Catholic News

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo reiterated the invitation to Pope Leo XIV to visit the country during a meeting she held with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who assured her that the pontiff "is very eager to come."

Parolin visited Mexico from Aug. 4–6, a trip that, according to a statement from the country's bishops, "rekindles" the hope of "counting on the presence and direct blessing of His Holiness Leo XIV in our Mexican homeland."

As part of his activities, the Vatican secretary of state met with the president on Aug. 5 at the National Palace, the seat of the Mexican government. After the meeting, Sheinbaum reported on social media that among the topics discussed was Magnifica Humanitas, the pope's first encyclical.

"The pope's calls for peace, fraternity, and closeness to the most vulnerable represent a humanitarian vision that is indispensable at a time when the world needs to strengthen dialogue, solidarity, and cooperation among nations," she stated.

Peru, Argentina, and Uruguay: The pope's priorities

Speaking about her meeting with Parolin during her morning press conference on Aug. 6, the president said that one of the topics addressed was the possibility of the Holy Father visiting Mexico.

According to Sheinbaum, Parolin told her that Pope Leo first wants to visit Peru, Argentina, and Uruguay, as these are countries "that Pope Francis did not visit." She also indicated that the Holy Father has a "special relationship" with Peru "because he lived there for many years."

The Holy See confirmed that Leo XIV will make an apostolic journey to Peru, Uruguay, and Argentina from Nov. 6–17.

A visit possible after 2027 elections

Sheinbaum said the pontiff "obviously could not come to Mexico during the electoral period," so his visit would have to wait until after the midterm elections of 2027.

Mexico will hold federal and state elections on June 6, 2027. At the federal level, the 500 seats in the Chamber of Deputies are up for grabs, while in 17 states a total of 19,609 positions will be renewed, including 17 governorships and 1,098 local legislative seats.

"We continue to extend the invitation to him," Sheinbaum said. "They told us 'yes,' that 'he really wants to come to Mexico,' … but there is still no established date."

Sheinbaum indicated that during the meeting she and Parolin also discussed some initiatives developed jointly by the Mexican government and the Catholic Church, among them the program "Yes to Disarmament, Yes to Peace," which promotes the exchange of firearms for economic incentives. They also talked about the restoration of historic churches.

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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Polish government and Church officials have begun preparations for a possible visit by Pope Leo XIV, although no date has yet been announced.

Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski met with Archbishop Tadeusz Wojda of Gdansk, president of the Polish Bishops' Conference, to begin coordinating preparations for what would be Leo's first pilgrimage to Poland as pope.

The papal visit would be organized jointly by the Polish government and the Catholic Church.

Formal invitations have already been extended to Pope Leo XIV by both the Polish state and the Church, Vatican News reported. On behalf of the Republic of Poland, invitations have come from Presidents Andrzej Duda and Karol Nawrocki as well as Prime Minister Donald Tusk. The presidium of the Polish Bishops' Conference has also invited the pope.

Because of the international nature of the visit, Poland's Ministry of Foreign Affairs will coordinate preparations on the government's side.

A date for the pilgrimage has not yet been determined. Once it is established, a working group composed of representatives of the relevant Church and state authorities will be created to organize the visit.

Three popes have visited Poland a total of 11 times.

St. John Paul II, a native of Poland, made nine papal visits to the country. Benedict XVI visited in 2006, while Pope Francis traveled to Poland in 2016 for World Youth Day in Kraków.

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

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A deacon in the Archdiocese of Baltimore has been removed from ministry after he was arrested by law enforcement on charges of sexually soliciting a minor.

The Harford County Sheriff's Office said Deacon Kenneth Goedeke was arrested after arranging a meeting with what he believed was a 15-year-old boy.

Harford County Sheriff Jeff Gahler said in an official statement on Aug. 6 that the 45-year-old Goedeke had been communicating with an undercover detective rather than an underage boy. He was charged with two counts of soliciting a minor.

Gahler in the statement said he was "angry" and "disgusted" but added that he was "deeply thankful" to detectives for "intervening before a child was harmed."

