Within this context, Polish Catholics have launched an international initiative to assist Lebanon’s most vulnerable families. “Lebanon in Need” was launched by the Maronite Missionary Foundation in Poland in partnership with 4fund.com, one of Poland’s largest licensed financial institutions specializing in humanitarian fundraising, as part of the broader international campaign “Europe for Lebanon.”

The initiative operates as a voluntary crisis committee that combines pastoral mission with regulated European financial infrastructure, with the aim of ensuring that every euro donated in Europe reaches Lebanon safely, transparently, and in full.

Addressing gaps in humanitarian aid to Lebanon

“Lebanon in Need” was launched at the beginning of March to address a specific challenge: how to transfer European generosity to Lebanese families without the complications, losses, and regulatory ambiguity that often weaken cross-border Catholic humanitarian campaigns.

Having already worked in Lebanon in 2020, the foundation knew that many Catholics in Poland, Italy, Portugal, and other European countries were willing to help. At the same time, it understood that smaller Catholic initiatives often lack the financial and regulatory infrastructure necessary to receive donations on a large scale and transfer them quickly and transparently during times of war.

This led to an unusual partnership between the foundation, through its Church networks and ties with Lebanese Christian institutions, and 4fund.com, the international arm of the Polish crowdfunding platform zrzutka.pl. Together, the two entities launched “Lebanon in Need” as the operational arm of the wider “Europe for Lebanon” campaign, creating a model that combines pastoral mission with organized European financial systems.

While Catholic humanitarian initiatives traditionally rely on parish networks and volunteer work, crowdfunding platforms rely on technology and modern financial systems. This initiative brings both worlds together with the goal of ensuring that aid reaches its beneficiaries with greater transparency and credibility.

Support reaching the most vulnerable families

In Lebanon, field operations rely on a network of trusted institutions that have played a key role throughout the country’s successive crises, including Caritas Lebanon, the Lebanese Red Cross, as well as a wide network of parishes, dioceses, and local Church institutions, where priests and social workers personally know the families most in need.

Aid is directed toward the groups most affected by the crisis, with particular attention given to families displaced by bombardments, elderly people living alone, women and children in vulnerable conditions, sick and disabled persons, as well as families living in extreme poverty and residents of collective shelters, remote villages, and under-resourced host communities.

Although the initiative is rooted in Christian values and gives particular attention to Christian families who have lost everything, assistance is provided to all those in need, regardless of religion, background, or political affiliation.

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

The pontiff acknowledges that “rapid technological transformations reveal just how unprepared we are on the educational level.” He warns that “the pervasiveness of digital media fosters a culture of immediacy and hyper-stimulation, which gives rise to fatigue, boredom, and apathy concerning the effort required for seeking the truth.”

In response, he emphasizes that education “is a long journey requiring patience and therefore needs time for development and for engagement with reality beyond appearances,” something he considers “fundamental,” because — as he recalls — every technology “shapes those who use it.”

The risk of extinguishing the desire to ask questions

In the encyclical, Leo XIV does not offer ready-made answers or an easy list of tips. Rather, he issues a broad call to rethink what it means to educate people in the use of artificial intelligence and its implications. Ultimately, as he himself states, it is a matter of educating people “to decide when and for what purpose it ought not to be used.”

“The speed and ease with which answers or summaries can be obtained risk extinguishing the desire to ask questions, which is a process that bears fruit only over time,” the pope writes. To illustrate this point, he turns to the Seventh Letter of the Greek philosopher Plato, from 353 B.C., a cornerstone of Western thought.

“We must learn, then, how to exercise restraint in the use of AI and to protect our young people from the promise of the perfect machine, from that subtle temptation which renders human thought seemingly superfluous precisely when it is most needed,” he suggests, recalling that, as Plato said, the deepest and most important realities are learned only with great time and effort.

‘Early and unsupervised exposure’

The pope also warns about the negative impact on sleep, attention, and emotional regulation caused by “early and unsupervised exposure to digital devices and social media.”

This is compounded, he continues, “by easy access to violent or degrading content that offends sensibility, to pornographic and hypersexualized material, to messages that trivialize the body and emotions, and to proposals that normalize risky behavior.”

“Having a personal mobile device at too early an age and using it without adult supervision can exacerbate young people’s vulnerabilities, foster addiction, and expose them to isolation, bullying, and cyberbullying, as well as to pressures to share intimate images or sensitive information,” he warns.

In this regard, the pontiff acknowledges that it is difficult for parents to resist on their own the “influence of business models that monetize attention and time.” Hence his call for “an alliance among policymakers, educational institutions, and families that is capable of concretely supporting adults in this task.”

“Farsighted public policies are needed,” he insists, “to oppose the immediate interests of platforms, concentrated in a few hands, when they conflict with the well-being of minors.”

Along these lines, without pointing to any specific government, he speaks positively of legislative initiatives promoted in countries such as Australia, France, and Spain, and urges the promotion of “setting age limits, holding service providers accountable rather than shifting the whole burden of control onto families, and for providing specific protections against all forms of online sexual exploitation and violence. Thus can children and adolescents, who are entrusted to our care, be genuinely protected as a precious treasure.”

Leo also identifies several pressing challenges within education in the face of the emergence of artificial intelligence.

“Many educational systems struggle to keep pace with change and to support the integral development of students,” he notes.

The development of information technologies and AI is causing curricula designed for another era to be obsolete, while school organization, spaces, assessment methods, and the very role of the teacher must be rethought “in order to promote an authentically integral education that addresses every dimension of the person.”

“It is necessary to support the ongoing formation of teachers throughout their professional lives, so that they can engage positively with new technologies, helping students to use them responsibly, critically, and creatively rather than passively succumbing to their influence,” he says.

The Holy Father also identifies a challenge of an intellectual and wisdom-based nature. “Without careful attention, an educational system lacking in a love for truth may emerge, in which an incessant flow of information replaces the essential exercise of research, reflection, and discernment,” he laments.

A healthy attitude of attention

In this context, he warns of the proliferation of a fragmented knowledge, while “it becomes difficult to grasp reality as a whole, to ask profound questions about meaning, or to develop authentic, critical, and creative thought.”

“A genuinely healthy attitude is needed, requiring rhythms that incorporate silence, in-depth study, reading, and judicious analysis, for without these elements inner freedom may be compromised,” he proposes.

The Church’s social doctrine, the pope says, calls for a renewed educational alliance among families, schools, Christian communities, and public institutions. This takes concrete form when principles are translated into educational goals: educating in sobriety and a sense of limits; in recognizing the right of others and of future generations to enjoy the goods received or created by human ingenuity; in freedom and responsibility; and in a sense of transcendence and the common good.

“Schools are not called to follow the pace of the digital world but to offer that which the digital sphere by itself cannot provide, namely a shared time for learning and developing trustworthy relationships,” he concludes.

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

The full document is available to download here — and worth a read. But for a quick taste of whatʼs inside, here are 15 powerful quotes from the encyclical:

“Never has humanity had such power over itself.” (par. 4)

"In practice, however, technology is never neutral, because it takes on the characteristics of those who devise, finance, regulate and use it. Therefore, the primary choice is not between a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to technology, but rather between constructing Babel or rebuilding Jerusalem; between a power that claims to dominate the heavens and a people who work together in the presence of God to rebuild the walls of fraternal coexistence.” (par. 9)

“In the era of artificial intelligence, when human dignity is threatened by new forms of dehumanization, ours is the pressing duty to remain profoundly human. We must lovingly safeguard the grandeur of humanity bestowed upon us and revealed in its fullness in Christ, the splendor of which no machine can ever replace.” (par. 15)

“Thus, the ‘rejected stones’ — the poor, the sick, the migrants and the least among us — will become the cornerstone, and a solid, welcoming common home will emerge on the earth, where love and faithfulness will finally meet, and righteousness and peace will embrace (cf. Ps 85:10).” (par.16)

“Human dignity does not depend on a person’s abilities, wealth, or position in life, nor on the right or wrong choices made; instead, it is a gift that precedes and transcends each person, endowed by God as an expression of his unfailing love.” (par. 50)

“Among these ideologies, I consider particularly insidious the one that suggests that every person must earn or justify his or her own worth, to the point of attributing greater value to those who are more efficient or effective.” (par. 51)

“No sin, failure, humiliation, or exclusion can diminish the profound value of a human life that God has willed and called into being.” (par. 52)

“Solidarity demands that decisions regarding data, algorithms, platforms and artificial intelligence take into account not only the immediate benefit for a few, but also the impact on all peoples and on future generations.” (par. 76)

“For an algorithm, an error is a flaw to be corrected; for a person, however, an error can be a catalyst for profound change. A person’s future is not calculable, but depends on one’s freedom — elevated by the inexhaustible grace of God — and on the relationships cultivated.” (par. 128)

“Having a personal mobile device at too early an age and using it without adult supervision can exacerbate young people’s vulnerabilities, foster addiction, and expose them to isolation, bullying, and cyberbullying, as well as to pressures to share intimate images or sensitive information.” (par. 141)

“Even in the darkest nights, the Lord raises up men and women who refuse to give up, who persevere in doing good, who protect the vulnerable and open pathways to reconciliation. The memory of the saints, righteous people, and the oft-forgotten peacemakers, show us that grace does not magically eliminate conflict, but instead it inspires active resistance to evil and an astonishing creativity in doing good.” (par. 211)

“The civilization of love will not arise from a single or spectacular gesture, but from the sum total of small and steadfast acts of fidelity that serve as a bulwark against dehumanization.” (par. 213)

“‘Let us disarm words and we will help to disarm the world.’ Words have enormous power, something we experience in our daily interactions; for example, spoken words can change our mood for better or for worse." (par. 214)

“No computational system, however sophisticated, can create a heart that gives itself, or a conscience that discerns good from evil. Even when machines excel in efficiency, a human face that asks to be gazed upon remains the center of our history. This human face is the fullness toward which history is moving.” (par. 233)

“Let us remain faithful to the truth! Living amid incessant flows of information, opinions and images, we know how easy it can be to influence decisions and preferences through increasingly sophisticated algorithms. In this context, it is imperative to cultivate hearts that love the truth, prefer what is right despite the most appealing content and pursue wisdom rather than immediate results.” (par. 237)

Among the speakers was Canadian Christopher Olah, co-founder of Anthropic, one of the leading artificial intelligence (AI) companies. The firm has recently had tensions with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump after prohibiting the U.S. Department of Defense from using its software for military purposes.

Some observers had raised concerns about including a representative of a major tech company like Anthropic in an event of this kind. The Holy Father himself dispelled any hesitation by thanking Olah for his presence: “What a great sign of hope it is that with our differences we can listen to one another,” he said in his remarks.

“This interchange clearly bespeaks the gravity of the moment, as well as confidence that together we can discern the major questions of our time, and so the future of humanity,” he added.

In his remarks prior to the pope’s address, Olah echoed the same idea: "That is why, if we want this technology to go well, it is enormously important that there be people outside those incentives — people who care about things going well and insist on safety, who are paying close attention, who are willing to say hard things, who are willing to be our earnest, thoughtful, critics. It is through dialogue and mutual effort, through the push and pull, that humanity will achieve great things. That is what I see in Magnifica Humanitas, and it is why I am grateful to His Holiness and the Church for taking up this work of discernment.”

Olah, who is not a believer, also issued a call to various sectors — religious communities, civil society, academics, and governments — to follow the pope’s example with this document: “to take this seriously, to look closely, and to push events in a better direction. We need informed critics who will tell the labs when we are failing. We need moral voices that the incentives cannot bend.”

It is no coincidence that Leo XIV signed his first encyclical on May 15, the same date on which his predecessor Leo XIII promulgated Rerum Novarum (“On New Things”) in 1891 in response to the dehumanization brought about by the Industrial Revolution. As the pope explained, the world today faces a transformation of perhaps even greater scope.

“Today we find ourselves facing a transformation of similar magnitude, with perhaps even greater consequences. Artificial intelligence already touches many areas of our lives and affects decisions that shape human coexistence,” he said.

The pope expressed particular concern about the impact of new technologies on the conduct of war, which, he warned, is changing dramatically.

“Like the earlier Leo, I feel entrusted to look upon another huge transformation with eyes of faith, with lucidity of reason, with openness to mystery, and with cries of the poor and the earth resounding in my heart,” he said.

The Holy Father also described the method behind the drafting of this magisterial document, which began in July 2025 at the papal residence in Castel Gandolfo. In it, he seeks to reaffirm what makes us human in a society shaped by technology.

He emphasized that Magnifica Humanitas was born from listening: “I have listened to scientists and engineers who work with sincere enthusiasm on technologies capable of alleviating immense suffering, to political leaders and public officials who have perseveringly sought just rules, to parents and teachers who are deeply concerned for the future of younger generations,” he said, without naming individuals.

At the same time, he acknowledged hearing “Other very troubling voices have also reached me about increasingly autonomous weapons systems practically beyond any human reach to govern them effectively.”

“I hear very troubling accounts of algorithms that can block access to healthcare, employment, and security on the basis of data tainted by prejudice and injustice. And Iʼve heard the silence of those who have no voice when decisions are made — decisions likely to generate new forms of exclusion and suffering,” he lamented.

In line with the document — which states that artificial intelligence is not morally neutral — the pope called for AI to be “disarmed.”

“The word is strong, I know, but deliberately chosen because this moment needs words capable of attracting attention, awakening consciences, and indicating paths forward for humanity,” he warned.

“The Church has long been working for nuclear disarmament, aware that every great technical power can affect peopleʼs lives, and so must be accompanied by adequate moral discernment and public control. Nuclear disarmament remains a service to peace and the dignity of the human family,” he added.

Also speaking at the presentation were three cardinals of the Roman Curia: Secretary of State Pietro Parolin; Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith; and Cardinal Michael Czerny, SJ, prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.

Two theologians also took the floor: Anna Rowlands, a specialist in Catholic social teaching and migration ethics at Durham University, and Leocadie Lushombo, an expert in political theology and Catholic social thought at the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University in California.

This story was originally published by ACI Prensa, EWTN News' Spanish-language news service. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

One of the most significant aspects of magisterial documents like encyclicals is the sources of inspiration the pope draws upon beyond the strictly ecclesial sphere — that is, not only citations from great theologians, Church Fathers, or pontiffs but also references from traditions and disciplines outside the Church.

For example, Leo XIV cites Viktor Frankl, the physician and survivor of four Nazi concentration camps, including Auschwitz, between 1942 and 1945. From that extreme experience — marked by the total destruction of his surroundings and the extermination of his loved ones — emerged his universal work “Man’s Search for Meaning,” in which Frankl argues that, despite suffering, life remains worth living.

The pope also points to the “almost prophetic significance” of various cultural expressions: Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, which he describes as a “desire for unity”; Pablo Picasso’s “Guernica,” “as a denunciation of dehumanization”; and Steven Spielberg’s film “Schindler’s List,” “as a call not to consign the past to oblivion.”

In the encyclical, the pontiff warns of the risks facing democratic life in a context in which “the question of what is true loses interest,” giving way to a pragmatism satisfied with “what seems useful or effective.”

To illustrate the consequences of this indifference to truth — which, according to the pope, “leads slowly but inexorably toward totalitarianism” — he turns to the German-American philosopher and political theorist Hannah Arendt.

In “The Origins of Totalitarianism,” published in 1951, Arendt maintains that the ideal subjects of such regimes are not necessarily those who are ideologically convinced but rather “people for whom the distinction between fact and fiction (i.e., the reality of experience) and the distinction between true and false (i.e, the standards of thought) no longer exist,” as quoted in Magnifica Humanitas.

The pontiff also cites 20th-century Catholic writer J.R.R. Tolkien, specifically “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King,” the epic conclusion of his famous trilogy. Through the wizard Gandalf, the pope recalls the moral responsibility of each generation: “It is not our part to master all the tides of the world, but to do what is in us for the succor of those years wherein we are set, uprooting the evil in the fields we know, so that those who live after may have clean earth to till.”

Alongside these references, the pontiff evokes the civil rights movement in the United States, associated with the leadership of Martin Luther King Jr., as well as the end of apartheid in South Africa following Nelson Mandela’s release and his decision not to “surrender the future to hatred.”

The magisterial text also recognizes the witness of “courageous and generous” women such as St. Laura Montoya, St. Teresa of Calcutta, Dorothy Day, and Elisabeth Elliot (1926–2015), an influential American Christian missionary, writer, and speaker.

Alongside them, Leo mentions prominent figures from various fields of knowledge and social action who are not necessarily Catholic. Among them are Marie Curie (1867–1934), a pioneer in the study of radioactivity and the first person to receive two Nobel Prizes in different fields (physics and chemistry); Maria Montessori, the Italian physician, educator, and philosopher who revolutionized education by placing the child at the center of learning; and Wangari Maathai (1940–2011), the Kenyan activist, founder of the Green Belt Movement, and the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004 for her contribution to sustainable development, democracy, and peace.

He also refers to Benazir Bhutto (1953–2007), a prominent Pakistani political leader and the first woman elected to govern a Muslim-majority country, serving as prime minister on two occasions, from 1988–1990 and 1993–1996.

All of them, together with many other women from different continents, Leo XIV notes, have contributed through their efforts to “making history more humane.”

In addition, in the section addressing education, the pontiff cites Plato — specifically his Seventh Letter, dating to 353 B.C. — in which, while recounting his stay in Syracuse under the tyrants Dionysius the Elder and Dionysius the Younger, the Greek philosopher sets forth part of his political and ethical doctrine.

The encyclical also highlights religious communities that choose to live in poor and dangerous places. The pope calls them “martyrs of fraternity and justice,” such as St. Maximilian Mary Kolbe, St. Óscar Romero, and Blessed Enrique Angelelli; as well as other witnesses who, under harsh and often inhuman conditions, have embodied the hope of the Gospel and the dignity of the human person, such as the Venerable François-Xavier Nguyễn Văn Thuận.

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

The encyclical develops the Churchʼs social teaching in light of artificial intelligence, situating new questions of human dignity, labor, and the common good within the tradition that runs from Rerum Novarum through Centesimus Annus and Laudato Si'.

Download and read the full encyclical as a PDF below.

The event, now in its 18th year in the Czech Republic, invites believers and nonbelievers alike to explore churches, chapels, and synagogues through concerts, exhibitions, talks, guided tours, and prayer — often until late at night. Some participating sites grant access to towers, crypts, and spaces that are otherwise closed to the public. This yearʼs theme in the Czech Republic and in Slovakia is “Courage.”

