Catholic News

Bishop Thomas Daly of Spokane, Washington, is urging prayers and support for those affected by major wildfires near the diocese and throughout Washington state.

Data from the Washington state government as of Aug. 4 showed more than a dozen "large fires" throughout the state with more than 13,500 acres burned since July 31. The state has seen more than half a million acres burn to date in 2026.

Several large fires were burning mostly north and west of Spokane, which is located in the eastern part of the state just several miles from the Idaho border. The blazes have consumed hundreds of structures and forced thousands of local residents to evacuate.

In an Aug. 3 letter to the diocese, Daly — who has served as the bishop there since 2015 — urged locals to "join me in praying for our neighbors who have been forced to evacuate, those who have lost homes or property, and all whose lives have been disrupted by these fires."

The bishop also urged prayers for emergency responders including firefighters, doctors, and volunteers, whose "courage and selfless service" he described as "a profound witness to the goodness that shines even in moments of great uncertainty."

Full scale of crisis 'yet to unfold,' bishop says

Speaking to EWTN News on Aug. 4, Daly said he and Diocese of Spokane Vicar General Father Darrin Connall toured parts of the devastated region with a police escort on Aug. 3.

"We're used to fires, but mostly wildfires — it's usually the countryside and the forest," the bishop said. But in the latest conflagration, "blocks and blocks" of residential homes have been completely leveled.

"The reality is that home after home after home — they're completely gone," he said.

Local Church leaders, he said, are now confronted with the major task of not just attending to the immediate emergency needs of displaced residents but helping them figure out what their lives will look like weeks or months from now.

"Where are the people going to live? What about schools starting in a few weeks?" he said. "What's it like to have Thanksgiving with no place to go? Clearly it's going to be a couple years before homes are rebuilt."

"There's a lot still that will be a source of stress and difficulty for people. We're beginning to see how to respond to the immediate needs and how we're going to respond to the struggle that is yet to unfold."

The bishop said no lives have yet been reported lost and that the two Catholic parishes in the affected region have been spared.

'We're not equipped to fight these fires'

Shane Stocking, the fire chief of South Pend Oreille Fire and Rescue near Spokane, said in an interview with EWTN News on Aug. 4 that the region has suffered "apocalyptic devastation."

The fires burning in the area, he said, are "wind-driven" and unpredictable.

"We're talking about the type of fire that will spare one home and take two, spare another home and take three," he said. "It's picking and choosing. It's not casually running up to houses. It's ember- and wind-driven. It's spreading half a mile or more ahead of itself and picking homes to ignite."

Stocking said that as of Aug. 4 firefighters estimate that they have stopped the "forward progression" of the several large fires in the area. "It doesn't mean they're out or contained," he said. "It means we're going to hold them where they're at."

He described the chaos of the fire's advance as "unprecedented."

"It's run-and-gun for our homes and run-and-gun for our lives," he said. "There are no resources that exist that are going to stop these fires. It's super abnormal."

The chief said firefighters in the field are forced to make grim calculations when attempting to stay ahead of the blaze.

"As a leadership officer, you're having to choose which homes you're going to let burn down and which ones you're going to save," he said. "It's very, very tough for me, and very, very tough for our firefighters. Some homes are going off half a mile away."

"We're very good at fighting house fires in the Spokane region," he said. "But we're not equipped to fight three wind-driven fires burning ahead of us all at the same time. I have no words."

In his letter to the diocese, Daly urged residents to follow guidance from local leaders and to "heed evacuation orders" if they are given. He further called on Catholics in the diocese to be "people of hope."

"Even amid tragedy and uncertainty, Christ remains with us. May he bring comfort to those who are suffering, strength to those serving on the front lines, and peace to every anxious," he said.

Also in Spokane, Catholic Charities Eastern Washington appealed for donations to respond to the crisis. The charity group, which operates near downtown Spokane, said "many of [its] clients and residents have been affected," including some Catholic Charities staff.

The group said it had set up an emergency fund to help provide essential supplies, housing, and long-term assistance to those affected by the fire.

"This is a moment where we are asking for our entire community to lean in with us during this very difficult time," the group said.

On Aug. 3 the Spokane County Sheriff's Office announced that it had arrested a 37-year-old local man on arson charges in connection with one of the fires in the area.

The individual is suspected of starting the "Old Trails Fire" located west of Spokane. That fire started on Aug. 1 and has consumed around 3,600 acres so far. It was still listed as "active" on Aug. 4.

Stocking, meanwhile, urged homeowners around the country to be aware of the "new normal" of major, fast-spreading fires.

He pointed to the 2025 Palisades fire in California and the 2023 fire that laid waste to Lahaina in Hawaii as examples.

"We need to prepare our homes," Stocking said. "Make your homes defensible, clean up, take out brush, and you have to be ready to leave. No amount of firefighters can stop a fire like this."

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In response to increased immigration enforcement measures throughout the country, two U.S. Catholic bishops have issued fresh statements affirming the human dignity of immigrants as children of God and calling for immigration reform.

Both prelates said Americans should understand why people flee their home countries in search of a better life while acknowledging the nation's right to enforce its immigration laws. The current situation, however, is unjust, immoral, and must be fixed, both men emphasized.

