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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.

The Holy See closed the 2024 fiscal year with a surplus of $1.86 million
Mon, 01 Dec 2025 16:51:00 -0500

Vatican City, Dec 1, 2025 / 16:51 pm (CNA).

The Holy See closed the 2024 fiscal year with a surplus of 1.6 million euros ($1.86 million), according to the 2024 Consolidated Financial Statement published Nov. 26 by the Vatican Secretariat for the Economy. This result represents a substantial change compared with the deficit of 51.2 million euros ($59.5 million) recorded in 2023, according to the Vatican.

The last public report from the Holy See was from 2020 — published in 2021 — and showed a deficit of 66.3 million euros ($77 million).

The current report indicates that the financial improvement is based on a reduction in the operating deficit, which decreased by almost 50%, from 83 million to 44 million euros, ($96.4 to $51.1 million) driven by a 79-million-euro ($91.8 million) increase in revenue, mainly from donations and hospital management, and by strict cost control that partially offset inflation and rising personnel costs.

The report also highlights the performance of financial management with positive results of 46 million euros ($53.4 million), higher than the previous year thanks to capital gains obtained from the sale of historical investments and the start of operations of the Investment Committee.

Surplus excluding hospitals

Excluding hospital entities, the Holy See recorded a surplus of 18.7 million euros ($21.7 million), although the secretariat warns that this figure reflects extraordinary accounting effects and a one-time increase in donations, so its sustainability will depend on future fiscal years.

The Holy See’s balance sheet reveals a total allocation of 393.29 million euros ($457 million) destined for the apostolic mission and the pontifical funds, not including the financing of hospitals. This budget reflects the priority of supporting the Church’s core activities worldwide and shows how resources are distributed to guarantee the continuity of the apostolic mission.

Approximately 83% of the funds are concentrated in five strategic areas that underpin the pastoral and social work of the Holy See. The most significant allocation, amounting to 146.4 million euros ($170.1 million) — equivalent to 37% of the total — is dedicated to supporting local Churches in difficult situations and for evangelization, recognizing the importance of strengthening the most vulnerable communities and supporting the spread of the faith in territories where the mission faces greater challenges.

Worship and evangelization constitute the second most significant category, representing 14% of the resources. This allocation supports liturgical activities, religious formation, and initiatives for spreading Church teachings worldwide. A ​​further 12% is specifically dedicated to communicating the pope’s message, ensuring that his teachings, exhortations, and statements effectively reach the faithful and the international community.

Ten percent of the budget is allocated to charitable services

Likewise, 10% of the budget is dedicated to maintaining the international presence of the Holy See through the apostolic nunciatures, which play an essential diplomatic and pastoral role in relations with states and local Churches. Another 10% is allocated to charitable services, reinforcing humanitarian and assistance initiatives that respond to the most urgent needs of the poor and marginalized.

The remaining 17% finances activities such as the organization of ecclesial life, management of historical heritage, and support for academic institutions. The secretariat emphasized that these allocations reflect consistency between the Church’s pastoral mission and its financial management.

The report concludes that, although the result is encouraging, the full financial sustainability of the Holy See will continue to depend on its performance in the coming fiscal years, marking 2024 as a year of economic recovery after years of deficits.

Maximino Caballero Ledo, prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy, gave a comprehensive explanation of the results in an interview with Vatican media, highlighting both the achievements and the need for prudence and continuity in management.

“The data reflect remarkable progress in consolidating the economic situation of the Holy See,” Caballero said. “It is not only about maintaining a balanced budget but also about strengthening our ability to make the best use of every contribution received, making the service to the mission of the universal Church more solid and sustainable.”

The financial document presented by the Vatican shows that the structural operating deficit was reduced by almost half, from 83.5 million euros to 44.4 million euros ($97 million to $51.6 million). This is mainly due to an increase in revenue, which amounted to almost 79 million euros ($91.8 million) compared with the previous year, driven by greater donor participation, positive results from hospital activities, and progress in real estate and commercial management.

Caballero emphasized that these “favorable dynamics,” combined with prudent spending control and a constant effort to improve operational efficiency, offer a positive outlook for the Vatican’s finances. However, he recalled that “the deficit of 44.4 million euros [$51.6 million] indicates that there is still a long way to go. Financial sustainability is not only a possible objective but a necessary condition to guarantee the continuity of our apostolic mission.”

Growth in donations and the trust of the faithful

The prefect noted that contributions from the faithful experienced a rebound in 2024 after years of slowdown. “This increase represents an encouraging sign of renewed participation by the faithful and local Churches in the mission of the Holy See. However, these dynamics are variable and always require prudence and realism in their interpretation,” he emphasized.

The analysis of expenditures confirms, according to Caballero, that most resources continue to be allocated directly to apostolic activities, “reflecting the consistency between the priorities of the mission and the financial decisions that make it possible. This allows for the strengthening of pastoral initiatives and support for the most vulnerable communities, consolidating a balanced and responsible management of resources.”

Financial management and future prospects

The 2024 balance sheet also shows positive results of 46 million euros ($53.4 million) from financial activities, including extraordinary transactions related to the restructuring of the investment portfolio in accordance with the new policy approved by the Investment Committee. Caballero warned that “these capital gains are not repeatable with the same intensity in future years and reflect the natural volatility of financial activity.”

Therefore, he emphasized that “along with prudence in spending, it is essential to continue working on the revenue side: donations, fundraising, asset valuation, and consistent investment management. The goal is not to pit these dimensions against each other but to consolidate progress and gradually strengthen a more stable economic foundation.”

Toward full financial sustainability

The prefect concluded by highlighting that the 2024 fiscal year closed with a small surplus of 1.6 million euros ($1.86 million), an encouraging sign that, according to him, “demonstrates that the direction taken is positive. Now we must consolidate this progress, aware that some of the results come from nonrecurring elements. Financial sustainability is essential to ensure the continuity of the Holy See’s mission, which by its nature requires a stable economic foundation.”

Caballero emphasized that “it is not simply a matter of balancing the budget but of strengthening our ability to optimally utilize every contribution received, making the Holy See’s service to the entire universal Church more solid and sustainable.”

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

Aid to the Church in Need welcomes appointment of Cardinal Koch as its new president
Mon, 01 Dec 2025 16:21:00 -0500

ACI Prensa Staff, Dec 1, 2025 / 16:21 pm (CNA).

The executive director of Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), Regina Lynch, thanked Pope Leo XIV for appointing Cardinal Kurt Koch as the new president of the pontifical foundation.

“We very much look forward to having Cardinal Koch as our president and for the guidance he can bring to our mission to persecuted and suffering Christians all over the world. We are grateful to Pope Leo XIV for this appointment and for his interest in our work,” Lynch said.

Koch is 75 years old and replaces Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, who is 81 years old and has led the institution since 2011.

Piacenza was the first president of ACN since the organization received the title of pontifical foundation.

In a Nov. 27 statement published on the ACN website, Lynch highlighted the work carried out by Piacenza, in whom the international institution “has always had a steady and trusted mentor and president.”

Furthermore, Piacenza “was always a great supporter of ACN initiatives, such as the One Million Children Praying the Rosary and the Middle East campaigns, and we are very grateful for his service to suffering and persecuted Christians.”

Koch is the prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity and has headed the Commission for Religious Relations with Judaism since 2010. He has also closely collaborated with the Catholic charity over the years, ACN reported.

The organization highlighted its new president’s experience in ecumenical and interreligious relations, as these are an essential part of the pontifical foundation’s mission, “especially in countries where Christians, or Catholics, are a minority.”

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

Reactions mount in Canada to undercover video exposing late-term abortions
Mon, 01 Dec 2025 15:51:00 -0500

Vancouver, Canada, Dec 1, 2025 / 15:51 pm (CNA).

A week after The Catholic Register in Canada revealed that pro-life advocate Alissa Golob went undercover while 22 weeks pregnant to test whether late-term abortions were accessible in Canada without medical justification, the national response continues to intensify, with a new twist: a fourth hidden-camera video that Golob says she is legally barred from releasing.

Golob, co-founder of RightNow, posed as an undecided pregnant woman in abortion facilities in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, and Calgary in 2023. The Nov. 19 Register story detailed her conversations with clinic counselors and physicians who told her late-term abortions could be arranged at nearby hospitals, sometimes “up to 32 weeks,” without needing to provide medical reasons.

Staff described procedures as a “mini stillbirth,” advised her she could “expel the fetus in the car,” and said reasons such as already having two children or “not wanting to be pregnant” were acceptable.

Those recordings — three of which have now been released — directly contradict long-standing political claims that late-term abortions in Canada are only performed in cases of maternal health risk or severe fetal anomalies.

In an email interview with The B.C. Catholic, Golob said the reaction from Canadians has been more visceral than she expected.

The dominant response has been “overwhelming shock and horror from the average Canadian who didn’t think late-term abortions were possible,” she said.

Many who describe themselves as pro-choice wrote to her saying the recordings were disturbing and that unrestricted late-term abortion “just shouldn’t be allowed.”

By contrast, she said some abortion-rights advocates have reacted with confusion and contradiction. “They were basically trying to throw everything they could at it to see if anything would stick,” she said. “Some said the videos were lies, some said late-term abortions don’t happen — despite the videos proving otherwise.”

Golob said the most significant development since the Catholic Register story broke is her discovery that she cannot release the Calgary footage at all.

“Alberta, shockingly, has the most extreme and overreaching bubble-zone legislation in the country,” she said. “Distributing any footage recorded in the bubble zone could result in a fine or jail time.”

She called the legislation “worse than Ontario and even Montreal,” meaning the fourth video will remain unreleased unless the province changes its law.

Although no physician has contacted her privately, Golob said some health care professionals reacted strongly in group chats and medical forums.

“Doctors were trying to disprove that late-term abortions happen until others in the chat posted my undercover videos,” she said.

None of the clinics featured in the videos has issued public statements or responded to inquiries, she said. “They know they’ve been caught red-handed… there’s not much they can say to remedy the situation, so they say nothing at all.”

Abortion advocacy organizations, including Action Canada, have alleged the videos lack context.

Golob dismissed the charge. “Of course the videos were edited — sometimes I was in the clinics for hours,” she said, and “99% of the talking” is by clinic staff.

She noted that if anything were manipulated, the clinics could sue her and “easily win.”

She has already shared the full recordings with reporters so they could verify that passages were not altered.

Conservative members of Parliament including Leslyn Lewis, Rosemarie Falk, and Garnett Genuis have shared the videos, as did People’s Party of Canada leader Maxime Bernier. Liberal member of Parliament Doug Eyolfson condemned them, drawing “surprising” pushback” from Canadians across party lines.

Golob said the recordings show that late-term abortion referrals are far easier to obtain than most Canadians assume.

“Abortionists have no problem and easily and readily refer you for a late-term abortion… for absolutely no reason whatsoever,” she said. Even an explanation as simple as “I don’t want to be pregnant” was treated as acceptable for a third-trimester referral.

Golob said one issue has been overlooked in the public debate: the reliability of Canadian abortion statistics.

“In multiple videos I was told that any end of pregnancy after 20 weeks — no matter how it happens — is considered a stillbirth,” she said. Combined with the fact that provinces report statistics voluntarily, she argued Canadians have no way of knowing how many late-term induction abortions actually occur. “We should be demanding to know how many… and why.”

For now, Golob said she has no further video releases planned unless Alberta changes its law. But she believes the Catholic Register’s original reporting has opened a door Canadians weren’t expecting.

“People are seeing something they were told for years was impossible — and they want answers.”

This story was first published by The B.C. Catholic and is reprinted here with permission.

Brother of Beirut explosion victim speaks ahead of Pope Leo IV’s visit to blast site
Mon, 01 Dec 2025 15:21:00 -0500

ACI MENA, Dec 1, 2025 / 15:21 pm (CNA).

As part of his visit to Lebanon, Pope Leo XIV will pray at the site of the Aug. 4, 2020, Beirut port explosion — the largest nonnuclear blast in modern history. For William Noun, the brother of a victim, this initiative is crucial and a continuation of what Pope Francis began.

The explosion left more than 200 dead and 6,000 injured — 800 hospitalized in regular wards, 130 in intensive care. It particularly devastated East Beirut’s predominantly Christian neighborhoods. The scale of devastation surpassed anything Lebanon had experienced in decades: bloodied streets, collapsed buildings, and entire districts destroyed. The word most used by witnesses to describe the situation was “apocalyptic.”

Vatican solidarity

The destruction was not limited to lives, infrastructure, and finances. It also crushed the morale of an already-exhausted population as they watched their capital collapse in front of their eyes. Yet the tragedy drew significant international solidarity, including strong support from the Vatican.

Immediately after the explosion, Pope Francis sent a donation of 250,000 euros ($295,488) to the Church in Lebanon to support emergency relief and recovery efforts.

His support continued in the years that followed. In the summer of 2024, Francis met at the Vatican with relatives of the Beirut port victims. Noun, who lost his brother Joe in the blast, was among those present.

In an interview with ACI MENA, CNA’s Arabic-language news partner, Noun underscored the profound significance of his visit to the Vatican, both personally and in the pursuit of justice.

He traveled to Rome with his wife, Maria, who, like him, lost a sibling in the explosion. Bound by grief, they eventually chose life. Three years after the blast, they married, and when they met Pope Francis, Maria was pregnant.

The pope blessed their unborn child and gently asked them to return once the baby was born. But when their son arrived, Pope Francis had already passed away. Now, with Pope Leo coming to Lebanon, their child may receive another blessing — but this time from another pope.

For Noun, the encounter with Francis was unforgettable. He recalled how attentively the pope listened, how genuinely he wanted to understand the victims not as statistics but as lives abruptly torn apart. Noun showed him photographs of his brother Joe, who led a Catholic youth movement in their hometown; Francis lingered over the images and asked to know more about Joe.

Until that moment, public discourse on the explosion had focused almost entirely on numbers, not on the lives behind them. But Francis, consistent with his pastoral approach, made a point of focusing on the human dimension.

The visit also carried weight on the justice front. Noun and other families met with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin to discuss the investigation, the political obstruction, and the urgent need for international support.

For Noun, the meeting had a tangible impact, but momentum later faded. With Pope Leo’s trip to Beirut, he now sees a rare opportunity to revive the struggle for truth and accountability that has been repeatedly silenced.

A nation without justice

Lebanese authorities have yet to deliver justice for the victims of the Beirut port explosion more than five years after the blast devastated the capital. For Noun, justice is nonnegotiable.

“Justice is a right; whether it comes early or late, it is still a right,” he said. “No one can accept losing it, especially after an explosion of this magnitude.”

When asked what stands in the way of the truth, Noun pointed first to political interference and pressure on the investigation. That, he argued, is why support from the Vatican matters. “The pressure coming from the pope’s office can break through the political pressure blocking the case.”

The second major obstacle, he said, is the absence of genuine international will. Countries that call themselves “friends of Lebanon,” he argued, have refrained from offering real help. “If there had been sincere political will, the truth would have appeared within the first two or three months.”

The blast shook the world and sparked global outrage, yet meaningful international assistance to the investigation never materialized. There were statements of solidarity but, he noted, “no one provided anything that actually helped move the investigation forward.”

The unanswered question

The blast was triggered by 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate stored improperly in a warehouse at the port, material that had been sitting there for years despite repeated warnings from officials. Behind the shipment lies a complex network of businessmen, intermediaries, and companies spread across nearly 10 countries with alleged links to networks close to the Bashar al-Assad regime.

Yet what happened specifically that Aug. 4 remains unresolved. No conclusive evidence has clarified the cause of the fire that ignited the explosives. Was it an accident, an attack, or sabotage? Five years later, the central question remains unanswered.

A significant number of Lebanese continue to believe that the explosion bore the fingerprints of Israel. In his conversation with ACI MENA, Noun noted that Hezbollah moved quickly in the opposite direction.

“From the beginning, accusations were circulating,” he said. “But Hezbollah was the first to absolve Israel completely; they said it was an electrical short circuit or welding sparks.”

He recalled the speech delivered on Aug. 8 by the secretary-general Hassan Nasrallah, just four days after the blast, which stunned many Lebanese because Hezbollah typically blames Israel for everything. That time, however, they dismissed the possibility outright.

From that moment on, Noun argued, the party worked aggressively to obstruct the investigation, putting pressure on the families of the victims, the presiding judge, and judicial authorities. The campaign included public and legal attacks against Judge Tarek Bitar, political paralysis that froze the government for six months, and repeated withdrawals of Hezbollah-aligned ministers from Cabinet sessions.

“It would take hours to detail everything they did publicly,” Noun said. “And even more happened behind closed doors, with security and political figures.”

The goal, he believes, was to ensure that the investigation itself never reaches a conclusion. “The strategy is not just to remove a judge,” he said. “The strategy is to destroy the investigation. They refuse any investigation and want to declare it an ‘accident’ and close the case.”

“I’m not the only one pointing fingers at Hezbollah; three-quarters of the country does,” he added.

Noun is now one of the central figures representing the families of the Beirut blast victims and leading the fight against impunity. His battle has been far from easy. He has been the target of smear campaigns — particularly from Hezbollah supporters — and he was arrested in 2023 following comments he made on television about the stalled investigation. In 2025, he and Peter Bou Saab, also the brother of a victim, reported being assaulted by armed men shortly after a rally held by the families of the victims.

Despite the pressure, Noun is not willing to back down. His goal remains unchanged: justice.

More than a symbolic visit

Noun believes that Pope Leo’s presence in Beirut carries weight far beyond symbolism. The Vatican, he noted, holds not only a spiritual authority but also a social and, at times, political influence. It has closely followed the port blast investigation since 2020 and is fully informed about its developments. For him, this visit represents a continuation of what Pope Francis began; a sustained moral pressure that keeps the pursuit of justice alive.

He said families do not yet know whether Pope Leo will deliver a speech at the port site, and for now they have been asked simply to attend and follow the instructions of the Vatican’s organizing team, since the gathering is primarily meant to be a moment of prayer. But if the pope does speak, Noun said he hopes to hear a clear message affirming support for justice and renewed international pressure.

“The pope understands exactly where he will be standing and what it means for the families to be beside him,” Noun emphasized. The Vatican’s voice, he believes, matters: The pope is close to global decision-makers, and his position gives him unique leverage.

“There is a major role he can play, not only through prayer and faith but also by influencing action,” he said.

Father Dany Dergham, a Maronite priest who leads the “Church Talks Politics’’ platform, has a more concrete request for Pope Leo. In a post on X, he addressed the pope directly, writing: “Your Holiness, if you wish to bring us a gift on the occasion of your visit, the most precious and sacred to us would be the satellite images of the Beirut port crime, which can be requested from the concerned countries through Vatican diplomacy, so that we may know who killed our families and our children, destroyed our homes, blew up our churches and institutions, and shattered our dreams.”

Beyond the blast

Noun’s hopes for the papal visit extend far beyond the explosion, although it remains at the heart of his struggle. What he wishes Pope Leo, the Vatican, and the international community to recognize is the critical importance of safeguarding the Christian presence in Lebanon.

Lebanon, he stressed, remains the only country in the region where Christians enjoy this degree of freedom. But that reality, he warned, is under threat. He believes the Church must take a more active role in helping young Christians remain in the country rather than emigrating. While acknowledging the important work the Church already does, he argued that much more is needed, from early childhood education and schools to universities, housing initiatives, and long-term support systems that allow families to build a future in Lebanon.

Noun also pointed to growing tensions between Hezbollah and the Christian community. According to him, the pope’s visit is already being framed by Hezbollah supporters in sectarian terms, questioning the state’s preparations and national attention surrounding it.

Speaking about the broader political context, he expressed deep concern over what he described as Hezbollah’s separation from the national interest. “Every time something national brings people together, they choose to break away from the national consensus and go in a different direction. They believe everything is done against the party’s interests,” he said.

Noun argued that the party and its community must recognize that “they are not the decision-makers, not the ones who run the country, and their militant logic cannot govern Lebanon.” He stressed that Lebanon’s Christian community cannot survive without a functioning state: “It is the state that protects everyone, not weapons and militias.”

According to Noun, most Christians today are far removed from Hezbollah’s environment and mentality, and while a few attempt to present an illusion of harmony, “when you look at any village where Hezbollah supporters coexist with Christians, you see the tensions very clearly.” He said that what the party portrays publicly is very different from the reality on the ground.

Noun also said it is against this backdrop that Pope Leo’s stop at the port carries real weight. His visit to the port will not rewrite the past, and it may not be enough to break the system that has blocked the truth, but standing on that ground forces the world to look again at a case many hoped would fade. And for the families of the victims, that visibility is itself a form of resistance, a refusal to let powerful people close the file.

Philippines bishops’ conference elects Garcera as president, an advocate for synodality
Mon, 01 Dec 2025 14:14:00 -0500

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Dec 1, 2025 / 14:14 pm (CNA).

Archbishop Gilbert Garcera of Lipa has officially begun his new role as president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

The CBCP elected Garcera during its 130th plenary assembly on July 5 in a break from the conference’s tradition of electing the previous vice president, in this case Bishop Mylo Hubert Vergara of Pasig, to serve in the role. The last time the conference opted not to elect its vice president was in 2011.

Garcera, who has advocated for synodality within the Filipino Church, comes to the leadership position amid national instability due to government corruption and natural disasters. Garcera’s predecessor, Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan, served two four-year terms.

Archbishop Julius Tonel of Zamboanga will act as Garcera’s vice president, and their terms will run until Nov. 30, 2027.

“I hope you will pray for me, because the cross that was placed on me is very heavy,” Garcera said in a video message on Facebook after his election.

Garcera published a 271-page document encouraging synodality titled “Enlarging the Space of Our Tent” in January 2024. In his epilogue for the document, Garcera wrote that he hoped it would help people “embrace a more inclusive perspective.”

