The process is being overseen by the United States government, with the primary objectives of restoring the countryʼs institutions, reinstating civil and political liberties, and eventually calling for elections to enable a democratic transition in the aftermath of the capture and extradition to the U.S. of former President Nicolás Maduro on Jan. 3.

On Wednesday, Aug. 12, the leaders of both factions — Dinorah Figuera, representing the 2015 National Assembly, and Jorge Rodríguez, representing the ruling socialist government — addressed the nation to announce the outcome of the five working sessions that were held beginning Aug. 6.

Rodríguez said both sides had committed to working toward the recovery of Venezuelan gold held by the Bank of England, assets that had been frozen due to sanctions imposed during the Maduro regime.

Additionally, the negotiating team agreed to work on addressing the needs of those affected by the double earthquake that struck the country on June 24.

Figuera announced that the initial agreements also include a sweeping reform of the Venezuelan judicial system, initiating a new nomination process to replace the judges of the Supreme Court of Justice.

According to the parties involved, these resolutions will be implemented immediately, operating under a “continuous working mechanism to ensure strict compliance with every commitment.”

Throughout the more than 20 years of the Chavez’s socialist regime, Venezuelaʼs state institutions, particularly the judiciary and the electoral authority, were completely controlled by the ruling party, giving rise to numerous abuses denounced by domestic and international activists and organizations over the years.

The start of the talks has elicited mixed reactions within Venezuelan society. María Corina Machado, an opposition leader who currently commands the greatest share of popular support, was excluded from the negotiations.

The delegations are scheduled to meet again in September to advance the three-phase plan outlined by the Trump administration in January: stabilization, economic recovery, and transition to democracy.

Earlier this week, two cardinals and a bishop emeritus said that they viewed the start of the talks “with approval,” although they pointed to deficiencies in the process.

In a joint statement, they offered to serve as guarantors of the process from a “religious and moral standpoint” and pledged to monitor the work of the commissions, which, they emphasized, must ultimately aim to benefit the entire Venezuelan people.

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.

In the video, whose recording date is unknown, the 80-year-old prelate, who celebrates his golden jubilee of priesthood on Aug. 15, is seen conversing with a journalist and pro-government lawmaker Adolfo Pastrán.

Among other things, Pastrán remarks that the bishop looks “full of vitality,” to which the bishop briefly replies that “prayer helps a great deal” and that he is doing well.

‘I’m in my element here, living a monastic life’

Throughout the nine minutes of footage, the two are seen discussing personal anecdotes, Mata’s fondness for tending to his crops and plants, and his reading habits at the estate where he lives in Tisma, Masaya district, the location where the dictatorship says the bishop has been since July 4 following his detention in late June.

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Regarding whether he receives visitors, the bishop mentions that “a brother and a niece” have come to see him and that he enjoys “silence, study, and prayer. I am in my element, leading a monastic life; that is what I am doing — prayer and intellectual work.”

‘Pro-government propagandist’

Speaking on Aug. 14 to ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News, Father Edwing Román, vicar of St. Agatha Parish in Miami, criticized the release of the video. He described Pastrán as a “pro-government propagandist” who fails to mention “anything about the bishop being intercepted by police as he left a clinic in Estelí.”

“They kept him under restrictions and incommunicado for weeks in addition to trying to tarnish his reputation for integrity by questioning him about his property,” he added.

When Mata was detained, the dictatorship of President Daniel Ortega and his wife and vice president, Rosario Murillo, issued a statement noting that the prelate had been subjected to a “necessary inquiry regarding the origin of properties and family ties inconsistent with his priestly status” and that, subsequently, “he has returned to his home, where he remains in perfect condition.”

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Román also noted that “Bishop Mata has always been a critical voice and deeply attuned to the suffering of the Nicaraguan people. His arbitrary detention — being confined to his own home — is part of the pattern of harassment the Church in Nicaragua is facing.”

“This video,” the priest emphasized, “appears in response to pressure from Nicaraguans and, above all, the United States; yet it neither shows nor mentions the police patrols stationed at the property, where the bishop is not free to leave.”

In mid-July, the U.S. government reiterated its demand for the “immediate and unconditional release of Bishop Abelardo Mata” in a statement by Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Riley Barnes.

‘The same script’ used with Bishop Rolando Álvarez

Arturo McFields Yescas, Nicaragua’s former ambassador to the Organization of American States, told ACI Prensa that “Nicaragua’s dictatorship has repeated the same script they used with Bishop Rolando Álvarez. They changed the scenery and the persons being interviewed a bit, but it’s the same script.”

“The dictatorship presents a bishop who is being held captive, who is a ‘disappeared’ person deprived of his freedom, yet who appears well, healthy, in excellent physical condition, and well nourished,” he noted.

In November 2023, as various institutions were demanding proof of life from the Nicaraguan regime regarding Rolando Álvarez, the bishop of Matagalpa and apostolic administrator of Estelí, the dictatorship released a series of images showing the prelate, who had been unjustly imprisoned since February of that year. In January 2024, he was expelled from the country and now lives in exile in Rome.

In McFields’ view, the release of the video featuring Mata demonstrates that “we are living under a regime of terror and lies. Bishop Juan Abelardo Mata remains held against his will, and people want to see him free. They do not want partial or illusory freedom. What we are witnessing is another staged performance.”

“No one believes the charade they put on, claiming that Bishop Mata was calm, relaxed, and in robust health. No one believes that lie. The video most likely dates back several weeks or months. It lacks credibility, and so does the interviewer,” he added.

“Free the bishop and put an end to religious persecution in Nicaragua,” urged the former Nicaraguan ambassador. “The life of Bishop Juan Abelardo Mata is in grave danger as long as he remains held captive by the dictatorship,” he declared.

Day of prayer for Mata

Mata led the Diocese of Estelí for more than 30 years, from April 1990 to July 2021.

Mata was ordained a priest on Aug. 15, 1976. To mark this anniversary, a group of Nicaraguans in exile is encouraging a day of prayer for the prelate this Saturday, Aug. 15, “in all parishes and Catholic centers in Nicaragua and around the world.”

The exiles are calling for Masses to be celebrated and the rosary to be prayed, as well as for the offering of the traditional “thousand Hail Marys” for Mata “for his life, his well-being, and his freedom,” and “for his swift release and protection.”

“On this Aug. 15, the Nicaraguan Church gives thanks for his golden jubilee of priesthood and lifts up prayers for the priest, the shepherd, and the brother who today also needs to be accompanied and upheld in prayer,” the group stated.

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.

“His Holiness' visit is great news for the entire country,” President Keiko Fujimori stated Aug. 12, according to the official newspaper El Peruano.

The decision will enable the government to take the necessary measures to organize activities in Lima, Callao, Chiclayo, Cusco, and Pucallpa — the cities the pontiff will visit. The government will also facilitate customs procedures for the entry of goods.

Additionally, a high-level extraordinary commission will be established to set the guidelines, strategies, and actions necessary to ensure the apostolic visit is a success.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be responsible for national coordination and will serve as the commissionʼs technical secretariat. The various ministries will designate their representatives, while regional and local governments may also join in.

The Peruvian Church welcomes the pope with joy

The confirmation of the visit was also received with joy by the Peruvian bishops.

“We are very happy because we have received the news that the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, is coming to visit his beloved homeland, his beloved Peru,” Bishop Edinson Farfán of Chiclayo recently stated.

The prelate particularly highlighted that the pontiff will return to the diocese he once shepherded in Peru. “We are filled with joy because he will visit his beloved Diocese of Chiclayo, which has given him so much, so much to continue being a faithful Church of Jesus Christ,” he said, quoting the first words of Leo XIV to the faithful gathered in St. Peterʼs Square at the Vatican after his election as pontiff.

“We pray for the Holy Father’s intentions and await him with open arms,” he concluded.

The president of the Peruvian Bishops’ Conference, Bishop Carlos García Camader, stated that the presence of Leo XIV “among us will be a true gift for our people and an opportunity to renew our faith, strengthen hope, and walk together.”

More than 700,000 people

According to estimates presented during the Council of Ministers meeting, the apostolic journey could draw at least 700,000 people across the country.

Of this total, approximately 350,000 people are expected to participate in Lima, between 100,000 and 150,000 in Cusco, and around 75,000 in both Pucallpa and Chiclayo.

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.

In images that have gone viral, Dr. Germán Somoyar is seen holding the infants outside the medical center alongside colleagues and the families of other patients who had to evacuate the building.

Speaking with Noticias Telemundo, Somoyar recounted that he was with his colleagues when everything began to shake and as the intensity increased, “everyone started evacuating the clinic immediately.”

He said that at that moment, he thought he had to go get the babies — the ones the nurses or parents might not be able to reach in their cribs. “In my line of work, the children always have 100% absolute priority,” Somoyar stated.

The doctor added that “there were two mothers in their rooms who were paralyzed with fear and werenʼt evacuating. I had to quickly explain the situation, calm them down, and tell them we’re going to evacuate.”

“After they proceeded to leave, I headed to the room where the newborns are, the neonatal unit” and picked up the babies, carrying them down from the sixth floor to the street, ensuring their safety.

So far, the deaths of 234 people have been confirmed as a result of the 7.4-magnitude earthquake. The hardest-hit cities are Cali, with 95 fatalities, and Pereira, with 72.

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.

As seen in the livestream of the Mass starting at 53:30 in the video, Father Oscar Aguirre Calderón had just consecrated the body and blood of Christ and was distributing the Eucharist to those assisting with the celebration of the Mass. As he was preparing to give Communion to the rest of the congregation, the ground began to shake and the churchʼs stained-glass windows started vibrating.

Without losing his composure, the priest said, “Our Father, pray for us all; help us, Lord, holy and mighty God” and then told the people to leave the church in an orderly manner while he carried the ciborium containing the consecrated hosts, guiding the faithful to safety.

“We were able to leave with the Blessed Sacrament, which was a blessing for us all, making our way to one of the arches of the doorway; we stayed there, and the entire community gathered in the small plaza,” the priest recounted in a video shared by the Diocese of Palmira.

Although people were safe, the church tower partially collapsed, as did part of the cupola. Bricks also fell inside the church: “In the area of ​​the Chapel of Our Lady of Fatima and the Just Judge, some bricks fell and smashed through the ceiling and damaged everything there,” Aguirre added.

However, “thank God no one was harmed; there were no injuries and no fatalities, thank God,” he said.

The priest noted that “Most Holy Trinity Parish is part of the municipality’s cultural heritage” and that many residents of Palmira have been baptized and received various sacraments there.

Aguirre said there is work to be done to restore the church following the earthquake but that while repairs are being made “the Eucharist cannot be celebrated; yet, thank the Lord, we are all safe.”

Other churches in Palmira also damaged

The Diocese of Palmira reported that in addition to Most Holy Trinity church, the following parishes were also affected: Our Lady of La Candelaria, St. Peter the Apostle, Our Lady of Perpetual Hope, Immaculate Conception in Yotoco, Our Lady of the Rosary in Vijes, Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Restrepo, Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Rozo, and Our Lady of the Rosary in Chiquinquirá, as well as old St. Anthony of Padua chapel.

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.

That was one of the key points presented at the First Specialized Conference on Religious Tourism held Aug. 3 and organized by the National Chamber of Tourism of Peru (CANATUR, by its Spanish acronym) and the World Religious Tourism Network, where experts agreed that the Holy Fatherʼs apostolic journey, scheduled for Nov. 11–17, could serve as a starting point.

Speaking to ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News, Adrián Lomello, the World Religious Tourism Network’s director for the Americas, stated that “Peruʼs potential is limitless.”

“The country’s resources are enormous, and it also possesses something no one else has: the blend of Catholicism and Andean cultures. That syncretism is unique in Latin America, and here it occurs quite naturally,” he stated.

For Lomello, the challenge now lies in looking beyond the pope’s upcoming visit and establishing Peru as a regular destination for pilgrimages.

During the event, a proposal was made to strengthen the “Paths of Pope Leo XIV” tourist route, which encompasses cities such as Chiclayo, Piura, Trujillo, and Callao, where the Holy Father carried out a significant part of his pastoral ministry.

“The idea is for these destinations to outlast the time of the visit and become a permanent offering” to pilgrims, he explained.

Religious tourism benefits the entire community

Lomello highlighted that religious tourism does not benefit only shrines or churches but also stimulates the economies of the cities that welcome pilgrims.

“Religious tourism has a direct impact on the community because the pilgrim arrives, spends money locally, buys handicrafts, stays overnight, perhaps extending their visit by a day, and visits a museum,” he explained to ACI Prensa.

“We have demonstrated that the financial investment yields a sixfold return. The state invests 1 sol [Peru’s unit of currency] and gets 6 back, a 600% return,” he emphasized.

He noted that cities must prepare to offer experiences that complement the pilgrimage, including “excellent cuisine, engaging activities, museums, and events.”

He noted that Peru possesses numerous destinations with great potential beyond those that are already well established.

“Cusco no longer needs further promotion. It even faces limitations in accommodating more visitors, and that’s fine. However, there are other destinations that offer the same impact and need to be developed,” he pointed out.

Waldin Durán, one of the speakers at the event and a specialist in innovation and digital transformation for tourism, told ACI Prensa that Leo XIV’s visit should be understood not just as a one-time event but “the precedent and the beginning,” positioning Peru as an international destination for religious tourism.

Durán noted that religious tourism represents about 20% of world tourism, and according to data from the World Tourism Organization, a pilgrim can generate up to 10% more income than a conventional tourist. He said the challenge will be to take advantage of Leo XIV’s upcoming itinerary to attract visitors on an ongoing basis.

The event organized by CANATUR also provided an update on the progress of preparations for the papal visit.

CANATUR general manager Carlos Loayza said the tourism sector is already working to engage hotels, travel agencies, tour operators, guides, restaurants, transportation providers, artisans, and local authorities.

A country shaped by faith

Lomello also encouraged Peruvian authorities to promote religious tourism as a matter of state policy.

“We would be delighted to see the government commit to this and make religious tourism a flagship initiative. I believe some steps have already been taken, and a commission has been established that strikes me as very promising,” he noted, referring to the alliance formed between the World Religious Tourism Network, CANATUR, and the Commission for the Promotion of Peru for Exports and Tourism, which are making initial preparations for the apostolic journey.

At the same time, he acknowledged that “the political transition Peru is undergoing,” with the election of Keiko Fujimori as the new president, “calls for a bit of patience” while the new government gets itself established.

‘Leo XIV is Peruvian’

For Lomello, one of the elements that will make the papal visit historic is the deep bond Leo XIV shares with the country.

“He is of U.S. origin, but his mindset is Peruvian. His spiritual formation is Peruvian. His tastes are Peruvian,” he noted.

In his view, that bond will give the visit a special significance. “The benefits in terms of Peruvian identity will be immense. The benefits regarding spiritual conversion will be enormous,” he added.

“Let’s have the finest banquet prepared,” he said. “Peru is beginning to experience a celebration. And when there is a celebration, the people rejoice; everyone’s heart is full of joy.”

“May no one be left out. That is the great challenge: making this a celebration for everyone,” he added.

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.

“Pray for those who are out there in the rescue process,” Gomez, who was born in Colombia, said in a statement shared with EWTN News. “I’m praying that they will find those who are still there, trapped, so that we could save some lives.”

Gomez confirmed that his family members are safe but that his friends and neighbors have faced hardship due to the earthquake.

“So please pray for the fire departments and those rescue people and the volunteers of the communities so that we could find more lives and that we could save some who are waiting for the help,” he said.

Bishop Robert Brennan of Brooklyn, New York, echoed Gomez in a statement on Aug. 11, saying: "Please join us in prayer for our brothers and sisters in Colombia. We have seen the horrifying images. Homes reduced to rubble, rescuers trying to save the trapped — and the falling tower at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary in Manizales.”

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“At times like this, we must remember, even as a tower falls, the Church remains — one Body, holding her suffering members in prayer,” he said. “For those who have died, eternal rest. For the injured and the trapped, deliverance and healing.”

Bishop David O’Connell of Trenton, New Jersey, also sought prayers, especially for “the families and other loved ones of some of our Colombian-born priests serving here in the diocese.”

Pope Leo XIV sent his condolences to Colombians affected by the earthquake in a telegraph signed by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

“The Holy Father,” the telegram said, is “deeply saddened to learn of the sorrowful news of the earthquake that has severely affected several areas of Colombia, causing casualties and numerous injuries, as well as serious material damage, including to many churches.”

Conditions on the ground

Camila Gomez, deputy director of programs for Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela for the International Rescue Committee (IRC), told “EWTN News Nightly” on Aug. 11 that their representatives in Colombia are in the process of assessing the extent of the damage.

“As it happens, we have been receiving information both from official sources [and] from our partners on the ground as well as IRC,” Gomez said. “We have had presence in Colombia since 2018, and we have some ongoing programs in parts of the regions where the earthquake took place.”

Gomez noted that many of the schools in Buenaventura that IRC works with in Colombia have been “severely impacted.” She said some of the schools’ walls have fallen and that classes have been suspended for the time being. “So that is one of the areas that we continue to track very, very closely,” she said. “Not just the infrastructure but most importantly the children, the families, the school communities.”

“We’re also tracking very strong needs as it relates to access to basic health services,” she said. “And we know that there is a need for mobile health units in all of the places where the earthquake impacted.”

Describing the response of the Colombian people to the disaster, Gomez said “there is a lot of solidarity.”

“We are very close to the twin earthquakes that took place in Venezuela a little over a month ago,” Gomez said. “So that is still very much in our minds and in our hearts. And we as a nation, we are in solidarity with our other fellow members of the country who are affected by this.”

“I think people have come together to try to provide support,” she said. “And to the extent that they can, whether itʼs gathering and sending over food items or first-necessity items, or reaching out to the authorities or to the organizations that they work with as IRC.”

Catholic aid response

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is partnering with Caritas Colombia to provide relief to those impacted by the damage caused by the earthquake.

