and only 1% expressed “very little” confidence.Most priests also predicted the U.S. Church’s relationship with the Vatican will improve, with 51% saying it will improve significantly and 28% saying it will improve somewhat. About 17% said it would likely stay the same, and 3% think it will worsen.<h2>Priests lack trust in U.S. bishops</h2>Confidence in bishops was significantly lower. Just 52% of diocesan priests reported they trust their own bishop, which is slightly higher than the 49% who said the same in 2022. Yet, those numbers are much lower than 2001, when 63% trusted their own bishop.About 74% of priests said their bishop cares about them, and 11% said their bishop did not. The survey also found that 83% said they can reach their bishop or superior when needed, while 8% said they could not. The numbers are worse for U.S. bishops as a whole. Only 27% of priests surveyed reported trust in the U.S. bishops, although this is an uptick from 2022 when only 22% had trust in them. It is much lower than 2001, when 39% of priests trusted U.S. bishops.<h2>Personal flourishing</h2>Priests reported high rates of personal flourishing, which is measured by mental health, physical health, purpose, character, and social relationships. The average rate was 8.2 out of 10, which is identical to the results of the 2022 survey. Diocesan and religious priests reported the same rate of personal flourishing.When asked questions about whether their religious communities were flourishing, the results were lower. The community flourishing rate was 5.7 out of 10 for diocesan priests and 6.2 out of 10 for religious priests. Researchers found that 92% have a close relationship with at least one other priest, but also about one-third of those surveyed said their relationships with other priests tends to be superficial. Recently-ordained priests reported more loneliness. About 45% of priests ordained in 2000 or later reported loneliness, as did 34% of priests ordained between 1980 and 1999 and 27% ordained before 1980.<h2>Burnout</h2>The survey also measured priests’ “burnout,” which asked questions about feeling “worn out and weary” or “emotionally drained” and whether they “talk about [their] ministry in a negative way.” For diocesan priests, 56% said they felt no burnout while 44% felt some burnout. Among those feeling burnout, only 7% had high burnout. For religious priests, 69% said they felt no burnout, 31% felt some burnout, and among those feeling burnout only 2% had high burnout. Burnout rates slightly improved since the 2022 survey, which found half of diocesan priests and one-third of religious priests feeling some burnout.The survey found that 96% of priests reported having access to mental health counseling if they need it, but only 11% are receiving treatment or therapy for a mental health condition.Some priests, however, said they are “expected to do too many things that go beyond my calling as a priest.” The rate is much higher for newer priests than it is for older priests.About 45% of priests ordained in 2000 and later reported that feeling, as did 38% of priests ordained between 1980 and 1999 and 13% of priests ordained before 1980.The survey was conducted between May 12 and June 30 of this year. The response rate was 38%.
]]></description>
<category>US</category>
<pubDate>Tue, 14 Oct 2025 13:02:00 -0400</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV meets Italian President Sergio Mattarella in first state visit to Italy ]]></title>
<link>https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267125/pope-leo-xiv-meets-italian-president-sergio-mattarella-in-first-state-visit-to-italy</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267125/pope-leo-xiv-meets-italian-president-sergio-mattarella-in-first-state-visit-to-italy</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ <div style="width: 100%; margin-bottom: 25px;">
<img src="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/251014-pope-leo-xivs-visit-to-the-president-of-the-italian-republic-daniel-iba-nez-3.jpg?w=800&jpg" style="display: block; margin: auto; max-width: 100%" />
Pope Leo XIV meets Italian President Sergio Mattarella during his first state visit to the country that surrounds Vatican City State on Oct. 14, 2025. / Credit: Daniel Ibanez/CNA
</div>
Rome Newsroom, Oct 14, 2025 / 12:06 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV met with Italian President Sergio Mattarella at the Quirinal Palace in Rome on Tuesday, highlighting the strong ties between the two states and the need to work toward lasting peace in every part of the world. Mattarella welcomed the Holy Father and his delegation, which included Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and President of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State Sister Raffaella Petrini, to his residence in Rome to strengthen the historic political ties between the Holy See and Italy.The Holy Father spoke of the “sincere friendship and fruitful mutual collaboration” between Italy and the popes and emphasized the need for the two states to contribute to multilateral peace processes in regions, including the Middle East and Europe.I “renew my heartfelt appeal that we continue to work to reestablish peace in every part of the world and that the principles of justice, equity, and cooperation among peoples — principles which form its irreplaceable foundation — be ever more cultivated and promoted,” he said in his Oct. 14 speech. Leo XIV commended the Italian government’s commitment to “alleviating situations of hardship caused by war and poverty,” particularly its efforts to support children in Gaza. “These are strong and effective contributions to building a dignified, peaceful, and prosperous coexistence for all members of the human family,” he said.<figure class="mx-auto" style="width:100%"><img src="https://admin.catholicnewsagency.com/images/ris3478-1.jpg" class="img-fluid" style="null" alt="Pope Leo XIV walks down a hall of the Quirinal Palace, the residence of Italian President Sergio Mattarella, during the pontiff's first state visit to Italy on Oct. 14, 2025. Credit: Vatican Media"><figcaption class="caption text-muted">Pope Leo XIV walks down a hall of the Quirinal Palace, the residence of Italian President Sergio Mattarella, during the pontiff's first state visit to Italy on Oct. 14, 2025. Credit: Vatican Media</figcaption></figure>On Tuesday, the Holy Father <a href="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267123/pope-leo-xiv-sends-antibiotics-to-children-in-gaza" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">donated 5,000 doses of antibiotics</a> for children in Gaza following the opening of key humanitarian corridors into the city after the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal came into effect Monday.In light of the 800th anniversary of the death of Italy’s patron St. Francis of Assisi, in 2026, Leo also spoke about the “urgent issue of caring for our ‘common home.’”“St. Francis taught us to praise the Creator through respect for all creatures, proclaiming his message from the geographical heart of the [Italian] peninsula and transmitting it — through the beauty of his writings and the witness of his life and that of his brothers — across the generations down to us,” he said.“For this reason, I believe Italy has received, in a special way, the mission of transmitting to the nations a culture that recognizes the earth as ‘a sister with whom we share our life and a beautiful mother who opens her arms to embrace us,’” he continued, quoting Pope Francis’ encyclical letter Laudato Si’.Earlier this month, the Italian Senate approved a bill reinstating the Oct. 4 feast day of St. Francis of Assisi as a <a href="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/266899/it-s-official-st-francis-feast-day-back-to-being-a-national-holiday-in-italy" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">national holiday</a>.Toward the end of his speech, the Holy Father noted Italy’s declining birth rate and called for a “concerted effort” to promote choices at all levels in favor of the family and to uphold and protect life “in all its phases.”“In particular, I wish to emphasize the importance of guaranteeing all families the indispensable support of dignified work, in fair conditions and with due attention to the needs related to motherhood and fatherhood,” he said.“Let us do everything possible to give confidence to families — especially young families —  so that they may look to the future with serenity and grow in harmony,” he continued.<figure class="mx-auto" style="width:100%"><img src="https://admin.catholicnewsagency.com/images/sim4944.jpg" class="img-fluid" style="null" alt="Italian President Sergio Mattarella spoke about the “unbreakable bond” between Italy and the Vatican in his welcome speech at the Quirinal Palace in Rome on Oct. 14, 2025. Credit: Vatican Media"><figcaption class="caption text-muted">Italian President Sergio Mattarella spoke about the “unbreakable bond” between Italy and the Vatican in his welcome speech at the Quirinal Palace in Rome on Oct. 14, 2025. Credit: Vatican Media</figcaption></figure>In his welcome speech, Mattarella spoke about the “unbreakable bond” between Italy and the Vatican and commended the work of the European Union’s founding fathers, “many of whom had a Christian background” and who rebuilt peace in the region after World War II. Recalling Pope Leo’s consistent messages of peace since his election, the Italian president said political leaders have the responsibility to “reject the glorification of conflict” and “foster dialogue and mutual understanding.”“This peace, as you emphasized, begins with each of us, and that is why it is so essential to disarm, unarm our hearts and disarm our words,” he said.
