Catholic News

After his apostolic visits to Algeria and Cameroon, Pope Leo XIV now heads to Angola, where the Catholic Church is a historically rooted, socially influential religious institution that remains central to the country's spiritual, cultural, and public life.

Here are seven key things to know about the Catholic Church in Angola:

1. The Church here is historically rooted and a majority presence.

The Catholic Church is the largest single religious institution in Angola, with estimates suggesting that between 40% and 55% of the population identify as Catholic. 

The presence of the Catholic Church in Angola dates back to the late 15th century, when Portuguese explorers and missionaries arrived along the Angolan coast, making Catholicism one of the earliest organized religious traditions in the country.

Over centuries, through colonial rule, the struggle for independence, and a prolonged civil war that ended in 2002, the Church has remained embedded in Angolan society. This long history has shaped not only religious practice but also education, language, culture, and national identity, giving the Catholic Church a credibility few institutions enjoy.

2. Church leaders regularly speak to the nation's conscience.

In postwar Angola, the Catholic Church has emerged as a prominent moral and social voice, frequently addressing issues of reconciliation, justice, governance, and national healing.

Last November, the executive secretary of the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Angola and São Tomé (CEAST) described the 2025 National Reconciliation Congress as a "historic moment of hope and renewed commitment" by Angolans still grappling with the scars of conflict as they work toward peace and national unity.

ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, reported that Father Celestino Epalanga, an Angolan member of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), expressed appreciation to civil and religious authorities who supported the Congress, especially CEAST and all dioceses of Angola, noting that the meeting brought together representatives of political parties, professional associations, academic institutions, and faith communities.

The engagement reflects the Catholic Church's broader self-understanding as a companion of the Angolan people — not only a spiritual guide but also a guardian of human dignity and social cohesion.

3. The Church in Angola has a nationwide institutional footprint.

The Catholic Church's influence in Angola is reinforced by a robust institutional presence that extends across the entire country. Organized into dioceses and archdioceses covering all regions, the Catholic Church in Angola runs thousands of parishes and outstations.

Beyond pastoral ministry, the Catholic Church also plays a major role in education and health care, operating primary and secondary schools, vocational institutions, hospitals, and clinics.

Among the flagship institutions of the Church in Angola is the Catholic University of Angola, which contributes to intellectual formation and public discourse.

The Catholic Church's work in Angola is underpinned by a formal legal framework governing relations between the Angolan state and the Holy See. The Framework Agreement, signed on Sept. 13, 2019, commits both parties to cooperation for the spiritual and material well-being of all while respecting the dignity and rights of the human person.

Under the agreement, the Angolan state recognizes the juridical personality of the Catholic Church and its ownership of Church property, providing a stable legal basis for the Church's pastoral, educational, health care, and social activities nationwide.

The strength of this Church-state collaboration was highlighted in March 2024 when Archbishop Giovanni Gaspari, then-apostolic nuncio to Angola and São Tomé and Príncipe, described the partnership as "wonderful."

4. Unity, communion, and fraternity are key pastoral themes in Angola.

In a society marked by ethnic, political, and social diversity, Catholic bishops in Angola have repeatedly stressed unity as a Gospel imperative and a national necessity.

During the 2024 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (WPCU), Auxiliary Bishop António Lungieki Pedro Bengui of the Luanda Archdiocese urged the faithful to "preserve the values of unity, communion, and fraternity."

Bengui said the three values are at the heart of the WPCU initiative, which members of the Council of Christian Churches in Angola had convened.

"I think that as men and women who believe in God, who follow Jesus, we are in a position to preserve these values," the bishop told journalists after the Jan. 19, 2024, ecumenical prayer session that brought together Christians from the United Methodist Church, the Catholic Church, the Salvation Army Church, and the Anglican Church, among others, at Our Lady of Fátima Catholic Parish in the Luanda Archdiocese.

The bishop's emphasis resonates deeply in a country emerging from decades of division, positioning the Catholic Church as a bridge-builder — both within Christianity and across society more broadly.

5. The Church is on the front lines of migration.

Angola's geographic location places it at the crossroads of regional instability, particularly from neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

In response, the Catholic Church has taken on a visible humanitarian role, especially in border areas. As ACI Africa reported in February 2025, Church leaders have stressed their readiness to welcome displaced people as brothers and sisters "seeking relief."

Speaking to ACI Africa on Feb. 12, 2025, the executive secretary of the Episcopal Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerants (CEPAMI) in Angola said that the Catholic Church, through the Pastoral for Migrants, was on alert at border dioceses, particularly in Uíje Diocese and Mbanza Congo Diocese, to welcome the refugees.

