One ruling allows the Department of Homeland Security to end “temporary protected status” for Haitians and Syrians, who can now be deported. The other allows the government to turn away asylum seekers at the southern border by limiting the number of claims they will process each day.

Both cases were decided 6-3. All of the justices who sided with the majority were appointed by Republican presidents and each dissenting justice was appointed by Democratic presidents.

Anna Gallagher, the executive director of Catholic Legal Immigration Network, said in a statement to EWTN News that both decisions are “devastating for our clients, and for those of us who accompany vulnerable immigrants through the legal system.”

“As Catholics, we believe in a God who weeps for our suffering, who is concerned for the fall of the sparrow, for the least of these,” she said.

“And so we, too, weep for our clients whose asylum rights are restricted or who fear return to immediate life-threatening conditions because of this court decision.”

“We walk with them as legal advocates, seeing the injustice of our laws play out firsthand. We know that today is a dark day for many people we have come to know and care for — including legal residents of this country, beloved members of our community.”

Protections for Haitians, Syrians gone

The Supreme Court decision in Mullin v. Doe and Trump v. Miot, which were consolidated into one case, ensures that the government’s decision to terminate temporary protected status for Haitians and Syrians will be in effect. The ruling strips them of legal protections for work authorization and prevention from deportation.

Justice Samuel Alito, who wrote the opinion, said that the law itself generally gives the government broad discretion in determining whether to approve, extend, or terminate protected status for a given country. The ruling found that all non-constitutional claims are not subject to judicial review.

Haitians protected under the protected status argued that the policy terminations discriminated against people based on race. In its ruling the Supreme Court stated that both the protected designations and the terminations come from a racially diverse collection of countries.

“They claim that TPS has not been terminated for any predominantly white nation, and they therefore infer that the reason for the termination of the TPS designation for Haiti was having a predominantly nonwhite population,” the opinion stated.

The plaintiffs’ “definition of a predominantly non-white nation is broad, apparently encompassing major European countries,” the ruling said.

“It may be that only the termination of a TPS designation for a Nordic or Germanic country would be sufficient in their judgment to show that the Secretary’s unbroken record of TPS terminations was race-neutral,” the decision added.

Justice Elena Kagan, in her dissenting opinion, said she believes the court erred in ruling that all non-constitutional claims are barred from judicial review, arguing that the court should be able to determine whether the secretary followed the proper procedures in deciding to terminate protected status.

She also argued that Trump’s comments show that race played a role in the decision to end the Haitian protected status designation.

“The majority briefly replies that [his] remarks are not ‘overtly racial,’ … but it is hard to know what that means,” Kagan wrote. “Haitians are Black. …The references — of filth, disease, and primitiveness — are shot through with racial stereotypes and tropes.”

Andrew Arthur, a resident fellow in law and policy at the Center for Immigration Studies and a former immigration judge, told “EWTN News Nightly” on June 25 that the ruling essentially solidifies that “no one has the ability to sue when the government decides it’s going to terminate TPS status.”

He said the protected status is meant to provide temporary legal status for someone escaping a danger in their country. He said some protected designations “have been in place … for more than a quarter of a century,” even for “events that occurred decades ago” and are no longer impacting the country.

The U.S. bishops had urged the government to extend protected status, including for Haitians, who are a majority Catholic community.

“We are deeply concerned about the plight of our Haitian brothers and sisters living in the United States,” Bishop Brendan J. Cahill, chair of the bishops’ committee on migration, and Bishop A. Elias Zaidan, chair of the committee on international justice and peace, said in a joint statement in February.

“There is simply no realistic opportunity for the safe and orderly return of people to Haiti at this time,” they said.

Asylum seekers at the border

The decision in Mullin v. Al Otro Lado dealt with the “metering” policy that started under former President Barack Obama and is being enforced by Trump, which the court ruled is a lawful policy.

Under the policy, the government can limit the number of asylum claims it chooses to process in a day and can turn people away from entry into the country when they approach the southern border.

The case centered on an asylum seeker’s right to apply for asylum when he or she “arrives in the United States.” The ruling, also authored by Alito, states that the right only applies when the person has already entered the country and it does not give legal protections for someone who is seeking entry into the country but has not yet been allowed in.

“We begin by considering what the phrase ‘arrives in the United States’ means when used in everyday speech,” the ruling states. “That meaning is clear. A person arrives in a geographic location only when he enters it.”

The ruling states that if Congress wanted to extend that right to anyone who approaches the border or seeks entry into the country, it would have written the law to clearly state that.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote the dissent, arguing that the ruling allows the executive branch to “circumvent … mandatory procedures by having U. S. immigration officers stand at the border and physically block noncitizens from setting a foot onto U. S. soil.”

“Words … must be read in context and with attention to how they fit into the statute as a whole,” Sotomayor wrote.

“The majority ignores the statutory context and history, not to mention the longstanding position of the Executive Branch, all of which show that any noncitizen arriving at our doorstep and seeking admission must be inspected and allowed to apply for asylum, regardless of whether her foot has crossed the threshold,” she said.

Arthur told “EWTN News Nightly” that the decision essentially “narrows the ability of people who havenʼt actually entered the country … to apply for asylum.”

“You’re not subject to United States law … until you’ve actually crossed into this country,” he said.

The U.S. bishops petitioned the Supreme Court to rule against the policy and require the government to process all asylum claims.

“The turnback policy is not just a flawed piece of statutory interpretation but an historical aberration — one that, during the period it was enforced, left vulnerable asylum seekers stranded in encampments on the border while lawfully trying to seek asylum at a port of entry,” the bishops wrote.

The Supreme Court has not yet ruled on the most significant immigration case before it, Trump v. Barbara, which will decide the extent of birthright citizenship in the United States.

This story was updated at 1:50 p.m. ET on June 25, 2026 with further analysis and expert comment.

“We write not as adversaries, but as fellow Christians who love the Church, which is built on Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition, and who, like you, long for the salvation of souls,” the professors wrote in an open letter to the SSPX, noting that if the group moves forward with the illicit consecrations, “it would cement and deepen the already existing separation between the Society and the See of Peter.”

“Whatever legitimate questions or grievances may exist, they are no excuse to create a schism,” the letter’s signatories assert. The letter is signed by 26  faculty and staff, with university professors of theology constituting the majority of the signatories. 

“The treasures of Catholic Tradition do not belong outside communion with Peter; they belong at the heart of the Church,” the letter continues. “A new episcopal ordination outside the ecclesial hierarchy without the Apostolic mandate would create a new wound in the Body of Christ and place the gifts that God has entrusted to the Society, which belong to the Church and are ordered towards unity with her (Lumen Gentium 8), outside of her maternal embrace.”

“Please don’t do this,” the letter said. “Please don’t create this wound! Please, re-enter into dialogue with the Holy See and into full communion with the Church.”

The letter comes after the SSPX announced it plans to consecrate four new bishops at its seminary in Écône, Switzerland, prompting Pope Leo XIV and the Vatican to warn that doing do without a papal mandate would constitute “a schismatic act” and carry the penalty of excommunication.

“We have invited them, and I am still considering making another appeal, to say: ‘Do not do this. Let us try to live communion in the Church.’ But it is their choice. They must understand what it means for them and for the Church,” the pope said, responding to journalists’ questions outside Villa Barberini in Castel Gandolfo on June 16.

Courage International priest says Pride Month events ‘inappropriate’ at Catholic colleges

Courage International Associate Director Father Colin Blatchford has spoken out against Catholic colleges holding Pride Month events.

In an interview with the Cardinal Newman Society, Blatchford said “it causes scandal” when a Catholic college encourages students to participate in events celebrating Pride Month in June.

Courage International is a Catholic apostolate that ministers to individuals experiencing same-sex attraction and gender confusion.

“When a Catholic college picks and chooses the theological or philosophical teachings of the Church that it will abide, it undermines that process,” Blatchford said. “Indeed, it hollows it out and provides merely an empty emotional shell where there should be a full abiding relationship with God.”

“The anthropological underpinnings of ‘Pride Month’ include a dualistic view of the person and radical autonomy,” he said. “Each of the last four popes has spoken about the necessity of recognizing the dignity of the human person and that no one thing here on this earth can sufficiently define who we are, beyond ‘beloved child of God.’”

Blatchford encouraged Catholic colleges to remember three things when encountering individuals with same-sex attraction: “First, communicate that they are loved. Second, let them know that even if it does not seem so now, God has a unique plan for their life. And finally, ask if they would be willing to share their story.”

“We don’t have to agree on everything or approve of every action, but we walk together towards God. We are a group of imperfect people striving to grow closer to God, by means of His grace,” he said.

Immaculate Conception Parish in Earlington — the oldest Catholic church in Hopkins County, established in 1886 — has offered the TLM for nearly a decade, and will have its final Mass in the extraordinary form at 12:30 p.m. CT on June 28.

It is the only parish offering the TLM in the diocese, which covers the 32 westernmost counties in Kentucky. The closest options available will be east in the Archdiocese of Louisville, Kentucky; north in the Diocese of Evansville, Indiana; and south in the Diocese of Nashville, Tennessee.

Penny Giardinella, administrative assistant for the small parish, told EWTN News the church is “pretty full” during the TLM, as it is during all Sunday Masses. She said a large portion of TLM worshipers travel from outside parish lines to attend.

On May 18, the bishop sent a letter to the parish priest, Father David Kennedy, instructing him to halt all celebrations of the TLM after June 30. Although he initially secured a dispensation for the parish to continue its weekly celebration amid the 2021 Vatican restrictions, Medley did not seek an extension into the latter half of 2026.

The issue, Medley said in his letter, is that he lacked standing to seek an extension because the parish did not submit a report to the bishop, which the Holy See required for an extension to be granted. The bishop said this requirement was based on his 2023 correspondence with the Holy See.

The report, he wrote, needed to provide the TLM attendance and explain what steps were taken to lead the faithful toward the Novus Ordo Mass — the ordinary form of the liturgy adopted in 1969 by the Catholic Church in reforms following the Second Vatican Council.

“As I am unable to demonstrate that this condition has been met, I have no standing to request an extension of the Holy See,” Medley wrote.

Medley said the parish can instead celebrate the novus ordo Mass in accordance with the 1969 reforms in the Latin language and ad orientem, with the priest facing toward the tabernacle and away from the people.

“I know in some dioceses, the faithful who have shown a preference for the Mass celebrated in Latin have accepted the Novus Ordo Mass celebrated in the Latin language,” Medley said.

The bishop added that he postponed halting the Mass upon the death of Francis to see whether Pope Leo XIV would alter the restrictions. Because Leo has not — and because the January Consistory of the College of Cardinals explicitly opted not to review Traditionis Custodes — the bishop said he “felt obligated to act in accord with the direction of the Holy See.”

“For the faithful who may object to this directive, you may certainly refer them to me, but please make clear that I am acting in accord with my promise to the pope, the Bishop of Rome,” Medley said. “I am grateful for your ministry to this small and unique community. And I assure you of my prayers for them and for you and I kindly ask that you all pray for me.”

Rachel Hall, director of communications for the diocese, told EWTN News that “the parish will transition to the scheduled details in the correspondence” after June 30.

“As the parish navigates this transition with their faithful pastor Father Kennedy, the diocese asks for prayers to the Holy Spirit in guidance, with unity and peace,” she said.

Leo has not taken any official steps to amend Francis’s TLM restrictions, but has offered a conciliatory tone toward those attached to the older form of the liturgy.

In March, Leo described liturgical divisions as a “painful wound” in a communication with French bishops, and encouraged solutions that allow “the generous inclusion” of Catholics who choose to worship at the TLM “in respect for the directions desired by the Second Vatican Council in matters of liturgy.”

Last year, Leo approved Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke’s celebration of the TLM at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City.

Since its inception, the number of euthanasia procedures carried out in the country has risen steadily; from 75 in the second half of 2021 to 288 in 2022, followed by 334 in 2023, some 426 in 2024 and 565 in 2025.

The Madrid-based Professionals for Ethics Association has issued a report that points out that the progression of euthanasia over the past five years shows that “once approved, euthanasia becomes a slippery slope” with destructive effects.

In addition to accelerated year-to-year growth in the number of euthanasia cases, the ethics professionals cite the progressive expansion of the grounds for the procedure under the catch-all category of “severe suffering.”

Euthanasia procedures have been streamlined “even at the cost of reducing or eliminating safeguards,” according to the report.

Euthanasia is being promoted “as an altruistic choice, based on arguments regarding organ donation and bequests to pro-euthanasia associations.”

The report denounces the “imposition of the so-called ‘right to die’ and personal autonomy over good medical practice.”

The practice of euthanasia results in the “abandonment of clinical effort” in situations where it appears to be an “easier and less costly” option. The report also underscores that euthanasia “harms the relationship of trust” between patient and physician, as well as between the patient and their family members.

The "normalization of euthanasia" in society and among healthcare professionals has led to the "loss of the meaning of vulnerable life, of aging, and of the value of caring for and accompanying” such patients, the report finds.

Other destructive effects include “social pressure on dependent individuals based on ‘quality of life’ criteria and the perception of being a burden to others” and, finally, the fostering of individualism and “society’s indifference toward suffering.”

Recommendations

Beyond pointing out dangers and contradictions inherent in the advance of euthanasia in Spain, the Professionals for Ethics Association proposes five measures “to reverse the slippery slope of euthanasia upon which we have already embarked.”

The first recommended measure is to develop “the plan, organization, and resources necessary to provide nationwide palliative care coverage," which must include "home-based teams and specialized pediatric units."

The ethics professionals also recommend boosting support “for vulnerable individuals and their families,” specifically those facing dependency, mental illness, and unwanted loneliness. This requires both the allocation of resources to address these challenges and facilitating “family support through programs that balance work and family life in order to provide care” for the patient.

A third recommendation is to monitor official information regarding the euthanasia procedures performed in order to “ensure rigor in the processes for requesting and approving euthanasia,” as well as preventing lax interpretations of the law that make “euthanasia the easiest, most accessible, and quickest ‘solution’.”

Fourth, the association holds that “it is vital to preserve the mission and objectives of healthcare aimed at preventing, curing, and caring for health as well as professional ethics and practice.”

In this regard, the group emphasizes that “euthanasia runs counter to the essence of medicine, caring for human life, and should never be considered a medical act.” Thus, the association also advocates the right of healthcare workers to conscientiously object to participating in euthanasia procedures.

Finally, the association calls for halting the promotion of euthanasia, as its rise “is neither a social good nor a sign of progress in human rights, nor is it even a neutral matter.”

“The fact that an increasing number of people in Spain desire a lethal injection should be a cause for concern, not celebration,” the group emphasizes; and therefore advocates for “a euthanasia prevention plan” similar to those for suicide and, ultimately, the repeal of the euthanasia law and the enactment of legislation “that facilitates the care of human life until the very end.”

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

The department’s Office of Population Affairs, which designates grants for teenage pregnancy prevention, will divert $67 million to open new grants for prevention programs, a source confirmed to EWTN News.

The department will terminate 53 of 67 of the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program grants following a department review, according to a Daily Signal report. The department reportedly described the current grants as “age-inappropriate,” “sexually explicit," and in violation of the program’s founding statute.

Some of the current teenage pregnancy programs teach teens how to access abortion, while others promote transgender ideology or sexually explicit material.

“Under programming favored by the Biden Administration, we saw too much emphasis on abortion and too little on protecting kids,” said Kristi Hamrick, a spokeswoman for Students for Life.

Hamrick referred to various instances of programming that instruct high schoolers with sexually explicit content.

“The kind of programming that tries to separate sexual activity from marriage or from babies, who are an important reality, misses the point,” Hamrick told EWTN News. “Pretending in programming that the presence or absence of a baby is the only thing to discuss, or that contraception comes with magical guarantees, doesnʼt begin to educate teenagers.”

“Young girls being groomed by older men; sexually transmitted diseases or broken hearts are all part of this reality, which makes pushing abortion as a ‘solution’ seriously off base,” Hamrick continued.

The administration is opening up new grants for pregnancy prevention programming more aligned with its goals, promoting two new funding streams according to two notices the department listed on Tuesday, totaling $71.1 million in grants. Applications close July 26.

Andrea Trudden, spokeswoman for Heartbeat International, an organization of pregnancy help centers, noted that many pregnancy centers provide education that reduces the risk of unplanned pregnancies.

"Pregnancy help organizations serve as an important resource for young women when an unexpected pregnancy occurs, offering practical support, compassionate care, and information about the resources available to help them continue their pregnancies,” she told EWTN News.

“Many of these organizations also provide sexual risk avoidance education that encourages healthy relationships, responsible decision-making, and behaviors that reduce the risk of unintended pregnancy,” Trudden continued.

"When a teen pregnancy does occur, the goal should be to ensure that no young woman feels she has to choose between her future and her child,” said Trudden.

“Pregnancy help organizations have decades of experience walking alongside teens before, during, and after pregnancy, helping them build healthy futures,” said Trudden.

“With the right support, education, parenting resources, and community assistance, teens can pursue their goals while welcoming the life of their baby,” Trudden said.

“There are so many out there ready to help, at churches, at pregnancy care centers, and in the community,” Hamrick added.

Hamrick noted that Students for Life lists resources at their webpage, Standing With You.

“A baby represents hope and a future, and for a family, whether by birth or adoption, and we need to help teenagers understand that they are not alone, that many will help, and that this is the beginning of another personʼs story,” Hamrick said.

In May, DeWine quietly commuted the sentence of Gregory Lott, who killed a man in East Cleveland in 1986 by setting him on fire during a burglary.

DeWine did not publicly announce the commutation, which he issued several weeks before openly calling for an end to the death penalty in the state.

A former supporter of the death penalty, DeWine said during a June 16 press conference that the “moral justification I had for voting for the death penalty simply no longer exists.”

DeWine did not directly say during that press event if he would commute any death sentences, though reporters questioned him on the subject. The order to commute Lott’s sentence had been filed in the state court system several days earlier.

The order cited a parole board recommendation that Lott’s sentence be commuted, as well as findings that Lott is “intellectually disabled to a degree that would prohibit the imposition of the death penalty under current law.”

The family members of Lott’s victim, meanwhile, said they were “opposed to the implementation of the death penalty,” according to the order.

A ‘pro-life decision’

Krisanne Vaillancourt Murphy, the executive director of the anti-death penalty group Catholic Mobilizing Network, said in a June 25 statement that “no matter the harm one has caused or suffered, every person deserves the possibility of redemption.”

Responding to DeWine’s decision by exclaiming “Praise God!” Murphy said the commutation “underscores the governor’s concern for those who are marginalized in our society.”

She urged DeWine to “take further steps before leaving office toward commuting the death sentences of the more than 100 individuals who are currently on Ohio’s death row.”

Lott’s efforts to avoid the death penalty took a winding path through both the state courts and the state executive system.

The U.S. Supreme Court in 2002 ruled in Atkins v. Virginia that executing condemned criminals who are intellectually disabled is unconstitutional.

Lott’s attorneys appealed to the Ohio Supreme Court under that ruling, though the state court denied that claim, establishing what in judicial circles came to be known as “Lott’s Test” for determining the threshold of intellectual disability.

Yet he was spared from being executed after Ohio’s 2014 execution of Dennis McGuire, whom witnesses said visibly suffered while dying from the lethal injection that ultimately killed him. Then-Gov. John Kasich issued a moratorium on executions there that lasted for more than three years.

Stephen Ferrell, one of Lott’s public defenders during his legal battles, told the Marshall Project that Lott “would have been executed a month [after McGuire]” without the moratorium in place.

“To me, that epitomizes the arbitrariness of this system,” the lawyer said.

According to the Dutch governmentʼs 2025 annual report on late-term pregnancy termination and life-ending procedures, authorities received a report in late 2025 involving a child between the ages of 1 and 12. The case is the first known report since the Netherlands broadened its regulations to permit euthanasia for children in that age group under limited circumstances.

Dutch Health Minister Sophie Hermans confirmed in a June 22 letter to the Dutch House of Representatives, “At the end of 2025, the committee received its first report of life termination of a child between the ages of 1 and 12 years.”

Few details about the childʼs age, illness, or circumstances have been released. Under Dutch law, all such cases are reviewed by an independent committee to determine whether legal requirements were followed.

A medical-legal committee reviewed the death, evaluated it, and forwarded an advisory opinion to prosecutors who must independently decide next steps, Hermans’ letter said. The committee is expected to publish its opinion on its website.

Expansion of Dutch euthanasia policy

The Netherlands became the first country in the world to legalize euthanasia for adults in 2002. Before the 2024 expansion, euthanasia was already permitted for infants under one year old in exceptional circumstances and for minors aged 12 and older, subject to parental consent requirements.

