During his homily, delivered in both Spanish and English, the prelate shared aspects of his experience as a pilgrim and encouraged those present to reflect on what — and with whom — they had journeyed along the Camino de Santiago, the route that leads from various points across Europe to the site where tradition places the tomb of the apostle St. James the Greater.

Regarding the first question — “What were you walking with?” — the archbishop revealed that, beyond his backpack, walking sticks, and physical gear, he completed the route with something more: “With my prayers, with my problems, with my thoughts.”

He also took the opportunity to share that he made the pilgrimage wearing a baseball cap “featuring a photo of our Holy Father, Pope Leo,” to show that “I am Catholic and am walking with him and the Church.”

Tweet

As for the company he kept during the pilgrimage, the prelate expressed his joy at having walked the Camino de Santiago not only with a group of his own companions but also alongside other pilgrims from all over the world. He particularly noted crossing paths with an 89-year-old woman and a family with a 7-month-old baby.

“To say that we were walking with everything is another way of saying that we were walking with the Church, together as brothers and sisters. Pope Francis said that the Catholic Church is ‘everyone, everyone, everyone.’ When we are gathered together, Jesus is with us,” he added.

He also noted that the apostle James was very much present throughout the journey. In this regard, he affirmed that James is “not merely part of our past history” but is present today, for “he walked with us at every step.”

Referring to the feast of Our Lady of the Pillar — patroness of the Hispanic world, celebrated on Oct. 12 — Hicks recalled how she appeared to the apostle James in Zaragoza before her assumption into heaven at a time when he was feeling “a bit discouraged” at seeing no fruit from his preaching.

“Our Lady of the Pillar wants only one thing from us. She wants us to know her Son and to find salvation through, in, and with her Son Jesus Christ — in his life, suffering, death, and resurrection,” he added.

Hicks emphasized that the journey of faith is not limited to the Camino de Santiago; rather, “our journey is with Jesus toward heaven, toward eternal life.” In this regard, he added that the pilgrim’s Mass does not mark the end of the Camino de Santiago: “Our journey continues on to eternal life.”

A journey encouraged by Cardinal Dolan

Hicks arrived in Spain on Sunday, Oct. 4, embarking on what he described — in posts shared on his social media — as a “spiritual journey” he had long wished to undertake.

“I have been planning this journey for three years. Ever since I arrived, I kept asking myself, ‘Will I have time to do it? Am I too busy? Should I put it off?’” he explained shortly before traveling to Spain.

While weighing this decision, he received a call from Cardinal Timothy Dolan — his predecessor as archbishop of New York — who told him: “I hear you want to do the Camino. Here is some advice: Do it, do it, do it. I always wanted to do the Camino but never could, and I regret it.”

Taking that recommendation to heart, he decided to make the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, “following the voice of the Lord.” To that end, he announced that he would disconnect from social media for the duration of the trip.

And that is exactly what he did; upon arriving Sunday in Compostela — standing in the imposing Plaza del Obradoiro beside the cathedral — he picked up his phone again to share that he had felt the Lord’s companionship every step of the way: “Jesus was walking with me the whole time.”

Santiago de Compostela is one of five cities in the world that enjoy the privilege of celebrating jubilee years in perpetuity, alongside Jerusalem and Rome as well as Santo Toribio de Liébana and Caravaca de la Cruz, both in Spain.

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

Father Sandro Villa was the hospital chaplain of St. Gerald Hospital outside of Milan, Italy, who gave Carlo the anointing of the sick and holy Communion on Oct. 10, 2006, the day before Carlo went into a coma due to a brain hemorrhage caused by the M3 subtype of acute myeloid leukemia.

Villa shared at an event in Assisi, Italy, on Oct. 13, 2020, that he was touched by Carlo’s “composure and devotion” in receiving the sacraments in the hospital room.

“In a small room, at the end of the corridor, I found myself in front of a boy. His pale but serene face surprised me — unthinkable in a seriously ill person, especially an adolescent,” he said.

“I was also amazed by the composure and devotion with which, albeit with difficulty, he received the two sacraments. He seemed to have been waiting for them and felt the need for them.”

Before his cancer diagnosis, Carlo had a great devotion to the Eucharist. From a young age, he expressed a special love for God, even though his Catholic parents had stopped attending Mass.

As he grew older, he started going to daily Mass, often dragging his family members along with him. He made Holy Hours before or after Mass and went to confession weekly.

With his aptitude for computer programming, Carlo built websites to inform others about Eucharistic miracles and Marian apparitions around the world. On his site, he told people: “The more often we receive the Eucharist, the more we will become like Jesus, so that on this earth we will have a foretaste of heaven.”

For Villa, this administration of the sacraments would be his only encounter with Carlo, but he said the look of serenity on Carlo’s face was something that stayed with him.

“After a few years … I learned that he was declared ‘venerable.’ I was amazed that the Lord had allowed me to meet him, if only for a few moments,” he said.

Villa continued: “I decided to learn about his life. I discovered that he was in love with the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, and I therefore began to better understand some of his words.”

Dr. Andrea Biondi and Dr. Mòmcilo Jankovic, who treated Carlo in the pediatric clinic of St. Gerald Hospital, recorded their memories together in a paper that was read aloud at the event.

They said: “Carlo was like a meteor with a quick passage through our ward; leukemia took him away before we could get to know him even a little. However, his sweet eyes remain engrained [in our memories]. His gaze was full of attention … of courage, of love, of strong empathy.”

“His faith in God, which he had wanted and still wanted to pass on to others, to his neighbor, shone through him … His gentle eyes … taught us a lot: life, whether short or long must be lived intensely for oneself, but also and above all for others.”

Carlo’s heart stopped beating on Oct. 12 — a date that is now celebrated as a local feast in the Diocese of Assisi and Archdiocese of Milan. His parents had desired to donate his organs, but they were too compromised by leukemia to be donated.

Today St. Carlo’s heart is a relic and is contained in a reliquary in Assisi that is inscribed with his words: “The Eucharist is my highway to heaven.” He was canonized on Sept. 7, 2025, by Pope Leo XIV in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican.

This story was first published on Oct. 16, 2020, and has been updated.

Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Chris Bryant said in a statement that Portadown District Loyal Orange Lodge — part of the national Protestant Orange Order fraternity — would not be permitted to hold its parade down Garvaghy Road through a historically Catholic section of Portadown in County Armagh.

The procession “cannot go ahead,” Bryant said, citing local law enforcement opinion that it would lead to violence, disorder, and “a wider contagion effect across Northern Ireland.”

Bryant called for “all protests, rallies and demonstrations to be stood down,” arguing that there is “no excuse for a continued ratcheting up of tensions.”

The weekslong tensions have stemmed from historical conflicts in the region between unionists in Northern Ireland who advocate continued rule of the province by the United Kingdom and Catholic-affiliated republicans who largely favor reunification with Ireland itself.

Garvaghy Road itself was the site of numerous conflicts amid the Troubles, the decades-long conflict that saw unionists and republicans engage in regular violent and often deadly clashes. The CAIN Archive at Ulster University estimates that more than 3,700 people were killed in the protracted fighting.

Police have largely banned loyalist marches from taking place on Garvaghy Road since the late 1990s due to regular instances of violence that broke out on that stretch of the unionist parade route.

The High Court of Northern Ireland, however, ruled in August against a ban on the march that had been instituted by the Parades Commission, offering unionists the potential opportunity to march down the street for the first time in years.

In his statement announcing the reinstituted ban on the march, Bryant urged residents to “work together to help repair the damage that has been done” over the past several weeks.

“The community in Portadown has been on the sharp end of intense attention for a number of weeks,” he said. “It will take time to rebuild relations. The least we can all do now is give them breathing space.”

Bishop Michael Router said he would ask the Vatican to dismiss Father Edward Gallagher from the clerical state after he admitted to the charges, which include possession of child pornography, attempted solicitation of sexual activity from a child, and attempted sexual communication with a minor, the BBC reported Oct. 5. Gallagher awaits sentencing on Dec. 9.

"I have already instructed that the documentation required by the Holy See be finalized and transmitted without delay,” Router said in a statement on Oct. 5, according to a BelfastLive report.

“The Church cannot undo the harm that has been caused. Nor can any canonical penalty remove the suffering experienced by victims and survivors. Nevertheless, the Church has a responsibility to respond truthfully, justly, and decisively.”

New Vatican ambassador appointed to United Arab Emirates

Polish priest Monsignor Grzegorz Piotr Bielaszka has been appointed by Pope Leo XIV to be the Vaticanʼs new ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), raising him to the rank of archbishop, ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News, reported Oct. 5.

Born in Poland in 1974 and ordained in 1999, Bielaszka entered the Holy Seeʼs diplomatic service in 2006. His assignments have included Iraq, Panama, Hungary, Peru, and Gabon. He succeeds Archbishop Christophe Zakhia El-Kassis, who was appointed the Vaticanʼs permanent observer to the United Nations in July.

The appointment comes amid continuing tensions in the Gulf following military confrontation involving Iran, Israel, and the United States. The Vatican has repeatedly called for dialogue and negotiations, while maintaining close diplomatic relations with the UAE, particularly since Pope Francis' historic 2019 visit to Abu Dhabi and the signing of the Document on Human Fraternity.

Catholic Church in Korea switches to Italian, Australian liturgical wine

Parishes across Korea will no longer use domestic wine for liturgical celebrations after the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea announced on Oct. 7 that an Australian and an Italian brand would become the country’s official liturgical wines.

"Starting from this yearʼs Advent season (the four weeks before Christmas), the Australian ‘Seven Hill’ and Italian ‘Alagna Vini’ wines have been selected as the liturgical wines to be used in all Catholic Masses across Korea,” they said in a statement, according to an Oct. 8 Chosun report.

The change is due to aging grape farmers and diminishing land in Korea, the report said. It marks the first in 49 years since the conference signed a contract in 1977 to use local Majuang liturgical wine.

Ethiopia bishop urges reconciliation amid renewed fighting

Bishop Lisane-Christos Matheos Semahun of Ethiopia’s Eparchy of Bahir Dar-Dessie has urged Christians to reject hatred and refrain from rejoicing over the suffering or death of those they regard as enemies as renewed fighting intensifies in parts of the country.

“Every life lost is a tragedy,” the bishop said in an Oct. 3 reflection, ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, reported. Lisane-Christos further called on Catholics to pray for their enemies, care for people affected by the conflict, and support efforts toward dialogue, justice, reconciliation, and peace.

The bishop’s statement comes as BBC reports that Ethiopia has accused Eritrea of an “all-out invasion” in northern Tigray, and Eritrea says in response that it is facing “an unprovoked war of aggression” by Ethiopia.

Hundreds of Catholic young people celebrate care for creation in Baghdad

More than 300 young Catholics gathered in Baghdad for a spiritual event marking the Season of Creation, an annual Christian observance dedicated to prayer and care for the environment.

Through Scripture readings, prayer, and reflections on Pope Francis' encyclical Laudato Si', participants were encouraged to see protecting nature as part of their responsibility toward God and others, ACI MENA reported Oct. 5. Father Amir Kammu explained that environmental problems are also spiritual and moral concerns, particularly because their consequences often fall hardest on the poor.

At the end of the gathering, each participant received a small plant or fish to care for, turning the message of environmental responsibility into a personal commitment.

Glasgow Archdiocese to reduce parishes by half

Archbishop William Nolan has announced widespread cuts to the Archdiocese of Glasgow in Scotland amid dwindling attendance and a shortage in available priests.

“For years now there has been much talk of the need to restructure and reduce the number of parishes in the archdiocese. A plan for that restructuring has now been drawn up, reducing the number of parishes by half and seeing the closure of two dozen churches,” Nolan said in an Oct. 7 statement on Facebook.

The statement noted the number of parishes will be reduced by half and 24 churches will be closed as part of the restructuring plan.

“There are too many parishes but too few people, too many churches but too few priests,” he said. “As for priests, I have been archbishop for less than five years and the number of our active priests is down by a third in that time. Only one of our priests is under the age of 45, most are over the age of 60. Thank goodness we have foreign priests and religious willing to serve in the archdiocese, otherwise the situation would be even more critical than it is.”

Irish priest blocks Nathan Carter concert from taking place at parish

A concert by country music singer Nathan Carter set to take place at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Boyle, Ireland, has been canceled after its parish priest objected to the event.

Father John Gannon contacted Carter and informed the musician he could no longer perform at the church after approval had been given to the singer by the parish’s former pastor, according to an Oct. 5 report from the Irish Independent.

Bishop of Elphin Kevin Doran backed up the priest’s decision, telling the Irish Independent that the diocesan policy barring such concerts was to “preserve the sacredness of the church as a place of worship.” He added: “That does not mean that it has to be specifically liturgical music, but it should be spiritual, and where singing is involved, the lyrics should be consistent with the message of the Gospel.”

Catholic Church in Egypt opens beatification cause for former Coptic patriarch

The Catholic Church in Egypt has formally begun the cause for the beatification and canonization of Cardinal Stephanos II Ghattas, who served as Coptic Catholic patriarch of Alexandria from 1986 to 2006.

The Council of Catholic Patriarchs and Bishops in Egypt, led by Coptic Catholic Patriarch Ibrahim Isaac, has invited the faithful to submit information about Ghattas, who died in Cairo in 2009, ACI MENA reported Oct. 6. The request includes testimonies both supporting and questioning his reputation for holiness, as well as personal writings, letters, and other documents that could assist the investigation.

The opening of the cause marks an important step in examining the life and legacy of the former patriarch but does not mean he has yet been declared blessed or a saint.

Canada hosts rosary rallies across the country

A Catholic group in Canada is hosting rosary rallies across the country on Oct. 10 to pray for its conversion.

The campaign from Canada Needs Our Lady started in Saint-Hubert, Quebec, and has grown from 1,083 to more than 1,550 rallies, according to an Oct. 8 report from Independent Catholic News. “The reaction from Canadians has been very encouraging,” Joseph Gensens, Fatima custodian for Canada Needs Our Lady, said in the report. “We hear from people who are so grateful to have the opportunity to come together and pray the Rosary publicly — not only for Canada, but for their families and their communities.”

Canada Needs Our Lady is an organization that advocates for a return to Christian values in Canada.

In a letter sent to the faithful of his archdiocese, the prelate wrote of his “astonishment and deep sadness” and said that what happened was “totally unexpected and difficult to understand.”

“Let us entrust him to the merciful love of the Lord. Let us pray for his parishioners, shocked by this unexpected news; for Father Jean-Philippe Nollé, his vicar; and for his family and friends, left desolate by this sudden departure,” the archbishop said.

In his letter, the archbishop remembered Card — who had been “deeply affected” some time ago by his brother’s suicide — as “a pastor much appreciated by his parishioners and who moved with ease among his fellow priests, who trusted him.”

He added that he was “very involved in the life of the cathedral chapter, regularly participated in the canons' prayer in the archbishopʼs chapel, and enjoyed staying afterward for coffee with the staff. He always took part with interest in the meetings of the Diocesan Council for Economic Affairs.”

Looking ahead to Card’s approaching 75th birthday, Hérouard said the two had spoken about the possibility of continuing his mission a little past the usual retirement age. Some had noticed that he seemed “tired lately” and was bothered by insects in his house, but no one thought that was “anything dramatic,” the archbishop wrote.

On the archdioceseʼs Facebook page, Michèle Bauchet commented: “This is deeply sad news. [Father] Bernard was a very kind person. He had agreed to officiate at our son-in-lawʼs funeral Mass.”

She wrote that he was to celebrate her golden wedding anniversary Mass in 2027. “We are truly shocked. We pray for Jean-Philippe Nollé and all of Bernardʼs family,” she added.

The French government declared mental health a national priority for 2025 and 2026. A 2020 study by Mutuelle Saint-Martin and Action Sociale found that 9% of French priests showed a depressive syndrome, 40% had a low sense of personal fulfillment, 7% a high degree of exhaustion, and 2% suffered from severe burnout.

The archdiocese has organized several prayer vigils for the priest. The first is Thursday, Oct. 8, at 6:30 p.m. in Chenôve (Chapel of Saint Teresa). Later that same day, another vigil will be held at 3 p.m. in the church of Corcelles-les-Monts.

Prayers will be held on Friday, Oct. 9, at 6 p.m. at Sainte-Chantal; and on Monday, Oct. 12, from 8:30 to 10 p.m. at the same location. The funeral will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 13, at 10 a.m., also at Sainte-Chantal.

Seek help

If you or someone you know is experiencing an emotional crisis or suicidal thoughts, remember that the Catholic Church offers spiritual guidance, prayer, and someone to talk to and encourages seeking professional help.

You can contact helplines, such as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (988 in the U.S.) for your country, or go to your parish, where you will find pastoral support and resources.

The Catholic Church teaches that life is a gift from God. The Church accompanies those who suffer with compassion and without judgment, offering hope, prayer, and consolation to the affected families.

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 15th Italian National Conference of the International Association of Exorcists (IAE) took place Sept. 21–25 at the Fraterna Domus center in Sacrofano, Italy, near Rome. The meeting focused on the pastoral experience of attendees.

3 cases of demonic possession

Father Benigno Palilla, an exorcist of the Archdiocese of Palermo, Italy, described a young woman who was freed after two and a half years of demonic possession, according to IAE’s website. The association said her suffering is common among younger people and is often tied to ceasing reception of the sacraments, atheism, spiritist sessions, and occult practices. Her troubles had led to aggression toward others and self-hatred that reached suicidal thoughts, the association noted. Palilla said her liberation came on the liturgical memorial of St. Pio of Pietrelcina. He said that after she gave her life fully to God, she felt a deep interior peace and a renewed love of life.

Father Angelo Barra, an exorcist of the Diocese of Salerno, Italy, spoke of a young woman who was a victim of domestic violence. After a trip, she began to complain of severe pain that started during Mass. The association said that a priest’s simple reading of passages from Acts 16 revealed an extraordinary demonic action and set off an “interior earthquake.” Blessings, together with the spiritual support of two Catholic communities in Africa, led to her liberation. She later said she had been the victim of a ritual consecration by a sect in the place she had visited.

Father Michele Tenzon, a former exorcist of the Diocese of Ventimiglia-Sanremo, recalled a South American woman whose relatives had “offered her to the spirits.” He said in that case, and in an exorcist’s life generally, what matters is living an authentic Christian life, ongoing formation, and the intercession of the Virgin Mary in prayer.

Sacred music and the Virgin Mary

Father Giuseppe Grassi, an exorcist and director of the Office of Sacred Music of the Archdiocese of Brindisi-Ostuni, Italy, said sacred music and song are closely tied to the heights of the angelic ministry and can be used fruitfully in exorcism, according to the association. The more sacred the music, he said, the more closely it is connected to the liturgical action, because it prefigures the liturgy of the heavenly Jerusalem — from the psalms to Gregorian chant and popular songs in honor of the Virgin.

Mariologist Father Salvatore Perrella, a Servite and former dean of the Pontifical Marianum in Rome, stressed the importance of the Virgin Mary’s place in exorcisms. He pointed to her constant rooting in the word of God, “since Mary is intimately involved in the heart of the mystery of the Incarnation.” Mary, he said, “lived and served with fidelity, intelligence, and sobriety the role of collaborator with the Trinity in the salvation and eschatological glorification of the ‘scattered children of God.’” She is “essential in the life of the Church, interceding and praying for good to triumph over evil,” according to the association.

10 years since Father Amorth’s death

Several exorcists remembered Father Gabriele Amorth, the well-known exorcist of the Diocese of Rome and founder of the association, who died on Sept. 16, 2016, and who is credited with tens of thousands of exorcisms.

Father Francesco Bamonte, vice president of the association, recalled Amorth’s early work with the Servant of God Father Candido Amantini, exorcist at the Scala Santa. Amorth, he said, “understood that for a novice exorcist, simply being appointed by the bishop and receiving the ritual was not enough. It was like being an inexperienced surgeon. Hence the need for the conferences, courses, and regular training sessions promoted by the association.”

Father Aldo Buonaiuto, an exorcist of the Diocese of Rome, recalled Amorth’s warnings about choices that expose a person to extraordinary demonic action: dangerous occult situations, fascination with the supernatural, personal ambition, an interior predisposition, and the devaluing of affections.

Father Marcello Lanza of the Diocese of Acerra, Italy, highlighted “the mystical component in the life, vocation, and teachings of Father Amorth, understood as a process of conformity to Christ. This is of great importance in the practice of exorcism, because if the ministry is mystically united to the Liberator, who is Christ, the devil is defeated all the more.”

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.

1. The Blessed Mother herself has repeatedly made the request.

The Spanish prelate pointed out that the fact that over the centuries the Virgin Mary has repeatedly asked for the rosary to be prayed “should have already been enough" for Christians to take up the beads every day.

