Catholic News

One year ago, Sarah-Elizabeth Pilato, a Catholic mother of three from New York, found out she was pregnant at the age of 40. It was a surprise to her and her husband but the couple were excited to bring another life into the world.

Then, suddenly, their excitement ended when Pilato went into her doctor's office and was told that her baby no longer had a heartbeat. She had undergone a miscarriage. It was this experience that inspired her to write a book called "H.U.G" — an acronym for "Here, Understood, and Gently held."

"It was a very quick emotional roller-coaster ride," Pilato told EWTN News. "And when I had the miscarriage, my doctor, she looked at me and she basically said, 'I'm so sorry. Miscarriage is really not talked about. I don't know why women don't talk about it, but it's very common.' And in that moment, as she looked at me, I thought to myself, 'OK, I'm going to talk about it.'"

She recalled sitting in the doctor's office, alone, looking for anything that would help her with her grief — a pamphlet, a picture on the wall, anything — and there was nothing. Instead, all she was handed as she walked out the door was her bill for the office visit.

"There was just nothing for me to make me feel that I was going to be OK and that I wasn't alone. I felt completely isolated and I felt like I was the only person in the world that was feeling this," she recalled.

Once she got home, she felt lost, not knowing what to think or do. After some time alone at home, she heard God tell her to sit down and write.

"I'm like, 'Well that's a really weird thing to do right now. That's like the last thing that I want to do is open my laptop,'" she said. "But, when God gives you directions it's always best to follow. And so I sat down and I opened my laptop. I've got the tissues out, I'm still a mess, and I just started writing what I was feeling."

Her writing went up on her blog and after several hours, Pilato returned to the blog post where she saw hundreds of women commenting and sending her messages of their own similar experiences.

"That's when I knew that we needed to share these stories and that I wasn't the only one that had ever felt like this," she shared. "And it became so important to me, in that moment, that no one ever felt like we felt again — if we can make that feeling go away for as many women as possible, it would be worth it."

This is when Pilato was inspired to write her book, "H.U.G.," which is made up of over 30 testimonies from women who have walked through pregnancy loss as well as men who share their perspectives as husbands and fathers walking alongside their wives. After each story, there are several reflection questions.

"This book is meant to be for the woman that's experiencing it at any stage," Pilato explained. "And it's really the kind of book that you can open, look at the table of contents, and they're all labeled — a hug for when you just want to scream or a hug for when you feel alone, a hug for when you don't have the words to pray … So, you can pick it up, put it down, pick it up, put it down whenever you need it, wherever you're grieving."

She added: "I wish I'd had a book to just hug when I was laying there on my couch that would just make me feel seen."

Speaking to the men in the book, Pilato realized through her own miscarriage that her husband "had no idea what to do with me or how to respond or what to do with his own emotions."

"[Men are] kind of forgotten and they're processing in a very different way. And I realized that he didn't know what to do and so I realized that he needed to have a story as well," she said.

Pilato explained that the book was entirely funded by donations from individuals, and with the donations she is now working to get the book available "in any place that a woman might be grieving."

"We have them in hospitals, in urgent cares, in churches, therapy offices — I've had requests come in from all different places. And our goal is to get the book into every state," she said.

Books are available for purchase or, if an organization is unable to pay for them, they can request free books to be donated to them.

"I do always say if your organization has the budget and you would like to pay, absolutely, it helps, it all goes back into the book, but if not, if we have inventory, we make it happen," she said. "So, it is all God filling our inventory, bringing us to the people. And so far, we've been able to get books to women as soon as two hours after they've heard that they're experiencing a loss."

The author shared that her main hope for women who come across her book is that "she feels seen and loved and finds hope in her future. I think It's so hard to feel seen and loved and hopeful in the moment, but by reading these stories, I believe that she can feel that and get closer to it in her healing."

Full Article

ANN ARBOR, Michigan — Bishop Earl Boyea of Lansing, Michigan, ordained four men to the priesthood on June 6 at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in East Lansing after the crowd was too big for St. Mary's Cathedral, the mother church of the diocese.

In the packed church, Boyea told the ordinands: "You have been spending years being with Jesus. He's calling you as he called those 12 so many centuries ago. Today, as you are consecrated by the Church for a sacred ministry, consecrate yourselves to drink the cup which the Lord gives and take in the word which the Spirit is providing. Though weak vessels that we are, we will not let that prevent us from following the calling we have received."

Now 75 and due to retire from his duties in Lansing, Boyea has ordained 45 priests during his 18 years of leadership of the diocese in Michigan's capital. The diocese, one of seven Latin-rite dioceses in Michigan, is currently sponsoring 29 seminarians, and last year's ordination class was the largest in nearly 50 years.

Fathers Joshua Bauer, Jacob Derry, Ryan Ferrigan, and Peter Randolph, ordained by Boyea, all attended Sacred Heart Major Seminary of the Detroit Archdiocese.

Before their ordination, the men were interviewed on video, displaying the chalices they will use as priests.

Ferrigan, 28, said his antique sacred vessel had been left behind at the now-shuttered St. Michael Parish church in Flint, Michigan, established more than 170 years ago. Inscribed on its base are the words of an anonymous donor: "In reparation from a friend of the Sacred Heart."

"You know, it's a paradox because this chalice has a long history, and I don't know who the priests are who used it in the past," he said. "They offered the Holy Sacrifice using this vessel for over 100 years, and I get to continue faithfully offering the Mass and praying for the salvation of the world every day."

