Catholic News

On June 9, as part of his apostolic journey to Spain, Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to visit Barcelona. There, he will inaugurate the Tower of Jesus Christ at the Basílica de la Sagrada Família and celebrate a Mass commemorating the 100th anniversary of the death of its first architect and designer, Antoni Gaudí.

Interest in Gaudí, whom Pope Francis proclaimed venerable in 2025, has grown recently alongside rumors of an imminent beatification.

Ahead of Leo's visit to Barcelona, two experts commented on Gaudí's legacy, which is not widely recognized beyond his architecture.

Gaudí's Sagrada Família: Representative of his vision?

One hundred forty-four years after construction began, Sagrada Família continues to spark debate. Gaudí saw only about 10% of the original project completed. This raises a key question for architecture, heritage conservation, and contemporary art history: To what extent does what is being built today remain faithful to the original project envisioned by "God's Architect"?

"Our obligation is to continue with the construction of Sagrada Família, faithfully following Gaudí's project," affirmed Jordi Faulí, the seventh architect of the church after Gaudí, in an interview with EWTN News.

While other buildings were completed after their creators' deaths, such as Le Corbusier's Saint-Pierre de Firminy church in France, Gaudí's situation is unique: he knew he would not live to see the work finished. For this reason, he devoted enormous effort to leaving a comprehensive roadmap for the future.

Faulí, who has directed the works since 2012, asserted that Gaudí left a conceptual and technical legacy solid enough to guarantee the basilica's continuity.

"Consider that Gaudí spent his last 12 or 14 years working exclusively on Sagrada Família, living poorly, thinking about the future, with hope and faith in the future," Faulí recounted. To ensure his vision survived him, the architect left behind a comprehensive theological-symbolic plan, detailed drawings, and large-scale models — including a massive 16.4-foot-high projection of the main nave.

More than an architectural project, Sagrada Família is, in Faulí's words, a catechesis sculpted in stone.

"He wanted to move people, to inspire them by seeing the facades, entering the interior, and seeing these treelike structures that rise upward into the space for the Eucharistic celebration, and for all this beauty to reach everyone's heart so they would think about their lives, think about the life of Christ and their own lives, and that this would lead them to feel loved, welcomed, and ready to love others," he stated.

Gaudí: A model of dialogue amid deep divisions in Spain

Gaudí's life and example of holiness have been highlighted in the run-up to Leo's trip to Barcelona. Father Reniel Ramírez Herrera, who has served as postulator of Gaudí's canonization cause since 2025, told EWTN News that although an imminent beatification for Gaudí is unlikely, it is impossible to understand him without faith.

"Surely the figure of Gaudí is incomprehensible without a vision of faith," Ramírez said to EWTN News. "Gaudí himself, during his architectural studies, did not conceive of architecture or even art in a broad sense without a vision of faith. Therefore, the transcendental element — and undoubtedly the element of holiness — is fundamental. And it is certainly a surprise for anyone who discovers, through small details, that the life of Gaudí is incomprehensible without a vision of faith; his genius cannot be understood except through faith."

Gaudí's example has earned him praise from Catholic leaders, including Pope Benedict XVI. During his 2010 apostolic journey to Spain, when he consecrated Sagrada Família, he described Gaudí as "a brilliant architect and devout Christian, whose faith burned brightly."

Discussing the likely impact of the pope's trip to Spain, Ramírez expressed hope that the visit would foster dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Spanish state, particularly given Spain's history of anticlericalism.

Gaudí lived through the intense violence against Catholic clergy in 1909, during the so-called Tragic Week, while still overseeing the construction of Sagrada Família. Ramírez expressed hope that renewed interest in Gaudí's life and the pope's visit would help heal the deep divisions that persist between Spain and the Church.

"Certainly, the context is marked by deep divisions and elements of an ideological nature. And yet the pope's visit brings hope," Ramírez said.

"Gaudí was convinced that Sagrada Família was a kind of courtyard of the gentiles (a place of dialogue between Christians and nonbelievers), in which even an unbeliever could not only raise their gaze but also open their heart toward the transcendent. This spirit of dialogue with which Gaudí lived his mission will certainly mark the pope's visit and will accompany the moments when the pope will encounter a society and culture in which Gaudí deeply rooted his faith."

