Catholic News

Pope Leo XIV visited two major pilgrimage sites in Italy while on vacation at Castel Gandolfo, Italy, stopping at the Sanctuary of the Most Holy Trinity in Vallepietra and the St. Benedict Monastery in Subiaco.

As announced by the Holy See Press Office, the pontiff traveled to the two pilgrimage sites on July 22. He first went to Vallepietra, where he visited the Sanctuary of the Most Holy Trinity. While there, he prayed before a famous fresco of the Holy Trinity and afterward greeted the faithful present.

Vallepietra is a medieval mountainside village about 37 miles east of Rome, and its Sanctuary of the Most Holy Trinity is one of the most popular pilgrimage sites in the Lazio region. The exact dates of its construction are unknown.

There are two main legends associated with the sanctuary's construction. One tells of a farmer searching for his oxen who found them kneeling before a fresco of the Trinity, prompting the sanctuary's construction. Another recounts how two men fleeing Emperor Nero's persecution encountered Sts. Peter and John, were then visited by an angel, and saw a vision of the Trinity.

After visiting Vallepietra, Leo went to the St. Benedict Monastery in Subiaco. During his visit, he prayed before a 13th-century fresco of St. Francis of Assisi, widely regarded as the earliest known depiction of the Italian saint. The pope also visited the Holy Cave (Sacro Speco) in Subiaco, where he recited the Lord's Prayer and kissed the knee of a statue of St. Benedict of Nursia, who founded the first Benedictine hermitage there in the sixth century.

The pope then went to the Monastery of St. Scholastica, St. Benedict's sister, where he had lunch with the Benedictine community and visited the convent afterward.

Leo's visit to Vallepietra and Subiaco follows his July 20 visit to the Benedictine Abbey of Montecassino, where he prayed before the tombs of Sts. Benedict and Scholastica.

The day also marked his fourth day of public appearances (outside his weekly Sunday Angelus) during his Castel Gandolfo vacation, to last from July 5–27. He also held a lunch with the poor on July 11 and attended a summer concert on July 18. Except for his Sunday Angelus, all private and public audiences, including the Wednesday general audience, are suspended during his vacation.

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The prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, Archbishop Filippo Iannone, explained the fundamental qualities sought when selecting candidates for the episcopate.

In a recent interview with the Croatian Catholic weekly Glas Koncila (Voice of the Council), Iannone elaborated on the role of the Dicastery for Bishops and its interface with the other dicasteries that make up the Roman Curia.

He explained that "the pope meets daily with bishops, both individually and in groups. In those meetings, he highlights the Church's current priorities: evangelization, care for creation, and other pastoral challenges."

The pope "reiterates the fundamental characteristics of a bishop's life: nurturing one's inner life, prayer, openness to others, a willingness to collaborate, and attentiveness to the marginalized."

However, "the essential model for every bishop remains Christ, the Good Shepherd."

Bishops need 'support'

Iannone visited Zagreb, Croatia, on May 31, the feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, to celebrate a solemn Mass in honor of Our Lady of the Stone Gate, the patroness of the Croatian capital, and to lead the traditional procession through the city center.

The following day, he delivered a "lectio magistralis" (a formal academic lecture) at the Catholic University of Croatia, which was celebrating its 20th anniversary. During his stay in Zagreb, he gave the interview, in which he urged people to pray "with greater conviction" for bishops and priests.

Bishops, he noted, "need spiritual and human support."

"Criticism may be legitimate, but it is not enough: We must also help and pray for them," he emphasized, noting that "sometimes we forget that bishops are human beings too, with limitations, difficulties, and moments of discouragement."

Synodality is not a demand for rights

Iannone underscored that synodality "is not a demand for rights."

"It's not simply a matter of claiming the right to express oneself. It means feeling part of a whole and assuming responsibility for it. The more a person lives out his faith and participates in the life of the community, the more valuable his voice becomes, because he (or she) speaks from within the Church rather than from a distance," he stated.

Addressing the subject of synodality, he warned that applying purely political categories to the Church can be misleading, given its distinct nature.