]]></description>
<category>Vatican</category>
<pubDate>Tue, 14 Oct 2025 12:06:00 -0400</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[ Pope Leo XIV sends antibiotics to children in Gaza ]]></title>
<link>https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267123/pope-leo-xiv-sends-antibiotics-to-children-in-gaza</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267123/pope-leo-xiv-sends-antibiotics-to-children-in-gaza</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ <div style="width: 100%; margin-bottom: 25px;">
<img src="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/251008-ga-daniel-ibanez-4.jpg?w=800&jpg" style="display: block; margin: auto; max-width: 100%" />
Pope Leo XIV greets a baby at his general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA
</div>
Vatican City, Oct 14, 2025 / 08:41 am (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV has sent 5,000 doses of antibiotics to the Gaza Strip in a humanitarian gesture aimed primarily at children and made possible by the recent reopening of key border crossings allowing the entry of aid.According to <a href="https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2025-10/pope-leo-krajewski-papal-charity-antibiotics-gaza-children-ukrai.html" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Vatican News</a>, the shipment of the medicines began this week, following the ceasefire and the start of the first phase of U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace deal.Israel is allowing the entry of up to 600 aid trucks per day, operated by the United Nations and authorized by international organizations, private sector actors, and donor countries. On Oct. 12, more than 170 trucks loaded with humanitarian aid crossed into Gaza, according to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).The shipment of antibiotics to Gaza was coordinated by the Office of the Papal Almoner, the Vatican dicastery charged with carrying out charitable works for the poor and those in need on behalf of the pope, and led by Cardinal Konrad Krajewski.“We are putting into practice the words of the apostolic exhortation <a href="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267043/pope-leo-xiv-in-his-first-major-document-dilexi-te-says-the-poor-evangelize-us" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Dilexi Te</a>, dedicated to the poor,” Krajewski explained to Vatican News. “It is necessary to act, to pay attention to those in need.”<h3>Infant formula delivered to Gaza</h3>Caritas Jerusalem has become one of the first humanitarian organizations to respond to the ceasefire in Gaza, quickly mobilizing to address the urgent needs of families and children throughout the Gaza Strip.Following the ceasefire, Caritas Jerusalem deployed its medical teams to deliver 10,000 bottles of infant formula to families with newborns and young children who had been deprived of basic nutrition during the months of conflict.The distribution was carried out through Caritas’ network of medical centers in Gaza, ensuring that the aid reached the most vulnerable communities quickly and safely, the Catholic organization reported.This story <a href="https://www.aciprensa.com/noticias/118143/papa-leon-xiv-envia-15000-dosis-de-antibioticos-a-la-franja-de-gaza" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">was first published</a> by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.
]]></description>
<category>Vatican</category>
<pubDate>Tue, 14 Oct 2025 08:41:00 -0400</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[ Diocese of Lexington launches net-zero plan inspired by Laudato Si’ ]]></title>
<link>https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267109/diocese-of-lexington-kentucky-launches-net-zero-plan-inspired-by-laudato-si</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267109/diocese-of-lexington-kentucky-launches-net-zero-plan-inspired-by-laudato-si</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ <div style="width: 100%; margin-bottom: 25px;">
<img src="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/abce735e-2568-4c3b-a559-15042f782cee.jpg?w=800&jpg" style="display: block; margin: auto; max-width: 100%" />
Holy Family Church in Booneville, Kentucky, with solar panels implemented as part of the Catholic Diocese of Lexington’s goal of net zero emissions. / Credit: Photo courtesy of the Catholic Diocese of Lexington, Kentucky
</div>
Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Oct 14, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).