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KADUNA, Nigeria — The Catholic Archdiocese of Kaduna in Nigeria has condemned a fresh wave of terrorist attacks on Christian communities under the pastoral care of Sts. Peter and Paul Kurmin Parish located in Dangana District of Kaduna state, following deadly raids that left at least five people dead, several others injured, and many abducted.

In a letter published May 24 addressed to the secretary-general of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, the chancellor of the Nigerian metropolitan see detailed "incessant terrorist attacks" targeting parish outstations in Kagarko Local Government Area.

According to Father Christian Okewu Emmanuel, the latest attack occurred on May 21 in the outstation of Kurmin Bongo.

"The terrorist struck between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m., during heavy rainfall. In spite of the efforts of the vigilante group, five persons were killed, while 10 others were abducted, out of which two were rescued through the efforts of the vigilante group," the priest said in the letter dated May 22.

He explained that the attack on the Kurmin Bongo outstation was the latest in a series of assaults on Catholic communities in the area.

"Earlier, two other attacks had taken place in the outstations of Kasaru-B on March 2 and Sabon Gari on May 1. During the attack on Kasaru-B, one person was shot dead, another sustained several gunshot injuries, while eight others, including the Mai Wa'azi, were abducted. Although they later regained their freedom, two of them were killed in the terrorists' den," Emmanuel recounted.

The attack on Sabon Gari came barely two weeks after the release of the Kasaru-B victims.

According to the chancellor, "two persons sustained gunshot injuries, while 10 others were abducted," with one of the abductees later killed while still being held captive.

He condemned what he described as "incessant attacks" on the affected communities and appealed to government authorities and security agencies to strengthen protection for vulnerable populations.

"The archdiocese condemns these incessant attacks in the strongest terms and calls on government and the security agencies to intensify efforts towards the protection of lives and properties of such besieged areas," Emmanuel said.

He went on to note that repeated violence has deepened fear and instability among residents.

"Needless to say, these repeated attacks have displaced affected persons and thrown the communities into untold sorrows, fears, and uncertainty," the chancellor added.

Nigeria has continued to experience widespread insecurity marked by kidnappings, armed attacks, and killings carried out by criminal gangs and insurgent groups.

Since 2009, the Boko Haram insurgency has remained a major security challenge in the West African nation. In several parts of the country, violence has also been linked to armed Fulani herdsmen, also referred to as the Fulani Militia.

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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Pope Leo XIV warned Thursday against the temptation to make Christianity more attractive by diluting its content or softening its demands, telling Vatican evangelization officials that the faith is transmitted above all through credible Christian witness.

"It is certainly not by watering down the content or softening the demands that Christianity can be made attractive but by bearing witness with humility and courage to 'the way, the truth, and the life' that has converted and sanctified so many people," the pope said May 28.

The pope made the remarks during a meeting in the Consistory Hall with members of the Dicastery for Evangelization's Section for Fundamental Questions Regarding Evangelization in the World at the conclusion of its plenary assembly.

According to the apostolic constitution Praedicate Evangelium, the section is responsible for studying fundamental questions of evangelization and promoting an effective proclamation of the Gospel, identifying appropriate forms, tools, and language.

Leo said the crisis of faith, especially in the West, has contributed to "widespread religious indifference."

"To many, faith no longer appears relevant to their lives," he said. "The underlying danger, the gravity of which is not always perceived, is that the very essence of what is most human — namely, the search for meaning — may be lost. The great existential questions remain unanswered, whilst a technological culture that is supposed to meet every need is spreading."

The pope said that even in such a context, "the encounter with Christ is able to restore full meaning and value to people's lives," adding that the Church's missionary mandate remains urgent.

"No one can take her place in this mission, which is as urgent as it is necessary to ensure a reliable foundation for the future of humanity, so that it may be a future of peace, justice, freedom, and fraternity," he said.

Leo also pointed to the continuing relevance of Pope Francis' apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, which he said "continues to be a significant point of reference."

He invited the dicastery to revisit the document in its work "to promote a mission that is 'Christ-centered and kerygmatic … born of an encounter with Christ that is capable of transforming lives.'"

The pope said the Church should pay close attention to a growing demand for spirituality, especially among young people, something he said was "clearly evident during the Youth Jubilee."

"The new generation is not closed to the Gospel; on the contrary, many, when they rediscover it, wish to know it better, because they sense that within it lies the secret to being truly happy," he said.

At the same time, Leo said evangelization must confront changed conditions in the transmission of the faith from one generation to the next.