"We are prepared at the borders, especially in the dioceses bordering Congo, to ensure that any arrivals are met with care and support," Sister Carla Luísa Frei Bamberg said.

6. Evangelization happens in a competitive and pluralistic landscape.

While Catholicism remains dominant, Angola's religious landscape is increasingly pluralistic and competitive. Protestant, evangelical, Pentecostal, and charismatic churches have grown rapidly in recent decades — particularly in urban areas, among young people, and through popular media.

Traditional African religions continue to exert cultural influence, often blending with Christian practice, while Islam and other minority faiths maintain a small but visible presence.

Church leaders have expressed concern about this shift. For instance, Bishop Maurício Agostinho Camuto, CSSp, of the Caxito Diocese identified the upsurge of "sects" as a major pastoral challenge that must be addressed to safeguard the people of God under his pastoral care from being led astray. 

In an interview with ACI Africa on the pastoral situation of his Diocese on Jan. 26, 2025, Camuto lauded the ecumenical spirit he said the Catholic Church is having with members of other Christian denominations.

"It is a small diocese, but with many challenges, especially the challenge of evangelization itself," he said about the Angolan diocese that has a total area of 18,916 square kilometers (7,300 square miles), carved out from the Archdiocese of Luanda in June 2007. 

The influence of Protestantism in the territory of the Caxito Diocese has been significant, Camuto said, adding that, as Catholics, "we are currently involved in ecumenism with our other brothers and sisters of the other Christian denominations, including Protestant churches."

For the Catholic Church in Angola, this reality has sharpened the urgency of evangelization that is both doctrinally grounded and culturally engaging.

7. Youth, media, and vocations are shaping the Church's future in Angola.

With a predominantly young population, Angola's Catholic Church sees youth formation as decisive for its future.

Catholic media, especially Radio Ecclesia, which enjoys wide national reach, plays a central role in evangelization, civic education, and shaping public opinion.

At the 29th National Youth Assembly in July 2025, Archbishop Luzizila Kiala of the Archdiocese of Malanje encouraged young people to witness the joy of the risen Christ with hope, courage, concrete action, and in a spirit of service.

"Christian hope is not a vague idea or a simple optimistic feeling but a living and transformative force born from a personal encounter with Jesus Christ," Kiala said in his homily during the opening Mass of the 29th National Youth Assembly on July 25, 2025.

At the same time, Church leaders have raised concerns about shortages of missionaries and vocations in some dioceses.

Kiala has previously appealed to the faithful to "persistently pray for vocations," lamenting a dearth of pastoral agents.

"It is urgent that we persistently pray for young people called to the priesthood and consecrated life, because we are lacking missionaries in our municipality," he said at the start of his four-day pastoral visit to Our Lady of Fátima Quela Parish of his metropolitan see on July 4, 2025.

He added: "The shortage of missionaries across these 27 municipalities is severe. We cannot continue without women and men consecrated to evangelize and serve these communities."

This story was first published by ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, and has been adapted and updated by EWTN News.

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YAOUNDÉ, Cameroon — Pope Leo XIV on Saturday celebrated Mass at Yaoundé-Ville Airport in the final public event of his apostolic journey to Cameroon, telling thousands of faithful that "no one must be left alone to confront life's adversities."

Before departing later in the day for Angola, the pope reflected on the Gospel account of Jesus walking on the water and tied it to the fears, crises, and social challenges faced by both individuals and nations.

"Dear brothers and sisters, peace be with you! It is the peace of Christ, whose presence illuminates our path and calms life's storms," Leo said. "As we heard in the Gospel, faith does not spare us from tumult and tribulations. At times, it can seem that fear has the upper hand. However, we know that even in these moments, Jesus does not abandon us."

Drawing from St. John's account of the disciples at sea, the pope said that in Jewish tradition, water "often calls to mind the netherworld, chaos, danger and death," while also recalling the Exodus, when God led his people through the waters to freedom.

"Throughout the ages, the Church has navigated many storms and 'strong winds,'" he said. "We too can identify with the feelings of fear and doubt experienced by the disciples while crossing the lake of Tiberias."

Such moments, he said, come when people feel overwhelmed, alone, and weak. "But it is not so," the pope said. "Jesus is with us always, stronger than any power of evil. In every storm, he comes to us and repeats: 'I am here with you: do not be afraid.'"

Today's Mass was the votive Mass of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of the Apostles. The Prayer of the Faithful was recited in French, English, Ewondo, Nnanga, and Fulfulde. Many faithful were present, and a colorful crowd took part in the Mass with singing and dancing.

A particularly striking moment was the singing of the Gloria in the Ewondo language, performed by a choir of one thousand men and women from across the ecclesiastical province of Yaoundé.