On Aug. 3, the centennial anniversary of the elevation of San Antonio to a metropolitan archdiocese, Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller released a pastoral letter expressing the Church's solidarity with migrants and calling for the "careful and well-formed moral discernment of every Catholic conscience" in response.

Meanwhile, on Aug. 1, Bishop Robert Gruss of the Diocese of Saginaw, Michigan, issued a statement in which he reminded the faithful of the "inherent human dignity" of every person.

Gruss said the current "challenge" facing the United States, which has "consistently received immigrants, refugees, exiles, and the persecuted from other lands" throughout its history, is "how to deal with a situation when one administration has allowed individuals and families to migrate … freely and the next administration wants their removal."

The bishop wrote that the removal of "immigrants who have caused harm to society by participating in criminal activity" is understandable, but asked if it is "fair to remove those who are and have been contributing to society in a positive way, oftentimes for many years?"

He said that a "just and civil society" would not allow the deportation or detention of people "without cause" or "meaningful legal representation, without access to family or a supportive community, and without basic human needs being met."

He urged the faithful to "push for public policy changes that secure civil rights for all immigrants" and "humane border enforcement policies" that simultaneously uphold national security while protecting the "safety and dignity" of those who come to the country to work.

'We will come to you'

García-Siller promulgated his letter, titled "We Will Come to You: United in Solidarity with Our Brothers and Sisters in Migration," at a Mass at San Fernando Cathedral in downtown San Antonio.

"We are living in a world of war," the letter began. "Across continents, people are dying every day. Across borders, survivors are forced to migrate. They do not leave by choice, but because of violence, hunger, fear, and oppression."

In the 56-page letter, composed of five sections and concluding with a prayer to Our Lady of Guadalupe, García-Siller said he prayed "for a long time" before writing, saying he wanted to write from "the right place, one of accompaniment and solidarity."

He said the letter addresses an "unprecedented" time in the country, writing that "a convergence of structural and legal tactics … calls for the careful and well-formed moral discernment of every Catholic conscience."

"I write to comfort the afflicted, to ignite the comfortable, and to confront injustice with the full conviction of the Gospel."

He went on to cite his personal experience of "years walking alongside" migrants, many of whom are living in so much fear they rarely leave their homes, as well as his own story as a migrant himself.

The archbishop wrote that he has witnessed a "fear that has taken root" across the archdiocese, saying he and other pastors "pray with parents who embrace their children each morning unsure if they will be home at night," and describing parents who avoid taking children to the doctor or to go to work "because each mile carries risk."

"The community bears this cross, and the Church cannot be silent," he wrote, describing declining Mass attendance and the worsening physical health of those who suffer fear related to immigration.

"The people have not lost their faith," he wrote. "Many, however, have lost their sense of safety and belonging."

The Church must "defend the dignity of those caught in the machinery of removal," he emphasized.

García-Siller described visiting three detention centers in the area, including the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, the largest family detention center in the nation, saying he's witnessed "firsthand, violations of human dignity within their walls."

He went on to quote Bishop Steven Biegler of the Diocese of Cheyenne, Wyoming, who wrote in a pastoral letter in April that "'the current campaign of mass detention and deportations is immoral.'"

García-Siller accused private corporations of profiting from the processing and movement of large numbers of detained immigrants from one site to another.

He also cited an investigation by U.S. Sen. John Ossoff, D-Georgia, which documented more than 1,000 "credible reports of human rights abuses since January 2025, including "medical neglect, denial of food and water, overcrowding, sleep deprivation, and the separation of breastfeeding mothers from their infants," as well as similar abuses in privately-run sites.

García-Siller called the public narrative that only criminals are being removed "misleading," writing that "73% of those in immigration detention have no criminal conviction, and only 5% have been convicted of a violent crime."

He described how pastors, deacons, extraordinary ministers, and trained catechists are developing "active ministries of accompaniment" in the archdiocese, visiting migrants in their homes, bringing the sacraments along with medicines and other supplies, as well as in detention centers.

"If your family has been detained, tell us. We will go to them. The Body of Christ does not abandon its members in chains," García-Siller declared.

The archbishop went on to lament that existing legal pathways take years to navigate, years that families cannot afford to wait as they seek safety and stability. He called for more accessible legal pathways, saying migrants would take those pathways if they were available. Migrants' "contribution to the common good of our nation" demands such, he wrote.

At the end of the letter, García-Siller entrusted the situation to Our Lady of Guadalupe, who herself crossed borders of culture and race and walked the road of exile with the Holy Family: "Long before she was Queen of Mexico … she was a mother who crossed a border. She knows this road; she walked it with her own feet."

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Pope Leo XIV called on the Knights of Columbus to be "prophets of harmony"  by promoting the virtues of unity and charity.

"I express deep gratitude for your orders, continued generosity to the less fortunate, and trust that your endeavors will continue to bear fruit for many years to come," the Holy Father said in a video message.

The message was shared with Knights and observers at the Knights of Columbus' 144th Supreme Convention held this year in Denver.

