Catholic News

On July 23, the Catholic Church celebrates the feast day of St. Bridget of Sweden, a mystic of the Middle Ages who was a wife, mother to a large family, lady-in-waiting to a queen, and founder of a religious order that still exists today.

1. St. Bridget experienced her first vision at age 10.

Bridget, or "Birgitta," was born to wealthy, devout parents in Sweden in the year 1303. Her mother died early in her life, and she and her siblings were raised by their aunt. At 10 years old, Bridget had a vision of Christ on the cross in his agonizing suffering. In her vision, Bridget saw Christ with his wounds from Good Friday, with the wounds of "The Man of Sorrows" in Isaiah 53. She asked Jesus who hurt him, and he responded: "Those who despise me and refuse my love for them." She would go on to write about these revelations; her works were published posthumously.

2. Bridget served in the royal court of Sweden.

Bridget was married in 1316 at the young age of 13 to 18-year-old Ulf Gudmarsson, the Swedish prince of Nericia. The two joined the Third Order of St. Francis and dedicated their resources to building a hospital and caring for the needs of the poor. Ulf served on the council of the king of Sweden, Magnus Eriksson, and the king asked Bridget to be a lady-in-waiting for his wife, Queen Blanche of Namur.

3. Bridget was a mother to eight children, and one of them became a saint.

Bridget and Ulf raised a large family together while also serving the poor and managing their duties in court. Of Bridget's eight children, two died in infancy, and another two died in the Crusades. Two of their surviving children were married, and another two joined religious life. One of those two became a saint and was canonized — St. Catherine of Sweden.

4. Bridget founded a religious order, the Bridgettines, after her husband died.

Bridget and Ulf made a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in Spain between 1341 and 1343, but on their return trip, Ulf became ill. The couple stopped in France until Ulf regained his health, but soon after they returned to Sweden, in 1344, he passed away.

After his death, Bridget donated her belongings to the poor and devoted her life to Christ, following a call from God to start a new religious order.

She founded the Order of the Most Holy Savior, now known as the Brigittines, in 1346, and her congregation was approved by Pope Urban V in 1370. The Brigittines were to be led by an abbess and constitute both nuns and priests. The priests, who lived in a separate section, served as chaplains and confessors for the nuns.

King Magnus helped Bridget make the Abbey of Vadstena the home of the Brigittines. He donated a small palace and land for the new monastery.

But Bridget would never see her work come to fruition. She had a vision from Christ calling her to return to Rome and await the pope's return from France during the Avignon Papacy. She never became a nun herself, and she never saw the monastery in Vadstena. She died several years before the pope's permanent return to Rome.

But her order spread through Europe and still exists today in both contemplative monasteries and apostolic convents, with branches in 19 countries including Sweden, Norway, Poland, Italy, Israel, India, the Philippines, Mexico, and the United States.

5. St. Bridget is the co-patroness of Europe.

After Bridget died in Rome on July 23, 1373, her children brought her remains back to the headquarters of her religious order. Less than 20 years later, in 1391, Pope Boniface IX proclaimed her a saint. Her revelations and writings on the sufferings of Christ were published after her death. In 1999, St. John Paul II chose her as one of the three female co-patronesses of Europe, along with St. Catherine of Siena and St. Edith Stein.

This story was first published on July 23, 2024, and has been updated.

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NAIROBI, Kenya — Young Catholics participating in the 21st assembly of the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) are welcoming the opportunity to engage directly with Catholic bishops at the event, saying they appreciate the bishops' efforts to strengthen youth participation in the life and mission of the Church in the region.

The July 19–26 plenary assembly has brought together over 100 bishops from AMECEA's eight member episcopal conferences, affiliated institutions, and other groups. The AMECEA is comprised of nine countries, including Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. Djibouti and Somalia are affiliate members.

Speaking to ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, on July 20 at the eight-day event centered on the theme "AMECEA'S Synodal Journey with Young People: Building Bridges of Communion, Hope, Justice, and Good Governance," youth participants said the assembly has provided a platform for them to present their concerns, share their experiences, and contribute recommendations to Church leaders.

'Guide us and accompany us on our journey'

Georgette George Wani, a youth delegate representing the Sudan and South Sudan Catholic Bishops' Conference, expressed gratitude to the Catholic leaders in the AMECEA region for creating space for young people at their plenary assembly.