Another distinctive moment was the procession of the Lectionary, led by traditional chiefs of the Ewondo culture. It underscored how the Word of God is the message of a King, worthy of a royal accompaniment before being solemnly proclaimed.

Leo said Christ does not always calm the storm immediately, but instead comes near in the midst of danger and teaches his followers to remain together in the same boat.

"He invites us not to distance ourselves from those who suffer, but to draw near to them, to embrace them," the pope said. "No one must be left alone to confront life's adversities. For this reason, every community has the obligation to create and sustain structures of solidarity and mutual aid in which, when faced with crises — be they social, political, medical or economic — everyone can give and receive assistance according to their own capacity and needs."

The pope then widened his reflection to social and political life, saying Jesus' words "It is I" remind Christians that every person's contribution matters in a society founded on respect for human dignity.

"The exhortation 'do not be afraid,' then, takes on a broader meaning, even at a social and political level, as an encouragement to confront problems and challenges — particularly those associated with poverty and justice — together, with a sense of civic and civil responsibility," he said.

"Faith does not separate the spiritual from the social," Leo continued. "Indeed, it gives Christians the strength to interact with the world, responding to the needs of others, especially the weakest."

He warned that isolated efforts are not enough to save a community and said what is needed is "a communal commitment, which integrates the spiritual and moral dimensions of the Gospel in the heart of local institutions and structures, making them instruments for the common good, and not places of conflict, self-interest or sterile struggles."

Referring to the day's first reading from the Acts of the Apostles, the pope recalled how the early Church faced its first internal crisis when some members were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. The Apostles, he said, responded by gathering together, praying, and creating new structures of service for the good of the community.

"Listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit and being attentive to the cry of the suffering, they not only avoided division within the community, but they also equipped it with new instruments suitable to its growth, transforming a moment of crisis into an occasion of enrichment and development for everyone," he said.

Leo said family and social life also sometimes require "the courage to change mindsets and structures," so that the dignity of the human person remains central and inequality and marginalization can be overcome.

"God who became man identified himself with the least, and this makes the preferential care for the poor a fundamental part of our Christian identity," he said.

At the close of the Mass, the pope bid farewell to the people of Cameroon, praising the local Church for its vitality and harmony.

"The Church in Cameroon is alive, young, blessed with gifts and enthusiasm, energetic in its variety and magnificent in its harmony," he said. "With the help of the Virgin Mary, our Mother, may your joyful presence continue to blossom."

He added that the "strong winds, which are never lacking in life," can become opportunities for growth "in the joyful service of God and your brothers and sisters through sharing, listening, praying and the desire to grow together."

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.

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The Biden administration "weaponized" federal law against pro-lifers, according to a more than 800-page report issued by the U.S. Department of Justice.

The April 14 report details how the Justice Department under Biden weaponized the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, including collaboration with pro-abortion groups to target pro-life advocates. 

The report said the Justice Department "affirmatively asked pro-abortion groups about pro-life individuals' travel and constitutionally protected advocacy," the Justice Department's press release on the report indicated.

"The Biden DOJ and career attorneys monitored pro-life activists for years before charging them," the press release stated.

The Justice Department also said: "Prosecutors knowingly withheld evidence that defense counsel requested to prepare an affirmative defense, tried to screen out jurors based on religion, and authorized aggressive arrest tactics instead of allowing pro-life defendants to self-surrender."

The Biden administration also "helped a pro-abortion group secure funding" and "pursued significantly harsher sentences for pro-life defendants than violent pro-abortion defendants," according to the department.

"No department should conduct selective prosecution based on beliefs," Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement.

Arkansas lawsuit challenges laws that protect unborn babies

Six women and an OB-GYN, Dr. Chad Taylor, filed a lawsuit against Arkansas laws protecting unborn children, saying that the laws are unconstitutional.

In an April 9 motion, two women joined the original four in the lawsuit, asking the court to halt Arkansas's laws protecting unborn children through a preliminary injunction.

The 75-page motion alleged that the pro-life laws are unconstitutional per the state constitution and that the laws "lack any rational relationship to protecting life, health, or any other legitimate state interest."

Filed by Amplify Legal, the litigation arm of Abortion in America, the motion is the latest development in an ongoing lawsuit that began on Feb. 2.

The lawsuit highlighted testimonies from women who were denied abortions by their state, including one who sought an abortion for her ectopic pregnancy out of state after local hospitals were unhelpful, as well as women seeking abortions for babies with life-threatening issues or who were conceived by rape.

Ectopic pregnancies are life-threatening for both the mother and the baby. Arkansas law allows abortions in life-threatening situations "to save the life of a pregnant woman in a medical emergency."