The Catholic fraternal organization's annual convention, Aug. 4–6, includes Masses, prayer services, an awards session celebrating member and council achievements, and the organization's annual report.

"As you gather for these days of discussion, fraternity, and prayer under the theme of 'In the One We Are One,' I would like to reflect briefly with you on the importance of promoting the virtues of unity and charity, two foundational principles of your order," the Holy Father said.

Recalling Jesus' prayer at the Last Supper that his apostles "all be one," the Holy Father urged unity.

"Our Lord asked that this gift of unity be given not only to them but also to those who would believe in him through their word throughout the centuries. However, the preservation of unity is often not easy and it cannot be taken for granted. It must be actively cultivated through honest and humble dialogue."

The pope encouraged the Knights "to continue bearing witness to that concord which Jesus so ardently desires," within families, parishes, and wider communities.

"In an age all too often marked by division and pointed rhetoric, there's a great need for prophets of harmony who seek to build bridges and strive to reconcile opposing positions wherever possible."

Reflecting on the second virtue, "works of charity," Pope Leo said it "can often be a way to promote unity."

Charity "becomes not only a response to human suffering but also a powerful means of fostering fraternity and strengthening the communion that is at the heart of the Christian life," Pope Leo said.

"Your own history bears eloquent testimony to this truth," he said.

The Holy Father highlighted the Knights' continued mission started by its "noble founder," Blessed Michael McGivney.

The "Knights of Columbus have worked together for well over a century to show Christ's love to the unborn, expectant mothers, persecuted Christians, victims of war and human trafficking, the poor and vulnerable, and those who live in the margins of society," he said.

"Through the initiatives undertaken by your local councils, as well as at the national and international levels, countless people have benefited from your kindness."

Pope Leo concluded offering "cordial, good wishes for the work of the Supreme Convention" and entrusting the gathering to the intercession of Mary, mother of the Church.

Archbishop Lori also issues call for charity

Ahead of the convention, Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore celebrated Mass on Aug. 1 at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Denver.

The archbishop also called on the Knights to draw from McGivney's witness to charity.

McGivney "made charity the first principle of his ministry as a parish priest and charity the first principle of the Knights of Columbus," Lori said in his homily.

"For he knew and ardently believed that in all things the love of Christ conquers. It is this vision, this charism, that he breathed into the Knights of Columbus and it is reflected today in the immensity of the order's charity," he said.

"Today, Father McGivney's holiness is reflected in the Christ-like charity of the Knights of Columbus, rendered on a scale that Father McGivney could not have imagined," he said. McGivney "set in motion a fraternal organization rooted in the charity of Christ, a fellowship that would reflect the utter generosity of God's love," Lori said.

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A century after the patron saint of priests, St. John Vianney, died on Aug. 4, 1859, Pope John XXIII reflected on the life of the saint and what it means to be a holy priest.

In contemplating his life, one immediately thinks of a priest who lived out great penance and whose "only motives were the love of God and the desire for the salvation of the souls of his neighbors," John XXIII said.

The saintly pope reflected on the life of Vianney in an encyclical titled Sacerdotii Nostri Primordia. The encyclical was written in 1959 for the 100th anniversary of Vianney's death.

After struggling with his studies, John Vianney was ordained a priest in 1815. Shortly afterward, he was assigned to Ars, France, near his hometown of Dardilly. There, he spent the majority of his priesthood.

The devoted pastor was known for his dedication to the poor, his counseling to those in need, and for founding La Providence, an orphanage for girls.

He was also well known for his dedication to the sacrament of penance. He would make himself available for confession for up to 16 hours daily.

In his encyclical, Pope John XXIII called St. John Vianney a model of priestly holiness.

"[The priest] is no longer supposed to live for himself … He must be aflame with charity toward everyone. Not even his thoughts, his will, his feelings belong to him, for they are rather those of Jesus Christ who is his life," he wrote, quoting a sermon from Pope Pius XII.

"St. John Mary Vianney is a person who attracts and practically pushes all of us to these heights of the priestly life," John XXIII further added.

The pope highlighted the three evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience, which he said Vianney exemplified.

"His example in the various works of priestly asceticism still points out the safest path to follow, and in the midst of this example, his poverty, chastity, and obedience stand forth in a brilliant light," the pope said of Vianney.

"What great benefits are conferred on human society by men like this who are free of the cares of the world and totally dedicated to the divine ministry so that they can employ their lives, thoughts, powers in the interest of their brethren!"

Pope John XXIII said Vianney, who was a member of the Third Order of St. Francis, clearly lived a life of poverty. He noted the saint's heavy mortifications — restraining himself from food, sleep, and other personal belongings.

"This detachment from external goods enabled him to offer the most devoted and touching care to the poor," the pope said.

"He passed a life that was almost completely detached from the changeable, perishable goods of this world, and his spirit was free and unencumbered by impediments of this kind, so that it could always lie open to those who suffered from any kind of misery."

Similarly, Pope John XXIII wrote, the preservation of chastity breaks the restraints of self-interest and grants a person greater dedication to those in need.

"St. John Mary Vianney has this pertinent comment to make in this regard: 'A soul adorned with the virtue of chastity cannot help loving others; for it has discovered the source and font of love — God.'"