In a separate statement on Aug. 6, the Archdiocese of Baltimore confirmed Goedeke's arrest and said it had "removed Goedeke's faculties to function as a deacon and suspended him from ministry and employment" pending the results of the investigation.

The archdiocese said the charges were "not related to anyone at the parishes or schools" where Goedeke served. He was ordained as a deacon in 2023, the archdiocese said, and he passed a "thorough employment screening" including background checks and a fingerprint criminal history check.

In his statement, Gahler expressed "anger and resolve, and an unwavering commitment to the safety of our children."

He urged parents to talk to their children not only about Goedeke's arrest but "about the broader dangers posed by trusted adults who misuse their positions and by online predators who target our youth."

Under Maryland law, Goedeke faces up to 30 years in prison and fines of up to $75,000.

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Aug. 7 marks the 90th anniversary of the day when militiamen from the Popular Front, one of the factions in the Spanish Civil War, fired upon the monument to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, before which King Alfonso XIII in 1919 had consecrated Spain.

The original monument, the work of architect Carlos Maura and sculptor Aniceto Marinas, was built on the Cerro de los Ángeles, the geographical center of Spain, and was funded through public subscription, although the statue itself was donated by the count of Guaqui, Juan Marino de Goyeneche.

The monumental complex, standing 92 feet tall, consisted not only of the central figure of Jesus Christ but also of two sculptural groups representing, respectively, sanctified humanity and humanity journeying toward holiness.

The first group featured St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, St. Augustine, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Teresa of Jesus, Blessed Bernardo de Hoyos, and St. John the Evangelist, among others. The second group comprised figures representing the path of charity, virtue, and the love essential for conversion and sanctification.

Its inauguration, originally scheduled for 1918, was postponed due to the Spanish flu pandemic until May 30, 1919. It was then that, in the presence of the government, the apostolic nuncio, Archbishop Francesco Ragonesi, and a large group of bishops and cardinals, Alfonso XIII pronounced the formula for the consecration of Spain to the Sacred Heart: "Spain, the people of your heritage and predilection, bows reverently today before that throne of goodness raised for you in the heart of the peninsula. Reign in the hearts of men, in the bosom of our homes, in the minds of the wise, in the halls of science and letters, and in our laws and national institutions."

Tried, shot by firing squad, and blown up with dynamite

The Spanish Civil War broke out on July 18, 1936. Just five days later, five young men who had remained near the monument to defend it against potential desecration were killed.

On Aug. 7, the first Friday of the month, Popular Front militiamen staged a mock summary trial of Jesus; after passing sentence, they fired upon the monument while shouting, "Aim with hatred! Fire with rage!"

They subsequently attempted to topple and demolish the monument using various tools, including cables and sledgehammers, but failed. They then decided to blow it up with dynamite. They subsequently dragged the head of the Christ figure behind a horse to further humiliate the image.

The site, renamed Cerro Rojo (Red Hill), was retaken by Nationalist forces on Nov. 6, 1936, which was another first Friday of the month. Troops under the command of Gen. José Enrique Varela attended a Mass of reparation officiated by a military chaplain.

New monument

Following the end of the Civil War in 1939, reconstruction of the site began in 1944. This coincided with the 25th anniversary of the consecration of Spain, an occasion for which the Holy See had granted a jubilee year.

The sculptor of the original work was engaged for the 38-foot-tall statue of the Sacred Heart, which stands atop an 85-foot pedestal.

Four sculptural groups by Fernando Cruz were placed around the base. The first group, representing "Missionary Spain," features Isabella the Catholic, Christopher Columbus, Hernán Cortés, and St. Junípero Serra.

The second group, representing "Spain: Defender of the Faith," includes Bishop Osio of Córdoba, Don Pelayo, Diego Laínez, John of Austria, and Blessed Anselmo Polanco, a bishop martyred during the war.

The third group, dedicated to the Church militant, consists of figures representing charity, virtue, and love. The final sculptural ensemble, representing the Church triumphant, reproduces the saints from the original monument.