He proceeded to review some of the instances where she had made this request, either explicitly or implicitly. “She did so with St. Dominic of Guzmán around the year 1208, when she asked for that prayer in the face of the Cathars,” he noted.

At Lourdes, in 1858, there was no explicit command and yet, Munilla recalled, “the rosary was at the heart of the 18 apparitions to Bernadette.”

Some 21 years later, during an 1877 apparition in Gietrzwałd, Poland, the Virgin was cited saying directly: “I desire that you pray the rosary every day” and “pray the rosary with fervor.”

As Munilla sees it, the apparitions at Fátima in 1917 constitute “the central case” in the matter, because it was there that the Virgin insisted upon the practice.

Munilla recalled that on May 13, 1917, the Blessed Virgin Mary said: “Pray the rosary every day to obtain peace for the world and the end of the war. She repeated this in June, July, and October, and on Oct. 13, she revealed herself as the Lady of the Rosary.”

Munilla went on to reference what the Virgin Mary said in 1980, in the town of Cuapa, Nicaragua. There, “the Virgin Mary asked Bernardo Martínez to pray the rosary every day — not merely reciting it straight through, but meditating on the mysteries” — as well as “promoting it within the family and the parish.”

In Kibeho, Rwanda, in 1981, she also made a request to pray the rosary, but with a distinctive feature: “There, the emphasis was not so much on the standard rosary but rather on the Rosary of the Seven Sorrows” of the Virgin.

Likewise, the prelate referred to the apparitions between 1983 and 1990 in San Nicolás, Argentina, where “the Virgin appeared under the title of Our Lady of the Rosary and the messages urged that it be prayed.”

Munilla also referred to Medjugorje, where the Church has not issued a ruling on the supernatural nature of the alleged apparitions but has approved the religious and pastoral experience taking place there. It is an experience characterized, he said, by “an insistence on the daily recitation of the rosary.”

2. In praying the rosary, one contemplates the face of Christ with Mary.

The second reason put forward is that praying the rosary allows one to contemplate the face of Christ with Mary through meditation on the joyful, sorrowful, glorious, and luminous mysteries. St. John Paul II affirmed this in his 2002 apostolic letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae.

“He points out that the rosary, while Marian in form, is Christocentric; it is a summary of the Gospel,” Munilla noted.

“Each decade presents a mystery from the life of Jesus — joyful, luminous, sorrowful, or glorious — which is meditated upon while reciting the Hail Mary. It means letting the Gospel enter through humble repetition, contemplating the face of Christ with Mary,” he explained.

3. It is accessible to everyone and fosters a familiar relationship with God.

Addressing this point, the Spanish prelate recalled how Sister Lucia, the visionary of Fátima, had explained: “If daily Mass and Communion had been required of us, many would not have been able to fulfill the obligation, because not everyone has access to a daily celebration of the Eucharist.”

However, she continued, “the rosary, by contrast, fits into any state of life, at any time, and in any place.” So much so that Sister Lucia considered it — after the Mass — to be “the prayer most pleasing to God and most beneficial for the soul.”

4. It is a powerful prayer of intercession.

Praying the rosary “is a weapon called for to secure peace and for spiritual combat,” the bishop added. “Leo XIII dedicated a dozen papal documents to it and proposed it as a remedy for society’s great evils. John Paul II linked it again to peace,” he added.

5. Repetition brings inner order.

Fifth, Munilla proposed that praying the rosary “helps us guard our hearts. It sustains faith, hope, and charity. It helps us preserve these three theological virtues and avoid being consumed by the spirit of this world.”

“Repetition brings order to the inner self,” the Spanish prelate continued, emphasizing that “meditation on the mysteries turns oneʼs gaze back to what endures, and Maryʼs intercession sustains what one cannot uphold alone.”

As St. John Bosco would say, Munilla concluded, “the rosary is as necessary for the health of the soul as bread is for the body.”

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 statue was found on the ground beneath a stone arch at a traffic circle near the southern entrance to the town of Porto-Vecchio. The statue belonged to the local parish, which filed a complaint along with the city, ICI RCFM reported.

Two seasonal hospitality workers, ages 21 and 24, were detained later that morning. According to a statement from the Ajaccio prosecutor’s office reported by Corsican radio station Alta Frequenza, video footage showed one man hanging from the statue, miming a sexual act, and making lewd remarks while the other filmed.

The men are being prosecuted for jointly committing aggravated damage to the statue, to the detriment of the parish and the municipality, and for indecent exposure, Le Figaro reported. They remain presumed innocent and are due to appear before the Ajaccio Criminal Court on Nov. 16.

A court placed them under judicial supervision, ordered them not to return to Corsica, and required them to report regularly to police in their home departments. After an initial attempt to leave was disrupted, both men departed the island by air on Oct. 4, France 3 reported.

Prayer follows anger

Earlier on Oct. 1, more than 100 people gathered outside the gendarmerie following an appeal on social media. At 5:30 p.m., the parish called the community to pray at the traffic circle, drawing elected officials, families, young people, and firefighters in uniform, according to ICI RCFM.

Father Thibault Lambert, pastor of the Porto-Vecchio parish, said his anger and sadness had given way to “joy mixed with pride” at seeing residents united in their attachment to the Virgin Mary, the Church, and their heritage.

The Catholic Church in Corsica expressed support for the parish and said: “We pray for the conversion of those who damaged the image of Mary.” It urged the community to recover “a path of serenity and peace” through the rosary on the first day of the month traditionally dedicated to the devotion, according to a diocesan statement.

Porto-Vecchio Mayor Jean-Christophe Angelini condemned what he called an “unspeakable act” and pledged to replace the statue as soon as possible, France 3 reported.

The Corsican Assembly unanimously adopted a motion condemning the “profanation and destruction” of the statue and expressing support for the parish, Porto-Vecchio residents, and the Catholic community.

Assembly President Marie-Antoinette Maupertuis said the attack had offended part of Corsica’s common heritage and collective identity. In remarks to the Corsican Assembly, she also appealed for restraint, saying respect for what others hold sacred must be matched by responsibility and measure.

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

In her opinion regarding case C-12/25, “Bisdom Gent,” (Diocese of Ghent) brought by a Belgian citizen who demanded that the Diocese of Ghent delete his baptismal data, Medina opened the door to the possibility that ecclesiastical archives could be required to erase the name of a baptized person who requests such removal after leaving the Church.

To date, the standard practice has been to make a marginal note recording the interested partyʼs wish, without erasing the person’s data.

In an Oct. 5 statement, COMECE noted that the ruling acknowledges that “the assessments required by the case are ‘complex’” and, in several respects, “leaves room for the role of national courts” and also impinge upon “the relevance of Church autonomy and of its freedom of religion,” as well as the importance to the Catholic Church of the “correct administration of the sacraments.”

Concerns and questions

The representatives of the episcopal conferences to the EU emphasized that “several elements expressed in the opinion raise concerns and questions.” In particular, the fact that it “rejects the solution of adding to the baptismal record a marginal annotation of the wishes of the relevant data subject.”

For the Catholic Church, this stance represents a departure from the fact that "across diverse legal systems and state-church relations models — consistent national jurisprudence in the EU Member States has accepted this practice as an entirely adequate legal solution in case of erasure requests concerning baptismal registers.”

“Erasing the name and surname of the baptized person from the record of a baptism entirely deprives the registration of the baptism, as such, of its meaning, value and purpose,” COMECE added, noting: “This crucial aspect seems to have been neglected.”

At the same time, COMECE criticized the ruling for also lacking an analysis of the impact of erasure “on the interests and rights of third parties” — referring to parents, godparents, or the priest administering the sacrament.

Furthermore, COMECE pointed out that the “considerations regarding the possible emotional distress that could result from retaining a person’s data in a baptismal register are also unconvincing.”

‘Significant legal uncertainty’

In addition COMECE expressed concern that, “if confirmed, the orientation provided by the opinion may create significant legal uncertainty for ecclesiastical data controllers” in EU member states, a situation it described as “particularly serious” because such uncertainty “would strike at baptismal registers, which are a central pillar of the Church’s internal functioning and organization, and are vital to enabling it to carry out its mission.”

Furthermore, representatives of the European Union prelates point out that “to avoid misconstructions, it is important to highlight that no general or automatic right to erase data from baptismal records is recognized in the opinion.”

Finally, COMECE recalled that Pope Leo XIV, in a recent speech delivered in Metz, France, cited Article 17 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), noting “that the principle of secularism governing the life of states also presupposes respect by national and European authorities for the autonomy of the Churches and the promotion of their freedom of organization, expression, and worship.” 

In its statement, COMECE went on to look forward to the ruling of the Court of Justice of the EU on the case, trusting “that it will establish a more favorable line with regard to the protection of baptismal registers from erasure.” The COMECE Legal Affairs Commission is also working to prepare a more in-depth position paper on the ruling.

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.

Students began holding protests in late September, citing frustrations with education quality and a lack of funding and resources at schools. By early October, numerous protests became violent with arsons, lootings, and confrontations with police, leading to millions of dollars in damage and hundreds of injuries. More than 5,000 people have been arrested.

Rougé, who leads the French bishops’ conference’s Council for Catholic Education, told Vatican News that the violence reflects “the distress experienced by this generation of young people” in an Oct. 3 interview published by the Vatican-run news outlet.

“Violence expresses this distress: setting fire to some high schools, even newly built ones, manifests a destructive form of violence that cannot be condoned,” Rougé said, adding that it expresses “an inner violence among some young people who have not found meaning in their lives.”

The bishop said suffering is linked to the crisis of families, the climate crisis, the economic crisis, the social crisis, and the geopolitical crisis, “and so, consciously or unconsciously, these young people are afraid of the future; they do not see how it can also hold opportunities for them.”

Rougé said young people sometimes do not express this distress, which then “manifests itself through violence.” He said young people may not have “acquired sufficient maturity in language and self-expression to be able to express themselves in another way.”

The demonstrations, he said, are still “a call to be even more attentive to our young people, including in Catholic schools,” in which responsible adults can “help restore a sense of calm, creating spaces for listening and discussion, to accompany these young people.”

Rougé said the Church calls for “peace,” for “a different way for young people to express themselves,” and for “listening to these young people.” He said the public education system should prioritize “enabling young people to build a future for themselves and to receive a rich education that will allow them to move forward in life.”

In the interview, the bishop also noted that Pope Leo XIV addressed young people in France, encouraging them to have “the courage to live out responsibly the mission of building peace.”

“The Holy Father called young people to true freedom, the freedom that Christ gives,” Rougé said. “And to these young people, some of whom also come from social environments that have not been given sufficient recognition, he opened up a sense of purpose for their lives — the path of true freedom.”

Father Christophe Danset, the bishops’ conference’s national delegate for youth ministry, told the Italian Catholic news outlet AgenSIR the violence expressed through these protests paints a very different image than the celebratory gatherings that marked the pope’s visit to the country late last month.

“The beauty of that gathering and the violence of this week are two sides of the same reality of French youth: on the one hand, a genuine thirst, and on the other, a human and spiritual crisis,” he said in an Oct. 2 article.

The theme for this year’s Nov. 13–15 congress is “The Americas and Spain: The Faith That Unites Us — A Round-Trip Journey,” and features a joint statement on the subject titled “Manifesto for Hispanidad.”

The text highlights the institutions that emerged from the Spanish enterprise in the Americas such as municipalities, universities, parishes, and hospitals, which “no international treaty has managed to replicate.”

“None of this is artificial. None of this needs to be invented. It simply needs to be recognized and put at the service of the future,” the manifesto proclaims.

“Isabella the Catholic Monarch did not set a mere promise in motion; she set a civilization in motion,” the manifesto continues. Isabella and her husband, King Ferdinand, were given the title “the Catholic Monarchs” by Pope Alexander VI through the papal bull Si Convenit for their defense of the Catholic faith.

From this transatlantic civilization emerged the Laws of the Indies governing the Spanish territories in the Americas through which Spain imposed limits on itself, along with the humanist thought of Francisco de Vitoria at the University of Salamanca, the cradle of international law and human rights.

This legacy, the manifesto continues, resulted in nonnegotiable principles such as “the dignity of the human person; the Greco-Latin heritage that gave us reason and the rule of law; the Christian tradition that shaped our concept of community; respect for the law as a limit on power; civil liberties as a condition for a decent life; and a legal framework capable of protecting property, contracts, and enterprise as engines of prosperity.”

More than 500 years after its inception, this civilization comprises a community of 600 million people who share a common language and presents “a demographic outlook that no other Western project can match.”

Furthermore, the manifesto notes that “Hispanidad is not limited to the political sphere or relations between governments and nations” but rather “demands a profound and, if necessary, radical change of attitude to defend, expand, and develop it” as well as a “cultural and moral dimension worthy of its history.”

Ultimately, the organizers of the Nov. 13–15 congress, the Catholic Association of Propagandists (whose stated goal is to propagate or spread the Catholic faith), hold that “reclaiming Hispanidad does not mean looking to the past: It is acting with the confidence of those who start from a position of strength.” For this reason, it urges people to “stop treating as a minor legacy what is, in reality, our greatest competitive and moral advantage in the world to come.”

“Isabella the Catholic Monarch founded it. Vitoria conceived it. The Laws of the Indies codified it. Five hundred years of shared institutions have sustained it. It falls to us, quite simply, to live up to what we have inherited and to make it grow. Together, we are stronger. That is the starting point and also the conclusion,” the manifesto declares.

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 Work of God was not imagined by a man,” he would later say. “For many years, the Lord had been inspiring it in an inept and deaf instrument, who saw it for the first time on the Feast of the Guardian Angels.”

It was, the saint understood, the answer to the prayers he repeatedly addressed to God: “Domine, ut videam!” and “Domine, ut sit!” (“Lord, that I may see!” and “Lord, that it may come to be!”)

On that October day, the founder of Opus Dei was making a spiritual retreat at the Central House of the Vincentian missionaries in Madrid. “I received enlightenment regarding the whole Work ... Deeply moved, I knelt down, I was alone in my room in the interval between talks, and thanked the Lord; I recall with emotion the ringing of the bells of the parish church of Our Lady of the Angels.”

On that occasion, Vázquez de Prada notes, St. Josemaría’s mind “was illuminated with a clear, general idea of ​​his mission.”

“The scattered notes the retreatant had brought with him to meditate upon during the retreat consisted of ideas that were, it seems, unsystematized. In the days that followed, he compiled them in an orderly fashion, in accordance with the general enlightenment he had just received regarding the whole work,” the author explains.

Building on that foundation, over the years St. Josemaría “drafted documents that he would later hand to his children in Opus Dei,” Vázquez de Prada continues.

In 1930, he wrote in a letter: “We have come to say with the humility of one who knows himself to be a sinner and of little account (“homo peccator sum” — I am a sinful man [Luke 5:8], we say with Peter), yet with the faith of one who allows himself to be guided by the hand of God, that holiness is not reserved for a privileged few: that the Lord calls all of us, that he expects love from everyone, from everyone, wherever they may be; from everyone, whatever their state in life, their profession, or their trade.”

“For that ordinary, everyday life without pretense can be a means of holiness; there is no need to abandon one’s state in life to seek God — if the Lord has not given a soul a religious vocation — since every way of life on this earth can be an occasion for an encounter with Christ,” the founder of Opus Dei said.

What is Opus Dei?

Its official Spanish-language website defines Opus Dei as “a hierarchical institution of the Catholic Church, a personal prelature, whose purpose is to contribute to the Church’s evangelizing mission.”

“Specifically, the aim is to spread a deep awareness of the universal call to holiness and the sanctifying value of ordinary work,” the website adds.

Among the faithful who discover a “vocation to Opus Dei” and request to join, a distinction is made between numeraries, who live apostolic celibacy and are fully available for the work of the prelature; associates, who also live apostolic celibacy but whose personal, family, or professional circumstances limit that availability; and supernumeraries, whether married or single, who do not commit to celibacy. Priests incardinated in the prelature are drawn from the ranks of numeraries or associates.

According to the most recent data released by Opus Dei, around 94,450 people are part of the institution, which is present in 68 countries across five continents.

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 priority is the victim, not institutional reputation. To achieve this, it is necessary to establish how many such crimes have occurred in the past, since 11 March 1990,” the bishops said in a statement, according to a Sept. 28 Delfi report.

The investigation follows a case involving Father Tadas Švedavičius, a Catholic priest in the Archdiocese of Vilnius who was charged in connection with 34 criminal counts of child sexual abuse, possession of child pornography, and distributing alcohol to minors over the course of 20 years, the report said. The conference will consult the Holy See and Lithuanian law enforcement during the investigation.

Filipino bishops back calls to ban political dynasties

Catholic bishops in the Philippines have voiced their support for a nationwide signature campaign calling for the end of political dynasties in the country.

“Public office must never become a family inheritance. It is a public trust entrusted to the people,” Bishop Elias Ayuban Jr. of Cubao said at a launch event for the anti-dynasty initiative known as “Dapat Isa Lang” at the Obispado de Cubao in Quezon City, according to a Sept. 30 press release from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

The conference at large backed the initiative in a pastoral statement on Sept. 25, declaring: “As pastors of God’s people, we cannot remain indifferent to matters that touch the moral foundations of our society, the dignity of our people, justice, equality, and the common good. For these reasons, we support the call to enact a genuine, meaningful, and effective Anti-Political Dynasty Law that will faithfully give effect to the mandate of our Constitution.”

2 synod calls expose tensions in Syriac Catholic Church

A dispute over two proposed meetings of Syriac Catholic bishops has brought internal tensions in the Church into public view. Patriarch Ignatius Joseph III Younan called a synod for Nov. 17–20, while another invitation called bishops to meet Sept. 29–30.

The patriarchate said Church law gives Younan the first right to convene the synod and considers the separate September invitation unlawful. It has also rejected claims that the patriarch failed to call a synod in recent years, ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News, reported Sept. 30.

An unnamed source cited by ACI MENA disputed that account and questioned the timing of Younanʼs invitation. The disagreement comes amid wider tensions involving the patriarch and Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, prefect of the Vaticanʼs Dicastery for the Eastern Churches. Younan has publicly accused the cardinal of encouraging bishops to seek his removal, placing the synod dispute within a broader debate over leadership and authority in the Syriac Catholic Church.

Angolan bishop: Religious zeal must not come at expense of family responsibilities

Bishop Maurício Agostinho Camuto of Angola’s Diocese of Caxito has cautioned Catholics against religious practices that could lead them to neglect their family responsibilities.

“Jesus does not ask for spending more time in the Church than caring for the family,” Camuto said in his homily during Mass at St. Anne’s Cathedral on Sept. 27, ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, reported. “Religious involvement should not result in the abandonment of family responsibilities,” he said, citing situations in which “there are even wives whose husbands almost want to separate from them because they spend more time in the Church than at home, taking care of the family, taking care of the husband.”

The bishop further called for stronger formation and accompaniment of members of apostolic groups and movements, particularly through catechesis and participation in the sacramental life of the Church.

Japanese cardinal calls faithful to act on behalf of migrants and refugees

Cardinal Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi of Tokyo is encouraging Catholics to go beyond words and take action on behalf of migrants and refugees.

Kikuchi echoed calls from Pope Leo XIV to move from “merely managing migration” to “full and immediate protection of human rights” in a Sept. 27 reflection, according to UCA News.

The reflection came on World Day of Refugees, Migrants, and Displaced Persons on Sept. 27. Kikuchi further urged Catholics to reflect especially on the pope’s appeal for children and to ask themselves, “What can we ourselves do for ‘these little ones’?”

Protestant march in Catholic Northern Ireland town permitted; archbishops respond

The Northern Ireland Parades Commission has reversed a ruling previously prohibiting the Protestant Orange Order from marching through the Catholic majority town of Portadown for the first time in nearly three decades, according to a Sept. 30 America Magazine report.

The Sept. 27 march resulted in a clash between Protestant members of the Orange Order and protesters blocking their path from Drumcree Church, according to the report.

Addressing the tension, Archbishop Eamon Martin of the Archdiocese of Armagh and Archbishop John McDowell of the Church of Ireland in Armagh issued a joint statement following the Sept. 27 march.

“As our community faces the crisis in Drumcree today, in which so many sincere views, painful histories and important issues are at stake, we cannot think of any time in the last 30 years when this simple message needs to be more urgently heard. How can we be good neighbors to each other?” the archbishops said. “We call for the urgent creation of a constructive, inclusive and reconciling initiative to patiently find a way through this current crisis. Too much is at stake.”