However, he recalled that the Second Vatican Council taught that all the baptized are responsible for the life and mission of the Church. In this regard, he noted that the faithful must assume responsibilities and that those who govern by virtue of the sacrament of holy orders must allow them to exercise them.

He highlighted the existence of bodies established for this purpose, such as pastoral and finance councils. Likewise, he recalled that canon law recognizes the right and, in some cases, even the duty of the faithful to express their concerns and opinions to their pastors.

The prefect made it clear that the bishop should not bear the burden of governing the diocese alone; rather, "all the faithful must share in that responsibility."

Growing reluctance among priests to become bishops

Iannone also addressed the phenomenon of priests declining appointments as bishops. "I had heard of this phenomenon before; now I am experiencing it firsthand," he acknowledged.

"I don't believe it is solely due to the abuse crisis. Today, a bishop's responsibilities are far greater, and some priests do not feel prepared to take them on. Diocesan life has become more complex, there are fewer vocations, and the demands of the ministry are constantly increasing," he explained.

The role of the Dicastery for Bishops

Iannone heads the Dicastery for Bishops, the body responsible for all matters concerning the establishment, life, and activity of dioceses, as well as the identification of candidates for the episcopate who are subsequently presented to the pope for appointment. It also supports bishops in the exercise of their ministry within their respective dioceses.

As Pope Francis' apostolic constitution Praedicate Evangelium emphasizes, one of the fundamental characteristics of the Roman Curia is collaboration among the dicasteries.

For this reason, the Dicastery for Bishops works closely with other bodies, such as the Dicastery for the Clergy and the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. Each dicastery has a basic structure composed of a plenary assembly made up of all its members, who are appointed by the pope.

"The authority of the dicastery resides in this plenary assembly, presided over by a prefect who directs its day-to-day operations with the assistance of a secretary. The most important decisions are made by the plenary assembly, whose members come from various parts of the world," he explained.

One of the changes introduced by Pope Francis is that members of the dicasteries need not be exclusively bishops. Priests, religious, and laypeople, both men and women, may also serve on them.

The Dicastery for Bishops, like other bodies of the Curia, "relies on the collaboration of apostolic nuncios, who are well acquainted with the reality of the local Churches," he noted.

Before assuming his current role, Iannone served as prefect of the Dicastery for Legislative Texts. In the interview, he highlighted that the Roman Curia "exists to assist the pope in the exercise of his Petrine ministry."

"As the successor of Peter and the Vicar of Christ, the pope has the responsibility of governing the universal Church, a task he could not perform alone. That is why he needs collaborators, who constitute the Roman Curia," he stated. Over time, he added, the Curia "has become increasingly internationalized and specialized."

"Each body places its specific expertise at the service of the pope to assist him in making decisions. Furthermore, any member of the faithful may express his concerns to the pope or a dicastery," he explained.

The faithful's access to the dicastery

"I receive many letters from the faithful around the world pointing out problems in the life of their dioceses. We assess whether those concerns are well founded or the result of misunderstandings. When they are well-founded, we try to intervene to restore serenity to the community. That is why, although the dicasteries may seem distant from the outside, in reality, they are at the service of the pope and the particular Churches," he noted.

Iannone also highlighted that diversity constitutes "a richness when united with communion," but warned that when it "turns in on itself, it harms the Church."

"Today, there is great sensitivity toward local traditions. In this context, the principle attributed to St. Augustine remains valid: 'In essentials, unity; in doubtful matters, liberty; in all things, charity.' There must be unity regarding the essential elements of the faith, discipline, and the sacraments. Diversity may exist in other pastoral and practical aspects."

"The bishop has the responsibility to foster relationships among the various groups and to correct any deviations. He must be a father to the entire community," he stated.

Addressing the balance between local sensibilities and ecclesial unity, he explained that "the Second Vatican Council taught that the universal Church is present in and arises from particular Churches. This means that a particular Church is fully Church insofar as it remains in communion with the other Churches and with the pope."

The contribution of women to episcopal discernment

Currently, the women serving on the Dicastery for Bishops are Sister Simona Brambilla, prefect of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life; Sister Raffaella Petrini, president of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State; and the Argentine laywoman María Lía Zervino, former president of the World Union of Catholic Women's Organizations.

