Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish

Catholic actor David Henrie in the new docuseries “Seeking Beauty.” / Credit: EWTN Studios

CNA Staff, Jul 31, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).

EWTN Studios and Catholic actor David Henrie, known for his role as Justin Russo on Disney’s “Wizards of Waverly Place,” have partnered to bring a first-of-its-kind adventure documentary series that explores culture, architecture, food, art, and music that aims to point viewers to the beautiful — and ultimately to the divine.

“Seeking Beauty” is scheduled to be released in December.

The docuseries 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 the spiritual richness of it as well. 

In a recent interview with EWTN News President Montse Alvarado, Henrie shared that he’s a big fan of travel shows and always wanted to take part in one, but one where “you kind of flip the script. Where it starts with what you don’t expect.”

“We want an experience, right? So we put the format on its head. We have someone who’s not an expert — which is me — inviting the audience to go on a journey with me and have fun,” he explained. “So, we go all over Italy and we meet with the experts, and I’m sitting down asking questions that maybe you at home would want to ask if you were sitting in front of this person and as I’m blown away, hopefully, you’ll be blown away, too, because we had some beautiful experiences.”

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.”

One moment that stood out for Henrie while filming the series was getting to watch 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 shared. “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.”

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, contininuing 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.

Sculpture of St. Ignatius of Loyola inside of St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican. / Credit: Vasilii L/Shutterstock

National Catholic Register, Jul 31, 2025 / 04:00 am (CNA).

When Ignatius of Loyola found himself bedridden with a shattered leg, all of his big dreams and plans disappeared. Arrogant, stubborn, and hot-tempered, Ignatius was a soldier to his core, and he excelled on the battlefield.

Until now, his life as a soldier of Spain had stretched before him: simple, straightforward, and glorious. But this time, a flying cannonball had torn one of his legs to shreds. His glorious military career was over. Ignatius was at a dead end.

This was only the first of many dead ends, but they were ultimately part and parcel of the making of a saint.

Sometimes it’s easy to imagine that the saints’ paths to holiness were uncomplicated, that whatever they may have suffered from sickness or temptation, they at least knew clearly what God’s will was for them. But for nearly 20 years after his conversion, Ignatius had very little idea what he was doing. He dealt with failure, disappointment, sickness, and severe spiritual darkness. His journey gives us a battle plan for navigating our own dead ends.

A sudden end can be a new beginning

Many know the basic story of Ignatius’ famous sickbed conversion: Bored and restless, he asked for novels of romance and chivalry, but he was given the “Lives of Christ and the Saints.” That soldierly fervor that had previously fed on knights errant and battles glorious found new energy in the selfless zeal of the saints. Ignatius unconditionally offered his life to Christ. What had initially seemed like the end of all his dreams suddenly became the door to a totally new life.

Inspired by the fervor of the saints, Ignatius immediately began an intense regimen of prayer, sacrifice, and poverty. But his prayer was plagued by scruples and depression. Ignatius was so tormented that he was tempted to take his life, according to New Advent/Catholic Encyclopedia.

Although overwhelmed by this darkness, Ignatius clung to the knowledge that any tendency to anxiety and despair was not from God. No doubt the knowledge offered little comfort at first, but Ignatius was slowly granted relief. By perseverance in prayer and total trust in the loving goodness of God, he had walked through what must have been the darkest nights of his life and come out the other end.

Great holiness is forged in daily sacrifice

Ignatius never lost his love for prayer and sacrifice, and the insights he gained in contemplation became his famous “Spiritual Exercises.” The Jesuit order began as a group of university friends whom he gathered together to pray these “spiritual exercises.”

Through prayer, sacrifice, and patient suffering, Ignatius had formed his own soul in virtue, and through his spiritual insights, he was able to lead many of the brightest young minds in Europe to a life dedicated to the Church.

Our talents are gifts from God

From the beginning, Ignatius had longed to be a missionary. He was a natural leader and a soldier, with all the dynamism, conviction, courage, and stamina necessary for the difficult missionary life. He dreamed of converting the Turks in the Holy Land. But this plan failed when he was denied entry to Jerusalem by the Franciscans charged with watching over the Christians there, according to Warren Carroll’s “The Cleaving of Christendom.”

Disappointed, Ignatius went back to Spain to preach and teach in his native land, but he was arrested by the Inquisition, who feared that an uneducated teacher might inadvertently spread heresy.

Yet his missionary fire was not quenched. And the Church desperately needed missionaries — just not in the way that Ignatius had imagined. Europe was reeling in the chaos of the Protestant Reformation. The people needed clear teaching and ardent examples of holiness to bring them back to the Church.

