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URDA, Spain — Everything changed for Father José Miguel Fernández, parish priest of the Spanish town of Urda, when he received a call from Archbishop Francisco Cerro Chaves of Toledo informing him of the scale of the disaster.

The front of a Renfe train traveling at 200 km/hr (124 mph) had slammed into the last cars of an Iryo train at kilometer 118 of the Madrid-Seville railway line, leaving behind a horrific scene with dozens dead and injured. As of Thursday, the preliminary death toll was 69.

Without hesitation, the priest went to the site to accompany the victims trapped in the train cars.

According to his account, he arrived around 11 a.m., two hours after the collision, and joined the relief effort improvised by dozens of volunteers, many of them members of his parish.

'Our minds turn to God and we look up to heaven'

The first thing he saw was "a huge line of injured people emerging from the train cars," he told Nicolás de Cárdenas, correspondent for EWTN News Español, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News.

Residents of the town did what they could to help, transporting the injured in their own vehicles to Urda so they could receive medical care.

"These are moments that, humanly speaking, break your heart, but very quickly our minds turn to God and we look up to heaven," Fernández said.

Among the injured, he especially remembered a man who approached him and said: "Father, give me a hug, I'm alive."

That encounter set the tone for the entire day.

"I said to myself, well, this is how you can draw near today: by giving a hug. So that's what I spent the entire morning doing while I was at ground zero, holding people's hands and giving them a hug."

'Trust in God, for God is good'

He later went to Urda's municipal sports hall, which had been converted into a field hospital. Many desperate relatives arrived there looking for news about their loved ones.

"There is no consolation for them. They want to know immediately what has happened. Where is my relative? Where is my loved one? And so what I tried to do was calm them, reassure them, and tell them: What matters is hope. Have hope. Trust in God, for God is good," he recounted.

'We are priests, but we are human'

For hours, the priest continued the same mission he had begun beside the railway tracks: accompanying the suffering of people who had lost everything in a matter of seconds.

He also acknowledged that on "many occasions" he ended up crying with them.

"We are priests, of course, but we are human, and the pain and sorrow of our brothers and sisters affect us too," he explained.

The pope's affection

From the Vatican, the Holy Father's spiritual closeness was not long in coming. Pope Leo XIV said he was "deeply saddened" by the tragic railway accident.

In a telegram signed, as is customary, by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, he assured his prayers "for the eternal repose of the deceased" and expressed his "heartfelt condolences to the families of those who lost their lives," together with words of comfort and his hope for a speedy recovery for the injured.

In the message, addressed to Chaves, the pontiff acknowledged the work of those involved in the emergency response, encouraging "members of the rescue teams to persevere in their relief and assistance efforts" following the disaster.

Finally, the pope imparted his heartfelt apostolic blessing to all those affected as "a sign of hope in the risen Lord."

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

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The Canadian federal government tabled legislation on Tuesday that, if passed, would halt the scheduled March 17, 2027, expansion of euthanasia access to an individual solely experiencing a mental illness and decriminalize advance requests for medical assistance in dying (MAID).

Bill C-41, the MAID Safeguards Act, would amend the Criminal Code to protect practitioners from prosecution "for culpable homicide or administering a noxious thing" to provide MAID to patients who consent in advance to receiving the procedure if they are diagnosed with an illness expected to cause them to lose decision-making capacity in the future. The applicant must prepare the request with the assistance of a medical or nurse practitioner.

The legislation states that MAID cannot be carried out until the patient has lost all capacity to grant consent for euthanasia, is experiencing unbearable suffering, and is in a state of irreversible decline.

According to the text of the legislation, a practitioner cannot administer a MAID substance based on an advance request if the patient "demonstrates, by words, sounds or gestures, refusal or resistance to have the substance administered to them." If the provider doubts that the patient was exhibiting refusal or resistance, they are mandated to wait 30 days before making another attempt. Per the bill, involuntary words, sounds, and gestures are not considered a demonstration of noncompliance.

