The announcement was made by Father Cristino Ela Engonga, secretary-general of the Episcopal Conference of Equatorial Guinea (CEGE) and general coordinator of the Church commission for the papal visit, during a strategic meeting that was held on March 28 at the bishop’s house in Bata Diocese.

The meeting brought together members of various subcommissions from the dioceses of Bata, Ebibeyín, Evinayong, and Mongomo to assess ongoing preparations and receive updates from the Holy See regarding the historic visit, which will mark Pope Leo XIV’s first trip to Africa.

According to Engonga, nearly 50 Vatican officials are expected to accompany the pontiff, including five cardinals. Among them is Cardinal Robert Sarah, prefect emeritus of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.

The pope is expected to visit key cities, including Malabo, Mongomo, and Bata, accompanied by senior Vatican officials such as Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization.

Other prominent members of the papal entourage include Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad, prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, and Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences.

They will be joined by 42 additional Vatican officials, including Monsignor José Nahúm Jairo Salas, who is responsible for coordinating papal international travels, as well as leading Vatican communicators such as Paolo Ruffini and Matteo Bruni.

Beyond the papal entourage, the meeting also highlighted the participation of special guests, including Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo, president of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), as well as Archbishop Luis Javier Argüello García, president of the Spanish Episcopal Conference (CEE).

Engonga further said that more than 40 Catholic bishops from six central African countries have expressed their intention to attend the event.

During the meeting, participants also received a report from the masters of ceremonies of CEGE, Fathers Julio Enrique Meheme and Diosdado Márquez Sabadell, who recently traveled to Rome to prepare the liturgical celebrations the pope will preside over.

The Holy Father is expected to arrive in Malabo on Tuesday, April 21, the final leg of his four-nation African trip. Following the official welcome ceremony, he will meet the president of Equatorial Guinea and address political leaders, civil society representatives, and the diplomatic corps.

In the afternoon, the pope will engage with academics and artists during a meeting with representatives of the world of culture at the León XIV Campus of the National University. A pastoral visit to patients and staff at the Jean Pierre Olie Psychiatric Hospital is also scheduled for this day.

On Wednesday, April 22, the pope will travel to Mongomo to celebrate Mass at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception before visiting the Pope Francis Technology School.

Later in the day, the Holy Father will continue to Bata, where he is scheduled to visit a prison; pray at a memorial dedicated to victims of the March 7, 2021, explosion; and meet young people and families at Bata Stadium.

The apostolic journey to Africa is to conclude on Thursday, April 23, with a final Mass celebrated by the pope at Malabo Stadium.

Following the farewell ceremony at Malabo International Airport, the Holy Father will depart for Rome, arriving later that evening at Rome’s Fiumicino International Airport.

This story was first published by ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, and has been adapted by EWTN News.

The seminary was founded on Aug. 31, 1999, by the then-primate archbishop of Mexico, Cardinal Norberto Rivera, after the Catholic Church recognized the need to form priests capable of understanding the cultural richness of Hispanics in North America.

Rivera was inspired by the call issued by St. John Paul II in the January 1999 apostolic exhortation Ecclesia in America, which called the American Church to a new evangelization.

The seminary opened in August 2000 with the arrival of five seminarians from the archdioceses of Los Angeles and Milwaukee. Since then, more than 200 graduates from at least 55 dioceses across the U.S. have passed through the formation center.

‘A Church without borders’

In an interview with ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News, Father Juan Antonio Vértiz Gutiérrez, the seminary’s rector, explained that the learning experience goes beyond language. The seminarians gain firsthand insight into what the Church in Mexico is like as well as its ecclesial and cultural traditions, particularly through apostolates.

According to the priest, this enables them to “better serve our fellow countrymen and our brothers and sisters of Hispanic origin” in their home dioceses in the U.S. He emphasized that this formation helps these young men understand two distinct cultural realities that, while united in faith, have different cultural expressions.

For Vértiz, one of the greatest beauties of Catholicism is that it “doesn’t have any borders.” In a time marked by tensions stemming from immigration policies, he noted that the experience of the Hispanic seminary demonstrates that for the Catholic Church, regardless of one’s background, every person “already belongs to the family of the children of God.”

The program

Life at the seminary follows the rhythm of any house of priestly formation but with a particular emphasis on cultural encounter. Mornings are dedicated to philosophical and theological studies at Lumen Gentium Catholic University, while in the afternoons, seminarians delve deeper into language learning and spiritual formation.

During Holy Week, seminarians are often sent to communities outside Mexico City.

The admissions process is typically conducted through diocesan vocations offices in the U.S. “We do not accept young men who do not belong to a diocese,” the rector explained.

Currently, the seminary hosts 16 young men hailing from California, Nevada, Washington, Texas, Illinois, Alabama, and Georgia.

Diverse testimonies of faith

Ramsés Yates, originally from the Diocese of Yakima, Washington, arrived at the seminary a year and a half ago to complete his theological formation and learn Spanish.

In an interview with ACI Prensa, he said his experience in Mexican communities has filled him with “much hope and much joy.” In them, he said, it’s possible to witness what it means to “be a community that lives out Catholicism to the fullest.”

He noted that he is eagerly preparing to return to Yakima, knowing that he will now be able to speak “with many more people in my diocese, people with whom I previously could not communicate effectively. That fills me with great enthusiasm.”

Ramón Pérez, originally from Guanajuato, Mexico, migrated to Fresno, California, at the age of 17. There, his life was defined by work until he felt “the call to the priesthood, to a more complete dedication to the service of the Church.”

He told ACI Prensa that following a lengthy process of discernment, he requested admission to the seminary. His diocese decided to send him to Mexico “to continue nurturing my culture and to support the various people entering the United States” from Spanish-speaking countries.

The seminarian said the experience has enabled him “to know and become conscious of my origins, my roots, and my culture, of where I was born and where I come from.” Growing up in two different cultures, he acknowledged, can be challenging, but it has also “profoundly shaped this aspect of my vocation.”

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 dessert, like the traditional Christmas treats of panettone and pandoro, is said to come from northern Italy. But a popular legend also recounts the sweet bread’s possibly miraculous origins.

The incredible story dates to the sixth or seventh century and includes a queen, a feast, and a group of Irish monks.

According to the legend, Queen Teodolinda, who was living where the town of Pavia, Italy, now lies, had heard the great reputation for holiness of an Irish missionary and abbot who had arrived in her kingdom.

In Italy, the saint is called Colombano, but he is also variously known as Columba, Columbkille, Columcille, or Colmcille.

The name Colmcille means “dove of the Church,” providing a hint to how this legend may have originated.

According to an account on the Italian website saintcolumban.eu, Queen Teodolinda really wanted to meet the Irish abbot she had heard so much about. So when she knew he was in her lands, she invited him and his fellow missionaries to visit her castle for lunch.

Given the importance of her guests, Queen Teodolinda ordered the best food to be served at her table that day, including roasted meats with gravies, sausages, and platters of fresh game.

St. Colmcille’s monks were shocked at the sight of all the rich food, especially given their practice of poverty and fasting.

There was also another problem: It was Lent.

As Queen Teodolinda, her husband, King Agilulfo, and their courtiers began to dig into the feast, the monks sat still, waiting for a sign from their abbot about what to do. They were hungry after their long travels but saw there was only meat at the table.

Colmcille bowed his head to the monarchs in thanks for the meal but did not reach for any food.

The queen was offended by her guests’ refusal of her meal. She said, in a sardonic tone, “You aren’t eating, brothers?”

A young monk piped up in response: “We are monks: We can’t eat this.”

St. Colmcille interrupted his rude confrere. He told the queen they could not eat food that had not been blessed and humbly asked for permission to bless the meal.

Given the queen and king’s permission, Colmcille pulled toward him the nearest plate of food and bowed his head in prayer.

He then held his hand over the platter — which held a large roasted dove — to bless it.

As he concluded, everyone present was shocked to see that the roasted bird and its fragrant dressings had been transformed into a simple loaf of bread.

The only trace of what had been there before was the bread’s shape, which was the form of a dove.

This, St. Colmcille said, is food appropriate for the season of Lent, and he and his followers began to eat the loaf.

Although most biographies do not record the great Irish missionary St. Colmcille’s visit to Italy, the Colomba bread is associated with Easter and is usually sweetened in order to be fitting for the celebration of Christ’s resurrection.

This story was first published on April 8, 2023, and has been updated.

This measure was granted after a “pardon approved by the Government of Cuba” and after the analysis of a series of circumstances of the prisoners, such as “good behavior maintained in prison, having extinguished an important part of their sanction and state of health,” according to a note from the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Among the released prisoners are young people, women, and people over 60 years old. Excluded from the release were those who have committed crimes such as sexual assault, pedophilia with violence, murder, robbery with violence or force with weapons, and “crimes against authority.”

Specifying that it was the “second release” of 2026, the ministry said that the pardons were announced “in the context of the religious celebrations of Holy Week.”

The statement pointed out that this is the governmentʼs “fifth pardon” since 2011, by which a total of “more than 11,000 people have been released.”

In March of this year, the Cuban government announced that it would release 51 prisoners “in the spirit of good will, of close and fluid relations between the Cuban State and the Vatican.”

The release comes as the United States has been cutting off the oil supply in Cuba as a way to pressure the regime to make various political and economic reforms.

Much of the Cuban population has also been experiencing a serious humanitarian emergency due to a lack of food, medicine and health, among other shortcomings.

Palm Beach, Florida Bishop Manuel de Jesús Rodríguez, himself a native of the Dominican Republican, recently wrote in a March 27 column that he found in Cuba "a deep and increasing humanitarian crisis: raw, visible and deeply human."

The prelate said that “prayer must lead to action.” To that end, the Diocese of Palm Beach is collaborating with the Cuban bishops to find “all possible ways to provide concrete assistance, especially in urgent areas of food and medical care.”

“This job is not optional. It is a moral imperative,” he said.

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

The archbishop, who also served as the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops from 2022 to 2025, made the remarks during an interview with Ed OʼKeefe on CBS Newsʼs “Face the Nation,” set to air on April 5.

OʼKeefe during the interview highlighted Saint Augustineʼs theory of “just war” in which the ancient theologian pointed out that “the causes for which men undertake wars” must be grounded in both peace and necessity. The journalist asked if the Iran war could be justified under that doctrine.

“I would think under the just war theory, it is not,” the archbishop said. “Because while there was a threat with nuclear arms, [the war is] compensating for a threat before [the threat itself] is actually realized.”

“I would line myself up with Pope Leo, who has been urging for negotiation,” Broglio continued. “I realize also that you could say, well, with whom are you going to negotiate? And that is a problem.”

“But in the meantime, lives are being lost, both there and also among troops,” he said. “So it is a concern.”

On March 31 Pope Leo XIV appealed for world peace amid multiple conflicts throughout the Middle East, urging the faithful to pray “for the victims of war ... that there may truly be a new, renewed peace, which can give new life to all.”

Earlier, on Palm Sunday, the Holy Father spoke out more strongly against global conflict, arguing that God “does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war."

In his interview on CBS, Broglio pointed to remarks in October of 1965 by then-Pope Paul VI, who in addressing the United Nations decried the “blood of millions” resulting from numerous global conflicts, telling the international body: “Never again war, never again war!”

“Now, so many years later, weʼre still in this situation,” Broglio said. “So I think Pope Leo would definitely support saying that, you know, we have to find a situation where men and women can sit down and find avenues of peace.”

“I think war is always a last resort,” the archbishop said during the interview.

In January, amid overtures by the U.S. to potentially invade Greenland, Broglio in an interview with the BBC expressed concern that soldiers might be “put in a situation where they’re being ordered to do something that is morally questionable.”

Speaking to CBS, the prelate acknowledged that a soldier in the military “has to obey [an order] unless itʼs clearly immoral.”

“And then he would probably have to speak to his chaplain, to his chain of command,” the archbishop said. “The question might be, would generals or admirals have space to perhaps say, can we look at this a different way?”

“But having spoken to some of them too, theyʼre also in the same dilemma,” he said. “So I guess my counsel would be to do as little harm as you can, and to try and preserve innocent lives.”

The BJP government’s backing-off from the amendment to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act was promptly welcomed by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI).

The CBCI had mailed a protest letter on March 31 to Amit Shah, the home minister of India who handles the sensitive subject of foreign donations, calling for the “referral of the Bill to a Parliamentary Standing Committee for wider consultation”

The bill provides for setting up a government authority to seize properties bought or developed on foreign funds if the government license is canceled or not renewed.

The CBCI letter argued that it was essential “to ensure that administrative lapses do not lead to disproportionate penalties such as asset seizure.”

With the Christian heartland of southern Kerala going to the polls on April 9 to choose its new assembly, ruling Communists and opposition leaders joined senior bishops holding news conferences dubbing the amendment as “draconian, barbaric and undemocratic.”

The Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council held an emergency online meeting March 31 and sent a powerful letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing “deep concern regarding certain provisions” within the proposed amendment

“The amendments, as presently understood, may create possibilities for misuse of authority, which could adversely impact many voluntary organizations, non-governmental organizations, and auxiliary institutions — including places of worship — that have been established over decades for public service, irrespective of caste or religion,” the Kerala bishops cautioned.

More than 18% of Kerala’s 37 million residents are Christians.

The bishops asked Modi to refer the amendment bill “to the appropriate Parliamentary Subject Committee for further study, stakeholder consultation, and detailed discussion.”

“We are relieved now that the bill has been postponed and it will certainly provide an opportunity to address our concerns,” Father Thomas Tharayil, the deputy secretary of the Kerala bishops, told EWTN News April 2 from Kochi.

Contribution act licenses of several dioceses, congregations and charitable organizations have been “cancelled without any proper reason,” Tharayil said.

Since the BJP came into power in 2014, thousands of licenses of church and Christian social action groups have been cancelled or not renewed along with those of secular advocacy groups, including international nonprofits like Amnesty International, Bread for the World and Greenpeace.

The FCRA Online dashboard of the government gives details of the curbing of the license with nearly two-thirds of around 50,000 accounts either cancelled or not renewed.

The BJP government in 2020, meanwhile, made it mandatory that all licensees  open a designated “FCRA Account” only at the main New Delhi branch of the government-controlled State Bank of India.

An online campaign to revise the controversial bill has drawn thousands of signatures. The campaign argues that foreign donations “play a crucial role in supporting development projects in India, with billions of dollars in aid helping to alleviate poverty, support education, and improve public health.”

Cerro noted that questions about the seminary’s success lead him and his team to live in “profound humility and sincere gratitude” for what God has granted them through “the heart of Jesus Christ, eternal high priest,” both for the good of the Church and for “a humanity incapable of finding a way back to the Lord, marked by apostasy and, above all, weary and burdened because it lacks the Love of loves.”

In a recent letter, Cerro offered 10 points he said have shaped the seminary’s strong vocation culture — points “strengthened by the pastors who have served this primatial see, watered by the blood of martyrs, and sustained by the witness of holiness of so many lives.”

1. “Reasons of faith”

“We enter the seminary for reasons of faith, not for human reasons, and we remain for reasons of faith,” explained the prelate, who — drawing inspiration from the words Pope Leo XIV addressed to Spanish seminarians in February — added that “when we lose the supernatural dimension of our vocation, we lose everything.”

2. The Church confirms the vocation

Cerro explained that “in the seminary, the vocation — which we place in the hands of the Church — is discerned.” Thus, priestly ordination “takes place when that call has been confirmed by the Church, which is the body of Christ.”

3. A transformed heart

The archbishop of Toledo, recalling his days as a seminarian, said: “I must allow the seminary to pass through me, to enter deep within me, and to gradually form and transform me. Formation must help us to live with the sentiments of the heart of Jesus. We cannot be like those smooth stones we see in mountain rivers: The water flows over them, but it does not penetrate their interior.”

4. Human, not worldly

Another factor contributing to the success of the Toledo seminary is awareness of having “seminarians who are deeply human, yet not at all worldly,” Cerro said, men who share in “the joys, hopes, sorrows, and anxieties of our brothers,” for “the world awaits holy priests who know how to accompany people on the journey of life.”

5. Solid in-depth formation

The prelate said the Toledo seminary offers “solid in-depth formation,” grounded in the magisterium of the Church, “so as not to turn our seminaries into a laboratory for all manner of experiments, the outcome of which we all know.”

6. Based on the word of God and the lives of the saints

“Based on the living word, on the doctrine of the Church, on the experience of the saints, and in dialogue with a world that needs the Redeemer of the world more than ever” — this is how the formation process is carried out, the prelate emphasized.

7. Living in the present

Cerro said the seminary approaches its work “without nostalgia for a past that will not return. With eyes of faith, living in the present in communion with Peter, we form ourselves to live out what is essential: to be holy and blameless before God out of love.”

8. Fraternity and unity in diversity

“The seminary — as a presbyterate in formation — must be a community that lives like a family,” the prelate added, “for this fraternity strengthens that which unites us, enabling us to live with one heart while respecting the healthy plurality of sensibilities that reaffirm one faith, one baptism, and one Lord, in communion with Peter in [Christ’s] Church.”

9. Devoted to Mary

“We place the seminary in the heart of the Immaculate One. She watches over every seminarian so that he may attain the goal of a life of priestly dedication and generosity,” the archbishop shared.

10. Entrusted to the saints and martyrs

Finally, Cerro said he considers the final characteristic of the seminary is that it is entrusted to “St. Ildefonsus, to Blessed Sancha, and to so many holy pastors who have passed through it” as well as “to the martyrs of the religious persecution in Spain.”

He appealed to them to “grant us many holy vocations, so that the Church journeying in Toledo may never lack pastors after the heart of Christ.”

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 Bishop’s Brewery at St. Stephen’s took home top honors at the Czech Brew Star 2026 competition held in Brno on Feb. 6, the diocese announced March 16.

The brewery’s amber lager, Jezule 15%, won gold, while its flagship Czech pale lager, Děkan 11%, was named the overall winner in the Czech light lager category and received a diamond medal — the competition’s highest distinction.

Days later, the brewery’s Easter special — a dark stout brewed from five types of malt — won a gold medal at an international beer festival in Litoměřice, along with the main prize for best beer among all microbreweries in the Ústí nad Labem region of northern Bohemia.

Archbishop-designate Stanislav Přibyl of Prague blessed the Easter stout a few days before the fifth Sunday of Lent, March 22.

“God, you never cease to care for what you have created, you send the abundance of your blessing and give the earth its fruitfulness. We praise you for your infinite goodness and ask your blessing for this batch of beer,” Přibyl prayed. “Beer is a precious drink; through it, people meet and friendships deepen. Grant that whoever drinks it may receive protection of body and soul.”