The pope also pointed to Vianney's dedication to the virtue of obedience. The saint, he said, had desired a contemplative life rather than the heavy burden of pastoral duties, but he still remained obedient to his bishops.

"All his life he longed to lead a quiet and retired life in the background, and he regarded pastoral duties as a very heavy burden laid on his shoulders, and more than once he tried to free himself of it," the pope said.

While God never allowed him to achieve this goal, it was certainly God's way of forming the saint in the virtue of obedience, he said.

He also highlighted Vianney's prayer life and devotion to the Eucharist as well as his commitment to the sacrament of confession.

Pope John XXIII said Vianney "habitually restrained his own will" to further dedicate himself to the Church. He expressed hope that this fire for the Church that consumed Vianney may also consume all priests.

"It is said that St. John M. Vianney lived in the Church in such a way that he worked for it alone, and burned himself up like a piece of straw being consumed on fiery coals. May that flame which comes from the Holy Spirit reach those of us who have been raised to the priesthood of Jesus Christ and consume us too."

This story was first published on Aug. 3, 2018, and has been updated.

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Two priests who experienced firsthand recent acts of desecration at the Medjugorje Shrine and a Mexican parish have addressed the issue of how Catholics should best respond to such acts.

Father Manuel Navarro, a priest of the Archdiocese of Madrid, Spain, was at the renowned Marian shrine on the night of July 27–28 when the Polish national Bartlomiej Wlodzimierz Krakowiak allegedly vandalized a statue of the Virgin Mary and set fire to an outdoor altar located next to the local parish church.

"We were all shocked because we didn't know why it had happened," Navarro explained in an interview with EWTN News, describing how images and videos began reaching him that morning.

Despite the emotional impact, the priest highlighted how "within minutes and hours, volunteers from the Cenacolo Community, along with pilgrim volunteers, set about cleaning and clearing everything away," allowing devotional activities to proceed normally by that afternoon.

When asked how to respond to such attacks, Navarro said he felt the statement released by the parish that day rightly identified three key elements: prayer, fasting, and forgiveness.

"First, prayer for all those who commit attacks" not only in the physical sense, as in this most recent incident, but also bearing in mind that "every day there are attacks against the Most Holy Virgin in many ways, and we must also pray for the conversion of hearts."

Secondly, Navarro added that "fasting makes us humble," an attitude that counters the temptation to believe ourselves "superior to others." Finally, regarding forgiveness, the Spanish priest stated that Medjugorje is "a place of reconciliation" that calls upon us to forgive those who offend us; otherwise, "the message is undermined if we take justice into our own hands."

In conclusion, Navarro noted, the act of desecration served as an occasion to recall that "God brings good out of evil" — a providence made evident through the cooperation of all those present, which made it possible to celebrate a Mass of reparation at the desecrated altar that very afternoon.

Meanwhile, Father Gerardo Martínez, the St. Bonaventure Parish priest in Mexico's Diocese of Saltillo, reflected on the attack carried out in the early hours of July 28 against the statue of the parish's patron saint, which was beheaded.

Martínez explained to EWTN News that during the month of July — which is dedicated to this saint and bishop — the statue is placed on a cart in the parish courtyard so that the faithful can approach to venerate it.

The parish responded with a statement encouraging prayers "for the person who committed this outrage" and urging everyone "to continue walking in the light of faith, creating bonds, ties, and better ways of living as a society and as a Christian community," Martínez explained.

Facing this moment of "pain and sadness," Martínez said the next step is to "strengthen our faith" and our sense of fraternity, and to "be signs of communion," because such a profanation "is undoubtedly outrageous and distressing, yet it also strengthens us."

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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Two violent attacks against the Catholic Church in Nigeria have been perpetrated in less than a week. A priest was killed and days later, on Aug. 2, gunmen stormed a Mass and abducted several people.

According to the Vatican agency Fides, the slain priest was Father Samuel Opeyemi Oyetoro of the Diocese of Lokoja in Kogi state.

"With deep sorrow but with firm faith in the resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ," on July 30 the Diocese of Lokoja announced "the passing unto eternal glory" of Oyetoro.

Details of the murder were released by state police spokesperson and assistant superintendent Afusat Oyiza Salihu. "On July 29, 2026, around 9:30 a.m., the police received information regarding the discovery of a man's lifeless body along Church Road in Ajaokuta," Salihu said.

Salihu added that police arrived quickly at the scene and confirmed that the victim "had severe machete wounds to the head." The body was taken to ASCL Hospital, where the priest's death was pronounced.

According to Salihu, "the investigation is ongoing," and they are working "to apprehend those responsible."

"Once the preliminary investigation is concluded, the case will be transferred to the state Criminal Investigation Department for further proceedings," she explained.

Meanwhile, the governor of Kogi state, Ahmed Ododo, condemned the killing, describing it as "an atrocious and unacceptable act," according to Fides.

Gunmen storm a Mass

While the local Church was mourning the priest's death, still another incident of violence shook Nigerian Catholics.

Fides also reported that on Sunday, Aug. 2, at least seven gunmen stormed St. Joseph's Church in Inoyi Affa, Enugu state, during the morning Mass.