Last year, more than 460,000 visitors and 25,000 volunteers took part across the Czech Republic, an increase of 40,000 visitors and 5,000 volunteers compared with the year before. In Austria, organizers counted around 300,000 visitors in each of the last two years. In Slovakia, where precise figures were not available for 2025, several cities reported record attendance, according to the press agency of the Slovak Bishops' Conference.

‘Sometimes it takes courage’

Archbishop Stanislav Přibyl of Prague, writing in the periodical Kostelní Noviny published for the occasion, acknowledged that “sometimes it takes courage to even cross the threshold of a church.” The prelate invited readers to enter and “get to know each other,” noting that “churches and chapels were created as spaces for people to meet each other and with God.”

Archbishop Josef Grünwidl of Vienna said he appreciated the growing popularity of the Night of Churches in neighboring Czechia, calling it “a challenge for all people to further explore their own religious and spiritual tradition, enter new spaces, and not be afraid to open up to the unknown.”

In Vienna, Grünwidl and Bishop Cornelia Richter of the Evangelical (Lutheran) Church invited guests from church, society, business, and politics for dinner and discussion at the archbishopʼs palace. A limited number of seats were available through a public lottery.

Organizers in the Austrian capital alone expect more than 100,000 visitors, who will be able to choose from more than 170 participating churches — including a police chapel — and performances ranging from Gregorian chant to a Korean choral concert.

In Slovakia, Archbishop Bernard Bober of Košice, president of the Slovak Bishops' Conference, called on people to come, saying that “open temples will become a place of prayer, meeting, and courage to seek God in silence and in community.” He described the event as an “opportunity to rediscover the beauty of faith and the openness of our churches to everyone.”

Several Czech regional governors encouraged residents to enjoy the Night of Churches for its “unique atmosphere” and “openness and sharing,” or simply to pause inside centuries-old buildings and reflect “on how we live and what we can do for us and for others.”

A buried villageʼs night of memory

The initiative has also provided unexpected settings for faith and reconciliation. In 2023, former parishioners of the village of Radovesice in the Czech Republic gathered above the site of their buried village — including its Church of All Saints — on the 40th anniversary of the villageʼs demolition.

The village was one of several in northwestern Czechoslovakia destroyed during the communist era to make way for mining.

“We brought archive documents, paintings, and statues which had belonged to the temple [church],” Robert Kotyšan, caretaker of the Diocese of Litoměřice, explained in Kostelní Noviny.

“We commemorated the deceased parishioners and debated our relationship and responsibility to the place in which we live,” Kotyšan told EWTN News.

The former parishioners also unlocked a padlock from the church that had been preserved, which Kotyšan described as “a symbolic opening of a better future for this once beautiful country and an effort to return at least part of its memory and dignity to it.”

A considerable part of the artifacts brought to the 2023 gathering are now kept in a still-standing church in Kostomlaty pod Milešovkou, which is itself considered a “dead parish” because no parishioners attend.

The next gathering is planned for 2028, the 45th anniversary of the demolition.

From Frankfurt to 8 countries

The concept of opening churches at night originated in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, in 1995. It spread to Austria in 2005 and to the Czech Republic in 2009 and has since expanded to Slovakia, Hungary, Estonia, South Tyrol in Italy, and Switzerland. The initiative usually takes place at the end of May.

AI is not a morally neutral tool; it matters not only how it is used but how it is designed, Leo writes in “Magnifica Humanitas: On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence,” published May 25. Magnifica humanitas means “magnificent humanity” in Latin.

He also warns that “a more moral AI is not enough if that morality is determined by a few … In fact, as with every major technological shift, AI tends to amplify the power of those who already possess economic resources, expertise, and access to data.”

The first encyclical letter of Leo XIV covers a wide range of social issues, focusing heavily on the impacts of AI in the areas of education, the economy, unemployment, work, the development of young people, human trafficking, and war.

He proposes the principles of Catholic social doctrine — the dignity of the person, the common good, the universal destination of goods, subsidiarity, solidarity, and justice — as guidelines for decision-making and the “criteria for judging whether technologies truly serve humanity or are subjugating it.”

While rejecting dichotomous thinking that pits the opportunities of AI against its risks, or enthusiasm against fear, Leo offers a stark assessment of the technological paradigm the world finds itself in today and describes a path of progress that serves people “or a progress that subjects them to the mentality of power.”

“The risk extends beyond the misuse of certain technologies. More gravely, the pervasive technocratic paradigm in which we are immersed, and that is amplified by the digital revolution and AI, threatens to normalize an antihuman vision,” he writes.

Leo borrows the term “technocratic paradigm” from Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical Laudato Si', in which, Leo writes, Francis critiqued a paradigm “that seeks to reduce everything to an object to be dominated.”

In that antihuman vision, he continues, “the fullness of life is equated with having more, reducing weakness, eliminating uncertainty, and exerting total control. When efficiency becomes the ultimate measure of value, human beings are tempted to see themselves as a project to be optimized rather than as persons called to relationship and communion.”

According to Pope Leo, the central question — safeguarding our humanity — is something everyone should have a role in answering.

He invokes one of his spiritual guides, St. Augustine of Hippo, quoting from “De Civitate Dei” (“The City of God”): “‘Two loves have built two cities: the earthly city, the love of self even to the contempt of God; the heavenly city, the love of God even to the contempt of self.’ As throughout history, these two loves continue to contend for dominance in our hearts today.”

From Catholic social doctrine to the fight for power

The encyclical’s 245 paragraphs are broken down into an introduction and five chapters, with the first two dedicated to an explanation of the development of the Church’s social doctrine from Pope Leo XIII to today, the main principles of that doctrine, and how they can be applied to the current technological age.

Chapter 3 introduces “the technocratic paradigm” of artificial intelligence and the imbalance of digital power.

Chapter 4 turns to the importance of safeguarding truth, democracy, work, education, and human freedom in the age of AI, while the fifth chapter is dedicated to an analysis of the normalization of war, the fight for power, and how everyone has a responsibility to help build a civilization of love through the cultivation of peace and justice.

Throughout the encyclical, Leo draws on the image of construction to ask how humanity will respond to the new technological age. Humanity, he says, must choose between building the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9) and building a city where God and humanity can dwell together, as Nehemiah gathered together people to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile (Nehemiah 2-6).

“In light of these two images, the Holy Spirit challenges us today regarding our relationship with technology and the ongoing digital revolution,” he writes. “Technology has the power to heal, connect, educate, and protect our common home; but it can also divide, exclude, and generate new forms of injustice.”

Pope Leo XIV draws on quotations from prominent 19th- and 20th-century thinkers, both Catholic and Jewish, including St. John Paul II, Victor Frankl, Hannah Arendt, J.R.R. Tolkien, Giorgio La Pira, and Father Romano Guardini, to argue that while technology is not a solution in itself to humanity’s problems, nor is it inherently evil.

“In practice, however, technology is never neutral, because it takes on the characteristics of those who devise it, finance it, regulate it, and use it,” he writes.

The choice, he continues, is not between a “yes” or “no” to technology but “between constructing Babel or rebuilding Jerusalem; between a power that claims to dominate the heavens and a people who work together in the presence of God to rebuild the walls of fraternal coexistence.”

Frequently cited sources for the encyclical letter include Pope Benedict XVI’s encyclical Caritas in Veritate and the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church.

Writing that he does not wish to give a comprehensive overview of AI, the pope points readers to previous writings by the Church on AI, in particular, the 2025 note Antiqua et Nova by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith and the Dicastery for Culture and Education and Quo Vadis, Humanitas?, published earlier this year by the International Theological Commission — both of which are cited often in the footnotes of Magnifica Humanitas.

Christian humanism and the technocratic paradigm

The pope writes about the mindsets of transhumanism and posthumanism and how they are the ideological vision underlying technology.

He proposes a Christian humanism, where human beings “are not confined by the boundaries of their own nature; rather, they are called to self-transcendence, not through an escape from reality or a contempt for their limitations but through their fulfillment in love.”

In Magnifica Humanitas, the Holy Father also expresses concern about the “new monopolies of AI.”

“To speak of the common good means exposing this new form of epistemic, economic, and political asymmetry,” he writes.

The key question, he says, is that posed by St. John Paul II: Does AI “make human life on earth ‘more human’ in every aspect of that life? Does it make it more worthy of man?’”

Leo writes that “a decisive test for the ethical discernment of AI and digital transformation” is in the fight against new forms of slavery, such as human trafficking. The pontiff goes on to “sincerely ask for pardon,” in the name of the Church, for the “immense suffering and humiliation endured by so many” before slavery was unequivocally condemned in the 19th century.

“This development offers a clear example of the Church’s growth in understanding the perennial truths of revelation that she safeguards. Although there was not always consistency in practice,” he writes, “there has been a continuous affirmation throughout history of the dignity of every human being, created in the image of God, even if it took 18 centuries for its full incompatibility with slavery to be explicitly recognized.”

The memory of past blindness and complicity regarding the injustice of slavery is “a call to vigilance,” the pope says. “What we have learned must be translated into discernment and responsibility in the present.”

‘A violent culture of power’

A large section of the pope’s letter is devoted to what he writes is “a troubling revival of war as an instrument of international politics,” AI use in warfare, a crisis in multilateralism, and the erosion of ethical principles that used to limit war.

“Humanity is slipping into a violent culture of power,” he warns. “Today, more than ever, without prejudice to the right to self-defense in the strictest sense, it is important to reaffirm that the ‘just war’ theory which has all too often been used to justify any kind of war, is now outdated. Humanity possesses far more effective and capable tools for promoting human life and resolving conflicts, such as dialogue, diplomacy, and forgiveness.”

“The modern Babel can be seen not only in the globalized technocratic paradigm but also in the remote clash between opposing imperialisms, between powers that wish to preserve their supremacy and those that aspire to seize that supremacy, resulting in a multiplicity of local conflicts. Moreover, there seems to be no limit to the race — driven by a dehumanizing ambition — to develop evermore powerful technologies or to secure control over them,” Pope Leo writes.

But the pontiff does not conclude on a negative note. He adds that, “despite this downward spiral, we can also glimpse a great part of humanity that is striving to remain human and working to build the holy city of coexistence and peace.”

Concluding the document, he expresses the hope that, “[i]n the humble fidelity of daily life, even the era of AI can become a time in which the Holy Spirit brings about the civilization of love in our lives.”

“Indeed, the Lord continues to make all things new and offers every era the possibility of becoming part of salvation history in the light of the Incarnation.”

Here are some ideas that gently introduce children to the deeper meaning of Memorial Day.

1. Create a memorial flower boat.

This is an easy but beautiful craft that uses materials that you probably have lying around the house. Though it is based on the Navy’s tradition of floating flowers out into the ocean to recall sailors whose lives were lost at sea, it could be used to honor fallen soldiers from any branch of the military.

2. Write a letter to a soldier.

Talk to your children about what our men and women in uniform do for our country, then have them write a letter or draw a picture to send to someone who is currently in the military.

3. Take flowers to a veterans cemetery.

Check online to see if there’s a veterans cemetery near you. If there is, consider stopping by with a bouquet of flowers on your way to your Memorial Day plans.

4. Make a pin for a veteran you know.

If you have a friend or family member who is a veteran, have the kids make one of these pretty pins to honor the service he or she provided to our country. This is a good opportunity to talk about where this person served, why he or she was there, and to mention the fact that some of this person’s fellow soldiers were not so fortunate as to make it back home to their families.

5. Make an American flag cake.

You won’t have any problem convincing your kids to help make this Memorial Day cake that is as delicious as it is easy to put together. Working together in the kitchen is always a great opportunity for family bonding moments, and in the process of icing the cake and laying out the flag pattern, chat with your kids about what the American flag represents and all the people who have given their lives to defend it.

6. Say a prayer for the souls of departed soldiers.

The easiest suggestion of all: Simply take a few moments today and have your family pause to say a prayer for the repose of the souls of all the men and women who gave their lives in the service of our country.

This story was first published by the National Catholic Register, EWTN News’ sister partner, on May 30, 2011, and has been updated and adapted by EWTN News English.

The pilgrimage, whose 2026 theme is “One Nation Under God,” will travel the St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Route from Florida up the Eastern Seaboard before concluding July 5 in Philadelphia.

Organizers have described the route as a way to connect Eucharistic faith with the country’s history, including stops through many of the original 13 colonies and several historic Catholic landmarks.

Bishop Erik Pohlmeier of the Diocese of St. Augustine welcomed pilgrims at the opening event, joined by National Eucharistic Pilgrimage staff, clergy, religious, lay faithful, families, and the perpetual pilgrims who will accompany the Eucharist along the route.

“We should be compelled to speak the message of the Gospel… to take up our part in the grand work of the Church,” Pohlmeier said during his Pentecost homily.

The day began with arrival and welcome at the shrine, followed by opening remarks, the Family Rosary Across America with Relevant Radio, and the Opening Pentecost Mass at the Field Altar. After Mass, the Eucharist was carried in procession on the shrine grounds to the historic chapel for exposition and adoration.

More than 1,000 pilgrims attended the opening events, gathering under the intense Florida sun as umbrellas stretched across the crowd throughout the outdoor Mass and procession. Families, clergy, religious sisters, and pilgrims of all ages filled the shrine grounds before following the Eucharist in procession to the historic chapel for adoration.

The launch site carries historical significance. The Diocese of St. Augustine said the pilgrimage begins in “the nation’s oldest Catholic city,” linking the earliest chapter of Catholic life in what is now the United States with a new generation of pilgrims carrying the Eucharist across the country. The shrine grounds are associated with the Mass of thanksgiving celebrated in 1565 at the founding of St. Augustine, the nation’s oldest continuously occupied European-established city in the continental United States.

In his homily, Pohlmeier connected the feast of Pentecost to both the history of Catholicism in St. Augustine and the Church’s missionary calling today. Reflecting on the arrival of Catholic missionaries to Florida’s shores in the 16th century, he said that “from that beginning, they centered their life around the Eucharist.”

He described Pentecost as producing both “the missionary impulse” and “the divine power of the Church’s work,” saying those same gifts remain essential for the Church today.

The 2026 pilgrimage is named for Frances Xavier Cabrini, the first U.S. citizen to be canonized a saint. Known for her missionary work among immigrants, orphans, the poor, and the sick, Mother Cabrini is also the patron saint of immigrants.

Nine young adults were named perpetual pilgrims for the 2026 journey: Zachary Dotson, Marcel Ferrer, John Paul Flynn, Eduardo Gutierrez, Cheyenne Johnson, Angelina Marconi, Raymond Martinez II, Sharon Phillips, and Mary Carmen Zakrajsek. The pilgrims will travel full time with the Blessed Sacrament from St. Augustine to Philadelphia.

John Paul Flynn, a Catholic University of America student from Maryland serving as a media missionary for portions of the pilgrimage, said he first learned about the opportunity through an Instagram post his girlfriend sent him. Already involved in Catholic media work, Flynn said the opportunity gradually became something he felt called to pursue.

Describing the pilgrimage as “too good … to pass up,” Flynn said he realized his current stage of life as a student gave him a rare opportunity to spend weeks accompanying the Eucharist across the country. He said he hopes the experience will deepen his faith and make Christ’s presence more tangible through the journey.

The pilgrimage is scheduled to pass through 18 dioceses and two Eastern-rite eparchies, with public events including Mass, Eucharistic adoration, processions, service projects, and opportunities for prayer.

Later Sunday, pilgrims processed approximately 1.2 miles from the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche to the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine, where reflections, speakers, sacred music, and overnight adoration were planned.

The launch comes two years after the first National Eucharistic Pilgrimage crossed the country in 2024 and one year after the 2025 pilgrimage continued the movement. Organizers have said the 2026 route is intended to invite prayer for unity, healing, and renewal as the country approaches its semiquincentennial.

The pilgrimage will continue Monday through the Diocese of St. Augustine before moving north. Its final events are scheduled for Independence Day weekend in Philadelphia.

Celebrating Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica on May 24, the pope centered his homily on the risen Christ’s appearance to the disciples in the upper room, where Jesus showed them “his hands and his side” and breathed the Holy Spirit upon them.

“The Lord reveals his glorious body, specifically his wounds, the marks of the crucifixion,” Pope Leo said. “These signs of the Passion, more eloquent than words, are now transfigured; he who was dead lives forever.”

The pope said the same upper room that had been marked by fear and betrayal became, through Christ’s gift of the Spirit, “for the entire Church, the womb of the Resurrection.”

“Pentecost is therefore a paschal feast and a feast of the body of Christ, which by grace is all of us,” he said.

Leo framed his homily around three aspects of the Holy Spirit: peace, mission, and truth.

“First of all, the Spirit of the risen One is the Spirit of peace,” he said. “Indeed, through his paschal mystery, Christ restores peace between God and humanity, and the Holy Spirit pours this peace into our hearts and spreads it throughout the world.”

That peace, the pope said, “stems from forgiveness and leads us to forgiveness,” beginning with Christ’s forgiveness of humanity.

The pope then described the Holy Spirit as “the Spirit of mission,” citing Christ’s words: “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”

“We are truly co-workers of the Gospel: The whole Church is its protagonist, not merely its guardian,” Leo said. “Through the power of the Spirit, our proclamation is filled with joy and hope, for we — yes, we ourselves — are the newness of the world, the light and the salt of the earth.”

The pope warned that some changes “do not bring new life to the world, but make it grow old through error and violence.” By contrast, he said, “the Holy Spirit enlightens minds and instils new vitality in our hearts.”

“This is how he transfigures history, opening it to salvation, which is the gift that the Lord offers to everyone,” he said. “The Church’s mission bears witness to this offer, thereby transforming the world’s confusion into communion with God and among ourselves.”

Finally, Leo said the Spirit is “the Spirit of truth,” who “always promotes unity in truth” and protects the Church from “partisanship, hypocrisy, and fads that obscure the light of the Gospel.”

“The truth that God gives us thus stands as a liberating word for all peoples, a message that transforms every culture from within,” he said.

Concluding his homily, the pope offered a prayer for a world wounded by war, poverty, and sin.