Why a stout?

Head brewer Robert Kříž said the choice to brew a stout as the Easter special was deliberate.

“Everyone makes green beer before Easter, so we said we’d do something completely different — and the decision fell on a strong dark beer,” Kříž explained.

The stout, a bottom-fermented dark beer made from five types of malt, draws its distinctive flavor primarily from chocolate malt. Kříž described the result as similar to Guinness but noted: “We definitely don’t want to compare ourselves with them. We have our own taste, and that needs to be tried.”

Not 1 but 3 awards

The Czech Brew Star is an international competition that evaluates exclusively unfiltered and unpasteurized beers. The 2026 edition in Brno attracted 113 breweries from six countries — the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Cyprus, Greece, and Italy — with 52 tasters from nine countries judging 444 entries.

The Jezule 15% lager takes its unusual name from the affectionate Czech diminutive for the Infant Jesus. The name was inspired by the children’s book “The Flight Into Egypt Through the Kingdom of Bohemia” by the German-Bohemian author Otfried Preußler, a favorite of Přibyl’s. The beer was originally brewed as a Christmas special and was produced for only the second time in the brewery’s 11-year history.

“The judges praised the perfect harmony of flavors, aroma, and overall quality of this beer,” Kříž said.

Richard Kirbs, the brewery’s director, called the Děkan lager’s diamond medal “a fantastic success in unprecedented competition.”

“This is also the best reward for our brewer and the whole team,” Kirbs said. “The 11-degree Děkan can be tried in the brewery restaurant practically at any time.”

The Bishop’s Brewery at St. Stephen’s was established in 2015 in the Diocesan House of the Diocese of Litoměřice. It is one of a small but growing number of Church-owned breweries in Europe, continuing a monastic and ecclesial brewing tradition that dates back centuries in the Czech lands.

Přibyl, a Redemptorist, was named archbishop of Prague by Pope Leo XIV on Feb. 2 and remains administrator of the Diocese of Litoměřice until his installation in Prague on April 25.

The court already ruled in 2002, in Atkins v. Virginia, that executing people with intellectual disabilities violated the Constitution’s Eighth Amendment, which prohibits “cruel and unusual punishment,” but justices did not define intellectual disability.

In Hamm v. Smith, the court will consider whether Joseph Smith, facing execution in Alabama for the 1998 murder of Durk Van Dam, should be spared because his IQ test scores hover so closely to the threshold of 70 established in the Atkins case. Smith was given several IQ tests ranging from 72 to 78, above the standard threshold of 70, but within the margin of error.

“As long as the death penalty remains on the books in this country, it is essential that these guardrails are upheld to safeguard the most vulnerable among us, including those with intellectual disabilities,” said Krisanne Vaillancourt Murphy, executive director of the Catholic Mobilizing Network, an anti-death penalty group based in Washington, D.C. “The surest way to protect the sanctity of life in these instances is to end the practice of capital punishment altogether.”

In 2018, Pope Francis updated paragraph 2267 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, declaring the death penalty “inadmissible” because “it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person.” Pope Leo XIV affirmed this, saying that those who are against abortion must also be against capital punishment as they both degrade human life.

Vaillancourt Murphy said the death penalty is more unpopular than ever, mostly because of “young adults who, by and large, oppose the death penalty far more than their older counterparts.”

Oral arguments in the case were heard in December 2025. Eighteen states and the Trump administration filed briefs supporting Alabama.

Assistant to the U.S. Solicitor General Harry Graver told the justices that the court’s ruling in Atkins had “outsourced the definition of intellectual ability to the states,” giving them “significant discretion in defining what it means to be intellectually disabled and what a defendant must do to prove it.”

Theresa Farnan, a philosopher on the Ethics and Public Policy Committee of the National Catholic Partnership on Disability, said several conditions should be evaluated to determine an inmate’s intellectual ability outside of IQ tests, including their social adaptability and early childhood performance.

“This was clearly a borderline case,” Farnan said, noting that Smith could not finish grade school, struggled with reading, and could not keep jobs created for special needs employees. “It’s obvious to me he could not grasp the gravity of his crimes. In cases like these, the burden on us as a society is even more pronounced to be radically pro-life.”

She said the court may establish a legal precedent in this case in which these holistic evaluations will be used by states in assessing intellectual fitness.

The American Psychological Association with the American Psychiatric Association and the Alabama Psychological Association argued in their amicus briefs that diagnosing intellectual disability requires a comprehensive clinical assessment that goes beyond just IQ test scores. Their briefs clarified that IQ tests are not always definitive.

A decision is expected by July.

About 200 Catholics gathered April 3 at the Jesus Worker Center in the Zirani area of Gazipur to watch fellow parishioners dramatize the 14 stations, from the condemnation of Jesus to his burial and resurrection.

The participants — young men, women, and elderly Catholics who work in nearby factories — performed the reenactment at the center, which serves roughly 1,700 Catholics scattered across the surrounding industrial zone.

Binodh Bless Mardy, 28, is one of them. An Indigenous Catholic, Mardy has worked at E.O.S. Textile Mills Limited for about eight years. He tries to join the Christian community in his free time and took part in the Good Friday reenactment as a narrator.

“Since I don’t get much time off during Easter and my home is far away, I try to attend all the Easter Sunday events here instead of going to my village,” Mardy told EWTN News.

Mardy’s home village is about 250 miles away, in Dinajpur Diocese in northern Bangladesh.

He said he is not always able to attend Mass during Holy Week before Easter. “When I get time off, I don’t always get to Mass. And when I try to get time off, I can’t always manage it. So I pray at home,” he said.

A center for Catholic workers

The Jesus Worker Center was established in 2009 by the Archdiocese of Dhaka for the spiritual care of Catholics working in the area’s garment factories and other private industries. About 1,700 Catholics live in different neighborhoods under the center’s pastoral reach.

Father Biswajit Bormon, assistant parish priest at the center, said he and three other priests provide spiritual care to Catholic workers across a 20-square-kilometer (about 7.7-square-mile) area.

“Laborers come here from different parts of Bangladesh and work in different companies. Most of them do not get Sunday off, so we give them more time on Fridays,” Bormon said.

During Lent, the priests visit at least seven subcenter locations to offer Mass and hear confessions. They celebrate as many of the Holy Week liturgies as possible across the area.

“Where seven or eight families can gather in a place, the priests go and celebrate the Mass and take care of them spiritually. And those who are around the center come to the center. The Way of the Living Cross is staged by those around the center,” Bormon said.

‘The joy of celebrating with family’

Milon Kormokar has worked in the Zirani area for about 15 years and currently works for Rahimafrooz, a Bangladeshi industrial company. He lives in a rented house with his wife and two children.

Kormokar does not go home for Easter. His home parish is the cathedral parish of the Diocese of Rajshahi, about 190 miles from Zirani — a six- to seven-hour bus journey.

His company gives one day of personal leave, but that is not enough to travel home, so he celebrates Easter at the center instead.

“There are many of us Christians here; we celebrate Easter Sunday with them, but the joy of celebrating with our families is not available with others,” Kormokar said.

“Priests work very hard to take care of us spiritually. They often go door to door to check on the families, pray, and hear confessions,” Kormokar told EWTN News.

Beyond spiritual care

The center’s mission extends beyond sacraments. The priests also assist Catholics who are sick and help arrange accommodation for new arrivals in the area. A day care center at the Jesus Worker Center allows Catholic parents to leave their children in care while they work.

Bangladesh’s roughly 600,000 Christians make up less than 1% of the country’s approximately 178 million people. The Catholic community, with about 400,000 members, is the single-largest Christian group and includes a large proportion from the country’s Indigenous communities.

Both Mardy and Kormokar said they believe the Church should advocate the government to declare at least two days of public holiday around Easter so that Christians who work far from home can travel to spend the feast with their families.

On the night of the Easter Vigil, April 4, more than 700 adults across the French capital will be received into the Catholic Church as part of a sudden nationwide surge.

Across France, more than 13,000 adults will be baptized this Easter, according to data released by the French Bishops’ Conference — an increase of 28% compared with 2025.

The “boom” in adult baptisms in France is a relatively recent phenomenon. It has intensified over the past decade, with a marked acceleration following the COVID-19 pandemic, reaching record levels since 2024.

Within this national picture, Paris stands out as a beating heart of such renewal. According to figures provided by the archdiocese, 788 adult catechumens will be baptized in the city during the Easter Vigil, a 17% increase from the previous year.

These baptisms will take place across 94 parishes and several communities, mobilizing more than 1,000 accompanying members, mostly laypeople. The age distribution is characterized by a predominance of younger people, with nearly one-third under the age of 25, about half between the ages of 26 and 40, and 1 in 5 over the age of 40, with candidates ranging in age from 18 to 73.

Women remain the majority among catechumens, accounting for 58% in Paris, a proportion consistent with national patterns.

The list of Parisian parishes with particularly high numbers of catechumens reveals a landscape that cuts across ecclesial sensibilities and social geographies. Parishes where the Traditional Latin Mass is regularly celebrated such as Saint-Roch in the 1st arrondissement or Saint-Eugène Sainte-Cécile (9th) stand alongside parishes in more working-class or mixed neighborhoods, including Notre-Dame de Clignancourt (18th), Notre-Dame de la Gare (13th), or Saint-Ambroise (11th).

Many of these communities, often led by young and dynamic clergy, have become vibrant centers of parish life.

Robin, a 30-year-old catechumen preparing to be baptized at Saint-Ambroise this Saturday, embodies this trend. Raised in a nonbelieving family with no religious background, he began his spiritual journey through a gradual process of questioning the purpose of life. 

“In a world where everything moves so fast, where we lose sight of what matters, the Church has done me a world of good,” he told EWTN News. “It has helped me put the ‘why’ back at the center of everything.”

His path has been shaped by a growing desire for silence and contemplation as well as a yearning for beauty. “I would go to churches to find a moment of calm, where time would stop,” he explained. “I was looking for a place where you can listen to yourself and reflect on what you want to do with your life.”

“What moves me deeply,” he added, “is the beauty that surrounds my church — its architecture, its music… that’s where I feel something powerful.”

Like many catechumens, Robin described an experience of welcome that proved decisive. At an early stage in his journey, he met a young parish priest who, despite a busy schedule, took the time to speak with him.

“We talked for an hour. It was incredibly reassuring,” he recalled. He was then introduced to a group of parishioners who accompanied him throughout his catechumenate, forming what he describes as a “deep bond of humanity.”

This communal dimension appears to be a key factor in the current surge. While the French model of catechumenate has traditionally been more individual, the growing number of candidates is prompting parishes to rethink their approach, often favoring group dynamics that foster a sense of belonging from the outset.

Many catechumens come from families with little or no Christian background, reflecting a broader shift from cultural Catholicism toward a more deliberate, conviction-based faith. On a national level, the number of catechumens identifying as having no religious tradition now represent a proportion comparable with those from Christian backgrounds.

The scale of the phenomenon is now prompting serious reflection among French Church leaders. In response to the steady increase in adult baptisms, the eight dioceses of the Île-de-France region, together with the Diocese for the Armed Forces, have convened a provincial council set to open on May 31 at Notre-Dame Cathedral.

Under the theme “Catechumens and Neophytes: New Perspectives for the Life of Our Church,” the council will seek to discern how local structures and pastoral practices should adapt to this unexpected growth.

Season 6 of “The Chosen” will include six episodes, the first three of which will debut on Nov. 15, followed by the release of a weekly episode through Dec. 6.

The season finale will be a stand-alone theatrical release in spring 2027.

The highly anticipated sixth season will portray the 24 hours of Good Friday — culminating in Christ’s crucifixion.

“Everyone knows the basics of this part of the story, but not everyone knows the ‘why’ of the crucifixion and the extraordinary events of these 24 hours,” Dallas Jenkins, creator, writer, and director of “The Chosen,” said in a press release. “We realized this not only deserved a season of television but a stand-alone full-length theatrical event as well. We wrote and filmed all of it with this in mind.”

The show’s star, actor Jonathan Roumie, has spoken about his experience portraying Jesus’ passion and crucifixion.

“For the first few months afterwards going to Mass — and even thinking about it now — I just get weepy. I get emotional. It’s hard. It’s left an indelible impression on me — mentally and emotionally sharing even just a percentage, a micron of a percentage, of the Lord’s passion; playing it and reenacting it has left me absolutely humbled and moved,” he told EWTN News at ChosenCon on Feb. 20.

The show’s cast spent three weeks filming the crucifixion in Matera, Italy, in June 2025. In a press conference held at the Vatican at the end of that time, Jenkins called the three weeks “the most challenging and difficult we had in filming,” requiring him to surrender everything to Christ.

Abe Bueno-Jallad, the actor who portrays Big James, or James the Great, told EWTN News that during filming, he had “never seen the cast so focused.”

He added that the actors were “all there for each other … Everybody is carrying such a heavy burden this season as an actor.”

“There’s just been incredible stuff happening on set. I’ve come back to set on days that I don’t work just to watch and I’ve seen stuff that gives me goosebumps,” he shared.

In 2025, Amazon MGM Studios and 5&2 Studios signed a deal that made Prime Video the exclusive U.S. streaming partner for “The Chosen.” The deal also provides streaming rights to 5&2 Studios’ future projects including “The Chosen in the Wild with Bear Grylls,” “The Chosen Adventures,” and “Joseph of Egypt.”

“There are people, politicians, and countries that continue to actively help our country, Ukraine, stand its ground,” the bishop told “EWTN News Nightly” on April 1. “Will there be fewer such people now that the war in the Middle East has begun? Most likely, yes.”

He continued: “I believe that this situation in the Middle East could demonstrate that if we do not put an end to this war and end it justly, then in reality, the conflict could spread even to countries that never even imagined it reaching them.”

Christian town in Lebanon mourns father and son killed in strike

In the Christian town of Debel, Lebanon, grief deepened after an Israeli strike killed a father and his son, an attack residents described as another blow to a civilian population already living under constant fear, ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News, reported Sunday.

Eli Zognoun, a 27-year-old architect from Debel, said the community is reeling with shock and sorrow over the deaths, adding that the local priest called for prayers for the victims and for the protection of civilians who have stayed behind. He said the two men, George and Elie Soueid, were peaceful civilians deeply attached to their land and families and had been using the only humanitarian road open between Debel and Rmeish in an effort to return home safely.

The Israeli army and Hezbollah have been clashing for days near Debel, where more than 1,700 people still live, according to L’Orient Today, which reported that the Christian villages in south Lebanon remain mostly populated “despite the ongoing Israeli invasion and intense skirmishes with Hezbollah in many regions.”

The report also said “the president of the Dibil municipal council, Akl Naddaf, told the LBCI channel that the residents had ‘asked the authorities to grant them permission to move about safely, but without success.’ Naddaf added that the situation in the village is deteriorating day by day and that the residents are no longer able to meet their most basic needs.”

Chinese cardinal’s Easter message urges hope, care for young people amid wars

Cardinal Stephen Chow, SJ, has called on the Chinese government to give young people who have committed minor crimes a “second chance” and for parents to protect their children from the country’s competitive culture.

“Allow me to call on parents and schools to protect our children by not allowing them to go under the life-sapping and blindingly competitive culture, although a relatively small number of students may thrive in it,” Chow said in his Easter Message 2026, which was addressed to the faithful of Hong Kong. Citing steadily high suicide rates among young people, Chow also called on the government to “reduce the use of ‘Key Performance Indicator’ (KPI) so as to allow our educators more time and space to better accompany their students.” The message came as Chow noted “the spreading of hate and violence” on social media and around the world ahead of Easter.

Cameroon airport carries out test flights ahead of Pope Leo’s visit

Two aircraft operated by Cameroon’s national airline, Camair-Co, successfully landed at Bamenda Airport on Sunday, March 29, in a major step toward final preparations for the planned apostolic visit of Pope Leo XIV to the country planned to take place April 15–18.

“This deployment serves as a convincing full-scale rehearsal to ensure maximum safety during the visit of the sovereign pontiff, scheduled for April 16,” said Adolphe Lele Lafrique, governor of the Northwest Province of the Republic of Cameroon, after the test, according to ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, on Tuesday.

Missionaries travel 2 by 2 into Albania countryside

Missionaries with the National Direction of the Pontifical Mission Societies traveled across the the Diocese of Rrëshen to provide pastoral care to rural communities throughout March.

Traveling in pairs — one religious priest and either a religious or layperson — the missionaries traversed to rural areas across the mountains of northern Albania, where only six priests minister to a region of about 10,000 people, according to a Fides News Agency report.

“A blessing, a word of comfort, a simple gesture are essential tools that have made the mission concrete,” said Father Agustin Margjoni, a Vincentian missionary and Pontifical Mission Societies national director. “In a time dominated by digital communication, human contact has once again proven irreplaceable.”

Irish diocese apologizes after visiting priest says ‘evil demons’ cause autism

The Diocese of Kerry issued a statement after a visiting member of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal said during a homily at a local parish that “evil demons” were the source of autism.

“At the recent parish mission in Boherbue Parish, a visiting missioner, a member of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal based in Limerick, made a comment during a talk,” the diocese said, according to a report from the Irish Times on Wednesday. “The remark, which referenced autism, was intended as an illustrative example but was poorly expressed and inappropriate. It was acknowledged that the comment was not appropriate, and a sincere apology was offered at the time for any hurt or offense caused.”

The statement said the priest in question “deeply regrets that the remark caused upset,” adding: “We again apologize to anyone who may have been hurt by it.”

Church in India offers praise for country’s new climate objectives

Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India Chairman Bishop Allwyn D’Silva is celebrating India’s new plans to achieve net zero emissions by 2070.

“I commend the government’s updated climate commitments as they build on the success of surpassing renewable energy targets ahead of time and commit to increasing carbon sinks through expanded forest and tree cover,” D’Silva said, according to an UCA News report Wednesday.

Under the new plan, India said it plans to achieve 60% non-fossil-fuel electricity capacity, expand carbon sinks through forests and tree cover, and reduce the intensity of emissions by 47% by 2035, the report said.

Mozambique bishop urges solidarity with flood and conflict victims during Holy Week

Bishop Osório Citora Afonso of the Quelimane Diocese in Mozambique is calling for the faithful to approach Holy Week with mercy toward those impacted by natural disasters and ongoing violence in the country.

“The celebration of Holy Week should be marked by a spirit of solidarity, especially toward those affected by the recent floods and the conflict in Cabo Delgado,” he said in a March 28 statement, according to an ACI Africa report on Monday.