Minister of Justice and Attorney General Sean Fraser announced that provinces will decide whether or not to fulfill these advance requests. Alberta has already banned the practice and Quebec has had an advance request MAID regime in place for two years.

Fraser said that the federal government "will work with provinces and territories on implementation, with rigorous safeguards to protect people and ensure the decision remains voluntary and free from external pressure."

Daniel Zekveld, a policy analyst serving the Association of Reformed Political Action (ARPA) Canada, declared that " advance consent is not informed consent. It is based only on fear of a future condition that the person has never experienced."

He further called out this move to legalize advance requests because it places a "future life-and-death decision to third parties to determine when a person should die by MAID."

Krista Carr, the CEO of the disability rights organization Inclusion Canada, stated that "an advance request is written by someone who cannot know what their future will hold. Consent at the time is the most basic protection a person has. Parliament should not take it away."

As for the decision to put an indefinite halt to broadening euthanasia access to individuals living solely with a mental illness, Fraser said it wasn't "reached out of thin air," alluding to several months of work from a special joint parliamentary committee that arrived at this resolution.

Campaign Life Coalition National President Jeff Gunnarson criticized the decision to pair the MAID for mental illness exclusion with the advance requests decriminalization.

"The government is offering protection for those with mental illness at the expense of those with dementia," Gunnarson said. "It's literally trading human lives, and it's simply immoral."

Read the text of Bill C-41 here.

This story was first published by The Catholic Register, has been adapted by EWTN News, and is reprinted here with permission.

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URDA, Spain — The sight of two high-speed trains destroyed in a brutal head-on collision, their steel carriages mangled and twisted, forever shattered the quiet routine of Urda, a town of barely 2,500 inhabitants in the province of Toledo, Spain, on Oct. 28.

Antonio García Condado, 78, the town pharmacist, was one of the first to see dozens of bodies trapped beneath the wreckage and to assist injured passengers who did not even have the strength to cry out for help.

He was finishing breakfast when his daughter alerted him that a train accident had occurred. Without a second thought, he got into his car and drove toward the area. At first, he believed it was only a minor incident.

"When I got there, it all seemed very minor. There was no traffic, hardly any cars. I said to myself, 'Well, this can't be very serious.' But as I got closer to the AVE train's cab, there was no cab. It was a mass of twisted metal, bodies, and dying people," he recalled a day after the tragedy, still visibly shaken, in an interview with EWTN News Español, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News.

'Some were moving their hands among the bodies'

What struck him most was the deathly silence that hung over the scene.

"There were no screams. Perhaps they didn't even have the strength to speak. Some were moving their hands among the bodies," he explained.

Journalists from various news outlets repeatedly asked García what he had witnessed. But repeating the story did nothing to lessen the impact of the scenes he had seen. Every time he told it, García became emotional once again.

"I was deeply affected by the farewell of a dying man to his wife: 'Maite, I love you very much. Take care of the children.' The last words he said moved me greatly: 'God is good,'" he recalled.

Shortly afterward, he noticed another survivor who was calmly asking for help despite the severity of his injuries. García described a young man standing behind him, remarkably composed, asking for an ambulance.

"Then I noticed that his arm had been severed. He had lost his arm. I broke down. I think I even cried," he said.

After that initial shock, he realized just how serious the situation was and immediately returned to his pharmacy. He gathered all the medical supplies he could and mobilized his entire family.

"I came back here empty-handed to get supplies, especially painkillers. My son came with me, my daughter too, my wife, and my assistant. We practically emptied out the pharmacy and all went back, trying to solve whatever problems we could," he explained.

When he returned to the accident site, security forces directed him to enter from another access point. There he encountered an even more devastating scene on the other side of the train.

"One carriage had been crushed into another. Just imagine the bodies that were in there. It was horrifying," he said.

Within minutes, the disaster area involving the two crashed trains, a Renfe AVE carrying 397 people and an Iryo train carrying 147 passengers, filled with the activity that accompanies major catastrophes: dozens of ambulances crossing paths with funeral-home vehicles, fire trucks, Civil Protection units, and officers of the civil guard.