“Dear friends, with fervent hearts, let us pray today that the Spirit of the risen One may save us from the evil of war, which is overcome not by a superpower, but by the omnipotence of love,” he said. “Let us pray that he free humanity from misery, which is redeemed not by immeasurable wealth, but by an inexhaustible gift. Let us pray that he heal us from the scourge of sin through the salvation proclaimed to all peoples in the name of Jesus.”

After the Mass, Pope Leo appeared from his study in the Apostolic Palace to pray the Regina Coeli, returning again to the theme of the Holy Spirit as the one who opens what fear and sin have closed.

The pope said the Spirit was poured out abundantly on the newborn Church and is given anew to the faithful today as “light and strength” in every circumstance of life.

“The Spirit opens doors,” he said, pointing to the image of Christ opening the doors of the upper room and to the Acts of the Apostles, where the Spirit comes “like a violent wind.”

Leo asked: “What doors does the Holy Spirit open?”

The first, he said, is “the door of God himself,” opening access to the mystery of God as revealed in Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit, he said, helps believers encounter God personally in Jesus, recognize him within themselves, and discover the signs of his presence in daily life.

The second door is that of the upper room, “that is, of the Church.” Without the fire of the Spirit, the pope said, the Church “remains a prisoner of fear,” timid before the challenges of the world, closed in on itself, and unable to enter into dialogue with changing times.

The third door, Leo said, is “the door of our hearts.” The Spirit helps believers overcome resistance, selfishness, mistrust, and prejudice, making them capable of living as children of God and brothers and sisters to one another.

“Where the Spirit of the Lord is, fraternity is born among persons, groups, and peoples of the earth,” he said, adding that all are called to speak “the one language of love, which unites and harmonizes differences.”

The pope also recalled the day of prayer for the Church in China, observed on the liturgical memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Help of Christians, who is venerated at the Shrine of Our Lady of Sheshan in Shanghai.

Leo invited the faithful to join in prayer with Chinese Catholics “as a sign of our affection for them and of their communion with the universal Church and with the successor of Peter.” He prayed that Mary’s intercession would obtain for the Church in China the grace of unity and the strength to witness to the Gospel in daily hardship, becoming a seed of hope and peace.

The pope also remembered victims of a recent mining accident in northern China and entrusted to Mary the Christian communities of the Holy Land, Lebanon, and the wider Middle East suffering because of war.

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

Amid anticipation of the encyclical there is renewed interest in what papal documents are. Understanding these documents has become important for Catholics as well, as they typically reveal the popeʼs pastoral and theological vision for the Church.

So, what are the different types of papal documents, and how should Catholics interpret them?

Papal bull

A papal bull is a formal papal letter authenticated by the popeʼs seal. The name “bull” derives from the Latin “bulla,” meaning seal.

Bulls have been used by popes since the early Middle Ages and have been a popular means of communicating their decisions outside Rome, including denouncing heresies, calling for crusades, establishing jubilee years, and issuing high-profile excommunications.

Since at least the 13th century, these documents have been authenticated by a lead seal with the popeʼs name on one side and the heads of Sts. Peter and Paul on the other. In some cases, they were also authenticated by the Ring of the Fisherman, the popeʼs ring.

In modern times, popes have used bulls to announce jubilee years, appoint bishops, and issue apostolic constitutions. They are typically written in Latin and are now authenticated with a red-ink stamp of the seal rather than the seal itself.

Bulls are the only formal document in which a pontiff will refer to himself as “servus servorum Dei” (“servant of the servants of God”).

Modern examples include the bull with which St. John XXIII opened the Second Vatican Council in 1962 and the bull with which Pope Francis proclaimed the Jubilee Year of Hope in 2025.

Apostolic constitutions

Apostolic constitutions are among the most authoritative documents a pope can issue.

According to canon law, the pope is the Churchʼs supreme legislator, possessing “full, immediate, and universal ordinary power in the Church.”

Apostolic constitutions are a means by which the pope establishes laws, defines doctrine (in rare cases), and makes institutional changes in the Church, such as erecting a diocese or reorganizing offices in the Roman Curia.

In rare instances, apostolic constitutions have been used to issue ex cathedra statements that define doctrine, which are regarded as infallible and obligatory for all Catholics to believe. Recent examples include the solemn declarations of the Immaculate Conception in 1854 and the Assumption in 1950.

Encyclicals

A papal encyclical is a letter written by the pope primarily to the bishops but also to Catholics and all people regarding certain social, moral, or theological questions.

According to the 1917 edition of the Catholic Encyclopedia, encyclicals were “letters sent to all the bishops of Christendom, or at least to all those in one particular country, and intended to guide them in their relations with their flocks.”

Encyclicals, along with his homilies and apostolic exhortations, are part of the pope’s everyday teaching authority, known as his “ordinary magisterium.” They are commonly used by popes to indicate pastoral priorities for the Church and the world.

Encyclicals are not merely letters or expressions of the popeʼs opinion. They carry significant doctrinal weight and are frequently cited as important sources of Catholic teaching.

According to Lumen Gentium (No. 25), Catholics are required to give “a religious submission of the mind and will” to these letters as the “authentic magisterium of the Roman pontiff, even when he is not speaking ‘ex cathedra.’”

So, while Pope Leoʼs Magnifica Humanitas may not rise to the level of an “ex cathedra” statement, it would still be part of his teaching that Catholics should treat with respect.

Apostolic exhortations

Apostolic exhortations are documents issued by the pope to encourage the faithful in matters of faith, particularly to promote certain devotions or to guide Catholics in responding to societal challenges.

A recent example is Pope Leoʼs apostolic exhortation Dilexit Te, in which he reminded the faithful of the inseparable nature of faith and service to the poor.

While exhortations are not infallible, they also indicate the popeʼs priorities. For example, Pope Francis' Laudate Deum, in which he emphasized the urgency of addressing ecological challenges, has prompted many Catholics to implement measures and found institutes dedicated to preserving the popeʼs ecological vision.

Popes also have regularly released post-synodal apostolic exhortations, responses by a pontiff to the work of a Synod of Bishops. Two well-known such post-synodal exhortations are St. John Paul II’s Christifideles Laici (1988) and Pope Francis’ controversial Amoris Laetitia (2016).

Motu proprios

While apostolic constitutions and other papal documents are usually issued in response to the faithful, a motu proprio is issued at the popeʼs own initiative. Its name, in fact, means “on his own impulse.”

A motu proprio is a common way for a pontiff to change Church law and the bureaucratic dimensions of the Roman Curia. For example, in November 2025, Pope Leo issued a motu proprio restructuring the Governorate of Vatican City State, allowing non-cardinals to serve as its presidents.

In modern times, motu proprios have also been used by popes to regulate the liturgy. Recent examples include Pope Benedict XVIʼs Summorum Pontificum in 2007, which allowed greater freedom for priests to celebrate the Traditional Latin Mass, and Pope Francis' Traditionis Custodes in 2021, which imposed restrictions on its celebration.

Motu proprios and apostolic constitutions normally take effect when they are published in the official acts of the Holy See, the Acta Apostolicae Sedis.

Papal rescripts

Papal rescripts are the official responses of the pope or a dicastery to a petition. Under canon 59 of the Code of Canon Law, these documents can grant privileges and dispensations and clarify existing laws.

A recent example is the 2023 rescript from the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments on the application of Traditionis Custodes, which clarifies the conditions under which permission would be granted for priests to celebrate the Traditional Latin Mass.

Addresses

These are the most common kinds of papal documents, ranging from formal speeches (traditionally called allocutions), homilies, special messages, and weekly catecheses.

Papal addresses and speeches are also important indicators of the popeʼs pastoral priorities, and the catecheses during his general audiences each week are particularly notable expressions of his mind. For example, the catecheses delivered by Pope John Paul II from 1979 to 1984 during his general audiences on human sexuality and the human person formed the basis for what has been hailed as the theology of the body.

In the case of Leo XIV, many of his public addresses have been devoted to the theme of peace, the interpretation of the Second Vatican Council, and artificial intelligence.

Leoʼs first encyclical is expected to clarify the Churchʼs response to artificial intelligence and other developing technologies. But many of his addresses, including his first address to the cardinals after his election, have already indicated artificial intelligence as a central focus of his pontificate.

Chirographs

A seldomly used papal document, a chirograph is used by the pope only to reorganize the Roman Curia. It is also circulated only within the Roman Curia.

A recent example is the chirograph that Pope Francis issued in 2014 to establish the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors.

At Pentecost, there “appeared to them tongues as of fire … and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues.” The gift of tongues allowed them to speak and for every person gathered to hear them “in his own native language.”

“Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit,” St. Peter said in Acts 2:38-39. “For the promise is made to you and to your children and to all those far off, whomever the Lord our God will call.”

Pentecost is considered the birth of the Church, and the gift of tongues allowed Christians to embark on their mission to convert all nations by removing the impediment of language barriers united under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

St. Augustine of Hippo — the fourth- to fifth-century bishop, theologian, and philosopher — wrote about the solemnity in sermons in the late 300s and early 400s. He contrasted the gift of tongues with the chaos established in Genesis 11 when God punished humanity with separate languages for trying to construct the Tower of Babel to reach heaven.

In Sermon 271, Augustine explains that after the Flood, “the ungodly pride of men built a high tower against the Lord, and the human race was deservedly divided by languages, so that each nation would speak its own language and thus not be understood by the others.”

Augustine contrasts the pride of humanity in Genesis with “the devout humility of the faithful” who gathered together 50 days after the resurrection of Christ. At Pentecost, that humility prompted God to instill the gift of tongues to bring unity to the Church despite “the variety of their different languages,” he writes.

With this gift, the theologian explains, “the scattered members of the human race, as of one body, might be attached to their one head, Christ, and so reunited, and fused together into the unity of the holy body by the fire of love.”

“Whoever received the Holy Spirit, even as one person, started speaking all languages,” he writes. “So too now the unity itself is speaking all languages throughout all nations; and it is by being established in this unity that you have the Holy Spirit; you that do not break away in any schism from the Church of Christ which speaks all languages.”

In Sermon 267, Augustine writes that at the Pentecost, “the Church was then in one house.” He adds: “That small church spoke in the languages of all nations” and 400 years later, “this great Church now speaks in the languages of all nations from the rising of the sun to its setting.”

The growth of the Church over those four centuries, Augustine writes, is a fulfillment of God’s promise to reach across nations and languages: “You were promised to yourself: but promised in few, fulfilled in many. The Holy Spirit is the soul of the body of the Church.”

In Sermon 268, Augustine expands on how the Pentecost points to the necessity of unity in the Church under the Holy Spirit, writing that it showed “the unity of the Church in the tongues of all nations” in a small room following Christ’s resurrection. Now we see “the unity of the Catholic Church, spread throughout the whole world.”

“The duties of the members are distributed, but one spirit contains all,” he continues. “Many commands are given, many things are done: One commands, one is served. That is our spirit, that is, our soul, to our members; this is the Holy Spirit to the members of Christ, to the body of Christ, which is the Church.”

Augustine is one of the Church’s greatest theologians and philosophers. He strongly influenced the Catholic understanding of the Trinity and the Holy Spirit more specifically, with writings such as “On the Trinity.”

Pope Leo XIV, the first Augustinian pope, discussed Augustine’s writings about Pentecost in a homily on Sept. 1, 2025, telling his Augustinian brothers: “You are members of the body of Christ, who speaks all languages.”

“If not all those of the world, certainly all those that God knows to be necessary for the fulfillment of the good that, in his provident wisdom, he entrusts to you,” Leo said. “Live these days, therefore, in a sincere effort to communicate and to understand, and do so as a generous response to the great and unique gift of light and grace that the Father of heaven gives you by summoning you here, specifically you, for the good of all.”

An indulgence can be received by praying or singing the hymn "Veni Creator Spiritus" during the solemnity of Pentecost. The prayer is below.

What is a plenary indulgence?

The following “General Remarks on Indulgences” from “Gift of the Indulgence” summarizes the usual conditions given in the Churchʼs law (cf. Apostolic Penitentiary, Prot. N. 39/05/I):

“This is how an indulgence is defined in the Code of Canon Law (can. 992) and in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (n. 1471): ‘An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven, which the faithful Christian who is duly disposed gains under certain prescribed conditions through the action of the Church which, as the minister of redemption, dispenses and applies with authority the treasury of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints.’”

Conditions in all cases

In order to obtain the plenary indulgence, in addition to praying or signing the hymn mentioned above, the following conditions must be fulfilled:

1. Detachment from all sin, even venial.

2. Sacramental confession, holy Communion, and prayer for the intentions of the pope. These three conditions can be fulfilled a few days before or after performing the works to gain the indulgence, but it is appropriate that Communion and the prayer take place on the same day that the work is completed.

A single sacramental confession is sufficient for several plenary indulgences, but frequent sacramental confession is encouraged in order to obtain the grace of deeper conversion and purity of heart.

Prayer: Veni Creator Spiritus

Come, Holy Spirit, Creator blest, and in our souls take up thy rest; come with thy grace and heavenly aid to fill the hearts which thou hast made.

O comforter, to thee we cry, O heavenly gift of God Most High, O fount of life and fire of love, and sweet anointing from above.

Thou in thy sevenfold gifts are known; thou, finger of Godʼs hand we own; thou, promise of the Father, thou who dost the tongue with power imbue.

Kindle our sense from above, and make our hearts oʼerflow with love; with patience firm and virtue high the weakness of our flesh supply.

Far from us drive the foe we dread, and grant us thy peace instead; so shall we not, with thee for guide, turn from the path of life aside.

Oh, may thy grace on us bestow the Father and the Son to know; and thee, through endless times confessed, of both the eternal Spirit blest.

Now to the Father and the Son, who rose from death, be glory given, with thou, O Holy Comforter, henceforth by all in earth and heaven. Amen.

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

“The challenge is that it is not an event. We are used to concerts, which are prepared, closed and thatʼs it," he said in an interview with EWTN News about the preparations for the trip of Pope Leo XIV, who will visit Madrid, Barcelona and the Canary Islands from June 6 to 12.

He expressed hope that the visit will be “a moment of experience and ... a moment also that will be slow, that it helps us to look up and take a step forward.”

Preparations in record time

Cardinal Cobo explained that the visit has been organized in “record time,” with just three months of work, and with a much greater social and ecclesial response than expected.

“We have had three scarce months to prepare a trip, during which we have also found that there is a great desire and an incredible expectation. I think we thought it was going to be something [for which] we had to motivate [Catholics] a lot, but nothing was needed,” he said.

As he highlighted, the popeʼs program in Madrid has been designed as a “pastoral triptych” with three major components: the celebration of the Eucharist on the feast of Corpus Christi, the great meeting with the Church of Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium, and a space for dialogue with leaders of culture, economy and sport.

“The celebration of the Eucharist, [especially on] Corpus Christi — which is a very important holiday for us — and celebrating it with the successor of Peter, is a gift for the whole Church of Madrid and for the whole Church of Spain, because they will come from all places. This is the most celebratory central moment,” said the cardinal.

The pope and “politics with capital letters”

In Coboʼs opinion, one of the most delicate moments will be the appearance of the Holy Father in the Cortes, or the Spanish parliament, before a joint session of both the Congress of Deputies and the Senate.

Cobo warned that he is concerned that a message about “politics with capital letters” may be reduced to a partisan reading.

“In a society where we are used to talking about political parties, that moment is important,” he said.

“Of course the intention is that the pope will come, that he will support politicians, that he will support politics and that he will thus be able to reinforce democracy from the experience and tradition of the Church,” he said.

Asked if the recent accusation of alleged corruption of the former Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero could have any impact on the visit, Cobo indicated it was unlikely.

“We are used to working with many events in political life. Thatʼs already part of life and the headlines are moving,” he said. “I think the good thing about a papal visit is that ... it can help us look up and see that despite the political situation that is painful ... there is a higher level.”

“There is another level, a level that speaks to us of hope, it is a level that speaks to us of responsibility, that speaks to us of ethics,” he said.

“I believe that we are not going to contradict one thing with another, but we are going to get used to being also in another space, which is that of non-confrontation and welcoming wounds and difficulties and putting them in front of the space of meaning that life gives and that faith tells us.”

The hope of the young, and not so young

The cardinal also noted that for young people the visit could represent a response to a climate of “disorientation”, “uprooting” and “hopelessness.”

He maintained that many are looking for “anchors” and answers about the meaning of life, something that, in his opinion, explains the renewed interest in the figure of the pope among new generations.

“I think it is a response to a longing that young people have ... and not only young people, I think it is from a very broad generation, I believe that there is an experience of a certain discomfort, a disorientation ... a certain de-rooting. People need anchors that they donʼt have.”

A meeting between Pope Leo XIV and Bad Bunny?

Regarding the coincidence of the popeʼs presence in Madrid occurring at the same time as the rapper Bad Bunnyʼs concerts, Cobo did not close the door to a possible meeting, although he left it in the hands of both parties.

“The pope is never closed to talking to anyone who wants to enter into dialogue with him,” he said.

“If at some point that can happen, we wouldnʼt rule it out of course, but that depends on the two of them. What is certain is that indeed Madrid is very big and can have different events on the same day,” he said.

“In life, we come to understand that the more fragile a beauty is, the greater the care and responsibility it demands,” the pope told the crowd in Acerraʼs Piazza Calipari.

The Holy Father arrived in the small town earlier in the day for a brief pastoral visit. Acerra is located about 130 miles southeast of Rome.

After meeting with local Church leaders at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption, the pope headed to the piazza, where he said he was “delighted” to spend the Saturday morning with the crowd of around 15,000.

The popeʼs visit to the Land of Fires came on the 11th anniversary of the late Pope Francis' landmark environmental encyclical Laudato Si'. Acerra has for years suffered environmental fallout due to the dumping of waste materials in the region.

Yet “life is present here, and it stands in opposition to death; justice exists, and it will prevail,” the pope said. “We must, of course, choose life and break free from the bonds of death.”

“There is always a subtle convenience to be found in resignation, in compromise, and in postponing necessary and courageous decisions,” he continued. “Fatalism, complaining, and shifting the blame onto others serve as a breeding ground for lawlessness and mark the beginning of a desertification of consciences.”

“For this reason, I would like to say to you all: Let each of us shoulder our own responsibilities; let us choose justice; let us serve life!”

The pontiff further reminded the citizens of Acerra of the need to care for creation.

“I would like to thank those ‘pioneers’ who, through their courageous commitment, were the first to denounce the ills plaguing this land and to draw attention to the obscured and denied reality of its poisoning,” the pope said.