Ignatius had no education. He was hardly the man to found an order of teachers, and he certainly had no grand dreams of confronting the problems of Christendom. But he saw at least that if he was to be an effective missionary in the current culture, he must be well educated, and he certainly had the zeal and stubbornness necessary to take on the daunting task. So for the next 11 years, he went to school, beginning in grammar school with schoolboys and proceeding to the study of philosophy and theology in Spain and France’s best universities.

It was during his years in university that the “Society of Jesus” was formed. These men were attracted to Ignatius’ zeal and holiness, and they came to him for advice and encouragement. He gathered them together, and soon a brotherhood was born. The friends were ordained priests and offered themselves in humble service to the pope.

The Jesuits were sent on missions to teach and preach throughout Europe and in the new missionary lands in the Far East. Ignatius, however, was left alone in Rome to manage the business of the order. But he had always possessed a talent for leadership, and he instructed, encouraged, and organized from afar.

Within a few years, the Jesuits were in demand everywhere. Ignatius had wanted to be a missionary in foreign lands, but he allowed the Lord to lead him back to his native Spain, to the arduous task of education, and to ultimately use his talents of conviction and charisma to become one of the leaders of the Catholic Reformation in Europe.

A patron saint for difficult times

St. Ignatius is a great patron for people facing difficult times. Whether making hard choices, recovering from unexpected events, going through physical sickness or spiritual darkness, Ignatius of Loyola faced similar situations.

During the period of his life when he should have been settling into a steady career, earning money and honor, and preparing for comfortable retirement, Ignatius was reassessing his entire worldview. Not only did he do an about-face when he converted from soldier of Spain to soldier of Christ, but he then confronted many tribulations of sickness, persecution, doubt, and failure. Ignatius gave his life totally to Christ, but this did not mean his vocation was clear.

In the end, it was through prayer, sacrifice, and study that Ignatius became the saintly founder of the Jesuit order. Without any expectation of greatness, Ignatius dedicated himself to doing for the Lord what he did best. He formed his own soul in virtue, and with his inborn passion and flair for leadership, he began gathering and leading his friends in the same life of holiness. Almost by accident (and yet of course, by no accident at all), the group found themselves with a mission to serve the Church at a time when the Church desperately needed them.

Little did Ignatius know on that long-ago day when his leg was shot out from beneath him that, in the same year, the Church’s four-year attempt to reconcile with Martin Luther had come to a climax. Unable to persuade Luther to recant his heresy, the Church formally excommunicated him. The spiritual battle for Europe had begun.

At this moment in history, God needed a missionary and reformer with the courage, zeal, and practical experience to confront the confusion and chaos of Europe and to bring the faith into newly discovered lands. He chose Ignatius of Loyola.

This story was first published by the National Catholic Register, CNA's sister news partner, and has been adapted by CNA.

null / Credit: Vinokurov Kirill/Shutterstock

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Jul 30, 2025 / 17:54 pm (CNA).

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has released a report showing widespread fraud in its permanent residence program for unaccompanied minors, which has led to a backlog in the issuance of visas to foreign-born priests and religious, whose visas fall under the same category.

According to a report published on July 24, USCIS has identified widespread age and identity fraud among applicants to the Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) visa program intended for unaccompanied immigrants under 21 years old.

USCIS revealed that of the 300,000 SIJ applicants it reviewed from 2013 to 2024, most SIJ petitioners were over the age of 18. In 2024 alone, 52% of applicants were 18, 19, and 20 years old. One-third of all SIJ applicants were males over the age of 18. The vast majority of applicants, 73.6%, originated from El Salvador, Guatemala, or Honduras.

Typically, SIJ petitioners must submit evidence that they were “declared dependent on a state juvenile court” or that they had been committed in some way to a state agency or court-appointed entity or individual.

To obtain consent for SIJ classification, they must provide the “factual reasons why the state court found the alien was abused, neglected, or abandoned by one or both parents, and why it is in the alien’s best interests to remain in the United States,” along with “evidence that a state court either granted or recognized some form of relief from parental maltreatment.” 

Applicants committed fraud in various ways, including falsifying their age, name, and country of citizenship on official documents. In some cases, over-18 applicants to the SIJ program entered the U.S. without inspection and “filed court state petitions requesting other adult aliens who also recently entered the United States without inspection be appointed their guardians so they can file SIJ petitions.”

How does this impact foreign-born priests and religious?

News of widespread fraud in the juvenile program comes months after it was revealed that an influx of minor visa applicants resulted in an unprecedented backlog in the employment-based fourth preference (EB-4) visa category — the same category used by foreign-born priests and religious. 