The bishop urged the faithful to support the vulnerable through visits, assistance, and acts of charity. “Christ walks with us,” he said. “In the cross, we see the pain of families who have lost everything, the cries of children, and the exhaustion of those trying to rebuild their lives.”

St. Martin’s Day tradition officially recognized by German UNESCO commission

Martinsfest, held on St. Martin’s Day (“Martinstag”) on Nov. 11 every year, is a major cultural tradition in the Rhineland and is now officially recognized by the German Commission for UNESCO, according to a report by CNA Deutsch, the German-language sister service of EWTN News.

“The Conference of Ministers of Culture of the Länder and the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and Media have today included five further traditions in the National Register of Intangible Cultural Heritage,” the commission announced on March 27.

St. Martin’s traditions include lantern parades, traditional songs, bonfires, and the telling of the story of St. Martin. “Today, the Martin’s tradition is a firmly anchored part of the public and cultural life of many places in the Rhineland,” the UNESCO commission said.

The altars of repose are a popular devotion in the Catholic Church during Holy Week. The practice begins with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on the evening of Holy Thursday, when Catholics commemorate the institution of the Eucharist and the priesthood.

Afterward, a priest carries the Eucharist in solemn procession from the altar where Mass was celebrated to a decorated side altar lit with candles and sometimes plants and flowers, where it remains for adoration until midnight.

In Rome, many churches open their doors at night to welcome pilgrims to pray before the Blessed Sacrament at the altar of repose.

The tradition recalls Jesus’ request to his disciples to “keep watch with me” in the Garden of Gethsemane the night before his crucifixion.

Lucía Dero Herrero, a pilgrim to Rome from Madrid, Spain, described her experience of the tradition at the Basilica di Sant’Apollinare as a profound moment of connection with God.

“The ceremony and the church were so beautiful,” Lucia told EWTN News. “It helped me to pray and to realize that this is the night it all begins. In a sense, [Jesus] has already been captured, and the next day, he will be crucified.”

Many pilgrims participated in the tradition for the first time. Maureen Finnegan, a 75-year-old woman from Liverpool, United Kingdom, was one. She described visiting the altar of repose at the Venerable English College as a true testament to our faith.

“It was lovely to see the church just absolutely packed. The singing was amazing. It’s certainly a different experience from back home in Liverpool. The whole thing was traditional, and I feel so privileged to have been a part of it.”

As originally reported by the official Vatican News outlet, the recent study, now available as a preprint, was made by several geneticists, including Dr. Gianni Barcaccia of the University of Padua.

In their study, researchers explained that DNA testing could not definitively date the Shroud of Turin but revealed its extensive handling by many individuals over its centuries-long existence. They described it as a “diverse mosaic of genetic traces,” including those from the Mediterranean, India, and even from North America.

“In brief, a reappraisal of those outcomes from the analysis of the DNA traces found on the Shroud of Turin suggests the potentially extensive exposure of the cloth in the Mediterranean region,” the researchers wrote. “DNA traces from various species and regions, including the Middle East, Mediterranean, Europe, America, and Asia, indicate that the shroud was exposed to different environments and peoples.”

The Shroud of Turin has been venerated for centuries by Christians as the burial shroud of Jesus and is among the most famous relics associated with his passion. The authenticity of the Shroud of Turin and its connection to Christ have been the subjects of scientific debate.

In 1988, researchers traced it to medieval origins around 1350, casting doubt on whether it was the actual burial cloth of Christ and on whether it came from the Holy Land.

However, the researchers assert in their recent article that the presence of H33, a rare genetic strand, supports their claim that the relic passed through the Middle East at some point in its history.

“H33 is a rare haplogroup found today mainly in the Near East, especially among the Druze, an Arabic-speaking ethnoreligious minority currently present in the Holy Land, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. In particular, the Druze population shares common genetic ancestry with Jews and Cypriots and has historically intermixed with other Levantine populations, including Palestinians and Syrians,” they said.

The Catholic Church has no official position on the relic’s authenticity. It is presently located at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Turin, Italy.

At the center of the route stands the Church of the Discovery of the Holy Cross, located in the city’s Jeruzalė (Jerusalem) neighborhood. Unlike the familiar 14 Stations of the Cross found in many Catholic parishes, Vilnius Calvary leads pilgrims through 35 stations, making it one of Europe’s largest outdoor Stations of the Cross ensembles.

A Lithuanian ‘Jerusalem’ built for pilgrims

The devotion of the Stations of the Cross, strongly promoted across Europe through Franciscan tradition, developed in part as a spiritual alternative for Christians unable to make the long, costly, and dangerous journey to the Holy Land.

Vilnius Calvary gave that tradition a local form by integrating prayer with geography: Pilgrims walk a route laid across hills and valleys, with places bearing biblical names creating a pilgrimage experience shaped by movement as well as meditation.

In practice, planners modeled the route using pilgrimage accounts, devotional guides, early maps of Jerusalem, and traditions preserved by the Franciscans, who long served as custodians of holy sites in the Holy Land. These descriptions were then adapted to Vilnius’ natural landscape so that pilgrims could experience the Via Dolorosa not only through prayer but also through the physical rhythm of walking, ascent, and pause.

Founded in gratitude

Vilnius Calvary took shape in the late 17th century following the wars that brought severe destruction to Vilnius and the surrounding region. At the time, Vilnius belonged to the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and was seized during the mid-1600s conflicts involving Muscovite (tsarist Russian) forces. Lithuanian forces and their allies later recaptured the city, and Church leaders established the Calvary as a public act of thanksgiving for the restoration of the capital.

The project was initiated by Vilnius Bishop Jurgis Bialozoras, who allocated roughly 140 hectares of land from his Verkiai Manor estate to build a church, various chapels, and the pilgrimage path. The area was chosen because its terrain allowed for a symbolic “Jerusalem” in Lithuania: Hills were assigned biblical names such as Golgotha, Zion, and the Mount of Olives, while a nearby stream recalled the Kidron Valley.

The church and the Way of the Cross were solemnly consecrated on June 9, 1669, on the feast of Pentecost.

Why 35 stations of the cross?

The 35-station structure reflects an older “Passion route” tradition in which the devotion extends beyond the standard 14 stations. In such traditions, the pilgrimage includes additional moments associated with Christ’s final hours as well as devotional scenes linked to the Church’s meditation on the Passion.

In Vilnius Calvary, the route begins not with Christ’s condemnation but reaches back to earlier moments of the Passion, including the Last Supper, Christ’s journey toward the Mount of Olives, and his interrogation before Annas and Caiaphas.

The pilgrimage then continues through the later stages of the Passion and extends beyond the Crucifixion. It also draws meaning from the church’s title, the Discovery of the Holy Cross, linking the devotion not only to Christ’s suffering but  also to the Church’s proclamation of the cross as the source of salvation.

Destruction and rebuilding

For centuries, Vilnius Calvary served as a major site of popular devotion, especially at Pentecost, when large crowds traditionally gathered for prayer and preaching along the route.

The site was damaged during the Napoleonic Wars, when French forces occupied the Verkiai forest area and used the church as a barracks and a hospital. Some chapels were damaged, and the church was plundered during the army’s retreat following their failed invasion of Russia.

The most severe destruction came under Soviet rule. In 1962, communist authorities demolished most of the chapels, leaving only a small number of structures nearest the church intact.

After Lithuania regained independence in 1990, reconstruction began. The restored chapels were solemnly blessed again at Pentecost in 2002. Over roughly a decade, the ensemble was rebuilt with 16 masonry chapels, seven wooden gates, one masonry gate, and a bridge structure, restoring the route as a full pilgrimage path.

The church at the center of the pilgrimage

The Church of the Discovery of the Holy Cross is not simply a landmark along the route. It is also the spiritual center of the ensemble and the culmination of the pilgrimage. Its position on a high hill is intended to correspond symbolically to Golgotha, and the main altar, dedicated to the crucified Christ, is treated as the central devotional point of the Way of the Cross.

The church also contains an 18th-century silver gilded reliquary containing a relic of the holy cross, which is decorated with rhinestones.

A living devotion in modern Vilnius

Vilnius Calvary remains active as a place of prayer. The route is used throughout the year for organized Stations of the Cross, including regular Friday devotions and monthly pilgrimages. The Secular Franciscans in Vilnius also unite their prayer with the Franciscans in Jerusalem, reflecting the devotion’s historical connection to the Holy Land.

Elzbieta Uckuronyte, a lifelong parishioner at the church, told EWTN News that the Stations of the Cross at Vilnius Calvary had become deeply personal to her over time.

“The first time I went, I didn’t fully understand it,” she said. “But as my faith has grown, I’ve come to see the value in the discomfort — kneeling on stones, walking in rain or snow, crossing hills and streams. It isn’t easy, but it reflects the hardship Christ endured, and there is a quiet beauty in that.”

For many pilgrims, Vilnius Calvary offers something rare in a modern European capital: a sustained Passion pilgrimage shaped not only by texts and stations but also by distance, landscape, and public religious memory.

Bishop Socrates Mesiona, chairman of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines Episcopal Commission on Migrants and Itinerant Peoples, said the Church monitors families of overseas workers in parishes nationwide.

This effort enables parishes to provide migrant families with pastoral care and material help, along with government agencies, he said.

Meanwhile, parishes and Church institutions are praying the “Oratio Imperata” (Latin for “Obligatory Prayer”) for peace in the Middle East in all their Masses and prayer gatherings.

In a message, Bishop Broderick Soncuaco Pabillo, the apostolic vicar of Taytay in Palawan, said migrants and others must trust more in God as the world faces oil crises amid the war in the Middle East.

He urged OFWs not to lose hope in God and support the needs of families in the Philippines.

“It is worrisome that OFWs in the Middle East and their safety and jobs are at risk. The remittances they send to their families will be greatly affected,” he said. “The price of oil and essential commodities is increasing. Let us not lose hope, because we will face this scenario with prayer and faith.”

Another bishop, Ruperto Cruz Santos of Antipolo, urged OFWs to care for their safety with precautions, avoiding risky areas and staying informed about local situations.

“Let us remain vigilant in prayer and steadfast in hope. May our voices rise to heaven, pleading for an end to violence and the coming of lasting peace,” he said.

He advised OFWs in the Middle East to stay indoors and in workplaces, avoid unnecessary travel, and follow instructions from embassy officials and government officials.

Given the current war situation, numerous OFWs face uncertainty, displacement, and separation from their families.

About 2.4 million Filipinos reside in the Middle East, mainly in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait. They work in construction, health care, and domestic services and are at high risk following the conflicts, which may lead to job loss, reduced income, and increased vulnerability to exploitation.

Nearly 1 million Filipinos live in the UAE, while Saudi Arabia has over 813,000; in Qatar, 250,000; and in Kuwait, over 106,000.

The Middle East remains a critical source of remittances for the Philippines, with a large concentration of workers in the Gulf region.

“Since the oil boom in the 1970s, Filipinos have been working there doing various skilled and semi-skilled jobs,” Jeremaiah M. Opiniano, executive director of the Institute for Migration and Development Issues, told EWTN News.

“Like during the pandemic and other episodes of conflict (e.g., Israel and Palestine), naturally affected Filipinos seek shelter. They try to tell their loved ones back home not to worry, but both parties are worried,” he added.

Plight of OPWs

The Philippines heavily depends on the Middle East for oil. The government has declared a state of national energy emergency following a rise in domestic fuel prices, which has impacted industries, transportation, logistics, trade, and agriculture. Moreover, workers and consumers face challenges in the crisis.

Christina Reys, 52, a mother of four adults from the Bicol region, is distressed because her son Rolando, a seafarer, is stuck in the Persian Gulf along with his crew, as their ship carrying oil cannot sail due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

“The ship cannot pass. We are worried for Rolando and his crew. We are seeking divine guidance and protection amid the war,” she told EWTN News.

Since the onset of the war, the crew has remained on the ship, clinging to the hope of returning home.

According to Reys, the local parish is assisting her and her family with material and spiritual guidance, providing food, shelter, and emotional support to help them cope with the challenges they face during this difficult time.

The safety and livelihood of over 2 million Filipinos in the Middle East are at risk as well.

Repatriation

The government has begun repatriating Filipinos in high-risk areas like Iraq and Syria. As of March 30, as many as 3,347 OFWs from the Middle East returned to the Philippines via chartered flights, according to the Department of Migrant Workers, who said the repatriation efforts will continue for an unforeseen time.

Once an OFW has returned home, the government provides financial aid, medical assistance, and travel fares to the individual’s home province.

If this crisis in the Middle East escalates and jobs are affected, there may be some job displacements and possibly disruptions in sending remittances, said Opiniano, who is also a professor at the Dominican-run University of Santo Tomas.

Stakeholders wishing to assist OFWs in the Middle East can do so by maintaining regular communication, helping their families save for emergencies, participating in repatriation efforts if desired, and continuing to pray.

All the more, families back home may want to maximize their memberships with the Social Security System, PhilHealth, and Pag-IBIG Fund should the family need resources, besides temporary aid from charity organizations and others, Opiniano explained.

Catholic churches everywhere can be seen with a bare altar and with the door of the empty tabernacle open. As the Church mourns, Catholics are also called to solemnly observe this holy day.

Here are some ways you can solemnly celebrate Good Friday:

1. Attend the celebration of the Lord’s passion at your local parish

Mass is not celebrated on Good Friday. However, Catholic churches will offer a service celebrating the Lord’s passion with holy Communion and veneration of the cross. These services are normally held at 3 p.m. because that is the time Jesus died on the cross.

2. Participate in the Stations of the Cross

In addition to offering a service celebrating the Lord’s passion, many parishes will also have Stations of the Cross later in the evening. This is a wonderful opportunity to meditate on the events that took place on Good Friday, which led to Jesus’ passion and crucifixion.

3. Fast

Throughout Lent, Catholics are encouraged to fast on all Fridays. On Good Friday, strive to observe the obligatory full day of fasting by consuming no more than one full meal and two smaller meals that do not equal the one larger meal. In addition to fasting from food, you can also fast from social media, television, or radio in order to spend more time meditating on the significance of the day.

4. Read the Lord’s passion in the Bible

If you’re unable to attend a celebration of the Lord’s passion or Stations of the Cross, try to find time to spend in Scripture. Jesus’ crucifixion can be found in Mark 15, Luke 23, John 18, and Matthew 27.

5. Spend time in prayer

Spending time with the Lord in prayer is a great way to solemnly celebrate Good Friday. You can simply spend time speaking with Jesus or sit in silence as you allow yourself to be in his presence. Other prayers you can include are the Litany of the Passion and the Seven Sorrows of Mary. You can also pray the sorrowful mysteries of the rosary. Or, you can begin the Divine Mercy Novena, which starts today.

This story was first published on April 7, 2023, and has been updated.

Speakers will include Diocese of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota, Bishop Robert Barron, founder of Word on Fire and member of the president’s Religious Liberty Commission.

Jonathan Roumie, the Catholic actor who plays Jesus Christ on the television series “The Chosen,” will also speak at the event. Cardinal Timothy Dolan will provide a video address for the event.

The programming for the event will include talks about Christianity in American history and the Christian faith of American historical figures along with prayers and Christian music.

Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and House Speaker Mike Johnson are scheduled to speak as well.

“Our mission is to gather the nation in prayer and worship, to have a moment reflecting on God’s providence in the birth and preservation of the United States, and this is really our opportunity to unite the country and rededicate our nation to God,” Justin Caporale, executive producer for major events and public appearances for the White House, said in a media call.

Some Protestant speakers expected include Pastor Jack Graham, Samuel Rodriguez, and Eric Metaxas. There will also be a video address by Franklin Graham. There will be musical performances by Chris Tomlin, Blessing Offor, and the U.S. Navy Band.

Trump announced the “Rededicate 250” event in February during the National Prayer Breakfast, which coincides with broader celebrations to honor the 250th anniversary of the Founding Fathers signing the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. The Rededicate 250 event organizer, Freedom 250, is a nonprofit subsidiary of the National Park Foundation.

“When our founders proclaimed the immortal truths that echoed around the world and down all the way through time, they declared that all of us are made free and equal by the hand of our Creator,” Trump said at the Feb. 4 breakfast.

Last September, Trump also launched the “America Prays” initiative, which asks Americans to create groups to dedicate one hour of prayer every week for the United States and its people leading up to the Fourth of July anniversary.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) launched separate events to honor the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

In February, the USCCB asked parishes to contribute to 250 collective hours of adoration and 250 collective works of mercy in the lead up to the Fourth of July. The bishops asked parishes to report participation in the initiative and inform them of the fruits of the prayers and actions.

On July 12, the bishops will also reconsecrate the United States to the Sacred Heart of Jesus as part of the solemnity. This will occur during Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.

This story originally reported that the White House announced Father Mike Schmitz would be attending the May 17 event. Father Schmitzʼs team has clarified that he informed the White House he would be unable to attend the event. The story was updated at 4:15 p.m. ET on April 4, 2026 to reflect this.

The report, published in the journal JAMA Health Forum, looked at telehealth abortion requests for an online provider across three age groups (ages 15–17, 18–24, and 25–49). The report found that young adults (ages 18–24) order abortion medication at much higher rates than older adults and that more teenagers order abortion pills in states with parental notification or consent laws around abortion.

The study found a “growing demand among adolescents and young adults in legally constrained environments.”

“Young people appear to increasingly rely on online telemedicine services for abortion care, with compounding legal restrictions driving higher demand,” the report read.

Michael New, senior associate scholar at Charlotte Lozier Institute and assistant professor at The Catholic University of America, told EWTN News that the report shows how abortion pills “undermine abortion bans and heartbeat laws” and “pro-life parental involvement laws that are in effect in over 30 states.”

For minor girls ages 15–17 requesting abortion pills, New pointed out that “the largest increase was seen in states that had both parental consent laws and parental notice laws.”

“Overall online requests for chemical abortion pills increased after the Dobbs decision,” New noted. “However, states that had some sort of parental involvement law had considerably larger increases than states with no parental involvement law.”

This can put women at risk, he said.

“There are serious public health concerns with giving minor girls access to chemical abortions by telehealth,” New said. “Minor girls who are seeking abortions via telehealth are often doing so to conceal their pregnancy or their sexual activity from their parents. As such, they might be less likely to seek medical attention if complications occur. This increases the health risks involved with obtaining an abortion.”

Multiple studies indicate high rates of hospitalizations for women taking the abortion pills. Chemical abortion has a complication rate four times that of surgical abortion, according to one study. Another report found that abortion pill complications are often underreported or misclassified.

“Overall, research has shown that chemical abortions pills taken under in-person medical supervision have a much higher complication rate than surgical abortions,” New said. “The fact that minor girls are obtaining chemical abortion pills online without in-person medical supervision only increases those risks.”