"In some parts of the world, this transmission has all but ceased, and this requires the ability to take on new challenges," he said.

The result, he continued, is "a spiritual 'poverty' among the younger generations, a lack of motivation and of the means to develop, in full freedom, that commitment to the faith which gives meaning to life."

The pope said the cultural climate of "media-saturated and consumerist societies" weakens the ability to pursue truth with patience, perseverance, and critical judgment.

"Every message risks being perceived as just one opinion among many," he said.

In response, he stressed that transmitting the faith "necessarily involves encountering people and communities who express the joy of the Christian faith and the coherence of a Gospel-inspired way of life."

Quoting Benedict XVI, Leo said: "What we need at this moment in history are men who, through an enlightened and lived faith, make God credible in this world."

"We need people who keep their gaze fixed on God, learning true humanity from him," the pope continued, quoting Benedict. "We need people whose intellect is enlightened by the light of God and whose hearts God opens, so that their intellect may speak to the intellect of others and their hearts may open the hearts of others. Only through men who are touched by God can God return to men."

Leo also thanked the dicastery for its work during last year's jubilee, which he said brought more than 33 million pilgrims to Rome.

"The world thirsts for hope more than ever," he said. "It longs to live in peace and in the certainty that the commitment to building a city worthy of God's children is not only possible but real, because it is imbued with a hope that offers true, not illusory, objectives."

The pope said evangelization must remain "the fundamental motivation behind every action of the universal Church and of local communities."

"The proclamation of the Gospel, which instils hope, is not a utopian proposal: It is a witness that draws people in because it reveals the call to love and truth," he said.

Leo concluded by emphasizing the importance of catechesis, which he said "plays a decisive role in the life of the Church through its commitment to formation and the transmission of the faith."

He called for special attention to catechumens, "who are requesting baptism in ever-increasing numbers," and said Christian communities must accompany them beyond the celebration of the sacrament.

"Similar care must be accorded to the boys and girls who receive the sacrament of confirmation," he said. "I encourage the many initiatives that accompany them as they continue on their journey of faith for their human and Christian growth."

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 Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development has presented a pastoral aid or kit on Magnifica Humanitas with the aim of making the new encyclical by Pope Leo XIV more easily understood.

On May 27, the dicastery explained on social media how the pastoral kit is structured and provided a link to it. The material includes summaries of key themes, biblical texts and citations, questions for reflection, concrete cases, and prayers. Additionally, it features activities designed for children and young people.

In the introduction to the document, the Vatican notes that it seeks to "accompany individuals, groups, and communities in a simple yet profound reflection on the relationship between faith, human dignity, and technological innovation."

"Digital technologies and artificial intelligence are changing the way we work, communicate, learn, build relationships, and even understand ourselves," the text notes.

In the face of this new paradigm, the dicastery recognizes that many may feel "excited, fearful, curious, or confused." Nevertheless, it advocates for navigating these changes "with discernment, hope, and responsibility."

The material was designed for parish groups, catechesis, pastoral councils, as well as for one's personal spiritual life.

The underlying theme of the encyclical consists of two biblical images that feature prominently in the accompanying resource: the Tower of Babel and the rebuilding of Jerusalem. According to the text, these two images represent opposing paths in today's world.

"On the one hand, there is the risk of building a world dominated by power, individualism, and dehumanization; on the other, there is the possibility of building together a 'city' founded on listening, fraternity, justice, and mutual care," the introduction explains.

The document expresses the Holy See's hope that this material will enable the faithful to "rediscover our 'magnificent humanity,' so that every innovation may be illuminated by the Gospel and oriented toward the common good."

To download this pastoral aid from the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, click here.

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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Salesian Sisters of St. John Bosco have drawn national attention as "diehard" San Antonio Spurs fans after a group of sisters attended a recent NBA playoff game.

The sisters went viral on social media following the Texas team's May 24 home-court matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The superfans wore Spurs jerseys, cheered on the team, and prayed over Catholic Spurs player Luke Kornet before the game.

The prayer was seemingly answered as the Spurs scored their biggest victory in the 2026 NBA Western Conference finals so far.

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Salesian Sister Cherilly Galley said the response the order has received since the game has been "really beautiful."

There has been a "response of people who are interested in Catholicism and people who would like to get involved, cheer on the Spurs, and also see how they can support our sisters here in San Antonio, which is really a huge blessing and a wonderful surprise from the Lord," Galley said in an interview May 27 with "EWTN News Nightly."

