Catholic Community (English)

Ann Arbor, Michigan, Dec 6, 2025 / 15:30 pm (CNA).

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, expressed cautious hope for peace in Gaza, calling on people of the region to combat hatred and “think differently” about each other. 

Pizzaballa, whose authority extends over Latin Catholics in Israel, Palestine, Jordan, and Cyprus, also holds the office of grand prior of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre. He began a four-day pastoral visit to metro Detroit on Dec. 4, celebrating Mass with the Chaldean community at St. Thomas Chaldean Catholic Church in West Bloomfield, Michigan. Detroit Archbishop Edward J. Weisenburger and Chaldean Bishop Francis Y. Kalabat joined him. Throughout the visit, the cardinal offered a sober yet grounded message of hope for Christians in the Holy Land.

At a press conference on Dec. 5, Weisenburger welcomed the cardinal and praised his efforts to promote a “just and lasting peace” in Gaza. Asked by CNA what hope remains for Holy Land Christians amid what he had described as some of the worst devastation in decades, Pizzaballa cautioned against equating hope with immediate political solutions.

“Hope is a complicated word,” he said. “You must not confuse hope with a political solution, which will not arrive soon, not in Gaza, the Holy Land, or the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. If you put your hope in this, you will be frustrated.” He emphasized that both political and religious institutions must work to nurture hope.

“Hope,” the cardinal continued, “is a word that cannot remain alone. It has to put roots in something else,” namely, faith and desire. He added, “There needs to be a desire for it to be realized. A second consideration is that if institutions fail, we need people to think differently, to act differently, both Israelis and Palestinians. This may not resolve all the problems, but it says to people, ‘All is not lost.’”

Christians represent only about 1% of Gaza’s population—roughly 500 people—and about 2% of the population in both Israel and the West Bank, where there are about 190,000 and 45,000 Christians, respectively. Many continue to emigrate, raising fears about the future of Christianity in the region. Gaza has only one Catholic parish, for example.

The patriarch described the increasingly dire conditions in Gaza since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attack on Israel. Most infrastructure—homes, hospitals, and schools—has been reduced to rubble, he said, leaving families in tents as winter approaches and food remains scarce. During a visit after Hamas and Israel concluded a ceasefire this fall, he brought food, including chicken, to Christians sheltering at the Holy Family parish compound. “It was the first meat they had seen in nine months,” he said. Although food enters Gaza, much of it ends up in markets, where many have no cash to purchase it, he said.

Despite the devastation, sacramental life continues. Hosting some 500 displaced Gazans, the parish has school activities and daily liturgies, including Mass, Vespers, the Rosary, and Eucharistic Adoration. First Communions and even a wedding have taken place. The parish’s sacramental life has emboldened solidarity among those taking shelter at the church, but has been a spiritual aid, Pizzaballa said. 

“Every time I speak with them, I never hear a word of anger; never,” Pizzaballa said. “And one person, I can’t even say the name, he was the director of the hospital. One evening, in Gaza, between the bombs falling not far from the compound, he said, 'You know, bishop, we Christians have a problem. Amidst all the violence, we are not able to hate them.'”

While Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire on Oct. 9, Pizzaballa said Gazans are only now emerging from “survival mode.” He said, “They ask, ‘What do we do now? When will rebuilding start? What governance will there be? Who will decide? What about our children?’ There was no emotional space for these questions before, but now they are coming out.”

Weisenburger acknowledged the complexity of the situation, saying it cannot be “simplified into sound bites.” He reflected on the human cost of the war: “Too many of those bombs that killed some 70,000 people, wiped their homes from the face of the earth, and destroyed their cities, schools, and hospitals, were from us. I think we in America must accept some responsibility for rebuilding.” He expressed gratitude for the cardinal’s message of hope, adding that generous Detroiters had already pledged about $500,000 for needs in the Holy Land. “By doing something, we can nurture hope,” he said.

In his homily at the Chaldean community Mass, Pizzaballa compared Isaiah’s vision of restoration with present-day devastation in the Middle East, including the suffering of Chaldeans in Iraq at the hands of ISIS. He stressed the Church’s mission of fostering peace. Regarding the Hamas attack, he said, “We have to say this very clearly: it is not acceptable at all.” He added, however, that Israel’s “retaliation, what happened after in Gaza, is an even more difficult answer.” He emphasized, “We are not against Israel,” while insisting that “The situation will never change as long as the Palestinians are not recognized as people with their dignity and a right of self-determination.”

On Dec. 5, the cardinal visited fellow Franciscans at St. Bonaventure Monastery and prayed at the tomb of Blessed Solanus Casey. He received a first-class relic of Blessed Solanus to bring to Jerusalem. The Chaldean community also presented him with relics of four Chaldean martyrs. The next day, he visited Sacred Heart Seminary and spoke with seminarians and faculty.

About 500 people attended the Dec. 5 fundraising dinner held at St. John’s Resort, the former seminary campus dedicated to charitable hospitality. Weisenburger said the resort’s owner, the Pulte Family Charitable Foundation, donates 100% of its net profits for such events to charity.

Pilgrimages to Holy Land to resume

Holy Land Christians continue to feel the economic repercussions of the war, particularly in Bethlehem, which is located in the West Bank area of Jordan that is administered by Israel and where tourism has plummeted. Author and filmmaker Steve Ray, who has led more than 200 pilgrimages, plans to guide a group of over 50 pilgrims from Dec. 28 to Jan. 6. 

“I’ve heard that 70% to 80% of the revenue of Christians comes from pilgrims. To have all the tour buses parked for two years is financially devastating,” he said. On the question of safety, he added, “Social media blows things way out of proportion. No pilgrims have ever been hurt. We are not concerned.” He plans four more pilgrimages in 2026, including one for Ave Maria University students.

Concluding his sweep through Detroit, Pizzaballa is set to celebrate Mass at the Shrine of the Little Flower, which treasures the relics of St. Therese de Lisieux.

CNA Staff, Dec 6, 2025 / 14:30 pm (CNA).

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia is mobilizing Catholics this Advent to pray the St. Andrew Christmas Novena prayer 15 times daily for a single intention: the reconciliation of the 83% of baptized Catholics in the archdiocese who no longer participate in the sacramental life of the Church.

The “St. Andrew Novena for the 83%,” organized by the archdiocese’s Office for the New Evangelization, is running from Nov. 30 through Dec. 24. Participants are asked to recite the traditional prayer 15 times each day while praying specifically for the grace of reconciliation for loved ones currently disconnected from the faith.

“The novena is an opportunity for practicing Catholics to pray intentionally for their loved ones who are currently disconnected from their Catholic faith. It’s also an opportunity to pray in communion with hundreds of fellow Catholics who share the same heartfelt desire for the ‘homecoming’ of their loved ones,” Meghan Cokeley, director of the Office for the New Evangelization, said to Philadelphia’s archdiocesan paper this week.

Cokeley said the idea came to her as she prayed during Eucharistic adoration. “I wasn’t looking for it and it filled me with a lot of joy, so I thought that perhaps it was Jesus who was asking for this.”

She emphasized Advent’s special grace for reconciliation and St. Andrew the Apostle’s role as a “fisher of men.” “By joining our prayer with the saint, we are asking him to ‘go fishing’ for our loved ones and catch them for Jesus,” Cokeley said.

More than 400 people have already signed up, submitting initials of family members and friends. Everyone who registers receives a secure link to the full list, allowing them to pray for all individuals by their initials.

The initiative is part of the archdiocese’s broader “Trust and Hope” campaign to adjust to changing realities and bring about “parish renewal” in the Church in the Pennsylvania Archdiocese. 

Cokeley noted the widespread sorrow many feel over loved ones away from the Church. “In my travels around the archdiocese, I often hear from people who ache on behalf of their loved ones who are away from the Church. I sense that it is a widespread and shared sorrow for many,” she said.

“Time spent in prayer is the most fruitful investment of one’s life,” Cokeley added.

Here is the full prayer (which is also available in Spanish on the website): “Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in the piercing cold. In that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee, O my God, to hear my prayer and grant my desires through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ, and of his blessed Mother. Amen.”

Pope Leo XIV joins the audience at the Vatican’s “Concert with the Poor” in the Paul VI Hall and expresses his pleasure to be able to partake in the joy of listening to music, which is “not a luxury for the few, but a divine gift accessible to everyone.”

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The rectors of Catholic and ecclesiastical universities write a letter on Polish–German reconciliation, taking a significant step towards reconciliation after the Second World War.

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CNA Staff, Dec 6, 2025 / 12:00 pm (CNA).

American actor Chris Pratt, best known for his roles in “Guardians of the Galaxy” and “Jurassic World,” is currently filming a documentary on the Vatican Necropolis, which lies underneath Vatican City containing tombs dating from the first to fourth century A.D., at depths varying between 16 and 39 feet below St. Peter’s Basilica. 

The film, which is being produced by Vatican Media, the Fabric of St. Peter, and AF Films, will be released in 2026 for the 400th anniversary of the inauguration and dedication of the basilica. 

Pratt will guide viewers on a journey to discover the tomb of St. Peter through stories of faith, history, and archaeology.

“It is an extraordinary honor to partner with Pope Leo and the Vatican on this project. St. Peter’s story is foundational to the Christian faith, and I’m deeply grateful for the trust and access granted to help bring his legacy to the screen,” Pratt told Vatican News in an interview. 

While Pratt is not Catholic, he and his wife, Katherine Schwarzenegger, a practicing Catholic, attend Mass regularly and are raising their children Catholic. Pratt speaks openly about his faith and the importance he places on praying daily. He has also partnered with Hallow, a Catholic prayer and meditation app, on multiple occasions and been featured in its Lent, Advent, and daily prayer challenges. 

Through historical evidence and archaeological discoveries, viewers of the new film are invited to discover St. Peter’s burial place in the Vatican Necropolis, which was officially announced by Pope Pius XII in 1950. 

In 1939, Pope Pius XII had workers begin excavations under the basilica in order to try to find the location of the beloved apostle’s burial place. In 1950, the pope officially announced that the location of the tomb was found, along with bone fragments likely belonging to the saint. In 1968, Pope Pius XII announced that the bone fragments found were indeed those of St. Peter. 

St. Peter’s bones were publicly displayed for the first time in 2013 by Pope Francis. The late pontiff held the relics during a Mass at St. Peter’s Square, which marked the end of the Church’s Year of Faith.

Qatar’s prime minister has warned that the nearly two‑month‑old ceasefire in the Gaza Strip cannot be considered complete until Israeli forces fully withdraw under a peace plan backed by Washington and the United Nations.

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Two cars were set on fire and a building was defaced with a threatening message during the night between 4 and 5 December in Taybeh, a Christian village in the northern West Bank. The incident occurred only hours after the inauguration of the parish’s “Christmas Nights” celebrations.

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EWTN News, Dec 6, 2025 / 08:00 am (CNA).

Just before the feast of the Immaculate Conception, a mosaic of Our Lady of Sorrows, Protectress of Slovakia, was inaugurated in the Vatican Gardens. Archbishop Bernard Bober of Košice, president of the Slovak Bishops' Conference, blessed the artwork during a ceremony attended by Slovak President Peter Pellegrini, whom Pope Leo XIV received in audience the day before.

Among other bishops and diplomats, two cardinals took part: the dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Re, and Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches.

The Slovak president said he was happy to see the Slovak Virgin Mary image inside the Vatican as she "is a source of hope, faith and unity." Peter Pellegrini stressed that his Central European country and the Holy See "share common values, such as the dignity of human person, true liberty and open dialog."

During the audience with Pope Leo XIV, the Vatican said, pontiff and president reaffirmed their commitment to supporting social cohesion, promoting justice, and safeguarding the family, and discussed the war in Ukraine, its impact on European security, and the situation in the Middle East.

Each time we pass by this beautiful artwork, Cardinal Gugerotti underlined in his speech at the inauguration, "we will pray for the Slovak people" who suffered during atheist communism, and yet "were able to maintain and renew its Christian roots."

Likewise, Cardinal Giovanni Re told CNA that he is very happy for the new artwork. "I have always loved Slovakia because it is still very Catholic," the prelate said.

It is a great honor for us that the mosaic of Our Lady of Sorrows has reached the heart of the Church, Archbishop Bober underscored. The Slovak Virgin Mary is "a symbol of the spiritual connection between Slovakia and the Vatican." It reminds us, the archbishop continued, that "Our Lady of Sorrows has a special place in our nation, but also in the lives of all believers."

The colorful mosaic, created by Greek Catholic priest and artist Father Kamil Dráb, is a copy of an image in the chapel of the Pontifical Slovak College of St. Cyril and Methodius in Rome and has been installed in the Vatican Gardens near the bell used during the Great Jubilee of 2000.

ACI Stampa, Dec 6, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).

The people of Bari, a city in southern Italy, have a deep devotion to St. Nicholas, their patron saint and beloved protector.

“How can you not love St. Nicholas? And how can you not feel loved by St. Nicholas?” Father Giovanni Distante, the rector of Bari’s Pontifical Basilica of St. Nicholas, told ACI Stampa, CNA’s Italian-language news partner.

“The relationship between the people of Bari and St. Nicholas is one of love,” the rector continued, “a relationship that began in 1087 and continues to this day.”

It all began in 1087 when 62 brave sailors managed to rescue the relics of St. Nicholas, bringing them from the city of Myra in Asia, St. Nicholas’ hometown, to their beloved city in southern Italy, Bari, in Puglia. The Basilica of St. Nicholas was built to hold the relics, which it still does today. Every year, countless pilgrims continue to pay homage at the tomb of St. Nicholas, the saint of Christmas, who is loved by adults and children alike.

St. Nicholas is also an important figure in ecumenical dialogue, uniting Catholics, Orthodox Christians, and Protestants.

“St. Nicholas, as bishop of Myra, naturally influenced millions of faithful in the East and West, not only as bishop of Myra but also as patron, if we may say so, of Eastern and Western Christianity.  So much so that St. Nicholas is venerated as the ‘Saint of Ecumenism,’ because he manages to unite the two realities, the two Christian traditions, both Eastern and Western,” Distante said.

St. Nicholas occupies a special place in everyone’s hearts in December. Considered the saint of Christmas and remembered for his care for children, he was much loved for the protection he offered them. Many miracles are attributed to his intercession, particularly for the benefit of young women and children.

“St. Nicholas intervenes where concrete action is needed in love, practicality, justice, and, of course, sharing,” Distante explained.

St. Nicholas is celebrated twice a year in Bari: on Dec. 6 and on May 9.

“Dec. 6 is the liturgical feast of the saint, commemorating the day of his death, which becomes the new birth of St. Nicholas in heaven,” the rector of the Basilica of St. Nicholas explained. 

On May 9, he continued, “we celebrate the event of the transfer of St. Nicholas’ relics to Bari with a large procession by sea.”

On Dec. 6, Bari is filled with “illuminations,” a choreographed display of lights in the narrow streets of the city that are lit up for the feast of St. Nicholas and also for Christmas. This year’s program is once again full of events and celebrations.

The Pontifical Basilica of St. Nicholas in Bari opened at 4 a.m. on Dec. 6. At 5 a.m., the first Mass was celebrated, presided over by Distante, and followed by five more Masses throughout the morning.

The start of the first Mass was preceded, at 4:30 a.m., by the sounding of reveille and the arrival of the St. Nicholas torchlight procession. In the early hours of the day, a group of bagpipers will enliven the alleys of the old town around the basilica. At 6 p.m., there will be a solemn Mass celebrated by Archbishop Giuseppe Baturi of Cagliari and Archbishop Giuseppe Satriano of Bari-Bitonto. At the end of Mass, the procession with a statue of the saint will pass through the streets of the old town. In the evening, at 8:30 p.m., there will be a fireworks display from the Sant’Antonio pier.

One of the essential customs of the feast of St. Nicholas for the people of Bari is hot chocolate, enjoyed in the alleys of old Bari to warm up after Mass in the basilica.

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

In a statement, the Director of the Holy See Press Office says civil recognition of the Bishop Emeritus of the Apostolic Prefecture of Xinxiang, in mainland China, is an important step in the communal journey of ecclesiastical circumscription.