The Diocese of Lexington has developed an ambitious plan to make all of its buildings net-zero by 2030 because, it noted, as Scripture says: “The earth and all in it belongs to God.” The plan includes all buildings of the 59 parishes in the diocese, spanning over 50 counties in central and eastern Kentucky.The plan is a direct response to Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical <a href="https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20150524_enciclica-laudato-si.html" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Laudato Si’ (</a>“<a href="https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20150524_enciclica-laudato-si.html" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">On Care for Our Common Home”</a>), which called on the global Catholic Church to engage in dialogue about the future of the planet. Within the writings, Pope Francis urged the Church to acknowledge environmental challenges.The diocese was inspired by Laudato Si’ No. 217, which says “living our vocation as protectors of God’s handiwork is a life of virtue,” Josh Van Cleef, director of the Office of Peace and Justice for the diocese, told CNA. “It is not a secondary dimension of Christian life.”The Diocese of Lexington’s plans stem from the<a href="https://laudatosiactionplatform.org/laudato-si-goals/" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"> seven goals</a> of Laudato Si', which include response to the cry of the earth, response to the cry of the poor, ecological economics, adoption of sustainable lifestyles, ecological education, ecological spirituality, and community resilience and empowerment.<h2>Inspiration from Pope Francis</h2>Since the encyclical was published, dioceses and archdioceses across the country have implemented ways to live out Pope Francis’ call. As this year marks the 10-year anniversary of the encyclical, Bishop John Stowe of Lexington and his leadership team have laid out one of the most ambitious plans yet.Van Cleef, who leads the Respect Life Ministries for the diocese, said the idea began to develop in 2024. Each parish was asked and encouraged by leaders including the bishop to form Laudato Si’ teams. The teams then carried out “parish assessments based on the seven goals of Laudato Si’, to do listening sessions, and to come up with concrete action plans.”The parishes “did not come up with a ‘net-zero plan’ but just a plan for them to implement care for creation.” These plans included “looking at what concretely they can do from their lighting, like moving to LED [light bulbs], to the different programming they can do to promote this as a faith issue in the parishes.”“We’ve seen a lot of our parishes really take this on, and it’s been pretty inspiring,” Van Cleef said. “Then as a diocese, the <a href="https://cdlex.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Laudato-Si-Action-Plan-Guide-Catholic-Diocese-of-Lexington.pdf" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">action plan</a> was published on Jan. 1, 2025, which included plans from each one of the 59 parishes, plus the diocese-wide commitments.”The biggest undertaking within the diocese’s goals is “to move all facilities to net-zero emissions.” Diocese leaders have been working for more than a year with a group of experts in the area of sustainability to accomplish it. <a href="https://cdlex.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Diocese-of-Lexington-Net-Zero-Plan-.pdf" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Net-zero</a> is defined by the diocese as “the balance between the amount of greenhouse gas emissions that an organization generates and the amount removed from the atmosphere.”<figure class="mx-auto" style="width:100%"><img src="https://admin.catholicnewsagency.com/images/b2f03b5d-3b46-43b4-9654-4fb312296547.jpg" class="img-fluid" style="null" alt="Holy Family Church in Booneville, Kentucky, with solar panels implemented as part of the Catholic Diocese of Lexington’s goal of net zero emissions. Credit: Photo courtesy of the Catholic Diocese of Lexington, Kentucky"><figcaption class="caption text-muted">Holy Family Church in Booneville, Kentucky, with solar panels implemented as part of the Catholic Diocese of Lexington’s goal of net zero emissions. Credit: Photo courtesy of the Catholic Diocese of Lexington, Kentucky</figcaption></figure><h2>Net-zero plan</h2>The four steps the diocese is taking to shape its net-zero approach include measuring, efficiency, solar development, and transitioning from gas to electric. Measuring is the first step and “identifies the main sources of emissions, calculates the overall carbon footprint, and sets the stage for developing an effective action plan,” according to the published plan.Efficiency will be tracked through an energy audit from 2025–2026. The diocese will conduct “evaluations of energy use within a building with the goal of identifying areas where energy is being wasted,” the report explained. An essential part of the plan is the implementation of solar power, which “offers a pathway for the transition to renewable energy.” Finances will be discussed, including grants, low-interest financing options, and energy service agreements “to ensure that projects can fit within a location’s budget.”The diocese will carry out a shift from gas to efficient electric to “facilitate the diocese’s overall movement towards renewable energy.” Once again, the diocese will “identify available grants, rebates, and other financing options to assist locations in this transition.”The diocese is committed to the steps because as Catholics, “we’re not opting in to care for creation for partisan reasons, and we don’t get to opt out,” Van Cleef explained. “For us, we’re all in because of our faith. And when we look at Scripture, we see Psalm 24:1 say: ‘The earth and all in it belongs to God.’”“Then we read in Genesis that our job is to ‘till and keep.’” Therefore, we must “cultivate and protect what belongs to God,” Van Cleef said. “It is a matter of faith. When we look to Pope Francis, Laudato Si’, and Pope Leo, it is clear that the Church is called to urgent and decisive action.”“We know that all creation communicates God’s glory, and it is a sacred place where we encounter God.”<h2>More Laudato Si’ inspiration </h2>The Diocese of Lexington’s plan is in motion and will continue to develop over the coming years to hopefully reach its goal by 2030, according to the diocese. While parts of its mission will take time, other practices Lexington and a number of other Catholic communities are carrying out are active now.The Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., created an action <a href="https://adw.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/08/21Booklet-Laudato-Si-Action-Plan-ENG-FINAL-electronic.pdf" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">plan</a> that provided a number of options for parishes, schools, and families “to become better stewards of God’s creation, help reverse climate change, and work towards sustainability as proclaimed in Laudato Si’’.” This included a volunteer group called <a href="https://www.cathstan.org/care-for-creation/laudato-trees-pope-francis-s-encyclical-on-environment-spurs-tree-planting-initiative-at-parishes-and-catholic-schools#:~:text=%E2%80%9CAll%20trees%20have%20a%20positive,is%20funneling%E2%80%9D%20toward%20the%20rivers." target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Laudato Trees</a>, which began in 2022 to increase the tree canopy in the D.C. area by planting trees on Catholic church and school properties. The <a href="https://www.scd.org/news/bishop-soto-blesses-new-solar-panels-system-st-anthony-parish-sacramento" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Diocese of Sacramento, California</a>, began to utilize solar panels in 2022, including at its memorial center at St. Anthony Parish. Soon after, a diocesan Creation Care Committee was established and the diocese enrolled in the Vatican’s Laudato Si’ Action Platform.Parishes in the <a href="https://news.diocesetucson.org/news/solar-power-allows-parishes-to-be-good-stewards-of-creation#:~:text=In%20the%20Diocese%20of%20Tucson,John%20the%20Evangelist." target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Diocese of Tucson, Arizona</a>, also implemented plans by adding solar panels to buildings around the community in 2024. Our Mother of Sorrows Catholic Church was the flagship parish, but quickly after a number of others across the diocese joined.Other communities across the nation including the <a href="https://www.diojoliet.org/documents/d/guest/laudato-si-action-plan-2024-pdf-1" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Diocese of Joliet, Illinois</a>, and the<a href="https://archatl.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/laudato-si-action-plan-final-enlinks.pdf" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"> Archdiocese of Atlanta</a> wrote plans that offered everyday actions for parishes and families to carry out in order to further the seven goals. They called for the faithful to recycle, focus on energy production, cut back on toxic and plastic items, replace gas-fueled appliances with electric ones, and to spread the message of Laudato Si’.
]]></description>
<category>US</category>
<pubDate>Tue, 14 Oct 2025 06:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[ Cardinal presides over act of reparation in St. Peter’s following desecration of altar ]]></title>
<link>https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267121/cardinal-presides-over-act-of-reparation-in-st-peter-s-following-desecration-of-altar</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267121/cardinal-presides-over-act-of-reparation-in-st-peter-s-following-desecration-of-altar</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ <div style="width: 100%; margin-bottom: 25px;">
<img src="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/altarstpeter.jpg?w=800&jpg" style="display: block; margin: auto; max-width: 100%" />
The main altar at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, which was desecrated on Oct. 10, 2025. / Credit: Jorge Royan (CC BY-SA 3.0)
</div>
ACI Prensa Staff, Oct 13, 2025 / 17:43 pm (CNA).
Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, archpriest of St. Peter’s Basilica and vicar general of the pope for Vatican City, presided Oct. 13 over a penitential rite of reparation at the main altar of the church following a serious act of desecration that had taken place on Oct. 10.After a penitential procession that began at 12:45 p.m. local time, Gambetti sprinkled the altar with holy water and incensed it to purify it.The rite, attended by members of the chapter of the Vatican basilica, emphasized asking God for “forgiveness” for the desecration, Father Enzo Fortunato, director of communications for St. Peter’s Basilica, told ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner.On Friday, Oct. 10, a man whose identity has not been revealed was arrested by security guards after he climbed onto the Altar of the Confession, located under Bernini’s baldachin, and urinated on it while tourists looked on in astonishment.Pope Leo XIV expressed his consternation upon learning of the incident and asked Gambetti to perform an act of reparation to restore the sanctity of the place and ask forgiveness for what had happened.This is the second instance of desecration in St. Peter’s Basilica in less than a year. In February, <a href="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/262109/man-attacks-high-altar-of-st-peters-basilica-at-the-vatican" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">a man severely damaged part of the main altar</a>, breaking several candelabras. In June 2023, an individual of Polish origin stripped naked in the same place as a form of protest against the war in Ukraine. This story <a href="https://www.aciprensa.com/noticias/118135/cardenal-preside-rito-de-desagravio-en-san-pedro-tras-profanacion" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">was first published</a> by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.
]]></description>
<category>Vatican</category>
<pubDate>Mon, 13 Oct 2025 17:43:00 -0400</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[ Cardinal Parolin on St. Carlo Acutis: Many ‘touched by his smile’ when they see his photo ]]></title>
<link>https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267119/cardinal-parolin-on-st-carlo-acutis-many-when-they-look-at-his-picture-are-touched-by-his-smile</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267119/cardinal-parolin-on-st-carlo-acutis-many-when-they-look-at-his-picture-are-touched-by-his-smile</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ <div style="width: 100%; margin-bottom: 25px;">
<img src="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/parolinacutis101325.jpg?w=800&jpg" style="display: block; margin: auto; max-width: 100%" />
Cardinal Pietro Parolin greets the parents of St. Carlo Acutis before Mass at Church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Assisi, Italy, on Oct. 12, 2025. / Credit: Diocese of Assisi
</div>
ACI Prensa Staff, Oct 13, 2025 / 16:13 pm (CNA).
In a Mass marking the first liturgical memorial of St. Carlo Acutis, who was canonized by Pope Leo XIV on Sept. 7, Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin on Sunday said the saint spoke of Jesus with a “radiant” and “smiling” face.“Many when they see his picture are touched by his smile: Carlo spoke of Jesus above all with his radiant, luminous, and smiling face. He taught us to live out St. Paul’s exhortation: ‘Rejoice in the Lord always,’” Parolin said in his homily at the Mass he celebrated Oct. 12.The Mass took place in St. Mary Major Church in Assisi at the Shrine of the Renunciation (Santuario della Spogliazione). The body of St. Carlo Acutis, who died in 2006 of fulminant leukemia at the age of 15, rests in a glass case on the side of the nave of the church.Before the Mass, which was attended by civil, military, and religious authorities — as well as the young saint’s parents, Antonia Salzano and Andrea Acutis — the Italian cardinal prayed for a few minutes before the saint’s final resting place.<figure class="mx-auto" style="width:100%"><img src="https://admin.catholicnewsagency.com/images/parolinacutis2101325.jpeg" class="img-fluid" style="null" alt="Cardinal Pietro Parolin prays in front of the tomb of St. Carlo Acutis before a Mass on the saint’s feast day on Oct. 12, 2025, at the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Assisi, Italy. Credit: Diocese of Assisi"><figcaption class="caption text-muted">Cardinal Pietro Parolin prays in front of the tomb of St. Carlo Acutis before a Mass on the saint’s feast day on Oct. 12, 2025, at the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Assisi, Italy. Credit: Diocese of Assisi</figcaption></figure>“Carlo is a new pearl of this city of saints and a great gift for the Church: May his witness bear abundant fruits of holiness among young people,” Parolin said.<h2>‘The word of God portrays Carlo’</h2>“The word of God that we have just heard portrays Carlo and his spirituality almost photographically, and he in turn helps us understand it with the example of his life,” the cardinal noted, according to <a href="https://www.vaticannews.va/it/vaticano/news/2025-10/assisi-cardinale-parolin-celebrazione-memoria-san-carlo-acutis.html" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Vatican News</a>. “From prison, Paul invites everyone to communion,” the cardinal said, citing the second Mass reading, in which St. Paul addresses the faithful of Philippi, the first evangelized European community.He continued, saying that St. Paul recalled “the liturgical hymn in which it is said that Jesus emptied himself of all his divine glory to become one of us, even to death on the cross.”“It’s beautiful to recall this here in this Shrine of the Spogliazione, which evokes not only St. Francis’ gesture of stripping himself of everything to make Christ his only treasure, but even more so the self-emptying of Christ, which St. Francis wished to imitate,” he explained, noting that the shrine bears the name of “Spogliazione” (“renunciation”) because it recalls the moment when St. Francis of Assisi renounced material goods to follow Christ.<h2>His mother ‘misses most his jokes’</h2>Parolin emphasized in this first liturgical memorial of St. Carlo Acutis that the Gospel contains a clear “call to joy.” “The entire Gospel proclamation is oriented toward joy: The Son of God came down from heaven to make us happy. And who better than Carlo can explain this? His mother, Antonia, has often said that what she misses most about him are his jokes and his good humor, with which he knew how to make us laugh and smile,” the cardinal noted.“Christianity is a message of salvation and Jesus our savior: How can we not rejoice?” he added, noting that “sad and complaining Christians are not good witnesses of the Gospel.”“And although life knows suffering — just think of the many horrendous wars that are fought today with so much bloodshed — this invites us to also live out Paul’s other command: ‘Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep.’ But this weeping must be one of compassion and love, which doesn’t take away joy, peace, or hope,” he noted.<figure class="mx-auto" style="width:100%"><img src="https://admin.catholicnewsagency.com/images/carloacutismassassisi101325.jpeg" class="img-fluid" style="null" alt="Crowds watch the Mass in honor of St. Carlo Acutis on the saint’s feast day, Oct. 12, 2025, at the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Assisi, Italy. Credit: Diocese of Assisi"><figcaption class="caption text-muted">Crowds watch the Mass in honor of St. Carlo Acutis on the saint’s feast day, Oct. 12, 2025, at the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Assisi, Italy. Credit: Diocese of Assisi</figcaption></figure><h2>Carlo, ‘teacher of beauty and goodness’</h2>The Vatican secretary of state also referred to St. Francis of Assisi, recalling a verse from the “Canticle of the Creatures: “Blessed are those who endure in peace, for by you, Most High, shall they be crowned.”In light of the first reading, he explained, “we see how the Christian way of life described by Paul fits perfectly with Carlo’s life: His existence, marked by normality, makes him a young man of our time. He loved all the beautiful things in life, and Paul’s words resonate in him: ‘Whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.’”