While many first noticed the group of sisters at the recent game, the fans have been attending Spurs games "for over 20 years," said Sister Bernadette Mota, a Salesian sister who prayed with Kornet at the game.

"We have some sisters who were really diehard Spurs fans throughout the years, and they're the ones who made that initial connection with the Spurs," she said. "They would write to Coach [Gregg] Popovich, and he would actually write back."

Popovich, president of the San Antonio Spurs and former coach, and his wife  "came to visit the sisters a few times," Mota said.

The sisters "would watch the games" and over the years the connection has "just kept up," Mota said. "But a few years back, it had kind of died down a little bit, and then COVID happened, and we kind of lost that connection."

"But just this past year, and more recently in these past weeks, it really has built up in a very strong way. And so we're back praying with the Spurs and being there to support the community and the San Antonio people who love the Spurs," she said.

It's "wonderful" to "have a lot of family and friends come together and watch the games," Galley said.

The sisters host watch parties with "parents and students from our school at St. John Bosco here in San Antonio," she said. It's "a lot of fun and a wonderful way to share the joy of faith and family."

Keep God 'first'

Mota and Galley said their favorite Spurs players are Kornet and Victor Wembanyama — widely known as "Wemby."

"Wemby by far is the best player," but the sisters "really like Luke [Kornet] because of the way he lives his Catholic faith on and off the court," Mota said.

While "sports and things like that are great," players must remember that "God has to be first in your life," Mota said.

"Keep him first. Play strong, play your best, and work as a team because a team that's united is very hard to pull down. So play together and have faith in God," Mota said.

"Trust one another as your team members — that is very valuable," Galley added. Also, "have fun, enjoy it. That's always a wonderful thing: to have fun on the court."

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Two brothers in Brazil were ordained priests together on the same day.

The brothers, Anderson Carlos Ramos, 35, and Emerson Luiz Ramos, 38, were ordained priests in Guarapuava in the Brazilian state of Paraná on Saturday, May 23 — Emerson's birthday.

The ordination took place at Holy Cross and Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, where both men grew up; received the sacraments of baptism, first Communion, and confirmation; served as altar boys; and sang in the choir.

After their ordination, the brothers will follow different paths in their priestly ministry. Emerson will serve as a priest of the Diocese of Guarapuava, while Anderson belongs to the Congregation of the Passion of Jesus Christ, the Passionists.

The ordination was conferred by the bishop of Guarapuava, Amilton Manoel da Silva. In his homily, the bishop noted that both brothers had also been baptized together at Holy Cross and Our Lady of Sorrows Parish and that Anderson and Emerson were fulfilling "God's dream."

"In God's dream, he had already thought of you and had already anointed you for life and for holiness. And that beautiful plan, throughout your lives, gradually became clearer until the moment arrived for you to give your 'yes,'" he said.

Da Silva emphasized that "nothing is a coincidence" but rather "providence."

"It was God's will that you would be here today as brothers by blood, and now also brothers in the sacrament of holy orders, as priests to serve him, to love him, and to bring him into people's hearts in order to save humanity," he stated.

According to the Diocese of Guarapuava, during his period of formation, Emerson left the seminary after five years. However, he continued to participate in the community as a catechist and nurture his faith until he once again felt God's call to return to the seminary. Anderson, for his part, decided to enter religious life after completing his military service.

At the conclusion of the ordination and Mass, Anderson declared that this was a "great day, a historic day" for Holy Cross and Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, "our home."

"Today, as we stand before the altar, we cannot fail to acknowledge the path that brought us here. It was neither an idealized journey nor one made solely of certainties," he said.

He emphasized that "there were struggles, silence, difficult nights, and many unanswered questions; yet it was precisely in life as it is — sometimes hard, sometimes in periods of dryness — that God chose to encounter us."

Anderson emphasized that "being a priest is not a position of honor but of self-giving."

"It means being in the midst of the people, recognizing their sorrows as our own, and never losing sight of where we come from, for that is precisely what keeps us from losing our way along the journey," he said.

He offered words of gratitude to God, "the source and origin of all things, who gave us life as well as this undeserved grace of the priesthood." He also thanked the bishop, the priests, formators, seminarians, and family members.