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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Dec 6, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).

Many monasteries and communities of religious brothers and sisters depend on proceeds from the sales of their products to sustain their lives of prayer and service throughout the year. These days, most have online gift shops that will ship your purchases to arrive before Christmas.

Here’s a guide to some of our favorite handmade gifts to give and receive this year:

Fudge and candy

Monk Bakery Gifts, Monastery of the Holy Spirit: Monks in Conyers, Georgia, make their famous fudge with premium chocolate and real butter. Try a 12-ounce gift box for $15. And for a taste of Georgia, try their Southern Touch fudge, “made with real peach morsels, pecans, and a touch of peach brandy.”

Monastery Candy, Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey: These contemplative nuns in Dubuque, Iowa, are known for their delicious caramels, which they make by hand to support their way of life. A 9-ounce box of chocolate-covered caramels sells for $16.55.

Monastery Creamed Honey, Holy Cross Abbey: The monks at Our Lady of the Holy Cross Abbey in Berryville, Virginia, support themselves financially through their own labor, a characteristic of the Cistercian order’s way of life. Their 100% natural Monastery Creamed Honey, locally sourced in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, makes a great gift. A set of four 10-ounce tubs includes natural-, cinnamon-, almond-, and brandy-flavored honey and sells for $35.95. Add some delicious chocolate truffles to the order for a sure-to-be-appreciated Christmas gift.

Cookies

Clarisa Cookies, Capuchin Poor Clare Sisters: The Capuchin Poor Clare nuns make their famous butter cookies from their monastery in Denver. The “Clarisas” come in a beautiful gift box featuring an image of St. Clare and sell for $18 for a 1.5-pound box.

Monks’ Biscotti, Abbey of the Genesee: The Trappist monks of the Abbey of the Genesee have been baking from their monastery in western New York since 1953. As their website explains: “The bakery supports the monastery’s primary mission, which is to pray for the world.” The twice-baked biscotti is a popular item, which makes a great gift basket when combined with monk-made coffee and a mug. A bundle of four boxes of biscotti in a variety of flavors sells for $33.99. 

Springerele Christmas cookies, Sisters of St. Benedict: The Benedictine religious sisters are known for their Springerele cookies, a traditional German treat with an “Old World” charm. A package of six cookies, each bearing a different, intricate design, sells for $11. 

Coffee

Mystic Monk Coffee, Carmelites Monks of Wyoming Monastery: The Monks of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel live a cloistered life in the Rocky Mountains in the Diocese of Cheyenne, Wyoming. They help support themselves through Mystic Monk Coffee, which they roast in small batches. The website CoffeeReview.com ranks their coffee among the highest of the coffees it reviews. A 12-ounce bag of their most popular flavor, Jingle Bell Java, sells for $14.95 in the EWTN Religious Catalogue. Visit their website for more coffee selections.

Fruitcake

Brandy-dipped fruitcake, New Camaldoli Hermitage: With all due respect, this is not your grandmother’s fruitcake. The monks of New Camaldoli Hermitage in Big Sur, California, offer a fruitcake soaked in brandy and aged for three months. It “has converted many a fruitcake ‘atheist,’” according to its creators. Order a 1-pound fruitcake for $27.98.

Kentucky Bourbon Fruitcake, Monks of the Abbey of Gethsemani: At their monastery in New Haven, Kentucky, Trappist monks offer a 20-ounce Kentucky Bourbon Fruitcake along with a jar of Trappist Apricot-Pineapple preserves and a jar of Trappist Quince Jelly, which makes a lovely Christmas gift for $33.50.

Beer

Birra Nursia, Benedictine Monks of Norcia: In 2012, a community of Benedictine monks revived the order’s ancient beer-making tradition at their 16th-century monastery in Nursia, the birthplace of St. Benedict. Tragically, four years later, a devastating earthquake struck, seriously damaging their monastery and threatening their way of life. Today, their monastery is open again thanks to money raised in part from the beer they make and sell and export to the United States and elsewhere. Beer in 750-milliliter (25-ounce) bottles is available at their U.S. online store for $15.99 each.

Handmade Christmas-themed gifts

Christmas Boutique, Monastery of Bethlehem: The contemplative Sisters of the Monastery of Bethlehem in Livingston Manor, New York, support themselves by offering their hand-painted chinaware and other unique gifts for sale. This Christmas their online shop features several Christmas-related items that would make wonderful gifts. 

A beautiful hand-carved Nativity, made in the sisters’ monastery in Mougères, France, includes Joseph, Mary, the baby Jesus, and a wooden manger, and sells for $180. This is a great value for a keepsake that is sure to be passed down from generation to generation. Or why not come bearing the gift of myrrh this Christmas with an attractive tin of imported incense ($56)? Also available: a pack of five Christmas greeting cards, hand-calligraphed by the sisters and duplicated on fine paper. Each card features a mystery of the lives of Jesus and Mary.

Custom rosaries, Carmelite Monastery of the Sacred Hearts: The cloistered nuns of the Carmelite Monastery of the Sacred Hearts in Colorado also offer several handmade items that would make beautiful gifts including custom, handmade rosaries. Those interested can choose their own beads, crucifix, centerpiece, the option to add decorative caps and side medals, and whether you would like the rosary to be a one-decade, five-decade, or 15-decade rosary.

Gifts from the Holy Land

Holy Land gifts, Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America: The Franciscan friars based at their monastery in Washington, D.C., are dedicated to supporting and protecting the sacred sites and people of the Holy Land. They sell products made by artisans in the Holy Land to help their businesses so they can continue to live in the land of their forefathers. Among the gifts at the Holy Land gift shop are hand-painted ceramic candleholders made by a young artist in Bethlehem; olive wood Nativity sets, crosses, and rosaries; and olive oil soap. Visit the Holy Land Gift Shop here. 

Soaps and candles

Cloister Shoppe, Summit Dominicans: The nuns from the Dominican Monastery of Our Lady of the Rosary in Summit, New Jersey, live a life of prayer through Eucharistic adoration and dedication to the rosary. To support this way of life they create handmade candles and skin-care products, which they sell at their Cloister Shoppe. Create your own Christmas gift bag of two bars of soap, a hand cream, a jar candle, a face moisturizer, and a handmade rosary made from olive wood beads from the Holy Land for $50. Throw in a pair of Bayberry Christmas Eve Tapers for $18 to give your holiday table a festive glow.

At the Jubilee Audience, Pope Leo XIV reflects on the importance of active waiting during the Advent Season, as we learn to hope and help bring the Kingdom of God closer through our good actions.

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Reading 1 Isaiah 30:19-21, 23-26

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 147:1-2, 3-4, 5-6

Alleluia Isaiah 33:22

Gospel Matthew 9:35–10:1, 5a, 6-8

• Readings for the Optional Memorial of Saint  Nicholas, Bishop

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Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Vatican City, Dec 6, 2025 / 04:00 am (CNA).

St. Nicholas, whose feast day is celebrated on Dec. 6, is known to possibly be the real-life inspiration for the beloved Christmas character of Santa Claus.

Not a lot is known about the historical Nicholas, who was bishop of Myra, a Greek city in modern-day Turkey, during the fourth century A.D. But there are many stories and legends that explain his reputation as a just and upright man, charitable gift-giver, and miracle-worker.

Here are five things to know and share about St. Nicholas:

1. There is a legend behind why St. Nicholas is the patron saint of children.

Many people know that St. Nicholas is the patron saint of children, but they may not know why he has that title.

There is a grisly legend that says that during a famine in Myra, three young boys were lured into a butcher’s shop, where they were killed and then brined in a wooden barrel with the intention of being sold as “ham.” The good bishop worked a miracle, bringing the pickled children back to life and saving them from a gruesome fate.

This story became the subject of many portrayals of Nicholas in art, especially during the Middle Ages. Some people believe depictions of Bishop Nicholas with the three boys led to his reputation as a protector of children.

The legend of the brining may explain how he also became, oddly, the patron saint of brewers and coopers (people who make wooden casks, barrels, vats, troughs, and similar containers from timber).

2. He is one of the foremost saints in the Russian Orthodox Church.

St. Nicholas is a unifying figure among Catholics and Orthodox Christians since both churches venerate him.

He is incredibly important in the Russian Orthodox Church, where he is known as St. Nicholas the Wonderworker for the many miracles attributed to him both during and after his life.

To the Orthodox, Nicholas is principally honored for his qualities as a holy bishop and a good shepherd of his people.

Also, in their weekly liturgical cycle, which dedicates different days of the week to Jesus Christ and other saints, only three are specifically named: Mary, the Mother of God; John the Forerunner (known to Catholics as St. John the Baptist); and St. Nicholas.

Nicholas did not leave behind any theological writings, but when he was made a bishop, he is credited with saying that “this dignity and this office demand different usage, in order that one should live no longer for oneself but for others.”

3. Was he really jolly ol’ St. Nicholas?

Because of his popularity among Orthodox Christians, St. Nicholas is a favorite subject in iconography.

But don’t be surprised if, among the hundreds of icons depicting him, you don’t see any merry dimples or a “round little belly.” He does have a white beard, though.

4. He is the patron saint of unmarried people, fishermen, pawnbrokers, and the falsely accused.

One of the most popular legends about Nicholas is that the saint, who is said to have come from a wealthy family, secretly helped a poor man with three daughters.

The father could not provide proper dowries for the girls to marry, and without husbands to support them, they might have been forced to turn to prostitution.

After learning about the situation, Nicholas secretly slipped a bag of gold coins through the family’s window while they were sleeping. He later left a second bag of coins, and likewise, another bag for the third daughter, at which point, the legend says, the father, who had waited up all night, “caught” Nicholas red-handed in his gift-giving. But Nicholas made him promise to keep the secret.

The story is likely the explanation for why the modern Christmas character of Santa Claus brings his gifts for children under the cover of night.

In artworks referencing this legend, the three bags of coins are often depicted as three golden balls. Images of gold balls were also used to mark the shops of pawnbrokers, which is probably how Nicholas came to be their patron saint, too.

One of many miracles attributed to St. Nicholas happened at sea as he traveled aboard a boat to the Holy Land. Nicholas is a patron saint of sailors and travelers because he calmed the stormy waters that threatened their lives.

His patronage of the falsely accused can be attributed to an early story about his rescue of three innocent men moments before their execution. It is said that St. Nicholas, then bishop of Myra, boldly pushed away the executioner’s sword, released the men from their chains, and angrily reprimanded a juror who had taken a bribe to find them guilty.

5. He has two feast days.

Most people know that Nicholas’ feast day is celebrated on Dec. 6, the day he died in the year 343, but for East Slavs, as well as the people of Bari, Italy, May 9 is also an important day to celebrate the saint.

That date is the anniversary of the day that St. Nicholas’ relics were moved from Myra, in present-day Turkey, to Bari, not long after the Great Schism of Catholics and Orthodox in 1054 A.D.

Accounts differ over whether the transmission of the relics was theft or an attempt by Christian sailors to preserve the saint’s remains from destruction by the Turks. But whatever the real reason, the relics can still be venerated today in the Basilica of St. Nicholas in Bari.

Pope Francis visited Bari, in Italy’s southern region of Puglia, two times during his papacy. During both the 2018 and 2020 visits, he stopped in the basilica’s crypt to venerate St. Nicholas’ relics.

The pontifical basilica is an important place of ecumenism, since the Catholic Church welcomes many Eastern Catholics and Orthodox Christians to the pilgrimage site. In the crypt, where St. Nicholas is buried, there is also an altar for the celebration of Orthodox and Eastern Catholic liturgies.

For Christians who follow the Julian calendar, as the Eastern Orthodox do, St. Nicholas’ principal feast day falls on Dec. 19. An Orthodox Divine Liturgy is usually celebrated at the Basilica of St. Nicholas that morning.

On Dec. 6, Catholics in Bari celebrate the beloved saint with Mass, concerts, and a procession of the saint’s statue through the city’s streets.

This story was first published on Dec. 6, 2022, and has been updated.

Receiving new Ambassadors to the Holy See, Pope Leo XIV tells them the Holy See will not be a silent bystander amid global inequality and conflict.

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As the Church marks the Second Sunday of Advent, Jenny Kraska offers her reflection on the Gospel reading for the day.

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On the tenth anniversary of their beatification, Pope Leo XIV highlights the enduring witness of the Martyrs of Chimbote as a model of communion and missionary dedication.

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A 5 minute daily podcast to help you in your Advent preparation

The striking figure of St. Nicholas Jesus, Son of Mary Linking Advent and illness

Hello and welcome!

I’m so happy to be back with you to share my experiences over the past month.

My first event came on November 8th, when we had the Mass of Investiture for the Order of the Holy Sepulchre at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross.

A very large number of new members were inducted, I believe over 50 new Knights and Dames, including several priests and deacons.  It was a joy to welcome them.

During the ceremony, we also announced that Dame Marianne Luthin has been named the new Lieutenant, succeeding Sir Gerry Foley.

It’s the first time we have had a woman appointed as Lieutenant for the Northeast Lieutenancy, which is certainly a big step for us.  Marianne is very, very committed to the Order, and if anyone deserves that distinction, it’s her.

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The following day, I traveled down to Baltimore for the USCCB General Assembly, where I participated in meetings for the Committee for the National Shrine and the Subcommittee for the Promotion of Racial Justice and Reconciliation.

In the assembly, of course, we discussed many topics, but perhaps the most important one we addressed was immigration.  As a result, our President issued a strong statement in the name of the conference that I’d like to share with you here:

As pastors, we the bishops of the United States are bound to our people by ties of communion and compassion in Our Lord Jesus Christ.  We are disturbed when we see among our people a climate of fear and anxiety around questions of profiling and immigration enforcement.  We are saddened by the state of contemporary debate and the vilification of immigrants.  We are concerned about the conditions in detention centers and the lack of access to pastoral care.  We lament that some immigrants in the United States have arbitrarily lost their legal status.  We are troubled by threats against the sanctity of houses of worship and the special nature of hospitals and schools.  We are grieved when we meet parents who fear being detained when taking their children to school and when we try to console family members who have already been separated from their loved ones.

Despite obstacles and prejudices, generations of immigrants have made enormous contributions to the well-being of our nation.  We as Catholic bishops love our country and pray for its peace and prosperity.  For this very reason, we feel compelled now in this environment to raise our voices in defense of God-given human dignity.

Catholic teaching exhorts nations to recognize the fundamental dignity of all persons, including immigrants.  We bishops advocate for a meaningful reform of our nation’s immigration laws and procedures.  Human dignity and national security are not in conflict.  Both are possible if people of good will work together.

We recognize that nations have a responsibility to regulate their borders and establish a just and orderly immigration system for the sake of the common good.  Without such processes, immigrants face the risk of trafficking and other forms of exploitation.  Safe and legal pathways serve as an antidote to such risks.

The Church’s teaching rests on the foundational concern for the human person, as created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:27). As pastors, we look to Sacred Scripture and the example of the Lord Himself, where we find the wisdom of God’s compassion.  The priority of the Lord, as the Prophets remind us, is for those who are most vulnerable: the widow, the orphan, the poor, and the stranger (Zechariah 7:10). In the Lord Jesus, we see the One who became poor for our sake (2 Corinthians 8:9), we see the Good Samaritan who lifts us from the dust (Luke 10:30—37), and we see the One who is found in the least of these (Matthew 25).  The Church’s concern for neighbor and our concern here for immigrants is a response to the Lord’s command to love as He has loved us (John 13:34).

To our immigrant brothers and sisters, we stand with you in your suffering, since, when one member suffers, all suffer (cf. 1 Corinthians 12:26). You are not alone!

We note with gratitude that so many of our clergy, consecrated religious, and lay faithful already accompany and assist immigrants in meeting their basic human needs.  We urge all people of good will to continue and expand such efforts.

We oppose the indiscriminate mass deportation of people.  We pray for an end to dehumanizing rhetoric and violence, whether directed at immigrants or at law enforcement.  We pray that the Lord may guide the leaders of our nation, and we are grateful for past and present opportunities to dialogue with public and elected officials.  In this dialogue, we will continue to advocate for meaningful immigration reform.