Iannone views this positively: "Although I have been heading the dicastery for only a few months, I have been able to see the valuable contribution of these women — two religious sisters and a laywoman. They offer distinct perspectives and specific sensitivities that enrich discernment, especially regarding the selection of candidates for the episcopate."

However, he noted that consulting women is not a completely new practice. "For some time, apostolic nuncios have consulted various members of the People of God, including women, during the investigations preceding episcopal appointments," he explained.

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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A Catholic parish in Frederick, Maryland, is putting the Church's call to care for the poor into action by eliminating school lunch debt for students across the county, building on years of providing weekend meals to children in need.

Since 2014, St. Katharine Drexel Parish has partnered with Yellow Springs Elementary School to provide weekend meals for students who depend on free or reduced-price lunches during the school week. Parish volunteers say the ministry grew out of a desire to ensure children would not go hungry when school was not in session.

This spring, the parish expanded that outreach by donating $11,800 to Frederick County Public Schools, paying off outstanding school lunch debt for every family in the district.

"We recognized that this is a bigger issue than just one elementary school," Brian McCrohan, pastoral associate at St. Katharine Drexel Parish, told EWTN News. "With the cost of inflation and grocery budgets being stretched, families who may not qualify for free meals are still having a hard time making ends meet."

The parish learned the total amount of unpaid lunch debt from the school system and brought the need before its Social Justice Ministry. Parishioners responded with generous financial support, making it possible to eliminate the debt.

The effort marks the second time St. Katharine Drexel Parish has paid off countywide school lunch debt. The parish first did so in 2020, at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, after recognizing a similar need.

McCrohan said the donation was funded entirely through the generosity of parishioners rather than a special fundraising campaign.

"Our parish is really very generous when they understand there is a need," he said. "People are passionate about living out Catholic social teaching and lifting up our neighbors, whether they're right next door or much farther away."

The school lunch initiative is one part of the parish's broader outreach. Parishioners also support ministries in Haiti, assist a parish in Baltimore with Christmas outreach, and respond to humanitarian crises around the world.

While parish leaders are not yet committing to making the school lunch initiative an annual effort, McCrohan said they hope it could become more sustainable through collaboration with other faith communities.

"If more communities get involved, it might be something that could be done on an annual basis," he said. "We can do more together than any one parish can do alone."

Although the parish initially debated whether to publicize the donation, McCrohan said they ultimately decided sharing the story could encourage others.

"People are in need of some good news," he said. "We hope this inspires others — whether as individuals or as communities — to do what they can to help their neighbors."

The parish's latest effort reflects the Church's long-standing commitment to the corporal works of mercy, offering practical assistance to families while witnessing to the Gospel through acts of charity.

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A Marianist retreat house on the Jersey Shore will pay out $3 million to a woman who said she was abused at the center in the 1970s.

Ken Fulginiti, who represented the plaintiff identified as Jane Doe in the suit, told EWTN News on July 22 that a jury in Cape May County returned the seven-figure verdict for the "emotional trauma of abuse" endured by his client.

"There will be another $750,000 in prejudgment interest that we've sent in a motion for," he said.

Fulginiti's client said the abuse occurred in 1974; she filed suit against the retreat center in January 2021.

The retreat center attempted to convince the jury that it was not required to pay out for the abuse. "There were arguing that they were not liable to the extent that it happened; it was two employees of theirs that [they claimed they] didn't know were like that," Fulginiti said.

Fulginiti said the retreat center is facing several other lawsuits from alleged abuse victims.

The ruling in his client's case, Fulginiti said, could impact the other lawsuits to some extent. The multiple lawsuits were consolidated for purposes of discovery, he said, but the trials themselves will be considered on an individual basis.

"If you are a participant in a hearing, and rulings are made against you, you're bound to them," he said. The plaintiffs in the other cases would not be bound in any way to the verdict in his client's case, he said, but the retreat center would be.

The lawyer said it was "very challenging for any survivor of abuse to go through this process."