Dutch officials said the regulations were designed to address a small number of cases involving terminally ill children experiencing what authorities describe as “hopeless and unbearable suffering.”

Under the rules, euthanasia for children ages 1 to 12 may be permitted when a child is terminally ill, suffering unbearably with no prospect of improvement, and when no reasonable treatment or palliative care alternative exists.

The 2025 report recorded three late-term pregnancy terminations, no reported life-ending procedures involving newborns, and one reported life-ending procedure involving a child between the ages of 1 and 12.

Catholic bioethicists raise concerns

The reported case of the child under 12 has drawn criticism from Catholic and pro-life advocates, who argue that societyʼs response to suffering should be compassionate care and effective pain management rather than intentionally ending a human life.

“This is clearly a grave ethical violation,” said Joseph Meaney, senior fellow and director of international coordination at the National Catholic Bioethics Center. “The Church teaches that euthanasia and assisted suicide are intrinsically evil and so can never be morally justified actions. The case of euthanizing children is graver still since a child cannot give informed consent.”

Meaney said that while euthanasia may appear compassionate in cases of severe suffering, “it is a grave mistake,” emphasizing that “human persons have a special dignity” and that modern medicine offers ethical means of pain management and care for the seriously ill and dying.

He also warned that the Netherlands has often served as a bellwether for euthanasia policy worldwide.

“Expanding the limits of what is allowed by the law in terms of medicalized killing usually happens first in the Netherlands and then spreads to other countries,” Meaney said.

International implications

The case comes amid ongoing debates over assisted dying in several Western nations.

Meaney warned that jurisdictions often begin by legalizing euthanasia in limited circumstances before gradually broadening eligibility.

“After a few years of legalization, advocates push for limitations to be removed or the categories of persons with permission to be killed or kill themselves to be enlarged,” he said.

Matt Vallière, executive director of the Patient Rights Action Fund, expressed similar concerns.

“The further that they push the envelope, the more other countries will consider it, especially in the Euro-American West,” Vallière said. “Currently, bills are pending in France, the UK, and Scotland.”

He also pointed to developments in the United States.

“You see some of this going back and forth from here to the states, too. There are 12 states plus D.C. that have officially legalized assisted suicide,” he said.

The report comes as euthanasia continues to rise in the Netherlands. More than 10,000 euthanasia deaths were reported in the Netherlands in 2025, accounting for a growing share of annual deaths in the country.

The Netherlands remains one of only a handful of countries that permit euthanasia for minors. Belgium removed age restrictions on euthanasia in 2014, while assisted-dying proposals continue to be debated in several Western nations.

Bishop David James Oakley of Northampton was charged with two counts of rape against a female under the age of 16.

The diocese of Northampton confirmed that the bishop “has been charged after an investigation into non-recent safeguarding allegations.”

The diocese could not provide further comment.

“We understand that this will be very distressing for all concerned but cannot comment further on an active legal process,” the diocese said in its statement.

The statement provided direction to safeguarding resources.

“If you have any safeguarding concerns please contact either the diocesan safeguarding team or the police directly,” the diocese said.

Oakley was ordained in 1980 as a priest and became bishop of Northampton in 2020. In October of last year, he took a leave of absence for “personal reasons.” Oakley was an episcopal advisor for Catholic Charismatic Renewal in England and Wales and was rector of St. Maryʼs College, Oscott, the seminary of the Archdiocese of Birmingham, from 2013 to 2020.

English news outlets reported that the bishop was a strong contender for bishop of Westminster in recent years.

Oakley will appear in court for an initial hearing August 14.

“Weʼre already deploying search and rescue teams from Fairfax County [Virginia] and Los Angeles,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters June 25.

“There will be some others weʼll add,” Rubio said. “Thatʼs their most immediate need right now, is search-and-rescue efforts: They have [many] collapsed buildings. And so theyʼll need a lot of help in terms of digging through that.”

The earthquakes took place on June 24, with the first 7.2-magnitude earthquake recorded at 6:04 p.m. local time, and the second 7.5-magnitude earthquake occurring just 39 seconds later, according to the United States Geological Survey.

“Weʼve already stood up our disaster response teams at the Department of State and our humanitarian efforts,” Rubio said. “Itʼs something we did very well in Jamaica, after that storm, and itʼs something weʼre really prepared to do now.”

The update came after Rubio issued a statement earlier in the morning pledging to carry out U.S. President Donald Trump’s directive for “all agencies of [the U.S.] government” to “get ready to move quickly.”

“The United States extends our deepest condolences to the people of Venezuela following the devastating earthquakes,” Rubio said. “Our hearts are with all those who have lost loved ones, those injured, and the courageous rescue workers working tirelessly in the aftermath.”

Bishop A. Elias Zaidan, chair of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace called on the international community to “mobilize in support of the Venezuelan people, and to send the necessary humanitarian assistance to alleviate their suffering.”

Pope Leo XIV has sent an initial 100,000 euro donation to Venezuela in the aftermath of the earthquakes through the Apostolic Almonerʼs Office. Catholic Relief Services (CRS) said it is “working through Caritas Venezuela and the local Church to quickly deliver emergency shelter, food, safe water, medical care and other critical relief to those affected.”

Aid to the Church in Need reported significant damages to numerous churches, parish houses, and Church institutions, but noted no casualties among priests, deacons, seminarians, or religious sisters.

Archbishop Raúl Biord Castillo of Caracas told the aid group after touring affected parishes to assess the situation that “many of them have serious structural damage,” with the Cathedral of Caracas among the most affected.

Bishop Pablo Modesto González Pérez of the Diocese of La Guaira described the impact of the earthquakes on the local seminary, telling Aid to the Church in Need: “We are without electricity and we have all been affected. In the seminary, many walls collapsed.”

The bishop expressed gratitude that no priests were seriously harmed and noted the mobilization of the local Church in response to the disaster: “Many parishes have received people to spend the night in their facilities. We have already activated a solidarity network through the parish Caritas.”

“From tomorrow, inspections will be carried out to determine which temples can be reopened,” he said. “May God help us and grant us the necessary consolation to accompany our people in these difficult times.”

This story was updated at 2:40 p.m. ET on June 25, 2026 to include comments from Bishop A. Elias Zaidan, Catholic Relief Services, and information about Pope Leo XIV’s donation through the Apostolic Almonerʼs Office.

The Archdiocese of Palo, which covers Tacloban City, said the June 22 attack at San Jose National High School left three students dead and at least 20 others wounded — a tragedy that the archdiocese said should prompt deeper reflection on the formation of young people and the values imparted to them.

In a statement issued after the attack, Palo Archbishop John Du expressed shock and sorrow over what has been described as one of the deadliest school shootings in recent Philippine history.

“The Archdiocese of Palo is greatly shocked and grieving on the horrific act of violence and the tragic loss of innocent lives during the school shooting incident that happened in San Jose National High School, Tacloban City,” the archbishop said.

“As we pray for the victims and mourn with their families and loved ones, our thoughts and prayers also go to all those who have in one way or another been affected by this tragedy — the school and community, the families of the students and the society which have nurtured our young people.”

Du said the tragedy should lead Filipinos to examine how children and young people are being formed by families, communities, and society.

“This tragedy challenges us all to reflect on how we (our nation, our families and communities) have raised our children and young people and on the values we have imparted to them,” he said.

“Let us unite and work together that this kind of tragedy will never happen again.”

The archbishop assured victims and their families of the Church’s continued prayers and support, invoking God’s healing mercy upon those affected by the violence.

A priest’s ministry of presence

Among the first Church leaders to visit the school after the shooting was Father Ivo Velazquez, parish priest of St. Roch the Healer Parish.

The priest said he first learned of the incident while attending the opening academic ceremonies of the archdiocese’s major seminary.

“I wasn’t there when the shooting happened. I was at the apertura del curso at the theologate. But out of distraction I happened to glance at Facebook during the long inaugural discourse and got to see what was happening,” Velazquez told EWTN News.

After lunch, he proceeded directly to the school.

“The atmosphere was oppressive,” he recalled. “My task was very simple — to check on the people. No grand theological messages. I checked on the security guard, and some of the teachers who were still there.”

The priest said his role was primarily to listen as teachers, school personnel, and survivors recounted their experiences.

“The most difficult for me was how to slowly approach the parents of the victims,” he said.

Yet he discovered that the simplest gesture often opened the door to consolation.

“But the best way — as I got to learn — was the simplest: to ask for the name of their child. And then I just simply listened as the tears rolled down my cheeks.”

“I realized that I have never left school,” he added. “I continue to learn what it means to shepherd.”

In a reflection posted on social media after spending the day with victims and their families, Velazquez described the emotional toll of ministering in the aftermath of the tragedy.

“Today was a heavy day,” he wrote.

“That it was supposed to be like any Monday seems to make it even heavier to bear.”

The priest recounted meeting parents who had lost children in the attack and listening to survivors struggling to process what they had witnessed.

“To be at a loss as to what to say and what to do in the presence of those who had lost a child in the most nightmarish way possible,” he wrote.

Velazquez particularly remembered a grieving mother who asked him to pray for her daughter and for her husband. Another mother shared how her son had reportedly helped shield others from danger.

As he walked through classrooms where violence had erupted only hours earlier, Velazquez prayed for healing.

“Upon the spilled blood still on the floor I implored the application of the spotless blood of the Lamb to cleanse and heal all those lives that had been affected,” he said.

“Lord, in our burdens lift us up. In our sadness console us, our wounds do heal, and use our hands to uplift, to bless, and restore.”

Catholic educators call for deeper reforms

The tragedy also prompted a response from the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP), which expressed “profound alarm and deep sorrow” over the shooting and a recent stabbing incident at another school.

“These tragic events, which claimed lives and inflicted serious injuries, mark a harrowing escalation from bullying and peer conflicts to outright killings,” CEAP said.

“Schools, meant to be sanctuaries of learning, growth, and formation, are now turning into places of fear and violence.”

The association called on government agencies, educational institutions, and families to pursue “urgent, holistic reform that prioritizes integral human development over purely technical goals.”

Investigation continues

Police have taken into custody two students, aged 14 and 15, who allegedly carried out the attack. Authorities said the suspects used a pistol and a .38-caliber revolver, both of which had been traced to their registered owners.

Investigators are examining reports that the suspects had experienced prolonged bullying and are also probing possible influences from violent online content and gaming platforms.

Philippine authorities have since ordered the temporary blocking of an online game being reviewed as part of the investigation.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered a comprehensive investigation and directed government agencies to strengthen security measures in schools nationwide. Meanwhile, the Department of Education has pledged medical, psychological, and psychosocial support for students, teachers, and families affected by the tragedy.

As Tacloban continues to grieve, Church leaders have urged the faithful to pray for healing and reconciliation.

“May we find strength in faith, compassion in our hearts, and hope in God who remains close to the brokenhearted,” the San Jose Parish, Tacloban City, posted in the aftermath of the shooting.

Among its many treasures, the cathedral features eight chapels where fragments of history, traces of the God-inspired actions of kings, cardinals, and archbishops, and the evolution of sacred art all intertwine.

1. Main chapel

The main chapel is the liturgical heart of the Toledo Cathedral. Its current layout is the result of an alteration initiated by Cardinal Francisco Jiménez de Cisneros in the 15th century, which involved relocating the original burial sites of the monarchs Alfonso VII, Sancho the Desired, and Sancho the Brave.

Also located there is the tomb of Cardinal Pedro González de Mendoza, a pivotal figure in the history of the Catholic Church in Spain, who was closely linked to the evangelization efforts of the Catholic monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella in Spanish America.

The main altarpiece, made of gilded and polychromed wood, is considered a masterpiece of Hispano-Flemish Gothic art, created by some of the most renowned sculptors and polychromists of the era. It depicts numerous Gospel scenes, such as the Nativity, the Adoration of the Magi, Pentecost, and scenes from the Passion, all crowned by a large Crucifixion scene at the top.

2. Chapel of the Descent

Founded by Enrique II of Castile, this space stands on the site where tradition places the high altar of the Visigothic church dedicated to the Virgin Mary, the church that gave rise to the cathedral. Legend also attributes a miraculous event to this location: the Virgin Mary descended from heaven to place a chasuble on St. Ildefonso, archbishop of Toledo and a fervent defender of the mystery of her immaculate purity.

The altarpiece, restored by order of Cardinal Bernardo de Sandoval y Rojas, depicts this miraculous episode, among other scenes. Cardinal Baltasar Moscoso y Sandoval is buried here.

3. Chapel of St. Ildefonso

Located in the center of the churchʼs apse, this octagonal, Gothic-style chapel houses the tomb of Archbishop Gil Carrillo de Albornoz, a papal legate, a minister of Alfonso XI, and founder of the Royal Spanish College in Bologna.

Numerous archbishops from the 14th through the 21st centuries are also buried within its walls. The last to be interred there was Cardinal Marcelo González Martín in 2004.

4. Tabernacle Chapel

In the Tabernacle Chapel, in addition to the adoration of the Eucharist, the chapelʼs patroness, the Virgin of the Tabernacle, is venerated. The Virgin is represented by 12th-century wooden carving, overlaid with silver and seated upon an 18th-century gilded silver throne.

Tradition holds that the statue was hidden during the Muslim invasion in the early 8th century, and following the Reconquista of Toledo at the start of the second millennium, miraculously emerged from the well in the cathedral cloister, bearing a lit candle.

Clad in marble, the chapel’s dome features frescoes depicting the Evangelists, prophets, and Doctors of the Church. The chapel is also adorned with paintings dedicated to Sts. Bernard, Eugenius, Ildephonsus, and Leocadia.

It was inaugurated in 1616 in the presence of Felipe III.

5. St. Blaise Chapel

Located in the northeast corner of the cathedral cloister is the St. Blaise Chapel, commissioned in the late 14th century by Archbishop Pedro Tenorio to serve as his burial place.

The chapelʼs most notable features are its murals, which depict the articles of faith contained in the Creed and scenes of the Last Judgment, as well as numerous Gospel images and episodes from the lives of St. Anthony and St. Blaise, along with miracles attributed to St. Peter.

These works are considered among the most significant examples of the Spanish International Gothic style, inspired by the Italian genius Giotto and the Florentine school.

6. St. James Chapel

Built in the mid-15th century, the St. James funerary chapel is designed in the Toledan Gothic style and is located in the outer ambulatory. It was built by order of the royal favorite of Juan II of Castille, Constable Álvaro de Luna, who was ultimately executed, and his spouse Juana Pimentel, whose tombs of sculpted alabaster are situated in the center of the chamber.

Archbishops Juan de Cerezuela and Pedro de Luna, along with some of the constableʼs relatives, are buried along the side walls.

7. Chapel of the New Kings

The Chapel of the New Kings is one of the areas of the cathedral richest in history. It represents the merging of royal chapels originally established in the 13th century. With the authorization of Emperor Charles V, and to meet liturgical needs, the chapel was relocated to the ambulatory in the 16th century.

It houses the tombs of the Trastámara dynasty, showcasing a unique example of Late Gothic art evolving toward the Neoclassical style.

8. Mozarabic Chapel

Erected by Cardinal Jiménez de Cisneros in 1502, this chapel was built to perpetuate the celebration of the Hispanic-Mozarabic rite — the oldest liturgy in Hispanic Christianity, which was preserved only in Toledo after the city was reconquered in 1085.

In 1500, Cardinal Jiménez de Cisneros restored this rite; it is celebrated every morning thanks to a permission granted by Pope Alexander II at a time when the Roman rite, established in the 11th century, was spreading across the Iberian Peninsula.

It is located in the former chapter house, and its dome, damaged by a fire in 1622, was rebuilt by El Grecoʼs son. The altarpiece, remodeled in the 18th century, is crowned by an Ibero-American crucifix.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

Amid these challenges, the Catholic Church in the countries of the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia continues to accompany the faithful spiritually and pastorally.

Bishop Aldo Berardi, apostolic vicar of Northern Arabia, told ACI MENA, the Arabic language service of EWTN News, that the Church is trying to remain close to its people during these times of fear and uncertainty.

The conflict that erupted in late February brought unexpected challenges to the vicariate and to the faithful living in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Bahrain.

“For a community that draws its strength from gathering together for Mass and communal prayer, the suspension of Church activities was a deep wound,” he said.

Berardi reflected on the fact that the conflict began during two important seasons of prayer: Lent for Christians and Ramadan for Muslims. He described this timing as a reminder of divine providence.

“It was not only painful, but it also reminded us that fasting and prayer are not merely religious practices; they are acts of solidarity with all who suffer,” he said. “They taught us as well that we are not alone in times of hardship.”

Even when public gatherings were restricted, churches remained open for private prayer. Later, parish activities and public Masses gradually resumed.

Hearts shaken by war

The apostolic vicar acknowledged the concerns of the faithful throughout the vicariate, which is home to about 2.2 million Catholics, in addition to members of other Christian communities. Most are expatriates and migrant workers from around the world. Each person carries a story of faith, migration, and hope.

“While their families in Lebanon, the Philippines, India, Kenya, and elsewhere closely follow developments and worry about the safety of their loved ones here, every phone call home becomes burdened with anxiety,” he said. “Conflict does not only damage infrastructure. The first thing it wounds is the human heart.”

As fears spread, many faithful came to the bishop asking whether they would lose their jobs, be evacuated, or still be able to send money home.

“For many of our faithful, the money they earn in the Gulf supports entire families back home,” he explained.

The bishop sought to remain close to his people, reassure them, and help ease their fears.

“I never claimed to have all the answers,” he said. “But my role as a father is to remind them of a deeper truth: They are not alone. Even far from home and living in uncertainty, God accompanies them, and the Church stands beside them.”

From the first days of the crisis, he encouraged the faithful to remain calm, stay united in prayer, and care for one another.

“Fear is not a sin,” he added. “It is a natural and necessary human response for survival. Jesus Himself experienced fear in the Garden of Gethsemane. Faith does not eliminate fear; it transforms it, gives it meaning, and enables us to cling to hope, ‘a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul.’”

“I am truly filled with hope,” he said. “Christian hope is more than simple optimism. It is a gift from God that helps us persevere even in difficult times.”

Mission and service

At the beginning of this year, the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia began a fruitful spiritual journey. One important moment was the elevation of the Church of Our Lady of Arabia in Kuwait to the status of a minor basilica.

According to the bishop, this reflected the vitality and continued growth of the Catholic Church in the Gulf.

“Our journey has not stopped,” he said. “It has only been temporarily interrupted. As we await a lasting peace, we remain determined to continue with renewed energy, ready to resume pastoral programs, educational initiatives, and community activities.”

When people live amid fear, sorrow, and uncertainty, the bishop said, the Church’s first responsibility is to accompany them in their suffering.

“At the same time, peace creates the space necessary for service. Stability is not a luxury for the Church; it is an essential condition for mission.”

He stressed that peace is necessary for every part of the Church’s mission: proclaiming the Gospel, forming believers, serving the poor, and building dialogue between Christians and Muslims.

“Every sincere effort to build lasting peace helps the Church carry out its mission,” he said. “It helps create the conditions the Church needs to serve people and grow.”

Our Lady of Arabia

Millions of Catholics around the world turn to the Blessed Virgin Mary in times of need. The bishop often reminds the faithful of their patroness, Our Lady of Arabia.

“She is our mother, our protector, and the companion of millions of Catholics living far from their homelands,” he said.

“Mary herself experienced life as a refugee. She lived under occupation and remained standing at the foot of the Cross when everything seemed lost. She is not simply a figure from the past but a living presence in the lives of believers. I have no doubt that many of the faithful found strength in her maternal presence during these difficult months.”

‘A new Pentecost every day’

The bishop said the cultural diversity of the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia is both its greatest gift and one of its greatest challenges.

Catholics in the vicariate worship according to a variety of liturgical traditions, including the Latin, Maronite, Syro-Malabar, Syro-Malankara, and Coptic Catholic rites.

“People of different nationalities, languages, and cultures come together in prayer,” he said. “They are united by one baptism, one Eucharist, and one Lord. In our vicariate, we experience a new Pentecost every day.”

This unity is also seen in simple daily acts of charity and solidarity: a Filipino family helping an Indian family find housing, an African choir singing alongside a Lebanese choir at the same Mass, or a priest from one Church tradition visiting patients from another.

“This diversity is a living witness that we belong to one Church — holy, catholic, and universal,” the bishop said. “It is a witness the world needs to see today more than ever, especially here in the Middle East.”