"I am grateful to our bishops for giving us this opportunity to engage with them, to share our experiences, and to discuss the challenges we face both in the Church and in our countries," Wani said.

A member of the Archdiocese of Juba in South Sudan, she noted that young people are grappling with challenges brought about by digitalization, modernization, and changing social realities, adding that the Church has an important responsibility to accompany them.

"If we are the majority, it means that they have to take care of us, give us the space, and actually teach us, guide us, and accompany us on our journey, because time is going, and they will not be around for much longer, but it is us who are going to stay for a longer period," she said.

"We have to be guided, and we have to be taught, and yes, I am happy that we are here today," Wani added, expressing hope that the dialogue would strengthen harmony between the Catholic bishops and young people.

'Continue listening to us'

For Olwormudu Tonny Blair, a delegate from the Uganda Episcopal Conference, the plenary assembly reflects the vision of the late Pope Francis' March 2019 postsynodal apostolic exhortation to young people and the entire people of God, Christus Vivit, which says young people are not merely the future of the Church but its present.

"I now see that the Church is bringing to life what Pope Francis expressed in his message of Christus Vivit, that the young people are the 'now' of the Church. The Church is focusing on young people because they adapt quickly to change and influence many others. By investing in young people, the Church strengthens evangelization and prepares future generations of faithful leaders," Olwormundu told ACI Africa.

Balir, from the Diocese of Nebbi in Uganda, noted that the assembly has given youth a platform to present the challenges affecting them across the region, including political instability and social unrest.

"Whenever there is unrest, young people are often blamed or become the most affected. That is why we ask the Church to continue listening to us and to work with us in finding solutions to these challenges," he said.

"We now see that we have that platform where we can express ourselves easily because we shall get spiritual nourishment, and we shall get ideas from our elders, especially from our bishops, our priests, and our animators who are always there guiding us. The Church giving us this platform is an opportunity that we look at as distinct."

Blair encouraged young Catholics across the AMECEA region to remain hopeful and prayerful, saying: "Let us keep hope, let us keep praying. The Church is here to listen to us, and we are here to represent your views. We are here to present all your views to our bishops so that we can get an answer, build a better youth, and a better Church."

'Excited to have a discussion with our bishops'

Representing the Catholic youth of Ethiopia, Hayat Abdi from the Archdiocese of Addis Ababa described the assembly as a historic opportunity for young delegates to speak directly to Church leaders.

"I am here … representing our country's youth. For the past two days, we have had a lot of discussions with the youth from different AMECEA countries," she told ACI Africa.

"We are so excited to have a discussion with our bishops because this is our first time to be represented directly — we are the ones who represent our issues directly to the bishops."

Abdi added: "We expect them to deliberate on these resolutions and recommendations throughout all the AMECEA countries, including our own, to give an order or direction for the youth on how things should continue or move forward."

'Time to listen to young people'

Brother Janivier Kagayo Theophile, a member of the Franciscan Missionaries of Hope from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), currently studying in Kenya, said the bishops have delivered a message that the Church must continue listening to young people.

"It is time to listen to young people because for a long time our voices have often been ignored," Kagayo said, recalling Christ's teaching that the kingdom of God belongs to the little ones.

He emphasized that building a better future requires collaboration between the Church, governments, and young people.

"It is not enough to keep saying that young people are the leaders of tomorrow — tomorrow is shaped by how we live today. If we live well today, we will have a better Church tomorrow, a better country tomorrow, and a better society tomorrow," he said

Kagayo, who is representing his religious congregation at the assembly, proposed institutionalizing youth participation by establishing structures at parish, diocesan, and Small Christian Communities — levels where young people can contribute to pastoral life and decision-making.

He also proposed that every parish create a dedicated youth office or designate a youth representative within parish pastoral councils to ensure that young Catholics have a recognized platform through which they can make their voices heard.

Study sessions during the plenary assembly on July 20 examined key pastoral and social issues affecting young people, including governance, unemployment, migration, social exclusion, safeguarding, mental health, evangelization in the digital age, and missionary vocations.

'A great privilege'

Juanitha Pastory from Tanzania's Archdiocese of Dar es Salaam said she was grateful for the opportunity to talk with the bishops.

