St. Callistus Roman Catholic Church

Archbishop Hebda told EWTN News that Annunciation Church will have to be reconsecrated after the shooting, an act he described as “reclaim[ing] that territory for the Lord.” / Credit: "EWTN News Nightly"/Screenshot

CNA Staff, Sep 3, 2025 / 08:55 am (CNA).

Saint Paul and Minneapolis Archbishop Bernard Hebda said this week that Catholics and others in the Twin Cities are revealing “signs of God’s great love” in the week following the deadly shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church. 

“I get the idea that people are very much turning to the Lord at this time and there’s just been a real outpouring of love,” the archbishop said on “EWTN News Nightly” on Sept. 2. 

Hebda told EWTN News President Montse Alvarado that there has been “no shortage of volunteers” in the days since the shooting, which claimed the lives of eight-year-old Fletcher Merkel and 10-year-old Harper Moyski while injuring approximately 20 others.  

“Counselors are coming forward,” the archbishop said. “Those who are able to help their parents and families in all different ways are stepping forward to really show what happens when a church community is impacted.”

Hebda said he was gratified after Pope Leo XIV spoke directly about the shooting and called for an end to the “pandemic of arms” that brings about such violence. 

The Holy Father’s prayers were particularly poignant, the archbishop said, given that Leo himself is a native of the Midwest. 

“[It was] huge … especially to be able to hear those words in English and in a Midwestern accent,” he said. 

“The victims of the shooting were taken to two different hospitals in Minneapolis,” Hebda said. “And one of them is adjacent to the very hospital where Pope Leo had done his [clinical pastoral education] when he was a seminarian.” 

“So I know he knows the spot, he knows Minneapolis, and we're really counting on him continuing those prayers,” the prelate said. 

Stricken church will be reconsecrated

Annunciation Church will have to be reconsecrated after the shooting, an act that Hebda described as “reclaim[ing] that territory for the Lord.”

“I know it's going to take a long time for some of the faithful to be able to go back into that building that was the site of such devastation,” he told Alvarado. “But we're hoping that as time continues to heal and as those prayers continue … that we will get to that point where that church will once again be a hub of activity.”

The archbishop also touched briefly on the recently renewed debate over the effectiveness of prayer in the wake of tragedies. Some figures in the media and even politicians over the past week have derided prayer and dismissed its role in addressing suffering and societal ills.

In contrast, Hebda said he has heard numerous stories about how students at Annunciation Catholic School have “turned to prayer” after the shooting. 

“I was with one young woman, and she was talking about holding the hand of the other young girl who was in the ambulance with her, and how they prayed [the Our Father] fervently,” he said.

The archbishop said he also heard of a young man who was injured in the shooting and who “asked the doctor to pray with him before the operation.”

“It's interesting at a time when prayer is being debated, that's what it seems like people are appreciating the most,” Hebda said.

Pope Leo XIV appealed for help for Sudan during his Wednesday general audience in St. Peter's Square on Sept. 3, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media.

Vatican City, Sep 3, 2025 / 08:00 am (CNA).

Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday pleaded for international assistance for the North African country of Sudan, which is experiencing violence, famine, natural disasters, and disease.

“I am closer than ever to the Sudanese population, in particular families, children and the displaced,” Leo said at the end of his general audience at the Vatican Sept. 3.

“I pray for all the victims,” the pontiff added. “I make a heartfelt appeal to leaders and to the international community to guarantee humanitarian corridors and implement a coordinated response to stop this humanitarian catastrophe.”

The dramatic situation in Sudan, marked by months of armed clashes, mass displacement, and the threat of cholera, has prompted multiple warnings from humanitarian organizations.

In his appeal, Leo drew attention to the civilians trapped in the city of El Fasher, where they are experiencing famine and violence, and to a deadly landslide in Tarsin, which it is believed killed up to 1,000 people, with others still missing.

“And, as if that were not enough,” the pontiff added, “the spread of cholera is threatening hundreds of thousands of already stricken people.”

“It is time to initiate a serious, sincere and inclusive dialogue between the parties to end the conflict and restore hope, dignity and peace to the people of Sudan,” Leo urged.

After three weeks indoors, the pope’s public audience returned to St. Peter’s Square on Wednesday following a dip in Rome’s soaring August temperatures.

‘No-one can save themselves’

In his spiritual message at the audience, Leo reflected on Jesus’ final moments on the cross as narrated in the Gospel of John, where the crucified Christ utters the phrase: “I thirst.”

The pope said the thirst of the Crucified One is not only the physiological need of a tortured body, but above all, the expression of a profound desire for love, relationship, and communion. 

His cry, Leo XIV asserted, is that of a God “who is not ashamed to beg for a sip, because in that gesture he tells us that love, in order to be true, must also learn to ask and not only to give.”

The pontiff then stated that “Jesus does not save with a dramatic twist, but by asking for something that he cannot give himself.” 

This, according to the Holy Father, opens a door to true hope: “If even the Son of God chose not to be self-sufficient, then our thirst too — for love, for meaning, for justice — is a sign not of failure, but of truth.”

“Jesus’ thirst on the cross is therefore ours too,” he added. “It is the cry of a wounded humanity that seeks living water. And this thirst does not lead us away from God, but rather unites us with him. If we have the courage to acknowledge it, we can discover that even our fragility is a bridge towards heaven.”

Thus, the pope said, on the cross, Jesus teaches us that human beings are not realized “in power, but in trustful openness to others, even when they are hostile and enemies.”

It is precisely through the acceptance of fragility that we achieve salvation, he emphasized, which “is not found in autonomy, but in humbly recognizing one’s own need and in being able to express it freely.”