Faith, the only comfort in the midst of tragedy

Throughout the morning, García assisted emergency teams however he could, supplying medicines and medical materials when stocks began to run low.

"What affected me most was that first moment, when I saw people asking for help and I couldn't do anything, because I was practically alone. It was a tremendous feeling of helplessness," explained the man of deep religious conviction.

For him, faith in Christ has been and remains his greatest source of support.

"When believers experience traumas this great, we always turn to the same thing. I think it brings tremendous comfort. It's the only way to keep going forward."

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

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Pope Leo XIV's upcoming visit to Latin America will be marked by at least five "God-incidences," as people call the coincidences arranged by Divine Providence.

Although the papal itinerary does not specify whether these dates were chosen deliberately, these circumstances provide additional insight into the pontiff's upcoming journey.

1. He will return to Chiclayo on the anniversary of St. Augustine's birth.

On Nov. 13, Leo XIV will return to Chiclayo, the Peruvian diocese he shepherded before being called to Rome, and will celebrate Mass in the Pampas of Pimentel.

The date coincides with a significant celebration for the Augustinian family: the anniversary of the birth of St. Augustine, which took place in 354 in Tagaste, North Africa.

On that day, the Order of St. Augustine, to which the pope belongs, also celebrates all its saints. The occasion thus brings together two connections that have shaped Pope Leo's life: Augustinian spirituality and his service to the community of Chiclayo, where he served as bishop.

This date marks the birth of St. Augustine and should not be confused with the saint's liturgical feast day, which the Church celebrates on Aug. 28.

2. The pope will commemorate the patroness of Uruguay on the day of her solemnity.

On the morning of Nov. 8, Leo XIV will celebrate Mass in the square of the Cathedral Basilica of Florida, which houses the National Shrine of the Virgin of the Thirty-Three, the patroness of Uruguay. His visit will coincide with the solemnity of this devotion, a special occasion for the country's Catholics.

That day will also be the second Sunday of November, when the national pilgrimage to the shrine traditionally takes place. Thus, the papal visit will coincide both with the solemnity and with the Sunday traditionally dedicated to the pilgrimage.

3. He will be between the Andes and the Amazon during the World Day of the Poor.

On Nov. 15, the pope will visit Cusco and Pucallpa in Peru, encounters that will coincide with the 10th World Day of the Poor, which bears the theme "The Lord Is the Refuge of the Poor."

In Cusco, the pope will meet with the faithful and representatives of popular piety. Afterward, he will travel to Pucallpa, where he will meet with missionaries and representatives of Amazonian peoples before continuing on to Lima.

This coincidence will provide a unique context for listening both to the pontiff and to the communities that will welcome him, each with its own distinct history, traditions, and challenges.

4. Pope Leo will visit a prison on the feast day of St. Martin of Tours.

On Nov. 11, the itinerary includes a visit to the Federal Penitentiary Complex in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The date coincides with the commemoration of St. Martin of Tours, remembered for having shared his cloak with a poor man.

Although the program does not explicitly link the visit to this liturgical celebration, the coincidence serves as a reminder of his witness of care for those who suffer, on a day when the pope will reach out to individuals deprived of their liberty.

5. The Holy Father will visit the shrine of St. Turibius 300 years after his canonization.

On Nov. 14, Leo XIV will take part in a prayer gathering at the shrine of St. Turibius of Mogrovejo, patron saint of the bishops of the Americas, in Zaña, Peru (southeast of Chiclayo), to mark the conclusion of the jubilee year dedicated to the 300th anniversary of his canonization, which was proclaimed on Dec. 10, 1726.

The calendar also presents another coincidence: St. Turibius, who served as archbishop of Lima, was born on Nov. 16, 1538. On that same day in November, the pope will conclude his activities in Peru and begin his return journey to Rome, arriving the following day. Thus, the memory of the saint will also accompany the conclusion of the Peruvian leg of the trip.