“They will be reminded of the richness and diversity of human experience,” he added.

Garcera also has advocated for “pastoral sensitivity” toward individuals with same-sex attractions, encouraging priests, religious, and lay leaders to walk with and guide them “toward deeper union with Christ, supporting them in living out their vocation to holiness, and [ensuring] that our parishes remain true communities of welcome, healing, and love.”

While affirming Church teaching that marriage is between a man and a woman, Garcera insisted that “truth must never become a reason for exclusion or hostility.” Rather, he said, “it calls us to a deeper commitment to love.”

The Lipa archbishop will oversee the conference’s work, act as its main spokesperson, and represent the Church in the Philippines on a national and international level, including meetings at the Vatican and with other bishops’ conferences, according to a press release from the conference announcing the transition.

Prior to his appointment as bishop of Daet in 2007, Garcera served as assistant secretary-general for the CBCP, and as executive secretary of the Episcopal Commission on Mission. He later chaired the same commission, as well as the Episcopal Commission on Family and Life, as a bishop. He has served as archbishop of Lipa since 2017.

Pope Leo appoints Mexican-born Oratorian as bishop of Corpus Christi, Texas
Mon, 01 Dec 2025 13:44:00 -0500

Vatican City, Dec 1, 2025 / 13:44 pm (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV on Monday appointed Bishop Mario Avilés as the new bishop of Corpus Christi, selecting the Mexican-born Oratorian to lead the south Texas diocese.

Avilés, 56, who has served as auxiliary bishop of Brownsville, Texas, since February 2018, will succeed Bishop Michael Mulvey, 76. Mulvey has led the Diocese of Corpus Christi since 2010.

“We welcome Bishop-designate Avilés with open hearts and deep prayer,” Mulvey said in a statement after the Vatican announcement on Dec. 1.

As the ninth bishop of Corpus Christi, Avilés will take responsibility for the spiritual leadership of more than 200,000 Catholics across a 12-county region in south Texas.

“The Diocese of Brownsville will greatly miss Bishop Mario’s wise counsel and good judgment, his joyful presence in our parish communities, and his administrative skills in the service of our diocesan offices and Catholic schools. Yet at the same time we share in the special joy of the Diocese of Corpus Christi at the news of Bishop Mario’s appointment,” Brownsville Bishop Daniel Flores said in a statement.

Avilés was born on Sept. 16, 1969, in Mexico City. In 1986, he joined the Congregation of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri, a pontifical society of apostolic life composed of priests and lay brothers founded in 1575, which now has more than 70 oratories worldwide.

He studied for the priesthood in Mexico City before continuing his education in Rome, earning bachelor’s degrees in philosophy and sacred theology at the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum. He also holds a master’s degree in education administration and supervision and is a certified teacher in the state of Texas.

At the age of 28, Avilés was ordained a priest in the Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle National Shrine in San Juan, Texas. He became parochial vicar at St. Jude Thaddeus Church in Pharr and worked in the Pharr Oratory Schools as a governance board member, teacher, principal, and rector. He also served as vicar, secretary, treasurer, and novice master for the Oratorian congregation.

From 2000 to 2012, he served on the Permanent Deputation of the Confederation of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri for Latin America. At the congregation’s 2012 General Congress, he was elected procurator general of the confederation, a Rome-based role representing Oratorian communities to the Holy See. He speaks Spanish, English, and Italian.

Avilés’ episcopal motto is “Caritas Dei diffusa est in cordibus nostris,” meaning “The love of God has been poured out into our hearts,” a reference to Romans 5:5 and the introit of the Mass for the feast of St. Philip Neri. His crest includes red roses honoring Our Lady of Guadalupe and his Mexican heritage as well as three gold stars drawn from the Neri family crest, symbolizing his long affiliation with the oratory.

“I ask all the faithful of the Diocese of Brownsville to pray for Bishop Mario as he prepares to take up his new mission of service in Corpus Christi,” Flores said. “May God bless Bishop Mario Avilés and may the maternal care of the blessed and ever-immaculate Virgin Mary accompany him always.”

Father Bob and his bicycle: How this 88-year-old priest serves Bangladesh’s disabled children
Mon, 01 Dec 2025 13:34:00 -0500

Munshigonj, Bangladesh, Dec 1, 2025 / 13:34 pm (CNA).

Father Robert Terence McCahill, a Maryknoll missionary who works in health care for poor, disabled people in Bangladesh, marks 50 years of service in the country in this first week of December.

Over his five decades in Bangladesh, McCahill has visited 13 administrative districts in the Muslim-majority nation, spending three years in each one serving the people there. He left Srinagar in Munshiganj district near Dhaka in late November after completing three years there, though he does not yet know where he will go next.

“I think that just as Jesus was not tied to one place and asked to spread the word of God, I travel around and reach people of all religions with love and work,” McCahill told CNA on Nov. 18.

Born in Iowa in 1937, McCahill later moved to Indiana due to his father’s work. In 1964, he was ordained a priest and came to the Philippines that same year.

In 1975, he and four other priests came to Bangladesh at the invitation of Archbishop T.A. Ganguly of Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. After learning Bengali for a year, his first place of work was in the northern district of Tangail, where he worked for nine years.

In Bangladesh, he is known as “Bob Bhai” — Brother Bob. McCahill was given this name by a Muslim friend who thought Bangladeshi Muslims would have difficulty pronouncing his full name, and he is still known by this name in the villages where he serves.

“My only son has been disabled since birth; he cannot walk or speak. I have seen many doctors but to no avail,” said Abdul Mannan Khan, 45, a Muslim resident of Munshigonj district.

“Bob Bhai often comes to my house, laughs and jokes with my son. Now I am getting treatment in the hospital through him. I don’t need any money,” Khan told CNA.

His 15-year-old son Abu Mosa Khan is the only child in the family, and his parents care for him devotedly. But the family says that no one around them gets along with this disabled boy the way McCahill does.

“Not everything is possible with money alone; many great things are possible with love, like Bob Bhai is doing,” Khan said.

McCahill rents a small room wherever he goes or stays there if someone gives him a free one. The authorities have given him a 5-by-8-foot space in a schoolroom in Srinagar, separated by tin walls. The dimly-lit room contains a mess of clothes, a simple wooden bed, a dirty mosquito net, a basic electric light, and a fan. There is also a kerosene stove for cooking, a few small utensils, and a bicycle.

He rides a bicycle at least 12-15 miles every day to visit rural villages, see disabled children, and take them to different hospitals for treatment as needed.

“Bob Bhai comes to our house early in the morning on his bicycle,” said a man named Farman, 83.

Farman’s grandson Rakibul, 8, became disabled a year after his birth and cannot walk or speak. His mother has married elsewhere and his father no longer cares for him, so Rakibul lives with his grandfather.

“After undergoing treatment in many places, Rakibul is now getting treatment in Dhaka free of cost on Bob Bhai’s advice, and now he is on the path to some improvement,” Farman said.

McCahill, who lost his mother at an early age, moved to Indiana with his father. As a young man, he worked as a newspaper delivery boy on a bicycle. Later, while studying in high school, he worked as a house cleaner and then as a truck driver.

While driving a truck as a young man — before entering the priesthood — he was saved from a serious accident through prayer to God. The truck’s brakes failed, and he initially thought he would have to jump from the vehicle, but somehow he survived.

“After surviving that accident, I decided without any hesitation that I would become a priest and a missionary,” McCahill said.

He has had a great passion for bicycles since his youth. When he came to Bangladesh, the roads were not well developed, and he could go everywhere by bicycle. So he chose a bicycle as his vehicle.

“Among other reasons, the main reason is simplicity, and bicycles are the vehicle of poor people. At the same time, cycling also keeps the body healthy, so I ride bicycles. I believe lov[ing] one another is the key to happiness,” McCahill said.

“Also, when I ride a bicycle, many people ask me various questions. I can easily answer them while standing,” this cycling missionary said.

McCahill finds peace in his life by serving people. He will continue to serve as long as he can walk, he said. He enjoys discovering one new area after another and meeting new people. He has not faced any major difficulty in the country despite the fact that around 90% of the population is Muslim and less than 1% is Christian.

“First, there’s suspicion — expecting and getting it. By the second year, there are many people who trust you, and that builds during the year, a year of trust-building. By the third year, there is affection for me. And so I knew at that time, at the end of the third year, I could leave and do the same thing in another town,” he said.

He believes that a priest should not only celebrate Mass inside a church but also preach the word of Christ everywhere.

“I celebrate Mass here myself every day,” he said. “I want to live like this, and when I die, I want to be buried in this country.”

Pope Leo to Lebanese youth: Love, not retaliation, is the real answer to evil
Mon, 01 Dec 2025 12:34:00 -0500

Bkerke, Lebanon, Dec 1, 2025 / 12:34 pm (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV told thousands of young people in Lebanon on Monday that love, not retaliation, is the real force capable of transforming their country as it continues to grapple with the wounds of conflict and social instability. “The true opposition to evil is not evil, but love,” he said, calling the nation’s youth to rebuild their homeland through reconciliation, service, and a renewed rooting in faith.

The gathering took place in the square before the Maronite Patriarchate of Antioch, in Bkerké, where the pope was welcomed by Patriarch Cardinal Béchara Boutros Raï. After greeting the crowd in a brief tour, Pope Leo opened his address with the Arabic words “assalamu alaykum,” meaning “peace be with you,” telling the young people that this greeting of the risen Christ “sustains the joy of our meeting.”

Lebanon’s young generation has endured some of the nation’s hardest years. A devastating financial collapse, the 2020 Beirut port explosion, and the 2023–2024 border war between Hezbollah and Israel have left deep physical and social scars, contributing to widespread emigration and a sense of exhaustion among the country’s youth.

The pope spoke directly to their anxieties, acknowledging that many feel they have inherited “a world torn apart by wars and disfigured by social injustice,” yet insisted that hope lives within them. “You have time to dream, to plan, and to do good. You are the present, and the future is already taking shape in your hands.”

Pointing to Lebanon’s national symbol, he said the country “will flourish once again, beautiful and vigorous like the cedar,” explaining that its strength lies in deep roots. In the same way, he told them, the foundation of renewal cannot rest only on ideas or agreements. “The true principle of new life is the hope that comes from above. It is Christ himself. He, the Living One, is the foundation of our trust.”

Peace, he continued, cannot grow out of factional interests. “It is only genuinely sincere when I do to others what I would like them to do to me. Forgiveness leads to justice, which is the foundation of peace.”

Calling them to works of charity, he reminded them that nothing reveals God’s presence more clearly than love. Renewal begins in daily choices, he said, such as welcoming “those near and far” and offering concrete help “to friends and refugees and enemies.”

The pope held up several saints as companions for the journey: Carlo Acutis, Pier Giorgio Frassati, St. Rafqa, Blessed Yakub El-Haddad, and St. Charbel, whose hidden life “shines a powerful light.” He urged the youth to pray, to read Scripture, and attend Mass and adoration. “Be contemplatives like St. Charbel,” he told them.

Pope Leo ended with the prayer attributed to St. Francis of Assisi, “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,” and assured the young people that “the Lord will always be with you, and you can be assured of the support of the whole Church.” He entrusted them to the Mother of God, Our Lady.

Pope Leo tells Lebanese religious leaders unity and peace are possible
Mon, 01 Dec 2025 10:35:00 -0500

Beirut, Lebanon, Dec 1, 2025 / 10:35 am (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV told Lebanon’s religious leaders on Monday that their country remains a sign to the world that fear and prejudice do not have the final word. At an ecumenical and interreligious meeting in Beirut’s Martyrs’ Square, the pope said Lebanon shows that unity, reconciliation, and peace can take root even amid profound differences.

In his address, the Holy Father recalled Pope Benedict XVI, who wrote in 2012 that the Church’s mission is to dialogue with followers of other religions, guided not by political interests but by theological truths rooted in faith. Pope Leo said Lebanon proves this kind of dialogue is possible, where minarets and bell towers stand side by side and bear witness to belief in the one God.

The pope said the world often watches the Middle East with trepidation, yet hope emerges when the focus turns to what unites people — their shared humanity and belief in a God of mercy. Lebanon, he said, “remains a sign that unity and peace can be achieved.” He also cited the Second Vatican Council’s declaration Nostra Aetate, on the Church’s relation to non-Christian religions, which opened a new horizon for encounter, rejected prejudice, and affirmed the dignity of every person. Leo concluded by calling the Lebanese “builders of peace,” both within their borders and throughout the world.

Before the address, Pope Leo was welcomed at the entrance of the meeting tent by the Syriac Catholic patriarch, the Maronite patriarch, the Grand Sunni imam, and a Shia representative. The program included chanting from the Gospel, a moment of silence, and chanting from the Quran. Leaders from Sunni, Greek Orthodox, Shia, Syriac Orthodox, Druze, Armenian Orthodox, Protestant, and Alawite communities offered brief remarks, interspersed with chants. After Leo spoke, participants planted an olive tree and ended with a final prayer for peace.

Martyrs’ Square in central Beirut is widely regarded as the symbolic heart of the capital. It takes its name from Lebanese and Arab nationalists executed there by Ottoman authorities in 1916 and has long served as the city’s civic center. The square has been the site of major demonstrations that crossed sectarian lines, including the 2005 Cedar Revolution following the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, the nationwide 2019 protests against corruption and economic collapse, and the public outcry after the 2020 Beirut port explosion. These movements expressed frustration with Lebanon’s entrenched sectarian political system and highlighted the square’s enduring role as a gathering place where citizens of all faiths call for reform. Pope Leo’s meeting with religious leaders reinforced that symbolic role.

The Holy Father’s message was directed to leaders of a society shaped by a complex sectarian power-sharing structure, where political figures influenced by regional powers often block national decision-making. Lebanon does not publish official religious statistics, but most estimates hold that roughly 70% of the population is Muslim and about 30% Christian, the highest Christian proportion of any Arab country. Maronite Catholics form the largest Christian community.

Pope Leo offers Lebanon a way to hope ‘even when surrounded by the sound of weapons’
Mon, 01 Dec 2025 05:32:00 -0500

Harissa, Lebanon, Dec 1, 2025 / 05:32 am (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV told Lebanon’s bishops, clergy, and pastoral workers on Monday that Christians can remain steadfast in hope “even when surrounded by the sound of weapons,” urging them to look to the Virgin Mary as a model of faith in dark and uncertain times.

Meeting them at the Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa on the second day of his apostolic visit, the pope said that Mary teaches believers how to persevere when daily life becomes a struggle. “It is in being with Mary at the foot of Jesus’ cross that our prayer, that invisible bridge which unites hearts, gives us the strength to continue to hope and work,” he said.

Leo recalled St. John Paul II’s words to the Lebanese — “In the Lebanon of today, you are the ones responsible for hope” — and urged believers to nurture a climate of fraternity wherever they live and work. He stressed the need to trust one another so that “the regenerative power of forgiveness and mercy may triumph,” adding that the fruits of this message are visible in Lebanon’s resilience.

The pope compared faith to an anchor that holds firm in turbulence. “Our faith is an anchor in heaven,” he said. “Hold fast to the rope.” He reminded those present that peace requires loving without fear and giving without measure. Quoting Pope Benedict XVI, Leo said Christians are called to celebrate “the victory of love over hate… forgiveness over revenge,” a message he said continues to guide the Church’s mission.

During the gathering, Pope Leo was welcomed by clergy and the shrine’s rector before processing to the presbytery, where Armenian Catholic Patriarch Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian greeted him. The celebration included prayers, testimonies, Arabic chants, the Gospel reading (John 19:25–27), the Magnificat, the Our Father, a blessing, Marian hymns, and the exchange of gifts.

Pope Leo also presented a Golden Rose to the Virgin Mary, a traditional papal gift to major Marian shrines. The ornament, a gold branch of roses set in a silver vase and mounted on white marble, bears the papal coat of arms and symbolizes the pope’s devotion to the Mother of God. Leo said the rose’s fragrance calls Christians to be “the fragrance of Christ,” drawing a parallel to the richness and diversity of Lebanese family tables and encouraging the faithful to live that spirit of shared love each day.

The pope also highlighted testimonies shared during the meeting. Father Youhanna spoke of Debbabiyé, where Christians, Muslims, and refugees live together in mutual trust. Loren, a migrant worker, appealed to all communities to welcome those forced from their homes, telling them, “Welcome home!” Sister Dima described keeping a school open during violence, teaching children to share “bread, fear, and hope.”

The pope noted that the shrine itself remains “a symbol of unity for the entire Lebanese people.” Rising about 2,130 feet above sea level and roughly 16 miles north of Beirut, the sanctuary offers sweeping views of Jounieh Bay and stands not far from Bkerke, the seat of the Maronite patriarch. Its white-painted bronze statue of Our Lady of Lebanon, 28 feet tall and weighing about 33,000 pounds, was cast in France and placed atop a 66-foot stone pedestal shaped like a tree trunk. The adjacent basilica, designed to evoke both a cedar tree and a Phoenician ship, seats around 3,500 people and opens toward the Marian statue through its glass façade. The site is entrusted to the Lebanese Maronite Missionaries.

Later at the apostolic nunciature, Pope Leo was scheduled to welcome the Council of Eastern Catholic Patriarchs together with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state, and Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches. He was then set to share lunch with them and with the country’s Orthodox patriarchs, joined by Cardinal Kurt Koch, prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, in a gesture underscoring the ecumenical dimension of his visit.

Pope Leo entrusts Lebanon to St. Charbel’s intercession, prays at his tomb
Mon, 01 Dec 2025 03:37:00 -0500

Annaya, Lebanon, Dec 1, 2025 / 03:37 am (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV began his second day in Lebanon on Monday with a deeply symbolic pilgrimage to the tomb of St. Charbel Makhlouf, entrusting the country and the wider Middle East to the intercession of the saint whom many Lebanese, Christians and Muslims alike, invoke as the “heavenly physician.”

The pope traveled roughly 25 miles (40 kilometers) by car from the apostolic nunciature in Harissa to the hilltop monastery of St. Maron in Annaya, where thousands of pilgrims come each year seeking healing and consolation. The monastery’s archives record nearly 30,000 miracles attributed to St. Charbel’s intercession, including many reported by Muslims, a sign, the pope noted, of Charbel’s unique place in Lebanon’s spiritual landscape.

Pope Leo prayed in silence at the saint’s tomb before being welcomed by Abbot Hady Mahfouz, superior general of the Lebanese Maronite Order. He then offered a reflection on St. Charbel’s enduring message.

“What does St. Charbel teach us today?” Pope Leo asked. Despite leaving behind no writings, he said, the hermit of Annaya continues to speak with surprising power. “The Holy Spirit formed him so that he could teach those who live without God how to pray, those immersed in noise how to be silent.” Charbel also teaches “those who live ostentatiously how to be modest, and those who seek riches how to be poor.”

This message, he added, is addressed to all Christians and “reminds us, bishops and ordained ministers, of the evangelical demands of our vocation.”

The pope described the saint’s intercession as “a river of mercy,” recalling in particular the monthly pilgrimage held every 22nd of the month in memory of a miracle granted to a woman named Nouhad El Chami, a devotion that still draws thousands.

Pope Leo prayed for unity within the Church and for peace in Lebanon and the Levant. “There is no peace without conversion of hearts,” he warned. As a sign of entrustment, he offered a lit lamp to the monastery, praying that Lebanon “may always walk in the light of Christ.” He concluded by reciting a prayer in French, asking God, through St. Charbel’s example, to grant the Lebanese people faith, inner silence, healing of body and soul, and renewed strength in trials.

Born Yousef Antoun Makhlouf in 1828 in the remote village of Bkaakafra, St. Charbel is one of the most beloved saints of the Maronite Church. Known from childhood for his devotion and simplicity, he entered the Lebanese Maronite Order in 1851, was ordained a priest in 1859, and later embraced a life of strict solitude at the Hermitage of Sts. Peter and Paul near Annaya.

For 23 years he lived in silence, fasting, and continuous prayer. After his death on Christmas Eve in 1898, reports of extraordinary signs around his tomb, including the incorrupt state of his body, drew global attention. He was beatified in 1965 and canonized in 1977 by Pope Paul VI. Today he is venerated worldwide as a model of humility and a powerful intercessor for the sick.

St. Charbel’s tomb lies within the St. Maron Monastery, perched at 1,200 meters (three-fourths of a mile) above sea level. Founded by the Lebanese Maronite Order, the site grew significantly after Charbel’s beatification to accommodate the rising number of pilgrims. A larger church dedicated to the saint was inaugurated in 1974. The monks continue to welcome visitors and maintain the grounds, sustaining themselves through agricultural work, a balance of labor and prayer inspired by the saint they guard.

Pope Leo’s visit to Annaya, the first by any pontiff, reinforced the central message of his pilgrimage to Lebanon: a call to conversion, hope, and unity rooted in the spiritual heritage of a country longing for peace — and in the intercession of one of its most beloved saints.

LIVE UPDATES: Pope Leo XIV addresses young people in Lebanon
Sun, 30 Nov 2025 20:30:00 -0500

CNA Staff, Nov 30, 2025 / 20:30 pm (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV is on the second day of his apostolic journey to Lebanon. Watch LIVE the major events of Pope Leo’s apostolic journey Nov. 27 to Dec. 2 at youtube.com/@ewtnnews and follow our live updates of his historic visit:

Pope Leo XIV calls Lebanon to tenacity, hope, and reconciliation
Sun, 30 Nov 2025 11:20:00 -0500

Beirut, Lebanon, Nov 30, 2025 / 11:20 am (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV urged Lebanon’s leaders to embrace tenacity, dialogue, and a renewed commitment to the common good during an address at the Presidential Palace in Baabda on Sunday, continuing his weeklong apostolic journey to Turkey and Lebanon.