As disciples of the Lord, we remain men and women of hope, 

and hope does not disappoint!  (cf. Romans 5:5)

May the mantle of Our Lady of Guadalupe enfold us all in her maternal and loving care and draw us ever closer to the heart of Christ.

I also want to share with you some pictures of the Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which is the first cathedral of the United States, and where we have our annual Mass with the bishops.

It was my first time visiting the crypt where John Carroll, the first American bishop, is buried.

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On November 15^th, I celebrated Mass for the opening day of the Shalom Catholic Community’s North American Congress that was held at St. Anthony in Cambridge.

There was a very good crowd of people, with some coming from as far away as Canada and Florida, in addition to those from the Northeast.

We were so grateful to be joined by Moysés Azevedo, founder of the Shalom.  It was his first time here in North America.

In my homily, I spoke to them about the importance of unity and communion in the Body of Christ and that true mission comes from surrendering our hearts to God. And I told them Shalom’s charism of peace and joy is truly a gift for the Church.

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Later that evening, I attended the Boston Black Catholic Community’s annual Healy Award Dinner at BC High.

As always, it was a very lively celebration, and I particularly enjoyed the performance by the archdiocese’s Haitian choir.

This year’s Healy Award Recipient was Father Michael Davidson, S.J., and I was the recipient of the Ruffin Award.  Maître Jean-Louis Daniel also received the Meyer Chambers Award.

 

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From November 16th through the 20th, I was in St. Louis for the Pontifical Mission Societies National Directors Conference, where I gave a retreat.

It was held at the Augustine Institute, which is a magnificent facility there.  It was formerly a conference center for the Boeing aircraft company, and it is just stunning.

While I was there, I had a nice meeting with the institute’s president, Dr. Tim Gray.

Father Roger Landry, the national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies, organized the retreat.

He brought a Frenchman whose daughter, Mayline Tran, was miraculously cured through the intercession of Blessed Pauline Jaricot, the founder of the Pontifical Mission Societies.

Mayline was in a coma with very severe brain damage that the doctors presumed was permanent, and then the family began a novena.  She was miraculously healed, and this was the miracle that led to Blessed Pauline’s beatification.

I also learned that Blessed Pauline Jaricot had started a rosary crusade called the Association of the Living Rosary.  There are actually millions of people who participate in this rosary around the world; it really is amazing.

Blessed Pauline Jaricot, whose spiritual director for many years was the Cure of Ars, was truly an extraordinary person whose devotion to the missions has resulted in this extraordinary effort and has been a source of support, both spiritual and economic, for the work of the Church throughout the world.

So, I was very happy to be able to give this retreat and encourage the work of the Pontifical Mission Societies, particularly because of its long ties to Boston.  When the Diocese of Boston was founded, our then-missionary diocese received a great deal of help from the Society of the Propagation of the Faith, one of the three Mission Societies.

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Next, I went to Washington, D.C., where, on November 21st, I had the privilege of celebrating one of the Masses marking the visit of the relics of St. Therèse of Lisieux to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.  I had a noon Mass there on Friday, and the basilica was packed.

It was very moving to see so many people willing to come out in the middle of a weekday, and there were many, many priests as well.

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That evening, I went with a group of friars to see Jesus Christ Superstar at the Hartke Theater at The Catholic University of America.  They had free admission for religious, so the price was right!

It’s kind of an unusual musical that came out in 1970, and a lot of people criticize its theology.  But it’s important to remember that it’s the Passion story as seen through the eyes of Judas Iscariot.  If you lose sight of that, then you’ll be very worried about the theology, but if you think about the fact that it’s supposed to be from Judas’s point of view, it all makes a lot more sense.

The school of performing arts was founded by Father Hartke, who was quite a figure in the university’s history.  He would always do a presentation every year on the White House, and many famous actors and actresses in Hollywood studied in his school.

I hadn’t been back to the Hartke Theater since 1975, when I organized a conference on preaching social justice there for the Holy Year.  I invited Bishop Fulton Sheen and Father Avery Dulles (later Cardinal Dulles) to give the talks, and it was a wonderful experience.

So, it was good to be back there again, and the kids all did a great job and had beautiful voices.  And, while I was there, I ran into the provost and a number of people from the university board of directors and faculty whom I knew.  It was a lovely evening.

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On November 25th, I was at the State Department for the swearing-in ceremony of Dan Negrea as the U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. on economic matters.

They have refurbished a series of rooms in the State Department building with the style of 18th-century America, and the swearing-in ceremony was in one of those very beautiful rooms dedicated to Benjamin Franklin, the first ambassador from the United States to France.

I’ve known Dan for many decades, since he was sent to me late one Friday afternoon at the Centro Católico in Washington, D.C.

I often got calls at that time because I figured the immigration office people wanted to go home, and if they had cases they couldn’t solve by the weekend, they would just send them to me, whether they were Hispanic or not.  This particular day, they sent this young man in his early 20s who came on a diplomatic mission from Romania and asked for political asylum.  (This was during the time of the Communist dictator Ceausescu.) They granted his asylum but didn’t know what to do with him, so they sent him to me.

When he arrived, he said, “Father, I’m not sure why they sent me here.  I’m not Hispanic, and I’m not Catholic.” And I said, “Well, I can’t make you Hispanic, but I can make you a Catholic!” And, as a matter of fact, years later, I did receive him into the Church, presided at his marriage to his wife Nikki, and baptized his children.

So, it was a privilege to be present as he was sworn in for this important position.  It’s not exactly typical to have a cardinal present for these sorts of things.  So, in his remarks, he explained his story and why I was there.

I was asked to give the invocation, and I used part of the prayer that Archbishop John Carroll composed for George Washington’s inauguration.

Dan began his comments by using Yogi Berra’s famous line about Dublin electing a Jewish mayor: “Only in America!” And Dan said, “Well, only in America could a penniless immigrant arrive and a few decades later be the representative of that country to the United Nations.” It was a wonderful moment.

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While in Washington, I also had a visit from Mauricio Villeda of Honduras at the Capuchin monastery.

Mauricio and his wife, along with the Cascos, worked with me many, many years ago to start the pro-life movement in Honduras.  We took Dr. Bernard Nathanson to speak to the Congress there and at the medical school, and we were able to reverse the legalization of abortion in that country.  The pro-life movement in Honduras remains very successful even to this day.

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I was also able to greet members of the Secular Franciscans of the Fraternity of El Camino, who were having a day of recollection at the monastery.  Many, many years ago, before I ever knew El Camino Neocatecumenal, I started a secular Franciscan fraternity at the Capuchin parish in Washington and gave it the name “El Camino.”

It was amazing to see how much it has grown since those days.  There are something like five different groups that have come out of it, and also a youth group.  So, it was very good to be able to talk to them and have my picture taken with them.

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Finally, I spent Thanksgiving with our community in Washington, and all the friars chipped in to make a great meal.  We were about 40 or so at the house, and there were several turkeys.  And I thought, “Oh, it’ll be so nice.  The next day we’ll have turkey sandwiches for lunch.” The amazing thing is, there was just a tiny piece of turkey left.  It was like the plague of locusts had descended!

Until next time,

Cardinal Seán

Denver, Colorado, Dec 5, 2025 / 18:18 pm (CNA).

After receiving a letter of excommunication from the Vatican, the leader of a schismatic group in Colorado Springs told congregants he would ignore it — furthering the divide between the small splinter group and the Catholic Church.

Anthony Ward heads the Servants of the Holy Family, a group that labels itself as Catholic in spite of the Diocese of Colorado Springs’ declaration that the group is schismatic.  

In a 40-minute speech to his congregation in which he called Church authorities “a kangaroo court” of “heretics” and “freemasons,” Ward went public on Nov. 16 about his excommunication and his plans to continue ignoring the Catholic Church’s directives. 

During a secret ceremony in 2024, a bishop whose name was withheld at the time consecrated Ward as a bishop without papal permission.

In the Catholic Church, only the pope can appoint bishops. Consecrating a bishop without papal mandate is considered illicit and incurs an automatic “latae sententiae” excommunication for both parties.

During the meeting at the Servants’ chapel on Nov. 16, Ward told his congregation that the Catholic Church had made a declaration of excommunication against him due to what he described as “persistent, rebellious disobedience.”

Though excommunication is a “medicinal penalty” designed to urge an individual to repent, Ward has said he is “ignoring” the letter and will not be responding within the 30-day window given to him. 

Embracing the claims of the letter, Ward said he will continue to disobey, instead putting his loyalty toward what he called “the true Catholic faith.” 

“I have not and will not obey commands from the kangaroo court composed of heretics, schismatics, Freemasons, representatives of the most vile sinful perversions, enemies of the cross of Christ,” Ward told the congregation, “of whom the majority of bishops — particularly in this country — no longer believe in the real presence of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus, Christ in the Eucharist.”

The U.S. Catholic bishops recently led a yearslong Eucharistic Revival that centered on the Catholic belief that the Eucharist is the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus Christ.

Despite the local Catholic diocese’s denouncement of the Servants, the group continues to hold Eucharistic celebrations and is recruiting minors as well as adult men to be trained as priests.

The Servants’ website advertises the group as “faithful to the Latin Mass” as well as to “Catholic doctrine and morals” and claims it is “endorsed by Catholic bishops worldwide.” 

Ward named Archbishop Telesphore George Mpundu Lusaka, the African archbishop emeritus of Zambia, as the bishop who illicitly consecrated him, but the other bishops are not specified readily on the website. 

When asked to comment, a spokesperson for the Diocese of Colorado Springs referred to the most recent public statement by Bishop James Golka in April 2024. 

Since 2013, the Diocese of Colorado Springs has publicly held that the Servants are “not in good standing” with the Church.   

Pointing to continued “obstinate ill will” by the Servants, Golka declared last year that Ward and other priests affiliated with the Servants “are not in good standing with the diocesan or the universal Catholic Church” and declared it “a schismatic group.” 

Pointing to canon law, Golka declared that its Eucharistic celebration “is illicit and a grave moral offense” and that its celebration of baptism “is illicit.” The bishop also declared celebrations of penance, the sacrament of matrimony, confirmation, and holy orders by this group to be invalid. 

Golka said it would be “an act of spiritual danger” for Catholics to attend celebrations led by the Servants and encouraged the faithful to pray for reconciliation. 

The Servants did not respond to a request for comment in time for publication.

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Dec 5, 2025 / 17:54 pm (CNA).

The pro-life nonprofit Coalition Life is planning to ramp up its sidewalk counseling initiative at a Planned Parenthood facility in Chicago after a woman was found crying in pain outside of the clinic.

A video shows sidewalk counselor Jacob Tipre observing the woman curled up, leaning against the doorway for the Planned Parenthood Elizabeth Cohn Morris Health Center, which is located in downtown Chicago. The incident occurred Nov. 15 shortly before 4 p.m., according to Coalition Life.

Mary Jane Maharry, a spokesperson for Planned Parenthood of Illinois, told CNA: “We’re not commenting.” Planned Parenthood Federation of America did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A video posted by Coalition Life shows Tipre asking the woman whether she was OK. She responded: “No, I am not.”

“They just do the procedure, and they threw me out on the streets,” the woman said, while crying. “They just threw me out on the streets.”

Brian Westbrook, executive director and founder of Coalition Life, who has been involved in sidewalk counseling for 14 years, told CNA: “This is the most egregious treatment of any woman that I have seen in my history [of doing this].”

Westbrook said the woman called her own ambulance. He said Tipre stayed alongside the woman while she waited for emergency services to arrive because he noticed “her eyes are kind of rolling back in her head and [she was] almost to the point where she was in shock or passing out.”

The video shows the fire department arriving on the street to provide assistance. Tipre waved the personnel over while the woman remained seated in the doorway. The video does not show any Planned Parenthood workers outside the facility with the woman.

The Chicago Police Department confirmed it received an emergency call and did not provide additional information. There is no evidence apart from the unidentified woman’s comments she was at the clinic, or if she was, what procedure she had.

Tipre said in the video that he is “still processing this myself” and rebuked Planned Parenthood for “literally treating their own clients as garbage.”

Westbrook said Coalition Life does not have the woman’s contact information and is not able to follow up, but added: “I would be curious to know if Planned Parenthood bothers following up with her at all.”

Westbrook said Coalition Life recently began to offer sidewalk counseling at this location. He said the nonprofit was planning an expansion to this spot and the incident “certainly sparked a certain level of urgency to continue to build the team there.” 

Sidewalk counselors wait outside of abortion clinics and offer people information about pro-life alternatives to abortion and medical and financial resources available for those who need them.

Westbrook said there are two life-affirming pregnancy centers that provide pregnancy services to women nearby, where they refer pregnant women: The Women’s Care Center and Aid For Women.

He said Coalition Life and life-affirming pregnancy centers will follow up with women throughout their pregnancies. He said abortion clinics are not required to provide follow-up care in Illinois in spite of complications that can occur.

ACI MENA, Dec 5, 2025 / 17:02 pm (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV has left Lebanon, but the imprint of his visit remains deeply etched across the country. 

The pontiff’s presence in the country from Nov. 30 to Dec. 2 stirred something in everyone — from the elderly who have carried decades of Lebanon’s wounds, to the young whose hope has been wavering, to the thousands of foreign workers and migrant communities who quietly sustain daily life there.

For a few unforgettable days, Lebanon’s diverse people, citizens and immigrants alike, found themselves united by the same emotion: a renewed sense of dignity, consolation, and hope.

A revival for Lebanon’s youth

Among those deeply moved by the visit was Joseph Karam, a young Lebanese-American who traveled to Lebanon for the first time. Karam arrived with his parents, his aunt and uncle, and a group of about 90 Lebanese-Americans from across the United States — all drawn by the significance of witnessing Pope Leo’s first international visit and experiencing it on Lebanese soil.

For Karam, the encounter of the pope with the youth on Dec. 1 in the square of the Maronite Patriarchate in Bkerké was especially meaningful. “It was very cool for me to meet the pope in Lebanon, especially since he’s American and I’m Lebanese-American,” he said. “I felt very connected to my roots and honored that he chose Lebanon for his first international visit.”

Karam said he believes the visit left a deep imprint on Lebanese everywhere, whether in the country or abroad. “Lebanese people have long been negatively impacted by war and political strife, so I think the pope wanted them to know they are heard and that they are an important part of the Church.”

He also reflected on the pope’s appeal for young Lebanese to remain and participate in rebuilding their homeland. For Karam — whose father emigrated to the U.S. in 1987 seeking a better future — the message comes with complexity. “It’s hard for me to tell people not to leave if they have the opportunity,” he said. “But coming to Lebanon for the first time, I was truly amazed by how strong the people are, how beautiful the country is, and how vibrant the faith is.”

Ultimately, he found himself aligned with the pope’s call. “I would tell the youth of Lebanon to work to build a better Lebanon for the future, so they can reach their full potential,” he said.

Karam’s experience echoed the hope many felt from abroad. But for those who stayed in Lebanon through its hardships, the gathering carried an even deeper weight. Among them was Adeline Khouri, a French-Lebanese woman who has chosen to stay in Lebanon despite the difficulties. “We, the youth of Lebanon, have been deeply demoralized. We are exhausted by instability, insecurity, and watching so many of our people leave the country. Our hope has been worn down,” she said. 

“This gathering felt like a reboot for my faith and my perseverance in Lebanon. Being seen, recognized, and affirmed for our faith gave us consolation, strength, and hope to persevere. This moment will remain forever as a beacon of hope reminding us to keep going when things get hard.”

She described the pope’s presence in profoundly spiritual terms. “I want people to understand that the pope’s presence, his consolation, and his moving words were like a kiss from the bridegroom Jesus to his beloved bride, the Church — a kiss of love, strength, and encouragement. It was as if he whispered: ‘Well done, faithful servant. Now enter your glorious time.’”