"It is a great privilege to share the challenges facing young people and to speak openly about our hopes and concerns," Pastory said, adding that the gathering demonstrated the bishops' willingness to understand the experiences of the youth.

She added: "I sincerely thank the bishops for creating this space for dialogue. By understanding our realities, they will be better placed to accompany and support young people in the Church."

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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Nearly five dozen U.S. lawmakers sent a letter to the Department of Justice (DOJ) urging a federal investigation into the deaths of "the D.C. Five," the five allegedly late-term aborted babies recovered from a Washington, D.C., abortion clinic four years ago.

Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, and Rep. Chris Smith, R-New Jersey, along with more than 50 other GOP lawmakers, called on Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to "comprehensively investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths."

The lawmakers also requested DOJ ensure the "children receive a proper and respectful burial once the investigation is complete and all responsible parties have been brought to justice."

In 2022, "the D.C. Five" were found at the home of Catholic convert and pro-life activist Lauren Handy. The group Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising, a secular organization that demonstrates against abortion, said it obtained the remains from reported whistleblowers who believed the circumstances might have violated federal prohibitions on partial-birth abortion or the failure to provide care to infants born alive.

In the letter sent July 20, lawmakers said the babies' remains are held by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Washington, D.C. Lawmakers are calling for autopsies to find out if the babies "were victims of the crimes of infanticide or partial-birth abortion."

"For four years, members of Congress have remained alarmed at this clear violation of life and law, but the Biden Administration Department of Justice refused to act," the lawmakers wrote.

"Under the Born Alive Infants Protection Act (1 U.S.C. § 8), these five children should have experienced equal protection under the law at any stage of development, including as abortion survivors," they said.

According to the letter, doctors have estimated that at least one baby may have been aborted using the illegal partial-birth abortion method showing "deep lacerations to the posterior neck which presumably correlates to the method of abortion used to end her life."

"If this baby girl was alive when the abortionist made these lacerations, then her death directly violated the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003 (18 U.S. Code § 1531), which criminalizes the partial deliverance of a living child for the purpose of performing an overt act that intentionally takes the life of the child," they wrote.

The lawmakers also said doctors estimated that one baby boy was about 28 to 32 weeks' gestational age. One doctor said the baby looked "like he should have been in the nursery" and was "about the same size as [her] granddaughter when she was born," the letter said.

"We cannot undo the grievous, barbaric acts that killed these children in their most vulnerable stage, but we equally cannot allow such lawlessness and inhumanity to evade our justice system any longer," the lawmakers said.

DOJ, in a statement to EWTN News, said it "is aware of the Senators' request and takes these matters seriously."

"As with all allegations of potential criminal conduct, the Department will review the information carefully and will investigate any credible allegations of criminal actions. The Department remains committed to following the facts and the law wherever they lead," the DOJ said.

The DOJ also shared that it has gathered and reviewed documents regarding the case and will be turning it over to Congress once it is finalized. If there are any crimes Congress identifies, the department said it will "certainly investigate those matters."

Previous calls for investigation

Following the discovery of the babies, Lee and Smith also led an April 8, 2022, letter signed by 69 members of Congress demanding that former Attorney General Merrick Garland conduct an investigation.

DOJ "never provided a substantive response or indicated that any investigation had occurred," the lawmakers said in the most recent letter. "On the contrary, after two years of inaction, reports indicated that the Department of Justice advised the Chief Medical Examiner to discard the bodies of the infants."

"Fortunately, members of Congress were able to intervene with the Chief Medical Examiner and urge him to preserve the bodies," they said.

The lawmakers said they were "encouraged" when former Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed in a June 2024 House budget hearing that DOJ was conducting an "ongoing investigation" into this case.

The lawmakers also noted a report signed by President Donald Trump that encouraged DOJ to "provide a briefing to the Committees on all actions previously taken by the Department on this issue within 180 days after the enactment of this act," which would be on July 22 of this year.

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The French Parliament on July 21 definitively passed a law banning children under the age of 15 from accessing social media, making France the first country in Europe to enshrine such a restriction in its national legislation.

The measure is the culmination of a campaign led by President Emmanuel Macron since 2017 in which he has denounced anonymity on social media as a gateway to online abuse.

The law, presented as a child protection measure against all the risks associated with the use of social media, from addiction to bullying and abuse, has also reignited concerns about increased government oversight of internet users, as the age verification requirements — intended to target minors — entail identity checks for everyone.