The trip, focused on Christian unity, regional stability, and the Church’s mission in the Middle East, has taken the Holy Father from historic encounters in Istanbul to a nation still recovering from political crisis and the 2023–2024 war.

“Blessed are the peacemakers,” the pope began, adding that peace “takes tenacity” and “perseverance to protect and nurture life.” His remarks came as Lebanon seeks stability after years of political paralysis, economic collapse, and the lingering trauma of regional conflict.

The Presidential Palace, overlooking Beirut and built in 1956, hosted its first papal address since Parliament elected Joseph Aoun on Jan. 9 as Lebanon’s 14th president after more than two years without a head of state. A Maronite Christian and career army officer born in Beirut in 1964, Aoun welcomed Pope Leo for a ceremony that included a traditional dabke dance and the planting of a “cedar of friendship” in the palace gardens alongside Vatican and Maronite Church leaders.

Pope Leo acknowledged the difficulty of governing “in circumstances that are highly complex, conflictual, and uncertain,” but praised the resilience of the Lebanese people. “You are a people who do not give up,” he said, noting the many who work for peace quietly each day.

He described Lebanon as “a community of communities, united by a common language: hope,” at a time when many parts of the world face rising pessimism, instability, and decisions made “to the detriment of the common good.” Despite the burden of crisis and what he called “an economy that kills,” he said Lebanon has repeatedly shown its capacity to “start again.”

The pope urged the country’s leaders to remain close to their people, emphasize the role of youth and civil society, and resist reducing national life to competing interests. “The common good is more than the sum of many interests,” he said.

Reconciliation, he stressed, is indispensable. Wounds — personal and collective — require time and courage to heal, he said, warning that without this process “we would remain stuck, each imprisoned by our own pain.” Dialogue, even amid misunderstandings, is “the path.”

Pope Leo spoke of the sorrow caused by emigration and the courage required to remain or return. He highlighted the contributions of women, whom he called uniquely gifted in “the work of peacemaking.”

Closing his address, the pope reminded Lebanon that peace is not only a human achievement but also a gift that shapes the heart and teaches people to “harmonize our steps with those of others.” Peace, he said, “is a desire and a vocation; it is a gift and a work in progress.”

Following the ceremony at Baabda, Pope Leo was scheduled to travel to Harissa, where he will stay at the Apostolic Nunciature. On Monday morning he will begin his day with a prayer visit to the tomb of St. Charbel Makhlouf at the Monastery of St. Maroun in Annaya.

Pope Leo says Erdogan talks focused on Gaza and Ukraine, sees Turkish role in peace efforts
Sun, 30 Nov 2025 10:15:00 -0500

Beirut, Lebanon, Nov 30, 2025 / 10:15 am (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV said Sunday that he discussed both the Gaza war and the conflict in Ukraine directly with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, saying that the two leaders found common ground on key points and that Ankara could play a significant role in new peace efforts.

Leo told journalists on his flight from Turkey to Lebanon that Erdogan agrees with the Holy See’s long-standing support for a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict and could help advance emerging proposals aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.

“We spoke about both situations,” the pope said. “The Holy See has publicly supported, for several years, the proposal of a two-state solution. Israel at this moment does not accept it, but we see it as the only solution that could bring an end to this conflict. We are also friends of Israel, and we try to be a mediating voice between both sides.”

Pope Leo said Erdogan “agrees with this proposal” and stressed that Turkey “has an important role it could play,” both in Gaza and in efforts to ease the war in Ukraine. He noted that Turkey previously helped broker the Black Sea grain corridor, which allowed Ukraine to export food supplies safely through the war zone before the agreement collapsed in 2023. Now, he said, “there are concrete proposals for peace,” and Erdogan’s contacts with Kyiv, Moscow, and Washington could help advance “dialogue, a ceasefire, and a way to resolve this conflict.”

The pope’s comments came at the midpoint of his apostolic journey to Turkey and Lebanon, a trip he has framed as an appeal for peace across a region marked by conflict, displacement, and deep political fractures.

Looking back on his days in Turkey, Pope Leo said his meetings and liturgies were marked by a spirit of “simplicity and profundity,” noting especially Friday’s commemoration in Iznik for the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea. He also celebrated Sunday morning’s Divine Liturgy with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, considered first among equals among Eastern Orthodox bishops, calling it “a wonderful celebration.”

He highlighted Turkey’s Christian minorities as a reminder that peaceful coexistence is possible even amid differences. At the same time, he acknowledged that Turkey has “experienced difficult moments in this regard throughout its history.”

The Holy Father also disclosed ongoing ecumenical discussions about 2033, marking 2,000 years since the Redemption. Church leaders, he said, are considering a shared Christian gathering for the anniversary, possibly in Jerusalem.

Shortly after speaking to reporters, Pope Leo landed in Beirut to begin the Lebanon leg of his journey, where he is expected to address the country’s political paralysis and encourage a population still recovering from war and economic collapse.

Pope Leo XIV arrives in Lebanon, bringing a message of peace to a nation scarred by war
Sun, 30 Nov 2025 08:32:36 -0500

Beirut, Lebanon, Nov 30, 2025 / 08:32 am (CNA).

The sky over Lebanon — once dominated by missile exchanges and relentless air raids during the 2023–2024 conflict between Hezbollah and Israel — opened Sunday not to warplanes but to the aircraft carrying Pope Leo XIV. Touching down in the Land of the Cedars, the Holy Father begins a mission to preach the Gospel of peace to a nation long wounded by conflict and instability.

Fighting along Lebanon’s southern border reignited in October 2023 as a spillover of the Gaza war. Hezbollah, a Shia militia supported by Iran and formed after the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon, became the principal actor in the renewed confrontation with Israel. Although a fragile agreement in late November 2024 reduced hostilities, intermittent violence has continued, and the ceasefire remains uncertain until United Nations Resolution 1701 — requiring Hezbollah’s withdrawal north of the Litani River — is fully implemented.

After landing in Beirut, the pope’s motorcade was scheduled to travel toward the presidential palace through one of the most politically sensitive areas in the country. Dahieh, the Hezbollah stronghold in southern Beirut, has endured heavy bombardment and a series of assassinations over the past year. Hezbollah’s longtime secretary-general Hassan Nasrallah and his potential successor Hashem Safieddin were killed in separate strikes in 2024. As recently as Nov. 23, an Israeli air raid in the suburb killed a local commander and five others and wounded 28.

Despite the tensions, several Shia clerics have publicly welcomed Pope Leo’s visit, and Dahieh’s municipalities have invited residents to greet him along the motorcade route.

Lebanon’s wounds extend beyond its most recent conflict. Years of political paralysis and economic collapse have left the country deeply weakened. Mass protests erupted in 2019 against corruption and sectarianism, while the COVID-19 pandemic and the catastrophic Beirut port explosion in August 2020 compounded the suffering.

Historically a crossroads between Christianity and Islam, Lebanon remains a mosaic of communities bound together by a shared but fragile national identity. Christians — including Maronites, Greek Orthodox, Melkite Catholics, and Armenians — continue to play a vital role in cultural and social life, even as emigration and instability have reduced their numbers.

Lebanon’s confessional political system, established during the French Mandate and formalized in the unwritten National Pact of 1943, divided power among the country’s religious communities. While intended to preserve coexistence, the arrangement also entrenched sectarian rivalry. The Lebanese Civil War (1975–1990), fueled by the Arab-Israeli conflict and the massive influx of Palestinian refugees, left an estimated 150,000 dead and reshaped the country’s political landscape.

The Ta’if Agreement of 1989 ended the war by rebalancing power between Christians and Muslims and curbing the authority of the Maronite presidency. But it did not resolve the underlying challenges of corruption, foreign interference, and sectarian fragmentation. Syrian troops, deployed as peace guarantors, remained until 2005.

Today, the Land of the Cedars remains a delicate patchwork of identities, hopes, and unresolved tensions. Into this complex and wounded landscape, Pope Leo arrives as a pilgrim of peace, offering a message of reconciliation and renewal for a country longing for stability and a future grounded in justice and mutual trust.

PHOTOS: Tickhill Psalter’s Jesse Tree shines in Morgan Library’s Advent exhibit
Sun, 30 Nov 2025 08:00:00 -0500

New York City, New York, Nov 30, 2025 / 08:00 am (CNA).

Part of the New York Public Library’s Spencer Collection, the Tickhill Psalter is on view throughout Advent and Christmas at The Morgan Library & Museum in its exhibit “Sing a New Song: The Psalms in Medieval Art and Life.” A full-page Jesse Tree introduces the Psalms in the Tickhill Psalter, a 14th-century illuminated manuscript from the Augustinian Worksop Priory in Nottinghamshire, England.

David appears in the historiated B of Psalm 1, providing a conceptual link to scenes from his life in the Jesse Tree on the facing page. “Beatus vir,” or “Blessed is the man,” the first stanza opens in celebration of the one who delights in God’s law, concluding: “That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither, — what they do prospers.”

These words and their historiated B, with its visual link to the facing page, highlight David as key author of the Psalms and their prefiguration of Christ, the good fruit of the Jesse Tree, a theme common to medieval illuminated manuscripts.

The central panel of a 1490 Flemish triptych with scenes from the life of Saint Augustine contextualizes the exhibit. This five-by-five-foot oil on wood painting references Augustine’s use of allegory, essential to his understanding of scripture and interpretation of the psalms as prophecy. One scene captures Augustine’s realization of the Trinity as boundless mystery that dwarfs human understanding, allegorized by a child trying to pour the sea into a hole in the sand.

In the book accompanying the exhibit, Morgan curator Deirdre Jackson extends the psalms’ significance to this triptych through a reference to a surviving panel housed in Ireland that shows Augustine on his deathbed. It’s a scene described by contemporary bishop Possidius of Calama, who said that Augustine “ordered those psalms of David which are especially penitential to be copied out and, when he was very weak, used to lie in bed, facing the wall where the written sheets were put up, gazing at them and reading them, and copiously and continuously weeping as he read.”

In his book “The Tickhill Psalter and Related Manuscripts,” 20th-century art historian Donald Drew Egbert speculates that the Tickhill Psalter was decorated by highly skilled illuminators working for Augustinian monasteries and patrons of Augustinian houses during a high point of book arts in England.

This high point inspired a trend of books as personalized treasures, best exemplified in this exhibit by St. Thomas More’s prayer book. Containing much of his own writing in the margins, it consists of a Book of Hours and a Psalter and was with him in the Tower of London while he awaited execution. More’s notes during that time show his preoccupation with the psalms of David’s tribulations. Beside Psalm 87:5-10, “a man without help … in the dark places, and in the shadow of death,” More writes, “in severe tribulation and in prison.”

More’s thoughts in distress demonstrate the appeal of David’s story to the human heart, a reality repeatedly expressed throughout the treasures of this exhibit. In the Tickhill Psalter’s Jesse Tree, David is encircled by branches springing from a tree that grows out of his father, Jesse, sprawled in an active sleep, his elbow supporting a hand planted against his head as though dreaming of all that is to come.

The branches of the tree wind around David and directly overhead to encircle the Virgin and Child, tracing Christ’s lineage through Mary to the House of David. At the top, the branches surround Christ enthroned in majesty, fulfilling the promise of victory over sin and death foreshadowed in the psalms.

David strikes a joyous pose and plays a harp in celebration, and foliage on either side of the main branch wraps around prophets who unfurl scrolls to hint at mysteries about to be foretold in the reading of the psalms.

Beneath the figure of Jesse, two separate depictions of David protecting his sheep from wild animals cast his actions as allegory in the fight against evil, segueing to his likeness in the historiated B, dancing and singing his story into the Psalms to animate their prefiguration of Christ.

UPDATED: Pope Leo XIV honors ‘courageous Christian witness of the Armenian people’ in Istanbul
Sun, 30 Nov 2025 04:50:00 -0500

Istanbul, Turkey, Nov 30, 2025 / 04:50 am (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV dedicated the final morning of his visit to Turkey on Sunday to strengthening ties with the Armenian Apostolic Church, thanking God for “the courageous Christian witness of the Armenian people throughout history, often amid tragic circumstances.”

The pope addressed the faithful at the Armenian Apostolic Cathedral in Istanbul, highlighting the deepening relationship between the Catholic Church and the Armenian Apostolic Church and recalling key milestones in their modern ecumenical journey.

The visit to the cathedral, seat of the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople, formed part of a day marked by prayer, dialogue, and reflection as the pope concluded the Turkey leg of his first international apostolic journey, which continues next in Lebanon.

Armenians are one of Turkey’s oldest Christian communities, with roots stretching back to the early centuries of Christianity. Their history includes periods of flourishing as well as profound suffering, especially the mass deportations and killings under the Ottoman Empire in 1915, which Pope Francis termed a genocide. Today, a small Armenian minority remains in Turkey, centered largely in Istanbul, where the Armenian Patriarchate continues to serve as their spiritual and cultural anchor.

Relations between the Catholic and Armenian Apostolic Churches have grown steadily in recent decades. In 1967, Catholicos Khoren I became the first primate of an Oriental Orthodox church to visit the bishop of Rome, then Paul VI. Three years later, Catholicos Vasken I and Paul VI signed the first joint declaration between their churches, urging Christians “to rediscover themselves as brothers and sisters in Christ with a view to fostering unity.”

While the Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople is autonomous in its internal governance, it recognizes the spiritual primacy of the Catholicos of All Armenians in Echmiadzin. The cathedral remains a central spiritual home for Turkey’s Armenian community.

Marking the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea, the pope stressed the unifying force of the Nicene Creed. “We must draw from this shared apostolic faith in order to recover the unity that existed in the early centuries between the Church of Rome and the ancient Oriental churches,” he said. Full communion, he added, “does not imply absorption or domination, but rather an exchange of the gifts received by our churches from the Holy Spirit.”

Pope Leo also honored Armenian saints, especially the 12th-century Catholicos and poet Nerses IV Shnorhali. “May the example of St. Nerses inspire us and his prayer strengthen us on the path to full communion,” he said, noting the recent commemoration of the 850th anniversary of Shnorhali’s death.

Patriarch Sahak II Mashalian welcomed the pope to the cathedral for a program that included prayer, liturgical chanting, a welcome address, the pope’s remarks, an exchange of gifts, a blessing, and a final hymn. The pope concluded the visit by blessing a commemorative plaque at the cathedral entrance.

Liturgy with Bartholomew

Later in the day, Pope Leo XIV moved to the Orthodox Patriarchal Church of St. George for the Divine Liturgy of the feast of St. Andrew, patron of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and of Turkey. He addressed the faithful, acknowledging unresolved tensions between Christian churches.

“There are still obstacles preventing us from achieving full communion. Nevertheless, we must not relent in striving towards unity,” he said, urging all Orthodox churches to participate actively in this effort.

The pope also addressed global challenges, calling Christians to be peacemakers amid war and unrest. “Peace must be sought through prayer, penance, contemplation, and nurturing a living relationship with the Lord,” he said. He appealed for renewed care for creation, warning that the ecological crisis demands “spiritual, personal, and communal conversion.”

Speaking about technology, he encouraged Catholics and Orthodox to cooperate “in promoting their responsible use… ensuring their benefits are not reserved to a small number of people or the interests of a privileged few.”

He ended with a broad call to collaboration: “All Christians, the members of other religious traditions, and all men and women of goodwill can cooperate harmoniously in working together for the common good.”

After the liturgy, Pope Leo XIV gave an ecumenical blessing with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I. The two were scheduled to have lunch before a farewell ceremony for the pope at Atatürk Airport. According to a source in the partriarcate, the menu was to include shrimp soup, seabass with vegetables, and Turkish delights. He was then scheduled to depart for Lebanon, continuing a journey marked by efforts to deepen Christian unity and renew the shared responsibility flowing from the Nicene faith.

Advent: What is it and how should it be celebrated?
Sun, 30 Nov 2025 04:00:00 -0500

CNA Staff, Nov 30, 2025 / 04:00 am (CNA).

Advent begins this year on Sunday, Nov. 30. Most Catholics — even those who don’t often go to Mass — know that Advent involves a wreath with candles, possibly a “calendar” of hidden chocolates, and untangling strings of Christmas lights. But Advent is much more than that. Here’s an explainer of what Advent is really about.

What is Advent?

The people of Israel waited for generations for the promised Messiah to arrive. Their poetry, their songs and stories, and their religious worship focused on an awaited savior who would come to them to set them free from captivity and to lead them to the fulfillment of all that God had promised.

Israel longed for a Messiah, and John the Baptist, who came before Jesus, promised that the Messiah was coming and could be found in Jesus Christ, God’s Son, the “Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.”

Advent is a season in the Church’s life intended to renew the experience of waiting and longing for the Messiah. Though Christ has already come into the world, the Church invites us to renew our desire for the Lord more deeply in our lives and to renew our desire for Christ’s triumphant second coming into the world.

Advent is the time in which we prepare for Christmas, the memorial of Jesus Christ being born into the world. Preparations are practical, like decorating trees and gift giving, but they’re also intended to be spiritual.

During Advent, we’re invited to enter more frequently into silence, into prayer and reflection, into Scripture, and into the sacramental life of the Church — all to prepare for celebrating Christmas.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church says the goal of Advent is to make present for ourselves and our families the “ancient expectancy of the Messiah ... by sharing in the long preparation for the Savior’s first coming.”

What does the word ‘Advent’ mean?

Advent comes from the Latin “ad + venire,” which means, essentially, “to come to” or “to come toward.” “Ad + venire” is the root of the Latin “adventus,” which means “arrival.”

So Advent is the season of arrival: the arrival of Christ in our hearts, in the world, and into God’s extraordinary plan for our salvation.

So, it’s four weeks long?

Advent is a slightly different length each year. It starts four Sundays before Christmas. But because Christmas is on a fixed date and could fall on different days of the week, Advent can be as short as three weeks and a day or as long as four weeks.

Does Advent mark a ‘new year’?

The Church’s feasts and celebrations run on a yearlong cycle, which we call the “liturgical year.” The “liturgical year” starts on the first Sunday of Advent. So it’s a new liturgical year when Advent starts. But the Church also uses the ordinary calendar, so it would probably be a bit weird to have a “New Year’s Eve” party the night before Advent starts.

What is the significance of the Advent wreath?

The Catholic Church has been using Advent wreaths since the Middle Ages. Lighting candles as we prepare for Christmas reminds us that Christ is the light of the world. And the evergreen boughs remind us of new and eternal life in Christ, the eternal son of the Father.

It is definitely true that Germanic people were lighting up candle wreaths in wintertime long before the Gospel arrived in their homeland. They did so because candle wreaths in winter are beautiful and warm. That a Christian symbol emerged from that tradition is an indication that the Gospel can be expressed through the language, customs, and symbols of cultures that come to believe that Christ Jesus is Lord.

One candle is pink on the wreath — why?

There are four candles on the Advent wreath. Three are purple and lit on the first, second, and fourth Sundays of Advent. The pink candle is lit on the third Sunday of Advent, which we call Gaudete Sunday. On that Sunday, in addition to the pink candle, the priest wears a pink vestment, which he might refer to as “rose.”

Gaudete is a word that means “rejoice,” and we rejoice on Gaudete Sunday because we are halfway through Advent. Some people have the custom of throwing Gaudete parties, and this is also a day on which Christmas carolers may begin caroling door to door.

The three purple candles are sometimes said to represent prayer, fasting, and almsgiving — the three spiritual disciplines that are key to a fruitful Advent.

Is it wrong to sing Christmas songs during Advent?

No, but there are a lot of great Advent hymns and songs, such as “O Come O Come Emmanuel,” “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus,” “O Come Divine Messiah,” “Come Thou Fount,” and “Hark! A Thrilling Voice Is Sounding.”

When should the tree go up?

When to put up the tree is a decision that families decide on their own. Some people put up their tree and decorate it on the first Sunday of Advent to make a big transformation in their home and get them into “preparing for Christmas” mode.

Some put up the tree on the first Sunday of Advent, put on lights the next Sunday, ornaments the next, and decorate it more and more as they get closer to Christmas.

Some put up the tree on Gaudete Sunday, as a kind of rejoicing, and decorate it in the weeks between Gaudate and Christmas.

When the tree goes up and gets decorated is up to the individual and family, but having a Christmas tree is a big part of many people’s Advent traditions.

This story was first published in November 2019 and has been updated.

How the Catholic Church brings hope to the ‘tiger widows’ of Bangladesh
Sat, 29 Nov 2025 15:30:00 -0500

EWTN News, Nov 29, 2025 / 15:30 pm (CNA).

Rashida Begum still remembers the day her life changed forever: Feb. 2, 2000, when her husband, Mojid Kaguchi, went to catch crabs in the Sundarbans, a vast mangrove forest in southern Bangladesh. Hours later, she heard the news — a tiger had taken him.

“My husband and five others went deep into the forest,” Begum told CNA. “A roaring tiger attacked one of them. Mojid tried to save his friend, hitting the tiger with a knife. The tiger let go of his friend and grabbed Mojid instead.”

The tiger dragged Mojid into the forest. His friends never found him alive.

“After searching, we found only his head and two legs,” Begum said. “The tiger ate the rest.”

Begum was just 25 then, a mother of two. Married at 20, she had shared only five years with her husband.

Her father-in-law blamed her for his death and refused to give her land. Humiliated, she left her in-laws’ home and returned to her father’s village.

Life was hard. She worked in fields and homes to feed her children. Today, her sons work in a brick kiln.

“I lost my husband in the Sundarbans,” she said. “I will starve if needed, but my sons will never go there.”

Begum learned to sew. Recently, Caritas Bangladesh, a social aid agency of the Catholic Church, gave her 10,000 taka (about $81). She bought a sewing machine and fabric.