One of the moments that most clearly reflected the joy and excitement of the youth was when a young man named Karim ran toward the stage, managed to slip past the pope’s security, and knelt at the pope’s feet to kiss them. Speaking to ACI MENA, CNA’s Arabic-language news partner, right after the incident, Karim said he had a deep desire to get close to the pope and receive his blessing. He explained that he even handed the pope his scarf so that he could sign it — a moment he described as unforgettable.

A moment of joy for migrant workers

Lebanon’s migrant workers — who formed a strong and visibly joyful presence at the Mass on Dec. 2 with the pope, especially communities from Ethiopia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and other countries — also felt deeply touched by the pope’s visit. 

Sonia, from Madagascar, has been living in Lebanon for seven years and described seeing Pope Leo as “a dream come true.” She said his presence brought “a ray of sunshine in a world with a lot of problems,” expressing how much hope and consolation the moment gave to workers who often live far from their families and carry heavy burdens in silence.

A group of women from the Philippines stood together with tears on their faces, expressing their happiness and their love for both the pope and Lebanon. One of them, who has not seen her husband and children in the Philippines since 2018, told us she video-called them as the popemobile passed so that they could share the moment with her. 

Standing among them was an Orthodox Ethiopian woman who said she had lit a candle ahead of the pope’s visit, praying that his trip would go smoothly and that he would bring her “happiness and joy.” For her, his presence was an answer to that simple prayer, a moment of light amid the challenges of everyday life.

Peacekeepers at the Mass

UNIFIL peacekeepers — the United Nations force tasked with helping maintain stability in southern Lebanon — were also present at the Mass with the pope in Beirut. Among them was Capt. Nicola Giuliano of the Italian Army, who described the moment as both a privilege and a reminder of the mission’s deeper purpose.

“I am here in Lebanon for the UNIFIL mission,” he told ACI MENA. “I had the opportunity and the privilege to take part in this meeting with the pope during his visit to Lebanon. It was a beautiful occasion because, especially in these lands that have been deeply affected by armed conflict, the presence of peace and serenity is essential, especially for the younger generations.”

He reflected on how witnessing the gathering reinforced the values peacekeepers try to uphold. “We see this every day, and it also reminds us of how fortunate we are to have the basic things in life, which we often take for granted,” he said. “These young people truly need this message, and I hope to bring this experience back with me to Italy, to my own country.”

Also present at the Mass were Indonesian members of UNIFIL, including Deddy Siahaan, the Deputy Commander. A Christian from a predominantly Muslim country, he described attending the Mass with Pope Leo as “an unforgettable moment” and “truly inspiring.” 

“His presence brought hope, comfort, and unity to the people of Lebanon during a difficult time,” he said. Reflecting on the pope’s repeated call for peace, Siahaan noted how deeply meaningful the message was for him as a peacekeeper entrusted with promoting stability.

In just a few days, Pope Leo rekindled something Lebanon had been losing: hope. His call for peace reached many hearts — young, old, local, foreign — uniting a country desperate for light.

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Dec 5, 2025 / 16:08 pm (CNA).

Children across the U.S. received awards for their artwork portraying the Nativity of Jesus in Washington, D.C.

“Through their creativity, they have beautifully expressed the story of Christ’s humble beginning and what it means to be young missionary disciples,” said Alixandra Holden, director of the Missionary Childhood Association (MCA), one of four Pontifical Mission Societies in the U.S., at a Dec. 5 awards ceremony.

MCA’s mission is “to help children grow in faith by teaching them to pray and sacrifice for other children around the world.” Since 1933, the organization has encouraged children to evangelize by depicting the Nativity of Jesus.

The organization started the MCA National Christmas Artwork Contest, inviting participation of young Catholic artists. The hope is to help young people meditate on the mystery of Christ’s birth and share their gifts with the world during Advent, according to MCA.

A piece of art can “speak a thousand words,” Holden said. “Each one of them is a testament to our faith, whether it’s created by pencil, marker, or paint. Every stroke is a proclamation of the good news in their art classrooms, in their schools, and in their parishes. And wherever their lives take them, their God-given talents can continue to share Christ’s love with the world.”

The winners “were chosen from thousands and thousands of entries submitted from all across the country,” Holden said at the awards ceremony at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Participants from dioceses spanning over a dozen states won national awards. Of the 24 winners, 14 children attended the awards ceremony. 

This year’s two grand-prize winners were Janielle Perez, a student at Resurrection Catholic School in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, and Diana Uytingco, a student at St. Andrew Catholic School in the Diocese of Fort Worth, Texas.

Their artwork will appear on the official Christmas cards of the Pontifical Mission Societies, sent to thousands of recipients, including Pope Leo XIV. The card to the Holy Father will include a handwritten message on behalf of all the children who participated in the contest.

The artwork also will remain on display at the National Shrine until Jan. 11. 

Importance of family 

The art is a “celebration of the children,” said Monsignor Vito Buonanno, associate rector of the National Shrine, at the event. He detailed “the great gifts that God has given us through them.” 

“What is wonderful about this Pontifical Society is that it acknowledges the gifts of the children,” Buonanno said. “We think, ‘What can children do to help the missions?’ They can do an awful lot. This is just one of the things that they can do. But it is the experience of what family is.”

When meditating on the Nativity during the Advent and Christmas seasons, “remember how important family is,” Buonanno said. “The sacrifices that we make for family … are worth it because that is what keeps going, it’s our identity. It’s this identity that we discover and that we have. So we celebrate that.”

“Most especially, we celebrate it at the most important thing we do as Catholic people, as Christians. We celebrate it in the Mass. That’s where we are truly experiencing what it means to be one, holy, Catholic, and apostolic Church.”

“It’s God who puts it all together to make us know that we can persevere and experience the love of what it means that a God Almighty became one of us,” Buonanno said. “God, he became one of us. Why? To show us the way to the Father.”

ACI Prensa Staff, Dec 5, 2025 / 15:38 pm (CNA).

The profile of Pope Leo XIV is among the most viewed pages on the digital encyclopedia Wikipedia, and his names — both the one he took upon beginning his pontificate on May 8 and his given name, Robert Francis Prevost — are among the most searched terms globally on Google during 2025.

The Wikimedia Foundation, which supports Wikipedia, presented on Dec. 2 its list of “most read articles” in English. Pope Leo XIV in English holds fifth place.

Wikimedia highlighted that one of the deaths that had the biggest impact during 2025 was that of Pope Francis, whom they remembered as “the first Latin American to become pope” who “served as pope for 12 years before passing away” on April 21.

“The Catholic Church selected his successor, Pope Leo XIV, a few weeks later. As people rushed online to learn about Leo, traffic to all Wikimedia projects peaked at around 800,000 hits per second, more than six times over normal traffic levels and a new all-time record for us,” the foundation noted.

“Plenty of people also came to learn more about Francis’ life, too,” it added, noting that his English Wikipedia page ranks 11th among the most read pages this year.

Wikipedia, which defines itself as “a free online encyclopedia written and maintained by a community of volunteers, known as Wikipedians, through open collaboration and the wiki software MediaWiki,” is one of the most visited websites in the world. According to Statista, in 2025 it ranked fifth, just behind Google, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.

Leo XIV and his election: Search trends in 2025

Near the end of the year, the search engine Google also released its list of trends, “Year in Search 2025.” In its “people” section, Pope Leo XIV ranked fifth worldwide, and among news searches, the election of the new pope ranked fourth.

In the United States, his native country, Pope Leo XIV ranked fifth among trending people searches. The election of the new pope was in seventh place among trending news searches, while Pope Francis ranked seventh on the list of searches for those who died in 2025.

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

Vatican City, Dec 5, 2025 / 15:08 pm (CNA).

Michael Bublé called meeting Pope Leo XIV on Friday “one of the greatest moments of my life,” adding that as he prepares to headline the Vatican’s annual Christmas concert for the poor, he hopes his example will encourage more people to speak openly about their faith.

The Grammy-winning singer, known for his velvety voice and popular Christmas albums, said faith “changes everything in my life, every single interaction.”

“When you say that you have strong faith, this is shocking to people, which is sometimes hard for me to understand,” Bublé said in response to a question from CNA at a Vatican press conference on Dec. 5.

“And with the platform I have, my hope is that … there’s a young person who might listen to me today who might be afraid to share their faith or to be open about it, and they look at me and they say, ‘Wow, look at Bublé. He’s not afraid to share it,’ and maybe it will give them the strength to do the same.”

Bublé met Pope Leo XIV on Friday along with other artists participating in the Vatican’s sixth annual “Concert with the Poor” on Saturday, Dec. 6.

“I am overwhelmed,” Bublé said. “This morning, I had the opportunity to meet the Holy Father. For me, this was something that I knew was going to be one of the greatest moments of my life.” 

This year marks the first time a pope will attend the Vatican concert, which is free and offered to 3,000 people in need served by volunteer organizations around Rome. They will receive a hot takeaway dinner and other necessities after the event.

“We know that times are difficult for many people, and there’s a lot of darkness,” Bublé said. I feel like when you have faith, you have your own pilot light. And the lights can go out everywhere, everywhere, but if you have that faith and you have that light inside you, you can find your way.”

 

The Canadian singer told EWTN News after the press conference that it was especially meaningful to introduce the pontiff to his mother, who was his childhood catechism teacher.  

“A lot of people won’t know, but I was raised in the Catholic Church, and my mother was my catechism teacher,” said Bublé, who has noted in previous interviews that he does not identify with a particular organized religion.

“Christmas is about celebrating the birth of Christ and the sacrifice that allows all of us to have an eternal life,” Bublé said, describing how music is central to his spiritual life.

“Music is a gift from God,” he said. “I talk to so many people today about what a gift from God music is.”

Bublé noted that “Silent Night” and “Adeste Fideles” are among his favorite Christmas hymns. 

He said that he asked the pope for specific song requests for the concert, which will feature selections Pope Leo enjoys. One of them is “Ave Maria,” a piece not normally in Bublé’s repertoire. He acknowledged feeling “a bit nervous” to perform it before the pope and was coaxed into offering reporters a brief a cappella preview during the press conference.

The concert will also feature the choir of the Diocese of Rome, the Nuova Opera Orchestra, and Catholic composer Monsignor Marco Frisina. Past editions of the concert have been conducted by composers Hans Zimmer and Ennio Morricone.

“Before every show … I say, ‘Thank you, God, for giving me the ability to connect with these beautiful souls,’” Bublé said.

ACI Prensa Staff, Dec 5, 2025 / 14:38 pm (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV reflected Dec. 5 at the Vatican on the challenges posed by artificial intelligence during a meeting with members of the Centesimus Annus Pro Pontifice Foundation and participants in the Strategic Alliance of Catholic Research Universities.

In his address, the Holy Father pointed out that artificial intelligence affects certain essential characteristics of the human person, “such as critical thinking, discernment, learning, and interpersonal relationships.”

For the pontiff, this has a real impact “on the lives of millions of people, every day and in every part of the world.”

“How can we ensure that the development of artificial intelligence truly serves the common good and is not just used to accumulate wealth and power in the hands of a few?” he then asked.

To answer this question, the pope urged deeper reflection on “what it means to be human in this moment of history” — that is, those who are called to be collaborators in the work of creation and not simply “passive consumers of content generated by artificial technology.”

“Our dignity,” he added, “lies in our ability to reflect, choose freely, love unconditionally, and enter into authentic relationships with others.”

He also emphasized that this technology raises “serious concerns about its possible repercussions on humanity’s openness to truth and beauty, and capacity for wonder and contemplation.”

Consequently, he noted that “recognizing and safeguarding what characterizes the human person and guarantees his or her balanced growth is essential for establishing an adequate framework for managing the consequences of artificial intelligence.”

Leo XIV mentioned his concern about the vulnerability of children and young people in this new reality, where their freedom and spirituality are at stake, as well as their intellectual and neurological development.

Therefore, he warned that “the ability to access vast amounts of data and information should not be confused with the ability to derive meaning and value from it.”

In this context, he emphasized that “it will therefore be essential to teach young people to use these tools with their own intelligence, ensuring that they open themselves to the search for truth, a spiritual and fraternal life, broadening their dreams and the horizons of their decision-making.”

He also emphasized the need to “restore and strengthen their confidence in the human ability to guide the development of these technologies. It is a confidence that today is increasingly eroded by the paralyzing idea that its development follows an inevitable path.”

Finally, the Holy Father affirmed that these objectives can only be achieved through “widespread participation that gives everyone the opportunity to be heard with respect, even the most humble.” 

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

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Dec 5, 2025 / 14:08 pm (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV will offer his “vision for peace, unity, and reconciliation” in his first full-length book to be published in February 2026.

The Holy Father’s book, “Peace Be With You: My Words to the Church and to the World,” is set to be published in English and Spanish on Feb. 24 by HarperOne, according to a Dec. 4 press release. 

The title of the book recalls the first words spoken by the risen Christ, which also were Leo’s first words as pontiff: “Peace be with you.”

“I would like this greeting of peace to resound in your hearts, in your families, among all people, wherever they may be, in every nation and throughout the world. Peace be with you!” Leo said at his first appearance from the central loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica.

The book includes sermons and addresses delivered since his election on May 8, 2025, according to the publisher, which has also distributed works by St. John Paul II and Pope Francis. 

“Together, these texts reflect the new pope’s vision and priorities: the primacy of God, communion within the Church, and the global pursuit of peace,” the release said. “[Leo] has repeatedly emphasized the humility required of leadership, stating: ‘To disappear so that Christ remains, to make himself small so that he may be known and glorified.’”

“As the first North American pope in history, Pope Leo XIV’s words offer a unique perspective that resonates across borders and faith traditions,” the publisher continued. The book “welcomes readers into communion with his message of reconciliation and hope, inviting all people — of every nation and background — to embrace a renewed vision for peace.”

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Dec 5, 2025 / 12:44 pm (CNA).

Life for members of the Latino community has “changed drastically,” according to leaders of groups serving Latino Catholics.

“Since the increased immigration enforcement, our communities, our families, are living in constant fear and anxiety,” said Roxana Rueda Moreno of Iskali, a Chicago-based organization that helps form young Latino Catholics to be leaders within their communities. 

“It’s not a fear of ‘we’re doing something wrong,’” Moreno said. “It’s a fear of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.” She described families sheltering in their residences to avoid detentions, children staying home from school, and parents staying home from work. 

Moreno said her uncle was detained in October and that she was not able to locate him until a month later. 

“I searched for one month, I called hospitals, I called detention centers, hoping somebody would give me an answer, that somebody would give me news,” Moreno said. “A month later I was able to locate him, thanks be to God, and came to find out he was in a different state.” 

Moreno also shared the story of a mother within her community “who is now raising her daughter who has severe autism alone,” since her husband was detained. She also spoke of a man who was killed during an altercation with federal officers in September. 

“Those are only some of the stories that we carry as a city, as a community. Stories filled with pain, sorrow, uncertainty, but they are also stories of resilience and faith and courage, of a community that refuses to let go,” Moreno said. “We are holding onto each other as much as we can and we are choosing to live in hope, because that’s where we can stand from now.”

Paula Fitzgerald, executive director of Ayuda (translated “help” in Spanish), said her work to provide legal, social, and language services for low-income immigrants has become increasingly difficult due to several changes in the way immigration enforcement has played out since the start of the Trump administration’s expansion of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations.

“In the beginning we received so many calls from schools, places of worship, saying, ‘What can we do to protect our spaces so our community can continue to come here and be safe?’” she said. “Usually we’ve been able to provide answers — there was a memo that protected these spaces from ICE enforcement before, and all of that has deteriorated.” 

The administration in early 2025 rescinded a policy that treated schools, hospitals, and places of worship as “protected” or “sensitive” locations, and ICE agents are permitted to conduct arrests at or near those locations.

Fitzgerald said many of the immigrants her organization serves are victims of crime, including domestic violence and human trafficking. 

“Any given week we have a domestic violence survivor come in and try to figure out what to do. Should I report to MPD? Am I safe reporting?” she said. 

Fitzgerald told CNA she is most concerned about the “deterioration of trust with law enforcement.” 

“The fear now in terms of reporting their crime, their victimization to the police is at an all-time high, and it puts them in a really vulnerable position between the fear of their abuser versus the fear of law enforcement or being turned over to ICE,” she said. 