Tennessee telehealth abortion liability bill heads to governor

A Tennessee bill that would allow civil action against out-of-state abortion drug suppliers is heading to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk.

The bill, sponsored by Republican Rep. Gino Bulso of Brentwood, would make abortion pill suppliers liable in wrongful-death lawsuits. It would allow family members of an unborn baby, including the biological mother, to sue the abortion pill provider, allowing for statutory damages of at least $1 million for a wrongful-death lawsuit. It would also make it a Class E felony to knowingly mail abortion-inducing drugs to someone in Tennessee.

Though the state already has strong legal protections for unborn children, Bulso said that “mail-order abortions continue to kill thousands of innocent unborn children every year.” Bulso called the bill “a critical step in our efforts to promote life, protect women, and ensure morality defines our laws.”

Kansas lawmakers override governor’s veto of pregnancy center protections

Hours after Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed a bill to protect conscience rights for pregnancy centers, the state House and Senate voted to override the veto.

Based on model legislation, the CARE Act is designed to ensure that pregnancy centers are not targeted for their life-affirming beliefs. The bill prevents any government rule or division from targeting centers or forcing them to perform abortions. The bill affirms that “pregnancy centers serve women with integrity and compassion in this state and across the United States.”

There are more than 50 pregnancy centers serving women and families in Kansas and an estimated 3,000 centers in the U.S.

United Kingdom lawmakers call for delay on abortion bill

In the U.K. Parliament, lawmakers called for a delay in an abortion clause that could effectively legalize abortion up to birth, according to the bill’s opponents.

A cross-party group of members of Parliament (MPs) and members of the House of Lords (peers) called on the government to delay the clause in an open letter to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Health Minister Wes Streeting. In England and Wales, abortions after 24 weeks are a criminal offense. Though the bill does not directly remove the 24-week limit for abortion, it would remove any legal sanction on women aborting their children outside the legal time frame.

The letter, which had 79 signatories from different parties, said that Clause 246 (formerly Clause 208) would create ambiguities that need to be addressed. The letter warned that the new clause could lead to cases of infanticide going undetected and raises questions about cases like women being pressured into abortions.

“Since the advent of the abortion ‘pills by post’ scheme, disturbing cases of women inducing their own abortions outside the terms of the Abortion Act have already occurred,” the letter read. “As there would no longer be a legal deterrent against such cases, there is a real danger that such instances will increase with tragic consequences for women and viable unborn babies.”

The letter calls on the government to “hit pause” on the proposals and allow for “consultation, impact assessment, or meaningful scrutiny” and to draft guidance for police and health care professionals.

In March the Supreme Court blocked California’s rules that forbid schools from informing parents if their children believed themselves to be the opposite sex.

The high court had held that parents enjoy “the right not to be shut out of participation in decisions regarding their children’s mental health.” The ruling upheld a similar order issued in December 2025 by U.S. District Judge Roger Benitez.

On March 31, the Thomas More Society — which had represented the plaintiffs in the class-action suit against the California rules — announced that Benitez had ordered California to pay $4.52 million in attorneys’ fees to the Catholic legal firm.

In his order, Benitez said he was “well familiar” with the yearslong lawsuit. He said California was guilty of “litigation intransigence” while fighting the lawsuit, such as “wasting scarce judicial resources” and “resisting at all junctures.”

The state has “continue[d] to fight” over the case even after the Supreme Court ruling, Benitez pointed out, including claiming that the Supreme Court-approved injunction is “flawed and needs to be modified.”

The $4.5 million fee was arrived at after applying a “multiplier” of 1.25 to a base fee of around $3.6 million. Multipliers are often applied in certain high-risk or otherwise notable legal disputes.

Peter Breen, litigation head at the Thomas More Society, said the massive award “sends an unmistakable message to state governments and school districts across the country: If you trample the constitutional rights of parents, you will pay for it — literally.”

“California threw everything it had at this case,” Breen said. “It lost at summary judgment, lost at the Supreme Court, and now Californians will foot the bill for their government officials’ refusal to respect the fundamental rights of families.”

In December 2025, Benitez had said the case concerned “a parent’s rights to information … against a public school’s policy of secrecy when it comes to a student’s gender identification.”

Teachers have historically informed parents of “physical injuries or questions about a student’s health and well-being,” the judge pointed out, yet lawmakers in California had enacted policies “prohibiting public school teachers from informing parents” when their child claimed to have an LGBT identity.

The bishops were among more than 50 intervenors presenting arguments at a landmark Supreme Court of Canada hearing into the constitutionality of Quebec’s 2019 secularism law. The hearing, one of the longest in the court’s history, ran from March 23–26. The court reserved its decision, with a ruling expected later this year.

The secularism law, which lower courts have twice upheld, prohibits certain public employees — such as teachers and police officers — from wearing religious symbols while at work.

Toronto lawyer Phil Horgan, president and general counsel of the Catholic Civil Rights League (CCRL), argued on behalf of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), summarizing a factum that argued the “purpose and effect” of Quebec’s legislation is to “amend Canada’s federal constitution by imposing an anti-religious, non-neutral ideology, which goes beyond Québec’s jurisdiction.”

Such a “drastic” change can only be made by the federal government using its authority over criminal law or its constitutional “peace, order, and good government” powers, according to the bishops’ argument.

Quebec preemptively invoked the notwithstanding clause of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms when it drafted Bill 21 to shield it from judicial review.

Federal and provincial governments can invoke the notwithstanding clause of the Constitution to temporarily prevent courts from invalidating legislation as unconstitutional.

The timing and impact of the use of Charter Section 33 became a significant issue during the four days of hearings and will likely be central in the court’s analysis, Horgan told The Catholic Register.

The appellants challenging Bill 21 include individual teachers directly affected by it as well as advocacy groups including the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA), and the Legal Committee of the Coalition Inclusion Québec. They argue Bill 21 is “ultra vires,” beyond the powers of provincial jurisdiction.

In a five-minute oral argument, Horgan told the seven justices that “Canada’s existing federal constitution is pluralist and pro-religion.” Although “the doctrine of state neutrality is well established, Canada has never adopted laicity or an absolutist separation of church and state,” he said.

Justice Malcolm Rowe questioned Horgan on the point, asking: “Other than the reference to the supremacy of God in the preamble to the Charter, would you direct me to the provision in the Constitution which is pro-religion?”

Horgan cited Section 93 of the Constitution Act, 1867, which protects denominational school rights and privileges, and noted federal charity law recognizes religion as a public good.

Horgan said he wasn’t concerned by the pushback, noting judges often ask questions “not so much to get the answers from counsel but to help … persuade other members of the bench on some of the merits of the argument.”

In its factum, the CCCB said Bill 21 “turns the expression of religious belief, through the wearing of symbols, into something to be punished because such expression now conflicts with the dominant philosophical posture of laïcité.”

Just as religious symbols are an illustration of underlying personal faith, “the prohibition of religious symbols manifests an outlook from the provincial government that denies the divine,” the bishops said.

Quebec has argued the notwithstanding clause disqualifies courts from weighing in on matters deemed political debates. Isabelle Brunet, a lawyer for the Quebec government, told the justices: “It is not up to a court to answer a question that doesn’t concern the courts.”

Quebec received support from the attorneys general of Alberta, Ontario, and Saskatchewan, who maintain the courts should not interfere once the notwithstanding clause is invoked.

Alberta and Ontario take a contrary position, arguing there is nothing in the notwithstanding clause that precludes judicial scrutiny of legislation.

Guy J. Pratte, a lawyer for the attorney general of Canada, said Section 33 gives legislatures the power to override Charter rights but does not nullify the rights altogether or prevent judges from issuing an opinion if freedoms are violated.

‘Imposing an anti-religious, non-neutral ideology’

The following excerpts are from the factum submitted to the Supreme Court of Canada by the Canadian bishops:

• “The purpose and effect of the act is unilaterally to amend Canada’s federal constitution by imposing an anti-religious, non-neutral ideology, which goes beyond Québec’s jurisdiction.”
• “When a province makes itself laïc, it is adopting a non-neutral stance on religion. The provinces do not have that power.”
• “Québec is attempting to impose an atheistic posture on religious believers.”
• “Our constitution is founded on a political theory that sees fundamental rights and freedoms as God-given. To adopt an expressly anti-religious viewpoint, as the act purports to do, is an amendment of our existing federal constitution.”
• “In the place of a genuinely neutral, pluralist, and pro-religious approach, the act substitutes an anti-religious constitutional settlement where symbols of religion worn by individuals are not permitted.”
• “Just as religious symbols manifest an underlying personal faith, the prohibition of religious symbols manifests an outlook … that denies the divine.”

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

Dalit Christians account for more than two-thirds of India’s approximately 35 million Christians, and the ruling has generated widespread concern in the community.

“The Supreme Court’s judgment on Dalit Christians is very much misleading to the general public, because it is an individual case and doesn’t come on our ground,” the Commission for Scheduled Castes of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) said in a March 31 statement.

On March 24, a two-judge bench of the Supreme Court ruled in Chinthada Anand v. State of Andhra Pradesh that a person cannot simultaneously profess a religion other than Hinduism, Sikhism, or Buddhism and claim membership in a Scheduled Caste.

The case involved a Christian pastor born into the Madiga community, a Scheduled Caste in Andhra Pradesh, who sought protection under the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act after alleging he was assaulted with caste-based slurs. The court upheld a lower-court ruling quashing his complaint, finding that his conversion to Christianity resulted in the loss of his Scheduled Caste status.

Father Bijoy Kumar Nayak, secretary of the CBCI Commission for Dalits, told EWTN News that “this is not a verdict on our decades-old demand. The court made this observation while dismissing the appeal of a convert pastor who sought protection under the Atrocities Against Dalits.”

“We have been fighting for the last 75 years … for the constitutional rights that were denied by the presidential order of 1950. Our case is in the honorable Supreme Court … the appeal of the cause based on the constitutional rights,” the commission said.

Despite the ruling, the commission expressed confidence in an eventual resolution. “We have hope in God as well as in judiciary that the justice will be done to the Dalit Christians,” the commission’s statement said.

What is at stake

“Dalit,” literally meaning “trampled upon,” refers to communities at the bottom of India’s traditional caste hierarchy, historically treated as “untouchables” and relegated to menial jobs such as scavenging while living in segregation from upper castes.

In 1950, the Indian government issued a presidential order designating Hindu Dalits as “Scheduled Castes,” making them eligible for free education, a 15% quota in government jobs, and reserved seats in legislatures. Those protections were extended to Sikh Dalits in 1956 and Buddhist Dalits in 1990 but have been denied to Muslim and Christian Dalits.

Christian and civil rights groups have challenged the constitutionality of this exclusion. A petition filed in the Supreme Court in 2004 demanding an end to discrimination against Dalit Christians remains pending before a three-judge bench.

Franklin Caesar Thomas, the Dalit Catholic lawyer who filed the 2004 petition, told EWTN News from southern Tamil Nadu state that the latest ruling has no bearing on the broader constitutional challenge.

“This order has created a lot of confusion and fear among the people. But it does not have any legal impact,” Caesar Thomas said.

He noted that past inquiry commissions, including the Justice Ranganath Misra Commission, “have clearly stated that conversion to Christianity does not end caste discrimination in society.”

Government commission still pending

However, the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party government that came to power in 2014 demanded a fresh inquiry during the continued court hearing. A new commission under Justice K.G. Balakrishnan, a former chief justice of India, was established in October 2022 to study the social status of converts. The commission has yet to submit its report, with the latest deadline set for April 10.

The concern generated by the Supreme Court’s remarks was evident in Indian Currents, a Catholic sociopolitical weekly, which published several critical articles about the verdict.

“The recent judgment of the Supreme Court to continue the marginalization of those in the peripheries based on their religious identity is revelatory in itself,” the magazine’s editorial said.

A decades-long struggle

Since 1990, when Buddhists were included in the Scheduled Caste category, the Catholic Church in India has waged vigorous campaigns for the same recognition for Christian Dalits, with Aug. 10 observed annually as a “black day” with protests across the country. Thousands of demonstrators have been brought to New Delhi each year, led by bishops, to press the demand.

During a 2013 march to Parliament, police in New Delhi sprayed dirty water from water cannons on protesting priests in cassocks and other Dalit Christian demonstrators — images that Dalit Christian advocates say illustrate the institutional bias against their cause.

The CBCI’s biennial assembly in Bangalore in February 2026 reiterated the Church’s position.

“The denial of rights to Dalit Christians continues for decades as an indirect form of discrimination, despite numerous appeals for equality and justice. We express our concerns about the denial of rights to the minorities, as such acts weaken the democratic fabric of our society,” the assembly’s statement said.

Preaching at the chrism Mass at Cologne Cathedral on Monday evening — the annual liturgy at which priests renew their ordination promises before their bishop — the archbishop of Cologne urged the priests of his archdiocese to resist what he described as a troubling trend: the replacement of Sunday Mass with Communion services.

“I am concerned that Communion services — often with the distribution of holy Communion — are increasingly replacing the celebration of the Eucharist on Sundays,” Woelki said. “That, dear brothers, is no longer Catholic, and I urgently ask you to counteract this from the outset!”

The services in question are Liturgy of the Word celebrations in which previously consecrated hosts are distributed to the faithful but no Mass is celebrated.

A call to daily Mass

Woelki devoted much of his homily to the centrality of the Eucharist in the life of the priest. The celebration of the Mass is “ultimately irreplaceable and cannot be substituted,” he said, according to Cologne’s Domradio.

The daily Mass is not merely a devotional practice but is “constitutive of our priestly being and activity,” Woelki told the priests gathered in the cathedral, Domradio reported. He cautioned that if priests neglect the daily celebration, they risk further distancing the faithful from the opportunity to participate in the Eucharist.

“Even if only a few faithful or even no faithful at all should come to celebrate, its daily celebration is meaningful for us priests and spiritually essential for our very survival,” the cardinal said.

Woelki appealed for a conscious return to the central role of the Eucharist, pointing to the practice of the early Church in which the community gathered around a single Sunday celebration. Reviving that spirit, he said, could strengthen parish unity and set in motion a “spiritual and Eucharistic renewal.”

Cologne’s challenges

By the number of registered Catholics, the Archdiocese of Cologne is one of the largest dioceses in Germany. Yet only about 6% of its Catholics regularly attend Sunday Mass, below the German national average of 6.8%.

Sunday Communion services have been an option in the archdiocese only in recent years. Woelki himself proposed the step as early as April 2022, according to reports from June 2023. The services were introduced in 2024.

This story was first published by CNA Deutsch, the German-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

At the March 31 chrism Mass celebrated at Miami’s St. Mary Cathedral, Wenski noted that during Holy Week 2026, “we find ourselves surrounded by people who desperately need good news.”

After lamenting the current climate of mass deportations in the U.S., violence in Haiti, and repression in Cuba, the prelate turned his attention to the situation facing Nicaraguan Catholics.

“In Nicaragua — a country that has expelled more than 300 bishops, priests, seminarians, and religious in recent years — the regime has banned priestly ordinations in four dioceses,” he pointed out.

With the expulsion of Father José Concepción Reyes Mairena of the Diocese of León in February, the number of religious forced to leave Nicaragua now stands at 309.

Furthermore, the dictatorship has banned priestly and diaconal ordinations in the four dioceses whose bishops are absent because they were forced into exile: Matagalpa, Estelí, Siuna, and Jinotega. The chrism Mass, during which the oil, or chrism, to be used in the sacraments is blessed, was also not celebrated in those dioceses.

In his homily, Wenski encouraged the faithful to prepare for the “Paschal Triduum, the commemoration of the passion, death, and resurrection of Our Lord,” reminding them that “we cannot look upon the crucified Christ without looking at those being crucified before our very eyes and seeing him in them.”

“It struck me as a very prophetic homily,” said Father Edwing Román, a Nicaraguan priest in exile who now serves as vicar of St. Agatha Parish in Miami, told ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News.

“As an exiled Nicaraguan priest, I value and appreciate that a pastor of his stature during such a significant celebration as the chrism Mass in the very midst of Holy Week included our people who are suffering and yearning for their freedom, as well as our persecuted Church,” the priest said.

“Thank you, Archbishop Wenski, for your prophetic defense and for demonstrating once again your closeness to Nicaragua. Your archdiocese has served as a refuge for us and for Bishop Silvio Báez,” he added.

Joining Wenski at the chrism Mass was the auxiliary bishop of Managua, Báez, who went into exile from Nicaragua in 2019 and whose position was confirmed in August 2025 when he was received at the Vatican by Pope Leo XIV. The prelate celebrates Mass and ministers to the community at St. Agatha in Miami.

Román told ACI Prensa that in total four exiled priests participated in the chrism Mass including himself and Father Marcos Somarriba, a parish priest at St. Agatha, along with six other priests who arrived in the United States as children or young adults and a deacon who will soon be ordained a priest, all of Nicaraguan origin.

Dearth of religious freedom in Nicaragua

Also on March 31, Landau denounced the Nicaraguan dictatorship’s stifling of religious freedom in the country.

He noted that “Nicaragua has historically hosted some of the most beautiful and famous processions in the region (for example in Granada and Leon) and I look forward to the day when our Nicaraguan friends reclaim their religious freedom.”

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Martha Patricia Molina, researcher and author of the report “Nicaragua: A Persecuted Church,” has documented the thousands of processions and public events banned by the country’s dictatorship in recent years, a phenomenon that is even more severe during this Holy Week.

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 feeling is really palpable that now America is on its way back to the moon after more than five decades of waiting and planning,” Jonathan Lunine, chief scientist at NASA Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL) and the founding vice president of the Society of Catholic Scientists, said in an interview with “EWTN News Nightly.”

On April 1 at 6:35 p.m. ET, the Artemis II rocket lifted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida with four astronauts on board.

“Everyone’s very excited at JPL, at NASA headquarters,” Lunine said. “Artemis II is a 10-day mission which will send four astronauts around the moon, and they will go as far, or farther, than any humans have, even during the Apollo program, and then return to the Earth.”

The mission is the first time astronauts have flown aboard NASA’s Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft, which has key systems designed to support future missions to the lunar surface.

The mission is part of NASA’s Artemis program, which “will send astronauts on increasingly difficult missions to explore more of the moon for scientific discovery, economic benefits, and to build on our foundation for the first crewed missions to Mars,” according to NASA.

“The United States has not been back to the moon, and no country has been to the moon, since 1972. So this is really developing completely new hardware with the technologies that we have today to build a lunar program for the United States that’s going to be long-lasting,” Lunine said.