“With collapsed buildings, many families are left without shelter,” CRS said in a statement. “Many families are in urgent need of shelter, clean water, food, medical care, and other essential support.”

“CRS is supporting our local Church partner, Caritas Colombia, with its nationwide network across affected areas, to identify immediate needs for urgent relief, including safe shelter, food, clean water and protection. Thanks to Caritasʼs nationwide diocesan and parish reach, we have access to communities in urgent need,” CRS said.

The bishops of Argentina expressed their “closeness and solidarity with the Church and with the entire beloved people of Colombia.”

In a letter sent to Archbishop Francisco Javier Múnera, president of the Colombian Bishops' Conference, the Argentine prelates stated: “We especially share in the pain of the victims and their families, and we accompany with our prayers all the communities affected by this difficult time.”

“We ask the Lord to grant comfort to those who are suffering, strength to those who have lost loved ones, and hope to those facing the consequences of this tragedy,” they emphasized.

Solidarity with the Colombian people

The bishops of Peru expressed their “most heartfelt closeness and solidarity with the beloved Colombian people and with the entire Catholic Church in Colombia.”

“We accompany with our prayers the families going through moments of anguish and, especially, those who have lost their loved ones. We ask the Lord to welcome the deceased into his presence and to grant solace and strength to their families,” the bishops continued.

The Peruvian prelates also prayed to the Virgin of Chiquinquirá, patroness of Colombia, for the injured and for all those “affected by this disaster, as well as for those participating in relief and aid efforts.”

“From Peru, we renew our prayers and our affection for the sister people of Colombia,” the bishops stated.

Mexican bishops invoke Our Lady of Guadalupe’s intercession

The Mexican Bishops’ Conference stated on X that “we join in prayer with the Latin American Bishops’ Council and the entire Church in Colombia in the face of the earthquake that occurred today.”

“We express our closeness and solidarity with the affected families. We ask God to grant strength and hope to those experiencing moments of anguish today and to bless those working in relief and rescue efforts,” they stated.

“May Our Lady of Guadalupe accompany the Colombian people and cover them with her mantle of protection,” the prelates prayed.

Joining humanitarian aid initiatives

The Chilean Bishops’ Conference also expressed its “fraternal closeness to the Colombian people and their shepherds,” joining in prayer “for the families who have lost loved ones, the injured, and those suffering the destruction of their homes.”

“We also share the concern of the Colombian community in Chile and assure them of our closeness and remembrance before the altar of the Lord,” they added.

The Chilean bishops encouraged the faithful to “pray for the victims and join in the humanitarian aid initiatives of the civil and ecclesial institutions.”

The earthquake in Colombia

The 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck several Colombian departments (administrative districts) on Aug. 10 has left at least 180 people dead. In an update on Aug. 11, President Abelardo de la Espriella said that almost 2,600 people were injured, almost 200 are missing, more than 1,100 homes have been destroyed, and more than 8,000 have been damaged, the BBC reported.

The quake occurred at 7:34 a.m. local time at a depth of about 60 miles, with its epicenter in the town of San José del Palmar in the department of Chocó on the Pacific coast.

De la Espriella declared a state of emergency to coordinate aid for the nine departments affected by the earthquake, the strongest in 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.

The earthquakeʼs epicenter was in the San José del Palmar subdistrict in the department of Chocó, and it was also felt in at least the departments of Antioquia, Caldas, Cauca, Risaralda, and Valle del Cauca as well as in the capital, Bogotá.

In its initial report, the national government stated that 111 people died and 87 were injured. In addition, 1,575 homes were damaged, 37 were destroyed, 61 buildings had collapsed, and six airports were affected, with one suffering damage to its runway. According to the Associated Press on Tuesday afternoon, at least 180 people were reported dead and 2,500 were injured, with thousands still missing.

Faced with this situation, the bishops’ conference prayed that Christ would strengthen the hearts of the victims and “grant them solace and hope, and accompany those involved in medical attention and rescue efforts.”

“Let us lift up with one voice a fervent prayer for Colombia; let us put into practice the charity of Christ toward our brothers and sisters, especially in these moments of suffering. May our prayer and closeness also be a sign of hope,” the bishops stated on social media.

Subsequently, in a message published on its website, the national bishops’ conference reiterated its call for solidarity, noting “that no one can face an emergency of this magnitude alone.”

“Colombia is called upon, once again, to recognize itself as one family and to respond to the suffering of its brothers and sisters with generosity and solidarity,” the bishops' conference stated, with the prelates adding that they would announce as soon as possible the ways the faithful can provide aid in solidarity with those affected.

Catholic organizations move to provide aid

To assist those affected, various food banks and other Catholic organizations have activated their protocols to collect donations and send them to the affected communities as soon as possible including the food banks of the archdioceses of Bogotá and Bucaramanga, which have issued an appeal on social media for monetary donations and packaged food.

The Colombia office of Aid to the Church in Need has also encouraged people to contribute donations to support the affected communities, “because when everything seems to be tottering, the Church remains.”

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 earthquake occurred at 7:34 a.m. local time, and its epicenter was the municipality of San José del Palmar in the department of Chocó, located on the Pacific coast.

On its social media, the Archdiocese of Manizales shared a video showing cracks in the facade and the partial collapse of one of the side towers of the 390-foot-high neo-Gothic church, the tallest cathedral in Colombia and the tallest neo-Gothic church in the Americas.

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Local and national authorities continue to gather information in order to get a complete picture of the number of victims and the structural damage caused by the earthquake, considered the strongest in the last decade.

Colombia’s newly elected president, Abelardo De La Espriella, said on social media he has “personally taken charge of the emergency response in San José del Palmar” and has ordered the “establishment of a Unified Command Post to coordinate the response to the damage and assist those affected.”

“You are not alone,” wrote De La Espriella, who is Catholic. “The state is present and acting.”

The Archdiocese of Manizales called on the population to pray “for all the people and families who may have been affected, for those who today feel fear and uncertainty, and, especially, for those who need help.”

“May God protect Manizales and Colombia, strengthen our hearts, and grant us serenity, solidarity, and hope. Lord, we place Colombia in your hands,” the archdiocese said in its post.

The governor of Chocó, Nubia Córdoba, stated on her social media account that “in the capital, Quibdó, there are injuries and serious damage to buildings.”

In its first report, the Civil Aeronautics Authority of Colombia reported that the earthquake affected the facilities of “the airports of Pereira, Manizales, Quibdó, Armenia, Cartago, and Buenaventura.”

“For safety reasons, air operations at these terminals remain suspended until structural damage to the infrastructure is assessed,” the group stated.

This story was updated on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026, at 2 p.m. ET with the updated casualty numbers.

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.

Tomis, an American missionary priest who was born and raised in Bridgeport, Connecticut, dedicated more than two decades of his life to northern Peru and has been cited by Pope Leo XIV on various occasions as a major inspiration for his own missionary vocation.

The announcement was made on Aug. 4 during Farfán’s homily for the feast of St. John Vianney, the patron saint of parish priests. At the Mass, Farfán highlighted the witness of the man who founded Chiclayo’s St. John Vianney Parish and asked the faithful to entrust the upcoming process to God.

“Everyone in our diocesan Church of Chiclayo knew Father Juan Tomis. I want to ask that we learn from him. If all goes well and the Lord accompanies and blesses us, the process for his beatification and canonization will begin before long,” the prelate stated.

The bishop also highlighted that Tomis left his home country to dedicate his life to the most needy in Peru.

“How beautiful that he was born in those lands. He came from the United States to serve these communities in Santa Cruz — in the highlands — and later in our beloved Chiclayo, which holds him so dear. I pray, through the intercession of St. John Vianney, that we may begin this process with joy, gratitude, and hope,” Farfán added.

The news comes just days after the presentation of the Spanish edition of the book “Bridgeport to Peru,” originally written in English in 1989 by Monsignor Stephen M. DiGiovanni under the title “Bridgeportʼs Peru.”

During the book’s presentation, organized by the Friends of Father Juan Tomis group, journalist and researcher Larcery Díaz explained that the translation “was born as a tribute of gratitude to mark the centennial of the birth of the man who was the guide and spiritual father to all the inhabitants of this area: Monsignor Juan Tomis Stack,” he stated.

Díaz recalled that it all began in 1963, when Bridgeport Bishop Walter Curtis, inspired by the Second Vatican Council, decided to send missionary priests to Latin America.

“The book tells us a story that began with a courageous ‘yes,’” Díaz noted. Among those first volunteers was “a young, enthusiastic priest of Slovak descent, filled with faith: Father Juan Tomis.”

The researcher recounted that the priestʼs early years were marked by enormous challenges in the province of Santa Cruz, Cajamarca.

The missionaries encountered a population lacking electricity and potable water, nearly impassable roads, high rates of childhood malnutrition, and strong resistance to any pastoral or social change.

In the face of these challenges, Tomis spearheaded road construction, fostered priestly vocations, helped build a clinic to care for the poorest, and worked to recover Church property that had been illegally occupied.

“Upon arriving during a cold winter, the missionaries faced a reality very different from what they had envisioned. Yet, it was their perseverance that allowed the seed of the Gospel to bear fruit on Peruvian soil,” Díaz noted.

In 1967, the mission relocated to Chiclayo, where Tomis founded St. John Vianney Parish, a community that, as Díaz recalled, he never wanted to turn into merely an institution.

“He did not want just an institution, but a ‘parish family.’ His tools were active charity and human kindness,” he explained.

From there, he spearheaded initiatives that remain etched in the memories of thousands of Chiclayo residents: the Useful Vacations program for children, the establishment of Scout troops, medical clinics, libraries, religious song festivals, and fondly remembered televised Masses.

“Father Juanʼs work transformed Chiclayo. That is undeniable,” the journalist affirmed.

His dedication was also recognized by the Holy See: In 1979, Pope John Paul II bestowed upon him the title of monsignor.

Tomis passed away on June 29, 1986. His funeral drew a crowd of some 20,000 people who accompanied the procession through the streets of Chiclayo, one of the largest outpourings of affection the city has ever seen.

“The outpouring of people from the entire community was spontaneous,” Díaz recalled, reading from an article he wrote 10 years after the priestʼs death.

“I can still see the thousands upon thousands of white handkerchiefs fluttering in the wind, bidding him a final farewell, Díaz recalled. “He was a priest who came to fulfill his duty, always bringing a delicate touch of tenderness, a warm spirit of love for his neighbor, and an unwavering devotion to the needy and the downtrodden,” he continued.

The journalist noted that Tomis “sowed love because he loved love, the hallmark of Christianity” and affirmed that his legacy lives on through the pastoral, social, and educational initiatives he spearheaded in Chiclayo.

At the conclusion of the book’s presentation, Díaz summarized the priestʼs impact in a sentence that takes on special significance today, following the announcement of his future cause for beatification.

“Today, as we open these pages, we do not merely read a historical chronicle; we reconnect with the friend, the teacher, and the guide. This book stands as a testament to how the love of God, when translated into service, can change the history of a community.”

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.

Parolin visited Mexico from Aug. 4–6, a trip that, according to a statement from the country’s bishops, “rekindles” the hope of “counting on the presence and direct blessing of His Holiness Leo XIV in our Mexican homeland.”

As part of his activities, the Vatican secretary of state met with the president on Aug. 5 at the National Palace, the seat of the Mexican government. After the meeting, Sheinbaum reported on social media that among the topics discussed was Magnifica Humanitas, the pope’s first encyclical.

“The pope’s calls for peace, fraternity, and closeness to the most vulnerable represent a humanitarian vision that is indispensable at a time when the world needs to strengthen dialogue, solidarity, and cooperation among nations,” she stated.

Peru, Argentina, and Uruguay: The pope’s priorities

Speaking about her meeting with Parolin during her morning press conference on Aug. 6, the president said that one of the topics addressed was the possibility of the Holy Father visiting Mexico.

According to Sheinbaum, Parolin told her that Pope Leo first wants to visit Peru, Argentina, and Uruguay, as these are countries “that Pope Francis did not visit.” She also indicated that the Holy Father has a “special relationship” with Peru “because he lived there for many years.”

The Holy See confirmed that Leo XIV will make an apostolic journey to Peru, Uruguay, and Argentina from Nov. 6–17.

A visit possible after 2027 elections

Sheinbaum said the pontiff “obviously could not come to Mexico during the electoral period,” so his visit would have to wait until after the midterm elections of 2027.

Mexico will hold federal and state elections on June 6, 2027. At the federal level, the 500 seats in the Chamber of Deputies are up for grabs, while in 17 states a total of 19,609 positions will be renewed, including 17 governorships and 1,098 local legislative seats.

“We continue to extend the invitation to him,” Sheinbaum said. “They told us ‘yes,’ that ‘he really wants to come to Mexico,’ … but there is still no established date.”

Sheinbaum indicated that during the meeting she and Parolin also discussed some initiatives developed jointly by the Mexican government and the Catholic Church, among them the program “Yes to Disarmament, Yes to Peace,” which promotes the exchange of firearms for economic incentives. They also talked about the restoration of historic churches.

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 period of Inca rule in Peru spanned from 1200 to 1532, while Spanish rule began in 1532 and ended in 1821, the year of the country’s declaration of independence.

In an interview with “EWTN Noticias,” the network’s Spanish-language television news program, the author of the new book “The Catholic Incas” contended that the conversion of many members of the Inca nobility was a far more complex process, marked by dialogue and the discovery of common ground between their beliefs and Christianity.

“I believe the biggest mistake, even among us Catholics, is thinking that our faith was imposed upon us,” Aíta affirmed.

“The numbers donʼt add up, because a small handful of Spaniards cannot convince thousands or hundreds of thousands of people,” Aíta indicated. “What we find in this historic process is a series of convergences that are far removed from imposition and much closer to negotiation,” he explained.

According to Aíta, who is also known on social media as Capitán Perú (Captain Peru), the encounter with Christianity sparked interest among the panacas (the family clans of the Inca nobility), who found similarities between certain aspects of their worldview and the Christian message.

“The first to convert were Incas. I am not speaking only of Atahualpa, whom many would say was baptized to avoid being burned to death. After him, there were other Incas who voluntarily requested baptism,” he stated.

The historian also highlighted a little-known episode in Peruvian history: the founding of the first parish in Cusco.

“The San Cristóbal parish was founded by an Inca, the son of Huayna Capac. It was not founded by a Spaniard, nor even by a priest. An Inca founded the first chapel that later became the first parish in Cusco,” Aíta pointed out.

He recounted that his interest in reexamining Peruʼs history began during his first visit to Machu Picchu. “That was when I realized there was much more to it than what I had been taught in class,” he recalled.

Upon returning to Cusco, Aíta began reading historians such as María Rostworowski, José Antonio del Busto, and Donato Amado.

“I discovered an entire history that, unfortunately, is not taught. If what they wrote reached the schools, it would not only change the history of Peru; it would change the way we see our country,” Aíta asserted.

Corpus Christi and the Catholic Incas

A prime example Aíta presents in “The Catholic Incas” is the set of traditional Corpus Christi paintings housed in the Archbishopʼs Palace in Cusco.

Aíta explained that one of these paintings depicts the Incaʼs royal standard-bearer walking behind the monstrance carrying the Eucharist. Instead of wearing the traditional imperial tassel on his head, a servant carries it ahead of him on a cushion.

“He is placing the Incaʼs crown at the feet of Jesus Christ, who is the Eucharistic Sun,” he explained.

“The Incas worshipped the sun, but through the Gospel, they discovered that the true Sun is Jesus Christ. For them, the feast of Corpus Christi brought the ancient festival of the Sun to its fulfillment, because the Sun was now present among them,” he added.

Consequently, he noted that the solemnity of Corpus Christi became one of Cuscoʼs most important religious celebrations and continues to draw massive public participation to this day.

The historian noted that his book includes documents, paintings, and other historical evidence that demonstrates the presence of Inca nobility who fully embraced the Catholic faith.

Among these, he cited the portrait of Marcos Inca, a member of royal Lloque Yupanqui lineage, who is depicted bearing the symbols of Inca nobility alongside the inscription “Inca, Catholic knight by the grace of God.”

As Aíta sees it, this evidence helps explain why Catholicism remains deeply rooted in Peru.

“Faith remains so important in Peru to this day because it is part of our roots, not something imposed. Had it been imposed, we would have changed once the Spaniards left. Yet the Spaniards departed, and we carried on, perhaps even more Catholic than they were,” 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.

According to a diocesan press release, the pontiff will visit Chiclayo Cathedral, the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Peace, Santo Toribio de Mogrovejo Catholic University, the districts of Santa Cruz and Zaña, and the open grounds of the Reque Industrial Park, where the main gatherings and celebrations of his visit to the region will take place.

The diocese noted that the return of Leo XIV will represent a moment of great significance for the people, “who will welcome the successor of Peter with faith, hope, and a spirit of unity.” The visit to Chiclayo will be part of his overall apostolic journey to Peru, which will also include the cities of Lima, Cusco, and Pucallpa.

The Peruvian Episcopal Conference (CEP, by its Spanish acronym) has expressed its “immense joy” at the official confirmation of the apostolic visit and is inviting the faithful to prepare themselves spiritually for it.

“His presence among us will be a true gift for our people and an opportunity to renew our faith, strengthen hope, and walk united as a Church in the service of the Gospel,” conference president Bishop Carlos García Camader stated.

The country’s bishops specifically called upon all the faithful and people of goodwill to join in prayer as a form of preparation.

In an interview with Vatican News, Cardinal Carlos Castillo, archbishop of Lima and primate of Peru, said the pontiff’s upcoming trip is generating “enormous anticipation” among Peruvians.

“We receive this news not only with great pleasure but also with a vital surge of encouragement that prepares us to commit ourselves generously to our faith, so that we may welcome him and better invigorate our Christian and Catholic experience,” Castillo remarked.

The president of Peru, Keiko Fujimori, wrote on her X account that she received “the confirmation with profound joy,” adding that it is “news that fills millions of Peruvians with excitement.”

Fujimori added that the pontiff’s arrival “will be a moment of encounter for our faith and a message of hope for our country.”