"I'm grateful for the jury to have listened to all the evidence and provided their verdict in favor of Jane Doe," he said.

In a statement to EWTN News, the Marianist Province of the United States said it "respects the judicial process and acknowledges the jury's careful consideration, which did not sustain a finding of negligence against the Province."

"The Province unequivocally condemns sexual abuse and has comprehensive safeguarding policies in place designed to protect children and vulnerable adults across our ministries," the statement said.

"We remain vigilant in our commitment to upholding those policies and continue to pray for all survivors of abuse."

The multiple suits filed against the Marianist center allege that former priest John Sheehan and Brother Albert Koch had committed the abuse for years between 1974 and 1982.

Neither man is a defendant in the cases. Sheehan was laicized in 1997; Koch was reportedly active at the center into 2020.

The retreat center is located in the Diocese of Camden, which in February announced a massive $180 million abuse settlement to be paid out to more than 300 abuse victims.

The nine-figure payout represented a more-than-sixfold increase over an earlier proposed settlement of $87.5 million. Camden Bishop Joseph Williams at the time called the settlement a "milestone" that was "long overdue." 

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Young Catholics in Brazil are thirsting for more formation about the Church and say there is an excessive emphasis on sociopolitical issues, according to the National Survey on Youth Evangelization, which interviewed over 11,000 people across Brazil in 2025.

The data were recently presented at a meeting of the Permanent Council of the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB, by its Portuguese acronym).

The report presented partial results from the survey, conducted in 2025 by the Episcopal Commission for Youth of the CNBB in partnership with the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul Youth Observatory, the UNESCO Chair on Youth, Education, and Society, and the Department of Theology at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro.

Adolescents and young adults, aged 12 to 29 and from all regions of Brazil, participated in the study. A non-probabilistic, voluntary (opt-in) methodology was employed, utilizing a predominantly quantitative, self-administered digital questionnaire distributed through the Connected Youth communication channels.

Holiness and faith

The study showed that holiness and Christian faith were the most frequently mentioned topics of interest among the survey participants. Conversely, a lack of reverence for the liturgy and an excessive emphasis on sociopolitical issues emerged as the primary factors hindering the respondents' participation in the life of faith.

Patrícia Espíndola de Lima Teixeira of the Youth Observatory at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, who coordinated the research, told ACI Digital, the Portuguese-language sister service of EWTN News, that the findings come "as no surprise to those who work directly with young people."

"We have a generation that grew up exposed to a huge volume of superficial content, and that is precisely the hypothesis for why so many young people show a thirst for deeper relationships that foster faith and a sense of purpose in life," she said.

The researcher does not see a divide between conservatives and progressives in the survey results.

"What we conducted was a study free of preconceived notions, which revealed a pastoral tension to be embraced and reflected upon with maturity and balance," Teixeira said. "I believe the Church is experiencing calls for precisely this: overcoming polarization and living out unity even amid our differences, in the spirit of Pentecost."

"I like to recall the Pauline image of the body and its many members (1 Cor 12:12–27): The Church is one body yet possesses a genuine plurality of gifts, sensibilities, and lived experiences, and this diversity must be lived out in communion," she continued. "This is an agenda that warrants consistent, in-depth exploration not only with young people but with everyone."

According to Layla Kamila, 29, coordinator of the Jovens Conectados (Connected Youth) communications team for the CNBB's Episcopal Commission for Youth and a member of the team responsible for the National Survey on Youth Evangelization, the study demonstrated a thirst for authenticity in faith.

The goal of the research was to listen to young people and understand their experience of faith, she said. The data revealed that many express a strong desire to deepen their spiritual lives. There is significant interest in themes such as holiness, the word of God, the Eucharist, Christian formation, and well-celebrated liturgy.

More than labels, young people desire authenticity, Kamila said. They hope to find a Church that proclaims Jesus Christ clearly, offers paths for formation, fosters a genuine encounter with God, and helps them live out their faith in today's world.

The coordinator of Connected Youth also assessed the high number of young people who say they are weary of the politicization within the Church. Kamila emphasized that the data should be analyzed calmly, avoiding isolated interpretations.