"France is leading the way in Europe by becoming the first country to establish a 'digital age of majority' to better protect our children online," said Anne Le Hénanff, minister delegate for digital sovereignty, following the vote.

The Senate adopted the compromise bill by a vote of 243 to 2, and the National Assembly followed suit a few hours later, paving the way for Macron to sign the measure into law, subject to review by the Constitutional Council.

The bill's central provision bars minors under 15 from accessing "an online social network service." Leading platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat are expected to fall under the ban, though lawmakers left the precise scope undefined.

Wikipedia and other online encyclopedias, along with open-source software and educational platforms, are explicitly exempted. Responsibility for verifying users' ages falls to the platforms themselves, which must offer at least two different verification methods.

Enforcement will unfold in two different stages. New accounts will be subject to age checks starting Sept. 1, while existing accounts belonging to minors under 15 will have until Jan. 1, 2027, before they are suspended.

The law also extends France's existing smartphone ban in middle schools to high schools starting in the 2026 school year.

France's move makes it the first EU member state to enact a blanket social-network age floor, though it follows Australia, which imposed a minimum age of 16 in December 2025.

Officials say a coalition of roughly 15 European countries is interested in adopting a similar standard. Le Hénanff confirmed Greece is ready to transpose the French model, with Spain expected to follow in the fall.

The European Commission is separately developing its own EU-wide age-verification tool, expected to be available to member states by the end of the year.

Under the model France has adopted — built around the "double anonymity" principle found in the EU's Digital Services Act, the bloc's main online-platform law — a trusted third party would verify a user's age from an ID document or bank card and issue an anonymous token confirming only whether the user is over or under 15, without revealing the user's identity or which platform requested the check. Le Hénanff has described this as a way of avoiding data collection by the platforms themselves. Critics, however, argue the system's implementation is far less safe than officials suggest.

The underlying concern is that this child-protection measure could evolve into a broader mechanism for verifying and tracking the identity of internet users generally. Opponents of the law claim that the mechanics of age verification remain largely undefined barely a month before the law takes effect.

They also point to recent history of large-scale personal data breaches across government agencies as a reason for caution about centralizing age- or identity-verification data.

La Quadrature du Net, France's leading digital-rights advocacy group, and the Conseil national du numérique, an official government advisory body, both warned that the law amounted to what they termed "generalized surveillance disguised as child protection."

The European Center for Law and Justice, along the same lines, argues that France and the European Commission are each independently pushing to generalize identity checks across the EU under the banner of online safety policy.

Several digital-rights groups are reportedly preparing separate challenges before France's Council of State and the EU's Court of Justice, arguing the law violates free-expression and proportionality principles.

For now, all eyes are on Australia, the only country with a comparable ban already in force.

An early analysis of survey data from roughly 400 young social media users, published in The BMJ on June 24, found little evidence that Australia's Social Media Minimum Age Act had produced any substantial early drop in social media use among adolescents in its first three months — although researchers cautioned that legislative effects can take time to appear and called for longer-term evaluation.

A companion analysis reported that roughly 85% of Australians aged 12 to 15 were still using restricted platforms, the most common workarounds being fake accounts and private browsers.

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In response to a question about summer advice, Pope Leo XIV emphasized the importance of remembering those most in need during the holidays.

The question and answer were both published in the July/August 2026 issue of Piazza San Pietro, the official magazine of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican.

As reported by Vatican News on July 22, Maurizio from Rome asked the pontiff how best to deepen his spiritual life during the summer amid the distractions of daily life. Leo XIV responded that one ought to think of those unable to enjoy the summer, particularly the sick, victims of war, and migrants who do not feel welcomed.

"Holidays should also be for everyone a space of respite from occupations and worries," Leo wrote.

"Let us think of the sick, of people who have lost faith in life, of those who are overwhelmed by grief over the loss of loved ones, of the victims of wars, of hatred, of terrorism and of violence, of those persecuted for their faith and for justice, of prisoners, of those who have been left without work, without a home, of migrants who have not been humanely welcomed."

The pope also reminded Maurizio and families of the importance of the elderly, encouraging them to support them during the summer.

"To families I say: Do not leave your elderly alone."