The new monument, inaugurated in 1965, is located on the site of the original, the ruins of which are preserved on the other side of the complex's large esplanade. Ten years later, a sanctuary was inaugurated featuring a temple carved into the rock.

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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Attacks by Israeli settlers against the population of Taybeh have intensified significantly in recent months, according to the local parish priest, Father Bashar Fawadleh, who also urged the faithful worldwide to not forget this small Christian enclave in the Holy Land.

Taybeh is the modern name of the biblical town of Ephraim, which the Lord Jesus visited shortly before his passion (see John 11:54). In addition to being the only remaining entirely Christian village in the region, it is also globally renowned for its beer.

"The situation in Taybeh has deteriorated drastically in recent months," Fawadleh said in a statement sent to ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. "We are facing settler attacks almost daily, repeated incursions onto private property, the destruction of agricultural land, restrictions on movement due to road closures, military barriers, checkpoints, and growing fear among the population," the parish priest indicated.

Fawadleh explained that this week, settlers broke into a Christian family's property, a situation he described as "very alarming." The home, which had recently been prepared for the family to move into, has become a target of repeated attacks by settlers.

"Settlers have entered the property several times, cut the fence, and even brought their sheep inside the house and onto the surrounding grounds. This is not an isolated incident. It is part of a pattern of intimidation intended to make Palestinian families feel unsafe and to force them to abandon their homes and land," he stated.

The parish priest reported that the affected family is out of danger, as they were not in the home at the time of the attacks. However, he lamented the immense psychological suffering they have endured.

"Imagine preparing your home for your future, only to find strangers repeatedly entering it without fear or accountability," he said.

"In addition, several new settler outposts have been established around the village, increasing pressure on our community and putting the future of the Christian presence in this land at risk," Fawadleh added.

A message to Christians around the world

"We ask you not to forget us," the priest said. While highlighting the miraculous power of prayer, he noted that Taybeh needs more from Christians worldwide. "We ask you to raise your voices, speak the truth, visit us, and stand with the Christian community of the Holy Land," he emphasized.

He pointed out that the solidarity of Christians across the globe "gives us hope" and "reminds us that we are all one body in Christ."

"Together, we can help protect these Christians — living witnesses and 'living stones' in the land where our faith was born and where the first generation of Christianity was raised up. May God bless you all and keep you safe. Keep praying, and continue the work and the struggles you are engaged in. We are praying for you, too," Fawadleh concluded.

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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Peruvian researcher and author Rafael Aíta asserts that one of the most widespread beliefs about the evangelization of Peru is also one of the most mistaken: the belief that Catholicism was forcibly imposed upon the Incas.

The period of Inca rule in Peru spanned from 1200 to 1532, while Spanish rule began in 1532 and ended in 1821, the year of the country's declaration of independence.

In an interview with "EWTN Noticias," the network's Spanish-language television news program, the author of the new book "The Catholic Incas" contended that the conversion of many members of the Inca nobility was a far more complex process, marked by dialogue and the discovery of common ground between their beliefs and Christianity.

"I believe the biggest mistake, even among us Catholics, is thinking that our faith was imposed upon us," Aíta affirmed.

"The numbers don't add up, because a small handful of Spaniards cannot convince thousands or hundreds of thousands of people," Aíta indicated. "What we find in this historic process is a series of convergences that are far removed from imposition and much closer to negotiation," he explained.

According to Aíta, who is also known on social media as Capitán Perú (Captain Peru), the encounter with Christianity sparked interest among the panacas (the family clans of the Inca nobility), who found similarities between certain aspects of their worldview and the Christian message.

"The first to convert were Incas. I am not speaking only of Atahualpa, whom many would say was baptized to avoid being burned to death. After him, there were other Incas who voluntarily requested baptism," he stated.

The historian also highlighted a little-known episode in Peruvian history: the founding of the first parish in Cusco.

"The San Cristóbal parish was founded by an Inca, the son of Huayna Capac. It was not founded by a Spaniard, nor even by a priest. An Inca founded the first chapel that later became the first parish in Cusco," Aíta pointed out.