“None of us can be self-sufficient. No-one can save themselves. Life is ‘fulfilled’ not when we are strong, but when we learn how to receive,” Leo said.

A difficult truth

“We live in a time that rewards self-sufficiency, efficiency, performance,” he said. “And yet the Gospel shows us that the measure of our humanity is not given by what we can achieve, but by our ability to let ourselves be loved and, when necessary, even helped.”

Leo XIV invited the faithful to rediscover the simple joy that is born of fraternity and free gift of self. He emphasized that in everyday gestures, such as “asking without shame” and “offering without ulterior motives,” lies a profound happiness, distinct from that which the world proposes.

“It is a joy that restores us to the original truth of our being: we are creatures made to give and receive love,” the pontiff affirmed.

He encouraged those listening to not be afraid or ashamed to reach out, even when they feel undeserving. “It is right there, in that humble gesture, that salvation hides,” he concluded.

A statue of Pope Gregory I, also known as Saint Gregory the Great, with his famous Catholic iconography of a dove sitting on his shoulder, sits outside of St. Stephen's Basilica in Budapest, Monday, Dec. 30, 2024 / Credit: Alexander Ruszczynski/Shutterstock

CNA Staff, Sep 3, 2025 / 07:15 am (CNA).

St. Gregory the Great, a central figure of the medieval western Church and one of the most admired popes in history, is commemorated in the Ordinary Form of the Roman Catholic liturgy. He was the first of the bishops of Rome to popularize the now-traditional papal title "servant of the servants of God," which referred to Christ's command that those in the highest position of leadership should be “the last of all and the servant of all.”

Born near the middle of the sixth century into a noble Roman family, the future St. Gregory the Great received a classical education in liberal arts and the law. He also had strong religious formation from his devout family, particularly from his mother, Silvia, also a canonized saint.

By around age 30, Gregory had advanced to high political office in Rome, during what was nevertheless a period of marked decline for the city.

Some time after becoming the prefect of the former imperial capital, Gregory chose to leave the civil administration to become a monk during the rise of the Benedictine order. In reality, however, the new monk's great career in public life was yet to come.

After three years of strict monastic life, he was called personally by the pope to assume the office of a deacon in Rome. From Rome, he was dispatched to Constantinople, to seek aid from the emperor for Rome's civic troubles, and to aid in resolving the Eastern church's theological controversies. He returned to Rome in 586, after six years of service as the papal representative to the eastern Church and empire.

Rome faced a series of disasters caused by flooding in 589, followed by the death of Pope Pelagius II the next year. Gregory, then serving as abbot in a monastery, reluctantly accepted his election to replace him as the Bishop of Rome.

Despite this initial reluctance, however, Pope Gregory began working tirelessly to reform and solidify the Roman liturgy, the disciplines of the Church, the military and economic security of Rome, and the Church's spreading influence in western Europe.

As pope, Gregory brought his political experience in Rome and Constantinople to bear, in the task of preventing the Catholic Church from becoming subservient to any of the various groups struggling for control of the former imperial capital. As the former abbot of a monastery, he strongly supported the Benedictine movement as a bedrock of the western Church. He sent missionaries to England, and is given much of the credit for the nation's conversion.

Even as he undertook to consolidate papal power and shore up the crumbling Roman west, St. Gregory the Great maintained a humble sense of his mission as a servant and pastor of souls, from the time of his election until his death in 604.

This article was first published on Aug. 19, 2010, and has been updated.

St. Mary's Cathedral in Valencia, Spain. / Credit: Pere López, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Madrid, Spain, Sep 3, 2025 / 05:15 am (CNA).

The Observatory for Religious Freedom and Conscience (OLRC by its Spanish acronym) in Spain decried that it was "a black August" with seven cases of vandalism and desecration against Catholic churches reported in recent weeks.

On Aug. 11, black paint was spilled on a set of  steps at St. Catherine parish in the town of Rute in Cordoba province, just days before the patron saint's feast day.

The following day, the perpetual adoration chapel at St. Martin parish in Valencia was desecrated when a person who identifies as "trans" burst in the chapel shouting in front of the altar and then "broke the monstrance, while insulting the faithful," according to the OLRC.

On Aug 13, Our Lady of Mount Carmel parish in Palma de Mallorca was desecrated with offensive graffiti accusing the Catholic Church of corruption.

A day later, a sacristan and several parishioners were attacked in the Valencia cathedral by an apparently intoxicated man during the celebration of the Eucharist.

On Aug. 17, a man broke into St. James the Apostle parish in Albuñol in Granada province, where he attacked several statues before starting a fire that took firefighters two hours to extinguish.

On Aug. 24, the Assumption of Our Lady in Yeles in Toledo province was vandalized by a woman apparently suffering from psychiatric problems who attacked several statues such as the Child of Remedies and the Virgin of Solitude, causing extensive damage.

Last Sunday, Aug. 31, two activists from the environmental group Futuro Vegetal (Plant Future) threw dye at the façade of the Sagrada Familia Basilica  in Barcelona in an attempt to protest the large number of forest fires in Spain in recent weeks that the group blamed on ranching activities.

For the OLRC, these events "confirm the rise of Christianophobia and the vulnerability of religious freedom in our country" and warned against such events becoming normalized.

The organization’s president, María García, demanded "a firm response” from the authorities “and resources for the protection of the religious heritage" of the country.

"August has been a dark month for religious freedom in our country. The succession of attacks on churches and places of worship demonstrates that violence and hatred against Christians are far from isolated cases," García pointed out in a statement, emphasizing that "according to data from the Reports on Attacks on Religious Freedom in Spain, Christians are always the most attacked religion."