<h2>‘Jesus takes nothing away from the beautiful things in life’</h2>Parolin also noted that St. Carlo Acutis was “a teacher of beauty and goodness, because he used the things of the world with a pure heart, making Jesus the center of his life.”“Today more than ever, young people must be reminded that Jesus takes nothing away from the beautiful things in life; everything comes from God and is good in itself. What makes things bad is sin,” he pointed out.“This was his program,” the cardinal noted, “‘always be united to Jesus,’ and that was also the secret of his originality. When he said that we are all born as originals and die as photocopies, he was also speaking of himself: He did not want to be a copy or follow fashions, but to be fully himself, filled with the Lord Jesus.”<h2>‘The Eucharist, his highway to heaven’</h2>“To be filled with Jesus,” the Vatican secretary of state continued, “Carlo understood that we have it within our reach. Thanks to the Eucharistic presence, we don’t need to look for him elsewhere in the world. He said there is a way, or better yet, a special highway, free of tolls, traffic jams, and accidents: That highway is the Eucharist.”Parolin noted that many people come to the shrine that holds Acutis’ remains, and others receive his relics because the first millennial saint “attracts many to the path of goodness.” “From this shrine, together with St. Francis, he speaks to the world and reminds us that we are all called to holiness. With the simplicity of his life, he teaches us that holiness is possible at any age and in any state of life,” Parolin said.“Carlo,” he concluded, “is a new pearl of this city of saints and a great gift for the Church: May his witness bear abundant fruits of holiness among young people.”This story <a href="https://www.aciprensa.com/noticias/118115/cardenal-parolin-sobre-san-carlo-acutis-muchos-al-ver-su-imagen-se-sienten-tocados-por-su-sonrisa" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">was first published </a>by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.
]]></description>
<category>Europe</category>
<pubDate>Mon, 13 Oct 2025 16:13:00 -0400</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[ Vatican halts seminary formation in DR Congo diocese ‘until further notice’ ]]></title>
<link>https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267111/vatican-halts-seminary-formation-in-dr-congo-diocese-until-further-notice</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267111/vatican-halts-seminary-formation-in-dr-congo-diocese-until-further-notice</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ <div style="width: 100%; margin-bottom: 25px;">
<img src="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/sabrine-amboka-2025-10-11t041510-1760169041.jpg.webp?w=800&jpg" style="display: block; margin: auto; max-width: 100%" />
Bishop Sosthène Ayikuli Udjuwa is the apostolic administrator of the Congolese Wamba Diocese. / Credit: Radio Moto
</div>
ACI Africa, Oct 13, 2025 / 15:12 pm (CNA).
The Vatican <a href="https://www.vatican.va/content/romancuria/en/dicasteri/dicastero-evangelizzazione/profilo.html" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Dicastery for Evangelization</a> has suspended the formation of seminarians in the<a href="https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dwamb.html" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"> Diocese of Wamba</a> in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), citing a “difficult ecclesial environment,” which it says undermines priestly training.In a letter issued Oct. 7, the apostolic administrator of the Congolese episcopal see, Bishop <a href="https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bayud.html" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Sosthène Ayikuli Udjuwa</a>, informed the seminarians of the dicastery’s decision, alluding to the challenge of transition.The Wamba Diocese has been experiencing a leadership crisis since the <a href="https://www.aciafrica.org/news/10040/pope-francis-appoints-two-new-catholic-bishops-for-dioceses-in-dr-congo" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">January 2024 appointment</a> of Bishop <a href="https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bngongo.html" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Emmanuel Ngona Ngotsi</a> as its local ordinary. Although <a href="https://www.aciafrica.org/news/12109/be-a-prophet-of-hope-a-joyful-messenger-of-the-gospel-cardinal-ambongo-to-newly-consecrated-bishop-in-dr-congo" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">he was ordained</a> a bishop in the Congolese capital city, Kinshasa, Ngotsi has yet to take canonical possession of his episcopal see amid opposition from some members of the clergy and laity who insist that the diocese should be led by a native of the region.In the Oct. 7 letter, <a href="https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bayud.html" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Ayikuli</a>, who also leads the <a href="https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dmaha.html" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Mahagi-Nioka Diocese</a>, said the Dicastery for Evangelization has noted that the “formation of future priests in such a difficult ecclesial environment would be entirely inappropriate and has therefore ordered its suspension until further notice.”“Therefore, the dicastery has decided that seminarians who wish to continue their priestly formation may contact other bishops who are willing to receive them after proper discernment,” Ayikuli said. He continued: “This means that the seminarians of the Diocese of Wamba will only be able to continue their priestly formation after fulfilling the above condition. Implicitly, this also means that if a seminarian wishes instead to pursue a vocation to religious life, he may request admission as a candidate in an institute of consecrated life or a society of apostolic life, continuing his formation according to the norms of that institute or society.”The Vatican decision affects St. Leo Minor Seminary in Lingondo, one of the key formation centers in the diocese. Its operation has been deemed noncompliant with current ecclesial standards.In his letter, the apostolic administrator reassured the seminarians of his support and said he is ready to facilitate their transitions.“I am prepared to accompany the seminarians in their choices and in carrying them out, particularly concerning the written application to the local ordinary of the chosen diocese,” the bishop said.This story <a href="https://www.aciafrica.org/news/18033/vatican-halts-formation-of-seminarians-in-dr-congos-wamba-diocese-until-further-notice-cites-difficult-environment" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">was first published</a> by ACI Africa, CNA's news partner in Africa, and has been adapted by CNA.
]]></description>
<category>Middle East - Africa</category>
<pubDate>Mon, 13 Oct 2025 15:12:00 -0400</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[ Fire damages historic Italian monastery where St. Carlo Acutis received first Communion ]]></title>
<link>https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267117/fire-damages-historic-italian-monastery-where-st-carlo-acutis-received-first-communion</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267117/fire-damages-historic-italian-monastery-where-st-carlo-acutis-received-first-communion</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ <div style="width: 100%; margin-bottom: 25px;">
<img src="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/Acutis07066.jpg?w=800&jpg" style="display: block; margin: auto; max-width: 100%" />
St. Carlo Acutis. / Credit: carloacutis.com
</div>
ACI Prensa Staff, Oct 13, 2025 / 14:42 pm (CNA).