He addressed his mother, Lindacir de Fátima Santos Ramos, telling her that "not even in his wildest dreams" would he have imagined that her children "would be in this place today."

"In those moments of suffering and pain which only we know, and which we would wish upon no one, we never dreamed that God would write this story. But he writes straight with crooked lines. Thank you so much, simply for being who you are," he said.

In a statement to the Diocese of Guarapuava, the mother of the new priests said she felt very happy.

"I have no words to thank God for this great victory he has granted me, for seeing my sons ordained today. It's a great grace. I will be grateful to God until my very last breath for the sons I have," she said.

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

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The traditional Pentecost pilgrimage from Paris to Chartres in France once again drew a record crowd for its 44th edition, with nearly 20,000 people taking part in the three-day walk, compared with 19,000 in 2025.

The event organized by lay association Notre-Dame de Chrétienté concluded Monday, May 25, with a closing Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Chartres. Organized under the theme "You Will Be My Witnesses to the Ends of the Earth," the pilgrimage drew participants from 22 countries.

The growing numbers have posed recurring logistical and safety challenges in recent years, forcing organizers to turn away applicants once capacity limits were reached. Organizers said they are working to accommodate a greater number of pilgrims for 2027.

To better understand the profile of these pilgrims, Notre-Dame de Chrétienté conducted an internal study this year, surveying 4,610 participants — close to a quarter of all pilgrims — on their faith, practice, and motivations.

Young, practicing, and doctrinally formed

The picture that emerges challenges the standard portrait of French Catholicism.

The average age of respondents was 22 — against an average of 57 for practicing Catholics in France more broadly, according to IFOP (French Institute of Public Opinion) data cited in the study. More than half are under 25, and a third are attending for the first time, suggesting the pilgrimage is increasingly attracting a generation with no lived memory of the preconciliar Church. 

Nearly 90% of them identify as practicing Catholics, with many attending Mass both on weekdays and Sundays, and nearly 40% going to confession at least once a month.

The vast majority also report a solid doctrinal foundation, with more than 90% affirming their full belief in the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist, the resurrection of the body, the Holy Trinity, and the existence of hell — dogmas that, according to several surveys, the majority of French Catholics no longer adhere to.

Beyond the pilgrimage itself, 77% report active engagement in parishes, scouting, or charitable work — a figure the study estimates at roughly seven times the national average for French Catholics. In this light, this year's missionary theme appears to align with the realities on the ground.

The liturgical question

The study also addressed the controversial topic of liturgy.

Its organizers state that the majority of respondents (63%) expressed a strong attachment to the extraordinary form of the Roman rite, citing primarily spiritual and doctrinal reasons: a sense of the sacred, the liturgical expression of the Real Presence, as well as the emphasis placed on silence and interior prayer.

This runs counter to the idea that young participants are primarily motivated by the physical challenge of this demanding trail or by the fraternal atmosphere rather than by a liturgical preference.

Since Pope Francis' motu proprio Traditionis Custodes significantly restricted the use of the traditional rite, the pilgrimage has found itself at the center of recurring tensions with ecclesial authorities.

This year, as in 2025, the opening Mass — a Traditional Latin Mass — was held at Saint-Sulpice in Paris rather than at the recently restored Notre-Dame Cathedral, where the pilgrimage had historically begun prior to the 2019 fire. The Archdiocese of Paris attributed this decision to logistical considerations, but the pilgrimage's president publicly stated that Archbishop Laurent Ulrich had informed him that he did not wish for a Latin Mass to be celebrated at Notre-Dame.

Pope Leo XIV's recent appeal to French bishops to generously welcome the faithful attached to the?vetus ordo?could, however, encourage a different approach in the future.

Transmission and renewal 

The issue of religious transmission is another key theme of this study. Sociologists of religion have long highlighted the decline in the intergenerational transmission of Catholicism in France, with traditional Catholic communities often cited as one of the exceptions to the rule. The data collected in Chartres appear to confirm this trend. Six out of 10 pilgrims discovered this pilgrimage through their family or friends, and 18% through their parish or religious community.

At the same time, the fact that one-third were attending for the first time suggests the pilgrimage is not sustained solely by inherited religious networks. This finding fits into the broader religious revival currently underway in France, where the number of adult catechumens baptized at Easter has increased significantly over the past decade, according to the French Bishops' Conference. A large proportion of them come from secular or non-Christian backgrounds.