Christian parliamentarian raises security concerns as coalition mission ends in Iraq

The end of the international coalitionʼs mission in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region has renewed security concerns among Christians, according to Ramy Noori Syawish, an elected Christian member of the Kurdistan Regional Parliament.

Syawish told ACI MENA Sept. 30 that the continuing threat from ISIS, armed groups outside state control, and uncontrolled weapons raises questions about the ability of Iraqi and Kurdish forces to respond to another major security crisis. He said smaller communities could be particularly vulnerable because of their declining numbers and dependence on the state for protection. He also pointed to economic hardship and irregular public-sector salaries as factors driving emigration. Syawish said the next Kurdistan Regional Government should prioritize services in Christian areas and address long-running disputes over land and property.

Religion in public life sparks debate over Syriaʼs direction

A series of incidents during the summer has fueled debate over the growing presence of religion in Syriaʼs public life.

The controversies have touched womenʼs dress, education, employment, entertainment, and the way public institutions are being run, according to a Sept. 29 report from ACI MENA. Other disputes followed a dress code directive for female government employees, the separation of male and female students at a Damascus school, and religious questions reportedly included on an employment form.

The debate has also reached the arts, while questions over some public appointments have raised concerns about whether professional qualifications or other considerations are shaping hiring decisions. Some allegations surrounding these cases remain disputed or unverified.

In an interview in the October issue of Herder Korrespondenz, Bishop Johan Bonny of Antwerp said he traveled to Rome in June to present the matter to the Dicastery for the Clergy and the General Secretariat of the Synod.

Bonny linked a possible arrangement to the Synod on Synodality’s implementation phase. “I trust that an appropriate arrangement can be found by the end of the synodal process in the fall of 2028,” Bonny said according to CNA Deutsch, the German-language sister service of EWTN News. “It would be a fatal blow to the credibility and implementation of the entire synodal process if no arrangement were reached by then.”

Bonny first outlined his plans in March. He also participated in the German Synodal Way as an observer.

At the German bishops’ plenary assembly in 2022, Bonny said that “Rome must learn to live with a healthy dose of Germanic culture.” He referred to an open style of consultation and discussion, not the ordination of married men; the address was also released as a podcast.

Confidence in Pope Leo

The Vatican has not publicly commented on Bonny’s most recent remarks or announced any decision concerning his proposal.

Bonny told the German magazine he was continuing discussions within the Belgian bishops’ conference and holding conversations with potential candidates about further formation.

He said the Flemish dioceses faced a serious shortage of priests and that any step toward ordaining married men would need the agreement of both the Belgian bishops’ conference and the Vatican.

“How this step could take place with the agreement of the bishops’ conference and the Vatican is a question for the coming months,” Bonny said.

Bonny said canonists had told him canon law offered various lawful ways to address the question, but he did not identify a specific canonical mechanism or say Vatican officials had endorsed one.

He also said his confidence rested partly on Pope Leo XIV’s exercise of his office as a bridge-builder and on conversations with bishops in several countries and continents whom he said faced similar circumstances.

Under Canon 1042 of the Code of Canon Law, a man who has a wife is impeded from receiving sacred orders except when he is legitimately destined for the permanent diaconate. A diocesan bishop cannot unilaterally set aside that impediment or introduce a different priestly-ordination discipline in his diocese.

David Long, director of the Institute for Policy Research and Catholic Studies at The Catholic University of America and a canonist, told EWTN News in March that the question of ordaining married men “does not lie within the authority of a diocesan bishop acting on his own.”

“Any current change in practice in a Latin diocese would require action by the Holy See and could not be accomplished by a unilateral decision by a diocesan bishop, no matter how pastorally urgent the circumstances may be,” he said.

In the book, he presents the apostolate founded by St. Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer in 1928 through the experiences and testimonies of some 20 members. “Opus Dei” in Latin means the “Work of God,” commonly referred to by members of the apostolate as “the Work.”

Valero has spent many years answering questions about this institution, which has nearly 100,000 members across almost 70 countries worldwide.

Speaking with ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News, he noted that “sometimes, answering the way I used to — ‘from the top down’ —  makes it harder to explain” what it actually means to belong to the Catholic Churchʼs only personal prelature.

Thus, when he was offered the chance to write the book in late 2025, he decided to tackle the challenge “from the bottom up.”

“It is the people themselves who speak about their lives. Having done it that way, I think it is far more effective, because it’s more real. Or rather, it doesn’t explain everything to you, but what it does explain, it explains very well.”

The book’s pages feature a range of members: supernumeraries (men and women with a vocation to marriage); numeraries like Valero and associates (both groups being celibate for apostolic reasons); and assistant numeraries.

The role played by this latter category of members has recently been the subject of controversy due to allegations made by 43 assistant numeraries in Argentina who claimed to have been “victims of trafficking.” Valero said his approach to this specific vocation within Opus Dei “has been a major learning experience.”

“I realized it’s not up to me to explain what that vocation is, but rather for them to explain it, and they do so very well. I was deeply impressed,” explained the spokesman, who has included the testimonies of two assistant numeraries in his book. “One at the beginning and one at the end. To make it clear that this is very important within the Work,” he indicated.

‘It’s a privilege to speak about the things I love’

Throughout his work in communications for Opus Dei as an institution, Valero has navigated periods of intense media activity, such as during Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to the United Kingdom or the release of books like “The Da Vinci Code.”

In the first chapter of the book, where he recounts his own vocation, he notes that Opus Dei “doesn’t promote a political program or a structured project to transform society.” During the conversation with ACI Prensa, he added that the Work “has no program to improve the world, but rather to improve people.”

He further noted: “We have many formation programs to help people become like Jesus Christ — to be in the world, respond to God, sanctify everyday realities, etc., and to encourage and inspire them so that they change the world.”

Thus, Valero argued, trusting in the use of freedom, they can work together on their initiatives to change the world. “It’s an idea we need to develop further because, obviously, we haven’t communicated it entirely well, as many people don’t understand it. We need to communicate better about that.”

Reforming the statutes: ‘The Work changes with the Church’

With the centennial of the founding of Opus Dei approaching in two years, the prelature is undertaking the process of modifying its statutes, as directed by Pope Francis in the 2022 motu proprio Ad Charisma Tuendum.

In June 2025, Opus Dei submitted a proposal for modification and is awaiting the decision of Pope Leo XIV.

“They say the Church is ‘semper reformanda’ [‘always reforming’]. The world changes, the Church changes, and the Work changes along with the Church, because the Work is part of the Church,” Valero explained.

He acknowledged that within the institution, “the way directors govern today is very different from how things were done 40 years ago.”

“Governance in the Work is about accompanying and supporting people. It’s not about giving them orders. I haven’t given any order nor received any order,” he emphasized.

Regarding the statutory reform, the spokesman stated that “we are seeking to refine the legal framework” with the same spirit that guided its founder in the beginning: “Everything that comes from God through the Holy See, we accept with great love. We see that it’s something that God wants and that gives us great peace.”

“We want to imitate Christ and sanctify the world and bring Godʼs love to people. That’s what we are doing now. If the legal framework needs to be changed in some way, well, thatʼs what needs to be done, and thereʼs no problem with that,” he added.

Reality versus myths

Finally, Valero expressed his hope that the book would be read by Opus Dei members “to appreciate the variety of ways this vocation is lived out” and also by others “so that they might see, instead of the abstract myths they have heard about, the reality of the people themselves.”

“I am really hopeful that many people will read it and that this will lead to a greater understanding of what Opus Dei is,” he concluded.

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 Oct. 1 opinion from Laila Medina, the advocate general at the Court of Justice of the European Union, could prove decisive in a dispute between the Catholic Church and European leaders over whether or not baptismal records can be preserved in Church registers.

The Court of Justice is currently considering the case, which was brought by the Brussels Court of Appeal and which asked for clarification about whether the Diocese of Ghent’s refusal to erase names from baptismal records when requested is in violation of Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation.

Catholic leadership has expressed strong concerns over the issue. The Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Union said in September that baptismal records are not merely a “list of members” of the Church but rather serve as a “record of historical events.”

Allowing baptismal record erasures would “constitute an infringement on the substance of the sacrament” and would “seriously impede” the functioning of the Church, the bishops said.

Pope Leo XIV has also expressed concern in the debate, having reportedly told the European bishops in May 2025 that he “considers the issue very important.”

In her Oct. 1 opinion, which is nonbinding on the justice court, Medina said European data rules apply to the case and that the “data processing in question,” i.e. the baptismal records, “must be in line” with those rules.

The Catholic Church must demonstrate “compelling legitimate grounds” for retaining someone’s name in the baptismal records after the person rejects, Medina said.

The Ghent Diocese had originally responded to the individual’s deletion request by striking through his name but still retaining his entry in a legible form. That measure, Medina said, “does not constitute erasure” under European data rules.

“The data must be rendered illegible to the extent necessary to ensure that the person is no longer identified or easily identifiable,” she said. She argued that “information concerning the fact that a baptism took place at a given place and time may be retained.”

Medina acknowledged that the issue was “complex” and that the European court must make a “case-by-case assessment” regarding such data disputes.

Though the report is nonbinding, advocate general opinions often help shape the outcome of cases in European courts. The Oct. 1 document noted that the judges are “now beginning their deliberations” in the case. A ruling is expected later in 2026 or in 2027.

In September the European bishops told the court that baptismal registers do not “bear witness to the faith of individual persons” but rather serve as a “fundamental evidentiary instrument” that in part helps the Church manage its other records related to marriage and confirmation.

Requiring the deletion of baptismal data, the bishops said, would dictate that the Church “adapt to [a person’s] feelings or opinions” in how it understands baptismal records.

This would require a shift in “theological reflection,” they said, which is “protected by Church autonomy.”

Here are some fascinating facts to know about St. Francis, the Franciscan order he founded, and the Blessed Mother:

• St. Francis had a vision where he saw his friars try to reach Christ by a steep red ladder, but they kept falling off. Then Jesus showed him a second, less steep, white ladder that had Our Lady at the top. He told Francis: “Advise your sons to go by the ladder of my mother.”
• Many have given testimony stating St. Francis was one of the strongest Marian devotees in Church history. Servant of God Thomas of Celano, one of Francis’ friars, said that Francis’ love for the Blessed Virgin was beyond words, “inexpressible … for it was she who made the Lord of Majesty our brother.”
• St. Francis made the Blessed Mother the patroness and queen of the Friars Minor. St. Bonaventure, one of Francis’ early biographers, wrote that Francis placed himself and his order under the protection and guidance of Mary for all time: “On one side we should show Mary in all her poverty of Bethlehem placing the most sweet son of God upon the rough straw of the manger. In the other half of our painting, we would portray Mary, the Immaculate Mother of God, and Queen of the Seraphic Order, in the chapel of Mary of the Angels stretching forth her arms in motherly protection over all her Franciscan sons and daughters.”
• It was one of St. Francis’ followers who was instrumental in the proclamation of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The writings of Blessed John Duns Scotus (d. 1308), one of the greatest Franciscan theologians, led the Church in part to proclaim the dogma of the Immaculate Conception in 1854.
• Praying with counted beads was a common method of meditation from the earliest centuries of the Church. Although we don’t have written proof that St. Francis prayed the rosary founded by St. Dominic, we do know that St. Dominic and St. Francis were contemporaries, and so it may be very probable he would know and pray it.

St. Francis’ devotion to the Blessed Mother is summarized beautifully in his “Salutation to the Blessed Virgin Mary”:

Hail, O Lady,
Mary, holy Mother of God:
you are the Virgin made Church
and the one chosen by the
most holy Father in heaven
whom he consecrated
with his most holy beloved Son
and with the Holy Spirit the Paraclete,
in whom there was and is
the fullness of grace and every good.
Hail his palace!
Hail his tabernacle!
Hail his home!
Hail his robe!
Hail his servant!
Hail his mother!

And hail all you holy virtues which through the grace and light of the Holy Spirit are poured into the hearts of the faithful so that from their faithless state you may make them faithful to God. Amen.

St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us!

The Carmelite nun, patron saint of missions, and the youngest doctor of the Church died at the age of 24 and was canonized in 1925 by Pope Pius XI. She was declared the second patron saint of France in 1944, during the Battle of Normandy, by Pope Pius XII.

The town of Lisieux, a 90-minute train ride from Paris, is where Thérèse spent her entire religious life. It is the second most visited pilgrimage destination in France, after Lourdes, with over 2 million pilgrims every year.

Last year, in Pope Leo XIV’s message on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the canonization of St. Thérèse’s parents, Louis and Zélie Martin, he called the faithful to “put Jesus at the centre of your families, your activities, and your choices. Help your children discover His boundless love and tenderness, and strive to make them love Him in return as He deserves: this is the great lesson that Louis and Zélie teach us today, and which the Church and the world so urgently need. How could Thérèse have loved Jesus and Mary so much — and then passed on such a beautiful doctrine to us — if she had not learned it from her saintly parents from an early age?”

Thérèse lost her mother when she was just 4 years old and endured periods of illness and intense emotional sensitivity as a child. At 14, however, she experienced a moment of spiritual transformation where she received a special grace from God.

In France, young children left their shoes by the hearth at Christmas, and parents would fill them with gifts. But her sister Celine didnʼt want Thérèse to grow up, so they continued to place gifts in “baby” Thérèseʼs shoes. As she and Celine climbed the stairs to take off their hats their fatherʼs voice rose from the parlor below. Standing over the shoes, he said: “Thank goodness thatʼs the last time we shall have this kind of thing!” Thérèse froze, and her sister looked at her helplessly, knowing that in a few minutes she would be in tears over what their father had said.

But the tantrum never came. A special grace came over Thérèse as Jesus had done what she could not do herself. She swallowed her tears, walked slowly down the stairs, and went over the gifts in the shoes, as if she had never heard a word her father said. In her autobiography, “Story of Soul,” she referred to that Christmas as her “conversion.”

From childish to childlike

In his book “The Way of Trust and Love,” French priest Jacques Philippe explores St. Thérèse of Lisieuxʼs “Little Way” to holiness. He recalls that “through seemingly insignificant events, God can heal us deeply. Sometimes we feel a call from the Lord to step outside ourselves, to take a step forward, to become more mature, more free. There are times in life when we dwell on our immaturity, our complaints, our laments, our dependencies, and then suddenly one day we are given grace, a gift from God, but one that also calls upon our freedom. There is a choice to be made; it is both healing and conversion: freedom must choose to perform an act of courage.”

He then later proposes: “Let us then ask God this question: What is the ‘yes’ you are asking of me today? What is the small act of courage and trust you are asking me to do today?”

For St. Thérèse, it was about overcoming her emotional sensitivity. For others, it might be learning to control their tongue, be more optimistic, or manage their temper.

A ‘Little Way’ for everyone

From the very beginning of her life, Thérèse desired to be a saint; still, when she entered the convent, she also thought how inaccessible and unrealizable it was when she compared herself to others.

And here, perhaps, is where we can learn one of her most powerful teachings: never lose courage.

She goes on: “Instead of being discouraged, I told myself: God would not make me wish for something impossible and so, in spite of my littleness, I can aim at being a saint. It is impossible for me to grow bigger, so I put up with myself as I am, with all my countless faults. But I will look for some means of going to heaven by a little way which is very short and very straight, a little way that is quite new … It is your arms, Jesus, which are the lift to carry me to heaven, and so there is no need for me to grow up. In fact, just the opposite: I must stay little and become less and less.”

But by “little,” Thérèse does not suggest we think of ourselves as of small value; instead, she reminds us of an unchanging truth: We are children of God.

As St. John Paul II on his apostolic trip to France in June 1980 recalled: “There is something unique about it, a characteristic of St. Thérèse of Lisieux. In it, one finds both the confirmation and the renewal of the most fundamental and universal truth. What truth in the Gospel message is more fundamental and universal than this: God is our Father, and we are his children?”

And like children who trust, even if thrown into the air, in the safety of returning to their parents' arms, we must trust in the providence of our Father, with a deep knowledge of his unlimited and unconditional love for us: “In truth I tell you, unless you change and become like little children you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 18:3).

A missionary without ever leaving home

Proclaimed the patron saint of missionaries for her support of the missions through constant prayer and sacrifice despite being a cloistered nun who never left her convent, she said: “My strength lies in prayer and sacrifice; they are invincible weapons, and touch hearts more surely than words can do, as I have learned by experience.”

To many, even in the convent, she seemed like an average, ordinary person. Her greatness showed in the constancy of her love for others in the simplest ways. Perhaps some of the missionary work we are called to do today doesn’t necessarily begin externally but within our hearts. As the saint herself wrote: “A word, a kindly smile, will often suffice to gladden a wounded and sorrowful heart.”

Thérèse also found strength in Scripture: “But above all it is the Gospels that occupy me during my prayers; in them I find everything that is necessary for my poor little soul. I constantly discover in them new lights, hidden and mysterious meanings.”

Her life was characterized by austerity, far from recognition and noise from the world. She died anonymously in 1897 at the young age of 24, and no more than 30 people attended her funeral.

This saint’s life and journal is a legacy for all who want to learn a simple and practical approach toward their relationship with God. Her advice is for everyone: “Miss no single opportunity of making some small sacrifice, here by a smiling look, there by a kindly word; always doing the smallest right and doing it all for love.”

Without them, he warned, the Church would become “a mere federation of individual communities, or even a Christian-flavored NGO [nongovernmental organization],” CNA Deutsch, the German-language sister service of EWTN News, reported.

Archbishop Hubertus van Megen, the apostolic nuncio, spoke at the opening of the German bishops' conference fall plenary assembly in Fulda, which runs through Oct. 1.

The bishops' conference published the full address.

“The Catholic Church rests on two great pillars of its visible unity — the Petrine ministry and the Eucharist,” van Megen told the German bishops on Sept. 28. “The pope safeguards the unity of faith and ecclesial communion, while the Eucharist sacramentally realizes and nourishes this unity.”

The Eucharist “is not merely a symbol of unity,” van Megen said, but “actually creates and strengthens the communion of the Church.” The popeʼs ministry, he added, “is not an end in itself.” Its task is “to protect and foster that communion which finds its highest expression in the celebration of the Eucharist.”

The Dutch prelate cautioned that the two do not guarantee unity “in a purely organizational or mechanical sense.” Still, he said Christ “has given his Church enduring means through which its unity can be preserved and continually renewed.”

Speaking “as a representative of the Holy See,” the nuncio called Rome “the visible center and the guarantor of the unity of the universal Church, to which the Church in Germany also belongs.” He noted that the Church in Africa differs from the Church in Europe and that “no local Church is more or less a Church than another.”

Van Megen said synodality “can never be the concern of individual groups alone, while others are left behind.” He closed by telling the bishops that “where we remain in communion with him, where we listen to one another, where we preserve unity with the universal Church and the successor of Peter — there the Holy Spirit can open up new paths.”

The gathering in Fulda, in the central German state of Hesse, is also taking up life-protection questions and discussing artificial intelligence.

At a Sept. 29 press conference, Bishop Franz-Josef Overbeck of Essen said the Church “clearly” rejects legalizing surrogacy, arguing that it makes the child “the object of a contract among adults,” CNA Deutsch reported.

Auxiliary Bishop Anton Losinger of Augsburg warned that gene editing and prenatal genetic testing raise questions about the dignity of people with disabilities.

A question of ‘power’

Five days earlier, in an interview with katholisch.de, a portal run on behalf of the German bishops' conference, van Megen said his “impression is that Germans often want too much, too quickly.” He called the word “power,” common in documents of the controversial Synodal Way, “almost dangerous,” and said he hoped to travel to Rome at the end of October.

The Vatican has been reviewing the bylaws of the Synodal Conference, a planned permanent body meant to implement the Synodal Way, since late March.

The Roman Curia and the German bishops have held talks on its statute since 2025.

A solemn Mass will be celebrated by Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi, archbishop of Bologna and president of the Italian Bishops’ Conference, with Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, the papal legate for the basilicas of Assisi, in attendance, Vatican News reported.

Activities surrounding the anniversary began on Sept. 24 and will run until Oct. 5. In addition to liturgical celebrations, cultural events and various charitable initiatives are being celebrated — among them the traditional procession dedicated to the saint at the Porziuncola.

One of the key moments will be the “Transitus,” the observance commemorating St. Francis' final hours before his death.

The new bishop of Assisi, Felice Accrocca, noted that the figure of the saint continues to spark wide interest.

“St. Francis continues to fascinate people from all continents and cultures, thanks to his radical interpretation of the Gospel and his vision of society rooted in peace, fraternity, and hope,” he noted.

According to the prelate, many of the concerns Francis addressed during his lifetime remain relevant today. “Francis is, in fact, ahead of us,” he stated, referring to interfaith dialogue, the pursuit of peace, and care for our common home.

“His vision continues to inspire and challenge us,” he added.