The attackers abducted three people: a seminarian, a catechist, and a parishioner.

Several attendees at the Mass attempted to pursue the kidnappers but abandoned the effort upon realizing the assailants were armed and to avoid further endangering the lives of the hostages, according to Fides.

Police launched a search operation that led to the release of the catechist. However, seminarian Lawrence Chidera Igbo and a parishioner identified only as Emmanuel remain in captivity.

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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ABUJA, Nigeria — Members of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) delivered a candid assessment of the country's economic, security, and political challenges to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, but the head of state made it clear that he disagreed with the bishops' diagnosis, according to Cardinal John Onaiyekan.

Speaking to ARISE NEWS on July 31, Onaiyekan said the president responded directly to the concerns raised by the Catholic bishops during a July 28 meeting at the State House in Abuja and made it clear that he did not share their assessment of the situation in the country.

The cardinal said the CBCN members nevertheless considered it their responsibility to speak honestly about the realities facing Nigerians.

"When the nation is bleeding, you cannot expect a polite meeting with the head of state," Onaiyekan said.

He explained that while the bishops told Tinubu that the economy was failing to adequately support poor Nigerians, the president maintained that the economy was doing well.

"Frankly speaking, he told us quite clearly that he did not agree with us," the cardinal said.

Bishops' message was widely consulted

Onaiyekan emphasized that the statement presented to Tinubu was not the opinion of a handful of bishops but the outcome of extensive consultation within CBCN members.

The Nigerian cardinal, who retired from his episcopal ministry as archbishop of Abuja in November 2019, said the document had been written, reviewed, and corrected before being presented to the president.

"It was not done at random, nor did we deliver it with levity. As bishops, we have no ambitions to take Mr. Tinubu's job or anybody else's job. We are not politicians running for office," the cardinal said.

Rather, he explained, the CBCN members see it as part of their responsibility as religious leaders to address issues affecting both Catholics and the wider Nigerian population.

"We feel we have a duty — not just to preach our religious doctrines, but also to address the lives of our people, both those who are our members and those who are not," he said.

Bishops had a duty to tell the president the truth

Onaiyekan said he was not surprised that Tinubu appeared unhappy while listening to the bishops' presentation, arguing that they deliberately chose to communicate the realities they see among Nigerians rather than offer the president a favorable picture.

"We knew that this is different from the kind of statements that our president keeps receiving from all kinds of people," he said.

The 82-year-old archbishop emeritus of Abuja expressed concern that some people around the president may be giving him an overly positive assessment of the situation in Nigeria.

"We felt that we have a duty not to do that. Indeed, we have the obligation to help him appreciate the reality of the situation in which we find ourselves," the cardinal said.

Despite the disagreement, Onaiyekan said the bishops were encouraged by the fact that the president responded to the issues they raised, indicating that he had heard their concerns.

"He heard it, and he tried to tell us that he heard us, which is precisely why he replied the way he replied," he said.

The cardinal expressed hope that people close to the president would encourage him to reflect further on the bishops' concerns.

"We believe one of the problems within our government right now is that there are not too many people telling him the truth," he said.

Bishops warn against one-party dominance

Onaiyekan also defended the bishops' warning about what they described as the "creeping danger" of a one-party dominant state in Nigeria.

He said the concern was linked to the conduct of elections and the growing use of the powers of incumbency, stressing that electoral victory should not be pursued at the expense of democratic principles.

The cardinal questioned the notion that "in politics, all is fair," saying that political competition must remain subject to standards of propriety.

"If that is what politics is — that in politics everything can be done provided you win elections — that is certainly not correct," he said.

He warned that if Nigeria failed to reform its electoral system to guarantee free, fair, and credible elections, the country could face serious difficulties.

"We warned that the country doesn't gain anything by a one-party state in a so-called democracy," the cardinal said.

He clarified that the bishops were not asking Tinubu to assist opposition parties in defeating his administration but were insisting that the president should be treated as a candidate like any other during elections despite the advantages of incumbency.

Onaiyekan questions INEC's independence

Responding to Tinubu's defense of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Onaiyekan questioned whether the electoral body can be perceived as fully independent under Nigeria's current appointment system.

The cardinal noted that the president appoints the chairman, members, and commissioners of INEC, arguing that this arrangement creates doubts about the commission's impartiality.

"The presumption is that Mr. President will appoint independent, impartial, wonderful people. But on the ground, we see that standard politicians and members of his party are appointed," he said.

Onaiyekan called for consideration of a system in which members of the electoral commission would be selected by a genuinely independent body.

He said such reforms are possible and have been implemented elsewhere.

The cardinal also challenged Tinubu to live up to his reputation as a pro-democracy figure by strengthening institutions that guarantee credible elections.

"You have a reputation to be a democrat, and you can't under your watch watch our democratic structures disintegrate," he said.

Bishops united despite political differences

Onaiyekan insisted that the CBCN members were not acting at the behest of any political party. He acknowledged that individual bishops may have their own political preferences but said they were united in addressing issues affecting the welfare of Nigerians.

"When it comes to what is important for Nigeria, when it comes to our existential existence, when it comes to the life of our people, we are united," he said.