In his thanksgiving address to the congregation, Ferrigan said of his priesthood: "It's all about the glory of God and the salvation of souls!"

In an interview with EWTN News, the new priest said: "In being ordained, the palpable joy they could see in me was there because in ordination, I am seeing the purpose for which God created me coming to fruition. I have become what the Lord created me to be."

"The day of my ordination was the best day of my life. Lots of friends and family were there to support me. The Lord has blessed me and is very good to me. I'm still adjusting and realizing that I'm really a priest now and have the privilege of offering the Mass every day. This is my commission and what the Lord wants me to do for his praise and the salvation of the world. It is still sinking in," he told EWTN News.

Ferrigan celebrated his first solo Mass that same day at St. Martha Parish in Okemos, near Lansing. He was able to distribute the Eucharist for the first time in both instances to his mother. He will serve at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Ann Arbor, which is close to the University of Michigan campus and known for its music and solemn liturgies.

"I'm excited to be going there, and I expect to serve about three years at St. Thomas," he said, adding: "I'm excited about learning to be a parish priest and diving into ministry. This is how the Lord wants me to feed his sheep."

Randolph, 27, reflected in the video about his journey to the altar, which has included profound loss.

"The emphasis of this chalice upon the humanity of Christ and about receiving the chalice, and then living it out to the fullest extent, both in pain and suffering, and full self-abandonment and full self-emptying and glory, means a lot to me, because my [18-year-old] brother Xavier died less than a year ago. And the Lord has really promised me that he's going to meet me in the place of my pain," he said, adding: "He's not going to leave me alone. But it's going to come in my very broken humanity. In my humanity that is now broken in a particular way in grief."

Randolph's father and grandfather serve as deacons in the Lansing Diocese. At the July 2025 funeral for Xavier, hundreds of friends and parishioners of the close-knit Christ the King Parish in Ann Arbor were on hand to support the Randolph family with the same solidarity shown at Randolph's ordination. He has been assigned to St. Patrick Parish in Brighton, Michigan, which is known for its healing services and charismatic liturgies.

As Boyea consecrated Randolph, the newly ordained young man openly sobbed in the presence of his many friends and family members.

"I want every day of my priesthood and every time that I offer Mass in this chalice, to be able to say, like, 'Accipiam calicem,' right, I accept the chalice," Randolph vowed.

Paraphrasing Matthew 26:42, Randolph said: "Father, I accept this chalice, and I will drink it to the dregs with your Son."

Full Article

VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV said Sunday that when the Gospel is proclaimed and lived out, evil gives way before the power of the risen Christ.

Speaking from the window of the Apostolic Palace for the June 14 Angelus in St. Peter's Square, the pope reflected on the day's Gospel from Matthew, saying it "brings us a great gift, for it draws all who hear it into Jesus' gaze."

"It is a story that bears witness to the attentiveness of this gaze, as well as telling us what the Lord sees," Pope Leo said, citing the passage in which Christ, "When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless."

"Having become our brother, the Son of God looks at the people, he looks at humanity: he sees the oppression that burdens and the violence that causes strength to fade," the pope said.

Christ, he continued, also sees the wounds of the contemporary world.

"He sees the wounds of war and the emptiness of consumerism. He sees faces reduced to masks, families torn apart by evil, and young people misled by false ideals," Pope Leo said. "Jesus sees and loves. He loves and suffers for and with us: his compassion expresses not only fraternal closeness, but his desire to redeem."

Before humanity's wounds, the pope said, Christ remains near and sends "workers into the field of the world."

"What is their task?" he asked. "They must offer God's comfort to those who suffer by bringing charity where there is misery, hope where there is affliction, faith where there is distrust."

The pope noted that the Gospel names the first 12 "workers," the disciples made apostles, missionaries, and preachers.

"The Good News that spans the centuries is the same, always young, fresh, and liberating: 'The Kingdom of Heaven has come near!'" he said. "Yes, it is near because in Jesus Christ, God draws near to every man and woman, to every people and nation."

Pope Leo added that the Gospel is not merely announced but also lived.

"When this Gospel is proclaimed and lived out, evil crumbles like a disease that passes away, like a night giving way to dawn, like death conquered by the risen One," he said.

The pope said the Church is called to continue the mission of the apostles, remembering Jesus' words: "You received without payment; give without payment."

"Dear friends, the task of evangelization springs from God's gift, which in Christ becomes forgiveness for the world, service to the least and the poor, and a commitment to justice," he said.

After the Angelus prayer, Pope Leo recalled his recent apostolic journey to Spain.

"First of all, I express my gratitude to the Lord for the Apostolic Journey he has allowed me to undertake in Spain," he said. "I also thank the Spanish people who have welcomed me with great enthusiasm and devotion."

"I am especially grateful to His Majesty the King; I affectionately thank the Bishops, all the communities I visited and the entire Church in Spain," the pope added. "Que Dios bendiga siempre a España!"

Pope Leo also remembered several newly beatified martyrs: the diocesan priests Václav Drbola and Jan Bula of Moravia, and Jan Šwierc and eight companions, Polish Salesian priests.

"All were beatified as martyrs, as victims of the persecution by totalitarian regimes because of their fidelity to Christ," he said.