A remembrance that looks to the future

For Accrocca, the anniversary is not merely about looking to the past.

Speaking to Vatican Media, he described the celebrations as a journey “between remembrance and the future.” Remembering Francis, he explained, can offer keys to understanding the present moment.

Accrocca highlighted that the saint’s teachings remain relevant because they constitute “a radical interpretation of the Gospel.”

A city that continues to welcome pilgrims

The October celebrations follow months of intense activity in Assisi.

Between February and March, the exposition of the mortal remains of St. Francis drew nearly 400,000 pilgrims, according to data presented at a press conference reported by Vatican News.

Fraternity will be another theme of the anniversary. Friar Marco Moroni, custos of the Sacred Convent of St. Francis, noted that the saint himself spoke of his brothers as a gift received from God.

“The Lord gave me brothers,” recalled Friar Moroni, quoting the Testament of St. Francis.

The friar explained that the Sacred Convent currently brings together more than 50 friars from some 20 different countries. For him, this life shared by people of diverse cultures demonstrates that fraternity, while not always easy, can be lived out in practice.

“It is also possible in the world,” he affirmed.

The events in October will also hold special significance as they coincide with the 40th anniversary of the interfaith gathering for peace convened by St. John Paul II in Assisi in 1986.

On that occasion, representatives of various religions came together to pray for peace. Four decades later, the anniversary of St. Francis’ death will once again place Assisi at the center of a gathering centered on that same theme.

The life and person of the saint has continued to impact new generations of Catholics. Among them is Carlo Acutis, who, although not from Assisi, asked to be buried there.

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.

“No matter what happened, we must overcome the evil that happened here, in our abbey, with goodness, love, and forgiveness,” Father Adrian Mantykiewicz told the congregation during his Sept. 26 homily at the Benedictine Abbey in Jarosław, Poland, where the knife attack had occurred two days earlier.

“Therefore, I ask you to forgive, because it has affected all of you,” he said, according to a transcript published by the Polish Jesuit news website DEON.pl.

Police arrested a 31-year-old Ukrainian man for the attack, which killed one priest and sent four other people to the hospital. Father Stanislaw Zbojniewicz died at the hospital from his injuries, and Father Marek Pienkowski remains in serious condition in the hospital.

Mantykiewicz told people not to blame the Ukrainian people because only one single person is responsible for the attack. He noted the convent — which is in a small town near the border with Ukraine — has provided support for many people who fled the Russia-Ukraine war.

“From this place, I also want to ask you not to blame the nation from which the torturer belonged, because the evil was committed by a specific person, a specific person who has a name, a life, and is responsible for his actions,” he said. “Other people did not do this. This was one, unique person.”

Mantykiewicz said he speaks in his own name and in the names of Zbojniewicz and Pienkowski when he says “very emphatically that we forgive and we ask you to pray for us.”

“For prayers for Father Stanislaw [Zbojniewicz], for the peace of his soul, for the health of Father Marek [Pienkowski], who is still fighting for his life in the hospital, and for me, that I may return to my duties as soon as possible and continue to serve you here,” he said.

The priest also asked people to pray for the attacker, specifically for “the grace of conversion,” saying “he needs this prayer the most.” He asked “not to respond to evil with evil but with love, support, understanding, and care” and to respect all people in the abbey, in the community, and in the country, including respect for Ukrainian refugees.

Mantykiewicz said in his homily that “this sermon is difficult for me,” but he said first and foremost, “I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, I am a disciple of my Master, I am a disciple of my Lord, and Christ teaches me to love.”

“Love that allowed itself to be crucified,” he said. “Love that gave its life for its enemies. Such is my Lord and Master. And I am his servant.”

According to prosecutors, a man identified as Ihor M. faced charges for the attack. According to a statement, the investigation is ongoing, but he was charged with murder, attempted murder, and causing serious injury to victims.

The suspect is receiving medical care, and prosecutors requested a public defender for him. He was appointed a Ukrainian translator.

Families, students, and older people joined a warmly spirited program of personal testimonies, hopeful speeches, and musical performances celebrating life.

The march took place amid continuing political debate in Lithuania over family policy and declining birth rates. Lawmakers also remain divided over reproductive legislation, including access to abortion and in vitro fertilization.

Organizers stressed that the event sought to move beyond abstract slogans and political declarations by focusing on the realities of family life. Speakers addressed motherhood, fatherhood, and the challenges posed by child loss, disability, illness, and old age.

Throughout the march, participants and speakers affirmed the equal dignity of every person — especially unborn children — regardless of health, age, or ethnicity.

Saulius Karosas, a father, illustrated that conviction by describing how welcoming children with special needs reshaped his family’s outlook. After their fourth child, Iva, was born with Down syndrome, the family adopted Motiejus, a boy with the same condition. Karosas said embracing the children transformed the family’s understanding of human worth and beauty and how they recognize the value of others.

Courage and perseverance

The event also drew pro-life advocates from across Europe and the Americas. Featured speakers included Agnese Irbe, OFS, founder of Latvia’s Peripatos Philosophers’ Association; Marcin Perłowski, director of the Polish pro-life foundation Centrum Życia i Rodziny; and Patricia Sandoval, an international pro-life speaker and co-host of EWTN’s “Informe Provida.”

Sandoval described the Vilnius march as deeply moving. “I was impressed by the zeal of the youth that attended the march,” she told EWTN News, noting that they were “on the front line.” She recalled the peaceful atmosphere, in which participants sang “hymns and songs of joy,” and praised the event as “very well organized.”

Sandoval, who shared her testimony of undergoing three abortions and later working for Planned Parenthood, said speaking in Vilnius held particular significance. “Vilnius is the city of mercy,” she said, describing the opportunity to share her story as “a very emotional and very exciting moment.”

Offering spiritual encouragement to participants, Sandoval urged advocates to remain strong regardless of political outcomes. “Remain steadfast, persevere, and be faithful to do his will,” she said.

From Christian witness to practical help

Speaking to EWTN News, Archbishop Gintaras Grušas of Vilnius said he hoped the event would help “a culture of life grow in Lithuania” — one in which every “human being is welcomed as a gift from the very beginning of life.”

For Grušas, that culture must be experienced concretely. “I would be especially glad to see a practical change,” he said, so that “a woman who feels anxious about her pregnancy knows where to turn, finds someone who will listen, and receives the support she needs.” He also said he hoped “families feel supported by their communities, employers, and public institutions.”

“We build a culture of life through many everyday decisions,” he said. In a city known as the “City of Mercy,” he added: “I hope mothers, children, and families will increasingly experience that mercy here.”

The archbishop also pointed to the responsibility of men. “A man’s steady presence can make an enormous difference,” he said, describing fatherhood as beginning before a child is born through “supporting the mother, listening to her, sharing her concerns, and preparing together to welcome the child.”

Grušas cited St. Joseph as a model of quiet responsibility. “He speaks no words in the Gospels, yet his care for Mary and Jesus is unmistakable.”

He described the march as “Christian witness with a civic dimension,” saying Catholics can participate in public life while seeking the common good. “We must keep in view both the dignity of the unborn child and the real needs of the mother,” he said, calling for public conversation “grounded in respect and followed by practical help.”

Builders of a culture of life

Archbishop Kęstutis Kėvalas of Kaunas told EWTN News at the march that building a culture of life requires men to embrace their roles as “fathers, leaders, and providers.” He urged them to take an active part in their children’s religious upbringing and formation.

That responsibility, he said, belongs to every Christian. Too often, people assume that “somebody else will do this” rather than recognize that “we are the people who need to take personal responsibility in creating the culture of life.”

For Kėvalas, this means fostering “prayer groups, family movements, and also the consciousness of the culture of life.” Christians, he added, are called to become “collaborators of God” in transmitting life and the Gospel of Life.

Asked what most threatens a culture of life, the archbishop pointed beyond individual social trends to “the faith problem.” The deeper question, he said, is whether people understand that “we are given the gift of life” and are called to give others “the possibility of life.”

He also warned against a materialistic mindset in which families “count the cost” of having children primarily in material terms. Greater trust in God, he said, can foster “a culture of trust and encouragement.”

Ultimately, he called Catholics to reject passivity. “We need to be not those who are just looking or observing life, but ones creating life and building the culture,” he said. He compared this vocation to that of the builders of medieval cathedrals, who laid foundations they would never see completed, trusting that their work would contribute to “a beautiful creation.”

Last update on Sept. 30, 2026, with official number of participants.

Among them will be a 27-year-old woman who will attend alongside a group of Cistercian nuns, hoping the visit will confirm the call to contemplative life she has felt since returning to the faith during the COVID-19 crisis. 

It is no coincidence that Yohanna, a sign-language interpreter for deaf people, has chosen Lourdes to mark this new beginning after years of volunteering with people with disabilities. It is a few dozen miles from here, at the Abbey of Sainte-Marie de Boulaur, one of the strongholds of monastic renewal in France, that her vocation took shape. And it is to join this community as an aspirant that she quit her job in Paris, just in time not to miss the Holy Father’s visit.

Her story reflects a broader generational movement in France, where adult baptisms reached a new record this year, driven largely by young adults. 

‘I wanted to give God everything’

But Yohanna’s story is a singular testament to divine grace. Placed in foster care at the age of 4, she grew up far from any religious practice in a life marked early on by bereavement and solitude.

Like so many of her generation, she first went looking for answers in the spiritual movements close to the New Age that flourish among young French people — an exploration that left its mark, literally, in the tattoos she still carries. She evokes these wanderings today with a smile rather than regret, for it was through them, she believes, that she eventually found her way back to God.

That way opened in the spring of 2020, in a university residence emptied by the first COVID-19 lockdown.

“All the students had left, and it felt a bit like the end of the world,” she recalled. “I had nothing; I had no one. And suddenly there was this thought of God that took hold of me. I became really eager to know more about him.”

She began learning how to pray through online resources and quickly made prayer part of her daily life. Once the lockdown was lifted, she developed a taste for stepping into every church she encountered to pray alone, while avoiding Masses, since she didn’t know any of the customs. The turning point came in 2023, when she moved to Paris and walked into a church on a weekday, just as a Mass was beginning.

“I didn’t even know there was a consecration, although it is the heart of the Catholic Mass. But I spent that whole celebration crying at the back of the church,” she remembered. “And at the end I said to the Lord: OK, I’ve understood. Now I want to give you everything, really everything, my whole life. Do what you want with me. And from that moment on, everything changed.”

After settling in a parish in Paris’s 10th arrondissement, she undertook a period of catechetical formation and received the sacrament of confirmation.

During the National Pilgrimage each August, she serves as an interpreter for deaf-blind pilgrims — an experience that transformed her understanding of the sanctuary. “The real miracle of Lourdes,” she said, “is perhaps simply that we all end up together.”

Her conversion was followed by the call to consecrated life almost immediately, but she was determined not to rush her decision, having been warned that new converts “might be very enthusiastic and immediately think of consecrated life, only to give it up quickly.”

An unexpected call

Guided by her parish priest and the vocations service of the Archdiocese of Paris, she began discerning with apostolic sisters, cloistered life being the last thing on her mind. “Given my personal background, I had enormous clichés about monastic life,” she said. “I imagined all sorts of old-fashioned things.”

It was in the middle of a difficult university year, at the end of December 2024, that she first went to the Cistercian abbey of Boulaur, simply because she “had always heard that monasteries were a good place to rest and get some air.” She has returned every holiday since. When the sisters offered her a stay inside the enclosure, she accepted with the thought that it would only confirm her prejudices.

“I thought that going inside the cloister for the first time would help me understand that this was not my path at all, and that would settle it,” she said. “But when I experienced the cloister for the first time, it was incredible. I felt completely in my place.”

“The Lord knows us better than we know ourselves,” she continued. “Sometimes he leads us to things that at first seem absurd, and afterward you realize that it fits perfectly.”

At the 2025 Jubilee of Youth in Rome, she encountered the universal Church for the first time among thousands of young people “so different from each other, and all there for the Lord.” That experience now shapes her expectations for Leo’s visit to a France witnessing record numbers of adult baptisms. 

Reflecting on the pope’s forthcoming visit to Lourdes, which Bishop Jean-Marc Micas of Tarbes and Lourdes has described as that of “a simple pilgrim,” she said: “Pope Leo knows what is happening in our country, and I’m sure his words will help us on our way.” The official program already includes a special prayer for France, asking the Virgin Mary for the renewal of Christian families and the flourishing of vocations, “especially priestly and religious.”

Yohanna’s own vocation initially alarmed her foster parents. But faced with her perseverance and joy, they agreed to drive her to Boulaur themselves, giving them an opportunity to meet the sisters and discover the life she is preparing to embrace. From there, they will travel together to Lourdes for the pope’s visit.

“It will be a chance for them to meet the sisters and to see what a monastery really is, not just what people imagine,” she said. “That’s already a big step.”

Her aspirancy, the first step on the long road to the novitiate, is to last until June. She said her heart is “completely open” to what it will reveal. “If God calls me there, I’ll be so happy that I’ll offer him a big yes, with all my heart.”

That text, which was translated by English monk Nicholas Love from a 14th-century devotional work, enjoyed immense popularity among English Catholics in the years leading up to the Reformation; a few hundred surviving manuscripts attest to the public’s love of the book.

One incomplete manuscript of the work, meanwhile, has finally been reunited with several long-lost pages thanks to recent work by English researchers Katie Walter and James Wade.

The two professors, who teach at the University of Sussex and Girton College at the University of Cambridge, respectively, recently published their findings in the journal Notes and Queries in which they detailed what Wade described as their successful effort to “piece together the history” of the manuscript.

Wade told EWTN News that it was known for years that the East Sussex public records office held fragments of a “Mirror” manuscript, though “no one knew where.”

The researchers eventually identified the manuscript pages in the archive. Further investigation revealed that a fuller “Mirror” manuscript held at the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Yale University was missing those exact pages.

That copy in the Beinecke archive had been known to scholars for years as having been owned by John Gage. A royal courtier in Tudor-era England, Gage’s life was “almost cut in half by the English Reformation,” Wade said.

“Half of his life he spent as a Catholic who was considered orthodox by the Church and the state,” Wade said. “After the Reformation, he remained a Catholic and he didn’t convert.”

Such individuals were known as “recusants.” Wade said that though Gage lived in post-Reformation England the rest of his life, he “refused to convert, he lived his life, didn’t go into exile, wasn’t executed, and didn’t lose his job.”

Gage is a notable historic figure, Wade said, in no small part because he worked for the king even as a practicing Catholic.

“There were plenty of people at the time of the Reformation who kept their Catholic faith,” the researcher said. “But Gage was an administrator who was tasked with orchestrating the dissolution of the monasteries, which meant physically going into monastic houses and basically claiming all their properties for the Crown.”

The “Mirror” manuscript is the only book historians can verify that Gage actually owned, Wade said. It likely came into his possession at the time of the dissolution of the monasteries.

The book would have been seen as heretical in post-Reformation England, as it affirms the validity of numerous sacraments including confession and the Eucharist.

Gage’s signature is found in the manuscript, along with the names of two nuns who historians think owned the book prior to it coming into Gage’s possession.

The book stands as a testament not just to its popularity during the time of its publication but also to Gage’s faith during a period of extraordinary persecution of the Church — a persecution in which Gage himself took some part even as he maintained that faith.

Wade told the University of Cambridge that Gage may have gone to a monastic library and brought the book home. “Another [possibility] is that someone else smuggled it out, and it briefly circulated from hand to hand until Gage acquired it.”

“The key thing is,” Wade said, “he kept it safe when he was meant to destroy books precisely like this one.”

Patrick Vinuales, owner of Hôtels Vinuales — the largest hotel chain in Lourdes — told EWTN News: “The average number of people who would be staying in Lourdes is roughly 20,000. But for the Sunday Mass, there will be something like 150,000 people. We expect altogether an attendance of nearly a quarter of a million people over the weekend.”

“What I think is very important is the enthusiasm of people. A lot of people have been calling us saying even if they couldnʼt come, they were so happy for the pope to come to Lourdes, to reveal more about the message of Our Lady to Bernadette,” he told EWTN News.

Tourism is a big business in Lourdes. The town is widely considered to be the area with the highest concentration of hotels in France outside of Paris — rather unusual for a town with a population of 10,000. Hotel owners have been making the most of the increase in numbers.

Joseph Tedesco, owner of the Grand Hôtel Moderne, built in 1896 by the nephew of St. Bernadette, told EWTN News: “Everybody increased their prices… We made a huge effort to welcome individuals, because usually itʼs mostly big dioceses… but this event made more individuals come and thatʼs a completely different type of business.”

For the major ceremonies, tourists will need to have registered in advance, or they won’t be allowed into the sanctuary. “The biggest challenge is the people who organized the pilgrimage before they knew the pope was coming. There are a lot of people who donʼt have their ticket,” he said. “Our hotel is in the red area, so it wonʼt be accessible [by car].”

Pope John Paul II visited Lourdes in 1983 and 2004. In 2007, Pope Benedict XVI visited, which Tedesco recalls. “Two months after I bought the hotel 18 years ago, Pope Benedict XVI arrived… We didnʼt have all this security for sure. But thatʼs maybe because we didnʼt have the geopolitical problem that we have today.”

“This visit is, first and foremost, a visit by the Successor of Peter to strengthen his brothers in the faith and to address our society as a whole,” said Bishop Jean-Marc Micas of Tarbes and Lourdes.

During this visit, Pope Leo will pray at the grotto and take part in the torchlight procession, meet with bishops of the French Episcopal Conference, celebrate Holy Mass, and meet the staff and sick community at Accueil Notre Dame, the main hospital for sick pilgrims.

He also will meet privately with seven survivors of sexual abuse in the Church — a major focus for critics who argue the Church hasn’t confronted the problem fully.

The visit also marks an increase in the number of attendees on organized pilgrimage groups. Most visitors to Lourdes come as part of an organized group, often with their local diocese.

Caroline Trainor, a Lourdes organizer for Joe Walsh Tours, told EWTN News she had seen a huge increase in sign-ups. “When they heard that the pope was visiting, they were signing up to come back to be here over the weekend,” she said. “So thatʼs really positive for the future because it brings Lourdes back into the spotlight… Even coming in this morning, you can kind of feel this little ripple of excitement.”

Lourdes’ story can be traced back to 1858, when St. Bernadette Soubirous, a 14-year-old peasant girl, had apparitions of Our Lady in a small cave. A shrine was built there, and the Pyrenean town became a pilgrimage site known for its miraculous healings.

Paul Eaton, president of Ireland’s national Carmelite pilgrimage, told EWTN News: “It’s just electrifying. You really have to come here to experience it. It’s just something else… weʼre so blessed to have this honor.”

“When the news first came out, we thought ‘this is not happening!’ That increased our numbers, which was fantastic… Weʼre very lucky because we have an awful lot of the same people that come with us every year who are actually hooked... They love Lourdes. They really, really do.”

Michael Murphy has been coming on pilgrimage to Lourdes for 19 years. He told EWTN News: “Thereʼs a draw that continually brings me back. Itʼs difficult to explain. Itʼs just the serenity and the atmosphere. For the dates and to align with the pope as well, it just made it extra special.”

Organized pilgrimages to Lourdes often have two sides. Pilgrims can either join as someone in need of assistance or as a volunteer. Those with learning or physical disabilities spend the week being assisted by volunteers, who help them with their daily needs.

Clíona, a first-time pilgrim, told EWTN News: “I heard people describing Lourdes before, but I never expected it just to be like this. Thereʼs something about it. Itʼs like a magical place.”

“Itʼs a different experience than Iʼve ever experienced before,” Harry Lynch, another first-time pilgrim, told EWTN News. “I wasnʼt expecting it to be this busy. Everyoneʼs very excited about everything thatʼs about to happen.”

Martin has been visiting Lourdes for 20 years from Ireland. He told EWTN News: “Weʼve got more youth coming now than we had years ago, which is great. With the visit of the pope, we’re getting two trips in one! Thereʼs so much excitement, so much talk about it, and itʼs a great thing for everyone. Some people donʼt get the chance to go to Rome, so they’re getting a real run for their money this year.”

The visit is expected to provide a huge boost to Lourdes’ economy. Natasha Afonso, a local souvenir shop owner, told EWTN News: “When tourists found out the pope was coming, many delayed their trips to align the dates. So, we lost a lot of business in the middle [of the] season, but now it’s growing again.”

“Lourdes is known for its miracles, so it’s good for the publicity, for the young people, and the new generations to come.”

The same study also found that in Spain specifically, the percentage of couples marrying in the Catholic Church is down 83% since 1975.