A fire this weekend severely damaged the 17th-century Bernaga Monastery outside of Milan in northern Italy, forcing 21 cloistered nuns to flee the blaze.The fire broke out around 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 11 as the nuns — part of the Ambrosian hermitages of the Order of St. Ambrose ad Nemus — were watching a live television stream of Pope Leo XIV’s prayer vigil for peace in St. Peter’s Square. The women all escaped without harm, but the monastery, which was built in 1628, was nearly destroyed. Nine firefighting teams intervened to put out the blaze.The Archdiocese of Milan reported that the fire destroyed documents, religious artifacts, and the nuns’ personal belongings, though the religious sisters managed to save some paintings and a relic of St. Carlo Acutis, who received his first holy Communion at the monastery on June 16, 1998.Archbishop Mario Delpini of Milan expressed his closeness and prayers following the disaster: “I know that the nuns will continue to pray and that trust in God will be the most necessary encouragement.”“We still don’t know what really caused the fire, and we will probably never know, since almost everything has been destroyed. Thank God the nuns were quick to call for help and get to safety in a matter of minutes... Unfortunately, when the fire department arrived, the monastery was already completely engulfed in flames,” Father Emanuele Colombo told the Archdiocese of Milan.This story was first published by ACI Stampa, CNA’s Italian-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.
]]></description>
<category>Europe</category>
<pubDate>Mon, 13 Oct 2025 14:42:00 -0400</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[ World Mission Day: Leo XIV calls for supporting those who bring Christ to ends of earth ]]></title>
<link>https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267115/world-mission-day-leo-xiv-calls-for-supporting-those-who-bring-christ-to-the-ends-of-the-earth</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267115/world-mission-day-leo-xiv-calls-for-supporting-those-who-bring-christ-to-the-ends-of-the-earth</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ <div style="width: 100%; margin-bottom: 25px;">
<img src="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/popeleowaves101325.jpg?w=800&jpg" style="display: block; margin: auto; max-width: 100%" />
Pope Leo XIV waves to pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square for the Jubilee of Marian Spirituality on Oct. 12, 2025, at the Vatican. / Credit: Vatican Media
</div>
Vatican City, Oct 13, 2025 / 14:12 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV called on Catholics to support missionaries on World Mission Day, which will be celebrated on Oct. 19.In a video message released Oct. 13, the Holy Father — who served as a missionary bishop in the Peruvian Diocese of Chiclayo — stated that this day is an opportunity for the entire Catholic Church to unite in prayer for missionaries “and for the fruitfulness of their apostolic labors.”<div style="width:100%" class="mx-auto embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eEwDtbZxt4c?feature=oembed&start=" class="embed-responsive-item " frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>He shared his experience as a missionary in Peru, where he saw firsthand “how the faith, the prayer, and the generosity shown on World Mission Sunday can transform entire communities.”The pope invited every Catholic parish in the world to participate in World Mission Sunday, emphasizing that their prayers and support help proclaim the Gospel, “provide for pastoral and catechetical programs, help to build new churches, and care for the health and educational needs of our brothers and sisters in mission territories.”The pontiff also urged the faithful to reflect on their baptismal call “to be missionaries of hope among the peoples” and to renew their commitment “to the sweet and joyful task of bringing Christ Jesus our hope to the ends of the earth.”Pope Leo concluded his message by thanking the faithful for their support for Catholic missionaries around the world.This story <a href="https://www.aciprensa.com/noticias/118111/papa-leon-xiv-pide-apoyar-a-los-misioneros-en-jornada-mundial-de-las-misiones" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">was first published </a>by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.
]]></description>
<category>Vatican</category>
<pubDate>Mon, 13 Oct 2025 14:12:00 -0400</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[ Vatican appoints judges to decide Rupnik sexual abuse case ]]></title>
<link>https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267113/vatican-appoints-judges-to-decide-rupnik-sexual-abuse-case</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267113/vatican-appoints-judges-to-decide-rupnik-sexual-abuse-case</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ <div style="width: 100%; margin-bottom: 25px;">
<img src="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/storage/image/microsoftteams-image-53.png?w=800&jpg" style="display: block; margin: auto; max-width: 100%" />
Father Marko Rupnik, SJ, in an interview with EWTN in 2020. / Credit: EWTN
</div>
Vatican City, Oct 13, 2025 / 12:23 pm (CNA).
The Vatican’s doctrine office announced Monday that a panel of five judges has been nominated to decide the disciplinary case against Father Marko Rupnik, accused of the sexual and psychological abuse of consecrated women under his spiritual care.The judges, appointed Oct. 9, do not hold any position in the Roman Curia — the Vatican’s governing body — to ensure their autonomy and independence in the penal judicial procedure, according to an Oct. 13 press release from the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF).Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández, the head of the DDF, told journalists in July that the judges for the Rupnik case had been selected. The panel of judges includes both women and clerics.Fernández had said in an interview at the end of January that the dicastery had finished gathering information in the disciplinary case, had conducted a first review, and was working to put together an independent tribunal for the penal judicial procedure.Rupnik — a well-known artist with mosaics and paintings in hundreds of Catholic shrines and churches around the world — is accused of having committed sexual, psychological, and spiritual abuse against dozens of women religious in the 1980s and early 1990s.In May 2019, the then-Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith launched a criminal administrative process against Rupnik after the Society of Jesus reported credible complaints of abuse by the priest to the Vatican.One year later, the Vatican declared Rupnik to be in a state of “latae sententiae” excommunication for absolving an accomplice in a sin against the Sixth Commandment. His excommunication was lifted by Pope Francis after two weeks.The Society of Jesus subsequently expelled Rupnik from the religious congregation in June 2023 for his “stubborn refusal to observe the vow of obedience.”The DDF began to investigate the abuse accusations against Rupnik in October 2023, after Pope Francis lifted the statute of limitations.
]]></description>
<category>Vatican</category>
<pubDate>Mon, 13 Oct 2025 12:23:00 -0400</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[ At U.S. ‘supermax’ prison, foreign-born Muslim with no arms files religious liberty suit ]]></title>
<link>https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267079/at-us-supermax-prison-foreign-born-muslim-with-no-arms-files-religious-liberty-suit</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267079/at-us-supermax-prison-foreign-born-muslim-with-no-arms-files-religious-liberty-suit</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ <div style="width: 100%; margin-bottom: 25px;">
<img src="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/adxflorenceprison101025.jpg?w=800&jpg" style="display: block; margin: auto; max-width: 100%" />
A view of the United States Penitentiary Administrative Maximum Facility, also known as the ADX or “Supermax” prison in Florence, Colorado. The facility has been dubbed the “Alcatraz of the Rockies” because of its remote location and harsh security measures. / Credit: JASON CONNOLLY/AFP via Getty Images
</div>
CNA Staff, Oct 13, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).