“Holy Father, we await you with open hearts to welcome you back to your home, Peru,” she said.

Castillo also noted that the papal visit is taking place during a time marked by challenges such as insecurity, violence, and social difficulties, and that the Holy Fatherʼs presence could foster a necessary reflection.

“May the Holy Father disarm us and make it possible for a peace that is both unarmed and disarming to unfold with full clarity,” Castillo 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.

At a special meeting on Aug. 5, the formal U.S. representation at the OAS presented the draft resolution, titled “Convocation of a Meeting of Consultation of Ministers of Foreign Affairs to Consider the Situation in Nicaragua.” The Permanent Mission of the United States’ resolution was cosponsored by the Permanent Missions of Argentina, Panama, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

The Permanent Mission of the United States called for the meeting to take place before Sept. 1, when the Ortega regime is set to codify its latest policy reforms. 

The move would invoke one of the OAS’ highest‑level diplomatic tools, signaling that member states view Nicaragua’s political rupture as a regional concern with direct human rights implications. Ortega’s announcement, paired with constitutional changes aimed at blocking opposition figures from power, prompted the United States and Paraguay to request the extraordinary meeting.

Commissioner Rosa María Payá, rapporteur for Nicaragua at the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, expressed concern at the OAS Permanent Council meeting over ongoing human rights abuses against Nicaraguans, including arbitrary detentions and forced disappearances.

She noted that about 838,363 Nicaraguans have fled the country since 2018 and that many face transnational repression. Representatives for several member states said during the meeting that the forced migration of Nicaraguans constitutes a migration crisis and a threat to national security.

Payá, a Catholic of Cuban descent, also highlighted persecution of the Catholic Church in Nicaragua, citing the disappearance of Bishop Emeritus Juan Abelardo Mata Guevara of Estelí, Nicaragua. Mata was detained by police on two occasions in late June after praying for the persecuted Church in Nicaragua during a Mass he celebrated on Sunday, June 28.

“We are very concerned about the situation of the persecution of the Catholic Church in Nicaragua and the persecution of the faith in general, and the practice and the exercise of the faith,” Payá told EWTN News. “We have been very vocal about our concerns and alarm about the disappearance of Monsignor Abelardo Mata Guevara.”

In October 2023, the Permanent Council unanimously approved the resolution “Rejection of the Repressive Measures of the Government of Nicaragua Against Educational Institutions and the Catholic Church in Nicaragua.” Nicaragua withdrew from the OAS in November 2023.

“When we talk about the Nicaraguan regime, we actually see a systematic continued behavior in the direction of violating freedom of religion, from the situation that took place with Monsignor [Rolando] Alvarez years ago — heʼs now forced to live in exile — to the situation of Monsignor Mata and many other priests and members of the Catholic communities that are afraid to practice their faith,” she said.

Payá said the Ortega regime’s suspension of elections has prompted a “collapse of democracy,” which she said “creates an environment of fear that impacts people of faith.”

“Iʼm Catholic myself and I also come from a society that has suffered the violation of human rights,” she said. “So I deeply understand what it is to to be afraid to speak your mind, what it is to be afraid of practicing and voicing your faith, which is a very primary human exercise.”

Payá is the daughter of Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas, a Catholic dissident who founded the Christian Liberation Movement (CLM), a peaceful democratic movement inspired by Catholic social teaching in 1988. He was killed during the Cuban Spring in 2012.

“All of my solidarity is with the Nicaraguan people,” Payá said. “And I believe that also all the solidarity of the commission is too, and we will keep following the issue and we will keep engaging in the political dialogue with the member states.”

The Aug. 4 video message was presented by the president of the Mexican Episcopal Conference (CEM, by its Spanish acronym), Bishop Ramón Castro Castro, and the CEM’s secretary-general, Bishop Héctor Mario Pérez Villarreal.

“A hundred years ago in Mexico, the bells of the churches were silenced,” the prelates recalled, but “their blood spoke instead.”

“For two years, the churches were closed, and the religious conflict pitted Mexicans against one another,” they stated.

The bishops lamented that “what happened in Mexico a century ago bears that tragic face. It was not a nation invaded by outsiders but a people divided against itself.”

“On both sides of the trenches and the battalions were children of the same land — baptized in the same parishes, heirs to the same culture, and sharing the same mother in their hearts: the Virgin of Guadalupe,” they added.

“Today, a hundred years later, we, the bishops of Mexico, wish to address everyone, not to reopen wounds but to heal them; not to judge the dead but to serve the living,” the prelates stated.

“A people that does not remember is at the mercy of those who write history for them,” they warned, going on to emphasize that “Christian memory is not nostalgia for the past; it is strength for the present.”

The bishops further stated: “We are not commemorating a war, we are not celebrating a victory.” They continued: “We do not exalt arms, nor do we idealize violence. We do not call for revenge, and we do not fuel resentment.”

Rather, they said, “we commemorate the fidelity of a believing people who kept the faith alive when the churches fell silent. We commemorate our martyrs, who did not kill for Christ but died for him. And we remember a lesson learned at a very high price,” the bishops pointed out.

In this regard, Mexico’s bishops emphasized that “religious freedom is not a privilege of the clergy but the right of every human person.”

The prelates underscored that “the martyrs remind us that there are truths worth living for and, if necessary, dying for — because whoever lays down their life out of love does not lose it; they sow.”

“Today, we defend religious freedom as a right for all — believers and nonbelievers alike — because no conscience should be coerced, manipulated, or silenced,” they emphasized.

This “time of grace,” the country’s bishops noted, represents “a call to build a Church that listens before speaking, that journeys together, and that awakens in every baptized person the awareness of living out their faith within the family, at work, and in public life.”

“May this time find us reconciled — capable of speaking the truth without hatred, of forgiving without forgetting, and of building together a nation where no conscience is coerced and no life is deemed disposable,” the bishops affirmed.

“May Christ reign in our hearts, and may St. Mary of Guadalupe protect our homeland,” they 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.

Bishop Luis Carlos Lerma Martínez of Nuevo Laredo announced that the pilgrims were heading toward the state of Jalisco when the bus they were traveling in was intercepted in the early hours of Saturday, Aug. 1.

“While it is true that, thank God, there were no serious injuries — let alone any loss of life — the lack of security on the highways of our country is deeply concerning,” Lerma lamented.

Lerma likewise urged the pertinent authorities to “redouble their efforts to strengthen security on our roads and thus prevent these types of incidents that cause such harm to our society.”

How did the robbery occur?

During an Aug. 4 press conference, Anahí Zamora, the pilgrimage organizer, provided details about the robbery. She explained that the group consisted of 47 pilgrims — including seniors, children, and several families — along with the driver and the co-driver.

She explained that around 3:45 a.m., while they were traveling along a highway in the state of Guanajuato, two men dressed in uniforms resembling those of the National Guard — a federal police force that, among other duties, patrols Mexico’s highways — signaled them to stop using a flashlight.

The driver assumed it was a checkpoint, so he stopped the bus and got out along with the co-driver. That was when the men “forced them to kneel alongside the road, held them at gunpoint, and began boarding” the vehicle.

Once inside the bus, the men began threatening the passengers with their weapons. “They took everything we had with us: suitcases, bags, cellphones,” Zamora recalled.

Following the incident, those affected managed to contact the authorities as well as representatives of the Diocese of Nuevo Laredo, who provided support to the group to continue their journey and subsequently return home.

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.

Both men received the sacraments after two years of catechesis provided by the prison ministry of the Archdiocese of Campo Grande.

“What is the primary objective of prison ministry? Education, celebration, and life in the faith,” explained Said Brandão Sayd, the ministry’s coordinator, in an interview with ACI Digital, the Portuguese-language sister service of EWTN News.

“Our principal goal is to have a Catholic community within the prison — to ensure that people, even amid all those difficulties, receive the Church’s help and can effectively leave that place or live there in a state of grace,” he added.

The sacraments were administered by Father Álisson Muryel, the ecclesiastical adviser for the prison ministry in the Archdiocese of Campo Grande, an area that, according to Brandão, has 11 prisons and nearly 10,000 inmates. The ministry is “present in all the prisons,” he said.

Without going into details regarding the personal information of the prisoners who received the sacraments, Brandão noted that one of them is single and “due to leave soon.”

“He wants to rebuild his life; he wants to do it differently,” Brandão said.

The other man, “who is staying longer,” is in “a stable relationship but wants to receive the sacrament of marriage.”

The coordinator explained that “in the second half of the year,” they are going to “prepare him for this sacrament.”

Brandão told ACI Digital that there is a team of catechists, supported by a parish, at every prison in the archdiocese. “Our meetings always follow this pattern, prioritizing catechesis,” he said. “Above all else, the Catholic Church needs to go in there [into the prison] and proclaim the message,” he added.

According to Brandão, it is not enough simply to “offer a hug” or “be deeply concerned about human rights, important as that is ... But if you don’t speak about Jesus in there, who will?”

“Without that, there is no conversion,” he affirmed.

According to Brandão, there are prisons where the pastoral team is able to be present every week, while in others, due to scheduling restrictions, meetings take place every two weeks.

“Since it is organized by cellblock, the blocks cannot be mixed. So, we go in, visiting two blocks one week, another two the next, and carry out the work there in that way,” Brandão explained.

Through this process, the inmates follow a program lasting one or two years, depending on the frequency of the monthly catechesis sessions.

During the meetings, they work on the four dimensions of the faith: the creed, the commandments, prayer, and the sacraments. That period of preparation, Brandão noted, is intended to ensure the inmate “is aware of what he is receiving, and embraces it ... it is a great responsibility to prepare them so they understand what the faith is.”

However, Brandão pointed out, providing good catechesis is pointless without the sacraments, and that is why a monthly Mass is held at the prison. At Gameleira 2, Mass is celebrated once a month in one of the four cellblocks. “So, each block has three Masses a year,” he explained.

Mass is preceded by a time of confession for those who have already received the sacraments of baptism and the Eucharist.

After the prisoners are released from the correctional facility, pastoral care workers encourage them to continue attending a parish near their homes.

“We do not know what is happening in each person’s heart, but the Word is reaching them, and the Gospel is being proclaimed,” Brandão 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.

On Aug. 1, De la Espriella stated via his social media accounts that, during the retreat, he reaffirmed his conviction that "to build a great nation, one must place God at the center of every decision."

Accompanying the president-elect on the retreat were his wife, Ana Lucía Pineda; vice president-elect José Manuel Restrepo; and cabinet nominees Jaime Andrés Beltrán, Mauricio Gómez, Iván Cancino, and Elsa Noguera, among others.

“With faith, hard work, and love for our land, we will make the country of our dreams a reality,” De la Espriella wrote.

In another post published on Aug. 2, the president-elect stated that the retreat strengthened his and his team’s faith and commitment “to serve Colombia with humility, responsibility, and love for the nation.”

Restrepo stated on X that “a nation that prays together stays together.”

As part of the event, each participant was given a copy of the Bible, featuring a map of Colombia and the heart of Jesus on the cover. Additionally, a video of Pope Leo XIV was shown.

Beltrán, the country’s incoming minister of labor, stated on his X account that “human effort is futile without God’s help” and that the together the retreatants experienced “a moment of encounter and unity, because we know that the battle ahead is also spiritual. God bless Colombia.”

Meanwhile, the retreat drew sharp criticism from members of current President Gustavo Petro’s outgoing administration. Among them, Labor Minister Antonio Sanguino and Rep. Mafe Carrascal argued that the event undermined the secular state established by the Colombian Constitution.

However, the spiritual gathering was defended by other political leaders, including some outside the incoming administrationʼs political party.

For example, Medellín Mayor Federico Gutiérrez criticized the retreat’s detractors for trying to "make people believe that even believing in God is a sin“ while Conservative Party Rep. Luis Miguel López noted that ”a secular state guarantees freedom of conscience; it does not force a president to hide their faith."

“What stands out is the double standard. When shamanic rituals and Santería were promoted from within the government, many spoke of diversity and respect. Today, a spiritual retreat is portrayed as an attempt to replace the Constitution with the Bible, something that never happened. The Constitution remains the same; the only thing that changed was the president. And, judging by the reaction of some, it seems that is what truly makes them uncomfortable,” López added.

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.

According to its website, ARISE is a full-day conference built for young professionals and Catholics from all walks of life called to be a “light and witness in their workplaces and society.”

The conference will include keynote speakers, breakout sessions, Mass, benediction, and networking opportunities. Some of the speakers set to take the stage include Sister Marie Veritas of the Sisters of Life; Father Charbel Bousamra, a Maronite priest and founder of Assumption Academy in Canada; and Father Marcin Serwin, a Missionary Oblate of Mary Immaculate and director of Oblate Youth Canada, among others.

YPCT brings together ambitious individuals navigating careers and personal growth, all while remaining rooted in shared Catholic values. Through networking events, service initiatives, and faith-centered gatherings, the group offers more than just social connection — it provides purpose and belonging as it redefines how Catholic identity can thrive among the next generation of leaders.

The group’s vice president, Kathleen Muggeridge, and Eva Bracho, one of the group’s event directors, told EWTN News in an interview that the inspiration for the conference came from a passage from the Gospel of Matthew where Jesus tells the rich young man to arise, sell his possessions, and follow him.

“Obviously not everyone can literally sell everything that they have and follow him and become like a monk or be out on the streets to serve the poor, but in their own vocational path — whether itʼs to be a father or mother of many children and to work and contribute to society — in whatever state of their life that theyʼre in, they need to arise and go and follow Our Lord,” Muggeridge said.

Bracho added that the theme of “arise” is also a “call from from spiritual slumber to intentional action. Especially, I think, in our society now, in our generation as well, itʼs really that call to live our faith fully in the world and tend to our individual God-given missions whatever that is and to become the person that God has created us to be.”

YPCT is expecting 600 to 800 attendees and while the conference is open to all Catholics, Bracho emphasized that what sets this conference apart is “that mission focus in your life. A lot of us are called to marriage and professional life. So what does that look like from a professional standpoint, which I think has not really been touched before.”

She added that she hopes attendees will leave the conference with “a sense of renewal.”

“So really remembering who God created each person to be in our identity as daughters and sons and then coming out of that and saying, ‘OK, what am I here for? What is my mission?’ And feeling the renewal of ‘Iʼm going to go forth in whatever my circumstances, my job, my life, my family, whatever that is, and be intentional about the life that Iʼm living and have that call to holiness but also have that call of like pursuing with purpose what I feel like my mission is in this life,’” Bracho said.

Muggeridge added: “The conference will be a reminder to people that Godʼs grace is in the here and now; itʼs right now, and every single moment of life that God wills us to be here is a moment where we can turn it all around. I really believe that it only takes a little bit of goodness on our part for God to do huge things.”

This responsibility holds special significance in the sacraments of baptism, Eucharist, and confirmation, which, according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “lay the foundations of every Christian life.”

In an interview with ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News, Mexican priest Father Luis Fernando Valdés, who holds a doctorate in theology from the University of Navarra in Spain, explained that the role of the godparent or sponsor corresponds to a human reality, since “we all need help to achieve life’s lofty goals.”

Just as a person receives support to reach academic or professional goals, the priest noted, “the Church, with its centuries-old tradition, establishes this great custom of godparents for the spiritual life as well, because we all require this help.”

Based on this reflection, he shared some recommendations for those wishing to better fulfill this mission and strengthen the bond with their godchild or candidate. (Editor’s note: For simplicity’s sake, both will now be referred to as godchild or godparent but includes adults receiving these sacraments.)

1. Know that the godparent’s mission is to help the godchild grow in the faith.

Valdés said the first step is to understand that being a godparent means “helping one’s godchild receive and cultivate a new life,” a life that is born solely “from the encounter with Christ.”

“This new life consists in that we are now another Christ, because Jesus has conformed us to his life through the action of the Holy Spirit among us. Like Christ, we are children of God the Father,” he added.

Therefore, he continued, the godparent’s goal is to help the godchild grow in that Christian identity.

2. You can’t give what you don’t have.

The priest pointed out that “no one gives what he doesnʼt have,” emphasizing that “the first task of the one who agrees to be a godparent is his or her own self.”

Godparents need to build their lives on the four pillars of the Catechism of the Catholic Church: “doctrine, sacraments, moral life, and life of prayer.”

“That is the great task of the godparents: to form themselves and then help their godchildren know these four pillars, which are what will configure them with Christ in the Church,” he stated.

Furthermore, he clarified that this formation does not take place solely in a classroom or during catechesis. Often, it is passed on “through ordinary life, get-togethers, conversations, and visits between godparents and their godchildren.”

3. Make the sacraments and prayer part of life.

Another piece of advice from the priest is that godparents should strive to be people of the sacraments; that is, they should attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation, go to confession frequently, and “live in a state of grace, leading a Christian life.”

He also encouraged godparents to “strive to grow in charity,” seeking to “care for others, attend to the poor, and share their goods.”

He added that they need to be “prayerful souls” who entrust their godchildren to God and learn “the Church’s beautiful vocal prayers,” such as the Our Father, the Hail Mary, the Creed, and the rosary.

However, he noted that spiritual life should not be limited to traditional formulas but also entails “engaging in personal prayer, knowing how to converse personally with Christ.”

4. Review how you’re living the faith.

Valdés acknowledged that being a godparent requires constant commitment; he therefore invited godparents to periodically examine their own spiritual lives and ask themselves whether they are living in accordance with the four pillars of the Christian life.

And if the answer is not what was hoped for, he suggested asking these questions: “What must I do? How should I start over? Where should I personally go to receive formation?”

5. Choose godparents who will “share parenthood.”

His final piece of advice is addressed to parents. Valdés noted that choosing a godparent “is not simply about making it look like the other person is my closest friend”; rather, it is a commitment in which a person “shares their parenthood with a specific purpose.”

“When someone chooses a godparent, they are saying to him or her ‘I have such love for you, and such trust in you, that I am sharing my parenthood with you so that you can help ensure that my child lives out the Christian life,’” Valdés explained.