The Regional Episcopal Council of Île-de-France is set to meet beginning May 31 to address the sudden influx of catechumens in the Paris region — a meeting that comes less than a week after the largest pilgrimage to Chartres ever recorded.

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The president of the Cuban Bishops' Conference, Bishop Marcelo González Amador, said people are coming to parishes in Cuba saying "they've gone days without eating."

In a conversation this week with Aid to the Church in Need/Spain, the 70-year-old prelate expressed his anguish over the crisis afflicting the country, saying that "Cuba is hurting."

González, the bishop of Santa Clara, recounted that "there are people showing up [at the parishes] saying they've gone days without eating and don't know where to turn. Food can't be kept fresh due to the lack of electricity, and recently people have been frequently fainting in church because many of them haven't eaten."

"Everything is a struggle to survive. The present is precarious; the future, totally uncertain." It's "the most difficult and saddest moment in the history of my people that I have ever witnessed," he said.

Furthermore, the crisis is also impacting the healthcare system, as "in some major hospitals, surgeries are not being performed due to a lack of water" and surgical supplies. "I know of more than one case where someone had to seek out every necessary resource — even suture thread — from family or friends abroad in order to undergo surgery," he noted.

González also addressed the fear of a possible conflict with the United States. "The fear of war is tremendous; it's part of the daily concern of many people. People are talking about it all the time, which is very stressful, especially for the children and elderly," he noted. "On the street, you can hear people saying: 'We can no longer bear such suffering, and we have nowhere to turn.'"

In conversations, you can sense "sadness, hopelessness, and uncertainty" among the people. "Those who are able to emigrate are doing so. What's left is an increasingly aging country, just with old people devoid of resources and with meager pensions," he stated.

González noted that the lack of electricity put an end to overnight Eucharistic adoration and led to an increase in robberies on the streets as well as in homes.

Despite this, he pointed out, the Church strives to "keep the spirit alive, offer hope where there is none, listen, and provide accompaniment."

Among the faithful, "initiatives are springing up to aid those living in destitution, the poorest and most needy; among these are small soup kitchens and meal delivery services for the physically impaired and the bedridden sick. They're coming up with food and resources out of nowhere," he said.

The bishop recounted that at one soup kitchen serving over 300 people, the religious sisters had to improvise by mixing "cans of black and white beans in order to provide more servings. People see that; they see that the Church is sharing, that it gives whatever it has."

The bishop said this action "is evident proof of what God's providence and Christian charity are capable of doing." He said "the day a nun or a priest dies of hunger or for lack of medication is the day no one is left alive, because everyone shares the little they have."

"It's truly beautiful that this aid, this charity, is carried out without manipulation by any party, simply thanks to people who wish to help. And you can also see the gratitude of those who receive it," he remarked.

However, rising prices and fuel shortages have pushed the Church into a "pastoral maintenance mode," as priests are often unable to celebrate Mass in rural villages and hamlets due to a lack of resources.

"There are places where people are much more isolated and vulnerable. Religious congregations, too, are in a precarious state, and many lack sufficient resources to sustain their presence on the island," he explained.

"Although many people are leaving the island, the Church remains; the people recognize and appreciate this choice," González said, asking that Cuba not be forgotten. In addition to prayer, the bishop stated that, while "not everything can be solved, any help counts. The people of Cuba are suffering, and the Church is part of that people."

Amid this situation, Caritas Cuba continues its work of distributing humanitarian aid sent from the United States to those affected by Hurricane Melissa in October 2025.

This assistance, consisting of food and hygiene supplies, is being distributed in the dioceses of Holguín-Las Tunas, Bayamo-Manzanillo, Santiago de Cuba, and Guantánamo-Baracoa, areas affected by the natural disaster.

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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LAHORE, Pakistan — As Muslims across Pakistan celebrate Eid al-Adha, Sultan Gill is quietly preparing for the death anniversary of his father, who died after a violent mob attack over allegations of blasphemy in 2024.

Nearly 2,000 people attacked Gill's family in Sargodha, in northern Punjab province, on May 25, 2024, after allegations emerged that his father, Nazir (Lazar) Masih, had desecrated pages of the Quran. EWTN News covered the attack at the time.

The mob ransacked the family's home and shoe factory in Mujahid Colony and later set the business on fire after a mosque announcement reportedly amplified the accusations.