To address the high divorce rate, the Family Guidance Center (COF, by its Spanish acronym) of the Diocese of Cuenca has developed the Niño equilibrista (Child Equilibrist) program which, following a mutual support group model, provides care for the children of separated and divorced parents.

Marta Guillén Tena, director of the COF, explained in an interview with ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News, that the program’s name alludes to the “balancing of loyalties” that a child must deal with when their parents separate, a process that also often involves a legal dispute in which the child is caught in the middle.

“They need to have enough freedom and awareness to know that they can love both their father and their mother equally,” she noted. The children “basically need to feel heard and have their pain acknowledged,” as well as to convey to them that their parents, “come what may, will always be their parents.”

The situation of these children poses a challenge for the Church, given that it preaches the sanctity of marriage and its indivisible unity. What the children go through also presents difficulties when it comes to explaining to them the concept of God the Father.

“Child Equilibrist,” Guillén added, is a broad concept that also refers to adolescents, young people, and even adults who “can identify that child equilibrist that they carry in their hearts.”

‘It seems like they don’t notice, but they do’

The origins of the project lie in a common response from parents seeking help at the Cuenca Family Counseling Center (COF) when they are asked about their children. “What the parents conveyed to us was that their children were doing fine,” the director explained.

However, the reality is that “children, it seems like they don’t notice, but they do” pick up on what is happening around them, which is why the center launched this special, year-long program.

The program is designed to provide these children with tools to communicate with their parents, peers, and other key figures such as grandparents, teachers, or catechists. They are taught to distinguish between what happens within their family and what defines them as individuals.

‘No one is going to judge them’

Teresa Sarabia, coordinator of the Cuenca Family Guidance Center and the program itself, explained that the children are also helped to “understand the grieving process and what they are going through,” to manage their emotions, and to address their relationship with God and the concept of forgiveness, “since they sometimes waver between assigning blame and forgiveness,” Sarabia indicated.

“This is a setting of absolute confidentiality where all the children and their parents are free to express themselves openly. No one will judge them. We welcome them with authenticity and sincerity — nothing is feigned. We do this out of love, for the greater glory of God, not for our own greater glory,” Guillén explained.

For the time being, the program involves adult children partly because, at times, one parent will not give consent, but also because “we felt it was the most urgent priority, since they are the ones who will soon be starting families of their own,” Sarabia noted.

The coordinator said that the focus is the child, “but the idea is to work with the whole family,” so parents are kept informed of the path their children are on, “so that they can talk about it at home later. The idea is to build bridges between them and make this something that can be discussed openly.”

A program for the Church

The program for “The Child Equilibrist” was launched after eight years of preparation involving numerous experts from Spain and abroad. The aim is for the program to be widely adopted and to serve “to give visibility to the very specific pain experienced by these children, regardless of their age. We want them to know that their pain matters to us,” Guillén emphasized.

At the same time, the goal is for other dioceses to adopt it as well: “This is not a program we want to implement solely for ourselves. We are part of one Church, and everything we do is for the whole Church,” she concluded.

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.

Police received a report at 9:30 a.m. local time that a Ukrainian man stabbed someone with a knife at the Benedictine Abbey in Jarosław, Poland, a small town near the border with Ukraine.

The police report states that initial findings indicate that the 31-year-old man stabbed four men and one woman. It also states that all five were taken to the hospital and three of the men had serious injuries.

Local media reported that one of the injured men died in the hospital, citing the hospital and the police. Some outlets identified the victim who died as a Catholic priest, but EWTN News has not been able to independently confirm this information.

EWTN News reached out to the police and the convent but did not receive a response by the time of publication.

Padre Pio is known for his deep wisdom about prayer and peace, his stigmata, miraculous reports of his bilocation, being physically attacked by the devil, and mastering the spiritual life.

As the Church celebrates his feast day on Sept. 23, here’s a look at 13 facts about St. Pio’s life and faith.

1. Padre Pio was only 5 years old when he expressed a strong desire to serve God.

Born Francesco Forgione on May 25, 1887, in Pietrelcina, Italy, he served as an altar boy at his local parish. At the early age of 5, he consecrated himself to Jesus. By the age of 10, his family looked to see how he could become a Capuchin friar.

2. Padre Pio was only 15 when he entered the Capuchin Friars Minor as a novice.

Being a young teenager, Francesco was given the name Pio or Pius when he entered as a novice. He professed his solemn vows three years later. No stranger to suffering amid frail health throughout much of his studies, he was ordained a priest in 1910. He ascended the Gargano mountains to the rural friary outside of San Giovanni Rotondo in 1916. He remained there for more than 50 years, until his death on Sept. 23, 1968.

3. St. Pio received the visible wounds of Christ known as the stigmata, just like St. Francis of Assisi.

On Sept. 20, 1918, Padre Pio received the stigmata while praying in a church. The wounds remained visible on his body for the rest of his life. The wounds were on his hands, feet, and side, corresponding to the wounds suffered by Jesus during his crucifixion.

4. The blood from his stigmata smelled of floral perfume.

Referred to as the “odor of sanctity,” the blood that came from Padre Pio’s wounds is said to have smelled like perfume or as having a floral aroma. The trait has also been exhibited by other saints who manifested stigmata markings.

5. Padre Pio heard confessions 12 to 15 hours a day.

While listening to confessions, the saint would smell flowers as sins were confessed. Some penitents waited two weeks just to visit him in the confessional. Padre Pio could also read the hearts of penitents, reminding them of sins that were forgotten or omitted.

The saint once said: “Confession is the soul’s bath. You must go at least once a week. I do not want souls to stay away from confession more than a week. Even a clean and unoccupied room gathers dust; return after a week, and you will see that it needs dusting again!”

6. Padre Pio suffered attacks from the devil on a consistent basis.

From a young age, Padre Pio was blessed with heavenly visions, but he also experienced spiritual warfare, including attacks of the devil.

In a book written by Father Gabriele Amorth on Padre Pio, the famous exorcist of Rome said: “The great and constant struggle in the life of the saint was against the enemies of God and souls, those demons who sought to capture his soul.”

Amorth continued: “The devil appeared to him under many different forms: as a big black cat, wild and threatening, or as a repulsive animal, in the clear intention to frighten him; under the appearance of naked and provocative young girls who danced obscene dances, obviously to test the chastity of the young priest. However, the worst was when the devil took on the appearance of his spiritual director, or posed as Jesus, the Virgin Mary, or St. Francis.”

7. He had the gift of bilocation, meaning that he could be in more than one place at a time.

Multiple eyewitness accounts attest to the ability of Padre Pio to be in multiple places at once. Fellow friars remember seeing him in prayer outside when they knew he was still in his room. Some accounts come from others who claim to have seen him on different continents all over the world.

As to how Padre Pio experienced such feats, the closest he ever came to an explanation of bilocation was to say that it occurred “by an extension of his personality.”

8. A sighting of a “flying friar” kept war planes from bombing Padre Pio’s town during World War II.

Among the most remarkable of the documented cases of bilocation was Padre Pio’s appearance in the air over San Giovanni Rotondo during World War II. While southern Italy remained in Nazi hands, American bombers were given the job of attacking the city of San Giovanni Rotondo. However, when they appeared over the city and prepared to unload their munitions, a brown-robed friar appeared before their aircraft. All attempts to release the bombs failed. In this way, Padre Pio kept his promise to the citizens that their town would be spared. Later on, when an American airbase was established at Foggia a few miles away, one of the pilots of the incident visited the friary and found, to his surprise, the friar he had seen in the air that day over San Giovanni.

9. Before dying at the age of 81, all his wounds healed without scars, just as he had foretold they would 50 years prior.

A doctor examining the saint’s body who was present when he was dying observed that the wounds of the stigmata were completely healed, without any trace or scar. Padre Pio’s body was placed in a coffin in the church of the monastery to allow pilgrims to visit and pray.

10. Pilgrims can visit the rooms in which Padre Pio lived.

All the cells where Padre Pio lived in Italy have been outfitted with vintage furnishings to make them look exactly like they were in the early 20th century. Each site also boasts a small museum with relics and artifacts from his life.

11. Many miracles have been attributed to Padre Pio.

Several miracles have been attributed to the saint’s intercession, including the story of Gemma di Giorgio, a little girl who visited Padre Pio. Born blind without pupils in either eye, she miraculously regained her sight after visiting him. One truly miraculous factor about her healing was that, although she could see, she still lacked pupils. Another miracle was chronicled on EWTN.

12. He established a hospital.

Living a life of suffering, made difficult by physical pain and sickness, Padre Pio was able to build a hospital with the help of generous sponsors. Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, which means “Home for the Relief of the Suffering,” was inaugurated on May 5, 1956. The hospital sits atop a hill overlooking San Giovanni Rotondo. Starting with only about 250 beds and just enough equipment, the hospital is now known for its state-of-the-art facilities and services.

13. Even before his death on Sept. 23, 1968, Padre Pio reportedly spent his last moments in prayer.

Beatified in 1999, St. Padre Pio was canonized on June 16, 2002, by the late St. John Paul II. He is known among Catholics as St. Pio of Pietrelcina. More than 500,000 attended his canonization. He celebrated Mass the day before his death.

This story was first published by the National Catholic Register, the sister partner of EWTN News, and has been adapted and updated by EWTN News.

Following an extensive professional career in teaching, training, and personal and spiritual development across various countries, in 2013 Lorenzo began working “with men and women who have chosen and decided to delve deeper into their personal identity whether due to doubts about their identity or because they experience same-sex attraction and wish to live out their heterosexuality,” as stated on her website.

Throughout this time, she has never been reported by any of her clients.

“I accompany people in their personal development journeys, regardless of sexual orientation. My work is carried out freely in an atmosphere of freedom and with absolute confidentiality,” she explained to ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News.

“Those who come to me do so, it goes without saying, of their own free will, seeking a space to explore issues related to their identity and emotional life. I never make clinical diagnoses, as I am neither a psychologist nor a psychiatrist,” she pointed out.

Past complaints

In August 2016, the group Arcópoli filed a complaint against Lorenzo, alleging that she had violated the Madrid regional government’s Comprehensive Law against LGBTI-phobia. Lorenzo said the complaint was based on “a covert recording made by someone posing as a client.” Despite the media attention the case attracted, it was ultimately dismissed.

In 2019, the same association filed another complaint, claiming that her website contained offensive language. She was fined over $22,000 and had to launch a fundraising campaign to cover the penalty.

“Many clients, grateful for the service provided over the years, helped me out,” the life coach said. Ultimately, the fine was overturned, and the amount was refunded three years later.

In February 2020, Arcópoli alleged that Lorenzo had engaged in the "promotion of therapies to cure or induce aversion to homosexuality" through her online course "Path to Heterosexuality." This complaint was also dismissed in May 2023.

A fourth proceeding, similar to the previous ones, was initiated in July 2022, this time led by the Spanish Association Against Conversion Therapies (AECTC, by its Spanish acronym). Three months later, Lorenzo was once again fined over $22,000. However, the penalty was rescinded after it was determined that there had been a "procedural defect resulting in a denial of the right of defense for the party under investigation.”

That same year, the AECTC filed another complaint against Lorenzo, alleging four offenses: incitement to hatred, illicit association, practicing a profession without a license, and consumer fraud.

The prosecutorʼs office did not find a basis for most of the accusations, although it considered the possibility that a crime was committed due to “discriminatory messages” contained in a section of her website dedicated to so-called homosexual obsessive compulsive disorder (homosexual OCD). Lorenzo has been forced to take down that section from her website because of a preliminary injunction ordered by the court, pending the trial.

Homosexual OCD is defined as an anxiety disorder of heterosexual persons that is characterized by the fear of experiencing same-sex attraction.

“The prosecution is seeking a sentence of several years in prison, a financial penalty, and being barred from practicing my profession,” stated Lorenzo, who charged she has been subjected to a “smear campaign over the last 10 years.”

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.

At the start of the Cologne rally on the Neumarkt square, counterdemonstrators threw paint at an information stand.

The Cologne rally, organized by Mona Schwaderlapp, a 27-year-old occupational therapist and mother of three, opened at 1 p.m. under the motto “The Right to Life Is a Human Right.” The route passed the Basilica of the Holy Apostles and ran along Zeughausstrasse through the city center before returning to the Neumarkt, where the march ended around 4 p.m.

Paint, smoke, and blockades in Cologne

The paint was thrown by two counterdemonstrators who had obtained the green vests worn by the pro-life marchers and moved unnoticed to the stand of the pro-life foundation Stiftung Ja zum Leben, according to the Catholic weekly Die Tagespost. CNA Deutsch, the German-language sister service of EWTN News, observed on the scene in Cologne that the attackers also set off purple smoke bombs.

During the stage program, several counterdemonstrators pushed to the front of the stage with a banner. One counterdemonstrator, who sprayed the banner with paint during the march, faces a criminal complaint for property damage.

Cologne police said the march had been registered for 3,000 people and that the “pro-choice” counter-event was likewise expected to draw 3,000. Police gave no figures for actual turnout.

CNA Deutsch observed officers using drones to monitor the march. Apart from two sit-in blockades, the procession through the city center passed without major disruption.

“We are here today because there are people who need our help,” said Ludwig Brühl of the federal board of the pro-life group Aktion Lebensrecht für Alle at the rally. He warned: “Surrogacy arrangements are being sold in the middle of Cologne.”

Brühl said he and fellow campaigners had gone undercover to track down people taking in large sums from the business. “They know how to get around our laws,” he said. “We have to stop these people.”

The group’s federal chairwoman, Cornelia Kaminski, also spoke against surrogacy, in Berlin.

The 22nd March for Life took place in Berlin at the same time, drawing 4,200 people according to the German pro-life group Bundesverband Lebensrecht. Berlin police put the figure at about 2,200.

Five Bavarian bishops took part in the Berlin march, reported the Diocese of Regensburg. They were Bishop Rudolf Voderholzer of Regensburg, Bishop Stefan Oster of Passau, Auxiliary Bishop Josef Graf of Regensburg, Auxiliary Bishop Florian Wörner of Augsburg, and Bishop Emeritus Gregor Maria Hanke of Eichstätt.

Cologne Auxiliary Bishop Dominikus Schwaderlapp took part in the march there. Several other bishops had sent written greetings to the organizers ahead of the marches.

“In all, well over 6,000 people (4,200 Berlin, 2,100 Cologne) of all generations set out today to take to the streets for the right to life of every human being from conception to natural death,” the Bundesverband Lebensrecht said.

The group’s chairwoman, Alexandra Linder, said: “Democracy means universal human dignity, the right to life from conception to natural death, and a prohibition on the killing of the innocent.”

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

She received the honor at the 26th edition of the Master of Polish Speech (Mistrz Mowy Polskiej) Social Program awards ceremony in Ostrowiec, Poland. The prestigious award was decided by a nationwide poll in Poland, with the winner selected by text votes.

Among those in attendance were Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski and Ostrowiec Mayor Artur Łakomiec.

The award “Master of Polish Speech Vox Populi” was established in 2000 as a nationwide initiative to promote the Polish language and culture. Wolińska-Riedi, who joined EWTN News as a Vatican correspondent in 2024, described the award as recognition of the valuable contributions of Poles living in the diaspora.

“I did not think they would think about me,” Wolińska-Riedi told EWTN News. “Usually, the winners are important and very famous actors and journalists from Poland, hosts of different Polish programs, and scientists and so on. To be recognized after having spent so many years abroad in Rome as a journalist was an honor.”

Wolińska-Riedi joined the EWTN News Vatican Bureau after spending more than 20 years living and working inside Vatican City. After completing her doctorate in Church studies from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, she continued to serve there as the Polish correspondent in Italy for Telewizja Polska, the oldest and largest Polish television network. She has also translated works from Polish to Italian and Latin for the Roman Rota, the Church’s highest court of appeals.

While living in Vatican City, where she is also a citizen by marriage, she developed a close friendship with St. John Paul II, who was Polish.

Speaking to EWTN News, she acknowledged the challenges of staying connected to her native Poland while living and working abroad in another language. She also said that while receiving the award was a profound honor, her greatest honor is being a proud mother of two daughters who speak Polish.

“My two daughters have grown up really with the Polish language, and Iʼm very proud of it,” she said.

For six consecutive years, municipal authorities have barred the march from gathering in Zurich’s city center, citing security risks posed by the threat of hostile counterprotesters. Organizers pointed out that municipal officials routinely permit other demonstrations in the heart of the city, applying a clear double standard to the pro-life witness.

Similar to previous years, the Sept. 19 event faced opposition. One group of roughly 200 masked protesters on bicycles attempted to disrupt the event by setting off firecrackers, overturning trash bins onto the roadway, and attempting to block the route.​

Swiss police maintained control of the situation by shielding marchers, conducting identity checks, and using two water cannons to disperse protesters. The Zurich March for Life proceeded without any reported injuries to participants.

While organizers estimated about 2,200 advocates, police counted more than 1,000 participants.

The fact that security was maintained in Oerlikon shows that law enforcement can manage counterprotests, undermining the cityʼs justification for keeping the march out of central Zurich, according to observers. ​

Restrictions prompt legal challenge

Speaking previously to CNA Deutsch, the German-language sister service of EWTN News, Beatrice Gall, president of the Swiss March for Life, pointed out that municipal officials routinely allow other groups permits to hold demonstrations in Zurich city center yet relocate the Zurich March for Life to the city outskirts. This results in reduced visibility and logistical issues, Gall said.

By restricting the march to the commercial and residential district of Oerlikon, city officials argue they are minimizing potential public order disruptions and protecting urban infrastructure.

Critics argue that authorities are effectively rewarding the violence of counterprotesters by allowing hostile agitators to veto a peaceful groupʼs constitutional rights to freedom of assembly and free expression.

To challenge this policy, organizers have launched a public petition and initiated legal proceedings against the City of Zurich, demanding equal access to the city center and insisting that police maintain law and order without suppressing peaceful pro-life voices.

Breaking the silence

Speaking to EWTN News, Gall described the current social climate surrounding abortion in Switzerland as “one of silence.”

“There is no public debate and no objective examination of the facts; instead, people remain silent about the high abortion rates, the suffering this causes many people, and the consequences thereof,” Gall said.

She noted that since Switzerland introduced its 12-week deadline regulation in 2002, at least 200,000 abortions have taken place. Estimating that five or more people are affected per procedure, including fathers and extended family, Gall stressed that over 1 million Swiss citizens carry the impact, making public awareness vital. This further justified the march in the city center so that greater “communication, dialogue, and discussions with people can begin.”

Pushing back against opponents and media outlets attempting to portray the pro-life movement as regressive, Gall rejected the stereotype. “Advocating for human life is not backward — it’s forward-looking!” she asserted, pointing to a “new wave of interest and strong commitment” among the younger generation.

Gall stressed that a mother’s womb should be “the safest place in the world, not the most dangerous,” calling on men to support their partners rather than leaving them isolated or pressuring them into abortion. “Even if you’re surprised by the pregnancy, be there for your partner and your child,” Gall urged. “They need you, even before birth.”

Call for responsibility and dialogue

Nicolas Kolly, a Swiss People’s Party national councilor and former member of the Pontifical Swiss Guard, addressed participants, encouraging society to “give a voice to those who do not yet have one,” and summarized his core message simply as “Protect life.”

He also urged comprehensive support for women facing difficult pregnancies, arguing that offering viable alternatives must be a societal duty. Furthermore, Kolly stressed paternal duty, stating that a man’s priority is “to take responsibility. To support. To listen. To protect.” Ultimately, Kolly framed maternal assistance and child protection as inseparable priorities, concluding that “these two ideas must go hand in hand: the protection of the child and the support of the mother.”

Among those who addressed the crowd was also Jonas Streule, regional director of ProLife Europe in Switzerland. Speaking to EWTN News, Streule acknowledged the broader hurdles facing pro-life advocacy in Switzerland, pointing specifically to distorted social media stereotypes that damage public perception.

“What people associate with the word ‘pro-life’ comes from screaming videos in the TikTok world of short clips,” Streule said. “That is not what actually happens when you engage in pro-life work.”

Turning to ProLife Europe’s outreach on university campuses, Streule explained that the organization prioritizes personal encounters over hostility. “Abortion is a severe matter, and it deserves to be touched face to face, in a loving way,” he noted, stressing that compassion and clarity go hand in hand.

According to Streule, few students he encounters actively view abortion as desirable. Instead, the primary challenge lies in helping young people realize they can play an active role in building a culture that supports life.

“We rarely leave a conversation without having made someone think about an opinion they simply adopted from the dominant culture,” Streule said. He added that across numerous Swiss campus outreaches, he has “never once received a bad word from the person I was talking to.”