According to the cardinal, the bishops believe Nigerians deserve better in terms of economic well-being, security, and governance.

Cardinal defends National Peace Committee

The cardinal, who is involved in Nigeria's National Peace Committee, also defended the relevance of the body ahead of the forthcoming Osun state governorship election.

While acknowledging concerns that political actors sometimes sign peace accords and subsequently fail to respect their commitments, he said the committee remains useful and should be strengthened.

"My own conclusion is that it is useful, and we must find a way of reviving it," he said.

'We have delivered our message'

Despite the disagreement between CBCN members and Tinubu, Onaiyekan said the Catholic Church had fulfilled its responsibility by bringing the concerns of Nigerians directly to the head of state.

"We have delivered our message, and we are quite convinced that it will not go for nothing," he said.

The cardinal expressed hope that the bishops' intervention would eventually contribute to changes in Nigeria's political, economic, and security landscape.

"At least we have expressed the feelings of many Nigerians who have no way of meeting Mr. President," he said.

"We knew that this is different from the kind of statements that our president keeps receiving from all kinds of people," he said.

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

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Colombia's president-elect, Abelardo de la Espriella, went on a spiritual retreat alongside his vice president and various cabinet nominees just one week before the inauguration of his administration.

On Aug. 1, De la Espriella stated via his social media accounts that, during the retreat, he reaffirmed his conviction that "to build a great nation, one must place God at the center of every decision."

Accompanying the president-elect on the retreat were his wife, Ana Lucía Pineda; vice president-elect José Manuel Restrepo; and cabinet nominees Jaime Andrés Beltrán, Mauricio Gómez, Iván Cancino, and Elsa Noguera, among others.

"With faith, hard work, and love for our land, we will make the country of our dreams a reality," De la Espriella wrote.

In another post published on Aug. 2, the president-elect stated that the retreat strengthened his and his team's faith and commitment "to serve Colombia with humility, responsibility, and love for the nation."

Restrepo stated on X that "a nation that prays together stays together."

As part of the event, each participant was given a copy of the Bible, featuring a map of Colombia and the heart of Jesus on the cover. Additionally, a video of Pope Leo XIV was shown.

Beltrán, the country's incoming minister of labor, stated on his X account that "human effort is futile without God's help" and that the together the retreatants experienced "a moment of encounter and unity, because we know that the battle ahead is also spiritual. God bless Colombia."

Meanwhile, the retreat drew sharp criticism from members of current President Gustavo Petro's outgoing administration. Among them, Labor Minister Antonio Sanguino and Rep. Mafe Carrascal argued that the event undermined the secular state established by the Colombian Constitution.

However, the spiritual gathering was defended by other political leaders, including some outside the incoming administration's political party.

For example, Medellín Mayor Federico Gutiérrez criticized the retreat's detractors for trying to "make people believe that even believing in God is a sin" while Conservative Party Rep. Luis Miguel López noted that "a secular state guarantees freedom of conscience; it does not force a president to hide their faith."

"What stands out is the double standard. When shamanic rituals and Santería were promoted from within the government, many spoke of diversity and respect. Today, a spiritual retreat is portrayed as an attempt to replace the Constitution with the Bible, something that never happened. The Constitution remains the same; the only thing that changed was the president. And, judging by the reaction of some, it seems that is what truly makes them uncomfortable," López added.

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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In response to President Donald Trump's announcement last week of a deal between the U.S.-led Board of Peace, Israel, and Hamas, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) called for "intense prayers" for the deal's success as Gaza faces a worsening humanitarian crisis.

In an Aug. 3 statement, Bishop A. Elias Zaidan, chairman of the USCCB's Committee on International Justice and Peace, said he is "heartened by news of an agreement which aims at the disarmament of Hamas and Israel's military withdrawal from the [Gaza] Strip," calling for "intense prayers for the success of these negotiations."

"As I previously articulated, as 'people of faith who deeply care for all our brothers and sisters who live in the land of Christ's life, death, and glorious resurrection, we cannot lose this opportunity for peace,'" Zaidan continued, calling on the U.S., Israel, and the international community "to facilitate greater amounts of humanitarian and development assistance to the Strip."

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on July 30 that his Board of Peace had reached a deal for Hamas to fully disarm after nearly three years of war.

"The agreement will be carried out in carefully structured phases," Trump indicated. "As disarmament is completed, Israeli forces will withdraw, and the International Stabilization Force will work with a new Palestinian police force to take responsibility for Gaza being safe for its residents and its neighbors."

Though a Hamas official confirmed the disarmament pact the next day, according to the Associated Press, significant hurdles remain, leaving the deal's implementation uncertain despite U.S. optimism. Israel has not publicly endorsed the agreement and has continued airstrikes, killing at least 17 people, including children, in Gaza Sunday night.

'People are living with nothing'

"Alleviating the suffering of the Gazan people is not only a vital moral imperative but is also necessary for the consolidation of peace in the Holy Land and the entire region," Zaidan declared. "This should include restoring educational opportunities for children and youths, jobs, and clean water."