Fitzgerald said ICE’s presence at courthouses for the purpose of detaining immigrants on their way to hearings as well as the detention of people at “immigration facilities that aren’t designed to hold people” are concerning. 

“It is great to see Catholic leadership standing in solidarity with migrants and immigrants who are being mistreated,” Fitzgerald said. “I think it’s only all of us standing together across faiths, across communities, standing for what we know is right and standing up for those communities, that we’re going to make a change. So I’m grateful to the Catholic leadership for standing up and in defense of our communities and for everyone else who does so as well.” 

U.S. bishops issued a special message in November about their concerns over immigration enforcement, profiling and vilification of immigrants, conditions in detention centers, and arbitrary loss of legal status.

A Dec. 4 conversation, “Making Life Unbearable: The Impacts of Immigration Enforcement on Families and Communities,” was organized by Georgetown University’s Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life. About 1,300 people signed up for the event online, and about 50 people attended in person.

Rosa Reyes, director of the Dream Partnership and a student adviser at Trinity Washington University, and Yolanda Chávez, a theologian and pastoral leader who was deported to Mexico, also spoke at the event. 

CNA Staff, Dec 5, 2025 / 12:07 pm (CNA).

A Catholic Virginia student will receive payments including attorney’s fees after a school district conceded a lawsuit she brought over the district’s transgender policies.

The student, identified in the October lawsuit as “Jane Doe,” said the Fairfax County School Board violated her constitutional rights when it subjected her to “extreme social pressure” to affirm transgender pronoun conventions.

Doe, identified as a “practicing Roman Catholic who strives daily to live in accordance with her faith,” felt compelled to engage in self-censorship in which she attempted to “avoid using pronouns altogether” in many circumstances due to fear of punishment from school officials, according to the suit.

When she expressed concerns over sharing a bathroom with a male student, meanwhile, she was told she could “use a private restroom if she felt uncomfortable,” according to the suit.

On Dec. 2 the law group America First Legal called the case a “major victory,” saying the Fairfax school district conceded the lawsuit, offering “nominal damages” and paying costs including attorney’s fees.

“This outcome sends a clear message: School systems and officials cannot disregard the safety, privacy, and dignity of students in favor of radical gender policies,” the group said.

“No student should face the threat of punishment or be pushed aside for asserting their fundamental constitutional rights,” attorney Ian Prior said in the release.

The settlement comes amid broader efforts to roll back extreme transgender ideology and LGBT policies at schools around the country, including rules that allow boys to access girls’ restrooms and other private spaces.

A California federal judge in October allowed for a class action lawsuit against California school districts that allow teachers to hide child “gender transitions” from parents.

In August, meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services told states that they would be required to remove gender ideology materials from K–12 education curricula or face the loss of federal funding.

In October 2024, a school board in Virginia agreed to pay a teacher more than half a million dollars after he was fired for refusing to use a student’s transgender pronouns. In December of that year an Ohio school board paid a teacher a $450,000 settlement over a similar dispute.

A study from the Centre for Heterodox Social Science in October found a recent decline in the number of young Americans who identify as transgender or “nonheterosexual,” though a report from the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law in September found that nearly 3 million Americans identify as transgender.

CNA Staff, Dec 5, 2025 / 11:37 am (CNA).

EWTN Studios in partnership with Catholic actor and director David Henrie announced Dec. 3 the upcoming premiere of “Seeking Beauty,” a first-of-its-kind adventure documentary series that explores culture, architecture, food, art, and music, and aims to point viewers to the beautiful — and ultimately to the divine.

Set to debut on EWTN+ on Jan. 19, 2026, the series follows Henrie’s journey into the heart of Italy to explore what makes Italian culture one of the most beautiful in the world. It not only looks at the physical beauty of the country but also its spiritual richness.

According to a press release, Henrie, best known for his role as Justin Russo in Disney’s “Wizards of Waverly Place,” said: “We wanted an experience for viewers, so we flipped the format on its head. We have someone who’s not an expert — which is me — inviting the audience to go on a journey. We go all over Italy, and we meet with locals, artists, experts, and I’m sitting down asking questions that maybe you at home would want to ask... I was blown away; hopefully, you’ll be blown away, too, because we had some beautiful experiences.”

From the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome to quaint restoration workshops where the masterpieces of Caravaggio and Michaelangelo are studied, the series weaves adventure with spiritual insight.

In an interview with EWTN News President Montse Alvarado conducted earlier this year, Henrie shared that a moment that stood out to him while filming the series was watching an old Caravaggio painting be restored. He recalled being shown by artists doing the restoration some of the mistakes made in the painting that are only noticeable up close. Henrie called this experience “humanizing.”

“When you think of great artists before you, they’re almost so high that it’s like unreachable … and to get to see their works up close with a restorer was so cool to go, ‘Oh, this person was human. He completely painted over what he did. There was something he tried that didn’t work at all,’” he said. “That was really cool to me to learn how human these artists were and that they were struggling with the same things that I struggle with, just in a different medium.”

The actor emphasized that the common theme throughout the series is “that beauty has a capital B — that beauty is ultimately the language of the divine and a reflection of God.”

The series is produced by EWTN Studios, Digital Continent, and Henrie’s Novo Inspire Studios.

“David Henrie’s passion for storytelling that honors the good, the true, and the beautiful aligns perfectly with EWTN’s legacy of innovative Catholic media,” Peter Gagnon, president of EWTN Studios, said in the press release. “Through ‘Seeking Beauty’ on EWTN+, we’re not just entertaining, we’re inspiring transformation, one breathtaking discovery at a time.”

Henrie’s production company, Novo Inspire Studios, aims to create entertaining, timeless, and meaningful content that the whole family can enjoy. The company’s work was recently nominated by the Television Critics Association Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Family Programming, which Henrie called a “massive honor.”

EWTN Studios was recently launched by EWTN as part of its new organizational restructuring, continuing the media organization’s legacy of creating impactful content in the Catholic sphere in a way that reflects the changing nature of media and evolving technologies.

Season 2 of “Seeking Beauty” recently finished filming in Spain.

Exclusive trailers and behind-the-scenes glimpses are available here. The series will stream exclusively on EWTN+, EWTN’s brand-new dynamic digital platform offering premium faith-inspired content anytime, anywhere.

Ahead of the 6th edition of the Vatican's Concert with the Poor, to be held on 6 December, Canadian singer and songwriter Michael Bublé shares how “music is a gift from God” and says he hopes to use his platform as an artist to share his faith.

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Manila, Philippines, Dec 5, 2025 / 10:00 am (CNA).

Over 90,000 people held a second nationwide protest over a corruption scandal involving infrastructure projects worth an estimated $2 billion on Nov. 30.

According to the Philippine National Police (PNP), 119 rallies were organized by the Catholic Church, civil society movements, and others and were attended by bishops, priests, nuns, seminarians, catechists, and students as well as the laity and politicians.

The day coincided with the birthday of Andrés Bonifacio (1863–1897), one of the Philippines’ national heroes, known as the “Father of the Philippine Revolution” for co-founding the movement that fought for independence from Spanish colonial rule.

More than 16,000 people protested at the EDSA People Power Monument in Manila. About 17,000 police officers were deployed to maintain security, according to official sources.

The first protest — also known as the Trillion Peso March — was held on Sept. 21 and was attended by hundreds of thousands.

Protecting democracy

Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, outgoing president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, led Mass at the EDSA People Power Monument — a shrine commemorating the 1986 People Power Revolution that peacefully toppled the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos Sr. The site, located along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue in Metro Manila, also witnessed mass protests that ousted President Joseph Estrada in 2001.

“We returned to EDSA because this place holds the memory of peaceful courage. Here, our people once stood unarmed yet unafraid, choosing moral clarity over fear,” David said.

“Today, as our country confronts wounds inflicted by greed and impunity, we come again — not to tear down, but to call our leaders and ourselves back to the path of truth. The democracy restored by the EDSA People Power Revolution may be flawed, unfinished, and fragile, yet it is the only soil where genuine change can take root. And so, we gather to protect it — not through force, but through fidelity,” he added.

Marcos Sr. was the father of current President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who has acknowledged public distrust and anger about corruption.

The country lost 118.5 billion pesos ($2 billion) from 2023 to 2025 due to corruption in flood control projects, according to the Department of Finance.

David, who also serves as bishop of Kalookan, a diocese in Metro Manila, was impressed by “the sight of countless communities mirroring this gathering across the archipelago. Parishes, civic groups, families, and young people stood under their own skies, offering their own prayers and witness.”

According to him, the protest was “as though the whole nation exhaled in unison — a collective longing to heal what has been broken, a gentle but firm refusal to surrender our future to the darkness of corruption. There was no hatred in the air, only resolve. No violence, only vigilance. No despair, only the quiet bravery of those who still believe.”

The cardinal said the country remains committed to truth, to justice, to the poor, and to each other.

“EDSA is not a relic. It is a living vow. And today, once again, we renewed it,” he added.

In his homily, Bishop Honesto Ongtioco of Cubao reminded Filipinos not to tolerate corruption but to hold accountable government officials who should be promoting the country’s development.

“We will not be complacent; we will not tire of calling for justice and the return of stolen funds and punishment of the guilty. We will continue to be patient and watchful and call for accountability and transparency and, eventually, justice,” he added.

Dozens of dioceses held anti-corruption protests led by the Catholic Church.

Father Flavie Villanueva, a social activist and human rights defender, said those responsible for anomalous flood control projects must be held accountable and punished for stealing public funds.

Several senators and House of Representatives members, government officials, contractors, and others have been implicated in corruption-tainted projects.

Father Robert Reyes, a priest who helped organize the Manila rally, told CNA that there could be additional protests in the coming months until the government takes responsibility for “ghost” and substandard flood control projects in the Catholic-majority nation.

“People have the right to demand accountability and responsibility from the government,” he added.

On Friday, December 5, the episcopal ordination of Bishop Francis Li Jianlin took place.

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“The Parousia of the Lord. An expectation without hesitation” is the theme of the first of three meditations for Christmas, which began this morning, 5 December, in the Paul VI Hall, with Pope Leo in attendance.

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Bishop Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala describes a workshop in South Sudan, dedicated to encouraging young people to bring “peace to them now and to the future of their communities.”

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Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Dec 5, 2025 / 08:00 am (CNA).

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

Pope Leo sends surprise video message to Australian Catholic youth festival 

Pope Leo XIV sent a surprise video message to thousands of young Catholics at the Australian Catholic Youth Festival on Nov. 30, urging them to turn to God, “especially through prayer and the sacraments. That’s where you’ll hear your Heavenly Father’s voice most clearly.”

The papal message — played during the opening plenary at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre — drew cheers from young Catholics who gathered from around the country under the 2025 Jubilee theme “Pilgrims of Hope.” The three-day event, held Nov. 30–Dec. 2, opened with a five-kilometer (three-mile) pilgrimage walk from St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Participants accompanied the World Youth Day Cross and Icon through the city streets to the convention center.

“Our lives find their ultimate purpose in becoming who God made us to be, by living out his will," Leo said. He reminded pilgrims of the words of Pope Benedict XVI: “You are not the result of a random process. Each of you is willed, each of you is loved, each of you is necessary.”

Holy See Permanent Observer Mission to U.N. calls for end of Ukraine war ‘right now’

The Holy See’s Permanent Observer Mission to the U.N. called for the end of Russia’s military offensive in Ukraine immediately during a Dec. 3 emergency session. 

Monsignor Robert Murphy, chargé d’affaires, said the war in Ukraine must halt “not at some undefined moment in the future, but right now.” Murphy emphasized the need for both sides of the conflict to bring about the return of children to their families and urged all nations represented in the assembly interested in ending the war “to reject passivity and provide tangible support for any initiative that could lead to genuine negotiations and lasting peace.”

Bishops praise ‘historic decision’ to end child marriage in west Pakistan province

The western province of Balochistan in Pakistan has passed a law criminalizing child marriages, eliciting praise from Catholic bishops in the region. 

The 2025 Law on the Restriction of Child Marriage in Balochistan penalizes adults who facilitate arranged marriages for minors under the age of 18, repealing a previous law that set the minimum age for girls to be married at 14 years old. Bishop Samson Shukardin, OFM, of Hyderabad and president of the Pakistan Bishops’ Conference, called the new law “a historic decision to protect children and an important step toward strengthening the rights of minors,” according to a Fides report on Monday. 

The bishop further expressed gratitude to lawmakers for passing the law, noting that “the Church promotes the fundamental rights of every human being, especially those of girls,” adding: “Early marriage deprives them of their education, their health, and their self-confidence.” 

Sri Lankan cardinal urges Catholics to join emergency response amid natural disaster

Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith is urging Catholics to join emergency response efforts across Sri Lanka as the country recovers from Cyclone Ditwah, the worst natural disaster in its history.

“We request our priests, religious, brothers, sisters, and lay leaders to work together with all the societies and organizations to provide relief to the people who are helpless at this moment,” Ranjith said in a statement, according to UCA News. 

Bishop Jude N. Silva of the Diocese of Badulla, one of the “worst affected,” according to UCA, instructed all priests to cancel Masses and programs “until the situation improved.” Caritas Sri Lanka has led the emergency response, according to AsiaNews.  

European bishops talk Catholic-Muslim relations at three-day meeting on Nostra Aetate

The Council of the Bishops’ Conferences of Europe discussed Catholic-Muslim dialogue at a three-day conference titled “Nostra Aetate, 60 Years On: Perspectives on Catholic-Muslim Dialogue.”

The meeting took place in Augsburg, Germany, and included “over 30 participants, representatives of European Bishops’ Conferences, theologians, and witnesses from 20 European countries,” according to a press release from the council.

In his keynote address, Cardinal Michael Louis Fitzgerald reflected on ways Nostra Aetate may frame encounters where interreligious dialogue takes place, the release said, noting that “the three days of the meeting were characterized by a wide-ranging exchange in the plenary conversations as well as beautiful liturgies celebrated in the churches of St. Moritz, St. Peter in Perlach, and the Basilica of Sts. Ulrich and Afra.” 

Capuchin Friars in Sumatra welcome those displaced by severe flooding

Capuchin Friars in the Sibolga province of Indonesia welcomed those displaced by flooding in the country due to Cyclone Senyar, according to Fides. 

“The worst is over, but the emergency continues. Floods and landslides have swept away entire villages. Many people are homeless. Rescue teams are now trying to reach the displaced: for some it is possible, for others it is not, because the areas remain isolated,” said Provincial Superior of the Capuchin Friars in Sibolga Friar Yoseph Norbert Sinaga. The cyclone has affected 1.5 million people and displaced more than 570,000, according to the report.

Archdiocese of Raipur, India, completes historic Eucharistic pilgrimage

The Archdiocese of Raipur in India has concluded a historic Eucharistic yatra, or pilgrimage, covering 1,655 miles across 72 parishes. 

The Eucharistic yatra lasted 14 days, with pilgrims traveling through 19 civil districts of the Central Indian state of Chhattisgarh, stopping in each parish for an hour of Eucharistic adoration, according to a Catholic Connect report. Participants in the yatra used a vehicle that was converted into a mobile chapel donated by the Mid India Province of the SCSC Sisters.

Pope Leo XIV welcomes the Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia, Andrej Plenković, at the Vatican Apostolic Palace. With the Secretary of State, talks included mutual appreciation for the strong bilateral relations and the international context, with a focus on regional cooperation in the Western Balkans and the conflict in Ukraine.

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Pope Leo XIV meets artists and organizers on the eve of the annual Christmas Vatican "Concert with the Poor" at its sixth edition.

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ACI Africa, Dec 5, 2025 / 07:00 am (CNA).

The president of the National Episcopal Conference of Congo (CENCO) has announced the construction of a national shrine dedicated to Blessed Marie-Clémentine Anuarite Nengapeta, a Congolese sister beatified in August 1985.

Announcing the launch of construction on Dec. 1, Archbishop Fulgence Muteba Mugalu described Blessed Anuarite as a timeless model of hope for a nation scarred by violence and social injustice.