For Streule, direct street outreach serves as a vital bridge to those personal conversations. By creating spaces for face-to-face dialogue, he said, he believes advocates can break through online misconceptions, encourage people to reconsider deep-seated assumptions, and foster genuine reflection on the value of human life.

The Church Appointments (Repeal of Discriminatory Provision) Bill would allow Catholic and Jewish prime ministers to provide advice to the monarch on Church of England appointments, which is part of the prime minister’s role.

According to the U.K. government, amendments were brought into law in the late 18th and early 19th centuries to remove restrictions on Catholic and Jewish people in public life, but the restriction related to advising on Church appointments was left in place.

Up until recently there have been no Catholic or Jewish prime ministers, but Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who came to power on July 20, is a Catholic and has had to transfer this responsibility to the lord chancellor.

Inquiry into police collusion in death of Catholic father in Ireland concludes

An inquiry in Ireland has found that four Royal Ulster Constabulary officers “did not collude” with attackers who assaulted a 25-year-old Catholic father of three in 1997 in County Armagh, according to a report in RTÉ.

The inquiry into the murder of Robert Hamill found however that there were “multiple police failings in the investigation, including a tip-off to a suspect to destroy the clothing he wore that night.”

Hamill was walking home with friends when he was assaulted by a large crowd. To date, no one has been convicted of the murder.

Vatican official urges Asian Catholic digital missionaries to be ‘responsible’

In her plenary address at the Asian Catholic Digital Missionary Assembly 2026 in Manila, Philippines, on Sept. 11, Natasa Govekar, director of the Theological-Pastoral Department of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication, said that Christian influencers online should treat their efforts “as a responsibility rather than a measure of status.”

According to LiCAS.news, Govekar said that “every Christian should be aware of his or her potential influence, regardless of the size of an online following, while responsibility grows as audiences expand.”

Govekar also said digital evangelization “should move away from individual-centered influence and toward communion, shared mission, and witness.” She warned against treating Christian communication as a form of marketing, saying: “We are not advertising, but communicating to live the life that was given to us.”

Archbishop says states should renounce nuclear weapons

At the 70th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Sept. 15 in Vienna, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the secretary for relations with states and international organizations, called for the responsible use of nuclear technology, which he said is “inseparable from the commitments and responsibilities that accompany it.”

His comments were made while marking the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster.

According to a report in Vatican News, Gallagher highlighted the Holy See’s “longstanding commitment—as one of the IAEA’s original signatories seventy years ago—based on the conviction that a technology with such vast potential as nuclear energy ‘must be guided by sound ethical principles, be used for the service of peace and integral human development, and be protected from any destructive use.’”

The archbishop urged “sound ethical principles” on nuclear energy, saying that nuclear technology may be used to benefit humanity, but its development should not “lead to the acquisition of nuclear weapons, protecting facilities in wartime, and applying artificial intelligence with an awareness of the associated risks and sound safety standards.”

Missing Zimbabwean priest found dead at Harare hospital mortuary

The Archdiocese of Harare in Zimbabwe announced the death of Father Regis Chikuni days after appealing for prayers and assistance in locating the priest.

According to ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, the archdiocese said Chikuni was found deceased at the mortuary of Parirenyatwa Hospital and relesed a death notice on Sept. 9.

Chikuni is believed to have been involved in a hit-and-run road accident in Harare while attempting to cross the road. He reportedly had no identification with him at the time of the accident, making it difficult for authorities to establish his identity. Police are expected to issue an official statement on the circumstances surrounding his death.

Archbishop of Westminster issues statement urging 2-state solution in Holy Land

The archbishop of Westminster and president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, Archbishop Richard Moth, issued a statement on Sept. 15 condemning violence in the Holy Land, stating that the two-state solution should “remain the goal of all people of good will.”

“The Church in England and Wales has a particular concern about the Holy Land. With the encouragement of the Holy See and the support of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, we have organized the Holy Land Co-ordination, an annual pilgrimage of bishops from around the world to support Christians in the region through presence, prayer, pilgrimage and persuasion,” he said.

“However, violence continues to engulf the Holy Land, pushing people apart while undermining hopes for peaceful co-existence in a two-state solution. It has also led to a polarisation of views and even despair, which make the necessary bridge building for forgiveness and reconciliation so much more difficult.”

The archbishop called violence a “stain on humanity,” and cited both Pope Francis and Pope Leo XIV, who have called for “the international community to work toward advancing the two-state solution, for a just and lasting peace.”

Syrian town revives its distinctive traditions for feast of the Holy Cross

This year’s feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in Maaloula, Syria, drew thousands of residents, returning families, and visitors, bringing what local clergy described as a renewed sense of life to the historic Christian town, ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News, reported.

Father Fadi Barqil, superior of the Melkite Catholic Monastery of Saints Sergius and Bacchus, said preparations began nearly a month before the feast. Residents carried a cross to the mountaintop on Sept. 12 and illuminated it, while the eve of the feast included evening prayer, traditional processions, and the lighting of fires on the mountains. On the feast itself, processions moved through the town with banners, poetry, dabke (a traditional folk dance), and visits to homes followed by a communal meal.

Barqil stressed that the religious meaning of the celebration must remain at its center, warning against reducing the feast to its outward customs. He also encouraged Maaloula’s families to continue returning, visiting their homes and keeping them illuminated, saying their presence is what restores the town’s spirit.

Bishops in Australia seek married couples’ input for support programs

The Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference’s Commission for Life, Family, and Public Engagement announced funding for a research project that responds to concerns raised in the late Pope Francis’ 2016 apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia (The Joy of Love).

“Pope Francis had a particular concern for the newly married,” Auxiliary Bishop Tony Percy of Sydney said. “He recognised that as a Church we have tended to focus on preparation for marriage and then, after the wedding, have more or less left couples to fend for themselves.”

The bishops want to hear from married couples so they are funding a professional survey, which has already collected 440 responses. “We hope to reach 1,000 respondents over September for best research results,” project manager Jessica George said.

Nearly 600,000 people registered for the open-air papal Mass at the Place de la Concorde and the Champs-Élysées before sign-ups closed on Sept. 16, according to Archbishop Laurent Ulrich of Paris. Registration was encouraged but not required. The huge response forced organizers to expand the security perimeter well beyond the original footprint.

“You responded in great numbers to the Holy Fatherʼs invitation to come and pray with him,” Ulrich said in a statement.

Demand built fast: When registration opened Aug. 10, more than 200,000 people signed up for the Paris Mass in the first few hours. All 80,000 places for the youth vigil at the Stade de France on Sept. 25 were claimed within hours. Nearly 300,000 registrations were recorded across both Paris events in the first 24 hours, according to Zenit.

Gen. Hervé Wattecamps, the general coordinator appointed by the Archdiocese of Paris, told French media that 8,000 new registrations were arriving daily in the final stretch.

The diocese has set up a gigantic overflow zone for people to gather, running from the Place de lʼÉtoile along Avenue de la Grande-Armée toward Porte Maillot.

The official papal visit site confirms the Mass is still scheduled for 3 p.m. on Sept. 26. The gates will open at 9 a.m., and Pope Leo is expected to arrive at the Champs-Élysées at 1:45 p.m. local time.

Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline, president of the bishops' conference, told reporters that the level of interest showed France “resists secularization,” citing what he called a “new momentum of neophytes and catechumens.”

Passing the plate to pay the bill

The French bishops' conference (CEF) has put the total cost of Pope Leoʼs Sept. 25–28 visit at 27 million euros (about $31 million), well above early estimates.

A national fundraising campaign was launched in summer and has raised 5.5 million euros so far, leaving a shortfall of 21.5 million euros. The bishops' conference said the campaign will continue throughout the visit.

The French state is providing security forces and public services but no direct financial support or funding.

Instead, according to Vatican News, funding sources include corporate sponsorships, the sale of merchandise, and donations from the faithful through the bishops' conference website pape-france.fr.

The funding model contrasts with the financing of World Youth Day 2027 in Seoul: South Koreaʼs Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism is leading a cross-agency government support task force alongside the Church-led local organizing committee. In France, prelates are passing the plate.

Beyond Paris, a European legacy

Outside the capital, the apostolic visit includes two stops: Lourdes and Metz.

In Lourdes, the pope will celebrate Mass at the Marian shrine on Sept. 27. He will also meet privately with seven survivors of abuse, according to Vatican News.

The visit closes Sept. 28 with a Mass in Metz, a historic town in Lorraine in northeastern France that changed hands between France and Germany through three wars and two annexations.

Archbishop Philippe Ballot of Metz told Vatican News: “The border is no longer a place of separation, but a place of encounter.”

Pope Leo will speak at the Robert Schuman Centre, named after the Catholic statesman Pope Francis declared venerable in 2021.

Preserving Assisi combines ultra-high-resolution photography, 3D surveying, immersive virtual tours, and a digital archive to create an unparalleled record of the basilica and its history.

The new digital platform was developed by Haltadefinizione, part of the Gruppo Panini Cultura, and in collaboration with the General Custody of the Sacred Convent of Saint Francis.

Preserving Assisi aims to offer a new way to explore and understand the famous site. It also aims to provide the opportunity for a digital version of the basilica to be created so that a detailed record of its architecture, paintings, and surfaces can be used for future research and support documentation, monitoring, and conservation over time.

The inspiration for the project came from an extensive photographic campaign commissioned by Franco Cosimo Panini Editore. The campaign was called “Mirabilia Italiae” and it was dedicated to the systematic documentation of Italy’s major monuments. Around 2,000 photographs were produced.

On Sept. 26, 1997, an earthquake hit the Umbria and Marche regions of Italy, which resulted in the collapse of sections of the upper basilica. Providentially, hours before the earthquake struck, photographs were taken for the “Mirabilia Italiae” of those very sections that then collapsed. These photographs ended up playing a major role and serving as key references in the reconstruction and restoration of the basilica.

The experience became one of the driving factors behind the Preserving Assisi digital platform in that it not only serves as a way to document the basilica’s past but also provides knowledge for its future preservation.

“Over the past thirty years, the technologies we use to document cultural heritage have changed radically, but our purpose has remained the same: to organize and preserve knowledge so that it can be studied, shared and passed on to future generations,” Lucia Panini, co-founder of Gruppo Panini Cultura, said in a press release.

The project has captured over 27,000 photographs, resulting in 12 terabytes (TB) of data and 98 completed digital assets, including gigapixel images and 360-degree panoramas.

One of the most significant results from the project so far is the gigapixel image of Pietro Lorenzetti’s Crucifixion painting. Measuring 101,627 by 78,170 pixels, it contains nearly 8 billion pixels.

“Preserving Assisi is one of the most complex projects we have undertaken in our 20 years of work,” Luca Ponzio, founder and CEO of Haltadefinizione, said. “It brings together, within a single digital environment, a range of tools and multimedia content designed to present, document, and support the study of the Basilica of St. Francis.”

He added: “It is a project that will continue to grow over time through new acquisitions, further research, and new ways of exploring the site.”

Friar Marco Moroni, custos of the Sacred Convent of Saint Francis in Assisi, said: “Preserving Assisi is a project that fills us with great enthusiasm. The experience of the 1997 Assisi earthquake made us even more aware of the importance of creating a photographic record of the highest possible quality to safeguard and enhance this extraordinary artistic heritage, together with its profound significance as an expression of faith.”

He added: “This documentation will allow future restoration work to be undertaken with an extraordinary level of knowledge and precision, while also opening up these artistic and spiritual treasures to audiences around the world in the finest possible detail.”

The project is supported by the National Committee for the Celebration of the Eighth Centenary of the Death of Saint Francis of Assisi, together with the Umbria Region and the City of Assisi in collaboration with the University of Florence.

Here are seven lessons he shared throughout his life:

1. “Satan is always active. He has been the tempter from the beginning.”

In a June 2004 interview with Italian Vatican expert Sandro Magister, Amorth discussed the state of Satanism and the devil’s influence on contemporary culture.

“In general terms, Satan is always active. He has been the tempter from the beginning. He does everything he can to make man sin, and whenever evil is committed, he is behind it — though it remains clear that man freely chooses his own actions. But there is also an extraordinary form of action by the evil one: diabolical possession,” he said at the time.

2. “The world is under the power of the devil.”

In the book “The Last Exorcist,” co-authored with Vatican expert Paolo Rodari, Amorth stated that “the world is under the power of the devil. And alongside Satan are many of his prophets — people whom the Bible calls false prophets. False because they lead to lies rather than the truth.”

“These people exist both outside and within the Church. They are easily recognizable: They claim to speak on behalf of the Church, yet they speak on behalf of the world. They demand that the Church assume the roles of the world, and in doing so, they confuse the faithful and steer the Church into waters that are not its own. They are the waters of the evil one,” he added.

3. “Satan attacks the pope above all.”

In his book “The Last Exorcist,” Amorth also noted that “Satan attacks the pope above all. His hatred for the successor of Peter is fierce. I have experienced this in my exorcisms.”

“After the pope, Satan attacks cardinals, bishops, and all priests and religious. It is only natural for this to be the case. No one should be scandalized by it. Priests and religious are called to a fierce spiritual battle.”

4. Invoking St. John Paul II is effective against the devil.

In May 2011, Amorth told ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News, that St. John Paul II had become, in recent years, “a powerful intercessor in the fight against the devil.”

“I have asked the devil more than once: ‘Why are you so afraid of John Paul II?’ And I received two different answers, both interesting. The first was: ‘Because he dismantled my plans.’ And I believe that refers to the fall of communism in Russia and Eastern Europe — the collapse of communism.”

“Another answer the devil gave me was: ‘Because he snatched many young people from my hands.’ There are many young people who converted thanks to John Paul II. Perhaps some were already Christians but not practicing, and then, through John Paul II, they returned to the practice of the faith,” he explained.

5. The devil “wants the death of the Church because she is the mother of the saints.”

Amorth addressed the smear campaign against then-Pope Benedict XVI, whom some accused of covering up sexual abuse committed by members of the clergy, when in reality it was he who established the zero-tolerance policy. The exorcist denounced at the time that the devil “uses” priests to cast blame on the entire Church.

“The devil has it in for the Church; he wants the death of the Church because she is the mother of the saints. He fights the Church through men of the Church, but he cannot prevail against the Church itself,” he noted.

The experienced exorcist also stated that “the devil tempts men of the Church, so it should not surprise us if even priests — who possess every divine aid, such as prayer and the sacraments — fall into temptation. They, too, live in the world and can fall just like men of the world.”

6. The most effective intercessor of all is the Virgin Mary.

In May 2002, when asked about the most effective intercessor of all, Amorth told ACI Prensa that “of course, the Virgin is the most effective. And especially when you invoke her as Mary!”

“I once asked Satan: ‘But why are you more afraid when I invoke Our Lady than when I invoke Jesus Christ?’ He answered: ‘Because it humiliates me more to be defeated by a human creature than to be defeated by him.’”

7. The devil is in “everything that denies God.”

Speaking to the Peruvian newspaper El Comercio, Amorth recounted an occasion when a cardinal told him: “Be honest, the devil doesn’t exist.” The priest replied: “You ought to read a book that will be very useful to you: the Gospel.”

Furthermore, the exorcist described the devil as being present in “everything that denies God,” such as “abortion, divorce, homosexuality, satanic rock music, or programs featuring violence and sex on television.”

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.

Auxiliary Bishop Josef Graf of Regensburg told the Catholic Sunday newspaper of the Diocese of Bolzano-Brixen in an interview published Sept. 15 that he personally believes the Church could open the door to so-called “viri probati” — men of proven faith who are married.

“I personally believe the Church could afford ‘viri probati.’ It could grant ordination to ‘proven men’ with a marriage and a family,” Graf said.

The German prelate pointed out that the Diocese of Regensburg had several married priests — former Protestant pastors who converted to Catholicism and were ordained with Romeʼs permission while continuing to live in marriage and family.

“We also recognize the priestly ordination of the Orthodox churches and of the Eastern Catholic churches of the Byzantine rite. These have married priests alongside the monastic state,” Graf said. “I could well imagine the Church taking the path of ‘viri probati.’ But the priest shortage would probably not be eliminated by it.”

Celibacy ‘not indispensable’

Graf, 69, who served as seminary spiritual director for 26 years before his episcopal appointment in 2015, affirmed the value of priestly celibacy but said it is not a prerequisite for ordination.

“I still believe that the celibacy of the priest has not only a great tradition in the Catholic Church but is also a charism that is helpful in the exercise of priestly ministry,” he said.

Celibacy, when lived honestly, Graf added, will always involve renunciation of sexual intimacy, and “the lifelong partnership of marriage, of having oneʼs own children.”

“Celibacy, as an expression of following Christ, will always also involve the way of the cross. However, the unmarried state of the priest would not be a ‘conditio sine qua non’ — an indispensable prerequisite — for receiving priestly ordination,” he said.

The celibacy lived by ordained men and women in the Latin Church is rooted in the example of Christ, who lived unmarried. It enables the priest to serve his community with undivided attention and functions as an eschatological sign pointing to the fullness of communion with God, in which “they neither marry nor are given in marriage” (Mt 22:30). Pope Paul VI described celibacy in Sacerdotalis Caelibatus (1967) as the object and outward sign of a complete and generous self-giving to the mystery of Christ.

Womenʼs ordination rejected

Graf firmly rejected calls for the ordination of women, a demand raised by Germanyʼs Synodal Way process.

“I believe that is not possible. Already because we have a different tradition,” he said. “If a pope were to break with this tradition, it would at present lead to a split in the Church.”

Asked whether tradition was the only argument against it, Graf replied: “Not at all. In my view there are still very weighty theological reasons for the sacrament of ordination being reserved to men. Listing them here would require too much space.”

The Catholic Church holds that only men can be validly ordained to the priesthood, a teaching declared as definitive by St. John Paul II in his 1994 apostolic letter Ordinatio Sacerdotalis. The teaching applies analogously to the diaconate and the episcopate.

Ordination numbers and ‘crisis of faith’

Germany ordained 30 men to the priesthood in 2026, up from 25 the previous year. Eleven of the countryʼs 27 dioceses and archdioceses had no new priest this year. Regensburg had one. In 1966, there were 447 ordinations across Germany.

Graf attributed the decline primarily to secularization and anti-Church sentiment rather than celibacy.

“When I entered the seminary in 1977, it was practically an honor for a village and even more for my parents. Today it is unfortunately different. The priestly vocation is a contested profession — the abuse scandal being the key word,” he said.

He also pointed to the experience of Germanyʼs Protestant churches as evidence that abolishing celibacy does not solve the underlying problem.

“All our Catholic hot-button issues like celibacy and womenʼs ordination have long been settled by the Protestant church in Germany. Yet it now also suffers from personnel shortages and ongoing membership losses,” Graf said.

“I say that with no ‘schadenfreude,’ certainly not. But one can see that the root of the problems lies elsewhere. It is the decline of faith.”

Fulda plenary ahead

Grafʼs public remarks were made less than two weeks before Germanyʼs bishops convene for their autumn plenary in Fulda from Sept. 28 to Oct. 1. The agenda under new conference president Bishop Heiner Wilmer includes surrogacy, assisted suicide, organ donation, artificial intelligence, and sexual abuse.

Wilmer, the bishop of Münster and a member of the Priests of the Sacred Heart, was elected president of the German Bishops' Conference in February. In an interview with Vatican News published Sept. 16, he called for renewal.

“We need not be afraid of renewal,” Wilmer said. “Nor need we be afraid of the spirit of the times, which shows us how to proclaim the Gospel well today.”

Wilmer argued that a synodal Church is essential for Europe. “Europe urgently needs a synodal Church, because Europe is becoming ever more complex, ever more fragmented. The danger is that Europe falls apart, descends into petty statism, and there are skirmishes,” he said.

The statutes for Germanyʼs planned Synodal Conference — a controversial, permanent body that would give laypeople a formal advisory role alongside bishops — remain pending approval from the Holy See. Wilmer submitted the text to the Vatican on March 31. The conferenceʼs inaugural meeting, originally planned for November in Stuttgart, has been postponed until Romeʼs response is finalized.

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

That question was at the heart of an assembly of approximately 55 Capuchin bishops from around the world held Sept. 9–13 in Assisi, Italy, for prayer, study, and fraternal reflection.

Set against the historic backdrop of the Jubilee of St. Francis and the approaching 500th anniversary of the Capuchin Reform, prelates serving in Africa, Asia, Latin America, North America, Europe, and Indonesia shared their pastoral realities and reflected on their service to the universal Church.

“We are going back to Assisi in this wonderful year of the Jubilee of St. Francis,” Cardinal Seán Patrick O’Malley, archbishop emeritus of Boston, said. “It is a great honor. It’s a wonderful opportunity to experience the fraternity of so many bishops from all over the world.”