"Here is the advice I can give to increase our faith. Use the summer time as well to live the gospel of peace and mercy. Let us think of the privilege we have when we support the poor and bear witness to evangelical poverty," the pope said.

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The Vatican Publishing House recently released the first Italian edition of the book "Félix Varela: A Biography," a work about the priest considered by Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia to be "a sort of founder of [Cuban] national culture through his works and writings."

The 208-page volume, published July 9, was written by Monsignor Carlos Manuel de Céspedes, a prominent figure in the Cuban Catholic Church who passed away in Havana in 2014.

Paglia, president emeritus of the Pontifical Academy for Life, wrote the book's foreword, noting in it that "the relationship between Varela and Cuban society is very profound."

This is because Varela's writings "shaped an identity deeply linked to a faith expressed in a new humanism, where the primacy of conscience was supreme and the condemnation of slavery and the need for independence were fundamental," the archbishop explained, according to a Vatican News report.

Varela was a priest committed to social issues who lived during a time of profound change in the territories then held by the Spanish Empire in the Americas, according to the report.

He was born in Havana on Nov. 20, 1788. Thanks to his high standing, he was sent to Spain in 1821 to represent the island before the parliament in Madrid.

However, his legislative proposals to abolish slavery on the island, declare Cuban independence, and establish a government for the overseas provinces led to his exile in 1823; consequently, he was forced to settle in New York, where he lived while serving as a parish priest and episcopal vicar.

In his preface, Paglia wrote that, in both Cuba and the United States, Varela fostered "efforts toward freedom, teaching love and stirring hearts to choose the poor as their primary companions on the journey."

Varela's parish in New York "was interethnic and intercultural." Moreover, he dedicated himself especially to immigrants, establishing a system of social and charitable assistance unprecedented in the United States. He was convinced that a mission centered on the Gospel could give rise to a more just and compassionate society.

Varela's legacy

The Cuban priest passed away in St. Augustine, Florida, on Feb. 27, 1853, leaving behind works such as "Letters to Elpidio on Impiety, Superstition, and Fanaticism in Their Relationship with Society," a work described by St. John Paul II during his 1998 apostolic journey to Cuba as a "true monument of moral teaching."

"It's no coincidence," Vatican News pointed out, "that his work can be described as 'civilizing': an exemplary priest, a 'principled patriot,' and 'the first to teach us how to think,' Varela was able to revitalize pedagogical methods and the teaching of philosophy, theology, law, and science, creating a synthesis in which faith and culture become inseparable dimensions."

Furthermore, as Paglia noted, in a "contemporary world where we often face incredible forms of violence and dangerous political divisions," Varela "represents the possibility of unity."

He was "a truly Catholic — that is, universal — priest," Paglia wrote, and therefore "reflects the message of the Gospel, which does not divide but unites, while respecting individual differences."

Paglia also noted that Varela's message is in line with Popes Leo XIV and Francis: "Three witnesses from the Americas inviting the Americas to a renewed enthusiasm for a missionary vocation that places faith at the service of a society fervently rooted in the Gospel."

Varela was declared venerable by Benedict XVI in March 2012. The Vatican decree highlights that "the Servant of God stands out on the horizon of Cuba's history as a figure remarkable for his human gifts and for his Christian and priestly virtues."

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

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A House Judiciary subcommittee hearing Wednesday on the Delaney Hall ICE detention center highlighted sharply differing views over the treatment of detainees, with Republicans rejecting allegations of abuse and Democrats pointing to reports of inadequate medical care, poor sanitation, and deaths in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody.

The hearing, titled "False Narratives: Exposing the Truth About ICE Detention Facilities," focused on conditions at Delaney Hall, an immigration detention facility in Newark, New Jersey, operated by the GEO Group under contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The facility reopened in 2025 after the Trump administration expanded detention capacity to support increased immigration enforcement.

Fifty-four people have died in ICE custody since the start of fiscal 2025, which is 125% more detainee deaths than occurred during all four previous fiscal years combined (24 deaths), according to ICE detainee death reporting data.

Republicans defend Delaney Hall

Subcommittee Chair Rep. Jefferson Van Drew, R-New Jersey, said: "We're here today because of a narrative that has been told over and over again for weeks… that Delaney Hall, and by extension all of these detention centers, are places of cruelty. It's just not true."