The pope also recalled that Nazareno Lanciotti, "a Roman missionary priest," had been beatified Saturday in Mato Grosso, Brazil.

"He too was a martyr, for he defended the poorest in the name of the Gospel," Pope Leo said. "May the example and intercession of these courageous witnesses sustain the mission of priests and of the entire Church."

The pope concluded by expressing his closeness to the people of the Philippines, "struck a few days ago by a powerful earthquake."

"I pray for the deceased and their families, for the wounded and for all those suffering because of this disaster," he said.

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.

Full Article

Following its summer 2026 general meeting, the Irish Bishops' Conference voiced its deep concern about the attack on human life and the wider violence and social disorder that has taken place in Belfast and across Northern Ireland this past week.

The civil unrest followed a brutal knife attack in Belfast carried out by a Sudanese national. Footage of the incident has been widely circulated globally and on social media. Bishop Alan McGuckian, SJ, of Down and Connor said: "My thoughts and prayers are firstly with Stephen Ogilvie, who sustained life-changing devastating injuries in a brutal and horrific attack."

Referring to the rioting, intimidation, and vandalism toward immigrant people that followed, he said: "So many newcomers make an outstanding contribution to our communities, including our parishes. They are our friends. Shame on all those who have sought to mobilize, agitate, weaponize, and politicize the fear and concerns of others over the last few days. All of us have a responsibility to de-escalate societal tension rather than stoke the flames of racism."

Lebanese priest says 'situation drastically deteriorating' for Christians

Father Youssef Semaan, parish priest of Kfour, Nabatieh District, in Lebanon, said the situation for Christians remaining in the country is continuing to worsen.

"Every week is more dangerous than the last. The situation has become unbearable," Semaan said, according to a press release from Aid to the Church in Need on Thursday.

The priest, who was forced to leave Kfour due to safety reasons, said he has managed to return on two occasions. He said many Christians have been faced with the difficult decision to "stay and risk their lives or abandon our land without any guarantee that we will ever get our houses or our goods back."

In Kfour, the Christian population has dropped from 120 to around 12, ACN noted. "We still have hope," Semaan said. "But hope itself is not enough. It has to be based on solid foundations that allow us to rebuild and go on living. We are human after all."

Zimbabwe bishops consecrate nation to Mary, a 'model of courage' in difficult times

Members of the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops' Conference (ZCBC) have consecrated the Southern African nation to the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary, entrusting the country to her maternal protection and presenting her as a model of faith, hope, courage, and love amid ongoing challenges.

The consecration took place during a Mass marking the conclusion of the bishops' 2026 plenary assembly at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Harare on June 10, ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, reported Thursday.

In his homily, ZCBC president Bishop Raymond Tapiwa Mupandasekwa said the bishops identified Mary as a fitting patroness for Zimbabwe, saying: "The act of surrender to God is indeed an imitation of this Holy Virgin. She is the woman who not only shows her total surrender to God in faith, but she is also a woman of great hope. At the foot of the cross she stands. A great sign of courage in a very difficult moment."

Legislation threatening the seal of confession in France fails

A provision in a bill proposed to the French National Assembly that would have compelled priests to violate the seal of confession to report instances of abuse against minors has failed.

The bill, aimed at preventing and combating violence in schools in the wake of a sex abuse scandal at a Catholic boarding school in southern France, was adopted on June 1 without the proposed clause that would have removed exemptions for priests from mandatory reporting of information regarding sexual abuse heard during the sacrament of confession.

The French Bishops' Conference expressed "grave concern" ahead of a debate on the bill, noting several articles in the bill that "call into question several fundamental freedoms," including the right to secrecy under the seal of confession.

Christians in Tyre face new wave of uncertainty

The Christian community in the southern Lebanese city of Tyre is watching recent developments with growing concern after the area was included in an Israeli evacuation warning for the first time, ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News, reported Thursday.

Church leaders fear that any military escalation could have lasting consequences for one of Lebanon's oldest Christian communities, which has already endured years of economic hardship and emigration.

Melkite Greek Catholic Archbishop Georges Iskandar called for urgent efforts to protect civilians and preserve the city's historic and religious character, warning that further instability could accelerate the decline of the local Christian presence.

Victims of clergy abuse in Australia clash with diocese over memorial

A group representing victim survivors of clergy abuse has announced its agreement with the Diocese of Ballarat in Australia to build a memorial for victims "null and void" after an alleged communication breakdown with the diocese.

"Throughout the memorial process, we have sought to engage with Church representatives in a respectful, transparent, and constructive manner. We have acted in good faith and demonstrated a genuine willingness to work collaboratively towards memorials at both sites: St. Patrick's Cathedral and St. Alipius Old Boys School," the Ballarat and District Survivors Memorial Committee said in a June 6 Facebook post. "Regrettably, we do not believe the same level of transparency and good faith has been demonstrated by the Church during these negotiations."

British National Trust reopens 420-year-old Catholic lodge

Lyveden, a three-story Tudor lodge in Northamptonshire, England, known for its Catholic symbolism, has been reopened following conservation work.

"We're very excited to open Lyveden Lodge after 18 months and welcome visitors back inside this remarkable building," Matthew Glasgow, senior building surveyor, said in a BBC News report on Friday. "While further conservation work will be needed in the coming years, the completed repairs mean visitors can once again enjoy this extraordinary unfinished vision of Sir Thomas Tresham." Conservationists conducted repairs to the lodge's stonework, replaced timber, and restored its Elizabethan garden.