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

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Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin of the Archdiocese of Newark, New Jersey, is asking the faithful for prayers as he heads into surgery on Oct. 29 to address an issue with a kidney, according to an archdiocesan news release.

"I am deeply grateful to the skilled and compassionate medical professionals who are guiding my care and preparing my treatment plan," Tobin said in an Oct. 28 statement, one day before the surgery.

"Above all, I place my complete trust in Christ our Redeemer, whose loving presence sustains me in all things," Tobin said. "I humbly ask for your prayers and support during this time. God willing, I look forward to resuming my full duties within a few weeks after surgery."

According to the archdiocese, doctors discovered a mass in one of the cardinal's kidneys and he will undergo surgery to remove it. The announcement states doctors believe the mass is confined to the kidney and are optimistic about his outlook.

The news release states the doctor's examination of the mass after the surgery will determine its nature and guide the cardinal's treatment moving forward.

The archdiocese did not immediately respond to a request for further comment.

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Pope Leo XIV will celebrate a Mass on Nov. 2 for the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed — also known as All Souls' Day — at the Monumental Cemetery of Verano, the oldest and largest cemetery in Rome.

According to the Office for the Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff, which announced the event on Oct. 27, the Eucharistic celebration will begin at 4 p.m. local time in this historic Roman cemetery, which preserves evidence of a necropolis dating back to the first centuries of Christianity and includes the Catacombs of St. Cyriaca.

The celebration will form part of the traditional commemorations the Church dedicates to the faithful departed during the first days of November. At the conclusion of the Mass, the Holy Father will offer prayers for the deceased and impart the apostolic blessing over the graves.

It will not be the first time a pope has presided over this celebration at Verano Cemetery. Pope Francis celebrated All Souls' Day Mass there in 2013, 2014, and 2015. In subsequent years, he chose other significant locations, including the Pontifical Teutonic College of Santa Maria in Campo Santo within the Vatican in 2022 and Rome's Laurentino Cemetery in 2025.

The commemoration at Verano Cemetery will open the pope's public liturgical schedule for the months of November and December. Among the events already announced are a Mass for the repose of the souls of the cardinals and bishops who have died during the past year, scheduled for Nov. 5 at 9 a.m. in St. Peter's Basilica.

He will also celebrate nine Masses and preside over a number of prayer services during the apostolic journey he will make to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru from Nov. 6–17.

Back in Rome, on Nov. 18, Leo XIV will celebrate a 5 p.m. Mass marking the 400th anniversary of the dedication of St. Peter's Basilica. On Dec. 8, at approximately 4 p.m., he will lead the traditional act of veneration of the Immaculate Conception in Rome's Piazza di Spagna.

Pastoral visits to Rome parishes

In November and December, Pope Leo will also visit five parishes in the Diocese of Rome, something he also did earlier this year during the season of Lent.

As bishop of Rome, during each of the afternoon visits, the pontiff will meet with parishioners, learn about the ministries in the parish, and celebrate Mass. Each church is from one of the five geographic divisions of the diocese.

On Friday, Nov. 27, he will visit Sant'Andrea delle Fratte in the city's historic center. On Nov. 29, the first Sunday of Advent, the pope will travel to San Carlo da Sezze, which is west of Rome, in the direction of the coast.

On Sunday, Dec. 6, he will go to Sant'Eligio, in the east part of Rome; on Sunday, Dec. 13, the feast of St. Lucy, he will visit a parish named for the Italian saint in the western part of Rome; and on the Sunday before Christmas, Dec. 20, he will go to San Roberto Bellarmino in the north.

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

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A priest in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas has pleaded guilty to a six-figure theft from a local parish, archdiocesan officials said this week.

Father Richard Storey, who was accused in May of stealing $160,000 from Curé of Ars Catholic Church in Leawood near Kansas City, Kansas, pleaded guilty to the theft on Oct. 27.