“I am thinking, in particular, of the members of environmental associations,” the pope said. “We all know that we must stand guard over the health of creation just as we stand guard over our own front door, and that we must resist the temptations of power and enrichment linked to practices that pollute the earth, the water, the air, and our shared life.”

Acerra Mayor Tito dʼErrico expressed his gratitude to the pope for his presence, pointing to the significance of the Laudato Si' anniversary. “Integral ecology is not merely a label; it is a social and economic model that places the dignity of the human person at its very center,” dʼErrico said.

During the visit Acerra Bishop Antonio Di Donna presented the Holy Father with two precious mementos linked to St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori, the patron saint of the diocese: a statue of the saint and an autograph letter.

Following the event in the piazza, the pope departed by helicopter to Rome.

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

The pope arrived in Acerra around 8:45 a.m., landing at the Arcoleo sports field, where he was immediately welcomed by Acerra Bishop Antonio Di Donna.

Numerous dignitaries were also present, including Tito d’Errico, the mayor of Acerra.

Pope Leo XIVʼs visit to the region also marks the 11th anniversary of the publication of the late Pope Francis’ landmark environmental encyclical Laudato Si'.

Pope Francis himself was originally scheduled to visit the area for the encyclical’s fifth anniversary, though the visit was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

From the sports field, Pope Leo XIV traveled immediately by car to the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption in Acerra, where he met with bishops, clergy, members of religious orders, and the families of victims of environmental pollution. Approximately 12,000 faithful were present for the occasion.

"Today we wish to fulfill Pope Francis’ desire, recognizing the great gift that the encyclical Laudato Si’ has represented for the Church’s mission in this land," the Holy Father said.

"Indeed, the cry of creation and of the poor among you has been felt most dramatically due to a deadly concentration of shadowy interests and indifference toward the common good — forces that have poisoned both the natural and social environments," he said, adding: "It is a cry that calls for conversion!”

Di Donna himself recounted the history of the region at the cathedral, stating that the “environmental tragedy” began in the 1980s, “when certain industrialists in the north needed to dispose of vast quantities of toxic waste.”

“Over the span of roughly 30 years, hundreds of thousands of tons of toxic waste arrived from numerous industries across northern Italy, only to be dumped in a specific part of this territory,” the bishop said.

The environmental crisis triggered “a collapse of the agricultural industry,” the bishop said, describing the “Terra dei Fuochi” label as “a mark of infamy for our region.”

Pope Leo XIV told the assembly he had come to listen to those in the region who have lost loved ones to the environmental devastation. The pope said he also wished to “thank those who have responded to evil with good.”

“We suffer because of the devastation that has compromised a marvelous ecosystem — places, histories, and memories,” the pope said.

“Faced with this reality, there are two possible attitudes: indifference or responsibility,” he continued. “You have chosen responsibility, and — with God’s help — you have embarked upon a path of commitment and the pursuit of justice.”

“Can these lands come back to life?” the pope continued. “Be the answer yourselves: a united community, in faith and in commitment. Then life will multiply.”

The pope was scheduled to return to Rome after his visit to Acerra, located a little over 130 miles southeast of Rome. The Holy Father also met with civic leaders and local residents of Acerra.

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

The production studios also announced that filming concluded ahead of schedule after shooting for 134 days in the cities of Rome, Bari, Ginosa, Craco, Brindisi, and Matera in Italy.

“Mel is a true visionary with an artist’s eye for scale and a storyteller’s instinct for emotional truth,” Adam Fogelson, chair of the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, said in a press release on May 21. “Every image we’ve seen from set feels like a masterwork painting brought to life. There are very few directors who can operate at this level of epic spectacle while at the same time delivering such depth and conviction. Mel has crafted a film of extraordinary ambition that audiences worldwide have been waiting to experience for over 20 years.”

“The Resurrection of the Christ” is the sequel to Gibson’s famous film “The Passion of the Christ,” which starred Jim Caviezel as Jesus.

While many believed that Caviezel would reprise his role as Jesus, the filmmakers decided to instead select an entirely new cast. Finnish actor Jaakko Ohtonen will portray Jesus, Cuban actress Mariela Garriga will play Mary Magdalene, Kasia Smutniak will play the Blessed Virgin Mary, and Italy’s Pier Luigi Pasino will play Simon Peter.

Released in 2004, “The Passion of the Christ” vividly depicts the final hours of Jesus’ life, from his arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane to his crucifixion.

The film has been the subject of debate since its release. The graphic scenes of Christ’s scourging and crucifixion sparked controversy; some critics considered it excessively violent, while others praised it for its historical authenticity and its ability to realistically convey Christ’s suffering.

In January 2004, Joaquín Navarro-Valls, then-director of the Holy See Press Office, noted that Pope John Paul II had seen the film and gave it a positive review, describing it as “the cinematographic recounting of the historical fact of the passion of Jesus Christ according to the Gospel accounts.”

Despite controversies surrounding the film, it garnered a profit of $370 million domestically with many crediting it as having opened the door to faith-based media in Hollywood.

“We, Catholic leaders and organizations committed to justice, peace, and the dignity of every human person, express our grave concern and unequivocal moral objection to the recent legislation expanding the use of the death penalty, particularly its application in the context of prolonged occupation,” Pax Christi International said in a letter signed by 56 Catholic leaders including bishops, priests, and religious, and 51 Catholic organizations.

“By introducing and normalizing the death penalty within military courts operating in occupied territory, it institutionalizes a system of state-sanctioned killing on discriminatory grounds,” the letter said. “The fact that Israeli citizens are excluded from these provisions highlights the inequity and discrimination inherent in this law.”

Bangladesh outlaws finding out babies’ sex in womb to combat selective abortion

The High Court of Bangladesh has banned couples from finding out the sex of their baby in the womb, stating doing so encourages selective abortions.

The landmark ruling found that disclosure of the sex of a baby before birth to be “discriminatory” and a violation of constitutional rights, according to an Asia News report. The judges found that determination of sex before birth encourages discrimination against girls and that “the issuance of guidelines alone is not sufficient” to address the problem."

"By banning the determination and disclosure of the sex of the fetus, the lives of many children can be saved,” Edward Pallab Rozario, a doctor and president of the Association of Catholic Doctors of Bangladesh, said in the report.

Preparations continue in Baghdad for installation of new Chaldean patriarch

In Baghdad, preparations are underway for the installation of Patriarch-elect Paul III Nona on May 29 at St. Joseph Cathedral in Baghdad.

The ceremony will include mainly religious, with the participation of the Chaldean Synod Fathers and invited Church leaders, ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News, reported Thursday.

A special reception for the new patriarch was also planned for May 22 followed by his first Mass as a patriarch after the installation. Choirs and young deacons from across Iraq are preparing liturgical and traditional Chaldean hymns in Syriac (Neo-Aramaic) and Arabic for the celebrations.

Church leaders welcome new papal nuncio in Damascus

In Syria, Catholic Church leaders welcomed the new papal nuncio, Archbishop Luigi Roberto Cona, upon his arrival in Damascus, ACI MENA reported Wednesday.

Church leaders expressed hope that his mission will help strengthen ties between Syria and the Holy See at a critical time for the country. Archbishop Youhanna Jihad Battah said Syrian Christians value the Vatican’s continued presence and support, especially after years of conflict and economic hardship.

Ethiopian bishops appeal for protection of migrants facing abuse abroad

Members of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Ethiopia (CBCE) have appealed for greater protection of Ethiopian migrants worldwide, warning that many are caught in systems of exploitation, violence, fear, and abuse as they seek better lives abroad, ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, reported Thursday.

“Millions of young Ethiopian men and women leave their homeland not because they lack love for their country but in search of better employment opportunities and improved living conditions,” the CBCE members said in a statement Thursday on the worsening plight of Ethiopian migrants in the Middle East, Africa, and Europe, stressing that every migrant possesses inviolable human dignity regardless of legal status or economic condition.

Slovakia remembers doctor and nun slain in South Sudan

Apostolic Nuncio to Slovakia Archbishop Nicola Girasoli celebrated a Mass in honor of Sister Veronika Racková, a doctor and missionary in South Sudan, on the 10th anniversary of her death.

During his homily, Girasoli reflected on Racková’s legacy and called for those who knew and loved her to contribute to her cause “so that the beatification process can begin, because her witness of Christian life is beautiful, and todayʼs celebration helps us to make further progress in this direction,” according to a report from Fides News Agency on Tuesday.

Racková, a member of the Congregation of the Missionary Sisters of the Servants of the Holy Spirit, served as a missionary and doctor in Ghana and Sudan before she was shot and killed by South Sudanese soldiers at a checkpoint in May 2016 on her way back from helping transport a pregnant mother to the hospital.

Catholic sisters warn of impersonation in eastern Africa

Members of the Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit (SSpS) in the Ethiopia-South Sudan-Uganda region have issued a warning to Catholic Dioceses, Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Societies of Apostolic Life (ICLSAL), and the wider faithful in eastern Africa over a woman allegedly presenting herself as a member of the congregation.

In a statement shared with ACI Africa on Thursday, the leadership of congregation identified the woman as “Maria Cecilia Nyakato Kemigisha” and rejected any association with her.

“After verification, we wish to state clearly that Maria Cecilia Nyakato Kemigisha is not and has never been a member of the Missionary Sisters Servants of the Holy Spirit (SSpS) and has no connection with our region or congregation,” leader Sister Lovely Thomas, SSpS, said in the statement, noting the impersonator has been contacting dioceses, religious communities, and individuals asking for various forms of assistance.

In the decree on the celebration, the then-head of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, Cardinal Robert Sarah, wrote that the intention for the memorial was to help the faithful “remember that growth in the Christian life must be anchored to the mystery of the cross, to the oblation of Christ in the Eucharistic banquet, and to the mother of the redeemer and mother of the redeemed, the virgin who makes her offering to God.”

While this memorial honoring the Blessed Mother as the mother of the Church is relatively new, Mary’s title as mother of the Church has been associated with her for centuries.

The theological foundation for the title is often traced to the Gospel of John. As Jesus hangs on the cross, he says to his mother: “Woman, behold your son,” and to the apostle John: “Behold your mother.” Catholic tradition has long interpreted that moment as John representing all disciples, making Mary the spiritual mother of the entire Christian community.

The 2018 decree highlights this moment as well. It reads: “Indeed, the mother standing beneath the cross (cf. Jn 19:25) accepted her son’s testament of love and welcomed all people in the person of the beloved disciple as sons and daughters to be reborn unto life eternal. She thus became the tender mother of the Church, which Christ begot on the cross handing on the Spirit. Christ, in turn, in the beloved disciple, chose all disciples as ministers of his love towards his mother, entrusting her to them so that they might welcome her with filial affection.”

Over the centuries, Marian devotion expanded through prayers, feast days, art, and theology, but the specific title “mother of the Church” gained wider prominence during the 20th century.

During the Second Vatican Council, bishops debated how Mary should be presented within modern Church teaching. Some argued for a separate document dedicated entirely to Mary, while others believed she should be discussed within the Church’s broader mission and identity.

In 1964, Pope Paul VI formally proclaimed Mary as “mater Ecclesiae” — “mother of the Church” — calling her “mother of all the faithful and pastors.”

It was also added to the Roman Missal after the holy year of reconciliation in 1975. Subsequently, some countries, dioceses, and religious families were granted permission by the Holy See to add this celebration to their particular calendars. With its addition to the General Roman Calendar, it is now celebrated by the whole Roman Catholic Church.

Pope John Paul II strongly championed this Marian title and had a deep devotion to “mater Ecclesiae.” The pope’s papal motto was “Totus tuus” (“Totally yours”) and signified his total consecration to Jesus through Mary.

During his papacy he also had a mosaic commissioned facing St. Peter’s Square titled “Mater Ecclesiae.” This mosaic was done after the pope’s survival of a 1981 assassination attempt in which John Paul II credited Mary with saving his life, and he dedicated his pontificate to her protection.

John Paul II also wrote extensively about the Blessed Mother’s role in guiding the faithful, most notably in his 1987 encyclical Redemptoris Mater, which explores Mary’s participation in the plan of salvation, the mother of God being at the center of the pilgrim Church, and examines Mary’s role as intercessor and spiritual mother.

With this in mind, the memorial aims to “encourage the growth of the maternal sense of the Church in the pastors, religious, and faithful, as well as a growth of genuine Marian piety.”

Youth organizations, womenʼs groups, and lay associations — working with religious sisters and priests — are leading rosary devotions in villages and cities. The Diocese of Mymensinghʼs Youth Commission has launched a monthlong initiative aimed at students living in city hostels, while parishes from Dhaka to Natore are continuing long-standing community devotions.

In Mymensingh, the diocesan Youth Commission inaugurated the program at the Surasree-Panthanivas Mess, a student hostel in the Kachizhuli area, where young men and women joined the rosary and Mass together, according to Charchil Mrong, secretary of the Youth Commission of the Diocese of Mymensingh.

“Many said that they were able to connect with each other and be optimistic about their faith and goals,” Mrong told EWTN News. “Our aim is to bring disconnected youth from religious places back to the path of Jesus and we took this initiative with that aim in mind.”

Mrong said the May rosary is also being prayed in homes across the city, where families gather as they do each year for the devotion.

“It is not just in the hostels where students stay, but like every year, this rosary prayer starts in May in different families in the city, and through this prayer, families come together. This is not just a prayer but also strengthens unity, harmony, and family ties in the entire area,” Mrong said. “This prayer will reach all the young men and women in Mymensingh, bringing them together to a new light of hope. Hopefully, this prayer will bring positive changes in our youth society.”

Weekly devotions in the capital

In Dhaka, the rosary and Mass are offered every Tuesday and Wednesday during May at Tejgaon Holy Rosary Church. People from all walks of life take part, with many remaining after the prayers to pray privately at the Marian grotto and light candles.

“Mother Mary is the best means of reaching Jesus; we can reach Jesus through praying to Mother Mary,” said Father Jyanto S. Gomes, parish priest of Holy Rosary Church.

“Mother Mary is a symbol of obedience and humility. By praying to her, we make ourselves obedient and humble to Jesus,” Gomes said. “This prayer should be a constant part of our family life in May and we should maintain the practice of prayer.”

Village devotion in the north

In Natore district to the north, parishioners of Gopalpur Catholic Church gather each Wednesday in May to pray the rosary at the parish cemetery. In surrounding villages, women travel from house to house leading the rosary.

“The devotion to Mother Mary is strengthened in this month of May,” said Mary Rozario, a member of Gopalpur Church. “Although we should always pray this prayer, we cannot do it much due to lack of time, but in May we try to pray to Mother Mary.”

“People are now very busy with worldly matters, and their attention to prayer is very low,” Rozario said. “Therefore, the Church should take timely steps to make them prayer-oriented. We should move away from traditional prayer and determine the time for prayer considering the time of people.”

This marks the second official meeting between the Holy Father and the institution, which is the official association of the Catholic Bishops’ Conferences of all European Union member states. The organization views the encounter as an opportunity to reflect in particular on the process of European integration and to discuss the bishops’ role in promoting peace and integral human development.

Essential issues on the Church’s agenda in Europe

In a statement issued prior to its audience with the pontiff, COMECE outlined some of the topics the group wished to bring to the table, such as migration and the rise of populism in Europe; the fight against poverty; data protection within the Church; artificial intelligence; efforts to facilitate unrestricted access to abortion across the EU; and the mental health of Europeans, among others.

The bishops also discussed a potential visit by Pope Leo XIV to the European Parliament, the appointment of a new special envoy for freedom of religion, and the political shifts currently taking place within the European Parliament.

The COMECE presidency also presented to the Holy Father a proposal to hold a new gathering of “Rethinking Europe” in the autumn of 2027, marking 10 years since the first meeting, which gathered some 300 people at the Vatican, including political representatives from the European Union and its member states, academics, and Church representatives.

The event aimed to reflect on the challenges facing the European Union and to explore ways to strengthen and renew the European project.

Peace: A paramount issue

In a statement to EWTN News, Archbishop Bernardito Auza, apostolic nuncio to the European Union, highlighted regarding the meeting with the pontiff the need to revitalize Europeʼs capacity to promote dialogue and peace. He recounted that members of COMECE asked the pope what their priorities should be, to which the pontiff responded with clarity: the issue of peace.

Auza also noted that the Holy Father encouraged the bishops to delve deeper into “how the Church should relate to political bodies and how it must remain faithful to its prophetic role” as well as into the issue of migration “within the context of certain movements we call populist in the European Union.”

Auza underscored that Leo XIV upholds “the right of states to define their own migration policies” and emphasized that the Church does not question this. Rather, it maintains that, once migrants have reached their new destination, they cannot be denied the services they need, nor can their human dignity fail to be fully respected.

The bishops also encouraged the pontiff to visit European institutions, recalling the official invitation extended to him by Roberta Metsola, president of the European Parliament, during a private audience on March 5.

According to the nuncio, this visit “would be of great assistance to us, as it would lend significant momentum and great authority, we might say, to the work we constantly carry out in Brussels and Strasbourg.”

Excellent atmosphere, calm dialogue

For his part, Bishop Mariano Crociata, president of COMECE, highlighted in a conversation with EWTN News the “calm, serene, and welcoming” presence of Pope Leo XIV.

“The meeting unfolded in an atmosphere of great naturalness, spontaneity, and cordiality, and at the same time, of clarity regarding the issues discussed,” he emphasized.

Crociata stated that it was “a calm dialogue” between people who know one another “and who hold the same task and the same mission in their hearts ... there was an excellent atmosphere and a desire to continue working in unity and together.”

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

Washington Attorney General Nick Brown’s office alleged in a complaint that Providence regularly refused accommodations or failed to implement accommodations such as limited lifting or more frequent sitting for pregnant and nursing mothers.

The complaint also alleges that some superiors retaliated against employees after they requested accommodations.

The lawsuit said this violates the state’s Healthy Starts Act and the Washington Law Against Discrimination.

Pennsylvania attorney general appeals lower court ruling

Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday is looking to overturn a court ruling that struck down a law preventing the state from funding abortion.

Sunday appealed the lower court’s ruling, which struck down the state’s ban on Medicaid coverage for abortion in an ongoing case that began in 2019 when abortion providers brought a suit against the state’s abortion funding ban.

The attorney general said he had a “statutory obligation to defend the commonwealthʼs laws.”