Iran and the United States recently reached a preliminary agreement to extend a ceasefire that was welcomed by Gulf Cooperation Council states earlier this year. Although the situation remains fragile and many challenges continue, the bishop ended with a message of hope.

“We follow these developments closely, not from a political perspective but from a pastoral one,” he said. “We remain convinced that every step toward peace is a gift from God, and we receive it with gratitude.”

This story was first published by ACI MENA, the Arabic-language service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

Bishop Jose Elmer Mangalinao of Bayombong welcomed the June 24 ruling, which dismissed a complaint linked to barricades established by residents in Kasibu town against exploration activities by North Luzon Mineral Resources Corporation (NLMRC).

“This outcome is not only a legal victory. It is a victory for truth, justice, and the collective efforts of communities who courageously stand to protect our land, water, and future generations,” Mangalinao said in a statement.

The complaint named Mangalinao, Father Christian Dumangeng, and several community leaders allegedly involved in maintaining the barricades. The case drew national attention after a Catholic bishop and priest were included among the defendants.

The dispute stems from opposition to a 4,456-hectare (11,011 acres) mining exploration project being undertaken by NLMRC in several villages in Kasibu, a municipality in Nueva Vizcaya, a mountainous province on the island of Luzon north of Manila.

Residents, church groups, and some Indigenous leaders have raised concerns about the project’s potential effects on watersheds, local livelihoods, and nearby communities.

Residents established barricades in May to block the movement of fuel, equipment, and mineral samples linked to NLMRC’s exploration activities, according to community groups.

The complaint was filed by Rosario Camma, who identified himself as the overall chieftain of the Bugkalot-Ilongot Indigenous Cultural Communities. Some members of the Bugkalot-Ilongot Indigenous communities have joined opposition to the project, citing concerns about its possible effects on their communities and surrounding resources.

In a nine-page decision obtained by EWTN News, the local court said the plaintiff failed to establish a clear legal right warranting injunctive relief and ruled that it lacked jurisdiction over the action. The court found that the relief sought was more consistent with an injunction case than a forcible entry action.

The decision also cited a certification from the Philippine government’s Indigenous affairs agency stating that the exploration permit area falls outside officially recognized ancestral domain lands. Opponents of the project, however, have argued that the controversy extends beyond ancestral domain claims and includes concerns over environmental impacts and consultation requirements.

The court further held that the complaint sought to stop activities related to the barricades rather than recover possession of property, a key element in forcible entry cases.

Mangalinao has defended his involvement in the issue, saying his presence at the barricades was part of his pastoral responsibility. Earlier this week, he said he visited the communities to celebrate Mass and accompany residents concerned about the future of their land and water sources.

“I went as their bishop to offer the Holy Mass, to pray with them, and to remind them that their concern for the land, the water, and their children’s future is one the Church shares and blesses,” he said.

In his homily on June 21, the prelate said the dispute is an issue of environmental stewardship and concern for communities affected by development projects.

“I could have chosen not to speak up, but if I do not speak up, my sin would be great before God,” he said.

The bishop said the ruling would strengthen continuing efforts to defend the environment and communities affected by extractive projects.

“Let this moment remind us that defending our watersheds, our environment, and our people’s livelihood is not a crime: it is a shared moral responsibility,” he said.

“We believe, as the Church has always taught, that the earth is not ours to exhaust but ours to steward,” he added.

The discovery was made in April, when a parishioner noticed an unusual detail on the face of the saint from Pietrelcina: A reddish tear, resembling blood, appeared to be falling from its left eye.

The news quickly reached the parish priest, Father Girolamo Capuano, who went to the church to verify what had happened and attempt, without success, to clean off the stain. The statue of Padre Pio, which has stood at the entrance of this Italian church for two decades, has been removed for examination in order to determine the origin of the phenomenon.

Speaking to Mediaset Italia’s program Mattino Cinque, Capuano urged prudence and emphasized that bringing the matter to public attention to clarify the facts “does not stem from any desire for popularity.”

Furthermore, he insisted that such “signs” are “given to all so that they may be shared with prudence, love, and discernment,” while also stating that they should be made known “because many people begin a journey of faith” through them.

The Italian priest, who verified via security cameras that no one had tampered with the statue, reiterated that in his view, it is “an authentic sign that comes from God,” although he asked people to wait for the necessary verification.

“What convinces me the most is that we have a camera monitoring the statue day and night for more than 10 years. I have personally reviewed all the footage from April 1st to the 30th. The tear appeared on the 18th, or at least that was when we saw it. No one approached the statue, either by day or by night, to do anything to it. That reinforces my personal conviction and my faith in Padre Pio,” he said.

The priest noted several striking elements: “The statue is made of fiberglass, and the reddish color of the tear raises questions. Furthermore, the path of the tear is so perfect that not even a painter like Michelangelo could reproduce something like it.”

Regardless of the investigationʼs findings, which must determine whether the stain contains hemoglobin or another substance, Capuano insists that “they cannot take our faith away from us.”

In 2015, a reported case of an image of the Virgin Mary weeping circulated in the same town, although investigations concluded that the phenomenon was caused by rainwater seepage.

In accordance with the Vatican’s Norms for Proceeding in the Discernment of Alleged Supernatural Phenomena, the bishop of the Diocese of Capua, Pietro Lagnese, will lead the preliminary investigation before submitting the findings to the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF).

According to these norms, published by the Vatican in 2024, it is up to diocesan bishop to examine cases in dialogue with his corresponding bishops’ conference and under the supervision of the DDF.

Once the facts have been investigated, the bishop must send the results to the dicastery, which analyzes both the material received and the procedure followed by the prelate. Until the DDF issues a definitive judgment, the bishop “will refrain from any public declaration regarding the authenticity or supernaturality of these phenomena.”

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

The Diocese of Las Cruces “is currently the subject of an application by the United States government to exercise eminent domain over diocesan land situated on Mount Cristo Rey,” Baldacchino wrote in a letter.

Mount Cristo Rey is a prominent mountain in Sunland Park, New Mexico, overlooking the Texas and Mexico borders. The mountain is home to a 29-foot-tall statue of Christ and a shrine.

“At this site, Christ the King, with open arms, rises above two countries,” Baldacchino said. “Since the sites’ founding nearly a century ago, many have come together in devotion and journeyed to the top of this mountain seeking Him and offering prayers of thanksgiving and hope.”

As the dispute remains ongoing, Baldacchino and Bishop Mark Seitz of El Paso are inviting the faithful “to join in prayer and pilgrimage” by climbing the mountain and celebrating Mass on June 28.

“Our government is within its rights to secure its border, however, our Diocese is defending itself against the means by which the government now seeks to do so,” Baldacchino said.

The government is trying to seize the diocesan property “to construct, install, operate, and maintain…structures designed to help secure the United States/Mexico border within the state of New Mexico,” according to a civil action filed by the federal government in U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico.

The Diocese of Las Cruces had asked a district court to block the deposit of the funds while it fights the governmentʼs attempts, but on June 15, U.S. District Judge Kenneth Gonzales ruled the government could deposit the $183,071 to “allow for the safekeeping of funds pending resolution” of the dispute.

This is not a matter of politics, but a matter of preserving and defending a sanctuary and devotion which has brought many people in our community to God."

Peter Baldacchino

Bishop of Las Cruces, New Mexico

“This is not a matter of politics, but a matter of preserving and defending a sanctuary and devotion which has brought many people in our community to God,” he said. “The spiritual value of this site cannot be compromised by politics or financial gain.”

“I look forward to being with you all on June 28, 2026, as we pray for the Dioceses of Las Cruces and El Paso, and for our government and its leaders,” Baldacchino wrote.

The proposed university is borne out of the broader Sahel Peace Initiative, an interfaith advocacy organization working toward peacebuilding in the region. The Sahel is the region sitting directly below the Sahara desert, representing the northernmost part of Sub-Saharan Africa.

According to a concept proposal provided to EWTN News, the initiative is led by the Catholic bishops conferences in Burkina Faso and Niger.

Christians are the minority in both countries, representing slightly more than one-fourth of Burkina Faso and about 1% of Niger. Traditional African religions also represent a minority, while Islam is the most practiced religion.

“While we will envision solutions like buildings and programs, the goal is to foster a robust population engaged in problem solving and developing a sustainable peace in the Sahel,” the proposal states.

Although led by Catholics, the bishops also partner with Muslim clerics and leaders of traditional African faith communities. The proposal notes the university will be grounded in Catholic social teaching, and open to everyone, and expressed a commitment to work with interfaith partners, especially the Muslim community.

“The [university] will serve as a regional hub for peacebuilding, governance research, trauma healing, and community resilience, equipping leaders and communities to address the Sahel’s most urgent challenges,” it adds.

The bishops hope to headquarter the university in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso. It will be African- and Catholic-led, but the bishops are looking for international support, including from the United States.

“While the physical requirements include buildings and materials, these are merely tools for the emerging leaders to cultivate a new group of younger and empowered people of all faiths working collaboratively towards the shared goal of lasting peace,” it states.

Burkina Faso bishops seek solidarity

Bishops from Burkina Faso have met with Pope Leo XIV in Rome and have offered information to the U.S. State Department in a recent trip to the United States, hoping to spread awareness about problems in the Sahel and to garner more support for their peace efforts.

Two of the bishops — Archbishop Laurent Dabire, archbishop of Bobo-Dioulasso, and Bishop Alexandre Bazie, auxiliary bishop of Koudougou and head of the Burkina Faso-Niger bishops’ delegation — spoke with EWTN News about the situation on the ground and efforts to gain support for the university.

The bishops spoke in French through a translator, Father Barthelemy Bazemo.

Dabire said he told Leo the bishops have been trying to raise awareness about problems in the region for a long time. He said people globally are aware of the conflicts in Ukraine, Iran, and Gaza, but often Africa and the Sahel are overlooked.

President Donald Trump coordinated with the Nigerian government to strike terrorists in Nigeria — a country in the Sahel, east of Burkina Faso — amid rampant violence, killings, and terrorism that has disproportionately targeted Christians, but also victimized many Muslims and followers of traditional African religions.

Bazie said the U.S. has coordinated with Burkina Faso on separate issues, such as health initiatives, but the terrorism problem has not drawn as much attention from the administration when compared to Nigeria.

He said the violence in Burkina Faso is not one-sided against Christians, but that terrorists target both churches and mosques, and both Christian and Muslim clerics. He warned the people of Burkina Faso, however, cannot afford to wait until the situation reaches the level of Nigeria.

According to a 2025 report from the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) about the Sahel countries, Burkina Faso has “one of the world’s highest rates of civilian attacks and fatalities from insurgent violence.”

It cites actions from violent insurgent groups, including a February 2024 attack by the Islamic State – Sahel Province that killed 12 worshipers at a Catholic Church in Essakane. There was another attack that month on a mosque that killed dozens of people, along with numerous attacks on villages by bandits and insurgents. These attacks have targeted both Christians and Muslims.

In addition to murders, attacks have included kidnappings of priests, religious sisters, imams, and other Christian and Muslim civilians.

“As a result of brutal killings — thousands [have been] killed — there [are] many [in the] community being impacted [and] it takes education,” Bazie said. “It takes several years of training to get people into the [right] mindset, even if we have different solutions.”

Bazie noted that the Church has been working to improve the region through construction of schools and hospitals and other forms of economic development, but that additional support from outside partners can help the region further.

“With limited resources, [we’re] trying to do [our] best,” he said. “But now coming here is to ask for support in what’s already being done.”

Audato and Ieda Denardi were found guilty of the crime of “intellectual neglect” by a court in the state of São Paulo, even though the prosecution itself had requested their acquittal after concluding that the minors were not suffering from any neglect and were demonstrating appropriate academic and social development.

The Christian legal organization ADF International, which is representing the family in the appeal, denounced the case as “a grotesque abuse of criminal law” and stated that it would continue defending the couple.

The conviction, initially handed down in April 2026 and currently under appeal before the Seventh Criminal Court Chamber of the São Paulo State Court of Justice, will remain suspended while the appeal is being resolved.

‘I cannot conceive of a more dictatorial state’

Ieda Denardi expressed her distress and defended the right of parents to choose their childrenʼs education.

“As a mother, I cannot conceive of a more dictatorial state than the one that wants me in jail because I chose to exercise my right to direct the education and upbringing of my daughters,” she told ADF International.

“My husband and I are hopeful the court will recognize our right to choose the best education for our children and overturn this unjust conviction,” she added.

The couple began homeschooling their daughters in 2020 after realizing the limitations of the remote public education imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since then, they report a significant improvement in their daughters' academic performance and have been able to incorporate family values ​​and faith into their education.

Judge takes into account the girls’ music preferences

One of the most striking aspects of the case is the reasoning the judge used to reach the verdict. According to the ruling, the educational program provided by the parents did not include content regarding “gender and sex education” or “tolerance and diversity.”

Furthermore, the court concluded that the fact that the girls, aged 15 and 11, do not enjoy popular musical genres such as “trap” or “sertanejo” demonstrated an alleged deficiency in their cultural education.

The judge cited this despite the fact that both girls are pianists with advanced training and are fluent in several languages.

In his ruling, the judge further accused the parents of “using their daughters as pawns in an ideological struggle, subjecting them to a form of unregulated education, the effectiveness and quality of which lack adequate metrics within the Brazilian legal system, while completely excluding the state’s involvement.”

The prosecution sought the parents' acquittal

“The prosecutor examined the witnesses and recommended acquittal. An independent educational psychologist found no sign of neglect. The girls themselves described rigorous daily education,” explained Julio Pohl, legal counsel for Latin America at ADF International.

However, “the judge convicted anyway,” he said, “because a fifteen-year-old said she finds some music lyrics morally questionable, and because the curriculum didn’t include state-approved content on gender.”

“A parent has been sentenced to prison not for failing to educate her children, but for educating them according to her own values. This is a grotesque abuse of the criminal law, and we will not let it stand.” Pohl pledged.

First criminal prosecution against homeschooling families

According to ADF International, more than 70,000 children are currently being homeschooled in Brazil. However, a lack of regulation has left thousands of families in a state of uncertainty.

The Denardi case sets a precedent as the first criminal conviction of parents for homeschooling their children.

The situation has even reached the country’s legislature, where hearings were recently held on the matter, and the Denardis asked lawmakers to pass a law guaranteeing families the right to choose this educational model.

Although a homeschooling bill was passed by the Chamber of Deputies (lower house) in 2022, the initiative remains stalled in the Senate.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

DeSantis should “grant a stay of the execution of Dusty Ray Spencer and … commute his sentence to life without parole,” the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops said in a letter to DeSantis dated June 18.

Spencer is set to be executed at 6 p.m. on June 25. DeSantis signed his death warrant on May 26.

The convicted murderer was found guilty of killing his wife Karen after stabbing her to death in 1992 in the backyard of her Orange County home. Spencer carried out the killing with a brick and a knife; Karen’s 17-year-old son witnessed the murder and attempted to stop his stepfather from the killing.

Spencer had carried out the murder after being released from jail on bail. His attorneys had argued that the murder was a crime of passion, though prosecutors said he had threatened to kill Karen prior to getting out of jail and ultimately followed through with the threat.

A U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Spencer will be 74 if and when the state executes him. Data from the Death Penalty Information Center indicates that he would be among the 10 oldest criminals executed in the U.S. since 1976.

‘God is the author of life’

In their letter, written by Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops Executive Director Michael Sheedy, the Florida bishops acknowledged that Karen Spencer’s death was “tragic and horrific.” The letter expressed “sorrow for the terrible suffering her loved ones have had to live with ever since.”

“Mr. Spencer’s crime was truly heinous and merits a severe punishment by the state,” the letter said. “…Nevertheless, we ask that you spare the life of Mr. Spencer, who was sexually abused as a child by his father and had a paranoid personality disorder.”

Like bishops in many U.S. states, the Florida bishops regularly petition the state government to commute death sentences there. Florida is among the most active states in the country for carrying out death sentences.

The state most recently executed Andrew Lukehart, a 53-year-old who was convicted of killing his girlfriend’s baby in 1997. The Florida bishops had petitioned the state government to halt that execution as well, though it was ultimately carried out on June 2.

In their plea to DeSantis regarding Spencer, the bishops said a sentence of life in prison was “not [meant] to minimize the heinousness of Mr. Spencer’s crime.”

“It is rather to recognize with awe that God is the author of life, and to reserve to him the taking of human life except where it is otherwise impossible to maintain the common good,” they said.

The letter urged the governor to “uphold justice and..exercise mercy.” It further offered prayers for Karen Spencer “and for the consolation of her loved ones.”

If it proceeds with the execution, Florida will carry out the killing at Florida State Prison in Raiford, located between Jacksonville and Gainesville.

In their statement on Tuesday about the state of the nation, the bishops said that the initiative, which was suspended by the court following public outcry, has been imposed on Kenyans without adequate public consultation or parliamentary oversight.

“We…as your shepherds committed to safeguarding the dignity and protection of our people, express our grave concern regarding the proposed establishment of an Ebola quarantine and treatment facility at Laikipia Air Base, mainly for the American citizens,” the bishops said.

The Catholic leaders explained that their opposition stems from the initiative’s lack of transparency and disclosure of its governing terms. The prelates said: “Clearly, there is an inherent threat to the lives of Kenyan citizens that must be addressed because we would be importing a deadly disease.”

They continued: “What is in this for Kenya? Is this facility in the interest of our nation, whereby Kenya as a country welcomes the treatment of foreign Ebola patients, who are not welcome to their own country, for fear and danger of infection, yet accommodated in our country at the risk of our people? Kenya must affirm its sovereignty,” they said.

The facility was reportedly intended to quarantine and monitor Americans who may have been exposed to Ebola during the ongoing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). 

According to U.S. officials, the plan was designed to keep exposed individuals closer to the outbreak region rather than transport them immediately to the United States.

The project has generated significant public opposition in Kenya, with protests in and around Nanyuki and legal challenges arguing that the government failed to adequately consult the public and disclose the agreement with the United States.

Some demonstrations have turned violent, with reported fatalities.

Kenyaʼs Health Minister, Aden Duale has ordered an immediate halt to construction of the U.S.-backed Ebola quarantine facility at Laikipia Air Base following a court finding that he failed to comply with earlier suspension orders.

Despite previous court orders suspending the project, Reuters reported that construction activity and deliveries of equipment appeared to continue at the site until the latest order to halt work. Satellite imagery and flight-tracking data indicated ongoing activity at the air base.

The Kenyan government, led by President William Ruto, has defended the initiative, saying it forms part of broader Ebola preparedness efforts and a long-standing health partnership with the United States. U.S. officials have also stated that the project is intended to strengthen regional preparedness.

Reuters in its June 23 report indicated that the construction of the Ebola quarantine facility was ordered to stop but that the project remains embroiled in legal and political controversy.

In their June 23 statement, the Kenyan bishops said that considering the nature of the Ebola disease and what it takes to contain it, government wisdom would have required a public engagement, to build consensus on the necessity, if at all, of the facility.

The bishops further argued that the absence of meaningful public participation had already resulted in serious consequences, noting that the lack of engagement had contributed to the loss of lives during protests in Laikipia, the arrest of residents, and widespread anxiety over the possibility of an Ebola outbreak in the area.

Calling for a different approach, they urged the nation’s government to “engage in genuine, transparent dialogue with religious leaders, civil society, healthcare workers, and affected communities to explore alternative solutions” that would strengthen Kenya’s own health infrastructure and its capacity to respond to Ebola and other infectious disease threats.

The Ebola outbreak is centered in DRC and is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, a relatively rare strain for which there is currently no licensed approved vaccine.

According to the latest reports, the DRC has recorded more than 1,000 confirmed cases and over 250 deaths, making this one of the fastest-growing Ebola outbreaks on record.

The outbreak has also spread into Uganda, where authorities have confirmed 19 cases and two deaths, many linked to importation from the DRC and subsequent local transmission

The bishops also demanded greater openness in government agreements affecting the country, including those involving the exploitation of Kenya’s natural resources.

“We demand for transparency in government deals that affect our country, including those recently struck like the exploitation of our minerals,” they said, adding that such transparency is a right of all Kenyans because the nation’s natural resources belong to its people.

At the same time, the bishops reaffirmed their willingness to collaborate with the government and international partners in strengthening public health systems.

They said they were committed to helping build “robust, equitable public health systems that protect all people, Kenyan and foreign alike, without compromising our constitutional principles or the safety of our citizens,” while also recalling that concerns surrounding the Social Health Authority (SHA) remain unresolved.

Emphasizing the need to place human dignity at the center of national decision-making, the bishops said they believe “the renewal of our nation must begin by recovering an unwavering respect for the dignity of every human person,” arguing that only a society that protects life can build justice, peace, and lasting hope.