Greater protection for churches

The OLRC warned that many parish priests are reporting that they are "having to install cameras or close churches due to the increase in vandalism and anti-Christian hatred" and called on the authorities "for greater protection for churches."

"These events represent a worrying trend of religious intolerance. We demand that agencies of the central government and municipalities develop specific prevention plans against attacks on churches and rigorous application of the penal code against hate crimes and crimes that deride religious sentiments," García emphasized.

The Observatory for Religious Freedom urged civil society and institutions not to look the other way and to report any act of religious hatred. "Only by bringing these attacks out in the open and reacting firmly can we guarantee coexistence and respect for the freedom of all," García emphasized.

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

Blessed Carlo Acutis. / Credit: Diocese of Assisi

CNA Staff, Sep 3, 2025 / 04:30 am (CNA).

It’s official! On Sept. 7, Pope Leo XIV will canonize Blessed Carlo Acutis together with Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati as the first new saints of his pontificate. A gamer and computer coder who loved the Eucharist, Carlo Acutis will be the first millennial Catholic saint.

So who is Blessed Carlo? Here’s what you need to know:

1. He was born in London in 1991

   Carlo Acutis was born May 3, 1991, in London, where his father was working. Just a few months later, he moved with his parents, Andrea Acutis and Antonia Salzano, to Milan, Italy.

2. He was diagnosed with leukemia

   Carlo was diagnosed with leukemia as a teenager. Before his death in 2006, he offered his sufferings for Pope Benedict XVI and for the Church, saying: “I offer all of my suffering to the Lord for the pope and for the Church in order not to go to purgatory but to go straight to heaven.”

3. Carlo loved God and the Eucharist from a young age

   From a young age, Carlo had a special love for God, even though his parents weren’t especially devout. Antonia Salzano, his mom, said that before Carlo, she went to Mass only for her First Communion, her confirmation, and her wedding.

   As a young child, Carlo loved to pray the rosary. After he made his First Communion, he went to Mass as often as possible at the parish across from his elementary school. Carlo’s love for the Eucharist also inspired a deep conversion for his mother. According to the postulator promoting his cause for sainthood, he “managed to drag his relatives, his parents to Mass every day. It was not the other way around; it was not his parents bringing the little boy to Mass, but it was he who managed to get himself to Mass and to convince others to receive Communion daily.” 

   Salzano spoke to “EWTN News Nightly” in October 2023 about her son’s devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. She said: “He used to say, ‘There are queues in front of a concert, in front of a football match, but I don’t see these queues in front of the Blessed Sacrament’ ... So, for him the Eucharist was the center of his life.”

4. His witness of faith led to conversions

   Carlo’s witness of faith as a child led adults to convert and be baptized. Rajesh Mohur, who worked for the Acutis family as an au pair when Carlo was young, converted from Hinduism to Catholicism because of Carlo’s witness. Carlo taught Mohur how to pray the rosary and told him about the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Mohur said that one of the things that most impressed him as a non-Christian was the witness of Carlo’s love and concern for the poor — how he interacted with the homeless man who would sit at the entrance of the church and would bring Tupperware dishes filled with food out to people living on the streets.

5. He defended Church teaching

   Carlo was not afraid to defend Church teaching, even in situations when his classmates disagreed with him. Many of Carlo’s high school classmates remember Carlo giving a passionate defense for the protection of life from the moment of conception when there was a classroom debate about abortion. 

6. He stood up for the vulnerable

   Carlo was a faithful friend. He was known for standing up for kids at school who got bullied, especially kids with disabilities. When a friend’s parents were getting a divorce, Carlo made a special effort to include his friend in the Acutis’ family life. With his friends, he spoke about the importance of going to Mass and confession, human dignity, and chastity.

7. Carlo was a computer whiz

   Carlo was fascinated with computer coding and taught himself some of the basic coding languages, including C and C++. He used his computer skills and internet savvy to help his family put together an exhibition on Eucharistic miracles that has gone on to be displayed at thousands of parishes on five continents. His spiritual director has attested that Carlo was personally convinced that the scientific evidence from Eucharistic miracles would help people to realize that Jesus is really present in the Eucharist and come back to Mass.

8. He balanced fun with faith

   Carlo loved playing video games. His mother recalls that he liked the Nintendo Game Boy and GameCube as well as PlayStation and Xbox. He had conversations with his gaming buddies about the importance of going to Mass and confession and limited his video game playing to no more than two hours per week. Carlo also liked Spider-Man and Pokémon.

9. Carlo died in 2006 and was beatified in 2020

   Carlo died on Oct. 12, 2006, and was buried in Assisi. Initially, there were reports that Carlo’s body was found to be incorrupt, but the bishop of Assisi clarified before his beatification that his body was not incorrupt. His body lies in repose in a glass tomb in Assisi where he can be seen in jeans and a pair of Nike sneakers. Thousands came to pray at his tomb at the time of his beatification in October 2020.

   📹VIDEO | Highlights of the Beatification Mass of Carlo Acutis celebrated in Assisi, Italy. His parents and siblings attended the ceremony. His heart was presented as a relic. Blessed #CarloAcutis, pray for us! pic.twitter.com/GcZog96vyZ

   — EWTN News (@EWTNews) October 10, 2020

10. The miracles attributed to Carlo's intercession

    Pope Francis recognized a second miracle attributed to Carlo’s intercession in a decree on May 23, 2024. The miracle involved the healing of a 21-year-old girl from Costa Rica named Valeria Valverde, who was near death after seriously injuring her head in a bicycle accident while studying in Florence in 2022. The first miracle that led to his beatification involved the healing of a three-year-old boy in Brazil in 2013 who had been diagnosed with a malformation of his pancreas since birth.