A foreign-born Muslim inmate currently incarcerated in the U.S.’s most severely restrictive prison complex is asking the government to require the prison to accommodate his religious practices under a key federal statute, highlighting the far-reaching and comprehensive nature of religious freedom rules in the United States. U.S. District Judge Philip Brimmer in <a href="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/pdfs/uscourts-cod-1-20-cv-00694-9.pdf" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">a Sept. 25 ruling</a> agreed that Mostafa Kamel Mostafa had demonstrated that prison officials at the maximum facility had “substantially burdened the exercise of his religion” by failing to install a special cleaner in one of his cells.The prison, a “supermax” facility in Colorado commonly known as ADX Florence and colloquially as the “Alcatraz of the Rockies,” is famous for its near-total state of lockdown. Housing some of the most dangerous inmates in the U.S. penitentiary system, it features poured concrete cells in which prisoners are confined for most of the day as well as high-level security protocols that include motion detectors, pressure pads, and pits used for exercise. Mostafa was <a href="https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/newyork/news/press-releases/mustafa-kamel-mustafa-a-k-a-abu-hamza-sentenced-in-manhattan-federal-court-to-life-in-prison" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">sentenced to life in prison in 2015</a> for his role in a deadly hostage-taking scheme in 1998 and other terrorist activities. He is incarcerated in the “H-unit” of ADX Florence, its most secure wing. Formerly an imam at a U.K. mosque, Mostafa follows Islamic rules regarding prayer, including a mandate to “make himself clean and presentable before praying.” With both his arms amputated above the elbow, he requires some accommodations to that end, including a bidet in his cell toilet. Mostafa has had two cells adapted for his disabilities; the prison has installed a bidet in one but not the other. Brimmer in his ruling found that “until [the prison] install[s] a bidet in both of Mr. Mostafa’s cells,” the prisoner has a claim to a burden on his religious exercise. <h2>‘Everybody has access to the fundamentals’</h2>Though the dispute has made its way to U.S. district court, it may be moot before it goes any further, as prison officials have explicitly stated that they are “in the process” of installing a bidet in Mostafa’s second cell. Yet the case underscores just how extensively the principles of religious liberty have been applied in the United States, up to and including accommodating modifications to the prison cell toilet of a foreign-born terrorist.Robert Destro, a professor of law at The Catholic University of America’s Columbus School of Law and the former federal assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights, and labor, said in an interview that religious liberty cases arise regularly within prison populations. Mostafa brought the case in part under the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), a Clinton-era law that restricts how and under what conditions the U.S. government can impose burdens upon U.S. religious liberty.Destro said RFRA is similar in some ways to the Americans with Disabilities Act, a 1990 federal law that requires “reasonable accommodations” in hiring and business practices for disabled people. “In a way, RFRA is a little like the ADA,” he said. “It wants to make sure that everybody has access to the fundamentals. Just because you’ve been sentenced to prison because you did something bad, or stupid, or both, doesn’t mean that you lose your First Amendment rights.”The dispute in prison cases, Destro said, is usually “how much the prison should defer to the warden and to prison policies” and to what extent it’s obligated to accommodate a religious belief. In Mostafa’s case, “it seems like a fairly simple answer,” he said.“The guy has a disability,” he pointed out. “There’s no question about his faith. [And] there’s no way that somebody with no arms and access to a stream of water is going to, you know, burn down the prison. There’s no tangible security threat.”The federal government <a href="https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/42/2000cc-1" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">explicitly states</a> that neither the national nor state governments may “impose a substantial burden on the religious exercise of a person residing in or confined to an institution,” barring concerns of a “compelling governmental interest” carried out in the “least restrictive means” possible. That language is virtually identical to the text of RFRA. Destro said the principle is “a lot less cosmic than it looks.” “The design of RFRA … was to shift the burden over to the government to say, why is this a big burden for you?” he said. The government only gets a “free pass,” he said, if it can show that an abrogation of religious liberty “has to do with health, safety, or some other very limited security issues.”Further religious liberty expansions for prisoners could be on the horizon. The Supreme Court earlier this year <a href="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/264961/supreme-court-will-decide-whether-inmates-can-sue-prison-workers-over-religious-violations" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">said it would decide</a> whether prisoners can sue individual prison workers — rather than merely the government itself — over violations of federal religious freedom law. Destro acknowledged that Mostafa’s fight at ADX Florence would likely be rendered moot by the government’s simply modifying his prison cell as requested. Still, he said, it often makes more sense for a government to quickly acquiesce to a prisoner’s reasonable request rather than fight it. “If you know you’re going to get sued on RFRA — just like getting sued under the ADA — why don’t you just make the accommodations and save the money on the lawsuit?” he said. “For the amount of money it’s going to cost you to put in a bidet, it’s cheaper than having a lawyer go to court.”“For the money you’ve spent defending the suit, you could’ve put the thing in and been done with it!” he said with a laugh. “That’s not always the right answer. Sometimes there is a question of principle involved. But I don’t see one here.”
]]></description>
<category>US</category>
<pubDate>Mon, 13 Oct 2025 06:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[ Columbus Day highlights explorer’s ‘legacy of faith,’ Trump says ]]></title>
<link>https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267099/columbus-day-highlights-explorer-s-legacy-of-faith-trump-says</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/267099/columbus-day-highlights-explorer-s-legacy-of-faith-trump-says</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ <div style="width: 100%; margin-bottom: 25px;">
<img src="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/Christopher_Columbus_CNA_10_13_14.jpg?w=800&jpg" style="display: block; margin: auto; max-width: 100%" />
Christopher Columbus, by Sebastiano del Piombo, 1519. / Credit: Public domain
</div>
Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Oct 13, 2025 / 05:00 am (CNA).