They said that Catholic social teaching regards human dignity as the cornerstone of justice and maintains that honoring the dignity of every individual creates the conditions necessary for genuine peace and human flourishing.

The bishops further expressed confidence that Kenya possesses the spiritual resources, moral wisdom, and collective resolve needed to build a nation where every person is valued, grievances are addressed with respect, and economic systems serve the common good.

The Catholic leaders pledged to continue working alongside both the government and the Kenyan people in pursuing these goals.

“We as the Catholic Church, commit ourselves to walking alongside the government and our people in this sacred work,” they said, expressing faith in Kenya’s capacity for transformation and in the power of faith to guide the country toward justice and an environment in which human life is cherished.

This article was originally published by ACI Africa, EWTN News’ service in Africa, and has been adapted for EWTN News English.

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Representatives of the participating states presented a joint declaration calling for an international moratorium on surrogacy as a step toward its eventual global abolition. In this context, a moratorium refers to a temporary suspension of surrogacy arrangements pending further legal, ethical, and human rights review.

The event, titled “Building Momentum Towards a Moratorium on Surrogacy,” was motivated by concerns over the increasing physical, psychological, medical, and ethical harms associated with surrogacy. The rapid growth of the surrogacy industry, projected to hit nearly $100 billion by 2033, was another cause of concern.

The joint declaration presented reflects an abolitionist approach to surrogacy and calls on governments to adopt policies that safeguard human dignity and fundamental human rights.

The initiative follows previous criticism of the controversial practice by Pope Leo XIV, who condemned it in a January address. In March, the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations also raised concerns about surrogacy, warning that it is an area in which “technology and practice have run laps around the law and ethics.”

A question of human dignity

Italy’s Minister for Family, Birth Rate and Equal Opportunities, Eugenia Roccella, framed the surrogacy debate as a fundamental question about the status of the human person.

She asked whether society still recognizes human beings as persons “who must be respected” or is willing to accept a situation in which they become “a means to satisfy the interests or needs of others.”

Roccella described the declaration as establishing “a common political commitment” to support an international moratorium on surrogacy while laying the groundwork for “an international legal framework aimed at abolishing surrogacy worldwide.”

At the same time, she stressed that the initiative should be viewed as the beginning of a broader international effort rather than its culmination. Roccella urged governments, international organizations, and civil society actors to engage in a “serious and constructive dialogue” on how best to address surrogacy while protecting the rights and dignity of all those involved.

Serious human rights concerns

Among the keynote speakers was U.N. Special Rapporteur Reem Alsalem, whose 2025 report to the U.N. General Assembly was widely praised as one of the most comprehensive examinations of surrogacy to date.

Alsalem told participants that her scrutiny of surrogacy arose not from ideological opposition but from her mandate to investigate violence against women and girls. She said she began examining the issue after identifying it as a “growing and emerging phenomenon” with “significant and serious consequences” for women and girls, yet one that had received comparatively little analysis through the framework of international human rights law.

Drawing on her findings, Alsalem described surrogacy as a system that “commodifies women and children,” turning women’s reproductive capacities into services to be purchased and children into objects of contractual arrangements.

She further argued that children born through surrogacy can face abandonment, statelessness, and separation from their birth mothers, circumstances she said may cause lasting emotional harm.

Welcoming the declaration, Alsalem endorsed calls for an international moratorium, explaining that a temporary suspension would allow governments to gather data, improve accountability, and better assess the human rights implications of surrogacy.

“We will no longer accept these abuses,” she said, expressing hope that additional states would join the initiative.

Her subsequent 2026 report on violence against women and girls reiterates concerns that surrogacy can facilitate exploitation, coercion, and other serious violations of the rights of women and girls.

Momentum beyond Geneva

Speaking to EWTN News, Giorgio Mazzoli, moderator of the event and director of U.N. advocacy for ADF International, explained that opposition to surrogacy is gaining traction among governments. He referred to Slovakia’s 2025 constitutional prohibition of surrogacy and current advancing legislation in Chile that would ban the practice as evidence of a broader shift.

According to Mazzoli, “states are increasingly aware of the need for a coordinated response to the harm surrogacy causes to women and children,” adding that the Geneva event was intended to “build and sustain that momentum.”

While supporters of surrogacy continue to advocate for its expansion in jurisdictions where the practice remains legal or unresolved, Mazzoli said governments that have not yet confronted the issue directly are nevertheless paying attention.

“Even countries which do not yet face the problem directly — or claim not to — are taking note,” he said. “They see where this is heading and want to be ahead of it.”

Mazzoli also highlighted Italy’s recent legislation extending criminal liability to Italian citizens who commission surrogacy abroad, describing it as a significant attempt to curb so-called “forum shopping,” whereby individuals travel to other countries to access services prohibited at home.

Nevertheless, he argued that national measures alone will not be sufficient. Given the increasingly cross-border nature of the surrogacy industry, Mazzoli said the long-term goal should be the development of an international legally binding instrument capable of addressing surrogacy across jurisdictions.

Meanwhile, Ludovine de La Rochère, president of Le Syndicat de la Famille, who attended the event as an observer, told EWTN News that public awareness of surrogacy varies significantly across Europe.

Countries where advocacy groups actively publicize scandals and ethical concerns tend to have a greater understanding of the issue, while in other countries “people are largely unaware of what surrogacy entails.”

She noted that most media outlets rarely scrutinize surrogacy practices in depth and that public discussion is often shaped by advocacy groups supportive of surrogacy.

According to De La Rochère, anti-surrogacy organizations defending mothers and children face an uphill battle because they often operate with limited resources. “Large-scale information campaigns are absolutely essential,” she said, but she noted that such groups generally lack the financial support available to progressive organizations.

She contended that public education efforts should focus on demonstrating why surrogacy constitutes “an exploitation of women and an objectification of the child,” while also drawing attention to cases involving international human trafficking.

In a statement released on the anniversary of the landmark Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision, Bishop Daniel E. Thomas of Toledo, chair of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, praised the ruling as a historic turning point while urging Catholics to remain engaged in the pro-life cause.

“On this Anniversary of the Dobbs decision, we praise God for the historic overturning of Roe v. Wade,” Bishop Thomas said. “And we beg the intercession of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in building a culture of life.”

Dobbs overturned Roe and eliminated federal constitutional protection for abortion, shifting authority back to the states. Since then, any laws restricting or expanding abortion have been carried out by the individual states.

Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life of America, recalled learning of the decision while standing outside the Supreme Court.

“As the opinion was put into my hand, I started reading it, and it said, ‘The Constitution does not confer the right to abortion. Roe and Casey are overruled,” Hawkins spoke during an interview with EWTN News Nightly. “This decision that came down four years ago today gave states and gave legislators across the country … the ability to regulate or end abortion.”

Hawkins described the post-Dobbs landscape as a new phase in the pro-life movement’s efforts, with legislative battles now taking place in state capitals across the nation.

“The decision of abortion is now returned to the people and their representatives,” she said. “We have 51 playing fields in our country where we’re attempting every single day to pass laws to either outright end abortion or to severely restrict abortion.”

Abortion pills emerge as a flashpoint

Several pro-life leaders criticized leaving abortion policies entirely in the hands of the states, arguing that abortion regulations should also come from the federal level.

Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America,  told reporters in a June 23 press call with Bob Vander Plaats, president and CEO of FAMiLY Leader, an Iowa‑based evangelical political advocacy organization “that whole stateʼs-only experiment is a failure. It has been tried and failed.”

Dannenfelser said permissive abortion pill policies in states such as California and New York are undermining pro-life laws elsewhere, allowing abortion drugs to be shipped across state lines into states that have enacted abortion restrictions.

“Now, 15,000 children a month are dying in pro-life states. That is the definition of failure,” she said.

“We used to say thereʼs going to be abortion destination places,” Vander Plaats said. “In Iowa, we were concerned about a state like Illinois being an abortion destination. Now the abortion destination is in your mailbox.”

Both the bishops and pro-life advocates raised growing use of chemical abortion drugs as a concern.

“Now with easier access to abortion pills, the abortion rate is tragically climbing. The victory of the Dobbs decision risks being undone by the massive influx of abortion pills,” Bishop Thomas said in the statement.

Pro-life leaders said changes made by federal regulators have enabled abortion pills to be prescribed through telehealth appointments and distributed through pharmacies and the mail, despite restrictions enacted by pro-life states.

Hawkins likewise criticized the federal government’s handling of abortion pills and called for further action from the Trump administration.

“While we’re excited and we’re still celebrating the win of Roe being reversed, something that many people told us was impossible, we have not won the war,” she said.

“We’re going to be celebrating the victory of the Dobbs decision. And weʼre going to be praying for our future success to see abortion completely abolished in our land,” Hawkins said.

Catholics urged to pray and take action

Looking ahead, the USCCB is encouraging Catholics to participate in a national prayer and advocacy effort that will run from mid-August through October’s Respect Life Month. Bishop Thomas urged the faithful to pray for women facing unplanned pregnancies, share information about abortion pills, and advocate for policies that protect both mothers and unborn children.

In the decision, authored by Justice Neil Gorsuch, the court found that Damon Landor — a Rastafarian whose dreadlocks were shaved in violation of his religious practice — does not have legal standing to seek monetary damages from the Louisiana Department of Corrections officials responsible for the incident.

Every justice appointed by Republican presidents sided with the majority, and every justice appointed by Democratic presidents dissented from the majority in the decision in Landor v. Louisiana Department of Corrections.

Landor contended that when he was taken to prison, he provided the guards with a copy of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals decision in Ware v. Louisiana Department of Corrections, which found that in most circumstances, shaving the head of a Rastafarian violates the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act.

Landor alleges the guards threw his copy of the decision in the garbage, took him to another room, handcuffed him, held him down, and shaved his head.

In its decision the Supreme Court determined that the law does not permit lawsuits against the individual guards for such violations.

According to the ruling, the authority of the religious liberty law derives from the U.S. Constitution’s spending clause. It states the federal spending power allows Congress to put conditions on the money allocated to entities, such as prisons, but that it cannot regulate the conduct of private individuals under this authority without their express consent, meaning the officials themselves are not liable for any damages.

“Adopting Mr. Landor’s proposed cause of action would allow Congress to evade the consent requirement inherent in its Spending Clause authority and regulate directly the conduct of countless nonconsenting individuals in spheres traditionally reserved to the States,” the ruling states.

“Such a result would be inconsistent with principles of state sovereignty and a federal government of limited and enumerated regulatory powers,” it adds.

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, in her dissent, disagreed with the majority’s interpretation of the spending clause, asserting that the ruling diminishes constitutional powers and “transforms a federal statute into an invitation to be accepted or declined, deemed binding only if each particular defendant has explicitly agreed to be penalized.”

“Prisoners like Landor who suffer violations of their religious freedom in state prisons — no matter how blatant — will often be left remediless,” Jackson wrote. “And encroachments on prisoners’ statutory rights are likely to happen with fair frequency, as state-empowered prison officials will have little incentive to abide by federal law, even if it is handed to them on a piece of paper.”

In another 6-3 decision, which was split along the same lines, the Supreme Court also ruled practitioners of the Chinese spiritual movement Falun Gong had no standing to sue Cisco Systems, Inc. in spite of allegations the company’s technology was used by the Chinese government to persecute them for their religious beliefs.

The decision in Cisco Systems, Inc. v. Doe found that the practitioners did not have standing to sue under the Alien Tort Statute. Because there was no standing, the court did not determine whether the company aided the persecution in any way, which it denies doing.

Catholic Charities USA President Kerry Alys Robinson said in a June 23 statement the bill (HR 6644) “has the potential to improve the lives of so many of our fellow citizens.”

Though he had been expected to sign the bill, Trump postponed the signing to leverage lawmakers to address restrictions on voter identification and mail-in ballots, although the housing measure automatically becomes law if the president takes no action for 10 days while Congress remains in session.

The House cleared the measure and agreed to the version that the U.S. Senate had amended on June 22. The legislation, among other things, would adjust federal multifamily loan limits.

Rep. French Hill, R-Arkansas, sponsored the bill, titled “The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act.”

“We applaud Congressʼs effort to address manufactured housing laws, veterans’ access to housing, and rental assistance for the elderly and disabled through the advancement of this bill,” Robinson said.

The Catholic Charities leader praised provisions in the bill related to zoning reforms, increased private investment in the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program, a higher public welfare investment cap for banks, changes to homeless assistance programs, and the reauthorization of the Community Development Block Grant–Disaster Recovery program.

She also lauded the bill’s proposed reforms to the HOME Investment Partnerships and Community Development Block Grant programs, which she said have been key resources for addressing the housing needs of low-income individuals and families.

“All of God’s children deserve a safe, decent, affordable place to call home and this legislation is an important next step in providing that assurance,” Robinson said.

“We look forward to continued collaboration with Congress to ensure that housing policy in our nation reflects both sound research and our shared moral commitment to protect the most vulnerable.”

This story was updated at 12:30 p.m. ET on June 24, 2026, with news of President Donald Trump’s delay in signing the housing bill.

In an open letter addressed to Pope Leo on June 22, the group’s co-founders André Villeneuve and Father Antoine Lévy, OP, are asking the Holy Father to answer the question, “Should Catholics interpret the creation and enduring existence of the State of Israel as a sign of God’s providence — or should they not?”

While the pair note that “the Church’s reticence to pronounce on the theological meaning of the State of Israel has served a real purpose,” they proceed to express concerns over “a number of Catholic commentators” who they contend “have interpreted this silence as a formal dismissal of the very possibility of ascribing any theological resonance to the founding of the State of Israel and to its enduring existence.”

“The Church’s silence regarding Israel’s right to exist — the reluctance to go beyond mere political recognition, on a par with that extended to the still inchoate State of Palestine (2013) — gives ground to all those Catholic voices that wish to lend this campaign of denigration the authority of the Church’s own name,” the letter manifests.

Villeneuve and Lévy argue that “the ‘theological silence’ that has prevailed until now would risk doing more harm to the Church’s witness than the prudence it was meant to preserve.”

‘For Zion’s Sake’

Villeneuve and Lévy’s letter to Pope Leo comes as part of an effort by Catholic Voices for Israel to make “a biblically grounded, theologically informed case for Catholic solidarity with Israel.”

In its founding statement, “For Zion’s Sake: A Catholic Appeal in Support of Israel,” the recently formed Catholic Voices for Israel (CVFI) calls for Catholic Zionism to be understood as “supporting the Jewish people’s right to self‑determination in their ancient, biblical homeland; acknowledging God’s love for Zion and his promise of the land in Scripture; recognizing that these promises were never revoked in the New Testament; and remaining open to seeing the work of divine providence in Israel’s return to the land — a possibility the Church has not foreclosed.”

Since launching CVFI last month, “For Zion’s Sake” has garnered 165 signatories, including prominent names such as Gavin DʼCosta of the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome and Jennifer Bryson of the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C.

Addressing the question of his motivation for helping to spearhead the initiative, Villeneuve, an associate professor of Old Testament and biblical languages at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, Michigan, told EWTN News that Catholic antisemitism has “become much more prevalent” since Oct. 7, 2023 on two levels: the political level and the theological and biblical level.

“All the prophets consistently reaffirm Godʼs covenant with Israel and his promises that he will return them back to their land. So why arenʼt Catholics taking that seriously?” Villeneuve said. “As if this is just an evangelical, dispensationalist-type of idea, when Scripture is really quite clear about it? These promises and prophecies are never abolished in the New Testament.”

One of the four “Guiding Principles” in CVFI’s Charter asserts the importance of the re-establishment of a Jewish homeland in the modern State of Israel, quoting Pope Benedict XVI who said in a 2018 letter to Rabbi Arie Folger that "it is not difficult, I believe, to see in the creation of the State of Israel the fidelity of God to Israel is revealed in a mysterious way.”

While Villeneuve and the Charter both make the case for a Catholic Zionism and recognition of biblical significance for the modern state of Israel, other Catholic public intellectuals argue that the lack of official teaching leaves room for Catholics to disagree or form alternate opinions.

Indeed, in the same 2018 letter to Rabbi Folger, Benedict XVI says “the state of Israel cannot be seen to theologically represent fulfillment of the Land promise, but rather as a secular state which of course has religious foundations.”

Outside perspectives on the effort

“The Charter is strongest when it grounds itself in truths the Church has clearly affirmed,” Simone Rizkallah, manager of Jewish-Christian Partnerships at the Tikvah Fund, told EWTN News.

“Where the Charter moves beyond settled doctrine is in its attempt to reflect on the theological significance of the modern State of Israel,” she said, explaining that the Catholic Church has never taught that the modern State of Israel was biblically prophesied, nor rejected the idea that “the re-establishment of a Jewish homeland might bear theological significance in light of Godʼs enduring fidelity to the Jewish people.”

“On these questions there remains room for legitimate theological exploration and debate among Catholics,” Rizkallah, who is not a signatory to the Charter, said.

In addition, Rizkallah pointed to the perspective of Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, in his framing of the issue: “[Pizzaballa] put his finger on an important aspect of the discussion when he observed: "While Europeans primarily view Israel as a state, for Jews it is much more than that.”

“Too often Catholics discuss Israel exclusively as a political entity without adequately appreciating the religious, historical, and covenantal significance that the Land of Israel holds within the Jewish self-understanding,” she said. “Recognizing that reality does not require agreement with every policy of the Israeli government, but it does require taking Jewish self-understanding seriously.”

Rizkallah, who is also a founding member of the Coalition of Catholics Against Antisemitism, said she welcomed the charter’s rejection of dispensationalism, dual-covenant theology, political absolutism, and the notion that Israel should be exempt from moral scrutiny. She further praised the document’s acknowledgement of the dignity and concerns of Palestinians and local Christians.

“One reason I believe this conversation is so important is that, despite the tremendous progress in Catholic-Jewish relations since Nostra Aetate, there are signs that certain anti-Jewish attitudes are reappearing within parts of Catholic discourse,” she said. “I do not mean that large numbers of Catholics are racial antisemites, nor do I mean that the Churchʼs official teaching has changed. On the contrary, the Churchʼs teaching on the Jewish people remains one of the great achievements of the post-conciliar era.”

“The challenge facing Catholics today is not only to reject overt antisemitism, but also to ensure that our theological, political, and moral judgments are shaped by what the Church actually teaches about the Jewish people,” Rizkallah pointed out.

A ‘work of God’

For his part, David Moss, longtime president of the Association of Hebrew Catholics in the U.S., praised CVFI’s initiative.

“I am totally in agreement with this new Catholic initiative in support of Israel,” Moss told EWTN News. “It can only be a work of God that His chosen people, the people Israel (aka the Jews), would survive the holocaust in Christian Europe, and then three years after the end of World War II return to their ancient homeland.”

Moss emphasized that “it is way past time for Catholics to stand up for the Jewish people, the State of Israel, and the many Jewish traditions of Jesus and His people upon which the Catholic faith is based.”

EWTN’s top awards reflected the network’s comprehensive coverage of major events in the life of the Catholic Church around the world, including reporting on the death of Pope Francis, the election of Pope Leo XIV, and the lives of persecuted Christians.

The awards were announced at the conclusion of the 2026 Catholic Media Conference, held June 16–19 in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

The awards recognize outstanding work produced in 2025 across EWTN’s  multimedia platforms; from social media and video production to book and newspaper publishing, photography, advertising, and English and Spanish language journalism — showcasing the network’s continued innovation, creativity, and commitment to excellence in service of the Church.

“These honors reflect the extraordinary dedication of our teams across television, radio, digital, print, and news media, who work every day to create opportunities for people around the world to encounter Jesus Christ and His Church,” said Michael Warsaw, chairman of the board and CEO of EWTN.

“As the media landscape continues to evolve, EWTN remains committed to meeting audiences wherever they are, through both traditional and emerging platforms, ensuring that the truth of the Gospel and the Real Presence of Christ are accessible to the faithful and to those who may be encountering Him for the first time,” Warsaw added.

EWTN’s papal photographer, Daniel Ibáñez, was named Photographer of the Year. In awarding the distinction, CMA’s judges noted that in the work of Ibáñez “each photo is thoughtfully framed and immediately connects with the audience.”

Meanwhile, EWTN Digital’s Debbie Cowden was named Social Media Professional of the Year for her “strong, innovative, and enterprising content.”

The EWTN News special report in English and in Spanish, “Before Francis, Who Was Bergoglio?,” won first place in the category of Best Video — Hot Topic — Pope Francis. Judges called the report “one of the strongest entries in this year’s awards” and “a must watch.”