Every state in the U.S. allows abortion if the woman's life is at risk.

Pro-life groups call out Justice Department for siding with abortion drug industry

More than 70 pro-life groups urged the U.S. Department of Justice to "stop siding with the abortion drug industry against pro-life states" in a letter this week.

Addressed to acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche, the letter highlights the harm of the federal policy allowing mail-order abortion drugs on both women and the integrity of state laws.

Louisiana, Florida, and Texas, and Missouri, Idaho, and Kansas sued the FDA in three separate cases, seeking to protect their citizens from the harms of abortion drugs and to halt policies that undermine their state laws. The Justice Department dismissed all three cases.

"Tragically, to date, this Department of Justice has downplayed the harms of mail-order abortion and called for each case to be paused or even dismissed entirely," the April 13 letter read.

"When abortion drugs are available through the mail, there is no accountability, state laws are made impotent, and women and girls are hurt. This is a harmful and politically dangerous path," the letter continued.

"The DOJ and FDA have the authority and the duty to act immediately," SBA Pro-Life America President Marjorie Dannenfelser said in a statement. "Voters across the board strongly support it and the GOP base demands it."

Judge rules Oregon law requiring insurance to cover abortion is unconstitutional

A federal judge in Oregon ruled that a state law requiring insurance plans to cover abortion and contraception violates the constitutional rights of Oregon Right to Life, a group that advocates against abortion.

The temporary ruling by U.S. District Court Judge Mustafa Kasubhai this week is a win for the pro-life group, but the full ruling won't be available for at least another week.

The ruling found that the state's 2017 Reproductive Health Equity Act can't apply to Oregon Right to Life. The law compels all health insurance companies to "not impose on an enrollee a deductible, coinsurance, copayment, or any other cost-sharing requirement" for contraceptives and abortions. The law has an exemption for religious beliefs but not conscience rights.

Oregon Right to Life sued in 2023, saying that while it did not qualify for the religious exemption, the law violated the group's First Amendment rights. In 2024, a different federal judge disqualified Oregon Right to Life from the exemption because it was not a religious organization. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit reversed this ruling in 2025.

Oregon Right to Life Director Lois Anderson called the recent ruling "a victory for all pro-life Oregonians."

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U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See Brian Burch said he intends to focus on issues that unite President Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV in his role to foster a relationship between the two leaders rather than on recent disagreements about the Iran War.

"As the U.S ambassador for the Holy See, my efforts are many, but one of the roles as a diplomat is to remind stakeholders of what unites us and what must never divide us," Burch said after delivering remarks on the persecution of Nigerian Christians at the U.S. embassy to the Vatican in Rome.

Burch said "we must not pretend that there is no disagreement" because "there clearly is," but added: "We must also remember what they share."

"Both men are driven by an unshakable belief in protecting the innocent," he said. "One leads with the sword and shield of American power, the other with the cross of sacrificial love. But both are saying in their own languages: 'Evil must not triumph and innocence must not be abandoned.'"

Leo has urged peace between the U.S. and Iran in a war that has claimed more than 3,000 lives in over a month of war, including more than 150 children at a girls' school in Minab and at least 15 American soldiers. Both sides have agreed to a temporary ceasefire.

Trump has made negative comments about Leo, calling him "weak on crime and terrible for foreign policy." He said: "I don't think he's doing a very good job" and "I am not a fan of Pope Leo." The pontiff said he has "no fear of the Trump administration nor of speaking out loudly about the message of the Gospel" and emphasized he is "not a politician" and is not interested in debating the president.

The president has falsely claimed Leo said "Iran can have a nuclear weapon." The Holy Father has warned against nuclear proliferation in the Middle East and has spoken out about nuclear weapons broadly.

'Blessed are the peacemakers'

Diocese of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Bishop Michael Duca wrote a message on April 16 titled "Blessed are the Peacemakers" in which he urged Catholics to pray for peace and warned against treating the pope as if he is a partisan political figure.

Duca called Trump's rhetoric "troubling because it risks reducing the Holy Father to a partisan figure and further deepening divisions in an already fractured world" and emphasized that the pope "is not a politician."

"He is the vicar of Christ, entrusted with proclaiming the Gospel 'in season and out of season,' challenging all people — regardless of nation or office — to measure their words and actions against the truth of Jesus Christ revealed in the Gospels," he said. "The Church always seeks to speak for the dignity of the human person, the sanctity of life, and the urgent call to peace."

Duca warned Catholics not to "be drawn into the relentless cycle of outrage amplified by social media and instantaneous news."