We're here today because of a narrative that has been told over and over again for weeks… that Delaney Hall, and by extension all of these detention centers, are places of cruelty. It's just not true."

Rep Jefferson Van Drew

ICE facilities are required to comply with federal detention standards governing medical care, nutrition, sanitation, recreation, religious accommodations, and access to legal counsel. Compliance is monitored through inspections and oversight conducted by ICE and other federal entities, although advocacy groups, government watchdogs, and a federal judge have questioned whether those standards are being adequately enforced.

Van Drew, who said he recently toured Delaney Hall, rejected allegations that detainees are being mistreated and said his firsthand observations contradicted criticism of the facility.

"I walked the facility. I met with the staff… and what I saw goes against all the narratives that you hear," he said.

He described the detention center as clean and orderly, saying detainees receive "three meals a day," access to medical, dental, and mental health care, recreation, and religious accommodations.

"The Department of Homeland Security has said plainly that ICE holds these facilities to higher standards than most American prisons, and that's what I saw," Van Drew said.

Democrats raise concerns over oversight and detainee care

Democrats on the panel sharply disputed that assessment, citing reports of overcrowding, inadequate medical care, poor sanitation, and deaths in ICE custody.

Ranking member Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Maryland, questioned whether Republicans had presented a complete picture of conditions at Delaney Hall, noting that the committee did not invite Department of Homeland Security or ICE officials to testify.

"The ambiguous title of today's hearing… naturally invites the question of whether the majority is seeking to debunk false narratives or entrench false narratives," Raskin said.

Raskin said lawmakers should hear directly from officials responsible for operating the facilities and accused the administration of obstructing congressional oversight visits. He also cited reports from detainees and advocates alleging poor medical care, overcrowding, and unsanitary conditions.

Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, said Republicans overlooked documented concerns at privately operated detention facilities.

"In the time since our last hearing on this topic, more than 50 people have died while in ICE custody," Crockett said, adding that detainees at facilities operated by the GEO Group have reported "dangerously substandard conditions, including mold… and insufficient food and water."

Crockett also criticized the absence of officials from ICE, the Department of Homeland Security, and the GEO Group among the witnesses, arguing that "if the Republicans really wanted to know what was happening at Delaney Hall… they would push for unannounced congressional and independent oversight."

Witnesses offer competing perspectives

The hearing included testimony from former ICE New York Field Office Deputy Director Scott Mechkowski, Federation for American Immigration Reform Border Security Adviser Art Del Cueto, Center for Immigration Studies Resident Fellow in Law and Policy Andrew Arthur, and Amol Sinha, executive director of the ACLU of New Jersey.

Arthur, a former immigration judge, said he had not personally visited Delaney Hall but argued that ICE detention facilities operate under extensive oversight, including inspections, congressional review, internal watchdogs, and contractual detention standards. He said congressional oversight is appropriate but should be conducted in ways that do not interfere with facility operations or security.

Del Cueto, a former Border Patrol agent, said Delaney Hall had become a target because detention "works." He said allegations against the facility were part of "a broader assault on immigration enforcement" and urged Congress to support ICE officers and Border Patrol agents.

Del Cueto also cited DHS statistics that he said showed increases in assaults and threats against ICE personnel during President Donald Trump's second term, attributing the trend to increasingly inflammatory rhetoric surrounding immigration enforcement.

Sinha countered that concerns about Delaney Hall were supported by accounts from detainees and their families. He testified that people held at the facility had described delayed medical treatment, inadequate food, unsanitary conditions, and retaliation after participating in hunger strikes. Sinha called for "independent, unannounced, uncensored oversight" of ICE detention facilities and urged Congress to allow broader access for lawmakers, the press, and advocacy organizations.

Rep. Henry "Hank" Johnson, D-Georgia, said not a single witness denied the claims of what is happening at Delaney Hall. "Not a single witness in here has testified that it's false," Johnson said. "That what's happening at Delaney Hall, the overcrowded cells crammed with inmates. Not a single Republican witness refuted that."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bishops need 'support'

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

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

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

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

Synodality is not a demand for rights

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

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

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

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

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

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

Growing reluctance among priests to become bishops

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

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

The role of the Dicastery for Bishops

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The faithful's access to the dicastery

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

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

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

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

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

The contribution of women to episcopal discernment

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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