EWTN News’ live coverage of the election of Pope Leo XIV, “Living the Moment After the Habemus Papam, from St. Peter’s Square,” received the top award in the category of Best Use of Live Video in Social Media.

The network’s coverage of the 2025 National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC), which featured Pope Leo XIV’s historic first digital encounter with young U.S. Catholics, earned two first-place awards, for Best Multimedia Package — News and Best Social Media Campaign — General Interest.

From EWTN Publishing, “Leo XIV: Portrait of the First American Pope” by Dr. Matthew Bunson, vice president and editorial director of EWTN News, received second place recognition.

At the prestigious Gabriel Awards, which includes competition with both secular and religious media, EWTN Studios’ romantic-comedy streaming series “James the Less” won first place for Best Video for Digital Media for its second season. The show previously won best video for its first season in 2024.

EWTN News also secured first place in Single News Story for the documentary  “Christians Fight To Survive: ISIS in Iraq,” which has garnered over a million views on YouTube alone.

The National Catholic Register earned 17 total awards, including 10 first-place honors, and once again received the top distinction as Best Catholic Newspaper, the sixth such recognition in the last decade.

The publication also won first place for its reporting on the Jubilee Year and on emerging Catholic population hubs across the United States.

The network achieved an exceptional sweep in Best Video — Feature (Radio, TV and Film Company), taking first, second, third and honorable mention for its videos “From Mohammed to Jesus: The Nikki Kingsley Story,” “John Paul II: Twenty Years Later,” “Eucharistic Pilgrimage in Navajo Nation,” and “Mother Angelica Witness to Providence Award: Doug Keck.”

Similarly, EWTN News captured first, second, and third place in two categories, Best Video — Personality Profile and Best Video — Pro-life Activities (Radio, TV and Film Company). The winning personality profile videos included “Judge Frank Caprio on His Fight Against Terminal Cancer & His Catholic Faith,” “Before Francis, Who Was Bergoglio?,” and “North Pole in New Jersey? This Man Has Been Santa for 60 Years.”

The best-in-class pro-life videos were for EWTN’s “Canada: Preserving the Life of a Nation,” “Flash Mob Against Euthanasia,” and “National Celebrate Life Rally.”

The EWTN News Spanish-language service, ACI Prensa, also took home numerous recognitions with 10 awards, including four first place wins.

“It is a tremendous honor to be recognized by our peers for excellence in Catholic journalism and storytelling,” said Montse Alvarado, president and COO of EWTN News.

“The past year marked a defining moment not only for EWTN News but for the global Church, as we helped audiences navigate the historic passing of Pope Francis and the election of Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope.”

“Those extraordinary events challenged us to innovate, deepen our coverage, and create new ways of reaching people with meaningful, faith-filled content at a moment when the world was watching,” she said.

Now in its 45th year, EWTN is the largest Catholic media organization in the world. The network’s 11 global TV channels and numerous regional channels are broadcast in multiple languages 24 hours a day, seven days a week in more than 160 countries and territories. EWTN platforms also include radio services transmitted through SIRIUS/XM, iHeart Radio, and over 600 domestic and international AM and FM radio affiliates; a worldwide shortwave radio service; one of the most visited Catholic websites in the U.S.; EWTN Publishing, its book publishing division; and EWTN News, its global, multilingual news service.

The visit of the two heads of the Orthodox and Catholic Churches in the Holy Land expressed, according to the statement, the “pastoral responsibility” of their respective Churches toward the Christian communities of Gaza but also “toward the whole population” of this territory, “where families continue to endure grave humanitarian suffering, fear, loss and uncertainty.”

The patriarchs were accompanied on their visit by Josef D. Blotz, grand hospitaller of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, as well as by representatives of Malteser International, the orderʼs humanitarian agency.

Their presence “reflects the enduring commitment of faith-based humanitarian services to healthcare, relief work, and the protection of human dignity in Gaza,” the statement noted.

Furthermore, the statement said the presence of both religious leaders “carries the prayer of Jerusalem to Gaza’s wounded faithful and to all who suffer, in a ministry of consolation, mercy and steadfast Christian witness rooted in the Gospel and in the sacred vocation of the Holy City.”

During their time in Gaza, the leaders visited the cityʼs only Catholic church, the Latin rite parish dedicated to the Holy Family where, according to Vatican News, Theophilos III and Pizzaballa were welcomed with applause from the faithful and joyful cheers from the children.

After an initial greeting and a prayer led by the parish priest, Father Gabriel Romanelli, Pizzaballa expressed his joy at being able to look into the eyes not only of the parishioners and those living in the vicinity of the church, but also of all the inhabitants of that suffering city.

The situation, the cardinal said, is difficult but the presence of Church representatives demonstrates their concern for Gaza, which remains a priority.

In addition, they held meetings with the clergy, religious communities, and “local Christian families and people affected by the continuing humanitarian crisis,” according to the statement.

Through these encounters, they "seek to offer spiritual strength, comfort, and hope in the midst of deep suffering," they said. The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem emphasized that the presence of Theophilos III and Pizzaballa "carries the prayer of Jerusalem to Gaza’s wounded faithful and to all who suffer.”

This is the third such visit in the past year; Pizzaballa previously visited the Strip in July and December 2025.

The humanitarian work of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Holy Family Catholic Parish in Gaza has recently been recognized. On June 12, in the presence of Italian President Sergio Mattarella, they were awarded the Antonio Feltrinelli International Prize by the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei — one of Italyʼs most prestigious scientific and humanitarian awards. Iyad Twal, patriarchal vicar for Jordan, accepted the prize on behalf of Pizzaballa.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

Hawley posted a letter on X, which he said he received from MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred after the senator accused the league of discrimination and the Department of Justice (DOJ) opened an investigation into the matter.

The incident stemmed from the Giants’ June 12 “Pride Night,” in which most players wore caps that infused a gay pride rainbow into the team logo. Three players inscribed Bible verses on the caps, with one referencing Genesis 9:12-16, in which God tells Noah the rainbow is “the sign of the covenant that I am making between me and you and every living creature with you for all ages to come” and promises to never flood the entire Earth again.

After the game, the Giants apologized for the players causing “pain and anger to many in the LGBTQ+ community” and the MLB issued warnings, which Manfred said was simply enforcing its content-neutral prohibition on writing messages on uniforms.

In the letter Hawley posted, Manfred said players cannot be forced to wear the pride-inspired uniform, but blamed the Giants for not properly communicating to players that it is optional.

He said “the Giants’ communication with players was inadequate and not clear” but the MLB warnings to the players were delivered before the league became aware of that.

“Some players apparently did not understand that they had the option to wear their normal uniform and elected to add messages to their hats bearing the pride logo as a result,” the commissioner added.

He said the players “were neither fined nor disciplined, nor will they ever be.” He said the MLB “believes in the right of our players and fans to express their religious beliefs and at the same time supports the communities in this country that are fans of our clubs, including the LGBTQ community.”

“We believe that a policy permitting our clubs to celebrate or honor segments of its fanbase, yet does not require players or other on-field personnel to directly participate in the celebration in ways that makes them uncomfortable, strikes the right balance,” he wrote.

Neither the MLB nor the Giants responded to requests for comment from EWTN News about the letter.

Harmeet Dhillon, assistant attorney general for the Civil Rights Division of the DOJ, sent a letter to Manfred last week to inform him that the DOJ will use all available means to hold employers accountable for any discrimination against Christians and that the incident was referred to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

In spite of the MLB’s position that the policy banning written messages is content-neutral, the DOJ letter contends that the league has a “double standard” when it comes to enforcement, noting that players were allowed to wear “Black Lives Matter” messages in spite of the general prohibition.

This incident came less than a month after the Washington Nationals fired Sean Hudson, its former director of community relations, for saying the team tries to avoid the inclusion of pitcher Trevor Williams in promotional materials because of his Catholic faith.

Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colorado, urged the Justice Department to reexamine the MLB’s antitrust exemption because of the incident and to investigate potential patterns of discriminatory actions.

For many Syrian Christians, the terrorist attack became a defining moment that shook the community in a way not seen since the final years of the Ottoman Empire.

Speaking to ACI MENA, EWTN News’ Arabic-language news service, Father Yohanna Shahada, pastor of St. Elias Church, recalled not only a year marked by grief, tears, and fear, but also one shaped by hope born of prayer, faith, and the solidarity of the Church’s living stones, supporting one another through suffering.

One memory from the days immediately following the attack remains especially vivid in Shahada’s mind. Rather than waiting to receive consolation, grieving families found themselves comforting the priests. Many of the wounded, despite their own pain, sought to encourage those serving the parish.

Shahada recalled one parishioner who underwent surgery on his leg. When the priest asked how he was doing, the man replied: “Father, as long as you are standing, we are well.”

The bombing revived memories of war, destruction, and fear that many had spent years trying to overcome, Shahada said. Even today, concerns about the future and the possibility of another attack remain present among many families.

The families of victims of the church bombing faced not only the emotional pain of losing loved ones but also significant financial hardship, as many of those killed were the primary breadwinners for their households.

According to Shahada, approximately 150 people were injured in the attack. Their injuries ranged from minor to moderate, with some requiring surgery and others suffering life-altering wounds that resulted in the loss of a limb.

The priest emphasized that from the first moments after the bombing, Greek Orthodox Patriarch John X Yazigi closely followed developments and directed efforts to provide emergency assistance, hospital care, medication, and the medical treatment needed by the injured.

Shahada also praised the work of the Church’s Department of Ecumenical Relations, which organized individual and group psychological support sessions. He highlighted the contributions of Church institutions and charitable organizations, including Caritas and the St. Ephrem Organization, as well as numerous community initiatives that stood beside affected families during their time of need.

Continuing support

The months following the attack were marked by sustained efforts to address urgent needs and help families rebuild their lives, Shahada said. These initiatives included assisting people in finding employment, supporting small business projects, and helping cover educational expenses for children from affected households whenever possible.

“No assistance can replace the loss of a loved one,” he said. “But these efforts are a tangible expression of the Church’s commitment to its people and its determination not to leave them alone in their suffering.”

Reflecting on the spiritual dimension of the tragedy, Shahada said the experience, despite the evil and pain it brought, ultimately deepened many people’s relationship with the Church and strengthened their appreciation for prayer and hope.

“The miracles we need are not born from anger or hatred,” he said. “Those only deepen divisions. Prayer for those who harm us, however, opens the door to true transformation.”

He pointed to the conversion of St. Paul on the road to Damascus as an example of such transformation. Evil, he said, resembles thorns that grow and spread on their own, while a field of wheat requires patience, effort, and constant care to bear fruit.

Looking back, Shahada noted that although the bombing itself lasted only seconds, the restoration of the church has taken more than a year because every part of the building sustained damage.

He expressed hope that the faithful will be able to celebrate the rededication of St. Elias Church next autumn.

This story was first published by ACI MENA, the Arabic-language service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

Christian Brothers Oceania Province said on June 22 it was proposing a plan to facilitate the “orderly distribution of our remaining property, funds and other assets” to victims of abuse by congregation members.

The organization said in a press release that “some members” of the congregation had caused “enormous harm through their criminal sexual abuse of children.”

The group said it is facing a “pivotal moment” in which a “very difficult financial position” led it to propose the distribution scheme. Either through that scheme or through “liquidation,” the group said its Oceania province would “inevitably come to an end.”

The congregation has multiple chapters on every continent except Antartica and has faced numerous sexual abuse allegations elsewhere. The Oceania province includes congregations in Australia, New Zealand, and Papa New Guinea.

The organization said that over roughly the past 45 years it has already made payments to abuse victims “in excess of $480 million.” Yet in the past decade the number of claims against the organization has “accelerated,” leading the group to propose the distribution scheme.

If the proposal does not receive court approval, the congregation said, then it will “have no option but to enter liquidation.”

“In both cases,” the group said, the Oceania province will “cease to exist.”

The organization’s press release noted that it is “financially and canonically distinct” from the “broader Catholic Church,” meaning it has “no ability to compel other Catholic institutions” to help with the financial payout.

The province’s assets include approximately 36 properties throughout Australia with a total value of about $216 million, the group said.

The proposed distribution scheme would also account for the future care of the remaining brothers in the province, the congregation said. A total of 176 brothers are still living throughout the province with an average age of 80 years.

The interests of the abuse victims “remain our highest priority,” the congregation said.

The congregation first established a presence in Australia 183 years ago, in 1843, the group said, and while it argued that there is “much to be proud of” in its work, its history of sex abuse is “shameful and painful.”

“It is a truth we do not resile from, and it is this which has brought us to this point today,” the group said.

The Congregation of Christian Brothers was founded in 1802 by Edmund Ignatius Rice in Waterford, Ireland. It was formally recognized by the Holy See in 1820.

Marking the centenary of the outbreak of the conflict, also known as the La Cristiada, the exhibition on display at the museum at the Universidad Popular Autónoma del Estado de Puebla (UPAEP by its Spanish acronym) aims to highlight “everything involved in the defense of religious freedom” in early 20th-century Mexico, and how Mexicans “decided to defend something that was important to them.”

Mariana Cruz Ugarte, coordinator of the UPAEP Museum, told ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News, that the exhibition presents “a reflection that seems very pertinent both today and always: what is important to us, and why is it worth defending?”

A war Mexico rarely talks about

Although tensions between the Church and the Mexican state were rooted in the anticlerical 1917 Constitution, the Cristero War erupted in 1926 when the so-called “Law on Tolerance of Religious Worship” or the “Calles Law,” named after then president Plutarco Elías Calles, went into effect in July of that year.

The regulations promoted and enforced by Calles severely restricted religious freedom, banning public worship outside of churches, prohibiting religious attire, dissolving religious orders, and deporting foreign priests.

Faced with the restrictions, Mexican bishops decided to suspend religious services. Tensions with the authorities escalated, and groups of Catholic faithful across various parts of Mexico spontaneously took up arms against federal repression.

Many of these men and women faced persecution while shouting “¡Viva Cristo Rey!” (“Long live Christ the King!”) — a rallying cry that gave rise to the name by which they would become known: the “Cristeros.”

“There is talk of more than 250,000 deaths in the Cristero War resulting from the armed conflict,” noted Cruz, pointing out that despite the magnitude of that war, it is a “little-known” event.

In Mexico, she said, the War of Independence in the first half of the 19th century and the Mexican Revolution in the 1910s are “very deeply ingrained” in our minds, yet the Cristero War is “a moment in our history that little is said about.”

“That’s why it is important” to remember this war, she said, for “when we forget these lessons, which cost our nation dearly in blood, we risk the possibility that it could happen again, that it could continue to occur in other ways.”

Furthermore, she emphasized, “even though this happened long ago, it helps us reflect on the importance of dialogue versus a response that descends into violence.”

An exhibition that seeks to surprise

The immersive exhibition invites visitors to witness the private lives and concerns of the Cristeros “as if we were observing it ourselves,” and to see “how peopleʼs lives changed” due to the war.

“That really adds to the element of surprise, because people don’t imagine the characters speaking,” noted Cruz, pointing out how visitors approaching certain areas of the exhibition are startled by sounds recreating the lives of persecuted Catholics.

In this way, it feels as though “they are living their lives and we are spying on them,” even witnessing the “fear” experienced by those who “decided to defend something that was important to them.”

“We wanted to surprise people,” she emphasized, noting that this is “an exhibition that differs greatly from what we have traditionally presented at the UPAEP Museum.”

In one area of ​​the exhibition, two women can be heard conversing in hushed tones. “We are seeing these women making flags that they’re going to donate to the Cristero army,” the museum coordinator explained.

Then, one makes one’s way in the dead of night to the center of a village, where the church stands closed and guarded by the federal army.

There, “we approach very discreetly so as not to interrupt what is taking place, the way people continued to live out their faith in secret, inside their homes, in the early hours of the morning,” she added.

Inside one of the “houses” recreated by the exhibition, another exchange can be heard: “The priest is celebrating Mass, and they ask him to please lower his voice so they won’t be discovered,” Cruz explained.

“We seek to stir emotions but also to engage the senses,” she said, noting that visitors “can even smell the grass in the village center.”

The exhibition is further enriched by authentic Cristero artifacts ranging from flags and photographs to clothes and even weapons used by those who took up arms against the Mexican governmentʼs repression.

The UPAEP Museum coordinator emphasized that the exhibition aims to foster “reflection on peaceful coexistence,” as well as “the importance of dialogue, always as a means to facilitate and reach conflict resolution.”

However, a key point, she noted, is “the importance of getting involved and staying informed about what is happening in political life.”

“One thing we can see is that political decisions affect people’s lives,” she said, pointing out that such decisions “transform even our everyday lives, the way we are accustomed to living them.”

This can be especially relevant when “it seems there are young people today who do not feel particularly compelled” to pay attention to these developments.

The exhibition at the UPAEP Museum is open to the public free of charge and will remain open until Jan. 16, 2027.

Instagram post

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

Bishop Olivier Schmitthaeusler, apostolic vicar of Phnom Penh, received the title “Akka Mahāupāsakabuddhasāsanūpatthambhakr,” roughly translated as “Elder Great Lay Supporter and Upholder of the Buddha’s Dispensation,” during a ceremony on June 13, 2026, at Wat Botum Vatey in the Cambodian capital.

The title was conferred by Supreme Patriarch Nun Nget of Cambodia’s Mohanikaya Buddhist order and presented at a ceremony presided over by Venerable Khim Sorn, the order’s third deputy supreme patriarch.

The honor builds on a distinction Schmitthaeusler received in 2022, when Cambodia’s Buddhist leadership named him a “Maha Upasaka,” recognizing his support for Buddhist communities and his role in promoting dialogue and cooperation between Cambodia’s Buddhist majority and its small Catholic minority.

At the time, Buddhist leaders cited joint development projects, educational initiatives, and efforts to strengthen social cohesion. The new title represents a higher level of recognition from the country’s Buddhist establishment.

Speaking at the ceremony, Khim Sorn pointed to Cambodia’s constitutional framework, which recognizes Buddhism as the state religion while protecting religious freedom.

He said the Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia clearly stipulates that Buddhism is the state religion, but “it also guarantees complete freedom of religious belief without coercion” and promotes religious harmony, peaceful coexistence, and mutual respect among the different religions.

Buddhist leaders said the recognition reflected Schmitthaeusler’s long involvement in educational, humanitarian, and community-development initiatives carried out in cooperation with Buddhist institutions.

For Schmitthaeusler, the award marked another chapter in a relationship that began more than two decades ago. “This is a profoundly meaningful event for me as a Catholic bishop,” he said.

The French-born missionary of the Paris Foreign Missions Society traced that relationship to his years as a parish priest in Takeo province, where Catholics and Buddhists worked together on local development projects.

Among them was the construction of a road linking a Catholic community and a nearby pagoda, an initiative he said helped lay the groundwork for deeper cooperation.

Over the years, that collaboration expanded into education and social services. Schmitthaeusler noted that he supported the establishment of a primary school at Wat Ang Montrey, where students study Pali, Sanskrit, and other academic subjects.

The prelate also highlighted joint humanitarian efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic and assistance provided to displaced families during recent tensions along the Cambodia-Thailand border.

“Receiving the status of Akka Mahāupāsakabuddhasāsanūpatthambhakr today is a moment of profound recognition of how the Catholic Church and Buddhism walk hand-in-hand for the common good of our people and our country,” he said.

Schmitthaeusler also cited recent dialogue initiatives involving Buddhist and Christian leaders from Cambodia and across Asia focused on peacebuilding and reconciliation.

“We know that when Cambodia is full of peace, it radiates a positive influence to the rest of the world,” he said. “This is a powerful signal: when religions journey together, the world will witness true peace,” he added.

A small Church rebuilt after the Khmer Rouge

Theravada Buddhism is practiced by the vast majority of Cambodia’s roughly 18 million people. The Catholic Church numbers about 20,000 faithful across one apostolic vicariate and two apostolic prefectures.

The Catholic Church was nearly wiped out during the Khmer Rouge era, when religious communities were persecuted and most church buildings were destroyed.

Since public religious life resumed in the early 1990s, the Catholic Church has gradually rebuilt through education, health care, social services, and pastoral ministry, becoming a small but visible presence in Cambodian society.

On June 15, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology Liz Kendall announced to the House of Commons that the government "will ban social media companies providing their services to under 16s.”

Kendall said that the UK would be following the same model as Australia, which was the first country in the world to ban social media for youth under 16. The UK ban is due to come into effect early next year.

In an email response to EWTN News on June 17 regarding whether bishops of England and Wales support the proposed ban, a spokeswoman for the Catholic Bishops' Conference for England and Wales said: “Until the government publishes further details it’s hard to give a yes or no answer.”