“Demand for SIJ immigrant visas creates significant pressure on the EB-4 category,” the USCIS report states. “These immigrant visas are numerically limited and allocated based on country of origin. Other special immigrants rely on visas from the EB-4 category. This results in significant wait times for other special immigrants in the United States.” 

The report noted “ministers of religion” are among the other special immigrants who draw visas from the EB-4 category.

According to data trends in the report regarding wait times for EB-4 visas, increasing demand in the category began to escalate in 2016. By March 2025 — two years after the Biden administration added juveniles to the category — the wait time for the category extended to five years and seven months.

Each year, Congress decides how many green cards — visas that grant permanent residence in the U.S. — may be made available per year. These green cards are divided into categories based on various factors, including employment or relationship status to U.S. citizens. 

“The process to obtain permanent residence status, to get permanent residency, which a couple of years ago could probably be done in somewhere between 12 to 24 months, now is going to take significantly longer,” Miguel Naranjo, director of religious immigration services at the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, told CNA in March. 

“There’s a huge demand in the EB-4 category,” Naranjo continued, saying that religious workers had not been previously affected by the surge in unaccompanied minors until the past year and a half, after the State Department designated the whole category as “subject to backlog” due to the sheer rise in demand across the category.

The rise came after the Biden administration’s addition of minors to the category in March 2023, leading to the program distributing all available green cards in the category well before the end of the 2023-2024 fiscal year. More green cards will not be made available till the start of the next 2025-2026 fiscal year in October.

Due to the backlog, many priests and religious who are trying to remain in the U.S. to continue their ministries are in danger of being forced to leave the country before their green card application has been processed for at least one year. 

Typically, religious workers enter the U.S. on R-1 visas, which have a five-year limit. In the meantime, religious workers hoping to stay in the U.S. apply for visas in the EB-4 category. However, the influx of minor applicants has caused a major backlog in the category, meaning that many religious workers will be forced to leave the country when their R-1 visas expire. 

“It makes me feel sad and betrayed,” said Father Paschal Anionye, a priest from the Diocese of Warri in Nigeria who works in New York, in reaction to the USCIS findings, “especially as my hopes — and those of many Nigerians and Africans in general — to live safely and to study and serve in a multicultural, multiethnic, and diverse environment are crushed.”

Anionye further described the situation faced by foreign-born priests and religious as “disheartening,” given the needs of Catholic dioceses across the U.S.

The Nigerian priest, who is in the U.S. on an R-1 visa issued in April 2023, is planning to file for his green card after his visa is renewed in October.

He told CNA: “I’ll feel terrible, horrified, and disappointed” should he be forced to return to Nigeria before his green card application is processed, “as I came to the U.S. not only to seek a safe environment from Christian persecution in Nigeria ... but with a genuine intention to serve as a missionary, as has always been my desire from my early days in the seminary.”

He further expressed fear of putting his mother and siblings at higher risk, saying his return would not only make him a target but also would renew threats against them. “I lost a cousin to kidnappers in 2015 and continue to carry trauma related to safety concerns,” he added. 

Criminality among SIJ applicants

Troubling data in the report also identified a subset of 18,829 of the older applicants to the program were “engaged in significant criminality,” with records showing 36,920 law enforcement encounters among these individuals, indicating multiple arrests for some.

According to the report, at least 120 petitioners were arrested for murder, and 200 approved petitioners convicted of sex offenses and required to register in the National Sex Offender Registry. Other SIJ petitioners were arrested for additional grave offenses including attempted murder, assault, rape, child molestation, possession and distribution of child sex abuse material, domestic violence, carjacking, and drug trafficking. 

Over 500 SIJ applicants approved for SIJ classification since 2013 were known or suspected members of violent gangs.

In some instances, the report notes, these gang members, who obtained lawful permanent residence status as SIJs, were “wanted by foreign law enforcement authorities for murders they allegedly committed before entering the U.S. without inspection and filed [SIJ petitions].” 

Although the number is relatively small, the report also identified known or suspected terrorists filing SIJ petitions, including “an alien from Tajikistan suspected of plotting an Islamic State (IS) terrorist attack in the United States.”

“Criminal aliens are infiltrating the U.S. through a program meant to protect abused, neglected, or abandoned alien children,” said USCIS spokesman Matthew J. Tragesser, who criticized “activist” judges and the Biden administration’s open border policies.

Congress has introduced bipartisan legislation to help keep religious workers, including Catholic priests and religious, in the country by extending their visas instead of sending them back to their home countries amid the backlog in the EB-4 category.

Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Vatican secretary for relations with states, celebrates Mass at Guadalupe Basilica in Mexico City on July 27, 2025. / Credit: Courtesy of Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Vatican City, Jul 30, 2025 / 17:09 pm (CNA).

Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, secretary for relations with states and international organizations of the Holy See, noted that universities are not Catholic “because of the number of crucifixes” but because they strive to seek truth that is “in harmony with the certainty of faith.”

“Far from being just another institution in the global marketplace of ideas, and much less Catholic just because of the number of crucifixes on its walls or chapel services, a truly Catholic university is a place where the search for truth is in harmony with the certainty of faith,” he noted.

As reported by Vatican News, Gallagher gave his reflections during the inaugural conference of the 28th general assembly of the International Federation of Catholic Universities (IFCU), held July 28 in Guadalajara, Mexico.

During his visit to Mexico, the prelate emphasized that Catholic universities are called to play a “central role” in building peace through knowledge, dialogue, and the formation of ethical leaders.

In his address, the archbishop strongly argued that, in a context marked by armed conflict, ideological divisions, and growing polarization, Catholic universities must reaffirm their original vocation: to be beacons of humanity and understanding.

“Catholic universities — and also papal representatives — have always been beacons of knowledge, faith, and service to humanity,” he said.

The prelate thus emphasized their potential as active agents in the international arena: “In these turbulent times marked by conflict and war, division and mistrust, [universities] are called to reaffirm their vocation as builders of peace, collaborators in building bridges of understanding between cultures, religions, and disciplines.”

Academic diplomacy: A bridge between cultures and knowledge

From this perspective, Gallagher defended the concept of “academic diplomacy,” which he defined as an essential instrument for dialogue between peoples and fields of knowledge. “They can uniquely develop academic diplomacy as a means to promote peace through thoughtful engagement, ethical reflection, and respectful dialogue,” he explained, insisting that the university vocation goes far beyond the transmission of technical knowledge.

Gallagher also proposed rediscovering the universal value of a deep-rooted Catholic identity, capable of dialogue with everyone without losing its center.

“A truly Catholic education is not isolated but extroverted and committed to the universal search for truth,” he affirmed. “In a world awash in relativism and polarization, this deeply rooted — and therefore universal — Catholic identity constitutes a powerful resource.”

In this regard, he recalled that the Christian conception of the human being is a solid foundation for peace: “The anthropological conception that sees every person, regardless of race, religion, nationality, or condition, in the image and likeness of God, endowed with reason and conscience, and destined for communion, is a solid foundation upon which to build peace through dialogue.”

The archbishop also recalled his experience as a student at the Pontifical Gregorian University to illustrate how the university environment can foster authentic bonds. Along these lines, he affirmed that universities are “seeds of peace that are sown in classrooms, laboratories, residences, and libraries.”

He therefore said that the entire university can be an authentic diplomatic mission: “not an ivory tower disconnected from reality, but an active participant in building a culture of peace.”

This mission, he clarified, requires an interdisciplinary and collaborative structure: “This is intrinsically interdisciplinary, because only mutual exchange enriches all parties and contributes to the development of leaders capable of guiding their societies with wisdom and compassion.”

Regarding the content that should occupy a prominent place in this academic diplomacy, the Vatican official emphasized that many of the challenges of war and peace “in today’s world can only be addressed in a sustained manner by returning to these principles and applying them.”

“If they are ignored, already difficult situations can deteriorate rapidly and with terrible consequences,” he explained.

He also emphasized that diplomacy requires specialists but also “needs generalists who seek a broad and nuanced vision.”

Finally, the archbishop reaffirmed the Holy See’s commitment to a diplomacy that does not surrender to pragmatism but remains anchored in principles and humanity.

“In our efforts, we promote peace, defend human dignity, and give a voice to those without one, especially the poor, the displaced, and the marginalized,” he concluded.

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

Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Rochester, New York. / Credit: DanielPenfield via Wikimedia (CC BY-SA 3.0)

CNA Staff, Jul 30, 2025 / 16:39 pm (CNA).

Hundreds of clergy abuse victims agreed to a massive settlement from the Diocese of Rochester, New York, this week, bringing the diocese’s yearslong bankruptcy proceedings closer to an end. 

Documents obtained by CNA show a near-unanimous vote in favor of accepting the diocese’s proposed $246 million settlement plan, with just a handful of “abstain” votes and none voting against it. 

The payment comes after years of wrangling in U.S. bankruptcy court as the diocese, the survivors, and diocesan insurance providers worked to come to a settlement amount on which all of them could agree. 