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.

In an interview with the archdiocesan press office, the priest explained how “physical presence, active listening, and organized charity” have been the cornerstones of the Church’s response to the tragedy, which claimed the lives of thousands of people and severely affected tens of thousands more.

“Our immediate priority was to be present where the suffering was most acute; we showed up and shared close up with the vulnerability of our people,” he said.

From the very first hours following the earthquakes, he continued, the Church understood that this accompaniment “could not take place from a distance” but rather “required being physically present in the places of greatest uncertainty to support those who had lost everything.”

“For this reason, we deployed directly to the areas most critical to the emergency,” he added. Consecrated personnel and lay volunteers assessed the scale of the disaster, offering special support to people at the morgues “to embrace and share in the families’ painful silence” and bringing the comfort of the sacraments.

“In each of those places, our mission was simply to be present, to listen, and not to leave anyone alone,” Guillén added.

‘God never abandons us’

After highlighting “the profound vocation of service and solidarity,” which he said especially characterizes the new generations of Venezuelans and which enabled the enormous logistical response to the emergency, the episcopal vicar noted that it is precisely “in closeness and compassion” that God’s presence is revealed amid so much pain.

Beyond providing material aid, the Catholic Church’s “fundamental mission” was to “be a living presence of the Lord and sustain the faith where suffering was the greatest,” regardless of the difficulties posed by the earthquakes. Thus, the Church “had to take to the streets,” transforming plazas, parks, and sports fields into “open-air altars” for religious services and encouraging the most popular devotions in Caracas and La Guaira.

“One of the most moving services was accompanying people in their grief,” he said. “We priests were present in morgues, hospitals, and cemeteries in Caracas and La Guaira, supporting those who were suffering, often offering nothing more than a hug, weeping with those who wept, praying together, or maintaining a respectful silence in the face of such immense pain.”

“Bringing grace and comfort to places where suffering reigned was living proof that God never abandons us,” he added.

What are lessons the earthquakes taught the Church?

Guillén emphasized that “the earthquake left deep scars, but it also revealed the immense spiritual and solidarity reserves of our people.”

“Far from plunging us into despair, this tragedy becomes an urgent call to make fraternity a permanent way of life, oriented toward the common good and the recognition of every person’s dignity,” he said.

He remarked that “true consolation requires neither explanations nor grand speeches,” but rather manifests itself “in quiet presence, in an outstretched hand, in attentive listening that takes in the pain, and in respectful silence that helps heal the wounds of the soul.”

The earthquakes “leave us with profound lessons” for the Church in Venezuela and have confronted the entire country with “the urgent need to organize ourselves better in the face of contingencies of this magnitude,” he said. In that sense, he continued, Cáritas must strengthen itself and become “a true network of solidarity capable of reaching even the most remote areas” of Venezuela.

“Ultimately, this time confirms for us that the faith lived out is authenticated through charity and tangible dedication to the most vulnerable,” Guillén said.

“For this reason, the Church in Caracas reaffirms its unwavering commitment to continue accompanying those affected. We are not pulling out now that the immediate phase of the emergency has ended; we will be there for the long road of rebuilding society and the integral healing of our people’s lives,” he pledged.

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.

“Just two days ago, we began work to extend the village water system by about one kilometer down into the valley,” said Father Massimo Miraglio, explaining to the Fides agency the details of a project destined to “make a tangible difference” in the daily lives of the small community of Pourcine Pic Makaya.

The project aims to bring spring water to “two new distribution points,” which will make it possible to "serve three additional hamlets near the plateau where Pourcine is located,” the Camillian missionary explained.

“For many families, this will mean a real improvement in everyday life: Children and young people, who are usually responsible for carrying water for their households, will have much shorter distances to walk and a far lighter burden,” he added.

The community hired several local residents for the aqueduct expansion project. The work is expected to be completed in a few weeks. With improved water quality, the Catholic community will help “prevent many diseases linked to the use of contaminated water,” Miraglio said.

“Healthcare remains one of Haitiʼs most fragile sectors. A significant sign of hope came on July 14 with the inauguration of the new St. Camillus Hospital in Jérémie, created to provide essential healthcare services to the local population,” the priest stated.

These initiatives unfold amid a nation still locked in a profound crisis. While media coverage centers on gang violence, political instability, and migration, deeper humanitarian emergencies, such as internal displacement, hunger, and the growing vulnerability of women and children, persist unresolved.

Date set for first presidential election in a decade

On July 27, Haitiʼs electoral council set the date for the first presidential and legislative elections in a decade. The schedule sets the first round for Dec. 13, while the runoff will take place on Feb. 21, 2027.

The final results will be announced on March 7, 2027. Additionally, the electoral council specified that citizens will also be able to vote on constitutional changes and elect other local representatives. Initially, the first round of elections was scheduled for this August but was postponed due to security concerns.

The last elections in the Caribbean nation were held in 2016 and were marred by controversy. Following that process, Jovenel Moïse became president, holding office until his assassination in 2021.

Since then, Haiti has spiraled into political chaos and violence, particularly in the capital, Port-au-Prince, where armed gangs operate with free rein and control much of the territory.

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.

Fujimori — elected in a tight race that required a runoff — took office during a formal session of the country’s Congress, where she received the presidential sash for the 2026–2031 term. She is the first woman elected by popular vote to lead the country.

The ceremony was attended by officials from various countries, including King Felipe VI of Spain and Presidents Javier Milei of Argentina, Rodrigo Paz of Bolivia, José Antonio Kast of Chile, Daniel Noboa of Ecuador, Santiago Peña of Paraguay, Yamandú Orsi of Uruguay, José Raúl Mulino of Panama, and Nasry Asfura of Honduras.

“I, Keiko Sofía Fujimori Higuchi, swear by God, the homeland, and the holy Gospels to faithfully discharge the office of president of the republic that the nation has entrusted to me for the 2026–2031 term,” she said upon taking her oath of office.

The leader then swore to defend “this land, national sovereignty, liberty, democracy, and the independence of the branches of government” as well as to uphold and enforce the constitution and laws of Peru.

“I swear that I will safeguard the physical and moral well-being of all Peruvians, especially those who have been historically marginalized,” she continued.

Upon concluding her oath, Fujimori made specific reference to the Church: “I swear that, while respecting freedom of worship, I will recognize the importance of the Catholic Church in the cultural and moral formation of Peru, and I will work tirelessly for a safe, prosperous, and united country.”

The Peruvian constitution in Article 116 requires the president to take an oath of office but does not specify a particular formula, although some wording is traditional.

At the beginning of her first address to the nation, Fujimori said she was taking office with “profound humility” and “with a heart full of faith in the destiny of our homeland.”

“I thank God and place in his hands the work we begin today in the service of Peru,” she stated.

The new president asked God for “wisdom in making decisions, strength to persevere,” and for help “never to forget that power only finds meaning when exercised to serve.”

Fujimori noted that she had sworn before God, “before history, and before all of you,” “the most sacred oath a citizen can take”: to defend the constitution, protect freedoms, and dedicate every day to the well-being of the country.

Improving life ‘from womb to tomb’

In presenting her administrationʼs priorities, Fujimori announced that one of her goals for the nation will be “to improve the quality of life for all Peruvians, from womb to tomb.”

To this end, she pledged to adopt “a policy of comprehensive protection for early childhood, childhood, adolescence, and the family.”

“We will reorganize the social programs and public services that are currently fragmented in order to build a genuinely comprehensive protection system with universal coverage and continuous care at every stage of life,” she stated.

“Protecting our children and strengthening their families means protecting Peru’s future,” she noted.

Poverty, security, and freedom of expression

The leader described the state in which she is inheriting the country as “complex and painful,” marked by corruption, insecurity, healthcare deficiencies, and deep social divides.

Fujimori noted that three out of every 10 Peruvians lack the certainty of having necessary food on a daily basis and that 35% of children between the ages of 6 months and 35 months suffer from anemia, a situation she called “truly immoral.”

Regarding security, she announced the strengthening of the police force, the temporary deployment of the armed forces during states of emergency, and prison reform to ensure that jails “return to being centers of confinement rather than operational hubs for organized crime.”

Her plans for the economy include raising the minimum living wage — the monthly minimum wage — to 1,300 soles (approximately $382).

Fujimori also reaffirmed her commitment to “absolute respect for the independence of the branches of government and for individual liberties, particularly freedom of expression and freedom of the press.”

In closing, she called on opposition political forces to build bridges of dialogue and urged them to think “of future generations, not the next elections.”

“There are not two different Perus; there is but one Peru — vibrant, multicultural, strong, and ancient — ready to stand tall,” she declared.

Cardinal Castillo calls for reconciliation with justice

Hours before the inauguration ceremony, the archbishop of Lima and primate of Peru, Cardinal Carlos Castillo Mattasoglio, celebrated the traditional Mass and Te Deum at the Lima Cathedral marking the 205th anniversary of the nation’s independence.

During his homily, as reported by the ANDINA news agency, the cardinal urged the nation to overcome divisions through justice, solidarity, and the pursuit of the common good.

“Our God wants us to be in solidarity and to be just, not with a reconciliation that covers up the wrongs we have committed but rather a reconciliation that, clearly recognizing the injustices we have perpetrated, knows how to enact justice and make restitution to all those who have been harmed,” he stated.

Castillo warned that Peru is facing a “catastrophic” situation, not primarily due to economic indicators but because “the human condition and human dignity are in grave danger.”

In light of this reality, he called for the promotion of initiatives for reconciliation, peacemaking, and dialogue as well as a process of conversion aimed at rebuilding the country on the foundations of justice, solidarity, and the common good.

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.

Specifically, according to the bill’s legislative summary, the measure would modify the country’s health code “to establish the duty of the doctor to inform the woman about the embryonic or fetal heart activity and to offer her the opportunity to hear it prior to the interruption of the pregnancy.”

Speaking with the Chilean newspaper La Tercera, the cardinal sought to shift the focus of the discussion to the healthcare professionals involved. “It pains me that there are doctors who agree to perform an abortion,” he lamented.

Chomali also expressed regret over a tweet in which he stated that every mother should rejoice at hearing a heartbeat. “It pains me to have been a source of division in that regard,” he emphasized.

He explained that he is opposed to abortion under any circumstances. “I believe those three grounds should not exist,” he stated, drawing on his experience of accompanying women who are enduring a “horrific ordeal” such as rape, a fetus with serious medical issues, or whose life is at risk.

In such cases, he called for a “renewed recognition of what it means to care for another person,” noting that “when there is medical, psychological, spiritual, and financial support, women feel more supported and decide against [abortion].”

Regarding doctors who perform abortions, he remarked: “I find that terrible; I think that instead of showing the heartbeat to a woman facing a very difficult, complex situation, it would be very good for that heartbeat to be heard by a doctor who is committed to healing, curing, and caring for life.”

In this regard, he noted that doctors take an oath that entails “doing everything possible to heal and never to cause harm and here, objectively, someone is being harmed: a human being.”

He thus called for a review of current regulations: “It’s always the right time to examine all laws, because laws can be improved.”

“If you look at the bigger picture, a human life is being eliminated,” he summarized.

“Someone told me that with this attitude of mine, I mean, opposing the three grounds for abortion, I would turn half the world against me and end up all alone. I would rather stand alone than betray something as fundamental as the truth: that there is an innocent human being who deserves every possible care that could be given to it, and that’s that,” he declared.

I would rather stand alone than betray something as fundamental as the truth: that there is an innocent human being who deserves every possible care that could be given to it.”

Cardinal Fernando Chomali

Speaking to Radio Duna, the cardinal noted that this is simply “one bill among many” and expressed the view that “it must be addressed where it belongs: in the Legislature. They will have to decide whether or not they agree with it.”

Chomali added that “it is a matter that must be handled with great prudence, tact, and good judgment.” He expressed the view that “a woman could always have the option to hear the heartbeat,” but clarified: “Making it mandatory would be a matter for discussion.”

The archbishop further advised against confrontation: “What does not seem right to me is the use of language that serves only to polarize, when what matters is the truth,” he insisted.

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 accident took place on the night of July 25 while residents were celebrating the feast of St. James the Apostle in front of the Our Lady of Guadalupe parish church. A video circulating on social media shows the moment of the explosion.

Tweet

According to the media outlet El Horizonte, the explosion killed three women, including a young woman who was eight months pregnant. Some victims suffered severe burns, including minors who required specialized care.

Speaking to the media on July 26, Francisco Rodríguez Cisneros, Guerrero state’s undersecretary for political and social development, explained that the incident occurred because those responsible for the fireworks display “failed to keep them at a safe distance from where they were being used.”

According to the official, a rocket was propelled toward the area where the fireworks were stored, triggering the explosion. Rodríguez reported that as of Sunday, July 26, there were 12 injuries and four fatalities.

Prayers requested for the victims

In a July 26 statement, González expressed his “deep sorrow and dismay” regarding the incident.

“As a particular Church, we offer our prayers for the eternal rest of those who have been called to the Father’s House. We entrust their souls to the infinite mercy of God, with the firm hope of the Resurrection promised by Our Lord Jesus Christ,” he stated.

The prelate invited priests, deacons, men and women religious, and the lay faithful to offer special prayers during the week for the eternal rest of the deceased, the recovery of the injured, the consolation of their families, and for peace.

He particularly urged that, during the celebration of holy Mass and the recitation of the rosary, prayers be offered for the specific intention of all the victims of the tragedy.

Finally, he entrusted those affected to the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. James the Apostle, asking God to pour out “upon them the balm of his love and peace.”

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.

Initiatives such as the Betania Club de Lectura Católico (Bethany Catholic Book Club) and El Carmelo Descalzo (The Discalced Carmelite) shared their experience with ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News, and offered some recommendations for those who want to start a similar project in their parish, university, or community.

Entrust it to God

For José Jorge Domínguez, who started the Bethany Catholic Book Club, the first step is to begin with prayer and “entrust the project to God.”

“He always sees the intention of the heart,” he added.

He also recommended presenting the initiative to the parish priest so that he is aware of the project and, if possible, can offer spiritual guidance and support.

Common thread

Another fundamental element for keeping a book club going is having a defined goal.

Sara Gisela Sánchez Ureña, a member of The Discalced Carmelite, explained that it’s “easier to keep up attendance when the book club has a common thread.”

Their project originated within a group of single adults with a Carmelite spirituality who seek to purify “their own life experience in order to better determine whether their vocation is single life or marriage, approaching this through the lens of spiritual growth and with the maturity of the adults that we are.”

To that end, this year they organized a program based on the works of St. John of the Cross, alternating with authors who address themes related to the experience of the “Dark Night of the Soul.”

Meeting dynamics

For Sánchez, a key factor is ensuring that the meetings do not become merely forums for literary analysis but rather occasions for connection and personal reflection.

He explained that the Discalced Carmelite meetings begin with a conversation about the general impressions left by the book. Afterward, participants answer questions designed to relate the reading to their own experiences.

He also recommended taking the time to learn a bit more about the author. “It’s not just a matter of choosing an author but also of getting to know him better,” he noted.

Domínguez highlighted that one of the main objectives is to create a forum where participants can share their experiences and hear the perspectives of others.

The intention, he explained, is for people “to be able to share their point of view and life experience, and to create a space where God is at the center of everything.”

Virtual or in person?

Regarding the format of the gatherings, both organizers agree that it depends on the specific circumstances of each community and the participants' availability.

The Bethany group opted for in-person meetings at various locations across Mexico City. Domínguez explained that the group “goes like pilgrims from place to place in the city, visiting different venues such as cafés or designated meeting points.”

Meanwhile, the Discalced Carmelite group found that virtual meetings offered a way to accommodate their members' schedules. For Sánchez, the format matters less than the goal of “getting to know one another and building a sense of fellowship.”

Fostering dialogue

Although each initiative operates differently, both share the view that a book club should not limit itself to the act of reading; instead, it should help members apply those reflections to their daily lives.

Domínguez said each endeavor should have a concrete spiritual impact, noting that it is not merely a matter of reading for the sake of reading but rather of “making each reading one’s own, discerning it in light of one’s own life, and allowing it to bear fruit.”

He said one of the great riches of those times together is the ability to proclaim to new generations “that there is a God who loves them, understands them, and listens to them.” In his view, “reading in community is an excellent means to achieve that goal.”

Some book recommendations

For those wishing to start a Catholic book club, Domínguez recommended beginning with works that help deepen oneʼs spiritual life, such as “The Book of My Life” by St. Teresa of Ávila.

Sánchez suggested turning to authors like St. John of the Cross while also combining spiritual reading with other writers such as C.S. Lewis, who inspire reflection on the human experience from a Christian perspective.

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.

“I am concerned by reports of repression against the Catholic Church and other religious denominations, including the lack of official information regarding the fate, whereabouts, and condition of 80-year-old Bishop Abelardo Mata Guevara, who was detained on June 29,” the high commissioner stated on July 22, according to the organizationʼs website.

“I urge the authorities to release immediately all individuals who have been arbitrarily detained and to ensure that all those detained are treated with humanity and dignity in line with Nicaragua’s obligations under international human rights law,” Türk said.

Mata, the bishop emeritus of Estelí, was detained twice by police in late June after praying for the persecuted Church in Nicaragua during a Mass he celebrated on Sunday, June 28.

His whereabouts are unknown, although the dictatorship has stated that he is at home.

The Central American bishops have called on the regime to allow him to be seen by a doctor, and various notable individuals have expressed concern for the 80-year-old bishop, who suffers from diabetes and vision problems and uses a pacemaker for a heart condition.

Ortega announces there will be no elections in Nicaragua

The high commissioner also addressed the announcement made by Daniel Ortega on Sunday, July 19, during a public event commemorating the 47th anniversary of the Sandinista Revolution that there would be no further elections in Nicaragua.

“I call on the authorities to reopen civic space and restore the rule of law. People of all political viewpoints must be allowed to vote and run for office, in line with the stateʼs international human rights obligations,” Türk said.