According to Vatican statistics, there are 5,525 Catholic bishops worldwide. Of those, 4,332, or 78.4%, are diocesan bishops formed within the secular clergy, while 1,193, or 21.6%, are members of institutes of consecrated life, including Capuchins, Dominicans, Jesuits, and Salesians. The Capuchin order counts more than 74 bishops among its members.

The assembly offered the bishops an opportunity to share their experiences as members of a religious order governing dioceses made up of secular clergy and lay faithful. In particular, they considered how to live the Capuchin values of contemplative prayer, fraternal life, minority, poverty, and closeness to the people in their governance and pastoral care of local Churches.

The Capuchin value of ‘vicinanza’

According to Archbishop Emeritus Andrés Stanovnik of Corrientes, Argentina, the Capuchin value of “vicinanza” — closeness or proximity to others — is the bridge between his Capuchin identity and his episcopal ministry.

Though a bishop must, in his words, “leave behind his identity as a friar and take up the identity of a bishop,” what unites the two vocations is “vicinanza.”

This is profoundly a Franciscan instinct, not an incidental one, because St. Francis of Assisi did not renew the Church through abstractions or distance. He embraced the leper, sat with the poor, and preached in public squares rather than only from the pulpit.

Franciscan closeness is not merely being nice or sociable but a theological stance: Holiness is discovered in proximity to the concrete, wounded, and ordinary human person, not in withdrawal from others.

Stanovnik said proximity to the people must survive the transition into hierarchical office; otherwise, the episcopate risks becoming purely administrative rather than pastoral. The question for Capuchin bishops is whether closeness to the poor and ordinary people has been preserved or traded for institutional distance.

Returning to the Gospel without becoming fossilized

Reflecting on the historical significance of the Capuchin Reform, Archbishop Jude Thaddaeus Ruwa’ichi of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, emphasized that the movement begun in 1528 was born of a divine prompting to return to the original charism of St. Francis of Assisi.

Drawing on his 50 years as a friar and 27 years as a bishop in four Tanzanian dioceses — Mbulu, Dodoma, Mwanza, and Dar es Salaam — Ruwa’ichi said: “God prompted the founders of the Capuchin Reform to desire to go back to their sources, to desire to live faithfully the charism of St. Francis.”

“The charism must be lived faithfully in the course of time, and as we live the charism faithfully, we should not be fossilized,” he continued. “We should not allow ourselves to be trapped in a certain approach that does not allow us to continue listening to the Holy Spirit and to continue responding to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.”

He also expressed gratitude for the concrete support of his fellow friars.

“I have always been given a friar to work and live with me, and that has been very helpful,” he said. “So, along with living with my diocesan clergy, I also have the support of a confrere who understood me, who served as my confessor, who served as my driver, who served as my private secretary.”

Combating isolation through fraternal solidarity

O’Malley said the international assembly, organized at the initiative of the Capuchin minister general, Father Roberto Genuin, and his council, offered essential encouragement to bishops, most of whom serve in mission territories.

Exchanging experiences of evangelization in a fraternal setting helps bishops “know that they are not alone and that there are many brothers who share their ministry,” he said.

“They do not work in isolation,” O’Malley added, saying the gathering imparted fresh spiritual energy to their ministry. “So, it is a wonderful opportunity for us.”

Addressing contemporary cultural pressures, he pointed to increasing secularization and social divisions as paramount challenges for Church leaders.

“It is very encouraging that the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, is trying to bring peace and unity, themes of his pontificate, and they are certainly very Franciscan themes,” O’Malley said. “Francis called us to be universal brothers and to be instruments of peace and to try and bring people together to follow Christ with the joy of the Gospel.”

Restoring the original gift to the universal Church

Stanovnik described the approaching 500th anniversary as a crucial moment to rediscover the core Gospel of Jesus Christ.

“The Capuchins, 500 years ago, revived this practice, placing certain emphases on it,” he said. “For example, mental and contemplative prayer, simplicity in community life, closeness to the people and preaching.”

He said Capuchin bishops are called to absorb these original gifts anew and offer them back, fully restored, for the revitalization of the universal Church.

The bill, originally sponsored by Labour Member of Parliament (MP) Kim Leadbeater, proposed to legalize assisted suicide in England and Wales for people with a prognosis of six months or less to live.

Previously, the House of Commons passed the bill in 2024. Members again passed the bill in June 2025, and the House of Lords did not complete action on it before the session ended in April. Lauren Edwards of the Labour Party then reintroduced the bill in June.

“Throughout this debate, we have argued that our response to those facing serious illness, disability or the challenges of old age should be rooted in solidarity, care and respect,” Archbishop John Sherrington of Liverpool said in a statement after the bill’s 286-270 defeat on Sept. 11.

Ahead of the vote, Archbishop Richard Moth, president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales, called on the faithful to write to lawmakers to petition against the bill, calling it “wrong in principle.”

“It is also deeply flawed and, if passed, could lead to vulnerable people feeling pressured into ending their lives,” he said.

He detailed that the bill “has a serious lack of protection for health and social care staff and risks putting many wonderful hospices and care homes in the position of no longer being able to operate.”

Following the vote, Sherrington, the lead bishop for life issues for the bishops’ conference, thanked “those who wrote to their MPs to stop the bill’s progression and who assisted the campaign against the bill in other ways.”

Call for ‘excellent’ end-of-life care

Sherrington highlighted his gratitude for the work of disability rights groups and legal and healthcare professionals for raising a voice to uphold “the dignity and sanctity of every life.”

“The true measure of a compassionate society is its willingness to support people through difficult circumstances rather than encouraging them to end their lives,” he said.

“Every day, families, friends, carers and healthcare professionals demonstrate extraordinary generosity in accompanying and supporting those who are suffering. Their dedication reminds us of the value of human relationships and of our shared responsibility to care for one another, especially at life’s most vulnerable moments,” he said.

The archbishop noted that “the most effective way to address suffering at the end of life is through greater access to excellent palliative and end-of-life care.”

“Ensuring such care is available to all who need it can help people experience comfort, dignity and support in their final days,” he said.

“May all the sick and frail find comfort in the support of their loved ones, and the love of God, which transcends all suffering. I ask the Catholic community to continue to pray for our legislators, that they will ensure that our laws always uphold the dignity of human life,” he said.

St. Nicholas of Tolentino, whose feast day is celebrated in the Church on Sept. 10, was born in 1245 in the town of Sant’Angelo in central Italy. He was drawn to the Augustinan religious order at a young age after hearing a sermon from the local superior on the vanity of the world. The order was in the nearby town of Tolentino, and after studying for seven years, Nicholas was ordained to the priesthood.

A charitable and holy man who often fasted and practiced self-mortification, he spent long hours in prayer. He fed the poor he encountered in a special way — he gave them blessed bread dipped in water. The reason he did this was that he once had a vision of the Virgin Mary telling him to dip bread in water and eat it to regain his health.

Thanks in part to these “panini benedetti” (blessed sandwiches), Nicholas was known for obtaining healings for many of the sick who lived in Tolentino — and for even raising some people from the dead.

During Nicholas’ lifetime, the Catholic Church formally defined the doctrine of purgatory at the Second Council of Lyon in 1274. The doctrine teaches that when a person dies in God’s grace, he or she either goes straight to heaven or undergoes a state of purification called purgatory before entering heaven.

So how did Nicholas become associated with this doctrine?

As the Midwest Augustinians tell it, Nicholas was asleep in bed one night when he heard the voice of a deceased friar he had known. The friar told Nicholas that he was in purgatory and urged him to celebrate the Eucharist for him and other souls there, so that they would be set free by the power of Christ. After Nicholas did so for seven days, the friar again spoke to him, thanking him and assuring him that a large number of souls were now with God.

Nicholas is also the subject of numerous legends — some of which are rather bizarre. A 16th-century painting depicts a story about Nicholas, bedridden and sick, refusing to eat but blessing two cooked partridges (he was a vegetarian). The dead partridges subsequently flew away.

Nicholas died of illness in 1305 or 1306, and Pope Eugenius IV — also an Augustinian — canonized him in 1446 after recognizing some 300 miracles attributed to him. In addition to being the patron saint of souls in purgatory, Nicholas is also considered the patron saint against epidemic disease and against fires.

This story was first published on Sept. 10, 2022, and has been updated.

The ceremony took place on Sept. 6 at Nativity of Our Lady Church in the town of San Martín de la Vega.

During the homily, the bishop emphasized the spousal nature of the consecration: “This is a wedding; it is a marriage in the fullest sense of the word. It is a betrothal to Christ, to whom you give yourselves in faithfulness, giving yourselves forever.”

He explained that “the Bridegroom invites you to become beautiful, immaculate, and holy,” not only through personal commitment to Christ but also through a strong sense of mission: “You are born into the Church and born for the service of the Church,” specifically within the diocese and with the bishop as the virgin’s spiritual father in the consecrated life.

‘For a Christian, everything is mission’

Regarding this commitment, the bishop emphasized that it does not imply a withdrawal into the confines of the Christian community; rather, it represents a readiness “for whatever the Church needs of you, whether in your parish, in this diocese, or wherever the Lord calls you” to be fruitful, not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

The prelate explained that the fruitfulness of the virginal vocation is born of love and opens itself to service: “Love is never selfish; therefore, love is never for oneself, but rather love is for others.”

For this reason, he urged the newly consecrated women to recognize the importance of discovering the missionary dimension of their vocation in every aspect of their lives: “All your gestures, all your words, and your very presence are mission,” because “for a Christian, everything is mission.”

Given that the ceremony took place close to the feast of the Nativity of Our Lady, the bishop of Getafe encouraged the women to look to her as “the reference point, the image, and the icon of all virginity, a virginity in faith, a virginity in hope, and a virginity in love.”

‘I used to cry because my friends had boyfriends and I didn’t’

Ana Isabel García and Ibáñez traveled a long spiritual journey leading up to their consecration. The former admitted that for years she believed her path in life was marriage, an experience she went through with a sense of unease: “I used to cry because my friends had boyfriends and I didn’t.” However, a personal encounter with the Lord changed her outlook on life. It initiated a process of discernment and formation spanning about five years of particular intensity, during which she was guided by numerous priests.

Ibáñez felt a strong calling from the time she was an adolescent. Coming from a Catholic family, at the age of 13, “a very strong desire for him” ​​was awakened within her, one that “has marked my life,” she said. It was not until she began her university studies that she once again strongly felt the pull toward total self-giving to Christ.

In 2022, she came across the Ecclesiae Sponsae Imago Instruction on the Ordo Virginum issued by the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, and recognized her vocation within its pages, having already explored other forms of consecrated life.

In the days before her consecration, García said she hoped the event would serve “to make this vocation known,” while Ibáñez wished for “a moment in which God makes himself present to everyone there, revealing his presence and companionship in their lives.”

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.

“It gives one pause to consider that, on the one hand, women are seeking inpatient obstetric care in neighboring countries to give birth to their children, while on the other hand, we are currently discussing the creation of conditions for terminating pregnancies within our own country,” said Bishop Benno Elbs, apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Vaduz, in a statement dated Aug. 21. “It seems to me that something has become unbalanced here.” The principality has not had its own maternity ward for several years.

“The Churchʼs concern is directed in particular toward all people in vulnerable life situations: unborn children and their parents, people with disabilities, refugees, as well as the elderly and the sick. They all depend in a special way on care, guidance, and concrete support,” Elbs wrote.

The initiative, titled “Fristenlösung für Liechtenstein” (“term-based solution for Liechtenstein”), calls for the legalization of elective abortion during the first 12 weeks, the lifting of a ban on doctors providing information about abortion services, and the transfer of costs to health insurance providers. Under Sections 96–98a of the criminal code, abortion is prohibited, with exceptions for cases of rape or serious danger to the life or health of the pregnant woman. Since 2015, women who travel abroad for an abortion have not been subject to criminal prosecution.

At the end of July, the initiative committee submitted 4,970 signatures; 1,000 would have been required. Nearly a quarter of all eligible voters in the principality backed the initiative. “Criminalization and the ban on providing information make it considerably more difficult to make an informed and self-determined decision,” the committeeʼs website states. There are no official statistics on abortions in Liechtenstein.

In a separate vote, the 25-member Landtag rejected, by the same margin of 13-12 on Sept. 2, a proposal to put the measure to a popular referendum. A referendum would have been mandatory only if the parliament had rejected the initiative. The public vote, which had been expected in the fall, will therefore not take place.

Hereditary prince has the last word

The law has not yet come into effect. “For any law to take effect, in addition to the approval of the Landtag, the princeʼs sanction, the countersignature of the responsible head of government or his deputy, and publication in the Official Gazette are required,” states Article 65 of the Liechtenstein constitution. “If the princeʼs sanction is not granted within six months, it is deemed to have been refused.”

Hereditary Prince Alois, who exercises sovereign authority on behalf of his father, Prince Hans-Adam II, has not yet formally exercised his veto. The head of state did not comment following the vote. He has six months to sign the law.

“The main reason is that, when it comes to time-limit regulations, the central legal principle of the protection of life is not sufficiently upheld,” the communications department of the Princely House told the news agency Keystone-SDA, explaining the rationale behind the anticipated veto.

In June, the hereditary prince stated in an interview with the newspaper Liechtensteiner Vaterland that the regulation in Liechtenstein must continue to be “based on a criminal-law framework with a system of specific exceptions.”

“With the time-limit regulation, the state effectively withdraws from its responsibility to grant the unborn child a right to protection during the permitted period,” he said. For him, it is a matter of “a fundamental commitment to the protection of life and not a ban on abortion.”

Regarding his earlier announcement, he said: “On such fundamental issues as the protection of life, a head of state should take a clear stand and also bear responsibility — even if that is the more difficult path.”

Bishop calls for support for families

For Elbs, the protection of life and support for families go hand in hand. “From my experience as a pastor and psychotherapist, I am aware of the often difficult situations in which women and young families can find themselves,” Elbs wrote. “The protection of life must therefore not be considered in isolation from comprehensive support: through empathetic counseling, sustainable social networks, and financial and practical assistance.”

“Our goal must be a society in which women and couples are not left to fend for themselves and in which saying ‘yes’ to life becomes possible,” he said.

Elbs praised the work of the Sophie von Liechtenstein Foundation, which has supported pregnant women, young parents, and families in challenging situations in Liechtenstein, Austria, and Switzerland for many years.

According to Church teaching, human life is under Godʼs special protection from the moment of conception. “With the authority conferred by Christ upon Peter and his successors, I therefore affirm, in communion with the bishops of the Catholic Church, that the direct and voluntary killing of an innocent human being is always a grave moral offense,” declared St. John Paul II in 1995 in Evangelium Vitae.

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

The AfD, which is critical of mass migration, is described by opponents as being “far right,” populist, and/or extremist. The stateʼs domestic intelligence office has classified the partyʼs Saxony-Anhalt branch as “confirmed right-wing extremist” — a designation the AfD is challenging in court; the federal equivalent was suspended by a court in February pending a final ruling.

According to preliminary official results, the AfD will hold 39 of the state Parliamentʼs 83 seats, just three short of an absolute majority. The Christian Democrats (CDU), led by incumbent Minister-President Sven Schulze, finished a distant second with 15 seats. The Social Democrats (SPD), the Greens, and The Left each won eight seats, while the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) won five, according to CNA Deutsch, the German-language sister service of EWTN News.

Bishop Gerhard Feige of Magdeburg, in a joint statement with Protestant leaders, called on the election winners to “fully respect our stateʼs constitution as well as the Basic Law and to uphold the dignity of all people.”

The Basic Law is Germanyʼs constitution.

“Anyone who wishes to assume governmental responsibility also assumes responsibility for all people in our state,” Feige said on Monday.

The statement said the churches noted the results “with great concern” and warned that the election had “profoundly changed the political landscape” in the state.

Separately, Bishop Heiner Wilmer, SCJ, chairman of the German Bishops' Conference, joined Christian leaders in a statement: “Our worst fears have come true, but we must accept the result.”

The leaders said they would “closely monitor and critically assess the political actions of the future state government.”

Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller, the former prefect of the Vaticanʼs Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, criticized the bishops' statements, writing for website kath.net that they “must in no case throw their spiritual authority onto the scales” for or against a political party.

The prelate warned German bishops to be spiritual pastors rather than committing “abuse of spiritual authority for political purposes."

Observers note that forming a state government in Saxony-Anhalt will prove complicated. The AfD fell short of forming a government alone, and the other parties are unlikely to form a coalition with it. A majority against the AfD would require all other parties to unite, which also seems unlikely.

For Father David Delargy, one of the three Irish priests who make up the group, singing does not mean setting aside his ministry, but rather living it out in a different way.

“For me, I don’t leave my priesthood behind me or to the side when I’m performing or singing on the stage. My priesthood is there, and I am ministering through the means of sacred music for those who, if you like, are the congregation rather than the audience,” he explained to EWTN News.

The Priests consists of priests Father Martin OʼHagan, Father Eugene OʼHagan, and Delargy, who began singing together as students at a boarding school in Northern Ireland during the 1970s and later continued to do so while studying in Rome.

Their story took an unexpected turn in 2008, when a Sony representative heard them singing together and proposed that they record an album.

“One of the Sony record labels, one of the leaders there, had an idea for recording an album that might involve some priests. So, they sent out a scout. When they heard the three of us singing together, they realized we had been singing together since our boyhood days. And they thought, ‘These guys, they can sound quite nice together. Let’s make an album with them,’” Delargy recounted.

“So, we signed a contract with them on the steps of Westminster Cathedral and went on to make four albums together, beginning in 2008 with ‘The Priests,’” he added.

The first album exceeded expectations, selling nearly two million copies worldwide.

The Priests have also released the albums “Harmony” (2009), “Noël” (2010), and “Alleluia” (2016), as well as the compilation “Then Sings My Soul: The Best of The Priests” (2012).

For Delargy, music has never been separate from his priesthood.

“In some profound ways, music moves people, evokes emotions, feelings and thoughts that otherwise might not have been there. So, I think God will use …our poor little voices and instruments, he will use all that to his own kind purposes and ends,” he stated.

A musical pilgrimage to Rome

Almost 20 years after that unexpected success, The Priests returned to Rome to mark the centenary of the Pontifical Irish College, the institution where the three men studied.

“We are all former students of the Irish College and we’ve been in our diocese of Down and Connor for 35 years, each of us, and we’ve all got great love for the college and I think given the fact that the college is celebrating 100 years this year, it’s a momentous occasion for the college,” Delargy related.

The celebration included a musical pilgrimage to some of Romeʼs historic churches accompanied by other priests and the faithful who had traveled from Ireland.

‘Sacred music in its essence is prayer’

Delargy believes music allows for the expression of things that words do not always manage to convey.

“Music can express praise, it can express peace, it can express prayer for those who are full of joy, but it can also journey with those who are experiencing difficulty,” he noted.

“So, sacred music in its essence is prayer. I have to go back to St. Augustine, who said when you sing, you pray twice,” he observed.

The priest also believes that music can serve as a gateway to Catholicism.

“Sometimes the music, sacred music I’m talking about in particular, will be for many people their only point of contact specifically with the Christian faith. And so the Lord will use all these various means to draw us to himself,” he said.

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.

“Cardinal Burke will be the principal celebrant at Holy Mass in the Church of Our Lady, Keizersgracht 218, Amsterdam. Later that afternoon, he will lead a prayer service and give an inspiring talk at the Vondelpark,” Radio Maria’s website states. The event takes place every year as a fulfillment of the request of Our Lady of Fátima to pray for a spirit of conversion in society.

Bishop celebrates centenary of first Catholic Mass in Norway

In celebration of 100 years since the first Catholic Mass in Norway, Bishop Erik Varden of Trondheim presided over a solemn Mass in Longyearbyen.

The Mass took place at Svalbard Church on Aug. 30 and was widely attended by members of the Catholic community as well as nonprofit organizations and representatives of the Lutheran Church of Norway, according to a Vatican News report on Aug. 31.

“For the sake of bringing Jesus’ sacrifice concretely to Svalbard, Bishop [Johannes] Smit came here in 1926 and celebrated the first Catholic Mass on the archipelago,” Varden said during his homily. “In gratitude for the grace God has poured out on Svalbard through a hundred years, we will faithfully take responsibility for that grace.”

Scottish sisters to stand trial over historic child abuse charges

In Scotland, five Sisters of Nazareth nuns aged between 67 and 84 have been indicted to stand trial. They are accused of multiple abuse charges against several children following a preliminary hearing that took place at the High Court in Glasgow on Monday.

Marie Docherty, 84; Mary Broderick, 83; Margaret McLafferty, 67; Kathleen McLean, 76; and Mary Doyle, 80, were named on an indictment, which contains 108 charges.