Constructed in the 16th century by Sir Thomas Tresham, a practicing Catholic who faced persecution for refusing to attend Anglican church services during the late 1500s and early 1600s, Lyveden is built in the shape of a Greek cross and features references to Christian numerology, according to the National Trust's website.

Rebaptisms raise questions in Syria's Maronite community

Reports that several Maronites in the Latakia countryside of Syria joined Protestant groups and underwent "rebaptism" have sparked discussion within the local Church about the challenges facing parish life in the region.

The situation came to light in the village of Ain Halaqim, where community members pointed to years of pastoral difficulties, including the absence of a resident priest and limited opportunities for ongoing catechesis, ACI MENA reported Friday.

Rather than focusing solely on the individuals who left, many local voices are asking broader questions about how the Church can better accompany the faithful, especially in communities affected by economic struggles and migration.

Full Article

Pro-life advocates defend unborn babies with Down syndrome

Pro-life advocates are defending unborn children with Down syndrome after a YouTuber told the world that he and his wife aborted their child who had been diagnosed with the condition.

YouTube creator Jesse Ridgway went viral for posting about how he and his wife decided to abort their unborn baby after they learned the child would likely have Down syndrome. Advocates on X reacted by sharing posts celebrating the worth of individuals with the medical diagnosis.

"Down syndrome shouldn't mean a death sentence," Live Action Founder and President Lila Rose said.

SBA Pro-Life America posted in response to Ridgway's post: "This is so sad and awful. We CAN'T stand silently by."

"Research shows 99% of people with Down syndrome are happy with their lives, and their families love them," the pro-life group continued. "Families deserve truthful information & support. People with Down syndrome deserve to live. They should never be targets for discrimination, inside the womb or out. Period."

"Babies with Down syndrome aren't a 'glitch.' They're a blessing." Live Action posted. "Yet 67-80% of these beautiful babies are killed for their disability before they are born."

Study: Women aren't informed on emotional, physical impact of abortion

Women want information on abortion symptoms and the emotional impacts associated with the procedure, but they often aren't given it, according to a recent peer-reviewed study.

The study by scholars associated with the Charlotte Lozier Institute found women experience significant informed consent gaps when they are given abortion drugs.

The researchers found that three in 10 women report experiencing unexpected levels of pain and bleeding.

"Because they didn't know what was 'normal,' many women turned to the internet for information about abortion side effects like excessive pain and bleeding, help processing difficult emotions, and urgent reassurance during the abortion process," the study read.

Tessa Cox, senior research associate at the institute and one of the authors of the study emphasized the risks associated with this lack of medical information-sharing.

"The stakes are too high for informed consent to be treated as a formality," Cox said in a statement.

Fourteen attorneys general call for clean water protections from abortion drugs

Fourteen attorneys general called on the federal government to track water pollution from abortion pills this week.

The attorneys general asked the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to track pollution from the drugs dumped into the U.S. water supply. They argued that "loosened regulations" have "increased the number of chemical abortions occurring in the home," resulting in "tons of chemically tainted medical waste being flushed into American waterways."

Students for Life President Kristan Hawkins, who spearheaded the movement, called the request "commonsense."

"Because of negligent FDA policy and the failure to enforce the Comstock Act, more than 50 tons of chemically tainted blood, placenta tissue, and human remains go into our waterways every year. With infertility on the rise, we need to know: what is the extent of the damage?" Hawkins said in a statement shared with EWTN News.

The letter was signed by attorneys general of Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Texas.

Head of Knights of Columbus awarded for 'building up a culture of life'

The Sisters of Life, a religious organization centered around affirming the life of every human being, gave an award to the head of the Knights of Columbus, Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly, for his life-affirming work.

Kelly received the John Cardinal O'Connor Award on on June 5 at the annual Friends of the Sisters of Life Gala in Rye, New York.

"His Eminence John Cardinal O'Connor was a towering pillar of the pro-life movement," Kelly said in a press release. "With an unshakable resolve, he dedicated so much of his ministry as bishop to proclaiming the sanctity of every human life, made in the image and likeness of God."

"Speaking for the Knights, we will keep doing everything we can to support the Sisters of Life, and to protect vulnerable mothers and their children," Kelly said. "As we prepare for the work ahead, we take comfort in the knowledge that Jesus Christ will continue to guide us."

Alabama attorney general launches legal challenge against abortion drug companies

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall issued cease-and-desist letters to six companies that have been allegedly illegally distributing abortion drugs.

According to a June 9 press release, the companies were providing chemical abortion drugs in Alabama, where abortion is illegal.

"These companies are not only breaking the law, they are deceiving Alabama consumers about the very real dangers of these drugs," said Marshall in a statement. "That stops now."

The letters were sent to abortion drug providers across the United States, as well as one company based in the United Arab Emirates. Several companies were based in California or New York, which have "shield laws" designed to protect abortion companies.

Full Article

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia this week opened a new perpetual adoration chapel, one that Archbishop Nelson Pérez said is meant to draw "Catholics and non-Catholics for prayer before Christ" 24 hours a day.

The Sacre Coeur Perpetual Adoration Chapel was opened on the property of St. Denis Church in Havertown on the western edge of the city. Pérez was the principal celebrant at the Mass during which the site was dedicated an archdiocesan shrine.