In addition to the announcement regarding the elections, the office of the high commissioner also reported that earlier this month, the Nicaraguan dictatorship revoked the credentials of several lawyers without legal basis or official explanation at a time when “at least 46 individuals remain arbitrarily detained for political reasons.”

This is compounded by the fact that the ruling party controls the National Assembly, municipalities, and regional councils; that various Indigenous territories “are impacted by mining and extractive concessions”; and that many of these have been granted without genuine consultation or the consent of Indigenous peoples.

Türk noted that all these events “further deepen the severe restrictions on fundamental freedoms, the dismantling of civic space, and the steady erosion of the rule of law” in Nicaragua.

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.

More than 5,000 people died in the tragedy, according to official figures from the interim government, while tens of thousands were injured and left homeless. Other estimates place the number of missing persons in the tens of thousands. La Guaira, Caracas, and El Junquito were among the hardest-hit areas; all of them fall within the ecclesiastical province of Caracas.

Biord explained that from the very beginning, the archdiocese “established an emergency response commission” tasked with managing spiritual, psychological, and material care for those affected. The archbishop expressed his gratitude to the “huge number of people” who have stepped up as Caritas volunteers across the country.

The report presented by the Archdiocese of Caracas focused on three main areas of action: pastoral, material, and infrastructure. Representatives responsible for each of these areas provided details regarding the work carried out over the past month.

Pastoral and spiritual care

“From the very beginning, we have been clear that our primary task is ministering to people. It’s about being close to those suffering, identifying with their pain, listening actively, and, above all, ensuring that every affected person experiences the fact that they are not alone; that the Church, as a mother, sustains and accompanies them,” stated Father Ricardo Guillén, the archdiocese’s vicar for pastoral care.

ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News, asked Guillén about the missing persons and thousands of bodies left buried in the rubble with no possibility of recovery and, consequently, no possibility of receiving a burial as prescribed by the Catholic Church.

The priest noted that the bodies of the deceased, as God’s creatures, “possess immense dignity” and therefore should receive a Christian burial whenever possible. He explained that the Catholic Church has endeavored through its priests and permanent deacons to provide pastoral ministry with funeral rites for those whose bodies have been recovered from the collapsed buildings.

“Last Sunday, I had to conduct the funeral rites for a person who was sitting in front of their home when a wall collapsed on him, burying him beneath the rubble. There the family made their decision, and we had to hold the funeral service and console that family,” Guillén recounted.

“It is part of the Church’s mission to honor the bodies of the deceased and provide them with a Christian burial and of course to help their loved ones through their grief,” the priest explained, adding that in the days ahead, Christian communities are called to bear witness to this.

Seminarians from various institutions have deployed to temporary shelters to assist with relief efforts, while processions with the Blessed Sacrament have been held in shelters and areas where the buildings have collapsed, along with days of prayer and other religious activities.

Providing aid after the emergency

Father José Manuel León, auxiliary bishop-elect of Caracas and coordinator of the emergency assistance commission, reported that to date approximately 490 tons of essential supplies have been distributed.

The aid distribution network has provided supplies especially to various hospitals in Caracas, shelters in La Guaira, and devastated areas in several cities. One of the primary goals of the aid initiative is to “guarantee the operational sustainability of supplying the resources to affected families.”

León explained that the archdiocese seeks to “strengthen existing parish medicine banks” while working to “expand and coordinate the network of parish dispensaries to provide primary healthcare to those affected who are still suffering.”

The Church will also provide special support to survivors, particularly children, offering psychological care that equips them with tools to cope with grief and post-traumatic stress.

Infrastructure, condition of churches

Father Neptalí Balza, a civil engineer by profession, is responsible for inspecting the churches in the Archdiocese of Caracas that sustained damage. In his remarks, he explained that a “preliminary technical assessment” has been carried out on 27 churches in the Caracas metropolitan area.

With support from the Venezuelan College of Engineers, the churches have been marked with color-coded tags — green, yellow, and red — to indicate the level of damage sustained following the June 24 earthquakes.

In total, six parish churches were marked with the green tag (usable), representing 22% of the total. Another 16 churches were marked with the yellow tag (restricted use/precautionary) after it was determined that they exhibited minor flaws or detached ornamental elements that don’t prevent religious use but require mitigation measures. These measures include the demolition of vulnerable elements as well as filling in and smoothing over surfaces. These buildings account for 59% of the total.

Five parish churches were marked with a red tag (restricted access) due to severe structural damage. They are: St. Joseph of Ñaraulí, Our Lady of Mercy, St. John Mary Vianney, Our Lady of Lourdes, and St. Rosalía of Palermo. The red-tagged churches account for 19% of the total.

Balza also presented a five-phase recovery plan:

1. Emergency response and active safeguarding: This entails tagging the main entrance of each church with one of the three traffic light colors to indicate its usability, temporarily shoring up critical areas, and centralizing reports online.

2. Assessment and preliminary studies: This phase focuses on documenting the actual condition of the churches and determining a technical roadmap, leveraging external resources such as partnerships with architecture and engineering students and thesis candidates.

3. Earthquake-resistant design and engineering: This involves calculating structural reinforcements using compatible technologies (carbon fiber, mortar injection, tensioning systems) and obtaining validation from authorities responsible for national heritage sites.

4. Execution of reconstruction and interventions: This phase entails the sorting and recovery of reusable collapsed elements (such as coffered ceilings) and the restoration of artistic features (stained glass, ornamentation, and woodwork).

5. Verifying the work done meets specifications and preventive maintenance: This is the application of an ongoing, long-term preservation protocol for historic buildings.

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‘s been 30 months since I had to flee,” the priest told ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. He asked to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals against his family living in Nicaragua.

Although he currently carries out his ministry in a Costa Rican parish, he acknowledges that each day is tinged with nostalgia for the land he left behind.

He fled early one morning in 2024 after the authorities had issued an arrest warrant for him. He left Nicaragua without even being able to say goodbye to his family.

“I left Nicaragua without seeing my mother, without telling her: ‘Mom, I’m leaving.’ I couldn’t say goodbye to anyone; that hurts,” he said sadly.

The persecution began in 2018

The “harassment” against him, as he himself describes it, began in 2018 when street protests against President Daniel Ortega’s government erupted. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the crackdown left hundreds dead and injured.

At that time, he was providing pastoral support to youth groups, which led to his involvement. “I supported the young people in the sense of praying for them and, secondly, by looking for food and medicine for university students and the general population whenever they were mistreated, subjected to violence, or beaten.”

He also began preaching about human dignity and social justice during his Masses. He sought “to call for respect and for the freedom of a people crying out for justice and demanding their rights to be valued.”

“That bothered the government; it made them angry,” he lamented.

As the months went by, he began receiving calls and messages on his personal number. He also stated: “Armed military personnel would arrive and enter the church to record the homilies; in short, I felt constantly watched.”

The priest recounted that in late 2023 he was forced to leave his community and go into hiding. “I spent New Year’s on the run, in hiding.” Finally, in January 2024, an arrest warrant was issued for him, and he decided to flee to Costa Rica.

“I had to leave almost at midnight, trying to save my life. I practically had to flee for no reason at all because I hadn’t committed any crime,” he stated.

His case is not an isolated one. He is among the multitude of the faithful suffering the systematic persecution that the Ortega dictatorship has waged against the Catholic Church. Since 2018, more than 1,030 attacks against Catholics have been documented, and over a hundred priests and four bishops have been expelled or forced into exile.

New opportunities in Costa Rica

“The tears were flowing,” the priest recalled, thinking back to the moment he crossed the border and left his country behind. More than two years after that event, he said that “to this day, I feel a longing for the people I love.”

Despite the pain, he said he has found a new opportunity in Costa Rica, thanks to the support received from the country’s bishops and various priests, who “have given me shelter and stability.

That support enabled him to rebuild his life and resume his priestly ministry. Convinced that God does not abandon those who suffer, he affirmed: “Jesus is with me, and Most Holy Mary, my beautiful, beloved Mother, does not forsake me.”

He said he asks God every day to “free Nicaragua from that cruel, indolent, murderous regime.”

“I ask for justice, I ask for peace, I ask the Lord to grant me the grace to return to my beautiful land, to be able to see my mother.”

Migrant priests: A gift for the Church in Costa Rica

Currently, there are around 25 Nicaraguan priests living in Costa Rica, Father Gustavo Meneses, executive secretary of the National Human Mobility Commission of the Costa Rican Bishops’ Conference, told ACI Prensa.

Far from considering them a burden, Meneses maintains that they represent “a gift from God among us,” as they have come to “meet needs within our dioceses,” especially those with fewer priests.

Recently, a private meeting was held that, Meneses explained, was “an opportunity for them to meet, to get to know each other. Because they themselves are beginning to realize who’s here.”

The priest indicated that many shared the pain of having left their families, “but, above all, it hurts them to have abandoned their pastoral mission.”

He thus considers that one of the challenges for the Catholic Church in Costa Rica is to offer them the human and psychological support that enables them to heal from the effects of exile.

He also called on the authorities to expedite international protection processes and prevent those fleeing persecution from remaining for long periods in a “legal limbo” that exposes them to deportation.

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.

In a thread posted on X, Father Francisco Javier Bronchalo, a Spanish priest from the Diocese of Getafe, lamented having read “too many insults on social media between Argentinians and Spaniards” in recent days.

“Someone posts something with the best of intentions, and people come down on them as if they had hit their mother,” he noted.

The Spanish national team defeated Argentina 1-0 on Sunday, July 19, with a goal by Ferrán Torres and became world champion for the second time, following the title won in 2010.

In his reflection, Bronchalo noted that “the human heart is made to worship” and warned that if it “does not worship God, it will worship something else: success, the body, money, or a soccer team.”

This idolatry, he continued, replaces “liturgical chant with the team anthem, the worshipping assembly with the cheering section, and salvation with winning a title,” ultimately becoming “a religion without God.”

The Spanish priest said “the insults and excesses seen in recent days” demonstrate that “people defend with violence and mockery something that, deep down, is devoid of both truth and meaning.”

“The Gospel says that the mouth speaks from what overflows from the heart. Today, we would say: The fingers write from what overflows from the heart,” he remarked.

However, Bronchalo clarified that “[soccer] is not the problem,” as the sport can bring about “healthy joy” and promote values ​​such as effort, perseverance, loyalty, and teamwork.

“But a means treated as an end becomes a tyrant. Soccer as an ultimate end turns into the opposite: a source of anger, anxiety, and emptiness,” he warned.

“The question is not whether you are passionate about soccer. The question is what place it holds in your heart. If it is a means, it draws you closer to heaven. If it is an end, it traps you on earth,” he said.

Bishop Munilla: Don’t turn soccer into ‘a religion’

The Spanish priest’s reflection echoed the warning issued before the World Cup final by the bishop of Orihuela-Alicante in Spain, José Ignacio Munilla, who highlighted that soccer has values ​​worth recognizing but noted that “it is one thing to enjoy the sport, and quite another to turn it into a religion.”

The prelate further noted that “an inability to accept defeat is a sign of immaturity” but “those who need to humiliate others don’t know how to win, either.”

“True sportsmanship lies in discovering that one’s rival is not an enemy but someone who makes the game possible,” he stated.

‘Rivals for a day. Brothers forever’

Amid verbal clashes on social media, Catholic priests from Argentina and Spain shared messages of goodwill and congratulations.

Argentinian priest Father Tomás Agustín Beroch wrote on X: “Congratulations to Spain. They were far superior and won decisively. Long live Spain — our Motherland that evangelized us — and congratulations on this cup. It is well-deserved.”

“As I’ve been saying throughout this World Cup, we must win heaven, and Christ must reign in our hearts above all else. A big hug to my Spanish friends and to all the people of that great nation,” he said.

Hours before the final, Father Francisco Delgado of the Archdiocese of Toledo in Spain posted an image of two soccer players — one Spanish and the other Argentinian — walking across the playing field with their arms around each other. Above them, the words read: “Rivals for a day. Brothers forever.”

Argentinian priest Father Javier Olivera Ravasi congratulated Spain on the championship on X, stating: “They deserve it. They were better.”

He then posted a photo of his backpack featuring the flags of Argentina and Spain, which he has carried “for years” declaring “Long live Christ the King! Long live Catholic Spain and Catholic Argentina!”

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 208-page volume, published July 9, was written by Monsignor Carlos Manuel de Céspedes, a prominent figure in the Cuban Catholic Church who passed away in Havana in 2014.

Paglia, president emeritus of the Pontifical Academy for Life, wrote the book’s foreword, noting in it that “the relationship between Varela and Cuban society is very profound.”

This is because Varela’s writings “shaped an identity deeply linked to a faith expressed in a new humanism, where the primacy of conscience was supreme and the condemnation of slavery and the need for independence were fundamental,” the archbishop explained, according to a Vatican News report.

Varela was a priest committed to social issues who lived during a time of profound change in the territories then held by the Spanish Empire in the Americas, according to the report.

He was born in Havana on Nov. 20, 1788. Thanks to his high standing, he was sent to Spain in 1821 to represent the island before the parliament in Madrid.

However, his legislative proposals to abolish slavery on the island, declare Cuban independence, and establish a government for the overseas provinces led to his exile in 1823; consequently, he was forced to settle in New York, where he lived while serving as a parish priest and episcopal vicar.

In his preface, Paglia wrote that, in both Cuba and the United States, Varela fostered “efforts toward freedom, teaching love and stirring hearts to choose the poor as their primary companions on the journey.”

Varela’s parish in New York “was interethnic and intercultural.” Moreover, he dedicated himself especially to immigrants, establishing a system of social and charitable assistance unprecedented in the United States. He was convinced that a mission centered on the Gospel could give rise to a more just and compassionate society.

Varela’s legacy

The Cuban priest passed away in St. Augustine, Florida, on Feb. 27, 1853, leaving behind works such as “Letters to Elpidio on Impiety, Superstition, and Fanaticism in Their Relationship with Society,” a work described by St. John Paul II during his 1998 apostolic journey to Cuba as a “true monument of moral teaching.”

“It’s no coincidence,” Vatican News pointed out, “that his work can be described as ‘civilizing’: an exemplary priest, a ‘principled patriot,’ and ‘the first to teach us how to think,’ Varela was able to revitalize pedagogical methods and the teaching of philosophy, theology, law, and science, creating a synthesis in which faith and culture become inseparable dimensions.”

Furthermore, as Paglia noted, in a “contemporary world where we often face incredible forms of violence and dangerous political divisions,” Varela “represents the possibility of unity.”

He was “a truly Catholic — that is, universal — priest,” Paglia wrote, and therefore “reflects the message of the Gospel, which does not divide but unites, while respecting individual differences.”

Paglia also noted that Varela’s message is in line with Popes Leo XIV and Francis: “Three witnesses from the Americas inviting the Americas to a renewed enthusiasm for a missionary vocation that places faith at the service of a society fervently rooted in the Gospel.”

Varela was declared venerable by Benedict XVI in March 2012. The Vatican decree highlights that “the Servant of God stands out on the horizon of Cuba’s history as a figure remarkable for his human gifts and for his Christian and priestly virtues.”

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 data were recently presented at a meeting of the Permanent Council of the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB, by its Portuguese acronym).

The report presented partial results from the survey, conducted in 2025 by the Episcopal Commission for Youth of the CNBB in partnership with the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul Youth Observatory, the UNESCO Chair on Youth, Education, and Society, and the Department of Theology at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro.

Adolescents and young adults, aged 12 to 29 and from all regions of Brazil, participated in the study. A non-probabilistic, voluntary (opt-in) methodology was employed, utilizing a predominantly quantitative, self-administered digital questionnaire distributed through the Connected Youth communication channels.

Holiness and faith

The study showed that holiness and Christian faith were the most frequently mentioned topics of interest among the survey participants. Conversely, a lack of reverence for the liturgy and an excessive emphasis on sociopolitical issues emerged as the primary factors hindering the respondents' participation in the life of faith.

Patrícia Espíndola de Lima Teixeira of the Youth Observatory at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, who coordinated the research, told ACI Digital, the Portuguese-language sister service of EWTN News, that the findings come “as no surprise to those who work directly with young people.”

“We have a generation that grew up exposed to a huge volume of superficial content, and that is precisely the hypothesis for why so many young people show a thirst for deeper relationships that foster faith and a sense of purpose in life,” she said.

The researcher does not see a divide between conservatives and progressives in the survey results.

“What we conducted was a study free of preconceived notions, which revealed a pastoral tension to be embraced and reflected upon with maturity and balance,” Teixeira said. “I believe the Church is experiencing calls for precisely this: overcoming polarization and living out unity even amid our differences, in the spirit of Pentecost.”

“I like to recall the Pauline image of the body and its many members (1 Cor 12:12–27): The Church is one body yet possesses a genuine plurality of gifts, sensibilities, and lived experiences, and this diversity must be lived out in communion,” she continued. “This is an agenda that warrants consistent, in-depth exploration not only with young people but with everyone.”

According to Layla Kamila, 29, coordinator of the Jovens Conectados (Connected Youth) communications team for the CNBB’s Episcopal Commission for Youth and a member of the team responsible for the National Survey on Youth Evangelization, the study demonstrated a thirst for authenticity in faith.

The goal of the research was to listen to young people and understand their experience of faith, she said. The data revealed that many express a strong desire to deepen their spiritual lives. There is significant interest in themes such as holiness, the word of God, the Eucharist, Christian formation, and well-celebrated liturgy.

More than labels, young people desire authenticity, Kamila said. They hope to find a Church that proclaims Jesus Christ clearly, offers paths for formation, fosters a genuine encounter with God, and helps them live out their faith in today’s world.

The coordinator of Connected Youth also assessed the high number of young people who say they are weary of the politicization within the Church. Kamila emphasized that the data should be analyzed calmly, avoiding isolated interpretations.

“Among the perceptions voiced by participants, many expressed a desire to find a Church deeply centered on Jesus Christ, spirituality, liturgy, and faith formation,” Kamila said. “Open-ended responses also reveal observations regarding the desire for evangelization to keep Christ at the center.”