“I will make clothes and sell them,” she said. “I can earn 3,000 taka [about $21] a month.”

Amerun Nesa Begum, 48, shares a similar story.

On March 26, 2012, her husband was fishing in the Sundarbans when a tiger attacked.

“There was bleeding from my husband’s neck,” she recalled. “The tiger was eating him. His friends made noise to scare it away, but my husband died there.”

Amerun Nesa, a mother of four, faced extreme poverty. She worked in fields and homes of others. Her sons later went to the Sundarbans to fish, risking their lives.

“The Sundarbans is our main source of income,” she said. “We know the risks, but we cannot leave it.”

She also received 10,000 taka from Caritas. She bought a sewing machine and fabric. She and her daughter-in-law now make clothes to sell in local markets.

On Nov. 15, Caritas Bangladesh helped 106 poor families, including 12 tiger widows like Rashida and Amerun Nesa. The aid came through the Community Managed Sustainable Livelihood and Resilience Project (CMLRP-II), supported by Caritas Australia.

“Tiger widows” are women whose husbands were killed by Bengal tigers in the Sundarbans mangrove forest while collecting honey, fishing, or cutting wood. These women face severe social stigma, branded as cursed and excluded from community life, alongside economic hardship and psychological trauma.

Santanu Roy, program officer for Caritas Khulna Region, said the widows’ lives are heartbreaking.

“They face humiliation and neglect,” Roy told CNA. “Families slander them. We are happy to help them. This small support can improve their lives.”

The Sundarbans spans three districts: Khulna, Satkhira, and Bagerhat. At least 3,000 tiger widows live in villages near the forest.

Roy hopes Caritas can assist more widows.

Apart from tigers, crocodiles also attack men who enter the forest for honey, fish, and crabs.

Tiger widows suffer more than grief. They face stigma. Many are called “husband eaters” or cursed. They are excluded from society.

They also lose their main income source. Most receive no government compensation.

Caritas offers hope. With sewing machines and training, these women can earn a living.

The Catholic Church has long worked in remote areas of Bangladesh. Caritas, its social arm, runs programs for disaster relief, education, and poverty reduction. Helping tiger widows is part of its mission to serve the most vulnerable.

For Rashida Begum and Amerun Nesa, this help means dignity and survival.

“I will never forget my husband,” Rashida said. “But now I can dream again.”

Amerun Nesa agreed. “I want my children to live without fear,” she said. “I pray they never face what I faced.”

The Sundarbans is beautiful but dangerous. It is home to the Bengal tiger, a national symbol of Bangladesh. But for poor families, it is also a place of death.

Every year, men enter the forest to collect honey, fish, and crabs. Many go without permits. They risk tiger attacks because they feel they have no other choice.

When tragedy strikes, their families fall into despair. Widows lose income and face social rejection.

Caritas steps in where others do not. Its small grants give women a chance to start again.

The Church’s message is clear: Every life matters. Every widow deserves hope.

Don’t let Christmas take you by surprise: Advice on Advent from the Church
Sat, 29 Nov 2025 12:36:00 -0500

Denver, Colorado, Nov 29, 2025 / 12:36 pm (CNA).

The first Sunday of Advent 2025 is tomorrow, Nov. 30, less than four weeks before Christmas this year, and while the Church provides this time to allow you to be caught by the joy of the Incarnation, you can be easily caught by surprise that it is Christmas. To help remedy this surprise, the Church provides songs, signs, and symbols to enter into the season of Advent more fruitfully.

Here are three ways the Church teaches us about the meaning of the season:

Advent hymns

Many of the customary hymns for Advent highlight the movement of the soul toward what Pope Francis termed in a homily on Advent as a “horizon of hope.” No hymn epitomizes this better than “O Come, O Come Emmanuel,” with its overtones of expectation and its mournful remorse over the state of man, captive to sin. The cultivation of hope and expectation is also seen in Advent hymns such as “O Come Divine Messiah” and “People Look East.”

The commingled darkness and hope that God will fulfill his promises, a theme characteristic of Advent, deepens with songs like the Spanish carol “Alepun.” The lyrics of “Alepun” move the faithful into an experience of waiting with a pregnant Blessed Virgin Mary while the rhythm and percussion evoke donkey hooves clattering across the plains of Israel to Bethlehem.

Church decor

Advent is a season of penance marked by joy and, in many ways, a little Lent. This is why the colors of purple and pink — with their ties to penance and the Lord’s passion, and the joy of Laetare Sunday when Lent is almost over — are the colors of Advent. But did you know that the deep purple of Advent has a blue hue to it to teach the faithful in symbol about the Marian heart of the season?

The lack of church decor also teaches about the penitential nature of the season. In the weeks leading up to Christmas, the lack of flowers on the altar, the restrained use of instruments, and the absence of the resounding and angelic Gloria all lead to a deliberate emptiness.

The emptiness will first be filled on the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, and, later, flowers will be allowed on Gaudete Sunday as the first expression of the festivity of the coming Christmas.

Saints and solemnities

Following the solemnity of Christ the King, Advent begins with echoes of the power of Christ coming in glory before it stretches forward to the humble beginnings of the mystery of the Incarnation.

This means there is a certain focus the Church helps people enter into even in the way the liturgical calendar is marked by very few memorials of saints: just five in the course of the four weeks, most of whom are deeply embedded in the celebration of and preparation for Christmas in various countries.

St. Nicholas is the best known of the five: the generous bishop whose gifts inspired generations of lore and giving. St. Lucy, whose desire to give charity to prisoners in the catacombs meant she wore candles in her hair to free her hands, is another well-known saint with connections to Christmas whom we celebrate in Advent.

The Church also shows forth the importance of Mary during this season, which places her Immaculate Conception on Dec. 8, a solemnity and holy day of obligation, at the very beginning of the liturgical year. Combined with the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Dec. 12, the Church shows forth what God has wrought in a soul full of grace — a foreshadowing of the entire mystery of salvation in one soul.

Though there are many more signs and symbols that communicate the meaning of Advent, these can assist you as you enter the season of expectation, building anticipation for the celebration of Christmas so it doesn’t catch you by surprise.

This story was first published on Nov. 28, 2022, and has been updated.

Pope Leo XIV, at Mass in Turkey, calls for Catholic, ecumenical, and interreligious unity
Sat, 29 Nov 2025 11:20:00 -0500

Istanbul, Turkey, Nov 29, 2025 / 11:20 am (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV marked the start of Advent on Saturday with an appeal for unity and peace, telling thousands gathered for Mass in Istanbul that Christians “journey as if on a bridge that connects earth to heaven,” keeping their eyes “fixed on both shores” until they are united “in the house of the Father.”

The pope celebrated Mass on Nov. 29 at the Volkswagen Arena, a large multipurpose venue within Istanbul’s Uniq cultural complex. The liturgy, held on the eve of the feast of St. Andrew, patron of Turkey, took place during the third day of his first international apostolic trip, which has brought him to Turkey and will soon continue on to Lebanon.

In his homily, the pope reflected on the beginning of Advent, saying it prepares believers “to experience anew at Christmas the mystery of Jesus, the Son of God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father.” Drawing on the first reading from Isaiah (Is 2:1–5), he invited the faithful “to ascend the mountain of the Lord,” which he described as an image of divine light and peace.

Leo pointed to two key images in the reading. The first was the mountain “established as the highest of the mountains,” which he said reminds Christians that God’s gifts “are a gift not only for us, but for everyone.” He cited examples of evangelizing witness: St. Peter meeting Christ through St. Andrew’s enthusiasm, and St. Augustine coming to the faith through St. Ambrose. Recalling a line from St. John Chrysostom — “The miracle happens and passes, but the Christian life remains and continually edifies” — he urged the faithful to “keep watch” with prayer, charity, and spiritual vigilance.

The second image was the prophet’s vision of peace: “They shall beat their swords into plowshares… neither shall they learn war any more.” The pope said the message is especially urgent today, calling the Church to be a sign of reconciliation in a world marked by conflict.

Turning to the theme of bridges, Leo noted that the logo for his visit to Turkey features the Bosporus Bridge, which joins Asia and Europe. He said the image points to three essential “bridges of unity”: within the Catholic community, in relations with other Christians, and in dialogue with other religions.

The pope highlighted the four Catholic traditions present in Turkey — Latin, Armenian, Chaldean, and Syriac — calling them “a catholicity that unites.” Unity, he said, “needs care, attention, and maintenance.” Quoting Christ’s prayer “that they may all be one,” he appealed again for Christian unity and encouraged believers to be peacemakers.

The diversity of Turkey’s Catholic community was visible in the liturgy. A choir of about 200 members represented the country’s four rites. Scripture readings and prayer intentions were offered in Turkish, Aramaic, Syriac, English, Armenian, and Arabic, reflecting the multilingual and multicultural character of local Catholics.

On Sunday afternoon, the pope will depart Turkey for the second leg of his apostolic journey in Lebanon. Before leaving Istanbul, he is scheduled to participate in several ecumenical events in the morning.

Pope Leo XIV and Bartholomew I ‘deeply alarmed’ by global tensions
Sat, 29 Nov 2025 10:07:00 -0500

Istanbul, Turkey, Nov 29, 2025 / 10:07 am (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople said on Saturday they are “deeply alarmed by the current international situation,” issuing a joint appeal for peace.

The appeal took place during the pope’s first international trip, a journey that has taken him to Turkey and will continue on to Lebanon.

The two leaders signed a joint declaration at the Palace of the Ecumenical Orthodox Patriarchate in Istanbul. The text rejects the use of religion to justify violence, urges global efforts toward peace, supports cooperation among believers of different faiths, and entrusts a suffering world to God with renewed hope in the Holy Spirit.

The pope and the patriarch, who is considered first among equals among Eastern Orthodox bishops, reaffirmed their shared commitment to dialogue aimed at restoring full communion between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox churches. Calling Christian unity a gift from God, they encouraged clergy and faithful to pray and work for the fulfillment of Christ’s prayer “that they may all be one.”

Marking the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea, they pointed to the Nicene Creed as a shared foundation of faith and expressed hope for a future common celebration of Easter. They recalled with gratitude the 60th anniversary of the lifting of mutual excommunications in 1965 by St. Paul VI and Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras I, and called for renewed courage in pursuing dialogue.

Acknowledging the obstacles that still hinder full communion, Leo and Bartholomew said they remain committed to addressing them through theological exchange and fraternal encounter.

In their declaration, they appealed to civil and political leaders to “do everything possible to ensure that the tragedy of war ceases immediately” and asked all people of goodwill to join them in this plea. They encouraged efforts to build a just and supportive society and to care for creation, insisting that only such shared responsibility can overcome indifference, domination, greed, and xenophobia.

Earlier in the day, Pope Leo joined Patriarch Bartholomew for a doxology, a liturgical prayer of praise to God, at St. George’s Ecumenical Orthodox Patriarchal Church in Istanbul. The pope said he felt “great emotion” upon entering the historic church, noting that he was mindful of the gestures of his predecessors and grateful for the friendship he has shared with Bartholomew since the beginning of his ministry as bishop of Rome.

The Ecumenical Patriarchate, based in Istanbul, is recognized as the central coordinating seat of the Orthodox Church. Patriarch Bartholomew I, widely known for his leadership in ecumenical dialogue and environmental advocacy, is considered the 270th successor of St. Andrew.

On Saturday morning, the pope also met privately with leaders of Christian churches in Turkey at the Syriac Orthodox Church of Mor Ephrem in Istanbul, where he was welcomed by the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II. Concluding the meeting, he reflected on the significance of the Council of Nicaea and the Gospel of the Incarnation, calling the assembled leaders to prayer, unity, and renewed evangelization. He invited them to journey together toward the 2033 Jubilee with the hope of advancing toward full communion, inspired by the motto “In Illo Uno Unum” (“Unity in the One”).

Mor Ephrem, located in Yeşilköy, is the first church to be built in Turkey since the founding of the Republic. Construction began nearly a decade before its inauguration in 2023 but was slowed by administrative delays, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the 2023 earthquake.

During the gathering, a choir sang an invocation to the Holy Spirit before the leaders sat together at a round table for a closed-door exchange. Each offered brief remarks, followed by the pope’s address. The patriarchal vicar led the Lord’s Prayer before the pope’s departure.

The Syriac Orthodox Church, headquartered in Damascus, Syria, numbers around 2 million faithful worldwide, and its patriarch plays an important role in ecumenical relations.

Airbus computer issue affects papal plane during trip to Turkey
Sat, 29 Nov 2025 08:30:00 -0500

Rome Newsroom, Nov 29, 2025 / 08:30 am (CNA).

The papal plane set to fly Pope Leo XIV from Turkey to Lebanon on Sunday is one of thousands of Airbus A320 aircraft affected by a computer issue.

Around 6,000 Airbus planes were grounded this weekend after it was discovered that intense solar radiation could interfere with onboard flight control computers, according to the BBC.

For most of the affected aircraft, the issue could be resolved with a software update, but around 900 planes, including the papal plane, needed onboard computers physically replaced.

According to Director of the Holy See Press Office Matteo Bruni, a plane arrived in Istanbul from Rome on Saturday with a technician and the replacement computer for Pope Leo’s ITA Airways A320neo.

Leo is scheduled to take a two-hour flight from Istanbul to Beirut around midday on Nov. 30 for the second leg of his apostolic journey to Turkey and Lebanon.

How a remote island in Indonesia forms hundreds of priests for the world
Sat, 29 Nov 2025 07:00:00 -0500

EWTN News, Nov 29, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).

Roughly 500 miles east of Bali lies the island of Flores, a vocational powerhouse that supplies seminarians not only to Indonesia but also to Catholic communities around the world. Catholicism first arrived here in the 16th century, when Portuguese spice traders brought missionaries to the rugged, mountainous island. Today, the faith is deeply rooted, with more than 80% of the island’s 2 million people being Catholic.

Flores hosts several seminaries, most clustered around Maumere on the island’s northern coast. Religious congregations including the Society of the Divine Word (SVD), the Somascan Fathers, the Rogationists, the Vocationists, and the Carmelites all operate seminaries there, creating a dense network of vocational formation rarely found elsewhere in Asia.

Archbishop Paulus Budi Kleden, SVD, of Ende and a native of Flores, stressed the island’s importance not just for the Indonesian Church but for dioceses and religious congregations worldwide.

“Many of the alumni of these seminaries are working outside the country,” he noted, highlighting the island’s contribution to the global clergy. A thriving minor seminary system also feeds this pipeline, which currently has 650 students enrolled at the junior and senior high school level.

“Once the students finish their school, they can opt for dioceses or different congregations,” Kleden explained. “We do not limit their choice.”

Pope Francis alluded to Flores’ reputation in a 2022 homily on religious life, joking about how some congregations look “to an island in Indonesia” when searching for vocations. The remark, made in a broader reflection on renewal in consecrated life, subtly acknowledged the island’s global significance as a source of seminarians.

A notable institution on Flores is St. Paul’s Major Seminary, perched on the hilltop of Ledalero and founded in 1937 by Divine Word missionaries. It began with SVD novices but soon welcomed local youth called to the priesthood as well as students from other religious orders. To date, the seminary has formed nearly 1,500 SVD missionary priests, with around 500 serving in more than 70 countries worldwide.

At Ledalero, seminarians study philosophy for four years, followed by two years of theology, and complete one to two years of pastoral service before ordination. Those who discern that priesthood is not their calling can leave the program at any time and earn a bachelor’s degree from the nearby Ledalero Catholic School of Philosophy.

According to Father Sefrianus Juhani, SVD, a professor at St. Paul’s Major Seminary, religious vocations remain “quite dynamic.” He noted that annual intake after the novitiate almost never falls below 50, which he sees as proof that the vocation spirit is still very much alive in Indonesia despite cultural and social challenges.

But quantity is never the seminary’s priority. Juhani stressed that Ledalero’s formation aims to shape emotionally mature, disciplined, and spiritually grounded men — priests who are honest and passionate, ready to serve, not to seek fame or social status. The path is long and demanding, he admitted, “but the aim never changes.”

Juhani pointed to the digital world as a major challenge for seminarians. “Our seminarians live in a fast-paced information environment,” he said. “Often this environment propagates disinformation, fake news, and a shortsighted mindset.” Such influences, he believed, make it harder for young men to cultivate silence and reflection, which are essential for spiritual growth.

To protect this interior space, the seminary enforces strict limits on electronics, with Wi-Fi available only during certain hours — a policy designed not to punish but to teach self-regulation and spiritual focus. “Some try to bend the rules,” Juhani admitted, “but we view it as part of their character formation and personal responsibility.”

Finances pose another challenge. With more than 320 seminarians, resources are often stretched thin. Priests and brothers contribute everything they earn, from teaching to small agricultural projects, while families support the seminary however they can.

Even so, funding rarely meets needs. While seminarians are given monthly stipends, they must still manage their own finances and, if they feel they need more, they work the fields for it. To develop economic self-reliance, the community harvests from its own gardens while raising pigs and chickens for food.

The seminarians come from a wide range of family backgrounds. “Some come from well-off families, others from humble ones,” Juhani noted. Some grew up as an only child, others among many siblings.

This diversity, he said, actively enriches priestly formation. Living and studying together teaches seminarians to build “cross-cultural, cross-lingual, and interpersonal brotherhood,” a solidarity that becomes central to their priestly identity.

Daily life at Ledalero follows a disciplined rhythm of prayer, study, and work. Mornings begin with meditation and Mass before moving into lectures, writing assignments, and manual labor that instills “responsibility, teamwork, and humility.” Seminarians cook their own meals and spend evenings participating in choir, writing workshops, and cultural clubs, developing the confidence, creativity, and social skills essential for future pastoral work.

Weekends pull the seminarians into the wider community — mentoring youth, staying with village families, visiting prisoners and patients living with HIV. Their formation is not confined to classrooms. Seminarians are active in environmental advocacy, joining protests against mining projects and helping residents articulate their concerns through print media.

When Mount Lewotobi erupted in July and again in October, Ledalero’s students were on the ground, assisting in evacuation and relief efforts. These encounters, Juhani noted, are designed to cultivate a spirit of service and solidarity, placing seminarians with the people they hope to serve in the years ahead.

“Ledalero is not just a place to learn theology but a school of life,” Juhani said. The simple, brotherly, and inquisitive community life has made Ledalero a living, breathing center of formation in Indonesia.

Each year, new young men arrive with different stories, different dreams, and the same desire to serve something larger than themselves. In their early morning prayers, their long days of study, and their shared meals cooked over simple stoves, they carry forward a vocation that refuses to fade.

How Knock Shrine led a priest to build a successful airport
Sat, 29 Nov 2025 06:00:00 -0500

Dublin, Ireland, Nov 29, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the operation of Ireland West Airport in Knock as it records its highest-ever annual passenger numbers since three inaugural Rome-bound Aer Lingus flights departed in 1985. The airport owes its existence and success to the vision, ambition, and drive of Monsignor James Horan, Knock’s parish priest.

During his apostolic visit in 1979, Pope John Paul II traveled to the Knock Shrine, which he described as “the goal of my journey to Ireland,“ to mark its centenary. For Horan, the delight that the pope was coming to Knock was tempered with regret that there was no airport into which he could fly.

Tom Neary, a volunteer at the shrine for 40 years, told CNA that his close friend — Horan — once said to him: “I’ll tell you one thing, if the pope comes again, we’ll have an airport and he will be able to fly in.”

Neary added: “I didn’t take him too seriously when he said that; that was the kind of thinking the man had.”

The dream was realized when Pope Francis landed at Knock airport on Sunday, Aug. 26, 2018, as part of the World Meeting of Families. The pope had a particular devotion to St. Joseph, who was present in the apparition with Our Lady at Knock, which added to its appeal for him. He prayed at the shrine, recited the Angelus with the faithful, and offered prayers for abuse victims.

According to Neary, Horan was always fascinated by airports. “If he was at Dublin Airport, he would go upstairs to have a good look at the planes arriving and departing,” he said. “He was always looking ahead into the future. He was kind of a visionary, and he was never happy unless he was doing something to help people. He loved country people in particular because he was one of them.”

In the early 1980s, Ireland was quite poor and lagged behind other countries economically. Emigration and unemployment rates were spiraling, and even for those who had jobs wages were low.

Despite the economic situation and skepticism from Irish media and politicians, Horan pressed ahead with his plans, securing 10 million Irish pounds (about $13 million) from the then-Irish premier, Taoiseach Charles Haughey, who subsequently formally opened the new airport five years later.

There was a shortfall of 4 million Irish pounds ($5.2 million) at one stage due to a general election and a change in government. To cover this funding gap, Horan organized a “jumbo quiz” — a large-scale lottery that he traveled across several countries, including Australia and the United States, to promote.

Neary explained: “For the jumbo quiz, we had to go for very big prizes, and strangely enough, nobody refused us a prize.”

“Once the 10 million [Irish pounds] was spent, the work stopped, the authorities didn’t want to start up again,” he said. “They stopped it, actually, on two occasions. Now, that was a desperate thing to have done, and even though everything was compliant, they just didn’t want the development at all.”

The jumbo quiz offered a stunning array of prizes including cars, houses, cattle, sites for houses, heating oil (which attracted huge interest), and a lot of money.

“It worked, it completed the runway and a terminal building, the first building that was put up there, and was it not for that jumbo quiz the airport would never have come into being because it was dead and buried, as far as the government was concerned,” Neary said. “Now it has the full support of government. It gets grants from the EU Regional Airport grants. It’s doing extremely well.”

The travel and exertions took their toll on Horan’s health, and he died shortly after the airport’s completion. For people coming to Knock airport now, one of the first things they see is an impressive statue of Horan.

Noel Jennings, who now works at Sligo Regional Airport, was a Knock parishioner who grew up knowing Horan.