Apollo 8 and Artemis II are 2 different journeys around the moon

Many space enthusiasts have wondered if Artemis II is just a rerun of Apollo 8, but Lunine clarified “this is not like Apollo.”

“The NASA administrator made it clear, and the president has made it clear as well, that this is the start of the United States staying on the moon and having a presence there in the long term,” he said. “And that means that the technologies that are required … for being able to bring astronauts and significant amounts of cargo to the moon, need to be developed.”

Despite the difference in the missions, Apollo 8 and Artemis II undoubtedly have similarities as both were developed primarily for testing purposes to help NASA refine the systems needed for future lunar landings.

In 1968, Apollo 8’s success paved the way for Apollo 11, which landed astronauts on the moon just seven months later. Similarly, Artemis II is expected to set the stage for Artemis III, which is intended to test docking capabilities between Orion and commercial spacecraft needed to land astronauts on the moon.

“The idea is to test out all of the systems necessary for bringing astronauts to the moon in a lunar landing, hopefully in a couple of years,” Lunine said.

An unexpected — and unplanned — similarity between the missions is that both will have had astronauts in space for significant Christian holidays. Apollo 8 traveled Dec. 21–27, 1968, and was in space on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

On Christmas Eve, the astronauts recited from the Book of Genesis in what was the most-watched broadcast in history at the time. Following the launch of Artemis II, the astronauts and rocket will be in space during Easter.

The missions share similar crew sizes, as Apollo 8 carried three astronauts, and Artemis II is carrying four. The Artemis crew is made up of commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, and mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen.

Wiseman, Glover, and Koch have all been astronauts with NASA for more than a decade, and Hansen became the first Canadian to be entrusted with leading a NASA astronaut class — training astronaut candidates from the U.S. and Canada.

A mission for ‘humanity’

During a March 29 press conference, 49-year-old Glover brought attention to the importance of the mission being for all human beings, calling it a “story of humanity.”

Koch is the first female astronaut to travel to the moon and Glover is the first Black astronaut to do so. Hansen is also set to make history as the first Canadian to travel on a lunar mission. Despite the many firsts, Glover said he hopes the mission is more representative of “human history” as a whole rather than specific demographics.

Glover said it’s “great” that “young brown boys and girls can look at me and go, ‘Hey, he looks like me, and he’s doing what?’ I love that, but I also hope we are pushing the other direction, that one day we don’t have to talk about these firsts,” he said.

“It’s about human history. It’s the story of humanity, not Black history, not women’s history, but that it becomes human history,” Glover said.

In a CBS broadcast, former astronaut and Catholic Mike Hopkins, who spoke at the National Eucharistic Congress, said to the Artemis crew: “Godspeed to Reid and Victor and Christina and Jeremy. They’re taking the hopes and dreams of an entire planet with them right now.”

After his mother died, he paid tribute on Instagram to her, writing under a photograph of them together: “You’ll always be the boss.”

The Requiem Mass for Marie Keane took place in the Church of the Resurrection in Farranree, Cork City, the same church where she and her late husband, Mossie, were married in 1963. He died in 2019. Their wedding photograph was placed on her coffin during the Mass.

In his eulogy, Keane said: “From a selfish point of view, we weren’t ready for my mam to go yet. Today, we feel like the heart has been ripped out of our chest. Our mam would not want us to make a fuss today.”

He continued: “Our mam played so many different roles in our lives. She was a wife, mother, sister, daughter, mother-in-law, and grandmother. She was pretty cool at all of them. We can take comfort in knowing she was so deeply loved. We mourn her, but we have to celebrate her life as well. Ultimately, our mam and dad were at their happiest when they were together. And they are together. God bless, mam — and thanks for everything you did for us.”

Marie Keane passed away peacefully in the presence of her family at Marymount Hospice in Cork after suffering a long illness.

Roy Keane, who captained Manchester United during their most successful era and played for Ireland at the 1994 World Cup in the United States, is one of Ireland’s most famous sportsmen. He grew up in Cork City. After a period managing and coaching at club and international level, he is now a soccer pundit on television.

In his autobiography, Keane talked about his faith. “Sometimes I don’t know what’s best for myself, and that’s why I’ve got great faith; the man upstairs looks after me. I just have to trust him a bit more.”

Notoriously private, Keane previously said in an interview that he attended Mass most Sundays. “I have to drag the kids along sometimes, but they are all very well-grounded because that is what my life is,” he said.

In his address, he looked back on the parenting skills of his late mother and father with great affection: “Our mam didn’t always [give] what we wanted but always gave us what we needed. She was pretty strict with us, and if we were up to no good, she had an amazing skill of throwing a shoe, and no matter where we were in the house, she would always hit the target.”

Recalling a happy childhood growing up with his parents, Keane said: “Summer holidays to Garretstown were always special. In the evening, we would get a bag of chips. We thought life was great, just so simple. They would both be in great form. It was like going to Australia. We would also enjoy trips up to Dublin to the All-Ireland back in the days when Cork used to win. The only disappointment was our dad telling us once we got up to Dublin that we had no tickets for the match. But you can’t have everything.”

Thanking the wider family circle for their care, Keane said: “I have never known a closer family. Your help and support over the last couple of years has been a great example to us all. We will never be able to thank you enough. The turnout today has not surprised us. Our mam always looked out for other people. Not only was she kind and caring, but she had a good sense of humor, right up until the end.”

Father Sean O’Sullivan, who celebrated the Requiem Mass, told mourners that Marie Keane was everything to her family. She cherished them “not for anything they had done or achieved” but simply for who they were.

“While our hearts expand to love others as we grow, there is a place in our hearts that forever belongs to our mother. That is what makes them so special. It also makes it hard to lose them,” O’Sullivan said.

Keane’s praise for his family, faith, and upbringing follows the Oscars ceremony in Hollywood last month where his fellow Irish star, Best Actress winner Jessie Buckley, paid a warm tribute to her parents and the beauty of motherhood in her acceptance speech.

Dedicated to providing a Catholic moral framework for the use of artificial intelligence, BAIF works “to shape AI’s trajectory for humanity,” Higgins told EWTN News.

The group was founded in October 2024 by Matthew Harvey Sanders, CEO and founder of Longbeard, a Catholic AI company that built Magisterium AI. BAIF held its first major conference at the Vatican in November 2025.

EWTN News spoke with Higgins about his vision for BAIF and the rumor that Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical will be dedicated to the topic of AI.

EWTN News: What are some key issues you plan to focus on in your new role at BAIF?

Higgins: There are certain areas in our society that are being highly disrupted by AI right now. The very first has been software development; it has completely transformed that world, anything that’s related to the creative social media, all those aspects. It’s being very disruptive in education where the deposit of knowledge, say at a university, which was something that would be communicated through professors — a lot of that can be found in AI today. So why spend $80,000 on a degree?

Of course, there’s many reasons to go to college — the social community aspect and many others. But it’s going to be very disruptive to the economic model for universities as AI can create personalized learning, it can help you understand where your learning gaps are, what’s missing in your knowledge and fill those gaps in a very personalized way based on your personality and your intellect, many other things. So, it’s very disruptive both at the high school and the college level in terms of how AI will transform education...

We’ve only been at this a few years in terms of AI development and we’re already seeing major changes in people losing their jobs and having to retool new careers and all sorts of things. You can imagine 10 years from now what that might look like. So, [there are] a lot of [things] to address.

So, [we want] to look at particularly those that are building AI, [that they] do it in an ethical and responsible way — what you might call “responsible AI” — so that it’s at the service of humanity and not at the detriment of humanity.

Builders AI Forum is really unique and it’s bringing together top leadership in AI ... with Church leaders, to benefit the Church. So, that the Church understands in a better way what’s coming and can then be at the forefront of leadership in terms of leading the message — not behind the message, but in front of the message — in terms of teaching and deepening the understanding of the impact and how humans can flourish.

Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical is rumored to be about AI and Catholic social teaching — if true, what do you hope to see in it?

Obviously, we know why he chose his name, that “Leo XIV” came from his predecessor, Leo XIII, and that Rerum Novarum is one of the most important writings of all time when it comes to Catholic social teaching. There is a strong rumor that the encyclical, his first encyclical, will be on AI and that the title will be Magnifica Humanitas, which means “Magnificent Humanity.”

Rerum Novarum came out [in 1891] on May 15. And so, I think there’s a potential that [the new encyclical on AI] might be released also on May 15. Those are the rumors … It makes perfect sense that Magnifica Humanitas would be the title focusing on the beauty of humanity and what makes us different than a machine. Because when you shine a light on humanity and all of its beauty and depth and the treasury of the philosophical tradition of the Catholic Church, and you look at the probabilistic nature of AI, it pales in comparison. It’s like night and day.

How does Pope Leo’s witness in this area guide your approach to this new role?

As an organization we have identified the top 10 biggest concerns around AI as it relates to society, to human dignity, to humanity, and to the disruption that this technology is having and will have on our lives and our kids’ and grandkids’ lives. But as a very Catholic organization dedicated to serving the Church, we will take our cues and our lead from Holy Father and in particular this encyclical.

So we have our ideas on priorities, but the Builders AI Forum will take its true lead from Pope Leo and hopefully at some time in the future he’ll be able to see us as kind of his “soldiers” in service to that mission that he took on when he took the role and chose his name.

When thousands of Muslims took part in a prayer service in London’s Trafalgar Square in March to mark Iftar, the meal that breaks the Ramadan fast, the event was hosted by London Mayor Sadiq Khan. It was also welcomed by political leaders, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer highlighting the Trafalgar Square event as an example of “the great strength of our diverse city and country.”

Starmer added that he would sack anyone from his “team” who said “Muslims praying in public … are not welcome.” Defending the event against outside criticism, Labour Member of Parliament (MP) Stella Creasy said: “Muslims should be as free as Christians, Sikhs, and Jews to celebrate their faith in Trafalgar Square.”

Criticizing the response to the event, Paul Sapper, ADF International communications officer, told EWTN News: “There is a two-tier bias in how many in our political class view public prayer and freedom of religion. Mass Islamic prayer is defended and celebrated as characteristic of ‘our tolerant and diverse country,’ while the silent prayer of solitary Christians is criminalized.”

Many Catholics have taken particular issue with the comments made by Creasy, the pro-abortion MP who was responsible for pushing a law that banned silent prayer outside abortion facilities. Under Section 9(1)(a) of the Public Order Act, which became law in October 2024, “influencing” any person wishing to access an abortion facility became illegal, leaving pro-life activists concerned that silent prayer would be considered a crime.

These concerns were realized when British army veteran Adam Smith-Connor was found guilty of breaching a local buffer zone in October 2024 by praying silently outside an abortion clinic and given a fine of almost $12,000. This was followed, in December 2025, by police charging Catholic campaigner Isabel Vaughan-Spruce, 48, from Worcestershire, for silently praying in an abortion clinic “buffer zone” under the Public Order Act 2023. The date for her trial has been set for October.

Sapper complained that the celebration by “the political establishment” of “mass Islamic prayer” while supporting buffer zones “shows a clear bias against Christianity,” adding: “The undeniable reality is that ‘buffer zone’ legislation is being used in this country to ban silent Christian prayer in what is the most egregious example of censorship in Britain today. ‘Buffer zones’ are used to censor not only speech but also people’s most intimate thoughts, as the examples of Adam and Isabel show. This is real-life thought-crime.”

ADF International is a Christian legal advocacy organization that defends fundamental freedoms. ADF has legally supported Vaughan-Spruce and Smith-Connor as victims of ‘buffer zone’ censorship, with Sapper describing them as “peaceful Christians who merely silently prayed in a public space, as is their lawful right in a free country.”

Highlighting Creasy’s role in particular, Sapper added: “Stella Creasy introduced Section 9 of the Public Order Act (POA) 2023, which introduced ‘buffer zones’ around all abortion facilities in England and Wales. Creasy also voted against a specific amendment to POA 2023 which would have made it clear that silent prayer is not a crime.”

“ADF International and many others warned that this would lead to the criminalization of silent prayer, and we sadly have been proved right. If anyone supports the criminalization of silent prayer and pretends to care about freedom of religion, they simply should not be believed,” he said.

Backing Sapper’s point, Vaughan-Spruce complained of the praise given to the Islamic event. She told EWTN News: “Politicians suddenly seem to be lining up to defend the right to pray in public — but only when it’s Muslims doing the praying. I’ve been charged three times in connection with my silent prayers, arrested twice, and am now facing court again. Where are those same voices when it comes to defending my rights as a Christian?”

“We were told that buffer zones were needed to prevent harassment and intimidation, yet the only people being charged under this law are peaceful, prayerful Christians.”

Responding to Creasy’s comment that “buffer zones don’t ban prayer,” Vaughan-Spruce said: “If Ms. Creasy truly believes buffer zones don’t ban prayer, then why has she been silent throughout my ordeal? I face court again for doing nothing more than silently praying on a public street. I would welcome support from Ms. Creasy if, true to her word, she believes buffer zones don’t ban prayer.”

Looking to the future, Vaughan-Spruce urged Catholics “to recognize the rights we do have and use them,” adding: “So often it’s our own fear or complacency which limits us. God himself tells us in Joshua 1:9: ‘Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.’”

“Maundy Thursday is a very joyful day for our priests. It is the day of the priesthood and the day of the institution of the holy Eucharist,” said Monsignor Gabriel Corraya of the Archdiocese of Dhaka in an interview with EWTN News. “On this day, Jesus shared the Last Supper with his 12 disciples and entrusted them with his priestly life and ministry.”

Corraya, 69, said Holy Thursday holds special spiritual importance because it calls priests back to the origins of their vocation. The day, he explained, renews not only memories but also commitments.

“For us priests, Maundy Thursday is very important,” he said. “On this day, we renew our priestly promises before our bishop. It reminds us that we are participants in the great sacrifice of Jesus Christ.”

He said the ritual washing of the feet, a defining feature of Holy Thursday liturgies, reveals the heart of priestly service. Recalling Jesus kneeling before his disciples, Corraya said the act remains a lasting lesson in humility and action.

“Jesus came into the world to serve,” he said. “By washing the feet of his disciples, he showed that service must be proven not only through words but through actions. Though he was a teacher and master, he washed their feet. To me, no act of service is small. Washing feet is perhaps one of the most human things we can do.”

‘A blessed year’

This year marks a milestone in Corraya’s own priestly journey. On Jan. 24, he was elevated to the rank of monsignor, an honor conferred by Pope Leo XIV. He describes the title not as personal distinction but as an acknowledgment of service.

Ordained a priest in Dhaka in 1986, he was among a group of deacons ordained during the pontificate of St. John Paul II. In 2026, he marks 40 years of priesthood.

“This is truly a blessed year in my life,” he said. “The greatest gift I have received is the priesthood itself. The monsignorship is simply a recognition of that service. As I wear this attire, I pray not for the garment, but that God may clothe my heart with humility, faith, and love.”

Forming bishops

For many years, Corraya served as rector of the major seminary in Dhaka, forming generations of priests in Bangladesh. Several of his former students have since become bishops, a source of gratitude rather than pride, he said.

“I always loved seeing one of my students ordained as a priest,” he said. “When one of my students, Sebastian Tudu, became bishop of the Diocese of Dinajpur, I was very happy. Even today, though he is a bishop, he treats me with great respect as his former rector.”

Corraya currently serves as parish priest of Golla Parish and vice president of Caritas Bangladesh. In those roles, he sees both the wide reach of priestly ministry and its growing challenges in a rapidly changing society.

“There are many areas of service in this country, and priests are involved in many responsibilities,” he said. “One major challenge today is the identity of the priest. People’s way of thinking has changed. Often what we expect does not happen. Living our priesthood faithfully in the modern era can involve suffering.”

He added that priests must also examine themselves honestly. “Many times, we priests are unable to give full witness to the ideal of Jesus,” he said. “Christians come to Jesus when they see that ideal lived. His service speaks louder than words.”

Social media, he said, has become both a challenge and an opportunity. “This is the era of social media,” he said. “If priests do not update themselves, it becomes difficult. Sometimes the distance between priests and the faithful grows, and this is a challenge we must address.”

To respond, senior priests gathered in Dhaka on March 25 to reflect on adapting to contemporary realities. “We discussed how we can update ourselves with the times, and that effort is ongoing,” he said.

A minority Church

Although Catholics remain a small minority in Bangladesh, Corraya said priests generally enjoy peaceful coexistence with members of other religions. “We have good relationships with people of other faiths,” he said. “Occasionally, isolated extremist incidents cause concern, but overall we share a bond of harmony.”

Bangladesh faces a modest shortage of priests, especially as new parishes open and missionary needs expand. “Fewer young people are entering seminaries,” he said. “We are addressing this by appointing vocation promoters to encourage young people to consider the priesthood.”

As the Church observes Holy Thursday — often called Priests’ Day — Corraya offered a message to clergy worldwide: “Priests are part of God’s great plan. Priesthood is a precious gift from God. My prayer is that all priests may remain healthy and walk closely with the faithful entrusted to them.”

The devotion involves traveling to seven local churches after the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on the evening of Holy Thursday. These visits recall the final seven places Jesus went from his arrest on Holy Thursday to his death on Good Friday.

In each church, the pilgrim kneels before the altar of repose, meditates on the appropriate Scripture, and offers prayers and adoration. In this way, pilgrims seek to spiritually accompany Christ as he enters his passion.

The first church recalls Jesus going from the Cenacle, where he celebrated the Last Supper with his disciples, to the Garden of Gethsemane, where he earnestly prayed and sweat blood in his agony over what was about to take place (see Luke 22:39-46).

In the second church, the pilgrim meditates on Jesus being taken from the Garden of Gethsemane by the armed crowd to the house of Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas the high priest, where he was interrogated and slapped in the face (see John 18:19-22).

In the third church, the prayer focuses on Jesus being brought to the house of Caiaphas, where he was beaten, spat upon, insulted, and endured a painful night in captivity (see Matthew 26:63-68).

The focus of the reflection for the fourth church is the first time Jesus was brought before Pilate, the Roman governor of the region. There Jesus was accused by the Jewish religious authorities of being a rival king to Caesar (see John 18:35-37).

In the fifth church, the pilgrim follows the Lord as he is taken to King Herod, who along with his guards mock him (see Luke 23:8-9; 11).

The sixth church recalls Jesus being taken from Herod and brought before Pilate for the second time and then scourged, crowned with thorns, mocked, and condemned to death (see Matthew 27:22-26).

The last church commemorates Christ carrying the cross on his shoulders from the Praetorium, where Pilate yielded to the crowd’s demand for his crucifixion, to Mount Calvary, where he suffered excruciating pain, died, and was laid to rest in a nearby tomb until his resurrection from the dead on Easter Sunday (see Matthew 27:27-31).