She clarified that “this does not mean diminishing the social dimension of the Church’s mission. Quite the opposite. Proclaiming the Gospel and committing to justice, the poor, peace, and human dignity go hand in hand.”

Both Teixeira and Kamila hope that the data presented in the study will be well-received by Catholic communities and Church leadership.

“This research grew out of a desire to listen before proposing paths forward, in harmony with the Church’s synodal journey,” Kamila said. “As Pope Francis has so often reminded us: ‘Everyone, everyone, everyone!’”

“This call also inspires this research: to listen to all young people and to embrace their experiences, joys, concerns, and dreams, so that no one feels outside of the life of the Church,” she said. “We hope that dioceses, parishes, movements, new communities, and pastoral groups will welcome these data as a tool for pastoral discernment capable of strengthening the evangelization of young people in Brazil. After all, behind every number lies a story, a face, a family, and a journey of faith.”

For Teixeira, “listening does not relativize the Church’s faith but rather helps refine the way we proclaim the Gospel to new generations. More than just a diagnosis of difficulties, the research reveals young people who desire to deepen their faith, better understand the Church, and find solid paths of formation. It is precisely this openness that makes the pastoral landscape one of profound hope.”

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.

In recent days, the church, located in the traditional San Ángel neighborhood on the city’s south side, has begun to welcome more visitors than usual. Every year on the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, celebrated on July 16, hundreds of pilgrims are drawn to the shrine.

However, interest has gained new momentum since Cardinal Carlos Aguiar Retes, primatial archbishop of Mexico, announced in May that the historic church would be elevated to a shrine.

Among those drawn by curiosity was Mariana Ledesma. Although she acknowledged that she is only just beginning to learn about this devotion to Our Lady under this title, she wanted to be part of a moment she considers historic.

“The shrine is beautiful and full of symbolism; seeing the devotion of the entire community, being able to share in that faith, is something truly beautiful. That is precisely the purpose of the shrine: to make it known to others as well,” she told ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News.

4 centuries of history

The relationship between Mexico City and Our Lady of Mount Carmel dates back to 1585, when the first missionaries of the Discalced Carmelite order arrived in New Spain to assist in the work of evangelization.

In the early 17th century, they established one of their most important convents in San Ángel, from which they fostered contemplative life, spiritual formation, and devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, a devotion that took deep root among the capitalʼs inhabitants.

For centuries, the church and convent served as an important religious and cultural center. However, following the Reform Laws of 1876, the old convent was nationalized and became state property.

Today, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church remains a place of Catholic worship while the former convent, after serving various purposes over the years, houses a museum.

After more than 400 years of tending to the church, this year the Discalced Carmelites handed over its administration to the Archdiocese of Mexico due to a decline in vocations within the order.

Mary, ‘strengthen my heart’

During the Mass of canonical dedication as a shrine, Héctor Mario Pérez Villarreal, auxiliary bishop of Mexico, explained that the decision to elevate the church to a shrine reflects the fact that the faithful have long been making pilgrimages there to “seek solace and to come seeking the nourishment of the sacraments and the mercy of confession.”

“Let us hope that this [act] serves as an encouragement for many more people to return here to renew the consolation offered by the Virgin of Mount Carmel and their love for Jesus Christ,” he stated.

He also invited the faithful to turn to Mary during times of difficulty. He noted that when faith or hope “begin to fade,” it is necessary to turn one’s gaze toward Mary and say: “Most Holy Mother, you who were able to remain faithful even [standing] before your Son’s cross, strengthen my heart.”

Petitions to Our Lady of Mount Carmel

The aisles of the shrine were filled with people holding scapulars, flowers, or photographs of their family members. Some came to give thanks for favors received; others sought to place their concerns in Maryʼs hands.

Among them was Claudio de la Paz, a devotee who traveled from the state of Campeche, over 500 miles away, to take part in the celebration. In addition to hoping the faithful will draw closer to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, he asked that young people be specially commended to her care, as he said they are currently going through “times of great vulnerability.”

For Rafael Estrada, devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel “represents a quest for peace, serenity, and harmony.” Estrada urged Catholics to ask for Mary’s protection amid the tribulations Mexico is going through.

Sister Nina Ramos, a religious of the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, invited the faithful to visit the new shrine and noted that those who fulfill the conditions established by the Church may obtain a plenary indulgence.

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 organization continues to maintain field operations, particularly in the coastal city of La Guaira, where the destruction is overwhelming.

In total, Caritas Venezuela reported that it has received over 19,000 tons of aid, of which it has so far managed to distribute approximately nearly 16,000 tons, representing 84% of the total received. The remaining aid “remains in stock, ready for upcoming deliveries.”

Critical needs

Along with food and water, healthcare has become an urgent need for the communities affected by the disaster. In total, Caritas has dispatched 96,156 units of medical supplies and medicines, most of which are destined for hospitals and care centers operating under immense strain.

“In a healthcare system stretched by the magnitude of the disaster, every box of medicine that arrives on time sustains care for dozens of people,” Caritas explained.

Likewise, the organization highlighted the work of thousands of volunteers nationwide who have tirelessly dedicated themselves to receiving, sorting, packing, and distributing aid. Caritas estimated that around 10,000 people have joined volunteer efforts across all of Venezuela’s dioceses and parishes.

“They are teachers, young people, mothers, retirees, and neighbors who decided that the suffering of others is their own as well. They are, without exaggeration, the heart of this response,” the organization noted.

The clergy have also been present at every collection center, at every distribution point, and in every camp across the affected cities.

They have engaged in relief efforts “through prayer and action.” According to the bulletin, the greatest help provided by bishops, priests, and religious has been taking the time to listen to and be there for those grieving the loss of loved ones and to console those left homeless.

What lies ahead?

Caritas Venezuela noted that the 3,095 tons of humanitarian aid still available will allow them to “continue responding” but stated that “the emergency is far from over.”

“Thousands of families remain in temporary camps, and many others will not be able to return to their homes. In the coming weeks, the operation will shift from immediate assistance to the recovery of those who lost everything — a long process that will require sustained solidarity over time,” the organization explained.

When the camera crews depart and the news media turns to covering other events, “the need remains. That’s why we reiterate our call to continue making contributions through official channels and to keep moving forward together,” the organization emphasized.

“Monetary donations are the most efficient, as they allow us to procure exactly what is needed at any given moment directly from the field,” Caritas advised.

The official death toll from the earthquakes in Venezuela now stands at over 5,200. Tens of thousands of other people have been injured and have lost their homes in Caracas, La Guaira, El Junquito, and other cities across the country.

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 forced disappearance of Bishop Juan Abelardo Mata is a serious matter; this constitutes a crime against humanity committed by agents of the Ortega-Murillo dictatorship. He has been missing for 19 days, and the co-dictators have not made any further statements on the matter,” Molina told ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News, on July 18.

“It’s the dictatorship’s practice to inflict the greatest possible harm on priests,” the researcher warned.

“No one in his circle has any news of him, and concern among the laity and the Catholic Church in general is even greater due to the medical conditions he suffers from, conditions that are almost certainly not being treated properly.”

Mata, bishop emeritus of Estelí, Nicaragua, was detained by police on two occasions in late June after praying for the persecuted Church in Nicaragua during a Mass he celebrated on Sunday, June 28.

His whereabouts are unknown, although the dictatorship has stated that he is at home.

The bishops of Central America have called on the regime to allow him to be seen by a doctor, and other notable individuals have expressed concern for the 80-year-old bishop, who suffers from diabetes and vision problems and uses a pacemaker for a heart condition.

Extreme concern over Mata’s disappearance

“Family members, priests, human rights organizations, and the international community including the U.S. State Department and the bishops of Central America are demanding immediate proof that Bishop Abelardo Mata is alive and a clear response from the regime of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo,” Father Edwing Román, parochial vicar of St. Agatha Parish in Miami, told ACI Prensa on July 18.

“So far, there has been only official silence and contradictions in an irrelevant statement. We fear for his life; he cannot be yet another victim of a dictatorship that has wreaked havoc on the Nicaraguan people,” said Román, who has been living in exile for several years.

On July 4, the Nicaraguan government, through the Ministry of the Interior, issued a statement indicating that Mata had been subjected to a “necessary inquiry regarding the origin of properties and family ties inconsistent with his status as a priest” and that, following this, he “has returned to his home, where he remains in perfect condition.” The text does not specify which properties or ties are being referred to.

Another exiled Nicaraguan priest, who preferred to remain anonymous to avoid reprisals from the regime, told ACI Prensa on July 18: “It is unknown why the dictatorship is so intent on targeting an 80-year-old man. What are they afraid of?”

“Hopefully, the Holy Father will speak up and ask the Nicaraguan government to show signs that he is well, alive, and at peace; that his relatives can visit him without any worry; and that he is in good health and well cared for. That’s what we hope for,” he added.

The Church’s ‘last courageous voice’ in Nicaragua

“Bishop Mata is the last courageous voice of the Church remaining in Nicaragua and that is unafraid of the regime,” Arturo McFields, Nicaragua’s former ambassador to the Organization of American States (OAS), told ACI Prensa on July 18.

“They fear him because he doesn’t fear them. He is an 80-year-old man of God who is not afraid of a cowardly regime and is prepared to face the ultimate consequences,” he added.

“What’s important now is to call for his freedom and protect him in some way not only through the Catholic Church but also by engaging other governments, such as that of the United States, one of the voices the dictatorship fears,” McFields emphasized.

Who is Bishop Juan Abelardo Mata?

The prelate is the bishop emeritus of Estelí, Nicaragua, a diocese he led for over 30 years, from 1990 to 2021, when Pope Francis accepted his resignation upon his reaching the age of 75, the retirement age for bishops.

Mata, who recently turned 80, was born on June 23, 1946. He made his profession as a Salesian in 1966 and was ordained a priest in 1976. In 1988, he was appointed auxiliary bishop of Managua, a position he held until his appointment as bishop of Estelí.

Various notable Nicaraguans agree that Mata is a courageous, beloved, and credible voice in Nicaragua, which is why the dictatorship has it out for him.

A staunch defender of human rights

“Bishop Mata has always been a staunch defender of human rights, both as a priest and a pastor. He has always been active in the country’s public life not only through his interventions and statements but also through his practice of charity and social commitment,” another exiled Nicaraguan priest, who asked to remain anonymous to avoid reprisals, told ACI Prensa on July 18.

This “gives him the moral authority to shed light on the country’s political and social life through his statements. And for a long time, he was a big critic of the government,” the priest said, though he subsequently kept a low profile following his resignation in 2021, only to return to the public stage recently.

“Offering a prayer in Nicaragua for those who have left the country is an act that offends the government and is punishable by imprisonment. Every priest in the country knows this; the bishop knew it too, and he knew it could have consequences,” the priest added.

‘Nicaragua is a prison for priests’

“No one is safe there. Nicaragua is a prison for priests. They have certain freedoms, but they cannot freely exercise their ministry,” the priest warned.

“Any priest in the country, even those who believe they are very close to the dictatorship, could be detained at any moment. Anyone in Nicaragua,” he stated, “can be subjected to violence.”

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.

Speaking from the scene, Father Henry Díaz described the extensive damage to the church, RPP’s Rotafono reported.

“A large part of the church nave has collapsed. You can see huge cracks everywhere and roof tiles that have come loose. The high altar collapsed into the rubble. The statue of the Virgin remains intact,” the priest recounted.

Instagram post

“The viceroyalty-era altars have been … very damaged. It appears the church tower is leaning slightly backward and to the right,” Díaz noted.

The priest called on the Ministry of Culture and the authorities who visited the earthquake-affected area to help rebuild the church.

He also noted that the church’s restoration could cost more than 7 million soles ($2.06 million) and take about a year to complete.

July 18 earthquake

Peruʼs bishops offered prayers and expressed their solidarity with the victims of the earthquake that struck the night of July 18, leaving at least five people dead, more than 20 injured, and hundreds more affected.

The earthquake, recorded around 9 p.m. local time, was centered in the district of Chongos Bajo, Chupaca province, Junín region, in the central Peruvian Andes, 193 miles east of Lima, according to the National Civil Defense Institute.

As a result of the quake, the historic Cani Cross erected in 1534 and located in the main square of Chongos Bajo, one of the regionʼs oldest religious monuments, also collapsed.

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 earthquake, which occurred around 9 p.m., was centered in the district of Chongos Bajo, in the Chupaca province of the Junín region — situated in Peruʼs central Andes, some 193 miles east of Lima — according to the National Civil Defense Institute (INDECI, by its Spanish acronym).

“We share in the grief of the families mourning their loved ones, offering our prayers for the eternal rest of the deceased, and we ask the Lord to grant everyone strength, comfort, and hope,” the bishops stated in the aftermath of the disaster.

“We express our spiritual closeness to all those affected, to those who have lost their homes, and to those generously participating in rescue, care, and relief efforts,” said Bishop Carlos García Camader, president of the Peruvian Bishops’ Conference.

After encouraging Peruvians to show solidarity with those affected, the bishops urged them not to lose hope and pray “that the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Hope, may intercede for all those affected and accompany our beloved people of Junín.”

Junín’s 5.1-magnitude earthquake

Rescue operations involving the police, firefighters, and the Peruvian army are ongoing, and authorities are assessing the damage — particularly in the Pumpunya area of ​​the Chongos Bajo district, where approximately 50 homes have been affected.

In an interview with Radio Programas del Perú, Hernando Tavera, president of the Geophysical Institute of Peru (IGP, by its Spanish acronym), stated that the extent of the destruction in this area is due to the fragility of the houses, most of which were built using substandard materials.

“When structures are built according to standards and proper engineering, they obviously yield better results than those constructed using local materials,” which makes them prone to easy collapse, Tavera explained.

So far, the IGP has recorded 12 aftershocks. The strongest measured 3.7 and 3.4 in magnitude.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Luis Enrique Arroyo Sánchez headed to the Chongos Bajo district alongside Defense Minister Amadeo Flores and INDECI chief Luis Enrique Vásquez “to oversee the response to the 5.1-magnitude earthquake and coordinate assistance for the affected population,” according to the Office of the Prime Minister.

Historic cross collapses

As a result of the earthquake, the historic Cani Cruz — known as the Lord of Cani Cruz — collapsed. The cross, erected in 1534 and located in the main square of Chongos Bajo, is one of the regionʼs oldest religious monuments, according to local media reports.

Carved from limestone and featuring reliefs of the crucified Christ and the Virgin Mary, in 1990 it was declared a national cultural heritage site, alongside the main church of Chongos Bajo and the El Copón Chapel.

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.

These are questions people might be asking themselves in Venezuela following the earthquakes of June 24.

Carlos Márquez, auxiliary bishop of Caracas, reflected on the mystery of suffering in an interview with ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. In the prelateʼs view, the Catholic Church plays a fundamental role in shedding light on these existential questions.

A promise to hold onto: ‘We are not alone’

Márquez said it would be “an act of tremendous pridefulness” to attempt to provide answers that fully resolve this mystery. Ultimately, he noted, asking these questions is a way of “looking for someone to blame.” They are questions that “paralyze us and fill us with bitterness and pain.”

“We can’t escape biological law; we can’t escape the laws of nature. What we once thought was a curse or divine punishment, we now know to be natural processes, processes that are even necessary,” he explained regarding the devastating earthquakes.

To help make sense of the tragedy, Márquez pointed to two specific factors. The first is human freedom, which, when misused, “causes suffering and pain.” He referred to the collapsed buildings, many of which might have been built in unsuitable locations due to poor ground conditions or perhaps constructed without adhering to proper safety standards.

“Imprudence, whether culpable or not, always ends in tragedy. This is not caused, desired, or much less ordained by God. It’s not the divine will,” he remarked.

Márquez identified the second specific element in St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans, where the apostle to the Gentiles wrote that creation “groans until the present and suffers the pains of childbirth” (Rom 8:22-39).

This helps us understand that nature “readjusts, evolves, and moves” as part of a process “toward the fullness promised by Jesus Christ.” The auxiliary bishop explained that creation “will be subject to pain” until it is recapitulated in Christ, and we, as creatures, undergo these vicissitudes.

“Therefore, on our journey toward the fullness of living happily forever with Christ in heaven, we will encounter pain and suffering,” Márquez noted.

Yet in the face of these realities, the prelate offered a reassuring promise: “Christ’s promise was not that we would not suffer, nor that there would be no earthquakes, floods, or natural tragedies. Amid the pain, he promised not to abandon us. We are not alone: ​​‘I will be with you until the end of the world.’ He promises us his companionship in the midst of pain.”

The Lord “walks with us in the midst of our pain” and fulfills his promise “through his Church, among those who suffer.” The sacraments and the word, he continued, comfort and heal us, and transform our hearts “so we can move forward.”

God also gives us the example and intercession of the saints “so that we do not lose heart” and might feel accompanied. “When one is in great pain, when one is suffering deeply, the tragedy becomes worse when we are alone and isolated,” he said.

Christian hope in the face of death and tragedy

In recent weeks, the most heart-wrenching stories have filled social media. Yet, for the most part, they share a fundamental element highlighted by Márquez: hope.

Many people are thanking God for being alive and, amid unimaginable suffering, affirming that they will live to honor their deceased loved ones and will spare no effort to discover the purpose for which God has saved them.

“If we live united with Christ in suffering, we will live with him forever in heaven. Death does not have the final word. This earthquake does not have the final word. God has the final word, which is a word of life, happiness, and eternal joy,” he stated.

So, what is required of those Venezuelans who remain? Márquez answered clearly: to follow the example of all their saintly compatriots, to face adversity without asking “why,” and to work so that the future may be better.

“Pain is fleeting; death is not final. United in faith, hope, and charity, with our eyes fixed on the risen Christ, we walk together in communion to overcome this tragedy,” Márquez said.

“Venezuela is a land of grace; Venezuela is a land of saints. We have hope, and we will rise again. We will rise from the dust of this earthquake,” he added.