In 2022 the diocese said it would pay $55 million into a settlement fund, with Bishop Salvatore Matano noting that “additional recoveries” could come from diocesan insurers. 

Earlier this month Continental Insurance Co. agreed to pay $120 million into the settlement fund, bringing the total contributions from the diocese, its parishes, and insurers up to the $246 million figure. 

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Paul Warren said in court this week that he intended to approve the agreement in September. 

In a statement on Wednesday, the diocese said it was “hopeful that the bankruptcy plan will be approved … and help to ease the hurt and suffering of the survivors, who have endured this painful process for six years.” The diocese first filed for bankruptcy in 2019.

“We pray that they will know the peace of Jesus and their faith, so scarred by those who so betrayed their trust, will be restored in Our Lord who is our ultimate hope,” the statement said. 

The settlement, once it has been approved, will be among the larger payouts of any U.S. diocese for an abuse or bankruptcy proceeding.

The Diocese of Rockville Centre, New York, holds the record for the largest diocesan payout in the U.S. so far after it agreed last year to a $323 million settlement.

The U.S. record for any diocese or archdiocese, meanwhile, was set by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, also last year, when it agreed to an $880 million payout. 

In some cases parishioners have legally challenged the terms of diocesan bankruptcy settlements. Catholics in the Diocese of Buffalo, New York, earlier this month convinced the state Supreme Court to issue a temporary halt on settlement payments the diocese is requiring of parishes. The Vatican is currently considering a dispute over parish mergers there. 

Dioceses and archdioceses pay for settlements from a variety of sources, including parish contributions, insurance payouts, and the sale of diocesan property.

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators occupy an encampment on the campus of UCLA on April 25, 2024, in Los Angeles. / Credit: Eric Thayer/Getty Images

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Jul 30, 2025 / 16:09 pm (CNA).

The University of California, Los Angeles, (UCLA) has agreed to a permanent court order forbidding campus antisemitism and a $6.13 million settlement after a number of discrimination complaints were filed against the school by Jewish students.

In June 2024, three students sued UCLA after the school “allowed a group of activists to set up barricades in the center of campus” to block Jewish students from accessing “critical educational infrastructure,” according to the lawsuit, filed in U.S. district court. The suit was managed in part by the religious liberty law firm Becket.

UCLA agreed to the payout on July 28 after fighting the lawsuit for over a year. 

Some of the millions will be allocated to the defendants that brought the case forward, while more than $2 million of the funds will be donated to organizations that combat antisemitism on campus including the campus Hillel chapter, the Anti-Defamation League, and the Jewish Federation Los Angeles. 

“We are pleased with the terms of today’s settlement. The injunction and other terms UCLA has agreed to demonstrate real progress in the fight against antisemitism,” the plaintiffs said in a July 28 statement.

“When antisemites were terrorizing Jews and excluding them from campus, UCLA chose to protect the thugs and help keep Jews out,” said Yitzchok Frankel, a recent UCLA law graduate and plaintiff in the case. “That was shameful, and it is sad that my own school defended those actions for more than a year.”

“But today’s court judgment brings justice back to our campus and ensures Jews will be safe and be treated equally once again.”

According to the case, the actions in the lawsuit started after Hamas launched its attack against Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. 

Protests broke out on campus as activists reportedly chanted antisemitic threats including “death to the Jews.” The university’s chancellor at the time, Gene Block, in a May 23, 2024, House Committee on Education and the Workforce hearing, admitted UCLA was not “immune to the disturbing rise of antisemitism that has occurred across our country” following the Oct. 7 attack.

The following spring, the actions continued with what became known as a “Jew Exclusion Zone” on campus that prevented Jewish students from accessing “the heart of campus, including classroom buildings and the main undergraduate library.”

To enter the area, a person had to make a statement “pledging their allegiance to the activists’ views,” according to the lawsuit. UCLA’s administration knew about the extreme actions but “did nothing to stop it.”

For a full week, UCLA failed to clear the area and ordered campus police to stand down and allow the encampment to stay. The administration even stationed security staff around the area to keep students from attempting to enter the area blocked by the protestors. 

Last summer, U.S. District Judge Mark Scarsi barred the university from continuing to facilitate antisemitic exclusion on campus. The agreed judgment this week will officially bring the lawsuit to a close and make Scarsi’s previous decision permanent.

“Campus administrators across the country willingly bent the knee to antisemites during the encampments,” Mark Rienzi, president of Becket and an attorney for the students, said this week.

“They are now on notice: Treating Jews like second-class citizens is wrong, illegal, and very costly. UCLA should be commended for accepting judgment against that misbehavior and setting the precedent that allowing mistreatment of Jews violates the Constitution and civil rights laws. Students across the country are safer for it.”