This story was first published on April 1, 2021, and has been updated.

“We’re going to bring them back to the stone ages where they belong,” Trump said in remarks from the White House on April 1, adding that “in the meantime, discussions are ongoing.”

Trump said the military is “on track to complete all of America’s military objectives shortly, very shortly” but said he also intends to “hit them extremely hard over the next two to three weeks.”

“If, during this period of time, no deal is made, we have our eyes on key targets,” the president said and threatened to escalate to attacking Iranian infrastructure.

“If there is no deal, we are going to hit each and every one of their electric generating plants very hard and probably simultaneously,” he said. “We have not hit their oil, even though that’s the easiest target of all, because it would not give them even a small chance of survival or rebuilding.”

Trump said the military’s “core strategic objectives” are nearly complete and noted that Iran’s military has significantly deteriorated. Now, more than one month into the conflict, Trump said: “We’re getting very close.”

As Iran continues to threaten ships that must pass through the Strait of Hormuz, Trump said: “Countries of the world that do receive oil through the Hormuz Strait must take care of that passage” and told them to “grab it” while promising “we will be helpful.”

Trump’s address was his first speech to the nation since the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran began on Feb. 28. Trump has made remarks to reporters, given interviews, and posted statements but had not delivered a formal, televised address to the nation.

Pope, bishops pray for peace

Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, published a statement earlier in the day welcoming indications the war may soon end and calling for a ceasefire.

“The longer the conflict with Iran continues, including the risk of deploying ground troops to the region, the greater the risk of a dramatic escalation risking an ever-greater regional conflict,” Coakley said.

Citing Pope Leo XIV’s Palm Sunday homily of March 29, in which the pope proclaimed Christ the “King of Peace” who rejects war, Coakley encouraged Christians, renewed by Easter, to live out their vocation as peacemakers.

“Pope Leo XIV made clear: ‘Brothers and sisters, this is our God: Jesus, King of Peace, who rejects war, whom no one can use to justify war,’” Coakley said.

The pope separately addressed the conflict on March 31, telling reporters outside the papal villa of Castel Gandolfo: “Easter should be the holiest, most sacred time of the year.”

“I’m told that President Trump recently stated that he would like to end the war,” the pope told reporters March 31. “Hopefully he’s looking for an ‘off ramp.’ Hopefully he’s looking for a way to decrease the amount of violence, of bombing, which would be a significant contribution to removing the hatred that’s being created and that’s increasing constantly in the Middle East and elsewhere.”

Trump signed an executive order on his first day in office to block children from automatically receiving citizenship if their parents were residing in the country unlawfully during the birth. It immediately faced legal challenges, based on the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1868, which established birthright citizenship.

The amendment guarantees citizenship to any person born in the country and “subject to the jurisdiction thereof.” The April 1 arguments, which Trump attended, focused on the meaning of the latter phrase and on Supreme Court precedent in the 1898 decision in the U.S. v. Wong Kim Ark case.

In February, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) petitioned the Supreme Court to consider the moral implications of Trump’s order, saying it will determine “whether the law will protect the human dignity of all God’s children.”

Andrew Arthur, resident fellow in law and policy at the Center for Immigration Studies and a former immigration judge, told “EWTN News Nightly” those questions “weren’t really relevant” to the legal debate in court, which instead focused on the proper interpretation of the amendment and precedent.

The bishops’ objections were “heavy on morality, on human dignity, but rather light on the law itself,” he said.

Justices question Trump’s authority

Solicitor General D. John Sauer, who defended the government, noted the motivation for the 14th Amendment was to guarantee citizenship to “the newly freed slaves and their children” after the abolition of slavery.

He argued that the text is meant to protect those who are “domiciled” in the country, which he defined as those with a “lawful presence with the intent to remain.” He said the “domicile of the child follows the domicile of the parents,” and those who are meant to be temporarily present or not allowed to be present are “not covered by the clause.”

Sauer referenced the Wong Kim Ark case, in which the Supreme Court said the man — born in the United States to two parents who were legal permanent residents but not citizens — was a citizen upon birth and referenced the parents’ “domiciled” status.

Although the nearly 130-year-old decision held a broad view of birthright citizenship, he said the court at the time did not directly address the citizenship of those born to parents who were not “domiciled.”

That decision, however, only listed a few examples for when birthright citizenship did not apply: those born to foreign diplomats, those born to occupying enemy forces, and certain Indigenous Americans.

Sauer added that there is a problem with “birth tourism,” stating people have “flocked to give birth in the United States in recent decades,” creating citizens with “no meaningful ties” to the country. He told the justices it is “a new world,” which forces the justices to deal with questions that the previous court did not have to consider.

This prompted a response from Chief Justice John Roberts: “It’s a new world, [but] it’s the same Constitution.”

It’s a new world, [but] it’s the same Constitution.

John Roberts

Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court

Justice Neil Gorsuch expressed heavy skepticism of the argument, saying: “You don’t see ‘domicile’ mentioned in the debates” in Congress over the 14th Amendment, stating: “These concepts aren’t discussed in them.”

Justice Elena Kagan similarly said the “domiciled” element is “not what we think of when we think of the word jurisdiction” and accused him of “using some pretty obscure sources to get to this concept.”

More concerns came from Justice Amy Coney Barrett, who pointed out the historical distinction between “Jus soli” and “Jus sanguinis” citizenship, with the former guaranteeing citizenship based on the soil and the latter guaranteeing citizenship based on the parents.

She said it would be “puzzling” for the framers to word the amendment that way if they wanted to tie citizenship to the parents and that one would expect “more discussion” of that. She said the language doesn’t “focus on the parents” but rather the child.

Justices leave door open to interpretation

In spite of the heavy skepticism of the government’s position, several justices left the door open to a more restrictive interpretation of birthright citizenship.

Cecillia Wang, an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union and a beneficiary of birthright citizenship herself, argued that the framers of the amendment enshrined birthright citizenship in the Constitution to “put it out of the reach of any government official to destroy.”

She argued that the 14th amendment embodies the English common law tradition, which did not consider “domicile” to be relevant to “Jus soli” citizenship and said the Wong Kim Ark case did not limit the ruling to the children of “domiciled” parents.

Rather, Wang argued the decision provides “a closed set of exceptions” to birthright citizenship, which cannot be expanded without overturning that precedent. She said it was written in a way “to foreclose new exceptions.”

Several justices took issue with this as well, with Justice Brett Kavanaugh asking whether there could be “additional exceptions, based on modern circumstances, reasoning by analogy,” and Barrett raising the same point, stating: “The language doesn’t say it’s closed.”

Kagan noted that the Wong Kim Ark case used the word “domiciled” several times to explain the ruling, and Justice Samuel Alito argued “domiciled” was used to distinguish permanent residents from migrant laborers who did not plan to remain.

Alternatively, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson suggested the language for “domiciled” may have simply been used “to help the public accept the outcome of this case” rather than to limit the decision.

Gorsuch said the legal opinion following the Wong Kim Ark decision, about whether the ruling applied to the children of non-domiciled people, “remained opened” and scholarly opinion was varied and unclear, adding: “It seems to me it’s a mess.”

The Supreme Court has the option to simply rule on Trump’s executive order or wade into the broader constitutional questions in its decision. The government is not asking the court to reject the birthright citizenship of people who have already received it but is seeking to have a different policy moving forward.

The case, which challenged the Johnson Amendment, a 1954 law that prohibits 501(c)(3) nonprofits from endorsing political candidates, was filed in August 2024 by the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB), two Texas churches, and Intercessors for America.

The plaintiffs argued that the Johnson Amendment violates the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment rights to free speech and free exercise of religion, is unconstitutionally vague under the Fifth Amendment, and infringes on the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

The U.S. Department of Justice attempted to dismiss the case in the last weeks of the Biden administration.

After President Trump took office in January 2025, however, his administration revived the case.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and U.S. Department of Justice shifted their positions and sided with the plaintiffs, arguing that the Johnson Amendment should be read narrowly when applied to churches.

Last summer, the IRS surprised some observers by agreeing to settle, reversing the 70-year ban prohibiting nonprofits from engaging in political campaigns.

On July 7, 2025, the government and plaintiffs filed a joint motion for entry of a consent judgment that would have allowed houses of worship to address electoral politics from the pulpit when framed in the context of religious faith and moral teaching and without risking loss of their tax-exempt status.

In an opinion issued March 31, however, U.S. District Judge J. Campbell Barker ruled that the district court lacked subject-matter jurisdiction to approve the proposed consent judgment between the plaintiffs and the IRS or to grant the requested relief.

The case was dismissed without prejudice. Barker, a Trump appointee and former deputy solicitor general of Texas, said the plaintiffs could challenge the issue in other ways. They could sue after paying taxes or after their loss of tax-exempt status as a result of violating the Johnson Amendment.

The judge cited the Tax Anti-Injunction Act and restrictions in the Declaratory Judgment Act, which generally prohibit federal courts from issuing orders that would restrain the assessment or collection of taxes — including challenges to the conditions for maintaining 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status.

In the context of the Trump administration’s support of last summer’s settlement, NRB General Counsel Michael Farris said the organization was surprised by the ruling and plans to appeal to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals.

“President Donald J. Trump has repeatedly cited this case’s settlement as a victory by his administration for religious freedom,” he said.

“The plaintiffs here have no other forum to challenge the free speech restrictions imposed by the Johnson Amendment’s limitation on the right of nonprofits to speak about candidates, unless they first violate the law and then become subject to IRS enforcement action. No person should be forced to place themselves in legal jeopardy to protect their constitutional rights,” Farris emphasized, saying the U.S. Supreme Court “has backed this conclusion on numerous occasions.”

The USCCB’s response

Last summer’s proposed settlement prompted an immediate reaction from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). On July 8, 2025, USCCB spokesperson Chieko Noguchi, executive director of public affairs, indicated  that the Church would not, in any case, support or oppose political candidates.

“It doesn’t change how the Catholic Church engages in public debate,” Noguchi said at the time. “The Church seeks to help Catholics form their conscience in the Gospel so they might discern which candidates and policies would advance the common good. The Catholic Church maintains its stance of not endorsing or opposing political candidates.”

The March 31 ruling leaves the provision intact for now, at least as enforced through the tax code.

U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman ordered the Trump administration to allow clergy to enter the Broadview immigration facility from April 2–5 to offer religious services for those who wish to attend.

“The court takes ‘at face value the claimant’s stated belief’ that ministering to detainees specifically at Broadview, who hail from local parishes and share a religious community with plaintiffs, is core to their religious practice,” Gettleman’s March 31 order said, citing November 2025 comments from Pope Leo XIV calling for detained migrants to have access to spiritual care. 

Gettleman wrote: “With reasonable notice and communication, addressing legitimate security and safety concerns, allowing plaintiffs to provide pastoral care to migrants and detainees does not pose any undue hardship on the government.”

The order, which also allows people to pray outside the facility, followed a March 31 hearing.

The judge granted the injunction saying the plaintiffs — the Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leadership with several priests and religious — had shown the government had “substantially burdened” their exercise of religion by blocking access to the facility and prohibiting prayer on its grounds.

The judge rejected the Trump administration’s argument that it was not violating the plaintiff’s religious exercise because it had provided clergy access to permanent migrant detention facilities elsewhere.

The Broadview facility is an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field office used to process detainees before being transferred to detention centers. Although detainees are only meant to be held there for a few hours, with the maximum being 72 hours, some alleged last year that they were held there for several days and even up to one week during ICE’s Operation Midway Blitz, which detained about 3,000 immigrants illegally residing in the state.

DHS response

“ICE follows ALL court orders,” according to a statement from the Department of Homeland Security. “The facility in Broadview, IL, is a field office, it is not a detention facility. Illegal aliens are only briefly held there for processing before being transferred to a detention facility. Religious organizations are more than welcome to provide services to detainees in ICE detention facilities. Even before the attacks on the Broadview facility, it was not within standard operating procedure for religious services to be provided in a field office, as detainees are continuously brought in, processed, and transferred out.”

While DHS’ statement referred to a standard operating procedure, the judge’s order noted that “Broadview allowed plaintiffs’ religious visitation to Broadview for years before reversing course relatively recently” and that a previous preliminary injunction to allow clergy in the facility on Ash Wednesday had been “implemented without incident.”

Clergy provided Communion and ashes to four detainees on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 18, when two priests and a religious sister were permitted to enter the facility at 3 p.m. Each of them — three men and one woman — received the ashes and took Communion. Three guards also received ashes.

Gettleman — appointed to the bench in 1994 by President Bill Clinton — issued a temporary restraining order in November 2025 directing DHS and ICE to improve living conditions at Broadview. Detainees alleged they were being held for several days in squalid conditions, with clogged, overflowing toilets, poor-quality food, inadequate sleeping arrangements, and a lack of access to basic hygiene supplies. The judge required detainees be provided with soap, towels, toilet paper, oral hygiene products (including toothbrushes and toothpaste), and menstrual products.

The plaintiffs did not immediately reply to requests for comment.

In a near-unanimous ruling in the Chiles v. Salazar case, the high court found that Colorado violated the First Amendment by telling therapists that they could not help young people struggling with unwanted same-sex attraction and gender dysphoria.

The Colorado law represented “an egregious assault” on U.S. free speech protections, the court said, holding that the rule “[struck] at the heart of the First Amendment’s protections.”

Michigan lawsuit challenges similar law

A similar lawsuit brought by several Catholic Charities affiliates in Michigan could be decided favorably for the charity groups after the Supreme Court decision, a religious liberty attorney told EWTN News on April 1.

Luke Goodrich, vice president and senior counsel at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, said the lawsuit brought by Catholic Charities of Jackson, Lenawee, and Hillsdale counties against the state of Michigan has been on hold since January.

U.S. District Judge Jane Beckering originally ruled in favor of the Catholic charity group in its challenge of a Michigan law prohibiting “conversion therapy” for minors.

The Catholic charities offer a variety of therapy services, including for “issues of gender identity and sexuality.” Goodrich said the judge granted a temporary injunction against the Michigan law in January and then stayed the suit while awaiting the decision of the Chiles case.

Goodrich said the Supreme Court ruling in Chiles was “really helpful.”

“We think it confirms that Michigan’s law is unconstitutional,” he said. “We’re going to talk to Michigan and then we’re going to try to get a final ruling from the district court.”

Attorneys for the Catholic Charities groups emailed the Michigan government shortly after the Supreme Court ruling on March 31. “We’re going to have a phone call next week and see what they plan to do,” Goodrich said.

“When it paused the case, the court ordered the parties, within 14 days of the Chiles decision, to talk to each other and then jointly tell the court what we’re going to do,” he said.

Goodrich argued that the March 31 ruling “definitely” applies to the Michigan suit.

“The laws in Colorado and Michigan are almost verbatim identical, and Michigan itself has said that the laws and cases are nearly identical, and that whatever happens in Chiles will happen in Michigan,” he said.

The Supreme Court ruled 8-1 in the Chiles case, with Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson the lone dissent from the ruling.

She argued that the First Amendment has “far less salience” where medical regulations are concerned, though the majority opinion said that the Colorado law’s targeting of medical officials “changes nothing” regarding free speech precedent.

“The Constitution does not protect the right of some to speak freely; it protects the right of all,” the majority wrote. “It safeguards not only popular ideas; it secures, even and especially, the right to voice dissenting views.”

The Bangladesh Christian Association organized the demonstration in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka, calling on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to add Easter to the government’s official holiday calendar.

Easter Sunday falls on April 5 this year. Bangladesh’s roughly 600,000 Christians — less than 1% of the country’s approximately 170 million people — currently receive only one public holiday for a Christian feast: Christmas Day.

Catholic bishops support the demand

The Catholic Church in Bangladesh has also voiced support for the campaign.

Archbishop Bejoy N. D’Cruze, OMI, of Dhaka, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Bangladesh, expressed his solidarity with the demand for a holiday on Easter in an interview with EWTN News on March 30.

“Since we do not have a government holiday on Easter Sunday, we cannot all celebrate this day together. Many cannot go to the villages, and we cannot all observe the religious customs that are in place before Easter,” D’Cruze told EWTN News.

“I also demand from the government to declare a public holiday on Easter so that we Christians can celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ together in family, social, and religious ways,” the archbishop added.

‘A heavy heart’

Bangladesh Christian Association President Nirmal Rozario said the demand for the holiday is long-standing.

“We have come here with a heavy heart and are standing in front of the Press Club. Easter Sunday is very important to us after Christmas. Jesus is the only person in the history of the world who has risen after death. We are demanding a public holiday on this important and significant day, Easter Sunday,” Rozario said.

He added that the Christian community “has made considerable contributions to the formation of Bangladesh” in the areas of education, health services, and development, and questioned why the government has not granted the holiday.

Rozario called on Rahman to add Easter Sunday to the government holiday calendar beginning next year and to grant a holiday for this year through an executive order.

Unequal holiday allocations

Muslims, who make up roughly 91% of the population according to the 2022 census, receive multiple public holidays for their major religious celebrations, including several days for Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. Hindus, who constitute about 8% of the population, have two days off for their main religious festival, Durga Puja.

Christians, however, have only one public holiday — Christmas Day.

Manju Maria Palma, secretary of The Christian Cooperative Credit Union Ltd. in Dhaka, a 48,000-member organization, was present at the human chain.

“Christ was resurrected on this day. This day is very important. If this public holiday is given, not only the Christian community will benefit but also our brothers and sisters of other religions will understand the significance of this day,” Palma said.

Lawmaker expresses hope

EWTN News contacted at least three members of Parliament, including Abdul Aziz, a member of Parliament from the Natore-4 constituency, which includes a historic Christian settlement.

Aziz told EWTN News: “Since we respect all religious ceremonies, including Christian activities, and since Christians have expressed their demands, our government will definitely consider the matter.”

He also expressed hope that the government will soon discuss the issue of a holiday on Easter Sunday.

The case follows a Europa League match between Red Star Belgrade and LOSC Lille (Lille Olympique Sporting Club) on Feb. 26, when UEFA’s Control, Ethics, and Disciplinary Body imposed multiple fines on the Serbian club totaling 95,500 euros (about $110,000). These included a 40,000-euro penalty for transmitting a message deemed not fit for a sports event and bringing the sport of football, and UEFA in particular, into disrepute.

The sanction drew political attention after reports suggested it may have been connected to a stadium display featuring an Orthodox Christian icon alongside a religious message invoking faith and victory.