11. His tomb has become a pilgrimage site

    Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from around the world have visited Carlo's tomb since his canonization was announced. His remains rest in the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore at the Sanctuary of Spogliazione (or of the Stripping) in Assisi, the home of St. Francis and St. Clare.

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12. How to watch his canonization

    The canonization of Carlo Acutis, along with Pier Giorgio Frassati, will air live on EWTN at 3 a.m. ET on Sunday, Sept. 7 and the encore presentation will be at 3 p.m. ET on the same day. Pope Leo XIV will preside over the Mass and canonizations of the two young Blesseds from St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

This article was originally published Oct. 20, 2020, and was updated Sept. 2, 2025.

Gabriel Rovero (left) played young Carlo Acutis and Christopher La Rosa (right) played teenage Carlo Acutis in their parish's play about Carlo Acutis, "Highway to Heaven" in Sydney, Australia. / Credit: Courtesy of St. Joachim Parish, Sydney, Australia

Rome Newsroom, Sep 3, 2025 / 04:05 am (CNA).

Children from a Catholic parish in Sydney, Australia, put together an original play about the life of Blessed Carlo Acutis that has inspired Eucharistic devotion among the kids and families in the community.  

Father Epeli Qimaqima, parish priest of St. Joachim Parish, told CNA that the play sparked lasting spiritual transformation and “brought the parish together in more ways than one.” 

“It was not writing a play for the sake of having a play,” Qimaqima said. “But I had been pondering as parish priest how we can catechize the family in this day and age.” 

The play, “Highway to Heaven,” was performed Oct. 12, 2024, the feast day of Blessed Carlo Acutis. Written and directed by Anna Harrison of Sydney Catholic Youth, it featured children ages 7 to 15 dramatizing the life of the Italian teenager known for his love of the Eucharist and his computer skills. 

“My initial idea was to have the play of the story of Fatima,” Qimaqima said. “But the children … in the parish kept on asking me about Carlo Acutis. … They felt so familiar with him because of his age, and they knew everything about him.” 

The children said they connected with Acutis because he was “so like them in every way,” enjoying soccer, swimming, and video games. But what struck them most was his devotion to the Eucharist.  

“Because of our Adoration Chapel, I think they could see a link,” Qimaqima said. 

The production engaged children in every aspect — from acting and set changes to managing props. And the impact went far beyond the performance. 

In the months following the play, Qimaqima noticed children and their parents spending time in the parish’s perpetual adoration chapel. 

“They’ve grown together learning about Carlo Acutis and his life,” he said. 

One young participant now stops to pray in the chapel on his way home from school. Parents also began attending weekday Masses and meeting each other outside of church.  

“I hear that they are meeting outside of the parish to have coffee, talk about what they’re going through,” Qimaqima said. “I think some of the parents grew to really discover new things about their own children during the rehearsals. Because many of them told me, ‘I never knew my child could do this.’” 

Qimaqima, a former primary school teacher from Fiji, said the initiative was born from his desire to reach families.   

“I went back to the Gospels and I rediscovered that our Lord’s way of teaching was through storytelling, the parables,” he said. “And so I thought maybe we could use theater as a way of storytelling to catechize the family, and children and their parents, through the dramatization of the lives of the saints.” 

The day of the play included a parish-wide celebration, Mass, and a barbecue.  

“We had a big day here for the children finishing with Mass at the end of the day and then a barbecue and ice cream, lots of ice cream,” Qimaqima said. “It was a lot of fun for the adults to see children so happy.” 

Pilgrimage to Rome takes unexpected turn 

Fourteen children and their parents later joined Qimaqima and other parishioners on a pilgrimage to Italy for Acutis’ canonization Mass, originally scheduled for April.  

The group had just set foot in St. Peter’s Square when they learned Pope Francis had died and the canonization was postponed. 

“We didn’t believe it,” said 13-year-old Christopher La Rosa, who portrayed Acutis in the play. “We had to wait until the death bell had rung and then we believed it.” 

Instead of a canonization, the group attended the pope’s funeral. 

“I’ve never been to that many funerals before, but to go to a pope’s funeral, it was very, very crowded but it was crazy because I actually got to see the pope and his body. It was very, very cool,” 9-year-old Francesca Manu told CNA in Rome.  

Thirteen-year-old Sophie Tawadros added, “I’m really grateful that we got the opportunity to go to the pope’s funeral and really say goodbye because he has been the pope for as long as I have been alive, I think, and he is the only pope that I have ever known.” 

The change of plans made our pilgrimage experience a much deeper encounter with God,” Qimaqima said. 

Prayers at Carlo’s tomb 

The group also visited Assisi to pray at Acutis’ tomb. 

“I always wanted to see his body because he is one of our family’s favorite saints,” 11-year-old Antonia Mallet said. 

“He has taught us that [the Eucharist] is actually Jesus’ body, not just a piece of plain bread, that it actually does turn into Jesus’ body,” she added. 

Acutis “really inspires me how to offer up suffering for the pope’s intentions and for all of the holy souls in purgatory,” Mallet said. 

La Rosa said that at Acutis’ tomb, he asked the young Blessed to intercede “to bring me closer to God and to protect me from all worldly distractions and to focus on heavenly ones.” 

“He has inspired me to share the Gospel with more people,” he added. 

Now back in Australia, the parish plans to tune into a livestream of the canonization on Sunday, Sept. 7, and has invited the wider community to join the celebration. 

Last week, St. Joachim’s hosted 780 children from 11 Catholic schools for a special jubilee celebration in honor of Acutis. The students walked nearly 30 minutes in pilgrimage from a nearby park to the church, where they joined a concert. 