“I am pleased to address this message to you on the feast of Blessed Anuarite, during which the construction works for the great shrine dedicated to her are being launched,” Muteba said of the construction, which will take place in the Diocese of Isiro-Niangara.

He said the initiative is a “significant moment” for the Church in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as it nears the end of the Catholic Church’s 2025 Jubilee Year, themed “Pilgrims of Hope.”

The bishop of the Archdiocese of Lubumbashi emphasized that the shrine will serve both as a dignified resting place honoring the martyr’s legacy and as a spiritual wellspring for pilgrims who seek her intercession. 

He thanked all individuals who contributed to the construction project.

Muteba described Blessed Anuarite as a symbol of moral courage and unwavering faith and hope whose life was “offered to the Lord.”

“We bless the Lord God for the gift he has given our country in the person of Blessed Anuarite, a courageous witness of faith whose life offered to the Lord — even unto the supreme sacrifice — echoes the words of St. Paul the Apostle: Hope does not disappoint,” the archbishop said.

He added: “Indeed, Blessed Anuarite has been, and will always remain, a bearer of hope in this country where human dignity is violated at various levels and in many forms. She is truly the sign of the grain of wheat that falls to the earth and bears much fruit.” 

The CENCO president noted that Blessed Anuarite is a “bearer of hope” for the entire Congolese people. 

He said the martyr is especially a bearer of hope for the women and children who are victims of violence and for the Congolese people who suffer in regions devastated by war and recurrent insecurity. 

“Her blood is a seed of peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo,” the Congolese Church leader said.

Muteba expressed special gratitude to Prime Minister Judith Suminwa for her personal support and for authorizing the allocation of remaining government funds — initially earmarked for the 2024 60th anniversary pilgrimage — to be redirected toward the shrine’s construction.

While acknowledging the progress made, he noted that “much remains to be done” and appealed for continued support, calling every contribution “a precious and pleasing offering in the eyes of the Lord.”

“May they help us keep hope alive in all circumstances of our lives and obtain for our nation peace and unity,” Muteba implored.

Born on Dec. 29, 1939, the fourth child among six sisters, Anuarite Nengapeta ran away from home, against her mother’s approval, to join the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Kisiangani at the age of 20. Upon her profession, she assumed the name Marie-Clementine.

Anuarite became a victim of the 1964 Mulele rebellion across DRC, when Simba rebels, opposed to the westerners in the country and suspicious of the local religious men and women for cooperating with foreigners, kidnapped her alongside 45 other nuns and led them to a rebel camp. Attempts by the rebels’ leader, Col. Pierre Olombe, to rape Anuarite were resisted with success.

Determined to have her by any means, Olombe forced Anuarite and her colleague, Sister Bokuma Jean-Baptiste, into a car before going back to the house for the keys. The two tried to escape but were intercepted and beaten. Sister Bokuma, who suffered multiple fractures, fainted. The rebel leader ordered fellow rebels to stab Anuarite before he shot her in the chest. “I forgive you, for you know not what you are doing,” Anuarite told her attackers. She died on Dec. 1, 1964.

Anuarite’s attackers buried her in a common grave. Eight months later, her remains were exhumed and reburied. Her remains were exhumed again in December 1978 and moved to Isiro Cathedral in northeastern DRC.

Pope John Paul II beatified Anuarite on Aug. 15, 1985, during his visit to the country, an event that was attended by an estimated 60,000 people. Among them were Anuarite’s parents, Olombe — who had become a devout Catholic and sought audience with the pope to express his remorse — among other significant personalities including the then-country’s president Mobutu Sese Seko.

Blessed Anuarite was the first Bantu woman to receive such a rank in the Catholic Church. She is the patron of the African Jesuit AIDS Network.

This story was first published by ACI Africa, CNA’s news partner in Africa, and has been adapted by CNA.

Pope Leo XIV sends a message to the Catholic University of Taiwan to mark the institution's centenary and invites the community to renew the mission of Gospel-inspired education amid today’s cultural shifts.

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Pope Leo meets participants of the Paris Course on Revascularisation during the Jubilee of Hope and tells them that healing the heart requires science, compassion and ethical responsibility.

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Puebla, Mexico, Dec 5, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).

The metropolitan cathedral of the Archdiocese of Mexico will host a special program to celebrate Our Lady of Guadalupe on the night of Dec. 11, the eve of the solemnity of the Virgin of Tepeyac.  

Under the title “Guadalupe Night,” a program is planned that will begin at 6 p.m. local time with a procession that will depart from the Church of Santa Inés (St. Agnes) carrying the “Virgin of the Oath” (of loyalty) which, as explained on the cathedral’s social media, is “the historical image before which the Virgin of Guadalupe was proclaimed patroness of New Spain.”

Midway between Santa Inés Church and the metropolitan cathedral stands what was once the archbishop’s palace, built by the first bishop of Mexico, Friar Juan de Zumárraga. It was precisely to this place that St. Juan Diego, the visionary who saw Our Lady of Guadalupe, came to present his request that a “sacred little house” be built at the foot of Tepeyac Hill.

As proof of the veracity of the apparitions, St. Juan Diego carried his cloak filled with roses to the bishop’s residence and when he showed its contents to Zumárraga, the image of the Blessed Virgin was miraculously imprinted on it, an image that is preserved to this day in the Guadalupe Basilica.

Along the route to the metropolitan cathedral’s entrance, four stations are planned, commemorating the four apparitions of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which occurred Dec. 9–12, 1531.

Inside the church, the rosary will be recited at 8 p.m., and an hour later, the “Mañanitas” — a traditional Mexican song sung to celebrate birthdays — will be sung to Our Lady of Guadalupe, accompanied by mariachi music.

At 10 p.m. Mass will be celebrated, and at 11 p.m. the program concludes with a “ringing of bells in celebration of the solemnity of the Virgin of Guadalupe.”

The Virgin of Guadalupe ‘continues to walk with us’

In an interview with ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner, Father José A. Carballo, rector of the metropolitan cathedral and dean of the metropolitan chapter, emphasized that celebrating Our Lady of Guadalupe “is to recognize that she continues to walk with us, interceding for our families, our needs, and our nation.”

“Her image, miraculously imprinted on the tilma of St. Juan Diego, is a source of comfort for those seeking refuge, strength for those who bear suffering, and guidance for those who wish to follow Christ.”

This celebration, he added, “is, on its deepest level, an act of filial love toward the Virgin of Guadalupe, who chose to remain forever in the midst of her people.”

The ‘Virgin of the Oath’

The rector of the metropolitan cathedral and dean of the metropolitan chapter emphasized the importance of the presence of the “Virgin of the Oath” at this tribute, since “it recalls the profound historical and spiritual bond that this devotion has had with the life of the Church in Mexico.”

“This image was specifically chosen for its significance as a symbol of the renewal of faith and Christian commitment,” he said, because “it represents the solemn act by which past generations expressed their fidelity to God and to the maternal protection of Holy Mary.”

Carballo also highlighted the coordination between the Mexico City cathedral and the Basilica of Guadalupe, which will also draw large crowds for the solemnity of the Virgin of Tepeyac.

“We walk in synodality, always seeking the good of the people of God,” he said, emphasizing that “dialogue has allowed us to harmonize schedules and activities, so that the celebrations on Dec. 11 and 12 complement each other and do not conflict.”

“Both the basilica and the cathedral offer distinct, yet converging, spaces to experience the Guadalupan event in a spirit of communion, collaboration, and service to the faithful,” he stated.

Father Eduardo Chávez, master theologian on the apparitions of the Guadalupe Basilica and postulator of the cause for the canonization of St. Juan Diego, emphasized in a statement to ACI Prensa the “significance” of both the celebration in the metropolitan cathedral and the event itself of the imprinting of the image of the Virgin in the house of Bishop Fray Juan de Zumárraga.

“That is where the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe was formed” on Dec. 12, 1531, he emphasized, and explained that “it is very significant because certainly from the beginning the Virgin of Guadalupe builds the Church, forms the Church, is Mother of the Church.”

Chávez, director of the Superior Institute of Guadalupan Studies, noted that it was Zumárraga himself who, before the apparitions, “in a moment of so much anguish, so many problems, injustices, so much innocent blood shed” by the First Royal High Court of the Spanish Crown in Mexico, “cried out to heaven in that letter he wrote to the king in 1529” in which he says, “If God does not provide a remedy with his own hand, the land is on the verge of being completely lost.”

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

American actor Chris Pratt is currently filming a documentary on the Vatican Necropolis. Produced by Vatican Media, the Fabric of St Peter, and AF Films, it will be released in 2026 for the 400th anniversary of the inauguration and dedication of the Basilica.

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Pope Leo XIV says that new generations must be helped and guided when it comes to their relationship with new technologies, and he calls for widespread participation in these efforts.

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VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Leo XIV asked Canadian singer Michael Bublé and other artists to do their very best when performing a Christmas concert for the poor.

The annual concert at the Vatican "is not merely a performance by talented artists or simply a musical event, beautiful as it may be, nor even a moment of solidarity to ease our conscience in the face of society's injustices," the pope told Bublé and the other artists Dec. 5.

"I would like us, as we participate in this gathering, to recall the Lord's words: 'Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me,'" the pope said. 

Some 3,000 people assisted by the Vatican's charity office, the Rome diocesan Caritas and other Catholic charities in Rome will be the primary guests at the concert Dec. 6 in the Vatican's Paul VI Audience Hall. It will be livestreamed by Vatican Media.

The concert for the poor began as the initiative of Pope Francis in 2015, although he did not attend any of the performances. However, the Vatican said, Pope Leo will be present for the 2025 edition.

"If we concretely love those who are hungry and thirsty, those without clothing, the sick, the stranger, the prisoner, we are loving the Lord," Pope Leo told the artists, including members of the choir of the Diocese of Rome and the Nova Opera Orchestra.

"This is the Gospel," Pope Leo said, quoting from his exhortation on love for the poor: " This is not a matter of mere human kindness but a revelation: contact with those who are lowly and powerless is a fundamental way of encountering the Lord of history. In the poor, he continues to speak to us."

"The dignity of men and women is not measured by what they possess," the pope insisted. "We are not our goods and belongings, but rather children loved by God; and this same love must be the measure of our actions toward our neighbor."

"For this reason, in our concert, the most vulnerable brothers and sisters occupy the first places," he said.

Msgr. Marco Frisina, director of the choir of the Diocese of Rome, said Pope Francis came up with the idea of the concert for the poor to give them "something they are never given -- something beautiful" and exclusive. 

Bublé, who spoke to reporters after meeting the pope, said he was "overwhelmed" and "I'm really still not over the moment."

A Catholic, the singer said he was able to bring his wife and parents to the papal audience.

"For this young kid from Burnaby (British Columbia), who grew up Catholic, to be sitting here now, it's almost impossible to really express to you how it feels," he said.

Bublé told reporters his set list for the concert includes several songs requested by Pope Leo, starting with the Ave Maria in Latin.

"To be really honest," he told reporters, "I sang that song once -- one time in a recording studio with all of the strings and the orchestra, and I never sang the song again. And when he asked, I was very, very nervous. I didn't want to let him or any of you down, but with the amazing group behind me, with the choir and this orchestra, I realized that there's no fear, there's only joy and rehearsal."

Asked about his faith, Bublé told reporters, "I have a wonderful personal relationship with God. And it doesn't just affect my music. It affects everything, everything I do, every decision I make."

"If my brand is anything," he said, "I very much hope that it's kindness and hope and love."
 

WASHINGTON - In light of recent statements regarding the Somali community in the United States, Bishop Daniel E. Garcia, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Subcommittee for the Promotion of Racial Justice and Reconciliation, called on all people to remember each person’s God-given human dignity.

Bishop Garcia’s full statement below: 

“As Catholics, we believe that every person is beloved by God and created in his image. Each child of God has value and dignity. Language that denigrates a person or community based on his or her ethnicity or country of origin is incompatible with this truth. I call on all—public officials, community leaders and individuals — to refrain from denigrating and dehumanizing language. May we recognize the rich gifts that neighbors from diverse cultures bring to our communities. The Body of Christ is beautiful in its diversity and each part, while different, is valued and needed. I pray that together, we can be people of welcome, respect, and understanding.” 

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Reading 1 Isaiah 29:17-24

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14

Alleluia

Gospel Matthew 9:27-31

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Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

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Australia’s winning start to the Ashes has given fans plenty to smile about. 

A solid finish to the opening Test against England has set the tone for a series that already feels charged with energy, history and expectation. 

Whether or not the momentum carries through each Test, the first match offered something worth reflecting on – not simply as cricket supporters, but as Christians – striving to follow the example of Christ. 

We often talk about how failure tests us. When we lose, when things fall apart, when the scoreboard doesn’t go our way, we’re forced to grapple with disappointment, humility and self-examination. 

But sport has a quieter truth woven through it: success tests us just as much – sometimes even more. 

A good win can tempt a team into complacency. Momentum can shift into overconfidence. A strong opening can make it harder to stay grounded when the pressure rises again. 

And the same dynamic plays out in the spiritual life. We tend to lean on God most when things are hard. But what about when things are going well? What do we do when the wind is behind us and life feels smooth? 

Sport is a perfect metaphor for this. Even after a commanding performance, players and coaching staff talk about “resetting,” “starting fresh,” and not letting success distract from the fundamentals. 

They know victory can cloud judgement just as easily as defeat can shake confidence. A good result doesn’t guarantee the next one; it only gives you another opportunity to respond with discipline, clarity and purpose. 

The Christian life is no different. When Jesus warns his disciples to “be on your guard, stay awake,” He’s speaking into the temptation to drift – not just in difficulty, but in comfort. 

Virtue isn’t measured only by how we respond to setbacks. It’s also revealed in how we handle blessings. Do we take them for granted? Do we assume our own strength got us here? Or do we receive success with gratitude, humility and renewed commitment? 

St Paul constantly reminds the early church that spiritual pride is far more dangerous than spiritual struggle.  

Struggle can bring us to our knees; pride convinces us we no longer need to be there. That’s why victories – on the field or in our personal lives – require just as much vigilance as defeats. 

Australia’s first Test this summer was a reminder of that balance.  

It showed what can happen when preparation, patience, and belief all come together. But it also highlighted the need for steady heads and humble hearts as the series unfolds. 

Cricket teaches us that every match begins at zero, no matter what happened last game.  

Faith teaches us the same: each day begins with new graces and new choices, and yesterday’s success doesn’t automatically become tomorrow’s virtue. 

Victories are gifts, and momentum can lift a side. But none of that replaces the deeper call to faithfulness. 

When we meet success with gratitude and humility, we allow it to strengthen – not distract – our commitment to Christ. 

The post The test after the Test: When winning trials the soul appeared first on The Catholic Weekly.

Moira Kelly AO, arguably Australia’s greatest humanitarian with a list of awards longer than the arms of the many children she has saved, has stressed the need for hope and Hail Marys in delivering this year’s 4th annual Labouré Lecture. 

About 400 parishioners from the St Catherine Labouré Gymea parish packed Doltone House in Sylvania Waters to listen to Kelly, accompanied by her adopted twin daughters Trishna and Krishna, who after a tough start to life, this year celebrated their 18th birthdays. 

“Hope, it’s a wonderful word and the only reason we get up in the morning,” she said. “If we over-think things, then most things wouldn’t get done.” 

Trishna and Krisha were Bangladeshi cranially-conjoined twins brought to Australia by Kelly, who both survived a miraculous operation at the Melbourne Royal Children’s Hospital. 

Trishna shared the stage for the first time with Kelly having completed Year 12, while Krishna, who during COVID received a kidney transplant (from Moira) after developing end-stage renal failure, mainly stayed alongside her carer Yasmina McGlone, a full-time volunteer at the Moira Kelly Creating Hope Foundation. 

The foundation, based in Victoria, continues Moira’s lifelong mission of helping severely disadvantaged children. It is staffed entirely by volunteers and takes in children from all parts of the globe needing urgent life-saving operations they wouldn’t get in their home countries. Many would be described as hopeless cases. 