In response to an inquiry from EWTN News, UEFA said the fine was linked to a banner containing the phrase “F*** UEFA” and not to the religious display. It added that there is no sanction related to the choreography itself.

MEP raises concerns

Greek member of European Parliament (MEP) Emmanouil Fragkos said the case raised broader concerns about the application of rules governing religious expression in European football.

“UEFA and all UEFAs must learn to be accountable to the football fans and all the real people,” Fragkos told EWTN News, adding that he supports religion, tradition, and the right of people to speak freely. He also emphasized the need for greater awareness among supporters of their “collective power” in shaping how such decisions are received.

In a letter to Glenn Micallef, the European commissioner for intergenerational fairness, youth, culture, and sport, Fragkos said the case “raises serious concerns” about UEFA’s approach, questioning how “a peaceful expression of faith and identity” could be deemed inappropriate and calling for “consistent and transparent application” of the rules governing messages displayed at matches.

Christian symbolism debate

Reports had also pointed to a separate sanction involving LOSC Lille following its Europa League match against Aston Villa on March 12, where a banner depicting St. Joan of Arc was displayed. UEFA told EWTN News those claims were inaccurate, stating that any sanction in that case was related to insulting chants directed at an opposing goalkeeper and not to the imagery.

The episode comes amid ongoing debates in Europe over the place of religious symbols in public life, including a case before the European Court of Human Rights, Union of Atheists v. Greece, concerning the display of Orthodox Christian icons in Greek courtrooms. The applicants argue that such imagery may affect perceptions of judicial neutrality and religious freedom.

In 2025, 84-year-old Lancaster was taken to Vancouver General Hospital via ambulance after waking up with intense back pain. She was taken out of the ambulance and placed into the emergency room.

“The first person that I remember coming to speak to me was a young lady doctor. And this is where the story begins,” Lancaster recalled in an interview with “EWTN News Nightly.” “The very first thing she said to me was, ‘I would like to offer you MAID.’”

MAID is the euthanasia and assisted suicide law in Canada that allows a physician or nurse practitioner to administer or provide a drug that causes death to the patient.

After the doctor offered MAID, “I said: ‘No, thank you,’” Lancaster said. “I was certainly taken aback, and there were so many other things on my mind.”

Lancaster said she was thinking: “Yesterday I was feeling fine. I got out of bed this morning, and suddenly I am not feeling fine. I am in horrendous pain. So I need to know what’s causing the pain. Let’s not talk about end of life please.’”

“My husband, three years previously, had also been offered MAID. He turned it down,” Lancaster said. As “practicing Catholics, there is no way that we are going to take measures to end our life. That is in the hands of the Lord. So he turned down MAID when he was in hospital, and a few years later, there I am in the same hospital, and I gave the same response.”

Later, Lancaster was moved to the UBC Hospital. “By this time they knew that I had a tiny crack in my sacrum. That’s a little bone at the base of the spine,” she said. “There’s no surgery possible, so I was in bed, with some exercises of course, for three weeks.”

“When I got home, I thought, ‘Oh, I’ve been given a second chance here. I am going to make the most of whatever time is left,’” she said.

Lancaster said she and her daughter decided to travel to Cuba in the fall and to Mexico and Guatemala in the spring. While on her trip, Lancaster even went horseback riding on a volcano.

Offering MAID ‘defeats a person’s sense of self-worth’

Amanda Achtman, who works to humanize the conversation around suffering and death through the Dying to Meet You Project, told “EWTN News Nightly” she hopes Lancaster’s story “emboldens other seniors to speak out too” who have had similar experiences.

“Your story has gone totally viral in media all around the world because people are rightly outraged at the suggestion that you could have been offered death when you have so much life to live,” Achtman said to Lancaster.

People who are opting for MAID “are being killed by having a lethal injection administered by a doctor or nurse directly,” Achtman said. “And now in Canada, 1 in 20 deaths is the result of this premature hastening of an end of life.”

MAID “is the suggestion that is being made more and more often to Canadian seniors,” she said.

Achtman also works with Canadian Physicians for Life on ethics education and she teaches a bioethics course for St. Bernard’s School of Theology and Ministry. She was recently invited by the bishop of the Diocese of Victoria, Canada, to Vancouver Island, which she said is “literally the euthanasia capital of the world.”

“And while there, I met Miriam, but also others who shared with me experiences about unsolicited offers of euthanasia within the health care system,” she said.

One woman shared her story with Achtman about “having had euthanasia brought up by her family doctor, by a cancer specialist, and even by the funeral home.”

“Now, bringing up euthanasia is not prohibited in Canada, according to the Canadian Association of MAID Providers and Assessors — the government-funded group that is promoting this,” Achtman said. “There’s no prohibition, and they stress that.”

“However, what I would stress is that simply having euthanasia offered already kills a person, because it deflates and defeats a person’s sense of self-worth, self-esteem, and of value,” she said.

Footage documenting the destruction — filmed by the attackers themselves or secretly recorded by residents — showed acts of vandalism and theft targeting cars, shops, cafes, and other property, accompanied by threatening chants and insults.

The assault was not an isolated incident. Local sources reported that another attempted attack was thwarted the next day by general security personnel, deepening residents’ fears that such assaults could happen again.

In immediate response, the town’s residents staged a protest sit-in, raising clear demands, most notably rejecting a “single-color army” (a force dominated by one religious or ethnic group), insisting on compensation for the damage, and calling for those responsible to be held accountable, including members of General Security, whom protesters accused of taking part in the attack.

The demonstrators also stressed their rejection of uncontrolled weapons and sectarianism, affirming that public and private freedoms are a “red line.” They voiced frustration with some media coverage that described the incident as merely an individual dispute, holding signs denouncing “false media” and refusing to give interviews to state-run outlets.

On the ecclesial level, reactions were swift and firm. The Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East, together with most Churches in Syria, announced that Easter celebrations would be reduced to prayers inside churches only, citing “the current discouraging circumstances.”

At the same time, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East strongly condemned what happened, saying that incidents targeting the Christian community cannot be dismissed as “individual incidents” and warning against the dangers of fueling sectarian tendencies.

The patriarchate also called for an official investigation, accountability for those responsible, and compensation for those affected. It stressed that responsibility for maintaining security rests solely with the state and its institutions, along with the need to control the spread of weapons outside state authority. It further emphasized the importance of upholding citizenship and integration among all components of Syrian society, far from the logic of majority and minority.

For its part, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Hama described what happened as an attack carried out by “outlaw groups,” calling for strict legal measures, including the formation of a judicial investigative committee, accountability for those involved and those who failed in their duties, enforcement of laws restricting weapons to the hands of the state, and guarantees of equality among citizens.

At the same time as the Al-Suqaylabiyah incident, a U.N. report said more than 1,700 people were killed and around 200,000 displaced during a single week of violence in the south of the country in July 2025, most of them Druze civilians. The report warned that the humanitarian situation remains fragile and documented violations that may amount to war crimes or crimes against humanity.

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

The administration first restored Biden-era Title X funds to Planned Parenthood in January, to the outcry of pro-lifers. News broke March 31 that the administration would extend the grants for another year, just a day before they were set to lapse.

Thanks to the grants, Planned Parenthood and some other clinics will continue to be able to submit reimbursement receipts to the federal government for low-income patients who received birth control and other non-abortion services.

While grants won’t directly cover abortion — the Hyde Amendment prevents the federal government from doing so — grants will subsidize an organization that performs hundreds of thousands of abortions yearly.

A Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson said the agency will issue Title X grant notices for 2027 “matched with agency priorities.”

The Trump administration had initially paused the grants in 2025, but after facing legal challenges from Planned Parenthood, HHS released the grants in January. Most pro-life groups decried the decision, though a few defended it by saying it was the administration’s only viable option as 42 U.S. Code Part 300, the rule governing family planning grants, had not been amended.

National pro-life groups have denounced the decision to keep funding Planned Parenthood. Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, called the move “an inexplicable slap in the face to the pro-life GOP base.”

“This is a clear abandonment as the first Trump administration enacted the Protect Life Rule to stop Title X funding of Planned Parenthood,” Dannenfelser said. “It should have been ‘Day 1’ policy in the second administration. Instead, we are 14 months in and this hasn’t been prevented.”

Dannenfelser called the move “political suicide.”

“Three out of four GOP base voters support defunding Planned Parenthood,” Dannenfelser said. “One-third of those voters say they’d be less enthusiastic about voting this November if the GOP abandons pro-life policies.”

“This comes on the heels of the administration undermining GOP states by allowing the shipping of abortion drugs into their borders, violating their laws,” Dannenfelser continued. “And it comes after the president suggesting the GOP should be ‘flexible’ on the Hyde Amendment. This spells disaster for November.”

Jennie Bradley Lichter, who heads the March for Life, said that “funding Planned Parenthood is not, by any stretch of the imagination, Making America Healthy Again.”

“Absolutely maddening that [the HHS] is continuing to fund an org whose business model is built on ending human lives, misleading pregnant women into thinking abortion is their only option, and delivering substandard health care even in the rare cases when abortion is not involved,” Lichter said in statement provided to EWTN News.

Live Action called on the Trump administration to reverse the decision.

“The Trump administration has decided [to] CONTINUE supplying Title X funds to Planned Parenthood,” the statement read. “This is the largest abortion corporation in the country. They don’t need our tax dollars. They don’t deserve our tax dollars. This decision MUST be reversed.”

“Over 400,000 unborn children are killed by this corporation every year, making them the largest abortion chain in America,” Live Action President Lila Rose said. “The blood of these babies cries out. Taxpayer dollars should never fund the killing of innocent human beings.”

“The Trump administration’s decision to keep Title X federal funding going to Planned Parenthood is unacceptable,” Rose said in a statement shared with EWTN News. “Taxpayer dollars should never be used to prop up America’s largest abortion business. Planned Parenthood exists to end the lives of preborn children, and every dollar it receives helps sustain an industry built on violence against the innocent.”

“This decision is a betrayal of the pro-life Americans who expected this administration to stand firmly against abortion and against the forced public funding of those who commit it,” Rose continued. “The American people should not be made to subsidize abortion businesses under the guise of women’s health. Title X funds should go to real health care providers that serve women and families without taking innocent human life. The administration should reverse course immediately and fully defund Planned Parenthood.”

Planned Parenthood did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Father Jim Sichko, a papal missionary of mercy, held a 24-hour fundraiser for the workers that he advertised across social media platforms, raising about $20,000. The act coincided with his effort to perform random acts of kindness for those in need.

Some of TSA’s funding is on hold as lawmakers debate broader funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees TSA. Democrats are trying to include reforms to immigration enforcement in the funding package as Republicans are resisting any language that could curtail President Donald Trump’s mass deportation efforts.

Trump signed an executive order on March 27 to provide some back pay to TSA employees, and future payments remain in limbo amid the congressional deadlock.

Sichko, who travels frequently by air, told EWTN News he delivered gift cards to TSA workers during flights he already scheduled. He gave a bundle of gift cards in denominations of $10 and $20 to workers in Lexington, Kentucky, and Chicago, providing a total of $11,000 worth of gift cards to employees.

The donated gift cards comply with federal regulations that prohibit employees from accepting direct cash gifts but allow them to accept small amounts of money in gift cards for restaurants, grocery stores, and a few other products.

Sichko is holding onto the remaining $9,000 because TSA workers have begun to receive back pay. He plans to resume gifting the rest of the gift cards to TSA workers if their pay is disrupted again. Otherwise, he said he will probably donate them to Catholic Charities.

“It was a justice issue for me,” Sichko said when asked why he decided to launch the fundraiser for TSA employees.

“They’re working, with families who need to be fed, bills that need to be paid, utilities that [are] … due and, as a priest, as a person of God, I think it’s my duty to help them,” he said. “... These people were working without pay and they have families and they already are in a stressful job.”

Sichko said he relies on TSA for his ministry because he frequently travels by airplane, and these employees are “keeping me safe to be able to do the ministry to which I’m called.” He said he considers TSA workers “partners with me in the ministry to which I am called because they keep me and my fellow passengers safe.”

He thanked those who contributed to the fundraiser and said the acts of kindness are “a way of evangelizing.” He said the fundraising “allows people the opportunity to be co-ministers, to really fulfill their baptismal promise of being ministers.”

“To see how people responded, it really shows us that we truly can be kind, we truly can be Christ to one another,” Sichko said.

During the previous government shutdown, when TSA employees were working without pay, Sichko provided them with meals.

Sichko often raises money to perform other acts of kindness and to help people in need. This includes help to those affected by hurricanes in southeast Texas, flooding in eastern Kentucky, tornadoes in western Kentucky, and fires in eastern Tennessee.

He has also raised money to support the cost of funerals for people, including the children and workers who died in the July 2025 flooding of Camp Mystic in central Texas.

“This is part of the ministry of being a papal missionary of mercy,” Sichko said.

USCIRF said in a March 31 report that the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria-Democratic Republic of Congo (ISIS-DRC), have been “carrying out a sustained pattern of attacks in eastern DRC that represents a direct assault on religious freedom, particularly for Christian communities in North Kivu and Ituri provinces.”

“Early 2026 has brought no respite from ADF violence, as the group has continued to carry out attacks on predominantly Christian areas,” the report said. “In one display of its depravity, the group executed around 70 civilians in a Christian village in North Kivu in February, beheading men, women, children, and elderly victims alike.”

The report said the latest attacks are part of a continuing trend of violence, which it traced to 2024, when it said ADF fighters “reportedly carried out multiple assaults on predominantly Christian villages and church gatherings in and around Beni, North Kivu, including attacks on prayer meetings and the killing of local pastors and congregants.”

The report also noted attacks that occurred in July of that year, with ADF fighters killing an estimated 40 Christians, in addition to numerous abductions and forced displacement, “that prompted some churches to suspend services or close altogether.”

The pattern of violence escalated in 2025, the report said, with attacks on Christian villages in North Kivu and in Kasanga in February, as well as “a major assault on worshippers attending a night vigil at a Catholic church in Komanda, Ituri province, killing dozens of men, women, and children gathered for prayer.” Further attacks took place over the course of the year, the report said, including strikes on Christian villages, funeral wakes, and facilities.

The commission noted the Trump administration’s efforts to address security concerns in the DRC through the Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity between the DRC and Rwanda, as well as targeted sanctions against human rights offenders and militant groups, but noted “insecurity remains high.”

“The ADF and other nonstate actors represent persistent threats to religious communities in the area, as mass killings, abductions, and attacks on places of worship continue to generate widespread fear, drive displacement, and disrupt communal religious life,” the commission said in the report. “These challenges highlight the pressing need for sustained security operations, strengthened accountability, and robust civilian protection measures in the DRC to ensure that all are able to live, worship, and practice their religion or belief freely.”

Members of the National Episcopal Conference of Congo (CENCO) have condemned violence in the region, pledging not to remain silent in the face of the worsening security and humanitarian crisis in a statement following their March 23–25 plenary assembly.

“Our goal is to contribute, among other things, to the promotion of the inalienable dignity of the human person and to the well-being of the Congolese people. Therefore, in the face of the degrading security and humanitarian situation of our country, we will not be silent,” the faith leaders said.

However, beyond the economic and geopolitical impact, the war is “breaking down the mental health of these workers,” said Bishop Emeritus Luis Quinteiro Fiuza of Tui-Vigo in Spain, the head of the Apostleship of the Sea, in a statement to ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News.

“Those stranded on those ships, unable to cross through the strait for weeks, live in constant anguish,” he said, indicating that these sailors are living “with the very real fear that everything could end at any moment by being bombed.”

In the week following the Paschal Triduum, Quinteiro is scheduled to travel to London to hold high-level meetings at the IMO — the United Nations agency responsible for the safety and security of maritime trade — which has proposed the creation of a “safe maritime corridor” to allow vessels to leave the Persian Gulf region and pass through the Strait of Hormuz without risk.

“We are facing a truly dramatic situation for everyone, but especially for seafarers and their families,” Quinteiro emphasized. Despite the logistical constraints in the region where there is virtually no Christian presence, the Apostleship of the Sea maintains contact with some of the families of those currently stranded aboard the ships.

“Families are experiencing this with immense anguish. They are horrified, monitoring events minute by minute, and many tell us they are completely overwhelmed,” he shared.

Moreover, in many cases, the isolation of the vessels that have been unable to go through the Strait of Hormuz since the war began is almost total: “Right now, there are ships with their internet down. It is a situation of utter abandonment.”

“Imagine being on a ship, watching missiles or instruments of destruction fly past. How must a person feel in the midst of that?” Quinteiro said, explaining that the Church’s mission in this context is to offer emotional and spiritual support to both the sailors and their families.

This constant pressure, coupled with the inability to leave the area, further aggravates the situation: “They can’t get back to their home country. They’re stranded. That is the word: completely stranded.”

“Ninety percent of global trade is conducted by sea, yet, unfortunately, we forget about the seafarers. Moreover, it is an increasingly unattractive occupation, staffed largely by people from poorer countries, which exacerbates the injustices,” the prelate noted.

Pope Leo XIV made reference — albeit indirectly — to those stranded in the Strait of Hormuz during the Angelus on Palm Sunday by asking for prayers for sailors suffering the consequences of conflicts.

Last November, Pope Leo recognized the legal standing of the Apostleship of the Sea, a decision that reinforced the organization’s role as an instrument of spiritual and human accompaniment for a group that is frequently overlooked, despite being essential to the functioning of global trade.

In 1977, the then-Pontifical Commission for Migrants published the decree Apostolatus Maris, updating the regulations following the Second Vatican Council. Two decades later, St. John Paul II renewed this commitment with the motu proprio Stella Maris, consolidating the Church’s mission in the maritime sphere. More recently, Pope Francis entrusted the direction of this work to the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, underscoring the importance of comprehensive care for people of the sea.

“In the maritime world, there is a great need for justice. To evangelize today means being alongside these people, accompanying them, and making them feel that they are not alone: ​​it means not only defending justice and workers’ rights but also offering closeness, comfort, and hope amid extreme situations,” Quinteiro explained.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article misidentified Bishop Luis Quinteiro Fiuza in a photo caption.

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 measure has stirred not only legal and political debate but also deep ethical and moral questions for believers about the meaning of justice and mercy in times of conflict.

In an exclusive interview with ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News, Father Bernard Poggi, rector of the Latin Patriarchal Seminary in Beit Jala, near Bethlehem, reflected on the Church’s opposition to the death penalty and on how Christian faith can guide society toward alternatives that foster peace and reconciliation rather than deepen cycles of violence.

Poggi said human life is a divine gift that must never be violated and that any effort to impose the death penalty stands in contradiction to the core values of the Gospel and Christian ethics.