The cast is now rehearsing “Highway to Heaven “again for two October performances, marking Acutis’ first feast day as a canonized saint. 

Qimaqima said the ripple effects are visible throughout the community. “They’re telling their friends in school about what they’re doing at church. … so they bring their friends from school. They bring their parents along with them to come to church,” he said. 

Lasting friendships have also formed among the children, many of whom attend different schools. 

“They leave the phone aside … They’re sitting in a circle, laughing, telling stories,” Qimaqima said. “It’s marvelous to see what the Lord is doing in the lives of the people that I’m called to serve in this parish.” 

Pontifical Missions Society USA National Director Monsignor Roger Landry speaks during a panel at the 2025 EWTN Family Celebration. / Credit: EWTN/Screenshot

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Sep 2, 2025 / 19:30 pm (CNA).

The team that led the Eternal Word Television Network’s (EWTN) coverage of this year’s conclave reflected on the significance of having a pope from the United States, along with the intense preparation and excitement that surrounded the network’s historic coverage during a roundtable discussion at the 2025 EWTN Family Celebration.

The 1,600-seat capacity Capital One Hall in Tysons, Virginia was the venue for this year’s celebration. The Aug. 30 event featured talks from various EWTN personalities and a closing Mass celebrated by Bishop Michael Burbidge of Arlington,Virginia and the Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word.

During an afternoon panel discussion, the Pontifical Missions Society USA’s National Director, Monsignor Roger Landry, recalled announcing Leo’s papacy on EWTN during live conclave coverage: “I had the chance to announce that history has been made in the Vatican: Not only do we have the 267th Peter, we have the first successor of Peter born in the United States of America.”

'The Church needs some of the particular gifts God has given to Americans'

Reflecting on the election of the first American pope, Landry said “The Church needs some of the particular gifts God has given to Americans: our directness, our capacity to confront rather than run away from problems, our general optimism, [and] our can-do attitude.” 

“All of these things are necessary, complemented by his missionary spirit, his deep faith, his Augustinian heritage,” Landry said of Pope Leo XIV. Landry said Americans and the whole Church are “very lucky to have him.” 

“The Holy Spirit did his job,” he continued. “Now it’s time for us as Americans not just to say we’ve exported Robert Francis Prevost to the Apostolic Palace, but we’ve got to help him, as Americans, fulfill his mission.” 

Meanwhile, EWTN News President Montse Alvarado said the most emotional part of the coverage was the announcement of "Habemus papam," which means "we have a pope,” and said she had “tears running down my face” when it was announced.

“It was a moment of just incredible joy to know that we had a new Holy Father,” she said.

Alvarado noted the significance of the whole world waiting to see the white smoke appearing from the chimney. “That chimney exposed a lie and that lie it exposed is that Christ and the Catholic Church are irrelevant,” she said.

Paola Flynn, Vatican correspondent for Spanish-language EWTN Noticias, called the coverage “a beautiful experience” and noted the interest among Catholics and non-Catholics alike.

EWTN News Vice President Matthew Bunson noted “the unique position of EWTN to cover an event like this.”  “We bring this tradition [of Catholicism], not just a pop culture [perspective]” like much of the coverage does. He noted that EWTN’s coverage operates “to bring the faith,” rather than to present coverage based on a “secular cultural mindset.”

Speakers offer advice, testimony

During the gathering, other network personalities such The Doctor Is In host Dr. Ray Guarendi and EWTN News In Depth host Catherine Hadro, also addressed the audience.

Guarendi, a clinical psychologist who has authored several books on parenting, spoke about raising children. His talk mixed in humor with advice and expressed concern over the lack of discipline by many parents today. “Love without discipline is child abuse,” he noted.

He also addressed the suffering of parents whose children fall away from the faith. Speaking of the perfection of Jesus Christ, he asked the crowd, “Could he get most people to follow him?” to which the crowd responded in unison, “No.” He warned parents to not fall into the trap of blaming themselves, thinking they can be better than Christ himself.

Hadro, who gave birth to her first child Lily in January, discussed her spiritual journey and her struggle with being unable to become pregnant in the first six years of her marriage, noting “God is united to us in our sufferings.”

She said that through this journey she learned “a child is good, but a child is a pure gift.” She said “no one is entitled to a child” and “you can’t plan parenthood,” so “I found myself a beggar in prayer — I may not deserve a child, but I desired one.”

Hadro spoke about the spiritual impact of traveling for pilgrimages in deepening her faith and helping her through that ordeal, which included a trip to Lourdes and Lisieux in France. Nine months after placing a prayer intention for a child in the crib of St. Thérèse of Lisieux and after years of continued prayer, Hadro became pregnant with Lily. She said she thanked God for “this most abundant gift, this most undeserved gift.”

“We named her Lily in honor of St. Joseph, who’s often depicted holding a lily flower, but of course also Lily as a tribute to St. Thérèse, as she is our own little flower,” Hadro said.

Many people who attended the celebration said they came to see the network’s personalities in person and expressed a strong love for EWTN Foundress Mother Angelica, who died in 2016. Several attendees also emphasized the need for a Catholic perspective in the news. 

Hugh Kelly, from Maryland, told CNA he decided to attend because of “everything that’s going on in the world, particularly attacks on Christianity, particularly attacks on Catholicism.” He said he has become more active in professing his faith and highlighted the need for Catholics to profess “the beauty of the Catholic Church, the importance of the Catholic Church, and prayer.”

He expressed concern about some media personalities and public officials criticizing prayer in the aftermath of the Annunciation Catholic Church shooting, saying that rhetoric is “diabolical, whether they know they’re being diabolical or not.” 