President Donald Trump renewed the focus of Columbus Day to be celebrated on the second Monday of October, reclaiming the explorer’s “extraordinary legacy of faith, courage, perseverance, and virtue,” according to the president’s <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/10/columbus-day-2025/" target="null" class="null" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">proclamation</a>.Since 1971, the second Monday in October has been federally recognized as Columbus Day to commemorate Columbus’ discovery of the Americas in 1492, celebrate Italian-American heritage, and acknowledge the 1891 lynchings of 11 Italian Americans. In 2021, former President Joe Biden issued the first presidential proclamation of Indigenous Peoples’ Day to be observed on the same day, following backlash toward Columbus.The “current hostility to him is ill informed,” Felipe Fernández-Armesto, professor of history at the University of Notre Dame and author of “Columbus on Himself,” told CNA. “He was understandably conflicted about the people he encountered on this side of the ocean, but, by the standards of his contemporaries, his most characteristic judgments about them were highly positive.”“Columbus Day is commendable — instituted in expiation of the worst lynching in U.S. history ... Columbus suited a project of national reconciliation because he was, for most of the history of the U.S., a unifying figure.” Fernández-Armesto added: “He should remain so today.” “He was not guilty of most of the excesses of cruelty that interested enemies at the time and ignorant critics today ascribe to him. His history was uniquely significant: He was genuinely the discoverer of viable routes to and fro across the Atlantic — reconnecting, for good and ill, formerly sundered cultures and enabling the world-transforming exchange of ideas and people, commerce and life-forms,” he said.“It’s hard to think of anyone whose impact on the hemisphere has been greater,” Fernández-Armesto said. <h2>Presidential proclamation</h2>In an Oct. 9 proclamation, Trump wrote the previous years have been a “campaign to erase our history … and attack our heritage.” To combat this, Trump formally declared the day will be recognized as Columbus Day in honor of “the great Christopher Columbus and all who have contributed to building our nation.”As a “titan of the Age of Exploration,” Columbus was “guided by a noble mission: to discover a new trade route to Asia, bring glory to Spain, and spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to distant lands,” the proclamation said. Upon Columbus’ arrival in the Americas, “he planted a majestic cross in a mighty act of devotion, dedicating the land to God and setting in motion America’s proud birthright of faith.”The president noted that Columbus was guided by “steadfast prayer and unwavering fortitude and resolve” and his journey “carried thousands of years of wisdom, philosophy, reason, and culture across the Atlantic into the Americas.” “As we celebrate his legacy, we also acknowledge the contributions of the countless Italian-Americans who, like him, have endlessly contributed to our culture and our way of life,” the presidential proclamation said. “To this day, the United States and Italy share a special bond rooted in the timeless values of faith, family, and freedom. My administration looks forward to strengthening our long and storied friendship in the years to come.”Under the administration, “our nation will now abide by a simple truth: Christopher Columbus was a true American hero, and every citizen is eternally indebted to his relentless determination.”The president called on the American people to observe the day “with appropriate ceremonies and activities” and directed that U.S. flags be displayed on all public buildings on the appointed day.
]]></description>
<category>US</category>
<pubDate>Mon, 13 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
<title><![CDATA[ How the ‘Miracle of the Sun’ in Fátima helped to end an atheist regime ]]></title>
<link>https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/36019/miracle-of-the-sun-broke-darkness-of-portugals-atheist-regimes</link>
<guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/36019/miracle-of-the-sun-broke-darkness-of-portugals-atheist-regimes</guid>
<description><![CDATA[ <div style="width: 100%; margin-bottom: 25px;">
<img src="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/images/The_crowd_looking_at__the_Miracle_of_the_Sun__occurred_during_the_Our_Lady_of_Fatima_apparitions_Public_Domain_CNA.jpg?w=800&jpg" style="display: block; margin: auto; max-width: 100%" />
Crowds look at the Miracle of the Sun that occurred during the Our Lady of Fátima apparitions in 1917. / Credit: Public domain
</div>
CNA Staff, Oct 13, 2025 / 04:00 am (CNA).
Oct. 13, 1917, marked the last Marian apparition in Fátima and the day on which thousands of people bore witness to the miracle of the dancing sun — a miracle that shattered the prevalent belief at the time that God was no longer relevant.Marco Daniel Duarte, a theologian and director of the Fátima Shrine museums, shared with CNA the impact that the miracle of the sun made during those days in Portugal.If one were to open philosophy books during that period, he or she would likely read something akin to the concept conceived by German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, who boldly asserted in the late 1800s that “God is dead.”Also, in 1917 Portugal, the majority of the world was embroiled in war. As World War I raged throughout Europe, Portugal found itself unable to maintain its initial neutrality and joined forces with the Allies. More than 220,000 Portuguese civilians died during the war, thousands due to food shortages and thousands more from the Spanish flu.A few years before, a revolution had led to the establishment of the First Portuguese Republic in 1910 and a new liberal constitution was drafted under the influence of Freemasonry, which sought to suppress the faith from public life. Catholic churches and schools were seized by the government, and the wearing of clerics in public, the ringing of church bells, and the celebration of public religious festivals were banned. Between 1911 and 1916, nearly 2,000 priests, monks, and nuns were killed by anti-Christian groups.This was the backdrop against which, in 1917, a lady believed to be the Virgin Mary appeared to three shepherd children — Lucia dos Santos, 10, and her cousins Francisco and Jacinta Marto, 9 and 7 — in a field in Fátima, Portugal, bringing with her requests for the recitation of the rosary, for sacrifices on behalf of sinners, and a secret regarding the fate of the world.To prove that the apparitions were true, the lady promised the children that during the last of her six appearances, she would provide a sign so people would believe in the apparitions and in her message. What happened on that day — Oct. 13, 1917 — has come to be known as the “Miracle of the Sun,” or “the day the sun danced.”According to various accounts, a crowd of some 70,000 people — believers and skeptics alike —gathered to see the miracle that was promised: The rainy sky cleared up, the clouds dispersed, and the ground, which had been wet and muddy from the rain, dried up. A transparent veil came over the sun, making it easy to look at, and multicolored lights were strewn across the landscape. The sun then began to spin, twirling in the sky, and at one point appeared to veer toward the earth before jumping back to its place in the sky.The stunning event was a direct and very convincing contradiction to the atheistic regimes at the time, which is evidenced by the fact that the first newspaper to report on the miracle on a full front page was an anti-Catholic, Masonic newspaper in Lisbon called O Seculo.The miracle of the sun was understood by the people to be “the seal, the guarantee, that in fact those three children were telling the truth,” Duarte said.Even today, “Fátima makes people change their perception of God,” since “one of the most important messages of the apparitions is that even if someone has separated from God, God is present in human history and doesn’t abandon humanity.”This story was first published on CNA on Oct. 12, 2017, and has been updated.
]]></description>
<category>Europe</category>
<pubDate>Mon, 13 Oct 2025 04:00:00 -0400</pubDate>
</item>
</channel>
</rss>

If you would like to create a banner that links to this page (i.e. this validation result), do the following:

Download the "valid RSS" banner.
Upload the image to your own server. (This step is important. Please do not link directly to the image on this server.)
Add this HTML to your page (change the image src attribute if necessary):

<a href="http://www.feedvalidator.org/check.cgi?url=http%3A//feeds.feedburner.com/catholicnewsagency/dailynews"><img src="valid-rss-rogers.png" alt="[Valid RSS]" title="Validate my RSS feed" /></a>

If you would like to create a text link instead, here is the URL you can use:

http://www.feedvalidator.org/check.cgi?url=http%3A//feeds.feedburner.com/catholicnewsagency/dailynews

Home · About · News · Docs · Terms