He recounted that his interest in reexamining Peru's history began during his first visit to Machu Picchu. "That was when I realized there was much more to it than what I had been taught in class," he recalled.

Upon returning to Cusco, Aíta began reading historians such as María Rostworowski, José Antonio del Busto, and Donato Amado.

"I discovered an entire history that, unfortunately, is not taught. If what they wrote reached the schools, it would not only change the history of Peru; it would change the way we see our country," Aíta asserted.

Corpus Christi and the Catholic Incas

A prime example Aíta presents in "The Catholic Incas" is the set of traditional Corpus Christi paintings housed in the Archbishop's Palace in Cusco.

Aíta explained that one of these paintings depicts the Inca's royal standard-bearer walking behind the monstrance carrying the Eucharist. Instead of wearing the traditional imperial tassel on his head, a servant carries it ahead of him on a cushion.

"He is placing the Inca's crown at the feet of Jesus Christ, who is the Eucharistic Sun," he explained.

"The Incas worshipped the sun, but through the Gospel, they discovered that the true Sun is Jesus Christ. For them, the feast of Corpus Christi brought the ancient festival of the Sun to its fulfillment, because the Sun was now present among them," he added.

Consequently, he noted that the solemnity of Corpus Christi became one of Cusco's most important religious celebrations and continues to draw massive public participation to this day.

The historian noted that his book includes documents, paintings, and other historical evidence that demonstrates the presence of Inca nobility who fully embraced the Catholic faith.

Among these, he cited the portrait of Marcos Inca, a member of royal Lloque Yupanqui lineage, who is depicted bearing the symbols of Inca nobility alongside the inscription "Inca, Catholic knight by the grace of God."

As Aíta sees it, this evidence helps explain why Catholicism remains deeply rooted in Peru.

"Faith remains so important in Peru to this day because it is part of our roots, not something imposed. Had it been imposed, we would have changed once the Spaniards left. Yet the Spaniards departed, and we carried on, perhaps even more Catholic than they were," he concluded.

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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DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania — The beatification cause of Servant of God Julius Kambarage Nyerere, Tanzania's first president, has reached the stage of interrogating witnesses, a Tanzanian Catholic bishop involved in the process said, describing the phase as critical in establishing the late leader's reputation for holiness and heroic virtue.

In an interview with ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, Bishop Henry Mchamungu, the episcopal delegate in Nyerere's cause, said the diocesan inquiry is currently gathering testimony about the late president's life, faith, and virtues.

"We are in the process of interrogating witnesses," Mchamungu said. "This is a very important stage because we have to ask people many questions to obtain sufficient information about the life, virtues, and faith of Mwalimu Nyerere."

The bishop, who spoke to ACI Africa on the sidelines of the 21st AMECEA Plenary Assembly of the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) July 19–26 in Nairobi, Kenya, explained that the tribunal conducts detailed interviews with each witness.

"Each witness is asked many questions — sometimes one person can be asked 30 or even 40 questions. We have to listen to many witnesses because we need to gather enough evidence concerning his life and his virtues," Mchamungu said.

Nyerere's cause was initiated in 2005 after the late Bishop Justin Samba of the Diocese of Musoma, together with the Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC), petitioned the Holy See to open the canonization process.

Pope Benedict XVI declared the former president a servant of God on May 13, 2005.

Mchamungu explained that the cause was later transferred from the Diocese of Musoma to the Archdiocese of Dar es Salaam.

"The president of the Tanzania Episcopal Conference informed the archbishop of Dar-es-Salaam, who at that time was Cardinal Polycarp Pengo, that the cause should be transferred from Musoma to Dar-es-Salaam," he explained.

On May 2, 2014, the Congregation for the Causes of Saints issued a rescript authorizing the transfer of the competent forum for the diocesan inquiry from Musoma to Dar es Salaam.

According to Mchamungu, progress slowed after the transfer because Pengo experienced prolonged health challenges.

The process was revived in 2023 when the president of TEC appointed a new postulator to oversee the cause.