But Bishop John Arnold, the lead bishop for communications for the conference, “is very keen to ensure that the safety and protection of the dignity of young people online is a central concern for all,” the statement said.

In a separate email to EWTN News, Bishop Arnold wrote that the “safety of children and young people in the digital world is paramount. Young people face many pressures today, which are often exacerbated by unrealistic and harmful material which they have accessed online.”

“When it comes to the responsible and appropriate use of technology, the protection of children and young people is a shared responsibility among parents, schools, government and society,” he said.

“I urge all people to work together to protect and place the dignity of the human person, especially children, the young and vulnerable, at the center of technological and legislative developments,” the bishop said.

The Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, meanwhile, said it would “prefer not to comment directly on the specific policy issue, but rather give a considered response to the noble principles behind online safety measures.”

“The bishops support the introduction of any new measures which increase online safety for children and young people,” the conference said.

"We have a responsibility to ensure that children and young people are protected from harmful and age-inappropriate content, and from online environments that can negatively affect their wellbeing, relationships and healthy development,” the statement continued.

The UK governmentʼs proposal includes banning youth usage of platforms like Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook, and X. They do not intend for messaging services like WhatsApp and Signal to be included in the ban.

Livestreamers and strangers being able to contact children will also be restricted for those under‑16 on other online services like gaming.

“Who should take responsibility?”

Edwin Fawcett, a Catholic psychotherapist based in England and Wales, is also unsure about the benefits and drawbacks of the proposal.

“At this point the toll taken on mental and emotional health by social media, especially for developing brains, is virtually undisputed. Who should take responsibility for young peopleʼs formation and education?” he told EWTN News.

“The Churchʼs wise answer: parents. Yet in a busy, driven and fragmented society the tsunami of digital hyper-reality is almost impossible to avoid or withstand,” he said.

Fawcett argued that there is “a pandemic of relational wounds and deficits in the real world” which “has set the stage for widespread mental health issues, which are being activated and worsened by addictive online behavior — behavior chosen in an attempt to anesthetize the same wounds.”

He continued: “Whether the ban is designed to support the rights and responsibilities of the family is hard to say. But letʼs pray that a deep renewal of family life, communities and culture will begin filling the void which social media has falsely promised to do — a void which may now be exposed by the incoming ban.”

Lucy Marsh, a spokeswoman for the Family Education Trust — a secular research body which supports traditional family values — said that the ban has not been sufficiently “thought through.”

“Children should not have unsupervised access to social media, but the government’s rushed plan to ban under-16s from using certain platforms is the wrong way to go about it,” she told EWTN News.

“Rather than educating parents on how to restrict their child’s access to the internet and raising awareness about why young children should not have smartphones, the government is trying to introduce digital ID via the back door. This means using facial recognition and biometrics which involve giving even more information to tech companies. In the name of protecting children, those children will be under even more surveillance.”

The government “should focus on ensuring tech companies make phones for children which cannot access social media apps, including WhatsApp, which is used by predatory adults to share pornography and groom children,” she said.

A sessions court in Lahore, the capital of Punjab province, on June 22 cleared 49-year-old Nadeem Masih, who is blind by birth, of charges under Section 295-C of Pakistan’s blasphemy law, which criminalizes insults against the Prophet Muhammad.

Additional District and Sessions Judge Saad Salman Khan dismissed the case after finding insufficient evidence to support the prosecution’s allegations.

Masih had been in custody since August 2025. His family alleges the accusation stemmed from a dispute with contractors at Nawaz Sharif Park, where he earned a living operating a weighing scale for visitors. The family said the contractors harassed him and demanded money.

Fearing reprisals, relatives have since moved to a shelter and were unavailable for comment.

Defense attorney Javed Sahotra said the prosecution’s own evidence undermined its case.

“The police report stated they received information about the alleged blasphemy at 11 p.m., although the park closes at 9 p.m. Two prosecution witnesses also gave statements that raised serious questions about the allegations,” he told EWTN News.

Sahotra said imprisonment had been especially difficult for Masih because of his disability.

“He spent 10 distressing months in prison. Simple daily tasks such as using the toilet and obtaining food were major challenges,” the lawyer said.

“The case demonstrates how vulnerable people can become entangled in serious criminal accusations. Even a poor blind man was not spared.”

Blasphemy remains one of Pakistan’s most sensitive issues and has frequently triggered mob violence against religious minorities, including attacks on homes and places of worship.

According to the annual report of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, 812 people were imprisoned on blasphemy-related charges in Punjab during 2025, including 796 men, 15 women, and one juvenile.

Christian advocacy groups say eight Christians, including two women, were acquitted or granted bail in blasphemy cases during the first half of 2025, all in Punjab province.

Over the past five years, Christian Solidarity International (CSI) has helped secure the acquittal of 15 people accused of blasphemy — 10 Christians and five Muslims, including three women.

Anjum James Paul, a CSI partner who helped coordinate legal and financial support for Masih’s family, attributed many acquittals to careful legal preparation.

“We maintain a low profile during such trials because of the sensitivity of these cases,” Paul said.

“One of the lawyers representing Masih is a Hafiz-e-Quran [a person who has memorized the entire Quran]. Having Muslim lawyers on defense teams can help reduce pressure because some district bar associations discourage lawyers from taking blasphemy cases.”

Paul also called for authorities to implement court directives requiring the involvement of qualified religious scholars and senior police officers in preliminary blasphemy investigations.

A support group formed by families affected by alleged false blasphemy accusations welcomed the verdict in a social media statement issued hours after the ruling.

The Voice of the Victims of Blasphemy Business Group described the acquittal as a rare example of a lower court dismissing a blasphemy case and expressed hope that courts were becoming less vulnerable to public pressure in such cases.

The group alleged that Masih had been falsely accused following a dispute with park management and said the verdict offered encouragement to other families fighting blasphemy allegations.

The “Chaplaincy of Our Lady of Victory,” announced June 19, will be officially established on July 1. According to the diocesan announcement, the chaplaincy is being formed “to serve the needs of those who attend Mass and receive other sacraments in the Extraordinary Form.”

The chaplaincy will be led by two priests from the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter (FSSP) appointed from Front Royal, Virginia, about 70 miles west of Washington, D.C.: Father Jonathan Romanoski and Father John Audino.

“As a Chaplaincy, rather than a parish, this agreement allows for Fr. Romanoski and Fr. Audino to live the fraternity that is part of the FSSP charism and to serve primarily in Front Royal while periodically assisting elsewhere in the diocese,” the diocesan statement read.

According to the diocese, the chaplaincy formalizes an arrangement that had already been in place, as an FSSP priest has been assisting Arlington clergy. It does not add more locations for the TLM.

Access to baptism, confirmation, and matrimony in the traditional form remain available only to those “who have a particular pastoral connection to the community and who participate regularly in this form of the liturgy with the consent of the local pastor and the local ordinary,” in line with the current rules, according to the diocese.

“The Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter is grateful to His Excellency, Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge, Bishop of Arlington, for establishing the Chaplaincy of Our Lady of Victory to serve the needs of those who attend the traditional form of the Latin Liturgy beginning on July 1, 2026,” Father Daniel Powers, the provincial secretary of FSSP’s North American Province, said in a statement to EWTN News.

“We are looking forward to working in the Diocese of Arlington and serving the faithful there,” he said.

Noah Peters, a board member and the president emeritus of The Arlington Latin Mass Society (ALMS), expressed “sincere appreciation” to the bishop on behalf of the society for entrusting a chaplaincy to the two priests.

“ALMS believes that this is an enormously positive step that will help ensure access to the traditional sacraments: baptisms, matrimony, confirmation, and the rites for the sick,” he told EWTN News. “We pray for Bishop Burbidge, the FSSP priests, and all the faithful, and we pray that this chaplaincy will be the seed from which broader access to the treasures of Traditional Catholicism grows.”

Arlington, like many dioceses globally, faced Latin Mass restrictions over the past few years, in line with the rules set in Pope Francis’s 2021 motu proprio Traditionis Custodes, which limited access to the older form of the Mass. However, the pontiff granted FSSP, which will lead the chaplaincy in the diocese, an exemption from those rules.

FSSP was founded in 1988 by priests who broke away from the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX), when then-Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, who led SSPX, defied the Holy See by appointing bishops without papal approval and faced excommunication. FSSP was founded to maintain those liturgical traditions while remaining loyal to the papacy.

In Arlington — where the TLM remains popular, especially among young adults — Burbidge secured dispensations approved by the Holy See for three parishes and five non-parish church locations when Traditionis Custodes went into effect. These were temporary dispensations, but have been extended and remain in place.

This is still a reduction in locations for the diocese, which had 21 locations that offered the TLM prior to the motu proprio. Some Arlington locations also saw an influx of worshipers from the neighboring Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., which limited access to three locations — one in the city itself and two in Maryland.

In March, Pope Leo XIV described divisions surrounding liturgical unity as “a painful wound” in the church.

In his communication with French bishops, Leo encouraged concrete solutions, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, that allow for “the generous inclusion” of Catholics attached to the TLM “in respect for the directions desired by the Second Vatican Council in matters of liturgy.”

Leo has not issued far-reaching documents related to the TLM, nor has he changed any of the rules established under Francis. He did, however, approve Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke’s celebration of the TLM last year at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City.

In April, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation, H.R. 1689, that would extend TPS for Haitians for three more years, which is “a critical lifeline for those desperate to avoid returning to the chaos on the island nation,” Wenski said in a column for the Archdiocese of Miami. Senate consideration is next.

TPS is an immigration status granted to eligible foreign nationals from designated countries that are unsafe to return to due to ongoing conflict, environmental disasters, or other extraordinary conditions.

In 2025, then-Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem terminated the TPS designation for migrants from Syria, Haiti, and other countries.

To combat the termination, the bill, which needs Senate approval to take effect, would provide “a reprieve to the more than 350,000 Haitians who today live and work legally in the United States under the protection of TPS,” Wenski said.

“Every single day, I see the human consequences of often unintended public policy decisions that result in chronic uncertainty, fear, and the disruption of families and entire communities. It’s up to the Senate now to vote ‘yes’ on extending TPS protections for Haitians,” he said.

Wenski said Haiti “remains a country on the brink,” noting the “widespread gang violence and kidnapping, a rampant cholera epidemic, and spreading food insecurity.”

“The lack of functioning state institutions has resulted in a general breakdown of security, with attacks on women and children becoming commonplace,” he said.

“It would be an act of abject cruelty for the United States to send families back to such dangerous and unsafe conditions” and it would “exacerbate Haiti’s ongoing humanitarian crisis,” Wenski said.

Haitians in the U.S. “are hard workers filling jobs that, were it not for them, would go unfilled,” Wenski said. “The sudden expulsion of Haitian TPS holders would have devastating consequences for our nation’s economy.”

Wenski said he understands that “‘temporary’ should mean temporary,” but “without any other workable alternative, TPS is what’s available.”

It is “an imperfect tool,” and “cannot substitute for the hard work of immigration reform that Congress has to undertake sooner or later,” he said.

Senate passage of the bill would “give Haitians a reprieve” and “lawmakers time to explore more durable, more workable solutions.”

Ohio bishops ‘deeply grieved’ by situation of Haitian neighbors

The Ohio bishops similarly spoke out on the matter, calling the situation “a moral and social failure unfolding before our eyes.”

The Catholic Conference of Ohio released a statement on June 22 urging action as the bishops are “deeply grieved by the situation of our Haitian neighbors in Ohio.”

Ahead of the 250th anniversary of the U.S., “we recall the great declarations in our founding documents to establish a free country where people can flourish,” the bishops wrote. “Therefore, as proud and faithful citizens of the United States, we need to take responsibility to support the common good of our country and to love our neighbors as ourselves.”

The bishops “have witnessed the upstanding lives Haitian families have built in Ohio.”

“They work hard, support their families, worship God regularly, and seek to live in peace. Now, they await the U.S. Supreme Courtʼs decision, likely on technical grounds, on whether TPS will continue,” they said.

The Supreme Court is reviewing the governmentʼs effort to end TPS as lower courts previously blocked the termination after determining the administration’s process for ending the protections was unlawful.

The court heard oral arguments in April and is expected to make a decision in the coming months on whether the Trump administration can end the TPS program for Haitian and Syrian nationals.

The bishops "find no moral justification for terminating their [TPS] without an alternative way to adjust their immigration status,” they said.

While the bishops affirmed “the nation’s right and responsibility to regulate immigration and protect its borders,” they said the U.S. “has continued to fail in its attempts to achieve comprehensive reform of our immigration policy.”

“We should have the political and social will to establish and maintain an orderly immigration process while providing a place in the U.S. for those fleeing violence or severe economic hardship,” they said.

The bishops called on Catholics in Ohio and all people of goodwill “to pray for America at 250 years and to reflect on our responsibility as citizens and followers of Jesus Christ.”

“Religious freedom allows the Church, and all religious communities, to live out their faith in public and to serve the good of all,” the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) website says. Religious Freedom Week in the U.S. begins each year on June 22, the feast of St. Thomas More and St. John Fisher.

This year, Catholics are invited to pray, reflect, and act on the following intentions: political and anti-religious violence, immigration enforcement, Africa, gender ideology, religious discrimination, parental choice in education, federal grants, and Nicaragua.

Each day, the U.S. bishops ask Catholics to pray for the day’s intention in a specific way, offer a brief reflection on how Catholics should think about the issue, and provide suggestions on concrete actions Catholics can take to improve religious freedom in that particular area.

So far, the dioceses of Arlington, Kalamazoo, Savannah, Toledo, and the Archdiocese of Miami have posted information about the week on their websites.

In a statement on the week’s patrons, the USCCB praised More and Fisher for exemplifying “faithful citizenship,” and expressed hope that “their example continue to illuminate the path for us, as we seek to faithfully serve our Church and country.’

“It is good to love one’s country, but ultimate loyalty is due only to Christ and his kingdom,” the USCCB said. “They never rose up to incite rebellion or foment revolution. They were no traitors. But when the law of the king came into conflict with the law of Christ, they submitted to Christ. These men gave their lives for the freedom of the Church and for freedom of conscience. They bear witness to the truth that no government can make a claim on a person’s soul.”

Law 32671, approved on June 17 and published in the official gazette El Peruano, states that this declaration is intended to commemorate “life and the importance of the family as a natural and fundamental institution of society.”

Milagros Jáuregui de Aguayo, the author of the bill, stated that “the family remains the primary setting for personal formation and the most important pillar of our society. Defending it means building a Peru with greater unity, solidarity, and hope,” according to a statement.

During the parliamentary debate, Jáuregui further emphasized that “strengthening the family means strengthening the foundations of the nation, fostering a society with greater cohesion, solidarity, and commitment to the common good.”

“This law takes on special significance in a context where Peru is facing a worrying birth-rate crisis and a progressively aging population, phenomena that jeopardize the country’s future development,” Carlos Polo, director of the Latin America office of the Population Research Institute, told ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News.

“The family, comprising father, mother, and children, constitutes the primary setting where life is passed on, values ​​are instilled, new generations are educated, and responsible citizens committed to their community are formed,” added Polo.

The pro-life leader stated, “promoting and strengthening the family means creating the cultural conditions necessary to ensure the continuity, stability, and prosperity of our nation.”

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

Canepa, a licensed counselor in Beaverton, Oregon, faced nearly $90,000 in fines and other sanctions after telling a longtime client that he could not personally affirm or “bless” her same-sex relationship due to his Catholic faith.

According to Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), a Christian legal group representing Canepa, the client had pressed the issue for 20 minutes in one session, despite Canepa having seen her 44 times over two and a half years without raising or being questioned about his religious views.

According to the Oregon board, Canepa violated state law as well as the American Counseling Association’s Code of Ethics. The board ordered him to attend six hours of continuing education and pay for his own hearing, which cost $89,636.

ADF appealed the board’s decision on Canepa’s behalf on May 1, arguing that the punishment violated his First Amendment rights to free speech and free exercise of religion, particularly in light of recent U.S. Supreme Court precedents such as Chiles v. Salazar.

Shortly after ADF filed its opening brief, the board voluntarily withdrew its disciplinary actions against Canepa without providing a detailed public explanation.

However, in the Withdrawal of Notice of Proposed Disciplinary Action signed on June 5, the Oregon board cited the Supreme Court’s decision in Chiles v. Salazar as a reason for withdrawing the disciplinary action.

In Chiles, the U.S. Supreme Court in an 8-1 decision on March 31 ruled that the state cannot silence counselors’ personal or professional viewpoints during talk therapy sessions with clients.

Colorado’s law targeting certain viewpoints on sexual orientation and gender identity constituted unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination, the court said in its decision.

“The government can’t target counselors for their views and force people to say things that go against their core convictions,” said Jonathan Scruggs, ADF senior counsel and vice president of litigation strategy, in a June 22 statement to EWTN News. “The Supreme Court recently took Colorado to task for censoring counselors and mandating orthodoxy in the counselor’s office, and Oregon should take notice.”

“ADF will continue to ensure that free speech is protected in Oregon — and every state where it’s threatened — and halt states’ attempts to weaponize their licensure systems,” Scruggs said.

With 99.9% of polling stations reporting, De la Espriella, of the conservative Defenders of the Homeland party, secured 49.6% of the vote. His opponent, Iván Cepeda of the ruling Historic Pact party, stood at 48.7%. The remaining votes were either null or blank.

De la Espriella said on Instagram that “today marks the beginning of a new chapter for our country, a chapter built upon the free and democratic will of millions of citizens who chose to believe in a Colombia that is great, secure, prosperous, and full of opportunities.”

He added that “with Godʼs help and the efforts of all Colombians, the ‘Miracle Homeland’ will become a reality.”

Moments later, in his first public appearance from the northern city of Barranquilla, De la Espriella called on the country to put division aside and pledged to be the president of all Colombians, including those who did not vote for him.

Addressing thousands of gathered supporters, the president-elect concluded his speech by asking God to bless the country. “Long live Christ the King!” De la Espriella declared.

The governmentʼs reaction

President Gustavo Petro, who campaigned for his candidate, Iván Cepeda, over the past few weeks, wrote on X that “no one can be proclaimed president” because “it is the official vote count that determines who the president is.”

For his part, Cepeda said in his first public appearance that while he accepts the preliminary unofficial vote count, his delegates intend to challenge the results from 33,000 polling stations during the official tally. On election day, Colombians cast their votes at 122,000 polling stations, both domestically and abroad.

Following the announcement of the unofficial preliminary vote count, the official validation process takes place immediately. According to the National Registry, this is "the official process of verifying and counting the votes cast in the ballot boxes, carried out by poll workers and the validation commissions …a process that guarantees the validity and transparency of the election results.”

De la Espriella’s position on life and family issues

During the election campaign, De la Espriella pledged to change current government policies regarding health, the economy, and public safety by taking an “iron-fist” approach against drug trafficking and armed groups.

Furthermore, he was the only candidate to sign the Commitment to Life and Family promoted by the United for Life platform, pledging to defend not only the family and the right to life but also freedoms related to conscience and worship, as well as the human rights enshrined in the country’s constitution and in international treaties ratified by the Colombian state.

Regarding gender ideology, De la Espriella stated on Caracol Radio that he has no issue with the homosexual community but noted that he is an “enemy of gender ideology.”

“I do not accept attempts to condition our children or to contaminate them with gender ideology in order to try to change their view of sexuality, or even of sex itself,” he said.

Regarding the legalization of marijuana, the president-elect says the plant “is a gateway to other drugs” and “there will be no room” for its legalization under his administration, according to the Defenders of the Homeland website.

Congratulations from leaders

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on X that he spoke “with Colombia’s President-elect, Abelardo de la Espriella, to congratulate him on his electoral victory.”

“The Trump Administration looks forward to working closely with your incoming administration to advance regional security cooperation, end illegal immigration to the United States, and strengthen our economic ties. Colombiaʼs best days are ahead,” Rubio stated.

The presidents of Ecuador, Daniel Noboa; Argentina, Javier Milei; and Chile, José Antonio Kast, congratulated De la Espriella on the election.

Kast wrote on X that this electoral victory marks “the beginning of a new era of freedom for Colombia that will allow them to regain security and prosperity.”

Likewise, Milei noted that, with De la Espriella, “the majority of Colombians chose the path of economic freedom, prosperity, and uncompromising security, and said ‘enough’ to transnational organized crime and drug trafficking.”

Noboa stated, “Today, Colombia chose order over impunity. Congratulations to Abelardo de la Espriella on this victory. We share the conviction that our region deserves security, progress, and governments that confront crime without excuses.”