"I urge you, instead, to pause," he said. "Do not take the bait of manufactured conflict or allow yourselves to be consumed by voices that profit from division. As Christians, there is only one voice we must follow above all others — the voice of Christ, echoed through his Church."

The bishop said previous popes, like St. John Paul II, "spoke with moral clarity during times of extraordinary global tension" and the pontiffs "spoke words that were pastoral appeals, rooted in the Gospel, and with profound love for the human family." He said Leo speaks "in that same tradition."

"He calls our hearts back to the hard and holy work of dialogue, encounter, and reconciliation," he said. "As urged in the Scriptures themselves, and as urged by previous pontificates, our call remains the same — 'Do not be afraid.' Do not be afraid to choose peace over pride, conversation over condemnation, and unity over division."

Duca urged Catholics "to join me in praying earnestly for peace in our world, for wisdom among our leaders, and for hearts open to conversion." He said to "respond as a witness" in all places and "preach the Gospel not only with words but with lives marked by listening, mutual respect, and charity — especially toward those with whom you disagree."

"Finally, respond with hope," he said. "The Church has endured far greater storms than those of the present moment. Guided by the Holy Spirit, she continues to proclaim a culture of life in the face of a culture of death and a hope that does not disappoint. When we remain anchored in Christ, the noise of the world loses its power over us."

Bishops: 'Pray for peace'

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) made a post on X that breaks down what the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches about just war doctrine after Vice President JD Vance challenged Pope Leo XIV's statements about war.

"The strict conditions for legitimate defense by military force require rigorous consideration," the post reads. "The gravity of such a decision makes it subject to rigorous conditions of the moral legitimacy."

It notes there must be a just cause because of damage caused by an aggressor that is "lasting, grave, and certain," all other means of alleviating the threat "have been shown to be impractical and ineffective," there must be "serious prospects of success," and the war "must not produce evils and disorders graver than the evil to be eliminated."

On the last point, the bishops note "the power of modern means of destruction weighs very heavily in evaluating this condition."

Every condition of just war criteria must be met for a war to be justified.

"These are the traditional elements enumerated in what is called 'just war' doctrine," the bishops add. "The evaluation of these conditions for moral legitimacy belongs to the prudential judgment of those who have responsibility for the common good."

The bishops explain that "all citizens and all governments are obliged to work for the avoidance of war." If a war is necessary, "governments cannot be denied the right of lawful self-defense once all peace efforts have failed," they add, quoting the catechism directly.

Additionally, the bishops quote the catechism about moral laws during war: "The mere fact that war has regrettably broken out does not mean that everything becomes licit between the warring parties."

The bishops asked everyone to "pray for peace."

Ishmael Adibuah contributed to this story.

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Pope Leo XIV continued his papal trip in Africa on April 17, holding Mass in Japoma Stadium in Cameroon, visiting a Catholic hospital, and meeting with students at the Catholic University of Central Africa.

The Holy Father arrived in Cameroon on April 15 and will depart for Angola on April 18, eventually finishing his first papal trip to the continent in Equatorial Guinea.

Here's a look at some of the pope's ongoing activities in Cameroon:

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It is "vital" that men be formed in virtuous masculinity, said organizers of the Fearless Congress, which opened its doors April 17 in Guadalajara, Mexico.

The event, as its founder and director, Andrés Villaseñor, explained to ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News, "is a masculinity conference for men and women" as well as for "families who want to find their center, who want to unite, and who want to know what their purpose is."

Held at the the Mexican Martyrs Shrine, the Fearless Congress is featuring among its speakers psychologist Jordan Peterson, Mexican actor and producer Eduardo Verástegui, world champion soccer player Carles Puyol, and theology of the body expert Christopher West, among many other well-known personalities.

Instagram post

Partners, not enemies

In a statement to ACI Prensa, Zeny Leyva, a Cuban-born wife, mother, and media professional with decades of experience in television in the Dominican Republic, emphasized that "every society needs structure, and the core of that society is the family. If we believe (as our faith teaches) that men are called to exercise leadership within the home, then it cannot be just any kind of leadership: It must be one that is properly guided."

"For a long time — and rightly so — efforts have focused on bringing women's wounds and needs to light. It was necessary. But we have stopped there," she noted. "If we don't also look at the wounds, shortcomings, and needs of men, we will continue to pull taut a rope that is already stretched too thin."

"It's not about competing; it is about understanding one another and returning to the original design: the one in which man and woman are not enemies but partners who complement each other," she emphasized.

Irma Wilde, a business executive with over 15 years of experience in innovation, digital transformation, and technology, told ACI Prensa that "the level of men's emotional development directly impacts the quality of our relationships and our lives."