“My responsibility as attorney general is to defend the rule of law and defend statutes without interference of personal opinion or political posturing,” Sunday said in a statement to EWTN News.

Maine senator absent from abortion-related committee meetings, records show

Maine U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, a Republican, has not attended abortion-related Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee meetings since the overturn of Roe v. Wade in 2022, according to committee hearing reports.

Collins confirmed the appointment of Justice Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court in 2018, saying at the time that she thought he wouldn’t be a part of overturning Roe v. Wade.

Her office did not respond to a request for comment from EWTN News.

With the pontiffʼs authorization, 80 martyrs of the Spanish Civil War and the Lebanese Patriarch Elias Hoyek will be beatified. In addition, Salesian missionary Constantino Vendrame; discalced Carmelite from Cameroon Brother Jean Thierry; Spanish religious María Ana Alberdi Echezarreta; and Brother Nazareno da Pula, a Capuchin lay brother, will be declared venerable.

The 80 ‘Martyrs of Santander’ to be beatified

Just days before the start of his apostolic journey to Spain, Pope Leo XIV authorized the decree recognizing the martyrdom of Francisco González de Córdova and 79 companions — consisting of 67 priests, three Carmelites, three seminarians, and seven laypeople — who were killed during the Spanish Civil War in Santander in northern Spain.

According to the Diocese of Santander, the martyrs, soon to be beatified, died without renouncing their faith and while forgiving their attackers, even praying for them. Some of them were thrown into the Cantabrian Sea with their hands and feet bound; others were executed and burned, or disappeared aboard the ship “Alfonso Pérez,” which had been converted into a prison by the Popular Front of the Second Spanish Republic.

The priest Francisco González de Córdova refused to cease celebrating Mass and administering the sacraments, which he continued to impart clandestinely until his arrest. During his captivity, he continued to hear the confessions of his companions and blessed them before their execution. He was murdered in the hold of the prison ship.

Elias Hoyek, ‘Father of Greater Lebanon’

The patriarch of Antioch of the Maronites, Venerable Elias Hoyek, will be declared blessed as the pontiff has approved a miracle attributed to his intercession.

Born on Dec. 4, 1843, in Helta, he founded the Congregation of the Maronite Sisters of the Holy Family in Ebrine, northern Lebanon, the first female religious institute of apostolic life in the Maronite Church.

He was elected patriarch of Antioch and of All the East for the Maronites in 1899, a position he held for more than 30 years “with great dedication and pastoral sensitivity, constantly attending to the formation of the clergy and the catechesis of the faithful,” the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints notes.

The future blessed aided the Lebanese people during the First World War, placing convents and monasteries at their disposal, a gesture for which he was sentenced to deportation, though he was ultimately able to remain in Lebanon thanks to the intervention of Pope Benedict XV.

At the Congress of Versailles, he advocated for the independence of his homeland, which had been part of the Ottoman Empire during the war, achieving the proclamation of the new State of Greater Lebanon on Sept. 1, 1920; for this reason, he is known as the “Father of Greater Lebanon.”

He used his influence to humbly assist those in need, regardless of their social standing.

4 new venerables

The Holy Father also approved the heroic virtues of Servant of God Constantine Vendrame (1893–1957). Also known as the “Apostle of Shillong,” he was a Salesian missionary from Italy who evangelized in India.

The Servant of God Nazareno da Pula (1911–1992), a Capuchin lay brother, will also be declared venerable.

Leo XIV likewise authorized the recognition of the heroic virtues of the Servant of God María Ana Alberdi Echezarreta (1912–1998), baptized as María de la Concepción Cruz, abbess of the monastery of the Franciscan Conceptionist Sisters.

Finally, the pope authorized the recognition of the heroic virtues of the Servant of God Jean-Thierry of Jesus the Child and of the Passion (1982–2006), a professed religious of the Order of Discalced Carmelites.

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

Shane and Jennifer DeGross, a Christian couple who served as licensed foster parents in Washington state for nine years, sued the state in 2024 for religious discrimination. The state had declined to renew their foster license in 2022 because of their sincerely held Christian beliefs that God created the human body as either male or female, and that this biological sex is immutable.

The DeGrosses objected to the state’s policy requiring foster parents to affirm a child’s gender identity, including using pronouns that do not align with the child’s sex and supporting social or medical transitioning.

The state decided to settle this week after a key federal court ruling in April denied Washington’s motion to dismiss the case with respect to the DeGrosses’ First Amendment claims to the free exercise of religion and free speech, allowing the lawsuit to proceed.

During the nine years they served as foster parents, the couple cared for multiple children and were described by their licensing agency as exemplary foster parents, according to Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), the religious freedom law group representing the couple.

As part of the settlement reached on May 20, Washington’s Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) will change its licensing policies to respect all religious families’ deeply held convictions and won’t “attach any conditions or restrictions to the license solely because of their religious beliefs, including speech and actions pertaining to marriage, gender, or sexual relationships.” State officials also agreed to pay $250,000 in attorneys’ fees.

“When children are sleeping on cots in child-welfare offices for lack of loving homes, states like Washington should be doing everything they can to bring in more qualified foster parents,” said Johannes Widmalm-Delphonse, ADF senior counsel, when the federal court issued its decision in April.

The federal district court cited another ADF case in its April opinion, Bates v. Pakseresht, where ADF had successfully challenged a similar law in Oregon on behalf of a Christian mother, Jessica Bates.

In 2023, Bates challenged the department rule that required those seeking to become adoptive or foster parents must agree to “respect, accept, and support the … sexual orientation, gender identity, [and] gender expression … of a child or young adult” who is placed in the home.

In 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit ordered that the Oregon Department of Human Services must allow Bates to begin the process of adopting two children without first making her comply with the stateʼs gender identity affirmation policy.

According to a statement from ADF, the appeals court ruled that Oregon’s policy “engaged in viewpoint discrimination and violated Bates’ free speech and free exercise of religion. The Washington district court saw the same issues in how the state’s policy violated the DeGrosses’ constitutional rights.”

The settlement permanently resolves the dispute and requires DCYF to stop imposing viewpoint-based restrictions on religious foster parents.

In honor of the nation’s 250th anniversary, the pilgrimage will begin in Florida, where the first recorded Catholic Mass within the future continental United States was celebrated, highlighting the country’s Catholic roots.

“We have to return to one nation under God, and I think that by beginning this pilgrimage at St. Augustine, weʼre returning to one of the major start points for Catholicism,” Jeffrey Bruno, a photojournalist and contributor to the National Catholic Register, the sister partner of EWTN News, said in an interview with Register Radio.

“If we do return to that as a nation, we really will be a nation filled with hope and with promise,” he said.

The launch of the pilgrimage will include remarks from Jason Shanks, president of the National Eucharistic Congress. He will also be joined by Bishop Erik Pohlmeier of St. Augustine and the nine perpetual pilgrims who will travel the entirety of the pilgrimage, which spans more than 2,000 miles.

The 250th anniversary coinciding with the pilgrimage is “perfect,” said Bruno, who has photographed past Eucharistic pilgrimages and the Eucharistic congress. “Hopefully itʼs going to be a new start, a fresh start“ and ”the next 250 will be really happy and holy, I pray.”

The pilgrimage will pass through most of the original 13 colonies. Pilgrims will travel the Eastern Seaboard along the Cabrini Route in honor of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, the first U.S. citizen to be canonized.

The group will stop in Baltimore, which is the U.S. Catholic Church’s “foundation,” as it houses “the first cathedral” and “was the first diocese" in the nation, Bruno said.

Pilgrims also will travel through Colonial Williamsburg, the immersive restoration of Virginia’s 18th‑century capital, where “American culture ... meets Catholic culture,” he said.

“American Catholic culture has had such an incredible impact on this country,” he said. “Catholicism is so interwoven into the fabric of the United States. Mother Cabrini is the perfect example of that too, with all the accomplishments, all the hospitals and institutions that she founded over all the years.”

“Healthcare, education, all these different things, itʼs like they can all find their roots back in … Catholicism” and its “contributions to this country,” he said.

“I just hope [and] I pray that the contributions moving forward will be even more intense," Bruno said.

The pilgrimage will conclude on July 5 in Philadelphia.

Graces of the Blessed Sacrament

As the Eucharist travels from state to state, it will offer needed “grace” to believers and nonbelievers alike, Bruno said. 

In his past experience on the pilgrimages, he said “seeing the impact of the Blessed Sacrament” and “passing through the highways and the byways has been the privilege of a lifetime.”

“The grace that comes from these pilgrimages, from these processions, from the processions with the Blessed Sacrament, and the witness of the pilgrims and the people that turn out to join in the local parishes … itʼs breathtaking. Itʼs incredible,” he said.

Bruno said “the efficacy of grace” is just like a quotation attributed to the inspiration of St. Carlo Acutis: “People who put themselves before the sun get a tan; people who place themselves before the Eucharist become saints."

“I think that bringing the Blessed Sacrament” and “crossing all these different towns and places and exposing people — believers, nonbelievers, people that are hurt, people that are broken — to his grace ... [has] an efficacy that can’t be understated,” he said.

“Itʼs something that I think the country has missed for a long period of time. And Iʼm super glad that this is happening now,” Bruno said. “You see the hunger is out there.”

“Everybody needs him” and “heʼs present, heʼs available,” Bruno said. “The grace is there.”

He has made artificial intelligence a priority and has also not hesitated to speak out against war, calling for, as he has often repeated, a “disarmed and disarming peace.” In his first homily as pope, he also underlined his desire for “a united Church, a sign of unity and communion.”

What do Leoʼs writings, both before and after his election, reveal about his priorities for the Church and the world?

Augustinian ideal of authority: His doctoral thesis

The then-Father Robert Prevost successfully defended his doctoral thesis in canon law at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome in 1987. His thesis, titled “The Office and Authority of the Local Prior in the Order of St. Augustine,” discussed the role of local priors in the Augustinian order based on Augustine’s monastic rule.

Considered by many to be his major literary work before he became pope, Prevost argued that the authority of priors within the Augustinian order must serve the common good of the entire community. The thesis also clarified the juridical power of priors and stated that they must find joy in serving before exercising authority.

‘Liberi Sotto la Grazia’: A collection of Prevostʼs writings as Augustinian prior general

Earlier this month, the Vatican published a book of the previously unpublished writing, homilies, and speeches of Prevost when he was the Augustinian prior general from 2001–2013.

The book, currently in Italian but expected to be published in English as well, reveals several general themes from addresses he gave as he traveled extensively to support Augustinian communities around the world. These themes include a stress on unity, servant leadership, social justice, and constant spiritual renewal.

Peace, unity, and ethical use of technology: Writings as pope

Since his election as the successor of Peter, Leoʼs writings and public addresses have revealed key aspects of his pastoral and theological vision for the Church.

• Homily for papal installation Mass: Inaugurating his ministry as universal pastor on May 18, 2025, Leo preached on the twofold dimension of his new ministry: love and unity. He urged Catholics to recommit their efforts to building a united Church as “a leaven for a reconciled world.”
• Dilexi Te: Finishing an uncompleted apostolic exhortation from his predecessor, Pope Francis, Leo built upon Francis' legacy of advocating for the poor and marginalized. Underscoring this point, he wrote that “one cannot love God without extending one’s love to the poor.”
• Homily to the 2025 general chapter of Augustinians: Offering Mass to open the Augustinian general chapter meetings, Leo emphasized the need to promote unity, a key characteristic of Augustinian spirituality. The pope encouraged his confreres to “promote unity, within the order and throughout the order, throughout the Church and the world.”
• 2026 address to the diplomatic corps: Considered the “state of the world” address of a pope, Leo denounced the tendencies of war, abortion, religious discrimination, and the mistreatment of migrants.
• Palm Sunday 2026 homily: Starting his first Holy Week as pontiff, Leo spoke vociferously against the wars in Eastern Europe and the Middle East. He famously said that God “does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war but rejects them.”
• 60th World Day of Social Communications: The pope, having made artificial intelligence a priority early on in his pontificate, stressed the need to preserve human voices and faces at a time when they are threatened by AI. Regarding AI technologies, he said it is “important to educate ourselves and others about how to use AI intentionally” to “prevent them from being used in the creation of harmful content and behaviors such as digital fraud, cyberbullying, and deepfakes.”

Pope Leo XIVʼs first encyclical is expected to be released on Monday, May 25. The Vatican has confirmed that the full title of the encyclical is Magnifica Humanitas: “On the Protection of Human Dignity in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.” Leo signed the letter, which is expected to provide moral guidance on the digital revolution and emerging technologies such as AI, on May 15.

Czerny, the Czech-born prefect for the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, discussed the canonization causes of two Czech priests — Father Jan Bula and Father Václav Drbola — who will be beatified June 6.

"The witness of Father Jan and Father Václav addresses each of us individually in our daily struggles, big and small,” Czerny said at the May 20 conference, according to the Vatican-run Vatican News.

“Their martyrdom teaches us that there is no human situation — however degrading or unjust — in which Christ cannot be witnessed,” he said.

According to the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, both priests were imprisoned and killed between 1951 and 1952 amid the Czechoslovak communist regime’s persecution of the Catholic Church following World War II. They were in the Diocese of Brno.

Both priests worked extensively with the Catholic youth and were eventually imprisoned. According to the dicastery, both priests were falsely accused in prison of plotting to assassinate communist officials and were subsequently executed.

The dicastery states they were persecuted and killed for their pastoral work and the regime’s hatred of the Catholic faith.

"For Jan and Václav, God’s hands were their support behind the bars of the Jihlava prison, their defense during long interrogations, and the safeguard of their dignity, which remained intact even amid the most degrading humiliations,” Czerny said at the conference.

“The communist regime did not merely want to kill them; it wanted to annihilate their priestly identity,” he said. “It wanted them to betray, to deny, to renounce their faith.”

Czerny said Bula and Václav “were able to transform the darkness of hatred and the cold of the gallows into the place of their living encounter with the Lord.“ He said they “testified with their very lives that light can pierce the dark clouds in history.”

"We admire the splendor of the grain of wheat that, after remaining hidden for decades in the furrow of Bohemian and Moravian soil — nurtured despite a difficult history and fertilized by sacrifice — now springs forth before our eyes,” Czerny said.

This sprout, which broke through the frozen ground of atheism and oppression, is proof that no violence can stifle the life of God in those who entrust themselves to him.”

Cardinal Michael Czerny

prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development

"This sprout, which broke through the frozen ground of atheism and oppression, is proof that no violence can stifle the life of God in those who entrust themselves to him,” he added.

Czerny said the beatification of the two martyrs shows the reality of Christ’s promise in Matthew 28:20 that “I am with you always,” with the prefect saying the promise “shines forth fulfilled and written in the blood and joy of these two priests."

“May their sacrificial offering help us to be Christians, citizens, men and women who know how to ‘lose’ our lives in service, forgiveness, and truth,” he said, “that beyond the veil of trial and death, awaiting us is the bright light of God’s loving smile and a joy that no one will ever be able to take from us.”

Pope Leo XIV approved the beatification of the two priests in October 2025 along with nine servants of God who were martyred by the Nazi regime because of its hatred of the Catholic faith.

“Current federal investments in housing programs do not meet the great need we see in our country,” Archbishop Shelton Fabre of Louisville, Kentucky; Catholic Charities USA CEO Kerry Alys Robinson; and National Council of the U.S. Society of St. Vincent de Paul President John Berry said in a May 21 joint letter to Congress. “Ultimately, we urge you to provide the highest level of funding possible for housing and community development programs serving families and individuals who are poor and vulnerable.”

Fabre serves as chair of the bishops' Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development.

The letter comes amid proposed cuts to federal funding for housing programs from $84.2 billion to $73.5 billion for fiscal 2027.

Citing the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in 2024, the letter pointed out that homelessness is at its “highest recorded levels for both individuals and also families with children.”

HUD has yet to release legally-required data for 2025.

The letter also cited data from 2025 showing that more families and individuals than ever before are spending more than 30% of their income on housing and that “only 1 out of every 4 income-eligible households receives housing assistance.”

The letter specifically called for “robust funding” for a wide range of programs, including Section 8 housing, housing programs for the elderly, the HOME Investment Partnership Program, homelessness assistance grants through the Continuum of Care Program, and housing counseling centers.

The letter called for protections for faith-based shelters and organizations, “to enable these groups to continue to serve people in need without forcing them to violate their beliefs or compromise the safety of their clients.”

“The Catholic Church, through all its ministries, is one of the largest private providers of housing services for poor and vulnerable people in the country,” the letter said. “We serve as many as we can; however, we lack the resources to assist all our brothers and sisters in need.”

The letter noted that in 2025 despite providing over 196,000 people access to housing and offering homeless-related services to over 719,000 individuals, the Catholic Charities network has 73,000 families on waiting lists for housing. 

“Considering such widespread, unmet need, it is clear that the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) needs more resources,” the letter said.

On May 17, thousands gathered on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., for the White House event celebrating “one nation under God” and "the connection between religion and our American democracy,”  Barron said.

In an interview with EWTN News’ Colm Flynn ahead of the event, Barron discussed the “hugely important” phrase "one nation under God.”

“In the written versions of the Gettysburg Address that [Abraham Lincoln] prepared before giving it, the phrase ‘under God’ is not there,” Barron explained.

“But then when he was delivering it he added ... ‘under God,’“ Barron said. ”I think it represented a deep intuition that Lincoln had that you canʼt really understand our democracy without it.”

The phrase “under God” is “meant to hold off tyranny,” he said. It is clear that “all kings and all rulers are under God, meaning under the judgment and authority of God. Our founders understood that.”

“And that little phrase is meant to hold off that tendency to deify any political establishment, political party, political ruler. Weʼre a nation, yes indeed, but weʼre under God. Our laws are determined by God,” he said.

“I love the First Amendment to our Constitution, which in its opening lines expresses very eloquently … the right balance,“ he said. ”Namely, ‘Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion.’”

“But then thereʼs a second part, the second clause of that: ‘Congress shall make no law limiting the free exercise of religion,’” he said.

“Thatʼs an eloquent balance. So thereʼs no officially state-sanctioned religion, but that does not mean that religion has no role in public life. On the contrary, because there should be no law restricting the free exercise of religion,” Barron said.

Catholics’ role in public life and public office

Catholics in public office should bring “moral sensibility into their public decisions,” Barron said.

“Weʼre not here to impose Catholicism on anybody,” he said. “But I think to bring a moral and spiritual sensibility into the decisions that you make at these high levels is altogether valid.”