In an interview last week with Vatican Media, Father Gabriel Romanelli, pastor of Holy Family Church in Gaza, begged for humanitarian aid for the region, emphasizing that "when people say the situation here is disastrous, believe me: It really is disastrous — if anything, it calls for an even stronger word."

"People are living with nothing," Romanelli said. "Reconstruction is certainly essential, but so too are all the basic necessities of everyday life."

Former U.S. ambassador and EWTN contributor on Middle East issues Alberto Fernandez told EWTN News that while the deal is "extraordinarily shaky from both sides," he is hopeful because "the situation of the civilian public in Gaza is so dire," Fernandez said. "Gaza is destroyed, people are traumatized, there's no economy."

'Deeply conflicting agendas'

"The agreement on paper is a positive, concrete step in the right direction," Fernández said, pointing out that the issue of which side will act first "is a small part of a bigger problem. There is no trust between the two sides, and deeply conflicting agendas."

In Zaidan's statement, the bishop wrote that the "agreement's successful implementation, as its principles statement says, has the potential of finally providing the Palestinian people with a 'credible political path that achieves self-determination and Statehood.' This would be a major milestone."

Hamas said Friday that it would give up its heavy weapons, including rockets, contingent on Israel's withdrawal from Gaza and the creation of a Palestinian state, the latter condition one Netanyahu's government strongly rejects.

"The two-state solution among the Israeli public is moribund," the ambassador continued. "We're not there at all in a situation where they will compromise. They've become more intransigent. That's a reality."

"It's not time for celebration, but time to recognize there is small progress being made, and huge obstacles remain," Fernandez said.

'Serious security concerns'

Doron Spielman, a spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, told the AP on Aug. 2 that Israel has "serious security concerns" surrounding the deal. Spielman said Israel believes Hamas is still committed to building up its military, not demilitarizing, and said Israel would not withdraw from the Gaza Strip, where it controls more than half the territory, before Hamas disarms.

"Disarming means physically giving up the weapons. Nothing less," he said.

"Our assessment is that if we redeploy before Hamas is truly disarmed, it will quickly expand its presence throughout Gaza, rebuild its terrorist infrastructure, once again threaten Israeli communities, and seek to carry out another Oct. 7-style attack," Spielman told the AP.

Zaidan concluded his statement acknowledging the "extreme challenges inherent in this ongoing peace process" but called on all to "entrust the hearts and minds of the negotiators to the maternal care of Our Lady of Wisdom, that she may illumine and enliven their efforts to finally achieve peace in those sacred lands."

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A new podcast called "Stand Firm and Be Strong" with Father of Mercy Wade Menezes launched Aug. 3 on EWTN+. The new podcast is aimed at, and intended for, men. Menezes is especially inviting them to learn how to live and strengthen their Catholic faith, one day at a time. 

Menezes is already familiar to EWTN audiences from his many appearances on various shows across the network. The numerous televised and online series he has produced and hosted include "The Gospel of Life vs. the Culture of Death" and "The Ten Commandments of Catholic Family Life."

He is also familiar to EWTN audiences as a guest on various episodes of EWTN's "Mother Angelica Live" and "Life on the Rock," during which he discussed such topics as the sanctification of marriage and family life, vocations, and the sacred liturgy. 

He is the current host of EWTN Global Catholic Radio's "Open Line Tuesday."

Menezes has also served as the chaplain-in-residence at the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament of Our Lady of the Angels Monastery in Hanceville, Alabama.

On the print side, he is the author of four books, including: "Stand Firm, Be Strong: A Men's Catholic Daily Devotional of Scripture and Saints" — the inspiration for the new podcast.

Prior to the launch, and while inviting listeners, Menezes spoke about the podcast with the National Catholic Register, the sister partner of EWTN News.

Register: Father Menezes, please tell us how your "Stand Firm, Be Strong" audio podcast came to be.

Menezes: This 200-day audio-only podcast grew out of the popularity of my men's daily devotional book of the same title that was published in 2024. The book is a six-month spiritual manual for men. Each day has a different spiritual or temporal (secular) topic that is followed by three components: a Scripture quote, a saint quote, and a short meditation written by me. Both the book and podcast titles are based on 1 Corinthians 16:13, wherein we read: "Be watchful, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong."

Will the podcast follow the same daily devotional format?

The "Stand Firm, Be Strong" daily audio podcast is related closely to the book's own format. For example, each of the 200 days' prerecorded short audio podcasts correspond directly — and in proper order — with each of the book's own 200 days' topics. But whereas the book is designed to be a five- to 10-minute exercise each morning for men as they begin their day, each podcast episode is itself under five minutes in length and highlights the most pertinent points of the book's topic for that same day.

Why did you decide on a daily podcast?

EWTN pitched the idea to me to do a "Stand Firm, Be Strong" daily audio podcast precisely because the book has done so well with male readers. The book has proven to hold men's attention as a committed daily exercise to strengthen their spiritual and temporal lives. I hope that a podcast will likewise strike at the male heart and spark the male intellect to help men live their vocations more fully and committedly — whether single, married, widowed, or as a consecrated brother, deacon, priest, or bishop.

Please share a highlight or two that listeners will hear about in opening episodes.