“He was a larger-than-life character,” Jennings told CNA. “Back when the airport was celebrating its 25-year anniversary, Monsignor Horan wasn’t being mentioned that much and I felt that he had been lost among that generation, not many people knew of his contribution. I felt that something had to be done to mark his contribution and to remind people coming to the airport of the driving force behind it.”

Together with other individuals who knew Horan, Noel set about establishing a committee to raise the 70,000 euros (about $80,600) needed to erect a permanent statue. And, as with earlier appeals and despite the strained economic situation, it was a success. A statue of Horan now greets people using the airport.

While the statue is a visible tribute to Horan, a tangible and practical economic legacy is the growth of the airport, the number of destinations, the volume of passengers, and the regularity of flights.

Donal Healy, head of aviation business development, marketing, and communications at Ireland West Airport, explained to CNA how the airport currently services 22 destinations in the summer and 11 in the winter. Over 950,000 passengers will have used the airport in 2025 — over 100,000 more than the previous year.

“A key presence since 1989 is Ryanair, who has had 12 million passengers use the airport. London traffic accounts for 400,000 passengers annually. The airport now provides employment for over 200 people, with a knock-on effect for local businesses and community,” Healy said.

He added: “On a practical level the presence of the airport enables members of the Irish diaspora with a means to travel directly back to visit relatives in the heart of the west of Ireland, maintaining valuable family, parish, and community contacts.”

The days of large-volume pilgrimage charter flights are gone, but Knock Shrine still welcomes 1.5 million visitors every year, many using the airport.

These lasting benefits of economic sustainability, employment, inward investment, and the continuing appeal of the Knock Shrine are a lasting testimony to Horan’s vision, his faith in the local people, the local business community, the people of Ireland, and most of all, his faith in God.

Pope Leo XIV visits emblematic Turkish mosque in sign of fraternity with Muslims
Sat, 29 Nov 2025 03:10:00 -0500

Istanbul, Turkey, Nov 29, 2025 / 03:10 am (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV started his third day in Turkey on Saturday with a visit to the Sultan Ahmed Mosque in Istanbul. The visit was a gesture of respect toward the Islamic world, fraternity with Muslims, and continuity in building bridges of interreligious dialogue, though the pope declined an invitation to pray in the Muslim house of worship.

The so-called “Blue Mosque” stands as one of the most important Islamic buildings in Istanbul. Its beauty, its scale, and its history continue to attract visitors from all over the world. It also holds a unique place in the relationship between Christianity and Islam, as several popes have passed through its doors in silence and respect.

Benedict XVI visited the mosque in 2006 during his visit to the country. The visit came less than three months after an address he made in Regensburg, Germany, in which he quoted a medieval emperor’s description of Islam as “evil and inhuman” and “spread by the sword,” provoking a fierce reaction in the Muslim world. The Vatican’s spokesman at that time, Father Federico Lombardi, said that Benedict paused for meditation inside the mosque. Pope Francis entered the mosque in 2014 and stood in what the Vatican described as a “moment of silent adoration” of God inside the Muslim place of worship.

After Leo’s visit on Saturday, the Holy See Press Office said in a statement that “the pope experienced the visit to the mosque in silence, in a spirit of reflection and attentive listening, with deep respect for the place and for the faith of those who gather there in prayer.”

One of the pope’s hosts for the visit, muezzin Aşgın Musa Tunca, told reporters afterward that he had told the pope he was welcome “to worship here” but that Leo had replied: “No, I am just going to look around.”

A notable omission from Leo’s itinerary, and a point of tension in Catholic-Islamic relations, is Hagia Sophia, the Byzantine church-turned-mosque that the Turkish government designated a museum open to all faiths in the 20th century. Popes Paul VI, John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis all visited the monument on previous papal visits to Turkey. Francis said he was “deeply pained” when the government turned it back into a mosque in 2020.

Asked on Thursday why Leo would not be visiting Hagia Sophia, Bruni said: “It simply was not put on the program.”

The “Blue Mosque,” which Leo visited on Saturday, was built between 1609 and 1617 by Sultan Ahmed I. It occupies part of the site where the Grand Palace of Constantinople once stood. The goal was to make it the most important place of worship in the Ottoman Empire.

The construction process was carefully organized. The name “Blue Mosque” comes from approximately 21,000 turquoise ceramic tiles placed along the walls and the main dome. Walls, arches, and columns carry the famous Iznik tiles in tones from blue to green. Light entering through 260 small windows also gives the prayer hall a remarkable atmosphere.

The Sultan Ahmed Mosque is the only mosque with six minarets. Most mosques have four. Only one of the Ka’ba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, exceeds it, with seven.

Correction: An earlier version of this story referred to Father Federico Lombardi as Father Pietro Lombardi. The story has been updated with the correct name. (Published Nov. 29, 2025)

Immigrants, converts, and students reflect on Pope Leo’s visit to Istanbul cathedral
Fri, 28 Nov 2025 10:05:00 -0500

ACI MENA, Nov 28, 2025 / 10:05 am (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV began the second day of his apostolic journey to Turkey at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Istanbul, a vital spiritual home for a diverse Catholic community largely made up of immigrants from across the world. The cathedral — long a customary stop for pontiffs visiting Turkey — welcomed the Holy Father with profound emotion and vibrant hope.

At the entrance, Pope Leo was received by Father Nicola Masedu, a Sardinian priest who has served in Turkey for more than 15 years and lived a life marked by mission across the Middle East. He first moved to Lebanon at the age of 17, later to Iran — where he was briefly arrested — then to the Holy Land, and finally to Istanbul.

In an interview with ACI MENA, CNA’s Arabic-language news partner, Masedu recalled that the first pope he met was Pope Paul VI, whom he greeted at the Beirut airport during a brief stopover on the pontiff’s way to India. He later met St. John Paul II in Castel Gandolfo after being forced to leave Iran and Pope Benedict XVI in Bethlehem in 2008.

Masedu also welcomed Pope Leo holding the same crucifix he once presented to Pope Francis. He explained that the crucifix originally belonged to the Sisters of Charity at the Austrian Hospital, who gifted it to the parish when they were clearing out some of their rooms. “That crucifix has a history of prayer and protection,” he said, adding a personal memory: “It was a point of reference for Kamila, our little parrot, who — whenever she was frightened — would fly into my office and take refuge near it.”

Masedu also shared with ACI MENA the symbolic gift the community prepared for Pope Leo: a silver chalice crafted by an Armenian artist, engraved with the six apostles who brought Christianity to this land.

From this deeply symbolic offering, the priest reflected on the ancient Christian roots of Turkey, reflecting on the fact that this land once stood at the heart of the early Church. He emphasized the spirit of ecumenical unity that binds the different churches together in their effort, as he said, “to remain close to one another.”

He spoke candidly about the challenges facing his community, especially immigrants who struggle with financial hardship, residency permits, and at times, discrimination. Still, the parish works tirelessly to accompany them both spiritually and materially, offering education, social support, and medical assistance when necessary, as well as retreats and psychological accompaniment.

Reflecting on the difference between Christian life in Lebanon and Turkey, Masedu noted that in Lebanon he felt “at home,” surrounded by visible Christian symbols, whereas in Turkey churches remain largely hidden from view, with St. Anthony’s Basilica on İstiklal Street being a notable exception. He concluded by expressing his hope that Pope Leo’s visit will strengthen the Christian community, encouraging them to persevere and continue working for peace.

Exiled for his faith

Among the parishioners present this morning was Suhail, a 36-year-old Iranian who arrived in Turkey seven years ago after converting to Christianity. Forced to leave Iran because of his faith, he now works closely with a community of Catholic Iranians who have also sought refuge in Turkey.

Suhail confirmed that practicing Christianity in Turkey is “immeasurably safer” than in Iran, where he was previously arrested. Yet, mindful of the danger facing Christians still in his home country, he chose not to share details about the persecution there so as not to put anyone at further risk.

Instead, he spoke with gratitude about the religious freedom he has found in Istanbul and about the dignity of being able to live and worship openly: “I can pray, I can attend Mass, and I can grow in my faith. For this, I am thankful,” he said.

Suhail has been helping in the cathedral for months in preparation for the papal visit, and he described the opportunity to welcome Pope Leo as “a blessing beyond words.”

An African voice

Also sharing his joy was Philip Tata, originally from Cameroon and now serving as president of the youth group at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit.

Having lived in Gabon before moving to Turkey four years ago, Tata spoke about the remarkable diversity that shapes the parish community. He explained that Mass is celebrated in English, Turkish, and French, reflecting the presence of a large African community, many of whom come from French-speaking countries.

Tata recalled how Pope Francis previously met with refugees in this very church, and he believes Pope Leo is continuing on the same pastoral path, placing special emphasis on migrants, displaced people, and those living on the margins. Pope Leo explicitly mentioned refugees and immigrants in his message this morning, a moment that deeply moved the congregation.

Reflecting on the Catholic youth in Turkey, he said that many young people hope to leave, not because of religious persecution but because of the limited economic opportunities and scarcity of jobs, which push them to search for a more stable future elsewhere. Still, he expressed hope that the papal visit might inspire renewed support and encouragement for the younger generation.

Lebanese voices singing for the pope in Istanbul

Among the faithful gathered in the cathedral were also Lebanese Catholics who now live in Turkey and will not be in Lebanon when the pope visits their homeland on Sunday. Yet, providentially, they encountered him here, in what has become their second home, and even had the chance to sing for him as part of the choir.

Sleiman Saikali, who has lived in Turkey for 30 years, is traveling to İznik to sing for the pope during the historic commemoration of the Council of Nicaea. He shared his deep joy at welcoming Pope Leo in a place that symbolizes both his roots and his present life. He said he has been preparing for months, not only by training his voice but also spiritually through prayer.

He spoke passionately about the mission behind this papal journey, insisting that each country carries a distinct vocation. He recalled being present at the visits of Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis to Turkey. “Benedict was a man of extraordinary theological depth, and his visit with Patriarch Bartholomew was an unforgettable ecumenical moment. Francis was like a positive revolution — he returned the Church to the poor and the simple, to justice and humility.”

Looking to Pope Leo, he expressed profound hope: “In him I see a blend of Benedict, Francis, and John Paul II. Since John Paul, God has given the Church popes who walk with the signs of the times, and this is God’s work, not ours.” For Christians in Turkey, he said, papal visits are vital. “As a very small minority, we carry the beauty of keeping the faith, but the danger of isolation is real. We must not isolate ourselves.”

Also part of the choir is Lili El-Helou, a Lebanese student who came to Turkey two years ago. She never imagined she would one day sing before the pope, yet today she stood among those performing at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit. She will also chant the Kyrie Eleison in the Maronite melody on Saturday at the arena.

El-Helou described how her spiritual life has deepened since moving to Istanbul, portraying the parish as active, united, and vibrant, despite the small number of Catholics. She said she feels at peace living her faith in Istanbul. However, she noted that the situation can be “more difficult” in other cities such as İzmir, where religious sisters sometimes hesitate to appear in their habits due not to legal restrictions but to reactions, comments, and intrusive stares.

A Chaldean presence

The atmosphere in the cathedral Friday was lifted by a multilingual choir, whose voices filled the church with hymns in different languages including Syriac, a reminder of the ancient Christian heritage rooted in this land.

Among them was Sister Sandra, a Chaldean nun from the Nuns of the Sacred Heart, who described the opportunity to sing in Syriac — the language spoken by Jesus and preserved by the Eastern Churches — as “a profound grace and a moment of great beauty.”

She asked all believers to pray for Turkey, the pope, and the Christian community in Turkey, expressing hope that the visit will strengthen unity and peace.

Council of Nicaea: 1,700 years of Christian unity amid division
Fri, 28 Nov 2025 10:00:00 -0500

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Nov 28, 2025 / 10:00 am (CNA).

In the summer of A.D. 325, more than 300 bishops gathered in Nicaea — located in modern-day northern Turkey — to promulgate a common Christian creed, settle Christological disputes that arose from the Arian heresy, and promote unity in the Church.

The first ecumenical council, known as the Council of Nicaea, is still accepted as authoritative by the Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and many Protestant denominations. The common beliefs still offer a strong element of unity in an otherwise fractured Christianity 1,700 years later.

During the council, the bishops established the initial formulation of the Nicene Creed, which is the profession of faith still recited at the Catholic Mass, Orthodox liturgies, and some Protestant services. It also rejected heretical Arian claims that Christ was a created being who lacked an eternal divine nature and rather confirmed that the Son is eternally begotten of the Father.

The council was called by Emperor Constantine — a convert to Christianity — less than 15 years after the empire halted the persecution of Christians and granted them the freedom to worship. It came just 20 years after the reign of Emperor Diocletian, who brutally persecuted Christians for their rejection of paganism.

“That council represents a fundamental stage in the development of the creed shared by all the Churches and ecclesial communities,” Pope Leo XIV said in May, acknowledging the 1,700th anniversary.

“While we are on the path towards the reestablishment of full communion among all Christians, we recognize that this unity can only be unity in faith,” the pontiff said.

The Arian heresy

The primary purpose of the council was to settle a major question about Christ’s divine nature and address Arianism, which was a heresy promoted by the priest Arius asserting that Jesus Christ was a created being and not eternal.

“Arius began to preach something that was scandalous to many Christian believers and [which] seemed incompatible to the Christian faith as witnessed to in Scripture and transmitted through the tradition of the Church,” Dominican Father Dominic Legge, the director of the Thomistic Institute and a professor of theology, told CNA.

Arius wrote in “Thalia” that he believed the Father “made the Son” and “produced him as a son for himself by begetting him.” He wrote that “the Son was not always [in existence], for he was not [in existence] before his generation.” He asserted that Christ was not eternal but “came into existence by the Father’s will.” Arius contested that Christ “is not true God” but was rather “made God by participation.”

Legge said that Arius understood that “there’s an infinite gap between God and creatures,” but where he was mistaken was that “he thought that the Son was on the ‘creature’ side of that gap” and “not equal in divinity to God.”

“Therefore, he considered him to be the highest creature,” Legge added. “The first creature, but nonetheless a creature.”

Legge said that at Nicaea there was “a consensus of bishops with very different approaches to the mystery of God and they could see that Arius had to be wrong and so they condemned him and they affirmed that the Son is ‘God from God, true God from true God.’”

The language adopted at Nicaea expressly contradicted Arius, affirming Christ is “true God from true God, begotten not made, of one substance with the Father.” It condemned Arius’ view as heresy. The vote was nearly unanimous with more than 300 bishops voting in favor of this text and only two siding with Arius.

St. Athanasius, one of the most outspoken opponents of Arianism at the council and in its aftermath, wrote in his “First Discourse Against the Arians” in the mid-fourth century that “the Scriptures declare the Son’s eternity.”

Athanasius notes, for example, the Gospel of St. John states that “in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” He also cites Chapter 8 of the same Gospel in which Christ declares “before Abraham was, I am,” invoking the divine name used by God to indicate his eternity when appearing to Moses as the burning bush.

“The Lord himself says, ‘I am the Truth,’ not ‘I became the Truth,’ but always, ‘I am — I am the Shepherd — I am the Light‘ — and again, ‘Call me not, Lord and Master? And you call me well, for so I am,‘” Athanasius wrote. “Who, hearing such language from God, and the Wisdom, and Word of the Father, speaking of himself, will any longer hesitate about the truth, and not immediately believe that in the phrase ‘I am,‘ is signified that the Son is eternal and without beginning?”

Legge noted that Athanasius also warned that Arius’ position “threatened the central truth of Christianity that God became man for our salvation.”

Unifying the Church in the fourth century

Prior to the Council of Nicaea, bishops in the Church held many synods and councils to settle disputes that arose within Christianity.

This includes the Council of Jerusalem, which was an apostolic council detailed in Acts 15, and many local councils that did not represent the entire Church. Regional councils “have a kind of binding authority — but they’re not global,” according to Thomas Clemmons, a professor of Church history at The Catholic University of America.

When the Roman Empire halted its Christian persecution and Emperor Constantine converted to the faith, this allowed “the opportunity to have a more broad, ecumenical council,” Clemmons told CNA. Constantine embraced Christianity more than a decade before the council, though he was not actually baptized until moments before his death in A.D. 337.

Constantine saw a need for “a certain sense of unity,” he said, at a time with theological disputes, debates about the date of Easter, conflicts about episcopal jurisdictions, and canon law questions.

“His role was to unify and to have [those] other issues worked out,” Clemmons said.

The pursuit of unity helped produce the Nicene Creed, which Clemmons said “helps to clarify what more familiar scriptural language doesn’t.”

Neither the council nor the creed was universally adopted immediately. Clemmons noted that it was more quickly adopted in the East but took longer in the West. There were several attempts to overturn the council, but Clemmons said “it’s later tradition that will affirm it.”

“I don’t know if the significance of it was understood [at the time],” he said.

The dispute between Arians and defenders of Nicaea were tense for the next half century, with some emperors backing the creed and others backing Arianism. Ultimately, Clemmons said, the creed “convinces people over many decades but without the imperial enforcement you would expect.”

It was not until 380 when Emperor Theodosius declared that Nicene Christianity was the official religion of the Roman Empire. One year later, at the First Council of Constantinople, the Church reaffirmed the Council of Nicaea and updated the Nicene Creed by adding text about the Holy Spirit and the Church.

Common misconceptions

There are some prominent misconceptions about the Council of Nicaea that are prevalent in modern society.

Clemmons said the assertion that the Council of Nicaea established the biblical canon “is probably the most obvious” misconception. This subject was not debated at Nicaea and the council did not promulgate any teachings on this matter.

Another misconception, he noted, is the notion that the council established the Church and the papacy. Episcopal offices, including that of the pope (the bishop of Rome), were already in place and operating long before Nicaea, although the council did resolve some jurisdictional disputes.

Other misconceptions, according to Clemmons, is an asserted “novelty” of the process and the teachings. He noted that bishops often gathered in local councils and that the teachings defined at Nicaea were simply “the confirmation of the faith of the early Church.”

This story was first published on June 5, 2025, and has been updated.

Pope Leo XIV marks Nicaea anniversary, urges Christians to overcome divisions
Fri, 28 Nov 2025 08:05:00 -0500

Iznik, Turkey, Nov 28, 2025 / 08:05 am (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV commemorated the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea on Friday in the Turkish city historically known as the birthplace of the Nicene Creed, calling Christians to overcome “the scandal of divisions” and to renew their commitment to unity.

The pope spoke during an ecumenical prayer service held at the archaeological site of the ancient Basilica of St. Neophytos on the shore of Lake Iznik, southeast of Istanbul. The gathering marked one of the most symbolic moments of his apostolic visit to Turkey, which has focused heavily on ecumenical and interreligious outreach.

“We are all invited to overcome the scandal of divisions,” he said, urging Christians to nurture “the desire for unity for which the Lord Jesus prayed and gave his life.”

Pope Leo and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, considered first among equals among Eastern Orthodox bishops, were welcomed by two senior Orthodox bishops before proceeding to a platform beside the submerged ruins of the basilica. The two leaders stood before icons of Christ and of the council and lit candles together.

Iznik, formerly Nicaea, is located about 81 miles southeast of Istanbul. The remains of an early Christian basilica dedicated to St. Neophytos, a young martyr killed in 303 during the persecutions of Diocletian, were first identified in 2014 after aerial photographs revealed the outline of a submerged church. The basilica collapsed during an earthquake in 740, and its ruins are now visible from the lakeshore.

In his homily, Leo said the anniversary was “a precious opportunity to ask ourselves who Jesus Christ is in the lives of men and women today, and who he is for each one of us personally.” He cautioned against reducing Christ to “a kind of charismatic leader or superman,” recalling Arius’ denial of Christ’s divinity and the council’s defense of the full humanity and full divinity of Jesus.

“If God did not become man, how can mortal creatures participate in his immortal life?” the pope asked, emphasizing what was at stake in the fourth-century debate.

Leo said the Nicene confession of faith remains a foundation for unity among Christians worldwide. Quoting the creed, he underlined the proclamation of Christ as “consubstantial with the Father,” describing it as “a profound bond already uniting all Christians.” Citing St. Augustine, he added: “Although we Christians are many, in the one Christ we are one.”

A reconciled Christianity, he continued, can “bear credible witness to the Gospel” and offer “a proclamation of hope for all.”

The pope also extended his appeal for fraternity beyond the Christian world, insisting that authentic recognition of God as Father requires honoring all people as brothers and sisters. He warned against using religion “to justify war, violence, or any form of fundamentalism or fanaticism,” and called instead for “fraternal encounter, dialogue, and cooperation.”

Pope Leo’s schedule in Turkey includes a series of ecumenical events, among them the signing of a joint declaration with Patriarch Bartholomew I on Nov. 29 at the Patriarchal Palace. His trip also carries an interreligious dimension. Earlier on Friday he met the chief rabbi of Turkey, discussing the visit as a sign of peace and support for all religious communities. On Saturday, Nov. 29, he will visit the Sultan Ahmed Mosque.

Pro-life, Christian health insurance company launches in Texas  
Fri, 28 Nov 2025 07:00:00 -0500

CNA Staff, Nov 28, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).

Two Texas pro-lifers are launching a health care plan that embraces Catholic life ethics, creating an ethical option for Christians.

Health insurance companies often cover things that are in tension with Catholic Church teaching or a Christian pro-life ethic, such as abortion, contraceptives, or assisted suicide.

Daniel Cruz and Bob Hogan founded the FortressPlan by Presidio Healthcare because they wanted a pro-life, Christian alternative.

“FortressPlan,” which launched in November, does not cover any health care offerings that go against Catholic teaching.

While making a start in Texas, the co-founders hope to expand across the U.S.