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

“We could not agree more with the vision of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV and with the need for a robust legal framework for AI,” Thomas Regnier, European Commission spokesperson for tech sovereignty, security, and democracy, told EWTN News following a recent Commission dialogue bringing together EU officials, Church leaders, and experts to discuss AI’s ethical and social impact.

“In the EU, this is not just an aspiration. It is already what we are doing through the AI Act, the Digital Services Act, the Digital Markets Act, the GDPR and much more,” Regnier said.

From Magnifica Humanitas to Brussels

The closed dialogue followed Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, published May 25, and offered an early opportunity to gauge whether its themes are resonating with those implementing Europe’s AI rulebook. The discussions included senior officials from the EU’s AI Office, which oversees implementation of the Act.

The encyclical sets out Pope Leo’s vision for safeguarding human dignity, human agency, and the common good amid rapidly advancing technologies. Its presentation at the Vatican last month included Christopher Olah, co-founder of Anthropic, as the Holy See seeks to engage directly with frontier AI developers.

Responding to questions from EWTN News, Regnier said Pope Leo’s concerns closely align with existing European policies.

“What the Pope describes is what Europe is already doing,” Regnier said.

“We are protecting minors online. We have banned AI systems that exploit the most vulnerable. We are protecting women and children from non-consensual and sexual-abuse AI-generated content. We have prohibited social scoring.”

“His Holiness speaks of human dignity and the common good. These are exactly the European values.”

Parliament pauses high-risk AI requirements

Regnier’s comments come as the European Parliament approved amendments on Tuesday postponing certain obligations affecting high-risk AI systems under the Act, including systems used in health care, education, employment, and law enforcement, a move supporters say will provide legal certainty while harmonized standards are developed.

Irish MEP Michael McNamara, one of Parliament’s lead negotiators on the legislation, defended the postponement, arguing businesses need regulatory certainty without weakening the Act’s core safeguards.

“We live in an area of rule of law, and one of the things that is most important is regulatory certainty and clarity in what one’s legal obligations are,” McNamara said following Tuesday’s vote.

He said it was regrettable that implementation had to be delayed because harmonized standards had not yet been developed, but stressed that “the protections, the fundamental rights protections, the requirement that you have human beings in the loop, that you have a human override, these all remain in place.”

Referring to Pope Leo’s encyclical and Antiqua et Nova, a Vatican reflection on AI issued during Pope Francis’ pontificate, McNamara said it was essential to ensure “that AI systems work for the benefit of humanity” and that society does not “ever end up in a system where humanity is subjugated by AI systems.”

COMECE urges human-centered regulation

AI has been high on the EU agenda this month, with the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) convening a seminar at the European Parliament examining AI’s impact on health, loneliness, and children’s well-being.

Speaking on behalf of COMECE, Monsignor Emmanuel Agius, professor of moral theology at the University of Malta, argued that the challenge was not simply whether digital environments require regulation, but whether regulation is guided by “an adequate understanding of the human person.”

While acknowledging AI’s promise in health care and research, he warned of growing risks linked to loneliness, addictive behaviors, disinformation, and the impact of digital environments on children and young people. Describing loneliness as a growing public health concern, he said technological innovation should complement rather than replace meaningful human relationships and care, particularly for vulnerable people.

AI rules must remain dynamic

In a recorded message to seminar participants, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola warned that “AI can move faster than our ability to understand it, let alone govern it” and stressed that rules must be “smart, proportionate, and able to work in the real world.”

In his response to EWTN News, Regnier similarly noted that “developments in the field of AI are advancing at an extremely high speed” and “the AI Act was designed as a dynamic and adaptable regulatory framework that is capable of evolving over time.”

He pointed to recently agreed prohibitions on so-called “nudification” applications that generate non-consensual sexually explicit content or child sexual abuse material, saying the updated rules seek to ensure that Europeans can benefit from AI while remaining protected from its harmful effects.

“The EU will continue to protect our values and the fundamental rights of every European,” Regnier said. “Within this robust legal framework, we now need to invest even more in the responsible uptake of this technology and in the use of AI as a benefit for humankind and a force for good.”

Bishop A. Elias Zaidan, who chairs the USCCB Committee on International Justice and Peace, commended both President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the progress and expressed hope for a long-term deal in a June 17 statement.

Both countries’ leaders, Zaidan said, have taken a “vitally important step,” which is aimed at “ending hostilities” and “advancing deeper dialogue for lasting peace in the region.” He added that “preventing further proliferation of nuclear weapons is critically important for avoiding a dangerous escalation of conflict in the Middle East.”

Zaidan asked all parties involved to engage in good faith and pray for Pope Leo XIV’s intention that “this agreement may help strengthen mutual trust, security and stability in the Middle East, promoting paths of dialogue and cooperation among peoples.”

The bishop, who was born in Lebanon and serves as eparch of the Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles, encouraged the U.S., Iran, and Israel to prioritize peace efforts in Lebanon, which is meant to be covered by the U.S.-Iran deal but is still facing Israeli strikes in spite of the MOU.

“I call on the United States, Iran, and Israel to now also prioritize an end to the fighting in Lebanon,” Zaidan said.

“The disarming of Hezbollah is necessary for peace and development in Lebanon,” he said. “Over one million people have been internally displaced, including 400,000 children, and thousands have fled to neighboring Syria, potentially adding to the region’s instability. If the fighting and humanitarian catastrophe continue in Lebanon, I fear that peace across the wider Middle East will remain unreachable.”

The bishop urged prayers for a resolution to the conflicts.

“Let us pray that the Holy Spirit, creator and vivifier, may breathe wisdom, compassion, and perseverance into the minds and hearts of the negotiators, so that peace in the region may finally become a reality,” Zaidan prayed.

The agreement between the U.S. and Iran puts a hold on military combat and reopens the Strait of Hormuz, an important waterway for international trade. Both the U.S. and Iran agreed not to prevent the passage of any ships. There is gradual sanction relief for Iran, which has already resulted in Iranian oil sales, and a $300 billion fund for development in Iran supported by private investment.

Iran must agree it will never develop a nuclear weapon, which is aligned with its position since 2003 when former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei issued a fatwa declaring the development of nuclear weapons as inconsistent with Islamic law. Questions about whether Iran will be allowed to enrich uranium — or to which level nuclear enrichment will be permitted — will be decided in the 60-day window.

But in a small corner of the internet, and on music providers like Spotify, another form of chant has taken hold. The text is often a hodgepodge of Latin-sounding words; a mechanical simulation not sung by human voices but generated by artificial intelligence (AI).

How should Catholics navigate the new phenomenon of AI-generated chant, or, in the term hymnist Alan Hommerding coined, “Chant GPT”?

What is Gregorian chant?

Chant isn’t something that is consumed, like social media or food. Instead, it is a way to worship and pray, according to Catholic theologians and musicians.

“Chant is not meant to be performed for artistic consumption but meant to attune our hearts to the Lord over the course of time,” Father Phillip Alcon Ganir, a Jesuit priest who teaches sacred music classes at Boston College, told EWTN News.

Composer and liturgist Father Ricky Manalo, a Paulist priest, agreed, adding: “Gregorian chant is not merely an aesthetic; it is part of the Church’s living tradition of sung prayer, as much as Gospel music is a living tradition for many African American Catholics, or pentatonic melodies are a living tradition for many East Asian Catholics.”

“Its beauty is tied not only to its sound but to its liturgical, scriptural, and cultural roots,” he said.

Named for St. Gregory the Great, Gregorian chant is a “musical synthesis” of Roman and Gallican chant, according to Father Basil Nixen, a monk of the Abbey of San Benedetto in Monte, Norcia, Italy, where the monks chant daily together. These chanted psalms continue to be prayed as part of the Divine Office, or Liturgy of the Hours — a daily practice for Catholic priests, religious, and laypeople.

“Many might assume that Gregorian chant is really a product of the medieval or dark ages from Western Christianity,” noted Giorgio Navarini, founder and director of the Catholic chant group Floriani Sacred Music. “However, Gregorian chant derives its existence from the Hebrew Temple. Sung psalmody, lamentations, and hymns were a significant part of the Hebraic liturgical life in both the synagogue and Temple.”

In the Middle Ages came the “unprecedented notation” of the chant, which helped Gregorian chant spread, Nixen explained.

“The sacred melodies of the chant were written by men and women inspired by the Holy Spirit, and every time we sing them, we allow the Holy Spirit to possess our hearts too so as to enter more fully into communion with God in prayer,” Nixen said.

“Through the Divine Office the voice of Christ praying to his Father mingles with our own, allowing us to unite our voice with his and to participate in his priestly intercession for the salvation of the world,” Nixen said.

How do we pray through Gregorian chant?

Because Gregorian chant is more than just an aesthetic, questions about Gregorian chant are, at their root, questions about the connection between prayer and song.

“Christian worship involves the whole human being — body and soul,” Nixen said. “Chanting is fundamental for Christian worship precisely for this purpose, because it allows us to pray not only with our minds but also with our bodies, our heart, our sentiments.”

“Worship is the natural expression of the highest love, the love which most engages and engrosses us, which is why we owe it to God alone, whom we must love with all our hearts, all our minds, and all our strength — i.e., with body, heart, mind, and soul,” Nixen said. “And we do this most perfectly when we sing.”

Music, Navarini said, is “an art form that directly reflects the inner workings of the soul, unlike other art forms, which gives it a unique power of being united to prayer.”

“Chant has the power to raise the soul to the divine,” Navarini said. “It is unlike any music in this world and truly provides a doorway and glimpse into the life to come.”

Can machines pray?

Human chant is meant to be just that — human, in every imperfection, hoarse voice, or flat note.

“Even with AI aside, one of the dangers of chant recordings is that singers often aim to present pristine, errorless, and sublime sounds — which are good and holy in and of themselves,” Ganir said. “But such perfection is not often reflective of a life that worships regularly with chant.”

The monks who chant daily in monasteries often sing with “tired” voices, Ganir observed.

“Sung prayer early in the morning or in the evening is often a different, usually 'tired,’ sound than prayers chanted during the day,” Ganir said.

This isn’t a bad thing; in fact, it’s part of the deeper meaning behind chant.

“Prayer is meant to span and intersect through all of life,” Ganir continued. “And music, especially our chant tradition, can be such a worthy and life-giving companion.”

“AI-generated sacred-sounding music may have a place as a tool for study, preparation, or even private reflection, but it should not replace the living voice of the Church, the trained pastoral musician, the human composer, or the sung participation of the assembly,” Manalo said.

“AI can generate chant-like sounds or contemporary songs, but it cannot replace the faith, breath, body, and communal participation during a liturgy,” Manalo continued.

“Sacred music requires theological depth, pastoral sensitivity, scriptural grounding, ritual awareness, and a sense of the actual community that will sing or hear it,” Manalo said.

“Every true prayer is an authentic and personal encounter of trust between a creature with its Creator, a recognition of our dependence on the one who is infinitely good,” Father Ezra Sullivan, a Dominican priest and director of the Spirituality Institute at the Angelicum, told EWTN News.

“There is an old saying: ‘You cannot give what you do not have,’” Sullivan continued. “Because an algorithm does not have a knowledge and love of God, no person to have a relationship with him, it cannot make prayers or music that authentically express the raising up of the soul to the hands of our loving Father — even if it makes imitations that are somewhat pleasing, the soul would be missing.”

“One of the reasons why we like to know the biography of composers or authors is because when we read their works or listen to their music, we can commune with them across the ages and join our souls with theirs in coming closer to God,” Sullivan continued. “Artificial intelligence might be able to fool us into thinking that it facilitates these horizontal and vertical relationships, and thatʼs precisely how it can be dangerous in the spiritual realm.”

In Pope Leoʼs recent encyclical letter, Magnifica Humanitas, the Holy Father wrote: “No computational system, however sophisticated, can create a heart that gives itself, or a conscience that discerns good from evil.”

“Gregorian chant is what the soul sings to God; it is what a bride sings to her Divine Bridegroom,” Nixen said. “If an AI-generated thing can love and get married, then it can sing chant. If it can get baptized, then it can sing chant. But if it cannot love, get married, get baptized, or be united to God, then it cannot chant.”

After his mother’s serious illness, Jake, almost entirely by himself, built her a sauna and exercise room in the family’s basement in order to help her recover.

Joe, the CEO of a marketing company, serves on the board of an ecumenical project that unites Catholics and Protestants called Prayer At The Heart, with the aim of igniting “a great spiritual awakening out of a national movement of unified, humble, desperate prayer, unity and evangelism.”

The pair spoke with EWTN News about how their Catholic faith inspires them to be men who make it their mission to love as Jesus loves, and about how they hope to inspire others to do the same.

‘There’s a good chance Mom won’t be coming home’

In 2020, Joe’s wife and Jake’s mom, Becky, almost died after multiple medical issues led doctors to estimate she had only a 10% chance of survival. Joe said she was diagnosed with lupus, Lyme disease, a burst gall bladder, sepsis, and pancreatitis.

“We weren’t allowed to see her in the hospital because it was during Covid,” said Joe, the father of five boys and one daughter, who had to tell his kids “there’s a good chance Mom won’t be coming home.”

After weeks in the hospital, Becky began to recover, Joe said, and “by the grace of God, she pulled through.”

“Out of that hardship, I have found a woman who is incredibly holy,” Joe said of his wife, who, though mostly recovered, still suffers ongoing symptoms from lupus. “She is an incredible mom and an incredible wife. I couldn’t ask for anyone better. She is a blessing to all of us.”

Joe said that time “brought our family tremendously closer together.”

A plan to ‘mobilize Christians’

As Becky recovered from her health crisis, Joe watched the race riots that erupted all over the country that summer, leading him to conclude that “there are evil forces” at work leading to such division between Americans.

“That’s not what Christ wants,” he said, and he wondered whether such division was “manufactured and intentional.” He read Saul Alinsky’s Rules for Radicals, which he called “diabolically brilliant.”

On July 4, 2020, between his work, family, and other responsibilities, Joe “happened to be free to sit down and think.” He felt inspired to write out a plan that would address how to “mobilize Christians” in a “Catholic, Christian, biblical manner.”

Becky helped him fine tune the plan, which Joe then sent to various Christian leaders. Tom Phillips, vice president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, called him back and put him in touch with Doug Small, a Pentecostal leader with a similar vision who also lives in Ohio.

Together, the men came up with Prayer at the Heart, an evangelistic endeavor with the goal of “one million Christians praying for one million friends to know Christ.”

Of the ecumenical nature of their ministry, he said there is “great unity among” the team. “We can all unite around Christ.” 

“Each congregation-denomination-ministry would brand the effort calling their constituents to prayer, evangelism-mission in their own way,” reads the website, on which Christians can sign up to pray for unbelievers.

“The early apostles didn’t just stay in their church and pray,” Joe said. “They went out and evangelized. It’s time for Christians to get out of their homes and churches and bring Jesus to people.”

The ministry’s strategy also involves other practical initiatives, such as the organization of local gatherings and outdoor prayer meetings, as well as a prayer request line available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

In addition, the ministry is organizing neighborhood prayer walks, weekly groups of Christians praying for coworkers, and a new missionary and mentorship program to train young adults in prayer and evangelism.

“There’s no person or political party that’s going to save us. The only thing that’s going to save us is the love of Jesus Christ and the love of others,” Joe said.

A message to fathers: ‘Love your wife’

This Father’s Day, Joe has encouraging words for fathers: “Love your wife and kids the way Christ loved the Church.”

“Sacrifice, be willing to lay your life down. Strive to love like Christ, knowing you will sometimes fall short,” he said. “Go to church every Sunday. Your kids wonʼt know faith is important if you don’t show it. Pray every day with your kids.”

“Every night we say the Seven Sorrows of Mary, the St. Michael prayer, and the Angel of God prayer,” he said. “Then we say what we’re thankful for, and this is what we’d like God to help us with.”

The Soltis’ also say a rosary once a week as a family, as well as in the car on long trips.

“If your family is going through a difficult time, strongly follow the lead of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and consecrate your family to the Sacred Heart of Jesus,” Joe said.

“One of the promises of that consecration is peace within your family. Ours didn’t have peace for a while but it does now, thank the Lord.”

‘If I start, God will help me and guide me through it’

Jake told EWTN News that “my dad and mom have always shown what love is. It’s a choice, You choose to love others, to love your enemy. Love is a choice and not an emotional feeling.”

When he decided to build the sauna and exercise room for his mother in the family’s basement, he said he had “no idea what I was getting into.”

Before beginning the basement renovation, Jake said he only “knew how to build a sub par table.” During the work, he said he “was just inspired. I just wanted to help my mom.”

Joe said his son “put a lot of pressure on himself because his mom’s health was at stake.” Becky had a grand mal seizure in 2025, which Joe called “scary.”

“I have based the majority of my life on the saying ‘I will figure it out,’” Jake said. "I know that if I start something, and use the gifts I was given from God, I will be able to figure it out. I’m not wasting my ability, and I trust that if I start, God will help me and guide me through it.”

His father said Jake “looked at two Google images” before starting the project. “He has the knack and ability to do this stuff. He would come home from school and work for thousands of hours.”

“The only thing I did was I loaded the stuff in the back of the Chevy Tahoe at the hardware store. Every now and then I helped him out,” Joe laughed.

“As an 8th grader, he took an unfinished basement, and now we have a fitness center, sauna, theater room, and theyʼre beautiful! They look professional. He did it all himself, for his mother,” Joe said proudly.

Blair, a father of four, and Angelette, a widowed father of five, explained that the podcast is aimed at fathers and focuses on how masculinity and the sacramental life can be integrated. Describing themselves as a “mic’d up men’s group,” they try to foster a community to help men realize they’re not alone and encourage one another in their walk with the Lord.

Ahead of Father’s Day, EWTN News spoke to the two men about how masculinity is perceived in today’s culture, what authentic masculinity looks like, and why fatherhood is such an important vocation in the life of the Church.

(Editorʼs note: This interview was edited for clarity and length.)

EWTN News: “Toxic masculinity” is a term used a lot in todayʼs culture. How would you each define authentic Catholic masculinity?

Angelette: Jesus Christ. Thatʼs authentic masculinity. Jesus Christ fully reveals man to himself in his most high calling … the more that we model, imitate, and walk in the footsteps of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we will radiate a loving walk with our brothers and sisters in Christ in showing what real masculinity looks like.

He tells the story of the prodigal son, which is the greatest short story ever told of what happens when, in the face of a father who is humiliated by his son, his son abandoned him, took the money, squandered the inheritance, and just left this complete stain on the family name, and how does he respond to it? Or when you see the compassion and the mercy that he shows the woman who is literally caught in the very act of adultery. Or you see when he embraces Peter after heʼs denied him three times and he gives him three chances to redeem himself and to show that mercy and that kindness and that humility and that gentleness.

The heart of a man is a heart that has been set on fire by the Lord Jesus and he loves with gentleness and humility, not weakness in a sense of [being passive], but meekness in the sense of responding to the will of the Father.

Blair: At the end of the day, when we die, the Lord doesnʼt ask us, “All right, well let me see your bank account, let me see the titles.” Itʼs “How well did you love?” And you cannot love if you donʼt receive love, which is to Jasonʼs point, he said it very succinctly, is Jesus Christ — he is the way, the truth, and life. So, modeling our lives after him and in that offering not only our wife, our children, our community, stability, offering our strength, warmth, validation because weʼve received that validation and love from the Father.

Angelette: Toxic masculinity is men who are fighting the wrong fight. Men who have embraced the wrong identity, men who have abused the gifts and talents that theyʼve been given for themselves and not for others and for the kingdom.

Why is fatherhood such an important vocation in the life of the Church?

Angelette: John Paul II, who wrote a play — he wrote five plays — and his last one was called “Radiation of Fatherhood.” And I feel like part of the gift of fatherhood is to radiate the fatherhood of God into the world and to our children.

That is this beautiful gift that weʼve been given to participate in this way that God wants to reveal himself through us. Heʼs allowing us to participate — and not act like him, but to love like him, to love with a love like his.

So as men, as husbands, as fathers, thereʼs this ability that through this masculine heart, this male heart, through this fatherhood, that we can love and reveal the love of God, the love of the father into the world.

Satan hates that. I mean, the thing that destroys families is when fathers have abandoned their post and they leave. Look at the statistics of what happens when a father is not embracing his responsibility as the first herald of the faith, to lead their family in faith, and how hard it is for the faith to be passed on to the next generation.

For Fatherʼs Day, what message would you like to share with fathers?

Blair: Fathers, know that you’re unconditionally loved by God the Father and that the prodigal son points to that. And whether youʼre the younger son or the older son, he has this great inheritance for his boys, his sons.