The Kansas City Archdiocese said in a statement that Storey had already repaid just under $160,000 to the parish as restitution. The priest will be sentenced in January.

The archdiocese said it would initiate a canonical investigation following the guilty plea. In addition to the theft, the diocese said it would investigate an "allegation involving an adult victim."

The archdiocesan finance council's audit committee will review the results of the investigation, the statement said, after which the committee would present its own analysis to the archdiocesan promoter of justice, who will suggest potential canonical actions to Archbishop Shawn McKnight.

The archbishop "will share the findings of the investigation with the Curé of Ars Parish and communicate its conclusion to the faithful," the archdiocese said.

Storey allegedly utilized the stolen funds in part on cruises, including at least one apparent withdrawal from within a casino.

Tens of thousands of dollars, meanwhile, were reportedly spent on international travel. The archdiocesan statement said that Storey's guilty plea fell under "severity level 7," or a "non-person, non-drug felony."

The Kansas City Star reported that the plea agreement recommended the priest receive probation including "substance abuse evaluation."

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Mercedes-Benz, the German luxury automaker, celebrated nearly 100 years of producing the popemobile — the pope's personal vehicle.

To mark the occasion, Pope Leo XIV held a private audience with Mercedes-Benz executives on Wednesday. That same day, the exhibit "A Century of the Popemobile" opened at the Vatican Museums, featuring the first popemobile, gifted to Pope Pius XI in 1930, and the one in which St. John Paul II was shot on May 13, 1981.

Evolving transportation for the successors of Peter

In his address to Mercedes-Benz, the pope praised the company for its enduring partnership with the Vatican and reflected on how papal transportation — from St. Peter to the present — has evolved.

"Over the decades, the Popemobile has evolved from a means of transportation into an instrument of encounter, enabling the pontiff to draw closer to the faithful during pastoral visits and public celebrations," Leo said.

"In this way, your work has helped facilitate the Church's mission of reaching out to people and bringing a message of faith, of hope, and of charity to the world."

The pope also encouraged them to direct their innovations toward a more sustainable world, placing their "technological innovation at the service of human dignity, care for creation, and the common good."

Carriages, the 'sedia gestatoria,' and modern transport

Papal transportation has evolved since the late Roman Empire, when popes were carried on the "sedia gestatoria" — ornate, ceremonial thrones carried by 12 footmen during processions and major liturgical celebrations.

From the late 19th century onward, popes increasingly chose modern forms of transportation, with Blessed Pius IX using the first papal train in 1859. The Nürburg 460 Pullman, made by Mercedes-Benz and given to Pope Pius XI in 1930, was the first official automobile used to transport the pope.

The word "popemobile" was first used to describe a custom-made Lincoln Continental for St. Paul VI's 1965 visit to the United States. Popes since St. John Paul II have used the popemobile, with Mercedes-Benz adapting future models for security since his 1981 shooting.

A duty to ensure the pope's safety

Speaking on the sidelines of the launch of the exhibit "A Century of the Popemobile," the Mercedes-Benz executives spoke with EWTN News, reflecting on the near-century-long partnership with the Vatican.

Marc Langenbrinck, CEO of Mercedes-Benz Italy, described the partnership as a privilege, especially as a Catholic.

"[This day] is just simply the most beautiful day of my career because I am Catholic and I believe, and for me it is something which is a project of a lifetime," Langenbrinck told EWTN News.

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Marcus Breitschwerdt, executive vice president of Mercedes-Benz, explained the security and accessibility measures implemented in the popemobile.

"Well, first of all, a vehicle has to move safely, comfortably, but also safely in terms of traffic and accident risks," Breitschwerdt said to EWTN News. "It has to be safely conceived and executed in terms of the current modern risks you face if you are in big crowds."

"So we have armored versions; we have the secured glass Popemobiles, which are very, very sophisticated," Breitschwerdt added.

Breitschwerdt, in a speech for the exhibit launch, also said that no Mercedes-Benz employee is ever allowed to sit on the pope's seat in the Popemobile.