Hogan, co-founder of Presidio and an alum of Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio, said that health care sharing ministries “are largely unregulated and are not legally required to pay families’ medical bills,” which can “cause tremendous financial stress for families.”

As a more realistic alternative, he and Cruz “set out to create a real insurance company,” Hogan said in a statement shared with CNA.

Cruz spoke with CNA about the Catholic values behind the FortressPlan.

CNA: What makes Presidio Healthcare’s FortressPlan unique among insurance options in the U.S.?

Daniel Cruz: The FortressPlan stands out as the only health insurance plan that aligns with the culture of life. Unlike other insurers, it does not cover abortifacients, contraception, transgender treatments or surgeries, euthanasia, in vitro fertilization, or similar practices.

What makes the Fortress Plan pro-life and Christian? What inspired you to align the plan with the “Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services”?

Presidio Healthcare Insurance Company is the first health insurer in the United States to be filed as a Catholic entity. Designed to respect the dignity of every person, the FortressPlan aligns with the “Ethical and Religious Directives [ERDs] for Catholic Health Care Services.”

The ERDs represent a formally recognized expression of Catholic moral doctrine, protected under federal conscience and religious-freedom laws, which allows us to operate in the private market with an authentically Catholic health plan. A major element of our mission is to promote life-affirming physicians and services, and the ERDs serve as a concrete guide to help us accomplish that aim.

What inspired you to launch the pro-life Christian health insurance option, the FortressPlan? What challenges have you faced in launching it?

I was approached by a former client to estimate the cost of an abortion for their health plan. This request ignited a passion to apply my skills as an actuary in a different direction.

After discovering that no insurance companies were entirely pro-life or that sharing ministries fell short of offering true financial protection for families, I decided to establish the first pro-life Christian insurance company.

What are your future goals for the FortressPlan and this movement toward pro-life, Christian insurance? How do you hope it will impact people?

Our future objectives include expanding nationwide and entering both the ACA [Affordable Care Act] and employer markets, building a well-recognized brand that represents Christian health care.

Filipino archbishop asks Catholics to attend protests against government corruption
Fri, 28 Nov 2025 05:53:00 -0500

CNA Staff, Nov 28, 2025 / 05:53 am (CNA).

Here is a roundup of Catholic world news from the past week that you might have missed:

Filipino archbishop asks Catholics to attend protests against government corruption

Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, the outgoing president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, has invited Filipinos across the country to attend rallies this weekend in Manila to protest government corruption. The protest comes on the heels of the Trillion Peso March held on Sept. 21, which drew hundreds of thousands.

Thousands of Filipinos are expected to participate in the march Sunday, according to Herald Malaysia Online. The protests come amid a growing political crisis and rising public anger over scandals and abuses of government funds.

Priest and security guard attacked in Trinidad

A priest and a security guard at St. Benedict’s Roman Catholic Church in La Romaine, Trinidad, were the victims of an attack and robbery on Monday, Trinidad Express reported.

Five attackers cut the electricity, bound the security guard, entered the rectory, woke and tied up the priest Father Derek Anton, and stole various electronics and cash.

The crime is being investigated and the Archdiocese of Port of Spain has confirmed it. “At this time we ask you all for your prayers [for the victims] and for all victims of crime,” the archdiocese said in its statement.

Mozambique archbishop pleads for humanitarian support to aid displaced people

Archbishop Inacio Saure of Nampula, Mozambique, has issued an urgent plea for humanitarian aid for more than 30,000 people who have been displaced in the Alua district of Memba.

Saure, who is also president of the Episcopal Conference of Mozambique, told Vatican News that the people who have fled their homes “are currently sheltering in the administrative post of Alua” due to recent terrorist incursions in Nampula province. The archbishop said he has instructed Caritas in Nampula to respond to the crisis.

Catholic Church rallies in Thailand to assist victims of historic flooding

Historic flooding in southern Thailand has impacted over 2 million people, causing death and destruction and stranding many tourists. According to Vatican News, in response to the disaster Bishop Paul Trairong Multree of the Diocese of Surat Thani called a meeting Tuesday of Church-led relief groups.

“Our relief team will get working tomorrow morning immediately with [the Catholic Office for Emergency Relief and Refugees], bringing drinking water and essentials to the people affected,” Trairong reportedly told LiCAS News, adding that supplies are expected to arrive from Bangkok and other dioceses.

Tensions between Pakistanis and Afghans may erupt into new war, Karachi priest says

Escalating tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have created fear that a new war may be on the horizon, according to Father Mario Angelo Rodrigues, a priest of the Archdiocese of Karachi and rector of St. Patrick’s Catholic High School in Karachi.

He told Fides that resentments and fears have built in the wake of the influx of Afghani refugees and recent terrorist attacks.

“To reestablish a climate of mutual trust and embark on a path to peace, the Pakistani government should accept the situation and grant residency to Afghan refugees who are living peacefully and have no links to terrorism, in the spirit of an open and pluralistic society,” the priest said.

He also noted that “the government in Kabul should cooperate in combating terrorism, our common enemy. As Pakistani Christians, we support paths of acceptance and brotherhood so that we can live in true peace within our society and with our neighbors.”

Nun who fights human trafficking reacts to new UN report on femicide

In the wake of a new United Nations report highlighting the high numbers of women killed by men and new forms of violence being caused by tech developments, Sister Abby Avelino, the international coordinator of Talitha Kum, an international group that fights human trafficking, told Vatican News that “digital violence is increasingly widespread, and the online world is now a major site of exploitation.”

The U.N. report shows that more than 38% of women are estimated to have experienced online violence, while 85% have witnessed abuse directed at other women on digital platforms.

Pope Leo shares ‘secret of Christian charity’ with Little Sisters of the Poor
Fri, 28 Nov 2025 03:00:00 -0500

Istanbul, Turkey, Nov 28, 2025 / 03:00 am (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV visited the Nursing Home of the Little Sisters of the Poor in Istanbul on Friday, telling the community that Christian charity begins not with doing but with being — i.e., living a real communion with those one serves.

“The secret of Christian charity is that before being for others, we must first be with others in a communion based on fraternity,” he said during the encounter on Nov. 28, the second day of his apostolic trip to Turkey, where he is marking the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea.

A papal stop at a charitable institution has become customary during international journeys, and Pope Leo chose to spend time with the elderly as a sign of closeness to those often marginalized in modern societies.

Founded in France in 1839 by St. Jeanne Jugan, the Little Sisters of the Poor serve elderly people in need around the world, including in Turkey, where they welcome residents of different religious backgrounds. The pope was greeted at the residence by the mother superior, former superior, and provincial leader before proceeding to the chapel to meet residents, staff, and benefactors.

Reflecting on the congregation’s name, the pope told the sisters that their mission mirrors the life of Christ himself. “The Lord has called you not only to assist or help the poor but has also called you to be their ‘sisters.’ You are to be like Jesus, whom the Father sent to us not only to help and serve us but also to be our brother.”

Turning to the residents, he warned that the word “elderly” risks losing its meaning in cultures driven by efficiency and materialism. Such attitudes, he said, lead societies to forget the dignity and value of older persons. Scripture and tradition, by contrast, present the elderly as bearers of memory and wisdom.

“As Pope Francis loved to repeat — the elderly are the wisdom of a people, a treasure for their grandchildren, families, and society as a whole,” he said.

Pope Leo concluded by thanking the community for its patient, prayerful witness and prayed that the Lord would strengthen all who live and serve in the home.

Pope Leo reminds Turkish Catholic minority of the ‘logic of littleness’
Fri, 28 Nov 2025 01:55:00 -0500

Istanbul, Turkey, Nov 28, 2025 / 01:55 am (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV encouraged Turkey’s small Catholic community Friday to rediscover what he called the Gospel’s “logic of littleness,” urging them not to be discouraged by their tiny numbers but to recognize in them the strength of authentic Christian witness.

The pope addressed bishops, priests, religious, pastoral workers, and laypeople at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Istanbul on his second day in the country. Catholics in Turkey make up roughly 0.05% of the nation’s 85 million people.

Calling Turkey a “holy land” where the Old and New Testaments meet, the pope recalled the deep Christian roots of the region: Abraham’s journey through Harran, the early Christian communities in Antioch and Ephesus, and the long and influential history of Byzantine Christianity. He noted in particular that the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, currently led by Patriarch Bartholomew I, remains “a point of reference” both for its Greek faithful and for other Orthodox churches.

The pope warned Christians not to treat this heritage merely as a memory of past greatness. Instead, he urged them to adopt “an evangelical vision” that sees their present reality through the Holy Spirit’s light.

“When we look with God’s eyes, we discover that he has chosen the way of littleness,” he said, pointing to the mustard seed, the little ones praised by Jesus, and the quiet growth of the kingdom of God. The Church’s true strength, he explained, “does not lie in her resources or structures,” nor in numbers or influence, but in remaining gathered around Christ and sent by the Holy Spirit.

Quoting Jesus’ words “Do not be afraid, little flock,” the pope encouraged Christians in Turkey to cultivate hope. He pointed to the growing number of young people approaching the Catholic Church as a sign of promise and asked communities to continue welcoming and accompanying them.

He urged particular dedication to ecumenical and interreligious dialogue, the transmission of the faith to local communities, and pastoral service to refugees and migrants — many of whom are among the most vulnerable people in the country. The pope also noted that many Catholics in Turkey come from abroad, a reality that calls for a deeper process of inculturation so that the language and culture of the country become “more and more your own.”

The pope highlighted Turkey’s unique role in the history of the Church, recalling that the first eight ecumenical councils were held on its soil. Marking the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea, he said the council continues to pose three questions to Christians today: What is the essence of the faith? Who is Jesus for us? And how should doctrine be expressed in ways that speak to contemporary culture?

He warned against what he described as a “new Arianism,” a version of the heresy that divided Christianity in its early centuries, that reduces Jesus to a moral teacher or heroic figure while denying his divinity and lordship over history.

Before concluding, the pope invoked the memory of St. John XXIII, who served in Turkey and wrote affectionately of its people. Reflecting on the saint’s image of Bosporus fishermen laboring through the night, he encouraged Turkish Catholics to persevere in the same spirit: working faithfully, joyfully, and courageously “in the Lord’s boat.”

The Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, where the meeting took place, was built in 1846 and houses relics of early popes, including St. Linus. A statue of Pope Benedict XV stands in its courtyard, erected in gratitude for his efforts to help victims of the 1915–1918 war. The inscription honors him as a “benefactor of peoples, without distinction of nationality or religion.”

Watch Pope Leo XIV’s full homily here.

Vatican’s 2025 Christmas tree installed in St. Peter’s Square
Thu, 27 Nov 2025 14:30:00 -0500

Vatican City, Nov 27, 2025 / 14:30 pm (CNA).

A towering Christmas tree now stands in the center of St. Peter’s Square after the spruce arrived at the Vatican on Thursday morning.

The 88-foot-tall spruce tree from Italy’s Bolzano province was erected next to the ancient Egyptian obelisk that stands in the middle of the 17th-century Baroque square designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini.

This year, the northern Italian municipalities of Lagundo and Ultimo gifted the Christmas tree to the Vatican. The tree was harvested in the alpine valley of Ultimo.

In an Oct. 20 interview published on the Vatican State website, Bishop Ivo Muser of the Diocese of Bolzano-Bressanone said the tree reaffirms the local Church’s “spiritual and emotional bond” with the pope.

“It is a way of saying: ‘We are with you, Pope Leo; we wish to pray with you and share the joy of Christmas with you,” he said.

“The tree thus becomes an ‘ambassador’ of our territory, our culture, and our faith — a way of bringing a small piece of our local Church into the heart of the universal Church,” he added.

The Vatican’s large-scale Nativity display — donated by the Italian Diocese of Nocera Inferiore-Sarno — is currently under construction behind covered fencing in St. Peter’s Square.

The highly-awaited 2025 Nativity scene will honor St. Alphonus Maria de Liguori, whose remains lie in the southern Italian diocese. In Italy, St. Alponsus is famous for composing the famous Italian Christmas carol “Tu scendi dalle stelle” (“From Starry Skies Descending”).

Bishop Giuseppe Giudice of the Diocese of Nocera Inferiore-Sarno said the Nativity project for the Vatican, which involved a “long period of preparation,” will also showcase local Neapolitan Christmas traditions.

“I am happy to say that everyone working on the project is from our wonderful region, and the Nativity scene will be rich in elements typical of our local Agro Nocerino-Sarnese area,” he said in an Oct. 24 interview published by Vatican City State.

The Vatican will hold a special ceremony on Dec. 7 at 6:30 p.m. local time to present the Christmas tree and Nativity scene to the public. The display will be open to the public until mid-January 2026.

U.S. lawmakers introduce bill to protect medical residents from coercive abortion training
Thu, 27 Nov 2025 13:35:00 -0500

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Nov 27, 2025 / 13:35 pm (CNA).

Here is a roundup of recent pro-life and abortion-related news.

U.S. legislators introduce bill to protect medical residents from coercive abortion training

U.S. legislators have introduced a bill to protect the conscience rights of medical students and residents who often feel pressured or even coerced into participating in abortions during their training.

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas; Sen. James Lankford, R-Oklahoma; and others introduced the Conscience Protections for Medical Residents Act, designed to “ensure medical students and residents are never pressured or coerced into abortion training that violates their moral or religious beliefs,” according to a press release.

The bill would establish federal protections for students, making abortion training an “opt-in” rather than “opt-out” system as “residents often fear that opting out could affect evaluations, recommendations, or future career opportunities,” according to the press release.

“The first rule of medicine is to do no harm, yet for many aspiring doctors, coerced abortion training not only contradicts that oath but also violates their moral and religious beliefs,” Cornyn said in a statement.

“By allowing medical residents to opt in rather than opt out of abortion training, this legislation would protect health care professionals’ convictions and give them the freedom to practice medicine without fear of retaliation.”

Investigative videos find late-term abortions performed in Canada without serious medical reason

After a pregnant pro-life woman went undercover in abortion clinics across Canada, she discovered that late-term abortionists are easily accessible, even in cases where the woman isn’t having medical issues, according to recently released videos.

Alissa Golob, co-founder of RightNow, went undercover when she was five months pregnant in 2023, obtaining videos in Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver and elsewhere that have been released to the public over the past two weeks.

The videos show abortionists saying that women don’t need to prove that they are having serious medical issues in order to have a late-term abortion.

“Canadians are often told that late-term abortions never happen in Canada and if they do, they are for extreme medical reasons, such as the life of the mother,” Golob said in a Nov. 19 statement.

“Yet, as you will see in these videos, I was told numerous times that attaining a late-term abortion in Canada is relatively easy, it is legal, and that I did not need a reason, medical or otherwise, regarding myself or my pregnancy,” Golob continued.

RightNow is calling on the Canadian government in a petition to protect unborn children by restricting late-term abortions after five months of pregnancy.

North Dakota reinstates law protecting unborn babies

North Dakota’s Supreme Court reinstated a state law protecting unborn children in nearly all cases.

In 2023, North Dakota made it a felony for abortionists to take the lives of unborn children except in cases of rape or incest and medical emergencies. After a lower court ruled that the law was unconstitutional, the law was put on pause.

On Nov. 21, the state’s supreme court reversed the lower court’s ruling. A 3-2 majority of justices voted to uphold the lower court’s ruling, but the state’s constitution requires a minimum of four justices to declare a state law unconstitutional.

U.S. senator calls on government to prevent taxpayer-funded abortions in 2026 funding

U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) this week urged his Republican colleagues on the Senate Appropriations Committee to ensure that the funding for the fiscal year 2026 does not fund abortions.

In a Nov. 24 letter, Cornyn asked the senators “to hold the line against any Democratic efforts to subvert the Hyde amendment,” an amendment that prevents federal taxpayer dollars from directly funding abortions.

Cornyn noted that the recent One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) defunded organizations that fund abortion, which he said “showed that even in the wake of the historic Dobbs decision, our fight is not over.”

“Democrats shut down the government for 43 days in an unsuccessful attempt to undue the work Republicans accomplished in OBBBA, including the progress we made to stop forced taxpayer funding of abortion,” Cornyn said. “Now is not the time to give an inch on our pro-life values.”

Was Squanto Catholic? What we know about this hero of the first Thanksgiving
Thu, 27 Nov 2025 11:00:00 -0500

St. Louis, Missouri, Nov 27, 2025 / 11:00 am (CNA).

In 1621, lacking both the skills and the resources necessary to survive in the harsh territory of New England, European pilgrims encountered a miracle: a Native American who not only spoke English but who also used his skills and knowledge to help them adapt to their environment and survive the brutal winter.

This was Squanto, a man who occupies a special place in the hearts of many people who celebrate Thanksgiving because of his willingness and ability to help the newcomers to his land.

Squanto’s full name was Tisquantum, and he was a member of the Patuxet tribe, which lived in and around modern-day Plymouth, Massachusetts. He was probably born around 1585 in the area that is now Boston.

Little is known about Tisquantum’s early life, but what is known is that he was abducted from his homeland as a slave by an Englishman, Thomas Hunt, in 1614. He ended up in Malaga, Spain, where a group of Franciscans bought him in order to free him. It is apparently from these Franciscans that he received baptism and became Catholic, though it is not clear to what extent he was catechized and practiced his new faith.

Damien Costello, a Catholic historian and theologian, told CNA that the historical record portrays “a very skillful agent” in Tisquantum who was able to change his situation and engage with European culture. He was able to find employment as a translator in England and later convinced a wealthy financier to fund an expedition back to his homeland.

When Tisquantum finally made it back to where his tribe lived in present-day Massachusetts, his life took a tragic turn. He discovered that his entire tribe, while he was in Europe, had been wiped out by disease — he was the sole survivor.

The Pilgrims arrived in New England in 1620. They were far from the first Europeans to set foot on those shores — this was many years after Jesuit missionaries had started missionary activity in the area but hadn’t settled. When the Pilgrims arrived in what had once been Patuxet territory, the empty land made a good place to settle. Tisquantum, no doubt mourning the loss of his people, was nevertheless able to deftly reinvent himself as an intermediary between the Pilgrims and Native leaders.

In March 1621, the chief of the Wampanoag confederation, Massasoit, went to meet with the Pilgrims and brought Tisquantum along to translate. After negotiations fell apart, Tisquantum stayed with the Pilgrims and helped to facilitate what we now know as the first Thanksgiving — a meal between the Pilgrims and the Natives of the area. Tisquantum died the next year, in 1622.

So, was Tisquantum a Catholic? Costello says it is likely he was baptized and thus, theologically, he was indeed a Catholic. Native American culture was very spiritual, and Costello said he doesn’t think it unlikely that Tisquantum saw his baptism as a positive spiritual experience.

“Catholicism was a crucial ingredient in Squanto’s resiliency, the regenerative principle that gave spiritual power to sustain the disjunction of being a global citizen in a world forever turned upside down,” Costello later wrote in an article for U.S. Catholic.

As to whether Tisquantum continued to practice his Catholic faith for the rest of his life, there’s little evidence to say for sure. In a very real sense, God only knows.

This story was adapted from an episode of Catholic News Agency’s award-winning storytelling podcast, CNA Newsroom, and first published on Nov. 24, 2022. You can listen to that episode here.

Homeless mother given 'key' to new apartment by Pope Leo XIV 
Thu, 27 Nov 2025 10:50:00 -0500

CNA Staff, Nov 27, 2025 / 10:50 am (CNA).

At 35 weeks pregnant Nadia Howlader became homeless, living on the streets of Sydney, Australia, but all of that changed when she was given a key to a new apartment by Pope Leo XIV on Nov. 16 on the ninth World Day of the Poor.

Continuing a tradition begun by Pope Francis last year to combat homelessness and bring hope to vulnerable families during the 2025 Jubilee year of Hope in 13 countries, Pope Leo blessed 13 keys — one of which symbolized the key to Howlader’s new apartment in a Sydney suburb, faciliated by the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Australia.

Howlader, and her daughter Alisha, traveled to Rome with members of the society for an audience with the pope where she received the blessed key from Pope Leo and thanked him for the generous gift.

The “13 Houses” campaign was inspired by the St. Vincent de Paul Society’s patron, St. Vincent de Paul, and his decision in 1643 to use an endowment from French King Louis XIII to build 13 small houses near the Vincentian headquarters in Paris to care for abandoned children.

The 13 countries included in the project this year are Syria, Australia, Brazil, Cambodia, the Central African Republic, Chile, Costa Rica, Italy, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, the United Kingdom, and Ukraine.

“The St. Vincent de Paul Society is probably the largest homeless prevention organization in Australia,” said Graham West of the St. Vincent de Paul Society in an interview with Sydney’s 10 News. Through the work of the case workers and working with our housing team we’ve now been able to find a house for Nadia to live in.”

Since 2018, the “13 Houses” campaign has helped over 10,000 people in 70 countries.

Pies and a baseball bat: The gifts Pope Leo XIV received on the papal flight to Turkey 
Thu, 27 Nov 2025 09:25:00 -0500

Rome Newsroom, Nov 27, 2025 / 09:25 am (CNA).

Aboard the papal plane on Thanksgiving Day, Pope Leo XIV kicked off his first international trip — a visit to Turkey — with distinctly American gifts: a baseball bat and pumpkin pie.

“To the Americans here, Happy Thanksgiving!” Leo said as he greeted about 80 journalists aboard the chartered ITA Airways flight to Ankara on Thursday morning. “It’s a wonderful day to celebrate.”

Two American journalists traveling with the pope gave him pumpkin pies. “It’s not Thanksgiving if there’s not enough to share,” Crux correspondent Elise Ann Allen told the pope as she handed him the second pie.

“I’ll definitely share some,” Leo responded. The pope had plenty to share as NBC News correspondent Claudio Lavanga also gave him a pecan pie.