"In 2023, it became necessary to revive the cause again," Mchamungu told ACI Africa. "The president of the Tanzania Episcopal Conference appointed a postulator, who is the person responsible for guiding the cause."

He noted that the process required further reorganization after the first postulator stepped down for personal reasons.

"We had to look for another person. After some time, we found another postulator who accepted the responsibility. Although he does not live in Tanzania, he agreed to help us continue with the cause," Mchamungu said, referring to Nairobi-based Brother Reginald D. Cruz.

He acknowledged that the work of the diocesan tribunal remains demanding because its members also carry pastoral responsibilities.

"Everyone has other pastoral duties. Therefore, finding time to meet and conduct the sessions is not easy. However, the cause is continuing after having remained inactive for a long time," he said.

Mchamungu appealed to Catholics to pray for the progress of the cause, expressing hope that Nyerere may one day be declared blessed.

"We continue asking God that the cause may continue," he said. "The day will come, God willing, when he will be declared blessed."

Mchamungu encouraged those who believe they have received extraordinary graces through Nyerere's intercession to report them to the tribunal.

"If someone receives a grace through his intercession, that person should inform the tribunal so that it can be investigated and recorded. Later, it can help in the process of declaring him blessed and, God willing, later a saint," the bishop said.

Reflecting on Nyerere's early life, the Tanzanian bishop recalled his close relationship with the Catholic Church before entering politics.

"Before becoming involved in politics, he was a teacher. He taught at St. Francis Secondary School in Pugu, a school that was run by the Holy Ghost Fathers," he said.

Mchamungu added that the future president's experience within the Church helped shape his character and approach to public service.

"He was close to the Church and to the priests who managed that school. They knew him and saw that he was a special person, a young man with good values and commitment," he told ACI Africa.

The Catholic Church leader continued: "Nyerere received many good values from the Church. Those values helped him become a leader who put people before his own interests. That is why many people continue to remember him as an example of leadership with integrity and service to society."

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

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The Vatican published the official schedule on Aug. 7 for Pope Leo XIV's apostolic journey to France, where he will visit Paris, Lourdes, and Metz from Sept. 25-28.

The Vatican also announced that, as he did during his recent journey to Spain, he will meet with victims of clerical sexual abuse during his France trip. The victims themselves will help organize the meeting, with further details to be announced later.

As announced by the Holy See Press Office, the pontiff will begin his journey by departing Rome on Sept. 25 at 7:50 a.m. and arriving at Paris Orly International Airport at 10:00 a.m.

Paris

At 11:00 a.m., Leo will pay a courtesy visit to French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace, followed by meetings with authorities, where he will deliver his first address. Then, at 3:00 p.m., he will visit the headquarters of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

That evening, at 5:15 p.m., the pope will celebrate vespers with clergy and religious at the Notre Dame Cathedral. It will be the first time a pope has visited the cathedral since the 2019 fire. A prayer vigil with young people will follow at the Stade de France at 9:00 p.m.

The next day, Sept. 26, Leo will visit the Maison Bakhita Center for Social Support and Integration and meet with members of the provincial synod assembly at the Institut Catholique de Paris.

At 3:00 p.m., Leo will celebrate his first Mass of the trip at Place de la Concorde before traveling to Lourdes at 5:45 p.m.

Lourdes

The pontiff is scheduled to arrive in Lourdes at 7:05 p.m. From there, he will visit the renowned grotto at the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes for a prayer service.

The next day, Sept. 27, he will meet with the French bishops at the shrine at 9:00 a.m. before celebrating there the second Mass of his trip at 11:00 a.m.

Leo is scheduled that afternoon to meet at the shrine with the staff and sick community of the Accueil Notre Dame. He will then privately meet with Carmelite nuns at their monastery in Lourdes.

At 9:00 p.m., Leo will lead a rosary and a candlelit procession at the Lourdes grotto.

Metz

For the final day of his trip on Sept. 28, Leo will depart Lourdes at 7:40 a.m. and arrive in Metz at 9:20 a.m., becoming the first pope to visit the city since St. John Paul II in 1988.