In his homily the archbishop called attention to the liturgy's first reading from the Book of Deuteronomy, in which Moses tells the Israelites that God "set his heart on you and chose you."

Pérez said the description of "the heart of God" grants "a very human attribute to a divine being."

Christ himself "is the very incarnation, the visible being, the manifestation of the very heart of God," Pérez said.

The prelate also noted the example of the 17th century nun St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, who was responsible for spreading the devotion of the Sacred Heart through the Western Church.

"She had an incredible heart for the Lord from a very, very, very young age," the archbishop said. "And at a young age, she promised Our Lady that she would consecrate her life to the heart of Christ."

"She had a big heart," Pérez continued. "Big hearts feel deeply. The biggest heart of them all is actually the heart of Christ, the heart of all hearts right from which all our hearts flow."

The archbishop predicted that the faithful "will come from all over the place" to the Sacre Coeur chapel, where they will "speak to the heart of Christ so beautifully present in the Most Blessed Sacrament."

"And at that moment — watch out," he said. "Watch out. Because God will do what God will do."

Sacred space will 'hopefully bring people to the Lord'

The chapel came about in large part because of the work of Ward and Kathy Fitzgerald, two Philadelphia residents who several years ago identified the need for such a site in the city.

Ward, the CEO of the I Am the Vine Foundation — a capital charity initiative — told "EWTN News Nightly" on June 12 that his wife Kathy had realized that "there were 12 parishes in Philadelphia within about a three mile radius that did not have perpetual adoration."

"The vision was to make a place that was beautiful and comfortable," he said. "[W]e not only want people to be at peace when they're talking to the Lord because of the beauty around them, [but] we also want to attract people that aren't [part of] the Church today."

"We felt that an adoration chapel was a way to bring meditation [and] conversation with the Lord without technically participating in the sacraments," he said. "And many people that are either members of the Church and don't participate in the sacraments, or they're not members of any church ... still their hearts are restless."

At the dedication on June 12, Archbishop Pérez commended Ward and Kathy for their "big hearts" after their work to bring the chapel to life.

"What a gift," he said. "God will do what God will do, and only God knows right in his big, enormous heart what will happen in that chapel — how people will be touched, conversations will be had, [and] hearts will be healed."

Full Article

The widespread popularity of St. Anthony of Padua, whose feast is celebrated in the Catholic Church on June 13, can be traced to his efforts of reaching out as a neighbor to all peoples, according to the rector of the basilica where the saint's body rests.

"The devotion to the 'Saint of the Peoples' is truly universal perhaps because he himself desired to consider all the world his as his home," Father Oliviero Svanera, rector of the Basilica of St. Anthony of Padua, Italy, told EWTN News.

"He was Portuguese by birth, he went to Morocco to spread the faith, he landed in Sicily by shipwreck, then he went back up the Italian peninsula all the way to Assisi and joined the friars of St. Francis, who sent him all the way to France."

Once St. Anthony returned to Italy he was appointed provincial superior and served in Padua, where he died in 1231.

"It is told that he would speak one language made of a thousand accents but which was understandable to all," Svanera said. "As such, he was a neighbor to all: to the poor, to people in difficulty, to the sick. In this, his being 'brother of all' is perhaps his universality, something that renders him a friend of all the peoples of the world, beyond nationality, culture, and even religions, given that St. Anthony is respected even by those who do not profess the Catholic faith."

St. Anthony was born as Fernando Martins in Lisbon around 1195, and when he was 15 he entered the Abbey of St. Vincent with the Canons Regular of St. Augustine and was ordained a priest.

In 1220 he was deeply moved when he encountered the relics of five Franciscan missionaries who had been martyred in Morocco. He was allowed to leave the Augustinians to join the Order of Friars Minor, where he took the name Anthony. He worked as a preacher and laid the foundations of Franciscan theology.

He was canonized in 1232, only a year after his death, by Gregory IX, who had heard him preach and called him the "Ark of the Testament."

It was also in 1232 that construction of the basilica that houses St. Anthony's body was begun. It was finished at the beginning of the 14th century.

Svanera explained the famous "Tredicina" that takes place before St. Anthony's feast day.

"The word 'Tredicina' [refers to] the 13 days of meditation and spiritual preparation for the solemnity of the saint — that is, from May 31 to June 13. Every day those devoted to St. Anthony invoke the intercession of the saint through a particular prayer ... to entrust themselves to the mercy of God the Father. These are the days in which the basilica becomes the goal of pilgrims, both individuals and those organized in groups, and our sanctuary becomes truly universal, as in these days of veneration and prayer there are tens of thousands of pilgrims who come here from every country of the world."

The priest also explained the story behind another popular tradition related to the famous saint called the "Bread of St. Anthony."

"The birth of this tradition of charity has its roots in one of the 'miracles' of the saint, that of Tommasino, a baby of 20 months who drowned in a washtub," Svanera said. "The desperate mother invoked the help of the saint and vowed that if she would obtain this grace, she would give to the poor the child's weight in bread. And the little one returned miraculously to life."

This gave rise, he said, to two Antonian works faithful to the spirit of St. Anthony: the Bread Work of the Poor ("l'Opera Pane dei Poveri") — an organization in Padua that works to bring bread and other necessities to people in difficulty; and also Caritas Sant'Antonio, which supports many development projects in dozens of countries around the world.

Svanera also highlighted the key lessons of St. Anthony's life.