Leo, a longtime Chicago White Sox fan, also received a baseball bat once owned by Nellie Fox, the White Sox legend who played for the team from 1950 to 1963, when Leo, then Robert Prevost, was a small child.

Smiling, the pope joked, “How did it get through security?”

As a collective gift from the Vatican press corps, the pope received a Byzantine-style icon of Our Lady of Guadalupe made by Spanish iconographer Débora Martínez, a missionary in Cyprus.

The icon, presented by Mexican journalist Valentina Alazraki, who has logged more than 170 papal trips, was crafted using classical techniques of Eastern iconography. It depicts the Virgin of Guadalupe in Byzantine style, symbolically linking Latin America’s Marian tradition with the iconography of the Christian East.

At the start of the nearly three-hour flight, the pope continued a practice of his predecessor Pope Francis of walking down the aisle to greet each journalist.

Among them was Elias Turk, a journalist from Lebanon who is the Vatican editor for ACI MENA and EWTN News. Turk briefly shared a personal story with the pope, recounting how he lived through part of the 2024 escalation between Hezbollah and Israel and was trapped in Lebanon during the fighting.

“I told him that I lived … a traumatizing experience with my nephews during the war. We had to run and hide inside a house after being in a garden. We heard fighter jets passing in the skies and then powerful explosions,” he explained. The pope listened closely.

Turk, who is godfather to his nephews, asked the pope to bless two rosaries for the children, a three-year-old and a one-and-a-half-year-old, so they could pray for peace. He also carried a third rosary for a two-year-old Polish girl who has been repeatedly hospitalized.

In a light moment with another journalist, Pope Leo said he had already completed his daily Wordle game before takeoff, adding that he solved Thursday’s puzzle in three tries.

According to the pope’s brother, Leo plays Wordle every day and his favorite Thanksgiving dish is stuffing.

During his first apostolic trip, taking place Nov. 27–Dec. 2, Leo will visit Turkey and Lebanon.

Pope Leo denounces ‘might is right’ in address to Turkish authorities
Thu, 27 Nov 2025 08:25:00 -0500

Vatican City, Nov 27, 2025 / 08:25 am (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV opened his first international trip on Thursday with a sweeping call for unity, renewed dialogue, and a rejection of the global drift toward division and violence.

Speaking in Turkey’s capital of Ankara on Nov. 27 during his formal welcome by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the pope said he hoped Turkey could be “a source of stability and rapprochement between peoples” and serve the cause of a “just and lasting peace.” He described the country as “inextricably linked to the origins of Christianity” and a land that invites a fraternity “that recognizes and appreciates differences.”

Launching a six-day trip that will also take him to Lebanon, the pope said the region’s peoples can help remind the world that peace, human dignity, and fraternity “are the only sure foundations for our common future.”

The massive Presidential Palace where he spoke has become a symbol of Turkey’s contemporary political authority since Erdoğan inaugurated it in 2014. Bombed during the failed 2016 coup attempt, it remains the seat from which Erdoğan has shaped the country’s domestic and international posture. Before his meeting with Erdoğan, the pope paid his respects at the tomb of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder and first president of the Turkish Republic.

In his remarks welcoming Leo, Erdoğan praised the cultural openness and interreligious harmony of Turkish society and his country's commitment to peace and humanitarian assistance, citing its welcome to refugees from Syria's long civil war.

In his speech, the pope rejected the mentality of “might is right,” urging a renewed “culture of encounter” to counter what he described as a growing “globalization of indifference.” Justice and mercy, he said, must guide political and social life. He also warned that artificial intelligence risks entrenching existing inequalities because it “simply reproduces our own preferences,” and appealed for cooperation to “repair the damage already done to the unity of our human family.”

Recalling his predecessor’s description of today’s conflicts as “a third world war fought piecemeal,” Pope Leo cautioned: “We must not give in to this! The future of humanity is at stake.” He said the Vatican seeks to work with all nations committed to the integral development of each person.

Calling Turkey a “crossroads of sensibilities,” the pope emphasized that the country’s social vitality depends on plurality. “Uniformity would be an impoverishment,” he said, warning that communities today risk becoming “polarized and torn by extreme positions.” Reflecting on the journey’s emblem — a bridge spanning the Dardanelles — he said it symbolizes not only a link between Asia and Europe but also a deeper call to unity: “It connects Turkey to itself.”

Pope Leo recalled Saint John XXIII, remembered locally as the “Turkish Pope” because he spent nearly a decade as a Vatican diplomat in Turkey before becoming pontiff and worked to ensure Catholics were not marginalized in the early decades of the republic. Echoing the saint’s teaching, Leo dismissed isolationism as “a false logic.” He also highlighted the contributions of women to society and international life and underscored the importance of the family, where “without the ‘other’ there is no ‘I’.”

Turning to the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, the primary impetus for his visit, which will include ecumenical meetings and worship with Eastern Orthodox leaders, the pope said the historic 4th-century gathering still speaks of encounter and sustained dialogue.

Turkey has played roles in several regional conflicts in recent years, including involvement in the Syrian war and support for Azerbaijan in its conflict with Armenia. At the same time, Ankara has taken part in diplomatic efforts, including mediating between Russia and Ukraine and influencing ceasefire discussions involving Hamas.

Pope Leo was scheduled to continue on by air to Istanbul following the speech, and had no further public events planned for Thursday.

Pope Leo XIV appoints 2 new archbishops for western Canada dioceses
Thu, 27 Nov 2025 07:00:00 -0500

Edmonton, Canada, Nov 27, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV has appointed Bishop Stephen A. Hero of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, as the eighth archbishop of Edmonton, succeeding Archbishop Richard Smith, who became archbishop of Vancouver in May.

The announcement came just days after the Nov. 17 announcement of Father Susai Jesu, OMI, as the new archbishop of Keewatin-Le Pas in northern Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

In a letter to the clergy and faithful of Edmonton, Hero said he was “humbled and grateful for the trust placed in me to take up this new mission in the Church and to serve in a community that is already close to my heart.” He will be installed on Jan. 23 , 2026, at St. Joseph’s Basilica in Edmonton.

Hero, 56, is a native of Lachine, Quebec, and moved to Edmonton at age 10. He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Edmonton in 2000 after studies at the Seminary of Christ the King in Mission, British Columbia, and at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome. He later obtained a licentiate in liturgical theology from Sant’Anselmo.

He served as an assistant pastor in Edmonton parishes, as vocations director, and then joined the formation team at St. Joseph Seminary in Edmonton. He became vice rector in 2010 and rector in 2012, teaching spirituality, liturgy, and sacraments at Newman Theological College. Pope Francis appointed him bishop of Prince Albert in 2021.

In his message to the Diocese of Prince Albert, he expressed sadness at leaving, thanking parishioners, clergy, and religious and, referencing the North Saskatchewan River, noted the “river that flows from Edmonton to Prince Albert” as a reminder of their shared connection and “the same grace of God that gives us life.” He becomes diocesan administrator of Prince Albert until his installation in Edmonton.

His episcopal motto, “Deus Solus” (“God Alone”), comes from Psalm 86:10 and reflects his conviction that God must remain at the center of Christian life. His updated coat of arms will incorporate the heraldic insignia of an archbishop, including the archiepiscopal cross and 10 tassels on each side. A black field signifies the finiteness of creation; a gold saltire cross marks Christ’s saving death and resurrection; turtledoves evoke St. Joseph and his Temple offering; and 12 stars represent Our Lady and the hope of eternal glory.

Father Paul Kavanagh, administrator of the Archdiocese of Edmonton, welcomed the appointment on behalf of clergy, religious, and faithful, calling the new archbishop “a gift from God” and assuring him of prayers and support as he returns home.

‘A humbing experience’

Jesu’s episcopal ordination will take place at the end of January at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Cathedral in The Pas, Manitoba.

Jesu said the words of Mary’s Magnificat came to his mind on hearing of his appointment. “It is a humbling experience to receive God’s calling to serve as a bishop,” he said, adding that his heart was “filled with gratitude and joy.”

Born in 1971 in Pushpavanam, Tamil Nadu, India, he entered the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate and was ordained to the priesthood in 2000. He later earned degrees in psychology and counseling, and came to Canada in 2007 at the invitation of the Oblates.

He first served for several years in the northern communities of Pelican Narrows and Sandy Bay in the Archdiocese of Keewatin-Le Pas, learning the Cree language and forming lasting friendships. He subsequently ministered for many years in Edmonton, becoming widely known for his work at Sacred Heart Church of the First Peoples and, more recently, for his ministry at Lac Ste. Anne, Enoch, Alexis Reserve, Paul Band First Nation, and Alexander First Nation.

Archbishop Murray Chatlain of Winnipeg, who has served as apostolic administrator since 2024, welcomed the news, noting that Jesu “served here for seven years and knows our communities well.” Kavanagh also praised his pastoral gifts and his close accompaniment of Indigenous, Metis, and Inuit peoples.

The Archdiocese of Keewatin-Le Pas is home to Metis, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dene, and non-Indigenous peoples across 280,000 square miles. Jesu said he hopes to serve its communities “with faith and love,” continuing the Oblate charism of evangelizing the poor and accompanying those most in need.

This story was first published by The B.C. Catholic and has been adapted by CNA. It is reprinted here with permission.

Pope Leo’s prayer intention for December: for Christians in areas of war or conflict
Thu, 27 Nov 2025 06:28:00 -0500

ACI Prensa Staff, Nov 27, 2025 / 06:28 am (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV’s prayer intention for December is for Christians living amidst war or conflict, especially in the Middle East:

“Let us pray that Christians living in areas of war or conflict, especially in the Middle East, might be seeds of peace, reconciliation, and hope,” the Holy Father said in a video released Nov. 25 by the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network.

Father Cristóbal Fones, international director of the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network, emphasized that Leo XIV's request "is a gesture of closeness and hope: a way of saying to the Christians of Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and so many other countries that they are not forgotten, that the universal Church walks with them; but also to remind us all that faith grows even in the midst of trials, and that seeds of reconciliation and peace can be born from wounded communities."

Below is the prayer that Pope Leo XIV encourages us to pray this December:

God of peace,
who through the blood of Your Son
has reconciled the world to Yourself,
today we pray for Christians
living amidst wars and violence.

Even surrounded by pain, may they
never cease to feel the gentle kindness of your presence
and the prayers of their brothers and sisters in faith.

For only through You, and strengthened by fraternal bonds,
can they become the seeds of reconciliation,
builders of hope in ways both small and great,
capable of forgiving and moving forward,
of bridging divides,
and of seeking justice with mercy.

Lord Jesus, who called blessed
those who work for peace,
make us Your instruments of peace
even where harmony seems impossible.

Holy Spirit,
source of hope in the darkest times,
sustain the faith of those who suffer and strengthen their hope.
Do not let us fall into indifference,
and make us builders of unity, like Jesus.

Amen.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

Lebanese students prepare for Pope Leo XIV’s historic visit with heartfelt letters
Thu, 27 Nov 2025 06:00:00 -0500

ACI MENA, Nov 27, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).

The arrival of Pope Leo XIV to Lebanon is approaching quickly, and preparations are underway at every level — state institutions, municipalities, parishes, and countless volunteers are working to ensure the country is ready for this historic moment.

It’s not only leaders and officials who are preparing. In the School of the Apostles (“Collège des Apôtres”) in Jounieh, children are also getting ready in their own way, eager to welcome the Holy Father and to take part in an event they will remember for the rest of their lives.

Preparing hearts and minds for the papal visit

Father Maroun Moubarak, the superior of the School of the Apostles, explained that for his students, the visit represents a defining moment — one they will carry with them forever. It is a milestone not every generation is granted: Previous ones experienced such occasions only during the visits of Pope Benedict XVI and Pope John Paul II.

Moubarak emphasized that the visit also reveals the deep compassion the Vatican and the pope hold for Lebanon. He stressed that the attention Pope Leo is giving to the country means a great deal to the students.

“It stands as a call for young Christians to remain steadfast, to deepen their faith, and to live it each day. They await the visit with joy and anticipation,” he told ACI MENA, CNA’s Arabic-language news partner.

The priest also explained how the school is preparing students for the visit, noting that a structured plan has been developed to guide them both spiritually and intellectually.

The program includes internal communication materials that introduce the meaning of the visit and the role of the papacy. Students are also learning about the official logo of the visit and its symbols. Daily Masses are being celebrated with special intentions for the success of the visit, and workshops and research projects on the Vatican and previous papal trips are being created and displayed across the school campus, fostering a shared spirit of unity and anticipation.

Letters to the pope

One of the initiatives the school undertook in preparation of the papal visit was inviting students to write letters to the pope — an activity designed to help them feel personally involved in the visit.

The children were given complete freedom to express whatever they wished to say or ask, and the results were remarkably diverse: Each student had a unique perspective, tone, and style. The letters were written in English, Arabic, and French — the languages taught at the school — and they revealed a wide range of thoughts and hopes. Many shared a common request: that the pope pray for Lebanon’s financial recovery. It is a plea that reflects the severity of the economic crisis and how deeply even the youngest feel its impact.

Among the students is Makarios Osta, in Grade 8, who chose to share a clear wishlist. He wrote:

“First, please pray that Lebanon gets leaders who truly love their country.

“Second, please pray that our parents smile again when they talk about the future.

“Third, please pray that Christians in Lebanon don’t feel small or tired anymore. We want to be proud, strong, and free to dream.”

Another student, Cassandra Katerji, focused her letter on promises. She wrote:

“We don’t want to grow up in despair. We promise to be the generation that rebuilds Lebanon, not only its buildings, but its faith, its hope, its moral strength.

“Lebanon is a country of many religions and voices. Sometimes those voices clash. But we, the youth, promise to speak only the language of peace.

“Sometimes Lebanon feels like a land of fading lights. But we, the youth, refuse to let the flame die. We promise to keep the light of Christ burning, in our schools, our homes, our conversations, even on social media.”

Classmate Rita Tahtouh added a striking and thoughtful message, writing: “We are like the cedars of God, we do not fear the storms; what we fear is becoming wood burned in political deals.”

Chris Abi Hanna, on the other hand, shared a lighter and more playful note. He wrote: “I hope you enjoy the Land of the Cedars and the saints. I know your schedule will be super busy, but I really hope you’ll find a little time to taste our food, some kibbeh and tabbouleh, with a view of our beautiful mountains. Just one warning, Your Holiness: After that meal, every other Vatican lunch will feel a little boring.”

Beyond the visit

Looking beyond the visit, Moubarak emphasized that the school’s mission does not end when the pope leaves Lebanon.

“We aim to encourage our students to continue following the pope’s teachings, his travels, and his messages, understanding that the Church is alive, present, and close to people’s daily struggles, not something distant or purely ceremonial,” he said.

He explained that students will listen attentively to the pope’s address to young people during the gathering in Bkerke and then translate his words into concrete commitments through workshops and reflection.

He noted that the Vatican, particularly through the Dicastery for Culture and Education, plays a crucial role in forming the human person in all dimensions, not only spiritually but also intellectually, morally, and socially. This formation, he said, enables young people to take their place in society and contribute to its growth. In Lebanon, he added, families sacrifice greatly to educate their children; education is considered their most valuable treasure, and continued support, both spiritual and material, is essential.

Pope Leo XIV to focus on Christian unity, relations with Islam in Turkey and Lebanon
Thu, 27 Nov 2025 04:57:00 -0500

Vatican City, Nov 27, 2025 / 04:57 am (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV arrived in Turkey Thursday on his first international apostolic journey. The wide-ranging trip — spanning historic ecumenical encounters, deeply symbolic gestures of prayer, and pastoral visits to Christian communities under pressure — is expected to highlight the pope’s priorities of unity, peace, and encouragement across a region marked by both ancient faith and present suffering.

During his flight from Rome, the pope told reporters that he hoped his trip would be an occasion to "proclaim how important peace is throughout the world, and to invite all people to come together, to search for greater unity, greater harmony, and to look for the ways that all men and women can truly be brothers and sisters."

He also wished American reporters in particular a Happy Thanksgiving.

The papal plane arrived in Turkey’s capital, Ankara, around 12:30 pm local time. Upon arrival, the pope was scheduled to visit the Atatürk Mausoleum, built in honor of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder and first president of the Turkish Republic. He will then travel to the Presidential Palace for a meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and an address to authorities, civil society representatives, and the diplomatic corps. The pope will not remain overnight in Ankara but will continue by air to Istanbul the same day.

Ecumenically focused visit

The visit to Turkey centers on the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea. The pope will participate in an ecumenical prayer service in Iznik, the site of the historic council that articulated Christian teaching on the nature of Christ and affirmed the Nicene Creed. The council also issued disciplinary norms and established a common date for Easter.

During his stay, the pope will take part in several ceremonies and is expected to sign a joint declaration with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople. He will also visit Istanbul’s Sultan Ahmed Mosque.

A notable omission from the pope’s itinerary is Hagia Sophia, the Byzantine church-turned-mosque that the Turkish government designated a museum open to all faiths in the 20th century. Pope Francis visited the monument in 2014, on the last papal visit to Turkey, but said he was “deeply pained” when the government turned it back into a mosque six years later. Patriarch Bartholomew also protested the change.

Pope Leo’s visit carries particular significance for Turkey’s small Christian community, which looks to the pope for support and encouragement. The motto for the visit is “One Lord, one faith, one baptism.” The Catholic community has witnessed several attacks in past decades, such as the killing of Father Andrea Santoro in Trabzon in 2006 and the assassination of the Apostolic Vicar of Anatolia, Bishop Luigi Padovese, in 2010. In 2024, two people attacked Santa Maria Church in Istanbul’s Sariyer district during Holy Mass, leading to the death of one person attending the service. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the last attack.

Christians have also been facing, like the rest of the population, the economic consequences of severe inflation in the Turkish lira, the national currency, in recent years. They have likewise endured the devastating effects of the earthquake that shook southern Turkey in February 2023.

A message of peace for Lebanon

After Turkey, the pope will travel to Lebanon. Speaking to journalists last month, he said he would have there “the opportunity to proclaim once again the message of peace in the Middle East, in a country that has suffered so much.”

Leo’s itinerary in Lebanon highlights both the nation’s deep Christian roots and its recent trauma. The pope will visit the tomb of St. Charbel, a revered Maronite saint, in Annaya, meet with young people outside the Maronite Patriarchate in Bkerke, and spend time in silent prayer at the site of the 2020 Beirut port explosion, which killed more than 236 people and injured over 7,000, according to Human Rights Watch.

Lebanon’s Christian community has endured years of hardship — from the 2019 economic collapse to the 2020 blast, as well as ongoing clashes between Israel and Hezbollah since October 2023. Though weakened by emigration and crisis, Christians remain central to the nation’s political and social life: the president, army commander, and central bank governor must all be Maronite Catholics, and Parliament is evenly divided between Christians and Muslims.

Many Lebanese Christians have left the country in search of stability and economic opportunity. For those who remain, the pope’s presence is widely seen as a sign of hope, particularly during the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope.

Pope Leo XIV appoints new archbishop of Krakow, Poland
Wed, 26 Nov 2025 19:30:00 -0500

Rome Newsroom, Nov 26, 2025 / 19:30 pm (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV has appointed Cardinal Grzegorz Ryś, until now the archbishop of Łódź, as the new archbishop of Krakow, the archdiocese in Poland that was formerly led by Pope St. John Paul II.

The cardinal succeeds Archbishop Marek Jędraszewski, 76, whose resignation has been accepted by the Holy Father, as reported by the Vatican Press Office on Nov. 26.

Ryś was born on Feb. 9, 1964, in Krakow and is 61 years old. He will lead the archdiocese where Karol Wojtyła, who would later become Pope St. John Paul II, served as a priest, auxiliary bishop, and archbishop from 1946 to 1978, the year he was elected Successor of St. Peter.

Who is the new archbishop of Krakow in Poland?

Ryś studied at the major seminary in Krakow and was ordained a priest on May 22, 1988. He worked on and received a doctorate in theology from the Pontifical Theological Academy of Krakow (1989-1994).

He has held, among others, the following positions: parochial vicar of Saints Margaret and Catherine in Kęty (1988-1989); professor of Church history at the Pontifical Theological Academy in Krakow which would later become the John Paul II Pontifical University (1994-2011); rector of the major seminary (2007-2011); and president of the Conference of Rectors of Major Seminaries in Poland (2010-2011).

He was appointed auxiliary bishop of Krakow on July 16, 2011, and received episcopal consecration on Sept. 28 that year. On Sept. 14, 2017, he was appointed archbishop of Łódź.

Pope Francis created him a cardinal at the consistory of Sept. 30, 2023.

Within the Polish Bishops Conference, he presides over the Council for Religious Dialogue and the Committee for Dialogue with Judaism, according to a statement from the Polish episcopate. He is also a member of the Council for Ecumenism, the Council for Culture and the Protection of Cultural Heritage, and the Council for the Family.

At the Vatican, he is a member of the Dicastery for Bishops and the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.

His episcopal motto is: Virtus in infirmitate (Strength in weakness).

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

Pope Leo praises ‘wonderful adventure’ of parenthood despite hardships
Wed, 26 Nov 2025 18:04:00 -0500

Rome Newsroom, Nov 26, 2025 / 18:04 pm (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV praised “the wonderful adventure” of becoming parents that many families are choosing to embark on today, even in a time marked by economic and social difficulties.

The pontiff dedicated part of Wednesday’s general audience to “trusting in the God of life,” and promoting humanity “in all its expressions,” above all in the “wonderful adventure of motherhood and fatherhood.”

“In your families, may you never lack the courage to make decisions about motherhood and fatherhood. Do not be afraid to welcome and defend every child conceived. Proclaim and serve the Gospel of life. God is the lover of life. Therefore, always protect it with care and love,” he said in his greetings to the Polish-speaking pilgrims present in St. Peter's Square.