There, at 10:00 a.m., he will join an interreligious meeting at the Robert Schuman Conference Center and then attend another meeting, "To the Roots of Europe for Peace and Unity."

The pope will then celebrate the third and final Mass of his trip at the Cathedral of Saint Stephen in Metz. He will then depart Metz at 7:00 p.m. to arrive in Rome at 8:50 p.m.

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French authorities on July 27 ordered the closure of a mosque in the Paris region for six months, citing sermons and social media posts by its imams that officials say glorified terrorism, legitimized jihad, and incited violence, hatred, and discrimination.

The closure occurred in the context of growing political debates around the challenges posed by the expansion of Islam in the country.

The order targeted the "Chanteloup" mosque in Aulnay-sous-Bois, a suburb northeast of the capital in the Seine-Saint-Denis department. It was announced by the local prefecture, the regional arm of the French state administration.

The closure was ordered under a provision enacted in October 2017 that allows prefects to shut down places of worship where preaching is found to "incite violence or hatred, promote terrorism, or provoke acts of terrorism."

A communique by the local prefect claimed that both the mosque's regular imams and the guest speakers it hosted spread a "radical Islamist ideology" that "echoes the rhetoric of terrorist organizations, legitimizes jihad, and glorifies death as a martyr." The administration added that the closure was warranted given the gravity and repetition of statements it judged "capable of inciting terrorist acts."

The French news agency AFP reported that a video circulating on the social platform X earlier in the year showed an imam who had lectured at least once at the mosque urged Muslims to strike their children aged 11 and older if they failed to pray.

The mosque's management has contested the order. Its attorney, Rafik Chekkat, announced on social media that the association had filed an emergency appeal with the Montreuil administrative court, arguing the case rested on insufficient, imprecise, and unsubstantiated evidence involving faulty interpretations of Quranic verses.

"The prefect of Seine-Saint-Denis faults an imam for having cited the Surah Al-Baqara at the Chanteloup mosque in Aulnay-sous-Bois, in order to justify its administrative closure," Chekkat said in a tweet. "If the order is upheld by the courts, the Quran itself becomes grounds for closure."

He said the mosque had already removed the two imams responsible for what he described as roughly 90% of the complaints against it and that mosque leaders had asked to meet with the prefect beforehand but were refused.

Regional outlet Ici Paris Île-de-France reported the association is also contesting a freeze on its bank accounts and a separate move to dissolve the managing association itself.

A hearing before the Montreuil court was held on Aug. 4; the mosque remained open pending the ruling that should be made public in the coming days.

This is the second time the mosque has faced a shutdown. In 2019, the prefecture ordered its closure after an inspection found the premises did not meet public safety requirements.

Another mosque in the department, in Pantin, closed for six months in 2020 for publicly criticizing history teacher Samuel Paty, who was beheaded that year after showing pupils caricatures of Mohammed, the central figure of the Islamic faith.

Since 2017, the French Senate has ordered seven houses of worship closed under the same provision in its first two years alone, following 19 mosque and prayer-hall closures carried out under France's 2015–2017 state of emergency after the Paris terrorist attacks in 2015. A further wave followed France's 2021 law against Islamist "separatism."

The closure lands amid an ongoing, and polarizing, public conversation in France about the growth of Islam. Government figures put the number of Muslim places of worship nationwide — mosques and smaller prayer rooms combined — at roughly 2,600 in 2024, up from about eight mosques in 1975.

Estimates of France's Muslim population vary by methodology; INSEE-linked survey data suggest Muslims make up roughly 10% of the metropolitan population, or 6 to 7 million people. A widely covered November 2025 survey by the polling institute IFOP put the adult Muslim share at 7% in 2025, up from 0.5% in 1985.

The closure of the Chanteloup mosque came just one day after the 10th anniversary of the murder of 85-year-old parish priest Jacques Hamel by two Islamic State-inspired attackers inside his own church during Mass on July 26, 2016.

It was the first time in France a terrorist attack had targeted worshippers during a religious service. The local Diocese of Rouen and the town of Saint-Étienne-du-Rouvray — where Hamel was slaughtered — held two days of commemorations July 25 and 26.