As a member of the White House Religious Liberty Commission, Barron said he met “lots of Catholics in the present administration” and told them to “bring Thomas Aquinas into your public life.”

“By which I mean bring these great moral and spiritual principles that indeed undergird our democracy, but make them a lively presence in the work that you do,” he said.

Barron further spoke about his time on the White House commission, where he received both criticism and praise.

When asked to be a commissioner, “my first reaction was very positive,” Barron said. “I thought … ‘Theyʼre inviting a Catholic bishop to be a voice around the table in the formulation of this policy. Why would I say no?’”

To say no would be “taking a Catholic voice away from that process,” he said.

“I’m not implementing the policy. Iʼm making suggestions regarding the formulation of policy,” Barron explained. “The president could take or leave what we say … So Iʼm not implementing the presidentʼs policies. Iʼm helping to shape public policy.”

“The commission was great. I spoke my mind in every setting. No one censored me,” said Barron, who was present at a White House Holy Week event when Pentecostal pastor Paula Cain White compared the president’s suffering to Jesus Christ’s.

Barron said he was able to address issues within the administration, specifically about Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) “detainees in Chicago having access to sacraments and pastoral care.”

The bishop took the matter to Homeland Security and “no one questioned” him. It was “a religious liberty issue,” because “people have a right to their sacraments and pastoral care,” he said.

Barron also spoke out in regard to the president’s “critical remarks about the pope.”

“I said in an X post that I have deep admiration for the president in regard to religion. Heʼs done wonderful things. But I said I think that was a disrespectful way to talk to the pope,” Barron said.

“In regards to prudential judgment,” a president can “disagree with the pope,” Barron said. “But the pope is not ... just an ordinary hack politician that you can sort of talk in that flippant way to.”

“Heʼs the vicar of Christ, successor of Peter. Heʼs our Holy Father. And I just felt that was disrespectful, and I thought it was not a constructive contribution to the conversation,” he said.

“Heʼs the Holy Father, so we have a filial relationship to him. Heʼs a father, weʼre like children … we have a family relationship to the pope. So itʼs different than just our relationship to a political leader.”

“At the level of principle and the moral values that ought to be informing our life … we abide by what the pope is saying, but I think there can be disagreement at the prudential level,” Barron said.

Dividing issues in the nation today

Amid numerous wars right now, Barron said “we should study” the just war tradition.

It offers “very useful criteria, and I think the Churchʼs job is to bring these to consciousness and urge political leaders to apply them,” he said.

“The Catechism of the Catholic Church says that when it comes to the evaluation and application of the criteria, that belongs to the civil authorities. And I think thereʼs great wisdom there too.”

Barron also spoke to the ongoing matters with U.S. immigration enforcement.

“A completely open border invites a lot of moral chaos, and a lot of catastrophe happens because of an open border. So the Church recognizes the legitimacy of that,” Barron said. “At the same time, the Church wants us to welcome the stranger and to be open to those who are in great need and those who are seeking refuge.”

ICE “is a very legitimate expression of the governmentʼs authority, but … I think ICE is way too blunt a tool to use to solve the general issue of people in the country illegally,” Barron said.

“I think a political solution has to be found. I donʼt think ICE is the right instrument to do that,” he said. “Iʼd invite people who are intimately involved in these things to have a good, morally informed conversation about it and come to good prudential judgments.”

“Iʼm not an expert in immigration policy, and Iʼm not an expert in the economics that are prevailing on the ground in various situations,” he said. “I think we have to inform all those who are making those decisions, make sure they have a keen moral sensibility, [and] know what the principles are.”

“But I think people of goodwill can, and obviously do, disagree about how they are applied … concretely,” he said.

The timing is politically advantageous. Abelaʼs Labour government holds a comfortable parliamentary majority, and opinion polls hint the party is on track to win a record fourth consecutive term.

Yet the election has forced an uncomfortable conversation about abortion, a topic observers note that Maltese politicians often keep deliberately vague.

A country deeply divided on abortion

Since Maltaʼs constitution explicitly names Catholicism as the state religion, the nationʼs legal framework reflects that foundation by having a near-total prohibition on abortion. In line with Church teaching, treatment for ectopic pregnancies is permitted.

Critics have often labeled the nation as having the most restrictive abortion laws in Europe and regularly called for more abortion rights. As external pressure for liberalization continues to mount, there is also deep internal division between younger, more urban voters who support some abortion access and a significant portion of the electorate that opposes it on moral or religious grounds.

Some note that this tension has made abortion a political minefield. Rather than clearly stating whether they are “pro-life” or “pro-choice,” Maltese politicians allegedly employ careful ambiguity. They frame positions using broader language centered on “womenʼs health,” “medical emergencies,” “human rights,” or “legal clarity.” The use of such technical language allows them to address sensitive cases without explicitly endorsing wider abortion access.

Pro-life advocates demand clarity

Ahead of the May 30 election, one of Maltaʼs largest and most prolific pro-life groups, the Life Network Foundation, issued a direct question to all political parties.

It demanded that each of Maltaʼs six major political parties participating in the elections clearly state whether they will support changes to Maltese law that would introduce abortion and voluntary assisted euthanasia in the next legislature. The foundation asked for a simple yes-or-no answer.

Notably, the Labour government has already broken ranks on one issue. On May 15, it pledged to hold a referendum on voluntary assisted euthanasia if reelected but remained silent on abortion.

As of May 22, four of the six parties had responded to the Life Network Foundationʼs questionnaire. The foundation has pledged to publish all responses or publicly note which parties refused to answer.

By asking for a direct answer on pro-life issues, it gives Maltaʼs political factions no room to avoid stating their values directly to voters on these key issues. It also allows for more accountability and transparency in the political arena ahead of elections.

Pro-abortion encroachment

Given Maltaʼs strong anti-abortion history and stance, there has been increased activity by pro-abortion organizations to slowly increase abortion rights in the country. Most notably, Women on Waves, a Dutch pro-abortion organization, announced in mid-April that it had installed approximately 15 abortion lock safes around Malta.

Each safe contains one mifepristone pill and four misoprostol pills, collectively making up the chemical abortion pill regimen. Women interested in accessing abortion would email the organization, which would provide the location of the abortion safes and the code to unlock the safe.

In response to this, the National Council of Women Malta called for legal action into the placement of these abortion pill safes. “Any initiative which appears to facilitate access to abortion pills in Malta raises serious concerns about respect for the law, public safety, the protection of vulnerable women, and the protection of unborn life,” the council stated, requesting authorities investigate the placement of these safes.

Questions were also raised about the verification aspects of obtaining these abortion pills and what medical safeguards were in place to ensure they did not fall into the wrong hands. In response, Rebecca Gomperts, the founder of Women on Waves, noted that her organization was simply fulfilling an “unmet demand.”

Women on Waves has operated in Malta since 2007. It gained notoriety and visibility in recent years through high-profile campaigns, including at the Malta Maritime Museum, featuring pro-abortion art. The organization has faced backlash in Spain and Poland from citizens and municipalities alike, but its Malta operation is particularly provocative given the countryʼs near-total prohibition on abortion.

The landscape architecture student hiked upward for 14 hours, carrying on his back a 77-pound walnut cross that he had sculpted following the disappearance of the iron cross that had crowned the summit since 1951.

After covering over 17 miles and ascending 6,230 feet with the help of a friend, the 18-year-old managed to reach the highest peak in the Pyrenees, situated at an elevation of 9,840 feet.

Instagram post

Following a report by a group of mountaineers last April, the Spanish Civil Guard confirmed that the original 10-foot cross, weighing 220 pounds, had been toppled and thrown down the slope.

The original cross was installed at the summit of Aneto 75 years ago by a hiking club from Catalonia. Subsequently, the Mountaineers of Aragón also placed an image of the Virgin of the Pillar (the patroness of Spain) and a carving of St. Martial, the patron saint of Benasque, the valley within the Aragonese region where the peak is located inside the Posets-Maladeta Nature Park.

This symbol of faith, situated atop Spainʼs second-highest peak, has been the subject of controversy and various acts of vandalism. In 1999, it was torn from its base by a storm, and more recently, in 2018, it was found painted yellow, a color associated with the Catalan independence movement.

The mayor of the town of Benasque, Manuel Mora, applauded the initiative and stated that the wooden cross would remain until the original is restored. A group called “Movement Towards a Secular State” denounced the installation of the new cross, however, and urged that disciplinary proceedings be opened against Le Lagadec.

For his part, Le Lagadec took to social media to call for an end to the “degradation of this type of heritage,” having documented the entire process from the creation of the cross to its installation atop Aneto.

He also recounted that he had the help of several people who encouraged him throughout the entire ascent, recalling a woman who lent him her hiking stick during the most difficult sections.

“Upon reaching the summit, I still struggled to fully grasp what I had just accomplished,” he wrote in one of his posts, calling his feat “an extraordinary human and athletic adventure, culminating in the installation of the cross at the very summit.”

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

To mark the anniversary of Laudato Si', Pope Francis’ encyclical on care for creation, Leo will meet May 23 with the community of Acerra and the surrounding area, including those who have prematurely lost loved ones due to the pollution.

“The pope’s visit certainly represents a moment of great courage and strength for a population that often feels alone in the face of a problem of enormous proportions,” local attorney Valentina Centonze told EWTN News.

Centonze, who monitors compliance to judicial decontamination orders for the area, said: “No one can imagine resolving this situation on their own. The Holy Father’s closeness to our land is therefore a source of comfort and support but also a warning to the authorities, urging them to fully understand the suffering of this people and to deploy all necessary means to seriously address the issue.”

The Land of Fires

Acerra and the surrounding roughly 400 square miles — dubbed the “Land of Fires” (“Terra dei Fuochi” in Italian) — lie just northeast of the city of Naples, about 140 miles south of Rome.

The territory has a higher-than-average incidence of cancerous tumors and congenital malformations, which studies have linked to the dumping of millions of tons of toxic waste from northern Italian factories — at the hands of organized crime groups like the Camorra clans — and garbage fires that released highly toxic dioxins and PCBs into the air and food chain of the highly-agricultural region.

“We are in southern Italy, a region historically plagued by social problems, unemployment, crime, and a fragile economy. Added to this is the environmental disaster, which has caused illness and death,” Bishop Antonio Di Donna, bishop of Acerra since 2013, told EWTN News.

“The greatest challenge,” he said, “is coping with a precarious situation, especially from a health perspective. We are dealing with families marked by bereavement, with young people and children who fall ill and die. This is an additional burden on top of an already difficult situation.”

During his roughly three-hour visit to Acerra, Pope Leo will visit the cathedral, where he will address bishops, priests, and religious alongside families who have lost loved ones or are currently suffering from illnesses related to the environmental crisis.

“We were deeply committed to ensuring that he could offer them a word of comfort,” the bishop said.

Afterward, the pontiff will make his way to the city’s main square, where he will address mayors and residents from across the territory before leaving by helicopter to return to Rome.

“I hope that the pope’s visit will provide further impetus to keep the issue in the spotlight and to strengthen our commitment,” Di Donna added.

A poisoned land

Angelo Venturato, whose daughter Maria Venturato died in 2016 at the age of 25 from a rare leg tumor, will be among the crowd in the cathedral on May 23.

“After Maria’s death, I fell ill too: I had a tumor, fortunately benign,” Venturato told EWTN News. “But without faith, I wouldn’t be here today. Faith helped me not to shut myself away in my grief. It gave me the strength to keep bringing smiles to others.”

“The positive thing today is that people have become aware of what happened in Acerra. There are associations, volunteer groups, mothers, and citizens who work every day to defend the area. We know this land has been poisoned, but we won’t give up,” he said.

Following his daughter’s death, Venturato formed an association to help others living through the same thing he and his family experienced.

The name, “Se Allunghi la Mano Troverai la Mia,” (“If you reach out, you will find my hand”) was inspired by his daughter, who encouraged him with the phrase before she died.

“Today, we provide free transportation to help sick people get to hospitals and treatment centers, especially cancer patients and children. We never leave anyone alone: We accompany them, wait with them during their treatments, and take them home,” Venturato said.

Acerra’s diocesan Catholic charity, Caritas, is also supporting the local community with free diagnostic tests and other general and pediatric medical care in addition to psychiatric support and general financial assistance. It also runs a community center and a day center for at-risk youth.

“In this region, people are even more afraid of getting sick. They feel this fear deeply, and sometimes they’re even afraid to get checked,” Caritas Director Vincenzo Castaldo told EWTN News. “They often tell us: ‘It’s better not to know; we’re going to die anyway.’ It’s hard to hear those words.”

The clinic was founded “to provide a free opportunity, to simplify access to care, and to offer a sense of closeness — a comforting touch from the Church in matters of health, a presence that helps people recognize their problems and face them,” he explained.

Di Donna drew attention to the more than 50 sites across Italy designated “contaminated sites” — in Italy, “there are many ‘lands of fires,’” he said.

The Diocese of Acerra is one of about 10 dioceses in the area that for over 30 years have “heard the cry of the earth and of the poor,” the bishop said. “We have embarked on a journey focused first and foremost on raising awareness: against pollution and for the care of creation.”

“We’re anxious to get them to visit this,” Luz Tavarez, vice president for government relations at Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA), told EWTN News. Tavarez was among 21 diocesan officials who participated in CCUSA’s annual “Hill Day” on May 19-20 to lobby Congress on housing, food insecurities, and other poverty-related issues.

CCUSA’s mobile museum is scheduled to be parked on the National Mall in front of the Capitol through May 22.

“Whatʼs really amazing about the People of Hope Museum is that itʼs a firsthand account of how we see Jesus in the people we serve,” she said. “So, I really hope that they do get down here. We have invited every single one of them to come, so weʼll see.”

The group met with about 60 offices, Tavarez said, including members of the House and Senate.

Four members addressed CCUSA, including Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Massachusetts, Rep. James Clyburn, D-South Carolina, Rep. Mike Lawler, R-New York, and Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine.

“All of those members challenged us to just continue to hit the ground educating members of the important work that we do,” Tavarez said. “I think thereʼs a recognition on both sides of the aisle of how critical the work that Catholic Charities around the country, the work that we do, is. But again, our goal was just really to ensure that government funding, government appropriations, is reaching the most vulnerable.”

Tavarez highlighted the recently-passed farm bill and housing issues as areas where they found bipartisan support among members. She said the group did not experience much pushback but that the challenge lay in educating members “on how our Catholic faith is translated into the policy positions we take, and thatʼs just consistent on both sides of the aisle.”

The lobbying day came a week after Democratic senators pressed Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner over missing data on homelessness and the Trump administration’s planned cuts to federal funding for homelessness.

“Itʼs important to understand that not everyone understands the work that we do,” she said. “And for some people, Catholic Charities means just one thing, you know, perhaps itʼs working with immigrants. For other people, Catholic Charities is just the local food pantries. And there is some intersection there.”

“What is beautiful about ‘Hill Day’ in my view is that Catholic Charities, of course, is not a political or partisan entity,” CCUSA CEO Kerry Alys Robinson told EWTN News. “It is a social ministry of the Church, and it encompasses the full political spectrum.”

“Elected officials across the aisle all understand just how important Catholic Charities is to their constituents in their districts and in their states,” she said. “So I think judging from all reports, the meetings went very, very well, and our diocesan directors are especially happy to be here.”

The move comes amid growth of the Catholic Church in Sweden. The nation, which historically restricted religious freedom, has 130,000 registered Catholics.

The Stockholm office will produce news from the Vatican along with devotional and catechetical content for local audiences and beyond.

“EWTN’s mission has always been to bring the truth and beauty of the Catholic faith to people wherever they are,” said Michael P. Warsaw, chairman of the board and CEO of EWTN.

Founded by Mother Angelica 45 years ago, EWTN is the largest Catholic media organization in the world. EWTN is the parent company of EWTN News.

“The opening of our Stockholm office is an important step in serving a growing Catholic community in Sweden driven by immigration and conversions,” Warsaw said. “For EWTN, the Catholic Church in Sweden represents a dynamic and expanding audience for faithful Catholic media and local-language evangelization.”

EWTN looks to reach the growing online audience in Sweden, where 93% of people go online daily, according to a 2025 report by the Swedish Internet Foundation.

“EWTN Sweden is built for the way people in Sweden live and consume media today,” said Ulf Silfverling, director of EWTN Sweden. “Through EWTN.se and our media channels, we want to provide faithful, accessible, and relevant Catholic content that speaks to Swedish audiences in their own language and context.”

“This office represents more than a new location; it is a commitment to Scandinavia, Sweden, and its growing community of faithful as EWTN continues to work on reaching every home and every heart,” said Andreas Thonhauser, chief global officer of EWTN.

“By producing native Swedish content and collaborating more closely with Catholics in the region, EWTN can help deepen the faith and connect northern Europe more fully with the life of the universal Church,” Thonhauser added.

The grant, awarded to the Jesuit university on May 19, is part of the Aspen Institute’s Trust in Practice Award grants, which are sponsored by the insurance company Allstate. Loyola is one of 11 recipients of the grant.

According to a news release by Loyola, the grant will establish a program called “Rooted in Trust,” which will build on its York Road Community Day program. Its stated goal is to build trust across racial, generational, and socioeconomic divides.

The grant funds a two-year project through April 2028 that begins with several months of community dialogue and listening sessions between people from the east side and from the west side of York Road in North Baltimore, which the news release said was historically divided.

The west side of the divide has a higher white population and higher income, while the east side has a higher Black population and lower income, which is rooted in 1930s efforts to segregate the communities, according to a 2020 article in The Johns Hopkins Newsletter.

According to the Loyola news release, the dialogue sessions will help develop a plan for five greening and public space activation community projects. It’s not yet clear what the specific projects will be.

Each project will have one co-lead from the west side and one from the east side. The project site will have signs that explain the history and the culture of the area.

“The Rooted in Trust Program will start with community dialogues in order to understand how historic divides have shaped relationships, access, and use of space,” said Gia Grier McGinnis, Loyola executive director of the neighborhood resilience and community engagement.

“Then, through intergenerational environmental stewardship and placemaking activities, we hope deeper connections can form — both among people who might not otherwise interact and with spaces they reimagine together,” she said. “We are honored that the Aspen Institute and Allstate have given us this incredible opportunity, and we look forward to sharing what we learn with others across Baltimore and across the country.”