Finally, he recalled the words St. John Paul II spoke at the Teresa Carreño Theater in Caracas during his second visit to the country on Feb. 10, 1996: “Venezuelans, even though the difficulties are serious and the challenges immense, your resolve must be great. Faced with a present full of uncertainty and a future full of questions, put your abilities to use with imagination and, above all, with generosity, trusting in God: God loves mankind.”

As of now, the official death toll following the earthquakes stands at 4,829, while the number of injured and affected people runs into the tens of thousands.

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.

With over 30 years of consecrated life, Mother María Elena Martínez has dedicated her life to the spiritual formation of young people and adults through “Mary, Mother of Love,” a private association of the faithful she founded in Mexico in 2015.

The community is centered on retreats making a spiritual impact, such as Emmaus, which is held in parishes and correctional facilities, and Sicar, which is aimed specifically at young adults.

Her life, marked from childhood by a quest for God, would ultimately become bound up in an initiative that is active today in several Latin American countries, including Mexico, Guatemala, Paraguay, Argentina, and Peru.

“I remember as a little girl I had a great thirst for God,” she shared in an interview with ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News.

That initial calling deepened over time. At age 11, she recalled, a desire to please Jesus arose within her. “A desire for purity … I wanted to live a life of virginity,” she noted, explaining that she prayed insistently to the Virgin Mary, asking for that consecration.

However, her path was neither immediate nor direct. “Religious life wasn’t something that particularly appealed to me,” she admitted. In her youth, she went through various experiences ranging from completing a degree in translating to exploring broader spiritual concerns, which eventually led her to try out consecrated life with the Missionaries of Charity.

Some time later, she tried cloistered contemplative life. “I wanted something more interior, deeper,” she confessed.

A concern arises: ‘What about the young people?’

The Sicar retreat did not originate as a planned initiative but rather as a pastoral response that only gradually took shape. According to Mother María Elena, for years many people approached her with the same concern: “What about the young people?”

“Do something for the young people,” they would tell her.

The Gospel account of the Samaritan woman began to take center stage in her prayer and discernment. Jesus’ dialogue at the well of Sychar — “If you knew the gift of God” (cf. Jn 4:1-42) — served as the starting point for helping young people discover Christ.

“The passage about the Samaritan woman was so rich, so rich, that I could draw so much from it,” she explained.

The decisive step came in 2016, when the first Sicar retreat was held. Mother María Elena remembered it as the beginning of something small and simple yet deeply meaningful. Young people with prior experience in movements like Emmaus were the first to participate.

Sicar began to expand. After establishing itself in cities such as Mexico City, Tehuacán, and Tecamachalco (in the state of Puebla), as well as San Luis de la Paz (Guanajuato state), Veracruz, Mérida (Yucatán state), and Cuernavaca (Morelos state), the initiative began to cross borders beyond Mexico. The first retreat in Guatemala took place in 2017; Buenos Aires in 2018; Paraguay in 2022; and in Peru in 2023.

“It has been growing in many places, rescuing so many young people,” Mother María Elena said with gratitude.

In Mexico, 38 Sicar retreats have been held with an average of 50 participants each, amounting to nearly 2,000 young people. In Peru, where the initiative arrived in 2023, seven retreats have already taken place with around 70 participants each, reaching approximately 490 people.

Ottmar Ricalde, a Sicar volunteer in Mexico, noted that “Sicar means and has meant so much over these past 10 years.”

“I could write and speak about all the stories, all the laughter, and all the tears, but the most important thing of all is the love of God that has been a gift to me,” he stated.

“My life was always focused on pleasing others, but when I met God and realized how much he loves me, I began wanting to please him,” he said.

In Paraguay, Sicar coordinator Fátima Correa highlighted that the experience “was a time of growth and renewal. It allowed us to view our history with fresh eyes.”

“It was a retreat organized by young people for young people, where every testimony reflected realities many of us could relate to,” she added.

A couple from Argentina who participated in the retreat and are now married say that Sicar marked a turning point in their lives. “We arrived as boyfriend and girlfriend and returned with completely transformed hearts ... today, we feel that one of the greatest fruits was our marriage.”

A growing community in Peru

Sicar arrived in Peru in 2023 and has since established a growing community.

Geraldine Spihlman, director of Sicar in Peru, explained that the initiative arose after a need was identified within youth ministry. “When young people reached the age of 24 or 25, they no longer had a place to continue their journey of faith,” she noted.

Following contact with Mother María Elena, it was decided to launch the initiative in Lima, which holds two retreats a year: in May and November.

Spihlman highlighted that the most visible fruit is the community: “Many young people have discovered that it’s hard to go it alone but that everything is easier in community. It is a community where you can see how they love one another.”

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‘God’s mercy knows no bounds’

One of the most common fruits of these retreats is a shift in how one views others.

In personal encounters, transformation occurs not only for those receiving the retreat but also for those who put it on.

“God’s mercy knows no bounds,” Mother María Elena stated. “You look at people with eyes of mercy. You no longer judge the person; instead, you see them as a child of God,” she explained.

Eros Acevedo, another team member, said the retreat “was an encounter with God that changed everything … I arrived bearing wounds, and his presence touched them. I left renewed.”

Rafael Mansilla, 27, said Sicar taught him to persevere in the faith. “Faith is not a flame that goes out but a steady flame,” he said.

Dina Dávila shared that the retreat was the instrument God used to call her. “The love I have experienced in the community is overwhelming,” she added.

‘A living Jesus’

Through the retreats, Mother María Elena explained, people are invited to encounter “a living Jesus.”

“God continues to act; he continues to perform miracles every day,” she affirmed.

She said she lives one day at a time. “Each day I tell the Lord, ‘For one more day, I say yes to you.’”

The Sicar retreat, born of a contemplative reading of the Gospel, continues to spread wherever young people seek meaning, healing, and an experience of mature faith.

Today, the young “Samaritans” who have lived this experience carry with them the words that marked their encounter with God: “Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst” (Jn 4:14).

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.

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In a statement issued July 15, the attorney general’s office noted that the complaint was filed June 4 by the teenagerʼs mother, who had discovered “conversations with sexual content with a contact identified as ‘Winnie Poo’” on her daughterʼs mobile phone earlier this year.

According to the attorney general’s office, the teenager reportedly stated that the contact in question was a priest identified as Enrique “N,” who allegedly “forced her to engage in sexual acts on four occasions.”

Following the initial inquiries, a supervisory judge ordered the priest to be held in pretrial detention and set a two-month deadline for the conclusion of the supplementary investigation.

Archdiocese initiates canonical investigation

The Archdiocese of Mexico announced in a statement dated July 15 that archbishop Cardinal Carlos Aguiar Retes had ordered the initiation of an investigation “in accordance with canon law and the procedures established by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith.”

The statement expressed its “support for the minor victim, her family, and anyone who may have been a victim of any form of abuse” and reiterated its commitment to the protection of minors and vulnerable persons, “as well as to providing respectful support to those who have suffered any form of violence.”

The archdiocese also noted that while the investigation is ongoing, it “will avoid making premature judgments” and “will refrain from revealing the priest’s identity while the competent authorities carry out the necessary proceedings.”

Finally, the archdiocese urged anyone aware of a possible case of sexual abuse committed by an ordained minister to report it either by phone or email and provided the contact information.

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

Contracting a surrogate mother to carry an implanted embryo separates what the Church calls the unitive and procreative dimensions of marriage, McQueen said. “If you start interfering with that, there will be problems.”

McQueen said the Ontario dispute illustrates how separating conception, pregnancy, and parenthood among different people can create conflicts that no contract can fully prevent.

In this case, the problems read like a checklist of all that can go wrong in surrogate parenting. A same-sex couple allege that the Ontario woman who carried their son to birth breached their surrogacy agreement during the pregnancy and after his birth.

The lawsuit in Ontario Superior Court alleges the surrogate failed to keep the couple informed about the babyʼs health, disregarded medical advice, excluded them from decisions about the pregnancy, and failed to follow their directions regarding the babyʼs medical care. It also accuses her of interfering with legal steps to establish parentage, disclosing confidential information, defaming the couple on social media, and improperly seeking reimbursement for expenses.

The statement of claim doesn’t mention the coupleʼs reported request that the surrogate have an abortion after a prenatal diagnosis.

The National Post, which interviewed the woman, reported that an ultrasound indicated the baby had a cleft lip and other possible conditions. She received a letter from the couple asking that “the pregnancy be terminated,” which “devastated” her, according to the newspaper. When doctors later determined the baby was otherwise healthy, the parents agreed the pregnancy should continue.

The lawsuit doesn’t specify a dollar amount, but the surrogate told the newspaper the couple were seeking approximately $600,000.

That exploitation has global dimensions through the growth of “reproductive tourism” because it’s cheaper to pay a woman in a third-world country, McQueen said. “People have gone to other countries but then not carried out their part of the contract when something [unplanned] happens.”

The contractual nature of the relationship has “nothing to do with love,” she said. McQueen questioned where the child fits into an arrangement driven by contracts and negotiations rather than a loving family relationship.

Even if the arrangement works out, “itʼs what theyʼve done to that person in the other country. It’s using people. Itʼs exploiting them.”

Pope Leo XIV has raised concerns with surrogate parenthood in recent remarks. He told the Vatican diplomatic corps in January that surrogacy turns “gestation into a negotiable service,” violating the dignity of the child and mother, “exploiting her body and the generative process.”

Surrogacy advocate Sally Rhoads-Heinrich, whose organization worked with the parties, rejected the suggestion that the case exposed flaws in surrogacy itself.

“This arrangement soured terribly because sometimes parties (even with the best interests and contracts) can change their minds,” she told Canadian Catholic News. “Everyone went through intense screening, counseling, legal contracts, and had support.”

Although the abortion element is catching attention, she said abortion is “incredibly rare” for a surrogate pregnancy in Canada.

“We’ve only had two cases in our 26-year history,” she said. One was for a baby with hydrocephalus who she said would have died at birth and the other was when parents asked their surrogate to abort one of three triplets in utero in a high-risk triplet pregnancy.

McQueen pointed to the 1987 Vatican instruction Donum Vitae, issued under Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, later Pope Benedict XVI. It says children have the right “to be conceived, carried in the womb, brought into the world, and brought up by his own parents.”

Surrogate arrangements set up “to the detriment of families, a division between the physical, psychological, and moral elements which constitute those families,” Ratzinger said. "Such damage to the personal relationships within the family has repercussions on civil society: What threatens the unity and stability of the family is a source of dissension, disorder, and injustice in the whole of social life.”

Benedict made clear that no matter how children enter the world, they must be accepted as a living gift of Godʼs goodness and brought up with love.

McQueen said that because surrogacy is “a contract more than a loving relationship,” a surrogate whose pregnancy no longer meets the intended parents' expectations can come to be viewed as having “broken the contract.” She pointed to cases in which intended parents have abandoned surrogate mothers after pregnancies did not unfold as planned.

Similar questions arose in California in 2015 when gestational surrogate Melissa Cook refused a request by the intended father to abort one of the triplets she was carrying. The dispute prompted a Minnesota legislative study of surrogacy.

Testifying before the Minnesota Legislative Commission on Surrogacy in 2016, University of St. Thomas law professor Teresa Collett argued surrogacy contracts tend to prioritize the expectations of intended parents while leaving surrogate mothers and children more vulnerable when conflicts arise.

Canadian law prohibits paying a woman to act as a surrogate, while allowing reimbursement of pregnancy-related expenses. Rhoads-Heinrich argues Canada should instead permit surrogate mothers to receive compensation.

“Altruistic surrogacy is not ideal as surrogates should be properly compensated for their time, effort, and risk,” she said. Without compensation, she argued, there is a shortage of surrogate mothers, leaving “thousands of embryos frozen in clinics in Canada that will never get the chance at life because of the lack of surrogates available.”

McQueen said frozen embryos raise a separate ethical dilemma. While the Church clearly opposes creating and freezing embryos in the first place, it has not given a definitive answer on whether Catholics should adopt frozen embryos because competing moral considerations are involved.

“Itʼs a terrible problem,” she said. “Itʼs a very sad situation” for infertile couples who long for children, she added, but their suffering does not change the Churchʼs moral concerns about the technologies used to create and freeze embryos.

The resignation was accepted as Santarsiero turned 75, the age at which the Code of Canon Law requires bishops to submit their resignation to the pope. The decision comes just over three months after allegations of sexual abuse and psychological mistreatment against the prelate came to light.

The Holy See Press Office stated only that “the Holy Father has accepted the resignation” without providing further details.

Accusations against Santarsiero

In April, the Spanish news outlet InfoVaticana reported on the accusations, contained in a dossier sent to the apostolic nunciature in Peru and the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith in Rome.

According to the outlet, the documentation contains allegations of sexual abuse and psychological mistreatment attributed to the bishop over a period of several years.

InfoVaticana also reported that the two accounts align on key details of the alleged incidents, with one of them claiming that some of the abuse occurred while the victim was still a minor.

Santarsiero denied the accusations. The same outlet reported that he “categorically” denied the alleged conduct, as it “completely contradicts my track record and principles as a priest and bishop, in which I have always acted with integrity, respect, and pastoral commitment.”

Following the public disclosure of the allegations, the Peruvian Bishops’ Conference (CEP, by its Spanish acronym) issued a statement on April 9 announcing that Santarsiero had requested to step down as secretary-general of the Peruvian episcopate “as an act of responsibility toward the institutional mission, in order to devote himself to clarifying the truth.”

In the same statement, signed by CEP president Bishop Carlos García Camader, the bishops affirmed that the institution “is making every necessary effort to clarify the reported incidents, acting in accordance with established protocols and applicable law, both canon and civil.”

The bishops also reaffirmed “confidence in the canonical penal system and its proper application” and reminded that other alleged victims may turn to the listening channels established by the motu proprio Vos Estis Lux Mundi.

Santarsiero’s background

Born in Italy on June 13, 1951, Santarsiero belongs to the Oblates of St. Joseph. He arrived in Peru in 1973 to pursue his theological studies and was ordained a priest on June 14, 1980.

St. John Paul II appointed Santarsiero prelate of Huarí in June 2001, and he received episcopal ordination on Aug. 12 of that same year. On Feb. 4, 2004, he was named bishop of Huacho and took possession of the diocese that April.

In addition to his pastoral service in Huacho, he was a member of the Peruvian Bishops’ Conference starting in 2017 and had been serving as its secretary-general since 2024.

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.

However, a priest who has been helping migrants for over a decade points to a reality that goes unrecorded: routes that are less visible, more expensive, and exposed to organized crime networks.

In Mexico, according to figures from the Migration Policy, Registry, and Personal Identity Unit, the number of recorded instances of individuals with irregular migration status fell from over 1.2 million in 2024 to 155,730 in 2025. As of May of this year, the total stands at 18,083 cases.

On the U.S. side, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recorded 443,671 encounters at the southwest border during fiscal year 2025, compared with 2.1 million the previous year. So far in fiscal year 2026, the figure stands at 90,121.

This trend also reflects the shrinking number of people assisted by Catholic shelters.

Located halfway along the route of those seeking to reach the north of the continent, the Mexican city of Puebla is also seeing a drop in the number of migrants arriving to seek help at Catholic shelters.

Father Alberto Vivar León told ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News, that 1,200 migrants were assisted at the Archdiocese of Puebla’s three shelters during 2023. Two years later, in 2025, the figure was 145.

Ordained nearly 15 years ago, Vivar has dedicated the last 11 years to assisting migrants. He estimated that the shelters have assisted around 60 migrants during the first half of 2026.

His close involvement with migrants began at San Felipe de Jesús parish in Hueyotlipan, about an hour north of Puebla. The parish boundaries include the Puebla City Central Bus Terminal (CAPU, by its Spanish acronym), which for years has served as a transit point for many migrants continuing their journey northward.

Both that parish and Our Lady of the Assumption, where Vivar has served as parish priest since late 2021, are located near the railway tracks known to many as “La Bestia” (“The Beast”), another mode of transport historically used by many migrants, despite the risks involved in traveling atop freight cars.

The numbers

Although the figures point to a decline in migration flows, Vivar said this doesn’t mean people have stopped trying to reach the U.S. “The traffic continues,” he said. “Perhaps not as many as before, but they keep coming through. People are still passing through Mexico.”

He believes the policies implemented by the administrations of President Donald Trump and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum have contributed to a “natural decrease in the number of people, because they couldn’t cross as freely.” However, he maintains that these policies have also led to a situation where “organized crime exploited the circumstances and began profiting from them.”

Criminals are currently demanding “between $6,000 and $7,000” of migrants seeking to cross Mexico, he said.

“Organized crime … continues to take advantage” of migrants, he reiterated.

An important change in migrant transportation

Throughout his years of pastoral work, Vivar has observed a significant shift regarding transportation.

In the past, he noted, migrants would board the freight train to take advantage of routes heading north. However, since 2018, many have avoided this option because “drug traffickers with long guns get on, demand payment, and throw anyone who doesnʼt pay off the train.”

Word of this has spread among migrants, leading them to switch to buses; subsequently, however, Mexican authorities stepped up document checks for those traveling through the country.

The result was that many migrants began to rely on buses offering alternative routes, some of which were controlled by criminal groups.

Along these routes, Vivar said that some migrants end up falling victim to scams, abuse, and even forced labor.

Violence: A constant on the migrant’s journey

One of the cases the Mexican priest recalled involved a group of five or six young people whom he had advised to be wary of anyone trying to offer help, “because people are watching where you come from and who you are.”

“They didn’t listen to me, and a pickup truck took them away,” he said. “They took them to a ranch. They kept them there working for about 15 days without pay” and barely gave them anything to eat.

“One day, they managed to escape,” he said. “They returned to the shelter ... and said, ‘Father, you were right.’”

Criminals, Vivar warned, “are lying in wait at bus stops” such as the CAPU terminal, where “several individuals are looking specifically to rob migrants” because they are easy to spot “and [the criminals] know that if they rob them, they won’t cry out” because the authorities “will deport them.”