"Today, there is a clear reality: Women are investing much more in their personal growth, while many men still lack the same emotional tools," she said. "If we want healthier relationships, we both need to grow."

Sofía Medina, a Catholic psychologist who leads the SHELTER apostolate, considers it "vital" that men be formed in virtuous masculinity, for "it is answering the basic question of life: 'For what purpose was I created?' — and also, 'How?'"

"Men and women must understand their essence in order to respond with enthusiasm to God's call. As a Catholic woman, knowing that there are men who strive to be the best version of themselves, with their gaze fixed on Christ, fills me with hope," she stated.

'We need men strong in faith'

Leyva emphasized: "We need men who are strong in faith, because only through God can love endure over time ... a man with authentic faith — not merely of words, but lived out — becomes someone capable of true love: of making sacrifices, of caring, of listening, and of working as a team with his wife."

"He doesn't impose his will but rather leads by example," she said. "That kind of man raises children who are more secure, healthier, and possess clear values."

Men "are not the enemy," she added. "And when it seems like they are, it's often because there are unhealed wounds."

She highlighted that "we have demonstrated that women can lead — of course. But we must also be wise enough to recognize that a healthy society needs healthy men. It is not about ceding ground; it is about building together."

Maturity in men leads to 'healthier relationships'

A man characterized by maturity and commitment, noted Wilde, "transforms the entire environment. There is greater stability, more clarity, and less emotional strain."

Nevertheless, she pointed out that men "continue to be the ones least likely to seek psychological help, something that often translates into difficulties in communicating, sustaining, or committing to deep relationships."

"This is for us, too," she noted regarding the Fearless Congress, pointing out that "if we want healthier relationships, less emotional burden, and a better quality of life, we need men who grow and develop themselves."

'Courage, joy, and a spirit of service'

Medina said that when a man lives out his vocation, "everything begins to fall into place, for he also becomes a source of stability and guidance for his family. A man on this path lives with courage, joy, and a spirit of service."

"Today, more than 70% of unpaid domestic labor continues to fall upon women. When a man gets involved with maturity, that burden becomes balanced, and the dynamic changes completely," she explained.

The conference, she emphasized, "is not just for men," since "we all have a man in our lives whom we are influencing whether we are aware of it or not, so we absolutely must utilize every possible means to educate ourselves and grow. Only in this way will we achieve a better society."

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.

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The bishop of the Diocese of Savannah, Georgia, the host diocese for the beatification of the Georgia Martyrs, encouraged Catholics to take inspiration from the martyrs by being "joyful witnesses" to the faith.

In an April 16 interview on "EWTN News Nightly," Bishop Stephen D. Parkes shared about the upcoming beatification of the five Spanish Franciscan friars, who are collectively known as the "Georgia Martyrs." The beatification will take place on Oct. 31 and will be celebrated by Cardinal Francis Leo of the Archdiocese of Toronto.

"People are very excited about this because it is so unique in the life of a diocese," Parkes told "EWTN News Nightly." "This is not something that happens very often."

The beatification will be "the first in the South," according to Parkes.

Plans for the beatification are still in progress, and a venue has not yet been set — but hailing from Savannah, nicknamed the Hostess City of the South, Parkes said he looks forward "to welcoming many visitors."

"A lot goes into planning because there are some questions about how many people will actually come," Parkes said. "We've been looking for a venue that will be large enough to accommodate thousands and we want to be very welcoming."

From martyr to 'blessed'

Parkes described the 16th-century martyrs as "men who gave their lives for our faith in defense of the sacrament of marriage."

"They were Spanish missionaries who came here to our country in order to help to evangelize the Native peoples," Parkes said. "And, obviously, they fell into some challenges with the evangelization process."

In September 1597, Father Pedro de Corpa, Father Blas Rodríguez, Father Miguel de Añon, Brother Antonio de Badajóz, and Father Francisco de Veráscola were killed for defending the sanctity of marriage at a mission in present-day Georgia.

The cause for canonization of the Georgia Martyrs officially began in 1950 but ramped up in the 1980s. Beatification is a significant step toward sainthood in the Catholic Church.

In January 2025, Pope Francis recognized the five Franciscans as martyrs for Christ who were killed for their faith. Parkes called this a "milestone" for the cause.

"When Pope Francis gave approval for the beatification to take place, it was significant because we knew that we would be able to move forward with this now," Parkes said. "It was accepted by the Church."

"They will be known as Blessed Pedro de Corpa and Companions — also known more commonly as the Georgia Martyrs," he said. "In our process towards sainthood and canonization, this is a huge milestone."

What can Catholics learn from the Georgia Martyrs?