Loyola will lead the program that will include three other partners: the Govans-Boundary United Methodist Church; the York Road Partnership, which has more than 30 member organizations; and the York Road Improvement District.

“Rooted in Trust builds upon Loyola’s long-standing, place-based community development efforts in the Greater Govans and York Road corridor neighborhoods, which emphasize community-university collaboration and partnership,” Deb Cady Melzer, Loyola vice president of student development, said in a statement.

“We are incredibly grateful to the Aspen Institute and Allstate for this transformational award, which empowers Loyola and our neighbors to continue this important work,” she said.

The Aspen Institute launched the Trust in Practice Awards initiative in October 2025 with a $5 million donation from Allstate. According to a news release, the initiative is to fund community organizations that support civic engagement, volunteering, and bridging differences with intergenerational participants.

“In today’s interconnected world, trust among people is a key part of what strengthens our communities and country,” Dan Porterfield, Aspen Institute president and CEO, said in a statement at the time.

“The Trust in Practice Awards are an example of our joint commitment to building and sustaining trust across communities and among individuals of all backgrounds and beliefs,” he said. “We are grateful to Allstate for their leadership and partnership in this important effort.”

It was launched in response to Allstate research that found 41% of people said they generally trust other Americans.

“The world beyond Villanova is waiting for you, sometimes with open arms, and sometimes with truly dangerous intent. You will have the challenge and the opportunity to make a big difference, if you carry with you those Augustinian values of veritas, unitas, caritas,” Leo, a graduate of the Class of 1977, said in a written message read at Villanova’s May 19 commencement ceremony.

“This being the 250th anniversary of the United States of America, I would invite you to recall in a special way the guiding principles of the foundations of our nation: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all [people] are created equal; that they are endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights, and among those are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,’” the pope said.

“May the graduates of 2026 always be faithful to the guiding light that has been so important for these 250 years,” Leo said. “Congratulations, and please know that I send all of you my apostolic blessing.”

Benedictine College condemns antisemitic leaflet, promises disciplinary action

Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, condemned the distribution of antisemitic leaflets across its campus in late April following a conference on Nostra Aetate, the Vatican II document on non-Christian religions, hosted by the Coalition of Catholics Against Antisemitism.

The flyer was distributed by a group called “Coalition of Catholics Against Jewish Supremacy” and accused Benedictine College theology professor Matthew Ramage of “blasphemy.”

“The college is proud that our students took the initiative to remove these anonymous flyers from cars in campus parking lots, and we are also proud that our student groups were the first to respond to the attacks,” the college said in a statement, praising the Latin Mass Society for speaking out and expressing “its disgust and utter disappointment at the content” of the leaflet.

“Questions are now being raised about repercussions,” the college said. “Any student who is found to be involved in conduct that violates the Student Code of Conduct is subject to the college’s student disciplinary procedures, but this process is confidential to protect students.”

Liberty University student challenges Supreme Court on taxpayer funding for religious studies

Liberty University student Bethany Hall is challenging a decades-old Supreme Court precedent limiting the use of taxpayer-funded scholarships for students in religious studies programs.

Hall is suing Virginia officials for blocking her from using a $5,000 per year scholarship she received through the Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant program to pay for her degree in youth ministries, considered a vocational religious degree. Majors that “prepare individuals for the professional practice of religious vocations” disqualify students from receiving the public funds, according to the state program.

After a panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against her on May 13, Hall’s case is one step closer to the Supreme Court, according to a May 19 report. 

“It’s just quite simply wrong and very sad that our Supreme Court made that decision back then,” Hall said. “Because whether you agree with Christianity or a different religion or not, it’s not up to the court to determine if I get to receive a scholarship paid for by taxpayer dollars.”

Canadian university launches ‘Pope Francis Institute’

St. Jerome’s University in Ontario, Canada, announced it is opening an institute dedicated to the legacy of Pope Francis.

“To honor Pope Francis on the first anniversary of his death, St. Jerome’s University is announcing the creation of a new hub for learning, dialogue, and leadership formation,” the university said in a press release. “The Pope Francis Institute will be the world’s first initiative of its kind dedicated to advancing the legacy of the late pontiff.”

The Pope Francis Institute will officially launch with a public event sometime during the 2026-2027 academic year, according to the release.

The institute will host programs “rooted in the spirituality of Francis and the educational tradition of his Jesuit order,” including public lectures, retreats, professional development, and research.

The award, an international distinction bestowed by the Path to Peace Foundation, was presented May 18 in New York to Supreme Knight Patrick E. Kelly during the traditional Path to Peace gala dinner, organized in support of the work of the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations and various urgent humanitarian causes.

The award was presented by the apostolic nuncio to the United States, Archbishop Gabriele G. Caccia, president of the foundation and permanent observer of the Holy See to the U.N.

The Knights of Columbus, considered the worldʼs foremost Catholic lay organization for men, carries out initiatives involving charity, humanitarian aid, formation, and support for families in various countries.

The organization states that its mission is to help Catholic men live out their faith and serve their families, parishes, communities, and nations.

“On behalf of more than 2.2 million Knights of Columbus worldwide, it is an incredible honor to accept the Path to Peace Award,” Kelly said during the ceremony.

The organization’s leader recalled that Blessed Michael McGivney founded the Knights more than 140 years ago “upon the pillars of charity, unity, and fraternity.”

“Today, we are proud to continue this mission throughout the world in our parishes and communities, and in nations facing the devastating impacts of war and religious intolerance. We pray that our efforts help bring peace and alleviate suffering, bearing witness to the hope that comes from Jesus Christ,” Kelly stated.

An award linked to the diplomacy of the Holy See

The significance of this recognition is closely linked to the diplomatic and humanitarian mission of the Holy See at the U.N.

The Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the U.N. was officially established on April 6, 1964, and has since played an active role in promoting peace, justice, human rights, and the social doctrine of the Church within the international community.

As the Path to Peace Foundation explains, the foundation was established with the aim of expanding humanitarian and reconciliation activities beyond the strictly diplomatic sphere, promoting the Catholic Churchʼs message of peace and the popeʼs teachings on morality, development, and human rights.

Its key initiatives include international seminars on social encyclicals, cultural activities at the U.N., humanitarian projects for refugees and the sick, and the dissemination of documents related to the diplomacy of the Holy See.

Recognition of international leaders

The Path to Peace Award has been presented since 1993 to individuals and institutions whose lives and work have contributed significantly to the well-being of the international community.

Recipients include former U.N. Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali; Corazon Aquino, former president of the Philippines; Lech Wałęsa, former trade union leader and president of Poland; King Abdullah II along with Queen Rania Al Abdullah, reigning Jordanian monarchs; and current U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres.

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

In just a few weeks, young Pietro from Reggio Calabria in Italy will finish high school and begin his university studies, a major change about which he feels “a great deal of confusion.”

The young Italian conveyed his concerns to the Holy Father in a heartfelt letter published May 19 in Piazza San Pietro (St. Peter’s Square) magazine. Specifically, the young man said he fears losing the friendships he has forged in high school and not knowing which path God desires for him.

Fear of the future

In his letter, he opened up to the pope and shared his dream of “building and realizing the project of a family united in the love of Christ.” He also asks for prayers for his future and for the ability to understand how to live with the feelings of “restlessness and longing” while embarking upon his new path with serenity.

Mindful of the weight the young man feels upon his shoulders, Pope Leo XIV congratulated him in his letter for not being easily satisfied and for taking his life seriously.

First, the pontiff reminded him that he is loved by Jesus — personally and just as he is — including his dreams, questions, and fears. “This love precedes you and will always accompany you; it does not depend on the decisions you make or the paths you take,” he assured the young man.

‘What was authentic isn’t lost’

The pope also reminded Pietro that Jesus “knows the experience of friendship well,” and for this reason, “he would be the first to understand your fear regarding the friendships that have marked these years.”

The Holy Father reminded him that “what was authentic isn’t lost; indeed, true love does not dissolve but remains forever; it matures even when it changes form.”

Regarding the desires the young man harbors in his heart, the pope encouraged him to focus on those that grant him “a profound peace” and guide him toward good decisions, reminding him of the importance of discernment.

“Do not be in a hurry to understand everything immediately. Time is a patient teacher and heals wounds,” he added.

‘Not everything that ends is a defeat’

He also advised him to pray every day, listen to the word of God, receive the sacraments, and converse with wise individuals who could help him discern which ties he ought to keep.

“Not everything that comes to an end is a defeat; sometimes, it is merely a necessary step toward growth. Your dream of a family founded upon the love of Christ is a precious gift for the Church as well; preserve it with confidence. The Lord does not disappoint the desires that he himself has kindled within the heart,” the pontiff advised.

Before concluding his letter, the pope reminded Pietro that restlessness is not a negative sign but rather represents “the place where God is working on a deep level.”

“I ask for you the grace of inner peace, of trust, and of a clear perspective on your life. I entrust you to Mary, who as a young woman learned to trust despite having kept in her heart questions greater than herself,” the pope said.

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

His death was announced by the Archdiocese of Baltimore in the archdiocesan newspaper, Catholic Review. Ricard passed away at St. Josephʼs Seminary in Washington, D.C., according to the archdiocese.

“Bishop John Ricard’s death is a profound loss for our local Church and for the entire Catholic community in the United States,” Baltimore Archbishop William Lori said in the announcement.

Lori said Ricard, a former auxiliary bishop in Baltimore, "served this archdiocese with grace, humility, and a joyful spirit that made him beloved by all who encountered him.”

Born in Baton Rogue, Louisiana, on Feb. 29, 1940, as one of eight children, Ricard attended Epiphany Apostolic College in Newburgh, New York. He completed religious studies at St. Joseph Seminary in Washington, D.C., and received a doctoral degree from The Catholic University of America.

He joined the Society of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart, or the Josephites, in 1962 and took his final vows on June 1, 1967. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 25, 1968, by Baton Rouge Bishop Emmet Tracy.

He served at several parishes in New Orleans and Washington prior to being appointed as a vicar bishop in the Archdiocese of Baltimore by Pope John Paul II. He was subsequently consecrated as an auxiliary bishop of that archdiocese on July 2, 1984, the first Black bishop to serve there.

In 1997 he was appointed bishop of the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee, Florida, where he served until 2011 when he retired for health reasons.

In addition to his duties as a prelate, Ricard also served as the first president of the National Black Catholic Congress, holding that role from the congress' inception in 1987 until 2017.

After his retirement from Pensacola-Tallahassee, he served as rector of St. Josephʼs Seminary in Washington. He was elected superior general of the Josephites in 2019.

Having grown up amid pervasive racism in the segregated South prior to the Civil Rights era, Ricard at times commented on racial conflict in the United States, including in 2016 amid civil unrest around police shootings, which he described as a “wake-up call for all of us” in an interview with Catholic News Service.

The bishop said he and his friends “lived under constant threat of being arrested” during the 1950s in Louisiana. He said the Catholic Church can “bring [a lot] to the table” of racial healing in the United States.

“Weʼve got a lot of work to do,” he told the news service.

In a statement released after his death, the Josephites said Ricard “faithfully served the Catholic Church for decades through his ministry as a Josephite priest, counselor, educator, pastor, bishop, humanitarian, and leader.”

“He devoted his life to the proclamation of the Gospel, humanitarian efforts worldwide, the mission of the Josephite Society, and the pastoral care of God’s people, especially within Black Catholic communities,” they said.

The Josephites asked for “prayers for the repose of Bishop Ricard’s soul, for the Josephite community, his family, friends, and all who mourn his passing.”

The controversy centers on the so-called “Latham report,” a years-old inquiry commissioned by the school itself amid the fallout of bombshell abuse allegations against now-disgraced and deceased former cardinal Theodore McCarrick.

Attorney Gabriel Magee represents several Church abuse victims as part of “approximately 400 cases total” in a consolidated litigation against the Archdiocese of Newark, New Jersey. Seton Hall is a defendant in a handful of the cases, he told EWTN News.

As part of those proceedings, state judge Avion Benjamin had ordered the school in November 2025 to turn over the Latham report to lawyers representing victims of clergy abuse. The school had previously argued that the report was protected by attorney-client privilege.

Seton Hall appealed Benjaminʼs order to surrender the report. Oral arguments were held in the appeals court this month.

The Latham report was commissioned by Seton Hall in 2019. Produced by the law firm Latham & Watkins, it has never been made public. The report is expected to examine whether Monsignor Joseph Reilly, then rector of Seton Hall’s Immaculate Conception Seminary (and now university president), knew about abuse claims and failed to report them. Reilly was appointed president in 2024.

Neither the school nor attorneys representing it responded to requests for comment on the ongoing litigation. Magee, meanwhile, disputed claims that the report is protected by legal shields such as the attorney-client privilege or the “work-product privilege.”

“For either to apply, the primary purpose must either be conveying legal advice or it must have been created in anticipation of litigation,” Magee said.

“But the record here shows instead that the Latham Report was created for self-critical analysis by Seton Hall, primarily to determine how to discipline employees who failed to report the sexual harassment and sexual abuse committed by McCarrick and to advise [the school] on how to create new policies to prevent this from happening again,” he said.

Magee said the appeal to the higher court had been expedited, suggesting the court may issue a ruling “sooner rather than later.”

Newark Archdiocese ordered investigation in 2025

Amid the ongoing controversy, Newark archbishop Cardinal Joseph Tobin in February 2025 ordered an independent review.

The prelate said at the time that the review would examine “how the findings of [the earlier reports] relate to Monsignor Joseph Reilly, including whether they were communicated to any and all appropriate personnel at the archdiocese and Seton Hall University and Monsignor Reilly, and if so, by what means and by whom.”

The archbishop said he had not “place[d] a timetable” on the review, which was being carried out by the law firm Ropes & Gray.

Tobin in 2025 had further said that he had not “restricted the firm from exploring any relevant facts or avenue of investigation.”

"A transparent review of the facts will best serve the interests of all involved and of those who have voiced a call for it,” the cardinal said.

In a statement to EWTN News, the Archdiocese of Newark indicated that the review was still ongoing as of May 20.

“Cardinal Tobin stands by his earlier statement that there should be no restrictions on Ropes & Gray’s efforts to access all relevant information and witnesses,” the archdiocese said.

The cardinal “remains committed to a transparent examination of the facts and is optimistic that the review will be completed as expeditiously as possible,” the statement added.

The court in an unsigned order dismissed an appeal from Alabama after the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of Joseph Clifton Smith, with the appeals court holding that Smithʼs low-70s IQ put him close enough to the threshold of an intellectually disability to render his death sentence unconstitutional.

The court heard oral arguments in the case in December 2025. The case had followed a twisting path through the federal court system; the 11th Circuit first ruled in Smithʼs favor in 2023, after which the Supreme Court in 2024 vacated that decision and ordered the appeals court to consider it again.

A second review by the lower court, with another favorable ruling for Smith, again brought the case before the Supreme Court last year; the high courtʼs May 21 ruling brought the case to an end.

The latest ruling represents a potential precedent in how the Supreme Court considers certain cases of capital punishment. The court ruled in the 2002 case Atkins v. Virginia that executing people with intellectual disabilities violated the Constitution’s Eighth Amendment, which prohibits “cruel and unusual punishment."

The justices did not define “intellectual disability” in that case, though it cited expert opinion that “an IQ between 70 and 75 or lower” is “typically considered the cutoff” in some definitions.

Theresa Farnan, philosopher on the Ethics and Public Policy Committee of the National Catholic Partnership on Disability, told EWTN News in April that Smithʼs death sentence was “clearly a borderline case.” Smith was convicted in the brutal 1997 slaying of Durk Van Dam.

“It’s obvious to me he could not grasp the gravity of his crimes,“ Farnan said of Smith. ”In cases like these, the burden on us as a society is even more pronounced to be radically pro-life.”

The Catholic Church in recent decades has come out increasingly against the death penalty, with multiple popes arguing that modern penal systems have rendered capital punishment inadmissible in many if not most cases.

Pope Leo XIV in particular has spoken out several times against the death penalty in just the first year of his pontificate, arguing that “human life is to be respected” and that support for capital punishment is incompatible with a pro-life philosophy.

Speaking at a conference on AI in Rome on May 21, Mendonça warned of the dangers of AI, saying that it can “have painful consequences on the destiny of individuals.”

“When a deepfake lends a personʼs face to words they have never spoken ... it is the very grammar of the human encounter that is altered,” Mendonça said. “Technology that exploits our need for relationship ... can not only have painful consequences on the destiny of individuals, but it can also damage the social, cultural, and political fabric of societies.”

Preserving humanity in the age of AI

Coming a few days before of the release of Pope Leo XIVʼs Magnifica Humanitas, which will treat moral and social questions related to AI, the theme of the conference was “Preserving Human Voices and Faces.”

Organized by the Dicastery for Communication and held at the Pontifical Urban University, the conference brought together professors, journalists, and engineers who offered insights into the risks AI poses to authentic human experiences.

Mendonça, citing the popeʼs message for the 60th World Day of Social Communications, clarified that the goal “lies not in stopping digital innovation but in guiding it.”

Paolo Ruffini, prefect of the Dicastery for Communication, added: “The greatest danger consists in passively accepting the idea that knowledge no longer belongs to us.”

Magnifica Humanitas: Keeping the human at the center

Some of the conference panelists expressed their hopes for Leoʼs upcoming encyclical on AI.

One of those was Bishop Paul Tighe, secretary of the Section of Culture of the Dicastery for Culture and Education. Speaking to EWTN News on the sidelines, Tighe gave his impressions about what the pope intends to contribute with this document.

“I think the pope is doing two things: First, he will be offering perspectives that enable people to reflect and think critically about AI and its role in society. Second, he is initiating a dialogue,” Tighe told EWTN News. “He wants to create an environment where all the various people who have a part in the development of AI are attentive to keeping the human at the center.”

Bishop Samson Shukardin of Hyderabad, president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Pakistan, extended the invitation during a papal audience on May 15, according to UCA News.

Pope Leo XIV responded positively to the invitation and expressed a desire to visit Pakistan in the future, the outlet reported.

Shukardin said the bishops returned from the “ad limina” visit with renewed hope for the church in Pakistan.

“The challenges we have in Pakistan are first how to evangelize the Church and also reach other people. A big challenge is that our people are still illiterate but strong in faith; they are poor but very hardworking. Many of our people are not receiving equal rights,” he said in a video shared on May 16 on Catholic TV.