Pope Leo XIV waves from the popemobile during a surprise ride around St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican following the Jubilee of Youth welcome Mass on July 29, 2025. / Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNA

ACI Prensa Staff, Jul 30, 2025 / 15:39 pm (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV made a surprise appearance in St. Peter’s Square on Tuesday evening to greet the thousands of participants at the welcoming Mass for the Jubilee of Youth.

After touring the square, the Holy Father addressed the youth in Italian, Spanish, and English from the main altar. “‘Buona sera, buenas tardes,’ good evening,” Leo XIV said, causing the crowd to roar.

In English, the pope recalled Jesus’ words: “You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world” (Mt 5:13:16).

“And today, your voices, your enthusiasm, your cries; are all for Jesus Christ, and you will be heard until the ends of the earth,” he proceeded, switching to Spanish. “Today begins a few days, a journey: the Jubilee of Hope, and the world needs messages of hope. You are this message, and you must continue to give hope to everyone,” he added.

“Let us hope that all of you will always be a sign of hope for the whole world,” said the Holy Father, this time speaking in Italian.

“Today we are beginning, and in the coming days we will have the opportunity to be a force that will give God’s grace, that will be [a source of] hope, and that will give light to the city of Rome and to the entire world,” he stated in his extemporaneous remarks.

Leo XIV then asked the young people to walk together “with our faith in Jesus Christ.” From St. Peter’s Square, he also prayed for peace for the entire world: “Our cry must also be for peace in the world. Let us all say: We want peace in the world! We want peace in the world! Let us pray for peace.”

“May we be a witness to the peace of Jesus Christ, of reconciliation, of this light of the world that we are all seeking,” the Holy Father added, again in Spanish. Finally, he prayed together with the thousands of young people and imparted his blessing.

“We’ll see you! We’ll meet at Tor Vergata! Have a good week!” the pope said in parting, referring to the prayer vigil he will hold with young people on the evening of Aug. 2 and the final Mass for the Jubilee of Youth, which he will celebrate Aug. 3.

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

Pope Leo XIV signs a portrait of himself for a pilgrim at his general audience on July 30, 2025, in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican. / Credit: Vatican Media

ACI Prensa Staff, Jul 30, 2025 / 15:09 pm (CNA).

Before a packed St. Peter’s Square filled with young people who had come from all over the world for the Jubilee of Youth, Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday gave his first general audience after his vacation in Castel Gandolfo.

Aboard the popemobile, the pontiff toured the colorful esplanade, warmly and enthusiastically greeting the hundreds of thousands of young pilgrims waving the flags of numerous countries.

At the beginning of his July 30 catechesis, the last in a series dedicated to the public life of Jesus, the Holy Father lamented the climate of violence and hatred that marks our time, a reality that, he affirmed, “deeply wounds human dignity.” Against this backdrop, he firmly emphasized: “Our world needs healing.”

“We live in a society,” he explained, “that is becoming ill due to a kind of ‘bulimia’ of social media connections: We are hyperconnected, bombarded by images, sometimes false or distorted.”

The silent proximity of Jesus

Faced with these messages that provoke “contradictory emotions,” the pontiff warned that there is often an impulse “to turn everything off” and even to prefer not to feel anything anymore,” thus running the risk of losing the ability “to say to one another the most simple and profound things.”

In this context, Pope Leo XIV suggested meditating on the passage from the Gospel of St. Mark that presents a man who neither speaks nor hears (cf. Mk 7:31-37). He emphasized that “it is not he who comes to Jesus to be healed, but others bring him.”

“The Christian community, however, has also seen in these people an image of the Church, which accompanies each person to Jesus so that they may listen to his word,” he explained.

He noted that Jesus “takes this person aside,” which seems to “emphasize his isolation.” However, the pontiff pointed out that this gesture helps us understand “what lies behind the silence and closure of this man, as if Jesus had perceived his need for intimacy and closeness.”

“Jesus offers him silent closeness, through gestures that speak of a profound encounter: He touches this man’s ears and tongue,” he added.

He also emphasized that Jesus doesn’t use many words but rather says “only what is necessary in that moment: ‘Be opened!’” For the Holy Father, with this “simple and beautiful” word, Jesus invites him to open himself to this world that frightens him and to the relationships that have disappointed him.

‘To truly know Jesus, one must complete a journey’

Pope Leo pointed out that the attitude of the man in the Gospel could reflect the experience of someone who feels “inadequate” or is afraid to express themselves for fear of making a mistake. “All of us experience what it means to be misunderstood,” he noted.