Police managed to evacuate nine members of the family, but Masih was caught by the crowd and beaten with stones, bricks, and sticks. The 74-year-old succumbed to his injuries on the night of June 2–3, 2024.

The killing sparked protests by Christian groups across the country, while politicians and Catholic bishops visited the family and held meetings with police officials.

Yet nearly two years later, the family says it is still waiting for justice and compensation for the destruction of their property, which remains abandoned after they fled Sargodha.

"Our wounds became fresh during Eid. The cruelty cannot be described in words," Gill told EWTN News.

"The confidence is gone. We cannot move around or talk freely. Two of my children had to discontinue their education and start working to support the family in a new city and help pay house rent," he said.

"The police assured us of 1.2 million rupees [about $4,300] as compensation for damage to the factory, which was actually worth millions. But despite repeated visits to the district administration and Punjab's minority affairs minister, we received nothing."

Arrests but no accountability

Sargodha police registered cases against about 450 unidentified suspects under anti-terrorism laws, and 25 people were arrested over the attack on Masih.

However, all of the accused were released within weeks, according to Sunil Kaleem, director of the Organization for Legal Aid, which has provided legal support to the family.

"We challenged the bails granted to the accused, but without success. The biased judges of lower courts often rely on consistency and benefit-of-doubt principles in such cases," Kaleem said.

"There are no independent eyewitnesses apart from police officials, and there is little interest in pursuing accountability. The chances of punishment in mob attacks linked to blasphemy allegations remain very low."

Church leaders and rights groups have long argued that Pakistan's blasphemy laws disproportionately affect religious minorities and often fail to uphold principles of justice, including due process and the presumption of innocence.

At least 26 Christians were killed extrajudicially in Pakistan between 1994 and 2024 following blasphemy allegations, according to the Center for Social Justice, a Lahore-based advocacy group.

Church response

Father David John, parish priest of St. Francis Xavier Church in Sargodha, said Masih's family received financial assistance and shelter from the National Commission for Justice and Peace, the Catholic bishops' rights body, for 20 months.

"Psychological support was crucial for frightened Christians in the area, and it was important to stand with them," he said.

"We did what we could. There was a long struggle to restore normalcy in the city with the support of district peace committees and Muslim friends."

"Religious minorities in Pakistan deserve to live in peace and harmony. People of goodwill stand with us. There is tremendous scope for interfaith dialogue, and efforts toward acceptance must continue."

Catholic activist Ashiknaz Khokhar criticized delays in the justice process and warned of wider consequences.

"It weakens public trust and leaves vulnerable communities exposed to further harm. When cases remain unresolved, fear and instability increase," he said, adding that Masih's family now plans to sell its two homes after losing its business in Sargodha.

He called for stronger preventive measures, including proactive law enforcement to manage crowds before violence escalates.

"The state should use digital monitoring systems to address online hate speech, provide administrative and security safeguards to ensure judicial independence, discourage misuse of laws through consistent accountability, and introduce educational reforms promoting religious tolerance and civic responsibility," he said.

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Pope Leo XIV is inviting Catholics around the world to join him in praying a rosary for peace on May 30.

The Holy Father is set to pray the rosary live from the Lourdes Grotto in the Vatican Gardens at 7 p.m. Rome time. Monsignor Walter R. Rossi, rector of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., will join Pope Leo in praying the rosary with a simultaneous livestream  at 1 p.m. ET, according to a May 22 press release.

Shrines that have joined the initiative, coordinated by the Dicastery for Evangelization, include: the Shrine of the Mother of God (Zarvanytsia, Ukraine); the International Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage (Antipolo, Philippines); the Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary (Fátima, Portugal); the Shrine of Our Lady Queen of Peace (Medjugorje, Bosnia and Herzegovina); the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes (Lourdes, France); the Shrine of St. Charbel Annaya (Byblos, Lebanon); and the Pontifical Shrine of the Holy House (Loreto, Italy).

"As the preeminent Marian shrine and patronal church of the United States, the basilica joins shrines throughout the world in this worldwide rosary with the Holy Father," according to a statement from the basilica in Washington, D.C. "All are invited to participate in this special moment of unity and prayer for peace throughout the world."

During his homily at Pentecost, Leo called Catholics to pray to the Holy Spirit to "save us from the evil of war, which is overcome not by a superpower but by the omnipotence of love."

Leo has issued repeated calls for peace around the world, including the Middle East, Africa, and Ukraine, since the start of his pontificate.

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