"St. Anthony's preaching was always capable of provoking the hearts of everyone," he said. "And this too is thanks to his exemplary life and his humility, which he learned from Most Holy Mary, to whom he was profoundly devoted."

He continued: "St. Anthony proclaimed the Gospel which conquers the temptation of power, the temptation of pride, the temptation ... of worldliness ... Through his love, St. Anthony knew to stoop for the other (refugee, migrant, unemployed, alone, sick, imprisoned, marginalized, poor) and to take care of him. We will thus be effective Christians of a Church which goes forth if, like St. Anthony, we manage to go forth from ourselves to preach Christ crucified, following him with a style of humility, of true humility, a humility full of love."

This story was first published on June 13, 2017, and has been updated.

Full Article

From packed squares and emotional encounters with the faithful to emphatic calls for peace, unity, and evangelization, Pope Leo XIV's recent visit to Spain offered no shortage of memorable moments. The Holy Father visited Madrid, Barcelona, the Canary Islands, and Tenerife from June 6–12.

Throughout his journey, the pope connected with Catholics across the country while highlighting Spain's rich spiritual heritage and encouraging believers to renew their faith in an increasingly secular world.

Here is a look at 10 of the most powerful moments from Pope Leo's visit to Spain:

1. Over a million Catholics join Pope Leo for Corpus Christi procession in Madrid

One of the most stunning moments came during the Eucharistic procession on the solemnity of Corpus Christi when 1.6 million people gathered in the famous Plaza de Cibeles in Madrid to be a part of the pope's celebration of Mass, procession, and Eucharistic blessing.

In Madrid, Pope Leo said Corpus Christi is "more than just another celebration on the liturgical calendar ... It is a way of returning to the heart of the faith to renew our love and fidelity to God."

Instagram post

2. Pope Leo meets with abuse victims

On the third day of his apostolic journey to Spain, Pope Leo met with six victims of abuse committed "by members of the clergy and the Church" in the country.

The victims, the Vatican stated, were "accompanied by Church personnel engaged in supporting and accompanying victims."

During the hourlong meeting, the victims shared their "painful personal experiences" with the Holy Father, and each person presented him with "proposals to make the Church's response to such tragic cases more effective."

Shortly before meeting with victims, the Holy Father urged the Spanish bishops to respond to the "scourge" of abuse in the Church "with listening, truth, justice, reparation, and an ever-more-determined commitment to prevention and a culture of care."

"Every wounded person must be able to find sincere listening, welcome, protection, and real paths to healing," the Holy Father said.

3. Pope Leo becomes first pope to address Spanish Parliament

Pope Leo XIV became the first pope in history to address the Spanish Parliament when he spoke to lawmakers on Monday, June 8, the third day of his apostolic journey.

Although he is the third pope to visit Spain, after St. John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI, none of Leo's predecessors addressed the legislative body representing the Spanish people.

The pope received nearly seven minutes of applause at the end of his speech, which urged lawmakers to protect human life from conception until natural death.

Tweet

4. Pope honors Our Lady of Almudena with Golden Rose

One of the greatest devotions among Spanish Catholics is to Our Lady of Almudena — the patron saint of Madrid.

According to tradition, as Moorish forces invaded the region in A.D. 712, the citizens of Madrid secretly hid their beloved statue of the Virgin Mary inside the thick stone walls of the city's fortress, leaving two lit candles beside it. In 1085, after King Alfonso VI reconquered Madrid, the Christians searched for the statue. While processing around the city walls, a section of the wall miraculously crumbled, revealing the statue perfectly preserved with the candles still burning after centuries.

On June 8, that enduring devotion received one of the Church's highest marks of recognition when Pope Leo XIV bestowed a Golden Rose upon the historic statue.

"As a symbol of the pope's filial love for the Virgin Mary, I will place a Golden Rose at her feet," Leo said during a ceremony at Madrid's Cathedral of Santa María la Real de la Almudena.

The papal honor — one of the highest distinctions a pope can bestow upon a Marian image or shrine — recognizes the deep devotion generations of Spanish Catholics have shown to the Blessed Virgin under the title of Almudena.

The exact origin of the gifting of a Golden Rose is unknown, although it is considered one of the oldest papal traditions. The earliest reliable record dates to 1096, when Pope Urban II sent one to Fulcone d'Angers.

Instagram post

5. Pope Leo entrusts his pontificate to Our Lady of Montserrat

While in Montserrat, the Holy Father visited the Abbey of Montserrat, which is nestled among towering rock formations that resemble sculpted figures of animals or objects.

At the foot of Montserrat, after praying the rosary, the pope lifted up his prayer: "Let us ask her to help us clothe ourselves only with the armor of God."

He added: "Let us also consider how the Virgin holds the globe in her right hand, a sign of her maternal care, for the whole world finds a place in her heart. She invites us to recognize one another as brothers and sisters, so that no one is excluded and that communion is stronger than every division," he added.

The image of Mary currently venerated is a 12th-century Romanesque wooden sculpture, just over 3 feet tall, depicting the Blessed Virgin Mary with the Child Jesus. Except for the faces and hands, the statue is covered in gold, while the Virgin's dark complexion has earned her the popular nickname "La Moreneta."

"I am happy to come to the feet of La Moreneta to entrust to her, with full confidence in her maternal intercession, my Petrine ministry and the mission of the Church in a world that cries out for justice and peace," the pope said.