When asked what lessons Catholics can take away from the martyrs, Parkes said that "we have to be joyful witnesses."

"We are called to be witnesses of faith, most especially in this world that we live in today," he said. "I don't think we're always understood as Catholics, but we have to be courageous witnesses."

"We need to continue to promote marriage and family life as a priority for our country, for our communities, for our society," Parkes said.

"When people see that and see the incredible foundation that we have in faith — we have something solid to believe in — I believe people are looking for that today in a world where so much is fleeting and so many things are temporal," he continued.

"In this kind of way, look at how we are able to celebrate these men who lived centuries ago, and they were defending something that still exists today and that we lift up today," Parkes said.

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Chicago Public Schools (CPS) has reinstated funding for students with disabilities at Catholic schools, reversing a decision to cut special services after pushback from the Archdiocese of Chicago.

"We are delighted to announce that Chicago Public Schools will be restoring special education instructional services to students in Chicago Catholic schools beginning Monday, April 20. Services will be provided through the Friday before Memorial Day, May 22, as had originally been planned," the archdiocese said in an April 16 statement.

"We appreciate the efforts of CPS CEO Dr. Macquline King and her staff to restore these important services," the archdiocese said. "We also appreciate the outpouring of support we heard from parents and others in recent days. The archdiocese looks forward to working with CPS in the months ahead to ensure that students with disabilities receive the academic support they need and deserve, whether they attend public or nonpublic schools."

The news comes after the archdiocese said in an April 10 statement that Chicago Public Schools abruptly terminated its funding for services provided to students with disabilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) more than a month before the end of the school year. The archdiocese said CPS informed them of the funding suspension without warning during Holy Week after having verbally confirmed the funding would continue through the end of the year "as recently as March 25."

Impacted services would have included academic support services such as tutoring in math, reading, and writing for students with learning disabilities. 

The archdiocese said in a previous statement that repeated efforts to reach "an amicable solution" with King had "not yielded a response." It also said CPS had only terminated IDEA funding for Catholic schools.

Cardinal Blase Cupich condemned the sudden suspension of the program, which he described as a "shocking and possibly discriminatory action by CPS" and an "affront to Catholics."

"For more than 175 years, our schools have helped lift families out of poverty and produced well-prepared and civically engaged graduates," Cupich said. "We do so at a cost far below that of other systems and are proud of our students and the teachers who work every day to serve them. We owe them every effort to right this offense by CPS."

King's office did not immediately respond to a request to comment.

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The Vatican has halted the cause for sainthood of Father Walter Ciszek, a Pennsylvania-born Jesuit priest who ministered to fellow prisoners while enduring more than 20 years of imprisonment in Russia.

Ciszek (1904–1984) is known for his spiritual writings "He Leadeth Me" and "With God in Russia," which he wrote after surviving torture by the Soviet secret police and hard labor during his imprisonment from 1941–1963.

The Vatican first approved the advancement of Ciszek's cause in 2012. Over the several decades that the cause was in progress, the Jesuits had gathered witness testimonies, writings of Ciszek, and more than 4,000 archival documents from the Jesuits and the Russian archives.

Monsignor Ronald Bocian of the Walter Ciszek Prayer League, the group advocating for Ciszek's cause, said in an April 9 letter that "the formal canonization process has been stopped."

"The diocese has been informed that the documentation relating to his cause does not support advancing his cause for beatification or sainthood," Bocian said.

"The development comes after years of careful study and discernment at the level of the Holy See, which bears the responsibility of evaluating each cause with thoroughness, integrity, and fidelity to the Church's norms," Bocian continued.

"While this news may understandably bring disappointment to many who have been inspired by Father Ciszek's example of heroic faith and have prayed for his cause, it does not diminish the enduring spiritual value of his life, witness, and legacy," Bocian said.

This is the second sainthood cause this month that the Vatican has closed. The Vatican also halted the cause of Argentinian bishop and servant of God Jorge Novak earlier this month. The Diocese of Quilmes, Argentina, said the decision expresses "no moral judgment regarding the life, virtues, and pastoral ministry" of the bishop but that it was due to him not carrying out "a possible canonical procedure" as a priest.

According to the letter from Bocian, the Prayer League advocating for Ciszek's canonization will become the "Father Walter J. Ciszek Society." Bocian said the society will "remain committed to honoring his memory, sharing his message, and encouraging devotion to the profound spiritual insights he left to the Church."

"Even as the formal canonization process has been stopped, the grace flowing from his witness remains alive in the hearts of the faithful," Bocian said.

The Diocese of Allentown, Pennsylvania, confirmed the news in a statement to EWTN News, acknowledging the "disappointment" while encouraging the faithful to remember the grace of Ciszek's life.