Pope Leo XIV acknowledged, however, that this vocation is developing today in a challenging context “in which families struggle to bear the burden of daily life.”

Thus, he lamented that many families “are often held back in their plans and dreams” by these pressures, which can discourage couples from starting a family or expanding the one they already have.

For the pontiff, family life also means committing to “an economy based on solidarity, striving for a common good equally enjoyed by all, respecting and caring for creation, offering comfort through listening, presence, and concrete and selfless help.”

The Holy Father continued with his catechesis on “the Pasch of Christ,” which “ illuminates the mystery of life and allows us to look at it with hope,” although he acknowledged that this “is not always easy or obvious.”

“Many lives, in every part of the world, appear laborious, painful, filled with problems and obstacles to be overcome,” he observed. However, he affirmed that human beings receive life as “a gift.”

The pope then pointed to “the questions of all ages” that have marked the history of human thought: “Who are we? Where do we come from? Where are we going? What is the ultimate meaning of this journey?”

For the pontiff, “living” evokes “a hope” that acts as a “deep-seated drive” that “keeps us walking in difficulty, that prevents us from giving up in the fatigue of the journey, that makes us certain that the pilgrimage of existence will lead us home.”

Society’s ‘sickness’: a lack of confidence in life

During his reflections, the pope noted there is “a widespread sickness in the world”: a lack of confidence in life.

This lack of confidence, he explained, takes the form of silent resignation, as if life were no longer perceived as a gift received, but as an unknown or even a “threat” against which it is advisable to protect oneself “so as not to end up disappointed.”

In this context, the pope affirmed that the "value of living and of generating life" becomes an "urgent call" today, especially because — he noted, quoting the Book of Wisdom — God is the quintessential "lover of life" (Wisdom 11:26).

The pope emphasized that "God’s logic" remains “faithful to his plan of love and life; he does not tire of supporting humanity even when, following in Cain’s footsteps, it obeys the blind instinct of violence in war, discrimination, racism, and the many forms of slavery.”

The pope pointed to the resurrection of Jesus Christ as “the strength that supports us in this challenge even when the darkness of evil obscures the heart and the mind.”

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

Report details persecution of Turkish Christians ahead of Pope Leo XIV's visit
Wed, 26 Nov 2025 16:15:00 -0500

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Nov 26, 2025 / 16:15 pm (CNA).

A Christian advocacy group’s report details “legal, institutional, and social hostility” toward Turkish Christians as Pope Leo XIV begins his six-day visit to Turkey and Lebanon Thursday.

The report from The European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ), titled “The Persecution of Christians in Turkey,” explores government interference against clergy and Christian entities, restrictions on foreign Christians who visit the country, and widespread social animosity toward the faithful, which sometimes includes direct violence.

“Communities that were once integral to the cultural, religious, and historical fabric of Anatolia have been reduced to a fragile remnant,” the authors state.

“Their disappearance is not the product of a single event but the cumulative result of restrictive legislation, administrative obstruction, property confiscations, denial of legal personality, and — more recently — arbitrary expulsions of clergy, missionaries, and converts,” they add.

Modern-day Turkey, which was governed by Christians prior to the Ottoman Empire invasions in late Middle Ages, is still home to about 257,000 Christians. In 1915, Christians still accounted for about 20% of the Turkish population, but the number has dwindled over the past century and they now account for less than 0.3% of the population.

Persecution of Christians

The report says hostility toward Christians is kept alive through environmental factors, such as Turkey’s refusal to recognize its past by continuing to deny the genocide of Armenians and other Christians during World War I.

At that time, about 1.5 million Armenians and 500,000 other Christians were forcibly deported or massacred, and Turkey’s criminalization of “insulting the Turkish nation” and “insulting Turkishness” is often enforced to quell speech about the historical events, according to the report.

It notes that politicians and state-run media frequently scapegoat Christians for societal issues and depict them as an external and internal threat, with one example being President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan referring to survivors of the genocide as “terrorists escaped from the sword” and another being the state-run Yeni Akit allegedly editing Wikipedia to smear Christians, Jews, and other groups.

In some cases, this hostility yields violence, including a 2024 terrorist attack on a Catholic church that killed one person, and other acts of violence and vandalism.

The report notes that Turkey signed the Treaty of Lausanne after the Armenian genocide, which granted people who believe some non-majority faiths full legal recognition and property rights.

Yet, a narrow interpretation of the treaty ensures “a national narrative that presents Sunni Islam as the primary marker of Turkish identity,” the report says. The treaty also fails to recognize all Christians, only giving a specific reference to Greek Orthodox, Armenian Apostolic Christians, and Jews, but not Catholics or Protestants, according to the report.

It states that Sunni Islam is often tied to Turkish identity in public education and the process to be exempt from compulsory Islamic education is burdensome for Christians not covered under the treaty.

No church holds legal personality as a religious institution, which means patriarchates, dioceses, and churches cannot “own property in their own name, initiate legal proceedings, employ staff, open bank accounts, or formally interact with public authorities,” the report states.

The government also interferes with religious leadership, prohibiting non-Turkish citizens from being elected as Ecumenical Patriarch, sitting on the Holy Synod, or participating in patriarchal elections in the Greek Orthodox Church. The government also regulates elections for leadership in the Armenian Apostolic Church.

Turkey shut down the Greek Orthodox Halki Seminary in 1971 and — despite promises to let it reopen — keeps it shut down, according to the report.

The report also says Turkey imposes legal constraints and administrative obstruction on Christian “community foundations,” which operate churches, schools, hospitals, and charitable institutions.

This includes blocking board elections and failing to enforce court orders. One of the more egregious violations is imposing “mazbut” trusteeship, which ends Christian institutions' legal recognition and grants control to the government, which essentially confiscates property, the report said.

“These practices reveal a structural system designed to undermine the autonomy, continuity, and survival of Christian communities in Turkey,” the report states.

According to the report, foreign Protestant pastors are often expelled from seminaries. More broadly, it states that foreign missionaries and converts are often targeted as “national security” threats and frequently expelled from Turkey.

The authors encouraged Turkey to grant full legal recognition to all churches, halt interference in Christian organizations, protect places of worship, end arbitrary expulsions, and return property that has been confiscated.

9 historic religious sites Pope Leo XIV will visit in Turkey, Lebanon
Wed, 26 Nov 2025 15:15:00 -0500

Vatican City, Nov 26, 2025 / 15:15 pm (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV’s upcoming apostolic journey to Turkey and Lebanon holds both spiritual and historical significance for the Catholic Church and its relations with the Orthodox Church as well as with Islam.

From Nov. 27 — Dec. 2, Pope Leo will visit these historic sites in the first international apostolic journey of his pontificate:

1. Cathedral of the Holy Spirit (Istanbul, Turkey)

The Roman Catholic cathedral was built and officially opened in 1846 and is the seat of the apsotolic vicar of Istanbul. Also known as the St. Esprit Cathedral, this minor basilica contains several relics of saints, including those of the first two popes St. Peter and St. Linus.

In 1884, Pope Leo XIV donated a relic of St. John Chrysostom, the patron saint of the Apostolic Vicariate of Constantinople, to the cathedral. Since 1967, four popes have visited the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, including St. Paul VI, St. John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis.

A statue of Pope Benedict XV was erected inside the cathedral’s courtyard in 1919 in recognition of his dedication to Turkish WWI victims and Armenian Christians killed in the former Ottoman Empire between 1915 and 1916.

2. Archaeological excavations of the ancient Basilica of St. Neophytus (İznik, Turkey)

This ancient basilica, located around 81 miles southeast of Istanbul, is believed to have been built in 380 atop the site of the first Christian ecumenical council, the Council of Nicaea, convened by Emperor Constantine I in 325. The council reaffirmed the Church’s belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and led to the formulation of the Nicene Creed.

The ancient church was built on the site where 16-year-old martyr St. Neophytus was killed for his faith and his refusal to offer sacrifices to pagan gods. Recent site excavations have uncovered graves of people believed to be early Christian martyrs.

3. The Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Istanbul, Turkey)

One of Istanbul's most important mosques which was built between 1609–1617 on part of the site of the Great Palace of Constantinople, the imperial residence of Christian Emperor Constantine I and the eastern Roman emperors until 1204.

Two popes have visited the mosque, also known as the “Blue Mosque,” during official apostolic journeys to the country. Benedict XIV visited the mosque in 2006 and Pope Francis visited the religious site in 2012.

4. Patriarchal Church of St. George (Istanbul, Turkey)

The Eastern Orthodox church was built in 1720 and houses the relics of some of the most venerated saints of ancient Constantinople, including St. Euphemia of Chalcedon.

Since 2004, the patriarchal church has housed the relics of St. Andrew the Apostle, who is venerated for bringing the Christian faith to Byzantium, modern-day Istanbul. The relics of St Gregory the Theologian and St. John Chrysostom can also be found at the church.

5. St. Gregory Lusavorich Orthodox Armenian Church (Istanbul, Turkey)

This Orthodox church, also known as the Patriarchal Church of the Holy Mother of God, is the oldest cathedral of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Turkey.

The Armenian church was originally built in 1391, shortly before the Ottoman Empire, led by Sultan Mehmed II, conquered Constantinople in 1453. It was named after Greek Christian St. Gregory the Illuminator, who is revered as the founder of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

Pope Leo will be the first pope to visit the church which has served as a site of religious worship for generations of Armenian families who have lived in Istanbul for more than 600 years.

6. Patriarchal Church of St. George (Istanbul, Turkey)

Converted from a convent into a church at the beginning of the 17th century, the Greek Orthodox basilica has been rebuilt and reconstructed several times throughout its 425-year history.

The church is the seat and principal cathedral of Patriarch Bartholomew I, the head of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and spiritual leader of the world’s approximately 300 million Eastern Orthodox Christians.

7. Monastery of Saint Maroun (Annaya, Lebanon)

The Lebanese Maronite monastery built in 1828 and became a site of pilgrimage for Christian faithful seeking the spiritual counsel of St. Charbel Makhlouf, who lived in the Annaya monastery and the nearby Sts. Peter and Paul hermitage from 1853 until his death in 1898.

After the 1965 beatification of Charbel Makhlouf, the Lebanese Maronite Order built a new church near the monastery and consecrated it in 1974 in honor of the holy monk and priest canonized by Pope Paul VI in 1977. It has since been visited by Christian and non-Christian pilgrims inspired by St. Charbel’s holy life.

8. Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon (Harissa, Lebanon)

Built in 1904 to mark the 50th anniversary of the proclamation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception by Pope Pius IX, the shrine was inaugurated on the first Sunday of May in 1908, which has since become the annual feast of Our Lady of Lebanon.

Thousands of Christian and Muslim pilgrims come annually to pray at the shrine, which features an 8.5-meter tall bronze statue of Mary standing on a 21-meter high stone pedestal tower with a spiral staircase, entrusted to the care of the Congregation of Lebanese Missionaries.

In 1993, a new basilica was built next to the shrine. John Paul II was the first pope to visit Our Lady of Lebanon in 1997, followed by Benedict XVI in 2012.

9. The Maronite Patriarchate of Antioch (Bkerké, Lebanon)

The head of the Maronite Patriarchate has resided in Bkerké since 1830. Between the 15th–19th centuries, the head of the Maronite Catholic Church resided in the Qannubin Monastery in Lebanon’s Qadisha Valley.

The Maronite Patriarchate in Bkerké was built on the site of a monastery constructed in 1703 by an influential member of the noble Khattar al-Khazen family. By 1779, the monastery was used by the Maronite Church and eventually used as the winter residence of the Maronite Patriarch in 1830.

The Maronite Church — named after the ascetic St. Maroun who lived in Antioch and died in 410 — has always been in full communion with the Apostolic See. The current Maronite patriarch is Cardinal Béchara Boutros Raï, O.M.M.

Catholic leaders in South Africa decry escalating school attacks, urge action
Wed, 26 Nov 2025 14:43:00 -0500

ACI Africa, Nov 26, 2025 / 14:43 pm (CNA).

The National Catholic Board of Education (NCBE) and the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC) Justice and Peace Commission have issued a joint statement condemning the rising wave of violence affecting schools across South Africa, describing the trend as a "national moral failure” that demands urgent and coordinated intervention.

In a statement shared on Tuesday with ACI Africa, CNA's news partner in Africa, the leadership of the NCBE and SACBC expressed concern over the continuous insecurity in the South African nation, noting that despite several media reports of rape, killings and assaults, national leaders are still reluctant to act, making it a "new normal."

“Acts of violence in and around schools make headlines for a few days, politicians express shock, and then the country moves on, until the next tragedy,” the Catholic leaders said.

They expressed concern that violent clashes that circulate briefly on social media fade from public memory without systemic action. “This normalization of violence is a national moral failure,” they said.

Their statement follows the recent killing of the principal and an administrative assistant at Inxiweni Primary School in Thembisa. The Catholic leaders said that the particular incident is not an isolated tragedy but part of a “growing and deeply disturbing national pattern, and the most recent national statistics reveal the scale of the crisis.”

In their statement, the Catholic leaders reviewed the national statistics of school violence in the first quarter of 2024, saying that South Africa recorded 12 murders and 74 rape cases on school premises.

In the second quarter, 13 murders and 106 rape cases were recorded and “over 11,000 burglaries were reported in schools in the past year.”

In their statement, the leaders emphasized the increasing violence in the nation, saying that in the Western Cape region, schools recorded 454 incidents of assault, many involving weapons.

“These figures, shocking as they are, capture only a portion of the lived reality,” they said.

Quoting from Pope Francis' Oct. 3, 2020 encyclical letter Fratelli Tutti, they reminded the people of God in South Africa that “every act of violence committed against a human being is a wound in humanity’s flesh.” They emphasized the implementation of a well-funded, coordinated national strategy that can break the cycle of violence escalating in schools.

The leaders further advised the country’s education sector to ensure sufficient funding for essential safety infrastructure, such as adequate fencing and security personnel in the South African schools.

The NCBE and SACBC leadership called on the people of God in South Africa to urgently address the issue of escalated violence in schools, saying, “Every learner deserves safety, every teacher deserves protection, and every school must be a sanctuary of peace and learning.”

The leaders further expressed concern that school spaces meant for learning, safety, and growth have become battlegrounds: “Teachers are traumatized, learners live in fear, and communities are left with shattered trust,” they said.

“We urge the government, law enforcement, civil society, faith communities, and all South Africans to act with urgency," they continued. "The lives of our children — and the soul of our nation — depend on it."

This article was originally published by ACI Africa, CNA's news partner in Africa, and has been adapted for CNA.

Catholic Charities gives Thanksgiving meals, winter coats to people in need
Wed, 26 Nov 2025 12:30:00 -0500

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Nov 26, 2025 / 12:30 pm (CNA).

Catholic Charities D.C. in the Archdiocese of Washington teamed up with a metropolitan utility company this week to offer a Thanksgiving meal and winter supplies to low-income families and people experiencing homelessness.

The Nov. 25 dinner, held at Pepco Co.’s Edison Place Gallery, was provided through the St. Maria’s Meal Program. Numerous Catholic Charities affiliates in other parts of the country — including New York, Boston, and Cleveland — held similar events to provide food or resources to the needy during the Thanksgiving season.

More than 300 guests came to the Washington, D.C. dinner, which included turkey and gravy, mashed potatoes, stuffing, collard greens, cranberry sauce, dinner rolls, and sweet potato pie. Guests were also offered winter coats, hats, socks, and toiletry kits.

“Lord, please remind all of us here that we are all children of God and all have unique value, potential to soar, and immeasurable worth and dignity in your eyes — the only eyes that matter,” Jim Malloy, president and CEO of Catholic Charities D.C., said in a prayer before the dinner.

“Help us to live out your Gospel, and as you told us in John 9, to do the works of your Father while it is day,” he prayed.

The annual Thanksgiving dinner has been held for about 12 years. According to the most recent numbers from the federal government, the homelessness rate in the country is at an all-time high.

Marie Maroun, a spokesperson for Catholic Charities D.C. and one of the 60 volunteers at the dinner, told CNA the event ensures a Thanksgiving meal for those experiencing homelessness or food insecurity, and “provides them with the dignity and respect that they definitely deserve.”

Catholic Charities D.C. also provides food through food pantries and offers hot meals to those in need on Wednesdays.

Eugene Brown, one of the guests, told CNA the meal was “excellent,” and said the regular meals are “helping in keeping our heads above water.”

“God will bless the needy and not the greedy,” said Brown, who is Catholic.

Malloy told CNA that providing hot meals helps “remind ourselves what’s important and who’s important.” He thanked the volunteers, including many of the high school students, who he said “find something very fundamental about their faith here.”

“This is faith in action for them,” he said.

Malloy said that when some in society treat those in need as though they are “expendable,” events like this “refute that.”

“They’re created in the image of God,” he said. “They count.”

The most recent homelessness report from the Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) was published in December 2024 and the next annual report is expected in December 2025.

In the 2024 report, HUD estimated that nearly 772,000 people were experiencing homelessness at the beginning of that year. The rate of homelessness increased by about 18% — representing 118,376 more people — in January 2024 when compared to January 2023.

The 2024 report showed the highest number of people experiencing homelessness since HUD began collecting the data in 2007.

Although more recent national numbers are not available, a report from the Washington D.C. Department of Human Services found a 9% decrease in the city’s homelessness from January 2024 to January 2025. However, it found there was only a 1% decrease in the city’s broader metropolitan area, with some nearby Virginia and Maryland counties seeing an uptick.

President Donald Trump ordered removal of homeless encampments in Washington, D.C. in August 2025 and deployed National Guard troops to clear public spaces.

Vatican City: How the world's smallest state is governed
Wed, 26 Nov 2025 11:15:00 -0500

Vatican City, Nov 26, 2025 / 11:15 am (CNA).

The Vatican, the smallest state in the world, possesses a unique and complex legal, administrative, and spiritual structure designed to guarantee the independence of the pope and allow the Church to act freely throughout the world.

Bishop Juan Ignacio Arrieta, secretary of the Dicastery for Legislative Texts, in an interview with the Spanish-language edition of EWTN News, detailed how this tiny nation is governed, how its institutions operate, and what role the Holy See plays in the world.

A unique governance structure

Arrieta explained that the Dicastery for Legislative Texts — where he has served for 18 years — is one of the departments that collaborates directly with the pope in the governance of the Church.

“The dicasteries are the ministries of the Holy See; they are like the departments that serve the pope … and this one is dedicated to the preparation of laws, to the oversight of the laws of the entire Church,” he said.

Unlike traditional states, these norms govern worldwide. “They apply to all five continents. They are not like the laws of Spain, Argentina, or Mexico. These are laws that must be created for the entire Church, with its different cultures,” he noted.

This legislation covers everything from the administration of parishes to issues such as canon law offenses and declarations of a marriage annulment: “The Church functions like a society… and that society has its specific laws.”

The reason for the existence of the Vatican City State

Although many confuse the Holy See with Vatican City State, Arrieta clarified that they are distinct entities. The Holy See is the spiritual and governing authority of the universal Church; the Vatican City State, on the other hand, exists to protect its independence. “It is a tiny state — only half a square kilometer (.19 sq. mi.) — that was created to protect the pope's independence from all temporal power,” he explained.

That territory was created after the Lateran Treaties of 1929, by which the Kingdom of Italy recognized the independence, sovereignty, and borders of what would become Vatican City. Arrieta noted that Italy “also ceded to the Holy See certain places, buildings, and palaces in Rome that are the property of the Holy See and are extraterritorial,” such as the St. Mary Major Basilica and the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran.

A surprising fact: “The only actual citizen is the pope,” he explained, while the rest have temporary residence or work permits.

What happens when someone commits a crime?

Even though it is small, the Vatican functions like any other state, with courts and prisons. Arrieta gave a common example: “What happens if someone goes to the supermarket inside the Vatican, takes a bottle of cognac, puts it in his pocket, and walks out?... It's a civil crime in the Vatican... the gendarmes catch the person and take him to court.”

Criminal proceedings can take place in Vatican territory or in the country of origin, according to international agreements. The secretary of the dicastery noted that even with the assassination attempt on St. John Paul II, which occurred in Vatican territory, “the Vatican asked Italy to prosecute [the accused].”

A state with a bank, radio station, train, and supermarket

Daily life within the Vatican has peculiarities that surprise visitors.

Regarding the network of services, Arrieta explained about the Vatican Bank: “It's not properly speaking a bank ... it helps the Holy See to be able to move money and assist the missions.”

On Vatican Radio, he said: “It broadcasts in very many languages ... even on shortwave to reach very distant places.”

The pope receives thousands of letters that are processed through the Vatican’s postal service. “If you send a letter to the pope, it’s possible that someone will read it … and respond kindly on the pope’s behalf.”

There is a supermarket and a shopping center in the Vatican that are mainly open for employees and residents.

There is also the famous Vatican train and train station that was initially built to receive foreign dignitaries. Today, part of its facilities function as a shop and in the summer, a tourist train runs from Vatican Station to Castel Gandolfo.

The Swiss Guard and the defense of the pope

The origin of the corps that protects the Holy Father dates back to the year 1506. They famously defended the papacy during the Sack of Rome in 1527, when "over a hundred [Swiss soldiers] died defending the pontiff. Since then, the Swiss Guard has maintained this tradition of loyalty.

The universality of the Church

Arrieta said that the most striking thing about the Vatican is not its power or history, but its transcendent spiritual life: “The most impressive thing here is how one experiences the universality of the Church. How one appreciates that in people of very different origins, of very different cultural backgrounds, we live the same faith and believe in the same things.”

This constant contact with a diverse group of people in the Vatican “is experiencing the universality of the Church. We are all trying to love Jesus, the Lord, more, and to live the same things and to spread the same faith,” he added.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.