A Mass was celebrated by the president of the French bishops' conference, Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline, with the homily delivered by Rouen's Archbishop Dominique Lebrun, built explicitly around interreligious dialogue rather than security concerns.

Saturday's program featured a roundtable titled "Muslims and Catholics: Educating Young People to Encounter One Another." Organizers highlighted the public friendship between Roseline Hamel, the slain priest's sister, and Nassera Kermiche, the mother of one of his killers, as the defining symbol of the decade since the attack.

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As New York's Medical Aid in Dying Act takes effect amid legal challenges, one Canadian woman is sharing her family's experience with physician-assisted suicide, saying it convinced her that vulnerable patients need greater access to hospice and palliative care — not assisted death.

Speaking with "EWTN News Nightly" in an Aug. 5 interview with anchor Veronica Dudo, Colleen De Vos recounted the final months of her father's life. He died through Canada's medical assistance in dying (MAID) program in 2023 at age 85 after being diagnosed with terminal chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

"My father wasn't very forthcoming with his intentions, unfortunately," De Vos said. "We did see some very fragile moments during the course of his illness."

As his condition worsened, De Vos said her family worked to arrange hospice or in-home palliative care, believing those services would provide the compassionate support he needed.

"We were advocating very strongly for hospice care or at-home palliative program," she said. "He seemed to agree with that."

But the family's efforts were unsuccessful.

"He was turned down on two occasions, deeming that his diagnosis wasn't enough to warrant hospice care," De Vos said. "That was a surprise to us because we could see he was deteriorating very quickly."

Instead, she said, a nurse practitioner overseeing his care at home spoke privately with her father about pursuing MAID as his symptoms worsened.

De Vos said the contrast between accessing hospice and obtaining assisted suicide was striking.

"The irony of the availability of MAID that could be arranged very quickly ...  sidelined us very much," she said.

She recalled receiving "literally the cardboard box in the mail" containing the drugs and supplies needed for the procedure.

"Obtaining [hospice care] was very difficult," she said. "And this was very simple."

On the day her father was scheduled to die, De Vos said the family finally learned that a hospice bed had become available.

She called it "very heartbreaking" that he declined the hospice bed.

"I think he proceeded because of his loss of hope," she said. "We absolutely were prepared to provide him with round-the-clock care."

Religious freedom challenge in New York

De Vos' story comes as Catholic ministries in New York are challenging the state's new assisted suicide law in federal court.

Speaking on Aug. 5 with "EWTN News Nightly," Adele Keim, senior counsel at Becket Fund, said New York's law differs significantly from those in states such as Oregon and Washington.

"New York has created an opt-out law," Keim said. "The presumption is you're in unless you opt out."

While some providers may decline to prescribe or administer the lethal drugs, Keim argued that Catholic ministries are still required to participate in other aspects of the process.

"You can't opt out of your obligations to counsel patients about assisted suicide and the 'benefits' it would provide," she said. Nor can Catholic providers refuse to refer patients elsewhere if they object to assisted suicide on religious grounds, she said.

Keim said those requirements prompted the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne and other Catholic ministries to seek relief in federal court.

Hope, dignity, and the court's decision

She also spoke with hope in a federal judge's decision to temporarily block New York from enforcing the law against the Catholic plaintiffs while the case proceeds.

"The right to assisted suicide is not a fundamental right," Keim said, noting that both the U.S. Supreme Court and New York's highest court have ruled there is no constitutional right to assisted suicide. "But... there is a fundamental right to religious freedom."

According to Keim, the injunction ensures the state cannot enforce the law against the Catholic ministries while their constitutional claims are considered.

The Catholic Church teaches that assisted suicide and euthanasia are gravely contrary to the dignity of the human person while encouraging compassionate palliative and hospice care that accompanies patients through natural death.

De Vos said she hopes lawmakers instead "think about the sacred gift of life that we are given by God," adding: "I don't believe that it's up to the lawmakers... to give someone the autonomy to end their life."

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