He explained that the Church’s teaching is rooted in the Book of Genesis, which affirms that the human person is created in the image of God and therefore possesses a dignity and rights that belong to God alone.

“The divine image in each person grants that person sacredness and intrinsic worth,” Poggi said. “This is why the commandment ‘You shall not kill’ remains one of the foundational principles of the Ten Commandments.”

He added that the sanctity of life extends to all humanity, pointing to the story of Cain and Abel, in which God punishes Cain for killing his brother, underscoring that human life is not for one person to take from another.

“The Church upholds the sanctity of life as a fundamental value that must be protected, and no authority has the right to impose death as punishment,” he said.

Poggi also cited paragraph 2267 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which rejects the death penalty as an attack on human dignity and expresses the Church’s commitment to working for its abolition worldwide.

“The Catholic Church, in its official teaching, calls for the rejection of the death penalty as a violation of human dignity,” he said. “The Church is committed to working for the abolition of this punishment everywhere and to raising awareness of the sanctity of life.”

He also referred to the witness of the American religious sister Helen Prejean, whom he met and who became known for accompanying death row inmates in the United States. Prejean is the author of “Dead Man Walking,” published in 1993 and later adapted into a major film in 1995.

“Through her work, we see how the death penalty affects inmates and their families and how it raises profound moral questions about justice and mercy,” Poggi said. “Even in the harshest conditions, prisoners retain their human dignity, and that dignity belongs to God alone.”

Reflecting on the political and ethical consequences of capital punishment, Poggi warned that using the death penalty as a deterrent or political instrument distorts the very meaning of justice.“

Today, ideas of justice are often twisted in many countries and shaped by political interests rather than by human and ethical values,” he said. “Revenge becomes dominant, and innocent people are often punished as scapegoats.”

“Revenge does not achieve justice,” he continued, echoing a phrase often attributed to Mother Teresa: “An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind.”

He stressed that capital punishment robs a person of the possibility of repentance and reform and closes the door to hope.

“Every person makes mistakes,” he said. “Punishment should seek correction, not revenge. An ultimate penalty such as execution blocks the path of change and repentance.”

Poggi also warned of the political dangers of applying the death penalty in conflict zones.

“In the Middle East, anyone who politically or ideologically opposes the system can become a target simply because of their beliefs,” he said. “This threatens freedom of expression and weakens society’s ability to build justice and reconciliation.”

Speaking specifically about Palestinians, he said many detainees in Israeli prisons have had only limited opportunities to defend themselves or to receive proper legal representation.

“New laws imposing the death penalty increase the risk of killing innocent people and widen the gap between communities instead of encouraging reconciliation and mercy,” he said.

He also reflected on the spiritual meaning of the issue during Holy Week.

“We are living through Holy Week, when we remember the trial and crucifixion of Jesus, who himself was a victim of laws applied unjustly,” Poggi said. “Jesus did not defend himself through threats or force but offered an example of forgiveness and life.”

He added that the Church’s call to defend human life is the foundation for building true peace and a just society.

“Real justice is fulfilled in life, not in death,” he said. “Every person must have the door of hope left open to return from his mistakes.”

Poggi emphasized that this message is not meant only for Christians but also for the whole world. “The Holy Land needs light, not darkness; life, not blood,” he said. “The message is clear: Human life is sacred, and forgiveness is needed at every moment.”

The priest concluded with a theological reflection: “The human person is created in the image of God, and Christ offered redemption for all humanity,” he said. “Every person is called to a better life. Jesus died for the forgiveness of sins and remains the supreme example of mercy and the possibility of change.”

“I’ve been writing this book for a long time, and I’m honored to finally be able to share the full story with you all,” Vance wrote in a post to X. “‘Communion’ is about my personal journey and how I found my way back to faith.”

The book will be published by HarperCollins Publishers, which also published Vance’s 2016 bestselling book “Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis.” Since its release, “Hillbilly Elegy” has sold over 5 million copies worldwide.

“The story of how I regained my faith, of course, only happened because I had lost it to begin with,” Vance wrote in a HarperCollins press release. “The interesting question that hangs over this book, and over my mind, is why I ever strayed from the path. Why the Christian faith of my youth failed to properly take root.”

“I’m glad I found my way back to the Church. I learned much along the way. But if you believe as I do, you know I’ve been fortunate and touched by God’s grace,” he said.

The book explores Vance’s conversion to the Catholic faith and what it means to be a Christian across all of the seasons of his life, including as a child, a young man, a husband, a father, and a leader.

“To summarize this book: I’m a Christian, and I became a Christian because I believe that Jesus Christ’s teachings are true,” Vance said. “But I didn’t always think that, and by sharing my journey I might be helpful to others — Catholic, Protestant, or otherwise — who are seeking reconciliation with God.”

Jonathan Burnham, president and publisher of the Harper Group, said the book “will speak to so many searching for faith, connection, and meaning in their lives.”

He added: Vance’s “deeply heartfelt story of doubt and regained belief resonates far beyond politics, offering a moving reflection on the questions that define this moment in American public life.”

The high court said in an 8-1 decision that Colorado’s law banning “conversion therapy” for minors runs afoul of free speech protections and does not qualify as a “permissible” exception to the First Amendment.

“The First Amendment stands as a bulwark against any effort to prescribe an orthodoxy of views, reflecting a belief that each American enjoys an inalienable right to speak his mind and a faith in the free marketplace of ideas as the best means for finding truth,” the ruling said.

“Laws like Colorado’s, which suppress speech based on viewpoint, represent an egregious assault on both commitments,” the justices said.

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson was the lone dissent from the ruling.

Colorado’s law defined “conversion therapy” as “any practice or treatment” that attempts to change a person’s “sexual orientation or gender identity.”

In its ban the state included efforts to change a person’s “behaviors or gender expressions or to eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attraction or feelings toward individuals of the same sex.”

Christian counselor Kaley Chiles filed a lawsuit to challenge the ban in 2022, arguing that her clients come to her for faith-based counseling, and some are referred by churches or word of mouth.

The lawsuit asserted that the Colorado rule constituted viewpoint discrimination because it expressly permitted therapy that is supportive of gender transitions but prohibited therapy that is rooted in “a religious viewpoint that aligns with [Chiles’] religious beliefs and those of her clients.”

In its March 31 ruling, the Supreme Court acknowledged that the decision was a “narrow one,” insofar as it did not address broader prohibitions on “conversion therapy” practices such as “physical interventions.”

Chiles herself argued that she “provides only talk therapy” to her clients, the court noted. She said the law “strikes at the heart of the First Amendment’s protections for free speech.”

The state’s law “censors speech based on its viewpoint,” the justices said, describing the ban as an “egregious” assault on free speech.

“Colorado may regard its policy as essential to public health and safety,” the ruling said. “Certainly, censorious governments throughout history have believed the same.”

In her dissent, Jackson argued that the First Amendment has “far less salience” where medical regulations are concerned.

She alleged that the majority opinion was “unprincipled and unworkable” and “will eventually prove untenable.”

Jim Campbell, lead attorney with the legal group Alliance Defending Freedom, which represented Chiles in the case, said in a press release that the ruling was “a significant win for free speech, common sense, and families desperate to help their children.”

“States cannot silence voluntary conversations that help young people seeking to grow comfortable with their bodies,” he said.

In a statement issued following their March 23–25 extraordinary Plenary Assembly in the Catholic Archdiocese of Kinshasa, CENCO members emphasized their unwavering commitment to speaking out against injustice.

“Our goal is to contribute, among other things, to the promotion of the inalienable dignity of the human person and to the well-being of the Congolese people. Therefore, in the face of the degrading security and humanitarian situation of our country, we will not be silent,” the Catholic leaders said in their message issued March 26.

Referencing the message of the late Pope Francis during his apostolic visit to the DRC, the bishops recalled the moral obligation of the Church to speak out.

“As Pope Francis said during his apostolic journey in our country, the Church cannot remain indifferent or silent in the face of the injustices and the pain that strike the populations,” CENCO members said.

They reaffirmed the autonomy of both the Church and the political community while highlighting their shared responsibility in serving society.

“Certainly, the political community and the Church are independent from each other and autonomous in the domain that is theirs, but they are called to collaborate, because both are at the service of the personal and social vocation of the same men,” the bishops said.

They insisted on the Church’s right to address moral issues, including those related to politics, when human dignity is at stake.

“The Church therefore has the right to preach faith in all freedom, to teach social doctrine without any hindrance, to make a moral judgment, even on matters that concern political order, when the fundamental rights of the human person and the salvation of souls require it,” they said.

Amid ongoing instability in the country, the bishops called for peaceful solutions grounded in dialogue.

“Concerned with peace and the sacredness of human life, we are convinced that dialogue is superior to war,” they said.

Quoting Pope Francis, they added: “War is always a failure of politics and humanity, a shameful capitulation.”

The bishops also underscored the importance of initiatives that promote peaceful coexistence.

“Thus, let us remember the relevance of the Social Pact for Peace and Living Together in DRC and in the Great Lakes region, not to be confused with a dialogue aimed at sharing power,” they said.

They cautioned against efforts to undermine the Church’s unity and mission, saying: “We are well aware that some people turn to discrediting our mission, to sow discord between us, or to engage us in some kind of religious war.”

They urged Catholics and all people of goodwill to remain vigilant and guided by virtue.

“We exhort our faithful Catholics, women and men of goodwill, to discernment, to prudence, and to benevolence,” they said.

As Christians prepare for Easter, the bishops extended a message of hope and prayer, saying: “As Easter approaches, may the Lord, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace, bless the DRC and its people.”

This story was first published by ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, and has been adapted by EWTN News.

The agreement does not establish specific parameters for financial compensation — neither minimums nor maximums — because it is not intended to be the sole avenue for reparation. Furthermore, as agreed upon by the signatories, the aim is to address each case on an individualized basis.

The signing of the new protocol, which will enter into force on April 15, took place at the ombudsman’s office on March 30. Present at the ceremony were the president of the Spanish Bishops’ Conference (CEE, by its Spanish acronym), Archbishop Luis Argüello; the president of the Spanish Confederation of Religious (CONFER, by its Spanish acronym), Dominican Father Jesús Díaz Sariego; the minister of the Presidency, Justice, and Relations with the Cortes (legislature), Félix Bolaños; and the people’s ombudsman, Ángel Gabilondo.

Alluding to the liturgical season, Argüello expressed at the beginning of his remarks the hope that the agreement would serve to “alleviate the passion (suffering) of so many victims of abuse,” specifically those whose cases have passed the statute of limitations or whose abusers have died.

The prelate underscored that this new system is an extension of the efforts undertaken for years by ecclesiastical institutions, efforts that more than a year ago took concrete form in the PRIVA plan for the comprehensive reparation of abuse victims. This plan has already resolved over a hundred cases, offering, among other measures, financial compensation to more than 80 individuals, totaling 2.5 million euros ($2.86 million).

Under this new protocol, the system implemented by the Catholic Church “is never replaced; rather, it is complemented by collaboration with the public authorities,” an arrangement whose concrete realization has been delayed beyond initial expectations, yet which Argüello views as “an opportunity for collaboration, while naturally respecting the scope and jurisdiction” of each signatory institution.

Sariego remarked that “an agreement — even an imperfect one — is preferable to no agreement at all” and expressed the hope that this day would “serve to alleviate that pain and suffering which we know is immense and runs deep.”

Bolaños noted that this constitutes a model “that involves the victims,” in which “comprehensive reparation is guaranteed” and which is structured as “a collaborative effort”; however, he underscored that “the final say will rest with the state” in the event of a disagreement between the experts from the Catholic Church’s PRIVA Plan and the team appointed by the people’s ombudsman.

Bolaños also commended and acknowledged the work of the experts appointed by the Catholic Church, “even though the PRIVA Plan contained an ‘original sin,’” namely, that it was the Church itself that determined what compensation victims of abuse within its own ranks would receive, a factor that led “many victims to lack confidence” in the system.

During his remarks, Gabilondo stated that the signatories had debated “every comma” of the 14-page protocol. “I cannot recall anything that was not complicated, nor anything that proved insurmountable,” he stated when asked about the difficulties encountered during this process.

End of a phase

The signing of the protocol marks the conclusion of a phase that began in March 2022, when the legislature tasked the ombudsman with investigating abuses within the Catholic Church. In October 2023, the ombudsman presented his report, which included a recommendation to establish a state-run reparations system.

In April 2024, the executive branch approved an implementation plan for measures proposed by the ombudsman, a plan that the CEE rejected on the grounds that it was based on “a condemnatory judgment of the entire Church, rendered without any form of legal safeguards,” and amounted to “the state publicly targeting the Church in a discriminatory manner.”

Despite this rejection, a preliminary agreement was reached in January 2026, an agreement in which the Vatican secretariat of state was reportedly involved, as acknowledged by both Argüello and Bolaños. The minister confirmed on March 30 that on March 20 he held a further meeting at the Vatican Secretariat of State while in Rome accompanying the king and queen of Spain, who were received by Pope Leo XIV.

How the system will work

Effective April 15, any victim of abuse within the Church may contact an office established for this purpose within the Ministry of the Presidency, Justice, and Relations with the Cortes, which will forward the information to the ombudsman.

The Ombudsman’s Victims Unit will review the case within a maximum period of three months — extendable by one additional month if necessary. If the case is accepted, the Ombudsman’s Victims Unit will submit a proposal for redress to the PRIVA Plan Advisory Commission, which will have a maximum of two months to evaluate and respond to it.

The ombudsman will then have 15 days to convey these assessments to the victim.

If all parties are in agreement, the decision shall be deemed final. Otherwise, the dispute is referred to a joint body comprising representatives from the ombudsman, the CEE, and CONFER as well as associations of abuse victims, which will have an additional 15 days to reach a resolution.

If an agreement is still not reached, “the ombudsman and the representatives of the ecclesiastical institutions will make a final attempt to reach a consensus within a maximum period of one month.”

Ultimately, it would be the Ombudsman’s Victims Unit that makes the decision, which the Catholic Church must abide by.

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 March 18 conference was organized by the European Centre for Law and Justice in collaboration with Jubilee Campaign and Christian Solidarity International. It brought together experts who described a systematic pattern of legal and administrative repression against Christians in the North African nation.

A constitution that no longer protects them

Algeria’s 2020 constitution removed any explicit reference to freedom of conscience. Only the country’s Islamic identity is given constitutional recognition, while conversions to Christianity are subject to criminal prosecution. The legal opening of new churches has become practically impossible under a 2006 ordinance governing non-Muslim worship and a 2012 law on religious associations.

Pastor Youssef Ourahmane, vice president of the Protestant Church of Algeria, addressed the gathering as a representative of a denomination that has seen 47 of its churches closed by the state. The church’s historic legal status, recognized since 1972, has also come under challenge.

Djamila Marie Djelloul, a former Muslim who converted to Christianity and is of Algerian origin, shared her insight alongside Ali Ait Djoudi, president of Riposte Internationale. Nicolas Bay, a member of the European Parliament, and Charlotte Touati, a historian and affiliated researcher with the University of Lausanne, Switzerland, also addressed the session.

The Catholic Church has not been spared either. Caritas Algeria, the Church’s humanitarian service arm that served the broader population of Algeria regardless of religion, was closed at the request of Algerian authorities on Oct. 1, 2022.

‘An Algerian can only be a Muslim’

Speaking to EWTN News, Ait Djoudi explained that the repression of Protestant churches in the country is rooted in a political conception of national identity that leaves no room for religious minorities.

He quoted former Minister of Religious Affairs Bouabdellah Ghlamallah, who stated in 2010 that “no one wants there to be religious minorities in Algeria, because that could serve as a pretext for foreign powers to interfere in the country’s internal affairs under the guise of protecting minority rights.” Ghlamallah also asserted plainly that “an Algerian can only be a Muslim.”

“Any religious activity outside officially authorized venues is prohibited,” Ait Djoudi said, describing administrative church closures as legally framed but politically motivated. On the ground, he explained, this translates into closures of places of worship, legal proceedings, fines, and even imprisonment alongside acts of intimidation and desecration.

On the question of the papal visit, Ait Djoudi, while expressing hope that the visit could open dialogue, warned against taking the government’s messaging at face value. “We observe a double standard,” he said. “A display of openness to the outside world but a policy of control and restriction maintained internally.” In 2025, he noted, Algeria ranked among the lowest-scoring countries globally on religious freedom for Christians.

Geopolitics shields Algeria from accountability

The Algerian government would “surely try to use the pope’s visit for their own PR purposes,” Joel Veldkamp, advocacy director of Christian Solidarity International, told EWTN News. He explained the visit could still serve Algeria’s Christians in practical ways. “Harsh crackdowns are more likely to be noticed internationally if they occur close to a papal visit,” he said, suggesting it may provide at least a temporary shield.

He also pointed to a telling precedent. When Pope Francis visited neighboring Morocco in 2019, King Mohammed VI used his welcome address to describe Christians as “guests,” placing them firmly outside of Moroccan society.

Algeria, Veldkamp noted, operates with a similar logic. But he pushed back on the premise. “Of course, Christians were in Algeria long before Muslims were,” he said. “This is the land of St. Augustine.” He noted a growing Christian revival among Algeria’s Indigenous Berber population, who are rediscovering pre-Islamic roots. “Pope Leo has an opportunity to emphasize this part of Algeria’s identity,” he said, “which is hardly acknowledged by the authorities.”

Regarding Algeria’s place in the global persecution spectrum, Veldkamp explained that Christians there have been spared the extreme violence seen elsewhere in the Arab world. Yet they face what he called “suffocating state control” — including blocked Bible imports, closed bookstores, prohibited evangelization, and systematic harassment of converts.

Currently Algeria is a key energy supplier for Europe, a counterterrorism partner for the United States, and a major arms buyer for Russia. “None of these actors are eager to upset Algeria,” Veldkamp noted. Yet precisely because the Christian community is so small, he argued, the government’s insistence on suppressing it is indefensible. “The Algerian government cannot possibly believe that it poses a threat. A little pressure from the outside world might go a long way.”

What the conference asked for

Recommendations proposed at the conference called on Algeria to restore freedom of conscience to its constitution, permit the legal functioning of Protestant churches, review criminal provisions on proselytism, and allow Caritas to resume operations.

The event also called on the United Nations to remind Algeria of its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and to encourage an official visit by the U.N. special rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, Nazila Ghanea.

The pope is expected in Algeria from April 13–15. The visit also marks the 30th anniversary of the martyrdom of the monks of Tibhirine, who were killed on May 21, 1996. For Algeria’s Christians, the hope is that the pope’s visit amounts to more than a photo opportunity.