However, much of Moira’s entertaining presentation centred on her earlier work, including working with her hero, Mother Teresa, now known as St Teresa of Calcutta, and her sisters in Calcutta.  

“I thought when Mother Teresa meets me she is going to be so excited. I had all these ideas for her that she hadn’t thought of yet,” she said. 

“I knocked on the door and, well, she wasn’t even there to meet me!” 

She loved her time there and only reason she hadn’t become a sister herself was that she “could take all those vows, but I couldn’t take the vow of obedience.” 

Over four decades the self-described “nobody from Melbourne” has saved children’s lives in the Bronx, Bosnia, Romania, Albania, Yugoslavia, and other war-torn areas by arranging transport and visas to take them to countries that provide adequate hospitalisation. 

“There was a war going on in Yugoslavia so I thought I might pop in there for a while,” Moira said. 

“Who could have thought that someone like me could send a little child with his mother to another country, get a visa and organise an operation. 

“I thought you would have to be someone with lots of money or with lots of experience  or someone very special. 

“I didn’t fit into any of these categories. 

“But I was saying long before Nike – just do it.”  

In this, the church’s Jubilee Year Of Hope, Moira told stories accompanied with a video presentation of how lives of children were saved, often at the 11th hour, often when there was “nothing left in the tank,” apart from hope and prayer.  

They included Dennis from Albania who was at death’s door when he landed in Australia. 

“He was the sickest child in the hospital and when they took him away for the operation he looked at me and asked with tears in his eyes: ‘Aunty Moira, am I going to wake up?’  

Dennis survived the operation but, as the doctor said, he wasn’t out of the woods and was in for a rocky night.  

Moira spoke of a “sixth sense”, which she described as the Holy Spirit sending her a message that Dennis needed more immediate attention again in the hospital. After calling a nurse to check on him, another 20 medical staff were then rushed to Dennis’ bedside.  

“All I had left were Hail Marys,” and she then did a rendition of her loudest, fastest, most desperate and angriest Hail Mary surely ever prayed. 

Dennis eventually recovered and Moira was able to take him back home to Albania for an emotional reunion with his family.  

The hour-long lecture was at times tearful, often humorous, always enthralling.  

In 2001, Moira was awarded the Order of Australia for her humanitarian service to both the Australian and international communities, as well as the Prime Minister’s Award for outstanding community service.  

In 2012, she received the Victorian of the Year award. There have been a host of others.  

In closing, Moira told the audience, “keep up this wonderful spirit and the passion in this lovely parish. I feel so honoured to be part of this room tonight.”  

Gymea parish priest Fr Greg Morgan reciprocated in his vote of thanks, saying, “simply having you present Moira is like having hope amongst us,” before presenting her with a donation to the foundation. 

The lecture is held in conjunction with the St Catherine Labouré, Gymea, parish dinner, this year held on November 28, the feast day of the saint. 

Also in attendance were Bishop Richard Umbers, as well as Catholic Weekly columnist and director, public affairs and engagement for the Archdiocese of Sydney, Monica Doumit. 

Previous guest speakers have been Danny and Leila Abdallah, journalist Greg Sheridan and scientist Dr Adi Patterson.  

The post Charity founder Moira Kelly shares reasons for hope at the annual Labouré Lecture appeared first on The Catholic Weekly.

I have often heard of Our Lady being called “Mediatrix of all graces”, but now the Vatican has said it is not appropriate to apply this title to her. Why is this?   

The Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) dealt with this question at length in its document Mater Populi Fidelis, Mother of the Faithful People of God, dated 4 November 2025.   

The title “Mediatrix of all graces” is generally understood to mean that all graces bestowed on mankind by God somehow originate in or pass through Mary.  

In answer to this, the document says that “Mary is sometimes portrayed as if she possessed a repository of grace separate from God.  

In such a notion, it is not so clear that it is the Lord who – in his generous and free omnipotence – willed to associate her with the sharing of that divine life which springs forth from the sole center that is the Heart of Christ, not that of Mary” (n. 45). 

“She is also frequently portrayed or imagined as a fountain from which all grace flows.  

If one considers the fact that the Trinitarian indwelling (uncreated grace) and our participation in the divine life (created grace) are inseparable, we cannot think that this mystery depends on a ‘passage’ through Mary’s hands.  

Such notions elevate Mary so highly that Christ’s own centrality may disappear or, at least, become conditioned” (n. 45). 

What is more, “Some titles, such as ‘Mediatrix of all Graces,’ have limits that do not favor a correct understanding of Mary’s unique place.   

In fact, she, the first redeemed, could not have been the mediatrix of the grace that she herself received.  

This is not a minor point since it reveals something central: even in Mary’s case, the gift of grace precedes her and comes from the absolutely free initiative of the Trinity in view of Christ’s merits” (n. 67). 

Although not being a channel through which God’s grace flows to us, Mary does have a role in helping us prepare to receive grace: “Mary’s motherhood in the order of grace must be understood as a help in preparing us to receive God’s sanctifying grace…On the other hand, her maternal presence in our lives does not preclude various actions from Mary aimed at encouraging us to open our hearts to Christ’s activity in the Holy Spirit. In this way, she helps us – in various ways – to prepare ourselves to receive the life of grace that only the Lord can pour into us” (n. 46).  

The DDF document explains how the fundamental grace of the indwelling of the Blessed Trinity in the soul can only come about through God’s action: “Indeed, only God reaches our innermost center to bring about elevation and transformation when he gives himself as a Friend, and thus, ‘no creature can confer grace’” (n. 50). 

Therefore, “No human person – not even the Apostles or the Blessed Virgin – can act as a universal dispenser of grace. Only God can bestow grace, and he does so through the humanity of Christ since ‘the man Christ possessed supreme fullness of grace, as being the only-begotten of the Father.’  

Although the Blessed Virgin Mary is preeminently ‘full of grace’ and ‘Mother of God,’ she, like us, is an adopted daughter of the Father…She cooperates in the economy of salvation by a derived and subordinate participation.  

Therefore, any expression about her ‘mediation’ in grace must be understood as a distant analogy to Christ and his unique mediation” (n. 53). 

Moreover, “As the Second Vatican Council teaches, ‘the Blessed Virgin’s salutary influence… does not hinder in any way the immediate union of the faithful with Christ but, rather, fosters it.’ 

For this reason, one should avoid any description that would suggest a Neoplatonic-like outpouring of grace by stages, as if God’s grace were descending through various intermediaries (such as Mary) while its ultimate source (God) remained disconnected from our hearts.  

Such interpretations carry a negative impact on a proper understanding of the intimate, direct, and immediate encounter that grace effects between the Lord and the believer’s heart” (n. 55).  

In summary, Mary is not a “mediatrix of all graces” in the sense that all graces pass through her hands, but as our Mother, she is a mediatrix in helping us prepare to receive God’s grace. 

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For more on Fr Flader’s popular series on Mary’s titles, please read the following stories.

Part 1: Is Mary a Mediatrix.

Part 2: Co-Redemptrix

The post Q&A with Fr Flader: Why is Mary not Mediatrix of all graces? appeared first on The Catholic Weekly.

A journalist is hoping to bring the wonder of Our Lady of Guadalupe to Australian audiences with a new documentary which tells the story of the Mexican miracle.  

Grace Farah, based in the Southern Highlands and used to be a resident of San Diego and close to the shrine, said the miracle is one of the most tangible in the world and yet is unknown compared to other Marian sightings.  

The documentary, Guadalupe: Mother of Humanity, was directed by Andrés Garrigó and tells the story of a series of Marian apparitions in Mexico in the 1500s, featuring testimony from priests and experts attesting to the miracles. 

The first appearance of the Holy Mother in Guadalupe in Mexico was to Juan Diego, on 9 December 1531. She identified herself as the “mother of the very true deity” before instructing Diego to build a church on a hill in the area.  

Diego went to Mexico City Archbishop Juan de Zumárraga to tell him of the apparition and her request, which was denied as Diego’s story was not believed. 

The Virgin Mary appeared again to the peasant asking him to keep up the requests for the church.  

After two more apparitions, Mary told Diego to search the hill which was to be the site of the church and he found roses not native to Mexico, which she arranged in the peasant’s cloak, also known as a Tilma, who later found the Virgin’s image on the fabric.  

The cloak was then transferred to a small chapel built in the area the Holy Mother wanted and Diego said she had wanted herself to be known as “Guadalupe.” 

Diego’s cloak has lasted to this day and is displayed for veneration in the basilica near the site of the apparitions. 

“To make matters even more miraculous, the Tilma contains many hidden messages and symbols, like a codex,” she told The Catholic Weekly.  

“Some were immediately recognised by the native people and resulted in thousands of conversions soon after, and even more that has been uncovered by science in the years since.” 

Farah said even though the story is revered globally and the site at Guadalupe is the most visited Marian shrine, many domestically aren’t aware of the apparitions or of its significance, a fact she hopes the documentary will change. 

“The vast majority of Australians that I have met aren’t familiar with Our Lady’s story or her image on the Tilma, which I believe is tangible evidence of heaven,” she said.  

“In these uncertain times, I feel and have seen the impact the story presented throughout the film Guadalupe: Mother of Humanity has on people, bringing them renewed faith and hope.” 

Farah said when she lived in San Diego she would see murals, pictures, and paintings of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which “gently filtered” the Virgin Mary and the significance of the apparitions into her life.  

“After I had heard the story in its entirety, I was stunned with how I didn’t know about the story, and so I made a promise to Our Lady of Guadalupe that I would share her story with Australia, and everyone I meet,” she said.  

Garrigó, who also serves as CEO for Spain-based production company Goya Producciones, was similarly moved by the events at Guadalupe, and says he was moved by the message of the Virgin Mary, the conversion of millions of native Mexicans in a short amount of time after the apparitions, and the miracles both in the ancient cloak and performed with Our Lady’s intercession. 

“There have been other documentaries on Guadalupe before this, but, in my opinion, none succeeded in showing the reenactments of the apparitions with such realism and beauty,” he said.  

“This is the most complete one, with a solid historical background, impacting scientific discoveries, and a variety of testimonies from different countries that justify the title ‘Mother of Humanity,’ proving that Guadalupe is not an exclusivity of Mexico.” 

Guadalupe: Mother of Humanity has also received an official letter of recommendation from Filipino Papal Nuncio Monsignor Bernadito Auza, who said the documentary was a “catechetical tool of the first order very appropriate for the times we live in.” 

The film will be screened ahead of Our Lady of Guadalupe’s feast day on 12 December, with a screening in Empire Cinema in Bowral on 10 December and St Catherine Labouré parish in Gymea on 11 December. 

The post Our Lady of Guadalupe documentary to bring the miracle to Australia appeared first on The Catholic Weekly.

Christmas is for some one of the most isolating times of the year, especially in a cost-of-living crisis where families may have to choose between buying gifts and treats for loved ones or buying necessities.

Communities including the Order of Malta, St Michael’s parish in Lane Cove, and Mary MacKillop Place are preparing outreaches to make sure no one is forgotten this Christmas.

Weekly dinners, organised by the Order of Malta and hosted by St Patrick’s parish priest and Order chaplain Fr Anthony Robbie, see a peak in attendance across the Christmas and New Year period.

They expect 25 to 30 people, mostly from the eastern suburbs who are suffering from isolation or are otherwise marginalised to sit down with parishioners and other volunteers to a meal with all the trimmings.

“We aim to provide a hearty home-cooked meal of the standard that we would serve to valued visitors in our own homes,” said Fr Robbie.

“For many of our guests, it’s the only nutritious quality meal they’ll have all week—and the social interaction is just as important.”

Order of Malta member and volunteer Daniel Kwok said Christmas “can be very lonely and isolating,” even though it is meant to be the most joyful time of the year.

“The Order’s Community Care Kitchen offers warmth, dignity, and connection to those who need it most,” he said.

“Our mission is simple but vital: to ensure no one in our community feels forgotten at Christmas.”

The Aboriginal Catholic Ministry (ACM) will expand its food pantry which this year will be highlighted at Mary MacKillop Place’s inaugural Christmas lights event.

According to Lisa Buxton, executive officer of ACM, Mary MacKillop Place’s support will help ACM continue to provide the local community with essentials and place a spotlight on families who are struggling this Christmas.

“Our community food pantry is one such work where the ACM can provide cultural, spiritual, social and practical support,” she said.

“During Advent, our food pantry enables us to create at least 70 Christmas hampers, to share some of the joy of the Christmas season and to ease some of the stresses that many in our communities are facing during this season.”

Food isn’t the only thing being shared as St Michael’s gears up to host its annual Christmas giving tree initiative, which sees parishioners gift (and gift wrap) approximately 200 presents to give to children and those who need them most.

The largest collections of presents go to the Baabayn Aboriginal Corporation in Emerton and children in Bankstown by St Vincent de Paul.

“The Giving Tree is like a thermometer that takes the temperature of the parish,” parish priest Fr Mark Anderson said.

“It shows how thoughtful and generous our parishioners are, how important Christmas is to them, and the great desire they have to help others feel loved at this time of year.”

St Michael’s also hosts community visits to social housing recipients in the North Shore, providing much needed company and nutritious food.

The parish said it will continue to make these visits over the festive season, when loneliness is at its peak.

Also gifting presents this Christmas is Stella Maris, a Catholic ministry to seafarers, which provides gift bags to give to seafarers to boost the offshore workers’ mental health and remind them their work, which forces them away from their families for months at a time, is valued.

The post Parishes working to alleviate loneliness this Christmas appeared first on The Catholic Weekly.

St. Louis, Missouri, Dec 4, 2025 / 18:06 pm (CNA).

Andre Mahanna, a former Maronite Catholic priest who gained a national profile as a commentator, fundraiser, and advocate for persecuted Christians is continuing to present himself as a priest despite having been dismissed from the clerical state for financial impropriety, the Archdiocese of Denver announced Thursday.  

In a statement, the archdiocese said Bishop Elias Zaidan of the Maronite Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles had dismissed Mahanna from the clerical state due to financial impropriety and that Mahanna is not permitted to act or present himself validly as a Catholic priest.

Mahanna has no priestly faculties, the statement continues, and is not authorized to “celebrate sacraments, preach, bless, or represent himself as a cleric in any setting.”  

Catholics and members of the public should not engage in any invalid sacraments he is attempting nor give him money or support fundraising efforts connected to him, the archdiocese warned.  

“The archdiocese asks Catholics to take this warning seriously and avoid any involvement that could imply Church approval, including donations, sponsorships, event invitations, or promotion of his activities,” the statement reads, noting that Zaidan has sent an alert to all U.S. bishops warning them that Mahanna is still presenting himself as a priest.

Mahanna served for a time at St. Rafka Maronite Catholic Church in Lakewood, Colorado, in the Denver metro. The charitable organization he founded, Saint Rafka Mission of Hope and Mercy, is registered in Lakewood. The mission reported $138,045 in revenue against $67,422 in expenses in 2024, according to its tax forms.

Although Mahanna’s mission is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, it is not recognized as a Catholic organization and is not authorized to solicit funds or participate in ministry within the Archdiocese of Denver, the statement continues.

“Neither Mr. Mahanna nor this nonprofit may take part in parish life, ministry, or fundraising in any Catholic setting within the archdiocese,” it says.

Ivette Jackson, communications director for the Maronite Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon of Los Angeles, indicated that Mahanna was dismissed from the clerical state in 2024 after a regular canonical process during which he was afforded the opportunity to defend himself. The decision to dismiss him is final, Jackson said.

Archbishop Samuel Aquila was not immediately available for further comment.

Mahanna grew up in Lebanon during the country’s civil war and is now an American citizen, according to the bio on his website. He was a guest of President Donald Trump for the signing of an executive order on religious freedom at the White House on the National Day of Prayer in 2017 and “has been invited back to this event as one of 40 select religious leaders every year since then,” the bio says.  

His bio describes him as a popular speaker and says he has authored many articles focused on the unity of Christians, religious freedom, and the biblical foundation of Judeo-Christian values and traditions. 

During 2017 and 2018, Mahanna appeared several times as a guest on EWTN television programs such as “EWTN News Nightly” and “The World Over with Raymond Arroyo,” mainly as an expert voice discussing the plight of Christians in the Middle East. (Note: EWTN is the parent company of CNA).