"There is a strict rule that no one — not even the mechanics who maintain the vehicles or our CEO — is allowed to sit in the pope's seat," Breitschwerdt said.

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Archbishop Paul Gallagher, the Vatican's secretary for relations with states and international organizations, acknowledged the challenges of the Vatican-China deal on Tuesday.

Speaking at an event with journalists in Rome, the British diplomat responded to questions regarding the agreement, Pope Leo XIV's health, and calls for a ceasefire in the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war.

The full text of the 2018 agreement between China and the Holy See has never been made public. Under the publicly understood terms of the agreement, the pope retains final authority over episcopal appointments in China and may reject candidates proposed by Beijing. The Holy See, for its part, agreed not to appoint bishops without the Chinese government's prior approval.

As reported by Reuters, Gallagher said that, regarding the agreement, its imperfections were visible.

"It's not easy, the dialogue is not easy," Gallagher said. "The imperfections of the agreement are ?evident, but ?there is a commitment to persevere in dialogue ... and that is what will ?continue to happen."

He also answered questions regarding a potential visit from Leo to the U.S., saying that it could happen "in the not too distant future."

Regarding the pope's Oct. 13 surgery and subsequent recovery, Gallagher described it as a "bit of a game changer" and a revelation of the pope's mortality, as with every human being.

"[The pope] is a poor mortal like the rest of ?us," Gallagher said.

In August, Gallagher traveled to Russia to discuss the country's ongoing war with Ukraine with senior officials. He told journalists that he did not believe the Vatican was involved in discussions of the ceasefire between the two nations.

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After less than three weeks in detention, six Coptic young men — one a minor — were released, bringing to a close a case that had raised fears of sectarian tensions in the countryside of Egypt's Minya province.

The case followed the young men's posting of a video in which they reenacted a scene from an Egyptian film.

In an interview with ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News, Nader Shukry, a citizenship researcher and writer specializing in Coptic affairs, described the case and its broader implications. He highlighted challenges around understanding Egyptian law and using social media.

Shukry said the young men, who live in Ezbet Tanious in the village of Taha al-Amda, in the Samalut district of Minya, reenacted a scene from the 2018 film "Khalawis." The scene does not mock religion, he said; it depicts prisoners known for bullying and violence trying to pray without knowing how.

Dozens of Egyptian Muslims also reenacted and posted the scene without provoking similar reactions, Shukry said. But when the Coptic young men posted it, one village resident objected and accused them of insulting Islam.

The young men deleted the video shortly after posting it because they did not realize some viewers might find it offensive, Shukry said. But incitement continued, prompting security forces to detain them in an effort to contain anger and prevent possible attacks on Christians and their property. He said extremist currents in Minya seek to inflame religious sentiment and create disorder.

Shukry said the young men were not held for long once it became clear they had not intended to insult religion. A de-escalation meeting was also held in the village, with the church taking part. He distinguished this meeting from customary reconciliation sessions, saying it aimed to counter incitement on social media and ease tensions among residents.

Shukry stressed the danger of attributing an individual's actions, whether the person is guilty or innocent, to an entire religious community. A citizen should be held accountable for what that person did, he said; Christians as a whole, or an entire village, should not bear responsibility for one person's actions.

He also pointed to pages that publish content insulting Christians without facing legal consequences comparable to those a Christian might face for discussing Islam.

The case involving the six young men remains open until the prosecutor general issues a decision to close it, Shukry said, although it has largely concluded in practice. He cited the short length of their detention compared with other cases involving alleged contempt of religion.

Shukry urged young people to exercise caution when dealing with religious matters and to avoid discussions that others might exploit or present as insults to religion. He distinguished such discussions from interreligious dialogue conducted by specialists.

Egyptian society faces a challenge of awareness, he said, noting that many Christians have previously become involved in cases involving alleged contempt of religion because they were unfamiliar with Egyptian law and how to use social media.

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.

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