He therefore emphasized the need to ask the Lord to heal our way of communicating, “not only so that we may be more effective, but also so that we may avoid wounding others with our words.”

In light of the Gospel, Pope Leo XIV recalled: “To truly know Jesus, one must complete a journey; one must remain with him and also pass through his Passion.”

“When we have seen him humiliated and suffering, when we have experienced the saving power of his cross, then we can say that we have truly come to know him. There are no shortcuts to becoming disciples of Jesus,” he emphasized.

At the end of his catechesis, the pope encouraged the faithful to ask the Lord “that we may learn to communicate with honesty and prudence. Let us pray for all those who have been wounded by the words of others.”

“Let us pray for the Church, that she may never fail in her mission to lead people to Jesus, so that they may hear his word, be healed by it, and in turn become bearers of his message of salvation,” he concluded.

Bright beacons of hope in the world

During his greetings to the pilgrims, the pope addressed in particular all the young people participating in the Jubilee of Youth, encouraging them to open their hearts “to God’s healing love, so that you can become even brighter beacons of hope in the world.”

“May this encounter with Jesus in fraternal communion strengthen your faith and your hope, fill your hearts with peace, and unite you in his love. Receive these gifts from Christ and share them with your contemporaries and compatriots in your homeland,” he added.

In his message to the Spanish-speaking faithful, the Holy Father urged them to pray “so that these days of faith, reflection, and friendship may bear fruit.” His words sparked a roaring ovation, and the square vibrated with loud applause, with the youth shouting: “[We are] the pope’s young people!”

Sorrow over church attack in Democratic Republic of Congo

The pope renewed his “deep sorrow” for the brutal terrorist attack that took place on the night of July 26-27 in Komanda in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, where more than 40 Christians were murdered in a church during a prayer vigil and also in their own homes.

“As I entrust the victims to God’s loving mercy, I pray for the wounded and for Christians around the world who continue to suffer violence and persecution. I urge those with local and international responsibility to work together in order to prevent such tragedies,” he stated.

Finally, the Holy Father recalled that Aug. 1 marks the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Helsinki Final Act, an agreement between 35 countries to guarantee security in the context of the Cold War.

This event, the pontiff stated, “renewed interest in human rights, with special emphasis on religious freedom.” He also recalled that the Holy See’s active participation “helped to promote political and moral commitment to peace.”

“Today, more than ever, it is essential to safeguard the spirit of Helsinki: to persevere in dialogue, strengthen cooperation, and make diplomacy the preferred path to prevent and resolve conflicts,” the Holy Father emphasized.

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

Flowers and offerings are placed at the grave of Ukya Chhaing Marma. The seventh-grader died from his wounds after being rescued from a July 21, 2025, plane crash at his Dhaka school. / Credit: Piyas Biswas

Dhaka, Bangladesh, Jul 30, 2025 / 14:39 pm (CNA).

As parents grieve the loss of their children, the Catholic bishops of Bangladesh have urged the government to fully support victims and families following the July 21 crash of an air force training jet into a local school that killed at least 35 and injured over 170 people, most of them children.

Bishop Ponen Paul Kubi, secretary-general of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Bangladesh, told EWTN News the incident is “deeply saddening for us and a great loss for our country, as we have lost many from our future generation. We have requested prayers in our churches, because prayer is our source of strength and comfort.”

Pope Leo XIV sent his condolences as families grapple with the loss of loved ones after a F-7 BGI fighter jet took off from Kurmitola Air Base for a routine training mission and developed a technical malfunction shortly after takeoff. The pilot, who was on his first solo flight, attempted an emergency maneuver to avoid populated areas but the aircraft crashed into the two-story Milestone School and College in the Uttara area of Dhaka. The crash sparked a fire that engulfed parts of the school building.

In a telegram sent on July 22, Pope Leo expressed that he was “deeply saddened” by the devastating loss of life, particularly the children who were caught in the sudden disaster.

The message, delivered by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, stated that the Holy Father “entrusts the deceased to the merciful love of the Almighty” and prayed “that their families and friends may be consoled in their grief, and for the healing and comfort of the injured.” He also invoked “divine blessings of peace and strength” upon the entire school community and all those affected.

One of the victims of the crash was 14-year-old Ukya Chhaing Marma, a seventh-grade student at Milestone School who lived in a campus hostel. He loved playing the guitar and riding his bicycle. His parents, both schoolteachers living in Bandarban, 325 kilometers (about 200 miles) from Dhaka, had sent him to the capital for a better education. Ukya was their only child.

Shortly after the crash, the Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence rescued him from the spot. He was rushed to the Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in critical condition, suffering burns over 100% of his body. Despite all efforts, he died around 2 a.m.