"This development comes as the Church evaluates each cause with thoroughness, integrity, and fidelity to its norms," read the statement from the Diocese of Allentown, which paralleled Bocian's letter.

Who was Father Walter Ciszek?

Ciszek was born in 1904 in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania. He entered the Jesuit novitiate in 1928 and was ordained in 1937 after being trained to say Mass in the Russian rite. After two years in Poland, he used the chaos of World War II as cover to enter the Soviet Union so that he could minister to Christians who lived under communist persecution.

Soviet authorities arrested him in 1941, believing him to be a spy. Over his decades in prison, he endured solitary confinement, torture, and years of hard labor near the Arctic Circle. Despite the dangers, he said Mass in secret and heard the confessions of other prisoners.

President John F. Kennedy negotiated the prisoner swap that led to his release in 1963. Ciszek went on to write about his spiritual insights and experience in Russia. He died at Fordham University in New York on Dec. 8, 1984. In 1990, Ciszek was declared a servant of God.

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For more than a quarter-century, popes have periodically visited Islamic mosques as part of official voyages and papal visits.

The tradition began with Pope John Paul II, who in 2001 became the first pope in history known to have entered a mosque when he visited the Great Mosque of Damascus in the capital of Syria.

The subsequent Popes Benedict XVI, Francis, and Leo XIV have all paid visits to mosques to hold ecumenical dialogues and host diplomatic meetings.

Yet the practice is not without some controversy. Indeed, Leo XIV's visit to the Great Mosque of Algiers on April 13 drew some backlash on social media by critics incredulous over the leader of the Catholic Church visiting a major Islamic holy site. (This was Leo's second visit to a mosque; he also visited the famed "Blue Mosque" in Istanbul in late 2025.)

So why do popes make visits to mosques, courting controversy and criticism for making a point to go to holy sites of another religion?

'We can live together in peace'

Pope Leo XIV himself addressed criticism directed toward him on April 15 on board the papal plane after leaving Algiers bound for Cameroon.

"I think the visit to the mosque was significant [and showed] that although we have different beliefs, we have different ways of worshipping, we have different ways of living, we can [still] live together in peace," the Holy Father said. 

"I think that to promote that kind of image is something which the world needs to hear today," he said, arguing that such visits show that "together we can continue to offer in our witness as we continue on this apostolic voyage."

Gabriel Said Reynolds, a theology professor at the University of Notre Dame who has written multiple works on the Quran and its relationship to Christianity, told EWTN News that interpreting papal visits to mosques should include an understanding of "the Church's vision of God in the world."

"What is God's relationship to the world? That's been important to all of the recent popes," he said.

Reynolds pointed out that an Islamic mosque is "fundamentally different from a church."

"A Catholic church is a sort of temple in which God is present in the tabernacle — body, blood, soul, and divinity," he said. "It's a sacred space in the deepest sense of the word."

"What Muslims would say of a mosque is fundamentally different," he said. "A mosque is for communal prayer, but the communal prayer that takes place in a mosque is no different than the ritual prayer that's more often done at home."

He likened a mosque to a "gathering place" with just a few features that set it apart as a distinct site — such as a pulpit for occasional sermons and an alcove that denotes the direction of Mecca to which Muslims orient themselves during prayer.

Reynolds said popes visit mosques in no small part as a "pastoral concern" for Christians living in majority-Muslim countries, such as Algeria.

"Algerian society is thoroughly Islamic," he said. "It's not generally marked by notions of rights and responsibilities and citizenship in the same way the U.S. is. Cultivating positive relationships with Muslim leaders is absolutely essential for Christians."

Reynolds said the Church's view about human dignity has "fundamental implications with its relationship toward non-Christians." He pointed out, for instance, that the pope "could show up at an atheist convention and meet the people there and have dialogue with them."

"John 3:16 says God loves the world," he said. "It's not that God loves believers and doesn't love the unbelievers. All people are children of God, according to Catholic teaching."

The declaration Nostra Aetate, meanwhile — issued by the Second Vatican Council in 1965 to address Catholicism's relationship with non-Christians — affirmed that the Church "regards [Muslims] with esteem."

The document points out that although Muslims "do not acknowledge Jesus as God," they still "adore the one God" and "revere [Jesus] as a prophet" while giving honor to the Virgin Mother as well.

The Second Vatican Council acknowledged that "in the course of centuries not a few quarrels and hostilities have arisen" between Christians and Muslims, but the document "urge[d] all to forget the past and to work sincerely for mutual understanding."

It further called on religious adherents to "preserve as well as to promote together for the benefit of all mankind social justice and moral welfare, as well as peace and freedom."

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