"Among the perceptions voiced by participants, many expressed a desire to find a Church deeply centered on Jesus Christ, spirituality, liturgy, and faith formation," Kamila said. "Open-ended responses also reveal observations regarding the desire for evangelization to keep Christ at the center."

She clarified that "this does not mean diminishing the social dimension of the Church's mission. Quite the opposite. Proclaiming the Gospel and committing to justice, the poor, peace, and human dignity go hand in hand."

Both Teixeira and Kamila hope that the data presented in the study will be well-received by Catholic communities and Church leadership.

"This research grew out of a desire to listen before proposing paths forward, in harmony with the Church's synodal journey," Kamila said. "As Pope Francis has so often reminded us: 'Everyone, everyone, everyone!'"

"This call also inspires this research: to listen to all young people and to embrace their experiences, joys, concerns, and dreams, so that no one feels outside of the life of the Church," she said. "We hope that dioceses, parishes, movements, new communities, and pastoral groups will welcome these data as a tool for pastoral discernment capable of strengthening the evangelization of young people in Brazil. After all, behind every number lies a story, a face, a family, and a journey of faith."

For Teixeira, "listening does not relativize the Church's faith but rather helps refine the way we proclaim the Gospel to new generations. More than just a diagnosis of difficulties, the research reveals young people who desire to deepen their faith, better understand the Church, and find solid paths of formation. It is precisely this openness that makes the pastoral landscape one of profound hope."

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

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Pope Leo XIV this week urged U.S. religious superiors to prioritize community life, describing it as a place of "witness and strength."

The Vatican published the letter on July 22 addressed to the Conference of Major Superiors of Men in the United States being held in Phoenix from July 20–23. The letter also marks the 70th anniversary of the conference.

The pontiff himself was a former religious superior, serving as the prior general of the Augustinians from 2001 to 2013.

In his letter, Leo congratulated the participants on their milestone and offered reflections on fostering community life, the theme of this year's conference. Citing an address he delivered to religious institutes in 2025, he encouraged them to view their communities as places of sanctification.

"In reflecting on the theme for this year's gathering, 'One in Christ: Communal Life Today,' I would encourage you to consider community life 'as a place of sanctification and a source of inspiration, witness and strength in your apostolate,'" the pope wrote.

Leo also praised their efforts to promote religious life in the United States and reminded them that a healthy community life makes their Christian witness more credible.

"Indeed, it is precisely through sharing everything in common, including material goods, spiritual experiences, apostolic ideals and charitable service that the hidden presence of the risen Lord is made manifest among you," Leo wrote.

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Pope Leo XIV has appointed another Chinese bishop under the agreement on episcopal appointments reached between the Holy See and authorities in Beijing during the pontificate of Pope Francis.

Father Joseph Chang Yanfeng was ordained Wednesday as the new bishop of Chifeng in China's Inner Mongolia region, the Vatican announced. Pope Leo approved the appointment June 15.

The Holy See said the appointment was made within the framework of the provisional agreement between the Holy See and the People's Republic of China, under which the pope approved the candidate presented for the diocese.

Chang had overseen the local Church since October 2021, when he was appointed diocesan administrator.

Formation in China and South Korea

The new bishop was born April 4, 1984, in Beizhen in China's Liaoning province. He studied at the Shenyang Theological Seminary from 2000 to 2006.

After a period of pastoral work at Lindong Parish, he continued his academic formation at the Catholic University of Daejeon in South Korea, where he earned a degree in biblical theology.

He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Chifeng on Nov. 18, 2010.

During the early years of his ministry, he held several positions in the diocesan curia and served in a number of parishes. He was pastor of Chifeng Cathedral from 2013 to 2019 and later served at Lindong Parish from 2019 to 2021.

He was appointed diocesan administrator of Chifeng on Oct. 15, 2021, a responsibility he held until his episcopal appointment.

Dialogue between Rome and Beijing

The appointment was made through the continuing dialogue over the implementation of the Holy See-China agreement, signed in 2018 to establish a mutually accepted process for selecting bishops.