David DeRegis, who traveled to the celebration from Syracuse, New York with his wife Michele and their son Matthew, told CNA “we follow EWTN and we think the world of Mother Angelica and Father Joseph Mary Wolfe.”

“[It’s] wonderful work that this ministry does and it’s worth every mile we traveled,” he said.

Pamela, who declined to give her last name, told CNA that she and her husband Michael are “really glad that we came,” noting they watch EWTN to get “the Catholic perspective on the news.” 

Her husband added that he frequently watches reruns of Mother Angelica’s show, saying “she put the ‘wit’ in ‘witness,’ and I really miss her.”

Father Marcial Maciel. / Credit: DominikHoffmann, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

ACI Prensa Staff, Sep 2, 2025 / 17:42 pm (CNA).

A new HBO series on Marcial Maciel has once again placed the spotlight on the founder of the Legionaries of Christ and the complaints of sexual abuse against him.

The congregation in Rome confirmed to ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner, that it had known about the production for years and agreed to be interviewed to address their past and show the changes the order has undertaken since the scandal.

“Yes, we are aware of the production,” the congregation told ACI Prensa. “At the end of 2022, we received an interview request from the documentary’s producers. The project, according to what they said, would address events that were mostly already publicly known thanks to complaints from victims, former members, and specialists, as well as investigations conducted by the congregation and the Holy See,” the congregation noted.

They specified that Father Andreas Schöggl, LC, former secretary-general and currently archivist of the congregation, was the only one to grant an interview, “due to his thorough knowledge of the history of the Legion and his ability to explain it accurately and transparently.”

The Legionnaires emphasized that “agreeing to the interview did not mean they were collaborating in the production or influencing” the final cut. “We answered every question with complete openness and clarity,” they said.

They noted that their website has a specific section on Marcial Maciel and five annual “Truth, Justice, and Healing” reports. They have also implemented a Safe Environment program and a process of outreach and reparation for victims.

Context of the series

The HBO Max documentary series examines the career of the founder of the Legionaries of Christ.

Maciel was considered a charismatic leader and effective fundraiser for decades, but it was later revealed that he had sexually abused at least 60 minors, battled addiction to a morphine derivative, led a hidden double life, and had at least one daughter.

The first season of the series directed by Matías Gueilburt consists of four episodes. The first, set in the 1940s in Mexico, chronicles the founding of the Legionaries of Christ and the initial warning signs about Maciel, which were ignored. 

The second episode, set in the 1950s, describes the Legion’s expansion to Spain and Italy, as well as the start of investigations after the first reports of abuse and his addiction to a morphine derivative became known. 

The third, set in the 1990s, depicts his closeness to Pope John Paul II, the launch of Regnum Christi, the revelation of his double life through a 1997 report, and the strategies employed to avoid exposure under growing international scrutiny. The fourth episode aired on Aug. 28. 

The series draws on archives, multiple sources such as journalists and specialists, and testimonies from victims, such as former Legionaries Juan Vaca, Alejandro Espinoza, and José Barba, who recount in detail the abuses perpetrated by Maciel. Throughout the episodes the documentary maintains a respectful tone toward the Church and the victims and uses dramatizations in certain scenes to create a powerful impact. 

The congregation explained that, from the beginning, it conditioned its participation on doing so “with openness and humility: facing up to our history, acknowledging the harm caused, and showing the path of renewal we have taken.”

The objective, the congregation stated, was to “contribute to a more complete account of the events” and, at the same time, reaffirm their “commitment to the truth and to the victims, make known the renewal process, to bear witness to the service we provide to the Church today, and to share information about the events verified and compared with multiple sources.” 

Producer Sebastián Gamba’s perspective

Sebastián Gamba, executive producer of Anima Films and the docuseries, explained in an interview with the Spanish-language edition of EWTN News that the Maciel case “really resonates in recent Mexican history” and that the decision to address it was made seven years ago.

Regarding the series’ title, he explained that the reference to Maciel as a “wolf” perfectly represents the person of Maciel, “a sinister character who hides behind religion to commit as much evil as possible.”

Gamba stated that the greatest challenge the production faced was telling a “very painful” story, protecting the victims and showing “the full scope, which is not only the most dramatic and darkest aspect — that of sexual abuse — but many other aspects.”

The producer noted the inclusion of journalists and researchers from various countries, such as Raúl Ormos (author of the Spanish-language investigative book “The Financial Empire of the Legionaries of Christ”), Jason Berry (one of the first to decry abuse in the U.S. in the 1990s), and Idoia Sota (who published a report in 2009 that revealed the existence of Norma Hilda Rivas Baños, a daughter Maciel allegedly conceived with a 17-year-old girl named Norma Baños), among others. “The great challenge was being able to include all these voices and, of course, the voices of the victims,” he said.

The production took almost four years because, according to Gamba, “there’s a whole process of getting to know each other, of understanding from every angle what the project is trying to accomplish, so that the other person really feels like participating or not.”

Regarding the Legionaries of Christ’s participation in the documentary, the producer said that “of course, they condemn Maciel’s entire life” and that “there wasn’t any kind of resistance or obstacles” coming from the congregation or the Vatican.

Regarding how they handled the victims’ testimony, Gamba emphasized that the amount of time allotted was essential to avoid sensationalism.

The subject matter “is treated very carefully. The interesting thing about making a series is that you can give a much more complete overview of these stories.” The person is first presented as a child, “fascinated by the world they found, and then comes the horrific part. This narrative arc avoids sensationalism,” he said.

The producer clarified that the series does not seek to attack faith. “Here, neither religion nor the Catholic Church is called into question. It specifically talks about one person, Marcial Maciel, and his story, which is reprehensible and which absolutely no one defends today, for obvious reasons.”