Not only should we enter into a relationship with Jesus for our own sake but for our wives, for our children, and ultimately the Church. The Church needs her sons fully engaged. Gone are the days you can just be on the sidelines.

Angelette: You hear all the time that God loves you and unless youʼre drawing near to the Father, that just sounds like words. So, just avail yourself to really draw into prayer, to the sacraments, to connect with other men in Christ to not walk this road alone.

If you want your heart on fire, draw near to the Sacred Heart and let his fire, let the heart of Christ, ignite your heart to the love that weʼre called to so we can truly love our families, truly love our children, and love our wives, and be the man that we know in our heart we want to be and that weʼre being called to be.

The exhibit also includes vestments, candlesticks, metal flowers, and numerous liturgical objects used in Jerusalem hundreds of years ago.

Catholic kings sent these items to Franciscan friars in Jerusalem for the celebration of the Mass over the course of many years. Similar metalwork was common in Europe but was often melted down for wars or lost due to natural disasters. In Jerusalem, however, the items were preserved despite many wars and being ruled by Ottomans, the British, and eventually the state of Israel.

“We are so honored to present these works of art to our audiences — and delighted, too, that so many people have come to see the exhibition so far,“ George T.M. Shackelford, Kimbell curator and deputy director, told EWTN News. ”People from all over are making the trip to the Kimbell and telling their friends about the experience. That rewards all the work the many members of our team have put into it.”

One reason for the survival of these sacred objects is that few people knew about them. Europeans forgot about them for centuries and local attempts to control the Church of the Holy Sepulchre resulted in damage and destruction of some of the objects. The Ottomans eventually codified the arrangement and damaged items were repaired by artisans. 

The Franciscan friars also reclaimed many items and purchased some from the Orthodox. Some items were irreparably damaged but sent to Venice, Italy, where they were melted down, remade, and sent back to Jerusalem.

Similar efforts were needed to repair metal flowers used to decorate altars. During Jerusalem’s dry summers, there is little rain from May to September and it is difficult to grow flowers. Adorning altars with metal flowers saves money and scarce water.

The history of the Venetian artists who melted down broken silver objects and made two torchères for the monks can be seen in the exhibit alongside one of the torchères, or lamps, that was damaged and then remade in 1762. 

Stephen Marshall, who works as a concierge at a nearby hotel, has been to the exhibit twice with his family.

“I was impressed learning how all these adornments got switched around after they were made and how mercury was used to embellish gold onto silver,” he said. "The processes and gifts from kings and queens in the exhibit, that one torchère that was leaning I can see the constant effort of maintenance. These items were given so much effort beyond the actual cost of the material used.”

Monarchs in previous eras rarely visited the Holy Land, so they sent these objects to the Franciscans. Anything created by the French had French symbolism like the fleur-de-lis. The Portuguese used emblems depicting five shields. One Portuguese prince donated a silver bowl for foot washing for the liturgy of the Last Supper.

King John V paid to have a sanctuary lamp made in the 1740s; however, it didn’t arrive in Jerusalem until the 1750s when Joseph I was king of Portugal. An earthquake hit Lisbon in 1755, and most similar metalwork was destroyed.

Gazing at the Spanish sanctuary lamp, Elizabeth Felderhoff of Krum, Texas, told EWTN News: ”It is a blessing to have the opportunity to have all of these pieces so easily available to the public to appreciate.” She said she felt that artists who create good, quality work help others dwell on God during worship.

A humeral veil on display in the exhibit was originally used for secular purposes by a now-unknown Muslim. Somehow it became property of a Christian and was transformed into the veil used by priests during Eucharistic adoration to keep the priest from having to touch the monstrance.

One of the chasubles displayed in the exhibit has images of instruments of Christ’s crucifixion. This chasuble would have been especially used during Lent.

Another visitor, Joann Cox, said: ”The dream of going to the Holy Land is a bit remote. This is just an incredible opportunity to see the aspect of our Catholic Christian faith, the symbolism and history of every piece on display, and we are grateful that itʼs here.”

Her sentiments were echoed by another attendee, Cintia Vera, who, reflecting on the exhibit, said: "Itʼs beautiful. Iʼm Catholic and thankful the Kimbell was able to host this exhibit.”

Andrew Eubank, marketing and communications manager at the Kimbell, said: “The exhibition has had visitors from international locations including Australia, New Zealand, China, Japan, Korea, South America, and Europe.”

Along with the Holy Sepulchre exhibit, visitors can see sacred and secular art of the same and earlier time periods in Kimbellʼs permanent exhibit, which is free for viewing.

The European Mission Campus (EMC), based in Vienna, Austria, draws inspiration from St. John Paul II’s “vision of lay vocation, mission, and holiness,” said Father Mark Thelen, a Michigan native who leads the effort in Europe.

In an interview, Thelen said he brought Eichmuller, 33, and two other EMC students to the United States in December 2025 to expose them to American models of evangelization and lay ministry. They visited Renewal Ministries, Legatus, Encounter Ministries, and Christ the King Parish in Michigan as well as Damascus Summer Camp in Ohio.

“They were inspired to see so much involvement and leadership by lay missionaries. In Europe, there are a lot more clergy involved, which isn’t bad, but they are not accustomed to lay leadership,” Thelen said.

EMC, which is managed by Abby Randolph, also based in Michigan, is part of Regnum Christi, a clerical religious institute dedicated to emulating the early Church and forming mission-driven individuals and being a “living fraternity” to renew the Church through spiritual and human support to missionaries.

“Europe needs missionaries,” Thelen told a 2025 retreat. “We will not change Europe without community, and we will not experience relationships that are worthwhile without true community,” he said.

EMC was founded in 2024 but saw its first class of students in September 2025. Five students are expected to join later this year. Instruction is given online and in person by Legion of Christ clergy and consecrated laity, shared with the Legion’s Johannes Paul II Center in Vienna.

EMC students receive three years of formation for missionary service, which Thelen described as a “pastoral MBA” to equip them for full-time lay ministry. EMC students are university graduates, mostly under the age of 30.

Anna Romero, 24, from Spain, told EWTN News that at the age of 8, she joined her family on a Neocatechumenal Way mission to Papua New Guinea. At 18, she experienced a “personal call from Christ to conversion.”

“I realized that I wanted to do more with my life,” she recalled. “Life is more than about studying and working.”

After graduating from university, Romero discerned a call. “I decided to give my life to sharing the Gospel and what God has done for me,” she said.

Last year, she entered EMC’s first class, which has a curriculum ranging from Scripture to faith-based time management. One key component is “Renewal of the Mind,” which draws on the teachings of St. John Paul II.

Romero said EMC formation emphasizes “hearing God’s voice,” discerning his plan, and living out the Christian vocation as “king, priest, and prophet,” even outside ordained or religious life.

EMC participants seek support through “mission partnership development,” which builds teams of cooperators committed to prayer and financial backing. Fundraising and group dynamics are part of EMC formation. In European countries, the Church often receives government funding. Therefore, lay missionaries must generally raise their own support.

Romero and the others were impressed by how much American Catholics give to their parishes and missionaries. She said of the trip: “I learned so many useful things. There is a sense of confidence and clarity about evangelization in the U.S.,” she said. She saw “a more lively faith” there than in Spain, where “if there aren’t professed religious, Opus Dei, or Neocatechumenal Way, there isn’t much parish life.”

“I would love to start a program in Spain to train young people for missions ... I want to awaken a mission spirit among young people and all the baptized,” she said.

EMC student Nina Sole-Martino, 23, first received missionary formation as a camper and staffer at Damascus Summer Camp in Centerburg, Ohio.

“I am open to the Lord’s plans for me, and EMC will help to discern my path,” she said. She said she wants to “reconfigure my thinking and others’ to the mind of God. This means, for example, “changing how we speak to others and even how we speak to ourselves.”

Quoting Proverbs 18:21, she said: “Life and death are in the power of the tongue.”

Romero said religious vocation is a gift to the Church, but the Church also needs the laity.

“Laypeople in the world are called to collaborate with the Church,” she said. “Laypeople are also a light to the world, as families and single people. Some laypeople, but not all laity, are called to be full-time missionaries. We also need saints who are doctors, teachers, and workers. Priests and the religious want and need their support.”

The Save Nigeria Rally included speakers such as Alveda King, the niece of civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr., along with representatives from all six geopolitical zones of Nigeria.

“We are here to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the persecuted Christians of Nigeria,” Save Nigeria Group USA President Stephen Osemwegie said during his rally speech, in which he thanked the U.S. President Donald Trump for his efforts to redesignate Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” and to carry out strategic strikes on terrorist groups there.

“This is the Juneteenth holiday weekend,” Osemwegie said. “As our American brothers and sisters celebrate the historic victory over the evils of slavery and chattel oppression, we see an unbreakable spiritual connection between the American civil rights struggle and our fight against religious persecution and terrorism today.”

“The shackles may look different, but the demonic spirit of oppression is exactly the same,” he said.

Osemwegie told EWTN News that ending radical terrorism and persecution in Nigeria is “in the vital national security interest of the United States.”

As a country of 240 million people with 70% under the age of 45 years old, Osemwegie emphasized the critical need for the U.S. to prevent Nigeria from falling “into the hands of radical Islamic terror.”

“Nigeria sits at the epicenter today of global jihad,” he said. “If Boko Haram and ISIS reconstitute like they did in Syria, Nigeria could be another Syria, another Afghanistan. And that means that their core goal  … [would be] to reconstitute and come after the United States.”

“They are really planning to regroup using the awesome resources in Africa and Nigeria, which has lithium, rare earths, gold, you name it, and two million barrels per day oil production,” he said. “You cannot allow such a country to become a terror hub. It will threaten the global community.”

Osemwegie further emphasized that escalating terrorism could spark a migration crisis. “We are 240 million [citizens], we could overrun many neighboring countries and Europe. We want America and the world to help us stay there by fighting the terrorism.”

“What Nigeria needs is not U.S. troops fighting on the ground,” Osemwegie said. “We need support — the platform, the drones, the advisors who will be behind our very gallant Nigerian troops that are giving their lives every day. As a matter of fact, weʼve lost senior officers, generals, soldiers fighting without the right equipment.”

According to Osemwegie, Nigeria needs the United States to intervene in cutting off funding to terrorist groups in the country such as Boko Haram and ISIS, which he said receive the bulk of their funding from the Middle East and other “nefarious parts of the world.”

The activist further called attention to the “humanitarian crisis that Nigeria faces,” with those who have been forced to flee their homes after facing persecution from armed militant groups, particularly the Fulani militant groups that have carried out most of the Christian persecution in the country.

“An estimated 11 million people have been driven from their homes since 2009,” he said. “These people now live in makeshift camps. They want for everything, but the world is not aware that they need food, shelter, and most importantly, they need to be safely returned to their communities.”

‘Nigeria, we hear you, we love you’

“I encourage President Trump, and I am continually praying for him, to care about the people of Nigeria," Alveda King said during her rally speech.

Reflecting on the message of her late uncle, King called for people of all faiths to consider each other as brothers and sisters.

“We have to learn to live together. Same thing for Israel and the Palestinians and the Jews. Theyʼre brothers. Theyʼre not neighbors and cousins. They are actually brothers,” she said, alluding to ongoing conflicts in Israel and the broader Middle East.

At different points in her remarks, King sang verses of the gospel songs “This Little Light of Mine” and “How Great Thou Art.”

She emphasized the need for Christians to support humanitarian causes. “When little children are hungry, I don’t say ‘Are you a Muslim or a Jew?’ ‘Are you from Nigeria or America?’ A little child is hungry, so we’re going to feed that child.”

In an interview with EWTN News, King encouraged the Nigerian people to maintain hope.

“Be encouraged,” she said. “Of one blood, God made all people to live together on the face of the earth. My uncle, Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King Jr, said: ‘We must learn to live together as brothers … and not to perish together as fools’”

“Nigeria, we hear you, we love you, be encouraged and have faith in God,” she said.

Survivor of Boko Haram kidnapping calls for ‘open doors’

Rebecca Samuel Dali, who was kidnapped by Boko Haram in 2014 and survived sexual assault as a young child, told EWTN News at the rally that she came to express her gratitude for Trumpʼs efforts to end persecution in Nigeria, and to ask that he “open doors” to those fleeing persecution.

Dali was taken by Boko Haram July 30, 2014. She said the group released her after three hours when its leader realized his family had benefitted from the services provided by her organization, the Center for Compassion, Empowerment, and Peace Initiative.

“If America was locked, I could not have been here now,” she said. “So to open doors for people to come and stay in this peaceful country, this is why I’m here.”

Dali is also a minister of the Church of the Brethren and a 2017 recipient of the Humanitarian Award from the Sergio Vieira de Mello Foundation.

At this hospital, which looks like something out of a storybook, medical professionals work to ensure that children can keep smiling despite their illnesses.

This is the case for Carmen Molina, a nurse in the hospital’s pediatric comprehensive palliative care unit, who recently shared her testimony at a gathering organized for Pope Leo XIV’s visit to the Movistar Arena in Madrid.

Sitting near one of the play areas in the hospital, Molina shared with ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News, her experience accompanying seriously ill children and their families through some of the most difficult moments of their lives.

‘God’s hand is always there’

The vocation Molina chose is not an easy one. “There are things that are painful for you, too, when accompanying the patient through this process, knowing there is no option for a cure. But it changes your perspective and the way you care for them,” she said.

Since she first came to the hospital three years ago, she has had to face tough challenges marked “not only by physical exhaustion, but also by the emotional and spiritual pain” of sick children and their families.

Despite the hardships, she said faith sustains her every day and helps her to be aware of her own limitations and fragility. “You find meaning in many of the situations you experience, and you realize that, thank God, a lot of things don’t depend on you personally; that gives you peace of mind.”

“The hand of God is always there — always,” Molina said, convinced that his presence becomes visible in sick children and their loved ones. “Of course, everyone goes through it as best they can, but I see it in the way they face so many things in their day-to-day lives, in the way they look toward the future and ‘normalize’ so many aspects of their situation.”

With extensive experience in palliative care, the nurse pointed out certain recurring patterns among people in the final stage of life. “They want to feel loved and don’t want to be a burden to others. They wish to heal old wounds, ask for forgiveness, be forgiven, or find reconciliation.”

As they find themselves in the final stretch of their lives, Molina noted that many people “seek the meaning of their life” without concerning themselves with material things. Ultimately, she emphasized, “what counts is the love given or not given; that’s what matters at the end of life.”

Recognizing the person as someone unique

She emphasized that palliative care “is necessary for living with peace and dignity” and clarified that “we don’t focus on death, but on life,” so that patients live as well as possible. “What matters is how they live; it’s not so much about how long they will live, but rather how they will live.”

In her view, this is closely linked to the dignity of each person, which “depends neither on the time lived — whether long or short — nor on the health one enjoys or the illness one suffers.”

“Nor does it depend on success,” she added, “nor on the abilities one may possess; rather, it is something so intrinsic and so infinite that we are called to protect, care for, appreciate, and attend to the person in a holistic way.”

The nurse explained that palliative care aims to address every dimension of the person, focusing not only on the physical dimension but also on the emotional, social, and spiritual ones.

“We try not to reduce the person to their illness,” she said, “but rather to recognize that person as a unique individual with a story that deserves respect, someone who has value right up to the very last moment of their life.”

She further noted that hope is indispensable at this stage: “As long as there is hope, there is life and expectation."

She clarified that it’s not about “the hope of a cure, but the hope of living each day with meaning, being at peace, and saying goodbye properly.”

“If you are at peace with yourself and with others, I believe going to heaven is a joy.”

The cross: A companion in suffering

Molina also pointed out that accepting the illness is a key element: “When you take a step toward transcendence, toward peace, it is palpable, even if it isnʼt fully understood. I have been fortunate enough to witness how the sick person and their family, despite the hardships, experience moments of serenity, peace, intimacy, and inner healing. I believe that hope does not vanish; rather, it changes form.”

Throughout her journey as a palliative care nurse, she has witnessed how many patients and their loved ones have found “strength in faith, in prayer, and in the cross, understood as a companion in suffering.”

Ultimately, she emphasized that what helps the patient most “is knowing that their life matters to others and feeling accompanied by God.”

Drawing on her own experience, she encourages people “not to wait until they are sick to ask themselves about what is truly important and essential: loving and letting yourself be loved. It’s about living a life of integrity and caring for your family, friends, and those around you. Ultimately, life is not measured by success or productivity but by authenticity and love.”

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

The FIFA World Cup is one of the most-watched sporting events with roughly 5 billion people tuning in to the tournament that brings together soccer’s best athletes from around the world.

Despite only being a little over a week into the soccer tournament, the name of Jesus has already been made known many times from several of the athletes and teams as they compete on this global stage.

Here are five powerful moments of faith we’ve seen at the World Cup so far:

1. Croatian team shares the importance of their Catholic faith

Ahead of Croatia’s first match against England, two members of the team took part in a press conference where they discussed the role their Catholic faith plays in their lives.

EWTN News correspondent Mark Irons was in attendance and asked Kristijan Jakić and Igor Matanović what Catholicism means to the team and if prayer and faith is important to them in their own lives.

“I think faith is very important in my life. When you pray to God, it’s like a feeling that someone is listening to you, and that gives me a lot of strength,” Matanović said.

Jakić added: “We are a country in which we are Catholics and in which faith means the path in our lives. I think faith represents the entire national team. Faith simply means everything in our lives.”

2. Players from Curaçao and Germany join in prayer after competing against one another

The national team from the country of Curaçao — which is a Caribbean island with a population of 150,000 — made history by qualifying for the World Cup for the first time. By qualifying, the island nation set a Guinness World Record as the smallest country by population to ever reach the global menʼs tournament.

Despite losing to Germany in their first match 7-1, the players and coaches were visibly emotional realizing the achievement the team had accomplished. In a moment of gratitude, several of the athletes joined on the pitch for a moment of prayer. They were then joined by German players Jonathan Tah and Felix Nmecha — both outspoken Christians.

In a postgame interview, Nmecha said: “During the game, we are opponents, but after the game we are all Christians and we are brothers… In our faith, we all believe that Jesus is glorified through the game and that’s why we came together and simply prayed together.”

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3. Lionel Messi thanks God after making history

Argentina went up against Algeria on June 16 in Kansas City, Kansas, where over 69,000 fans watched history unfold at the feet of the famous Argentinian player Lionel Messi.

During the 3-0 victory against Algeria, Messi recorded the first FIFA World Cup hat trick — when a single player scores three goals during one game — of his career. Additionally, Messi made history by tying former German soccer player Miroslav Klose’s record for most men’s World Cup goals scored at 16.

After the game, Messi, a devout Catholic, said: “I can’t ask for more than what I received. As I’ve said many times, thank God that he has given me so much and everything that comes now is a blessing.”

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4. Team USA shares a moment of prayer after historic win against Paraguay

On June 12, the men from the United States started their World Cup journey on a positive note with a 4-1 victory over Paraguay. After the game, defender Mark McKenzie led the team in a moment of prayer on the field.

Leading into the tournament, several of the U.S. players were vocal about their faith. Star winger Christian Pulisic is known for leading several of his teammates in a Bible study he calls “Bible Time” and has discussed the important role reading Scripture plays in his daily life.

Goalkeeper Matt Freese recently spoke to Sports Spectrum’s “What’s Up” podcast and discussed how his faith and career are intertwined.

“Godʼs given me so many opportunities within this game and within my career. I still have a role to play in that. I still have to do my part and take that opportunity and do something with it,” Freese said.

He also shared that he’s a listener of Father Mike Schmitz’s “Bible in a Year” podcast.

“Right now I’m listening to ‘Bible in a Year’ by Father Mike Schmitz. It’s been fantastic and it kind of makes me able to — even when I’m on the road or even if itʼs a busy stretch — make sure I’m spending some time every day, hopefully every day, [with Scripture],” he said.

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5. Felix Nmecha honors Jesus in post-goal celebration

German midfielder Felix Nmecha honored Jesus by making a powerful gesture after scoring the first goal in Germany’s 7-1 victory against Curaçao on June 14.

After scoring the goal, Nmecha knelt down on one knee and made the gesture of taking off a crown from his head, placed it on the ground, and then pointed up to the sky. This “crown down” gesture, as it has been called, symbolizes that every gift, every victory, and every moment of glory belongs to Christ.

In a postgame interview, Nmecha said: “It was an incredible blessing to score my first goal for Germany and for it to be so fast. All the glory I give to God, because he is the one who has given me this talent and the opportunity to be here living this dream.”

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