The appointment of bishops belongs to the pope, while Beijing had for decades regarded papal appointments as interference in China's internal affairs.

The Holy See and China have not maintained diplomatic relations since 1951, following the establishment of Mao Zedong's communist government. Chinese Catholics subsequently became divided between communities registered with the state-controlled Catholic Patriotic Association and underground communities that remained loyal to Rome.

The full text of the 2018 agreement has never been made public. It was renewed every two years until 2024, when the two sides extended it for another four years, through 2028.

Under the terms that have become publicly known, the pope retains final authority over episcopal appointments in China and can reject candidates proposed by Beijing. The Holy See, for its part, has agreed not to make episcopal appointments without first obtaining the Chinese government's approval.

Tensions during the papal interregnum

During the interregnum between the death of Pope Francis and the election of Pope Leo XIV, Chinese authorities proceeded unilaterally with the selection of two bishops, including one for a jurisdiction already led by a prelate recognized by the Vatican.

On April 28, 2025, Father Ignatius Wu Jianlin was elected auxiliary bishop of Shanghai by state-controlled Church bodies. The following day, Father Francis Li Jianlin was selected to lead Xinxiang in Henan province.

The latter decision caused controversy because the Holy See already recognized Bishop Joseph Zhang Weizhu as the legitimate bishop of that local Church.

Although the selections may have been planned before Francis' death, their timing attracted attention. AsiaNews reported that the decisions conveyed the Chinese Communist Party's position that a vacancy in the Apostolic See would not interrupt the operation of the Catholic Church in China.

With Chang's appointment and episcopal ordination, 15 Catholic bishops have now been ordained under the provisional agreement signed by China and the Holy See during the pontificate of Francis.

Chinese appointments under Pope Leo XIV

The process leading to Chang's appointment and ordination took place entirely during the pontificate of Leo XIV, providing another indication that the pope intends to continue the path of dialogue between Rome and Beijing.

Since the beginning of his pontificate, Leo has made several episcopal appointments in China and assigned new responsibilities to bishops who had already been ordained.

On June 11, 2025, the Vatican announced the civil recognition and installation of Bishop Joseph Lin Yuntuan as auxiliary bishop of Fuzhou in Fujian province. Leo had appointed him June 5.

On July 8, 2025, the pope suppressed the dioceses of Xuanhua and Xiwanzi, which Pope Pius XII had established in 1946, and created the new Diocese of Zhangjiakou as a suffragan see of Beijing.

Two months later, on Sept. 10, Father Joseph Wang Zhengui, whom the pope had appointed to lead the new diocese, was ordained a bishop.

Father Ignatius Wu Jianlin was ordained auxiliary bishop of Shanghai on Oct. 15, 2025, after Leo appointed him Aug. 11.

Father Francis Li Jianlin was ordained to lead the Apostolic Prefecture of Xinxiang on Dec. 5, 2025, following his appointment by the pope on Aug. 11.

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 Vatican on July 22 denied reports circulating on blogs and social media that Father Marko Rupnik, the former Jesuit accused by several women religious of sexual abuse, had been acquitted.

Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See Press Office, described reports that the judges overseeing the case had reached a final decision as "absolutely unfounded."

Bruni said the canonical proceedings remain underway and that the tribunal "is examining documentation received from the dioceses involved, the Society of Jesus, the interested parties, and information published by the media."

Proceedings remain confidential

The Vatican spokesman stressed that no information about the case can be made public while the trial is underway. He said the confidentiality is intended both to protect due process and to prevent further harm to those affected by the case.

"During the trial, as in any judicial proceeding, information regarding the proceedings underway cannot be shared in any way," Bruni said in the statement.

He added that the tribunal itself will take any necessary steps to obtain additional information should the judges determine that further evidence is required.

Bruni also noted that the investigation into Rupnik is a canonical criminal proceeding that was made possible after the statute of limitations for the alleged offenses was waived.

The tribunal will therefore be able to reach a determination regarding Rupnik's possible guilt or innocence in accordance with canon law.

Allegations of psychological and sexual abuse

Rupnik is accused of psychological and sexual abuse during the 1990s in a religious community in Ljubljana, Slovenia. The community was founded by a religious sister for whom Rupnik served as a friend and spiritual adviser.