6. Pope Leo prays with young man's rosary — then gives it back to him

While in Barcelona, an encounter between the pope and a young man named Sergi went viral.

During the pope's visit to the Shrine of Our Lady of Montserrat, Sergi handed Leo his rosary. The pontiff slipped it into his pocket before using it minutes later to pray during the event.

"I just wanted him to bless it, that's all, but he asked me, 'Is it for me?' And I'm not going to say no, so of course I said yes, and he kept it," the young man told EWTN News.

But the story didn't end there. Unexpectedly, after the event, Sergi managed to recover his prized sacramental, now prayed with by the pope.

Instagram post

7. Pope Leo visits the tomb of Venerable Antoni Gaudí

Before celebrating Mass at the Sagrada Familia Basilica in Barcelona, ??Pope Leo took time to visit the crypt, pray before the Blessed Sacrament, and light a candle at the tomb of Venerable Antoni Gaudí, who designed the iconic basilica more than a century ago.

Gaudí, known as the "architect of God," died in 1926 and is buried in the basilica crypt. He was known for his intense personal faith and devotion to the building of the Sagrada Família.

The Vatican announced April 14, 2025, that Pope Francis had formally recognized Gaudí's "heroic virtue," a key step in the canonization process. Two miracles attributed to Gaudí's intercession are now required for his canonization.

Tweet

8. Pope Leo celebrates Mass in iconic Sagrada Familia Basilica

One of the historic milestones of Pope Leo's visit to Spain was the opportunity to realize Antoni Gaudí's dream: the inauguration and blessing of the Tower of Jesus Christ, coinciding exactly with the centenary of the great architect's death.

The spectacular central spire is crowned by a white cross that makes the basilica the tallest in the world and will be open to visitors starting in 2028.

After Mass, Leo XIV stepped outside to bless and inaugurate the Tower of Jesus Christ — before a stunning celebration of lights and sacred music — in which the pope, rather than simply putting his stamp on a finished work, charted a course for Christians.

"The Sagrada Família is the tallest church in the world — not to stand out in worldly rankings but to guide the steps of God's people journeying through this land of Catalonia, with the cross illuminating the path like a lamp lit in anticipation of the Bridegroom's return," he affirmed.

"The entire city of Barcelona and all of Catalonia gather in this temple — itself a sign of unity and harmony for all of Spain — and lift their gaze to encounter the face of God the Father, resplendent in his Son-made-man, Jesus Christ," the pope added.

Instagram post

9. Pope Leo blesses a cross made of wood from the boats of migrants

At the Port of Arguineguín in Gran Canaria — a place that became a symbol of the migration crisis in the Canary Islands — Pope Leo offered a powerful witness to the dignity of every human person. Standing at a dock marked by the suffering and loss of those who arrived after dangerous journeys across the Atlantic, he prayed for migrants, denounced human trafficking, and called the world to a deeper examination of conscience.

The visit concluded beside the image of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, patroness of seafarers, where the Holy Father blessed a memorial cross made from the wood of migrant boats and erected in honor of those who lost their lives at sea. Entrusting migrants and all who undertake perilous journeys to her maternal care, he transformed a place once known for tragedy into a sign of hope and remembrance.

Instagram post

10. Pope Leo gives a powerful message to human traffickers

During the last day of his papal trip, Pope Leo raised his voice with unusual force.

In Tenerife, he spoke against human traffickers — those who charge staggering sums to allow migrants cross the ocean and those who enslave them mercilessly.

"For every life lost, every family deceived, every body subjugated, every woman threatened, every worker exploited, you will have to appear before divine justice," the pope said.

"Break those chains and free those you hold in bondage," he added. "Return what has been taken and make amends as much as you can."

Leo declared strongly: "Stop. Repent."

To those who profit from the suffering of others, the Holy Father left open the door of return to God.

"Repent while there is still time," he said, "for God's mercy can reach even the most hardened sinner, but it enters only through the narrow gate of truth, justice, and conversion."

Full Article

NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenyan police have arrested the prime suspect in the May 2025 murder of Father Allois Cheruiyot Bett, who was fatally shot while returning from a Small Christian Community Eucharistic celebration in Kenya's troubled Kerio Valley region within the Catholic Diocese of Eldoret.

The arrest marks a significant breakthrough in investigations into the killing that shocked both the local community and the Catholic Church.

In a June 10 press briefing, the Officer Commanding Police Division (OCPD) for Marakwet East, Zablon Okoyo, identified the suspect as Meshack Kilimo and said he was apprehended through intelligence-led operations.

"Luckily enough, we managed to arrest one suspect by the name Meshack Kilimo. It is unfortunate that this one guy is also part of the reformed bandits that we have managed to tame. But of course, you know, human beings have different traits and characters. As for him, he has not changed," Okoyo said.

He explained: "We used our wits and managed to arrest the fellow yesterday. As we are talking today, he is supposed to be arraigned before the law courts by our Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) department."

According to a June 10 report by The Star, a Kenyan publication, Kilimo was "arrested after he shot dead another man using an arrow during a quarrel over clan land in the same Kerio Valley area."

In the June 10 press briefing, Okoyo said investigations remain active and are being led by the DCI in Kenya.

"We shall prosecute the case accordingly, according to the witnesses and the evidence that we have gathered," he said, and added: "The case of the late Father Alois is within the DCI. The DCI opened a case and is still very active. Now that the suspect has been apprehended and presented before the magistrate, I believe all avenues will be opened."