The indictment includes allegations that children were punched, struck, kicked, force-fed, and forced to stand while wearing soiled bedding or clothing. The alleged crimes are said to have taken place mainly at Nazareth House locations in Aberdeen and Bonnyrigg, Midlothian, between 1965 and 1982.

The accused have previously entered pleas of not guilty.

A further preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 22, 2027, and the court has provisionally set aside eight weeks for a trial starting on March 30, 2027, in Glasgow.

‘Safeguarding Sunday’ in Australia to operate under theme ‘Love Protects’

Catholics across Australia will observe “Safeguarding Sunday” on Sept. 13 under the theme “Love Protects” in honor of victims of abuse within the Church.

“‘Love Protects’ reminds us that genuine love is demonstrated through action,” Bishop Greg Bennet, chair of the Bishops Commission for Professional Standards and Safeguarding in Australia, said in a Sept. 4 press release. “Safeguarding is an essential part of our mission and ministry. It calls each of us to be attentive, accountable, and committed to ensuring that every person can participate in the life of the Church safely and with confidence.”

New leader for Melkite Catholics in Argentina

Lebanese priest Father Jean Abou Charouche has been appointed by Pope Leo XIV to lead the Melkite Greek Catholic community in Argentina as apostolic exarch and has been raised to the rank of bishop, ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News, reported Aug. 31.

The Melkite exarchate in Argentina serves about 345,000 faithful.

Born near Beirut in 1972, Abou Charouche was ordained a priest in 1998 and has devoted much of his ministry to preparing future priests and religious. He later moved to Argentina, becoming pastor of St. George Cathedral in Córdoba in 2015. Since 2023, he has already been overseeing the countryʼs Melkite Catholic community as apostolic administrator.

Pro-life groups protest ‘International Safe Abortion Day’ celebration in Northern Ireland

Christian and pro-life groups have called on the Belfast City Council to cancel plans to illuminate the Northern Ireland city in observance of “International Safe Abortion Day.”

“The strength of this open letter comes from the breadth of organizations standing together. Catholic, Protestant, evangelical, pro-life, pregnancy-support, and Christian community groups have united to send Belfast City Council a clear and respectful message: City Hall is not a billboard for abortion,” Bernadette Smyth, director of Precious Life, the largest pro-life group in Northern Ireland, said in a press release Sept. 1.

The letter came ahead of the Belfast City Council’s 11-3 vote to approve the measure on Sept. 2.

Ivory Coast cardinal decries illegal gold mining

Cardinal Ignace Bessi Dogbo of the Ivory Coast’s Archdiocese of Abidjan has denounced the devastating environmental consequences of illegal gold mining, calling for stronger state action to protect the country’s natural resources and its people, ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, reported Sept. 3.

In his homily during the Mass of the 2026 World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, the cardinal reflected on the ecological vision of Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’, warning against the destruction of land and waterways caused by the pursuit of gold.

He also challenged what he described as the excessive attachment to money that fuels the exploitation of creation.

“Gold that kills is not gold. Illegal gold mining that kills human beings is worse than idolatry. It is beyond words,” Dogbo said, condemning mining activities that “soil the water,” destroy the environment, and transform rivers into “polluted wastelands.”

UK government warns against assisted suicide in latest assessment

An updated assessment from the U.K. government has found that “poverty, poor care, and abuse” could lead to “disproportionate numbers of ethnic minority people” seeking to end their lives via assisted suicide.

The latest assessment, released Aug. 29, comes as the government increased its central estimate of annual assisted deaths from 2,183 to 3,502, according to an Aug. 29 press release from Right To Life UK.

U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has called for extensive healthcare reforms to take place before the passage of legislation on assisted dying.

“Personally, I think there’s something that needs to happen first, and that’s the fixing of the funding of palliative care and social care,” Burnham said July 29. ”I think it is very challenging to introduce that wider debate in a context of people not receiving that care and having the peace of mind about that care.”

Patrick J. Passmore contributed to this report.

With the official registration period now closed, shrine officials reported that, due to the “exceptionally high turnout expected,” they will ensure “the best possible conditions for welcoming visitors, safety, and organization,” as the site reaches “maximum capacity.”

“There will be 150,000 of us praying with the pope at the shrine. Millions more will be tuning in via television and radio,” the shrine said in its latest news bulletin.

The shrine noted that registrations can no longer be modified and that instructions regarding the assignment of sectors and access routes to the venue will be sent via email in the coming days.

Preparations for Leo XIV’s visit

In recent weeks, preparations have continued at the venue to welcome the pontiff, including permanent improvements that will remain in place after the pope’s departure.

Marking the 150th anniversary of the Marian apparitions, Leo’s visit will take place 18 years after the last visit by a pontiff — that of Benedict XVI in 2008.

With that visit in mind, the shrine states that “enthusiasm is already palpable here in Lourdes at the prospect of praying with the successor of Peter.”

Various departments are putting forth great effort to ensure the event is unforgettable — from the sewing workshop, where Sister Martha is quietly making the liturgical vestments to be worn by Pope Leo XIV, to the workshops where “the large podium cross is gradually taking shape.” In addition, those responsible for decorating the venue are designing ways to ensure the shrine looks suitably adorned for the occasion.

Leo XIV will land in Paris on Sept. 25 where, after the official reception at the Elysée Palace, he will visit the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) headquarters and hold a meeting with young people. The next day, he will visit the Maison Bakita Center for Accompaniment and Social Integration, which provides support services for migrants, and will hold a meeting with the members of the Provincial Synodal Assembly, the catechumens and the neophytes at the Catholic Institute of Paris.

After celebrating Mass in the Place de la Concorde, he will fly to Lourdes. At the end of his stay at the shrine, he will head to the city of Metz, where he will hold an interreligious meeting at the Robert Schumann Congress Center and celebrate Mass in the cathedral before returning to Rome.

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.

“Surrogacy is by its nature evil and incompatible with Christian faith and morality,” the bishops’ bioethics committee said. “The desire to have children cannot be interpreted as a right to have children, because a child, in the ontological sense, as a human being, is not the property of its parents.”

The bioethics committee of the Polish Bishops' Conference issued a statement on Aug. 27 signed by the head of the committee, Auxiliary Bishop Józef Wróbel of the Archdiocese of Lublin. The committee warned that the “conception and birth of a child cannot be the subject of a commercial transaction” between those who offer their body for rent and those who want to obtain offspring in this way.

The committee underscored that the practice of surrogacy cannot, therefore, “be tolerated, permitted, accepted, or, even less so, promoted by state institutions.”

The statement noted that “more and more offers are emerging in Poland guaranteeing the birth of a healthy child through surrogacy,” likely a reference to an event organized in the Polish capital, Warsaw, for Sept. 12-13 by the Ukrainian fertility clinic BioTexCom: Center for Human Reproduction.

The company says it has a “wide database of donors who meet all individual requirements of clients” as well as “the latest techniques” to achieve “positive results” of in vitro fertilization.

BioTexCom describes surrogacy “as a program during which a healthy woman carries a child for the infertile couple” and promises “best surrogate mothers,” lower prices, and better services than other medical centers in Europe.

However, the bioethical experts of the Polish episcopate pointed out that surrogacy is available only through artificial insemination, usually performed through in vitro fertilization, which has a variety of “genetic, developmental, and psychological” consequences.

Moreover, the experts said such “conceived children will be killed through eugenic abortion if genetic or developmental disorders are detected,” stressing that “the murder of an unborn child is always an extremely evil act” and that under “law in force in Poland, it is also a crime.”

The bioethicists said conducting surrogacy outside Poland does not make it legal, adding that it rather resembles “international human trafficking, which cannot be justified either by the desire to have offspring or the consent” of the parties involved.

The experts concluded that children are “treated as commodities and not as endowed with an inalienable dignity attached to their humanity.” Thus, they called for “the state authorities to take immediate and decisive action to prevent surrogacy by Polish citizens and to block” companies that “offer such procedures.”

Some analysts noted that Poland lacks surrogacy limitations, unlike Slovakia and Italy, where the practice is banned.

Sarah, the former prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, spoke to the Italian newspaper Il Giornale last week about the importance of the traditional liturgy, which dates back to the time of Pope Gregory the Great and earlier, and which was celebrated worldwide until the Second Vatican Council (1962–1965).

After the council, the old liturgy was abandoned, although some priests continued to celebrate it. The archbishop of Dakar, Senegal, Marcel Lefebvre, remained faithful to it and founded the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) under the claim of preserving the Traditional Latin Mass and in opposition to some reforms of the Second Vatican Council. The SSPX has twice been declared to be in schism, including in 2026, and its bishops excommunicated.

In the mid-1980s, the Holy See began to relax the de facto ban. In his motu proprio Summorum Pontificum, Pope Benedict XVI in 2007 authorized all priests to celebrate the old liturgy; in his view, strictly speaking, it had never been abrogated. He differentiated between the Traditional Latin Mass as the “extraordinary form” and the new Mass as the “ordinary form.”

Pope Francis revoked his predecessorʼs decision in 2021 and severely restricted the classical Roman liturgy with his motu proprio Traditionis Custodes.

“Among the effects of the liberalization of the extraordinary form was the positive influence — I would even say the correction — regarding possible abuses in the celebration of the ordinary form,” Sarah said. “These abuses are extremely serious acts, yet we must never equate the ordinary form itself with them. Many priests testify that discovering the extraordinary form helped them celebrate Mass better.”

“I think Benedict XVI also demonstrated on that occasion a deeply humble and democratic attitude,” the cardinal continued, recalling the 2007 decision. “He wanted to ensure the widest possible dissemination, so that the people of God could decide for themselves, over the decades, which form of living out the faith best suited them. All of this, however, was nullified by Traditionis Custodes, while the pope emeritus was still alive.”

“That did not seem to me a decision that was either sensible or respectful,” Sarah explained. “But Benedict XVI, a man as gentle as a lamb, allowed himself to be humiliated and thus offered his suffering to God in silence and prayer, so as to better identify with Christ’s pain for his Church and to purify it.”

Sarah said that “access to ritual forms that have been recognized and in existence for centuries must never be artificially restricted by means of decrees. If a rite did not serve the faith, it would disappear on its own; if, conversely, it preserves and fosters the faith, we must by no means restrict it, for in doing so we would be restricting the very preservation and spread of the faith.”

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

A panel discussion held on Aug. 21, the opening day of the Meeting for Friendship Among Peoples, titled “The Freedom to Believe: A Human Right at the Center of Geopolitical Challenges,” explored the role of religious freedom in contemporary geopolitical dynamics, with particular attention to minorities in crisis areas and the contribution of faith communities to reconciliation processes. It also examined the responsibilities of the European Union, Italy, and international cooperation in strengthening diplomatic and political instruments to defend this fundamental right.

Following introductory remarks by Maria Cristiana Mele, Italy’s special envoy for the promotion of religious freedom and the protection of religious minorities worldwide, speakers included Cristina Duranti, director of the Good Shepherd International Foundation; Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Diocese of Sokoto, Nigeria, who said: “In Nigeria, if you ask someone whether he is Christian or Muslim, he will answer: I am hungry”; Mairead McGuinness, the European Union special envoy for the promotion of freedom of religion or belief; and Andrea Avveduto, journalist and spokesman for the Italian Committee for Freedom of Religion or Belief, who moderated the discussion. Daniela Canclini, president of the Italian Committee for Freedom of Religion or Belief, delivered the concluding remarks.

In his remarks, Kukah highlighted the "actions" of terrorist groups in Nigeria: "Islamic extremism has changed over time. If 15 or 20 years ago Boko Haram persecuted only Christians because it aimed to convert the population to Islam at gunpoint and establish a caliphate in which sharia would be imposed; the groups operating today have no contact with the population. They live in hiding and emerge only to kill, loot, and rape. They do not kill on a confessional basis, so it is inaccurate to say that today they persecute only Christians.

“Their attacks make no distinction based on belief: They kill people on farms, in churches, in mosques, at home, everywhere. There are also several groups affiliated with ISIS but divided among themselves, so if you are killed, you do not even know who did it. The situation is extremely complicated. The only thing that unites these groups with one another and with Boko Haram is violence and the mineral trade.”

He also described the difficulties involved in combating terrorist groups: “The situation is extremely difficult to contain, and the government is present only through the military, which nevertheless allows things to happen. Nigeria is a corrupt state. It has lost the ability to enforce the laws, which do exist, just as there is a constitution. At every political election the same thing happens: There is a suitable candidate, capable, the ideal person to have a positive impact on the government of the country. He will not be elected, because another, wealthier candidate will buy the election with money.”

At the conclusion of the meeting, ACI Stampa, the Italian-language sister service of EWTN News, asked Avveduto to explain why the freedom to believe is increasingly under threat.

ACI Stampa: Why is the freedom to believe increasingly under threat?

Avveduto: We are living in a time in which faith has once again come to be perceived as a problem rather than a resource. On the one hand, there are authoritarian regimes and totalitarian ideologies, which see in the believer someone who obeys an authority higher than the state and therefore fear him; on the other, there is the growth of extremisms that exploit religion to justify violence and the seizure of power.

In between is the fragility of many states: Where institutions collapse, religious freedom is the first to fall, because minorities are left without protection. And there is also a more subtle threat, typical of our secularized societies: the temptation to reduce faith to a purely private matter, expelling it from the public sphere. The freedom to believe is threatened wherever the person is not recognized in his or her entirety, which also includes the spiritual dimension.

Why are more and more Christians under threat?

The numbers are striking: According to Open Doors' World Watch List 2026, the number of Christians exposed to persecution worldwide has risen to 388 million, 8 million more than the previous year — a record year. One Christian in 7 globally suffers persecution. The reasons are different and intertwined: the expansion of Islamist extremism, especially in sub-Saharan Africa; regimes that see Christians as a foreign body or ideological enemy; organized crime that targets Christian communities because they are defenseless.

The center of gravity of Christianity has shifted to Africa, and it is precisely there that it is principally under attack: Christians are often visible minorities, communities that educate, provide care, and build social cohesion; precisely for this reason, they become targets of those who want chaos or a monopoly on power. The paradox is that Christians are persecuted not despite the good they do but often because of it.

Another region is the Middle East. The conflict between Israel and Iran is affecting Lebanon: How are Christians living through it?

Lebanon is once again paying for wars decided elsewhere. Since the beginning of March, the bombings have caused more than 2,000 deaths and over 1 million displaced people, and Christians have not been spared: Members of the community who have nothing to do with Hezbollah have been killed in the attacks. And yet, amid all this, the faith endures: In Christian villages in the south, such as Rmeich, Debel, and Ain Ebel, priests say that daily Mass and the rosary prayed together are what sustain the people under bombardment.

Lebanese Christians are experiencing a double suffering: the material suffering of war and the moral suffering of a country held hostage, whose sovereignty is contested among outside powers. But they also remain bearers of a vocation: As the Maronite patriarch recalls, echoing the words of the popes, “Lebanon is more than a territory; it is a message of freedom, dignity, pluralism, and coexistence.” For this reason, supporting the Christians of Lebanon means supporting the very idea of a pluralistic Middle East.

Another difficult situation is found in Nigeria, as Bishop Hassan Kukah described, and in Sudan: How can Christians be supported?

Nigeria today is the deadliest place in the world for Christians: It alone accounts for about 3,490 victims, 70% of the global total of Christians killed for their faith, amid attacks on villages, burned churches, kidnappings of priests, and even schoolchildren. Sudan, devastated by civil war, is also among the countries experiencing extreme persecution. How can they be supported? First of all, by not forgetting them: The first persecution is silence.

Then through concrete closeness: supporting the local Churches, schools, clinics, and projects that allow communities to remain in their own land rather than flee. There is also the level of political and diplomatic pressure, so that governments are called to their responsibility to protect. And finally prayer, which for the persecuted themselves — they always say this — is not a symbolic gesture but the sign that they belong to a larger body that does not abandon them.

Why is religious freedom a good for everyone, as the Church emphasizes in its magisterium?

Because it is the mother of all freedoms. It concerns the most intimate core of the person: conscience, the relationship with truth, and with the ultimate meaning of life. A state that respects this inner sanctuary will also respect freedom of thought, expression, and association; a state that violates it will sooner or later violate everything else.

This can be seen empirically: The countries where believers are persecuted are the same countries where all human rights are trampled upon. Religious freedom, moreover, does not protect only believers: It also protects those who do not believe, because it affirms that no power may impose or prohibit a worldview. It is the foundation of a truly pluralistic society, where diversity is not merely tolerated but recognized as a source of richness.

So why does the Church fight for religious freedom for everyone?

Because it does not ask for privileges but for a right that arises from the dignity of the person created in the image of God, a dignity that belongs to every human being, Christian or not. This is the teaching of the Second Vatican Council through the declaration on religious freedom, Dignitatis Humanae: Truth imposes itself solely by virtue of its own truth, never through coercion. Faith, to be authentic, must be free; an imposed faith is not faith.

For this reason, the Church defends with the same voice the persecuted Christian in Nigeria, the discriminated-against Muslim, the threatened Jew, the massacred Yazidi: because defending religious freedom only for oneʼs own people would deny its very foundation. And it is also a matter of credibility: The Church knows that the strongest witness is that of those who defend the rights of others, not only their own.

A few months ago in Italy, the Pact among Religions was signed. Can it be a first step toward cooperation and dialogue among faiths?

Yes, and it is a significant step precisely because it is not a declaration of intent but a public and structured commitment. On June 25, at the Ara Pacis in Rome, the leaders of religious confessions present in Italy signed the pact “The Italian Way of Interreligious Dialogue,” which was then presented to Italian President Sergio Mattarella: 15 religious confessions, from the Catholic Church to Muslim, Jewish, Orthodox, Protestant, Buddhist, Hindu, and Baháʼí communities, the fruit of three years of joint work.

The document contains nine commitments and nine concrete actions: educating communities in dialogue, working together for the common good, and promoting a culture of peace. It is important for two reasons. The first is because it shows that religions are not the problem but part of the solution and, as Mattarella said, dialogue pursued sincerely produces understanding and cooperation, and gives life to forms of coexistence that are essential for banishing all intolerance.

The second is this: In a world where religion is exploited to fuel conflicts, a pact among different faiths is the most eloquent refutation of that exploitation. Of course, a document is not enough: It will be everyday practice — in cities, in schools, among young people — that will show whether this first step becomes a journey. But the direction is the right one, and beginning in Italy it can become a model elsewhere.

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

During a meeting between Argüello and the minister of culture, tourism, and sport, Alberto Díaz Pico, the regional government expressed its “interest in promoting the commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the birth of Philip II (in 2027), as well as highlighting the beatification cause of Isabella, the Catholic Monarch, and its historical and cultural significance,” according to an Aug. 27 statement issued by the government.

Isabella and her husband, King Ferdinand, were given the title “the Catholic Monarchs” by Pope Alexander VI through the papal bull Si Convenit for their defense of the Catholic faith.

“Furthermore, the commitment to continue collaborating with the Church on the conservation, protection, and enhancement of the ecclesiastical heritage of Castile and León has been reaffirmed, with a view to exploring ways to expand and strengthen existing support measures,” the statement added.

The statement also highlighted “the good rapport and the determination to maintain close collaboration on matters of mutual interest regarding the culture, heritage, and history of Castile and León.”

Isabella, the Catholic Monarch

Isabella I of Castile was born in Madrigal de las Altas Torres on April 22, 1451, Holy Thursday that year. After being recognized as Princess of Asturias in 1468, she married Ferdinand of Aragon in 1469 and had six children, two of whom predeceased her. Upon the death of Enrique IV, she was proclaimed queen in 1474, according to the Archdiocese of Valladolid.

During her reign, she championed the reconquest of Granada from the Muslims and the voyage of Christopher Columbus, which led to the discovery of the Americas in October 1492. She also promoted the evangelization and protection of the Indigenous peoples of the Americas, going so far as to ban their enslavement. She died on Nov. 26, 1504, from uterine cancer.

The cause for her beatification was initiated in Valladolid in 1958; the diocesan phase concluded in 1990, after which the process moved to Rome.

Historians have already favorably reviewed the documentation, but the theological assessment regarding the heroic nature of her virtues is still pending. Once that takes place, and following the popeʼs approval, she may be recognized as venerable, awaiting a miracle for her beatification.

Enraizados (the “Rooted in Christ and in Society Association”) has an annual Mass celebrated in memory of Isabella. In the manifesto the group published in 2026, it included a prayer by the queen: “I am afraid, Lord, of being afraid and not knowing how to fight. I am afraid, Lord, of being afraid and being capable of denying you. I ask you, Lord, that in your greatness, you do not forget me. And that, with your love, you grant the strength to die for you.”

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.