“I think faith is a wonderful thing; the Catholic religion, for those who live it, is a wonderful thing. And it’s not about that, but rather about showing what human nature can come to, epitomized by a person who committed every evil and abuse within his reach,” he commented.

Reactions following 4th episode 

The day the fourth episode aired, on Aug. 28, the congregation released a statement reiterating their solidarity with the victims of the serial abuser and expressing their "recognition for their courage in reporting these incidents and making possible the process of conversion and renewal that we continue to undertake." 

In particular, they thanked several older members of the community who called for a course correction “regarding sexual abuse and the abuse of power and conscience that Father Marcial Maciel and other Legionaries were committing." 

"Among them, we mention Federico Domínguez and Father Luis Ferreira with their 1956 reports. Also Juan José Vaca with his 1976 letter; and Juan Manuel Fernández Amenábar, who in 1995 said he forgave but also demanded justice. Beginning in 1997, victims abused by Maciel started leveling public accusations against him: Fathers Félix Alarcón, José Barba, Saúl Barrales, Alejandro Espinosa, Arturo Jurado, José Antonio and Fernando Pérez Olvera, and the aforementioned Juan José Vaca," some of whom appear in the HBO Max documentary.

“We sincerely regret that images of individuals — including minors at the time, former consecrated women, and priests — have been used without their authorization or ours, which has upset several of them. We respect their dignity, their background, and their right to privacy,” the Legionaries made clear.

The statement, signed by Pablo Pérez de la Vega, director of communications for the congregation, was published on social media by the Mexican Bishops’ Conference (CEM, by its Spanish acronym). The Legion was founded by Maciel in Mexico in 1941. 

“As the Church in Mexico, we remain committed to the importance of continuing to advance a culture of transparency, prevention, and care for the most vulnerable,” the CEM stated.

"We reiterate our commitment to preventing abuse in all areas of ecclesial life, to cooperating with the relevant civil and ecclesiastical bodies, and to promoting safe spaces where trust can be rebuilt," the bishops emphasized.

Finally, the conference encouraged the faithful to unite "in prayer and continue working together so that truth, justice, and peace may flourish in every community of the Church in Mexico."

Background and reports on Maciel and the congregation

Father Marcial Maciel (1920–2008), founder of the Legionaries of Christ in 1941, was investigated by the Vatican in the 1950s for allegations of sexual abuse of minors and misuse of morphine.

He was temporarily removed from office in 1956 and then reinstated two years later. In 2006, 50 years after the Vatican investigation, Pope Benedict XVI removed Maciel from active ministry, based on an investigation the Congregation (now Dicastery) for the Doctrine of the Faith conducted when as Joseph Ratzinger he was at the helm before being elected pope in 2005. The pontiff asked Maciel to lead a life of prayer and penance.

On May 19, 2006, the Holy See issued a statement on the case with the following information: “After having subjected the results of the investigation to careful study, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, under the guidance of the new prefect, His Eminence Cardinal William Levada, has decided, taking into account both Reverend Maciel’s advanced age and his poor health, to forgo a canonical process and invite the priest to a reserved life of prayer and penance, renouncing all public ministry. The Holy Father has approved these decisions. Regardless of the person of the founder, the worthy apostolate of the Legionaries of Christ and the Regnum Christi association is gratefully acknowledged.”

The progressive discovery of Maciel’s double life provoked a series of crises within both the Legion and Regnum Christi. The Holy See therefore deemed it necessary to conduct an apostolic visitation. The concluding statement of May 1, 2010, reads:

“The apostolic visitation was able to ascertain that the conduct of Father Marcial Maciel Degollado has given rise to serious consequences in the life and structure of the Legion, such as to require a process of profound reevaluation. The very grave and objectively immoral actions of Father Maciel, confirmed by incontrovertible testimonies, in some cases constitute real crimes and manifest a life devoid of scruples and authentic religious meaning. This life was unknown to the great majority of the Legionaries.” 

At the same time, the congregation’s superiors launched a process of institutional introspection.  

According to the Legionaries of Christ’s 1941–2019 Report, 175 minors were victims of sexual abuse committed by 33 priests of the congregation throughout its history and in different countries. This number includes at least 60 minors abused by Maciel, according to the report. The majority of the victims were adolescents between the ages of 11 and 16.

According to the fifth annual report “Truth, Justice, and Healing,” published in April of this year, since the presentation of the first report in 2019 and through Dec. 31, 2024, the congregation has received 20 additional complaints against Legionary priests not accounted for in the historical report and occurring in different decades.

The latest report also reveals that 61 people who suffered sexual abuse as minors are currently undergoing therapy for healing, 40 of whom are receiving care through the independent organization Eshmá. Since 2022, 21 victims have received financial compensation and comprehensive support.

The document also reports that the reaccreditation of safe environments has begun in various territories, with training programs and follow-up on historical cases. In addition, a study commission on the abuse of authority has been created, the results of which will be presented to the general chapter in January 2026.

A call to discernment

When asked whether Catholics could watch the series confident it accurately portrays the events, the Legionaries in Rome responded that “all information must be approached with discernment” and noted that they make available all the information “on the history of the congregation and aspects of Marcial Maciel’s life” for those who wish to learn more.

Regarding the potential impact of the production, they stated that “to the extent that the damage caused is recognized and the firm commitment to not repeating it, it is useful for the Church, the congregation, and society in general.”

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It was translated and adapted by CNA on Aug. 28, 2025. It has been further updated to include additional reactions from the Legionaries and the Mexican Bishops' Conference.