Ukya’s father, Usai Mong Marma, said: “My son was very talented and dreamed of becoming an engineer. As his father, I feel helpless; I couldn’t do anything for him.” His mother, Daisy Prue Marma, tearfully added: “As a mother, I just pray no other mother ever has to feel the emptiness I carry in my heart.”

This tragic event, one of the worst air disasters in Dhaka in recent memory, has triggered a wave of national mourning and renewed calls from civil society for accountability and improved safety measures in military training missions.

Father Biswajit Bernard Bormon, priest of St. Joseph’s Church in Dharenda, Savar, said: “We held a special Mass in our church dedicated to the victims of the Milestone tragedy. At the beginning of the Mass, we observed a one-minute silence, praying for the eternal rest of those who lost their lives and for the recovery of those who are injured. In addition, we are praying for them daily during our rosary prayers.”

Following the crash, the government declared July 22 a national day of mourning, calling for special prayers across the country.

“I express my deep grief and sorrow over the heartbreaking loss of lives caused by the crash,” interim leader Muhammad Yunus wrote in a post on X. “This is a moment of profound pain for the nation. I pray for the swift recovery of the injured and have instructed all relevant authorities, including hospitals, to respond to the situation with the highest priority.”

Nuns in habits pray alongside novices at the Indore Bible Convention in Madhya Pradesh, October 2023. / Credit: Anto Akkara

Bangalore, India, Jul 30, 2025 / 14:09 pm (CNA).

Protests are spreading in India over the arrest of two nuns on conversion and human trafficking charges in Chattisgarh state in central India. 

The ongoing demonstrations that began with the July 25 arrests intensified after the release of the nuns was delayed by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government opposing bail for the religious, who have been in jail for nearly a week.

“What kind of justice is this?” Cardinal Baselios mar Cleemis, the archbishop of the Syro Malankara Church and former president of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, said on July 30.

The prelate spoke at the end of a protest march to the Kerala Legislative Assembly at Thiruvananthapuram, demanding the “immediate release” of the nuns, who are from the Christian heartland of Kerala.

On July 27, the Indian Catholic bishops in a press statement expressed “outrage and deep concern over the recent arrest” of the nuns at the Durg railway station in Chattisgarh. The religious were arrested when they reached the station to receive three young women to their convents.

Sister Preetha Mary and Sister Vandana Francis belong to the Assisi Sisters of Mary Immaculate congregation. The police charged them with “conversion and human trafficking,” the bishops said. 

The nuns were “subjected to harassment, false accusations, and fabricated cases. They were physically assaulted and the arrest took place despite written consent letters issued by the parents of each woman above 18 years of age,” the bishops said.

“Anti-national elements” including “Hindu fundamentalist outfits” are “tracking the movements of Catholic nuns,” they alleged.

“Such incidents not only threaten the modesty of women but also put their lives in grave danger. These repeated unwarranted actions are a grave violation of the Constitution and cannot be tolerated,” the bishops said.

“It is absolutely shocking and sad that the two religious sisters have been illegally detained under false charges of human trafficking and forced conversion,” Sister M. Nirmalini, the president of the women’s wing of the Conference of Religious India, told CNA on July 30. 

“Shockingly, the charges have been made without ascertaining or verifying facts,” said the nun, who belongs to the Apostolic Carmel Congregation.

“An entire anti-minority brigade is whipping up a frenzy to create a false narrative and polarize the people against the Christians and particularly the tribals,” Nirmalini said. “This must stop immediately and those responsible and the local police must be booked by the higher authorities.”

“Some congregations have asked members to avoid traditional habits in public places to avoid harassment,” Nirmalini said.

“Even the Kerala BJP president has [criticized] the arrest of the nuns. Yet, they continue to be jailed on trumped-up charges,” said Cleemis, who along with a dozen bishops wore black ribbons on their faces while hundreds of nuns, priests, and even non-Catholics joined the recent protest in the Kerala capital.

Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the president of the BJP in Kerala, told reporters in New Delhi: “Our top priority is to protect the nuns and ensure justice.”

“The persecution of the nuns by imprisoning them is a shame for the country,” said John Brittas, a Catholic member in the upper house of the Indian Parliament, during the parliamentary debate on July 30.

Spirited protests have continued in several other cities in Kerala and elsewhere, including Bangalore, as the nuns continue to languish in jail.

“You cannot hold the Indian Constitution hostage. Jailing nuns for offering employment to young Christian women with their parents’ consent is a national shame,” Archbishop Andrews Thazhath of Thrissur said at a protest on July 29.