The police commander cautioned that investigators are still examining whether the evidence collected directly links the suspect to the murder of the priest.

"If at all, the evidence that has been adduced and collected and placed in the active case of the late Father will connect to him, then I think it is a case that is going to come up very soon. But I can't preempt as of now because the officers handling the case are with the suspect right now before the court," Okoyo said in the press briefing.

Bett, a priest of Eldoret Diocese, died from gunshot wounds after being ambushed by armed assailants at Kabartile Village in Mokoro Location, Elgeyo Marakwet County. He was serving as pastor of St. Matthias Mulumba Tot Parish at the time of his death.

In a statement issued on the day of the attack, Kenya's National Police Service (NPS) said preliminary investigations indicated that the killing was not related to cattle rustling or banditry, despite the region's long history of armed criminal activity and intercommunal conflict.

Bett was laid to rest on June 3, 2025, at Holy Family Parish in Nandi County, the day after his funeral Mass at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral of Eldoret Diocese.

Since the priest's murder, security operations in the Kerio Valley have intensified as authorities continue efforts to restore stability in the region, The Star reported on June 10.

According to the report, government officials have confirmed recovering more than 500 firearms through the ongoing amnesty and disarmament program, and that hundreds of former bandits have undergone rehabilitation.

Speaking recently on the broader security situation in Kerio Valley, Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration Kipchumba Murkomen attributed persistent insecurity in the region partly to environmental degradation.

Murkomen said shrinking grazing land, drying rivers, and declining natural resources have intensified competition among communities and contributed to cattle rustling, banditry, and violence.

He argued that lasting peace would require not only security operations but also environmental restoration and sustainable economic opportunities for young people through initiatives such as tree planting, rehabilitation of water sources, agroforestry, beekeeping, and ecotourism.

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

Full Article

In a significant step to safeguard young people from the documented dangers of social media, the Canadian government has introduced legislation that would prohibit children under 16 from creating accounts on major social media platforms.

The proposed Safe Social Media Act, introduced in the House of Commons on Wednesday by Culture Minister Marc Miller, would ban children under the age of 16 from creating social media accounts on Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook, and similar platforms.

The move comes amid mounting evidence linking heavy social media use to increased rates of anxiety, depression, sleep disruption, and distorted body image among youth.

Canadian officials cited studies showing that platforms designed to maximize engagement often exploit the vulnerabilities of adolescent brains still developing impulse control and judgment.

The legislation requires platforms to implement age-verification systems and to delete any existing accounts belonging to users under 16.

Under the bill, social media companies would be required to conduct risk assessments and take concrete steps to mitigate harms to young users. This includes limiting addictive design features such as infinite scrolling, autoplay videos, and personalized algorithmic feeds that target children.

Platforms must also provide robust tools for reporting harmful content, blocking users, and protecting against material that promotes self-harm, eating disorders, bullying, hate speech, violence, or the sexual exploitation of minors.

The legislation would create a new Digital Safety Commission of Canada to oversee enforcement. Companies that fail to comply could face significant penalties of up to $10 million or 3% of their global annual revenue, whichever is greater.

Adult-oriented websites, particularly pornography services, would face even stricter rules with very limited exemptions. The bill excludes gaming platforms such as Roblox and AI chatbots from the under-16 ban but still requires them to meet certain safety standards.

The Safe Social Media Act also mandates that platforms submit and publicly disclose detailed "Digital Safety Plans" outlining how they will protect young users.

The Canadian proposal aligns with a broader global trend of governments stepping in to protect children. Last year, Australia became the first country to ban social media for teens under 16, though the law's effects remain mixed.

Australia's online safety regulator, eSafety, reported in March that while social media platforms had taken "some steps" to comply with the country's ban on users under 16, a "substantial number of children" still retained accounts on the restricted platforms.

The compliance update revealed that approximately 4.7 million under-16 accounts were removed or restricted by mid-January, with another 310,000 blocked in the following weeks.

However, eSafety expressed concerns over ongoing gaps, including weak age verification, poor reporting systems, and practices that allowed children to repeatedly attempt age checks until they gained access. The regulator is now investigating major platforms — including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube — for potential noncompliance.

Meanwhile, earlier this year, both France's National Assembly and the Senate approved a bill that would prohibit children under 15 from using major social media platforms. The measure also includes a ban on mobile phones in high schools. If finalized, the restrictions are expected to take effect in September, making France the first European country to impose such limits.

France's president, Emmanuel Macron, said last year he would push for a ban on social media for children under age 15 after "a senseless wave of violence" he attributed to social media use that included the stabbing of a teacher by a 14-year-old boy.

"I am banning social media for children under 15," Macron wrote in a social media post on June 10, 2025. "Platforms have the ability to verify age. Do it."

Closer to home, Catholic leaders in the United States are voicing strong support for similar protections. The bishops of Minnesota recently praised state legislation limiting social media's addictive features for children under 16, including infinite scrolling, algorithmic feeds, and push notifications.

In a statement, the bishops highlighted how such measures promote healthier habits and allow young people to engage more fully with family, faith, and real-world relationships.

"These restrictions will mean happier kids who are less anxious, less worried, and more focused on the present moment," a spokesperson for the Minnesota Catholic Conference noted.

Full Article