The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith received a complaint in 2021. The dicastery, now headed by Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, asked the Society of Jesus to investigate the allegations using an external investigator, who was a Dominican religious.

The Jesuits submitted the findings to the dicastery, which determined in October 2022 that the allegations were barred by the statute of limitations. Pope Francis ordered the case reopened the following year.

After the allegations became public, the Jesuits acknowledged that Rupnik had been excommunicated in 2020 for absolving a woman with whom he had engaged in sexual activity. The Jesuits said he repented and that the penalty was lifted shortly afterward.

In 2021, nine women accused Rupnik of sexually, psychologically, and spiritually abusing them.

The Vatican statement also emphasized that the jurisdiction of Church courts is limited to the Church's internal legal system. Any potential criminal liability under civil law would depend on the authorities in the countries where the alleged offenses may have occurred and on the applicable statutes of limitations.

Rupnik "remains subject to the laws of the countries in which the alleged crimes may have been committed, and the statute of limitations for those crimes is governed by the law of each country, independently of ecclesiastical authority," Bruni said.

Frustration over pace of case

The Vatican's response came after Laura Sgrò, an attorney representing five of Rupnik's accusers, publicly expressed frustration over the pace of the proceedings and the lack of information about the canonical trial.

Sgrò told ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News, that she had written Tuesday to Fernández, saying her clients felt "deeply discouraged and distressed" by the lack of transparency surrounding the case.

In November 2025, Pope Leo XIV asked Rupnik's accusers for patience and said that "the Church must respect the rights of all people."

Sgrò declined to comment in detail on the Vatican's response, describing it only as "necessary."

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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When Pope Leo XIV warned in both May and June about the growing loneliness and abandonment experienced by the elderly, he highlighted a challenge confronting much of the modern world. In Lithuania, the Catholic Church has already been responding to this problem.

One year ago, Caritas Lithuania launched "Caritas Listens," a free emotional support hotline aimed at combating loneliness among older adults. Staffed by trained volunteers, the helpline offers a compassionate listening ear, a need many callers say they lack.

While the initiative was started in Lithuania, its significance reaches far beyond the Baltic nation. Across Eastern Europe, declining birth rates, rising life expectancy, and decades of emigration by younger generations to Western Europe have left many elderly people living alone.

Similar demographic pressures are also reshaping societies in countries such as Japan, South Korea, and China, raising concerns not only about healthcare and pensions but also about social isolation and mental well-being.

For the Catholic Church, Caritas Lithuania's experience offers a practical example of how pastoral care can respond to an increasingly urgent social and spiritual crisis.

A year of great impact

After its first year, Caritas Lithuania says the hotline has recorded 67,308 minutes of conversations, which the organization sees as evidence of both the scale of loneliness among older people and the need for emotional support.

The initiative currently relies on 86 trained volunteers who provide confidential emotional support by phone. Their focus is on listening without judgment; accompanying callers in moments of loneliness, grief, or anxiety; and helping them rediscover a sense of connection.

For Erika Panova-Polikeviciene, the project's coordinator, the need was already clear before the hotline began.

According to Lithuanian statistics, she said, 1 in 5 people aged 60 and over experiences loneliness, while adults over 60 make up almost one-third of the country's population.

"For more than 37 years, Caritas Lithuania has been providing support to people in vulnerable situations, including older persons," she told EWTN News. Yet despite those efforts, the organization realized that many elderly people remained beyond the reach of traditional services.

Some struggled with poor health or limited mobility. Others faced social isolation or lacked the confidence to seek help. For many, attending community activities or receiving in-person support was simply not possible.

"We saw a need to create an alternative way for them to receive emotional support and human connection," Panova-Polikeviciene said.

With support from Lithuania's Ministry of Social Security and Labor, Caritas expanded its network of assistance and launched the emotional support line in 2025.

Listening as a form of pastoral care

Callers frequently speak about grief after losing loved ones, strained family relationships, conflicts with neighbors, declining health, financial worries, and uncertainty about where to seek help.