Father Rafael Ciro, pictured above, served in the Diocese of Paterson New Jersey. / Credit: Courtesy of Diocese of Paterson

ACI Prensa Staff, Sep 2, 2025 / 14:53 pm (CNA).

The bishop of Paterson, New Jersey, Kevin Sweeney, mourned the suicide of Father Rafael Ciro, a Colombian-born priest who served as pastor of St. Stephen's Church. The prelate said he is praying for him and asked for prayers, entrusting him to God's mercy.

In a statement Sweeney noted that the priest, born in 1979 in Colombia, had been "faithful, joyful, and dedicated" since his ordination on May 25, 2013.

The deceased priest served at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist Cathedral in Paterson, St. Mary's in Passaic, St. Nicholas in Passaic, and Sacred Heart and Holy Rosary in Dover before being appointed pastor of St. Stephen's in Paterson.

Speaking to Univision, María Rodríguez said that Ciro "was a very good priest. He was very well-loved; he had many people who loved him, even though he is no longer with us. We miss him."

A priest ‘is not exempt from illness’

In his statement, the bishop pointed out that “A priest is a human being, and none of us is immune to illness. Though most of us realize that physical illness can be fatal, we may not always realize that the same is true of other illnesses.”

“Father Rafael fought the good fight in his struggles with mental illness with the support and care of friends, counselors, and brother priests,” he emphasized.

Sweeney also noted that "profound desperation that insidiously led a person of deep faith to this earthly conclusion is impossible to comprehend. Therefore, we lift Father Rafael and his grieving loved ones and colleagues up in prayer for the consolation that only God gives.”

A call to hope

“Shaken to the core by this tragedy, our faith in eternal life through Christ is our light in darkness,” the bishop affirmed.

“No one of us can – nor will we ever – have complete understanding of Father Rafael’s fears and struggles. We do know that he fought with courage to find equilibrium and tranquility that would allow him to live with the peaceful heart for which he longed. The long shadow of this moment does not diminish the bright light of his spirit,” he pointed out.

“Grant him, Lord, eternal rest, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace,” the prelate prayed.

Funeral services for Father Rafael Ciro

The wake for the priest was scheduled for Sept. 2 at St. Stephen's Parish. The funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, Sept. 3, at St. John the Baptist Cathedral, located at 387-389 Grand Street, Paterson. The Eucharist can be followed at this link.

A private funeral service will be held for the family in Colombia.

In the announcement regarding the funeral service, the Diocese of Paterson asked for continued prayers for Ciro, "his mother, Doña Elena Guarín, his siblings, the priests of Paterson, and his many friends."

Condolences may be sent to the Clergy Personnel Office, St. Paul Inside the Walls, 205 Madison Avenue, Madison, New Jersey 07940.

What does the Catholic Church say about suicide?

The Church's teaching on suicide is found in Nos. 2280-2283 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. In his statement, the bishop quoted 2283 which says: "We should not despair of the eternal salvation of persons who have taken their own lives. By ways known to him alone, God can provide the opportunity for salutary repentance. The Church prays for persons who have taken their own lives.”

Furthermore, although suicide "is contrary to love for the living God," the catechism also establishes in No. 2282 that "Grave psychological disturbances, anguish, or grave fear of hardship, suffering, or torture can diminish the responsibility of the one committing suicide."

"With this certainty, we entrust Father Raphael to the infinite mercy of God, rich in compassion," the bishop of Paterson added.

Seek help

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

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

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

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

Iraqi Prime Minister reopens the Church of the Immaculate Conception and Our Lady of the Hour in Mosul. / Credit: Ismail Adnan/ACI MENA

ACI MENA, Sep 2, 2025 / 14:15 pm (CNA).

In the city of Mosul, Iraq, an official celebration was held on Monday, Sept. 1 to mark the reopening of the churches of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception known as Al-Tahera Church (for Syriac Catholics) and Our Lady of the Hour ((within the Dominican Monastery), after their full restoration. 

The event was attended by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani, several government officials, and representatives of the organizations that supported the reconstruction.

Speaking inside the Church of the Immaculate Conception, al-Sudani declared: “This church rises from the rubble to represent the house where the Lord gathers people’s hearts without division or hostility, in a coexistence as old as Iraq itself.” He emphasized that the reopening is a return to “the spirit of Mosul and the brotherhood that unites its people.”

Archbishop Benedictus Younan Hanno, bishop of Mosul and its surroundings for the Syriac Catholics, urged the prime minister to extend the same care shown to Iraqi heritage toward “rebuilding the Christian people.”

He stressed: “The people of Nineveh need your care and attention, and someone to listen to their cries, especially your sons and daughters from the Christian community.”

Hanno noted that around 80% of Iraq’s Christians today “suffer violations and denial of their rights,” with many forced into exile.

“Iraqi Christians migrated under compulsion, leaving their homeland in tears and pain, and they continue to look forward to returning, longing to see Iraq as a beautiful country again, able to embrace its Christian children alongside their brothers from other communities,” he said.

Following the speeches, Hanno, al-Sudani, and other participants rang the church bell and planted an olive tree in its courtyard as a symbol of peace. The prime minister then moved on to the Dominican Monastery to reopen the Church of Our Lady of the Hour.

Destruction and restoration

The churches of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception and Our Lady of the Hour, together with the Great al-Nuri Mosque and its famous leaning minaret, all located in Mosul’s Old City, suffered extensive destruction during the occupation of the city by the terrorist group ISIS (2014–2017).

After the liberation, UNESCO undertook the restoration of these landmarks as part of its “Revive the Spirit of Mosul” initiative, rebuilding them according to their original designs. The effort was funded by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the European Union (EU).

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