Numerous videos posted by Mission of Hope and Mercy in recent days show Mahanna wearing his priestly collar and introducing himself as “Father.”  

In a Nov. 28 video, Mahanna, seeking donations, described how his mission provides aid to Christian families and victims of persecution in Lebanon, delivering food boxes, mattresses, water, and Christmas presents to villages affected by conflict.

This story was updated on Dec. 5, 2025, at 9:40 a.m. ET with the comments from Ivette Jackson.

For Sydney families searching for a magical, affordable Christmas experience, ‘Christmas at the Cathedral’ offers the perfect night out.

For Dany Elachi and his family of seven, a summer’s evening at the St Mary’s Cathedral forecourt has become not just a seasonal tradition but a joyful, stress-free highlight on the calendar.

“We’ve been to the last three, and it’s always a lot of fun. We turn it into an evening out in town, grab some food from the stalls and enjoy the atmosphere,” Dany explained.

“Last year, we had some friends who were performing at the cathedral, so we went and watched the concert beforehand and then made a whole night of it, with the animation display, of course, being the main attraction. It makes for a wonderful, cheap evening for a family of seven.”

With the rising cost of living, the price tag for family entertainment matters, making this event a real winner.

“Typically, a family needs to spend well over $100 for an outing but being at the cathedral makes it a quick trip to get into the city, as its right at the railway station steps, said Dany.

“Last year we combined our visit with the Carols in the Domain. So that made for a huge night out for our family, and it was just a wonderful way to get into the spirit of Christmas in the lead up to the big day.”

The experience is a delight for children and parents alike. “The kids all took a few dollars in their pockets and walked around to the various stalls. And it had a bit of a party, festive festival atmosphere for them, offering some autonomy in a nice, safe, enclosed area, where parents can keep an eye on their children, and they enjoyed the ability to walk around, meet up with some friends, while mum and dad enjoyed a delicious coffee. And it was just a really good way to get into the Christmas spirit.”

For Kingsford father of five Mark Sarmiento, Christmas at the Cathedral has become an annual tradition his family treasures – an easy, affordable, and joy-filled way to begin the season together.

“It’s great because we just get there by public transport. We just catch the light rail, walk to the cathedral and just sit down and take it in all the magic.”

The evening has something for everyone: “There’s a lot of the little shops that the kids love to go to, food stalls where they love to eat, seeing family and friends, there’s entertainment, other communities that sing and perform prior to the lights. And when the lights start, you treasure the happiness in their faces,” he said.

Music and performance add that extra dimension for families like the Sarmientos and Elachi’s.

“Whenever we think of Christmas, we think of carols,” reflected Dany. “We think we think of music and having those performances in the forecourt of the cathedral is a wonderful way of bringing us into the season and feeling those beautiful emotions that we all remember.”

This year’s theme resonates deeply for the Elachi’s.

“Drummer Boy is a personal favourite of mine. And it’s a timely message, especially for kids, when we can shower them with gifts and all the material kind of things,” said Dany.

“Here is this young boy who shows what Jesus really values, and that’s humility, devotion and true love.”

Mark has a special memory of his children spending the night enjoying the event with sisters from the Missionary of Charity.

“My children were sitting on the cathedral steps and we found ourselves sitting next to the sisters and we spoke all night about the meaning of Christmas, about their work and the faith. With the lights and music, it’s something we haven’t forgotten.”

It’s experiences like these that made Christmas at the Cathedral a true Christmas favourite event for families not just for its affordability, the breathtaking lights, music, and festivities, but for the warmth, connection, and spirit it brings to families.

“We always encourage family and friends, anyone that we know, to meet us down there if they can,” said Dany. “We don’t have to purchase tickets, or try to organise seating next to each other. All you’ve got to do is rock up at the same time, and you’re in for a truly Christmas memorable family experience.”

The post Why Christmas at the Cathedral has become Sydney’s favourite family event appeared first on The Catholic Weekly.

A commission set up by Pope Francis to study women deacons has voted against the possibility of ordaining women deacons while also supporting more study on the issue.

It also expressed hope that women’s access to other ministries would be expanded. Pope Francis established the “Study Commission on the Female Diaconate” in 2020 as a follow-up to a previous group that studied the history of women deacons in the New Testament and the early Christian communities.

The Vatican published the synthesis, including the results of votes the commission members took on eight different statements or “theses.” One proposition that showed members split exactly down the middle was: “The masculinity of Christ, and therefore the masculinity of those who receive Holy Orders, is not accidental but is an integral part of sacramental identity, preserving the divine order of salvation in Christ.

“To alter this reality would not be a simple adjustment of ministry but a rupture of the nuptial meaning of salvation.”

When this statement was put to a vote among 10 members in February, it received five votes in favor, confirming its current form, while the other five members voted to remove it.

A statement that received six votes against, two for and two abstaining was: “The undersigned is in favor of the institution in the church of the female diaconate as understood as the third degree of holy orders.”

The post Papal commission votes against ordaining women deacons appeared first on The Catholic Weekly.

By Maronite Eparchy of Australia, New Zealand and Oceania

The Maronite Bishop of Australia, New Zealand and Oceania, Bishop Antoine Charbel Tarabay, led a delegation of more than 40 young Australian Lebanese from the Maronite community on a historic pilgrimage to Lebanon for Pope Leo XIV’s apostolic visit. The three‑day visit, held from 30 November to 2 December 2025, marked Pope Leo’s first trip to Lebanon since his election and centred on a message of hope and peace for the country and the broader Middle East.

At the meeting with Bishops, Priests, Consecrated Men and Women and Pastoral Workers in Harissa, Bishop Tarabay met Pope Leo and greeted him personally, a warm handshake that symbolised the living bond between the Maronite diaspora, their homeland and the Holy See.

“As a Maronite bishop serving the faithful in Australia, I was honoured to receive the blessing of His Holiness the pope and to thank him for his timely visit to Lebanon in support of peace. The meeting brought great joy to the Lebanese community in Australia, especially Maronites, and is a blessing I carry back to our church,” Bishop Tarabay said. He continued, “Blessed are the peacemakers, not merely the peace lovers. Peace demands action, commitment and sacrifice. We are called to make peace happen, not simply to hope for it, just as Pope Leo is calling us and teaching us through his visit.”

Reflecting on Lebanon’s enduring role, Bishop Tarabay recalled Saint Pope John Paul II’s words: “Lebanon is more than a country. Lebanon is a message.” He noted that the pope’s presence was for all people, not only for Catholics or Maronites: “His visit is to promote peace, to promote social justice, and certainly to promote hope for the people of Lebanon and for the region.”

The Australian delegation was accompanied by Fr Danny Nouh, Dean of Our Lady of Lebanon Co‑Cathedral in Sydney, who underscored the visit’s call to action. “For our young people, this pilgrimage was more than a journey, it was a chance to discover their identity, connect with their roots, and stand alongside their peers in Lebanon during a truly historic moment. The encounter with Pope Leo and participation in the Youth event at Bkerke will remain with them for the rest of their lives,” Fr Nouh said.

During their pilgrimage, the youth met with Patriarch Bechara Boutros Cardinal Rai in a special visit and participated in the Youth event at Bkerke with Pope Leo, an unforgettable moment of prayer and unity. For many, it was their first visit to Lebanon. Christiane Shina shared, “Visiting Lebanon for the first time helped me understand more about my identity and my roots. I felt deeply connected to my heritage.” She added, “Being part of the Youth event in Bkerke and meeting the Patriarch made me feel closer to my family’s faith and culture than ever before.”

Under the fatherly guidance of Bishop Tarabay, the young pilgrims will return to Australia carrying renewed hope and a deeper connection to their roots and heritage. Their encounter with Pope Leo XIV, the blessing of Patriarch Rai, and their participation in the Youth event at Bkerke with the Holy Father together marked a milestone for them. It was a reminder that peace is not simply wished for, it is lived, nurtured, and made real through faith and unity.

The post Australian Maronite youth join Bishop Tarabay in historic visit of Pope Leo to Lebanon appeared first on The Catholic Weekly.

ACI Prensa Staff, Dec 4, 2025 / 16:07 pm (CNA).

The Vatican announced on Dec. 4 a new decision by Pope Leo XIV regarding fundraising for the Holy See.

Through the new chirograph Vinculum Unitatis et Caritatis, the Holy Father is eliminating the current Commissio de Donationibus (Donations Commission) structure created in February by Pope Francis to raise funds, which was approved “ad experimentum” (for temporary or provisional use) for three years.

This commission was tasked with encouraging donations through specific campaigns among the faithful, bishops’ conferences, and other potential benefactors.

The pontiff thus repealed the rules in force until now and established that they will no longer have “any canonical or legal force,” as well as any acts adopted up to this point. Furthermore, Pope Leo XIV decreed that all the commission’s assets must be transferred to the Holy See.

By means of this decree, the members of the commission are immediately dismissed. The commission was composed of Monsignor Roberto Campisi, adviser for general affairs of the Secretariat of State, who chaired it; Archbishop Flavio Pace, secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity; Alessandra Smerilli, secretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development; Sister Silvana Piro, undersecretary of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See; and Giuseppe Puglisi-Alibrandi, deputy secretary-general of the Governorate of Vatican City State.

The decision of Leo XIV comes after consulting with experts in the field and following the recommendations of the Council for the Economy, with the aim of strengthening administrative efficiency in the financial management of the Holy See.

The liquidation of the former commission will be managed by the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See, while the Secretariat for the Economy will resolve any outstanding issues and must keep the Council for the Economy informed of all actions taken in this regard.

The Holy Father also ordered the creation of a new working group tasked with designing a renewed and more suitable model for fundraising, whose members will be proposed by the Council for the Economy. This measure takes effect immediately upon its publication in L’Osservatore Romano.

On Nov. 26, Pope Leo XIV also made an adjustment to the reforms undertaken by his predecessor with a new decree to revise the financial and administrative rules governing the basilicas of St. Peter and St. Mary Major.

The pontiff placed both institutions under the ordinary supervision of the Vatican’s Council for the Economy, emphasizing that the economic and financial reform of the Holy See requires a “periodic reevaluation and redefinition” of the regulatory framework.

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

CNA Staff, Dec 4, 2025 / 15:37 pm (CNA).

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

1 in 4 post-abortive women regret abortion decades later, study finds 

A new study found that 1 in 4 women regret their abortion decades after undergoing the procedure. 

The study, published in the International Journal of Women’s Health Care, measured the levels of distress abortive women feel years after having an abortion. 

Authored by Father Donald Paul Sullins with The Catholic University of America and the Ruth Institute, the study found that 24% of postabortive women in the U.S. “suffer from serious post-abortion distress.” 

Of these post-abortive women, just under half showed “multiple symptoms of post-traumatic stress,” according to the study. 

In the study, Sullins called for more research on the long-term effects of abortion as well as the development of “effective therapeutic interventions.”

“The health care of this population of women is understudied and underserved,” the study read. “Women considering an abortion should be informed of the possibility that they may experience persistent emotional distress.” 

1 million ‘conversion counts’ highlights pregnancy center’s lifesaving work

A group that promotes life-affirming pregnancy centers has logged 1 million “conversions” away from abortion since its inception, the group announced earlier this week.

Choose Life Marketing works with more than 900 pro-life clients, including pregnancy centers, maternity homes, and adoption agencies. 

The group found that a million women experiencing unplanned pregnancies had scheduled an appointment with a pregnancy help center since the agency’s founding in 2016. 

“It reflects women choosing connection over isolation, hope over fear, and the courage to reach out for help,” said Nelly Roach, who heads Choose Life Marketing. “Pregnancy help centers across the country continue to meet those moments with the compassion, excellence, and support women deserve.”

“One million women reached out,” she continued. “Hundreds of thousands found the support they needed to choose life. Their courage and their children will shape families, communities, and futures for generations.”  

Appeals court rules in favor of pregnancy centers in legal battle 

A federal appeals court in New York ruled in favor of pregnancy centers in a legal battle over abortion pill reversal services.

A panel on the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a preliminary injunction allowing pregnancy clinics to advertise abortion pill reversal.

New York Attorney General Letitia James sued the group Heartbeat International and 11 pregnancy centers in May 2024 accusing them of fraud in promoting a drug regimen that purports to reverse the effects of mifepristone. 

In response, the National Institute of Family and Life Advocates sued James, claiming she was attacking their right to free speech. The three-judge panel at the appeals court ruled unanimously that the pregnancy centers could continue to advertise abortion reversal. 

Thomas Glessner, president of the National Institute of Family and Life Advocates, heralded the ruling, saying that pregnancy resource centers in the state “are now free to help women who regret taking the abortion pill and want a chance at saving the lives of their babies.” 

“Abortion pill reversal, like the court said, offers no financial gains for pregnancy centers,” Glessner said in a statement shared with CNA. “They are simply giving women another option than ending the life of their unborn babies.”

Iowa lawmaker reintroduces bill in support of pregnant college students 

Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, has reintroduced a bill requiring colleges to inform pregnant students of their rights and the resources available to them in their schools.

Under Title IX, pregnant students have the right to remain in school and complete their education, but about 30% of abortions are performed on college-aged women, according to Hinson’s press release. Resources that colleges offer to pregnant students often include flexible class schedules, excused absences, and child care assistance.

Students “deserve to know every resource available to them,” Hinson said in a statement.

“It is unacceptable that so many often feel they have to choose between finishing their education and having their baby,” the lawmaker continued.

Praising the bill, Kristan Hawkins, the president of Students for Life of America, said in a statement: “Women balancing school, pregnancy, and family deserve our support. Yet, ironically, far too few know about Title IX, the law that is supposed to protect their rights.”

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Dec 4, 2025 / 15:07 pm (CNA).

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has published a public comment that supports the removal of gender ideology within refugee resettlement forms for unaccompanied children.

In accordance with President Donald Trump’s executive order “defending women from gender ideology extremism” and restoring “biological truth to the federal government,” the Office of Refugee Resettlement has proposed a change to forms that would replace the word “gender” with “sex.”

The proposed change would require that the forms reflect the child’s biological sex as opposed to perceived identity. The form options will be limited to only “male” and female.”

In the public comment, the bishops said they have “historically partnered closely with the Office of Refugee Resettlement to protect the well-being of unaccompanied noncitizen children while, in all respects, adhering to the Catholic Church’s teachings on the God-given dignity of the human person, created male and female,” and cited Genesis 1:27.

“By replacing the references in [the forms] to ‘gender’ with ‘sex,’ the proposal reflects a true anthropology that is grounded in the biological sexual identity that is either male or female, an anthropology that promotes human flourishing,” read the comment, signed by USCCB General Counsel William J. Quinn and Assistant General Counsel Daniel E. Balserak.

The USCCB elaborated on the Catholic doctrines related to sex and the inability to change a person’s sex, as highlighted in the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith’s (DDF) April 2024 document Dignitas Infinita, approved by Pope Francis.

“Biological sex and the socio-cultural role of sex (gender) can be distinguished but not separated,” the document teaches.

“Therefore, all attempts to obscure reference to the ineliminable sexual difference between man and woman are to be rejected: We cannot separate the masculine and the feminine from God’s work of creation, which is prior to all our decisions and experiences, and where biological elements exist which are impossible to ignore. Only by acknowledging and accepting this difference in reciprocity can each person fully discover themselves, their dignity, and their identity,” it adds.

The bishops also cited the June 2019 document from the Congregation for Catholic Education titled “Male and Female He Created Them” to emphasize the importance of using the term “sex” instead of “gender.”

“In this cultural context, it is clear that sex and gender are no longer synonyms or interchangeable concepts, since they are used to describe two different realities… the concept of gender is seen as dependent upon the subjective mindset of each person, who can choose a gender not corresponding to his or her biological sex, and therefore with the way others see that person (transgenderism),” the document reads.

Trump’s executive order directed agencies and departments to update terminology on forms and in all official government documents to remove any recognition of gender ideology. The order reflects the administration’s position that there are only two sexes: male and female.