“We have a big problem regarding blasphemy cases and forced conversions. Sometimes our Church is rejected and persecuted because we are not doing what others expect. Our Church is going through difficulties, but we are hopeful that one day we will receive equal rights in Pakistan.”

According to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, religious minorities in the country, including Christians and Ahmadis, continued to face persecution and discrimination in 2025.

The commissionʼs annual report highlighted persistent cases of forced conversion and underage marriages involving Hindu and Christian girls in Punjab and Sindh provinces, exposing failures in enforcing child marriage laws.

Mary James Gill, a Christian politician, former lawmaker, and executive director of the Center for Law and Justice, said Christians continue to face social and economic marginalization along with challenges related to religious freedom and interfaith relations.

“Eighty percent of Christians in Pakistan live below the poverty line. The reasons are linked more to caste-based structures than religion itself. A papal visit can bring attention to these issues,” she told EWTN News on May 19.

Gill said the Vatican holds moral and diplomatic influence that could help amplify the concerns of marginalized communities.

“Pakistan as a state gives weight and respect to Vatican recommendations and to figures such as the archbishop of Canterbury. A papal visit could increase visibility for Christian concerns and resonate with expectations from the community. It would also be a positive gesture because Christian political leadership in Pakistan often remains divided,” she said.

Speaking May 21 in the Synod Hall to participants in a meeting promoted by the Dicastery for the Laity, the Family, and Life, the pope reflected on the theme of governance in ecclesial communities and the responsibility of those who lead them.

“In every social entity there exists a need for suitable people and structures to guide and coordinate communal life,” Pope Leo said. “At its root, the term ‘to govern’ refers to the action of ‘holding the helm,’ of ‘steering a ship.’ It is, therefore, a matter of providing a sure direction, so that the community may be a place of growth for the people who belong to it.”

The pope said Church governance cannot be reduced to administrative efficiency or coordination.

“However, in the Church, governance does not arise simply from the need to coordinate the religious needs of its members,” he said. “The Church was established by Christ as a lasting sign of his universal salvific will and is the place, willed by God, where all people, in every age, may receive the fruits of redemption and experience the new life that Christ has given us.”

For that reason, he said, governance in the Church “is never merely technical” but “has a salvific orientation in itself,” directed toward “the spiritual good of the faithful.”

Addressing leaders of lay associations and movements, Pope Leo said governance is generally entrusted to laypeople and “expresses participation in the royal ‘munus’ of Christ received in baptism.” He emphasized that such leadership is “placed at the service of other faithful and of the life of the association” and should be the fruit of free elections understood as an act of communal discernment.

“If, as we have said, governance is a particular gift of the Holy Spirit, which the members of a community recognize as present in some of their brethren in the faith, at least three consequences derive from this,” the pope said.

The first, he said, is that governance must be “for the benefit of all,” serving the community, the association, and the whole Church. “Governance, therefore, can never be exploited for personal interests or worldly forms of prestige and power,” he said.

The second consequence, Pope Leo continued, is that governance “can never be imposed from above but must be a gift recognizable within the community and freely accepted,” which is why “free elections” are important.

The third, he said, is that the governance of an association, “like every charism,” remains subject to the discernment of pastors, who are responsible for safeguarding “the authenticity and orderly use of charisms.”

The pope also cited several qualities he said must mark Church governance: “mutual listening, shared responsibility, transparency, fraternal closeness, and communal discernment.”

Leaders of ecclesial movements, he said, have a delicate task. They must both preserve “the memory of a living heritage” and exercise a “prophetic” role by listening to present pastoral needs and responding to “the new challenges and to the cultural, social, and spiritual sensibilities of our time.”

“Indeed, only in this way can one be a Christian, a disciple and a missionary in today’s society and Church,” Pope Leo said.

He placed particular emphasis on communion, warning against the temptation for ecclesial groups to close in on themselves.

“Those who exercise a mission of leadership in the Church must learn to listen to and welcome different opinions, different cultural and spiritual orientations, and different personal temperaments, always seeking to preserve, especially in necessary and often difficult decisions, the greater good of communion,” he said.

“This requires a witness of meekness, detachment, and selfless love for one’s brothers and sisters and for the community, which serves as an example to everyone,” the pope added.

Pope Leo warned that some groups can become self-referential.

“At times we find groups who close themselves up and think that their specific reality is the only one, or that it is the Church, but the Church is all of us, it is much more!” he said. “And so our movements must truly endeavor to live in communion with the entire Church, at diocesan level.”

The bishop, he said, is “a very important figure of reference,” adding that groups must seek communion with the Church both locally and universally.

The pope concluded by thanking the associations and movements for their service, calling them “an inestimable gift to the Church.”

“There is great richness among you: so many well-formed people and so many fine evangelizers; so many young people and diverse vocations to the priesthood and married life,” he said. “The variety of charisms, gifts, and methods of apostolate developed over the years allows you to be present in the fields of culture, art, social life and work, bringing the light of the Gospel everywhere.”

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

‘An attack on human dignity’

Speaking to EWTN News, Irish Member of European Parliament Michael McNamara, one of the European Parliamentʼs lead lawmakers on the AI Act, said negotiators pushed for an outright ban on systems used to generate nonconsensual intimate imagery and AI-generated child sexual abuse material, which he described as “an attack on the fundamental rights of real people, particularly the inviolability of human dignity and the right to privacy.”

McNamara previously participated in an interfaith Brussels delegation on AI governance led by former Irish ambassador to the Holy See Professor Philip McDonagh.

“We were insistent that these prohibitions sit in Article 5, among the absolute bans in the AI Act,” McNamara added.

Following the agreement, he said the new provisions would ensure authorities had “the tools to act if providers do not address AI systems that compromise fundamental rights or human dignity.”

Under the agreement, companies will have until Dec. 2 to comply with the new restrictions.

Delays to ‘high-risk’ AI rules

The legislation also postpones the application of some obligations for “high-risk” AI systems until 2027 and 2028, a move lawmakers say was necessary because technical standards required for implementation were not ready in time.

Under the act, high-risk systems include AI used in healthcare, education, employment, law enforcement, and border management, where algorithmic decisions can directly affect human rights and access to essential services.

“To be frank, my preference would have been no extension,” McNamara said, while acknowledging lawmakers faced pressure to ensure the rules could be implemented with legal certainty.

“Certainty matters: for industry, yes, but also for citizens and for the authorities that will enforce these rules,” he said.

EU bishops welcome restrictions

The Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) welcomed the ban. Speaking to EWTN News, Friederike Ladenburger, COMECE adviser on ethics, research, and health, said the restrictions are “legally justified” because such systems process biometric and intimate personal data in ways that undermine fundamental rights, particularly human dignity, privacy, consent, and the protection of minors.

“From an ethical perspective, nudifier applications constitute a form of technological exploitation that objectifies the person,” she added. Such systems conflict with principles of “dignity, solidarity, and the safeguarding of vulnerable individuals” that should guide implementation of the AI Act, she said.

Alessandro Calcagno, COMECE assistant general secretary and adviser on fundamental rights, said the organization has consistently called for stronger protections for children in AI regulation.

“In its 2020 contribution to the EU White Paper on AI, COMECE stressed that children are the most vulnerable in the context of AI use and application,” he told EWTN News.

Interfaith and Vatican dialogue on AI

The anticipated papal encyclical follows several years of Vatican engagement on AI ethics through the Pontifical Academy for Life, the Rome Call for AI Ethics, and repeated interventions from previous popes warning against technologies that risk reducing the human person to data, manipulation, or simulation.

McDonagh, who serves as director of the Centre for Religion, Human Values, and International Relations at Dublin City University, said the debate surrounding AI reflects a technological transformation of “profound historical and civilizational significance,” comparable to the agricultural and industrial revolutions, which also produced “dramatic new forms of inequality and violence.”

Following the provisional agreement, he said the rapid emergence of AI raises deeper questions about human coexistence and the moral foundations of society.

“The anthropological question of how we make sense of our existence and co-existence is more urgent than ever,” he said.

Ahead of the encyclicalʼs release, members of the COMECE presidency held private talks with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on AI governance, the future of the EU, and wider global challenges.

The patriarch made the remarks during a gathering hosted by King Abdullah II of Jordan with Church leaders at the baptism site of Jesus Christ, traditionally known as Bethany Beyond the Jordan on May 18.

Located on the eastern bank of the Jordan River, opposite Jericho in the West Bank, the site is venerated by Christians around the world as the place where Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. In recognition of its universal spiritual significance, UNESCO inscribed the baptism site on its World Heritage List in 2015.

King Abdullah announced that the Jordanian government will adopt and support an initiative to commemorate the 2,000th anniversary of Christ’s baptism in 2030. The plan includes upgrading infrastructure and services at the baptism site to welcome pilgrims from around the world while preserving its sacred character.The king also emphasized his personal commitment to overseeing preparations, underscoring Jordan’s role in protecting holy sites and supporting the Christian presence in the region.

“This initiative is a call to look forward with faith and responsibility,“ Pizzaballa said. ”The baptism site must remain a living place, where visitors do not simply come to see but encounter God and rediscover the depth of their baptism.”

Church leaders in Jordan welcomed the king’s support for the Baptism Jubilee 2030, describing it as a historic opportunity to strengthen Christian unity and renew the meaning of pilgrimage to the baptism site. They stressed that preparations should begin locally, through the development of facilities, the training of staff, and efforts to ensure that the site remains a place of living faith. They also called for engagement with churches and Christian institutions worldwide to encourage broad participation in the jubilee.

For Church leaders, the jubilee is not only a commemoration of a major moment in Christian history but also a global spiritual event inviting believers everywhere to rediscover the depth of their baptism and to see the baptism site as a symbol of reconciliation and hope.

Pizzaballa expressed deep appreciation for Jordan’s role in safeguarding the site and promoting peace.

“In this blessed land,” he said, “we see in your leadership a living example of how faith can become a bridge between peoples and a foundation for peace in the world.”

The baptism site carries profound spiritual and historical significance. Known in Scripture as “Bethany Beyond the Jordan,” it is the place where Jesus entered the waters to be baptized by John, sanctifying creation and inaugurating his public ministry.

Archaeological remains of ancient churches and monasteries bear witness to centuries of Christian devotion, while modern pilgrims continue to gather there for liturgies, prayer, and reflection.

Since its recognition by UNESCO, the site has become a major destination for Christian pilgrimage, drawing thousands of visitors each year to the banks of the Jordan River.

The 2030 jubilee initiative is envisioned not only as the commemoration of a milestone in Christian history but also as a global spiritual event. It seeks to renew the meaning of baptism for believers, strengthen Christian pilgrimage, and present the baptism site as a beacon of reconciliation and hope.

As preparations begin, Bethany Beyond the Jordan is preparing to welcome the world, offering a tangible connection to the beginning of Christ’s mission and a testimony to faith, peace, and coexistence in the Middle East.

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

“Courteous and clear dialogue, essential though it is, must be accompanied by a deeper conversion of heart: the willingness to set aside particular interests for the sake of the common good,” the pope said in the Clementine Hall of the Apostolic Palace on May 21.

“No nation, no society, and no international order can call itself just and humane if it measures its success solely by power or prosperity while neglecting those who live at the margins,” he continued. “Indeed, Christ’s love for the least and the forgotten compels us to reject every form of selfishness that leaves the poor and the vulnerable invisible.”

Leo received in audience the new ambassadors to the Holy See from Sierra Leone, Bangladesh, Yemen, Rwanda, Namibia, Mauritius, Chad, and Sri Lanka on the occasion of the presentation of their credentials.

Referencing his address to the diplomatic corps in January, the Holy Father emphasized the “urgent need for a return to ‘a diplomacy that promotes dialogue and seeks consensus’ on all levels — bilateral, regional, and multilateral.”

Dialogue motivated by a sincere search for peace, he added, “demands that words once again express clear realities without distortion or hostility.”

He urged diplomats and international organizations to be animated by a “spirit of self-giving solidarity … in order to create spaces for encounter and mediation.”

The pope assured the ambassadors of the readiness of the Secretariat of State and dicasteries of the Roman Curia to assist them as they undertake their new responsibilities.

“At a moment when geopolitical tensions continue to fragment our world further, it is necessary to make them more representative, effective, and oriented toward the unity of the human family,” he said.

“May your mission strengthen dialogue, deepen mutual understanding, and contribute to the peace so greatly needed in our world.”

The 18-page document, titled “The Path of Implementation of the Synod: Towards the Assemblies 2027–2028 — Stages, Criteria, and Tools for Preparation,” establishes a four-stage process and a common method for local Churches, episcopal conferences, and continental bodies.

The new text follows a letter sent last year to bishops, eparchs, patriarchs, and major archbishops of the Eastern Catholic Churches defining the process of accompaniment in the implementation phase of the Synod on Synodality, which concluded in 2024 after a three-year process.

The Synod’s implementation path will unfold in four progressive stages: Recollecting, in the first half of 2027; Interpreting, in the second half of 2027; Orienting, in the first four months of 2028; and Celebrating, in October 2028.

Each stage will culminate in an assembly and the drafting of materials meant to feed ecclesial discernment ahead of the final assembly.

According to the document, the unity of the process will be guided by a common question at every level: “In light of the journey undertaken after the conclusion of the 2021–2024 Synod, and with a view to offering its fruits as a gift to the other Churches and to the Holy Father: What concrete form of a missionary synodal Church, and what new paths of synodality, are emerging in your community?”

The document says the process is not meant to repeat the consultation stage of the Synod but to help the Churches learn from what has already been lived, recognize fruits and difficulties, recalibrate priorities and processes “in the light of careful discernment,” strengthen co-responsibility, and foster an “authentic exchange of gifts among the Churches.”

The Synod office also stresses that the implementation phase “does not introduce additional tasks alongside the ordinary life of communities; rather, it orients and renews that life from within.”

Cardinal Mario Grech, secretary-general of the Synod, said the proposal should be understood as a time of ecclesial discernment rather than as another administrative burden.

“What we are proposing to the local Churches,” Grech said, “is not an additional task but rather a time of shared discernment and thanksgiving in which to reread together what the Spirit is causing to grow in the Church and to recognize the steps we are called to take.”

“The assemblies do not coincide with a sociological consultation or a deliberative process, nor are they a technical assessment,” he continued. “Rather, they are a profound ecclesial and spiritual experience of discernment: a moment of synthesis and renewed impetus for the journey, so that the exchange of gifts among the Churches may become a concrete experience and synodality may increasingly take shape as the ordinary style of ecclesial life at the service of mission.”

Where this has not already been done, the document says it is “essential to reactivate and support diocesan, national, and continental synodal teams,” whose composition is to be communicated to the General Secretariat of the Synod.

The document calls for assemblies with broad participation, including men and women of different generations, priests, deacons, consecrated men and women, members of movements and associations, and faithful not belonging to organized structures. It also asks for attention to the presence of “persons living in situations of fragility or marginality.”

The text adds that it is important “to value voices not directly traceable to ecclesial structures” and, where appropriate, to provide for the participation of representatives of other Churches and Christian communions or of other religions.

At the diocesan and eparchial level, each local Church will prepare a narrative report before its assembly and a letter to other local Churches during the assembly. National or regional assemblies will prepare a theological-pastoral report and a letter to other Churches.

Continental assemblies will prepare a “perspective report” to help shape the Instrumentum Laboris, the working document for the 2028 meetings at the Vatican.

All materials must be sent to the General Secretariat of the Synod by specific deadlines: June 30, 2027, for the local stage; Dec. 31, 2027, for the national or regional stage; and April 30, 2028, for the continental stage.

The document proposes conversation in the Spirit as the privileged method for community discernment while allowing adaptations for the needs of each context.

The implementation phase began after Pope Francis received the Synod’s Final Document in 2024. The new stage, according to the document, was “subsequently confirmed and promoted by Pope Leo XIV” with the aim of helping synodality become an ordinary style of ecclesial life at the service of mission.

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

In 1994 Pope John Paul II established the Pontifical Academy for Life, which works with institutions of higher education, scientific societies, and research centers that deal with life-related issues.

Today, the academy is at the forefront of discussions about artificial intelligence, end-of-life care, and public bioethics.

In March, Pope Leo XIV promulgated new statutes for the Pontifical Academy for Life, recalling that its objective is “the defense and promotion of the value of human life and the dignity of the person.”

The academyʼs mandate is to have a center of studies to “research about the new challenges” and “the new problems concerning human life,” Archbishop Renzo Pegoraro, president of the Pontifical Academy for Life, said in an interview with “EWTN Pro-life Weekly.”

There is an "important ... interdisciplinary dialogue involving biologists, doctors, but also philosophers, theologians, lawyers — all people that could help to analyze the new questions, the new problems, sometimes very urgent and very complicated issues,” he said.

The Pontifical Academy for Life is composed of a presidency, a central office, members, also called academicians, and supporters. Pegoraro has been serving as the president for nearly a year, following his appointment by Pope Leo XIV on May 27, 2025.

Prior, Pegoraro was the chancellor of the academy. He is also a bioethicist who earned a medical degree before entering the seminary.

Pegoraro and the team work to tackle issues that often stem from “the development of medicine” and “the development of science or biology."

They find ways “to define the ethical responsibilities to protect human life and to promote human life with the respect of the dignity of all human beings — from the beginning of life to the end of life,” Pegoraro said.

Changes and advances at the academy

Prior to 2016, those who wanted to work at the academy had to sign a declaration stating that they were pro-life. Since 2016 they no longer need to sign a statement, but the people who work for the academy still need to conform to Church teachings on matters of human dignity.

“We realized the last 10 years, to have members that are not Catholic,” Pegoraro said.

The academy has a “presence of members coming from other religions,” including two Jewish members, one Muslim member, and two Greek Orthodox members, Pegoraro said.

“But they confirm to agree with the basic values concerning human life, and they agree with the teaching of the Catholic Church about these topics,” he said.

Pegoraro addressed some of the specific projects at the academy including one, “neuroscience.“ It addresses the “problems [and] risk of enhancement or manipulation of the human being,” he said.

There is "an interesting project about … neonatal care,” Pegoraro said. It focuses on “before the delivery and immediately after the delivery — particularly for premature children.” It addresses “how to guarantee good care of the baby” and “good care for the mother,” he said.

“There is also an interesting working group now about ethics and disability,” he said.

In the changing times, the academy works to address updated technologies with some of its other projects on artificial intelligence and robots.