He also recalled one migrant who was abducted in San Luis Potosí and fell victim to sexual abuse at the hands of criminals. The victim managed to escape when his captors asked him to prepare breakfast. He seized a moment of inattention to flee barefoot and, after receiving help from several people, managed to reach the shelter in Puebla. “It was a very, very ugly situation; and from here, we paid for his fare to Tapachula in southern Mexico so he could continue on to his country.”

The Church’s response

In the face of such suffering, Vivar noted that the Church continues to maintain shelters where migrants can receive food, clothing, medical care, and a place to rest for one or two nights before continuing their journey.

Furthermore, thanks to a bazaar organized by the parish community, there are funds that help cover the cost of travel fares as well.

These shelters receive no government aid. Years ago, during the massive migrant caravans, authorities would send some aid, he said, but “there has been a distancing since 2018 under the new administrations because that support is no longer there.”

“The government does not have migrant shelters; it’s the Church that operates migrant shelters throughout the country. The National Migration Institute has detention centers; they are not shelters,” he said.

Assistance to migrants should not be restricted to Catholic shelters but should be the responsibility of every believer, Vivar emphasized, and every Christian must “try to help.”

Almsgiving, he said, is not about giving from “my surplus” but rather about “giving what is right.”

“Give your alms, but alms in the sense of giving what is necessary. If you have some clothes, if you have a jacket, give it to them.”

“Help however you can, and then — yes — send them to the shelters we have, and we’ll see what else can be done,” he added.

The migrant, he said, “didn’t leave home because he wanted to ... he isn’t going days without eating and sleeping on the street because he wanted to.”

Rather, migrants leave “out of necessity, because they have no other option,” Vivar said, and are “chasing a dream, trying to provide for their 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 priest took his run-up, waited for the whistle, and placed the ball right next to the goalpost. With that match-winning goal, the crowd broke out in euphoria: Dozens of seminarians rushed onto the field as priests from seven dioceses in southern Peru celebrated Huancavelica’s title win in the 2026 Clergy Champions playoffs.

On July 2, more than 150 priests from the dioceses of Puno, Cusco, Abancay, Ayacucho, Huancavelica, Huancayo, and Tarma participated in the soccer tournament. For a decade, the event has strengthened priestly fraternity, promoted vocations, and served as a reminder that sports can be a means of evangelization.

In an interview with ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News, Father José Raúl Ayuque Tornero, a priest of the Diocese of Huancavelica and one of the eventʼs organizers, explained that the initiative grew out of the friendship among priests who attended the major seminary in Abancay.

Its origins are deeply rooted in “fraternity and friendship among the priests,” Ayuque said. “At first, it was simply a get-together of friends.”

The event has since become a tradition for the dioceses in the southern part of the country.

A cliff-hanger final decided by penalty kicks

Ayuque excitedly recalled the final match, which was attended by families, priests, and seminarians.

“The atmosphere was extraordinary. Our minor seminarians kept spirits high throughout the day. We had marching bands performing from St. John Vianney Minor Seminary and the Teresa de la Cruz educational institution run by the Canoness Sisters,” he told ACI Prensa.

The bands provided musical accompaniment and cheered equally for both Huancavelica and Cusco as the teams faced off in the final match, which began around 5 p.m.

In Huancavelica, the sun sets early due to the areaʼs geography, making the match even more exciting. Fans followed each play closely, waiting for a goal.

The end of the match could not have been more suspenseful: Cusco failed to get a penalty kick past the Huancavelica goalie, and all eyes were then on Salazar, who skillfully placed his shot out of reach of the Cusco goalkeeper and won the championship.

A celebration immediately began on the field. The priests sang the St. John Mary Vianney hymn composed by the late bishop emeritus of Huancavelica, William Molloy.

“In Huancavelica, we have a very young clergy, with an average age close to 35, and that is also reflected in the enthusiasm with which we experience these gatherings,” Ayuque said.

The awards ceremony followed. Abancay took fourth place, Ayacucho third, and Cusco second, while Huancavelica received the cup.

The Archdiocese of Huancayo was announced as the venue for the next championship matches.

“Beyond the competition, I saw joy in everyone — the joy of sharing the mission God gives us as priests,” Ayuque commented.

For his part, referee Daniel Jorge Cruz Olarte remarked that the most gratifying aspect of being part of this tournament was “seeing how they respect one another.”

“They are wholesome people; they respect the referee, they respect their teammates and opponents, and they experience the sport with a spirit of fraternity.”

A championship born of friendship

Although it now brings together priests from seven jurisdictions and even the regionʼs bishops, the Clergy Champions League began quite simply.

“It started about 10 years ago. At first, only Abancay, Ayacucho, and Huancavelica — the closest ones — participated. Gradually, it took shape and we can now say that this gathering has become an established tradition in the Peruvian Andes,” Ayuque explained.

He said in the future, the league would also like to include the dioceses of Ica, Arequipa, and Tacna “so that it truly represents all of southern Peru.”

Much more than soccer

For the priest, the Clergy Champions was never just a sports tournament.

“These gatherings strengthen our own sanctification as priests. We meet older, younger, and newly ordained priests from different backgrounds, and we see how the Lord continues to call each one amid varying circumstances,” he said.

Ayuque said the sport can become an authentic tool to awaken vocations. “It helps us learn to live as a team, to understand that life must be built seeking communion, knowing how to share, show solidarity, and always feel the presence of our brother,” he said.

Father Doroteo Borda López, one of the participants, highlighted to ACI Prensa that the league is an experience of communion.

“It’s a way for us to participate as priests of a local Church and to come together. Getting together with nearly 150 priests and seeing that sport unites, heals, and is also part of spirituality is something very valuable,” he said.

For Borda, the Clergy Champions shows young people that the Church remains alive and “that we are just as normal people as anyone else.”

“On the field, we get angry, we play, we run, and we have our differences, but afterward, we continue sharing our lives.”

Ayuque said he believes the league’s greatest lesson for young people is “to show them that the priest’s mission is not limited solely to piety or prayer.”

“All the realities of life can and must be offered to God. The priest is called to bring God’s grace to all people and to all human endeavors. That’s why more laborers are needed for the harvest, more young people who will dedicate their lives,” he stated.

‘Sport is absolutely essential’

The priest also advocated for sports as a necessary part of holistic formation. “In our seminaries, we strive to dedicate at least one hour a day to sports, since the human person is both body and soul,” he said.

“Sport disciplines the body, makes it more agile, and helps eliminate the bodyʼs toxins. When our physical condition is well cared for, it also becomes easier to engage attentively in prayer and the encounter with God,” he said.

“A neglected body ends up influencing one’s spiritual life as well … Pope Francis frequently spoke of acedia, that kind of spiritual sloth that often stems from a body that is overly comfortable,” he added.

“Sport prepares our nature for a personal encounter with the Lord and helps us view the world with greater joy and optimism,” 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.

A canon of the basilica and episcopal vicar for the clergy since August 2024, he was named exorcist for the Marian shrine in February of this year.

In a July 12 statement, Aguiar announced the appointment “after hearing the proposals presented by the Venerable Chapter of Guadalupe and the Permanent Council of the Mexican Bishops’ Conference.”

The cardinal commissioned the rector to lead a “new phase of institutional and pastoral renewal, with the collaboration of all the priests, deacons, consecrated persons, and lay faithful who serve at this beloved shrine.”

The cardinal also expressed his “gratitude for the service rendered” by the outgoing rector, Monsignor Efraín Hernández Díaz, whose resignation he accepted.

According to the Archdiocese of Mexico, the shrine receives around 35 million pilgrims each year. During the Guadalupe celebrations in December 2025 alone, some 13 million visitors came to the shrine, according to figures from the Mexico City Government Secretariat.

Who is the new rector of the basilica?

Born in Mexico City on Aug. 10, 1968, Villalobos was ordained a priest on July 12, 1998, at the basilica itself by the then-prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy, Colombian Cardinal Darío Castrillón Hoyos.

From 1997 to 2008, he served as an assistant to the then-archbishop emeritus of Mexico, Cardinal Ernesto Corripio Ahumada.

Throughout his ministry, he has held various pastoral assignments in parishes in the Mexico City boroughs of Xochimilco, Tlalpan, Coyoacán, and Álvaro Obregón.

In August 2024, he was appointed a canon of the basilica and episcopal vicar for the clergy of the Archdiocese of Mexico.

Since February 2026, he has served as an exorcist at the basilica.

The start of ‘a phase to update and improve’

The basilica, Aguiar noted in his statement, “holds a privileged place in the life of our local Church and in the hearts of millions of pilgrims”; therefore, “any decision regarding this sacred site must always have as its aim to strengthen its evangelizing mission and the service it offers to the people of God.”

“We have begun a phase of updating and improving administrative, operational, and pastoral processes at the Basilica of Guadalupe,” the cardinal added, taking “as a reference the updates promoted by Pope Francis for the papal basilicas of St. Mary Major in Rome and St. Peter in the Vatican.”

In the case of the Marian shrine, which houses the tilma bearing the image of the Virgin Mary on which it miraculously appeared nearly 500 years ago, the renewal now underway “will help distinguish the pastoral mission from administrative operations,” thereby consolidating an institution that is “more efficient and organized.”

Aguiar also stated that, since last year, “various administrative and operational reviews” have been conducted at the basilica and that the Mexican Bishops’ Conference, the apostolic nunciature, and the Holy See were all informed of them.

“These reviews, routine in the life of any institution, have made it possible to identify opportunities to strengthen evangelization efforts, internal organization, and the services provided daily to millions of pilgrims,” continued the primatial archbishop of Mexico.

“Let us allow the words that have sustained our people’s hope for nearly five centuries to resonate once more in our hearts: ‘Am I not here, I who am your mother?’” he encouraged.

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.

On July 8, a Mass was celebrated at Holy Cross Church, marking the communityʼs return to their church and concluding a lengthy restoration process.

The earthquakes of Sept. 7 and 19, 2017, resulted in 468 deaths and caused damage to thousands of buildings.

In Mexico City alone, around 160 Catholic churches suffered structural damage of varying severity such as these two churches located just a short distance apart.

5 centuries of history

Holy True Cross Church is considered one of the oldest churches in the country.

According to tradition, the explorer and conquistador Hernán Cortés ordered the construction of a small chapel to commemorate the landing of the Spanish expedition at the port of what is now known as the state of Veracruz. Over time, that chapel gave rise to the parish as it is known today.

The church also houses important works of sacred art, such as the Christ of the Seven Veils, which is said to have been a gift from Pope Paul III to King Carlos V of Spain. Additionally, a relic of the true cross is preserved there, considered by Christian tradition to be a fragment of the cross on which Jesus Christ died.

In an interview with ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News, Father Juan Carlos Guerrero Ugalde, the pastor of Holy True Cross and St. John of God, stated that restoring the churches was a priority of “not only ecclesiastical but also civic interest.”

“This church [Holy True Cross] was the third parish established in the city and, therefore, holds a tradition of faith dating back to the 16th century,” he explained.

9 years to return

Guerrero described the restoration process as “meticulous and slow” due to the complexity of the damage.

Among other measures, the bell towers, which were at risk of collapse, were reinforced, cracks were repaired, the hydraulic piles supporting both structures were serviced, the roofs were waterproofed, and work was carried out to correct the effects of the ground settling.

The work was overseen by the National Institute of Anthropology and History, as both buildings are part of the nationʼs historical heritage.

In Mexico, religious buildings constructed prior to the 1992 constitutional reforms are state property, although they remain places of worship and are used by religious associations.

The restoration of the Holy True Cross church faced an additional challenge: a fire in August 2020 caused by individuals living on the street. Reports indicate that a campfire spiraled out of control, damaging the choir loft, the dome, and sacred art.

Today, those walking through the historic central part of Mexico City can once again enter the church. Marcela Eduardo, who works in the area and took a moment of free time to stop in and pray, did just that.

“It brought me great joy to see it open and to see that repairs are underway,” she noted in an interview with ACI Prensa. She said that when she saw the parish church open, her first thought was to go in to see Christ and “greet him, make the sign of the cross, and ask him for something: that he give me more energy.”

Much more than a church

These churches are surrounded by some of Mexico’s most important cultural landmarks, such as the Franz Mayer Museum, the Palace of Fine Arts, and the Alameda Central, a large city park.

Although Holy True Cross and St. John of God churches might go unnoticed by some tourists amid so many other buildings, Guerrero noted that their value has been “significant for both the faith and the city.”

He explained that, following the 1985 earthquake, the area welcomed numerous families from various places, necessitating the construction of a new community identity. Pastoral work at the time “consisted of gradually integrating the way of life of longtime residents and that of those who were newly arriving.”

Over the years, he added, violence, drug trafficking, and social breakdown affected life in the neighborhood, making the Church’s presence even more necessary.

For Betsabé Jara, who visited the church after touring the Franz Mayer Museum, the reopening represents an opportunity to regain a place for encountering God.

“It brings peace of mind that the church is open, that one can enter and pray. Especially for people who couldnʼt go elsewhere because there wasnʼt a church nearby,” she said in an interview with ACI Prensa.

Building the community

The priest noted that reactivating community life will be the next challenge. He explained that a “call has already gone out to neighborhood residents to come for formation as pastoral workers.”

He also noted that they aim to develop social programs such as job training for individuals who did not complete their formal education as well as cultural initiatives in collaboration with nearby museums.

“We want the spaces we have in both churches to be truly utilized and filled with formation programs,” Guerrero said.

As the community gradually restores life to these churches, Masses are currently held regularly on Sundays, whereas weekday Masses take place only upon the request of the faithful.

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.

Over the course of 10 days from June 26 to July 5, the faithful from across the country traveled to the Basilica Shrine of the Divine Eternal Father to give thanks for answered prayers and present their intentions.

Unlike other pilgrimages dedicated to a saint or the Virgin Mary under one of her titles, this devotion focuses on God the Father.

“I come out of an awareness of the Father’s fatherhood, of the Father’s love for us and for all the people here, without distinction. We are all loved equally by this Father, simply because he created us, and not because of what we do. That is the meaning. That is what I feel in my heart today,” one of the pilgrims told “EWTN Noticias,” the Spanish-language broadcast edition of EWTN News.

The pilgrimage has 186 years of history, with its origins dating back to the 1840s when a peasant couple found a small medallion with the image of the Holy Trinity crowning the Virgin Mary. Over the years, the devotion spread throughout Brazil until the city of Trindade became a national pilgrimage destination.

One of the most moving moments of the pilgrimage was the traditional candlelight procession. Thousands of people walked the streets with lit candles while the image of the Divine Eternal Father was borne on a cart decorated with red flowers. For many participants, each candle represented a grace received, a conversion, or a new beginning.

Among the testimonies, one stood out: that of a pilgrim who returned to the procession after overcoming a health problem.

“Today I am experiencing a great victory. After six years, I am walking again in the festival of the Divine Eternal Father. I had a problem with my leg, with my ankle, and couldnʼt take part in the procession. Today, I am fulfilling that dream. Long live the Divine Eternal Father!” she exclaimed.

The pilgrimage, which also has the characteristics of a festival, also maintains a strong bond with the rural identity of Brazilʼs central region. The theme of this year’s edition was “We Cry Out: Abba, Father!”

At the closing Mass, the archbishop of Goiânia, João Justino, reminded everyone that we are all God’s “beloved children.”

“We are not beloved children because we have been good; we are called to be good because we are beloved children. Seeking goodness and living uprightly must be the response to the God who loves us,” he said in his homily.

Once the celebrations concluded, millions of pilgrims began their journey home, committed to living out that experience of faith in their families and communities.

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 data was provided by Father Neptalí Balza, vicar general of the Archdiocese of Caracas, in an interview with Unión Radio. In addition to extensive material damage, the earthquakes have left to date a devastating toll of over 4,000 dead and tens of thousands injured or otherwise affected.

“Of those 25, the majority are — let’s put it this way — not holding Mass inside the churches; instead, they are being held outdoors for safety reasons, because here the most important thing — aside from the church building itself, of course — is the parishioners. We must not needlessly put peopleʼs lives at risk,” the priest explained.

Balza also noted that the oldest religious structures were the most affected, citing San José de Ñaraulí Church in Cotiza, Caracas, as an example; it suffered the total collapse of its left transept. Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Pagüita and the adjacent parish school also have “serious structural issues.”

Similarly, Our Lady of Mercy Church and the Caracas Cathedral have sustained “more or less serious” damage.

The vicar general noted that, of the 25 affected churches, the majority have already been assessed by qualified personnel, and reports indicate that at least half (between eight and 10 buildings) show significant damage.

The priest noted that the archdiocese is already considering restoration projects for these buildings and urged that it be kept in mind that several of them are “national monuments and historical heritage sites”; therefore, “it is advisable, even if they have sustained significant damage, to try to carry out projects to save the heritage and structures of those churches.”

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.

In the final message of their 121st plenary assembly, the bishops noted the “robust and peaceful participation of the Colombian people” in the elections, describing it as a “clear sign of democratic maturity and of appreciation and respect for institutions.”

“We regard respect for and acceptance of the will of the Colombian people, as expressed in the election results, as conditions and signs of peace,” they stated in their message, published on July 9.

The bishops lamented that, following the elections, confrontation and division continue to be fueled by violent words and attitudes.

After calling for a “culture of encounter,” the bishops’ conference urged government leaders to assume “their constitutional responsibility to safeguard and foster unity, the pursuit of the common good in truth and justice, and a national project that includes us all without disregarding what has been built and received as both a legacy and a task.”

The bishops' call comes amid the political conflict sparked by President Gustavo Petroʼs decision on July 6 to reject the runoff election results, citing cyber fraud and claiming that the true winner was his candidate, Iván Cepeda.

On June 25, the National Electoral Council declared de la Espriella the winner of the presidential runoff election.

De la Espriella responded by suspending his team’s participation in the official transition process, that is, the handover of information between the outgoing government and the one set to take over the leadership of Colombia on Aug. 7.

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.