The timely wisdom offered by the "Stand Firm, Be Strong" podcast will help prepare men to put on the armor of God for their daily struggles and help them withstand trials at home and at work. It will also help them to kindle their prayer life, better utilize their talents, and order their priorities in daily life. It will also help guide men in imitating Christ in guarding their senses and responding to temptation — all important factors when navigating life in this third millennium.

Please share or give a hint of what will be a few topics or themes you will be dealing with that are certainly relevant.

During the course of the first 20 [days] … for example, episodes will cover the following topics [titled]: "The Committed Man of God," "Strength and Fortitude," "Having No Duplicity or Guile," "Shunning Sin and Vice," "Fraternity and Brotherhood," "The Demands of Virtue and Aiming Toward Salvation," "The Virtue of Diligence," "The Truth," "The Need for Humility Amid Trials and Successes," "Accountability," "Confidence," and "The Athlete of God." Other podcast episodes include such topics as the "Importance of Eucharistic Adoration," "Sanctifying Grace," "Filial Fear of God vs. Servile Fear of God," and the "Importance of Fostering Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph."

Why are these topics essential for today?

Navigating third-millennium society and culture can be challenging. These various topics are essential today because we live in a day and age that tragically downplays authentic masculinity and what that means. Whether it's the prevalence of television commercials that frequently make the husband or man look like a buffoon to the misguided direction being offered by various movements within the so-called "manosphere," what it means to "be a man" in the authentic Christian sense is greatly attacked today.

But as Dr. Tim Gray of the Augustine Institute reminds us: "The virtues give us a blueprint for being a man. Indeed, the very term 'virtue' comes from the Latin word for man, 'vir.' For the ancients, to be manly was to be virtuous. The term 'virtue' in Latin ('virtus') signifies power, strength, and ability. Thus, the virtues are habits that give us the power to act in a manly way, with strength sufficient to do what is right. Without virtues we will neither be godly nor real men. Virtues are the building blocks of character, and without them our moral lives will eventually collapse under the pressures of the world."

Will your podcast appeal to, and be relevant to, men of any age?

Just like the book, the podcast is designed to appeal to any male that is 14 years of age and older. In other words, if a guy is a high school freshman or older and is serious about living his faith authentically and well in the midst of the modern world, he will benefit from hearing this podcast. This fact, in turn, will hopefully inspire him to "go deeper" with the "Stand Firm, Be Strong" book as a daily devotional that he commits himself to for a six-month period.

Will men learn to live a balanced life through your podcast?

Yes, listeners of the "Stand Firm, Be Strong" podcast (as well as those readers of the book) will learn to live a balanced life — both spiritually and temporally. For example, a main theme peppered throughout the podcast and book is "faithfulness to daily duty" ­and what this means and why it is a main ingredient needed when a man strives for sanctification and advancement in the spiritual life according to his particular vocation and state in life. In short, a man is called to fulfill his duties with diligence and balance — all the while serving God and others.

What is the ultimate goal and hope for this podcast?

To help men of all vocations and states in life realize that they are called to become saints "right where they are."

Both the podcast and book are designed to help jump-start and strengthen a man's spiritual life over the course of six months. The podcast's daily topics and accompanying meditations are power-packed, offering achievable resolutions and prudent advice to help a man attain his spiritual and temporal goals in everyday living.

Will it improve their families, too, in any way?

Yes. Just as there is crisis in today's culture regarding authentic masculinity and what that means, the same can be said regarding the sanctification of marriages and family life. The "Stand Firm, Be Strong" podcast can help a married man become a better husband and father. For single men, it can help them to become a better brother, brother-in-law, co-worker, etc. This same goes for married men and those men in the consecrated religious state, of course. 

Themes in the podcast call upon all men to provide, protect, and lead — again, according to each one's particular vocation and state in life.

Based on the popularity of your book, do you think the podcast will have a similar appeal?

I believe the podcast will appeal to listeners because it will help the individual man to grow in knowledge of his faith and gain strength for the spiritual battle. These, in turn, will help the individual male listener to become more fully the man he was created and meant to be in God's plan for him.

Is there anything else you would like to say or add about the podcast?

The "Stand Firm, Be Strong" podcast launched Aug. 3 and is posting a new episode daily over the course of 200 days. It is available from EWTN+, a free, ad-free digital streaming platform by the Eternal Word Television Network that offers on-demand Catholic podcasts, movies, live TV and radio, and original series. 

Also, for those listeners of the "Stand Firm, Be Strong" podcast and/or readers of the book who are so interested, there are three additional "Stand Firm, Be Strong" merchandise items available from EWTN Religious Catalogue (EWTNRC.com). These include a "Stand Firm, Be Strong" T-shirt, travel mug, and 12-in-1 pocket knife. Along with the podcast and book, these items make great gifts for men who are striving to increase their faith and grow in holiness.

I would encourage all women — such women could include, of course, a wife, mother, sister, sister-in-law, friend, or girlfriend — who may stumble across the podcast, book, or three items of merchandise to think about sharing these with the men in their lives so as to encourage them to "stand firm [and] be strong."

This story was first published by the National Catholic Register, the sister partner of EWTN News, and has been adapted by EWTN News.

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