Some, Panova-Polikeviciene said, simply need someone who will listen. "Sometimes the first step toward overcoming isolation is simply having someone on the other end of the phone who is ready to listen."

The conversations have also challenged common assumptions about loneliness. "One of the key lessons we have learned is that loneliness is not always about being physically alone," Panova-Polikeviciene explained.

Some callers live with family members or have relatives nearby yet still experience profound loneliness because they lack emotional connection or a sense of being understood. "A simple conversation can sometimes restore a feeling of connection and remind a person that they are not forgotten," she said.

The hotline has also become a refuge for people facing moments of deep despair. Volunteers regularly receive calls from older adults coping with bereavement, hopelessness, or periods when they feel they have nobody else to turn to. In those moments, the immediate goal is not necessarily solving every problem.

"The most important first step is often not providing an immediate solution but being present, listening with compassion, and helping a person feel that their life and experiences matter."

The volunteers behind the ministry

At the center of the initiative are the volunteers themselves. Panova-Polikeviciene described them as people who freely choose to accompany others through some of life's most difficult moments.

"They want to be there for others, to listen with compassion, to offer their time and presence, and to accompany older people who may be experiencing loneliness or difficult moments in their lives," she said.

Before answering calls, every volunteer undergoes a process of discernment with both a volunteer coordinator and a psychologist.

Caritas Lithuania believes that a desire to help is not enough on its own. Volunteers must also honestly evaluate whether they are emotionally prepared to accompany people through grief, isolation, and profound loneliness.

Those accepted into the program receive training in active listening, empathetic communication, and responding responsibly to emotionally difficult situations. They provide support in Lithuanian and continue to receive ongoing supervision and psychological support throughout their service.

Additionally, supervision sessions and consultations with psychologists help them avoid burnout and remain emotionally supported while accompanying vulnerable callers.

A model that could reach beyond Lithuania

"We believe that the experience of 'Caritas Listens' could be relevant for other Caritas organizations, as loneliness among older people is a growing challenge across Europe," Panova-Polikeviciene said.

She stressed that every country would need to adapt a similar initiative to its own social realities and support systems. Nevertheless, she said Caritas Lithuania is ready to share what it has learned.

"We believe that exchanging good practices within the Caritas network can help us better respond to the growing challenge of loneliness among older people."

As many nations grapple with aging populations, Caritas Lithuania's experience suggests that responding to loneliness may not always require complex solutions.

Sometimes, the ministry begins with something far simpler: a listening ear and the reassurance that no one is forgotten.

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Not much is known about the life of St. Mary Magdalene, whose feast day is celebrated in the Catholic Church on July 22. She first appears in the Gospel of Luke as a follower of Christ from whom seven demons have been cast out. In the Gospels, she is sometimes associated with two other women in Scripture: the woman who washes Jesus' feet with oil and Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus.

Her most prominent position in Scripture occurs in the Gospel of John, where she remains with Jesus at the Crucifixion, keeps vigil at the tomb, and is the first to see him on Easter morning. Differing traditions have her evangelizing in Ephesus, while others place her in Marseille, France.

Her body has never been found.

Apart from the Blessed Virgin Mary, perhaps no other saint alive during the time of Christ appears to have been as deeply moved by Jesus' death as this saint.

"How beautiful to think that the first appearance of the Risen One took place in such a personal way! That there is someone who knows us, who sees our suffering and delusion, who is moved by us, and who calls us by name," said Pope Francis of the encounter in a 2017 general audience the year after upgrading her memorial to a feast day in 2016.

After this shocking encounter, the joy of Christ's resurrection imbued her with the courage to spread this good news joyfully. "I have seen the Lord!" she proclaimed to the apostles and the whole world.

Once known as a sinful woman, Mary Magdalene becomes the Apostle to the Apostles, the first witness to the Resurrection, and the model of a personal encounter with Jesus Christ risen from the grave.

"God surprises her in the most unexpected way," Pope Francis opined. "So that woman, who is the first to encounter Jesus ... now has become an apostle of the new and greatest hope."

This story was first published on July 21, 2021, and has been updated.

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